In the Pink

 I don't really know why, but I have been super into the color pink lately. After I started my tiny house project, I thought about making a bunch of pink tiny houses. I had to stop myself. But one day, when I did make a tiny pink house, I left the pink scrap bin sitting out and it kept calling to me. I decided to make a foundation pieced pink strip block.

And since that day I have made one every single day after I make my tiny house block. I now have 30 pink string blocks on my design wall.

They are 8 1/2 inches square and I have no idea how many I am going to make. I guess I am waiting to see the quantity in the bin go down before I decide to stop. There are so many of my favorite fabrics in this project.

And now I am itching to make a pink and white patchwork quilt because in the bottom of the bin, I found a ton of 2 1/2 inch squares that I cut when I was sorting and cleaning my scrap bins. I trimmed things to usable sizes and they have been sitting in there for years. Am I pink crazy? Maybe, but it is calling to me.

Here is the pink bin after 30 string blocks and after removing the 2 1/2 inch blocks. There is finally starting to be some room in the bin again. It was crammed full before I started this. Maybe eventually my other crammed full bins will call to me and I can use some of them up too. And don't even get me started on the yardage in the closet. I need to start sewing faster.

Talk to you soon.

A Quilt Full of Hugs

Well, I finished my hugs quilt today. It took me almost two weeks, but at least 3 of those days were no sewing days, so they don't count. My friend will receive her quilt this weekend when I see her, and it is a surprise. So, here it is:

 I used all fabrics from my stash for the top. I googled X quilt block to get dimensions and then I just cut and cut and then chain pieced for days to make this 63 inch square throw quilt.

 I know there are parts where there is less definition between fabrics, but up close, it's a beauty.

 The back is all pink, a fabric I picked up at Joann. I just really didn't want to take the time to piece the back for this one. I wanted it done and in her hands.

 The red binding goes well with both sides and frames the quilt up nicely. I have had that in my stash for years and am glad it found a home.

 I used a cookie cutter to trace a heart in the center and then quilted hearts one inch apart from there outward. It does lose some of the definition, but I still love it.

Quilt inspector Pouncer came by to put her paw of approval on the quilt. She knows a good one when she feels it.

       Got my label and I wrote the date with a micron pen on the back.

 And now it's ready to be gifted and I am happy to have it complete. Now, on to my December Penny Sampler Quilt lesson. I have to finish that so I can put that year long project together. I have decided to hand quilt it, so that may take awhile. Don't worry, I will have lots of other projects going on to show you while I hand quilt. Have a great weekend. Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts

Pink Elephants

So, of course I have been sewing for little baby N. Lots of those fabrics in my last post have been cut into. The ideas are coming fast and furious and I can hardly keep up. I want to make some little dresses too. For today, here is what I have done:

 I am calling this Pink Elephants. I remember the Elmer the elephant quilts from a few years back that people were making and I wanted a pink version for this sweet baby girl. All the strip pieces around the elephant are what I used to make the elephant.

 Sweet little one inch finished squares that I quilted in one inch cross hatch. I did not quilt over the elephant. The rest of the quilt is done in wavy lines.

 For the back, I used this sweet elephant print in twill that I bought when I first knew baby was coming. I knew it would be perfect for either a boy or a girl. We didn't know the gender until she was born.

 Some of these fabrics have been in my stash awhile. A few are newer, like Amanda Jean's Good Neighbors pink with the Vs on it.

 The binding is a dark pink print from one of Sarah Jane's lines. I think it is the perfect finish.

I loved making this. It was pretty quick to make from idea to finish. Now, on to more baby sewing!

The Big 4-0-0

Well, this is it. My 400th post. I decided to hold off on posting until after the holidays were really over and everything was back to routine. I am so proud of all I have accomplished here. Not just the quilting and sewing, but learning all the things I have learned in order to be a blogger and to try and make my blog a place I love. I hope it is a place you love to visit. I want to inspire you and make you want to return. That is why I read the blogs I read. They inspire me.

I have been very busy getting organized for the new year. I have cleaned the sewing room and made a list of things that need to be finished. I have begun working on those things. I am taking lots of pictures to show you. I have plans and I have goals. But, I also have surgery coming up in 3 weeks. I have no idea how long I will be unable to sew, so I am stocking up on pictures of things I can share with you during that time, because a blog post without pictures is boring, to me.

So here are your pictures for today. This is what I am giving away, to celebrate my 400th post:

                         This lovely bundle of pink fabrics.

      I wanted something special. I wanted something that was meaningful, at least to me.

      This beautiful bundle represents my color of the year, pink, for breast cancer.

    Each fat quarter is absolutely gorgeous. Not a bad one in the whole lot.

I found this lovely bundle here, at Fort Worth Fabric Studio. They put together lots of lovely bundles there. I shop there frequently.
What do you have to do to win this lovely bundle? Simple. You must be a follower of my blog. Only followers, new or old, will be eligible. Second, answer this question: If you could put together a bundle of fat quarters using only one color (plus white or a neutral) what color would you choose? So, let's do this: Leave one comment to answer the question. Leave a second comment for another entry, telling me how you follow my blog. No reply commenters leave your email in your comment or I will not be able to contact you if you win.
I will leave this open for 2 weeks. Winner will be chosen on Monday, January 19 after 5pm eastern. Everyone is eligible no matter where you live, but you must be a follower.
Thanks so much, for stopping by.

Sorry Pantone, My Color of the Year is PINK

Pantone has selected Marsala as its color of the year. I have seen it and I am not impressed or driven to want anything in that color. My color of the Year is PINK!
Why pink you ask?
This summer, when I went for my mammogram, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now, before you get too panicky over this, let me tell you a few things. My first reaction was "I don't have time for this!" Seriously. Too much to do and things going on to have to have cancer.

The ribbon a coworker gave me

 I am very very fortunate to live near one of the best cancer hospitals in the country, UNC, home of the Lineberger Cancer Center. My diagnosis was swiftly followed with lots of tests to determine the nature of this cancer. It is early stage cancer and seems to be restricted to the left breast and at least one lymph node.

The chef pants I wear to work

I was able to get into a clinical study for a drug that is usually used to treat late stage cancer. I am so lucky! There are very limited side effects for me on this medication and it is working at shrinking the tumor.

A t-shirt given to me by a friend who is a tattoo artist

 I still have to have surgery in late January. But thanks to this study medication, it should be a less invasive surgery. I will not know until after the surgery whether I need chemo or radiation treatments, but even if I do, it should be smaller doses than it would otherwise be. This is thanks to that study drug. I am so lucky!

A tie dye shirt a friend made for me...in pink!

 So, for now, I am sewing as much as I can and I am planning a few projects that can be done while I rest and recover. I have no doubts that I will be 100% by the spring. I am signed up for a 4 mile race in April that I ran last year. I will be there again.

A scarf sent to me by a wonderful friend

 I am telling you all this to let you know that I will be fine. I believe this. I may be down for a bit, but I am not out of the game yet. Attitude is everything. I have a great support system, great doctors and a wonderful family. I want you to know that my readers are very important to me and I want to share even this with you.

Even my post it notes are pink

May you have a beautiful, peaceful Christmas season, a Joyous New Year full of hope and I will see you all back here very soon.  XXXXXXX