I’m alive!!!

Yes I have finally completed my second masters degree. I’m very tired. I can’t wait to start blogging about quilting again. Actually I can’t wait to start quilting again! I have so many projects that I want to work on.

New UFO and Wannabee list:

1. Baby Quilt for Attikus
2. Receiving Blanket for Attikus
3. Baby Quilt for Rohan
4. Receiving Blanket for Rohan
5. Baby Quilt for unnamed child
6. Receiving Blanket for unnamed child
7. Hoo Are You? Quilt
8. Leaders and Enders Quilt
9. Bonnie K Hunter Mystery Quilt 2017 – On Ringo Lake
10. Project Linus Quilt
11. Harry Potter Tote Bag – Red
12.  Harry Potter Tote Bag – Yellow
13. 2018 The Quilter’s Planner Block Sample Quilt

So this is my list. I can’t wait to see what I have finished by the time I enter the teaching credential in August. I have two months!

Row by Row Finale

After my boyfriend left the hospital we decided it would be best if I stayed with him for a few days. I don’t have a sewing machine with my boyfriend so I wasn’t able to continue working on projects. However, while I was there, I managed to go to a few local shops for the last week of Row by Row.

My first stop was Piecemakers in Costa Mesa. This place is a wow! It’s such a odd feeling to go to a shop and feel like you’re at home. I kept thinking I was at my grandmother’s home except my grandmother’s home doesn’t look like that. It was an ideal of what grandma’s house should look like.

The first room features home decor ready to be purchased. While I looked around, I discovered a tea room! They have a tea room in the middle of the store and they serve apple pie! Then *mind blown* they bake their own apple pies in their kitchen classroom upstairs. Guests can take an apple pie baking class. How cool is that? I didn’t sit down to eat some pie but it looked delicious. Maybe next time. The back of the store has fabric, patterns, yarn, embroidery patterns, etc. Of course I purchased some fabric: one fat quarter neutral and some fabric for a wannabee quilt, maybe for the upcoming National Jelly Roll Day.

Upstairs is a whole different beast. There was a room with Christmas ornaments, ready to buy quilts (they were beautiful!), classrooms that can be reserved, and a beauty salon. This shop has it all, even a band! In early October, there will be a Fall Holiday Sale and I can’t wait to go back with my mom. I truly think she would enjoy the place.

Once I got back to Anaheim, I took my boyfriend on a food adventure to Zzaam! I’m not sure how long this place has been opened but I’m glad it’s near by. Back in 2011, I had traveled to Seoul and fell in love with their food. My favorite food while visiting was Mandu-Guk (Dumpling Soup) and I’ve never found it in the USA until recently at Zzaam. I’m looking forward to going back to the restaurant because I didn’t get the Mandu-Guk. I was so excited that I didn’t read the menu. I ended up ordering the Street Soup. It was a little different from Korea but that’s because it was missing Spam and Franks. Hah! It was delicious.

My next adventure in Orange County was in Tustin. My boyfriend and I began our day with breakfast at Snooze AM Eatery. I’m not a fan. I think the food and service is better at Denny’s so I won’t be going back. But anyways, after breakfast, we headed to Mel’s Fabric and Sewing Center for another Row by Row. My boyfriend, Andrew, ended up talking to the owner about the long arm quilting machine that was on sale. The only thing keeping my boyfriend from purchasing the long arm is the space. We have no idea where we would put it. Decisions…

My boyfriend is interested in buying his own machine in order to make a living for himself. With the seizures getting worse and worse, we aren’t sure if he will be able to have a full-time office job. I am just thankful that he has been able to keep attending grad school. We are both in our mid-30s therefore the idea of being permanently disabled is scary. I’m one of four people who take turns driving him around but I don’t know how long everyone else will continue to help us. There was already one negative Nancy who advised my mom (not even me!) that I should break up with him.

When I get stressed about life, I end up buying fabric. And that is exactly what I did! I went back to M & L’s Fabric to buy fabric for the Project Linus quilt. I’m been wanting to purchase Disney’s Lilo and Stitch fabric for a really long time. I didn’t have a reason to but when I saw that Project Linus asked for a neutral fabric, I jumped at the chance. The fabric on the left is a bright beautiful orange (the photo doesn’t do it justice). I’m loving the color combo of orange and teal. I’ll try and remember that for next time.

I realized I was on a Disney kick when I purchased some Mickey Mouse fabric to make some ears and a travel bag for my friend Susan over at Wilderness, Found. I can’t wait to finish this project because it was meant for her birthday (August) but I didn’t start until September. Maybe we will be able to go to Disneyland for one final summer adventure. And of course, I couldn’t leave without buying MORE neutral fabric.

Yards of Neutral Bought: .375

Total Yards of Neutral: 12.25

Mystery Quilts, Hospital Visits, and Reflections

Don’t you just love a good mystery? Pat Sloan currently has a mystery quilt sew along titled Grandma’s Kitchen. It is fantastic! When I heard about the quilt, I knew exactly what colors inspire me because of an old painting my grandmother had: Horse and Buggy Days by Paul Detlefsen. This painting used to hang in her botica (pharmacy) and then in the children’s room in Mexico. When my sister bought her first house, she asked my grandmother for the painting and now it resides in Southern California. A minimum of three cousins have fought over the painting. I can’t wait to start the quilt!

I have so many quilt projects in the works! For example, I started my fellow cohort graduation presents. Each member of the cohort will receive a microwavable bowl holder, a mug rug, and a notebook. There are seven or eight members so if I start now I’ll be finished by May. At least that was the plan!

My boyfriend ended up in the emergency room after finally collapsing from a seizure. We knew that eventually it would happen as the seizures began to progress but I was sad to hear that he was alone when the second one happened. You see, last week, he had a seizure in front of this grandmother. She freaked out and called the paramedics. When he arrived at the emergency room, the doctors unknowingly gave him seizure medications that caused an allergic reaction. My boyfriend didn’t have to stay over night but his throat and tongue swelled up. Then this last seizure, he was alone, he collapsed, hit his head and severely bit his tongue. His tongue got infected. For three days, he didn’t say anything but wasn’t getting any better. He went to Urgent Care who told him to go to the Emergency Room where he was admitted for seizures, the tongue, high blood pressure, and the infection.

I hate hospitals. Despise them. My boyfriend found out that I was uncomfortable because my first reaction was something along the lines of, “no, not the hospital, that’s where people go to die!” My childhood memories are of my mom sitting next to my little sister for three years until my sister passed away. Then my sister sat next to her daughter after she was born with a heart problem. I remember my grandfather being in the hospital weeks before he died. It’s just not a fun place. Then, when I lost my own daughter before her birth, I knew that if she lived the amount of surgeries she would need. Therefore to see my boyfriend in a hospital bed, and I siting there waiting for the time to pass…I was uncomfortable.

While sitting there, I received a sign! I was scrolling my Instagram page when I came across a posting by the Fat Quarter Shop regarding the Project Linus‘ annual mystery. I’ve always wanted to do something memorable to honor my baby. How about a quilt? I really need to go shopping for fabric IF I’m going to work on another quilt.

Finally, Bonnie Hunter just let her fans know that her color choices will be available in eight weeks! She has been giving her fans black and white photos and its like ugh… killing me with excitement. I have over 12 yards of neutral fabric and I can’t wait to use them. I just have to think it will be October before I know it.

Ethnic Quilt Challenge

I haven’t been working on my quilting these past few days. I just took a job at a very magical place so I was working on getting that squared away. I finally have a schedule so that will help me figure out time for quilting. In addition, I have my first test of three coming up for the California Subject Examination for Teachers. I think I have read over 900 pages pertaining to world history and I have approximately 600 more pages to go.

I miss sitting down, quilting while binge watching TV. I have given myself permission to sew twice a month during Open Sew and then in between my study time. Because of this, I do have a few items to share. For example I finished my Canyon Sunset Block #7 Pillow cover. I don’t remember if I mentioned but it will now become Porkchop’s bed for his playpen.

I’ve also been working on my Ethnic Challenge Quilt. On Saturday, I managed to work on piecing half of it when I noticed that I messed up half the quilt. I had to use the seam ripper so I didn’t get very far. I also began to cut my papel picado. I’ve been figuring out the placing of the skulls and papel. I’m still not sure about my layout but I will have something soon! Guess what happened when I was piecing the border? I ran out of fabric! I know have to hurry up and drive to M&L so I can look for some. Hopefully they still have some or I’ll be screwed. By the way, if you are interested in the quilt pattern, it is called Snow Sparkle by Laundry Basket Quilt.

I don’t remember if I have but I’d like to properly introduce my dog, Porkchop. He is an almost-12 year old chihuahua mutt. He loves the kid’s chicken meal from Waba Grill and long afternoon walks. He is constantly in my way when I’m eating, sleeping, studying but especially when I’m working on my quilts. He just loves to lay on top of them and I don’t have the heart to move him.

On July 4th, I had him all tied up with a piece of fabric from my fabric stash. I did this in order to keep him from freaking out because of the fireworks. I guess it worked because he slept through the fireworks and the movie, Mamma Mia.

Can’t wait to show off what I do to get ready for Southern California Quilter’s Run 2017!

Sewing, Sewing, and a Baby!

It has been a very exciting week for me. First and foremost, my godson was born. I’m not entirely sure if it was Friday or Saturday but I received the news on Saturday during Open Sew. His name is James and he is perfect. I feel so bad for my friend because James weighed 10 pounds 9 ounces. That’s big right? I’m super excited that my friend, Ciara, picked me to be a part of his life. I haven’t shipped his quilt yet because I’m trying to fill the box with goodies for the entire family.

I met Ciara back in 2008 when we were graduate students in England. During our dissertation period, she left to Korea and it was one of the most crazy, worth wild thing she ever did! Later on, I went to visit her in Korea to meet her fiancé, Mark. Then, I went to their wedding in Ireland. I’ve gone to visit them twice since the wedding and we are able to pick up were we left off. It’s very rare for me to feel this way with people. I’m very grateful for Facebook as we keep in touch on a weekly basis.

I mentioned before that I have finished my first year as a graduate student. I have one more year plus the teaching credential. As a fun gift, my boyfriend bought me treats from England. Monster Munch and Worcester-sauce Crisps were often found in my studio flat when I lived in England. I wish they were sold in the USA. I really can’t wait to eat them.

Last week I began my ethnic quilt for the guild’s summer challenge. I’m quite happy how it’s turning out. I chose a pattern called Sparkling Snowflake but I can’t remember who designed it. Once I find the pattern again, I’ll give credit where it’s due. During, the spring, I began gathering material for it. If you remember, when I won the Shop Hop award, I was able to complete the materials for it. My nine-patches are complete and I’m working on the solid blocks. For the solid blocks, I’m interchanging two types of skulls. First, I have the regular sugar skull. I bought the Crafty Chica Sugar Skull from Sizzix. I’ll also be making a papel picado type of skull for the other blocks. I hope I can finish by the end of next month.

Sometimes I don’t get much of a change to actually sew. I have back up projects to work on in the mean time. I recently came across these Russian nesting dolls in my fabric stash. I bought the panel last year while traveling to Solvang. The shop is called The Creation Station Fabric and Quilt Shop. It’s such a fun place to stop at. I wish I lived closer.

I was able to stuff three of the dolls with all the itty, bitty scraps that I have left over from fat quarters, or squaring off blocks. I’ve been saving those pieces for over three months and I finally found something to do with them!

Tip #6: Even the smallest scrap is worth saving!

Another project that I was able to complete is the ear bud case that I started. I’m not too happy with the results. I like that it’s small but I had a difficult time with the zipper. I asked my mom for help because I did not know what I was doing wrong. She ended up fixing the zipper. The ear bud case will be attached to the library tote back when it comes back from the exhibition.

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to stop by M & L Fabrics. I bought a lot of fun fabric for a few projects that I have in mind. First, I want to design my own drawstring bags. I bought Finding Dory fabric and a few batiks for the drawstring bags. I also bought some fabric for a skull skull quilt that I have in mind. It’s going to be a simple Carpenter Star quilt. I received the pattern as a gift so I’m happy I found something to use it on. Lastly, I purchased 1/8 yard of the white and black Nightmare before Christmas fabric. I’m slowly trying to gather neutrals for the next Bonnie Hunter mystery. It doesn’t start until Black Friday but I’m getting ready!

Can’t wait to see what I finish this week!

Express, Explore, Experience

Great news! I just finished my first year as a graduate student. I have one year left plus the teaching credential program and then I’ll be done with school. I kept going back and forth in regards to a PhD program but I don’t want that life anymore. My thirties have really been about figuring out what it is I want and who I am. I’m constantly evolving and experiencing. I can’t sit still. That is who I am and that is what I want from life. I want to experience as much as possible  without having to worry about my grades. That chapter is coming to a close.

This week has been a bit of a blur because I had so many things going on. On Monday, I had therapy which turned out to be a meditation session. Not bad but while I was there I thought about making my own meditation mat. I’ll add this to my list of wannabees. I really think a meditation mat would be a great idea because it would be my sacred space. If my parents and boyfriend saw me on the mat, the they would understand that in that moment I don’t want to hear about the latest problem in our lives. I’m going to working on this later. I have to design something first.

My final was due on Tuesday so I was working primarily on that. Once I turned it in, I watched so much TV. It was worth it. I didn’t realize just how much time was spent on being busy with school. I’ll be catching up on my shows during the summer. I will be sewing a lot while I watch TV.

I wanted to show everyone my sewing area. I have a little table that folds into a sewing cabinet. That’s it! Sometimes I have to move my sewing machine in order to iron or cut fabric. I do a lot with a little space. You can see four projects that I was working on during the week: two Busy Bags, a pillow cover, and a new quilt. While organizing my fabric and sewing cabinet, I came across labels! Or what I thought were labels. They were designed by Deborah Edwards Northcott Studio. I guess it’s a panel but that’s okay. I’m using them for labels.

On Wednesday, I went to my school’s history department banquet. I didn’t want to go and the majority of the graduate students backed out. I’m glad I went though because so often I feel out of place or lost and not included that I forced myself to be social. While it was a bit boring, I managed to smile a few times.

Credit: Cindy Jenkins

Thursday was a great day! My mom and I went to to the art exhibition that we are a part of. It was a really nice gesture from the city to include artists from the community centers. My mom is the quilt instructor and I think she does great work. She often beats herself up or downplays her successes. The exhibition space was a bit small but that’s okay because it was the first time the museum had highlighted the community center. Starting off small is a great way to manage the unknown. The exhibition wall featured the red embroidered quilt by a friend named Celia. It also contained my library tote bag. My mom’s quilt was featured. It’s so colorful, I love it. And the other few quilts belonged to Alma, she made the Easter log cabin quilt; Sarah Lee, she made the stain glass window quilt; and Karen, she made the crazy 9 patch quilt. I just realized there was one that I didn’t take a photo of. Hilda made her first quilt using minky! I have minky fabric and refuse to work with it. t makes me cry.

Now that I am not in school for the summer I have time to work on a few quilts and I’m loving the time off. I’ll be working a part time job but hopefully it won’t interfere with my quilting. This week alone I managed to finish three projects! I completed the second Busy Bag for Sadie’s Dream for a Cure, the Yellow Brick Road baby quilt that will now be shipped to England, and a Busy Bag for my friend, Dani. I made it for her birthday using Dr. Who fabric. She is often in and out of the hospital due to personal health reasons. I thought the bag was appropriate.