The latest

So I was VERY productive today - granted, it was an indoor day (over 90 outside with matching humidity)...after getting a late start (it's Saturday and I'm lazy like my dog!!!). It was time to get moving.

First was a little exercise on the treadmill. I'm starting the Couch to 5K program and today was Day 1. So far so good - we'll see how I'm moving tomorrow. It's been a long, long time since I've been running. Heck, I usually tell people at work that I only run if someone is chasing me with a chain saw! But time to get in better shape and this seems like a good program to try. I'm hoping to be ready for a 5K in October - Thinking the Big House, Big Heart run in October in Ann Arbor. I'm sure I can find some work friends to run with, since most of them are Ann Arbor based and wouldn't think of coming out my way to run (that's another blog post in itself though....and I don't live that far away, either!!)

So, after the cool down, stretching, and nice long shower, it was time to get cracking on the sewing projects. I squared off my zig-zag panel. Then measured and realized I don't have enough fabric to finish the top....Oops! And here I thought I was getting good at math....WRONG! So, I'll stop and pick up some more tomorrow...

I played with some layouts for a zigzag piece on the back, but we'll see....

Then it was bag time. Yep, you heard that right. I'm trying my hand at some tote bags. I made one for my friend Brooke for her baby shower. It was a pattern from Moda bakeshop and I swore I would never make a bag again after that one. But she loves it and that's all that matters. So, I found a nice and easy tutorial by Ashley at Film in the Fridge. I didn't have cute dish towels, but some nice home dec fabric I bought a while back.

I chopped up some pieces and went to work. It was actually easier than I thought it would be!! Hey, I CAN follow directions after all!!

So I made this really sweet tote bag. It's going to my friend & neighbor, Alicia. I promised I'd make her something and now she will have something to call her own. I can't wait to give it to her tomorrow to use on our trip to the local farmers' market!!!

Yippee! Now to find some cute fabric and make one for me! It is reversible. I didn't put any pockets on the printed side, but added 2 on the black side - and split one of the pockets so it's divided. There is a fabric covered piece of cardboard in the bottom too that is removable too. Hope she likes it!!

That there's Lazy Dog in the background, looking more like Devil Dog than anything! He's not enjoying this heat either. For a dog that used to love laying in the sun and soaking up the heat, he's turned into an indoor dog for sure - would rather be enjoying the A/C! And yes, we still haven't put up the trim after redoing to floors. It's a work in progress....

Almost there....

Got all the zig zags sewn together on Monday....will square them off and attach to rest of top today, if I'm feeling better. I worked out this morning and since my shower, have just felt continually worse throughout the afternoon....so much for getting dressed...thinking about jammies again and a DVD. Maybe I'll think about which board game to showcase for July and get some pictures done.....we'll see - very blah today.

Here they are, waiting to get connected

Connections complete :)

Remember me.....

That stack of fabrics and the AmandaJean tutorial.....I'm still waiting.......

I've been procrastinating on my latest project. It's been super nice out and lazy dog needed some attention. Add a trip to PA, board game craziness with friends, and that darn work requirement and my sewing has been sorely neglected. I've been keeping up on reading my favorite blogs, so my wish list of things to make is getting longer and longer....time to get crackin!! Did I fail to mention the 3 cases of wine we brought back from PA (Don't even get me started on the Yuengling we brought back!!!)? Well we had to get something to store them on, so a quick trip to IKEA did the trick! Storage for 40 bottles for $56 bucks and about an hour to put together!

So this week I finally busted out the queen sized quilt project that I bought fabric for back in April (How the heck did it get to be July already!?!?!?!) It was all cut into strips quite a while ago, sitting patiently waiting for me.

The colored fabrics were all sewn to strips of Kona bone. All the strip sets were pressed and hacked into blocks. Then the fun began!! Horizontal? Vertical? Do I need more fabric? I originally felt that an entire bed of zig-zags would be a bit much. Luckily, once on the bed, I still felt that way. So, I took to putting the blocks on the bed vertically first, took pics, and sent to hubby. He wanted to see horizontal too. Spun the existing quilt with all the blocks on it and took another pic. Only lost a few blocks during the move :) And we both agreed - horizontal are the way to go!!

So now I needed to gather up the blocks and put them on the guest bed, so I can work on sewing them together between that working thing I do occasionally :) Where I encountered a problem. Double guest bed and layout for a queen sized bed....Time to get creative. I took the coverlet on the guest bed and tucked it into the dresser at the foot of the bed - extra footage for my layout!!! (Can you tell I was a girl scout?!)

Let the sewing begin!! Working through the rows. Since I work this weekend, I'm hoping to have them all together by mid-week next week - keep your fingers crossed for me!!

And Lazy Dog did his best to keep entertained while I was laying out blocks on our bed......

I love this dog! He just makes me laugh!!!