i am the worst blogger ever.

That may not actually be true....mostly because I'm only working on two projects and one is TOP SECRET (as the person it is for looks at this page, so no hints until it is done!)


I'm reinforcing the velcro on the bouldering crash pads at Climbnasium right now.  They've offered to pay me for it (or comp me a monthly membership or two..) and I'm going to Chicago next week and could use some extra cash!  However, bouldering pads are huge and this is a pain in the ass.  My kitchen is a hot mess right now because of all the foam bits and pieces coming off of the pad cover.

Needless to say, I can't wait until I finish this project...

babylock.

So I've used my new sewing machines for two projects this week!  

First, I made curtains for my bathroom.  Nothing overly difficult, just hemmed some fabric, mostly to get a feel for the machine. 

Second, I used this tutorial from Stitched In Color (which is one of my favorite blogs to read) to make a quilted pillow cover.  This is the first time I've EVER quilted anything, so of course I dove right in and free motion quilted both pillow top and bottom.  I tried to do this looped meandering stitch, but it is far from perfect.  I chose thread that matched the fabric so the many imperfections are not really noticeable.  Also instead of making a LOVE pillow (I'm mostly an ant-Valentine's Day type), I stitched part of my blog header onto it because I really like that design.  The zipper isn't great, but the invisible zipper tutorial within the pillow tutorial is phenomenal and I suggest everyone bookmark it for future reference!

(this is the best picture I could get of the quilting =/)

Next up is a quilted chalk bucket that my friend Lauren in Nashville helped draft a pattern for!

spring things!

I haven't been blogging or crafting lately because honestly, I've had a pretty terrible week.  I made the decision to let my kittens permanently live at my grandparents home for several reasons, but mostly because I was never home to spend time with them and I felt bad.  My grandfather LOVES these cats, so I know they have the best home ever, but it has not been fun adjusting an empty apartment again.

My mom knew I was upset so today we went out and had a whole day that resulted in lots of colorful, spring-like, happy purchases made by me.  I've decided to share them to make up for the lack of finished projects (although I'm back on track with my hexagons and only have 12 to go!)

First, because I don't have kittens anymore, I can have plants and flowers again.  A long time ago, my grandmother decided to get both my mom and I a potted flower bulb for Christmas every year in two different colors.  This year my mom's bloomed and mine didn't but it turned into a pretty cool plant.  My mom has also gotten into the habit of getting me some kind of grow-y thing for Christmas so I planted her bulbs about 2 weeks ago and they've bloomed!  Very pretty looking in my kitchen, right next to my falcon screen prints I did in college.

We went to Ikea last week and she also got me my wonderful money tree that's holding up my new Bret Easton Ellis book that's waiting to be read.  We got a jade plant and some daisies and later in the week she surprised me with tulips (one of my favorites)!

I started my little crochet corner as well, and have my T-rex, octopod and Amy's (The Mad Crafter) little yeti all on display!

We got these little egg holders that are standing to guard my avocado pit that I'm trying to coax into growing.  I also got this awesome wind chime that's more than adorable, hanging in my room.

Got some pretty colored frames as well for two of my favorite pictures.  My grandfather and I in New York with the Twin Towers in the background and my father, myself and his first lab Cedar at Christmas!

BUT my pride and joy purchase was this guy....

my new Baby Lock sewing machine!  Oooo I'm so excited to start playing with it.