Preparing for August...

...and a month of abstinence. Who, what? That's right, I am going to abstain in August from the following:

• buying fabric [either in a shop or online]
• buying yarn [either in a shop or online]
• buying misc stuff and supplies I do not immediately need [either at Target, Joann's, or wherever]
• buying food that is not on my grocery list
• buying take-out [I will make meals for the entire month]

and if all goes per my plan, I will have less in the kBear Studio by the end of the month and more space for fabric and a new cutting table. That's right, my friends, kBear Crafts Etsy Shop will have fabric to sell in pre-cut bundles and limited by-the-yard bolts in the beginning of October [if all goes according to plan]. I am going to sell Michael Miller, Riley Blake, Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics, and Cloud9 to start. Within 2014 I want to expand to other manufacturers. That's the big new for this fall.

Too much stuff in here!

For today I have been working on a number of projects. There is now two rows of my brother's Simple T-shirt Quilt completed! He's probably snorting beer through his nose in shock at even the mention of that quilt, let alone photographic proof of progress.

I tried my hand at a t-shirt dress using a neon and gray jersey fabric I've had for a while. It turned out pretty good for a first time, but I was sadly reminded of how much weight I need to lose when fitting the dress before adding sleeves and hemming. So, it's now on a hanger in my closet to remind me to do my daily exercises and to stick to my diet. But here's a look at it so far.

Made a size 6... too bad I'm a 12. Doh!

I finished my July-August swap for FRMQG. It was an "ugly" fabric swap, so we each brought a piece of "ugly" fabric to the July meeting, swapped, and were tasked with making a block out of it. At the August meeting our swap mama, Michelle, will collect the blocks and they will be turned into one great big charity quilt. I am adding some orphan blocks to the one I am turning in for the swap since I am trying to clean out my studio.

It's been so long since I actually last posted that I need to mention a few sort-of housekeeping type things. First, I am on Pinterest now. It's one more thing to suck my time but it is nice to see some of the things my friends are into and it's less work to post a photo and link than it is to Instagram or Facebook.

As for Instagram, I am closing in on 300 followers. I have an idea for something when I get there, a little give-away contest for everyone and a prize for the 300th person. I am very grateful for all the followers I have and really value the correspondence friendships I have made through Instagram, so thank you all for taking an interest in me and the stuff I do.

The last thing on my list to post today is Pay It Forward 2013 progress. I have made one person's item of the 12 on my list... and it's nearly August. Pathetic. I am way off the ball on this one, so here's a little something I am making to send out to one of my recipients, a Lily Bowl made of fabric. The pattern is by Michael Pacey and it's just too pretty. I think I will make these as "Thanks You" gifts for my son's gymnastics instructors and swim instructors. Just beautiful.

That's it for this monstrous post. Tomorrow I want to be just as busy, maybe get some more Simple T-shirt Quilt completed or who knows. I do know that because of the purchasing freeze in August, I may have overindulged a bit this past weekend, so there will be some new items coming via Happy Mail this week. Check the Instagram feed for those pictures and for the 300 Give-Away!

Cheers,
Meg