Thrift Store Finds Saturday and Last Day to Enter Giveaway!

Just a short mention, today is the last day to enter my UFO challenge giveaway. All that is required is that you started a sewing project before June 1, 2012 and finished sometime during the month of June. You can enter as many projects that meet the requirements. See tab at the top to take you to the details.


I did some thrifting on Monday this week, which is not the norm for me, but Savers has started having random 50% off sales during the week instead of on the weekends.
Being Monday, I had to wait until after work, and of course I had the feeling that all of the good stuff was gone.


My biggest find was 3 pieces of Pyrex in the Woodland brown print. They weren't included in the half off sale, but less than $10 for the whole set isn't bad. I dithered about getting these, thinking why get them just to have them sit and look pretty, but then I thought, why shouldn't I use them! Yes, they may get stained or scratched, but so what?. Life is short and stuff is meant to be used. So, they came home with me.

Another find that I will be keeping and hopefully using are these 4 balls of DMC Perle floss. All four for only $1. There were other packages that I left behind because the colors didn't suit, but I'm pretty sure I'll get some use out of these.

Now some finds that will end up in my shop.
I wish I had a round table to use this lovely poppies table cloth on, but I don't. I thought about cutting it up for the fabric, but prefer to give it a chance in my shop before it comes to that. Poppies are a favorite of mine, so I could definitely make use of it if it doesn't find a home.

It looks like the trim may have been added on after the previous owner purchased the tablecloth.

Another Star Wars Sheet. I've seen dresses and things made out of sheets like these. It's pretty nifty and bold of the designers. Perhaps someone will do the same for this one. Tote bags would be good, too.

Roses on black and roses on peach plaid.

And that is all I have to share for this week's thrifting finds.

New Cover for my New Kindle Fail!

This past Friday was the 12yr anniversary for the husband and myself. We don't typically give gifts for our anniversary, usually just a nice dinner out someplace.

Well this year he surprised me with a Kindle Fire! I already had a Kindle basic that he got me for my last birthday and wasn't really expecting a new one so soon.

The Kindle basic does not come with any kind of internal light, and I like to read at night before bed, so he had been a bit disappointed that I had to still use my Mighty Brite lamp to read at night, hence the upgrade to the Fire, which has light and so much more!

When I got my basic, I made a cover for it out of home dec. fabric and some really stiff craft interfacing. It came together ok, but the Singer really had trouble sewing through some of that thickness, so there were a few skipped stitches here and there.


So, having learned from the first time around what did and didn't work for me, I thought I was all set to make a cover for my new Kindle. I decided to use regular quilt fabric, thinner craft fuse and a snap instead of the velcro closure (velcro can be quite noisy at night!).

Everything was moving along wonderfully, despite the fact that the pattern I was using failed to mention a few steps. No problem, I knew what to do from wallet making.
So, here's my cover.
Notice anything? How about another picture.

Pretty, yes? Notice anything now? No? Okay, one more picture.

Do you see it? Somehow, I measured the pattern incorrectly and did not notice until I was about the put the last snap piece on. The whole time sewing this up I did not notice that it was going to be way too big for the Kindle.

I'm not despairing too much. It is fixable. I just have to take it apart and lose a couple of inches off the width. I've thought about just doing the whole thing over, but this would just go to waste and I don't want that.

Maybe this is punishment for not working on my UFOs or the many projects I'm behind on for handstitching class!

Sunday Stash Odds and Ends

Linking up with Sunday Stash at Finding Fifth.


I haven't added any new collections to my stash recently, but I have picked up a few pieces from Joann's. Most of these were from the clearance fabric section, and the rest were already on sale, then further reduced with my 30% off of everything coupon.
This first one is something I found at Joann's online and thought it would make a great tote someday. It's home dec fabric and it arrived on one of those huge rolls that are about 4ft long. All that for what is only 1yd of fabric! It's called Tres Chic.

This next little bundle was all on clearance and sold for 1/2 the clearance price.

I particularly want to point out this one, because for me, it's a step outside my comfort zone. I don't usually pick prints like these, but I felt I should try to expand my likings a bit.

A few remnants that all total were less than $2. Those birds will be good for something!


And some more random, unrelated to each other prints. I particularly am liking the grey with flowers.

Thrift Store Finds Saturday: Picasso Edition

I'm always hopeful that I will find something really rare or terribly valuable at the thrift store and this past week I did. I found not 1, but 2 Picassos!


Of course, these Picasso items aren't paintings worth beaucoup bucks, but bed sheets! I didn't even know such a thing existed, but sometime in the olden days, someone had the nifty idea to feature Picasso's artwork on linens. I don't know how many different prints exist. The two I have are Dove with Olive Branch and Hands with Flowers.



Another find was this tin of paper Christmas coasters from 1985. I wasn't sure what they were until I brought them home, but they seem like a fun novelty item. What I don't really get is how helpful a thin paper coaster would be if you have a drink that sweats...


There were several other sheets and pillowcases that I will be listing in the shop over the next few days. Here's a little preview.

BOM Progress

I didn't do much sewing this weekend. I did promise myself that I had to at least make the 2 blocks for the Block of the Month programs I am in.


First up is the June block for the half square triangle BOM at In Color Order. Now that June's block is done, we are officially half way through this quilt. In keeping with my Denyse Schmidt fabric theme, I chose prints from Picnics and Fairgrounds, Sugar Creek and Aunt Edna.

And here's a picture of all of my blocks together. I had to use the couch as I don't have a section of wall that has sufficient light this time of evening.


My next block is for the Fat Quarter Shop 2012 Designer Mystery BOM. This BOM uses Vintage Modern by Bonnie and Camille for Moda. The first block is called Laundry Days and was designed by Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs.


As you can see from the picture, I used the leftover triangle scraps to sew up some little squares. I may try to incorporate these into the finished quilt when I'm done. I expect there will be more scraps like these as we progress.

WIP Wednesday: Disappearing Desire

I've skipped a couple of WIP Wednesdays and I almost skipped today, too! I knew this malaise would be coming on, but I thought I would make it through June before it really hit.

I tend to poop out of craft energy at some point during the year and that time is upon me. Since I am running a UFO challenge (see button at the top!) for June, I'm trying to hold out and finish up a few projects before I take a little sewing siesta.

So far I've managed to sandwich this quilt that has been a UFO for just over a year now. I'm only quilting in the tan blocks and so far I've got 2 rows out of 6 done.

I finally finished the top on the quilt for my husband. I was ambitiously thinking of having this completely done by Sunday, for Father's day. But I'm not really feeling like that is going to happen...

I'm about half way through on sewing up my double hourglass blocks for My Precious quilt. I really want this finished by August as that is when my sister is moving and it would be nice for her to take along to her new place.

I've been good about working on my swirly stars, more than half are sewn completely, while the rest are paired up and just need to be joined up.

And, I even managed a few more Sophie flower blocks, though not as many as I would have liked to have completed.

And finally, this little zakka pencil case I had started a couple of weeks ago. It should have been done long ago, but I did something wrong and have to undo the whole mushroom piece from the linen to fix, so that's been on the back burner, too.


I really wish I didn't feel so blah about sewing right now, as there are sooo many things I want to make! I got my first Mystery Block of the month in the mail today, Cut to Pieces is starting a Super Mario quilt quilt-a-long, there's purse palooza and dresden block something or other, not to mention all the zakka stuff, bags, totes, zippy things and on and on and on! Linking up with

Sunday Stash: Vintage Crab Modern Ric Shack Rac Rabbit

Say that title 3 times fast!


I missed out on getting Ruby as a full set, so there was no way I was going to let that happen with Vintage Modern by Bonnie & Camille. I purchased my full fat quarter bundle from The Intrepid Thread. I think Julie has the lowest prices around, and is always pleasant to work with.


I'm also signed up for the Fat Quarter Shop 2012 Mystery Block Quilt of the Month which will be using fabric from Vintage Modern, so it will be good to have extra on hand.


I hadn't paid too much attention to the hoopla about the arrival of Lucy's Crab Shack and hadn't any intentions of purchasing it. Until I saw the plaids. I was immediately hooked. I am a sucker for plaid, gingham and polka dots. Once I noticed the plaids, the whole collection grew on me, so I got it from The Intrepid Thread at the same time I purchased Vintage Modern.


There are lots of fun prints that can be used with a variety of different projects, and I really like the colors.


And finally, a bit of cutesy. From Creative Thursday, we have Ric Rac Rabbits. I only purchased 3 of the prints that appealed to me the most. I might like to have some of the others in future, but these are plenty for now.


I'm linking up with Fiona at Finding Fifth Sunday Stash.