Shop updates, life updates, possibly everything updates

So I have a shop over on artfire.com. I originally chose ArtFire over Etsy because I could sell for free or at a low monthly cost, instead of a per item cost, and on ArtFire my listings never expire! I love that feature. I also love that I am starting to consistently get sales. While I am not totally breaking even, it has been paying for itself over the past few months, and this has brought me back here, to the blog where it all began.

I originally began blogging as an escape from a mindless dull job with long hours and limited internet access as I waited for phone calls. I soon realized I could read blogs through Google, and decided to start blogging about my crafty endeavors as well. I blogged a lot back then, I was working a lot and sewing a lot, and sometimes bringing some handwork with me on the job. My first attempt at quilting, and it has yet to be completed, is a denim crazy quilt, which would be foundation pieced onto fat quarters, then hand embroidered, and I had lofty goals of this behemoth covering our king sized bed. Again realization hit me, and I decided this particular quilt just might be the death of me, and the blog name was born. Beautiful quilt, death in the process, it lives in a box now, and sometimes I take it out to look at it again, and remind myself not to be crazy.

Throughout this I discovered I love blogging. I love sharing my work, reading other peoples blogs, seeing the mess, the process, and finally the end result of creativity. Love, love, love all of it. When I quit that job I slowly fell out of the habit of blogging, and I miss it! I still do crafty, sewing wonderful things, but I don't post! And I am super lame at taking pictures lately! I want to blog, and to learn how to promote my business online effectively, so I am here, and I am back for round two, or maybe its round three or four at this point.

So now the life updates........ I'm having a baby! Due this November with baby #1, and I'm so excited about that. I'm working on a baby quilt using Alexander Henry's cute grumpy owl fabric for the feature fabric, and I think I'd be farther along but my Iron is complaining, I think it has hard water deposits inside? I did one round of vinegar and steamed the crap out of it(literally, it was grossness all over the bathroom sink). Yet it still is weird when I try to iron. I think it needs another round of vinegar? Helpful hints are greatly appreciated.

I miss this blog! I shall return!

A finished quilt, my first one

i know it doesn't look like it, but its mostly square. i sewed the binding by machine, it just wasn't going to get hand sewn by friday, when i work all week. the label is fabric from the scrap bin, and its machine sewn under the binding, but i hand sewed the other 2 sides. i like it alot, and i'm glad to be done.

i also put it in the wash to get all crinkly and make sure all my stitching stays.

baby quilt

here is the back of the baby quilt, and you can see some of the quilting. I pieced the back, so my husband asked me if it was supposed to be reversible. umm, not really, but i guess it could be. I know i didn't use the yellow Popsicle fabric on the front, but its so cute, i had to include it. and i used up the rest of the blue mermaid fabric, you can't tell what it is on the front.

for the quilting i am using my walking foot with stitch 22, its the wiggly one that Ive been seeing people using on other blogs. I'm quilting it close together, so i just use the previous stitch at the side of the walking foot as my guide line. I have about 6 inches left to go, but not pics of that much finished. i am thinking about binding it in the green dots or the orange scissors fabric, and having it finished by the 20th, so i can give it to the mom and dad together, since its alot for the dad. if the binding goes as planned, it should work. ive never bound a quilt before, this will be the first one I've finished. I've been looking through a bunch of binding tutorials, and will probably use the one from crazymomquilts. its pretty straight forward with a ton of pics.

I don't think i've posted a stash update since the start of this. i busted 2 yards for the top(which was already accounted for), and about 1 for the back, and included in those numbers are the strips and scraps that went in to the drawers for those things. I've also remembered i had 2 bolts hiding under the dresser, muslin and a black, so we will add about 15 yards for those. I also bought 8 yards, so much for not buying any fabric, i lasted about a week. its cute tho, I'll take pics tonight. I also mailed off about 4 yards of Christmas fabric and other fun bits for luv2knits daughter, who also has a blog now. also i haven't taken away 1 yard for the green on the wedding quilt.

totals:
in and forgotten about: 23 yards
out/used: 6 yards
total in for this year: 23.75 yards
total out: 8 yards
so i have 236.25 yards. that's too much. no more shopping.
and i spent about $17

baby quilt

heres the baby quilt, jason and kristin, if your ever come across my blog, pretend you didn't see this. i tried out the mitered corners on this thing, they were a pain for a first try, but i really like how it turned out. i went thru my fq's, and found the shoe fabric, which i was excited for since its girlie but not baby, so i went with it, and i also pulled the teal. you can't tell, but its a mermaid fabric from robert kaufman. i plan on using some for the backing.

i like how this turned out, it looks like a crossword from far away. i think they'll like it. i plan on quilting it in yellow, with a wiggly zigzag. i will probably make the backing tonight or tomorrow.

these are 6.5 inch blocks, imagine a 9 patch with a brick on one side and you've got the block.

what i learned: square up my blocks before i put them together. i think its why so few seams match up. cause i tried to match seams it just wasn't happening.

ps. stash busting
i used 2 yards for the top, but i got 3 fat quarters from freecycle, which brings my total to 219.25 yards, and no money spent. i recommend freecycle. google it.