Enjoy the journey

Sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride. 

Appliqué

One of my goals this year is to become a better seamstress.  Which shouldn't be too hard since my sewing abilities are rather limited.  As in sew in a straight line.  So I started looking for projects and different basic things I could do in my free time.  Luckily there are some amazing women in my neighborhood who are willing to help me on my way, in addition to blogs, YouTube videos, books and the fabulous Craftsy website.

Unfortunately 

I did not recruit their help soon enough.  

I started Quilt Doodle Designs 2015 block of the month quilt that looks whimsical and fun - just up my ally!   I am familiar with interfacing - but I didn't realize that heat n bond is different.  Ha!!!  So needless to say I made it a little harder than necessary for my first two blocks! As I was cutting interfacing for these tiny pieces I thought there has got to be a better way.  There just has to be!

Then I found a video that shows how to do what took me 3 hours only took her 6 minutes.  Bah!!! 

Needless to say I have learned my lesson.  And I am loving the appliqué process now!  It is as easy as 1-2-3-4. Trace, press, cut, sew. 

1. Trace your pattern on the heat n bond.  It is pretty thin so you can see through it without shining a light.   The pattern I'm using is backwards so when I'm done it will be the right way.  Cut out your pieces is a general manner.  You do not need to be too precise at this point.  

2. Press the cut out piece on the chosen fabric. 

3. Cut it out according to your traced pattern, peal off the backing and then press it in place on your base fabric! 

4.  Sew.  This is the hardest part depending on how many curves and such your pattern has.  Please do not judge my final pieces as I am still improving!  Hopefully as I do each block it will get a little better.  :) 

I did end up buying a spray version of heat n bond so that I would not have to recut everything out for my tree and snowman.  It worked wonderfully.  :). 

Please note there are cute buttons and little additions that I will put on the blocks at the end. 

Amber

Packing

Did I mention I hate packing?  I am sure I mentioned that somewhere.  Well I am about to be in full packing mode.  Typically I avoid packing for as long as possible.  If possible I enlist others to assist cough cough do it for me.

So in that spirit here are the top 3 ways I have successfully had others pack for me:

1. I can't get it to all fit.

  One of the times I went back to college from home I remember complaining to my mom that I could not get everything to fit in my suitcases and boxes.   She generously showed me (meaning did it for me).  Somehow it all fit!!!

2. I'm running out of time!

  I'm pretty sure my best friend from college packed up most of my kitchen, bathroom and misc decorations one year because I was running out of time.  She of course had been packed for almost a full week before we had to move.   

3. I have to work!

  This one I feel is the most ligitament reason.  I mean a full time working gal only has so much time to herself. Add in a little baby. And yep. Absolutely zero time for packing.  I am proud to say that I have used this a few times.  In our most recent move my husband did a lot of the packing before he left to attend his class.  I did some packing here and there, my mother-in-law did more packing while I was at work.  Ultimately though it came down to while they were loading the truck I was finishing packing up the last few things.  This one can be the most stressful.  

I assume you now understand why these reasons are all very good ones! 

Unfortunately I do not think they will fly this move.  Good thing half my stuff is still in boxes from our move in Novemeber.  I mean ultimately I probably should start packing earlier than last minute - and there are many good and different ways to do this. I found quite a few excellent blog posts on the subject which can be found on my Pinterest board entitled "Moving". 

Wish me luck!!!