Science Olympiad, School, and other things that keep me from having the time to blog...

Wow...it's been a long time.  I'll jump right in.

1.) Science Olympiad--I've been heading up our school team this year.  They've been passed from teacher to teacher and I stepped in with the hope that I'd enjoy it enough to be their sponsor for more than one or two years :)

Well, the year is nearly over, and I do LOVE this team.  If you're not familiar with SO, it's a competition that involves a team of 15 competing in 20+ science and engineering events (Anatomy,  Boomilivers, Robot arms, Chem lab, and Experimental design to name a few.)

Here we are at States with our 1st place trophy!!!

They did so well, and I'm so glad I can be there to support them.  At dinner, they went around the table and thanked me individually.  Apparently the things they appreciate most are my organizational skills, care and concern, and my cookies (I'm not surprised they like the cookies...who doesn't love cookies?)

Now we're headed to Nationals next weekend.  SO exciting and overwhelming!  I helped design our t-shirt and am in the progress of working on a banner.  Any tips on easy ways to finish off the edges?

2.) School.  The life of a teacher...let's just say that Teacher Appreciation Week falls in May for a reason.  We need it.  Personally I'm trying to deal with some ethics violations (cheating).  It's really unfortunate and very disappointing and is totally NOT my favorite part of the job.  Overall, I LOVE this new job and TJ and know that next year will be so much easier.  I can't wait to be able to focus on adapting my lessons instead of creating new ones. (Actually, I should be typing up a new "body systems" project right now.)

3.) There are some fun projects in the works.  I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

John took me to Needle and Thread in Gettysburg for some shopping therapy just this weekend.

Jumping back in time, we went to my cousin Emily's wedding in Austin, TX.  It was SO great to see family and they had the most hilarious photo booth.  Steph and the other bridesmaids were beautiful.

Over spring break (in March) we also went to the George Washington Hotel in Winchester.  If you can catch a Living Social deal like we did--it's an unbelievable deal!  That was the same weekend we went to the quilt museum. 

Then Mom came to visit.  Here we are on a House tour.

Somewhere between spring break and now we went to Greenwood, SC for a wedding.  It was a short weekend trip, but we had a great time!  I'm always amazed how many people I still haven't met in this very small town.  They all know John and have great stories from his childhood. :)

I also got to spend an afternoon at the zoo with Cynthia.  It was my first time at our National Zoo, and I'll definitely be back.  We had a great time.  If you haven't, be sure to check out their Amazonia exhibit.

I have had time to get a few projects underway...

 

Over spring break I finished the charity top (finally!) and made this "Sweetheart Chic" apron.

Started the cosmos sampler to get some practice at embroidery.  I believe I took this picture while I was quarantined in bed with some kind of vicious bronchitis...winter in a room full of sick kids with unfamiliar germs was not kind to me this year.

Spent one morning rearranging fabric.  Now I'm ready if our guild hosts another scrap swap ;)

And finally started a project with a beautiful jelly roll Mom bought for me in Florida.  More of this to come as soon as I can get back at the sewing machine.

For now...I'm going back to fixing fajita bowls (YUMMM) for dinner, studying up on immunology, and grading the statistics part of the kiddos' research papers.

A "Getting to Know You" post

So...back in November, I was "tagged" by Christina at Passion Quilting and today I was given a Liebster Award by Jess at the Crafty Roach.  Both are sort of like the "chain letters" of quilt blogging, but they seem much more well-intentioned.  Christina's "tag" unfortunately hit me right before my life spiraled into a work vortex...but since I've sort of gotten to a bail-the-water-out-as-the-boat-fills-up equilibrium now, I feel like it's time to join in (and invite others to do the same, if they choose :)

The basic premise is the same for each:
1.) Tell 11 things about yourself
2.) Answer 11 questions (although I guess I'll be answering 22)
3.) Ask 11 questions for other bloggers...all with small numbers of followers...and share our personalities along with our love of quilting

So...on to my 11--random--things...
1.) I think my parents are awesome...I never had the teenage falling out that most people have with their parents, and though Mom and Dad are VERY different people, I can totally respect, love, and enjoy both of them.  (My sister and I had the whole sibling rivalry thing down to an art--but we're good now, and she's an incredible person too!)

2.) I am so bad at getting things done that require calling up service people on the phone...and I don't know why!

3.) I spent three months studying Ecology, Zoology, and Natural Resource Management in New Mexico with a group of 11 students--our trip involved lots of camping, nearly getting lost among lava rocks while trying to get from a bat cave back to our tent, hanging out with prairie dogs, baby bunnies, setting lots of traps for rodents, lots and lots of camp food, and dissecting a bison--all while living in a ghost town on one of Ted Turner's ranches.  It was the most magical trip.

4.) I think my husband has the patience of a saint.

5.) My favorite punctuation mark is the dash--I discovered it during a freshman literature class and have never looked back.

6.) I strive every day to be open-minded and truly listen to people's various opinions, and it frustrates me when people don't just let others be or act closed-minded.  But then, I have to accept them as they are because I want to let them be who they are.

7.) I used to work in a nursery at a Jazzercise--I got free classes and fell in LOVE with group fitness.  In college I taught step aerobics and "jazz and sculpt."  Now, my love is Zumba.

8.) I love watching my students take tests--you can really see all their little personalities come out as they try to figure out the answer.

9.) I've been completely obsessed with orchids since a trip to an orchid breeder in Newberry, SC.  Chloe, my old kitty, figured this out and would EAT my orchids when I went on long trips (I believe this was out of feline spite.)

10.) I met my husband while singing in chorus together--it's really a very cute story--and when our choral director was tearing up as I walked down the aisle during our wedding six years later, I burst into tears.

11.) I'm a total foodie.  I love farmers markets, farm fresh eggs, tomatoes of every color and shape, cooking, baking, making my own jams and pickles--I would probably have a garden at some point in my life, but I have an IRRATIONAL fear of insects.

The 11 questions from Christina:

1.)  What is your most favorite quilt you have ever done?
I love my purple bunny quilt made for the little sister of one of my oldest friends.  But I haven't finished many quilts yet.  I can't wait until my Hooterville is finished :)

2.)  What is your favorite quilting technique?
Free motion quilting!  I love doodling on fabric!
3.)  Applique. Yay or Nay?
Yay, but on rare occasions in small doses.
4.) Which piece of fabric that you have or have ever owned would you do almost anything to have more of?
Oh my, I'm still in my stash building phase.  I really like the grey and plum fabric with leaves in the quilt top here.

5.) If you could teach one thing to someone about quilting what would it be?
Free motion quilting...I'm a woman of few interests ;)

6.) What do you listen to when you are quilting? Favorite book? Favorite Music? Television program or Movie?
Lots of NPR (I love "Wait, wait, don't tell me").  I also love books on tape or something like Gilmore Girls or Big Bang theory.  Almost never music.

7.)  Are you a Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter color scheme lover?
Spring and fall

8.)  What is your favorite book and/or author?
I love Barbara Kingsolver.  And Jane Eyre.

9.)  You are stranded on a deserted island, you only have your book of needles, what you are wearing and what resources the island has to offer, what are you going to quilt?
Probably a shelter out of banana leaves...

10.)  If there is one project that you have admired but never had the courage to attempt, what is it?
The art quilts that look like impressionistic paintings.  I really want to do one of Reedy River Park...a quaint little park with a beautiful new, modern bridge in Greenville, SC.

11.)Where is your favorite place to be?
I'm a homebody.  But, on a beautiful day I love to be outside sitting on a large rock in the mountains with a view.  It's the most wonderful, meditative experience.

And the questions from Jess:

1) What is your favorite non-crafting related hobby?

Knitting!  That's why this blog has a name that doesn't quite match the website--knitting used to be my one and only love.

2) If you could have a coffee date with one person, famous or not, living or dead, who would it be?

I would love to sit down with my Tita (grandmother).  I did this once as a kid and learned so much.  She gave the greatest advice and had an unshakable faith.

3) What is your favorite sewing (or crafting) notion?

I love the Clover clips.  Great for binding or keeping sweater seams together--a cross-craft tool!

4) Do you have a nickname? If so, what is the story behind it?

Breezy...apparently this is what my Dad's been calling me since I was born.

5) What is the best gift you've ever given? Received?

I love it every time my husband wears a scarf I knit him from handspun merino (No. I didn't spin the yarn myself.)  It turned out beautiful, and I know he loves it.

My parents bought me an SLR camera when I was a 9th grader.  I loved that camera and the time I spent on yearbook staff--especially the great people on the photography staff.  We spent so many hours in the darkroom just laughing.  I was a really awkward in high school, but those were great times.

6) If you were reincarnated, what would you want to come back as?

I don't think I'd want to change anything, but if I had to, perhaps an eagle?

7) If you got a tattoo, what would you get? (If you already have a tattoo, what is it, or what is your favorite if you have multiple, or what would your next one be if you want to get another?)

Probably a treble clef inside a heart...my hubby is very anti-tatoo, so I haven't thought about this one in awhile.

8) What food did you love as a kid but now can't stand. Or vice versa? (Mine is beets and Brussels sprouts, respectively).

I'm not so hot on fish sticks or chicken mcnuggets anymore, but I love onions and bell peppers now.

9) What is your favorite thing you've ever made?

Wow, that's difficult. Probably my lace shawls...any of them.

10) If you were to update Wikipedia, what would your entry be?

Fostering creativity in gifted students (something I wouldn't mind working on as a PhD thesis someday)

11) Do you have an odd skill or talent? (For example, I have an uncanny ability  to determine which celebrity a person resembles [this is a fun bar activity]).

I'm still pretty flexible, and once stretched out, I can high-kick to my nose. (Old dance team days) 

And my ll questions:

1) What's the first thing you notice about people?

2) What is your most favorite thing about yourself?

3) What are some smells that remind you of childhood?

4) Name someplace that you've been that you can't wait to revisit.

5) Dog or cat?

6) What's your favorite way to spend a weekend?

7) What's the most adventurous thing that you're tempted to try?

8) Favorite home-cooked meal?

9) Is there one thing that new acquaintances always seemed "shocked" to know about you?

10) What's your most "irrational" fear?

11) Name five qualities you admire in others.

I'd love to hear from:
Elle-mental
Hoot-n-haller
By Anjeanette
I Finally Have Time
JessieAller

And I know my list doesn't have 11 people (yet) so if you want to join in, let me know and I'll add you to the list!

Barbados bag

Well, I guess the pockets-to-go tote really got me on a pattern kick for sewing small, useful items.

Tuesday I started this:

And now, I have this:

Pockets!

The pieces--ready to be joined.

I was happy to see this mangled mess disappear.

Finished!!! :)

From the back

Inner pockets

I finished it last night and was able to wear it to work today.  So fun to be finishing things!

Linking up with Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

WIP Wednesday...progress in many directions...

I have a FINISH to share...yay!  (And hopefully many more in the next few weeks.)

This is my finished Pockets-to-go tote that DC Modern worked on as a guild project last Saturday.  I don't have a free arm on my machine, so I bound the top by hand with visible stitches.

 So much easier (and no wanting to hurl my machine against a wall :)

I also got all the pieces together on my Hooterville quilt.  See more pictures here.

It needs a border, then I can begin a much anticipated quilting process (this quilt was one of the first I EVER started, but I didn't move forward because the notion of quilting it scared me.  Not scared anymore thanks to Leah Day's Quilt along and lots of practice on the charity quilt.  Not to mention the great support I've been getting from the lovely people that read and support me on this blog.)

My new start for the week was an impulse buy on MLK day.  I need a new purse and cannot find one...but I love this Barbados bag.  I have the front panel put together.

So many GREAT pockets!

That's my current list for now, but lots of things are waiting for my new-found initiative to work on them too!

Happy quilting!  And make sure to check out other great projects at WIP Wednesday!

UFO is back in progress!

I love DC Modern Guild meetings...they really keep the momentum going.  And this week, my skills were stretched yet again with group project led by Linda and her friend Anne.  We were working on Pockets to Go Caddies!

Nifty zippered pocket with lining :)

The interior pockets!

Mine is almost finished...It needs a little more hand binding and the top binding/handles.  Trying to sew the binding on the sides nearly made me throw the thing against the wall--but both Linda and new friend Sarah talked me off the ledge of insanity/frustration. 

I really cannot say enough great things about this guild.  It's full of wonderful, enthusiastic, supportive people that have become a delight to see each month.  We had so many new attendees at this meeting that people had to sit on the floor!  I will definitely bring my portable table to the next meeting.

Today, with the charity project handed off to the guild (Linda again...she's amazing!), I got to pick the Hooterville quilt up again.  The pieces are FINALLY together! 

Now...my first attempt at quarter triangles was a bit rough, but it's so colorful and fun that I don't care...and I'm leaving it as a record of where I started in my quilting journey--this was the first pattern I decided to tackle, and I didn't know yet to starch the fabric first. (Always starch first to make your life easier.)

A few corners did meet up a little nicer.  I'm so happy to see it together, hopefully I'll add borders tomorrow and get back to machine quilting soon.

Well, I should get back to my hand sewing while I still have some movie left to watch with my hubby!

I'm linking up with UFO Sunday at The Free Motion Quilting Project.  It's a great place to see a variety of projects young and old.  Check it out!

I can't believe I made all these deadlines...

Wow...the charity quilt for Quiltcon has one square foot left to be quilted. (Note, upper right corner)

Note the "fancy" camera--abandoned b/c my iPhone was better in low light :)

 Our guild meeting is tomorrow...yay!  And this will be my show and tell...

 This week (and the past few) have been chock full of deadlines and appointments...but they were all accomplished and most things ran smoothly.  I even managed to sneak in a cellular respiration pictionary game that I'll need to blog about later :)

I have to send a great big thanks again to DCModern (especially Elle, Heather, and Jessie) for putting this amazing top and back together!

But most of the thanks here goes to Leah Day.  I've been reading her blog since I started thinking about free motion quilting...listening to her talk (well, reading) about how to minimize drag on the quilt, how to move the quilt in order to minimize puckering, how to get over those first few months where you feel like nothing looks right (NO ripping!), what stitches work in what areas, how to move the patterns around to work in a space--I could go on and on!  Generally, I picked up a love of quilting that is not going ANYWHERE!  All of the following designs are patterns I've picked up along the way...the next two pictures show Leah's Flowing Lines, Paisley, and Quilt Busting Matrix.  Others are from Quilting Modern and Free Motion Quilting with Angela Walters.  You should go check out FMQ Friday...there's some amazing quilters out there learning and sharing along with Leah and the blog community.

 

 I hope everyone enjoys their long weekend!  I know I will!