End of 2012 Challenge to Myself

Way back on January 3rd of this year I posted my listed my 2012 Challenge to Myself Goals. Let's see how I did with my 12 Goals.

Quilting

1. Join a Bee - I joined a great online QCA Bee and will continue with it in 2013. My February scrappy log cabin blocks were made into a bright and cheerful quilt for a very sick local mum.

I also joined a Paper Piecing Bee called Wombat Stew with 6 other girls and am having so much fun.

2. Join a BoM - I was doing well with the Craftsy BoM until the June hexagon blocks were posted. Then I hit a wall and never got back up. I am not in love with the blocks or the fabric choices so I totally scrapped the second half of the year.


3. Use Real Patterns - I did plan on making a few quilts with some real patterns but neither the Civil War or Castle Peeps quilts happened. However I got plenty of practice reading patterns when I joined the fantastic Zakka Style Sew Along in April. Using the book, and a supportive blogging community, I made plenty of great items with these patterns. You can find them all here.

I also learned how to do foundation paper piecing using some great patterns created by Kristy of Quiet Play.

Sewing

4. Zippers and Pouches - I finally got past my fear of zippers and then went on to make plenty of pouches and even more challenging pouches during the Zakka Style Sew Along.

5. Amy Butler Skirt - I totally forgot to make this. 

6. Pillow Cases and Cushions - I made 6 Halloween pillows but sadly no cushions.

Organisation

7. Family Budget - Still to do but I kept a track of our spending.

8. Household Notebook - I have four great notebooks now.
  a. Everyday list of jobs
  b. Finance
  c. Online ordering
  d. Blogging

9. Moving Boxes - Moving house 2 weeks ago forced me to address the unopened moving boxes in our garage. I am pleased to say that I have purged what was in them and then thrown away the moving boxes for the first time since 2007. Happy days. I think I have about 8 moving boxes to unpack still though. Mostly formal dinnerware and my tea sets.

Computing

10. Creative Memories - I did not even touch this program in 2012.

11. Blogging Tips - I have learned how to host a linky party and write (though not too successfully) in HTML to create a button. It helped that I joined a Facebook Group called The Blogging Library, search for tips on Pinterest and have the Wombat Stew girls close by (esp. Alyce)

12. Photography - I have enjoyed improving my skills with my digital SLR this year. I would still like to do a course so I can learn more about the features of my camera.

Reading

I managed to read more than my hoped-for book a month and finished 2012 with 17 books read. I love using Good Reads to keep track of my progress.

Some of my favourite books this year were - 

Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Patricia Cornwell
11.23.63 - Stephen King
The Hungry Ocean - Linda Greenlaw
The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien

For my non-Zakka Finishes for 2012 check here.

Mother's Day Sunday Stash #13

Mother's Day


To all the mothers out there I hope you spoiled just a little bit today. But more importantly I hope you get a word, card, drawing, gift or hug of appreciation. 


For those of you out there that want to be a mum, but the biological journey has been cruel, hope that you are nurtured today.


For those of you who have lost a child, I hope that, despite lifelong grief, you will have a happy memory spring up and remind you of a time you had together. 


And for those of you who have lost your mum, recently or many years ago, I hope that you can remember her with some joy through the tears.


It can be a very hard day of the year for some. I just wanted to acknowledge that.

http://www.stashbooksblog.com/products/sweetwaters-simple-home/

Something Sew Sweet


When I first stumbled upon Sweetwater Designs late last year, it was through their book 'Simple Home'. I had seen some of the 'Pure' range worded prints pop up on blogs but not realised that the mother and sisters team designed fabric as well. 

My stash began simply with their 'Diary Kit', when I made this Daily Journal earlier this year.

Then I used one of the patterns from 'Simple Home' to make Fran's Preschool Quilt.

Then my lovely friend Marieka sent me a charm pack of the 'Reunion' fabrics for my birthday.

Photograph courtesy of Sweetwater blog

I had read Sweetwater's blog post about how their new range 'Mama Said Sew' came to be named. 

So when Fabric Buzz had a pre-issue SALE on pre-cuts last week, I decided to invest. This range is not due for release until August or September so I was surprised. Store owner Anorina has very good prices for an Australian market. And these were discounted to $30 each! (Just quietly they are still on sale) Anorina is a published quilt designer and fellow Quilt Club Australia member and blogs at Samelia's Mum.

This is my favourite quilt in the Simple Home book and I am wondering if these precuts will work with it.


Stamping Relief

Also arriving this week was my first fabric stamp investment for the Zakka Style Sew-Along. These gorgeous boxes of stamps came from Etsy store Zakka Lover owned by Vanadis. Oh my! You could get so lost in the delicious items appearing on her page. 

I have struggled in vain to source the fabric stamp necessary for the ZSSA here locally. I kept reading about the fact that you could set the stamp permanent with an iron but none of the staff in my local fabric retailers had a clue of what I meant. I mentioned this to Vanadis and she was kind enough to swap me THIS kind of stamp instead of the usual paper-only kind.


And she included a free roll of that cute washi tape...but what is it used for? Let me know if you know.


Sunday Stash @ Finding Fifth 


I am so proud of myself for using my Facebook 'The Blogging Library' group, following a Pinterest link , using pic monkey to edit a photo, downloading Picasa as a server and writing my first ever HTML code to create my FIRST blog button today. I am definitely kicking some of the 2012 Challenge to Myself goals today. I am so excited because I have wanted to host a link up for Quilter's fabric stashes for a while now.


Anyway...here it is! Looking all shiny and resplendent hey?

And you can grab one for your sidebar, if you wish, so you can remember to join in the 'Sunday Stash' link up each Sunday starting today. Just copy the coded HTML text (I wrote this one using the link here) and then paste it into your sidebar/gadget bar using the Java/HTML option.

<a href=&34;http://findingfifth.blogspot.com.au/" target="_self"gt;<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCO3IltNJLTpQrRkWiIi3s6yZBUQalzoTnhyJzQ_wBgfFPjMFySwLFEfrJR5fXAqP8kazaBZ8xitqNk7y-72MksNqAgxKr5ScQG_PNzE5nH7rqBYUHy7GAFyDN2oSEyDjp08dvE21tVOh-/h120/Sunday+Stash.jpg" alt=&34;Finding Fifth" width="125" height=#34;125" /></a>

So what's new in your stash this week?


Link up your Sunday Stash below. You can include books and other sewing related equipment. I'll stop by and see what goodies you have. Maybe other folks will want to have a stickybeak too!

Unzipping the Myth

I have been sewing for 18 months and have not yet sewn a zipper. I have heard all sorts of comments about how difficult it is, however, my 2012 Challenge to Myself, means that I must face my fear and learn anyway.  


I am a visual learner from way back. Patterns are too hard for me to conceptualise. I learn best by watching others in a workshop or tutorial context and then having a go at it myself. Youtube has been the source of many of my quilting and sewing lessons.


Cash and Carry Pouch
In January, I picked up an easy-sew 'Cash and Carry' zipper pouch pattern at a sweet Coffs Harbour quilt shop called Hunters and Collectors. The pattern is by Atkinson Designs and was only $15 but you can get it at the link above for only $8. The lady in the store assured me that it was easy to follow. 

It just so happened that my mum had the same pattern, and as we were staying with my folks on Saturday night, she was able to show me how to put it together. So together we cut it out and put a prototype together. The zip was tricky but only because it got stuck under the foot and you need a third hand to lift the foot higher.

So before I forgot, I set about putting together one on my own today.

1. I used scrap batting rather than fusible batting so I needed to pin my backing fabric to the batting. 2. Centre the main strip on the opposite side facing up.

3. Choose contrasting fabric strips for either side. 4. Pin right sides together and sew through all l payers 1/4 "

5. Pin and quilt-as-you-go the other contrast strip. Press and fold back. 

6. Sew these 2 strips down with a scant 1/4".

7. Trim the batting either side of the contrast strips. 8. Trim the panel into desired length. In my case the zip was 71/2" and I made my lengths 71/2 also.

8. Make the casing for the zip and trim off the ends of the zipper. It is easier to do this with a longer zip.

9. Trim the casing.

10. Centre the zip, leaving 1/2" either side of the pouch top. Pin with the zip halfway done up.

11. Sew the zip down with a walking or zipper foot. Stop before the zip, needle down. 
12. Using a paper clip attached to the zip, pull the zip through to the other side of the walking foot and continue sewing the zip fabric down.

13. Repeat for the other panel. 14. Sew the zip fabric down in place.

15. Sew a quarter inch around all three sides.

16. Snip off the corners.

.

17. Turn right-way out and push out the corners (chopsticks are great for this!)

18. Sneaky peak inside. Add a ribbon to the zip for ease of opening.

19. Two easy-sew pouches complete in 2 days.

So what was I so afraid of?


You can find a similar great 'Patchwork Pencil Pouch' tutorial at LBG Studio.


I am linking with...


Menu Plan Monday


It's Easter this weekend and that means extended holiday time for my husband from Thurs-Tues. The kids have holidays for 2 weeks, but our annual camping trip has been rescheduled for September, so we are not going away anywhere. Rather daddy is pitching the tents in the yard and the kids are sleeping out with him over the Easter break. (It always rains at Easter in Australia!)


This is what's on the menu so far...

I am linking up with...

Sunday Stash #1

My little girl has been sick at home all week...nothing serious, a snuffly nose, sneezes, cough and red eyes....but   long enough to make a serious hole in my sewing plans. No matter...we've actually had a lovely time together.

But there has been fabric! 

A few parcels of fabric I had ordered in January, started showing up at my local Post Office. With my 'Item for Collection' slip fresh from the letterbox, I would drive the 8Km, present it at the PO counter, and collect my mystery package. Rather than rip it open there (like Charlie Bucket with his Wonka Bar) I would transport it home to open reverently in a quiet moment when the kids were occupied. 


Now do you remember the great Fat Quarter Shop sponsored 'Blogger's Choice Bundle' competition run by Laura at Quokka Quilts last month? Well my FQS order had just enough room (and postage) to squeeze in this gorgeous fabric which was the starting point for my Bundle entry. And it is just as delicious as I imagined it would be.

Daisy Cottage Gray - small daisies

As a stand alone fabric it may not be much use to me in a quilt. However it might lend itself nicely to a small sewing project from #4 2012 Challenge to Myself.


County Fair - Denyse Schmidt

I think I have remarked before, in coming late to the party with quilting, that I have missed out on some gorgeous fabric ranges that have been released and now unavailable. My recent passion is for Denyse Schmidt designs. Hard to come by thesedays - especially this 2007 released line called 'County Fair' - featured in that gorgeous 'Small Plates' quilt by Elizabeth Hartman. But then, looking for Vintage Sheet fabric on Etsy, I came across a FQ bundle at Kristi's NY shop called eaudebean. And it arrived yesterday! Looking all scrumptious here in it's colour wash stack.

It is upholstery weight fabric and lovely to work with. I think it will lend itself nicely to some projects from #6 in my 2012 Challenge to Myself.


And good news! If you love Denyse Schmidt fabrics too. Free Spirit Fabrics are re-releasing her 'Flea Market Fancy' range again. So get yourself to the FQS and put your name down for notification...or make a reservation at Sew Lux Fabrics.


And shhhh! don't spread it too far...but Kristi has some more DS FQs in her shop too!


Extra Sweeteners


Some people are just thoughtful and generous aren't they?
In amongst my fabric arrivals this week, I received a few personal notes and some free sweeteners.


Mini Quilt Kit  - Rainbow Whirlygigs
Including pattern and precut fabric from Linda and Chrissy  from Sew Lux Fabrics. 

Applique Flowers

A little surprise thrown in by Beverley of Beverley's Designs when she sent me her QCA Feb Bee blocks.

Looking happy put together.

Remnants

Then Kristi from eaudebean snuck in a few remnants with the Denyse Schmidt order. I am in love with the bottom print featuring 'Little Red' and the wolf.

Thanks to all you generous ladies for your extra sweeteners!