Friday, May 2, 2014

April Fabriholics Check In

Hello!

A little behind the times I suppose!

As always, I'm linking up to Making Rebecca Lynn's Fabriholics Anonymous Group.

I did well as far as fabric goes -- I got orders for FOUR t-shirt quilts and one memorial quilt, and only bought fabric for those. (Though I've only started on one t-shirt quilt. -- I cannot get to my studio for more than 20 minutes in a clip.)

Though, it finally happened.  I knew it would. I was trying to avoid it.

I've been spending the money I would have spent on sewing/quilting supplies on scrapbooking supplies!

I joined Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator.  If you're interested in shopping, shoot me an email - purpleturtlequilts {at} gmail . com - I'll send you the info so you can shop with me.

My first class (held together with my upline) is this Sunday - I'll let you know how it goes! Here's a pic of this weekend's class goodies:

Back to sewing. Still a BUSY time at school - my yearbook kids met another deadline two days ago.  I wrote myself a note this time: "Never schedule anything during deadline week. NEVER." -- After three years (at this school) advising yearbook, you'd think that'd be a lesson I'd already know by heart. Nope. Oh Well. Pages were finished (on time!) and I spent all day yesterday getting my grades caught up. Hopefully today I can clean up some of the mess that is my desk.

I finished a few projects, two quilt squares for Miss West Virginia Contestants, Bowling Towels for a sibling get-together, an Embroidered Quilt Back Wedding Hankies, Greek Hoodies...






The finished list isn't much, and I feel like it's dwindling instead of growing.  I feel more pressure to finish things than before and that pressure is making the studio not fun.  Good thing I don't have time to not have fun!

I'm looking forward to this summer, checking off projects and cleaning up the space a bit.  It might be time to donate/sell some of those projects that I know I don't want to do anymore.  =D

How'd everyone else do?


Sunday, April 13, 2014

An update? Before fabricholics check-in?

Hi!

Wow - I can't believe how stressful getting ready for meet the parolees turned out to be. Too much pressure on myself, I think. I had *all new* items on my table - nothing had been shown at a craft fair before. 
 
I had 96 over-the-collar dog bandanas in assorted sizes, 19 Bone-shaped squeaker toys, 12 Doggie Doo-ty Bags, and more chocolate candy than humanly healthy. 

We ended up being the top-earners that day  we raised a total of $161.41. More than $100 of that was donations - not much came from sales - customer attendance was pretty low. 

Pica was very well-behaved throughout the day. Greeting people at the table, talking to other dogs, and even running in the parade. 

It was hard work, but Pica has officially made his bail! He is actually a little over - and a couple people have put donations in the box since last Sunday. He has done a wonderful job of helping out the shelter pups. 

Monday, March 31, 2014

Fabriholics Anonymous March Check In

(Well, March flew by with one snow day and one two-hour delay and lots of annoying snow dustings.  Can't it be summer already?

As usual, school gets going with all of it's organized chaos and drama, and the sewing and blog world fall behind.

Ah, well, it's time to fess up. I'm linking up to Rebecca Lynn: Fabriholics Anonymous March Check-In

According to my pinterest board, I've finished 0 (ZERO!) projects in March.  That can't be right.
Off the top of my head, I know I made scarves, TSA polos, fixed a belt, made a purse/key set...  Wonder where those pictures are and why I haven't posted them.  Look for those on pinterest soon I guess.

February Purchases Usage Update:
I made the pillows for the guest room that I bought. Yay! (but no picture? hmmm)
Haven't made any of the dresses, didn't start on the word quilt quilt-a-long, haven't started on guest room curtains,
I made Morgan's fundraising gift!
That means I got two of the eight things on my list done. Great.

On to March!
- I got an order for three t-shirt quilts, and purchases all the supplies for those three quilts out of the deposit for that order.  WIN! (Not breaking fabric fast rules there!)
- Bought 4 yards of holiday-themed fabric for doggie bandanas - and they're already finished! WIN!)
- Bought some notions (stuffing, dog sqeakers, pillow form) - not breaking the rules since I didn't have any of those to start with, couldn't make do with nothing.

Overall, I was much better in March. Purposeful purchases, no mindless shopping.

This weekend is the Parole-a-Pooch Meet the Parolees Day.
I'll have doggie bandanas for sure, I'm halfway done with several dog toys, and would like to make doo-ty bag holders to sell as well.

Pica will get a bath before the big day. A cute puppy raises more money!  So far we've raised $191 of our $300 goal for the animal shelter. Every puppy deserves to be as spoiled as my pup!



Visit the Marshall County Animal Shelter webpage here to see more information. Or click on through to help bail Pica Oreo Creme Deluxe aka Viscious --every dollar helps.

Hopefully school will settle down and I can get some sewing done!

Sunday, March 9, 2014

A couple finishes...

So I finished a couple of things!

First - custom embroidery on dance costume bags:

And finished #54 Guest Bedroom Large Throw Pillows (2) off of the UFO/WIP list
These used one of the 6 yard cuts that cushioned my fall off the fast wagon last month. So, at least I'm using what I bought?


Got an order for four custom embroidered scarves, three t-shirt quilts, 25 custom embroidered polos, and graduation stoles for the faculty. 

Just gotta make time over the next few weeks to spend in the studio. Funny, the past two weekends I've planned for Sunday to be a 'nothin' but sewin'" day, but neither of them worked. 

I have a craft fair this Saturday - I'm going to take my sewing machine and work on a few things while I sit and people watch. 

How's everyone else doing?

Thursday, February 27, 2014

A finish!

Sorta. 

My nephew's friend qualified for the championships, so his mom ordered custom embroidery from me. 

Not too shabby. :)

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Fabricholics Anonymous Feburary Check-In

Oh My Goodness!!!

It's time for the February Check-in Already?  What happened to February? Where did it go?

I'm linking up to Rebecca Lynn: fabriholics anonymous february check in

I've finished 10 more projects so far. Here's the pinterest board to see all the finished projects.

 Not bad for a week of for possible flooding that took over the sewing studio.

Now, on to the purchases. I fell pretty hard this month, but I keep telling myself it's okay - required purchases.

February 3rd - Quilting by Charisma (SO WORTH IT!!) -- She quilted my Scrappy Swoon. Beautiful.
February 3rd - Postage $17.95
February 9th - Notions $44.87 (Tumbler Ruler, 16 1/2 Square Ruler)
February 9th - Fabric - $80 - 4 yards for a quilt background, 3 yards flannel for a JM quilt, 1 yard for gifts
February 14th - Pattern $8 - Dress Pattern for Baby Gift
February 14th - Fabric $50 Duvet Cover for Curtains for Guest Room
February 18th - Fabric $150 6 Yards for coordinating Pillow Backs for Guest Room, 8 yards for two separate dresses, 1 yard for baby gift dress (see pattern above)

Now, this looks REALLY BAD.  I know that.  For a no-buying fabric plan, I bought 23+ yards of fabric.
TWENTY-THREE!  yikes.

I'm telling myself it's okay, because they all have specific purposes. Which means I'm monitoring my shopping habits.

Now, my personal goal is to finish all, and I mean ALL of the projects listed above in the month of March.  Stockpiling projects is not ok.  I have plenty of projects stockpiled that I could work on without buying new fabric.

This means:
1. Guest Room Curtains
2. Guest Room Pillows
3. Spools Dress for Me
4. Blue/Orange Dress for Me (These two will be the HARDEST -- I don't have much clothing experience)
5. Baby Girl Dress - Blue/Gold (Which is where the 1 yard goes)
6. Baby Girl Dress - Jungle (Already have fabric for this one)
7. Turtle Word Quilt -- following the quilt-a-long found here.
8. Fundraising Gift for Morgan

Is my March to-do list.

Plus I want to make some doggie-themed gifts for our local animal shelter.

They're having a Parole-a-Pooch fundraiser. We've committed our puppy Pica to the cause.
Visit their webpage here to see more information. Or click on through to help bail Pica Oreo Creme Deluxe aka Viscious --every dollar helps.

This is his mug shot:
Doesn't he look so sad? (Sitting on my sewing studio rug - thanks IKEA!)

They're having a rummage sale on April 9th to raise money for the Parolees - so that's the need for doggie-themed items.

Hopefully completing a few more projects will help me not feel so guilty for SERIOUSLY breaking the fast this month.

So far, I'm 50/50 -- does that mean I add July to my fast and re-evaluate July 1 instead of June 1?

=)