Whole lot of nothing WIP Wednesday

The week has proven to be unproductive, other than adding a label to the back of Hartley's quilt and going to a scrapbook retreat.  

(I know, I know...I DID get a few things done, but I am never completely satisfied with my progress)

Finished:

I was wrapping up Hartley's quilt to send it off Friday, and I forgot to do a quilt label?  I think I lost my mind.

Coincidentally, I fell upon a cute hexagon idea for a quilt label HERE.  It had to wait until I got home Sunday, but due to all of the chores I had to do HERE, I did not get a good start on it until yesterday. It will officially be in the mail this afternoon!

Photo taken before completely hand-stitched down.  I promise...no gaps right now!

I did mine a bit different because I did it post-quilting, printed fabric, and I used leftover binding that I had from the quilt.

In Progress:

The 8th grade auction t-shirt quilt bin is out and I am scanning the t-shirts today. 

 I have very little time to get it done now.  

But I WILL get it done, I promise Daniella!!!!

 

The rainy weather outside is definitely conducive to getting some work done.

  

As long as Button takes a nap through the current hailstorm!

Unfinished:

Twin quilt for nursery

Christmas quilt 

Auction t-shirt quilt 

Baby girl quilt kit 

Thank you quilt 

Bunny's sharpie roll project

New project:

Retro Flower QAL:  Not even started so it goes under the "new" heading.  I still haven't made my final decision about fabric and I am leaning towards buying the templates over making them with stuff I ever have.  

Which will motivate me more? 

Button's Easter Outfit:  I know.  Only a few more days...but I can't resist the urge ever since his bluebonnet outfit!  

Non-quilting projects: 

All at a halt.  Things happen when you go scrappin' people!

And I think I finally learned what it is like to be without a good camera.  My camera battery will not charge today.  It has been acting goofy for the last few months, so I should have seen it coming.  Now I get why all the bloggers lament when their good cameras are out of commission. 

WAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!

I am almost afraid to go check out WIP Wednesday links today.

I sure hope I have a better Wednesday next week!

The Consequences

"Be willing to have it so. Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune."

~William James

Consequences of going on a scrapbook retreat 

via Flickr "Buttons and Butterflies"

 The Good

Invited best friend to come with me for her first time.
 She is HOOKED!

3 days spent with all my good scrap-booking friends.  Trials, tribulations, and triumphs of our lives shared with each other.

No male testosterone in my vicinity for the 3 day weekend except the retreat owner's husband, who simply restocked the fridge and washed dishes.


29 pages completed to have an completely updated 2011 Family Album.

30 pages completed to have a completely updated 2012 Family Album.
 
The Bad 

Was only able to start my Hawaii vacation album.  3 pages started? Photos are still not completely sorted properly.


All the scrapbook supplies had to be unpacked and put away. 


Next scrapbook retreat isn't until September.  That means if I don't do any scrapbooking in the meantime, I will have too many pages to update 2012 to even think about my Hawaii album.


THE UGLY

Mr. Boss's car overheated approximately one hour after my arrival to the retreat center.  The story of how the car did not arrive to the dealership until late Saturday night is one for the books, but too long for the blog!


Button was wandering most of the weekend calling for "mum-mum" despite various Face Time sessions with my iPad.


Button cried for 20 minutes at bedtime Saturday wanting his "mum-mum".

Button does not allow me to be more than 10 feet of his eyesight since I have returned.  He would also prefer to be on my lap or in my arms.

Button woke up two times in the night just to make sure I had not left, despite the fact that he has been sleeping through the night since he was about 8 weeks old.

 10+ loads of laundry are calling my name.

220 blog posts to read in my Google reader.

45 notifications on Facebook.

40 new emails in my Buttons and Butterflies gmail.

191 new emails in my personal email account.

168 messages in my online account for my sewing and grief support groups.

 One science fair project due Wednesday. Bunny insisted that mommy be the one to help.

One auction t-shirt quilt to be cut, pieced, and quilted with a deadline in a mere few weeks.

 I am reminding myself the good outweighs the bad and the ugly.  

Back Home

 Friday morning I left in hopes of being a scrapbook queen.

Packed up way too much (but less than I have in my "earlier" years).

3 days of FOOD, FUN, FUN, sleep, Food, FUN, FUN, Food, FUN, Massage, FOOD, FUN, FUN, and so on.  You get the idea, right? 

56 12 x 12 scrapbook pages completed in my Family Album

12 8 x 11.5 scrapbook pages completed in my Christmas Album.

Not my finest scrapbook weekend.  
But it is more progress than if I hadn't gone on my scrapbook retreat.

I had a bit of a creative block.  It also was compounded with the fact that I took so many pictures of Button this year, that I have to have TWO albums for the year 2011 and I need to purchase a new album for a new volume of Christmas Cheer.

The album pages that didn't fit in my albums

Thank goodness Creative Memories is still having their sale on albums through the 25th this month for their 25th anniversary!!!  I can't believe that I have been using their products for the last 13 years!

Disclaimer:  Not receiving any monetary or products from them!

But I officially have all of our family pictures in albums from January 2009 through November 2011.  Not too shabby.

 (THANK YOU DEAR HUBBY FOR HOLDING THE FORT AND BEING MR. MOM (the REAL BOSS) FOR THE WEEKEND)


I had planned to take photos of the event.  I even had my "good" camera with me, but I just never did.  Maybe next time?  It is only in eleven weeks!


Oh, and I finished Baby William's quilt.  Pictures and the story of the surprise I received from my friend to be coming soon...

Veteran's Day 2011

I wanted to spend today THANKING all of the military veterans AND their families.

I took this on our recent vacation to Pearl Harbor

 

For those who don't know.  

This day is near and dear to my heart.

Why?

Because I am a Veteran!!!

Front Cover of MY Army Album (not the family album)

Army Nurse Corp

HOOAH!!!!!!!!

 Not only did I serve in Army ROTC for 4 years in college, 4 years Active Duty, and 4 Reserve.

I come from a long tradition of Army Veterans.

Front page of the Family Military Album

A few years ago, my AMAZING grandmother and I spent two separate week long visits working on our family Military Album together.  They aren't incredibly fancy because we made EIGHTEEN copies.  You heard that right!  EIGHTEEN!!!

 

We included my great-grandfather who served in WWI.

My grandmother wanted pictures of each war memorial related to the family member that served.

   My great uncle Jack who served in WWII.

The information is taken from the actual WW2 Memorial Website.  That is an actual picture of his bomber plane

He was shot down from his bomber plane SIX times.  SIX TIMES!!!!!

His special card to help him cross enemy lines...I accidentally put the info card upside down...fixed it today!!  Do you see him at the top of the plane!!

Then there is my grandfather. 

My grandmother and I did chronological write ups for each of the family members

An Army ROCKSTAR.  Served in the Korean War, and Vietnam on three separate tours. 

So cool...I love looking at these photos!

By the time he had left the Army, he was a Full Bird Colonel and had an impeccable resume. 

Stud...right?!?!?

How many can say that they were on the Joint Chief of Staff?!?!?

There were some extended family members, but they weren't included in the album because we tried to keep it immediate family only.  And I have only shown you a few of the pages of each family members...there were definitely many more.

In the album...I was next in line.

A few of my ceremonies...and some shots with my little guys!

  Me...nerdy Heidi!  I can honestly say that was a very special time in my life.  I made life long friends with my college ROTC buddies. 

Some ROTC adventures....I have a FULL album of about 30 pages of ROTC photos and then another 20 of my Active duty days

We are all on Facebook and keep up with each other.  My husband and I meet up with some of them every year at each other's "spots" except for the past few years.  With some in Afghanistan and some friends stationed in Alaska...it is really difficult to get together!  But I know we will see them again.

 

A special group...FIRST ALL WOMEN'S ROTC RANGER CHALLENGE TEAM IN REGION 2!  It was a REALLY BIG DEAL!

 I also loved my active duty days.  I loved being an Army Nurse.  LOVED it!   I was stationed outside of Washington D.C at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia.  I was so lucky because I was able to go to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital for training.  I met some high speed Nurses because it was D.C after all.  And if there was a high ranking Nurse that needed attendees for their funerals at Arlington Memorial Cemetery....guess what lowly officers were called on hand?  It was such an honor to pay my respects these amazing women that had paved the way for all of us women in the military. 

Some photos from Officer Basic Course and when my friend, fellow ROTC nurse and college roommate came to visit us!!

  Oh, and that yellow arrow above?  My firstborn while I was at Officer Basic Course.  I am about 20 weeks there!  Yup, I was only 13 weeks pg when I left my new husband for training, I returned already in my third trimester...WHOA!

Me with my good friend and fellow Army Nurse....yup...they come in the male persuasion, too!!!

My second was born while I was in the military too.

My friend came to visit....Do you see my little man walking?  So cute!!!

Did I mention that there is a Women's Memorial in Washington D.C. now? 

I went there a few times shortly after it was opened!  It is at the Arlington Cemetery...check it out when you are there!!!

After me?  

My brother and sister joined the Virginia National Guard.  I don't have photos of my brother...we are still gathering them for his "section"!!

My family at my sister's graduation.

My sister married her husband whom she met at AIT.....They are now the "typical" military family.  

About 2 years before they were married...so young....so cute!!

Moving where the Army calls and taking care of business.  My brother-in-law has been to Iraq and is lucky to be around for the coming birth of their second child.

My brother is still trucking along.  He was sent to Iraq two years ago.  Not only is he doing his normal "guard" duties every month.  He is also a member of the Honor Guard.  He is called to do the funerals of the many that served our country.  I am so proud of him that he does these men and women justice at their final goodbye.  I am sure their loved ones appreciate the pomp and circumstance that is so deserved!

Is there more to come in our family?

The last page in the family album

If my boys have anything to say about it, it looks like a possibility.  But I am not forcing...I promise!!

But in the meantime....

I also want to give a shout out today to Quilts of Valor.  I just found a Valor Quilt Bee blog when I was blog hopping for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival.  Remember how I said you can really find some great blogs!  This one is very special.  They contribute blocks to the Quilts of Valor Organization.

I recently found out that you can volunteer your long arm services.  I don't even have mine set up yet. But when I do, and when I know that I have better skills on it...I will definitely volunteer my services!!  I actually have some old t-shirts and sweatshirts of mine I'd like to make as a memory quilt for myself someday....

Sorry this is such a long post....I guess I had more to say than I expected.  

Thank you to all that have served our military services in small and big ways.
Thank you to all those that have sacrificed life and limb for our country

Thank you to my family for supporting me when I was gone or working.  

Thank you to my husband for "following me" for those four years.  I hope I have paid you back by following you the following eleven years so far!

Thank you to all of those who stand by their husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters.  Without you, they couldn't do what they do.

THANK YOU!!!!!!

S.S. James

When the teenage boy was moved out of the future nursery, he took a favorite picture of mine (not pictured here) with him!  

It left an empty spot on Button's side of the Jack-and-Jill Bath.

I really wanted something very juvenile, fun, and CHEAP to take it's place.

Excuse fuzziness.....too much light reflections in this bathroom!!!!

I was inspired by one of Bunny's Lego creations.  
It was a large battleship that he dubbed S.S. James.
  BRILLIANT, right?  

I instantly stole his idea and he tells ANYONE that is in the vicinity of my creation that I did so.  

An Artist Disagreement over a sandcastle..

Geesh....prickly artist, much?

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

How did I do it?

Supplies:

Frame

Art board

Scrapbook paper scraps

Scrapbook wavy, circle, oval cutters

Scissors

Glue dots

Double sided tape

I grabbed a frame from my Secret Stash!

Then I pull out my scrapbook scraps and tools:

I used my oval cutter for the fish bodies.
I simply cut the triangles by hand.

Wavy cutter tool for the water in different shades of blue.

Circle cutter to make the sun. 

And plain ole scissors for the sail boat and sun rays!

Glue dots to make the sun and fish POP from the surface and double sided tape to secure the rest onto an art board.

Do you see the HUGE glob of glue on the fishy in the right?  He is soooo getting eaten by a shark later today!  Stay tuned....

I know it isn't an AMAZING thing, but it sure was simple.

Giveaway: My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software

Yesterday, you may have been pondering about life and loss.

What better way to remember those who are gone or celebrate the lives of your family other than digital scrapbooking!

My Memories is offering one lucky person a free download (a $39.97 value) of their digital scrapbooking software.

Admittedly, I am a traditional scrapbooker. 
But being of sound and open mind, I thought I would take them up on their offer to download a free copy for myself.

I can't tell yet if I will go digital with my family scrapbooks. 
But I CAN tell you that I will be using it for loads of other things!

I will be sharing all of my ideas all week.

These are just a few simple projects today.
Since I was busy packing for my scrapbook retreat, I did these in a short period of time and was very pleased with the results!
 ................................

SPRUCING UP YOUR BLOG POSTS

*A special way to introduce a new quilt on my blog.
I think a photo layout like this would catch an eye by anyone passing by.

*Your introduction photo.
Don't you always want that special photo to announce your newest tutorial?

*Or just posting about a special day with your family?

Stay tuned all this week for more project ideas and reviews of the software.


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

What's it going to take to enter this giveaway?

Just go to My Memories and find your favorite design or layout and then return and comment on THIS post here (not FB or by email!) and let me know which one you like!

Don't like your chances?

Increase your odds. Just let me know if you now *Like* or *Follow* My Memories.  Each one counts as an entry.  So you could have four chances to win!

Blog- http://blog.mymemories.com/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/MyMemories/140359372717593?sk=app_111917138820507
Twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/mymemoriessuite
 

No entries after September 19th at 11:59pm will be included.  I will be picking a winner randomly on September 20th!

No extra kudos if you follow my blog or like my FB.

  I'd prefer you followed or like me just for who I am!

But if you do...thank you, I really appreciate it!

GOOD LUCK!

Off I go again

First off, I am so blessed to have a husband that supports me through thick and thin.

Granted he owes me....

But seriously, how many women are lucky enough to have husbands that will stay home with four children...especially when the youngest is only 6 months so mom can go for a weekend of scrapbooking?

Mine does!

But it gets better.......

Seven years ago he helped me take over a spare room and create a studio.

When we shopped for floor plans of our newer house, he even helped me decide which room would be the most appropriate for my space. We even named the room "The Studio" on our drawings.

Thank you dear hubby for letting me dream and then spread my wings and fly.

To be corny...you really are the wind beneath my wings.

Do you like to or want to scrapbook? 

 

Then I have a giveaway for you. 
Stay tuned for Monday's post!!

It just might get you inspired!

Where there is smoke?

 There is fire.

I prefer mine to be this kind

Fire Pit ready for roasting Marshmallows

Perfect for Smores

NOT THIS KIND!!

From Business Insider website

In 2007, we Houstonians were faced with the possibility that Hurricane Rita was headed our way.  It was shortly after we had welcomed the victims of Hurricane Katrina to our city.  

There was fear.  Much fear.  

We packed up our car with all of my scrapbooks and the large irreplaceable portraits of our boys (they were before digital photography).

Then, in 2008,  Hurricane Ike arrived.

We secured all of our momentos by wrapping in plastic and storing them in a safe spot in our house in case of roof damage or flooding.

This week, the fires here in Texas are starting to get quite close to our  home. 

The smoke and ash are filling the air.  

Just the other day, my son was playing in a tennis match and the ash was bouncing off their balls as they smacked the surface of the courts.

Today, school has announced that they are prohibiting outdoor activity like PE and recess.   I am glad they are because my allergies and asthma are rearing their ugly heads today.

But that is small potatoes compared to the 1,000 homes that have burnt to the ground and the 2 lives that were lost.

From Business Insider website

I look at the photo of that home burnt down and it make me wonder. 

"Did they get everything that was absolutely precious to them?"

I sure hope so.

As I prepare today for my scrapbook retreat weekend.  It makes me even more aware of how important certain memorabilia is to me.  There isn't a safe enough place in the world for them!

How can you help?

I have gotten word of a few quilt shops starting some special quilt drives.  As soon as I have one that I can get behind...I will post!!!