Discipline Notice

I have to say that I felt like I was cheating or playing hookie by missing two link-ups in a row. I am waiting to be called to the principal's office for not reporting my WIPs on Wednesday!

Finishes

This is where I feel like I am really cheating! I haven't touched my machine since November 16th.  Yes.  I know the exact date.  Scary, no?  But I am going to stick to the WIP Wednesday format.

THE Mickey Mouse quilt

I finished the quilt on my birthday, November 16th.  Hubby gave me some time to quilt and prep it for binding while he packed the car (usually he "needs" me to direct him").

I actually finished the binding in the car on our Magical way to Disney World.  The gift of time was the BEST present ever.   I, seriously, will never forget this birthday ever!!

My Mickey Mouse Pants Bag

I was a little nutso and had to have a tote for Disney!

It transformed into a cute sling bag for myself.  Details coming soon.  I don't have the links for the pattern I used readily available!

In Progress:

Needlepoint Christmas Ornament

There was a shout out from my oldest son's school for needlepointers.  They needed us to make a few Christmas ornaments for the school auction fundraiser.

I started it on during our Road Trip and have been tinkering with it for the past few days while I have my feet up.  It doesn't require too much arm motion!

I have to admit.  I am not in love with the darn metallic thread.  It is just not my favorite medium.  But I am close to finishing!  There was a tentative due date for the 15th of December.  I might actually be early?

Imagine Quilt

My do.Good stitches bee quilt has been haunting me...so I am going to spend today stay stitching the piano key border.

I know...shamelessly showing this picture again...but, I can't help myself...the cuteness!!!

When I decided to do a piano key border, I researched the different techniques quilters use match up their corners.  An interesting tip kept being mentioned in the different forums I was landing in.  Many of the veteran quilters encouraged the newer quilters to do a 1/4 inch stay stitch around the entire border.  Apparently, the keys tend to stretch during quilting...especially on a longarm quilting machine.  I never knew!!!

Today, I have been feeling a bit better than I have the past week and a half, so I thought I would see if I could do a simple straight stitch later today!

And maybe cut my backing and piece it so it can be ready for Ole Betsy when my arm is able to do the stretching motion. It is going to be the first quilt I finish after this recovery.  I promised myself!

New Projects:

I have a ton.  Sitting around and looking at my magazines, books, and the internet have added more things to my already Ridiculously Long List.   Not to mention all the Black Friday sales? I had a bunch of birthday money from family burning a hole in my pocket. 

I now have fabric that I have ZERO plans for.  ZERO! I am a bit disgusted with myself actually!  There is much more and I need a better picture than this Instagram picture, so keep your eye out for a completely different post!!

Linking up with Lee, as always at

I am praying she just sends me to detention instead of a full suspension for failing to visit her!  And I am hoping I am off the hook too because Elizabeth at Occasional Piecing is guest hosting today!  Muaahahahaha!

  In all honesty, there is NEVER any pressure to link up on her blog, but I have found the WIP Wednesday link up to be one of two helpful link-ups to keep me focused on my goals!!

Hope you all have a lovely day!  I have to see if I can tackle the laundry and maybe work on the bee quilt during Button's nap.  If not? I am not going to stress about it!  I promise!!!

THE Mickey Mouse Quilt

You know, the one that I have been talking about for WEEKS!

I feel like it might be a let down after all the "peeks" I have given the past few weeks!

I am super happy with it!  

Source: ninamamaroux.blogspot.com via Buttons and Butterflies on Pinterest

I "pinned" this quilt last year for my nephew. I even worked out the pattern on my EQ7 for yardage requirements and even bought the fabric.  However, I worried that he might "outgrow" it (he already is in a huge Cat-in-the Hat kick), so I have gone in a different direction for him.

 When Mr. Boss sprung the trip as a surprise for our family...I KNEW I had to do it!  I already had the pattern and fabric, right?

 
I set up my embroidery machine and swapped out the various 4x4 inch (finished) blocks and appliqued Mickey Mouse head outlines at various angles.  I decided to do just Mickey Mouse heads because of all the boys...but now that I look at it, I noticed that there are six heads. Maybe one of them needs to have a Minnie bow?  Easy to add....do I dare?

I am so happy with the free motion Mickey Mouse heads I appliqued in the "blank" 4x4 sqaures.  I looped and meanderead in between.  I also added some Mickey Mouse outlines in the large border too.

I had intended to do the small border like the original quilt, but I was in a major time crunch and just added 5 inch borders of the white and black dotted red fabric.  I actually liked how it turned out.  The small dotted black fabric really balanced nicely for me!

The backing ended up being a new adventure for me.  I am not very good at "improv", but for some reason, my math was really off and I ended up adding the large red dotted piece on the right side and the two strips at the top and bottom.  I did like the end result!!  So maybe I will actually improv my backs a little more often!

Instead of one 4x4 inch quilt label?  I did FOUR!  It was fun to make sure every bit of this vacation was etched into this quilt!  It ended up having more uses for our Magical visit than I ever intended!

By the way, I did NOT wash it before we left because I didn't have the binding on it.  I was REALLY worried about it washing with all that red, so I made sure I had 3 Color Catchers in the wash.  Two of them were VERY red and the third was more pink.  No red or black leaked anywhere!  It also didn't crinkle that much because I think with the humidity, drool, and heat of our bodies warmed it up like a dryer...teehee!

Quilt Stats:

Measures: Approx 40 x 50 inches.

Pattern by:  Mama Roux handmade  
I used my EQ7 to work out exact measurements, but to start, 
the blocks are 4x4 inches with 2 inch borders and 2 inch sashing.
Fabrics: 
Solids: Kona Red, Black, Yellow, White
Dots: Riley Blake Big Black Dot,
Robert Kaufman Small Black Dot, Small Red Dot, Red and Black Dot,
Holly Hoderman Big Red Dot
Binding: Windham Fabrics Mini Black Dot
All fabrics purchased from the Fat Quarter Shop
Techniques: Machine applique, machine pieced,
 FMQ on my longarm
 

Magical

Magical is the only word that comes to mind for our family trip to Disney World.

I could make a super long post, but I will try to be brief....

Ahh, forget it...I tried...it didn't happen!  

But I promise some super cute photos!!!

Day One:  Road Trip

It was my birthday and Mr. Boss knew I was not finished with my Mickey quilt for the trip.  He gave me 2 hours to get it to it's "binding" stage...and I did it!  After picking up the boys from school and eating some dinner, I was hand sewing my binding in the car that evening! 

Oh...and we drove because Mr. Boss booked our trip exactly 5.5 weeks ago and plane tickets costs for six of us on a short notice?  

Yikes!!!

Day Two: Saturday Evening

We finally arrived to Orlando, Florida!  Button decided to make friends with a marble column in the lobby of the Grand Floridian where we were staying.

  The one the arrow is pointing to be exact!  He is SO lucky that for some reason, he only dinged his head.  It had a sharp corner at the bottom that he fell straight forward on. Visions of CT scans and a few days in the hospital for a skull fracture danced in my head. 

EMS was called...great....and he managed to only need some tender loving care and also received a stuffed Mickey Mouse with a matching band-aid from the resort employees to get him to smile and stop screaming...he was scaring all the other guests.  No one is allowed to cry at Disney!

Day Three:  Sunday

We decided to use our Disney apps.  We actually listened and went against all of our usual instincts to go to the Magical Kingdom, but instead, headed to Hollywood Studios.  

Watching his reactions on the Toy Story ride and seeing him light up during the Disney Jr. how was amazing.  

Hurry Josh...pick me up so I can get closer!

Seeing him light up like a Christmas tree when he first met Mickey?

Priceless.

Mickey Quilt use #1:  Naptime.  A great pillow!

Mickey Quilt use #2: Fantasmic show spectators.

  It was freezing, but we were all wrapped up and warm!

Day Four: Monday

FINALLY...Magic Kingdom.

  The boys were true sports and weathered all the "baby" rides...Peter Pan, It's a Small World, Pooh Bear, Dumbo...and a visit to see Goofy, Donald, Daisy, and Minnie.

Kisses to be had for all. 

 Yes...he is KISSING Minnie!!

 I think the characters loved Button more than he loves them!  They had such a hard time moving on to the next groups.  He would do his little sweet "bye" to them and they would run over to him again!

__________________________

After some Big boy ride fun...

We headed to the Animal Kingdom when the afternoon crowds became heavy!  

 I HIGHLY recommend you get the park hopper passes so you can hop around in one day like we do ALL the time!

We have been on the Safari trip many a time, but due to the cooler weather...the animals were incredible!!

I will seriously consider going to Disney in cool weather again.  

The animals seem to hide in the shade when it is hot in the past!!!

Afterwards?  Off to Downtown Disney for some dinner and Lego store fun!

Mickey Quilt use #3: Naptime again!

Mickey Quilt use #4:  Wrap up sleeping baby on the bus ride home. (no picture)

Day Five: Tuesday

A slow start.  We decided to get out of bed slowly...enjoy a nice breakfast at the hotel.  Arrived to the Magic Kingdom.  Boy...it was crowded...but we managed to get some rides in! 

Since we were rested?

We spent time making it to the various shows and also decided to park a spot for the Electric parade at night.   I swear that some of those floats are the same ones I saw 31 years ago for the first time.  

Mickey Quilt Use #5 and #6:  Holding your spot on the curb and keeping warm in the late night. (Mr. Boss has the photos hostage on his phone)

Day Six: Wednesday

Magic Kingdom.  

We hit the park earlier in anticipation of heavy crowds. We mastered managing the Fast Pass system and making full use of the Walt Disney World "Line" apps. Of course, we had to see Mickey one more time.

He needed a lot of hugs, kisses, and hi fives!

Tigger and Poo!

Do you just LOVE this as much as I do?

Day Seven: Thursday  

Turkey Day!  

Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. According to all websites and apps, the Magic Kingdom and Epcot were off limits for us due to crowds.  We re-rode all of our favorite rides.

The safari ride proved to be amazing AGAIN!

Dinner?  Snow Crab Legs in Downtown Disney.  Yum! It was the best Thanksgiving so far.

Family, family, family.  I am so thankful for them!

We were sad to head to the hotel to pack...but we knew we were getting up super early

Day Eight: Friday

Road Trip!

  I woke up in the middle of the night Friday and shouted loud enough to wake Mr. Boss.

  "We only stopped FOUR times today!" 

 16 hours driving and only stopped four times?  My boys ROCK!

If you are still here reading?  

I promise....I WILL give you quilting eye candy! 

I will be sharing the Mickey quilt stats...a post is in the works!!!!!!

WIP Wednesday: M.i.c...k.e.y.....

M.o.u.s.eeeeeeeee

 

Mickey is making his stamp EVERYWHERE in my studio right now!!

Finishes:

Button's shirts

More shirts are HERE!  

I don't want you to miss more pictures of very own cute Mickey Mouse!

 

Disney Cruise Shirts

Eight appliqued and embroidered shirts for a friend!  

I have them done right in time for their cruise trip!!

In Progress:

Mickey Mouse Quilt

The backing is coming together.  Still missing bits. 

 Hoping to have it finished and quilted tomorrow?

 But with Button's help HERE?

Wishful thinking?

Sorta Sewing Summit

Have you heard?  Bree from Distant Pickles and Sarah from Sarie's Cherries are hosting a sewing summit via webcam and blogs!  The idea was to have our very own sewing summit since we could not make it to the "real" deal!

 Class schedules are posted on Distant Pickles.  

Head on over and check out all the classes and sign up!!!

 My class on English Paper Piecing is getting some tweeking.  It is set for Sunday, the 17th at 9:00 pm.  I won't be available at that time (boo!) but the class is open and the other ladies will be around to chat!

I am embarrassed to say that I gave THE worst Class description and supplies list.  Things have been so crazy that I really didn't think it through properly..so here is a REVISED class description!

 Class Description:

 In the English Paper Piecing class you will learn the basics of piecing hexagons.  I will give the most BASIC of instructions without any fancy tools!  I promise...it will be so fun that you will be addicted to it just like me!  And to keep it more exciting, I have a Hoop Project tutorial so you aren't stuck with six hexagons and nothing to do with them!

Supplies: 

• 6 3x3.5 sqaures of fabric.  Can all be different. Use your scraps!!
• One sheet of hexagons printed on cardstock using the .pdf link from Moxy Ideas. Precut 5 hexagons for class. 
• 6 paper clip
• Thread 
• Needle
• Scissors
• Pencil or chalk pencil or water soluble marker

Optional hoop project supplies: 

1 8inch diameter embroidery hoop

1 10-12 inch square piece of background fabric 

Embroidery thread in coordinating colors.

Car Seat Cover

For a friend.  A quick project.  I have it all cut out!!

All it needs is a quick zip on my machine and I should be able to get it in her hands by the end of the week.  She is tired of her little man getting breathed on....and rightly so.  I will share details about this special little guy when I reveal the complete project....I promise!!

New Project:

Mickey says "Hey, Heidi!  Don't forget your tote".

Oh, right, Mickey...a tote bag or something....
that is on my list....

....that might be a pipe dream....

 Of course, linking up with Lee!

Disney Came....

........and vomited Mickey all over the place!

A few shirts for someone's first trip to Disney World!!!!

(I wear the PANTS on this vacation)

This one is my favorite....even though Mr. Boss doesn't get it.

 _________________________

I am also working on some Pirate Mickey shirts for a friend. 

 She and her family are going on a Disney Cruise! 

There is a pirate theme night and they plan to wear some of these!!

 ___________________

I made a little progress on the Disney quilt top.

Thanks to or despite Button's help?

.

Back to the trenches....I need to add a border, piece a backing, and finish some shirts....

And in case you are wondering why I feel compelled to do all this Mickey stuff?

Someone REALLY likes Mickey Mouse