Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
School
Today was a wonderful day - can you guess why? Huh huh? For the first time ever, all three of my kids are in school allllll day! No more half day kindergarten - I have a 1st grader, 3rd grader and 5th grader!
Sofia spent months planning what she would wear on the first day. It's very important to a 10 year old girl you know! She had some fancy outfit all picked out, then came out of her room this morning in her old shorts and a t-shirt! Go figure.
We also had some candid moments...
Then we finally got to school and they met up with their old friends...
It was a great day (especially for me!) and I have a feeling it's going to be a great school year!
Sofia spent months planning what she would wear on the first day. It's very important to a 10 year old girl you know! She had some fancy outfit all picked out, then came out of her room this morning in her old shorts and a t-shirt! Go figure.
We also had some candid moments...
Then we finally got to school and they met up with their old friends...
It was a great day (especially for me!) and I have a feeling it's going to be a great school year!
Monday, August 29, 2011
The Crown
Over the last year I have won two blog giveaways from what has become a good friend - a young Mum called Chavah Kinloch all the way in my home country of New Zealand. She is so talented, and I am so lucky to have two of her paintings in my home. I wanted her to know that I was truly thankful, so I made her a couple of quilted goodies!
She received them a few days ago and blogged about them HERE. This is the picture she posted on her blog...
And here are some I took before sending them off to the other side of the world...
The back of the cushion...
Chavah has a 'thing' for crowns, so of course I had to go with that. I made up a crown design, appliqued it, then quilted it, turning it into a cushion cover. I quilted some words around the outside so her kids could have some fun figuring out what they say! I loved the crown so much when I first designed it, that I used it on THIS project...
I also did one of my monogram letters for her daughter's room, a letter V. Chavah had mentioned on her blog that they were redoing her dauther's room, and that purple and yellow would be prevalent. That worked out well since I had already done the crown in purple and yellow. I had to - I mean, the crown of course had to be yellow/gold, and purple is the color of royalty! I even asked for your opinion way back HERE. I know, I know, these have been a long time coming!
I'm just glad that they were well received, and now I can look at her beautiful paintings in my home and feel good that I've given, as well as received, some art.
She received them a few days ago and blogged about them HERE. This is the picture she posted on her blog...
And here are some I took before sending them off to the other side of the world...
Chavah has a 'thing' for crowns, so of course I had to go with that. I made up a crown design, appliqued it, then quilted it, turning it into a cushion cover. I quilted some words around the outside so her kids could have some fun figuring out what they say! I loved the crown so much when I first designed it, that I used it on THIS project...
I also did one of my monogram letters for her daughter's room, a letter V. Chavah had mentioned on her blog that they were redoing her dauther's room, and that purple and yellow would be prevalent. That worked out well since I had already done the crown in purple and yellow. I had to - I mean, the crown of course had to be yellow/gold, and purple is the color of royalty! I even asked for your opinion way back HERE. I know, I know, these have been a long time coming!
I'm just glad that they were well received, and now I can look at her beautiful paintings in my home and feel good that I've given, as well as received, some art.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Seen-It-Sunday
So what did I see this week? Not much on Wednesday with my bung eye. (Which is all better now thanks everyone!) And today, lots and lots of rain. A lady called Irene came to visit us, but by the time she got to our house, I think she was too tired from visiting the rest of the east coast to cause much trouble. Unfortunately, she got her second wind just one street over from us and there was a case of tree vs house...
Other than that, she came, and left rather quietly, leaving us wondering if she ever came at all??! You can see from this weather shot that she's all gone from our area now. We are near where it says, 'Manchester'...
Thank goodness she was quiet, and thank goodness she left quickly. I guess we must have been such boring hosts that she couldn't wait to get out of here. I'm so glad we're boring :)
Other than that, she came, and left rather quietly, leaving us wondering if she ever came at all??! You can see from this weather shot that she's all gone from our area now. We are near where it says, 'Manchester'...
Thank goodness she was quiet, and thank goodness she left quickly. I guess we must have been such boring hosts that she couldn't wait to get out of here. I'm so glad we're boring :)
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Coming Together
The fruit and veges are coming together on my design board... I've laid them out, cut the sashing, and doing a little bit of rearranging before I sew it all together.
I've been doing this in between getting anything loose outside taken inside before Hurricane Irene hits! By the time it gets to us here in New Hampshire tomorrow, it should be a lot less intense though, so hopefully not too much damage. I'll keep you up to date. If we lose power I'll just blog from my phone!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Bowl of Strawberries Done
As the post title above says, the bowl of strawberries is done! This, along with the tomato block, was one of the hardest, mainly because of the leaves. Those concave seams are a killer! Not impossible though, and incredibly satisfying when done. 
Now that the strawberries are done, it's time to get this top put together. This however, will require a sewing machine, and that requires electricity, which might be in short supply with hurricane Irene set to hit our town on Sunday. I better get some more hand work prepared...stay tuned!
Now that the strawberries are done, it's time to get this top put together. This however, will require a sewing machine, and that requires electricity, which might be in short supply with hurricane Irene set to hit our town on Sunday. I better get some more hand work prepared...stay tuned!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Strawberries
I am FINALLY working on the last block for my fruit and vege quilt, the strawberries. There's not much to see right now as when you applique, you work from the back to the front, but this is the progress so far...
There will be another row of strawberries and then the bowl. The dark blue is the shadow of the back of the bowl.
Tomorrow I will hopefully get the rest of the strawberries done, then the bowl. I will then be ready to get this quilt put together!
Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts on yesterday's post - my eye is SO much better today! I went to an Instacare last night as it felt like my cornea was scratched and I couldn't function - it was so sore! But after dye and a black light, the doctor said there was no scratch, and he suspected that a stye was forming under the eyelid. I was told I wasn't allowed to wear my contacts until it got better. I wasn't happy about that, as I only wear my glasses in bed to watch TV, and walking/driving in them is near impossible - I have no depth perception in them at all! I was prescribed an antibiotic, and lo and behold, I woke up this morning with no pain at all! Disaster averted! Now that I can see again, the quilting can continue!
Tomorrow I will hopefully get the rest of the strawberries done, then the bowl. I will then be ready to get this quilt put together!
Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts on yesterday's post - my eye is SO much better today! I went to an Instacare last night as it felt like my cornea was scratched and I couldn't function - it was so sore! But after dye and a black light, the doctor said there was no scratch, and he suspected that a stye was forming under the eyelid. I was told I wasn't allowed to wear my contacts until it got better. I wasn't happy about that, as I only wear my glasses in bed to watch TV, and walking/driving in them is near impossible - I have no depth perception in them at all! I was prescribed an antibiotic, and lo and behold, I woke up this morning with no pain at all! Disaster averted! Now that I can see again, the quilting can continue!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Running Out the Door...
...I don't have long, we are unexpectedly off to the drive-in movies and I realized as we were about to leave that I won't be back before midnight to do my blog, so here I am! All I want to show you is that these....
Make this....
Which tastes exactly like movie theater popcorn, and is what we're taking to the drive-in! No $6 bag of popcorn for us. Ours costs pennies and is every bit as delicious!
Make this....
Which tastes exactly like movie theater popcorn, and is what we're taking to the drive-in! No $6 bag of popcorn for us. Ours costs pennies and is every bit as delicious!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Basted
Today I cut and sewed on the borders for the mini quilt I started while on vacation in Utah. I then layered and basted it so now it's ready for quilting.
Sadly, or fortunately, I removed the stitching I had done on one of the flowers...
Don't worry, I'm going to put the stitching back in, but I thought it would be better to make the decorative stitching the quilting stitch, thereby killing two birds with one stone! I'd take out the stitches on the red leaves too but geesh that took a long time!
Sadly, or fortunately, I removed the stitching I had done on one of the flowers...
Don't worry, I'm going to put the stitching back in, but I thought it would be better to make the decorative stitching the quilting stitch, thereby killing two birds with one stone! I'd take out the stitches on the red leaves too but geesh that took a long time!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Seen-It-Sunday
I was asked in my last Seen-It-Sunday post where I get the ideas from. Two places - firstly, Pinterest. It is just absolutely fabulous! Run, don't walk, and get yourself a free account. It's like a virtual pinboard with thousands upon thousands of fabulous images, pinned there by regular people like you and I. Here's a screenshot of mine...
Secondly, I find things in blogland. I am subscribed to a ton of blogs and when I see something I like, I usually pin it on Pinterest, as that way I am linked back to where it originally came from and can find it again for your viewing pleasure!
And on with the show. No theme tonight, just random items I saw and liked.
First up, I am loving this improv quilt, as seen on Pink Chalk Fabrics.
I'm a huge fan of improv quilting, and contrary to some chatter in blogland as of late, I don't consider it to be the dumbing down of quilting. I need to concentrate harder when I make something improv style than with a traditionally pieced block. The genius part of this quilt? The little pops of mustard. They are subtle, yet unexpected with the color palette, which is what brings it to life.
Secondly, I loving this magnet board...
Wouldn't it be fabulous in your craft/sewing/quilting room? Or even your kitchen. LOVE it!
Instructions HERE.
And thirdly, I'm loving the look of these Hobo Eclairs...
I haven't made them yet, but next time we do a firepit, they're on the list! Instructions HERE.
We have one more week of summer fun around here until the kids go back to school. Fun Fun Fun!
Secondly, I find things in blogland. I am subscribed to a ton of blogs and when I see something I like, I usually pin it on Pinterest, as that way I am linked back to where it originally came from and can find it again for your viewing pleasure!
And on with the show. No theme tonight, just random items I saw and liked.
First up, I am loving this improv quilt, as seen on Pink Chalk Fabrics.
Secondly, I loving this magnet board...
Instructions HERE.
And thirdly, I'm loving the look of these Hobo Eclairs...
We have one more week of summer fun around here until the kids go back to school. Fun Fun Fun!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
More Fabric Storage
I think I really got the fabric organizing bug yesterday, so today back to Home Depot I went to get two more plastic carts for my older fabrics!
When I say older fabrics, I mean fabrics from my stash that I barely use. They are mostly from the years 2000-2006, and while I once loved them, they're not my go-to fabrics anymore. However, I still find myself using them now and then when I need a certain something and nothing from my 'new' fabric stash will work.
They were a mes! Half of it was stuffed into these green fabric totes and boxes, and not organized at all...
And the other half was just hanging out on some shelves in another room...
Now the space on the shelves looks like this...(those two totes are holding the batiks that I found! Woo Hoo!)
And the green totes look like this...
And my new "old" fabric stash looks like this...
It's all sorted into colors and neatly put away. This has been years in the making and in the end it took me all of 2 hours. Go figure.
Yay for organization!
When I say older fabrics, I mean fabrics from my stash that I barely use. They are mostly from the years 2000-2006, and while I once loved them, they're not my go-to fabrics anymore. However, I still find myself using them now and then when I need a certain something and nothing from my 'new' fabric stash will work.
They were a mes! Half of it was stuffed into these green fabric totes and boxes, and not organized at all...
And the other half was just hanging out on some shelves in another room...
Now the space on the shelves looks like this...(those two totes are holding the batiks that I found! Woo Hoo!)
And the green totes look like this...
And my new "old" fabric stash looks like this...
Yay for organization!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Fabric Storage
I have been fast running out of places to store my current, what-I'm-working-with-fabric stash. (There are masses of other fabrics in boxes but we'll talk about that another day!) I have been using some plastic carts stacked on top of each other, right next to my machine where I need them to be. 
They worked great, and I was able to have everything sorted by color. I had regular prints on the top half and polka dots on the bottom half. Yes I have a lot of polka dots :)
The problem was that some colors just didn't fit into skinny drawers, specifically the greens and blues, so today I was a woman on a mission. I wanted to find a tall skinny bookcase - skinny to fit in the space, and tall so I could fit more on it. Oh and it had to be affordable! I went all over creation to 5 different places but no luck! Finally I stopped in at the Home Depot 2 mins from my house and there was the solution. Plastic carts again, but with the fat drawers instead of the skinny ones! Perfect - lots of space, tall when stacked on top of each other, and best of all, at 12 bucks each, affordable!
Now I have the polka dots in with the regular prints, all by color of course, and there is more than enough room.
Greens...
Blues...
Pinks...
Yellow/Purples...
Red/Oranges...
Brown/Black&White/Neutrals...
Why have I been fighting to shove things in the skinny drawers for so long when the answer was just 2 minutes away?!
They worked great, and I was able to have everything sorted by color. I had regular prints on the top half and polka dots on the bottom half. Yes I have a lot of polka dots :)
The problem was that some colors just didn't fit into skinny drawers, specifically the greens and blues, so today I was a woman on a mission. I wanted to find a tall skinny bookcase - skinny to fit in the space, and tall so I could fit more on it. Oh and it had to be affordable! I went all over creation to 5 different places but no luck! Finally I stopped in at the Home Depot 2 mins from my house and there was the solution. Plastic carts again, but with the fat drawers instead of the skinny ones! Perfect - lots of space, tall when stacked on top of each other, and best of all, at 12 bucks each, affordable!
Now I have the polka dots in with the regular prints, all by color of course, and there is more than enough room.
Greens...
Blues...
Pinks...
Yellow/Purples...
Red/Oranges...
Brown/Black&White/Neutrals...
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