Friday, June 15, 2012

being responsible

I haven't had a ton of sewing time this week, but I've been squeezing it in where I can. I've been dying to start a bunch of new projects (and I mean a bunch!), but I'm being responsible and working on my WIP's instead. Man, that is hard to do!!!
Today I'm trying to power through and finish this quilt top. It's king size. The sashing finishes 1"! The fabrics are all by Connecting Threads...I LOVE their stuff! The cotton lawn is from this line, and the sashing is white from their line of fabulous solids. The tutorial for the pattern is here. I'm looking forward to stippling this one up so I can use it on my bed before summer is through. That's my goal!

Earlier this week I was also being responsible by doing some landscaping. I'm not into yard work at all (I'd much rather quilt) so my front yard was looking very sad and pathetic. Thankfully, I had a few of my neighbor friends (that actually enjoy that sort of thing) pitch in and help out.
My kids were part of the work crew, too. We made some significant improvements in just one day! We even had fun in the process. Who knew?

Before:
After:
(don't ask me why my son is laying on the sidewalk....)
What a significant improvement! It feels so good to have this done!

29 comments:

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Looks great too. Working in the sun makes me feel warm and sweaty in a fulfilled kind of way. We're pulling weeds around the strawberries every day and transplanting cherry trees this week.

Clair said...

I like getting stuff done, too. But there are so many interruptions, even though I am on summer vacation.

Gra said...

I had seen that quilt and it is beautiful!!! I would need a king size, too...but would probably think about trying the quilt as you go method. It scares me the size when I think about quilting it on my home machine!!
Your garden looks great! And your son....I´d say he is showing the consequences of child slavery for making him work so hard!!!!! LOL

bethanndodd said...

Nice work! I was bad and started a new project this week but it's for a good cause. I was inspired by your post and cut up 18 block for Margaret's Hope Chest. I figure the yard work and sewing will still be there when I get to it ;) Smiles~Beth

tink's mom said...

What nice neighbors and kids to help with that icky project. I too would rather quilt. They did a wonderful job they did.

Oh yeah, the quilt is beautiful. Do you have a long arm or are you able to do a king on your regular machine?

Linda said...

Looks great! And the quilt is lovely, too. I'd probably have more patience for the yard work than I would all that little sashing, LOL.

Sue K said...

OMG, that quilt came out great!!! Might just have to make one myself. Especially since I have the same fabric (thanks Amandajean!). Do you by any chance know how much white fabric you used?

Amanda Jean said...

tink's mom,

i will quilt this on my home machine...my JUKI has a larger throat than most, which makes king size quilts do-able. Yay!

aj

Amanda Jean said...

Sue K,

No, I have no idea how much white fabric i used. i didn't keep track, but i did have to order more mid project. I plan to add a border, too, so I'll use more. if i were to GUESS, I would say 5 yards should be enough. but then again, that is just a guess.

hope that helps!

amandajean

Cheerful Homemaker said...

I hope to do some sewing this weekend. My ILs will be here so they can play with the baby :)

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

Gorgeous quilt - I think I will add that to my 'to do one day list'.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

I love this quilt...great job!

Mary said...

The quilt is gorgeous. You have me rethinking NOT ordering some of that fabric line.

Sarah Craig said...

I love that quilt - is it original to you, or have I seen it somewhere else? I'd love to know the dimensions of the square and rectangle. I've got some fabrics I've been hoarding to make a king size quilt myself, and this one might be the winner!

Also, you're so right about Connecting Threads! I love their fabric, and the prices are so reasonable!! Great thread, too!

Francine said...

Good job on the yard, I ignore it till my hubby is around, then I pretend to notice :-).. Love the quilt and also love Connecting Threads!

momof3 said...

When you first posted a picture of this quilt in progress, I had to go and check it out. I ended up buying a kit. I love the feel of the lawn. I bet you will love to snuggle under this one when you are done.
From your earlier post about Margaret's Hope Chest I decided to whip up a few blocks. That will help me finish a goal I had for this year, Thank you.

Cheryl Arkison said...

So nice to see the yard without snow. Now I need to plan a summer trip to see it in person.

pasqueflower said...

A king-sized quilt! That is a daunting challenge. Loved the photo of your happy little gardening crew!

Suzanne said...

Somehow as you were slinging around that R word, I got the distinct feeling you were smiling in my direction.

sewtakeahike said...

I agree, it's so hard to do things that neeeed to be done instead of what you want to do! I can't even believe the difference in your yard, AJ! I say that project was well worth the doing, lol! Good for you for getting it done with a little help from your friends :)

Kris P said...

Oh, sure, another quilt I'd love to add to my To Do list! Wonderful choice for summer. I just did a mental count on my UFO's. 3 quilts that need quilting, 2 with quilting in progress, and one with a few hours of handsewing left.
Your yard looks great. It's nice to have that out of the way.

Becky said...

What a pretty quilt you are working on! I love all the white! I also am a regular shopper at Connecting Threads--their fabrics are just wonderful! Your yard is looking great. I have no yard right now, so ANY yard is great :)

Wonky Girl said...

Your yard looks great. Once a job like that is finished it's finished for a long time. Well worth effort and labor spent.
I love your quilt and want to thank you for sharing links for tutorial and all.

eva said...

is that you on the left....in the garden party???

without a piece of fabric in your hands??

xo
eva

Claire Jain said...

Man, this quilt looks so awesome! My husband and I are so short that a queen bed works fine for us in the master bedroom. Unfortunately, I'm so crazy about slightly longer bed drops that a quilt I want to make for our bed is going to end up practically king size. Fail. Seeing your beautiful top come together is very motivational, though! Also, I have been known to lay on the sidewalk in the middle of landscaping projects. Totally normal ;-) Sign of a true gardener!

make.share.give said...

I'm trying to be responsible this summer too, finishing up projects- but there's nothing like cutting up fabrics for something new...
I love that pattern. Looks like it would use up alot of scrappy strips.

Gramma Quilter said...

hope you are keeping notes just in CASE there is a book #2;)

Live a Colorful Life said...

Looks very nice! I"m with you--I like my yard to LOOK like I enjoy working in it. But I do NOT want to be the one doing the actual work...

Mama Pea said...

Looks great. I suck at gardening but always want my house to look like a pro gardener lives here!