Calamity Kim

New Moon in GypsyTown

I am a gypsy.
I feel it in my soul.
Hitch the caravan to the painted pony and move on down the road, bells tinkling my departure, swaying with the rhythm of of the wheels.
Today is my last day here and as I gather up my scattered belongings and purchases I feel so happy to have been able to spend this time with my sister but,  sad that it has, like all good things, finally come to an end.
Last night we went to dinner and had shrimp and then went to an all night Walmart for some supplies she needed and I found a new bag. A Johnny Depp on the cover of the Rolling Stone tote bag.
It was tough for a split second as I decided between Johnny and Bruce Springsteen, but you know Johnny won. Who could resist?

I hope they do the cover with Scully and Mulder in bed together from the X Files days- that and the Blues Brothers are my two favorite covers.
That would make a great bag! OK, I know what you are gonna say- I know I could make that, especially since I have RS issues and clear contact paper and a great new sewing machine- BUT for 12 dollars and 12 free issues of the magazine, how can you go wrong?
 Yesterday we also learned something new- a Nigerian woman at church (Debra) kindly taught us how to tie scarves around our heads so that we could be cool- gypsy fashionistas.  (It was only after I almost begged her- it wasn't like she was teaching lessons or anything).
 I have admired all the chicks I've seen with their scarves all tied and knotted and I never had a clue so now I got it! I was doing the scarf dance last night after we got home and tied one on!
It made me happy and silly to have my head all wrapped up and next I am getting big hoop earrings and a gauze skirt with bells and I have new sandals and my toe nails are painted! I would be a great gypsy or Bohemian- whichever comes first!
Maybe it will help wick up some of the sweat off my head after I get back home to the tropical land of Florida. It has been delightfully cool here at night and I have enjoyed exploring Pittsburgh.
 Anyway,  tomorrow...home again, home again, jiggity, jigg!
xo,
calamity kim, gypsy queen

dream time sewing

I am amazed how much time I spend day dreaming about my fabric and sewing machine back at home.
 Laying there trying to go to sleep I mentally catalog my Heather Ross fabrics and dream of finishing my "old red barn quilt a long" quilt.
You can take the girl out of the sewing room but ya can't take the sewing outta the girl!

The table runner is making slow progress with the addition of a bed of lettuce.
I am relaxed and enjoying the process of stitching it in, no need to hurry, though I really want to finish this so I can get to the next stage- the quilting.
 I am binding it with the red and white polka dot fabric of course.
I hope it all comes together like the way I imagine it will.
" Ya never know which way the mop is gonna flop!"
 That's what my sister says one of our grandmother used to say.
So, just a few more days and then I will be heading back home- with new memories to keep and a million things to make.
Have a happy Saturday!
love & stitches,
calamity kim

It is really strange to be away from home for so long.
 The last time I was gone this long, I was in Ga with the folks.
 This visit is going great and today we are heading out to the Science Museum today to see the robots and the Planetarium.
We went to the Pittsburgh Zoo on Monday and it was possibly the finest zoo I have ever been to. The animals looked healthy and there was a baby elephant and a new baby sea lion (the first in the 111 year history of the zoo) born on June 13th.

The weather has been perfect with low humidity and my hair has been smooth and almost straight!( I got it cut yesterday and she did a great job- it feathers back on the sides and is down on my collar in the back. It will grow out nicely I think.)
awww- isn't it so cute? How about this:
I can't imagine a landscape with giraffes as natural as squirrels are here. What would it be like to live in Africa? I always wonder if the animals miss their natural habitats. Like do the polar bears miss snow?
Do the kangaroos miss their native home?
Do they eat the daisies?
How about peacocks- this one spent half  the day up on the roof.
Once he came down and spread his wings, everyone was taking pictures and you could see where the phrase "proud as a peacock" comes from.
They are magnificent creatures and I wonder now how craft stores get the feathers that they sell- do they breed them and then harvest the feathers?  Why is it that we need to decorate our homes or hats with things like this- exotic feathers transforming the mundane into something wild and luxuriously expensive. Why can't we just enjoy them as nature intended?
There is always a flip side to everything and the thought of one of these creatures being harmed to provide feathers to decorate a flower arrangement or someones hat is enough to make me ill. I have never been an activist who walked in protest marches but I can understand what may motivate some of them.
I don't want to get off on a rant here, but I do think its time we started thinking more about how what we do impacts the earth- this going Green thing has been happening for a long time- at least since the modern conveniences like the cottage cheese tubs my grandmother repurposed into spit cups for her snuff. Wonder what cottage cheese was sold in back in the 20's? Oh, maybe the ladies made their own.
Ahh, modernization has just changed so much about how we live. I wonder how we would appreciate things like store bought butter if we had to go milk the cows first and then churn it and then haul in the ice to keep it cool.
What does that have to do with a peacock and a trip to the zoo you ask?
 I just would never want to be responsible for hurting a creature as lovely as this and yet it must be human nature to covet something as beautiful as a single feather from this bird.
I know that they always have peacock feathers available at Michael's craft store and it just makes me wonder. Maybe they harvest them when they molt or shed. Yeah, lets pretend it's that and move on, ignoring the possible ugly alternative.

I thought the ostrich was weird and wonderful too.
He was pecking in the grass and for a second he looked like a chicken!
That zoom lens works great!
Did you ever realize elephants had such long lashes?
Or that they had such long chin whiskers?
Me neither.
They are so beautiful and strange.
Not as strange as these guys though.
Do you think this is where they got the idea for Shrek's ears?
Inside the aquarium was cool too and I would show more pics, but I have to go get ready for the trip to the Carnegie Science center where robots and more adventure awaits.
Missing my Bernina,
Recharging my Battery to come back and create,
Wishing you a happy Summer filled with butterflies and lightning bugs,
Love & Stitches,
calamity Kim

pumpkins

pumpkins, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

stolen moments to put needle to cloth.
trying to get vegetables done.
last night there were lightning bugs, they knew i was here

dreaming of vidalias and watermelon.
stumbling through cookbooks and seeing new recipes to try
watching movies and making memories

enjoying the ease of stitching on linen
when i look at this tablerunner now it will have these memories sewn into it and i will never forget the time i spent planting this new garden

so pretty

so pretty, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

It's Monday and we are off on an exciting adventure! The Pittsburgh Zoo is waiting for us! Yahoo! I can't wait to see the polar bears, penguins and new shark exhibit! I'll try to get some good pictures and be back later with a Bench Monday.
HappyTourist Time!
calamity kim

putting in eggplant

, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

in the center garden. have already done carrots, radishes, turnips and cauliflower. will do much much more. then finally will quilt it. I hope I get this finished by August! or the winter anyway!

a metaphor for life

The week is flying by.
The Sisters are learning how to talk to each other, how to be together after so many years apart. Relationships are like building rock walls. They need to have a firm foundation to hold up against all the "life" that  happens to them.

Or maybe each rock is an experience- imagine smooth rocks, sharp rocks, cracked rocks symbolizing each happy time or broken heart. We build our walls to keep the monsters out but it also allows the pain to be held inside.
Learning how to have healthy relationships is one of the most difficult things, I think, in this life.
 Life time.
Filled with memories, good and bad, the end of a life like the end of a book, makes me cry and wish there was still more to experience, or read.
I finished the Story Sisters and wished I could read it over again and spend more time savoring each sentence.
each moment held tightly in my mind until it slips away, to be caught in a butterfly net for demons and thrown into full sunlight to blister and flame.
That's what memories are...angels or demons, each bearing their mark of happiness or sorrow.

I am making good memories now.
Each day is a blessing I am thankful for.
I will have my memories to take out, dust off and remember.
The bad ones stay locked in the wall.
The good ones are free to dance across the meadow of daisies, glad for the light.

Winner of the big Rug Giveaway is....

I just want to say thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway by leaving a comment and keeping your fingers crossed.
drum rollllllllll, please!

So lucky number 27 is the winner!
I went and carefully counted and that means that Hollee of Bea's Hive Blog has one!
Before the rest of you get sad and feel like crying, I want you to know that I am doing another giveaway in the first weeks of July to celebrate my new Bernina. I will be giving away quilt fabric charm packs, a mini felt sewing machine shaped felt pincushion that I designed and books and a fabulous one of a kind fabric collaged tote bag designed and sewn by me to carry all that swag in!
I wish everyone could have won a rug- but there is always next time!
( I never win anything either, so don't feel bad! here's a little song that my husband plays for me when I'm sad because I didn't win a blog giveaway and hang my head and walk away, like Charlie Brown after a game of football with the gang, or his kite went in a tree or the Great Pumpkin didn't come... )
Thank you for playing and I'll be back soon with more creative inspiration!
xo,
calamity kim

 

Bench Monday

So, there is this super fun Group over at Flickr of folks who stand on benches and take their pictures and then load them into the pool for everyone to see.
I finally drank the koolaid.
<teehee>
so funny.
almost reminds me of the elephant at the circus balanced on a tiny ball.
***
OK- there is a little bit of time left before the Big Rug Giveaway Drawing! I am going out to dinner and when I get back it will be time to celebrate Rug Monday!

Mini Quilt Monday- "Avocado Baby"

tadah!, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

Just a quick post to say only one more day to sign up for rug giveaway!!! I will pick a winner at 6pm eastern standard time.
I finished up this art quilt in time for Mini Quilt Monday!
When I asked the question what's the difference between an art quilt and a quilted place mat my friend Cher said the perfect answer: LOCATION! ha!
So whether you eat on the table or stare at this while eating, it makes for a bright and happy way to start the day!
Click on the photo to go see more pictures in my Flickr set of place mats to see this being made step by step.
xo,
sweet dreams,
calamity kim

Quilted Book Cover and Celebrating Surface Design Guild of Sarasota's new Website

This is a book cover that I made for my friend Petunia. It covers a book I found at Books a Million titled "Why did the chicken cross the road?".

I printed her picture on fabric and then log cabin pieced it around the photo. After I trimmed it 1/4" larger than the book I layered it with batting and embroidered and quilted with colorful perle cotton.

I quickly sketched a chicken and scanned it then printed it onto fabric and appliqued her on the front looking up at Petunia in the chook pen.
I think she wants a hug too!

I always sew in bookmarks and attach small things to them by hand or machine.

This shows the back with life on the farm- cows, chicks and pigs.
I have a few more great books to cover and will have them in the etsy shop some day soon. It somehow elevates them from just a book to something special to be treasured. The red polka dot flower is a pin that can be taken off and worn while reading the book, of course!
In answer to the question "Why did the chicken cross the road?" my answer would be: to be held in Petunia's loving arms! That's reason enough for any chook!
Please continue adding your name to the rug giveaway- I just had to post something- I was going crazy!
 In fact, I have been using my regular blogging time to add content to our local, brand new  Surface Design Guild Website. Would you mind helping me (and the Guild) by clicking on this link and if you were to be kind enough to mention it in a small post of your own I would be so grateful!
There is a great  wealth of information and resources on the Links section of the sidebar- go see!
We need to build some traffic so that it can be found when entered into a search engine- Google just doesn't recognize it now and it needs some viewership. Thank You so kindly!
have a happy day!
I have some sewing to do...pictures soon!
xo,
calamity kim

Big Rug Giveaway from CSN Rugs!

When I started this Blog I had no idea that it would accomplish so much and allow me to not only grow as an Artist (or allow myself to admit that I was one) but to reach other creative people and help them be more equipped to live an Artful Life.

I have shared my process and techniques and tried to do it in an open and honest way so that you could make and do the things I like to do!  I think that creativity is a muscle and without use it become atrophied and withers but with daily exercise it can be healthy and strong!
Many of you have read my Blog since the very beginning and we have become fine friends through emails and snail mails and the ups and downs of sharing our daily lives.
With the creation of so many online social networks, friendship has taken on a new definition and contacts aren't just what you put in your eyes anymore.
In order to say a small Thank You,  I would like to give you an opportunity to win something- a gift for my readers!
Yes, I'm going to do a small Giveaway!
The kind folks at CSN Rugs have generously offered to give one of my readers one of their rugs.
I was blown away by the huge selection of high quality rugs that they sell and it took me several days to make a decision about which rug to offer you a chance at winning.
After considering what style is most Calamity Kim, I chose this elegant, modern, rug with an old fashioned lace and floral pattern.

I think the colors are nice and earthy- brown for the garden and blue for the Gulf of Mexico or the blue sky of NC where I grew up.
 It's like the edge of the garden path where your love lies waiting for you, or perhaps the unicorn under a rainbow patiently waiting for the fairies to braid his daisy chain crown.
It would also disguise any glitter that may happen to get spilled !
This rug is hand tufted of 100% wool and made in India. The size is 36" H x 24" W.
If you'd like a chance at winning please leave a comment here and I will draw a name on Monday, June 15th- which I declare to be rug day!
Thank YOU!
Calamity Kim

The only difference between a place mat and an Art Quilt is the ability to eat off of it. Can you put a plate of spaghetti on this?

Yesterday I remembered that it was Mini Quilt Monday but I also needed to practice with the new Bernina Activa 220 (say it like a movie announcer) so I sort of cheated and combined the two. I had an image of a sprouting avocado pit in my mind, so I put pencil to paper and drew one up. I scan and make several copies to cut up and use for patterns.
I saw it sitting on a table, by a window and the black and white checkered floor below.
When I put the base together and showed the Mr he said he "didn't get it".
 He couldn't see it.
I mumbled a few things and went back to sewing,  but that worry crease had appeared between my eyebrows and I had to consciously relax
 and work on it some more.
Using a pale sea glass blue I appliqued a jar sitting on the table.
I traced the avocado plant onto the water soluble Sulky. This will dissolve with water after I stitch the design. I want to use black thread to make it look drawn.
This looks good and was so much fun with the new machine.
It is precise.
All along the way there are decisions, aren't there?
What colors? What fabrics?
What tells the story?
Are the curtains moving with the summer's breeze?
I used some iron on stuff for the big leaves but just pinned the small ones. Oh, I cut up one of the copies of the picture and used it as a template to cut the leaves.
I am still asking myself questions- should the stem be brown?
Should I stitch it or hand embroider it or just use a sharpie marker?
If I used a marker would it run or fade?
I also need to add the toothpicks but I don't want them to be black- I want them to be toothpick colored.
 Is that right? Or should they be black to go with the rest of the composition? Questions, questions...
Layered with cotton/wool blended batting I forge ahead- machine quilting while the Kings of Leon boogie in the background.
 Just doing it. Gotta finish this.
Trying to practice, trying to learn.
I used some sweet Heidi Grace fabrics (from JoAnn's) scored last night when I went for more thread for the back.
 OK, so now, my final question is what to use for a border- to bind? Red? Black? I'll think about it and look around to see what grabs me.
I showed it to the Mr again and he said: "Oh, now I get it!".
Anyone want to volunteer to be my design assistant? I need help- and he isn't the guy to go to for this kind of stuff. I need a creative person who can throw ideas around, you know, talk it up, make it work.
Oh, wait- that's what all of you are for!
Ready at a moments notice to drop everything and comment to help me pick out bindings and suggest fabrics....what? you're busy?
Sometimes I think it speaks for itself when I post pics at Flickr and I don't get a comment. Like they are sitting there scratching their heads, asking themselves, what the ? is going on with her.
This new machine may turn out to be really bad for us- I may never cook or clean again!
Who wants to do laundry when this sweet girl is in there waiting to play?

* and if you can't imagine spilling spaghetti sauce on this, then it must be a mini art quilt.

Love & Stitches,
calamity kimbernina

look who came to live with me.

look who came to live with me., originally uploaded by calamity kim.

can you see me smiling from ear to ear?
Yep. I am. Happy.
I got a Bernina Activa 220 and she is nice! I still need a few attachments like the quilting foot and the quilting table extension thing but she came with a bunch of feet and a lot of stitches.
I'm going to be having a little name contest I think- care to help me out?
something in the B family- so far I am considering:
Bernice (from Hope Floats)
Blanche- (golden girls and DuBois)
Blythe
Beulah
and Brunhilde
and Sarah suggested Betsy and Tami offered Bernadette-
What do you think? I'll look around and see what kind of "B" or sewing related prizes I can come up with...more tomorrow
and a mini quilt Tuesday to show too!
xo,
calamity kim

Strips, Rows, Blocks, Rows, Top!!!

Happy Monday!
Did you have a nice weekend?
I sure did- sewing and sewing and sewing!
I got all my strips together.

Then I ironed and cut them into 11 1/2" blocks.
Which I just laid out on the bed to get an idea of how it will go together.
Now, the finished quilt will probably go in the other bedroom because it has butter yellow walls and light pink/cream curtains. It's a little girlie for our room- which is more sea greens and blues leaning toward mermaid snuggles pirate theme.
I just recently took the quilted bed skirt off and put on the white yoyo bed skirt I found at Home Goods. It's light for Summer. It looks green from across the room- doesn't it?
OK, so I am waiting for the UPS guy to bring my new sewing machine- the mailman  and the Fed Ex guys have come and gone.
I am going to go get to work on my place mat swap- I have an idea and I sketched it out- I'll take some sneak peeks but this one has to be a surprise until she receives it.
I'll be back later with quilt updates.
I'm beginning to feel afraid of the quilting part- y'all need to start pouring on the encouragement!
This is 7 rows by 6 rows of 11.5" blocks- that'll be 77 by 66 without any borders- I must be mad!

Quilting Along with the Old Red Barn

It's Saturday! What are you doing today?
I was cleaning house until the doorbell rang and the Fed-ex guy almost threw a package at The Mr- I chuckled and reassured him that it was probably just fabric and not a hand grenade or anything fragile!
Once I opened it and saw how happy and bright the colors were I was even more anxious to get started on the cutting and sewing to catch up to everyone on the Old Red Barn Quilt a Long. I had originally just planned to use whatever I had but after seeing the Flight of Fancy Fabric ( I had already purchased some of the par avian and the butterflies before) I decided to place a fast order with Hancock's of Paducah.
 Ya gotta love the internet when you want to find something fast! I had it bought and was drinking a cup of tea in the time it would have taken me to drive to a local shop (and no disappointment that they didn't have the fabrics!)
The hard part is waiting!
Now, don't think that I don't support the local shops- there's nothing like the kind reception and big hellos when you walk in to Alma Sue's and they are glad you are there. (Local news- did ya know she's moving to a bigger location? Yep! Not too far- right on the other side of the Heritage Place- where the furniture guy was- later this Fall- in Sept I think)
Anyway, I hurried up with the chores and got to ironing and cutting and now I'm ready to sew!

I hope it has enough different fabrics to make it look good.
 I used 12 half yards of each color way available in the Flights of Fancy designed by Paula Prass  ( for Michael Miller) and cut them in 2 1/2" wide strips. I got 8 out of each half yard.
Now I think I sew 6 together until they are all matched up.
I'm going back to check at Old Red Barn and make sure before I start.
Lord knows I don't want to be holding the seam ripper all evening!
My new sewing machine should arrive on Monday- I can't wait to share it with you all...it'll be just in time for quilting this new quilt!!!
Hope you are having as much fun as I am! I feel like I am finally doing something that I have always wanted to but been to scared- this is a simple quilt and the fabrics are so pretty it's sure to look wonderful!
Happy Weekend,
Happy Sewing,
calamity kim

want some bacon?

want some bacon?, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

still working on the placemats.
I think functional takes longer than non-functional...or maybe it was stopping to make some eggs?

We do not grow absolutely, chronologically.

We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly.
We grow partially.
 We are relative.
We are mature in one realm, childish in another.
The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present.
We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.
quote by  Anais Nin

This morning I started sewing up some placemats.
I am not sure if that's all one word, but I'm typing it that way so forgive me if it's really place mats.
I don't know and I just am so confused, excited, tired, sad, trying to write something, that I just feel apathetic about proper spelling.
Ever have one of those days?
Well, on Tuesday I went to Ikea and after telling my son that I was there for 3 hours and 43 minutes he said that I could apply for Swedish citizenship after being there that long!
 It was awesome and I brought home some wonderful goodies.
Here is my new sewing table and chair.
The cabinets/drawers  below were put together pretty quick by my (wonderful) husband and "go to guy".
He can do anything.
Without reading the directions.
 Really.
I am amazed and awed at his putting together skills.
The tabletop is glass with a silhouette of flora and fauna including butterflies and ladybugs. It makes me smile and when the light shines down through it you get a secondary rush of JOY as the pattern is reflected in shadows of leaves and flowers.
After hearing about Ikea and it's awesome bookcases and furniture it was nice to see it for myself.
Upstairs everything is set up in room type displays and as my husband says: "Nothing will make you hate your own furniture quicker than a trip to Ikea". Everything we have just about is wood and old-fashioned.
If you read my Blog very often you already know this about me and are probably beginning to chuckle at the thought of me bringing home uber modern sleek Scandinavian furnishing and introducing them to their new old room mates- the shabby chic cupboards and distressed french rush ladder back chairs. I wanted to throw away everything and immediately redecorate in IKEA!!!!!
Here's a fine example of old beach house meeting new-awesome-modern:
Chenille bedspread, shell lamp, whitewashed pine bedside table with tadah!
new frosted floral silhouette lamp by IKEA.
Forget the light up globe- gimme some light with these frosted (got 4 of them) lamps for Fred's music room.
 It's like walking into the sun.
It's modern like a space ship.
It's IKEA!!!

I found the cutest fabric and it's like 7.99 for 45"x118".
It will make some cute stuff!!!
I got new red cushions for the kitchen chairs- only 5.99 each.
I really hope they last!
 It seems like a lot of it is made in China or Thailand and that did bother me.
 But the prices are great and the construction seems good.
I fell in love with this embroidered lampshade and after seeing similar ones at Anthropology for over a hundred dollars I bought one- it was only 24.99.
Oh so pretty and sweet and it doesn't fit a single lamp in our house.
 I tried it on all of them.
 *sigh*
Guess we'll have to go back to Ikea!

OK, so back to the placemats.
I cut some fabrics up into 4 1/2" squares and carefully sewed them together, matching seams, trimming, all the while holding my breath, which I didn't realize until a song came on and I sighed soooo big that I had to smile at myself.
 Really, it's not brain science.
 It's patchwork.
It's really difficult for me to measure and be so precise.
I am afraid of math.
I love rulers and rotary cutters but am I qualified to use them?
Do I know how to make it straight?
See, I fool you all into thinking my quilts are so awesome but they aren't usually traditional and I never,  hardly ever make anything functional!
It's good to practice sewing straight.
It's good to sew anything in my opinion and it makes for a happy day.
I have been saying a lot of prayers recently for some friends and family who aren't doing so well and that's what makes me sad.
 Trying to stay busy so that I focus on other things.
 Life isn't always easy is it?
 It's difficult to know  that people you love, who are sick and who make your life better because they are a part of it, are in pain and there is nothing you can do.
I haven't been feeling "up to snuff" as my Grandma used to say, either since Tuesday. Drinking some cranberry juice and resting yesterday seemed to help.
I hate taking antibiotics and won't go to a Dr unless I absolutely have to.
Today I felt better, more like sewing and doing stuff around the house.
So the big reason for making functional stuff like placemats?
It's because my Flickr friend Sara started a Placemat Swap Group and I signed up. They should be about 13 x 17 or so and if you want to sign up, I think its still open until Saturday. I just saw that she is giving away two placemats to celebrate the swap too! Here is her Blog again.
After that she will choose partners and we can email with them to find out what they like and what will match their kitchen/dining rooms and make them happy.
Four of the fabrics I used in mine today were from fat quarters purchased at the last quilt show I went to.
 I am going to do the backing and the binding with this plaid.
I am just warming up, so to speak, until I get my swap partner and then I'll post what I make here for the swap.
 I am still working on the bag, the table runner, the teapot cozy and several doll quilts and aprons.
 This is my finish it up/ functional year and it feels pretty good to learn new things, even if they are old to some people, they are new to me.
It's tough to match those corners but when they work, that's a pretty awesome feeling.
Better than a sharp stick in the eye, anyway!
 So, back to my sewing room and thanks for stopping by...
xo,
calamity kim

What to do this Summer

Are you bored?
Feeling like there's nothing to do?
Nothing to get excited about?
Do you have at least 12 different half yards of fabric just sitting around gathering dust?
Why not take a peek over at the Old Red Barn Quilt Along and hitch yer wagon to a star and get busy cutting some 2 1/2" strips- I found out about it over at Flickr and after reading the what for's over at Red Barn Blog I just had to sign up!
I don't make big quilts and this will be my first (if you don't count the one I have never finished from a class I took 2 years ago!) and if you don't want to do it, then you can just watch my progress as I quilt a long with everyone and share it here!
It's a 6 week project and I believe they are just beginning week 3.

 Week one was to gather your materials, week two everyone cut their 2 1/2" strips from half yards of 12 different fabrics.
This should be week 3, but it really doesn't matter- you could do it six months from now, well, except she is giving away a sewing machine!
Go read all about it- I have to go in search of a new machine myself-
Happy 1st day of June, y'all!
xo,
calamity kim