Happy 2014

This is my first post since Jan 1, LAST YEAR!

That makes me a bad blogger.

I'll do a year in review and then we're going to move on and past it and start over!

I did go back and reread my goals for the year.

My personal goals were to:

Blog more often.

Lose 10 pounds.

Find and stick to an exercise plan.

Obviously, I didn't blog more often. I was really sick with my migraines at the beginning of the year and that kept me down and out. Then, I was running around like a chicken without a head when I finally got on some meds that worked and it was time for my daughter to graduate from high school. Lots of family staying here, graduation, parties, senior events, it was a whirlwind.

After that, the longer I stayed away, the harder it got to want to post a blog. I was embarrassed at how long it had been. Now, I am just starting over!

Losing 10 pounds....well, I did do that. I lost some weight when I was so sick last winter, but then I think I gained it back when I started feeling better. Being sick is an awful way to lose anyway. But this fall, I went on a migraine diet which eliminated so many things that I did lose about 9 pounds that I am managing to keep off. Of course, the Christmas cookies are not helping! LOL

I'll get back on track soon!

And exercise, schmexercise! I don't have time!

My sewing goals were:

Valentines quilt top

Allies quilt

Sew Spooky

Swoon

More bags

Etsy Shop

I'll have to see if I can take some pictures, 2013 was actually not too bad of a quilt year, if you don't mind that I got most of them done in the first half of the year.

I did finish my Valentines quilt, and in time for Valentines day. The top was done, but it needed basted and quilted and I did it. Not only did I do it, but I free motion quilted the whole thing. It was the first time I've FMQ something that big (twin size) and I love how it turned out.

I also basted and quilted Allie's quilt. Again, the top was done, but with company coming for graduation, getting her quilt on her bed was a priority. This one was a full size and I just straight line quilted it.

Swoon....I think I only had 1 block done.....maybe 2 or 3, if I can recall what was on my sewing room wall. (looking back in my blog, I see a post from April 2012 where I say I have 2 blocks done! So, I think I had 3 done at this point.) Anyway, I finished the other 6 blocks, set them with the borders and sent it off to be quilted. This was another priority so that it would be on my bed by the time company got here for graduation.

Sew Spooky...well, that's not exactly done. I finished the applique and got the quilt top done and basted. And I have the whole middle FMQ. But I ran out of steam when it came time to straight line quilt the bat borders. So, its on the back burner (again) until next year, when I can hopefully pull it out and finish it.

I made a few new fun bags. I think 3 and they were all the same, just different fabric.

And I put nothing in my Etsy Shop.

Looking back, it doesn't seem like I did too bad!

Now its time to take my daughter to work, so I'll have to update you more later.

Happy New Year!



Ironing Excitement

You've heard my tale of woe regarding irons.

I'm not even going there right now, but I will say this new iron seems to be working well.

I am now going to show you my ironing excitement.

This is what my ironing board used to look like:

Dull, boring, reflected heat instead of absorbing it, and covered in "oooops, I just got sticky bond type stuff on my ironing board."

Check out the new ironing board cover:

Amazing improvement, huh?

The credit goes to the Moda Bake Shop, where I got the tutorial.

I had pinned it and shopped for fabric way back in the fall.

And then my strips sat there. And sat there. And everytime I opened that drawer, they just stared at me, begging to be used.

At the same time, I also pinned an ironing board caddy. I always have scissors, seam ripper, pins, markers, and spray starch things on the end of my ironing board and this was my fix for that problem.

No pattern or tute for this, I just used my leftover jelly roll strips, quilted as I went, folded it up and sewed it onto the end of the ironing board.

Not to be outdone, the sewing machines were calling for some attention. So, they got covers made out of the fabric that was left.

Here is Allie's:

(Sorry for the horrible lighting! Ugh!)

And here is mine:

I have a few scraps left still, and I'm eyeballing that cute little trash can that Jen posted about the other day.

And yes, that is Swoon up there on the wall behind the ironing board. I only have 2 blocks done, but hoping to add to them soon!
I just bought season tickets to Six Flags and the quilt shop is just a hop, skip and a jump from there, so I'll have no more excuses for not getting things done and off to the quilters.

A Year in Review

Review?
Its only mid April!

But I feel like this year has already been so busy and hectic!

And my poor blog has just been ignored!

I can't promise that I'll blog more often, but I am going to try.

I really hope that life is going to slow down a bit, at least for awhile!

I look at the past few months and I know they have flown by.

Drama took up all of my January and February.

It took up the first 12 days of March.

Less then a week later, my grandpa died.

A week gone, a week and a half at home,

and then a week in Disney.

I've now been home just over a week.

But my son's 10th birthday is this weekend.

Next Thursday we have 10 of hubby's friend's coming to stay at our house for a golf tournament on Friday.

And my middle daughter's Sweet Sixteen party is Saturday night, with her birthday the next day.

God grant me the patience....

I have sewn here and there this year.

I have a feeling its not going to be a year of quilts,

but rather, smaller projects.

My one  finished quilt top was for Valentine's day and I never got it layered and quilted.

And I only have 2 Swoon blocks done.

I guess I just can't wrap my mind around any big projects.

And I'm ok with that. Mostly.

I have a Blueberry Crumb Cake jelly roll that I want to make plans for and order the additional yardage before it leaves the store. I really want to get on that.

I want to work on Swoon. My plan had been to have it to the quilters by the end of March. And then life happened. Now, I'll settle for getting it there by the end of June.

I also have serveral wall hanging's, table runners and pillow covers I want to do.

A new apron, or two or three.

Lots of new hanging dish towels for my kitchen.

One thing I have contemplated for several years is being able to get a table at a craft fair.

I'd really like to do that. So, maybe some small projects for that.

I have done some sewing this week. 2 small projects that almost got forgotten!

But, they are for the birthday children and I can't share until after they have made their debut. Its 2 new tradition's that will bless the birthday child every year.

And I know I promised you some Disney sewing projects.

Yeah. They are still in the wash.

Hopefully next week :)



Picture Perfect

Easter Roses

Quilt #10 of 11 in '11

Close up of quilting

......the story here is that I took a class on free motion quilting. The quilt top was supposed to be a plain piece of fabric. I decided that if I was going to the trouble of doing this amazing quilting, I wanted it to be on a pieced top. Problem was, I didn't have much time, so I settled on this simple design. I thought I would give the quilt away to a cousin who is having a girl in March, but decided to keep it as the first quilt I've free motioned. Since the colors are so Easter-y, that is when I'll display it.......

Christmas card holder

Peppermint Candy Pillow

11 in '11 Update

Do you remember that Kim started a challenge/goal back in January of completing 11 quilts in 2011?

That seemed fairly do-able, although I knew I was going to miss 2 months due to our big Hawaii vacation.

I haven't posted picture's yet, mostly because, you guessed it, I haven't taken any, but I did complete quilt #10 back in October. I took a machine quilting class and picked out some baby girl colors for my quilt top. I had planned on giving it away as a baby gift, but teen daughter #2 convinced me to keep it as an easter quilt.  As it is my first free motion quilting project, it didn't take much to convince me.

I figured that after that, it was smooth sailing. I had plans for a christmas quilt, plus a quilt each for my niece and nephew for christmas. Fast forward to today....28 days 'til christmas.

My christmas quilt top is done, it just needs borders added. Maybe this week?
But, the other 2 quilts have been taken off the list, I simply don't have time.

Part of my goal for next year is going to be to complete as much of the holiday sewing AHEAD OF TIME that I can. Obviously, I may have to wait 'til the fabric comes into season, but I need to get ahead of the game!

So, for now, I will complete my 11 in '11. I will make my goal.

But I can't help wishing I had planned better and gotten those other 2 quilts done.

By the way...the christmas decorating has been started. No tree yet, but hopefully this week. I don't know.....with the drama play next Thurs, Fri and Sat, my week is going to be swamped. But it should be up by next Sunday, anyway. I need some more wall hangings/wreath-y type stuff.  I think I'll head back to Michael's tomorrow and see what I can find.



FNSI Results

My 12 days of christmas quilt top is (almost) done! Yeah for FNSI!
I changed the layout of this pattern, instead of 5x5 rows, I went with 4x6.

I'm going to add some borders to make it a bit wider, but my family loves long blankets that we can tuck in around our legs. The border fabric is on its way, so I hope to finish this next week.
This is half of it, the current dimensions are about 48x72.

I also got most of my peppermint candy pillow cut out.

After that, hubby demanded attention as he learned to use his new iphone.

But, a good night and alot accomplished!

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

Here are just a few things I've been working on lately...

These are wood letters that I painted and then cut fabric to fit.

I used modpodge to make the fabric stick and then had hubby screw them into a piece of wood for a base. My fall decorations are not near as awesome as some of my other holiday's, so I am working on adding more.

This wall hanging idea came out of Quilts and More (I think).

I added the borders to make it big enough for my wall.

What you can't see is that all those leaves are individual and appliqued on!

Rag Wreath

Hurricane Glass with dried beans (split peas, black beans, and corn) in it, tied with fall ribbon,

Its sitting on the runner I made last year.

My not so little trick or treaters.

Ninja, Tardis, Pirate and Ginny Weasley.

I made the Tardis and pirate

I Dream of Jeannie and Major Nelson.

I made my costume and put hubby's together from an old uniform he already had.

Christmas Countdown

The Christmas countdown has officially begun.

Its 53 days, 16 hours from now, actually.

Mine began the other day when I put a widget on my desktop.

But, its November, so if you haven't started thinking and planning yet,

now is the time!

I won't start my kids gift shopping until the beginning of NEXT month,

but the homemade things need thought about and started  now.

And since I do homemade for most of our extended family,

I need to get busy.

But, first,

the halloween decorations need to come down.

The fall stuff, that made a brief appearance in September,

needs to come back out.

But for today, I have laundry,

dinner and a day of jammies planned!

 



More Presents!

I'm a bit late posting, but I got my newest set of Santa sack gifts in the mail last week.

Friday? Saturday? I don't remember cuz Allie brought it to me while I was in the cave sewing.

But, it came! Thanks Jen!!!

Everything looks fabulous and I can't wait to open it all!

I know you believe me that it looks great, but here's the proof:

My sack is filling up!

A peek inside!

Jen did send me an extra treat that she let me open right away.

It was a 2 part suprise:
A Bath and Body Works purse size hand sanitizer.

That Teen #2 promptly sniffed and stole and I don't have a picture of.

But here's the other gift:

OMGosh, it smells amazing!!!! One of my very favorite scents!
I'm not sure what Bath and Body calls it, but it smells exactly like Yankee Candle Christmas Cookie!

Sooooooo good!

Jen, thank you so much for everything!

And just to tease you some more:
Here's a small piece of something I just completed for you:

I love his smiling little face!



iSpy

Another check mark in the done column!

This quilt is for the baby shower I am going to tomorrow.

The baby's name will be Kennedy (I love that name) and she is due around halloween.

It was tempting to do a seasonal quilt for her, but I decided to go the traditional route and went with pink.

There are several i spy blocks in the quilt, as well as strings to hold toys in each of the corners.

I hope she likes it!

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

I've been busy quilting, not so busy blogging.

Here is my story:

halloween panel #1

halloween panel #2

dish soap apron side 1

dish soap apron side 2

WIP: baby shower quilt for this weekend (#9 of 11 in '11)

Swoon block #1 (not sure if I have shared this one or not)

Friday Accounting

Eeeek!
I think I missed every day this week!
I would wake up in the morning and think I should blog.

But I either hadn't taken any photo's,

or they were still on my phone, camera, etc.

And they still are.

So, no pics today unless I go search the web for a graphic.

Nevermind, I thought of something I can share.

Even if I haven't been blogging, I have been quilting!

Trick or Treat (my halloween quilt) is completely quilted! Yeah!
I finished that up yesterday, so now its just waiting for binding.

That should happen this weekend.

My baby shower quilt is pinned and ready to be quilted.

That has to happen this weekend.

The shower is next Saturday, so I'm not leaving myself too much time.

Yesterday I bought the baby toys that will go in each corner,

so that is taken care of too.

I sewed Allie and Nick their halloween pillowcases. To which the teen's replied:
Where's mine?

I also quilted one of the Trick or Treat  panels.

I need to get out some more fabric and make a hanging pocket, and that will be done.

But, my first project for today comes from Camille over at Simplify.

Today is her day for the Moda Country Fair Blog Hop and her project is simply delightful!

Check out this little girl:

My template is printed.

A friend is coming over soon to quilt for the day.

So, I am off to find some fun, fall fabric and make my dishsoap an apron!

Have a great day!



Fall is in the Air

September 1, 2011

Am I the only one who thinks fall starts today?
The fall candles get brought out and lit.

I'll start my fall decorating (as soon as I dig those bins out of the shed).

I start buying and planning halloween costumes.

Christmas gifts sit in the back of my mind.

Lists and lists get written.
All the things that need done.

The baby quilt I need by Sept 17 is partially pinned and ready to be quilted.

The backing is flannel, which I have a love/hate relationship with.

I love how soft and warm it is.

I hate how it doesn't stay pulled tight and wrinkles so easily when its being quilted.

I am not a huge believer in walking feet. I don't think they make a huge difference when quilting,

but that's my opinion. I could be wrong. But, mine is broke.

It happened last time I used it and I thought, oh well, I rarely use it anyway, so why replace it?

Except that I really need it for this flannel backing.

Sigh.

I didn't realize this until today. So, I bought one off ebay and now I just have to wait for it to come in the mail. And that baby shower is getting closer and closer.

Nothing like a little pressure to get things done, right?

In the meantime, I can:

start quilting my halloween quilt

work on my October Secret Santa gifts

make a new purse for myself

work on halloween costumes

By the way,

Yankee Candles are my favorite and I'll have one lit from about now through February.

The scents will change, but something will be lit pretty much every day.

It brings such a cozy feeling to my house :)

FNSI Results

My FNSI results are less then impressive.

I kinda forgot.

Oooopppps!

It was an incredibly busy day yesterday.

I took Allie out in the morning to run errands.

BJs and Joanns.

I did get the 8 yds of white I needed to start making Swoon.

Then home where I paired up my Ruby squares and started cutting out Block 1.

By 1:30 we were out the door to take Sam and hubby to the mall.

Sam needed new sneakers for school and then her and hubby were going to see movies.

Yes, different ones.

I did some browsing and then read a book while I waited for them.

As soon as they were done, it was back home, pick up the littler kids

and off to the elementary school to meet their new teachers for this year.

After that, we endured a bad rain and thunder storm and I sat in the rocking chair,

cuddled up under Cherry on Top and read a book.

And totally forgot about the FNSI.

But I did get the 2 fat quarters cut for block 1, so I guess I got something done.

Ahhh well, it was a productive week none the less :)

And Juliann, here is the pattern I am using to make my halloween quilt.

Picture Perfect Thursday

I wanted to do a wordless Wednesday post,

but alas, it was not to be.

I got in my morning walk/run.

I got the water off the pool cover (that was a 2 hour job).

I let the kids swim for 3 hours.

And then I quilted.

The baby quilt squares are complete and I am starting to assemble the rows.

The light in the dining room wasn't great for this pic, sorry.

The "strings" that you see in the top corner squares are actually ties to attach baby toys to.

The bottom squares will have those as well. The "off color" inner blocks are actually iSpy squares that I picked up at the Quilt Expo this summer. I love how it is turning out!

And now.....

4 halloween squares.

These will not be sitting next to each other, but this gives you an idea of the blocks.

Finally, part of a runner I put together for summer.

It still needs layered and quilted.

August Update

Aloha!

I feel like I am still on island time.

Which is both good and bad.

Good because I still feel like I'm on vacation.

Which I am. Sorta. For at least another week.

Bad because I still feel like I'm on vacation

and I'm not really getting anything done!

However, I have some excuses.

And some things I've gotten done.

But no pics today, sorry.

Maybe later this week!

In terms of excuses, my mom has been in town.

That only happens twice a year, so I treasure my time with her and stay out of the cave while she's here.

She was supposed to leave today, but due to air traffic problems in the midwest, she's staying another night.

So, yeah!

We went camping while she was here, and boy did that bring back memories of being a kid!

My mom is great!

As for things I have gotten done....

I was steadily working on my halloween quilt.

Its going to be in this pattern:

My black is a black on black swirl and the yellow is a deep purple with a sparkle in it.

I'm hoping to finish up the blocks this week.

I am already signed up for the FNSI, so that should help.

I bought the rest of the fabric I needed to make my neice's christmas quilt.

And I got an email last week that The Fat Quarter Shop got Ruby in!!

WoooHoooo!

I bought the Swoon pattern soon after it was released and knew it was going on my bed.

I'm going to increase the size to make the blocks 4x4 and add some borders to make it a bit bigger on the sides, but I am really excited to make this.

So, I ordered Ruby today.

Plus some Kate Spain Flurry charm squares.

And 2 patterns.

Yep, I really like the FQS.

 That's my update.

I'll try to get back here more often.

The kids start school next week,

and that will make things easier.

I love having them home for the summer,

but I am always ready for them to go back to school.



Waiting for Spring

Spring was a long time coming, wasn't it?

It seemed like it to me.

In January, I joined QuiltDad's Block A Palooza Quilt Along.

It was my first and I didn't put much thought into it

beyond, oh, this sounds fun! LOL

After a few weeks, I really wasn't liking what I could see the final product turning out to be.

So I stopped and set it aside for awhile.

Eventually, I redesigned the quilt into something I did like

and got back to work on it.

I finished it and sent it off to the quilters,

with a bit of trepidation.

I let Allie pick out the thread color, as it was going on her bed,

and she picked pink.

Since the center design block is white, I was more then a little worried

about how the pink thread was going to look.

But, we picked it up from the quilter yesterday and I love it.

The pink was a perfect choice and the quilting itself is wonderful.

Imagine my surprise when I was checking it out and realized I had

messed up one of the rows! Eeeekkkkkkk!

The blocks were supposed to alternate.

But when I attached the top row, I accidently flipped the row and ended up

with matching blocks in the corners. Nothing I can do about it now.

 Ohhhh, but I am upset with myself.

Anyway,

Here you go.

Waiting for Spring.

Quilt #7 of 11 in '11.

Celtic Fling

I haven't posted all month!
Sorry!

And now, I literally have minutes before we walk out the door again.

I have wanted to post, but haven't

had pics to back anything up.

And I hate that!

I looked today and I still don't have pics

of most of my Hawaii sewing.

But I do have pics of something....

Hubby and I are big into Rennaissance Faires and stuff like that.

So, over the weekend we went to a Celtic festival in PA.

And I needed something new to wear.

Of course! LOL

I made this last week before we went camping.

Kilt and bodice.

Lots of pleats, but I love how it turned out.

One of the kilt vendors actually stopped me and asked if I had made it

and complimented me on such a good job!
Luckily, I had 2 pieces of blackwatch wool to make this,
as I couldn't find ANYTHING at the fabric stores.

In the meantime,

my first santa sack swap gift is ready to be mailed out.

My Hawaii sewing is almost done.

I have a quilt at the quilters ready to be picked up.

Oh!
I found another pic!
I made this a few weeks ago.

I love the ants! LOL Ok, I'll try to post more pics tomorrow!

Streak of Lightening!

Add another quilt to the done list!

After binding Midnight Dreams on Sunday,

I was really in the mood to quilt!

But I knew I couldn't start anything new.

(you know all about that darn Hawaii list!)

And the only thing I had going on quilting wise

was my son's quilt top.

Its been done since about March.

Soooo, I layered it and used my new basting spray/glue.

It worked really well, but it was messy.

Got on my pants and socks, ugh.

I'm hoping it'll come out in the wash.

But I really loved how easy it was to use.

Admittedly, this quilt doesn't have alot of quilting,

but I think its enough and I love how it turned out.

And Nick will be thrilled that its finally done!
This is a UFO from last year!

Close up:

Now, I'm a sad panda.

I have NOTHING started in the quilting arena.

And I really can't start anything until I get the other list done.

But I can dream and plan.

After seeing the new quilt on my bed, both teen's have

placed their order for one :)



Midnight Dreams

I am so excited and thrilled to present

my new quilt.

Its been a long time coming,

an even longer time being dreamed of.

Presenting.....

Midnight Dreams

Final dimensions ended up being

115"x105"

Here's a close up of the quilting

I picked it up from the quilter's yesterday

and put the binding on it this morning.

And, yes, it immediately went right to my bed :)

BTW-my hubby named it and I think its perfect :)