It Just Might Be Possible

It just might be possible to do a quilt on the boys' sewing machine. 

Yesterday, I wasn't so sure.

Since yesterday afternoon, night, and a bit this morning....I was actually able to piece this quilt top.

 I won't lie.  It wasn't easy.  The reason for the length of time it took was because my seam ripper was working at top speed.

I used two jelly rolls from Fabric Palette that I bought on sale at my local Jo-Anns. 

The strip books I bought a few months back seem to need closer to 30-40 strips for a completed quilt. 

I modified this quilt pattern to be a bit smaller.  I just didn't like the piano key border being as long as they instructed (6 inches versus the 3 inch border I decided on.)  

My goal is to get this finished for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival this week.  I have never really felt like I have anything to offer since it has been quite a while since I have finished a quilt for myself.

Now to do a border, backing, and binding on the boys' machine.  I sure hope my walking foot works on it!

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!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day.

I have always thought it was a Catch 22.

Why?

Too many expectations.
Too many conflicting emotions.
Never sure if you are supposed to be pampered.
Never sure if you are supposed to spend the WHOLE day with your kids.
Or is it with your Mom?

I have many friends that have so much to say about this subject.

I have to say that this year's Mother's Day isn't exactly memorable for any certain reason.  We will remember it because it was James' first dip in our pool.  Notice I am missing two boys in the picture?  Didn't I tell you that only one cooperates with us! The new one has no choice!

What are some of the memorable Mother's Days?  I have had been taken to a fancy brunch at the Botanical gardens.  I have had a couple at the ballpark watching the Astros swing pink bats.  

I have received flowers in vases.  I have received flowers in flats to be planted that day.

I have received jewelry.  Or nothing.

But my favorite....the little sweet nothings that the boys give me.  And who do I have to thank?  Other awesome moms that teach my children!

So I just want to say that, yes, Sunday was Mother's Day.  

But, really?

Everyday is Mother's day.  Even for those whose little ones who aren't here in their arms.  

You know who you are...........

...Sand Between Your Toes

A good friend called me up two weeks ago.  

She was wondering if I could embroider monograms on some beach towels.

  

Not just these four.......fifteen of them!

 

My machine ate this one.  So my solution was to make an applique to fix the oops!

I am sharing this because the towels are special gifts.  Her daughter and friends are off to a beach house after their Senior Prom tonight.  What a great gift idea!

  I wish I had come up with the idea.

So next time you know someone is headed to the beach for a special occasion.  Consider having some beach towels personalized just for them!

Edited to add:  And, by the way, as I was embroidering them, I prayed that they had a safe time!

Happy Girl

 "I used to live in a darkened room

Had a face of stone
And a heart of gloom
Lost my hope, I was so far gone
Cryin all my tears
With the curtains drawn
I didn't know until my soul broke free
I've got these angels watching over me, yeah

Oh watch me go
I'm a happy girl
Everybody knows
That the sweetest thing that you'll ever see
In the whole wide world
Is a happy girl

I used to hide in a party crowd
Bottled up inside
Feeling so left out
Standing in a corner wearing concrete shoes
With my frozen smile
And my lighted fuse
Now everytime i start to feel like that
I roll my heart out like a welcome mat

Oh watch me go
I'm a happy girl
Everybody knows
That the sweetest thing that you'll ever see
In the whole wide world
Is a happy girl

Laugh when i feel like it
Cry when i feel like it
That's just how my life is
That's how it goes

Oh watch me go
I'm a happy girl
And i've come to know
That the world won't change
Just 'cause I complain
Let the axis twirl
I'm a happy girl

Oh watch me go
I'm a happy girl
Everybody knows
That the sweetest thing that you'll ever see
In the whole wide world
Is a happy girl

Oh,yeah oh,yeah
I'm a happy girl"

-Happy Girl by Martina McBride

I've always loved this song.  But today, I was so happy.  A few things went my way:

 

•   My sewing machine was fixable and I was able to pick it up today. 
• My family portrait that I took in to be framed was completed and ready for pickup.
•   I messed up an embroidery order on swimsuits.  I was able to find the exact same ones at Target today.  So I can give the horribly messed up original ones, but I have replacements *insert a picture of me wiping off the worried sweat*.....Also Note to Self:  I will say NO to any swimsuit orders, forever.
• My iPad2 arrived at my doorstep today.  I love it more than I can tell you!  I can't wait to really get to know it.  It is going to make my carpool wait time seem too short!
•  I realized today that I needed to make some reasonable, logical goals for my weight loss.  I used milestones such as my anniversary, Jamie's birthday, and James birthday.  It seems very doable to me now!

 

The "before" Heidi.  Before we even knew we were pregnant with Jamie

 

 

But really?  Why am I happy?  I am happy because I when I looked up the lyrics to the song today, I expected it to be all about the happy girl I used to be.  

 

 

 

 
However, the song is so much MORE about me than it ever was.  It always amazes me how that works!  I hope it inspires me to do something REALLY Happy in my studio this week!

Brain damaged

Have you ever seen Bill Cosby's show Himself? 

Photo borrowed from the internet....somewhere.....

Here is my favorite quote from that show:

"My wife and I have five children and the reason we have five children is we do not want six. And those we have we want to get out of the house, before we die. Just to get them out. Because all children have brain damage. Now those of you who have no children let me describe the brain damage. You come in the room with a Coca Cola, you set it down you go to get a news paper. Child comes walking in grabs the drink. You say Gimme that! Didn't I just tell you not to drink it? The child says "Uhh Huh". You say What did I just say? "You said but for not to not you drink." So every time I tell you that don't I I say every time I have a drink don't you drink it, don't I say that? "Uhh Huh". Now tell me what I said. "You said but for not to not you drink." That's right. So you put it down to go and get the paper the child picks it up again and quickly starts to drink it. You say Gimme that! Didn't I just tell you to ahhhhh... Well why did you do it? "I don't know". Well that's brain damage. And that's what parents have to deal with all day. That's all you see, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. My parents never smiled because I had brain damage. My wife and I don't smile because our children are loaded with it. Ohh my parents smile now, when ever they come over to my house. When they see how much trouble I'm having. Ohh they have a ball. "Having a little trouble eh son?"

Bill Cosby, 1983

So here is MY brain damaged story!  

Remember these jewelry bezels here? 
I was so excited Friday morning because I was delivering them to our school for the Auction Preview day.  I love when I get a project done and can let all my stresses go.

As I laid out the bezels on the table to display, I realized I was missing EIGHT bezels.
  Not one, but EIGHT!

I panicked.  I was about to throw up.  My girlfriend tried to calm me and told me to go home and look.  

I arrived home. They were NOWHERE!  I worried because I have been doing spring cleaning and thought maybe it was tossed out by accident.  As I sat down, I was ready to cry.  
I finally gave up, and all of a sudden it hit me.  I took EIGHT bezels to Hobby Lobby to choose the ribbon I had tied to them.  Where were they?

In my diaper bag THE WHOLE TIME.


So disaster averted and off to the school I went.


Until I got there and was ready to get out of the car.  I couldn't find the bezels.  I searched the car.  NO luck. 
Banging of the head on the steering wheel commenced.  

I must have left them in my studio.

So I trucked myself home again. When I walked into the studio....


They weren't there.


I searched high and low.  Where were they?  In my diaper bag.


So I spent 3 hours (yes, the school is 30min from our house, one way).

And they were in my diaper bag the whole time.

I am definitely BRAIN DAMAGED.


All tongue in cheek...I would never make fun of someone who actually was!

Time, Talent, and Treasure

     The three words we hear from our pastor on the subject of Stewardship.  Many have the misconception that the churches have their hand out for your money (treasure).  But the fact of the matter is that they need our time and talents.

As a mother of three boys that are attending parochial school, I use this same philosophy towards my efforts for school.  Of course, we pay tuition, but I try to spend some time and put my sewing and crafting skills to work also!

So what is this colorful mess?  This year's contribution to our school auction.  Admittedly, I decided to help my friend who wanted some help for PURELY selfish reasons.

I wanted one something ALL for myself!   This is my oldest son's last year at our school.  He is graduating from 8th grade.  As much as he would love to stay, our school include the high school grades.   My girlfriend and I really wanted to make our 8th grade project special.  It is the last chance we can get something made/designed especially by our child.  Each student chose a charm and a paper.  They also were tasked to write a paragraph either thanking their parents, describing what their experience at the school meant to them, or something spiritual.  They then asked them to pick one word to be placed in the bezel.

We wanted to just make pendants.

But then realized, unfortunately, that some of our students have lost their mothers.  Yes, one left us way too soon just a few months ago.  So then we thought of other uses for the bezels.  

We came up with these:

 

We thought...

• key chain
• Christmas ornament
• rear view mirror decoration

Frankly, anything you can think of, right?

So I probably will forget to hand in my receipts from the large purchase of supplies, so there is my treasure.  Oh yeah, I have to buy mine too!  As for time...many hours, thankfully shared with a good friend.  Trying to get 75 students to cooperate wasn't as easy as it sounds.  Let alone making sure we used the right paper and charm for the right kid!  And talent?  Not mine, just bringing my knowledge to the table for this one!

  As you can see above, I already put Josh's in a shadowbox, but I hear that the moms are already planning to wear theirs at the graduation ceremony.  I better get the glue dots off the back of mine so I can wear mine too!

  I PROMISE I will post the tutorial on how to make these sooner than later!  And I have a funny story that proves that motherhood does cause brain damage (as Bill Cosby would put it!).

 But in the meantime....aren't they pretty all laid out?