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