Quilt Square Along

Today I am linking up with the Quilt Square Along over at Jo's Country Junction. The Bear's Paw square was the square picked for February. The square patterns are from Lori Smith. I finished mine (with a few problems) and hand quilted it. I have it displayed in my living room on one of my end tables. You can go over to Jo's and see all the cute squares that others have done. and see the square that she picked for March. It is stars and looks very sweet!

My laptop is still giving me fits about adding links so let me try to add one here:
http://networkedblogs.com/uzQi2

Bad Picture Day

Happy Bad Picture/Valentine's Day! I finished hand-quilting my little quilt from Kathleen Tracy's Book "Prairie Children and Their Quilts" It is so dark here my pictures are all terrible. I promise my living room walls are not this color.A few of my Valentine gifts from my sweetheart. I gave him a break and told him what I would like:) I also got some fabric...and may be in for a few more surprises;)

I am loving having my little quilts out so I can see them. I hope everyone has a wonderful day full of lots of love..and some chocolate..and right now, a pink cupcake is calling my name:)

Broken Dishes

I just wanted to share a quick pic of my little Broken Dishes quilt. This little quilt finishes at 18x22. Kathleen Tracy, author of Prairie Children and their Quilts and several more books is doing a quilt a month from 1 of her books. This sweet quilt is February's quilt.

So now I need to get busy quilting this quilt and my Bear Paw. I will then have to take a little break from these small quilts and get my niece's graduation quilt started.

GROWL!

Well, here is my little Bear's Paw quilt square for Jo's Quilt Square Along. It has some problems. I will do a little hand-quilting on it then link it up with others at the end of the month. Right now, I'm just glad that it is done. It finishes at 12x12.

Pink Lemonade Quilt Show

Today I am linking up with Lori from Humble Quilts. Lori hosted the cutest quilt along! She named the quilt Pink Lemonade and when I saw it, I knew I wanted to make me one. Her instructions and pictures were the best. I had SO much fun making this little quilt. I just love how it turned out. Go over to Lori's and see some of the other sweet quilts!

Thank You Lori for hosting and sharing such a fun quilt along!

Quilt Square Along

Today I am linking up with others at Jo's Country Junction. Jo is hosting a monthly square along using some of Lori Smith's cute quilt square patterns. The first square is this sweet log cabin. It finishes out at 12x12. It was so much fun to make and I can't wait for the next square to be announced. Go over to Jo's a look at all the other quilt squares. So many pretty log cabins!

I have decided to display my square (which I did hand quilt) on my kitchen table. I put this little milk glass hen on it. My grandmother gave me the little hen and I just cherish it. I have had to wash my square twice already (i have boys) and each time that I take it out of the dryer all crinkly and soft..I love it even more!

FNSI Results

I had a very nice FNSI. Thanks Bobbi for hosting! I got my little Pink Lemonade quilt all finished up! I put the binding on Saturday while we were having some thunder storms. This little quilt is from a quilt-along that Lori from Humble Quilts hosted. It is a fun sweet little quilt. Here it is fresh from the dryer. It was dark here all day so I could'nt get a good picture.

and here I tried to "style" my picture:( I need to work on that!

FNSI

It's Friday!!! I just love a day or evening of sewing! My husband is at the Fire Dept. so it's just me and Cade tonight. We plan on making some homemade pizza for supper then doing our thing! I plan on working on this sweet pattern.

Head over to Crafty Vegas Mom to sign up.http://craftyvegasmom.blogspot.com/

Happy Friday!

Weekend

This weekend I did some stitching. I stitched on about 1,000 (ok,not really) Girl Scout badges on a friend's little girl's vest. I had forgotten how stiff these little boogers are! My fingers were very sore by the time I finished.

I also spent alot of time on the computer looking at quilt blogs. There are thousands of talented and nice quilters out there! and I think that I read all of their blogs! People are so nice to share their talents and their projects, so many great tutorials and quilt-alongs. It is very hard not to start a new project after an hour (or 2) of blog reading!

Here are two blogs with projects that have caught my eye. Have you ever read Humble Quilts?

http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/

Lori makes such sweet quilts. She is doing a little quilt quilt-along.http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/pink-lemonade-part-1.html

My laptop won't highlight (i have no idea what is wrong) anyway, I think the little quilt is darling. I had to try a block or 2:)

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and another fun quilt along is the one happening at Jo's Country Junction.http://www.joscountryjunction.com/

She is hosting a quilt square quilt-along. I finished mine and I love it! I plan on doing a post on the square and linking to Jo's post on January 30. I also need to take some better pics!

What fun projects have you seen in blogland lately?

Redo

I got all set to put my applique quilt together and I noticed some boo-boos. While making this quilt I used several hand drawn leaf templates. Some of the templates were larger than others.

I really don't want my leaf points getting caught up in my seam allowance. Some of them are ok..barely squeaking by.

BUT, many of them (23 to be exact) are CRAZY bad! I have to redo them.

UGH! I really want to get this quilt put together. I will look at the top then and decide if I want to add borders or not. I want this quilt big enough to use. I have to get moving on it and get it done though because I have a graduation quilt to make and have finished by May.

Guess I better get off the computer and get busy ripping and re-sewing!

Bow Tie Progress

I fell in love with the vintage bow tie quilt that Bonnie Hunter posted on her blog, this summer. Bonnie posted a tutorial and a challenge to make bow-tie blocks as Leaders/Enders. Well, the bow tie block is one of my favorite quilt blocks, and I have always wanted a cheddar quilt! So I joined in!

My favorite block (so far)

Here is my bow tie progress. I havent done my blocks as Leaders/Enders because I have been working on some hand applique. I just LOVE making these blocks! They are so quick and easy!

When I had some free time I gathered up some of my Civil War repro fabrics (and some that I just like) and got to cutting. I cut when I feel like cutting and sew when I feel like sewing. These little blocks are so satisfying to make. I love the fact that since I have a stack of squares already cut, I can just sit down and sew. I call it mindless sewing:) A great way to destress!

I am a busy Mom so it's nice that even while waiting for my son to finish brushing his teeth or while supper is cooking, I can sew up a few blocks! I hope to make enough blocks to have a lap quilt for my couch.

Now, if I can just keep Ruby out of my chair! Thanks Bonnie for the motivation!

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.