Catching up...

Crazy to think that it is practically August already.  This year has gone by insanely fast!  Lots has happened since my last post (over a month ago...ewww).  Not only quilty goodness but I've been doing a little self-improvement lately.  I have lost 50 pounds in the last few months...who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?!?!  Love you Sparkpeople!  A friend recommended this site to me probably last year some time and I just got around to checking it out.  It is amazing and better yet it's FREE!!  So in my new life I exercise regularly and eat right.  In fact, on August 6th I will be participating in my first 5K.  That is HUGE for me as I was never a runner.  I am very lucky in that my husband has been hanging with me through all of the crazy training I've been doing.  He's looking pretty good himself lately.  ;)

So back to craftiness.  Here are some pictures of some of things I've been working on since my last post:

 It was finally my month in the 12 Month bee and I know it's been done a million times before but I requested a string block using Tina Givens Havens Edge line.

Here is one of Julie's 12 Month blocks.  I can't wait to see how this finished quilt turns out.

Julie's second block.

Here was another block for Julie but this was from the Christmas bee.  I'm a little upset because the white was sort of off-color and I hope she'll still be able to use it.

One of the other ladies in the Christmas bee wanted a Christmas village and requested a block similar to this.  This block was blatantly "inspired" by this photo.

For a second block I pieced a little schoolhouse.

This was made as a gift for my stepmom.  Unfortunately this is the only picture of it finished that I have.  It was my first time trying the wedding ring pattern...it was ok...don't know if I would like to make a whole quilt top using it.  :)  On another note I used Aurfil 12 wt in my machine to quilt it & it was FANTASTIC!  I wish I knew where to get more of it.

This block and the next are for Alix in the Aqua & Orange bee.

Most definitely my biggest finish lately is my Hands 2 Help charity quilt ( & it was even done on time)!

By piecing the back I was able to use up practically all of the fabrics my partner sent me for the quilt.

This was all I had left of her fabric before I added the palm tree strips to the binding.

If you are interested in seeing some of the other fabulous quilts made for the Hands2Help charity organized by Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict you can check it out by clicking on the button at the top of the left sidebar.

Wish me luck next weekend!  I hope everyone has a great week!

Cassey

Where has the time gone????

I cannot believe that it is already JUNE 1st!  The year is already half over...how did that happen?!?!?!  Seriously, I remember when I had to wait until I was 12 to shave my legs (yes, 12!) and then I had to wait until I was 16 to drive and 18 to move out...time never went as fast as it does now!

It's been awhile since my last post as well but I have been busy.  I promised no more shots of tote bags but I finished another 7 around Mothers Day as gifts and then I worked on this quilt:

It is my charity quilt for Hands 2 Help.  Using the fabrics my partner sent me and adding some of my own I am using Elizabeth Hartman's pattern, Batch of Brownies, from her book the Practical Guide to Patchwork for the pattern.  The goal is to have it finish close to 60x60 and be done by 07/31.


 Last weekend I finished all most of my bee blocks.  I messed up on one because I followed the directions with the block and forgot that I had read the correction posted to the Flickr group earlier in the month.  I feel really bad for not remembering...sorry again Karen!

Here are some of the others I did manage to do:

 This one is for Carrie who allowed us to choose the block.  It's for the Aqua & Orange bee but she really liked the Aqua & Red combo better and after making this I can see why!  I followed the Color Wheel pattern from Quilters Cache for this one.

 Next was this cool bento block for Kristina in the Christmas Fabric Bee.  I can't wait to see how this turns out!

This one is for Carrie who is also in the Christmas Fabric Bee with me.  She asked for a pictorial block but she wasn't crazy about embellishments as she wanted to get good use out of this quilt when it is done.  I didn't add any extras to it and I'm really hoping that is ok with her.

This last block is for Mary-Lou who is part of the Hands 2 Help group.  Her son unexpectedly passed away last week at 17 and some of the ladies thought it would be a nice gesture to send her heart blocks.  The really cool part is we sent them as they were made so hopefully she'll be getting them sporadically.  I really hope this helps even if it is just to bring her a smile for a second.


Cassey

Ok...last one I promise, promise, promise!!!

I have a good reason for showing this one!

I was looking around for some more of this:

Because I ran out last night when I made this:

And after some searching I found out the Fat Quarter Shop is offering 50% off of all Ty Pennington's Impressions fabric through midnight tonight using the code: IMPRESS.  That's a steal!

You see...even though you are having to look at yet another tote picture, my intentions are totally good in the end!  So thank you my friends for humoring me yet again.

Also, today is Friday (yay!!!) so if you have completed anything this week (anything at all) run surf over to Sarah's and join in the linky party. 

Look right over there on the left and you will see the button wave that will take you there.

Happy Mothers Day to all of the mamas!

Cassey

Keep 'em coming...

Teacher appreciaiton bags..., originally uploaded by domestiCass.

So are you totally tired of seeing these yet??? Sorry, they are just so easy and fun to make. I made these for my daughters teachers. The one on the right is Henry Glass Fabrics and the other one is DS Quilts fabrics. I filled them with "teacher" stuff like stickers, pens, tissues, and the ever important hand sanitizer. I hope they enjoy them.

I got the Henry Glass fabrics last week on a trip to SC. I was in Fancy Gap, VA...never heard of it before...and saw a sign for a fabric outlet. It was like it was meant it to be! They had tons of fabric and most if it was $3.99-$4.99/yd. These prints were $3.99/yd!!! Score!

So if you are ever in Fancy Gap, VA you should stop by and see what you can find!

Have a good week all!
 Cassey

Peace tote for my hippy mama

Peace tote for my hippy mama, originally uploaded by domestiCass.

Play it again Sam...these totes are so easy and fun to make I couldn't resist making another. I made this one for Mothers Day for my mom from some fabric I originally bought to make her a pillow. I think I still have enough to do that too! She's getting a twofer this year!

Here is a picture of the interior if you like those shots.  I love this fabric!  Thanks to Very Kerry Berry for sharing where she found it!
Yay! It's Friday again! That means Sarah is having her Whoop-Whoop Friday linky party. Go there now to link up anything you have accomplished this week. Doesn't matter how big or small just get there to get some crafty loving by linking up!

Cassey

Mark another one off the ole' "Haven't tried that yet list"

Noodlehead Tote , originally uploaded by domestiCass.

I bought this pattern from Anna Graham at Noodlehead last week after seeing it on a few blogs. I figured I would keep it until my sewing skills were a little better but then on yet another blog I saw that Denyse Schmidt released designs for JoAnn's! So in order to justify to my husband running around like a madwomen spending tons of money on fabric that I didn't have a purpose for I thought I'd put the two together and see what I came up with. It came out perfectly! I only had to use my good friend the seam ripper once when I accidentally sewed the front and back together while trying to topstitch the side seams. Hmmm...maybe I will try the zipper one next.  This pattern was so well written that I totally recommend it to everyone.  It was the first time I

used a magnetic clasp too - easy peasy!  I paired the DS Quilts prints with Robert Kaufman's Quilters Linen.  Maybe I'll try getting rid of my Mom purse and switch to this little cutie!

I found these prints at another JoAnn's (which also had all of the other prints I got at the other store too).  I wish I could find the diamond print in the blue/green colorway also.  The flowers/diamonds are my favorite.  I really like the 3rd one from the bottom too.  They also had a green leafy print but I wasn't feeling it.  That's all for me until next payday and coupon times...lol.
  
AS OF 04/19/11 ALL DS QUILTS PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE HERE @ JOANNS SITE .  You can also get free shipping if you spend more than $50 and enter code WHP113 at checkout.  This promo is good until 04/23/11.

Got me some!!

I was so busy last week I missed all of the posts about Denyse Schmidt coming to JoAnn's!  I didn't plan on making a trip to JoAnn's today but after I read about this away I went.

Luckily, I picked the right JoAnn's on the first try.  I was so excited!  I picked up some of all of them except the plaid.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the dots!  So if you are looking and are in the VA area...JoAnn's in Leesburg has 11 of the prints.   I wish they had the cute one with little diamonds shown here on Heather Ross's blog.  I bought 10 of them and there was still the plaid which makes 11 plus the diamond one they didn't have makes 12...does anybody know how many different fabrics have been released so far?

Fortunately, I finished the blocks for the Aqua & Orange bee I'm in that needed to be done before I went reading any blogs this afternoon.

These are for Melissa who requested wonky log cabin blocks.  I really like the butterfly fabric she picked.

Enjoy the eye candy!!!

Cassey

Hands 2 Help

Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict has come up with a fantastic idea and has given others the chance to join her.  Together with Judi at Green Fairy Quilts she has arranged a Charity Quilt Challenge.  Everyone that signed up was paired with a partner.  I am sending my partner 2 yards of various fabric and she will send me the same.  Then using our stash or purchasing what we need we are to make a quilt that is 60 x 60 to be donated to people in need in Romania.  Below are pictures of the fabrics I gathered for my partner.  They are not fabrics that I am particularly fond of and have been just hanging out at the bottom of my stash for awhile.  I can't wait see what she makes out of them!  If you'd like to check out more about this Quilt Challenge either click on the link above or the button on my sidebar.

All packed up and ready to go!

Hands 2 Help fabrics for my partner

Enjoy your Sunday!

PS - Play-off hockey is starting now!  Go CAPS!

Cassey

Let's try this again

Good news for you!  I haven't heard back from the giveaway winner that RG chose Monday so I am choosing another one...the new winner is:

 

Catskill Quilter said...

Wow - what a fabulous first giveaway! The book looks wonderful, as do the charm packs. Gotta say that I am going from Stylish Blog to Stylish Blog -- they really ARE good new blogs! 

So a big congratulations to the new winner!  An email has been sent to her.  I sure hope to hear back from her!

Cassey

And the WINNER is...

And the Winner of my very first giveaway is:

"Pam said...

I've just become a follower on RSS feeds and I love your blog. Congratulations on your award. Very well deserved.

April 9, 2011 8:03 PM "

 CONGRATULATIONS PAM!!!

Thanks to everyone that played along.  It was a lot of fun to read everyone's random facts.  I still think one of my favorites was High Pitched Barking's declaration that: "I hold the remote control in my family." 

___________________________________________

Please check out Wendi's blog over at: prsd4tim2 for your chance to win in the great giveaway she's having.  She is giving away tote bag made using Central Park AND a charm pack of Sunkissed!  So go there now!

___________________________________________

 Yay for 80 degree Mondays!!!   Have a good day everyone!

          Cassey

A little quote to start your day...

Untitled, originally uploaded by domestiCass.

I have definitely wondered this myself sometimes...and then I have undoubtedly decided it IS the others that are crazy! :) I thought my brother would like this quote so I put this together last night for his birthday Monday.

Please don't forgot to go here to enter my giveaway.  It closes Sunday at midnight.

Also, please be sure to stop by Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday to link up any finishes you had this week!



Yay for Fridays!!!!

Cassey

Weekend Block Madness

 
Reminder go HERE to enter my first ever GIVEAWAY!!! 

 It's open until midnight on Sunday 04/10/11.
_______________________________________________________________________
So this past weekend was the weekend for kiddie parties apparently.  My LO was invited to 2 parties!  My very kind husband offered to take her to the second one on Sunday by himself to let me sew a little bit.  

These are the blocks I finished Sunday:

First I added the outer sashing to this block for Stephanie in the Christmas Bee:

   


Next up I dove into 2 blocks that I thought were going to be a cinch (as did a lot of the other ladies in our bee) just to find that they were deceivingly easy looking upon first glance!  Matching up the top silk strip and the bottom silk strip after adding the diagonal silk strip was not easy at all!  I had the luck of being one of the last to try this block so I had read all of the comments and suggestions everyone had made but it still proved to be tricky.  I can't wait to see how Anna's quilt turns out with all of these put together!

 Next I worked on the block that Melissa requested for the 12 Month bee I'm in.  I really like how it turned out.

And finally as a quick gift idea for the party we went to on Saturday I used this quick little tutorial that Carlee from  Ladybird Ln posted.  It is a fun, fast and (most importantly) CHEAP handmade gift!  I made this towel and washcloth for under $10 and it took less than an hour!!!!

Happy Hump Day All! 

Cassey

Stylish Blogger Award and My First Giveaway!!!

Why thank you Stephanie from Spontaneous Threads!!  I am very honored.  In fact I am so happy to have been picked for this award that I think I will have my first giveaway to celebrate!!!  More on that later.  First there are some duties that come with being chosen for this award and I am more than happy to fulfill them.


First - Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.

• Done above but here is Stephanie's link again  Spontaneous Threads.  I would highly recommend checking her out.  She always has some creative goodness happening there.

Second - Share 7 things about yourself.

1. I am a huge sci-fi addict...books and movies I LOVE them all.
2. Maybe this one is because of number 1 but: Given the chance, I would go into space without a second thought if I could take my husband and daughter (even if we weren’t guaranteed safe return).
3. My kindergarten teacher’s name was Mrs. Cowie (cow-ee)…pretty funny when you’re in kindergarten.
4. My grandfather bought my cousins and I a Shetland pony that we named Charlie when I was 1. We had him up until I was in high school sometime.
5. Meatloaf shares the same birthday as I do. The singer not the meal. (Just because we're talking about Meatloaf did you know that Meatloaf’s credit card says Meatloaf?  That useless piece of knowledge was brought to you by Pop up Video).
6. I tell everyone my first concert was Metallica but it was really Nelson because I got free tickets and it was a week before Metallica.
7. My brother once told my mom that I had gotten a tattoo on my butt and my mom made me pull my pants down to prove that I didn’t.

Thirdly - Award 6 recently discovered great bloggers.  I was able to find 5 that I have recently discovered and the 6th is one that I found awhile ago but totally love.

• Laura at Hobbying Around.  Laura is in the 1st VQB that I signed up for. 
• Janet at Entropy Undone.  I found her blog recently through my #6 nomination.  She made a fantastic pillow that I would like to try to copy recreate sometime.
• Julie at Distant Pickles.  She is in 2 VQB's that I've signed up for.  I especially enjoyed this post.
• Heidi at craft:nosis.  Found through the flickr group for Block-A-Palooza.  This was the post that got me to become a follower: New York Beauty.  Isn't it fantastic?!?!
• Melissa at A Child of the Wild Blue Yonder.  I totally love her choices in fabrics...maybe one day when I grow up I will be able to throw things together like her.
• Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Sarah's blog is great!  I found her blog through a giveaway she hosted that I won a few months ago and I still read it religiously.  She hosts a linky party every Friday and she features one of her favorite blogs every Sunday.  Do not read this blog if over achievers bug you because she will totally get under your skin.  I don't know how she does as much as she does...she's amazing!

Lastly - Contact the owners of the blogs you nominated to tell them about the award. 

•  Emails forthcoming.

Okay so now onto my first GIVEAWAY!!!  I am so excited to finally do a giveaway!

Here it is:

The Art Quilt Collection - I won a copy of this book in a giveaway awhile ago but the publisher sent me 2 copies!  I tried to contact the blog owner that I won the book from but she never got back to me so I want to share the wealth with all of you.  :O)  This book is really interesting.  There is so much inspiration to be found here! In it is a quilt that uses pleated fabric.  It looks really hard but I wouldn't mind trying that sometime...luckily, with that particular quilt it gives you a little tutorial to see how it is done.  I am happy to have this book in my collection.

I am also throwing in 2 charm packs.  Spirit by Lila Tueller and Dream On by Urban Chiks.


 You have 3 chances to win!

One - Leave me a comment - telling me 2 random things about yourself.

Two - Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment telling me you did. Or if you are already a follower let me know that instead.

Three - Blog about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment telling me that you did so. 

I will leave this giveaway open until Sunday 04/10/2011 at midnight.

A winner will be chosen using Random Generator on Monday morning.

Thanks again to Stephanie for giving me the Stylish Blog award!  

In other giveaway news Julie at Jaybird Quilts is having this giveaway featuring fabric shoppe.  They are giving away some of Ty Pennington's Impressions so get over there quick!!!  It's open until Thursday!

Also, check out this link for Lindsay's site at Craft Buds for a list of giveaways going on all around bloggy land!

Happy Tuesday to everyone!

Cassey 

 

Do you ever just have one of those days...

...or in my case weeks?  I have been so sick and then busy (because of being sick) that this past week has been a blur.  My house is in shambles partly because I have a 4 yr old and partly because I do not have a dining room table at the moment.  I just feel so discombobulated and it is driving me crazy!  I am thankful that I purchased the extra protection plan on the new dining room table so that it was able to be taken away in order to be refinished.  New furniture and small things (such as kids and pets) do not live harmoniously as I am slowly learning.  I was so hopeful for a productive weekend of sewing which I think I somewhat had but then when I woke up today I felt like I didn't have a weekend at all because I was sewing all weekend.  Ok, so maybe I'm just in a funk.  Nothing seems to be making me happy at the moment.

I did manage to finish 3 sets of blocks so that is good.   They were all for the Christmas Fabric Bee I'm in.

First up were Fairly Merry's self designed blocks:

They were a lot of work but she very kindly had done all of the cutting for us!  It was nice to be able to just dig right in!  These went out today so they should be home soon.

Next were mod mosaic blocks for Spontaneous Threads:

I have another one but I didn't have enough of the white sashing for the outer border.  Luckily, I had some of this same fabric on order so I am hoping it will come soon and I can finish up the second block too.  These are April blocks so I'm good for time.  This was a first for this type of block so I probably was not as conservative as I could have been with the white.  It was a lot of fun!

Finally, were Toerintx's blocks.  She requested pictorial blocks...uh oh, that is completely foreign to me!  I racked my brain for days trying to come up with an idea.  I drew up a few ideas and settled on a juggling elf.  GOOD NEWS: It came out exactly as I had drawn it.  BAD NEWS: I am not the best at drawing.  I have been told that it looks "folksy" which I have decided I am going with rather than "goofy" as was my word for it.  Either way, I hope it is ok.  It was so much fun to do.  I just wish I was better at drawing.

And for a second block for Erin I made a quick wonky star (something I have had lots of practice at.)

These are on their way home as well!

On Saturday I received fabrics for 2 other bees I'm in and luckily I have now had experience making both types of the blocks requested!  Hopefully, I can knock those out this week.

I should have another set of March blocks to share but unfortunately the fabric came up missing!  Very strange!  After 7 days of having not received it I contacted the sender and she said she had received a "Return to Sender" package which was the one she sent to me but the fabric wasn't in it.  I believe she sent out a replacement package last week but I still haven't gotten it.  I feel really bad.  That hasn't happened to me before.  Hopefully the second package will come soon.

How did everyone else fare this weekend?

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!

My little one turns 4 on Saturday!  It's amazing how quickly time flies.  This year she is getting totally spoiled...but I guess that's what happens when there's only one.  We are huge hockey fans and yesterday she had a special visit at her "school" (aka daycare) from Slapshot, the Washington Capitals Mascot. He was fantastic!

And here is her birthday dress I made.  I am so stinkin proud of this dress!  It is my first garment...ok so maybe it was an easy pattern but it was easy enough that I will totally try to make more clothes for her!  What makes it even nicer is that she LOVES it!  Normally she's "meh" about the things I make her but this was a winner from the start.  I used Fandango by Kate Spain.

I've been busy with birthday plans this week so I haven't had a chance to catch up with my bee blocks which makes me feel like a slacker but oh well.

Right now I am just enjoying having this time with my baby and relishing the nice weather!  There was enough daylight this evening when I got home that we were able to play outside for an hour.  It is so nice to see green again!  

So sweet and nice looking

 ah, that's more like the girl I know.

Sorry still new at this blogging stuff. I have no idea how to line my pictures up right.

Have a happy Friday everyone...and enjoy the weekend!