Block-a-palooza 13 & 14

The other day I was showing off block 14 to my husband.  He said, "Aren't you finished with that yet?"  I was able to tell him, I almost am!  Next week is the last week of new blocks, and I can't even believe it.  I'm not sure I'm in love with my fabric choices for number 13.  This whole QAL I've been trying to get my hands on an aqua solid, and none of the fabric stores in my area have any!  So I made do.  I'm really liking 14 though!

Block #13

Block #14:

Paloozin'

I won something!  I'm so excited, I've never won anything before!  At the half-way point of our Block-a-palooza, everyone was invited to post a collage or picture of their blocks #1-8.  Five people who posted were drawn at random to win prizes of fabric.  I was one of the people selected!  I won a layer cake of Charlevoix:

This line of fabric isn't quite my style, but I've already got ideas about making it into a quilt as a gift for a family member.  Exciting!

I've also been hard at work getting caught up on blocks 10, 11, and 12.

Block #10:

That top corner needs a little editing.  I've already ripped it out and resewn, like, six times though, so I'm taking a time-out from this one.

Block #11:

Block #12:

And here they all are together (so far):

There are only four more blocks left (2 weeks), then we start the sashing/assembly process.  Seeing them all together like this makes me pretty excited for the final product!

Block 9 & a Shopping List

Yesterday (in spite of my plague) I completed block #9 of the Block-a-palooza quilt along.  It's hard to believe that we're over halfway done!

I also spent some quality time with my seam ripper and some of my first blocks.  They just weren't doing it for me, and I've been wanting to make adjustments for some time.  I will post pics when I am done with all of them.

I'm not finished because, well, honestly, sickness got the best of me in the end yesterday, but also because I ran out of thread!  So I'll be heading out to Joann's later today to buy copious amounts of this:

As well as batting, more machine needles, and more bobbins.  I'll be the first to say, I really don't like Joann's, but they do give out massive coupons AND I have a 15% teacher discount all the time on everything (which stacks with my coupons!), so I will go there for basics.  With that said, I better get up and get moving!  We had a freak snowstorm last night, and while it's mostly gone, I've heard it's snowing in random patches around the area.  My big Swedish baby can handle it, but not everyone can tackle our hills when it's snowy/icy and I don't want to get stuck!  I have sewing to do!

This and That

I have the plague.  Not really, but I am pretty sure that my body has succumbed to the sickness that the kids have been passing around for weeks at school.  Just in time for Mid-Winter Break.  Awesome.  I was not to be deterred by my 100.04 fever today though!  I finished my first ever 100% complete quilting project!  I can't tell you what it is though, or show the whole thing, since it's a gift.  Here's a sneak peek though:

I also realized that I never posted my Block-a-palooza blocks from this week!  It was kind of a crazy week around here, so I was super thankful that block 7 was a simple one.

Block #7

Block #8

Block 8 required applique... which... terrified me.  It turns out, it's no big deal!  In spite of the extreme traditionalness of this block (which had me thinking I didn't like it), this might be my favorite one so far.  I've already got another applique idea in mind for another project now too.

I've got the whole week ahead of me (as long as I get healthy).  I anticipate a LOT of sewing going on (and maybe even a little crochet, you never know!).

Weekend Sewing

Whew!  My sewing machine has gotten a lot of use already this weekend!  And it got a good de-linting under the needle plate... whoops, there was an embarrassing amount...
Anyway, I present to you Block-a-palooza blocks five & six:

Block #5

Block #6

These blocks were a little more challenging, with a lot of piecing & points to match up.  They aren't perfect, but I like them (especially six!).  Starting block six was hugely difficult - I could not make a decision on fabric.  I knew I wanted a red-heavy block, but I could not make my fabric play nice.  So... I may have paid a visit to my local quilt shop...  Whatever, I really like it now!

In non-quilty news, my friend Sara has been asking me to teach her to crochet.  This weekend we were finally able to meet up for it, and it was a blast!  I have never taught anyone before, but she's home now practicing her single crochet.  She'll be a pro in no time.  I thought that Sara would need a pretty new roll-up case to hold her new hooks, so I whipped one up for her.

Here it is all rolled up:

The inside:

It was fun to make, super practical (I love the needle pocket), and Sara liked it!  I made it mostly following the pattern here, with a few changes, like omitting interfacing (I didn't have enough, and it was fine without).  I kind of want to make one for me now, even though I have a crocheted one as a WIP right now.  Hmm...

Block-a-palooza 3 & 4

I've got a lot of WIPs going right now.  Unfortunately, right after I took pictures of the new blocks, my camera battery died.  So the rest of them will have to be in another post.
Anyway, Block-a-palooza quilt.  I'm not sure if I am really liking this quilt so far, or really not.  At all.  I may end up re-doing some blocks (cough cough block 3 cough).  Or, maybe not.

Block #3

I am super, super annoyed that even though I followed the directions explicitly, all of my geese have their noses chopped off!

Block #4

All four so far (sorry for the horrible lighting, it's a really gray day here in WA):

Quilting is Addictive

Ok, so, I know I haven't actually quilted my first quilt, but I may have started another one...  Ok, I did start another one.  Why?  I stumbled upon this:

It's from a blog called Quilt Dad.  Seriously.  A dad who quilts.  I know, it's pretty awesome.  Anyway, when I made the white afghan for my mom, I did it by following a crochet along.  It was a good way for me to remember how to crochet (it had been a while) and learn some new skills.  I think this QAL will teach me a lot.  Each week, 2 bloggers post a block with VERY detailed instructions.  I can handle that! So without further ado, here are blocks one and two:

Block #1

Block #2

Obviously there is a lot more going on in this quilt than my last one already!  I can't wait to see what next week's blocks are!