one shabby chick

Slowly

I am slowly adding things to the shop - so far I have all the patterns and books loaded.

I'm starting the fabric next. I still have a bunch more to photograph and upload tomorrow.

Thanks for all the kind words - I know it could have been a LOT worse. I talked to the doctor and she said it's a little more serious (learning problems and growth issues) when they are younger but I'm hoping (and praying) it will be something easily treated by medication.

I just feel bad for her and all the labs and blood work she'll have to go through - but God is good and she was totally fine when they took all the blood last week. Even told me it didn't hurt at all.

Ok I'll update again tomorrow when I have the rest of the fabric uploaded - should have some up tonight too.

Not sure how to start this

At the beginning of the summer I started noticing hair - everywhere.

Bela's hair to be exact. It seemed to be falling out at a rapid rate so I asked some other people with longer hair if that was normal. They assured me it was but I still kept an eye on it.

Then last week I was feeling her hair and realized it had gotten so thin - no bald spots but just really thin. So I made an appointment at the doctor and we went last Friday. She got some blood drawn - such a trooper and the doctor called yesterday.

It's her thyroid and now we are going to see a specialist. Not sure what all it will entail but from what I've been reading (and I've only read a little bit - too much internet searching leads to unruly thoughts and fears I think), it's something that will be for the rest of her life.

Just wanted to let you guys know in case I'm scarce here or just have a different tone underlying things. I know God is in control and am actually not feeling stressed out. Just started a new Bible study this week (by myself) - Living Beyond Yourself.

In a totally different subject:

I am planning a HUGE de-stashing sale in the shop once I get everything sorted and uploaded. I just have too much fabric (and books and patterns) and need to pay off some bills and just de-clutter a little lot.

I'll let you know when I have it all in there in case anyone needs more fabric :-)

More munki munki blocks

There's been so much going on lately I'm having a hard time focusing on any one project or thing.

I did sew up some more munki munki blocks.

I've been trying to work on some neglected projects too - like my star quilt and the spiderweb one. Slowly but surely.

I finished up the last block for our 1st round of Common Threads quilting bee. Round 2 is starting in August and I'm up first. I need to get envelopes addressed and mailed out this weekend.

Better hurry this up - my eldest is looking over my shoulder waiting for me to be done so he can play games at Lego.com.

Circles on the brain

I finished up the Heather Ross doll quilt last week but just haven't had time to take pictures until today.

The recipient has seen it on Flikr and loves it so I'm very happy.

We are making another little something to send along with the quilt so I have to start working on that too.

I got my partner for DQS7 and have been busy trying to think of what to make.

This is my first attempt - I may make another one but we'll see. I'm thinking the same quilting as the last doll quilt - diagonal lines.

New look and comment thingy

Don't know what else to call it :-)

But now I'll be responding in the comments to everyone's questions and responses if that's ok with all of you - and we can all talk amongst ourselves.

Still no car

Which means I can spend part of the day sewing and not feel too bad about it (well, except for the massive piles of clothes that need to be folded - but those are in the living room so I only feel bad when I go in there).

I debated hand-sewing the HR doll quilt but in the end I copied some of Jacquie's cool quilting and did diagonal lines in different directions.

I hope she likes it.

I sewed up this top too - not sure how I'm feeling about it.

Maybe once I quilt it I'll like it more? I used Japanese fairytale prints - maybe there's too much of the same color?

My brother-in-law's sister is here visiting for a week so we are planning a girls' night out tonight - should be fun!

Sneak peek

As I mentioned before, I have a long list of want to-do items.

Doll quilt swap #7 is just starting and I think the partner info is being emailed out tomorrow - it's a secret swap so we get to cyber-stalk our partners...should be fun although I am a little nervous.

I made up a mosaic to give my partner some ideas - there are so many fun things to choose from on Flikr!

The other doll quilt swap is from the Flikr swap group and we decided to do Heather Ross doll quilts. We know who our partners are in this one. I had started out with some log cabin blocks but they didn't seem to look right when I went to put them in a tiny quilt.

So I went with circles again! I'm debating how to quilt it - maybe by hand? With different color circles?

And I had my smocked sundress class last night so yesterday I had to make up a sample - I used this pattern and it came together really quick.

The ladies all had fun - it's interesting trying to help them on all different types of machines. But everyone made a little dress and had fun.

A sweet dress

This month, for a Notion or Two, Tara requested a block based on these quilt patterns.

I had some issues with Wonder-under (as in the paper backing didn't come off - anyone, anyone?) so I lost a whole cake square to that.

This is what I came up with though. I had seen this mini quilt yesterday and immediately knew I wanted to put mine on a hanger.

Hope you like it Tara!

Pink kitties

I finished up the kitten quilt yesterday and threw it in the wash this morning.

Which turned out to be a great thing since our youth pastor stopped by to play basketball with my brother and the quilt is for his wife (so I sent it home with him). They just had their third child and first girl.

So I thought a pink, girly quilt was in order.

I did my normal loopy meandering. I did have some tension issues in the beginning and ripped it out a few times but I finally got it figured out enough to finish the quilt.

I think it might be the thread - has anyone ever had trouble with Superior thread? It was recommended by my quilt class teacher but now I'm not sure. I have a wholesale account with them which makes it much cheaper but I'd like to avoid tension issues. Any suggestions/ideas?

I also got the most amazing package yesterday. I had swapped some munki munki squares recently with a blog friend and I told her just to send me some things she thought I'd like - wow! I was blown away by her generosity and just all the beautiful fabrics.

AH numbers...

Gypsy caravan by Amy Butler - I think I want to do a quilt with a bunch of different AB flowers....

I have a bunch of things to work on right now - a Heather Ross doll quilt swap (with the Flikr swap group), two quilting bee blocks, and a bunch of quilts in progress - better get to work. Oh and I signed up for Doll Quilt Swap 7!

Heat + wild kids=crazy mom

Hubby is headed home right now and as soon as he gets home, he's headed to the pool with all the kiddos. It is so hot and they are driving me crazy!

We are down to one car at the moment (the minivan has some electrical problem and hubby hasn't had the time to check it out thoroughly) so we have been hanging at home (in the mornings we walk to the pool) - I am needing some alone time today!

I think they are all excited to show off their new moves from swim class.

I've gotten some more swap mail this week:

Lots of fun red riding hood prints.

We are starting version 2.0 with Common Threads and I volunteered to be August. I was experimenting today with some different fabrics to send.

What do you guys think? I was thinking something like this, this or this.

I'm definitely using white mushrooms instead of the yellow ones. I tried the yellow ones first since I have more of them :-)

I also was thinking AB Full Moon Dot in red - that way I don't have to order anything!

*** Edited to add: I found more of the umbrella fabric here on Etsy since there was such an interest in it. Have fun shopping!