Helen is a bunny who likes a bit of an adventure.

On Tuesday, she put on her shoes

and her favorite pink sweater and headed out for new lands.  Arizona is far away, but she knows that her new friend, Mary, is waiting for her.

After they play for a long time, Helen thinks she'll be ready for a nap.  It's a good thing she packed her pillow and quilt.

Sweet dreams Helen.  We will miss you.

Helen is from wee wonderfuls put-together book 1.  Her sweater is also a wee wonderfuls pattern.  The doll quilt and pillow were made by me without a pattern.  Making Helen and her things was so much fun for me.  Thanks so much for swapping with us, Jen and Mary.  We love everything you sent!

Click on the photo to see the great things we got!  They also sent us two great books, but Kate has hidden them somewhere.  Most likely, they are in her bed.

Happy leap day everyone!

I went to the doctor yesterday.  The mysterious comes again, goes again wrist pain finally made me do it.  I had really put off the visit - I was so so so afraid of what I would hear.  This is my right hand - the one I use to write, cook, knit, sew, and, yes, mouse click.  Just thinking of what could be causing all this pain when I don't remember injuring my wrist has had me trembling in my boots.  There was one diagnosis I did not want to hear.  I think you know which one I mean.  I am not going to even type it.  That is how scared of it I am.

It turns out I have tendinitis.  Hopefully with some anti-inflammatories and physical therapy, I will be right as rain in a short time.  I am so thankful that this isn't some big deal.  Really, truly thankful.  But, truthfully, I could kick myself for waiting so long to get there.  If I had gone two weeks ago, maybe my tangled yoke cardigan would be further along than it is.

Don't let Scout fool you.  She may be looking out the window, but she is way more interested in that ball of yarn.  Typical cat.  Anyhow, if pain hadn't forced me to put down the needles, I wouldn't have made so much of this:

So I guess I still come out a winner.  7 down, 2 to go.  Directions on making an X coming soon.

Back to my blog break.

I definitely have my weaknesses...

and fat quarter stacks just happen to be one of them.

Ginger Blossom by Sandi Henderson and Swell by Urban Chiks both from the Fat Quarter Shop.

making gifts for friends

finishing up our miniswap goodies

playing with free motion quilting

I have found myself at a loss for words.  I don't know what did it - maybe because it's February? - but I just don't have much to report.  I am sewing, but don't have much to show for it.  I am not knitting much - still having wrist issues.  I am running, but half marathon training would be a subject for another blog.

So....posting will probably be sporadic for the next week or so.  Maybe just photos and few words.  Maybe nothing at all.  Bear with me.  If all goes well, I will be back, energized and refreshed with something decent to share soon.  Take care friends.

I whipped up one of Blair's rice pillows last night.  She wasn't kidding when she said it could be done in little time.  Mine was in the microwave about 15 minutes after I had started it.  It is the perfect thing for my sore back/shoulder.

I used scraps from some pillowcases I made a few weeks ago.  The eyelet ruffle was already on the sheeting.  Here is another time I am so happy to have a serger.  I just turned it on and with a few seams I was in business.  Like Molly, I made a case that can come off and be washed.  Good thing, too.  It's going to have to be washed to get all the cat hair off.  Miss Scout likes it just as much as I do.

Oh, and the x's....6 down, 3 to go.  The ones above aren't sewn together.  I am waiting until I have them all finished to see obsess over how it's all going to come together.  So far, just looking at them all together is making me a happy girl.

So the weekend was great.  Juno was fantabulous.  Really.  Fatty and I went to our favorite Mexican joint then to the bookstore before the movie.  This is our standard date night and it has been a long time since we had one.  So good.  I like date night.  It just makes me happy.

During the day, I had my class on the Bernina Stitch Regulator (BSR).  Yes, I have a Bernina.  I know, I know...you all thought I had a Babylock.  Well, I do.  And as much as I love that machine, it has spent too much time in the shop within the past year.  I think that is because I use it for utilitarian, everyday sewing so much more than I use it for embroidery.  Anyhow, I have been on the look out for a back-up machine for awhile.  What I ended up with is now my primary machine, with the Ellageo taking back up status.  I got a great deal on the Bernina Aurora 430 back in November.  I didn't open the box until January.  I know that is plain crazy, but I just didn't have time for a learning curve with all the holiday gifts hanging over my head.

So I started the new year with a new machine.  And I love it.  I have been using it for my x quilt (5 x's down, 4 to go, in case you were wondering) and did my first batch of applique t-shirts on it without too many problems.  Good, right?  Well, after my BSR class, it is even better.  It is great.  I can now free motion quilt (which never worked so well on the Babylock).  Look and see:

It's not the best, but look!  I stitched a house with a tree free hand and then wrote with thread.  So cool!

I also drew a bicycle for fatty.  If you look closely, you can see my name upside down, stitched with a double needle.  Fun stuff, I tell you.

And here is some bobbin work - the fancy, glittery thread goes in the bobbin and you use regular thread up top.  So cool!  Glitter and loops, for you, Daria.

It is safe to say that I am addicted to the free motion thing now.  I need to practice a TON more, but then, watch out!  The project ideas are swimming in my head.  Of course, I am going to play it safe and use the walking foot for the string x quilt - I think it begs for straight lines.  Then it's pillows and potholders with free motion.  I can't wait!

It's a Friday in February...ho hum.  Just think in two more weeks it'll be March.   That gives me hope.

Not much happening over here.  I've been making x's like crazy.  Well, not too crazy - I have three done.  They each take me a little more than an hour - an hour and a half if I obsess about the random factor.  So really, they take an hour and a half each.  Who am I kidding?  I hope to finish the entire quilt top by next weekend.  If I make an x a day that is entirely do-able.  If I stop obsessing about pattern and color, it will be a piece of cake.  Wish me luck.

Jennifer has received my quilt square.  I love it and she likes it so all is well.  Pop on over to the virtual quilting bee group on Flickr.  I love how it is coming together!

Tomorrow looks promising - I have a sewing class to learn how to use my Bernina Stitch Regulator (woo hoo!) and a date with my man  (yippee!).   Hope your weekend holds just as much promise.  Enjoy!