tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394050840654795782024-03-13T07:03:02.332-07:00Hope Sewing is GeneticEmbracing my inner old lady by learning to sew and quilt...and hopefully doing my Grammy proud.stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-13107698752657325692012-09-28T07:56:00.003-07:002012-09-28T07:56:57.334-07:00Sewing + Yoga + Poetry = ? Back in the spring I started going to yoga classes at <a href="http://www.inmotionfitness.net/">my gym</a> fairly diligently. You know, because I needed an activity that WASN'T sitting down / stationary, like my job is and like sewing is and like pretty much everything else I do is!<br />
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Anyway, occasionally the gal who teaches the class will read us a poem from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Poems-Lines-Unfold-By/dp/1933330112/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348844056&sr=8-1&keywords=yoga+poems+lines+to+unfold+by">her little book of yoga poetry</a>. Generally the reading will have something to do with one of the poses we did that today. While we didn't do this posture today, the poem really struck home.<br />
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<i>Sutra Hasta Majariasana</i><br />
"Threading the Needle"<i> </i><br />
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Untangling a knot<br />
that is my life<br />
the knot becomes my teacher.<br />
Gathering the threads into one,<br />
unraveling the closed-up space<br />
a glimmer of light<br />
surfaces between strands.<br />
The needle that is sharp<br />
at dawn<br />
might be broken by dusk.<br />
The thread that is straight today<br />
doesn't know<br />
it will be knotted tomorrow.<br />
The knot<br />
that is tangled today<br />
could be woven into gold<br />
ten years from now.<br />
That is why<br />
I thread the needle,<br />
honoring the odds<br />
steadying my arms<br />
softening my breath<br />
working the knot,<br />
trusting. <br />
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If you're interested, this is a video showing you how to do the posture that the poem is referring to. :)<br />
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Namaste!stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-28809218761445779582012-09-25T09:35:00.002-07:002012-09-25T09:35:17.577-07:00Shopping suggestionsDon't have a heart attack, but yes indeed, this is me blogging two days in a row! WHOA!<br />
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I'm very excited to be playing the role of sewing mentor very soon! The gal I take yoga from at the gym is having her second little boy in a few months, and we're going to make a quilt for him! She picked out <a href="http://www.fabricworm.com/viorbytitrin.html">this bundle from Fabricworm</a>:<br />
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Vikings! How cute is that?? I can't wait to see it in person. <br />
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My folks have decided to come for Christmas, so I figured it's probably best that I make something for them as well (which really means something for my mom, since I'm pretty sure my dad's not huge on interior decorating). My mom pointed out several blogger bundles from <a href="http://www.pinkcastlefabrics.com/collections/precuts-blogger-bundles">Pink Castle Fabrics</a> that she likes - unfortunately, most of them are out of stock!<br />
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They do have <a href="http://www.pinkcastlefabrics.com/collections/precuts-blogger-bundles/products/hawaiian-sunset-blogger-bundle-by-amber-from-one-shabby-chick">Hawaiian Sunset</a> in stock:<br />
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And she also liked the <a href="http://www.pinkcastlefabrics.com/collections/precuts-blogger-bundles/products/sea-glass-bundle-blogger-bundle-by-brenda-from-just-a-bit-frayed">Sea Glass Bundle</a> and <a href="http://www.pinkcastlefabrics.com/collections/precuts-blogger-bundles/products/summer-blooms-blogger-bundle-by-kaelin-from-the-plaid-scottie">Summer Blooms</a> (both out of stock!)...But I'm looking for a few more options. Where do you shop for pre-put-together FQ bundles that aren't necessarily from the same fabric line? <br />
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I may go with the Sea Glass Bundle - but rather than get the bundle, just get a couple prints, since I already have a TON of the Salt Air collection...hmmm.... stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-56045426288860391752012-09-24T09:31:00.002-07:002012-09-24T09:31:50.583-07:00Serenade for MatildaI recently finished up another commissioned project - for the same coworker that got the last one! She asked for something girly with butterflies for her granddaughter, Matilda. Kate Spain's Serenade line seemed to fit the bill quite well, so I paired it with one of the gray Konas and went to town! I had a good time with this one - small and quick but very satisfying!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Before I get to photos - Fresh Squeezed Fabrics is having a contest where, if you get enough people to repin your favorite fabric bundle on Pinterest, you can WIN the bundle! I aimed low and went with a $15 bundle of Bella, so I need 15 repins - help! :) <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/37436240623589405/">Check out my pin here</a>, and repin to help me win! <a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/2012/09/pin-it-to-win-it.html#tpe-action-posted-6a00d8341c52ef53ef017d3c47fe4f970c">Check out the details to win your own bundle here. </a></b></span><br />
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On to photos! <br />
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There's my attempts at artsy quilt photography. Except that last one, where my leg got in the way. Whoops.<br />
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The pattern for the quilt is from the Moda Bake Shop - very fun/easy way to use charm packs, particularly ones with prints that you'd really like to feature. I think I might use this for a couple more charm packs I have, especially those where I have some yardage from the line too (like Little Apples or Guising, where I got matching solids). stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-2677401093223342222012-09-13T11:17:00.000-07:002012-09-13T11:17:27.033-07:00Sold!I'm a very happy gal right now. I just sold another one of my quilts to a coworker. Now, I'm no fabulous Etsy salesperson, making a ton of money on each quilt or anything like that, but I figure as long as I cover the cost of materials, I'd probably make the quilts anyway for fun, so my time doesn't really need to be paid for at this time.<br />
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Anyway, the latest finish that I've sold is this one, which I last blogged about on <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2012/07/wips.html">my big fat WIP post</a>. <br />
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Here it is, all finished and on our bed for scale (it's a futon, which is roughly full-size - and sorry they're Instagram photos, it's the only way I can make myself take any these days!):<br />
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I called this one my cross-hatch quilt. I started it similar to a jelly-roll-race quilt, but cut it into pieces and used those as "blocks," which I sashed together in alternating directions. <br />
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This also marked my first attempt at free-motion quilting! The results weren't fantastic, but the whole thing definitely seems more feasible now, and with practice, I'm sure I could become okay at it. I mostly did straight-line, stitch-in-the-ditch quilting, but used these little swirlies across the big berry-colored, otherwise-plain section in the middle. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--IAO6ZCc5no/UFIigede-BI/AAAAAAAAAkU/LPdu1XVv_AY/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--IAO6ZCc5no/UFIigede-BI/AAAAAAAAAkU/LPdu1XVv_AY/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And a close-up of the fabrics. They were mostly Joann red tag or remnant choices. The back is flannel, mostly teal with a stripe of barely-polka-dotted-pink across the center.<br />
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Overall I'm really pleased with the result, happy to have another quilt finished and out into the world, and excited to have a little more fabric money in my pocket! stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-21664376701318324862012-09-07T18:07:00.000-07:002012-09-07T18:07:01.260-07:00Gilmore Girls Reading List <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So my dear friend <a href="http://polkadotsandpastries.blogspot.com/">Dianna</a>, who has moved away to go to graduate school, and I both seem to have found <a href="http://bookreviews.me.uk/rory-gilmore-reading-challenge/">this list</a> (probably via Pinterest - follow me, <a href="http://pinterest.com/stephmabry/">here</a>!). It is a list of all the books that Rory is seen reading in the TV show Gilmore Girls. We are considering having a long-distance readalong of some of the books! I've separated out the ones I've read (only 45, I'm not a very good English degree-holder, am I?!) so that we can compare and figure out where to start. ;) <br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Read:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Awakening by Kate Chopin</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Beowulf: A New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney (perhaps not this version, but some version)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Bitch in Praise of Difficult Women by Elizabeth Wurtzel</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Brave New World by Aldous Huxley</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer (not in their entirety, though)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon<br />
Daisy Miller by Henry James<br />
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Empire Falls by Richard Russo</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck<br />
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Hamlet by William Shakespeare</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling<br />
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Iron Weed by William J. Kennedy</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Macbeth by William Shakespeare<br />
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck<br />
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch by Alexander Solzhenitsyn</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach<br />
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Owned:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Atonement by Ian McEwan</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Catch-22 by Joseph Heller<br />
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">1984 by George Orwell<br />
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll<br />
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon<br />
An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser<br />
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy<br />
Archidamian War by Donald Kagan<br />
The Art of Fiction by Henry James<br />
The Art of War by Sun Tzu<br />
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner<br />
Babe by Dick King-Smith<br />
Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women by Susan Faludi<br />
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie<br />
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett<br />
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath<br />
Beloved by Toni Morrison<br />
The Bhagava Gita<br />
The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 Jews by Peter Duffy<br />
A Bolt from the Blue and Other Essays by Mary McCarthy<br />
Brick Lane by Monica Ali<br />
Bridgadoon by Alan Jay Lerner<br />
Candide by Voltaire<br />
Carrie by Stephen King<br />
The Children’s Hour by Lillian Hellman<br />
Christine by Stephen King<br />
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens<br />
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess<br />
The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse<br />
The Collected Short Stories by Eudora Welty<br />
The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty by Eudora Welty<br />
A Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare<br />
Complete Novels by Dawn Powell<br />
The Complete Poems by Anne Sexton<br />
Complete Stories by Dorothy Parker<br />
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole<br />
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas père<br />
Cousin Bette by Honor’e de Balzac<br />
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky<br />
The Crucible by Arthur Miller<br />
Cujo by Stephen King<br />
David and Lisa by Dr Theodore Issac Rubin M.D<br />
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens<br />
The Da Vinci -Code by Dan Brown<br />
Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol<br />
Demons by Fyodor Dostoyevsky<br />
Deenie by Judy Blume<br />
The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx<br />
The Divine Comedy by Dante<br />
The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells<br />
Don Quijote by Cervantes<br />
Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhrv<br />
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson<br />
Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales & Poems by Edgar Allan Poe<br />
Eleanor Roosevelt by Blanche Wiesen Cook<br />
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe<br />
Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn<br />
Eloise by Kay Thompson<br />
Emily the Strange by Roger Reger<br />
Emma by Jane Austen<br />
Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol<br />
Ethics by Spinoza<br />
Europe through the Back Door, 2003 by Rick Steves<br />
Eva Luna by Isabel Allende<br />
Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer<br />
Extravagance by Gary Krist<br />
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury<br />
Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore<br />
The Fall of the Athenian Empire by Donald Kagan<br />
Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World by Greg Critser<br />
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson<br />
The Fellowship of the Ring: Book 1 of The Lord of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien<br />
Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein<br />
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom<br />
Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce<br />
Fletch by Gregory McDonald<br />
The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem<br />
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand<br />
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley<br />
Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger<br />
Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers<br />
Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut<br />
Gender Trouble by Judith Butler<br />
George W. Bushism: The Slate Book of the Accidental Wit and Wisdom of our 43rd President by Jacob Weisberg<br />
Gidget by Fredrick Kohner<br />
The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels<br />
The Godfather: Book 1 by Mario Puzo<br />
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy<br />
Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Alvin Granowsky<br />
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell<br />
The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford<br />
The Gospel According to Judy Bloom<br />
The Graduate by Charles Webb<br />
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens<br />
The Group by Mary McCarthy<br />
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling – read<br />
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad<br />
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry<br />
Henry IV, part I by William Shakespeare<br />
Henry IV, part II by William Shakespeare<br />
Henry V by William Shakespeare<br />
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby<br />
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon<br />
Holidays on Ice: Stories by David Sedaris<br />
The Holy Barbarians by Lawrence Lipton<br />
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende<br />
How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer<br />
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss<br />
How the Light Gets in by M. J. Hyland<br />
Howl by Allen Gingsburg<br />
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo<br />
The Iliad by Homer<br />
I’m with the Band by Pamela des Barres<br />
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote<br />
Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee<br />
It Takes a Village by Hillary Clinton<br />
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan<br />
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare<br />
The Jumping Frog by Mark Twain<br />
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair<br />
Just a Couple of Days by Tony Vigorito<br />
The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar by Robert Alexander<br />
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini<br />
Lady Chatterleys’ Lover by D. H. Lawrence<br />
The Last Empire: Essays 1992-2000 by Gore Vidal<br />
The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield<br />
Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis<br />
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke<br />
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by Al Franken<br />
Life of Pi by Yann Martel<br />
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis<br />
Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens<br />
The Little Locksmith by Katharine Butler Hathaway<br />
The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen<br />
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott<br />
Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton<br />
Lord of the Flies by William Golding<br />
The Lottery: And Other Stories by Shirley Jackson<br />
The Love Story by Erich Segal</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert<br />
The Manticore by Robertson Davies<br />
Marathon Man by William Goldman<br />
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov<br />
Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by Simone de Beauvoir<br />
Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman by William Tecumseh Sherman</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Meaning of Consuelo by Judith Ortiz Cofer<br />
Mencken’s Chrestomathy by H. R. Mencken<br />
The Merry Wives of Windsro by William Shakespeare<br />
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka<br />
The Miracle Worker by William Gibson<br />
Moby Dick by Herman Melville<br />
The Mojo Collection: The Ultimate Music Companion by Jim Irvin<br />
Moliere: A Biography by Hobart Chatfield Taylor<br />
A Monetary History of the United States by Milton Friedman<br />
Monsieur Proust by Celeste Albaret<br />
A Month Of Sundays: Searching For The Spirit And My Sister by Julie Mars<br />
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway<br />
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf<br />
Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall<br />
My Lai 4: A Report on the Massacre and It’s Aftermath by Seymour M. Hersh<br />
My Life as Author and Editor by H. R. Mencken<br />
My Life in Orange: Growing Up with the Guru by Tim Guest<br />
The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer<br />
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco<br />
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri<br />
The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin<br />
Nervous System: Or, Losing My Mind in Literature by Jan Lars Jensen<br />
New Poems of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson<br />
The New Way Things Work by David Macaulay<br />
Night by Elie Wiesel<br />
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism by William E. Cain, Laurie A. Finke, Barbara E. Johnson, John P. McGowan<br />
Novels 1930-1942: Dance Night/Come Back to Sorrento, Turn, Magic Wheel/Angels on Toast/A Time to be Born by Dawn Powell<br />
Notes of a Dirty Old Man by Charles Bukowski<br />
Old School by Tobias Wolff</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">On the Road by Jack Kerouac<br />
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey<br />
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez<br />
The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life by Amy Tan<br />
Oracle Night by Paul Auster<br />
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood<br />
Othello by Shakespeare<br />
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens<br />
The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan<br />
Out of Africa by Isac Dineson<br />
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton<br />
A Passage to India by E.M. Forster<br />
The Peace of Nicias and the Sicilian Expedition by Donald Kagan<br />
Peyton Place by Grace Metalious<br />
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde<br />
Pigs at the Trough by Arianna Huffington<br />
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi<br />
Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain<br />
The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby<br />
The Portable Dorothy Parker by Dorothy Parker<br />
The Portable Nietzche by Fredrich Nietzche<br />
The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House, and the Education of Paul O’Neill by Ron Suskind<br />
Property by Valerie Martin<br />
Pushkin: A Biography by T. J. Binyon<br />
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw<br />
Quattrocento by James Mckean<br />
A Quiet Storm by Rachel Howzell Hall<br />
Rapunzel by Grimm Brothers<br />
The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham<br />
Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi<br />
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier<br />
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin<br />
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant<br />
Rescuing Patty Hearst: Memories From a Decade Gone Mad by Virginia Holman<br />
The Return of the King: The Lord of the Rings Book 3 by J. R. R. Tolkien<br />
R Is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton<br />
Rita Hayworth by Stephen King<br />
Robert’s Rules of Order by Henry Robert<br />
Roman Fever by Edith Wharton<br />
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf<br />
A Room with a View by E. M. Forster<br />
Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin<br />
Sacred Time by Ursula Hegi<br />
Sanctuary by William Faulkner<br />
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford<br />
The Scarecrow of Oz by Frank L. Baum<br />
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne<br />
Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand<br />
The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir<br />
Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette by Judith Thurman<br />
Selected Letters of Dawn Powell: 1913-1965 by Dawn Powell<br />
A Separate Peace by John Knowles<br />
Several Biographies of Winston Churchill<br />
Sexus by Henry Miller<br />
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon<br />
Shane by Jack Shaefer<br />
The Shining by Stephen King<br />
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse<br />
S Is for Silence by Sue Grafton<br />
Slaughter-house Five by Kurt Vonnegut<br />
Small Island by Andrea Levy<br />
Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway<br />
Snow White and Rose Red by Grimm Brothers<br />
Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy: Lord and Peasant in the Making of the Modern World by Barrington Moore<br />
The Song of Names by Norman Lebrecht<br />
Song of the Simple Truth: The Complete Poems of Julia de Burgos by Julia de Burgos<br />
The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker<br />
Songbook by Nick Hornby<br />
The Sonnets by William Shakespeare<br />
Sonnets from the Portuegese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning<br />
Sophie’s Choice by William Styron<br />
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner<br />
Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov<br />
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller<br />
A Streetcar Named Desiree by Tennessee Williams<br />
Stuart Little by E. B. White<br />
Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway<br />
Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust<br />
Swimming with Giants: My Encounters with Whales, Dolphins and Seals by Anne Collett<br />
Sybil by Flora Rheta Schreiber<br />
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens<br />
Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald<br />
Term of Endearment by Larry McMurtry<br />
Time and Again by Jack Finney<br />
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger<br />
To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The Tragedy of Richard III by William Shakespeare<br />
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith<br />
The Trial by Franz Kafka<br />
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson<br />
Truth & Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett<br />
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom<br />
Ulysses by James Joyce<br />
The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath 1950-1962 by Sylvia Plath<br />
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe<br />
Unless by Carol Shields<br />
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann<br />
The Vanishing Newspaper by Philip Meyers<br />
Velvet Underground’s The Velvet Underground and Nico (Thirty Three and a Third series) by Joe Harvard<br />
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides<br />
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett<br />
Walden by Henry David Thoreau<br />
Walt Disney’s Bambi by Felix Salten<br />
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy<br />
We Owe You Nothing – Punk Planet: The Collected Interviews edited by Daniel Sinker<br />
What Colour is Your Parachute? 2005 by Richard Nelson Bolles<br />
What Happened to Baby Jane by Henry Farrell<br />
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka<br />
Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson<br />
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee – read<br />
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire<br />
The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum<br />
The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings<br />
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion<br />
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole </span> </div><br />
<br />
stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-12768302519073138212012-07-26T15:56:00.001-07:002012-07-26T15:56:15.516-07:00Bon Voyage!Dianna from <a href="http://polkadotsandpastries.blogspot.com/">Polka Dots and Pastrie</a>s has expressed some dismay that I don't post more often - hopefully now that she is leaving, off on a great voyage across the country, I will be inspired to post more about my crafting so that she can keep up with my projects. ;) <br />
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And even though this is not exactly a great photo of me, it does show off two completed WIPs, at least a little!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_Qr3zig4q4/UBHKbFSFkII/AAAAAAAAAj0/au-7uN-GcR8/s1600/leg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_Qr3zig4q4/UBHKbFSFkII/AAAAAAAAAj0/au-7uN-GcR8/s400/leg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The girl smiling is NOT me... but that leg and the skirt ARE mine! Haha! My flowers are now finished,with only a touch-up appointment to go, and the skirt, made out of that lovely chair print, is one I finished!<br />
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I managed to cross something off my mental to-do list - getting my machine cleaned! - at Cathy's Sew and Vac here in Chico. They recently moved, and even more recently became home to a local quilt shop, that had a yard of the chairs on sale for something like $4.50! How could I resist!! In fact, it was tough not to get the print in the dark purple, the light purple AND the red!<br />
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Anyway...the photo itself is from dear Dianna's going away party, and you can see more photos of me in her photos on <a href="http://polkadotsandpastries.blogspot.com/2012/07/okay-really-saturday-today.html">this blog post</a>. Good-bye, friend - have a fantastic adventure on the east coast!! :)stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-26299475636883288772012-07-11T14:08:00.002-07:002012-07-11T14:08:42.618-07:00WIPs.So it's been a dog's age, I know, but I swear I've been busy. I've been motivated to make a good list of my WIPs by a friend who's looking to buy a handmade quilt for her daughter's birthday... so here's what I've been working on!<br />
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Granny squares quilt: I'm really proud of how this one has turned out thus far. I love the colors, because they're both outside of my comfort zone but make me very happy. The fabrics for the front are almost entirely from scrap packs I bought from<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/fabricshoppe?section_id=5321365"> Fabric Shoppe</a>! The back includes some leftovers from the front, which is extra fun. (I think so, anyway!). Just have to baste, quilt, and bind this one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n9uPObZ-haU/T_3lJaOlvwI/AAAAAAAAAiw/OJ0LZy9XesI/s1600/Granny+Front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n9uPObZ-haU/T_3lJaOlvwI/AAAAAAAAAiw/OJ0LZy9XesI/s320/Granny+Front.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granny Squares Front</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ExLAa1Tbp_k/T_3lFwze8xI/AAAAAAAAAio/s15gpx4uIcg/s1600/Granny+Back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ExLAa1Tbp_k/T_3lFwze8xI/AAAAAAAAAio/s15gpx4uIcg/s320/Granny+Back.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granny Squares Back</td></tr>
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"Cross-Hatch" quilt - started as a jelly roll race style quilt but didn't turn out as I intended, so I turned it into a bunch of strips that go in different directions. Sort of. Look at it and you'll get it, LOL. The first one is basted and ready for quilting. The backing is mostly teal flannel with a broad stripe of white across the middle. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Rqs9QoaAxY/T_3krhzW8DI/AAAAAAAAAhw/1eavuHhcEr4/s1600/CrossHatch-Basted.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Rqs9QoaAxY/T_3krhzW8DI/AAAAAAAAAhw/1eavuHhcEr4/s320/CrossHatch-Basted.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CrossHatch, almost done!</td></tr>
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I have a second one meant to be the same style, I just haven't gotten fabric to use for the sashing yet, so it's still in strips/squares.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WepHJA4R__Y/T_3kvNcdb6I/AAAAAAAAAh4/qkfB5Ke8F5I/s1600/CrossHatch-Set2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WepHJA4R__Y/T_3kvNcdb6I/AAAAAAAAAh4/qkfB5Ke8F5I/s320/CrossHatch-Set2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CrossHatch, not yet assembled</td></tr>
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Half Moon Modern Four-Patch: I love this one, I just don't really have a place for it in my house. There's gray sashing at the top, like you can see across the bottom. I don't have backing picked out for this one yet. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjXweYLuw1Q/T_3lMeH-XlI/AAAAAAAAAi4/WuwA7nApEiE/s1600/Half+Moon+Four+Patch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjXweYLuw1Q/T_3lMeH-XlI/AAAAAAAAAi4/WuwA7nApEiE/s320/Half+Moon+Four+Patch.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half Moon Modern Four-Patch</td></tr>
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Fruit Basket Sixteen-Patch: Fruit Basket? What? I don't know. There are fabrics with lemons and cherries on it, and I think maybe apples, too. More Fabric Shoppe scrap packs led me to this one. Not really my style, but I do like the way it looks (even if the sashing is admittedly uneven, as I now see). I don't have backing fabric picked out for this one, either. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHvWD-0ludk/T_3lPUa57TI/AAAAAAAAAjA/zVE6FY3JYmM/s1600/Sixteen+Patch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHvWD-0ludk/T_3lPUa57TI/AAAAAAAAAjA/zVE6FY3JYmM/s320/Sixteen+Patch.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit Basket Sixteen-Patch</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Rainbow Stripes: I really like this one. These are all charms I got from the bagillions of charm swaps I've been in, and I have at least enough of rainbow-colored charms to make up another quilt just like this. I'm thinking purple flannel for the back of this one. The white is flannel as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TTfP-PUFjpg/T_3lbpAMr4I/AAAAAAAAAjk/ctHMbRO-lls/s1600/Stripes-Rainbow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TTfP-PUFjpg/T_3lbpAMr4I/AAAAAAAAAjk/ctHMbRO-lls/s320/Stripes-Rainbow.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow Stripes Front</td></tr>
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Dots-and-Stripes Stripes: These strips will make a quilt just like the Rainbow Stripes one, except there will be seven strips, so it will be a little wider. The strips will be alternating rows of polka dots and stripes. I also have another set of polka dot squares that will be made into yet ANOTHER quilt just like this one. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fw0Zm381QJM/T_3lYzb3mcI/AAAAAAAAAjc/QrvbgSM3nVE/s1600/Stripes-Dots+and+Stripes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fw0Zm381QJM/T_3lYzb3mcI/AAAAAAAAAjc/QrvbgSM3nVE/s320/Stripes-Dots+and+Stripes.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dots and Stripes Strips</td></tr>
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Cut squares: Okay, so admittedly I got a little carried away with the Fabric Shoppe scrap packs. A couple of the packs I got ended up with two pretty nice sets, one of boy prints and another of girl prints. I think the squares are 3" (I'm not at home so I can't measure, and it's been a while!). They're definitely smaller than charm squares. Not sure where I'm going with these, but I love the combinations. :) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cDveVmpcqXw/T_3lSiKa47I/AAAAAAAAAjI/3fhAoow8GSY/s1600/Squares+-+Boy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cDveVmpcqXw/T_3lSiKa47I/AAAAAAAAAjI/3fhAoow8GSY/s320/Squares+-+Boy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boy Squares</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JZoqPvC33LE/T_3lVwC4OtI/AAAAAAAAAjU/N5hUPhGlqP0/s1600/Squares+-+Girl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JZoqPvC33LE/T_3lVwC4OtI/AAAAAAAAAjU/N5hUPhGlqP0/s320/Squares+-+Girl.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girl Squares</td></tr>
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Fat Quarter Sets: I've got a few sets of fat quarters from the same collections - the first and last were lucky winnings, the middle was a set I got on sale from <a href="http://www.sewmamasew.com/store/sale--1SALE.html">Sew, Mama, Sew!'s sale section</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q81tBJ837Ac/T_3k4jpwi2I/AAAAAAAAAiM/hXCifbeddvI/s1600/FQ+Set+-+Guising.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q81tBJ837Ac/T_3k4jpwi2I/AAAAAAAAAiM/hXCifbeddvI/s320/FQ+Set+-+Guising.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lizzy House's Guising Collection</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jane Dixon's Primitiva Collection</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aneela Hoey's A Walk in the Woods (also have a little more of this!)</td></tr>
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Charm Squares: Okay, I promise, this is the last thing! I was part of a red-orange, green, and blue swap not too long ago. The squares I got back are 5" by 10". I don't know what my plans are for these, but we could come up with something, right?? ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLkEY7O6uIw/T_3k0YfkPqI/AAAAAAAAAiA/b0c6-7Uj6dw/s1600/Double+Charms+-+Red+Orange+-+Blue+-+Green.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLkEY7O6uIw/T_3k0YfkPqI/AAAAAAAAAiA/b0c6-7Uj6dw/s320/Double+Charms+-+Red+Orange+-+Blue+-+Green.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ROGB 5x10 Bricks</td></tr>
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Phew! I look way busy, huh? ;) I'll have to get my butt in gear and actually *finish* some of these things!stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-8936550257933829812012-06-01T07:44:00.000-07:002012-06-03T08:40:55.761-07:00Matchy Matchy Polka Dotty Swap - Sign-Ups!So I'm hosting my first swap! Sign ups start Friday, June 1, and will continue until we hit 28 spots full (whether that's 28 people or 4 really ambitious ones, it doesn't matter to me!). This unfortunately is open to US participants only. Please check out the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1932064@N25/">swap Flickr group</a> for more information! <br />
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SIGN UPS ARE FULL! Thank you so much to everyone who's signed up - can't wait to get everything going! If you missed out, do not despair - if this goes nice and easy it's likely I'll host another one again in the future (I'm thinking maybe stripes?? ;)stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-27516087491136245952012-05-31T14:56:00.005-07:002012-05-31T15:01:10.805-07:00Tattoo photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Really this post is nothing more than a dump of photos I've taken of my own leg. LOL. Can't wait - going back next Wednesday to get started on color!<br />
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<a href="http://www.victorytattoo.com/">Derek</a><a href="http://www.victorytattoo.com/">, from Victory Tattoo here in Chico,</a> said I won the biggest bandage of the week award. No prize was awarded, unfortunately. You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/victorytattoochico">check Derek out on Facebook</a>, too. <br />
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It's me, so of course there's got to be a stack of fabric in a photo, right?? ;)<br />
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And one with a kitty, too! Hi, Molly! <br />
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Come back tomorrow for something else that's fun, too! ;)stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-2711684117461611412012-05-25T16:26:00.002-07:002012-05-25T16:26:22.259-07:00Old Navy Sample Share - Shorts!It is possible to have a crush on a website? Cuz I have a little bit of a crush on <a href="http://bit.ly/mny5Jj">Crowdtap</a>, a site that allows you to interact with brands, where you give them feedback on their products in exchange for free stuff and gift cards (I always redeem my points for Amazon cash!). <br />
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The latest Sample Share I got to participate in was for <a href="http://www.oldnavy.com/">Old Navy</a>'s shorts collection. I got coupons to go with a friend of mine to try out any shorts we wanted (shorts being anything that is too short to cover my stupid looking knees). <br />
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I think between the two of us we tried on most of the different pairs! The first ones I tried were the <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?searchCID=68131&vid=1&pid=117964&scid=117964032">Printed Canvas Shorts</a>, which were super cute (unfortunately you can't see HOW super cute they were, since I'm a terrible photographer - trust me, there was a neat print on them!). I didn't like the way they were SO short - I really wish that Old Navy offered patterns like these on their longer shorts, though. Probably the best part of the photograph is that you can at least sort of see how high on my leg my <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2012/05/wip-wednesday.html">tattoo "WIP"</a> comes - a little bit above my knee! Love it!!<br />
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Our Old Navy was recently remodeled, and these fun labels were in the dressing room - I just wish that the middle one said "Try It On!" or something like that, so I would definitely-for-sure remember which pieces I hadn't tried yet!<br />
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Anyway, the shorts on the left are the <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=897713002&userSearchText=perfect+5%22&searchCID=68131">Perfect Khaki Shorts (5" inseam)</a> and the ones on the right are the Ultimate Bermudas with stretch, which I wasn't able to find on their website. The problem with both pairs was that the legs were too tight on me in my regular size, but when I went up a size, the waist was WAY too big.<br />
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Because of that little bit of disproportionality, I ended up choosing the Relaxed Chino Shorts (9 1/2" inseam) in Rifle Gray. <br />
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I like them because, as you can juuuust barely see, they have buttons at the waist. These buttons go with little tabs that remind me of the tabs on my BDU pants from the Air Force - you can make the waist just a little bit smaller with them! Hooray! Unfortunately, I still had to go up a size for my thunder thighs I mean powerful legs to fit properly...and as such, will have to adjust the positions of the buttons. Oh well - better that than legs that are suffocating, right??<br />
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My friend (who's apparently pretty camera shy!) had similar thoughts about most of the shorts. She liked the chinos I got, but she's a bit shorter than me so they were way too long on her! She picked the <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?searchCID=68131&vid=1&pid=116092&scid=116092002">Cuffed Twill Shorts (7" inseam) in Tree Frog</a> - she liked the length, the front accent pockets, and the fun color!<br />
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Overall - definitely a fun afternoon! It was a great break from work, as we hit up the nearby KFC for chicken afterwards. Delish!<br />
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Thank you so much, <a href="http://bit.ly/mny5Jj">Crowdtap</a>, for another great pair of summer shorts from Old Navy! Click the <a href="http://bit.ly/mny5Jj">Crowdtap </a>link to sign up and you too could have a chance at free stuff! ;)stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-74924342642767597572012-05-23T08:05:00.004-07:002012-05-23T08:05:47.727-07:00WIP WednesdayWell I've been horribly neglectful, yet again, of my readers. Things have been crazy - the end of every school year always is, even though all I do is help my husband get through graduate school. The good news is, though, that it's over and done with for a few months... or at least the part where he actually goes to class is. There's always something going on with his experiment, or figuring out how many and which classes he'll be teaching and all of that... and throw in the remodeling that'll be starting up again pretty soon and we'll be just as busy, but in different ways.<br />
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Anywho, it's <a href="http://freshlypieced.blogspot.com/2012/05/wip-wednesday-back-to-it.html">WIP Wednesday</a> over at <a href="http://freshlypieced.blogspot.com/">Freshly Pieced</a> and I'm linking up for the first time in what seems like ages! Despite Jeff's being busy I've had plenty of time to work on various projects... and this morning I actually remembered to snap (poorly lit, very amateur-ish) photos of them, so here we go! <br />
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In northern California it gets ridiculously hot. Like, 100+ degrees for days at a time, and all you want to do is sit in a vat of ice cubes naked.<br />
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But at least it isn't humid, like back home, where you have that "just got out of the shower" feeling ALL DAY LONG.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_6Dlj1ugFwo/T7z5uR3JebI/AAAAAAAAAfs/kecXbeHSpcI/s1600/LITTLE+SKIRTS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_6Dlj1ugFwo/T7z5uR3JebI/AAAAAAAAAfs/kecXbeHSpcI/s320/LITTLE+SKIRTS.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I also have a friend, who has an ADORABLE little girl who just turned four. Last summer I made some <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2011/05/gifts.html">simple skirts </a>for her. She was visiting her mama here at work the other day, and I asked her if she'd like me to make some more, since it's juuuust starting to get toasty in the afternoons. She requested dogs, cats, and a horse. Well, the only request I could fulfill with my stash was dogs, but hopefully the monkeys will do! These are almost done - just have to have her try them on to make sure the waists are the right size, then finish closing the waistband.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iTIQhS-JI2E/T7z5wOLfvTI/AAAAAAAAAf0/nPZpNt7e7PE/s1600/big+skirt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FGtKrFmAByw/T7z5svUxwMI/AAAAAAAAAfk/nbTo_yBl69I/s1600/16patch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FGtKrFmAByw/T7z5svUxwMI/AAAAAAAAAfk/nbTo_yBl69I/s320/16patch.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've been drowning in squares recently. As I think i've mentioned before, I love the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/fabricshoppe?section_id=5321365">"Surprise in My Mailbox"</a> stash builder bundles from Fabric Shoppe - I've ordered, uh, more than I care to admit from her, and the surprises have always been pleasant! Excluding the red, which is some Kona I was lucky enough to score from the Joann remnant bin, all the fabrics in this quilt came from those surprises. I just finished adding the borders to this quilt top within the last couple of weeks. (Should've taken some close ups - sorry!). <br />
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More squares - these time of the granny variety! I absolutely LOVE this block and have at least two more of these quilts planned. These squares also came from my Fabric Shop bundles. I have to pick a border color for it, still, but I've ordered <a href="http://www.skyerevefabrics.com/collections/fruit-slice/pr431">"leaves in blue" from the Fruit Slice collection</a> for the back - I think it will be a nice complement to the front. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fdzSQwuNfko/T7z5yG3DU4I/AAAAAAAAAf8/BBgBkww5_nA/s1600/granny+close.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fdzSQwuNfko/T7z5yG3DU4I/AAAAAAAAAf8/BBgBkww5_nA/s320/granny+close.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's a close-up of the front. I love the sorta retro feel it has to it! I'm definitely looking forward to finishing this one, though I'm not entirely sure where it's going to end up yet! <br />
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Well...probably my FAVORITE WIP that I've started over the last month has been...my own leg? Yes indeed. I have been thinking of this tattoo for a while now, and finally went to see Derek, the owner of <a href="http://www.victorytattoo.com/">Victory Tattoo</a> here in Chico, to get the process started. Two hours for the outline, and probably two more sessions after that (one for leaves, the final for flowers) to get the whole thing done. It continues up around the outside of my knee and ends a few inches up my thigh. :)<br />
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What my new ink means, though, is that I need to be able to show it off, right? So in addition to making skirts for my friend's girl, I've made a couple for myself! (Okay, well, one so far, but I have a bunch more cut out). I thought this was a great way to use this yard of Echo, and I like how the stripes I added down either side give it a bit of a sporty feel, like a tennis skirt without any of the exercise/running/sweating. ;)<br />
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And there you have it! A long catch-up catch-all kind of post for WIP Wednesday. What have YOU been working on??stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-2963615775044120262012-05-04T16:37:00.002-07:002012-05-04T16:37:32.558-07:00Winner!Well, I had all of two folks enter to win the traveling stash, and random number generator thinger picked #2, so I'll be contacting Kim in just a moment for her address! Hooray, Kim!<br />
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<a href="http://charmaboutyou.blogspot.com/" title="Charm About You"><img alt="Charm About You" src="http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/Lucy_Brennan/fugly2button.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
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In other news - have you heard of the Fugly Fabric Party? No? WHY NOT!? It's pretty awesome. I'll be offering up some fugly fabric here on the 8th of May, and this time, you'll have the chance not only to win a fugly from me but also some definitely NOT fugly fabric from the link party's sponsor, <a href="http://www.printstopolkadots.co.uk/store/?tracking=4f571896b2424">Prints to Polka Dots</a>! Stop by Lucy's blog at <a href="http://charmaboutyou.blogspot.com/">Charm About You</a> for more details - then go dig through your stash to find stuff to swap! :)<br />
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Have a fantastic weekend!</div>
<br />stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-52977125358156030382012-05-02T08:08:00.003-07:002012-05-02T08:08:37.628-07:00Traveling Stash Giveaway!So I love getting mail. Who doesn't!? I've been in a TON of swaps lately, whether in big groups for charm squares or in smaller diads (love that word) for FQ/charm pack swaps - I swapped some Heather Ross Mendocino that I knew would be more appreciated elsewhere for a charm pack of Hullabaloo, and sent a Pezzy FQ all the way to England (Hi <a href="http://ibescheraldine.blogspot.com/">Cheraldine</a>!) in exchange for a different FQ (for what it's worth, when you're doing the customs form, a FQ of fabric in an envelope weighs 2.1 oz. I guessed 2 ounces, so that was pretty darn good!<br />
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When I'm not bothering my local postal workers, I HAVE been sewing, honest! I've finished up all 18 granny squares I had cut, and now they live in a nice stack that looks something like this:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25Xrxs-UGVM/T6FLMnDFNPI/AAAAAAAAAfA/2zM5b7ABsIw/s1600/grannies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25Xrxs-UGVM/T6FLMnDFNPI/AAAAAAAAAfA/2zM5b7ABsIw/s320/grannies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Someday Instagram really needs to release an iPad version so my quick photos turn out better! Anyway...who makes 18 blocks for a quilt? What the heck, right? I'll need to find a couple more fabrics that go along with the theme so that I can get to an even 20 for a 4x5 layout. My squares started at 3.5", so the squares are huge! I'm excited to get this one finished. I think it might end up for sale someplace - probably at my office. I have a coworker with some college-aged daughters, maybe she'll buy it for them. ;)<br />
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Now, onto some bigger, potentially more-comment-generating news? I won a traveling stash! Are you familiar with that? Basically it's a medium flat rate box stuffed full of things that other quilters/sewists didn't want anymore - patterns, orphan blocks, templates, notions, and, of course, fabric!<br />
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Admittedly the fabric in this box isn't the best - it's Joann quality, including what I added. But on the plus side, there is a variety of sizes - what was in it was yardage, and I added a bunch of FQs and FQ-ish pieces - and there are a ton of patterns! This is a great box if you're into appliqued patterns, books, and the like.<br />
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Here's what was in it that I took out:<br />
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Some yardage in basic colors, a book, and a magazine. It was interesting to look through the book - of Mennonite Quilts - and see ones that look awful familiar - there's a photo in there of a quilt that looks similar to the <a href="http://pinsandbobbins.blogspot.com/p/made-in-cherry-quilt-along.html">Made in Cherry QAL</a>. Nothing new under the sun, I suppose! ;) <br />
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So after I took out my bits, here's what was left:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3yg0bauEcjw/T6FMTDv0iCI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/wNW1z7PgKiE/s1600/in.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3yg0bauEcjw/T6FMTDv0iCI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/wNW1z7PgKiE/s320/in.JPG" width="320" /></a>Like I said, a TON of patterns - this box is HEAVY with books! All those big pieces are pretty good sized chunks of yardage. There are also some orphan blocks, charm squares, a package of labels, and a wrist pincushion thingermabob.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Py7Ph6volto/T6FMNDwbf5I/AAAAAAAAAfI/cof1X8CtDgQ/s1600/added.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Py7Ph6volto/T6FMNDwbf5I/AAAAAAAAAfI/cof1X8CtDgQ/s320/added.JPG" width="320" /></a> And this last one is what I added - a whole smattering of various fat quarters, a couple orphan blocks of my own, a dresden plate template (still in packaging, I think it came in a set of FQs I picked up someplace...?). I'll probably also throw in a couple MORE patterns! </div>
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<b>Sooooo....wanna win the stash?</b><br />
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The rules are as follows:<br />
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RULES:<br />
-Be an active blogger.<br />
-Post about receiving and the giveaway on
your blog in a timely manner.<br />
-You may take anything you like from the
box. Just replace every item with comparable items
equal to the amount taken.<br />
-Ship the box to the next person in a
reasonable amount of time.<br />
-Due to the amount of postage shipping is only
within the USA.<br />
-Add your name/blog address to the log so we can keep track of where it's been - and find some fun new blogs to follow in the process!<br />
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<b>So, that's it! Leave me a comment and I'll draw a name on Friday morning. Unfortunately, this is US-only - sorry. :( If you could comment about suggestions for what to do when you don't plan a project, um, at all, and end up with a weird number of blocks (18, maybe??), that'd be even better.</b></div>
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<b>Good luck, everyone! :) </b></div>stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-1914290048033488732012-04-24T08:56:00.002-07:002012-04-24T08:56:54.801-07:00All sorts of happeningsI've been sewing, don't worry! As I mentioned a few posts ago, lately I've been in love with all kinds of squares, which I'd been turning into four patches. Well, the day before yesterday, when browsing through one of my books of blocks...I realised granny squares are made of blocks....!<br />
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I've been in love with the pattern since it first hit the blogosphere, so I figured it was time to dive in!
I've got six done so far. Here are five of them. (Sorry for the Instagram-quality photos, I've been lazy on that front lately!)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3o0ZjD7nPKQ/T5bMUd1XqCI/AAAAAAAAAe4/Ykx66jkkqNE/s1600/grannies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3o0ZjD7nPKQ/T5bMUd1XqCI/AAAAAAAAAe4/Ykx66jkkqNE/s320/grannies.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Along the way, I've of course gotten some more shopping done...because I need to expand my stash like I need a hole in the head! Anyway, the FQ bundles from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkcastlefabrics">Pink Castle Fabrics</a> are addictive like crazy, because they're so awesome! My favorite two from this bundle - some Hello Pilgrim and my favorite of the Flea Market Fancy prints. How do they know!?!?!? Amazing. <br />
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Anyway, there have been some other events. Unfortunately, I've got a bit of a problem:<br />
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I seem to have, at least possibly, chipped a teensy sliver off of my cuboid bone in my right foot. It hurts to walk, though the foot itself doesn't look bad. I'm stuck in this walking boot thing until at least Saturday, at which point I have to go back to the clinic to see what happens next. The physician's assistant said the radiologist will look at it and decide if it is an actual break or just a Little bit of extra bone that's always been there. We will see.
All I know is that while it hurts like crazy, I'm perfectly capable of using my sewing machine pedal with my left foot, haha!<br />
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This didn't stop me from going to the Eve 6 concert in Sacramento on Sunday night, though, believe me! I saw them in '03 and was SUPER excited to see they were gonna be so close to us so close to my birthday. This is a photo the band took of the crowd at the end of the show - I'm the person behind and to the left of the girl in the black-and-white-striped shirt in the front row. That's right - second row, dead center, for the whole show!! Rock onnnnnn!!!! ;) <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-olrunCpnC2A/T5bMSL2CxRI/AAAAAAAAAeg/pdWMjb91uKo/s1600/eve6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-olrunCpnC2A/T5bMSL2CxRI/AAAAAAAAAeg/pdWMjb91uKo/s320/eve6.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-77958933891305809782012-04-17T12:17:00.000-07:002012-04-17T12:17:00.288-07:00Tagged, um, a month ago. Oops. So Lucy at <a href="http://charmaboutyou.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Charm About You</a>, who is possibly one of my favorite bloggers (aww!) tagged me to answer 11 random questions. I'm supposed to tag people and then have them answer different random questions...but I'm lazy (as shown by the fact that Lucy tagged me on the 22nd of March - really? Come on, Steph.) and am just going to answer. So here goes.<br />
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1. What's the most spontaneous thing you've ever done?<br />
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Uh. I guess join the Air Force out of high school? This wasn't particularly spontaneous, but I'm REALLY not a spontaneous person, AT ALL, and this was something unexpected.<br />
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Proof? Here's me (on the left) and my good pal Jody (check out her blog, <a href="http://aservantinhousebeautiful.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Servant in House Beautiful</a>, for very moving/inspirational posts about her quest to adopt!) on the day we graduated from basic training.<br />
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<br /><br />2. What is your favourite time of day?<br />
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Whatever time it is when I get to leave work, which is usually 4:30PM. Seriously, there have been several occasions where I've run to my car after clocking out!<br />
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<br />3. Which colour of fabric do you use the most?<br />
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White. Boring, huh? It's essential, though, for sashing and coordinating. Other than that, probably blue. I love blue. :) <br /><br />4. Did you have a toy/blanket that you took to bed when you were little?<br />
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Yup, his name was Aetna Bear. What? Yes, my teddy bear was named after a health insurance company. My parents have worked for the company basically my whole life, and I got the bear from a raffle at some family day event that they had. It was wearing a little white t-shirt with the company's logo on it. I still have the bear, too, up in my attic. <br /><br />5. What song always gets stuck in your head?<br />
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Lately, the song "Victoria," by Eve 6. It's their new single, I'm going to see them on 4/22 in Sacramento for my birthday, and I absolutely cannot wait! They're one of the few bands I've seen in concert and I think it's swell that they're coming to town the day before my birthday and their new CD (their first since '03) is coming out the day after. :) <br />
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<br />6. What's the best concert you've ever been to? Um, Eve 6? LOL. Funny you asked! I went to see them in June of 2003, right after high school ended, on one of their last tours. I was RIGHT up front at the show (which was standing room only). Here's a photo I took of the lead singer, Max (who looks much better with the shaved head he's got now!). <br />
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<br /><br />7. What did you want to be when you grew up?<br />
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A better question would be what didn't I want to be, hah. Journalist, author, veterinarian (specifically for birds), meteorologist, paleontologist...lots of things described by big words. Needless to say, "paperwork girl at a car dealership" was not on the list. Oh well.<br /><br />8. Camping or a hotel?<br />
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Hotel, hands down. I've been camping once and it was awful. Never again.<br /><br />9. Do you have a nickname?<br />
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Other than Steph, my husband calls me Monkey. I call him Panda. :) <br /><br />10. Can you play any instruments?<br />
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In junior high I played the clarinet and bass clarinet, but I haven't really played either in years. I can still tinker around on a piano, a little. Tunes like this one, from Big Bang Theory. ;) <br />
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<br />11. Would you rather call/text/email or write a letter?<br />
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Definitely NOT call. I like texting, and a friend of mine and I have recently started writing actual letters back and forth to each other, which has been fun. It all depends on the situation, I suppose!<br />
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So there ya go, 11 random questions about me. I'm sure it was more fun for me to answer than for you to read, LOL ;) stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-65715838805231451272012-04-16T11:24:00.003-07:002012-04-16T12:18:31.773-07:00Too busy to photograph?I was SO productive on Saturday, I'm mega-proud of myself. Of course, I didn't stop to take any photographs with my digital camera, just my iPad through Instagram. If you use it, too, <a href="http://followgram.me/stephmabry/" target="_blank">my username is StephMabry</a>. Lots of cute photos of cats, some of my hubby, and plenty of quilts, too. ;)<br />
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Now, what was I so busy with? I was busy working on all kinds of things on my <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2012/04/q2-fal-pre-quarter-linky-party.html" target="_blank">Q2 Follow-Along list</a>! <br />
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Status of those projects:<br />
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1 - K's quilt - no change. Oops.<br />
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2 - Crosshatch quilt - top is finished! back is pieced - it will be a yummy teal flannel that I think goes pretty darn well with the front. Sweet.<br />
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3 - Giant star - oh, wait, nothing here either. Maybe I wasn't as productive as I thought??<br />
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4 - 16 patch quilt - yes! Top is finished being put together, and so is the back (which will be brown flannel. SO creative, right? Not).<br />
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5 - baby quilts - Yes, more progress! Backing put together for all three, and two of them are basted - not all three because I was running out of pins and patience.<br />
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6 - Half Moon Modern - wait, nothing here, again? I can't decide if the coordinating solid that I have really coordinates as well as I want it to. Further contemplation needed.<br />
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7 - Baby clothes quilt - sorry, Rebecca, nothing done on this, but please don't think I've forgotten about it. Because I definitely haven't.<br />
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I did work on other things - see, I told you I got stuff done! I worked some more on one of the <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2012/04/overboard-never.html" target="_blank">random squares quilts</a>, so now they're sets of squares sewn into rectangles and then pinned, waiting to be made into 4-patch blocks. I haven't decided if I'm going to make them four patches or 16 patches.<br />
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I also have joined up with the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1930196@N21/" target="_blank">My Precious QAL that's running on Flickr.</a> The idea is that you cut into special fabric that you've been saving up and FINALLY make something with it. From the look of the Flickr group, no one's been able to use their precious Heather Ross fabric - there's lots of swapping of Mendocino going on over there! I, however, have hacked up my Outfoxed:<br />
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To turn them into squares:<br />
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Which I will use for a variation on <a href="http://www.modabakeshop.com/2012/04/happy-weekender-quilt.html" target="_blank">this quilt, from Moda Bake Shop</a>:<br />
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So the weekend tally? Two quilt tops finished, five backs put together, two quilts basted, a bunch of squares sewn into rectangles, and more fabric cut up into squares. Oh, and I finished finding fabric for the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/spectrumbrights/" target="_blank">Spectrum Charm Swap: BRIGHTS</a>, also on Flickr. There are still spaces available, if you want to join up! :)stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-16003734438156618672012-04-10T13:34:00.000-07:002012-04-10T13:34:34.678-07:00Q2 FAL Pre-Quarter Linky Party<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LobN-joLdvY/T4SWv7vdklI/AAAAAAAAAdc/91EiC0aY_u0/s1600/WIP+stack+%28338x450%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LobN-joLdvY/T4SWv7vdklI/AAAAAAAAAdc/91EiC0aY_u0/s320/WIP+stack+%28338x450%29.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of my WIPs are on that top shelf. Note my bolts of flannel? I'm pretty ambitious. At least with my wallet, when things are on sale. (This might be the longest caption ever for a blog photo??)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
What a complicated title that is if you see it without reading the post, huh? This is my post for Rhonda and Quilter in the Gap's <a href="http://gapquilter.blogspot.com/2012/04/pre-second-quarter-linky-party.html" target="_blank">Finish-a-Long - pre-quarter 2 goal list</a>, let's call it. Maybe that's better. Goals. Easy peasy.<br />
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Anyway. <br />
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This is what I'm hoping to get done!<br />
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<b>Project 1: K's quilt:</b> Yes, the same project that was first on the list LAST quarter... but I've at least made SOME progress - all I have to do is bind it. I think I've been putting it off for so long because part of me knows it's not very good at all - it was the first quilt I put together, so the back is horribly bunched, it's not pieced very well... but I think she'll still like it, all the same.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ8fZOqDFyg/T4SVuwKIskI/AAAAAAAAAdE/N5HeY013hgI/s1600/kaelynn+%28450x338%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ8fZOqDFyg/T4SVuwKIskI/AAAAAAAAAdE/N5HeY013hgI/s320/kaelynn+%28450x338%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>See? Almost there.<br />
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<b>Project 2: One of the "crosshatch" quilts:</b> It's currently in three strips, awaiting more of the white to sash the rows together and the solid raspberry color that I can't remember the proper name of in order to add borders. I think this might be for my good friend T's little girl, who's adorable and who I know will enjoy it, if she doesn't drown in it, as she's three and this quilt seems ginormous. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3b81My68v5Y/T4SV83HgqGI/AAAAAAAAAdM/_9nqvMaE2eg/s1600/crosshatch+%28338x450%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3b81My68v5Y/T4SV83HgqGI/AAAAAAAAAdM/_9nqvMaE2eg/s320/crosshatch+%28338x450%29.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<b>Project 3: Giant star quilt number two</b>: As I posted about previously, I finished <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2012/03/finish-saras-wedding-quilt.html" target="_blank">Sara's Wedding Quilt</a> but managed to have almost an entire quilt top left over, so I'm hoping to finish it for another friend of mine. I think I'll do similar quilting on it after I add yellow borders at the top and bottom. Note to self, buy a yard of yellow fabric.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffqy0wiB44s/T4SWZ_1YDaI/AAAAAAAAAdU/AWo74Gdk5VY/s1600/giantstar+%28450x338%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffqy0wiB44s/T4SWZ_1YDaI/AAAAAAAAAdU/AWo74Gdk5VY/s320/giantstar+%28450x338%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My shoe got in the photo? Weird. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Project 4: 16 patch quilt:</b> Made from squares from a not-so-great swap that I joined (it was my first, and I've quickly come to agree that swaps involving Joann-quality fabric aren't the greatest, even though I freely use their fabrics through my own projects). I think I might finish this up for my parents. I've got all the blocks put together, and the fabric that I've chosen for sashing has arrived. Hopefully I've got enough. I'm not entirely sure, because I'm lazy.<br />
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<b>Project five: Baby quilts:</b> As I mentioned above, I freely use Joann-quality fabrics, because it's cheap and nearby and there's something satisfying about having things in hand immediately instead of ordering them. Most of these fabrics are from their red tag racks. I just grouped it all together, cut it up into squares...and lo and behold, I had enough for THREE baby quilts out of it. Since this photo I've got them all made into quilt tops. My goal's to finish one this quarter.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4MBd370D6JQ/T4SXp_IHt9I/AAAAAAAAAds/FWhmWJF61Ow/s1600/babies+%28338x450%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4MBd370D6JQ/T4SXp_IHt9I/AAAAAAAAAds/FWhmWJF61Ow/s320/babies+%28338x450%29.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three quilts stacked up here, but my goal's just to finish one. Set my sights nice and low, I will.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Project six: Half Moon Modern quilt:</b> I've got four-patch blocks made out of my two Half Moon Modern charm packs, and I'm hoping to finish it up. I want to sash it with something but I'm not entirely sure which color to use. Any suggestions??? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8lgHlPP44KU/T4SX3HgaNmI/AAAAAAAAAd0/BOwSZaboYM8/s1600/halfmoon+%28338x450%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8lgHlPP44KU/T4SX3HgaNmI/AAAAAAAAAd0/BOwSZaboYM8/s320/halfmoon+%28338x450%29.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<b>Project 7: This is the big 'u - clothes quilt:</b> My friend Rebecca, who I've only met online but have known that way for years (the internet is pretty awesome, huh?) has commissioned me to make a quilt from her daughter's baby clothes. I've watched Autumn grow up, thanks to the joys of Livejournal and Facebook, so I was definitely interested in taking on the project! Even more fun is that some of the clothes were Rebecca's when SHE was little, so it's a multi-generational thing.<br />
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So far I've got all the clothes cut into "cloth," so to speak. I was surprised at how much fabric comes out of a single shirt or dress!<br />
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Also, check out Rebecca's photography <a href="http://www.beckwagnonphotography.com/index2.php#/home/" target="_blank">website</a> or her <a href="http://beckwagnonphotography.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>, because she's pretty awesome. I'm looking forward to her move to California so I can have photos taken of Jeff and I. We skipped a pro photographer for our wedding, and it's my one regret about that day. :) <br />
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Anyway, here's a sampling of the clothes...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4klFw3sZ42s/T4SYdnD0g2I/AAAAAAAAAd8/XSje0xPHgAU/s1600/clothes1+%28450x338%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4klFw3sZ42s/T4SYdnD0g2I/AAAAAAAAAd8/XSje0xPHgAU/s320/clothes1+%28450x338%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eEA95C1sUtk/T4SYgcb-S8I/AAAAAAAAAeE/LurEs6a60fw/s1600/clothes2+%28450x338%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eEA95C1sUtk/T4SYgcb-S8I/AAAAAAAAAeE/LurEs6a60fw/s320/clothes2+%28450x338%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love these colors!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qTtahaZUk2I/T4SYht6d27I/AAAAAAAAAeM/-kqF5kWTtbg/s1600/clothes3+%28450x338%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qTtahaZUk2I/T4SYht6d27I/AAAAAAAAAeM/-kqF5kWTtbg/s320/clothes3+%28450x338%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I plan on using applique for details like the little pockets and belt on this dress, and the other cute embroidery and such on other items. (Another epic comment? Yes).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmrHIkU6Zmg/T4SYjDoi6aI/AAAAAAAAAeU/fV-41-PLs5c/s1600/clothes4+%28450x338%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmrHIkU6Zmg/T4SYjDoi6aI/AAAAAAAAAeU/fV-41-PLs5c/s320/clothes4+%28450x338%29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was SO nervous to cut into these cute dresses! They weren't handmade, but looked like they could have been.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Alrighty, there we go! Seven projects for three months. Totally can handle this. Or at least half of this. Until all the swap fabrics come in and I get distracted, anyway!<br />
<span id="goog_199873341"></span><span id="goog_199873342"></span>stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-56717958685143545722012-04-06T09:34:00.000-07:002012-04-06T09:34:34.348-07:00Another swap? Yes please.Another busy week in which I've gotten basically nothing accomplished (or at least it feels that way!). My friend and I have started going to early-morning yoga (6AM? Barf) this week, so my body's still adjusting to that, in more ways than one.<br />
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I have a ton of projects that are in a state of limbo right now...and unfortunately, the fabric that was supposed to be delivered yesterday and which would help me move those projects along wasn't delivered because, for whatever reason, Amazon is requiring a signature this time. Weird, huh? Hubby wasn't home, and won't be home today at all, so it's likely that I won't get it until next week - eep! Thankfully I have fabric coming from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/fabricshoppe?ref=ss_profile" target="_blank">Fabric Shoppe</a> - another variety/mystery pack and some swap fabric - that will tide me over. ;) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thepewteracorn.blogspot.com/2012/04/nuetral-and-solids-swap-sign-ups-now.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8eWxPc9aS_k/T35Kf_bp6CI/AAAAAAAAAW4/iINebCHSPWc/s1600/nuetral+&+solids+charm+swap.jpg" /></a></div><br />
In other news, because I *am* addicted to swaps... there's another one going on! Annaliese is likely a kindred spirit - obsessed with charm swaps! - and has been in a ton of rainbow/colorful ones...so she's running one for neutral/solid fabrics. <a href="http://thepewteracorn.blogspot.com/2012/04/nuetral-and-solids-swap-sign-ups-now.html" target="_blank">Signups just started today</a>, and she's looking for at least 28 people. Check it out!<br />
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That's all I've got! Look for a Q2 Finish-a-Long post sometime this weekend. :)stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-85157478220370512682012-04-02T10:05:00.001-07:002012-04-02T10:06:45.866-07:00Overboard? NEVER!So it's quite possible that I've gone a little overboard with squares. I'm LOVING squares right now. From <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2012/03/wip-bunch-of-new-projects.html" target="_blank">some WIPs that I've posted</a> to some that I haven't gotten to show you yet, to the... FIVE charm square swaps that I'm in, to fabric that I'm buying and cutting up... it's a bit ridiculous. <br />
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(Oh, FYI? If you're looking to join fabric swaps, or you know about some, please check out the Flickr group <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1916502@N21/" target="_blank">Fabric Swap Finder</a> - help facilitate our addictions! ;) <br />
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Anyway, last week <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/fabricshoppe" target="_blank">Fabric Shoppe</a> posted on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/FabricShoppe" target="_blank">their Facebook page</a> that they were offering up four free fat quarters with any order over a certain amount, so of course I had to get in on that. Of course. I snagged <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/68403770/new-a-surprise-in-my-mailbox-large-scrap?ga_search_query=surprise&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5246514" target="_blank">one of their "A Surprise in My Mailbox" remnant bundles</a>, and was SUPER pleased with the results!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3w4EjXnij4/T3nbRH4RjgI/AAAAAAAAAco/0iETVzKk4R4/s1600/stacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3w4EjXnij4/T3nbRH4RjgI/AAAAAAAAAco/0iETVzKk4R4/s320/stacks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Between the "surprise" and the four FQs, this is what I got - plus a bit of Pezzy Prints, which I included for my giveaway winner since I was bad and hadn't sent it yet! Oops! <br />
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The bundle split itself pretty nicely into two sets of fabrics. I usually ask my husband for input, and he said he dislikes them both because they're too busy. Too bad. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rb_K8nLHWMw/T3nbmuRR6tI/AAAAAAAAAcw/YyuPUIRU7iQ/s1600/stack1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rb_K8nLHWMw/T3nbmuRR6tI/AAAAAAAAAcw/YyuPUIRU7iQ/s320/stack1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> I added some fabric from my stash (the pinky-red print at the top) but otherwise, it was all from the bundle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pC35QMQNaQI/T3nbnQ_mb-I/AAAAAAAAAc4/nAoKkXObWaM/s1600/stack2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pC35QMQNaQI/T3nbnQ_mb-I/AAAAAAAAAc4/nAoKkXObWaM/s320/stack2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And here's the other set. The blue/yellow print with birds on it was from my stash for this grouping. I don't remember what it is but I got it as a remnant (I think?) from <a href="http://www.sewmamasew.com/" target="_blank">Sew, Mama, Sew!</a>'s clearance section. The only fabric I wasn't sure about was the gold-with-white-dots-and-red-and-gray-roses-on-it, but I think it will work out okay!<br />
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I definitely recommend <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/fabricshoppe" target="_blank">Fabric Shoppe</a> for all your fabric hoarding needs. Quick shipping, great selection...and make sure to check out their FB page for specials. :)<br />
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I think I'll probably end up doing more four-patch blocks with these. Any thoughts on what solid to pair them with? I like plain ol' white for the top set but I'm not sure about the bottom. Input is appreciated!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(and now I'm off to order another set. Because I need fabric for the last swap, and it's my first payday since my raise, so I have to keep celebrating. Because the iPad wasn't enough...)</span>stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-91606241766638711962012-04-01T09:14:00.000-07:002012-04-01T09:14:38.496-07:00Final FInish for Q1I don't want to say too much about this one right now, other than it was for the <a href="http://gapquilter.blogspot.com/2012/03/end-of-first-quarter.html" target="_blank">Q1 Finish-a-Long at Quilter in The Gap</a>, I <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2012/01/quilter-in-gap-2012-finish-long-quarter.html" target="_blank">said that I wanted to finish it</a>, I've finished it, and here are photos to show you that I have. ;) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ck--H8-ZoZU/T3h-aJugz0I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/OZ6dQhvfj-o/s1600/100_0738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ck--H8-ZoZU/T3h-aJugz0I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/OZ6dQhvfj-o/s320/100_0738.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-do5MR8HsNYs/T3h-d-oINAI/AAAAAAAAAcY/5QeH0d7ikTI/s1600/100_0739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-do5MR8HsNYs/T3h-d-oINAI/AAAAAAAAAcY/5QeH0d7ikTI/s320/100_0739.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ME1CQlPfn8/T3h-h42oEjI/AAAAAAAAAcg/prmmkrDmz2c/s1600/100_0740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ME1CQlPfn8/T3h-h42oEjI/AAAAAAAAAcg/prmmkrDmz2c/s320/100_0740.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>What I can say is that it makes a great lap quilt (as that's what I've been using it for!), the quilting is stitch-in-the-ditch, and it is backed with a very snuggly light blue flannel that matches the medallions in the fabric that runs across the middle of the last photograph.<br />
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Hooray for finishes! ;)stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-52675702843934387012012-03-29T08:19:00.000-07:002012-03-29T08:19:01.967-07:00Finish Along - Q1 Results!At the beginning of the year I stumbled across the 2012 Finish-A-Long hosted over at <a href="http://gapquilter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Quilter in the Gap</a>. Like every other quilter, I'm developing quite the mountain of WIPs, so anything that would help motivate me to get them finished is definitely appreciated!<br />
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I posted my goals for the quarter <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2012/01/quilter-in-gap-2012-finish-long-quarter.html" target="_blank">here</a>, listing SIX projects that I thought I could complete. Only four "counted" because two weren't actual WIPs but just to-dos - which is fine, because they didn't get done anyway. Of the four that were eligible, I managed to finish three of them! Woohoo!<br />
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Of course, I've only blogged about two of them, because I am the worst blogger on the planet (okay, not really)... so I've only got two to link up right now, until I go home and photo the third one. Whoops.<br />
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(((PRETEND THAT THERE IS CONTENT ABOUT THAT QUILT HERE!)))<br />
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;)stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-66434342568602268072012-03-24T13:26:00.000-07:002012-03-24T13:26:00.082-07:00Non-sewing WIP - Project HouseThe last time I posted anything about our house project was <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2011/11/expensive-weekend.html" target="_blank">after we bought the shed</a> on Veteran's Day last November. I promise we've been making progress since then, and I even have photographic evidence of such! ;)<br />
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We've been a bit scatter-brained about it - our back bathroom is partially painted, but it also needs more drywall work. Our guest bedroom has had the carpet torn out (good riddance!) and had the window replaced, and today Jeff spent the day smoothing out the awful texture. Over the last month, our electrician-contractor-fellow has been out a few times to fix some light switches and to install these lovelies:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_j4K-_2R8o/T2qOyqeADKI/AAAAAAAAAbs/0DxCuQQub_Y/s1600/100_0726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_j4K-_2R8o/T2qOyqeADKI/AAAAAAAAAbs/0DxCuQQub_Y/s320/100_0726.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>A new mirror, new light over the mirror, and new bathroom sink / sink cabinet! Hooray! The old crap was SO ugly, and the sink was covered in stains from all the paint projects, they definitely needed to go.<br />
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We also managed to pick a color for the bathroom - a mint green color, chosen only because the gallon of paint was $3 on the clearance rack at Lowe's, haha! For the back bathroom, we picked a light blue color that for some reason looks green, so I'm not-so-secretly hoping that this mint green will look blue when it gets on the wall! We're hoping to have the shower tiled (with white tiles) sometime in April, and the floor as well (though we haven't picked a color for that yet - we'll probably wait to see how the paint looks once it's on the wall). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FnAQL0Cw0yI/T2qPgjb4PrI/AAAAAAAAAb0/WstlS0Zf5aY/s1600/100_0721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FnAQL0Cw0yI/T2qPgjb4PrI/AAAAAAAAAb0/WstlS0Zf5aY/s320/100_0721.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I also have plants! They look so great. The sunflower in the back is mostly dead now, though, unfortunately. The thing on the left was a clearance plant from Lowe's; the jade plant in the middle was a gift from Jeff's grandmother (so I *definitely* can't let it die! - it's gotten a ton bigger than when she gave it to me, though) and the plant on the right was some other random thing from Lowe's. It's added a bunch of new leaf-things since I got it, so I must be doing something right. I love succulents! <br />
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Any home improvement projects going on at your place? Or pretty flowers? I'll try to post some more flowers in the next few days, as I'm hoping to work in the garden a bunch this weekend if the weather holds out!stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-74320490646304766122012-03-23T14:55:00.001-07:002012-03-23T14:56:50.069-07:00Congratulations are in order!Well that latest blog hop definitely set a record here for my little corner of the interwebs. 192 comments means 192 entries on my <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2012/03/time-to-get-lucky-har-har.html" target="_blank">Pezzy Prints giveaway</a>! Probably twice as many as I've received ever. The consensus really seemed to be that these charms would be great for placemats and table runners and pillows, or also the children's quilt that I tried to make that just didn't work out for my poor little brain. <br />
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I'm also a handful of folks over 100 followers now, so I'm really hopeful that I can continue being entertaining.<br />
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Now, what you all want to know - who won!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rnhumTkBxHM/T2zwKRpuWzI/AAAAAAAAAb8/Gn5jKOPh4tk/s1600/random.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rnhumTkBxHM/T2zwKRpuWzI/AAAAAAAAAb8/Gn5jKOPh4tk/s1600/random.jpg" /></a></div>#38 was Cindy, who blogs at <a href="http://quiltdoodledesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Quilt Doodle Designs!</a> I will be e-mailing Cindy shortly and will choose a back-up winner if I don't hear from her by Monday. Cindy said she'd make a table runner and placemats, and hopefully she'll share them on her blog if she does!<br />
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Thank you again to everyone who has entered. Have a fantastic weekend!stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-4359026338477171412012-03-23T08:00:00.000-07:002012-03-23T08:00:02.628-07:00Update on Paper PiecingEnglish paper piecing, <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2012/03/english-paper-what.html" target="_blank">which I have started recently</a> as something to do <strike>while wasting away in front of</strike> watching television, has been pretty darn successful so far! I've decided that the first thing I'm going to turn my hexies into is a pretty cover for my sewing machine (I currently use the hard shell case it came in).<br />
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I've started piecing them together, mostly hoping that I've done it right because I lost interest in reading / following the directions (which really ends up being the problem with most of my sewing projects-gone-awry). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sow4D8SBDnE/T2qM93IYmmI/AAAAAAAAAbc/KwDsI7VmQP8/s1600/100_0728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sow4D8SBDnE/T2qM93IYmmI/AAAAAAAAAbc/KwDsI7VmQP8/s320/100_0728.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>First they turned into this clump. As usual, Molly MUST be involved with every project I take on. (Side note, I'm currently reading Jeanne Walls's <u>Half-Broke Horses</u> and it is just as good as <u>The Glass Castle</u> was!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X16cs2ZgEnI/T2qNa4foMLI/AAAAAAAAAbk/MnwjOrzoxpI/s1600/100_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X16cs2ZgEnI/T2qNa4foMLI/AAAAAAAAAbk/MnwjOrzoxpI/s320/100_0732.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And then they turned into this! I've added a bunch more since I took this photo, so imagine it a little bigger, but I'm really enjoying it! I love having something simple to work on while sitting around with hubs, and I look forward to making myself a cute little pouch so that I can take them with me! Hooray!<br />
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Have you tried English Paper Piecing? What did you make with yours? It seems like they'd also make good coasters... Hmm....stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39405084065479578.post-72212866815750123002012-03-21T19:19:00.000-07:002012-03-21T19:19:21.482-07:00WIP - A bunch of new projects<div style="text-align: center;"><i>If you haven't yet entered my Pezzy Prints giveaway, <a href="http://hopesewingisgenetic.blogspot.com/2012/03/time-to-get-lucky-har-har.html" target="_blank">check it out here</a>! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Winner will be chosen on 3/23. </i></div><br />
I finished up Sara's Star quilt, so what was the next logical step? Starting a few more projects, of course. At the rate I start projects, I'm going to have 4,302 WIPs by the end of the year but only 12 finishes. Oops. <br />
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Anyway, at some point a few weeks ago I put together a bundle of girly prints - flowery things that are all manner of pinks, and some stripes, and that sort of thing - and decided to cut squares from them. It then came to me to make sort-of-4-patch blocks out of them. This is what I've got so far:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NwMHBEgOE7I/T2qJVkbBetI/AAAAAAAAAa8/n5S7Noro16c/s1600/100_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NwMHBEgOE7I/T2qJVkbBetI/AAAAAAAAAa8/n5S7Noro16c/s320/100_0722.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There are definitely way more than enough to make two (if not three!) children's sized quilts out of, as I'm planning on putting white sashing between the blocks. I think these would all end up for sale.<br />
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I then decided it would be a good idea to do the same thing with my two charm packs of Half Moon Modern and two packs of white Bella Solids:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lUR_Tp-H9IE/T2qKCvvZq1I/AAAAAAAAAbE/U4JxDR3mkS4/s1600/100_0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lUR_Tp-H9IE/T2qKCvvZq1I/AAAAAAAAAbE/U4JxDR3mkS4/s320/100_0724.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(Pardon my terrible photography skills! I tend to take photos before work, with the intention of blogging at lunch time...and then I don't. Aww.). Anyway, I think I'm going to pick one of the solid colors (possibly the teal?) from the line to use for sashing, and use all the blocks in the same quilt. Not sure where this one will end up, either.<br />
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Then I've started ANOTHER project, out of slightly-smaller-than-charm-square sized squares that I got from a couple of swaps I participated in. It was my first swap, and as much as I appreciate the bargains I can find at Joann for fabrics for myself, I also very much understand why swap mammas say NO to those for their swaps. Anyway, I'm making 16-patches out of them:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JJKRRukTmqw/T2qK91dvWsI/AAAAAAAAAbM/ngyfkXnWeEI/s1600/100_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JJKRRukTmqw/T2qK91dvWsI/AAAAAAAAAbM/ngyfkXnWeEI/s320/100_0730.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> 14 out of the 22 blocks have turned out properly, like this (they're still in two sets of eight squares each)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t3cFNpkkW_M/T2qLMRJVPDI/AAAAAAAAAbU/de8HHPrvTis/s1600/100_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t3cFNpkkW_M/T2qLMRJVPDI/AAAAAAAAAbU/de8HHPrvTis/s320/100_0731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>While the other eight have turned out like this! I have no idea where or how they went wrong; I just know I have a bunch of seam ripping to do! Boo! Since my parents are now coming for Christmas, I think these blocks, combined with a cream-colored sashing (tentatively, anyway) will end up being their Christmas present. I think I can handle that sort of schedule!<br />
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In other news - WOW. I joined up with the St. Patty's day giveaway blog hop and have been amazed at the results. <b>174</b> comments SO FAR, *and* I now have 100 followers! Whoa! Thank you, all of you, for all the comments. I've defintely read every one, even though I've been overwhelmed and haven't replied to them all. I'll definitely do another giveaway sometime soon for hitting that milestone, probably at the end of April, for my birthday.<br />
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Lastly, if you're as addicted to charm swaps as I've become, there's another one going on over at <a href="http://craftobsessive.blogspot.com/2012/03/rainbow-charm-swap.html" target="_blank">Adventures in obsessive crafting</a>. Deanna's looking for folks interested in swapping rainbow charms, and she (and I!) would love if it you joined up!stephmabryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14029980354437797232noreply@blogger.com3