My Booty

No...not THAT one.  This IS a PG rated blog, you know!

This kind of booty....

Pirate's Cove, Miniature Golf Course, Williamsburg, Virginia

Of the pirate treasure kind!

AAAARGHHHHHH!!!

Jamestown, Virginia, USA

I am feeling a bit "pirate-ish" after downloading about 500+ photos off of my digital camera!  I was even being "stingy" with photos this trip!  Yikes!! I take too many pictures don't I!

Oh...the booty you ask?

A Cross-stitch Shell Cushion kit

Inspired by the design that Martha Washington loved.  Even her China was in the shape of the shell...I saw it at the American History Museum in Washington D.C!!!

I picked the kit up at the Mount Vernon gift shop. I have a VERY special love for Mount Vernon since our home was just down the street for almost five years! I am not sure where this cushion will find a home, but I am sure I will find one!!!

Colonial Williamsburg Scrapbook Paper

I just love picking up great coordinating papers to make a special album!

Amish Quilt Puzzle Block

It is actually not MY booty, but Bunny's.  He couldn't put it down.  He still can't put it down!

It flips around and makes all sorts of different block shapes...more than these photos show. It is pretty addictive to flip it and see a different quilt at every turn!

Colonial Williamsburg Fat Quarter Bundle

 

I can't tell you how EXCITED I am about this bundle.  I found it at a shop called Craft House in Merchant's Square at Colonial Williamsburg.  

Photo from Craft House website.

I remember drooling in there about 15 years ago when we were on a VERY tight budget.  

This time, I was ready to shop!

There was a small, but pretty great selection of cross-stitch kits and fabric bundles and quilt pattern kits.  I hemmed and hawwed and picked the bundle up above.  The shop assistant informed me that I could get free patterns at Windham Fabrics website.

I didn't know much about the Windham Fabrics, so I googled it when we got back to our hotel.  I found that they made special lines for Williamsburg and the bundle I had picked was the New Town Farm collection.

New Town Farm by Windham Fabrics (Mosaic by me)

I was even more excited when I realized that not only did I have ALL 52 fabrics above in the bundle, but they whole line was archived.  It made the cost much more of a deal when I found that out!

The line has a free pattern, but I want to make sure that I utilize ALL of the fabrics, so I am actually thinking about adapting this pattern.

A new pattern offered by Moda Bake Shop.  It seemed timely that it showed up while I was on the hunt!

  It is called the American Banner Rose by Minick and Simpson. Go and get it HERE.

My goal is to have something done by NEXT Fourth of July!!!!!!!

Oh...and I apologize for the near future...I took a million photos...and well, you know....

I have to share, don't I?

Fast Forward Button

"Life would be better if girls had mute buttons, boys had edit buttons, bad times had fast forward buttons and good times had pause buttons."
 ~Unknown

Now, I am not saying that I believe in the mute button, but today?  

I sure wish I had a fast forward button!

I had all my woes typed out, but realized the short of it?  80% of our household has some sort of sickness.  Button, included, with a nasty double ear infection. 

I have to give him props for going all out for his first true illness.   Not one ear...but both!!!  And on my birthday too! 
Happy Birthday to me!

Despite all the AWESOME CHANTING last week (I really could "hear" everyone cheering me on!), I didn't do as well as I would have liked.  But it is better than nothing, right?  I won't link up with WIP Wednesday because I really don't want to rewind to Wednesday, but I will share what I accomplished the past week!

Fall Throw Pillows

There was so much love for the fabric last Wednesday, that I was compelled to get them together.  They are simple, no frills.  But I love them.

The other pillows covers are the ones I made last years for the two chairs in my family room.  

It is all scrap fabric from my ottoman covers and my kitchen window treatments.  

The embroidery took me one whole day to do both.  The amount of color changes was exhausting, to say the least!  I haven't done a pattern/design with that many since.

Cuppa Joe blocks

I finished them!!!  

I really enjoyed making them! I busted into my fat quarter collection and found random fun fabrics.  I decided to stick with six fabrics and used all three cup styles.  I opted for Moda "Wildrose" by Brannock & Patek for the background fabric for all of them.  I am not sure how well I did them since I was trying to do them with a sick baby.  I also realized that I need to spend more time with my newish domestic machine.  I hadn't really machine appliqued in a while since I have been using my embroidery machine for that!  I opted for a blanket stitch.  Hopefully, they are up to par to the rest of the contributions!!

They have been sent off for the swap and now I can't wait to see what I get back.  Not sure what I will do with mine!

Ole Betsy

It's official.  All of the comments and emails made me realize that I should never have even posted the name.  As soon as it was in writing, it was all over.  The name is growing on me.  Even Button knows who I am talking about!  He likes to watch her go!

Sharon, the Handi Quilter representative, came out and gave me basic instructions yesterday.  We loaded a 36in x 36in muslin sandwich to practice on!  She was even very understanding that Button was sick and was clinging to me.  There was an elaborate checklist she had to follow...all bases were covered.

We used the thread that was given to me as my "start up" quilt.  I think I will practice at least one more time on muslin or scrap, but with a colored thread so I can see how I am doing a bit better.  I really do need to practice though!  Above is just some fun free-hand.  My looping, leaves, and flowers are not looking to shabby, but what is up with my inability to do meandering well?  Any thoughts?  I think I over-think it!

Here's to hoping my fast forward button decides to land on a day that I can think clearly, stop sniffling myself, and feel good enough to sew.  Just typing this post is a great feat!

Sunday Projects

 My Sundays usually consist of Mass, Sunday dinner, family time, and LAUNDRY.

THIS SUNDAY'S PROJECT:  FABRIC COVERED BALLS

  

I have tried many different days, many different ways, but the last 7 years of the 15 that I have been married, Sunday has become LAUNDRY day.  It is just easier for me if the boys are around to collect it from their baskets, closets, game room, sports bags, backpacks, and under beds????

And about every 3-4th Sunday, I actually get it all washed, folded and ironed by the evening.  Which is a great boon!   My very own personal pack mules can carry their fresh clothes and hang them/put away themselves!

The problem, you say?  

This means that I just can't get overly involved in any project that day, be it sewing, crafting, or blogging.  It is too difficult to start and stop.  I usually try to keep hand stitching of quilt bindings, or ongoing cross stitch/needlepoint projects ready and waiting.

But this weekend was a bit different...I saw this picture below while I was hunting for something COMPLETELY different.  

FROM : Knitty Gritty Thoughts

The thing is, I kept running into it every time I was searching for images of something else.  They even remind me of my most favorite vegetable...the artichoke!

I knew it was a must!

Supplies

 Have you wondered what to do with those Fat quarters that never get used out of the bundle?

This is a perfect project.

All you need is a Fat Quarter, Styrofoam ball (all I had was this almost 4 inch ball on hand) and flathead straight pins.

Go to Knitty Gritty Thoughts for the full tutorial!

 It was so simple to just set aside whenever my dryer buzzed.

2 x 2 inch squares

A few folds and pin.

All finished!!!

A Newer Acquisition

I finally have something interesting for this piece for my powder bath.

 Maybe some Christmas ornaments?

  A large one to hang somewhere?

A forlorn bowl begging for companions?

I don't exactly know quite yet...but I couldn't pass these up today.....

Could you??

A little Bit of the Islands

CAME HOME WITH ME!

The Maui Quilt Shop was a very small place, 

but overflowing with beautiful fabrics.

She had quilts and quilt pillow covers that were pre-made.

But, of course, I want to do my OWN!

She had quilt kits she uses for classes.  

 Quite a few choices of patterns that included a mix of fabric color choices for each pattern.

I will share my Hawaiian quilt pillow cover with you in another post because I want to address the history and certain "rules" there are!

She also had a beautiful section on quilting books.

Of course, with an emphasis on Hawaiian quilts.

I picked one about the history of Hawaiian quilting and another filled with patterns (will be in the next post too!)

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

It was hard for me to choose fabric to bring home.  I had to keep it simple and easy.

a) I had only so much room in my bag.

b) Baby Button was a bit fussy while waiting in the car with dear hubby.  I didn't want to torture him too long!

c) I was overwhelmed by choices, and we were time constrained by a dinner reservation.

d) Did I mention that everything is more expensive on the islands.  It is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean!

So I decided on some cool "local" fabrics.

(Not sure what she meant by local? Not a lot of textile companies in the islands)

A Fat Quarter Bundle with Hibiscus prints.

 And a Jelly Roll.

 I took a few pictures of the jelly roll so you could see the variety of colors.

I love how they make their own bundles and jelly rolls!

If you have any ideas on a strip quilt, please, please send them my way!

I'm not exactly sure if I want to use the fat quarter bundle with it or do something separate. 

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!