Book 49 of 52

Well, I kind of flew through this book... It's these darn fairytale retellings that get me, I eat them up!

Chanda Hahn did it again, a super easy yet great read! With twists and turns galore, the next in the Unenchanted series keeps you on your toes. 

I'm onto the next book in the series! Only 3 books left to complete my New Years Resolution!!

Happy reading!

Ashley 

Girls weekend with Mom!

This weekend I got to spend the whole weekend just me and Mom!! That never happens, ever! (Love you little siblings!)

We went shopping for Mom's dress for my wedding and she had such fun! I love seeing my mom happy and dancing in a dressing room... Yep, dancing. And people wonder where I get my personality from...

She's a cutie and I'm so blessed to have her in my life.

Sorry this is short, I didn't really craft at all this weekend, so I don't have any progress pictures of anything. Although Nicholas and I did smash through several more episodes of Chuck 😜

Have a great Monday!

Ashley 

Simply Mini Quilt Swap

If you've been around the crafting instagram world at all, you've heard about swaps. Lately there has been loads of drama with flakers (both those who don't send and swap mamas who disappear). Heck, even my own swap had a Mama disappear and I'm trying to clean up that mess. But I digress.

I've personally decided that I am done with swaps. Except for short term book swaps. I'm always down for a good book swap, it's ridiculously easy and very rare for flakers. Anywho, done with swaps. I'm finishing out the few that I'm already a part of and then that's it. Plus you know, I've got a wedding coming up in 121 days, so it's probably best that I don't take anything else on.

So, this swap was entitled the Simply Mini Swap. All that was required was a mini quilt. That's it. The host emphatically stated no extras, just focus on the mini! Fine by me, extras are so hard for me. I can't afford a whole lot, but then I feel bad if I don't include anything.  So this was perfect, just a mini quilt, woohoo!!

My partner stated she loved Bonnie and Camille fabrics, really who doesn't though? And she posted a great mosaic of things she likes.  As much as I dislike making mosaics, they really are so helpful!

This picture was included in her mosaic and I knew this was what I wanted to do! I love hexies and this is such a unique way to use them. Oh and guess what mini charm pack I had laying around?

Woohoo!! Honestly these mini charm packs are the greatest thing Moda has come up with. They are the perfect size for 1 inch hexies, just snip the corners and baste away!

I love little hexies all piled up like that... Ahhhh so cute! Basting hexies is so fun for me, and hello travel worthy project! You need next to nothing, so no huge project bags.

Playing around with a layout. Can I just say, my kitchen at night has the worst lighting in the world! It gives everything a weird orangey color and ughhhhhhh.... Nick's kitchen however has gorgeous light, and it takes the greatest pictures.

See?! The difference in lighting is crazy, these were taken the same of day, but one in my kitchen and one in his. I was popping out the papers here and Nick brought me roses.... Such a sweetheart, good thing I'm marrying him right?

I added a coral border and started sewing everything down/quilting. Every step of this quilt was seriously so enjoyable, I loved watching the hexies come to life with each stitch. 

This was after a good night of quilting, but I was so exhausted I couldn't even keep my eyes open.

Who else loves the back of quilts as much as the front? Such glorious puffiness!

Seriously though, this is the most awesome thing I think I have ever created. I love it so much and I really hope my partner does too! 

Until next time,

Ashley

Book 48 of 52

So, my New Years Resolution this year was to read 52 books, or one a week.

Today I finished my 48th book! I have 4 books remaining to complete my goal with 2 and a half months left to go!!! What?!?

This book is pretty awesome, well, at least I think so. It's the third in a series called An Unfortunate Fairytale written by Chandra Hahn.

The title is Fable and it's just a great little retelling of Grimm's fairy tales. I'm a sucker for fairytales and this series covers it! Plus it's young adult fiction, that's my jam.

Anywho, you should totally check out the series! I'm off to download book 4!

My Saturday Night

Ok, so most Saturday nights around 8 I start thinking about what I'm going to wear to church the next day. And if I don't like anything in my closet, I will just whip something up.

Last night was no different, however, all of my dress patterns are still in Missouri stashed at my mom's house until she comes to visit, because I didn't have room to bring the tub they were in.  

What's a girl to do?!?!?!?!  hmmmmm.... Let me dig through my stash of fabric and see what I can come up with...

Now this looks like it could be promising.... A cotton piece that I got from the coolest store in the town next to the one I just recently left in Missouri. Every piece of fabric in the store is less than $6/yard and they have a HUGE $1/yard area.

But seriously, no dress/skirt/shirt pattern at all... 

Honestly, I don't actually follow patterns to a T anyways, I just use them for the basic pieces that I'm not capable of drawing, and then I modify from there.

Ok, so onto this project. I decided to take some measurements and see what popped into my head while I was doing that. 

I'm so methodical and organized with my numbers right??  and don't you just love my rough sketch! I can't believe I'm showing this to you guys...

Starting to sew some of the pieces together, these pictures don't do this color justice, they are showing up more pink, but it's definitely more of a purply color.

somehow the chevrons matched up on this seam perfectly, I totally planned that. ;)

Attaching the waistband, I had applied some interfacing so that it would be a bit more structured since I knew this was going to be a high-waisted skirt.

Last step! Hemming! Am I the only seamstress (such an old lady word, let's find a new one!) that loves hemming their project? It's so wonderful and similar and no thinking involved and.... yeah I'm rambling about hemming.... (this is why you are still single Ashley)

So at about midnight I finished my skirt and went to bed hoping that it would look decent for church since I didn't really try it on with the foundation pieces (fancy term for spanx ;) ) that I was going to be wearing. 

Fast forward to this morning, church starts at 8:30, it's only my second time going to this one. I'm pinning myself into my skirt (I didn't have any hooks and eyes either, oh the joys of moving into a MUCH smaller place) at 8:28, so no pictures just yet. 

Went to church, went to a LIFE group of people my age that have already become great friends, and all the girls are loving my skirt. Of course, like a proud mama (since I won't ever have children I figure the only time I will ever beam like a "proud mama" is over my sewing) I told them I made it. 

Two of the girls thought I was joking, and another was flipping out from excitement because she sews too, although "never clothes, they are too scary to sew", and another was just staring at me with her mouth hanging open.  Bahahaha it was a great moment.  

Anywho here's my final product, complete with signature Ashley goofy face!

I think it turned out pretty dang cute if I do say so myself! No pattern for the win!

Mini quilt progress

So, crazy little me thought it would be so awesome to sign up for like 6 Instagram swaps that all happen around October/November. As such, (as such, don't I sound fancy?) I'm trying to get as much done now, instead of waiting til the week before.

Here's kind of my setup and pattern I created. Yes that is Greek you see on my computer, I've decided to rewatch that series since it's on Netflix.



Here's the 4 blocks I completed tonight...











... I can't wait to see them all together!

Anywho it's wayyyy past my bedtime...

Love and Mermaid Kisses!!

Ashley

Instagram Giveaway

If you haven't seen yet on Instagram, I'm having a giveaway for reaching 200 followers! Head over there and check it out!


Love and Mermaid Kisses!!

Ashley