Sunday, November 30, 2008

What a weekend.....

So have you ever tried an experiment and it went terribly wrong? Well we thought that we'd drive our 13 hour trip home during the night. We decided this for 2 reasons, 1. we might avoid the holiday travel on Sunday and/or congested highways. 2. DD2 (20 months old) would sleep most of the trip. Well as it turned out, we did avoid most of the congested roads..except one spot. We did drive through fog, rain, and freezing rain in the mountain of Virginia and West Virginia. DD2 slept some...5 hours between 5pm and 5 am. Yes this child defies ALL logic. It was terrible because not only was she awake, she wanted out of her car seat and it was dark outside. Then she got so worked up...that she got sick in the car ...and ALL over me too. Did I say it was 3am and dark? and freezing rain? ugh...let me just say...we won't be driving in the night again. On a brighter note, I did go to 2 places on Friday...the Quilt Garden in Garden City...at least I think that's the name...if it's not...someone will correct me. And my MIL and I went to Old Time Pottery. That's where I found this decorator toile fabric....11 yards...and it was $2.50 a yard. First, I love the yellow and pink, second..I loved the price. I am thinking of piecing it maybe 3 segments and having a machine quilter do an overall design for a coverlet. And I think I will have extra for valances too. We'll see.I did get some fabric at the Quilt Garden. Mostly Za Za by Moda...it was 50% off and I wanted it to go with some charm packs I had bought on sale. I did get a little roll of 1.5 inch strips to make this bag. I fumbled through the directions because they were a photocopy. A photocopy I bought with the strips. I didn't realize it was a copied pattern until I opened it. I am not sure the legalities of it all...I did pay the shop for it. Anyhow, I did get it pieced and sewn up today. I am not sure what I will do with it...but I love the fabrics.
While we were away for the weekend I finished stitching this candle mat. I love snowmen and this was an easy kit I picked up in Berlin, OH at Country Craft Cupboard over quilt away weekend. They have tons of patterns, sweatshirts, fabric and dyed wool.

And I was 'commissioned' to make this velvet black dress for one of the baby dolls....

All in all, it was a great get away. We visited with my inlaws...my MIL is a quilter. So it was good to share with her and sit and stitch while the girls played. My MIL brought me batiks and Indian fabrics from their latest trip. I still have to unpack them. But I will take pictures. I think you may find them interesting. She also had tailors make smocked dresses and cut work dresses for the girls. I am sure they will model them for me soon.
I did get to visit my friend Marilyn on saturday and she made us a pumpkin pie and muffins. DD1 LOVED the muffins....she ate 3 right away. As you can see DD1 is pretty thin....so we don't fret when she WILL eat food. I had a good visit with Marilyn and she passed on some of her stash to me. THAT was fun.
So now the partys' over...and I am back to work tomorrow..I'd better get off to bed..

Friday, November 28, 2008

Is this my limit?

We're in South Carolina for this Thanksgiving holiday. I decided to go for a walk...It's beautiful here...about 60 degrees and sunny. Soooo much nicer than Ohio. Anyhow...I was walkin' and I found this..... It struck me very funny....
I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and didn't eat tooo much turkey. My inlaws are here with us and are leaving tomorrow. We are leaving in the night. We decide it would be a bit easier to drive while the kids slept. I have been doing some hand work but our camera battery went dead and we didn't bring the charger...BUT I found the cord to transfer the pictures right before that. I didn't get any pictures of my finished WIP's. I hope to do that when I get home.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Quilting Frenzy...

I joined the Doll Quilt Swap 5 about 7 weeks ago. I thought "I've got plenty of time". Then the swap momma emailed me and reminded all of us the deadline is December 1st! So I decided to use this quilt top for the swap. I quilted and bound it this weekend and I hope to get the label on tomorrow night while watching Dancing with the Stars. I hope my secret partner likes it. I "simply" quilted a 1/4 inch from the seams...ah...that's 96 triangles...perhaps I should have re-thought that idea! It took A LOOOONG time to quilt.


I broke the monotony by rearranging ALL my fabric...it looks much better now as I can actually see it. But that means I can actually see it. I have toooo much fabric...if that's possible. Oh and I just ordered more from the Fat Quarter shop ( a small 'we just sold our other house" celebration gift). Unless the FQ shop has a whopper of a sale...I'm done for the year..LOL that's what 5 weeks? Easy peasy...


Friday, November 21, 2008

I'm still here....

I survived my work week. It was hit or miss with busy-ness. The entire week has been a roller coaster of emotions. Once my parents left I figured we'd be back to normal. Think again, work was crazy. DD1 was ill... still. AND we got a call from our realtor that our house had an offer! For those of you just reading...we bought a newer home about 18 months ago. We moved and then put our older home on the market. We thought we'd sell it in 6 months. We could handle that. Boy were we wrong. Little did we know that the housing market would tank. Little did we know that 2 major businesses in our town would go bankrupt. So we will taking a BIG loss on this sale. But it will be sold. The mental relief is priceless. On an up note, I forgot to post a couple of treats we received at the quilt away weekend. Aren't they the cutest tins? Both filled with delicious goodness...... In addition, today I stayed home with the girls because DD1 was still ill. I didn't get a lot done but I did finish piecing this 4th quilt from the "Baby Fats" book. One more to go plus I have enough scraps...I might get a sixth quilt out of that stack...we'll see.
I worked on my doll quilt swap quilt. I am hoping to mail it before thanksgiving because it is due December 1st. I pieced a quilt back for a quilt I am sending to Jackie. I have been caught up in so much, I realized my turn for her to quilt...is HERE...yikes. I also finished 2 more Christmas presents. Only 15 to go... better get sewing.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Quilt away weekend

Yes it was quilt-away weekend. It was difficult at best to say it was relaxing. Getting there was enough to exhaust me. My DH was gone for 6 days and returned 10 minutes before I left for weekend. I arrived there at 7:30pm thursday and sewed until 1 am! I was exhausted. Friday I was up early sewing too. Then we took a quick trip to Berlin, Ohio to Mrs. Millers in Charm. Have you been there? You should go...really...it is amazing. I only get there maybe twice a year. I found this cool japanese Kokka fabric in the sale area for $5 a yard. It seemed like a good price and I love the pandas...so yes it went right into stash as I don't have a plan for it.
I thought I was going to make a clean break besides the japanese fabric until I saw this quilt hanging up made with Fig and Plum.....It was called "Split Decision"...super easy.. and right up my alley LOL.
Needless to say I spent some $$$. I arrived back to the retreat and sewed until late in the night. I got up saturday and came immediately home. My parents arrived from Iowa to spend the weekend. Um so that meant my quilt away was cut VERY short. It was nice for the 1 day though. I didn't finish any one project. I sewed on 4 though. I tend to do that....sew on multiple and finish 4-5 at once. If I had all day saturday I'd have 5 done for sure. Anyhow I forgot my camera at Mrs. Miller's so all my pics are of the fabric I bought. I also received this cool pattern from Helen from Hugs n'Kisses I won it on her blog. It is awesome!



Since my parents were here we put up Holiday decorations and spent lots of time playing the Wii. It's been great. Now back to work tomorrow :(

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

More current projects....

I purchased a fat quarter pack of LakeHouse Little Lady fabrics a few months ago. I had already decided to use the Baby Fats pattern with them. As some of you may know Baby Fats uses 24 fat quarters to make 4 baby quilts. It's quite clever in that you stack your fabrics and cut in such a way that leaves very little scrap fabric. Here are the first 2 tops that I finished this weekend. I took me a bit longer than usual because I decided to completely use my fabric. The Half triangles were pieced like connector corners (Mary Ellen Hopkins way). But before I trimmed the left over triangle pieces I drew a half inch line to the right of my stitch line and stitched ALL 60 again. Then I cut down the center and folded the triangle back. I should have done a tutorial on this, I still might with the boy versions that I want to make. Anyhow, I was left with 60 3 1/2 inch half square triangles....
And this is what I made with them so far.....
Looks like Baby Fats....will give me 5 quilts instead of 4 woohooo!

Sunday, November 09, 2008

A couple more projects done...

As you know I have been frantically sewing up gifts for Christmas. Sunday night I finished 2 more small projects. I used this magazine Quilts and More...there are tons of great projects in this magazine every season. Here's a view inside...

Linda Lum Debono's project color me happy inspired these crayon rolls. I used left over Kaffe fabrics from a quilt I made this summer. They are funky and fun..perfect for a 2 year old. Yep 2 year old...I'm adding washable crayons to the roll and off we'll go.
The color of the photo is slightly less than I desired...it is really much more vivid. I need a new camera (hint, hint honey) for Christmas...actually he knows. I have discussed a new camera for several months but the $ didn't seem logical to spend at the time. Maybe for Christmas..I'll be crossing my fingers.




An inside view of the crayon roll.

ANyhow....that means I have finished 17 projects total of my 34...whew only 17 to go. Not sure I'll make it LOL.


Blue Nickle Studios....

I was the winner of the Fall into Fall Giveaway from Blue Nickel Studios. With the kiddo sick I didn't get to read his blog lately. Scott was kind enough to email me and clue me into my win. I felt like a goof. I thought I had visited ALL the 40 some blogs after the giveaway. I even noticed my friend Carol won on a blog.....but I didn't see that I won doh! I'm a dork. Anyhow, LOOK at what he sent. Can you say FABULOUS? It's hard to see in the picture but I received at layer cake type roll of Pine Creek Cabin fabric from Moda...it's like a LAYER CAKE OMG...plus the Recess panel and fabrics...I could on and on... It's all wonderful Thanks Scott!!!


Saturday, November 08, 2008

Squeezed it in....

Believe it or not......I ran ALL day yesterday. Started at the pediatrician with my toddler. They think she may have Whooping cough!! We got antibiotics for that. Went to the hospital for a chest x-rays. It's saturday and I've heard nothing from the doctor. So...what does that mean? I have no idea. They told me that I could take her out so I went to Jo-Ann's, Barnes and Noble, Micheals, Sam's Club, hallmark, Bath and Body, AND Walmart. I had so many errands, I got them all done so we don't have to go out this weekend. To me being home is a luxury lately. While at Sam's Club, I found a new obsession...ok it will never replace quilting/crafting but I am getting very involved in Debbie Macomber books. I have read 3 or 4 others and now I am starting on the Christmas ones. I've read 96 pages today...so far so good. I've finished 10 of my 34 projects for christmas. I can't show you more than this as they are gifts. I hope I'm not showing too much now! I have 11 more items in the works. So that means 13 I haven't even started yet! Yikes....only what 46 days til Christmas...I better get going.




Friday, November 07, 2008

Top 100 things to do??


I found this list on Nutshell's blog. You just need to put the things you've done in bold print. Feel free to copy and paste this to your own blog too! I think I counted that I've done 43?! I would say going Paris is the top of my list...I sooo want to see Paris....


1. Touched an iceberg


2. Slept under the stars


3. Been a part of a hockey fight


4. Changed a baby's diaper


5. Watched a meteor shower


6. Given more than you can afford to charity


7. Swam with wild dolphins


8. Climbed a mountain


9. Held a tarantula


10. Said "I love you" and meant it


11. Bungee jumped (A lot more scary than Sky diving)


12. Visited Paris


13. Watched a lightning storm at sea


14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise


15. Seen the Northern lights


16. Gone to a huge sports game


17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty


18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables


19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope


20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment


21. Had a pillow fight


22. Bet on a winning horse


23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill


24. Built a snow fort


25. Held a lamb


26. Gone skinny dipping


27. Taken an ice cold bath


28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar


29. Seen a total eclipse


30. Ridden a roller coaster


31. Hit a home run


32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking


33. Adopted an accent just for fun


34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors


35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment


36. Loved your job 90% of the time


37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied


38. Watched wild whales


39. Gone rock climbing


40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach


41. Gone sky diving


42. Visited Ireland


44. Visited India


45. Bench-pressed your own weight


46. Milked a cow


47. Alphabetized your personal files


48. Ever worn a superhero costume


49. Sung karaoke


50. Lounged around in bed all day


51. Gone scuba diving


52. Kissed in the rain


53. Played in the mud


54. Gone to a drive-in theater


55. Done something you should regret, but don't


56. Visited the Great Wall of China


57. Started a business


58. Taken a martial arts class


59. Been in a movie


60. Gone without food for 3 days


61. Made cookies from scratch


62. Won first prize in a costume contest


63. Got flowers for no reason


64. Been in a combat zone


65. Spoken more than one language fluently


66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone


67. Bounced a check


68. Read - and understood - your credit report


69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy


70. Found out something significant about your ancestors


71. Called or written your Congress person


72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over


73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge


74. Helped an animal give birth


75. Been fired or laid off from a job


76. Won money


77. Broken a bone


78. Ridden a motorcycle


79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph


80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon


81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing


82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days


83. Eaten sushi


84. Had your picture in the newspaper


85. Read The Bible cover to cover


86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about


87. Gotten someone fired for their actions


88. Gone back to school


89. Changed your name


90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands


91. Eaten fried green tomatoes


92. Read The Iliad


93. Taught yourself an art from scratch


94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (Fishing and deer hunting)


95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt


96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language


97. Been elected to public office


98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream


99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care


100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know
****NOTE the picture can be found in Toni's photostream

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Treasure box

I finally made my first treasure box from the This and That pattern Abby's Treasure box. It's not quite perfect but as I make them I will get them more perfect. I love the Lakehouse cherry print charms I used too.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Oreos

These are THE best Oreos...made by my friend Carol for my birthday. 100% delicious...and zero calories!! YuMMy...Yum... I LOVE them...thank you so much Carol!
Here is the pattern she used for anyone that's interested. I found it at the fat quarter shop.


Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Finally today is THE day..


VOTE......
I try not to complain however, I am going to say my peace on the campaign topic. For 2 years we have listened to this. I am so glad it will be over no matter who wins. I've made my choice, I voted. The only issue I have is with quilting blogs I regularly visit putting their choice out there for everyone to see. We have freedom of speech, I know. I can understand encouraging all to vote. I just wanted this one area of my life to be my retreat from all that media garbage. There are a few blogs I skip now because of it :(

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Fabo weekend

Well I am a bit late on posting a Halloween picture. We met up with 3 other families so the kids could all trick or treat together. There was chili, a fire pit and LOTS of candy. Here are the girls right before they went out. The little one only made it to 5 houses. She didn't need the candy anyway. Grace, on the other hand brought home a ton of candy. We've been munching on it all weekend. It was fun. Believe it or not I sewed a better part of the weekend. I just don't want to show it. Everything I worked on, besides the Mystery BOM, were Christmas presents. Too many recipients view my blog (i.e. family) I finished 3 items, and made major headway on 17 others...yes 17. I have about 34 items I want to make. It's ambitious I know. I think if all goes well, I will at least have these first 20 done. Some are sooo close but I just didn't feel like changing thread to finish them. I know lazy. I was just tired of all the thread changing after sewing as much as I did. I also transferred my first sheet of Nice People Nice Things stitcheries. I haven't started stitching yet. I work 4 days this week so not sure what I will accomplish but my goal is 17 items....whew...a bit stressed here! LOL
I have a Quilt-Away weekend coming in 2 weeks. I have nothing prepared. I am going to try to get it together this coming weekend. Also if you won a pincushion from me, I didn't forget. I am planning on mailing them tomorrow (Monday).