Cracking the WIP

November 3rd, 2009

I’ve been asked by Karen to do a demo at her quilt retreat this weekend - and I thought I’d be a smarty and post a tutorial ahead of time.  I have a tendency to teach/demo in Can’t-you-read-my-mind-glish. This way in case anyone forgets to bring their English to Can’t-you-read-my-mind-glish translator… there will be a reference here for all those words and sentences I forgot to say.

And… that was my plan. I’m trying very hard to crack the whip and get all I need to do to get done. Packing half my studio. Half my wardrobe. Snacks to buy. Fabrics to organize. My head is spinning. So thinking I have plenty of time… I decide I’d embellish my little project with some stitchery.
Cracking the WIP
Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches has some ADORABLE free projects on her blog (check out her sidebar), and I took some liberties with her Sweet & Spotty Needle Wallet birdie (ie, I only used partial of the drawing for the sake of time).  So cute are Natalie’s drawings I couldn’t make just one.  No… I had to make four.  FOUR.  What the freckle was I thinking - I don’t have time! Cracking the WIP

So time got me again.  It’s like I’ve put myself in boots and I’m sloshing through the mud… and my boots are filled with mud… and I’m getting no where fast.  Now feel like I’m doing some freaky time travel post into the future.   Back to the future.   Hopping back to the past.  And now back in the now again.  If you’ve come to this post because I’ve sent you here to look at my tutorial…  it’ll be up later once the WIP has been cracked.  And I get myself into the future. Ahhhh the future… where Chex Mix comes only with Chex - none of that filler stuff I always have to pluck out.

Posted in Quilty n Crafty, Tips & Trix |



30 Responses

  1. The fabulous Sarah allegedly said:

    What a beautiful and fun interpretation of Natalie’s design.



  2. The fabulous Shawn allegedly said:

    Beautiful Stitching Monica, I love Natalie’s work. Happy wip cracking and have fun!



  3. The fabulous Paula in NH allegedly said:

    I love what you did with Natalie’s drawings! The colors are scrumptious!



  4. The fabulous pam allegedly said:

    Super duper cute, as usual. Have fun at the retreat.



  5. The fabulous jen duncan allegedly said:

    Sounds exactly like some crazy way I would go right before I had to leave. OH. like two weeks ago when I made a dress and jacket for our daughters wedding, tried it on and realized it was too big, went to JoAnns three days before the wedding, bought 4 more yards, and started ALL OVER AGAIN. ugh. It’s hard to be us, huh? Try to have fun at the retreat. I gave serious thought to going, but I’ll have more of a life after Dec 1 when a certain little someone can go to daycare. WAHOO!



  6. The fabulous Missy Ann allegedly said:

    So very cute… must not click link…

    What did you use for the coloring? I’ve tried crayons but mine weren’t as dark. Maybe I just need to color harder?



  7. The fabulous kersten allegedly said:

    ha ha ha!!! I am glad I found your blog because I am ALWAYS cracking up! Lovely stitching, cant wait to see the tutorial.



  8. The fabulous Thimbleanna allegedly said:

    You’re so funny! I thought hubby sent me here to check on YOU!



  9. The fabulous Jodi allegedly said:

    Oh so very cute.



  10. The fabulous erin allegedly said:

    ugh! you make me want to learn how to do this!! i love the birds!



  11. The fabulous Simone allegedly said:

    Monica, you are incredible with colors and matchings. Always so inspiring!!!



  12. The fabulous Kathi D allegedly said:

    Excellent! You have mastered “getting ready for a trip.” Now, do you have “getting ready for company” down?

    1. Decide to clean house for company coming.
    2. While dusting nightstand in guest bedroom, notice that pillowcases don’t match the wallpaper.
    3. Go to mall to find wallpaper and matching fabric.
    4. Wallpaper guest room. Sew all new bedding to match.
    5. With 90 minutes left, clean entire house for company coming.



  13. The fabulous blop allegedly said:

    I’m so happy that you are doing your demo online so I don’t miss anything, afterall…well at least that!! I’m w/you all in spirit, believe me!
    Too hot here yesterday to hand quilt..my lap was sweating..not pretty!!

    Have a blast!



  14. The fabulous Cindy allegedly said:

    Those ARE adorable little birdies, and you have used splendid colors, as usual. :) But, no wonder it feels like you’re getting nowhere….you don’t wear boots! And if your flipflops get covered with mud, just hose ‘em off, then you can get back to going full speed ahead!:) Good luck getting it all done in time and have a great time! :)



  15. The fabulous Carmen allegedly said:

    You do make me chuckle :D I so know what you mean time wise. Those birdies are just yum and definitely worth the time lost/used/found ;)



  16. The fabulous Carolyn Parker allegedly said:

    I’m definitely lol. Lucky participants to have you as a ‘teach’.



  17. The fabulous Amy allegedly said:

    You “can” make your own chex mix…



  18. The fabulous Ina allegedly said:

    lol, you made FOUR! because you were thinking of xmas presents! Sheesh, do your readers have to remind you of everything! ;0 Of coures, I’m kidding but, they would make nice gifts…



  19. The fabulous deb allegedly said:

    You are one funny lady! the stitchery is beautiful, really… I love it!



  20. The fabulous Mary Ann/Ca allegedly said:

    But that’s always the best time to sneak in one more thing…when you’re out of time! Do it all the time and then chase my tail. I saw on Karen’s blog you were going to teach at the retreat, all I could do was sigh…and sigh again!
    Have fun, glad I’ll be able to see what you’re up too!



  21. The fabulous randi allegedly said:

    Cute, cute, cute!



  22. The fabulous Selena allegedly said:

    okay so you totally made my head spein with all the time travel talk and boots full of mud. I can relate with the boots although I don’t really have a deadline. I just can’t get moving. Love the embroidery.



  23. The fabulous nanette allegedly said:

    I need to take a class from you. Your embroidery is perfection. Those are some lucky lucky ladies.



  24. The fabulous Wyldhare allegedly said:

    I was just over at her site today, thinking how I really wanted to do something with this design! I love how you blended the colors from the fabric into the embroidery pieces.

    Hope the demo goes great!



  25. The fabulous Julie allegedly said:

    I always love to see what you are up to…your stitchery is wonderful!



  26. The fabulous Paula allegedly said:

    Adorable once again! Hope your retreat was super-dee-duper fun!
    I have that same Cinderberry pattern printed off and sitting on my craft table for a one-of-these-days project.



  27. The fabulous Laura Fadden allegedly said:

    Monica….
    Thought I would look at your tutorial to see it done once again. I guess I am computer illiterate even more than I thought. How do you get to the tutorial? Dumb me!!!!! Thanks. Had a Super time at the Retreat. You are too funny. Laura

    ================
    LAURA!!! Not dumb you (HARDLY!)… it’s SLOW ME! I haven’t put it up it. There’s a *certain video* I need to edit first. Soon, k. xoxom



  28. The fabulous Gigi allegedly said:

    What is the color number of the aqua floss?

    ===============
    It’s 996 - m



  29. The fabulous Kim allegedly said:

    Yes, I was wondering how you color in the birds and flowers. Is it really crayons?!



  30. The fabulous MommaBlogger allegedly said:

    Where did you get the fabric that you used? I can’t seem to find anything similar anywhere, and it’s driving me nuts :)

    ==================
    The yellow rose fabric is from a Lecien collection from the past (and one of my all time favorite fabric!) - but you might still be able to find it if you google “Lecien Antique Flower 1488-Y”. Lecien has something similar (9927 Y) in their upcoming Flower Sugar line: http://www.lecien.co.jp/en/hobby/flowersugar/index.html - and will be available online here.





    Comment:

    808 character limit (Aloha!) and comment moderation is enabled. Don't make me turn this car around.

    As a measure to help curb spam (which are always loaded with URLS), please NO URLS, NO LINKS and NO email addresses in the body of your comment. Comments with URL's and links are automatically programed to be treated as spam - and most likely will get deleted. Please use the appropriate fields for your URL and email address.

    PS: Sorry I was so wordy... when all you want to do is click the dang submit button. Please knock yourself out and get wordy right back at me.






Unsupervised quilting, crafting, mischief and absurdity from my teenie weenie tiny little studio in the woods on the North Oregon coast.


Monica Solorio-Snow
Happy Zombie

Astoria, Oregon
Walnut Creek, Calif.


  • HOME
  • Contact Info
  • About Me
  • My fabric
  • My free pattern guidelines
  • My flickr
  • My studio
  • My Facebook
  • My twitter
  • My Tumblr
  • Moda Bakeshop
  • My studio on hgtv.com
  • Add to GoogleReader
  • (alt Google Reader) link

  • My fabric:
    Holiday Happy - The Fabric
    Info here.
    Flickr group here.


    My flickr:
    My flickr


    Because I suck at email...
    My twitter:

    My Twitter



    PDX Modern Quilt Guild
    PMQG Blog


    Make my projects at MBS
    Make my projects at the Moda Bakeshop



  • Better Homes & Gardens -
    Quilts and More
    Fall 2010
    "Tiny Treats" goodie bags pg.16
    &
    "Dressed to Impress" quilt pg.82
  • Quilts & More - Fall 2010


  • Better Homes & Gardens -
    More Fast & Fabulous
    2009
    "Plenty of Pockets" pg.60
  • More Fast & Fabulous


  • Better Homes & Gardens -
    Quilts and More
    Spring 2009
    "Stuffed Mush Room" pg.50
  • Better Homes & Gardens Quilts and More - Spring 2009


  • Blogging for Bliss
    by Tara Frey
    Happy Zombie feature - pg.42

    Want one? Get it here!
  • See me on page 42!


  • Cloth Paper Scissors -
    STUDIOS
    Spring 2009
    See my studio!
  • Studios Spring 2009
    More photos of my studio on
    my flickr's
    "Studio Stories"


  • Better Homes & Gardens -
    Quilts and More
    Fall 2008
    "Pick A Pocket" purse pg. 16
    &
    "To Market, To Market" bag pg.50
  • Better Homes & Gardens Quilts and More - Fall 2008


  • Better Homes & Gardens -
    Quilts and More
    Summer 2008
    "Bay Breeze" pg.40
  • Better Homes & Gardens >Quilts and More - Summer 2008


  • Better Homes & Gardens -
    Quilts and More
    Spring 2008
    "Spice is Nice" pg.76
  • Better Homes & Gardens Quilts and More - Spring 2008


  • Better Homes & Gardens -
    Quilts and More
    Summer 2007
    "Vintage Charm" pg. 16
  • Better Homes & Gardens Quilts and More - Summer 2007


  • Make my block in
    Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks
    "Around the Rosie" blk. 89
  • Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks





    No overhead, no payroll, no prices, no profit... just free stuff.

  • FREE PATTERNS GUIDELINES
  • Cherry Christmas
  • Dollop of Whip Cream
  • Norwegian Curling Pants tote bag
  • Strawberry Delight Needlebook
  • Poochie Bags
  • Pennie Pockets
  • Obama blog-bling
  • Cherry Runner/Quilt-a-long
  • Jingle Jolly
  • Crayon Jack
  • Hello Joe-Joe
  • St. Joe-Joe a Go-Go
  • Amish Friendship Bread

  • at Better Homes & Gardens:
  • To Market, To Market tote

  • at Lecien:
  • Minny Muu Happy Zoo
  • Two Happy
  • Glow Happy

  • at Moda Bakeshop:
  • Choc-O-Cherry Turnover Treat
  • Itty Bitty Poochie Bag
  • 9-Patchtastic Quilt
  • Belgian Waffles Quilt
  • Valentine Pennie Pockets
  • Calendar Cover




  • See and be seen...

  • Holiday Happy Pool
  • Pennie Pocket Pool
  • Poochie Bag Pool
  • Mimi Quilt-A-Long
  • Jingle Jolly Table Runner
  • Categories
    Super-categorize me...

  • Animal House
  • Do Something
  • Fabric Folding
  • Field Trip
  • How I Live
  • I Heart California
  • I Heart Oregon
  • La Familia
  • Mailbox Love
  • Make Something
  • Mimi Kicks Stash
  • Mimi’s Adventures
  • Photo Casserole
  • Quilt Market
  • Quilty n Crafty
  • recipes
  • Rico Swappy
  • So Stinkin’ Cute
  • Stuff
  • Stuff I like
  • Tips & Trix
  • Triskit
  • Archives
    I'm a girl with a past...

  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006


  • My quilty, crafty and oh so happy blogroll...

  • A Few Scraps
  • Africankelli
  • a la mode fabric
  • Allsorts
  • Amanda Brooke
  • amylouwho
  • AnnaLenaLand
  • Anyone Can Quilt
  • A Quilting Life
  • Apron Thrift Girl
  • ArtSmith
  • Artsy-Crafty Babe
  • Atkinson Designs
  • A View from the Coop
  • Bad Birds
  • Badlands Quilts
  • Barbara Brandeburg
  • Bari J
  • Bee In My Bonnet
  • Bella Dia
  • Be*mused
  • Beyond the kids
  • Bird Tweets
  • Bits and Pieces
  • bitty bits & pieces
  • Blickfangquilts
  • Bloom
  • Bolt Neighborhood
  • Bunny Tales
  • Busy Little Quilter
  • BYNEEDLEANDTHREAD
  • Calamity Kim
  • Canton Village Quiltworks
  • Carol Browne
  • Cats On My Quilt
  • celebrate CREATIVITY
  • Cherry House Quilts
  • Chicken Blog
  • Cinderberry Stitches
  • Coffee & Cotton
  • Confessions of a Craft Addict
  • Creative Breathing
  • Cootie Bug
  • Cottage Magpie
  • Cottons 'n Wool
  • Cozy Little House
  • Craftstew
  • Crafty Carnival
  • Craft:
  • Craft Hope
  • Craftymon
  • Crazy Mom Quilts
  • Creative Little Daisy
  • Daisy Cottage
  • Dear Spring Green
  • Dolls from the Loft
  • Domestic Chicky
  • Don't look now!
  • Dorky Homemade Quilts
  • Dustpan Alley
  • Ellen Crimi-Trent
  • Elsewhere Living
  • Everyday is a Holiday
  • Fabric Crush
  • Fabricologist Anonymous
  • Fat Quarterly
  • Femke de Bont
  • Floribunda Quilts
  • Freda's Hive
  • Fresh Figs
  • GeorgiaPeachez
  • Glitter and Grunge
  • Goosegirl Sews
  • Grand Revival Designs
  • Green Eyed Silversmith
  • Green Kitchen
  • Handmade & Homebaked
  • Happy Loves Rosie
  • Happy Zombie <--- That's me!
  • Heather Bailey
  • Hens and Chicks
  • Herding Grasshoppers
  • Hip Fabric
  • Holly's Street
  • Homestead Station
  • i have to say
  • i heart linen
  • i'm a ginger monkey
  • I think we're all bozos on this bus
  • In The Garden with Miss Jean
  • It's Just Me
  • Izzy & Ivy
  • Jelly Wares
  • Jen Duncan
  • Jen's Fun Little Things
  • Jolly Jabber
  • JulieKQuilts
  • Just a Stitch or Two
  • Just Charming
  • Just Plain & Simple Me
  • Keepsake Cottage
  • Kim's Big Quilting Adventure
  • La Vie en Rosie
  • Leanne's House
  • Lemon Tree Tales
  • Library Gal Quilts
  • Lily Haven
  • Lime Gardenias
  • Liquid Sky Arts
  • Little Acorns
  • Little Bits of This & That
  • Little Girl Quilts
  • Little Green Sewing Machine
  • Little Lovelies
  • Lizzy House
  • Lola...again
  • lovely little handmades
  • LucyKate Crafts
  • Lynette Anderson Designs
  • Mary Lou and Cherries Too!
  • Mary's Cottage Quilts
  • Mary on Lake Pulaski
  • Material Girls Quilts
  • Material Obsession
  • MichelleSews
  • Minick & Simpson
  • Miss Bee
  • Miss Print
  • Moda Bake Shop
  • Moda Home Mom
  • Moda Lissa
  • modkid
  • Moonbeams in a Jar
  • Monkey Beans
  • Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts
  • Musings: Kristin La Flamme
  • My Half of the Brain
  • My Love
  • My New Blog Journey
  • NancyNoBlogBlogs
  • Natalie Ross in Stitches
  • No Appropriate Behavior
  • Noodlehead
  • Norththreads
  • NOT your run of the mill
  • Oh, Fransson!
  • Oil Cloth Junkie
  • Old School Acres
  • On A Rainy Night...
  • One Pretty Thing
  • Owlsorts
  • Paige Hill
  • Piece by Piece
  • Pink Paris Match
  • PAMKITTYMORNING
  • Park City Girl
  • Pat Sloan's Corner
  • Pearl the Squirrel
  • Piece by Piece
  • Pink Chalk Studio
  • Pink Lemonade Boutique
  • Pixie Blossoms
  • Pleasant Home
  • Polka Dots & Rick Rack
  • Portabellopixie
  • Portland Modern Quilt Guild
  • Posie Gets Cozy
  • Prairie Mouse
  • ps i quilt
  • Quilt or Stitch? How about both?
  • Quilt Fabric Delights
  • Quiltiliciouss
  • Quilting Daze
  • Quiltish
  • Quilt or Stitch?
  • Quilt while you're ahead
  • Raggedy Old Annies
  • Ravenhill
  • Red Geranium Cottage
  • Rhonna Designs
  • Ric-Rac
  • Rosalie Quinlan Designs
  • Rose Hip
  • Rose Notes
  • Rosebud's Cottage
  • Saídos da Concha
  • Schrute-Space
  • Sew~Amy
  • Sew Fantastic
  • SEW KATIE DID
  • Sewn
  • SHNOODLE!
  • Show + Tell
  • Simone de Klerk
  • Simplify
  • Simply Mein
  • Sis Boom Day Dreams
  • Snippets of a Quilter
  • Sommer Designs
  • Spun Sugar Quilts
  • Squash House Quilts
  • Stitch Studios
  • Stop staring and start sewing
  • Sublime Stitching
  • Sunshine Yellow
  • superbuzzy
  • Sweet Cottage Dreams
  • Sweet Liberty
  • Tallgrass Prairie Studio
  • Tammy Gilley
  • Tammy Tadd
  • Tattered Threads & Willing Hands
  • Taylor Made Designs
  • Texas Freckles
  • That silly lil' Doe
  • The Apronista
  • The Chicken Coop
  • The Crafty Crow
  • The Domestic Diva
  • The Drawing Board
  • The Farm Chicks
  • The Last Piece
  • The Late Bloomer
  • The Modern Quilt Guild
  • The Pattern Basket
  • The Pioneer Woman
  • The Purl Bee
  • The Quilt Nook
  • Thimbleanna
  • Thyme and Lavender
  • TipNut
  • Today's Creative Blog
  • Tosh.0
  • True Up
  • Tula Pink
  • Turkey Feathers
  • turning*turning
  • Twiddletails
  • Two Lime Leaves
  • typing out loud
  • V and Co.
  • Valori Wells
  • Vintage Collage & Quilts
  • Wee Folk Art
  • Where Women Create
  • Whimsy and Stars Studio
  • Whip Up
  • Will Work for Fabric
  • wip
  • wishes, true and kind
  • Wren's Nest
  • Yarnbombing
  • Yummygoods

  • The Parent Experiment
    The Parent Experiment
    with
    Teresa Strasser & Lynette Carolla

    [[Listen]]

    The Adam Carolla Show
    The Adam Carolla Show
    [[Listen]]

    Frost Heidi and Frank on KABC 790
    Frosty Heidi & Frank
    [[Listen]]

    Castle Peeps Summer Camp!

    Wishful Stitches Featured Blog

    SEWN

    The Modern Quilt Guild

    Happy Zombie on Alltop

    Happy Zombie on Craft & Hobby Asso.

    CRAFT: I'm a Crafter!




    No, seriously. Do something...


    quilt haiti


    Fat Quarter Shop Helping Haiti

    Craft Hope for Haiti Shop Spreading seeds of hope one stitch at a time

    Craft Hope Spreading seeds of hope one stitch at a time

    Iraqi Bundles of Love

    the gratitude campaign

    Obama: Fresh Pick
    Vote



    Did it. Done it. Swapped it.



    Wren's Nest
    Tea Towel Swap



    The Red & Aqua Swap!


    Potholder Swap
    Potholder Swap @ HappyZ
    Potholder Swap Participants
    Potholder Swap @ Flickr



    Crafty Carnival
    First Aid Kit Swap


    Apron Thrift Girl swap
    Apron Thrift Girl & Peas and Bees
    Aqua & Red Swap




    Come on, just one sip...



    Fabric Folding


    Granny-Along


    Bunny Hill BOM




  • Cheese Zombie
  • The original Happy Zombie
  • Food Zombie
  • zombie chex

    Search Happy Zombie on Google

    Uncheck for full flavor Google without that annoying zombie "just ate brains" aftertaste


    Blog content, photos and original graphic images copyright © 2006 - 2010
    Happy Zombie/M. Solorio-Snow.
    Please do not use, borrow, swipe, copy, reproduce, spin, fold or mutilate.
    Thank you, Monica



    Wanna button?