dresses

It's kinda sad that in a matter of two generations we have gone from a society where women took pride in their sewing skills, and often made most of the families clothing, to a society where other women are shocked when I make quilts and jackets for my kids. It's amazing to them that such things are possible! Though, I do understand where they are coming from.

I only picked up sewing as an adult, really not until after I got married. It suddenly became important to me to feel like a woman and a mother and that, for me, meant being able to sew. This last Christmas I took the handmade challenge for my children (my husband is a pain to make stuff for), and I not ony had a ton of fun, but the kids liked the stuff I made just as much as a store-bought toy. Bonus: no lead paint!

On that note, here is the jacket I made (that has other mom's shocked that making a jacket is possible):

My daughter has turned very girly, as of late, and refuses to wear pants. It MUST be a dress! Fortunately I was still able to find some heavier weight leggings so she doesn't freeze. These are on my to do list for this week:

I doubt very much that I will get all these done, but it's at least on the list. I also have a really pretty purple cotton knit for a few new sets of jammies.

Oh, and I got all the quilting on my Dolphins quilt pulled out, so I'm gonna be working on that as well.

Ah, yeah, and I have a big Anatomy test Tuesday and a History test Wednesday. Should be an interesting week!

Random acts of kindness

There are a few quilting / crafty blog where I lurk and I've started to see this linking up of women to spread kindness and smiles. I saw a great opportunity to join in and I couldn't resist!

Random Acts of Kindness

The rules are that the first three people to join the challenge on my blog will receive a gift handmade by me. I will have 365 days to make and send your gift. It might take me just that long! Hopefully not, but you all know how fast I don't do projects!. You must then do a post on your blog inviting 3 more people to join in and receive a handmade gift from you.

Now, I know most of my readers aren't the blogging, crafty type, so I think we'll have to take a few liberties in how we pay it forward. If you're interested shoot me a comment, and if you don't have a blog we can brainstorm to think of another way to pay it forward:)

A little background

The trail begins back far enough that I can't find the originator... Which I think is really cool! This has touched many and I'm very excited to be a part of it. I got my chance to jump in at Tallgrass Prairie Studio. She is an amazing quilter and seems like the type of woman that I'd love to be friends with. This is a chance for me to not only do something positive in my own life, but to be able to connect with people out there in the "world":)

A quilt day!

So, this is my March quilt. I'm really happy with the way the colors play together, and how the pattern worked. Though it hasn't come without a few issues. First it was only half a quilt, cause apparently I suck at math, and now the quilting... I'm quilting a 1/4 inch inside the Dolphins block, which looks good, but then I flipped it over to check the back and realized that the backing shifted creating an inch worth of pucker that I managed to stitch over! Gah! So. Now I have to pull all the quilting out and start over. Sigh:)
This fabric is my stash for my Daughters quilt, and I just love it!! She turns 4 in June and so this is my quilt project for either May or June, depending on what I get done when!
And one for my son! I couldn't resist this puppy print, and the blues to go with it are so fun. I looked at browns as accents, but they seemed to compete where the blue just blends. Can't wait to get to this one!

Quilt!

In January I decided to throw myself into my quilting, and try to get past some of my intimidation issues. Yes, that's right, my quilts intimidate me! (I've yet to do a border:) So, I figured if I plan to make a quilt a month I would start to feel more comfortable with quilting and have fun to boot! This is my first quilt for the year; I did it in February, about 2 days before Valentine's day. This isn't my first quilt, but it is the first traditionally pieced quilt in over a decade. Yea for me:) I am rather happy with it, and I learned a bit while doing it... Thing like my foot isn't a 1/4 inch, which is good to know! I'm hustling on my March quilt, I'm in the process of quilting it. That being said, however, and I have to admit that I put it down for about 2 weeks cause it's fighting me. My idea with my personal challenge was to learn, to have a goal, but to have fun with it.

So, as I do more I'll upload more! And this is a great place to keep track of this... Double cool!

Thank you, Mr. Lewis

So, who in the heck is Mr. Lewis and why am I thanking him?

Good question!

Mr. Lewis a history teacher at the CC I'm attending. And he is FABULOUS! As a conservative I hold certain views as truths, Mr. Lewis has given me an incredible body of historical information to enlighten me as to why my truths are, indeed, truths.

To say it shortly: he reads a lot and he is really good at explaining stuff.

Some of what he talked about has really stuck with me and caused me to think (yes, it hurts some, but I press through). I've had what are called thoughts, and these thoughts have led to what are referred to as ideas. Some of these ideas I may force you to read at some point in the future. Needless to say, though, if I think enough of a teacher to A) remember them, B) read stuff that isn't required of them C) ask them for personal advice, and D) actually take multiple classes from them just to get to listen to lecture, you know they are good.

He has taught me about the Natural Rights theory and Natural Rights law; he has introduced me to men such as John Locke and Edmund Burke (though why I kept confusing an Irish writer and the American VP (Aaron Burr) that was shot I don't know. Sometimes my brain is more convinced of it's greatness than is reasonable!). He has also told me about Voltaire and Rousseau... Rousseau especially, and his initiation of the Western World into liberalism.

I've gained an understanding, albeit a small one thus far, of the above concepts and how they have shaped our modern world. I now understand more why the idea of the modern American "Separation of Church and State" is ludicrous, and why the welfare state is idiotic.

Now, with all that said, let me make a point: Mr. Lewis is about ideas. He brings to the student historical information and attempts to form it to give the students an idea of the theories of the time and the men of which we are speaking. He acknowledges that each person is responsible for their own beliefs and understandings; his goal is to present the information in such a manner that we can form our own ideas. My ideas have simply been more firmly ground in factual background information.

And he's pretty funny to boot. And did I mention he's from Texas?

So, thank you Mr. Lewis, for a whole new obsession in my life that I must follow, books I must now own, and ideas I must inform people of. I'm sure they all thank you, too.

my blog bubble!

Well, I'm finally gonna do my own blog. This is mostly for my friends and family, especially those that aren't hip with the whole MySpace thing. As that's where I blogged before, this will give me a way to talk to the rest of my people.

What do I intend to write about?

What ever I feel like! Hah! This is my blog, I can do what I want with it:) But, seriously, I'll probably do some quilt/craft stuff, a few updates of the kids, random ramblings of my own (such as Rob and I getting new bikes!), and the like. Anyone not okay with that can just piss off!

Serpentine!

Oh, and I might be random at times. Just go with it.