Friday, September 14, 2012

Packed Up

I am super excited!

It is SCRAPBOOK RETREAT time!!!!!!

The only two problems?


image via instagram: Buttons and Butterflies

I think I overpacked.

Again.

And Button is on a rampage.

Image via Instagram:  Buttons and Butterflies


He is looking for his "ba-bas".  
We are finally making him go cold turkey since we found a cup he will drink milk out of.

Pray for Mr. Boss this weekend.

He is going to need it.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

WIP: Survival Mode

I am trying to survive the month of September.  I posted my September's "Just Three" and am already feeling the pressure. 


I am still surviving from Button's first day at pre-school yesterday. 


It was difficult to concentrate yesterday because I was so anxious and sad.
And today?  I can't keep my hands off of him!

I am trying to survive the school/sports crazy before I go on my scrapbook retreat this weekend. I need to start packing up and printing new photos. This will be the third one for the year!  I cannot express enough how productive and important it is too me! It is the key to my survival as a stay at home mom....friendship, rest, and motivation to preserve my family's memories.



Finishes:
 August do.Good Stitches Block


Technicolor Twist block
Via Flicker:  Heidi @ Buttons and Butterflies

Finished and mailed off.  I think I might have been 2 days after our "mail due date".   I HATE being late.  Mr. Boss was kind on Saturday and allowed me a bit of time to work on it even though the house was a bit upside down. To read more...go HERE!


 September do.Good Stitches Blocks
Since I was late with my August block, I wanted to jump on this month's and get it on it's way. I refuse to see my name on the "late block" list again!   I finished it Monday and mailed it yesterday.
 It is called a jumble block and the tutorial is HERE at A Bright Corner.  I think it will be a great quilt!


In Progress:
Merry, Merry Snowman Quilt

I decided to get my appliques all set and ready for Block #2 so I could take them during carpool, sports practicing boredom, and tv watching time.


ONE BIG QUESTION!

I am not happy with my needle turning on this.  And my curves are less than stellar.

 I have seen a few ladies do a blanket stitch, which I could easily do.  I am wondering if I should go forward with blanket stitches from here on out?  I would only have to fix one block since I am only on block two!  Or do I trust that in the end, when it is all quilted and the embroidery and buttons are added, it will be fine.  I am STUCK!!!!!
The good news?
 I have my NEW carrying case all packed with the gadgets and notions.   I finally caved and bought one of these travel cases.


The totes and plastic cases I was carrying around were getting beat up in the back seat of my car.  And I hate chasing a spool of thread under a seat! This fits nicely in the back seat with the backpacks, sports bags, and cooler.

  I love that I can set this on my lap and lean the top up against the steering wheel or when I am at home, I lean it up against the arm of the chair to the side! It is so comfortable on my lap that I actually fell asleep with it open like this last night.....



Special Delivery Quilts

I was able to go back and finish off the border.  And I did check my sewing machine to make sure I had the bobbin low reminder alarm back on.  I had turned it off because sometimes it would not let me finish a few stitches if I was at the end of a row...but now I know that I won't ignore it anymore!



The girl quilt just needs the appliqued name and I still need to cut the borders and piece the boy top.  I am hoping to spend some time next week when I return from the retreat! 

No Progress: We don't really need to discuss these, do we? Cringe worthy



New Projects:


A hand-quilted project landed at my doorstep and it thoroughly distracts me!


I am not only doing the prints for their lost son, but also his big sister's...and the empty spot is for the future....Proofs were approved this morning, so I will be hooping it today!



Like I said.  I am in survival mode.  Whenever I can get something this month?  I will!

Anyone else in survival mode?





Linking up with Lee at

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuUAKGbaD2GMJV1-DTXADXYCbb_poz5Jpx0wVuxaqLkdqdF8Y4JT-hXIXSeQoVRd97W_TzlZJWIGzJO_CwbuIg7B9K6C0iIQCJNZSH4wCGxPKi-OaODXv38CuFTCbOgNQ6O5dEZVdWoLK/s1600/wipwednesdaybutton.gif




Sunday, September 9, 2012

September's Just Three


I am "sew" glad I decided to link up with Tracey and her "Just Three" link up last month! 
What a motivation to get specific projects done!

August Goals

The three things I wanted to have finished were:

1.   Finish my Name Game Swap by the due date of Aug 15

Quilted!!

DONE! 
 I know, I know...you want to see more!!!  
I have not had a chance to take pictures of the swap I received, so I will share both this week!


2. Sew some gifts for a friend.


COMPLETELY ECTATIC that I finished the gifts!  Four utility aprons, a camera strap cover, and a extra small tote bag.


3. Work on Christmas Quilts (either Figgy Pudding OR Merry, Merry Snowman)

  I worked on BOTH!!!

Cut out trees and trunks.  I am rapidly realizing that I have not even touched my machine during this SEW in. Off to rectify this situation!

The applique trees and trunks for the top half of the quilt.  All I have to do is secure them, and then sew this part to the lower half of the quilt!


Square in a square blocks for various parts of the Merry, Merry Snowman quilt all complete.

Merry Merry Snowman Block #1

 Block #1 Complete


and Block #2 background started.

Making GREAT progress!!!

 The thing is?  It really cleared my head and paved the way to make other progress...

Clockwise: Baby Sean's Quilt top, Refurbished bag, Cathedral Window Pincushion for swap partner, Pincushion for myself, and paper piecing for the back of Baby Sean's quilt

Considering there were a few projects that I haven't shared yet? 
The month of August was pretty productive!

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September Goals

Time to make my list.  I only have a fine amount of time to get three things done.....two out of the next three weekends are definitely going to keep me away from my machines.  Not to mention that I have to prepare my things for my upcoming Scrapbook Retreat.  Yikes!

1.  Complete Baby Sean's Quilt:  It would be a shame not to get this finished now that I have a plan for my backing.  The only thing I am "stuck" on is how I am planing to quilt it.  It may happen when I put it on Ole Betsy.


2.  Spiders and Webs Quilt, part deaux:  October will come faster than I can blink.  Notoriously, it is a VERY busy time in our household.  If I finish it in the next few weeks, I will not have to worry about it anymore, right?



3.  Finish my Special Delivery Quilts:  I hate how long a "gift" quilt takes.  There is no "due date" since they already arrived, which puts the pressure on me to get them done sooner than later.  At this point?  They are cluttering up not only my WIP basket, but my head!!



Linking up with Tracey!

traceyjay quilts

If you want to join...time is running out!  I am squeaking in at the buzzer.



August Bee Block and {Giveaway} Winners

 August Bee Block
 
My August Bee Block for Imagine at do.Good Stitches is finished and ready to send off!

Technicolor Twist block
via Flikr Heidi @ Buttons and Butterflies

Yes.  I know.  August was 9 days ago.  I know!!  I hate being late.

I had to wait for the delivery of Kona Ash...my stash was non-exisitent.  And if you recall I picked up the oranges/purples to round it out.   I only used two of the new fabrics, but I am happy with the results!

The quilt design that Jessica at SewCraftyJess is really cool.


Untitled
Image via Flickr:  Sewcraftyjess

If you are interested...she has a tutorial for the block!

Technicolor Twist block

  Forwarning....there are alot of HSTs (half square triangles) and the final block measures 20 inches.

I plan to work on September's block this week.  I HATE being late....Sorry Jessica!!!


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{Giveaway Winners}

I wish I had enough fabric to share and giveaway to EVERY single person that commented.   The comments were not only lovely, which they didn't have to be, but they were truly insightful and completely help me focus on a few things! THANK YOU AGAIN.

The two winners are



I love that the random numbers picked a new follower and a follower that is a frequent commenter won! 


I will be contacting you for an address to send these to you right away!!!!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

WIP Wednesday: A Conspiracy

*Note:  I will announce the giveaway winners later this week*

 Between the holiday weekend and family visiting in town it has been busy. It certainly did not help that Button started running a fever as high as 105 Monday night...
You can imagine I have been getting a lot done, right?

I maintain that it is a conspiracy.  He was concocting a plan to miss his first day of school.


Finishes:  None.  Depressing.

In Progress:

Sean's Quilt

I can finally name the quilt top that I started last week during the Virtual Sew-in.


My sister is in town and asked me within 10 minutes where it was...she guessed from the sneak peaks.  My nephew's colors for his room are the four primary colors above.  I decided to pull all my favorite pieces in those colors and make my own coins!  A long way to go to do the backing and quilting. But now that she has seen it, I really will have to get a move on!

 do. Good Stitches August block

Pulled my final selections and cutting and piecing today.


  I am sooo behind.  Sorry Jessica!!!

 No Progress: (the REALLY depressing part)

Spiders and Webs Quilt, part deux 
Figgy Pudding Chirstmas Quilt
Baby Girl Quilt
Thank you quilt
Craftsy Quilt
Retro Flower Quilt
Merry, Merry Snowman BOM Quilt

 New Projects:
Special Delivery Quilts

I am calling these two quilts Special Delivery, because they ARE for two very special deliveries.  A former co-worker of mine welcomed a foster baby boy that they plan to adopt (sooner than later).  To make things more exciting, they just welcomed the baby boy's big "little" sister who is 2 years old into their home a few weekends ago.  

I plan to quilt in a lot of love and a lot of prayers that the path is paved comfortably and smoothly for them to make these two little ones their "forever family".  In order to get them done quickly, I bought these two quilt kits (on clearance...woohoo) at Joann's.  



Please don't judge that I am going the easy route!

I started the girl top, but as someone put it...sometimes the "easier" quilts can be the most difficult. 
I *thought* I had this border all sewn up...



until I realized I ran out of bobbin thread sometime at the beginning where the arrow is pointing.  Please tell me I am not the only one who does this?

..grrrrrrr.....


Off to link up and meet the guest poster Emily at Mommy's Nap Time.


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuUAKGbaD2GMJV1-DTXADXYCbb_poz5Jpx0wVuxaqLkdqdF8Y4JT-hXIXSeQoVRd97W_TzlZJWIGzJO_CwbuIg7B9K6C0iIQCJNZSH4wCGxPKi-OaODXv38CuFTCbOgNQ6O5dEZVdWoLK/s1600/wipwednesdaybutton.gif

Don't forget to check out the awesome projects in progress over there too!  And if you have any, be sure to join.  I have already found quite a few inspiring quilters/seamstresses there!


Monday, September 3, 2012

Labor Day

Button has declared a holiday and told me "no blogging today".


We are spending the day at the zoo with the boys and his two cousins!

Friday, August 31, 2012

Utility Aprons

Didn't I promise you that I would tell you about these aprons I made last Friday and only gave you a sneak peak?



I picture you sitting at your computer, phone, or iPad....tap, tap, tapping your fingers...holding your breathe....then puffing it out.   You yell at the computer....WHERE IS THE POST SHE PROMISED!  I am totally kidding....I know you aren't. You have so much more on your mind than that. 

 At least you better!

But I do want to share with you how they came about and what tutorial I used!  If you recall, I used to work at my sons' school as the clinic nurse.  I already was friends with many of my co-workers, even before that, but my friendship with one particular person blossomed even more while I worked with her.  She runs the desk at what we sometimes called the "little campus" where the pre-K 4 year olds and Kindergarteners were.  The main clinic where I was parked at is at the "main campus". Because of that distance, she manages the wee ones bumps, bruises, and fevers.  I was only called over for things that we needed to consult on more serious issues or the "uhhhh, we got creepy crawlies over here....time to check a whole class worth of heads"...you get what I mean, right?

 The two campuses are only separated by a driveway, but when there is an emergency?  It can feel like two miles!! How do we know if there is an emergency?  We used a walkie talkie.  You have to carry yours around you all day long.  I made this little bag when I first arrived so that I could stash not only the walkie talkie, but my cell phone, and keys to open the exterior doors of the buildings.  

November 2010

I also made her a version with the school plaid material.  Unfortunately, she has a heart the size of the entire Earth (remember Meemah's quilts?) and gave her little bag to a sweet little girl who thought she could have it!  Since she gave me the quilts earlier this year,  I have been meaning to make some gifts for her.  She mentioned different things here and there and as the new school year approached I thought I would focus on getting the things done before the school year ended, right?

Recently, I pulled out this little bundle from my stash for her that I have been hoarding.  



It was bought on a whim from the basket of clearance goodies at Joann's fabrics and I sorta coveted it because I liked the vintage feel.  I was short a few fabrics for other projects, but I was able to squeak out a utiltity apron for her.  She can slip her pen, walkie talkie, and paper for writing down her lunch order numbers and any other goodies she would like to have on her!


I found this great utility apron tutorial via UCreate at Rosey Corner Creations.  Trust me, I am saving you hours of searching!   It was a perfect size and I liked that her tie straps were substantial and long enough to wrap around a normal sized woman...not a skinny child! And the ability to have more than a few mixes of fabric really appealed to me.

As luck would have it, I had just enough scraps for the outside of a mini-tote....found a coordinating fat quarter for the inside...and she could use it to carry her walkie talkie if she didn't want to wear an apron that day.




I, then, had some tiny scraps left over and made her this quilted camera strap like the one she has been coveting since I made mine here.



But, of course I couldn't stop there.  I had to make an apron for the school years theme which involves  Cowboy boots.  So I grabbed some scraps of the school plaid and added some denim and bandanna material.



Since Halloween would be around the corner, I found some orange and yellow Moda swirl in my stash and coordinated it with some black gingham and a leftover strip of Moda Trick or Treat from my Spiders and Webs quilt.


Still not done.....


Christmas!   Moda Dots and scraps from my Figgy Pudding Quilt I am working on!!!

I started preparing and cutting last Thursday, and completed them Friday afternoon.  Not long at all.  I delivered it Monday, and she loved them.  She put one on right away.  The only problem?  I am vastly worried that I will arrive at our scrapbook retreat in a few weeks and she will have something for me.  She always is giving and I can't keep up! 

Do you have any friends like that?


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Don't forget about the Thank You {Giveaway}. 
If you haven't had a chance to enter...go HERE now!!!

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