Random Notions – Stuff I’ve been doing

Well, believe it or not, I have been sewing since I was last here.  One of the things I worked on was what I am now calling African Dreams and I am really loving it-

This is one of those things that you can’t stop staring at - I just can’t get over how every block is so different and yet, even though they are made from only one fabric, each one is awesome.  All that is left is to put two borders on, one from the yellow/red fabric and then a wider black one.  

The other thing I have been working on is the block of the month quilt.  I actually have the entire top together-

(It’s not really crooked – I think I just have one leg shorter than the other)

I love how it came out, but I will tell you, it almost didn’t get put together!  Even though I was so careful every month making my blocks to the sizes specified in the directions, it was a pain in the butt to get it all together.  Not one of the filler blocks was right and I had to trim here and there and resize and recut the fillers.  I really enjoyed participating in this free class from Craftsy and if there is another, I may have to do it as well.  I already looked at the one they had last year, and I may do some of the blocks from it, just whenever the mood strikes me.

This quilt is for Layla for Christmas.  She told me she absolutely loved it and asked if she could have it.  I asked if she didn’t think it was time for me to make something for me, and she looked so disappointed!  But then, I could see her brain kick in and she said, “You can make another exactly like it for me!”  <silent scream!>  Kids – you gotta love ‘em!

I am actually going to try to quilt this one myself – just simple quilting ¼” from the inside of the shapes.  I think I can do it.  It will be interesting.

Other exciting news – I have only 1 week left of my last class and I will be a college graduate!  I am astounded to have gotten this far!  I am so excited to be on the edge of finishing it, but I will miss having my college buddy Chrystal in my upcoming classes – if not for her, I may not have made it.  We were in so many learning teams together where we were thrown in with people that you really had to question why they were there.  That is super frustrating, and I have a weird feeling I am going to experience something pretty much the same when I start my master’s program in January – yikes!  I hope Chrystal and I will always be buddies, because she is so special and knowing her makes me feel pretty special. Oh and hey – she wrote a book!  I have read it and it is awesome!  If you like stories by authors like Dean Koontz, check it out here. It’s an e-book right now, but printed copies will soon be available!

The wind has been blowing the last couple of weeks and I have had allergy attacks almost daily.  I believe this is the worst my allergies have ever been and I am so tired of it.  I wake up sneezing in the middle of the night, usually right after I have gotten into a good sleep.  My nose is positively raw from the sneezing and running and blowing.  So I am off to bed early, right after I take some Benadryl- please send good thoughts for my nose!

Thanks for stopping by!