way out of my comfort zone!

I'm doing it!!  I'm running in a Ragnar Relay.

Let me rephrase that.

I'm participating in a Ragnar!  I'm not what you would call a "runner" per say, but I can run and I'm just crazy enough to do this!!  I'm scared out of my pants but so extremely excited.

Northwest Passage

Washington State

Blaine to Whidbey Island

July 20-21, 2012

My sister works for Ragnar but is SOOO busy (she really is amazing!) that she has asked that I be the team captain...whatever that means.  :)  Thankfully I have her to answer all my questions!  Because, lets face it, I have never run one and I have no idea what I am getting myself into!  But that's part of the excitement!!!

Here's the catch...I need more team members!  We have six and need six more. Do you run?  Do you know of someone who runs and would like to join?  Registration closes on 15 May so we need to get moving on this!

Ragnar is an overnight relay where teams run nearly 200 miles.  There are super-crazies that have 6-man teams but, since I want to live, I am putting together a 12-man team.  Maybe someday I will be just crazy enough to do a 6-man...we'll see.  Each member of a 12-man team runs 3 legs, spread throughout the 200 miles.

It will be so fun to connect with you guys in a non-sewing way.  Like, real life...face-to-face!

Check out their website!  They offer great resources like training, course maps, checklists, and more!!

Have questions?  Want to join?  You can find my email in my Profile.  Or, just leave me a comment with your email and I'll get back with you on the details.

This will be so fun!  It will push us to our limits while we enjoy beautiful western Washington.  There's no better way to enjoy the scenery then by being in it!

DIY: half-square quilt

Yay...I love tutorials!  Today I am going to show you how to make this quilt using half-squares.  This is a great project to use up scraps...love those kinds of projects.

I upped the size of this quilt from the 27" x 32" in my shop to a wee bit larger 36" x 36".

Keep in mind:

• fabric measurements are based on 44" wide fabric.
• WOF means 'width of fabric' (side to side -or- selvage to selvage)
• use a 1/4" seam allowance
• always stitch right-sides-together

What you'll need:
98- 2.5" x 4.5" printed fabrics (slightly generous on both measurements for trimming purposes)
2/3 yard neutral fabric for background -- cut into 15- 1.5" x WOF strips
backing & batting (abt. 40" x 40")
basic sewing/quilting supplies

How you'll make it:
1.  Stitch together two of your printed fabrics along the long side.  Press and repeat with remaining 96 printed fabrics.  Trim blocks to 4.5" x 4.5".

2. You will end up with 49 half-square blocks.  The quilt top has seven rows with seven blocks in each row.  Lay out your blocks how you want them to be in your finished quilt.

edited to add...  When you lay out your blocks, alternate the direction of the first block in each row -- so the seam line is vertical-horizontal-vertical-horizontal.  Use this alternating pattern for the blocks within each row as well as.

...whew, now you've got it all.  Enjoy!!

3.  Stitch the right side of the first six blocks in each row...

...to the neutral strip using the string piecing method as shown below.  Press seams and trim.

4.  Stitch blocks together so a neutral strip is between two blocks.  Press seams.

5.  Stitch a neutral strip to the bottom of the top six rows.  Press toward the neutral.

6.  Continue stitching all rows together along the long sides.  Make sure there is a neutral strip between each row!

7.  Stitch one neutral strip to the right side of the quilt front and one to the left.  Press toward the neutral and trim.

8.  Stitch one neutral strip to the top of the quilt front and one to the bottom.  Press toward the neutral and square up corners.

QUILT TOP COMPLETE!!

I really like how this quilt turned out with these Heather Bailey prints.  So bright and cheery.  I'm waiting on my solid fabric for the back to show up but I'm anxious to share this tutorial so why wait?  I'll be sure to post completed photos once it's all done.

my next project

I was asked about putting together a pattern for my half-square quilt that is currently in my shop.  Since a tutorial for this quilt has been on my to do list for a while I decided this was the perfect time to get it done!

As I began auditioning fabrics none of the combinations really sang to me until I came across a few of these Heather Bailey prints. Then, of course, decided to make the front completely from her prints.

Not yet decided on the back but I'm thinking maybe a solid...we shall see.

Tutorial coming soon...yay!!!

fun with eggs

With family in town this week (and leaving tomorrow) we decided to have our easter egg hunt a couple days early.

When "hiding" the eggs, why not make it fun!? And a bit more obvious for the younger ones.  :)