Jingle Bell Snowmen

This was a piece I bought last year from the Fat Quarter Shop and it languished in a drawer all year, begging to be brought out and displayed.
I just did some simple straight line quilting, got the binding done and now its on the wall.
Sweet. Simple. And done.

Weekly Goals

Its Monday.

If that isn't blah enough, its the first Monday after vacation. That means getting back into the swing of things. Getting back on track. Ugh. Is there anything worse?

My goals for this week, therefore, are simple:

1. Make a homeschool schedule. I'm guessing I may be up for review soon, so I need to get on that.
2. Work on the binding for my winter wall hanging. I started it last night, I'd like to get it done.
3. Start cutting Samantha's quilt.

Have a great day.

New Years Goals

Good morning! Or afternoon, evening, whatever it is in your neck of the woods,

Today is Jan 5 and I've been thinking and thinking of my new years goals and I'm not sure I'm any closer to deciding on them now then I was a few days ago.  But, I figure, its time to get something written down and maybe something will come to me as I sit here and type.

Personally:

• I want to become a home school ninja. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I'm hoping that I'll have a clearer definition by the end of the school year. We;re homeschooling our son now but will probably be homeschooling him and our youngest daughter next year.
• I want to commit to this blog better. I know I said the same thing last year, but I really mean it this time! 
• I want to be more patient with my family. Listen more, yell less.  Enjoy today and not worry about tomorrow.
  

In the sewing room:

• My number one has to be my daughter's graduation quilt. Its hard to believe I have another one graduating, but its true and its no less emotional this year. I have everything bought, I just need to get going on it. June will be here before I know it.
• Finish quilting Sew Spooky. All that's left is the bat border and then one outside border. I'm going to finish this this year!
• UFOs.....there are a few laying around....a patriotic table square that needs quilted, a gift for someone that needs quilted, pajama pants for my son that need finished. I need to get this stuff done and off my to do list!
• I want to go back to setting weekly goals for myself. Big, small, something I need to work on or something I'm distracted by this week, just something to sew.

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.

Monday Mayhem

Dictionary.com defines mayhem like this:

may·hem

   /ˈmeɪhɛm, ˈmeɪəm/ Show Spelled[mey-hem, mey-uhm] Show IPA

noun

1. Law . the crime of willfully inflicting a bodily injury on another so as to make the victim less capable of self-defense or, under modern statutes, so as to cripple or mutilate the victim.

2. random or deliberate violence or damage.

3. a state of rowdy disorder: Antagonisms between the various factions at the meeting finally boiled over, and mayhem ensued.

 

#3 seems to fit my thought pattern right now.

A friend and I (and a friend of her's and Allie) went to the Quilt Expo yesterday.

I came home with a few new things, most of which I can't talk about yet.

My problem lately is that I can't decide what to work on first! AHHHHHHHH!

 

And then I spent some time last night on Pinterest.

I have a love/hate relationship with that website right now.

Its really hard to work on your todo list, and get everything crossed off, when you keep adding things to it!

 

My latest is this:

We bought Allie some new-to-us furniture at a yard sale last summer. Its really ugly.

But, its old, its sturdy and she really needed something(s) bigger then what she had.

She has a dresser, chest of drawers, a mirror and a side table.

 

My new goal is to turn it into something like the above.

Think that'll keep me busy for awhile?

 



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 :)



One Thing, One Week

This week is Amy's One Thing, One Week Challenge.

This week is also PRODUCTION week!

Anything Goes will be on stage at our local high school Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 pm.

As usual, I'm glad its almost over.

But I'm also a bit sad....its a pretty good time to hang out with all those teen's!

Gives me a good insight into what my kids are dealing with in school.

We handmade 33 costumes this year.

Plus many many alterations, hems, fringe, etc

I won't be sad to be done with that!

For my OTOW challenge,

I'd like to get at least 1 of my March projects done.

I have a 12" block that needs done and I want to make some more dishtowels.

As long as I get one of those done this week, I'll be happy.

Really, that means today, tomorrow or Weds, as Thurs and Fri my in laws will be here and I won't be "free" to go work in the cave.

My drama sewing should be done, at least take home stuff. We are in full dress rehersal's tonight and tomorrow, and then have Weds off. Yeah!

I hate blogging without a picture...let me see if I can find something new.

Doubtful, as I haven't been sewing, but maybe there is a valentine something hanging around, waiting to be posted!

Ok, not valentine, but something I did finish recently.

My son really wanted an apron so he could help cook.

Skulls and flames, what more could a boy ask for?

(it's reversible, but he seem's to like this side best!)

And.....some embroidery I finished.

This will be part of a 12" block I am making to hang in the kitchen for March.

Have a great week!

I'll be back to show my finished project(s) and hopefully back to blogging more often!



Derailed!

Email can be such a deterent to real life.

But we all have it.

And, for me at least, its fairly necessary.

You know.

I get notices from my fave stores.

Reminders from the library.

Info from the kids school.

Bills due.

You know.  I'm sure you get the same stuff.

But yesterday, I got a baby shower invitation.

I have a quilt all planned out for this baby.

But she's not due 'til October.

The END of October.

I thought I had plenty of time.

Except the baby shower is in the middle of September.

Which I guess I should have expected, if I had thought about it.

Its a good thing I had the quilt planned and fabric purchased.

Well, it was planned in my mind. Not really on paper.

Or computer.

Ok. I got this.

Last night, I sat here and designed it on the computer.

Today, I started it.

It will probably go pretty quick, as it really is small, only about 47x47.

BUT! I had other things on my list to be done first!

My halloween quilt.

The secret quilt I can't blog about yet.

The halloween panels that need quilted.

So I've been derailed.

But its still quilting, right?

And I do love making baby quilts.

Once this one is done, it should be my #9 of 11 in '11.

Pics to come later!

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.



Trick or Treat

While I was at the Quilt Expo (in June, in Washington, DC)

I picked up this fantastic Trick or Treat (by Deb Strain

for Moda ) jelly roll.

Halloween is my favorite holiday

and I have been dying to make a quilt for it.

Its going to be somewhere between lap size and twin size.

And I might have enough to get either a wall hanging or table runner out of it.

I also have a couple of matching panels that just need layered and quilted.

I ran out this morning and bought a black swirl and purple sparkle fabric to use as backgrounds and borders.

They are washed and ironed and the black is partially cut.

Tomorrow, the rest of the cutting and hopefully I'll start the piecing.

This should be #8 of my 11 in '11.

Its almost August and the time to think ahead to the holidays is here :)

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 :)

MIA?

In case you are wondering,

I'm still around.

Its been so hectic lately and I haven't done much sewing.

I finished a skirt that I wore today....

AND

the big news is

I PICKED MY KING SIZE UP FROM THE QUILTERS!!!

It looks amazing! I am so excited about it!

Binding either tomorrow, Monday or Tuesday and then I'll share.

For now, you just get to know that its home and almost done!

Friday Night Sew In

Friday Night Sew In Results

Last night I spent a few hours sewing.

And not even working on the list! Ooooopps!

But I was working on my mental list, so that makes it ok.

But, I made a sunglass case

Which I think is way too big,

and I'll make it smaller next time,

but it'll work.

Samantha thinks it looks like a calculator holder.

Dh says it looks like a barbie sleeping bag! LOL

and a small carry anything pouch.

I'm not thrilled with how the zipper turned out, but

that's probably because I didn't follow the directions exactly.

Oh well, it'll work.

I also got the extra blocks from the Quilt A Long picked out that I am going to use on the backing for my Waiting for Spring Quilt.

I cut the backing in half and got one piece of it ironed,

so hopefully I can finish it up tomorrow and get it to the quilter's soon. At this point, my king size should be almost done, so I may just wait until its ready before I drop this one off.

The LQS is not close, and with the price of gas, I hate to drive out there all the time.

The End is Coming

Really?
The Rapture is happening this Saturday?
I guess I should get ready!

Wait.....yeah, I'm probably not going.

I'm too skeptical of all of this talk.

But, that's not what I am here to chat about.

I've been sewing and sewing!
And dealing with a stubborn migraine that is not going away,

but that's beside the point.

Yesterday, I finished Allie's 4 layer skirt.

So cute!
She picked out the fabrics, and they came out beautifully together.

Of course, she had to wear it to school today.

And, here's her first quilt square.

I'm not going to say she is doing it all on her own,

cuz I seem to be doing an awful lot of pinning and all of the cutting.

And some of the ironing.

BUT she is doing almost all of the sewing.

I also started my new spring/summer purse yesterday.

Finished it today, so voila, here it is:

And, I finished a dress for Samantha. Maybe she'll try it on later and I can get a pic.

But, its one of those fabric's where the top is already smocked, so all you have to do is sew a seam down the back, hem it and its done.

An easy cross off on the list, so that makes me happy.

I have another one of those to do for Allie, I'm just waiting for her to get home so I know how big to make it.

My pace right now is one thing crossed off her day.

If I keep up this pace, I'll be done in a month! LOL

The FNSI is tomorrow night.

Are you signed up?
If not, check it out here.

Not sure yet what I will be working on, but you know my list is long, so I'll find something.

Messenger Bag

When we went out of town last month,

I stocked up on some quilting magazines.

Two 18 hour drives requires alot of reading material.

One of the magazines I picked up was this:

See the cute little bag in the top right?
That's on my to do list. Somewhere.

But, inside the magazine was a purse/messenger bag free pattern.

And, coincidentally, my oldest daughter has been asking me to make her a messenger bag.

She wants it for the Hawaii trip, as well as day trips where she needs a bit more room and an "over the shoulder/across the chest" strap for comfort.

I should have taken a pic of it on her, but I didn't.

Here is the outside.

The pattern was easy to read and came together very quickly.

I did make a few, small changes and learned some things along the way.

I added heavy duty interfacing to both sides of the bag body to help it hold its shape.

(Haha, what I learned was don't add that until AFTER you have forced the body through the handles to get the bag right side out!)

Cassidy also informed me that she had no intentions of using it reversible, as it was intended, so could I please add some pockets to the inside.

(would have been nice to know this BEFORE I sewed the bag together)

And, lastly, I added a zipper....I have no idea why someone would want a bag or purse that has no closure! Yikes, talk about theft waiting to happen.

Here is a pic of the inside:

And so, the first item has been checked off the Hawaii to do list.

After I finished this, I started Allie's 4 layer skirt.

But I promised myself I wouldn't post pics of anything until they are done.

I got all the layers sewn together, the zipper in and the hem done. All I need to do is add the yoke lining.

For now, I have eaten so I am going to take a migraine pill and go back to bed, in hopes that I can save this day from being headache hell.

Just as a btw, Allie has been working on her quilt the last few days.

I'll take a pic later and update you on her work!
So cool to see her working on a full size (well, twin, but you know what I mean!) quilt!

FNSI

The next Friday Night Sew In is here!
This Friday!

HA! Heidi put the sign ups up last week.

So, I thought it was for last Friday and I didn't sign up.

Imagine my surprise when I was on Bobbi's blog this morning

and she said it was this Friday!
Yeah! Sign me up!

Are you interested?

Here's the info:

I'll have to wait and see what I'll work on. You saw that "to do" pile yesterday!

But I made some good progress already!
I cut out the pattern and fabric for a skirt for Allie and a skirt for me.

Plus, I have Cassidy's messenger bag almost done.

If the girl hadn't asked for innner pocket's, I'd be finished already!

Today:
Volunteering in Nick's classroom this morning.

More laundry.

Finish the messenger bag.

Work on that quilt backing I need done.

Have a good day!



Before Hawaii

This is my pile of "before Hawaii" sewing.

Actually, I have some fat quarter projects that aren't in that stack.

Yikes!

I guess I should get started.

I'm afraid to even count the number of projects in that stack.

But, I've already made some progress.

I GOT MY SANTA SACK DONE!!!

For today, I want to go through that whole stack and list everything out.

Then, pick what I want to work on this week.

After that, I'd really like to start the week by deciding on and finishing the backing for my Waiting for Spring quilt, so I can get it to the quilter's.

Also on today's list:
laundry and a pedicure.

Dh has a softball game tonight, but I'm guessing we'll be rained out.

I'm hoping for an easy, sewing-full week :)