Dear 2011

Where did you go?

Button's Perplexed Look

Thanks for a great year! 

I look back at my first post in January HERE, and realize how worried I was that I couldn't even call the things I wanted to do goals...just hopes.

And so many of my hopes came true!!

Internet Hopes

New Logo!

 180 posts (chatty much, Heidi?),  over 100 new followers (thank you...I appreciate it!),  a special new home for Butterfly Kisses HERE, an FB page, Twitter, Pinterest AND now a brand new Etsy store (empty...but open)?  If you knew me last year, you would never believe it.  I can't either!!

2012 Hopes:  To keep it up, but not let it take over my life!

Grief Hopes

Jamie's Quilt: the inspiration for Butterfly Kisses

 I'd like to think that I have grown.  I'd like to think that I have helped many moms.  My blog is one of the top Google hits for Thanataphoric Dysplasia. 1,242 page-views since I shared my post this spring! That warms my heart that I can be there for someone when I was so lost.  It also warms my heart that I can share Butterfly Kisses with them!

2012:  To provide pre-made blankets for purchase for moms that can't send an item in for embroidery.

Sewing Hopes

A mess in my Studio!

I am in utter amazement that I have sewn as much as I have when I was still working early last year and then have had a baby the rest of the year.  I don't even dare think it will happen next year!

2012: Keep my focus on the home.  Window treatments, slipcovers, throw pillows, and a few things for the little guys here and there!

Embroidery Machine Hopes

Embroidering a Card Tutorial

We have established our love-hate relationship.  I love creating with it.  I love doing Butterfly Kisses on it.  Multi-positional hoops. Digitizing.  Designing.  I have moved from a novice to a intermediate embroiderer.  

2012:  Master it.  Share some tips with everyone this year.   Sell some new design creations at my Etsy store!

Quilting Hopes

Button's Quilt declared the Best of 2011 by the family

I am a bit speechless.  I counted.  10 quilts.  A new record for me.  Every pieced top is now complete.

I actually hoped for a long arm machine...and got one? 

A Moda Bake Shop Chef?

Not much more to say about it!

2012: Get to know my long arm machine.  Keep on quilting!

Crafting Hopes

I took pictures.  I shared tutorials.  Hope everyone like them!

2012:  Have a few more craft posts than last year!

Scrapbooking Hopes

I went on all three scrapbook retreats.  I finished my Family Album of 2010.  I am current with our family album up through August 2012.  Not too shabby.  A Christmas Album splashed in there.

2012:  Josh's school album.  He will be graduating in less than 4 years now.  I will not even think about any others until I finish it.

Family Hopes

 I sure hope I gave them everything.  I am a stay at home mom again.  I am so thankful for this wonderful gaggle of boys...including Mr. Boss.

2012:  Keep laughing.  Keep playing.  Keep loving.

 Baby Button Hopes

 

He made it.  A rocky visit to the NICU.  A blood transfusion.  The possibilities were frightening.  I am still too frightened to share the story...it terrifies me still. 

But he made it.  

That precious sweet baby boy made it.

And lights up my life.

 
Dear 2011,

I had such a nice time, but I feel like there is so much yet to do...I guess that is what 2012 will be for?

C'est la vie, right?

RAIN!!!!

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow."

~Gilbert K. Chesterton




It's finally raining here in the Houston area!





It has been dangerously dry around here.


It has only rained twice, including today since before Button was born!

So as soon as I get this done....

 

I will be sitting down and finishing this!

Hopefully! 


I REALLY want to get this out in the mail!

A lot WIPs here

Not just WIPs

(work in progress for those who don't know what it means) 

for quilts or sewing projects, but life in general!

I think I managed to buy or acquire a few amazing things and I am now trying to figure them out this week! 

Which means I am not getting much done in the studio!

First, I found this awesome ebook through a giveaway on another blog.  I didn't win, but was really intrigued by it, so I bought.  It is already so well worth the money!!!

The book is about photography.  I "dabble" in it.  Seven years ago, hubby bought me a beautiful SLR camera.  I have been using it on auto for a very long time.  When I saw this last week, I knew I had to investigate:

 I really want all my fellow bloggers to check it out!
  It can really make your blog look amazing if you use your camera to its full extent. 

 The first night, I got these results:

ON AUTO

ON MANUAL!!

I have been playing around with some things...so I will dedicate a post to it sooner than later.  Even Katie's blog is amazing!  

..........................................

Second, I finally received my newest edition of Adobe Photoshop Elements in the mail.  I needed a new version for my Mac.  I have been missing the ability to really do a good editing job on my photos and also want to improve my "watermarking" for the blog!  I still need to download it...

.......................

Third, I received the gift of Adobe Illustrator CS5 from an acquaintance.  I am absolutely overwhelmed by her generosity (a $699 price tag) AND by the program.  I have to buy a 500 page book just to use it.  But it will be so helpful with my designing of embroidery and appliques!  

All I need is the Embroidery plug-in and I can finally work strictly on one computer!  

Music to my ears!!!

...........................

Fourth and finally,   Guess who arrived?  My darling girl! She is no longer a dream! She sat in her box all day Thursday.  Sat on my counter all day Friday.  And we finally got to know each other a bit yesterday.  I am working on Button's  quilt.

  I have a few projects to do and thought I would work out all the kinks.

Umm....there are no kinks with this beauty!  I finished the top last night.

  It took a few tries due to technical difficulties with my design wall.  My flannel fell down and had to rearrange them a few times.  I finally just laid my flannel on the bed!

 Time for quilting today!!!

Postscript:  Look at the cool new watermark I made after I installed my Photoshop

Not A Scrap Left Behind

I just couldn't bear to throw away my scraps from the Only These Diamonds For Me quilt.  I usually save them and pop them into another project like an applique, but I wanted to do something specifically for the outdoor area.

I was looking at the size and lo and behold, they were the exact length and width I needed for some quilted coasters.

I am a bit embarrassed to tell you that I had to go and look at my very own tutorial to make them.  I had forgotten the measurements!

Every bit of scraps were used!  Some for the back of the quilt.

and some for these coasters.

I particularly like the plain blue ones.  

There something special about simplicity that just speaks to me sometimes!

Now what to do with the two fat quarter stacks I have in those same fabrics.  I am thinking some throw pillows for the couch and chairs?

About To Cry....

Actually...... I already did! 

I picked up my machine after paying 200 bucks to repair last Friday. They claimed it was an electronic problem, the pedal needed replacing, and they would do a general maintenance.

When I picked it up, it was working with the thread they had in it.  The needle up/down button was working again and the machine was no longer giving me an error/beep when I pressed the pedal.

I had to do an embroidery order last week and early this week was tied up with getting my house cleaned up.  It was a mess!

So I pulled out my machine last night.  I ran it through again with their thread and used the piece of fabric they had in it.

I was thrilled!! 

James was settled into his bouncy seat.

Picture taken with my iPad2...a bit grainy....but isn't he just darling!

I started laying out my quilt pattern.  Pulled out my fabric.

I chose my thread.

 

Re-threaded my machine.  Turned it on.  Pressed the pedal.

and...........

Nothing.  Same old beeping.  Same old error message on the screen.

I opened it up because I HAD to figure it out.  There was 7 years worth of crap/dust inside.

I think I have just gotten taken.

Now I have to go have someone else look at it because I don't trust this place.

And I need some courage to get my money back!

So my new challenge? 

To try to use the boys' sewing machine.

 

I am going to prove to myself that anyone can make anything with even the most basic machine.

At least that is what I am going to keep telling myself!

Bloggers Pillow Party

Umm.....as you all might surmise, I LOVE throw pillows.  I make throw pillow slipcovers ALL the time!  When I saw another blogger that I follow enter into the party.  I had to join the Bloggers Pillow Party!

I actually have plans for an Easter pillow, but I had to put it on "hold" because my sewing machine is in the shop.  I did start it with my son's machine, but he doesn't have free-motion quilting capablilites!

So, I am linking my Brand New Heart Pillow that I made in February, right before Button's arrival.  It sits happily in my  "Studio" (remember my tongue-in-cheek name for my room!)

I have to say...I was feeding James last night in my room, and I couldn't help but enjoy it!  It makes me smile for so many reasons!!!  

Why do I love it?

• It showcases my first try at Foundation Piecing.
• I love to free motion quilt, but always stray away from large projects.  A throw pillow is easy to work through my finicky machine!  I am secretly waiting for a long-arm machine.  Little does hubby know how I would worship him if he bought me one!
• I love to do hand embroidery.   The words took me a long time, but were so worth it!
• I love when I use a design from a book.  I am always buying them, but never using them as much as I should.  This one is from: Love and Friendship Quilted Pillows.
• I love that the quote actually stirred up some of my Grammar Police friends.  The one word "That's" really had some feathers ruffled.  I begged for forgiveness since I didn't come up with the quote myself.
• I was able to use some buttons from my collection.
• I used only the fabric scraps I had on hand!  A dinner napkin and scrap pieces from countless projects!
• I took pictures so I could do a tutorial. 

And LAST BUT NOT LEAST.  This pillow embodies everything that our family has been through since June 2009. 

Do you think it is a worthy entry?

Easter Eggs

Do you just love? 

I do!!! 

I found this basket on sale at Hobby Lobby last week (love those right before the holiday sale because they need to make way for Memorial Day/Fourth of July decor!!!)

The egg tutorial is one I had saved and printed TWO years ago.  I didn't even know I was getting it from a blog.  Now I have my very own!?!  Weird, hunh?  The blog is Retro Mama.

 She used awesome fabric.  I, of course, wanted to use up my scraps!  I decided to do two tones for each egg...can you see them?

The plaid one is my Rogue egg.  If you know quilting, there are a lot of ladies that always have a rogue square.  Thought it was fitting!

Yes, crazy that I am working on Easter stuff still...but technically, it is still the Easter season in the church for 49 more days!

Easter Basket Liners

As promised..the Easter Basket Liner Tutorial.

I really wanted to post this because if you are like me, there is probably a good possibility that the bin you store your Easter decorations in is still sitting out.  Why not make them now and then you don't have to worry about it next year!  If you don't have a basket/baskets...run to the store now.  Usually they are upwards of 70% off at the local craft stores!

The reason I decided to do a tutorial is that every liner tutorial I found was very loose and I like a tailored look.  I found these baskets at JoAnn Fabrics on sale two weeks ago.  They are really sturdy for my rough and tumble guys.

TUTORIAL

First, I measured the bottom of the basket by drawing a circle on cardboard.  I then trimmed it to make sure it fit on the inside.

The template made it much easier to make 4 circles the same size.

Measure the circumference and height of the basket sides.  I added 2 inches for seam allowance and hem. 

 A simple small hem (folded twice 1/4 inch) is sufficient.  At this point is when you embroider the name.

Fold and sew the short ends together (wrong sides facing each other).  Start at the raw edge and stop at the height of the top of the basket.  Be sure to backstitch to secure the seam.

  

  Fold the circle in half so the center is marked.  This is where the basket handles are.

 Pin the strip with name onto the circle.  Align the seam with the center that was marked on the bottom circle so that the slit that was left open matches the basket handle.

 Then sew the edges with a 1/4-1/2 inch seam allowance.

Using the centerpoint line that was folded into the circle, cut slit down from the hem on the opposite side for the other basket handle.

I was in a rush for the boy's Easter egg hunt so I had stopped right at this point.  I thought the fact that it was so snug to the basket, that it wouldn't get loose.  So I came up with the following plan to fix the problem.

I used a two inch bias tape maker.  You don't necessarily need it, but I find them pretty handy.  Otherwise, just fold and iron both side in.

I didn't do a good job taking photos!  I forgot to show exactly WHERE the bias tape goes!  Hopefully you will understand when I say that the bias tape goes on the edge of the slits that were cut out.  Start at one hem and work your way up the slit, then keep going down the other side of the slit.

After adding the bias tape, I added a two buttons to the corner of the FRONT flaps (where the name is)

I added two looped elastic on the corners of the back two flaps.  I made mine about 2.5 inches so that when it was looped, it was one inch after being sewn on.

Now the flaps are secure and ready for RUNNING!!

     

Or hopping?

Here they all are in a row...terrible picture taken in the wee hours of the night.

Which brings me to my next question?  Why is the Easter bunny depicted as a boy?  Last time I checked, he was sacked out in bed the night before!