I killed my iron

SO I think sewing karma hates me this week. I've tried to make two aprons since the Valentine's apron that I'm giving away was finished. Both have been a complete pain. For some reason I have completely forgotten how or else completely lost the ability to apply a waistband. Both aprons are a mess. Rather then wrestle with them another minute or start on a new apron, I decided to work on my quilt. I started it in November, after all.

So, I get everything out, plug up the iron and crank it up to high. I managed to iron one fat quarter and then...nothin'. Kaput. No steam, no heat, no nothin'. Now that iron had been used a lot. I iron my clothing regularly BUT since taking up sewing I've used it more in the last 8 months than in all the years I've owned it. I am guilty of leaving it on for hours at a time and for almost always having it on the highest setting possible. I cannot deny that I am responsible for the iron's demise. OK, so it was a cheapo iron and I've owned it for several years; that doesn't change the fact that I've gone and killed it. ...and now how am I supposed to get any sewing done? *huge sigh* That certain spring has left my step. My head is hanging low in shame over the deed I have done. I cannot make eye contact with the other small appliances in my home.

I didn't mean to do it, honest.

My Sewing Machine Hates Me

Remember the time I Killed My Iron? Well, I think I may have seriously injured--or at the very least infuriated my sewing machine last night in an effort to learn to do a random meandering/stipple design. I think I pushed her past her limits. In addition to going 100MPH because my machine has no speed control, I was relentless with the sewing!  First I went crazy on a small quilt sandwich, then on countless sheets of paper, next back to the quilt sandwiches until finally she coughed, sputtered, and slowed down to a crawl. The bulb even gave up and burnt out on me!  I have so much I want to finish before school starts back...a couple quilts, a Toy Society project, aprons for the etsy shop, and a secret project that I'd hoped to get done before my Chicago trip next week. And now, nothing is going to get done for a while. Nothing but a trip to the repair shop, that is. I'm hoping that a good cleaning and oiling will do the trick and have ole' Katie Kenmore(and me) whistling a happy tune instead of crying the blues.

In the meantime. I suppose I can finally photograph and list the aprons that are ready to go into my etsy shop. I can read that stack of books I planned on being halfway through that I've only just begun to read. I could cook...I could even try out some of the recipes(for Mark) from this great  blog that Val sent me. There's plenty that I could do to keep busy. But y'all know I'd rather be sitting at the sewing machine listening to showtunes on Pandora!

KY Snow Apocalypse = Bursts of Creativity!

I live in Western Kentucky, where the weather has multiple personalities. A couple weeks ago we had a major snowstorm and I was lucky enough forced to miss several days of work. During that time, I decided to fire up Katie Kenmore and did some quilting...well, quilt top making to be honest.

First, I used a Central Park charm pack and some neutral solids from my stash and made this easy cheesy baby quilt top. I have no idea which of the five babies I know who have recently entered or will soon be entering the world is going to get this, if any. I have another stack of these charms, I will definitely pair it up with white the next time. 

Next, I pulled out a stack of 10" blue squares and got busy on another quilt top. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do. Pinwheels? Simple four patch? So I started snooping around online and was inspired by a really cool yellow/gray star quilt and ultimately ended up with this. 

In the midst of this quilt top, I killed my iron. Again. My husband was nice enough to get me out of the house once the roads were somewhat less treacherous, take me to WalMart, and buy a new iron. He's a keeper, ladies! However, as is evidenced in the photo below, where I'm posing with an iron,  I WAS at the point of stir crazy, so he probably did it for his own sanity as well as mine.