A bit of paper piecing and some Nursery Versery...

I've been doing a bit of paper piecing here and there and while i definitely enjoy it, i just don't seem to be able to find any spare time for it. I need to take the time more often, i find it quite relaxing...

You know, when i'm not cursing to myself for cutting a piece to small, or ripping stitches out because i used the wrong colour, or missed the mark, or stitched two pieces together wrong... ah good times! 

No really i do find it relaxing, i just can't put my finger on why... 

 Anyhoo, i've been making a pillow for Sam with no real plans for what it's going to look like in the end. I just wanted a rocket and his name, after that, who knows?! The rocket's been finished for a bit now and i just got around to putting together his name.

This isn't necessarily the placement, i just wanted them both in the shot

The letters are from Kristy of Quiet Play, though i did trim down the sides of the patterns, (the pattern will make square blocks when finished) i wanted the letters a bit closer together.

I tackled the S first and it came out a little wonky but hey i'm still new to this! I haven't trimed down the  side of the M yet, but i think i'll wait until i figure out where his name is going to go. 

I'm thinking some little paper pieced stars would finish this off nicely... thoughts?

In and amongst the paper piecing disaster that was my sewing table today i did finish up the yellow and grey blocks using the Itsy Bitsy Spider print from Heather Ross's Nursery Versery collection. My plan here was to make a mini quilt for the Modern Mini Quilt Challenge over at Ellison Lane. So working with what i think is my favorite block from Tula Pink's City Sampler book, block 80, i came up with this.

Wow! Have you seen a block as busy as this... the HR print just gets lost in the surrounding prints. And also not really suited to a mini. I have enough of the Nursery Versery to make seven more blocks, which could turn this into a baby quilt with some generous sashing...

 I think i should of perhaps put some solids into the mix. Which is what i'm thinking i'm going to do. Break out the seam ripper! I really must stop hacking into my fabrics with no plan... from now on Mr. Happy Rotary Cutter is on lock down until i prove i have a well executed plan of attack. Charts and graphs will be needed! (Things look more professional with charts and graphs right?) Or maybe even a quick sketch on one of my thousands of graph pads. Hey maybe it's time i learn how to use that fancy quilt design tool thingy on Threadbias! Are any of you on Threadbias? I'm new and don't know what i'm doing... If anyone wants to find me over there i'm snips! I also just realized that i seem to be rambling on quite a bit here. This would be the pint i had at the pub with my supper. Drat i had a beer!, i should be trying my FMQ! Gotta go!

High fives for everyone!! Because you're all Awesome!

xo snips

Linking up with Kristy for her Paper Piecing Party!, 

And with Kelly and her new linky party - Needle and Thread Thursday!

Pop over to both for some awesome sewing action!!

p.s. i won't be entering anything into the Mini Quilt Challenge... 

                                                         ...unless i can finish up Sammy's pillow, hmmm.