It's still February right? (Kind of hard to tell sometimes since it seems like we're having April weather !) ANYHOW, since the calendar says it's still February ...(and Leap Day tomorrow even gives us one extra February day this year).... the MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept feel it's not too late to show the finally finished .....
....Valentine Garland , made with ......
....wool felt and burlap (with yo yo's made out of a cotton pin dot fabric.)
....the burlap was a little tricky to work with, so I ended up just leaving freezer paper on the back of it and sewed right through the burlap and freezer paper onto the white wool felt backing piece. The red wool felt hearts are fused onto the burlap with a heavy fusible web .... the yo yo's are stitched on by hand through the hearts and burlap .
OK ..... this year's Valentine's Day decoration DONE ! Bring on the next holiday ! (St Patrick's Day ...... not sure if I feel like doing a shamrock garland .... but maybe the mood will strike at the last minute .... you never know !)
Work in Progress Wednesday ......what to choose, what to choose ....(from that huge pile of UFO's). Well, since it's still February , how about a Valentine garland still in the works being made from .....
....my latest favorite combination of burlap, wool felt, and a cute cotton polka dot print !
WOW !!!!!!! Those Penn State students danced and worked their butts off this past weekend at "THON" (their annual Dance - a - thon) and achieved and surpassed their goal --- raising more money than at last year's "THON" to benefit pediatric cancer research !!! AMAZING !!!! They did a GREAT job !!!!
The MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting (and dancing) Dept not so much .... We got about 8 more of these blocks sewn up during our "Dance - a - Sew - a - THON" ..... not as many as we hoped, but ,hey, we were dancing the Wah-Watusi in between sewing !!
Anyway, at least our mini MBIAJ "THON" added 8 more blocks to our Project Linus Quilt - in - progress that weren't there before ! I think we'll try to make this an annual tradition during Penn State "THON" weekend .... the "MBIAJ Dance - a - Sew - a - THON" !!!!
Happy weekend everybody ! Today begins "THON" weekend at Penn State University. "THON" is a weekend long dance marathon that raises lots and lots and LOTS of money for pediatric cancer research. It is the largest student run philanthropy IN THE WORLD !!!!! Moonbeams Boy Matt is a student at Penn State Main Campus (the location of "THON") and will be there with his gang of friends .... they wouldn't miss it !!!! If you would like to read more about it and donate to a wonderful cause, go to www.thon.org (P.S. you can click my music off over there on the sidebar so you can actually hear what they're saying in this you tube video .... just click the pause button)
SO, in the spirit of "THON" , (besides making a donation) the MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept wanted to participate in their own little way by having a "Sew - a - THON" this weekend!!! and not just any sew - a - thon, but one that happens to fall on the Project Linus Make a Blanket Day (which is tomorrow)! Back in November, the MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept had started a Project Linus Quilt geared toward the teenage boy population and planned to finish it up in time to mail out to Craftsy , who was asking for donations of hats a blankets to donate to Project Linus with a deadline of December 15th. Well, as usual, our quilt didn't get finished ..... it barely got started! But, Craftsy has decided to make this an ongoing project, so if you want to want to participate in "Make A Blanket Day" but can't find a Project Linus Chapter near you, you can always send it to Craftsy and they will send it on to Project Linus. (By the way, the blankets can also be knitted or crocheted. AND, Craftsy is collecting handmade hats also.)
So, this is where I planned to show you a picture of the blocks that are finished so far but for whatever reason, my computer will not cooperate .....(grumble grumble) ... and you're thinking "yea, sure " .... but REALLY, there are 10 finished blocks (with only about 50 more to go !)
OK .... .time to get going on our Dance - a - Sew - a - THON ! (thinking we'll do the Watusi in between block sewing so we get the full effect of THON AND work off a few thousand cookies) Look! Here's how it's done !
OK, as if Pinterest hasn't been enough of a distraction , NOW look what the delusional MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept has scouted out whilst blog serfing instead of sewing and quilting (among other things)....
...the New York Beauty Quilt Along !! (GASP !!!!) The Sewing and Quilting Dept has long admired New York Beauty blocks and would LOVE to do this quilt along ..... or at least one block ! It's paper piecing and that sounds like loads of fun (have only done a teensy bit of paper piecing when it first was the "in thing" and thought it was just the cat's pajamas the way you can do some pretty intricate looking stuff.)
AND the New York Beauty isn't the only thing the very distracted Sewing and Quilting Dept came upon in Blogland ..... there's also a Granny Square Quilt Along !!!! This is being hosted by Dana of Old Red Barn Co. and they are using a block tutorial by Jolene of Blue Elephant Stitches. (That's Jolene's beautiful quilt in the picture)
Isn't it just GREAT the way it reminds you of crocheted granny squares ?!?!? (hmmmm, crocheted granny squares .... that sounds familiar ..... I think the MBIAJ Crocheting Dept had started making a few of those ..... think they are on square #4 and got distracted ... or bored ... or the yarn disintigrated ..... will have to look into that ....)
OK , so here's the plan .....I'll have the MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept make ONE New York Beauty block and ONE Granny Square block ..... just to have the experience of making the blocks and learning the technique ..... and that way, they aren't commited to yet another great big overwhelming project AND we'll have two new pot holders .... or mug rugs ..... or whatever .....(OK deep cleansing breath ......). That sounds managable doesn't it?
Well, as usual, we are sliding in to the finish line JUST under the wire (PHEW !) ... but we DID IT !!! Started AND FINISHED ONE THING in ONE WEEK for the "One Thing , One Week Challenge". Now you may not think that's a monumental achievement, but around here ..... trust me .... it is ! Yep, this simple little stitchery mini quilt took the whole flippin' week to finish because of a few million interruptions (like work of all things!) and that darn new distraction known as Pinterest ! (AAAaaaack !)
Anyhow, I think this little mini quilt is going to have a permanent home right there hanging on that chair .....(can't tell if that picture is blurry , or if my eyes are blurry ..... YIKES .... too much Pinterest ! )
The latest distraction here at MBIAJ Headquarters ......
Lots of fun but the MBIAJ Time Management Dept is having a royal FIT ! So come follow us on Pinterest and see what all the distraction .... er fun is all about (but set a timer with a LOUD DING first !!)
The "MBIAJ Doodle and Design Dept" started with this little drawing and handed it off to ....
...the "MBIAJ Stitching Dept". When they are finished, they will be handing it off to the "MBIAJ Final Touches Dept" (aka the "Finishing Dept" ..... they had to change their name in hopes of trying to redeem their bad reputation!)
AND this is also our simple little project we came up with for the One Thing - One Week Challenge that we posted about here. Yes ..... trying to stay FOCUSED on JUST ONE THING this week (well, just one thing in the sewing/stitching/quilting category. My short attention span must still be scattered among the laundry, cleaning up the bathroom, cooking, litter box scooping, the occasional homework helping, and going to work.)
OK ..... well, those "Simple Hearts" aren't going to stitch themselves !
.....with an old-ish "Valentine" pillow (i.e. the disorganized MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept has not yet completed any Valentine projects yet this year , so we thought we'd show you this one we made awhile ago and which has about 6 years of dust collected on it)
.....and there's an old key tied around that "love note" stuck in the pillow pocket ...
OK .... so much for the old stuff . The MBIAJ Holiday Decorating Committee has decided we need some new and fresh Valentine doo dads around here. BUT, as confessed in this post , we are usually stressed and running around in circles like a hyperventilating chicken starting one thing, then gettinig distracted and starting another thing, then getting interrupted and then getting more stressed when we can't get back to either of those things we started, or the other 5 things we started awhile ago .....aaaaaaack I give myself a headache !!! ...... (sigh). So, earlier today while procrastinating and blog surfing (for just a few minutes ..... which turned into about an HOUR and a HALF at least without even trying ...... ugh!) I did come upon something that sounds like a good idea .... something for those of us who need help focusing !!!!
The One Thing - One Week Challenge hosted by Amy of Amy's Creative Side. Yep ..... we here at MBIAJ Headquarters are determined to take a deep breath and FOCUS on JUST ONE THING this week ..... something simple .... something small .... something for Valentine's Day so the Holiday Decorating Committee will BACK OFF !!!!!
OK .... better go put blinders on and head for lock down .
Sigh .......too many distractions ..... too much to do ..... and a little self diagnosed ADD ..... HOW do some people get SO much accomplished EVERY DAY ? Really - have you seen some (or most) blogs out there ? GORGEOUS with BEAUTIFUL COMPLETED projects every couple of DAYS ! Well, if you feel like you just can't keep up .... leave me a comment and tell me about it so I don't think I'm the only one who can't figure it out ! (Really, maybe we could start a support group !)
Be back soon ! (maybe with a smidge of progress on something/ANYTHING!) Toodles, Mary Anne (aka Mare)
Well happy February ! ....and here's a big surprise ..... the MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept is still playing catch-up! A couple of weeks ago we proudly stated that since it's a new year, it's time for us to learn something NEW !!! So, we signed up for the Craftsy Block of the Month course. So, January has come and gone and so have the 2 January quilt blocks ..... and now the Craftsy Block of the Month course has the February blocks and instructions posted .........(sigh).
Well, time to GET MOVING on this project !!!! AND, as stated by Moonbeams Boy Evan in a 3rd grade writing assignment about the steps needed to build a dog house, start with the most obvious ......."Step #1: Measure the Dog". SO, in our case, Step #1: pick out the fabric !!!
PHEW ! Now I feel better .... at least it's a start !
