Meet my New Bestie :-)

Everyone knows I hate trimming HSTs. I also hate having to sew a bunch of wonky, dog-eared squares, so trimming is a necessary evil.

Until I heard about this little gadget. (Keep in mind, this is in NO way a sponsored post, I just think this thing is awesome.)

I started looking for it online a while ago, but the only place I could find it was from the manufacturer, and it was pretty pricey. So I just suffered through HSTs the old-fashioned way.

BUT! Then I saw it hanging out all alone in the clearance section of my LQS (I SWEAR I scoured that store already...)

It's so easy. I luuuuuurve it.

You just line the seam of your square up with the notch in the ruler, and it keeps it all nice and straight for you while you're trimming.

And then, when it's time to trim the other side, you just keep the block in there and spin the ruler around...

And voila! So easy peasy! I actually trimmed like a messload of these all at once, because I was actually having fun (what?!). I know. It's awesome.

And you know what? It's amazing how easy it is to match points up when your blocks are all cut squarely and accurately... ;-)

I had a couple days off work...

It's amazing what you can accomplish with a little "free" time.

In the midst of my fabric-buying frenzy, I stopped by my LQS and grabbed some Acacia charm packs! I also fell in LOVE with the new Kona Silver, which is now my favorite gray fabric of all time. I didn't know what to do with it all, but once I figured it out (inspired by these photos on flickr), I chopped the charms all up and threw them onto the design wall.

I thought this was going to be a pretty quick project, but as usual, it isn't content to remain the way I originally intended. So it's got to evolve some before I can finish piecing it. I'll keep you updated!

I Got to Sew!

I got to squeeze in about ten minutes of sewing in between two thirteen hour shifts yesterday. This is literally the first time I've turned on my machine since September 7th.

I didn't get much done, but that's ok.



It was awesome.

I got distracted again...

I was fully intending to work on my BOM blocks.

I promise.

But then I got distracted by this -

So stoked for this. I'll let you know what happens :-)

Those who can't sew, hoard...

So while I've been doing lot's of this...

I haven't been doing much sewing...


So i've been shopping.

I (finally!) sold my Sewing Summit ticket, and in my mourning of not being able to go, and not being able to sew in lieu of studying for exams, I've been drowning my sorrows in retail therapy.


I supplemented my Briar Rose stash...

Got my hands on some of the Waterfront Park blenders... (I still really want some of the navy. I love me some navy...)

Got some Tule! I love the colors in this line!

I also got some Field Study. I know, I know, I'm so far behind the times with these...

But once I saw them in person, I fell in love (big surprise, I know...) and I got some more. Oops.

There also MIGHT be some that haven't come in yet... It's an illness. I'll share those soon. You know you want to see them, too. ;-)

Hopefully after this exam I'll have some time this weekend to make a mess in the studio!

Progress, or Lack Thereof

So I've been busy with lots of non-sewing-related life lately, namely overtime and school. I actually have my first exam later this week, for which I will be preparing madly. Or trying anyway.

The only sewing I've done since the August BOM blocks hasn't even been for me. A good friend came over and we worked on quilting a baby quilt that she's anxious to gift. I tried to start some of the Skill Builder BOM blocks that I've let pile up while she was working on it, but of course we ended up gabbing instead of being particularly productive. Which is fine by me :-)

So basically, all I've done in the sewing room in like a week has been to cut out eight 2 1/2 inch squares.

EIGHT.

I'm on fire, people. Try to keep up. ;-)

Sisters Ten BOM - August Blocks

Happy Labor Day to everyone in the US! I hope everyone had a great long weekend, and that it hasn't been too hard to get back into the swing of things...

I took the day off to do a little fun sewing, of course. I'm between "big" projects right now, having just finished From This Valley. So I took the opportunity to catch up on one of my BOMs. (I'm several months behind my Skill Builder BOM, so I might have to devote a whole weekend to catching up there!)

Here are the two blocks I made for August -

And here are all of the blocks together so far!