Fabraholism...Hi, My Name is Jenny!

The first step towards beating any addiction (and who's to say I even want to?) is to admit that I am powerless over it. I'm so there! I haven't posted all week because I've been having way too much fun sewing and fondling fabric and even playing with heating elements of all sorts to distort and mutilate textiles to satisfy my illness. It was wicked fun!

First I had a conversation with my wonderful MIL about a cousin whose baby is due next month. I realized that, while each of my cousins' babies have received a quilt from either mom or me, none of DH's cousins have. Oops! The timing has always been a little hairy and we just aren't as closely entwined with their lives. Sooo...I felt it was high time to remedy the situation. In honor of my new fascination with Bonnie Hunter, my introduction to the Easy Angle ruler, and Andi's love of lime green, I decided to make a scrappy Jacob's Ladder with a green focus. Here's the block so far:

On Tuesday I finished whipping down the binding for the Team Tomato prize quilt. Last year for Mother's Day I gave my mom, MIL, and cousin one of those Topsy Turvy Tomato Growers. They had a contest, and Cousin Judy won by a landslide. This Mother's Day her gift will be this cute little tomato quilt and basket (by Dawn, of course) to

gather her harvest. Shhh...don't tell her! Thanks to the Stashbuster poster who suggested the "Just Leaf It" technique of free motion quilting. You can't really see it that well, but it worked perfectly for this little quilt.

On Thursday, Mom and I went back to our Kaleidoscope class. We learned how to make the alternate blocks that really make the design pop. Check out "My Design Wall" on the right to see how this quilt is coming along.

Then on Saturday (yes, my house is a wreck - don't call DFCS on me) I went to an awesome class with Jan Girod from Fiber on a Whim. It was incredible! Calling it a quilting class would be a bit of a stretch - it is definitely in the Art with a Capital A category. We worked with foiling and bone ash, Tyvek, cellophane, organza, metallic mesh, buttons, beads, and all kinds of pretty threads. We had irons, heat guns, and soldering tools generating some serious creative energy. It's not ready for photos yet, but I hope to have it up soon.

Plus Step 2 for Orange Crush has been posted! I'd better get back to work! Have a great week.

Spring

We have been having the most gorgeous spring weather. I am enjoying every minute with the fresh air coming through open windows, the bluebirds and friends on the feeder singing to me, and the new flowers that greet each new day.
It puts me in a mood to tidy and clean, especially deck and garage so I can be outside, but it has also spilled into the house and my sewing area. I've decided to keep myself honest in my stashbusting by posting monthly pics of my progress. I didn't realize myself how much I had

done until I looked at these:

BEFORE: (March, 08) AFTER: (April, 08)

I'm embarrassed to post even one "before" picture and there are many more. I can't believe how much has been done in just a few weeks, but believe me when I tell you there is more to do.

I have to give credit for this to Bonnie Hunter's Scrap User System that she shared with us at our March guild meeting. She explains it all (for free!) on her website, plus so much more. I took her directions and made myself a little cheat sheet to keep in a plastic sleeve on my cutting table. The drawers you see under the table have my different sized squares, bricks, and strips in them. The large Basket by Dawn is my favorite and holds the twin sized quilt I am currently hand quilting for my mother.

So you can see that there is hope, even for the messiest of Messies. Open your windows, let in some spring air, and spend 15 minutes folding and cutting and fondling your favorite fabrics. You'll be amazed at what you find and how much more you can accomplish. Have a beautiful weekend!