Happy New Year

Any plans for tonight? I plan on spending the New Year's Eve at home! I do not like to go out on this night. Staying home is my idea of fun!
Just like Christmas Eve, everyone else is working. Cade is going next door so it will just be me at home tonight. I have been cooking a little for our New Year's lunch at my Grandmother's. Kelsey and I made these candy-pretzel thingys. Very quick and very easy. and very easy to overeat! I found the recipe on Pinterest.



I got a Kindle after Christmas. So far I am LOVING it! I still have alot to learn with it. I have a book loaded in it so I will probably spend some of my time reading. Anyone know of any really good books?

I am down to my last few blocks for my applique quilt. Amanda Jean finished hers and it is BEAUTIFUL!! I only hope that mine turns out half as good as hers! You can see hers athttp://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2011/12/apple-cake-quilt.html

and this is who I will being spending my night with! Ruby! Happy New Year Friends! Hope your night and day are filled with family, friends, good food..and some sewing!

Playing Around

Tuesday, I had to go to the Santa Studio for 2 after Christmas appts. After a quick run to the grocery store, I got my little bow tie blocks out and played around with them. I think they are very cute! I am in no hurry with these, I enjoy sewing them. I have a bunch already cut out from my Civil War stash so they are quick easy mindless sewing!! Perfect for when I just want to sew. I plan on just sewing a few of these at a time, in between other projects. Maybe by next Fall I will have enough to make that lap quilt that I want!

Here are a few pictures from our Pizza and Krispy Kreme trip.

Andy, Kelsey and Cade. My oldest son Joey finally got a job and has moved in with 2 other guys. I don't know how long that will work. Joey is working as a dispatcher and had to work the holidays. We did see him on Christmas night though.

Kelsey and Cade. Cade loves watching the doughnuts being made but did NOT want me to take his picture. Also, no pics of me scarfing down 2 hot doughnuts!

Remember Me?

Whew! I doubt anyone is still reading (or waiting) on my blog posts but here I am! Time has just gone by soooo fast and I feel like I'm barely hanging on. In October, I was approached with a job offer to take appointments (from home) for a Santa's Workshop and Photo Studio. Well, it turned out to be waaaaayy more involved then I was led to believe. Long story short, I have been very busy, very stressed and away from my home and family the past 2 months. I did meet some great families, make some money and I got to see the magic of Christmas through childrens eyes everyday. I enjoyed most of it and hated alot of it!

Anywho...Santa's busy season is over so today I made myself just go in my sad, lonely and cold sewing room and just sew..something..anything. I havent sewn in so long! I have been reading blogs and seeing the cute things people are working on. I have had major sewing and fabric envy! Today I just worked on some of these little cheddar bow tie blocks. I am using Bonnie Hunters tutorial for these. Have you been watching Bonnie's Orca Bay Mystery that is going on? I have and have printed out the clues. Looks like a fun quilt. I hope to put these bow ties together for a nice lap quilt for my living room....someday:)

My sweet Kelsey has been home from college and has been so helpful to me. When she wasnt working at Old Navy, she has been home to watch Cade, take him to karate, she did alot of my Christmas shopping and baked some of our favorite holiday treats and did more than her share of housework. I am so thankful for that girl! She also crocheted this blanket for her Dad.

Thanks for still reading my blog! We are headed up for a night of pizza and Krispy Kreme doughnuts! I will be back!

November

In November, I am working on this quilt....still:( I still love the look and the quilt but I'm tired of the applique. This is what fits on my wall. I have 3 more rows done and I am working on a row now. I have to decide if I want to do two more rows or just love it like it is. I have a border picked out and will sash it in white.

At night I am working on this pillowcase.

and, as soon as I get done with my applique quilt, I have to get started on my niece Alexis' graduation quilt. That girl has been asking for a quilt for years and is sooo excitied. She gave me these circles for color inspiration. I have a few ideas but nothing solid right now. I am thanking myself for buying a Kona color card this year. It will sure help with picking some solids. A print might be harder to find.


Lastly, I am trying to get in some run/walking. Kelsey has been running at college and we ran together some this summer. We have entered our church's 5k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. I am sure I will finish last but my goal is to be able to run the whole 3 miles....my large butt may have something to say about that!

Missing the Weekend

I have been sick since Wednesday!! I never ran a fever but I feel like I have the flu or an ear infection. I have been doing just a little bit of housework in the morning then back to the couch. I did manage to cook chicken tacos for supper last night. By the time I had cooked and cleaned up, I was so done!! Today I fixed this early while I had energy and will just need to put it in the oven. I had planned to take Cade to karate but I dont know if that will happen.

and I missed my baby niece's 1st birthday party:( I was so sad. This is Andy's baby brother's baby. Him and his wife tried for many years to get pregnant, so she is a blessing to us all! I did manage to make the cute Elmo bag that is on the gift table. Sydney loves Elmo! Andy said that she loved the bag and kept pointing to it.

Here is the birthday girl Sydney.

I havent done any sewing. I really really want to get done with these applique blocks and get this quilt done. I would also like to work on these bow ties. I must be getting better if I'm itching to sew!

Comfy

You may not be able to tell from this picture but down here in Georgia, we are having a cold wet raw day. I don't mind these kind of days. They are wonderful for "sewing days" not such a great day for my firefighter husband to be out in though! The rain cause wrecks so he will probably be busy.Myself, I am fighting a cold so I think I will stay right here and do some applique!

Hope you enjoy your day, whether it's saving lives or just doing some sewing:)

FNSI, a week early:)

ok. I was a week early with my FNSI. That's ok, Kelsey won't be here next Friday so I am glad that we went ahead and had our craft time together.
We saw these cute wreaths on Pinterest and really wanted to try them. We bought our supplies at Hobby Lobby and got busy! It was a fun and very inexpensive project.

Here is mine. Ignore my reflection in the door:( I really wish I knew how to take better pictures. The felt flowers really turned out pretty.


This is Kelsey's. She did her flowers in her sorority colors and plans on hanging hers on the sorority house door.

I made breakfast for supper and we had a nice night doing this craft together. Cade pretty much ignored us, rode his bike and tracked in mud on my clean floor:(

Today, Andy is home and we are going out to celebrate Kelsey turning 21!!

Friday Night Sew In

Have you signed up for Fridany Night Sew In? There is still time! Go on...you know you want to!

Kelsey and I won't be sewing. We are going to try these cute wreaths! Have Fun Everyone!

I Like...

This beautiful scrap quilt on the cover of the Dec/Jan Quilt magazine. I don't buy many quilt magazines anymore (too many free patterns on the internet) but I had to buy this one. I love the style and colors of this quilt. if you are interested you can get a kit for only $120..! or use your own scraps;)

When Anna Maria Horner first showed her new line of needlework fabrics, I knew I wanted some of it! I thought it would never be released...I even dreamed about this fabric! Finally, the minute I got the notice that it was for sale, I hit the "buy now" button! I got 1 yard and I love it! The fabric is beautiful and it is marked for cross-stich or embroidery.

It is 58 wide and has different motifs to cross-stitch. This is just a different part of the same fabric as above. I am planning on making a bolster pillow and would love to use some of this in a quilt. If I could sew a skirt it would lovely in a patchwork skirt...or a bag!



Anna Maria also came out with a line of embroidery floss and thread. I had to save up and wait for a good coupon to buy these;) The floss is very pretty and will be so nice with the needlework fabric.

Other things that I like, CADE! He is doing so good in school this year!! He is very smart so he always has good grades but this year he is TRYING to make good grades and TRYING to stay out of trouble! That makes a big difference. He had school pictures last week and I tried to take a picture for Andy because he had been at work for 2 days. This was the best shot. He was being silly!

We have been out of school Monday and Tuesday (today) for Columbus Day and a teachers work day. It is rainy and cool...perfect Fall weather..if you want to stay in and sew. Not so much if you want to ride your bicycle.

My oldest son Joey is on his way to a job interview. Prayer is needed! That boy is something else. Friday night before midnight, I got a call that he was being rushed to the hospital with a broken arm. how did he break it??? Dancing!? I didnt even know the boy dances. He is fine but I sure would like to see a video of how you break your arm dancing.

Weekend

Cade had a friend come home with him from school Friday. The kid spent the night and they stayed up til 3am. I went to bed at 930. Andy told me Saturday morning that they boys were up that late.

Saturday after watching some football, Go Dawgs!, I took Cade and his friend to a Birthday Sleep Over. We picked Cade up Sunday afternoon and the Mom said that the boys were up til 5:30am!!
So here is how Cade spent the rest of his Sunday!

Have you seen this??!! Amanda Jean has written a book! I can't wait!

Good Ole Quilt

Since I am still working on these , I decided to show you one of my favorite quilts. I think one of the reasons why I fell in love with quilting is because with every quilt that you make, you learn something! This is one of the first quilts that I made. I never made a label for it:( I didnt know much about an accurate 1/4 inch seam while making this quilt. I was done before I realized just how important that accurate seam allowance is!
I made the "Good Ole Summertime" quilt from this book. The quilt in the book is beautiful and I tried to make mine like that one.



The quilt blocks are a huge 19'. The quilt finishes at 57x76. I am sure this quilt was designed to be used with scrap strips. and it would be a good stashbuster quilt. Remember, I had just started quilting so I had to go out and buy around 30 different quarter yards! I was scared to death about my fabric choices! But, I think I did ok! I love this quilt soooo much. I really regret not making it big enough for my bed. I would love to make this pattern again one day.

It has alot of 30's fabrics in it. They were my favorite then and I still love them today.

It is all handquilted in the ditch...right into that seam allowance! Ouch! I would do that differently! The binding is totally scrappy..which I love!


Thanks for letting me show you this quilt. It hangs on a vintage ladder in my living room right now. One day I hope to have a room fixed up for my grandchildren to come visit and this quilt will be in it for sure!

Sports Weekend

Not much sewing going on here this weekend! Our nephew, Stewart spent the weekend with us and Saturday morning we had to have him at the baseball field at 830am. UGH!

Stewart did really well! He got a hit and scored! This is his first year playing baseball. Andy and I thought the coach was a big jerk! He was yelling and screaming and these kids are 7 & 8 years old! I was glad when the game was over.

After baseball, we grabbed Chickfila and then went to Cade's karate graduation. He is a brown/black belt, the last belt before BLACK! This graduation was almost 2 hours long:( and it was hot:( Here is Cade doing some of his kicks. I was hoping to get a pic of the lady in the red shirt, left corner of the picture. Everybody around us was pretty sure that she was drunk. Maybe she had just had a bad night.

Here is Cade and Stewart after the grauation. Cade was so sweaty!



This is Cade and his buddy Luke. Cade and Luke started karate at the same time. Whenever they perform they stand beside each other and do their moves exactly together. Makes them look really good! Poor Cade, Luke is almost 2 years younger than Cade! Cade is just a shorty!

They are holding their new belts. They start training for their black belts this week!

Hope that you all had nice weekends!

All Dressed Up

I finished my doll!! I made her a little dress and shoes! I can find 50 (atleast) things wrong with her, if I stare at her long enough. BUT, I'm not going to! I made my daughter a doll and it's as cute as can be!

Check out her shoes!

I used this great Wee Wonderful pattern. I have never made a doll before and besides sewing quilts, I don't have much sewing experience at all. I think Hillary made a great pattern that anyone that knows how to do basic sewing can achieve good results! I would love to make a couple more of these sweet dolls!

This Is Only A Test

I have always wanted to make a doll for my daughter. My Kelsey is turning 21 in a few days so I am running out of time;)

Instead of spending my free day cleaning house, I dug out my pattern by Hillary Lang of Wee Wonderfuls. I used the Kit, Chloe and Louise pattern. I love Hillary's work and I have always wanted to make one of these dolls but have been too afraid! Mine is not as nice as the ones on Flickr but I don't hate it.

So, what do you think? Please, ignore my dumb "photo shoot" I'm iffy about the hair and one of the eyes. I am proud of the doll body! She does need a dress and some shoes! I am soooo bad at sewing any kind of garment..I am afraid that 'Little Kelsey' may have to go out in just her underthings!

Over the Weekend

I did participate in Friday Night Sew In. I just didnt blog about it! I prepped some more of the applique blocks that I have been doing. I fell in love with Amanda Jean's quilt!. I worked on my applique at Saturday Sewing at our church. This is what I have so far. I am just placing them on my design wall as I go...probably not my final design.

I also wanted to show this DARLING piece of calico fabric that my sweet friend Terri gave to me. Terri had it with her at Sat, Sewing and I fell in love with it. She had bought it at a yard sale of someone that was selling their elderly Mom's stash. I asked Terri for a scrap of it (I did think about stealing it) and she gave me the whole piece!! It is 9 1/2 inches wide and almost 3 yards long. I plan on cutting some for my applique blocks! I wish you could see it in person..it is so sweet with the little robin's egg blue flowers and the pink!! Love it!

Ok. I have to get on the ball today! Catching up for the weekend. We drove down to see Kelsey and had so much fun!! We saw her room, walked around the beautiful campus, ate Chinese food and fro-yo;) We also did a little shopping! and Good Momma here forgot her camera:)

So now I have to do some cleaning and run to the grocery store:( Cade has karate testing tonight..his last test before he starts his Black Belt training!

SOS

Please tell me that I am not the only person that makes such a huge mess when "working" on a project???



This is out of control! I don't know how this happened! I am a very orderly girl that likes everything clean and in it's place...but let me start to plan a project and I am like The Incredible Hulk, smashing and pulling and yanking on some fabric!!

We have our annual church craft auction (for charity) coming up and I am thinking about making one of these Surely, such a small project does not warrant this mess:( tsk tsk

What are you doing this Friday night? Nothing? Good! Go on over to Heidi's Blog and sign up for Friday Night Sew In! I will be prepping applique blocks to take to Saturday Sewing at our church!

Now, I have brownies in the oven and the timer just went off! Yummmy! Perfect timing!

Cute Enough

Look at this sweet snack mat! I can't believe that I made it! I take (still) such terrible pictures, and this one doesnt do this cute mat justice!..if I do say so myself;)

I followed the awesome tutorial found here at nanaCompany. I love Amy's blog...go over there and look at the sweet stuff that she makes! Plus, she has such cute cute kids!

Friday Already?

This week as really gone by fast! I guess it's because we had Labor Day off from school. Me, Andy, Kelsey and Cade all joined family at Andy's mothers house for Labor Day. It was good to get together, play with the 2 babies and eat;) I took some pictures but Blogger will only let me load 5 pics. We had bad storms from Tropical Storm Lee move in too. Thankfully, we got some needed rain and some cooler temps!! We have been in the 70's all week! So nice!

As you can see from this mess, I am still working hard on my applique. I am to the point were I need to figure out what size that I want this quilt to be. It is alot of work but it would be a shame not to make it bed-sized. Around here, any quilt that isnt on a bed gets folded and put up and nobody really enjoys it.

I have a nice stack of blocks! I still enjoy making these!

Hmmm...when I lay them out, it looks like I have a long way to go before this quilt is bed-sized.

I went to the LQS and bought a set of Hexagon papers. I have never made a hexagon block before. The only hexagon quilt that I know of is the Grandmother's Flower Garden. Now days, you see people just piecing the "hexies" together to make quilts and all sorts of things. I have been thinking about giving embroidered dish-towels for Christmas. I saw the hexagon papers and thought a hexie would be cute on a towel. Plus I could learn a new skill!

My first hexagon!



This is what I am thinking about for the dish-towel. What do you think? Too small?

Tonight, Cade is going to a friends house, so I am making homemade chicken salad for me and Andy. We will have a quiet night in front of the tv...that means he will fall asleep and I will do my applique!

Not Giving Up...

...Yet! Here is my progress on my applique blocks. You can see who I am copying:) here.

The first day I loved doing applique! The 2nd day I hated everything about it but I kept at it! I am really enjoying the process now. My blocks are nowhere near even close to perfect. My points arent even what you would call pointy;) but I am liking how they are turning out and I feel more confident. I guess, like most things with sewing, it takes practice, practice and more practice!

2 of my favorite blocks.

I found this great tutorial. It helped alot. I love the smell of starch..and its so cheap!




I also made these blocks to send off to Bren. To help out a sweet girl.

I just love a 9-patch! Don't you?

Do You?

Applique?

Read Amanda Jean's Blog "Crazy Mom Quilts"?

I LOVE her blog! I have emailed with her a couple of times and she is SO sweet! I love her style and her quilts.
I fell in love with this quilt of hers.

I had a couple of free hours Sunday evening so I thought I would try me some applique.
Hmmm, I know that AmandaJean used the wax paper method of applique. I did some reading up on it (which really means I spent 1 hour on the internet) and gave it a try.

Not too good:( Its pretty lopsided. I love the look and the idea of hand applique. I love hand work so I really would like to be able to do this. Any hints or tips?

Do you applique? What is your favorite method?

Today is my grocery shopping day and I also have to take Cade to karate later today. I hope to try this block again.

Happy Monday!

Best Day Ever!!

Remember this picture?

I entered it here at Insights From SewCal Gal??

I WON!!!! (thanks Regina for the heads up) I have never ever ever won anything EVER!!! and this prize knocked my socks off!! Thank You SewCal Gal for hosting this!! I never thought I would win anything. I just wanted to show off Ruby and I had so much fun looking at the pets on quilts!

WOW!! You have to go here to see what I won!