Can't believe I won! Thanks Sara!

I never win anything, so I can't believe that I actually won this adorable Kidlet from Sara at the Plaid Post. Thank you so much!! Little J took to it immediately and claimed it as her own; and, of course, decided the thing to do was to put her doggie inside and then to hit her brother with it. Make sense to me.

So far this is beginning to help. Cause, see, my kids think that the floor is the place all things are stored. Sigh. So, hopefully this will help. And did you notice a little something sitting on top of the fabric? Yep, turns out that this little extra that Jacquie sent me is sorta always with me when I sew. I use to have the ubiquitous tomato, but seriously, how much more fun is this?? Amazing how many talented, and generous, women there are out there. And how luck am I to have met a few!
On a sadder, and more frustrating note, I attempted the binding on the Dolphins quilt. Sigh. There is a reason I always do french seams ya know.

Needless to say I'm taking it all off and redoing it. I decided to add an orange binding and then to add the dolphins binding on over the top. The effect should be a peeper effect, but with the strength of the orange to hold it all together. Cause I forced it! The dolphins print is really too small for what I demanded it do, and to be totally honest, ahem, the quilt isn't totally square. So, yeah. Again, I'm gonna take it apart, square it, add the orange then the dolphins. Wish me luck!

And to Gramps, Liz and Cherri, I haven't forgotten about the pay-it-forward! Promise:) I have all the gear for everything; one is stitched and ready for pressing and finishing, one is sitting waiting to be cut, and the other just needs a sunny day. Hah, that should confuse ya:)

Well, haven't gotten too much done lately, especially anything of interest. I've been trying to get the quilting done on the dolphins quilt from clear back in March. Heh:) Can you believe I'm still doing the quilting? Though, I cut myself some slack as I had to pull most of it out when I realized I'd let the back pucker. Oh well, I'm getting there! And as I'm only just echo quilting, and at this point wouldn't be horribly interesting to see. Um, even though I'm telling you about it.

::cough::

Alrighty then! So, I figured I'd mention this piece:

It's actually one I started, oh, about 6 years ago and never got around to finishing. It's a running stitch embroidery of Santa, with a scrappy border. I had almost no idea what I was doing, but just kinda threw myself into it. The pattern and idea came out of a Gooseberry patch Christmas book I had found. I'm actually really happy with it, and when I dig it out to finish it I was pretty pleased with how well I did do.

And now for something completely different. Well, maybe completely is an overstatement! But still...

This little quilt top is for the firemen:

Seriously. There are times that they need to comfort kids and a quilt like this makes that job that much easier.

The only thing I don't like is that I managed to not get the yellows and reds staggered. I wish that it wasn't so defined left and right by colors, but I'm not sure I'm willing to take it apart, no matter how simple the seaming is. I've already taken it apart once, and I'm not sure if twice isn't asking too much:) But it's cute, and I like it, it's happy that's for sure.

So, that's me for now, finishing this as I go, finishing the quilting on the dolphins quilt, putting borders on the rainbow quilt. And thinking about all the other quilts I want to do as well. Seriously, when can I get to clone myself??

My enviable Fabric situation, and My own little Dork Fish

So, you want to know why my fabric situation is enviable? Well, here's the reason.

$5 a yard fabric. Yep, $5.
And this? This is a local shop, that's $1 a yard. Not. Kidding.

The beauty of this shop? It's all on rolls, big huge heavy rolls, and 2/3 of the fabric here is Robert Kaufman! Now, only anbout 1/4 of their stuff is quilter cotton, but digging through the rolls can provide some real finds.

Okay. Now for the Dork Fish part of our day. Ahem. This is not for the squimish. Well, it's not horrible, but it ain't pretty, either!

Ready?

Eww.

Yep.

Just look at it.

See, this is what happens when you stop yourself with your face! He was less than impressed.

Quilts for the Troops

Soldier's Angels:

I am a military woman. I served for 4 years, active duty Air Force, getting out as I was done to have my children. My husband is active duty, my Grandfather was active duty Army, my father was active duty Army, my uncle was actively duty Army (and was killed in Iraq); the list of family members is long and proud. It is in my blood, and in my heart. So when I heard of an organization that makes quilts for wounded soldiers, how could I not help?!? Last year I bought fabric for Soldier's Angels and, to my utter dismay and shame, never got the quilts done. So this year I am setting a goal for myself: 3 quilts done by the end of the year. The first quilt will be for Blankets of Belief because they need to be send in by November, and the other two as I finish the first.


Alright, a little more background then.


Blankets of Hope:

When injured troops need major medical attention they are airlifted to an Army hospital in Germany. Directly. This means that they have none of their personal affects, no change of clothes, no toothbrush, no deodorants, nothing. Soldier's Angels sets up backpacks that have needed supplies (like toothbrushes) and comfort type items (like a change of clothes); they also include something personal: a handmade quilt. The quilts are made and donated to be include in the packs and given to the soldiers once they come out of surgery. One can only image what how difficult it must be to be in a hospital, have nothing of your own, to be wounded, and to be alone. What kind of comfort it must be to hold in your hands the loving work of someone, done just for them, to have something of their own. I truly believe this is an honorable thing the Angels do.


Blanket's of Belief:

Many men and women are deployed through the holiday season, and many have been more than once. Being deployed during Christmas can be a very lonely thing; you miss out on the celebration, the sense of peace the season brings, being with family, all those things that yearly remind us of home, of family and of our history. Soldier's Angels collects patriotic themed quilts and sends them to the deployed troops during the holiday season as a way to let them know they are not alone, that what they are fighting for is important, and that they are remembered. A handmade quilt, to a lonely soldier, can be a moving thing.


Soldier's Angel also gives you a change to adopt a soldier, to be able to send a troop and his comrades care packages and letters, and to help make a lonely soldiers life a little more sweet.

If you are interested in this kind of charity work I've included the links. This really is an honorable charity, and an honorable thing to do. Thanks for your time all, I appreciate you listening:)

More french seams, and the great scissors incident

Since my kids go to day care they take a lightweight blanket with them. Normally they have one. And I, ahem, generally remember to wash it over the weekend. Right, 'course I do. So when we were in Utah we stopped at this great little quilt shop I always go in (as they have a great selection of sweet fabrics). They certainly didn't let us down (they never do), we found tons of really cute flannels! (As well as some great fat quarters, but more on them another time.) My kids are very male-female. Little J found, and jumped for joy over, Strawberry Shortcake fabric, and Little B finally decided between the sports and the firemen. (Sports took the day:) I finally managed to sit down and get them put together. 'Cause, you know, we've been home a month. And this is what came of the day:
Now, if you look closely at Little B's quilt you'll notice an odd spot... On the edge of the front... By the soccer ball... Ending about where the basketball is. Yep it's this:

I had walked out of the room for a moment... When I walked back into the room my precious (sigh) two year old was practicing his cutting skills with my scissors and his blanket. Grr. But, at least it was his and not his sisters! And, really, this 3 inches of zigzag just adds to the story, right?


These are easy little blankets, just two single yard pieces of fabric, pillowcase seam, turned, over stitched (this time, no decorative stitching:). Simple, cute, easy! Yea me:) I also managed to get a few pillowcases done for Little J for, well, her pillow. Heh. Anyway, I am happy to be back at my sewing machine, and seeming to be getting things done.



Speaking of which, I could use a few opinions. I grabbed a charm pack that I really liked and quickly pieced it. It now looks like this:

Which I really like. I have a thing about rainbows, just ask Mom to get out the photo albums that have my childhood bedroom! Anywho. The thing is, right there in the middle there's, well, there's an issue. See the light green, dark green, light blue square run above the light green, dark green, dark blue run in the middle? Notice all three are the same pattern? And notice that both spots on both rows that are this way?? You might not be able to see it well in this photo, I may have to tweak it a little to see it... But in person it seems to be glaring. Squiggle, squiggle, squiggle... Swirl, swirl, swirl. So, the question is: am I the only one who can see it? And if I'm not, does it really matter? Should I pull it all apart and fix it? Anyone? To shamelessly steal a line from a really great bloggin' lady,

::tap tap:: "Is this thing on?"

Ice Cream Social Frock Giveaway!!!!

Kathleen has done it again... Giving away a sweet dress! And, as she seems intent on continuing, you'll be seein links here often! So, here is this gorgeous Ice Cream Social Frock Giveaway!!!!

:::fingers crossed:::

the 4th

Happy 4th of July! Since the Hubby is working, I braved the parade alone:

Turns out the the Hubby managed to get a half day off so we will be heading to fireworks this evening! Whoo-hoo! First fireworks since '05!

And I got some quilting done! This is a big deal, as the last thing my poor little sewing machine tackled was the first of June! And here it is:

HOWEVER! It's a cheater:) It's a piece of pre-pieced cloth, off the bolt. It's pieced, just not by me:) All I did was add a backing (didn't worry about batting for a summer quilt) and did a french seam. You know me and my french seams!

Here's the seaming done in a sorta star decorative stitch. I'm rather happy with it, it makes me happy!

Here's to hoping you all have a wonderful day!