In serious trouble - Building Blocks Tuesday

It has been an interesting week.  I can't say that I have sewed that much.  I was nursing a cold and really got hooked on a book, well several books.....but before I really get into non-quilty stuff, here are the only blocks I have finished this week.  Swoon #11 and #12, finished this morning.

Now for the book talk:

I enjoy listening to the Crafty Garden Mom podcast while I am driving my children to and from all their activities.  Tanesha's day job is as a book buyer, so she reads a substantial amount and often recommends books on her blog and in her podcast.  A while back I decided that I really wanted to start reading again.  I come from a literary family and the love of reading is in my genes.  However, with 3 young children at home, I had given up reading anything longer than a magazine article, for lack of time and energy.  Listening to Tanesha's recommendations, sparked the desire to get back to reading.  While on my Mom-cation, I read Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand.  It was excellent.  I never knew how much I didn't know about the pacific conflict of WWII.

Another recommendation of Tanesha's was Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  It is the first book in a series and not something I would have chosen myself.  It is a historical based novel set in Scotland in the 1700's.  A few other podcasters in addition to Tanesha had recommended it also, so I thought "what the hey!".   What can I say exactly?  The first book flew by, I quickly ordered the second, Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander), and before I knew it was downloading the third book, Voyager (Outlander).  WOW! was it good!  I just finished it last night and I'm exhausted.  The first two books really sucked me in, but with this third one I was insatiable to find out what was going to happen with the characters.  Every page left me in suspense.  To say I was invested is an understatement.  I don't think I've gotten more than 5 hours of sleep each night for the last 5 nights because I've been reading.  And even as I slept, I was dreaming about the events of the book.  I couldn't put the darn book down.  It is action packed, intense and suspenseful.  I was reading while cooking, reading while cleaning.  If I could have figured out a way to read and sew, or read and drive at the same time, I would have been doing that too.  It was THAT good.  And now that I am completely exhausted, yet panting for more, I am AFRAID to get the next one.  Seriously, afraid.  I need sleep!  I have stuff to do, a house to clean, stuff to sew, children and a husband not to ignore.  But like a crack addict, I just want another hit!  There are still events from the first book that I KNOW mean something and haven't been explained yet.  I gotta know what happens........

I am in serious trouble.

Enough about that for right now.  There are a bunch of things here on the blog that I want to let you know about:

• One Block Wonder Quilt Along - the linky to show off your finished tops will open this Thursday and stay open till the end of the month.
• I am hosting TGIFF on the 25th!  Because it is the 2nd anniversary of TGIFF, there is actually a month-long link up for finishes.  You can enter as many of your finishes from this month as you like and there are prizes.  Check out the TGIFF OctoberQuest post for more info.
• Wicked Blog Hop - It starts on the 22nd!  this blog hop is hosted by Madame Samm at Sew We Quilt and will have loads of Halloween eye candy.  The schedule is still being finalized, but so far I am set for the 29th.   Building Blocks Tuesday may have to be postponed a day or it might come a day early.  I won't know until that week.

Thanks for reading,

Jen

Venting - Building Blocks Tuesday

I am in a mood today.  You see, I am not one of those roll with the punches types of people.  I used to be, but that was back when my life was less complicated.  Now when something goes wrong, I tend to whine, sometimes cry, bitch & moan, vent, and THEN solve the problem at hand.  There might even be some throwing stuff around and stomping of feet mixed in there too.  This week's challenge is a scheduling problem.  Prepare yourself for some venting.....

As Mommy, I am keeper of the schedule and calendar, at least for the kids and I.  My DH, frequently travels, and so, I know that our regular day to day schedule should not rely on any help from him.  However, special events do pop up that I need to attend and WANT to attend without the children tagging along.  I usually block of these events in his calendar so I can go about my business without any conflicts.  9 times out of 10, this all works out, occasionally requiring the assistance of a baby sitter here and there.  This coming weekend is proving to NOT be one of the times it works out.  The quilt guild I joined up in the mountains is having its annual quilt walk and I anticipated being there all day to help out, especially since I have actually put some quilts in the show this year.  My DH informed me he HAS to travel for work this week and his flight doesn't get back until the day after the show.  Also, my eldest DD's gymnastic competition, originally scheduled for Sunday, has been moved to Saturday because of the amount of participants.  Her level is the only one competing on Saturday, the same day and time as the quilt show.  I cannot be in 3 places (all about 2 hours away from one another) at the same time.  I've cried, whined, moaned, and now vented.  Thanks for letting me do so.  Looks like the 3 girls and I will be going to the competition together, then up the hill to do any remaining clean up at the show.

Late last week, I completed these blocks for today's link up.  I am nearly done with my Swoon blocks, only a couple more to do.

What have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading!

Jen

No rain, just gray - Building Blocks Tuesday

I was hoping that the weather would clear up this morning so I could get some better pictures of the two blocks I have to share this week, but alas, the cloud cover remains.  No rain, mind you, just overcast and gray.

I've completed two more Swoon blocks and here they are...

That brings my total up to eight, but I need several more to complete my quilt top.

In other news, I am headed out on a little Mom-cation trip later this week.  I am not planning on bringing any projects with me (it's just not that kind of trip).  Instead, I bought two books to read!  I know that doesn't sound that exciting, but since having kids, I rarely find time to read more than a magazine article.  Well, I take that back.  I have read numerous Barbie stories, all the Nancy Clancy and Amelia Bedelia books that have been released, and have also finished How to Tame Your Dragon, Book 1 recently.  But that doesn't really count as grown up reading, does it?  No, the books I am packing are more mature than the bedtime stories I read to my kids.  I MIGHT even feel like a grown up on this trip, but I'm not promising to act like one!

What have you been working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading!

Jen

More Swoon Blocks - Building Blocks Tuesday

I've made several more Swoon blocks, but I have more to make.  I hope you don't tire of them too quickly.



A pink one.



This grey one is my favorite so far.



Pink and grey



Another pink and grey.

Well that's 6 down, at least 6 to go to make my twin sized quilt.

What have you been working on this week?  I want to know!  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

For those of you that had trouble using my button recently, I apologize.  I guess blogger changed a few things and my code didn't translate.  I hope I have it fixed now.

Thanks for reading!

Jen

August progress report and September goal setting

I've been performing a bit of an experiment the last few weeks.  Rather than trying to stick to any one project from start to finish, I've been working on whatever strikes my fancy that particular day.  I've been surprised how much I've gotten accomplished considering some days I've only had 30 minutes or less at the sewing machine.

August UFO's:

• Catch up on Star of Africa Bee Blocks -  I finished 2 of the 5 I needed to finish.  I am really stuck on executing my idea for a postcard inspired one.  My idea just won't let me move on.  I have to figure out a way to do what I want.
• Finished my Sewing Mat - DONE!
• Swoon - I have 6 blocks done!  I think the cutting is what takes forever on these.  Now that I have most of the cutting done for the remaining blocks, I think the rest will come together quickly.  I especially delight in how each one looks when finished, so I am eager to work on this project.

August NewFO's

• small projects - I didn't finish a one!
• QAYG bag - I finished this one.  I think I am going to alter the pattern for the next one.

September UFO's:

• Summerville DP blocks - I doubt anyone will remember these, but I haven't done anything with them since I made them.  My Lazy Bum secret partner has decreed this to be my project for the month's challenge.  So, I need to assemble these blocks into something, but I'm not sure what yet.  They were originally supposed to be potholders, and perhaps that is the best thing for them to become.  I am going to play around a little with possible layouts for something else.  Perhaps one will strike my fancy.
• Swoon - I would really like to get 6 more blocks done.

September NewFO's

• Commission quilt - I've taken on a commission quilt for a friend.  I would like to get the top completed this month.  The pattern looks easy enough, but I think the cutting will take forever.  I better get started on it.
• 60 degree ruler mini quilt - I've already started this one and I've promised a tutorial for Wednesday, Sept. 4th.  So it might be my first finish of September.

That about wraps it up!

Thanks for reading today as I list myself into a frenzy,

Jen

Linking up with:

Swooning at the Ritz - Building Blocks Tuesday

That's right people!  I'm finally Swoon-ing!  I just love the part when you are pressing those final two seams and the whole block just comes together.

I altered the size of the blocks to 18 inches.  The smaller size allowed me to use an ancient Layer Cake I had of "Puttin' on the Ritz" by Bunny Hill.  I also mixed in a little "Lily and Will" from Bunny Hill too and added some Kona Snow.  So far they are all playing nicely together.

What have you been working on this week?  I want to know!  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading!

Jen