That's the Ticket

THAT'S THE TICKET

That's the challenge right now on OPUS GLUEI. Make something with a ticket, or make something that was inspired by the phrase. I was going to be literal and use a ticket. Or a hundred. My youngest decided that she wanted me to re-create a ticket reward system that I had in place a few years back. I want my children to stay young for as long as possible, so I said YES. And I WILL make this for her. BUT it isn't what I made for this challenge.

I went with the inspirational aspect. I have lots of fabric scraps. I was trying to organize them. I don't want them to multipy to the obscene. I have too much of other things to add another stack-o-crap to the mix. SO, I was thinking about these wonderful pictures:

All from Flickr. AND I had a wonderful

"THAT'S THE TICKET"

moment. That's what I am doing with my fabric scraps.

Making hexies. Lots and lots of hexies.

I don't have a plan. I just know that I will do something with them. One day. Maybe a quilt. Or a pillow. Or a pouch. Or a placemat. Or I'll just keep making them. With my scraps of course.

I made a little hexie kit to take with me. Just in case I have to wait. In the car. For kids.

The kit doesn't have all the finished hexies in there when I take it with me. But they look so pretty in the picture. I just had to include them. It's a big mint tin I picked up in Disney World. The mints are gone. The tin is a GREAT size. There are scissors, thread remnant, templates, needle, needle threader, pins and of course I take the ready to be basted hexies.

See the red one in the middle? It's an after hexie. I didn't sew through the paper. The hole is there to make taking the paper out easier after I have them sewn together. I got the templates HERE. I know there are places out there that you can order pre-cut hexie (and other shapes) templates, but I want to do it on my own. (Yup, sometimes I act like I'm 2.) AND I can print more whenever I run out.

Here are the before and afters. Side by side.

I think I'm gonna like this ride...

WIP Wednesday

The past week was pretty productive. Both in my Studio and with my teenage daughter. The one who has her driving permit. And needs to get practice before she can get her license. Thank goodness I have a wonderful creative outlet.

I was able to get my NuBee blocks done. I really love the way they turned out. Mine is in the upper left corner. It was the experimental block, so it's a bit different than the others. I am okay with this. With the blocks I get from this swap, I will have enough to make my Citrus quilt. (Well, I'll have to make one more, but it's pretty much done.) I'm excited about this. The colors are so cheery.

I also made a block for another Flickr group - Quilting for Kids.

SUMMARY:

Worked:
Bitty Block Committee - Pirate theme - blocks designed
Citrus quilt - last blocks made
3x6 Swap - block designed

Finished:
White crochet afghan - 2/26
NuBee's quilt blocks & mailed
Quilting for Kids block & mailed
Composition Notebook Cover - 3/26

Ignored:
Melissa's - needs back
Farmer's Wife - needs more blocks
Leaves - needs back
Sunflowers - needs back
Pastel Log Cabin  - needs back
Hexie Placemats - need to quilt
Rainbow - needs more blocks
Christmas - need to piece
Swoon - not yet started
Bento Box - not yet started

Thank you Lee @ freshly pieced for helping keep me on track with a bit of accountability.

26 Finishes - Finish #2

Yup. It's true. I have another FINISH to show off.

When I started this afghan, I had in mind a completely different look. It was smaller and more delicate. But once I started crocheting the squares, the afghan to be took over. Like it had a mind of it's own. It knew that small was not going to be this blanket.

This one is HUGE. It hangs over the edges of our King sized bed. I can't believe I made so many blocks. But I love that I did.

To piece it together I just grabbed random blocks from the jumbled up pile of blocks. 

It lived in the bedroom before it was finished. It was warm and comfy. And heavy. Hubby doesn't like the heavy. So it now lives in the family room. It is big and bulky and will fit EVERYONE on the couch. No more fighting over the blanket here.

The blanket has already been loved. The temptation of seeing it on the couch was too much for these teens. It used to be that they would be playing with dolls the morning after a sleep-over. Now they surf. And giggle. And do teenage things.

Another FINISH for the year.

I love this one. Lots.



WIP Wednesday

This is the first WIP Wednesday I have caught up with in a while. I have missed it.

I have been working on a few things. Mostly purging my studio. I have a bit to go, but I'll get there. I am being very thoughtful with my purging, so as to get rid of un-necessary items. I am also trying to find said items good homes.

I have been working on my NuBee blocks. Sort of. I have the plans, and have started the tester block. In my colors.

I am still thinking about the centers of the blocks. I am not quite happy yet.

I AM happy cutting the strips for these blocks. They just look so happy.


Weekly Report -

FINISHES:
Coffee Cup Sleeve for Megan

do. Good Blocks

WORKED ON:
NuBee Blocks - Designed and partially cut
White Crochet Afghan - Assembled, bordered, and partially loose threads sewn in

NOT TOUCHED:
Farmers Wife QAL
Hexie Placemats
Leaves Quilt
Sunflower Quilt
Melissa's Quilt
Pastel Log Cabin Quilt
Birdie Quilt
Disappearing 9 Patch Christmas Quilt

NOT STARTED:
SWOON
R2D2 Crocheted Afghan - Yup. I added something to the list. Just on the list.
Cathedral Window Quilt

There's probably more. There always is. I am tired though, and need to get to bed.

Cupid's arrow

18 plus years and he still sends me flowers...

Opus Gluei - Warm Fuzzies

The challenge this time around on OPUS GLUEI, it entitled WARM FUZZIES.

Rosemary has requested that we show her textures OR something that give you the warm fuzzies. I have had this on my TO DO list for a while, and decided that it would be perfect to finish for this challenge.
I present to you Megan's Warm Fuzzie Coffee Cup Sleeve:

My darling daughter has started taking White Chocolate Mocha's to school with her. She is far too cool to take re-usable cups. (Secretly I agree with her. It would be really a pain in her butt to keep the cup all day long.) So the next best thing, in my mind, is a re-usable coffee cup sleeve.

I thought I would personalize it just a bit with some custom embroidery. I sketched out a rough outline and sort of just winged it from there.

I used a cardboard sleeve from one of those big coffee chain stores for the template. And made it just a bit shorter to allow for the stretch in the hair tie I used for the closure. I wanted it to be a bit flexable to allow for different cup sizes.

All in all, I think it came out great. AND I have one of my 26 Projects finished for the year. I had initially intended to make one for each of my girls, but the other two have told me that they really wouldn't use it, so, I am declaring this project DONE.

Saturday Sum Up

This was a MUCH better couple of weeks than my last Sum Up:

• I mailed out 6 books through Paperback Swap.
• I received 3 books through the same.
• All 3 girls made the honor roll. Again. Yup. Proud mama.
• Had a 2012 Goals meeting. I am doing okay. Progress report will be posted soon.
• Shopped for a Ring Dance dress for Megan. Sheesh. I can't believe she's old.
• Melissa picked her Science Experiment topic. Escape Velocity. Rocket science.
• Zeke freaked at the dog groomers. That boy HATES being crated.
• Met all my deadlines at work, despite an improptu doctors appt thrown in the mix.
• Megan jumped into the Atlantic Ocean. On purpose. For charity.
• Megan got her first formal gown. Ring Dance is just a few weeks away.
• Melissa faked being sick. She took advantage of me being sick. Bad kid.
• Morgan and Melissa volunteered as score keepers for Special Olympics.
• Picked my SWOON fabrics. Won't start the quilt until ALL of my old tops are quilted.
• Finished reading A CLASH OF KINGS.
• Started reading A STORM OF SWORDS.
• AND started reading DeaD MeN DoN't CrocHeT.
• Made homemade bread. It was delish with dinner.
• Got all pertified at the hair salon. Finally. I look years younger.
• So did Danny. And he looks great too.
• The Giants won the Super Bowl.
• I cleared my desk off at work. It feels wonderful. AND I feel more productive.
• Melissa attended a Mardi Gras dance at school. In a DRESS.
• Started my NuBee blocks.
• Have the design for my 3x6 blocks.
• Finished one of my 26 Finishes. Woot. Woot.

Friday Fill Ins

And here we go...


1. When it comes time to make a decision, I am usually very quick.


2. Creative time EVERY DAY, that must be the rule.


3. Ma says we gotta eat, so wash up.


4. Don't use your sewing machine at the same time as watching a suspense thriller.


5. I never saw Friday the 13th. And never will. I am a big CHICKEN.


6. Put your dishes in the dishwasher it's not a new invention.


7. And as for the weekend, tonight I am looking forward to relaxing and some needle work, tomorrow my plans include sewing and maybe a little cooking, and Sunday I want to finish the purge in the Studio.

You can see more Friday Fill Ins HERE.

Flashback Friday 20.0 Blog Hop

Welcome to my humble little piece of cyber space, and to the

Flashback Friday 20.0 Blog Hop.

Here's the line up for the blog hop:

Jen {Guest Designer for Flashback Friday 20.0}

Rose {Flashback Friday 3.0}

Lynn {Flashback Friday 4.0}

Stephanie {Flashback Friday 5.0}

Yvonne {Flashback Friday 6.0}

Amy C {Flashback Friday 7.0}

Karin {Flashback Friday 8.0}

---->  Jana {Flashback Friday 9.0} - YOU ARE HERE  <----

Emily {Flashback Friday 10.0}

Julie {Flashback Friday 13.0}

Lawren {Flashback Friday 14.0}

Els {Flashback Friday 15.0}

Pam {Flashback Friday 16.0}

Sylvia {Flashback Friday 17.0}

Merry {Flashback Friday 18.0}

Hazel {Flashback Friday 19.0}

~amy~ {Hostess Extraordinaire}

You should be getting here from Karin's. If you are just now joining this hop, make sure you start at the beginning so you get to enjoy all of the talents of these lovely ladies. You won't regret it. 

The ever charming ~amy~ and some of the past Guest Designers want YOU to join in on FLASHBACK FRIDAY 20.0. FLASHBACK FRIDAYS are a great way to revisit our "firsts" in a way that makes us smile, appreciate our past efforts, and thank the stars we have progressed in our talents.


This is the 20th episode of FLASHBACK FRIDAY, and is worthy of more notice than is the norm. Amy is offering up some tasty little morsels for those who are brave enough to enter.


Guest Designer Jen wants to have us Flashback to our first BLACK AND WHITE card post. Go find your first posted BLACK AND WHITE card and create a new post about IT and FLASHBACK FRIDAY. Oh, yeah, and make sure you link back to your original post.

Well, I searched HIGH and LOW, but there isn't a BLACK AND WHITE card in my past. BUT I did find this WHITE card. And if you count the sentiment I wrote inside in BLACK ink, then I HAVE made a BLACK AND WHITE card.

It was made for friends who celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary. I still like the white on white. And the frill it has. Here's the original post.

*****

Here are the goodies you can win:

Here's everything all together.

Is this not totally RIDICULOUS?!?!?!

I mean, SERIOUSLY?!?!?!

HOW.

CAN.

YOU.

PASS.

THIS.

UP.

ALL you have to do to get a chance to win this wonderful prize package is leave a comment on ALL the BLOG HOP posts AND enter the FLASHBACK FRIDAY challenge. EASY PEASY.

GO ON. Get searching. Find that BLACK AND WHITE card.

Right after you finish the blog-hop, of course.

AND NOW you are off to the LOVERLY EMILY's...