Sew Bee It

Halloween costumes

2011-11-09T10:20:00.000-08:00

Last year I didn't make costumes as they wanted to be superheroes and I wasn't up to all that. Especially as B wanted to be Captain America. Thanks, but I ain't sewing that:) This year, however, was much easier. J wanted to be a Barbie Three Musketeers character from one of her movies, which included a ball gown, cape, mask and sword. Done! B was a medieval soldier. For both costumes we picked up bits and pieces from here and there during our travels. Her sword, his shield and his helmet came from parts of France, and his sword was from Germany. Her mask we bought in Venice, and his collar is from his dad's old stuff. The tabard and dress were made be me. Fun times, and they have cool souvenirs!

(Forgive little B's face, I felt more comfortable adding an odd mask to the ensemble than just posting his face. )

I had a pattern for a dress I loved, but it was too small. I had a pattern that was the right size, but not really the right dress. Shockingly, I mixed the two and came up with something that worked fairly well. I learned a lot about dress construction from the process, that's for sure!

She really wanted a cape, and I wasn't sure how to add one. I didn't want to tie it around her neck, you would have lost the ball gown effect of the dress. This was my idea, I added a few diamond looking buttons to the back, and added holes to the cape. Removable, cute, and still fancy, DONE!

B's was fairly easy, just a basic tunic. I was going to leave the sides open, but he wanted actual sleeves. Fortunately I hadn't narrowed the sides yet and had plenty of room.

For her belt I actually stitched on the ribbon. I didn't want it sliding up, and so this worked best. I left a section not stitched down so we could tighten it slightly and tie a big bow. I added this bit of ribbon so she could carry her sword and not have the hook look weird on the dress. All in all I think it worked out well! I added a slip skirt underneath that had a ruffle to both bulk up the skirt and to add the contrasting ruffle. Fortunately I'd already made one! Came in handy.

They were both really happy with their costumes, and they were both awfully cute in them. I'm glad I took the time to make them, as I am every year I get the chance. It's a bit of work, but I love the fact that they get what they want, and they get to be unique. It's a joy for me!

2011-10-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

Halloween is Jaina's favorite time of year, so she asks that we do serious decorating. I put halloween fabrics over the existing canvases to make it more festive.

Our pumpkin section. Though they've reclaimed the cups, so I lost those!

Again, fabric over canvas. Simple, easy. The spiders are paper spiders that I just stuck in the corner, one from each kid.

Wood paitings I did back in the day, like a decade ago. They are still cute though!

Mom's handy work around the house, too. Made, oh, 25 years ago? Still kickin'!

One of Jaina's walls. She's been adding to this one, and to another. I'll update those later:)

So this was the first draft. Franky in the doorway, Halloween quilt on the couch, canvases covered in fabrics, and family crafting spread through the house. It's cheery and fun, and it made the girl happy, which is really what I care about!

Moving from Hungary

2011-09-20T04:11:00.000-07:00

*note: this post is almost entirely self-serving. It has nothing to do with quilts or decorating, and everything to do with me leaving Europe. As I've closed comments, this is more about me saying goodbye than it is anything else. Though, you might enjoy the sights anyway!

I'm kinda nervous about leaving, we've been here going on 3 years and it seems odd to think we won't be here any longer. I'm not one of those that made great Hungarian friends (heck, I didn't make good American friends here!) and I didn't see every inch of the country, and yet it still seems like this is home. Sorta. It's been home long enough to feel safe and comfortable. Regardless of the language barrier it was still a barrier I understood and became equipped to deal with. We are headed to a place almost as equally strange to me: Florida. I'm a Cali girl, with family in Utah. I'm use to that world, and the idea of being so far from them and in a new state is nerve wracking. Though, for all of that, I'm so excited to be heading home. To a country where I can go into have a vehicle inspection done and not need to spend 10 minutes waiting for them to find someone who speaks english, and spend another 10 minutes with them on the phone with my interpreter trying to figure out that, yes, I do have an appointment, and yes, it's just for a routine inspection. Sheesh, that I won't miss. I'm also looking forward to being in a place with gymnastics, t-ball, football, ballet, and scouts for my kids. I'm looking forward to being able to tell the cashier that I forgot something, and that I'll be right back. I'm looking forward to being able to go to a movie, or to a mall and find clothes made for women that aren't way short and skinny (I'm neither:) I'm also looking forward to going into a store in October and seeing decorations. I'm looking forward to having all the stores closed on the 4th Thursday in November. I'm looking forward to Christmas specials on TV, and stores bustling with activity. I'm looking forward to not having to stay up till 2 in the morning trying to watch a football game. I'm looking forward to home. The sights, the sounds, the ideas, the attitudes. Culture is very important, and for me, I've been gone from my culture for long enough. This is our 2nd time overseas, and I would go overseas again, but we need to be home for a while. With that, I'll leave a few pics of the places we went while we were here. Well, as I only have the last few months on my hard-drive, I'll just put photos from this summer. Pics here don't include: Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna, Berlin, Holland, Lake Bled in Slovenia, etc, or the local area. However, here is what we did over our summer vacation (er... NOT in order)

Croatia: the view from our apartment in Zadar.

Germany: The alps, seen in from the steps of our rustic cabin. Been here summer and winter, both magical.

Italy: the hillside in Verona. In there is the Roman era theatre.

Italy: Castello Scaligero, on the coast of Lake Garda

France: Sandcastles on the French Rivera, on one of the beaches taken by the allies during WWII

France: Carcasonne, full medieval fortress. You can still go in and shop modern shops in ancient stalls.

France: the sunflower fields stretched for miles and miles.

France: Normandy beaches (this is Utah beach, but we also went to Omaha)

France: American Cemetery at Normandy.

France: Paris. Second time. This time we were 10 years older, married, and with our children.

Belgium and Luxembourg: we had little time, but we got the chance to see them both.

Croatia: Plitvice lakes. Top 10 waterfalls in the world, and for very good reasons.

Slovenia: Castle Predjama. Built into the cave system behind it, perched on the hillside. AMAZING.

Italy: Venice. Second time, first time I hated it, this time rocked.

Greece: Corfu water is an amazing color.

Greece: Santorini. Didn't meet any French archeologist, but did enjoy the fabulous black sand beach.

Greece: Athens, the Parthenon. I'm a history major, and I was stoked to be there, to put it mildly.

Montenegro: Kotor. Medieval city, amazing architecture. The fortifications climb the entire hill side.

Croatia: Split, Diocletian's Palace. Late Roman Emperor, this was his retirement house.

Slovenia: country side on the way to Castle Predjama and Postojna caves.

We had an amazing three years here. I guess this is my way of saying goodbye.

For Mom and Grandma

2011-08-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

I'm not so much starting this back up as I'm just adding stuff to make it easier for my Mom and Grandma to see it! I've closed comments, so don't feel like you need to comment. No one every did, but now I feel like you can't and that's better for my ego then won't. Heh, anyway. Here's pictures of the house. Enjoy!

So, this is the first way I did the canvases over the table. Didn't like the one on the right so I redid it. And you can see the quilt top that I haven't finished laying over the back of the couch.
This was my fix to the canvases. Now I really like 'em! And the one on the right has a bit of yellow in it like my walls do. Like I planned it or something:)
Curtains! They make so much of a difference! Though I never got the ones done for over the patio door, and as I'm leaving in about 3 months it ain't gonna happen for this house.
Couch flat against the back wall, love seat pulled out at an angle. Works so much better then it did before. I had intended to put all the family photos up over the couch with a clock, but it didn't happen. Now all the photos are packed up and ready to move!
I ended up just using the charm pack for the middle since I loved the toile so much and since it still worked so well. I haven't actually finished the middle one yet, I will admit, but it still works. One of these days I'll actually add a border and nail it down.

I love the bubble fabric over the TV! This looks different now, though, because I got an actual tv stand and moved the green cabinet elsewhere. I'll have to take a new picture and put it up later.

Well, that's how I got the house looking. I'm loving the blue and brown. I'm really happy with how it all came together!

Endings

2010-05-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry this post has been so long in the writing. I think many of the readers of this little space have gotten the idea that I'm not really, er, posting and all. And as it's a blog a lack of posting seems silly. It had gotten to the point that I really only update with Mom's quilts as I've only finished one quilt in the last year. I've done some tops, but that's not quite the same thing. At this point I don't really have anything to tell anyone anymore. I can only show you so many of Mom's before even that runs out. At first I thought blogging would keep me motivated to sew but I've not been quilting much and I feel bad that there isn't anything to post. Because I feel like I should be updating I start to feel guilty that I'm not and that isn't what this is suppose to be about.

So, with all that said, I'm gonna end this blog. It was a tough choice and I dreaded actually making it fact, but the truth is that I'm just not going to be updating any time soon and it's better to actually say good bye then to just let it fade away.

Thank you all, so very much, that have stuck around and read this little piece of my world. It has meant a great deal to me that you all care enough to stop by. I just wish I had more to give!

Jenn

Momma's Valentines quilt

2010-02-28T03:16:00.001-08:00

Mom bought these cute Valentine prints a few years ago now and this is the second incarnation of blocks for her! The first time round they just didn't speak to her, so into the closet they went! This time when she pulled them out she knew exactly what she wanted to do with them. And it's so cute!! Dad says that Little J is going to claim this when we go home next time and I think he's right. Mom said that was fine, it could be her quilt while at Mom's house! Hah! I think Mom likes it too:) I think it's fab, can't wait to see it in person!

And I seriously love that stripe for the binding, too cute.

Some of Momma's stuff

2010-02-19T05:44:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm working on some stuff (amazingly) but haven't finished anything (not amazingly) so I thought that I'd show the 4 of you that aren't family a few quilts Mom has done. I'm a bad daughter, I didn't even ask or anything! Shame on me. But I'm still gonna share cause they are too cute not too!

So, this is my kids room at my parent's secondary home. The ceiling has an orange in the pattern (circa 1960's ceiling tiles!), my Aunt made a joke about doing the room orange, and well, here you go! Mom ran with the idea and they are sooooo cute! It's totally not Mom, but they are a fun combo and are darling together.

More white for The Girl, more orange for The Boy:) She made the shams to go with it, and matching note boards above the beds. I'm pretty sure she is envisioning a place to store all the artwork the kids create and right now they have a picture of their respective child on them.

I have to admit that I wasn't huge on borders till these quilts. I think they ended up being my favorite part!

This next one was made to live at the house of Mom and Dad's good friend that is gonna be a Grandma soon.

This is Amy Schimler from the Animal Party line.

At first she wasn't going to use a dog print cause Alice works Animal Control and is seriously a dog and animal lover; she thought it might be cliche! But, seriously, who can resist Amy Schimler?? And she added more cute borders. Seriously, she is winning me over the this border thing!

So, yeah, Mom has talent! Like me she has very few of her quilts that live at her house. Most live with someone else. She's always willing to give the gift of a quilt!

I haven't died or left the planet...

2010-02-03T11:08:00.000-08:00

I just haven't had much to show lately. I only had one quilt related finish last year, and I'm shocked to admit that I already have a finish for this year! I figured that since there are a few of you that still amazingly check this little lost space I'd show you. Get ready for a lot of orange... Swirly quilting, still straight line. That's what you get when you quilt with no walking foot, especially with flannel!

The back isn't what I would have picked, but being in Hungary I haven't found a shop that has what we quilt with (read polyester as far as the eye can see), so I dug deep in the stash and found something that mostly worked. And then I pieced the heck out of the orange and bears fabric I had left over to tie it in.

My first pinwheels (which is sad as I adore pinwheels) and I'm happy with about 75% of them. And the rest? Eh, this was made for a very good friend of the family and he a) won't notice seams not matching and b) will be in love with a quilt of his beloved Bears, made just for him by me. He's been asking for one since I did the Dolphins quilt 2 years ago so I'm happy to get this to him. Back then he asked if one had to get cancer to get a quilt (I made the Dolphins quilt for a friend going through Chemo) and I told him that if he ever married his girlfriend I'd make him a quilt. Well, guess what? The wedding is on Saturday, so I made sure to get this done:) I'll admit that I'm happy to be quilting again. I've been away so long!

This is the whole thing, toes included. It's very orange but Steve will love it. This is actually quilt one of two. The other is a baby blanket for a another Steve that's, er, 3 months old now! Gah, well... I'm sure I'll get it done before his first birthday anyway:)

Busy, busy, busy!

2009-12-14T00:35:00.000-08:00

Wow, a month and a half since I last made time to stop by and write! It's been busy here, lots of trips and Christmas stuff; sewing time has been limited to pajama pants and uniform patches!

Since last time I wrote we've done Thanksgiving here at the house for 7, decorated the house, went on a Grownup trip to Rome, and took family trip. We headed through Austria to Munich for one night, up to the north of Germany to an Air Force Base, and finished the trip with a night in Prague. Quite the adventure! The new banner photo is from Munich; it was a beautiful city all dressed up in Christmas lights!

Munich:

(This was on the top of a food vendor, it's an entire second story! You can't really tell but it's probably 10-12 feet tall!)

Prague:

The big cities in this part of the world do Christmas markets, generally starting in mid Novemeber. They are filled with vendors selling ornaments, candies, pottery, you name it they probably have a vendor with it! Hubby was in heaven for the week; he really takes after his Germany heritage and loves nothing more then good sausage! The markets were full of folks with fresh sausage, I had to talk hard to get him to leave:)

The kids are fantasticaly great travelers (generally) and we had a great trip. They were happy, fun and sweet the whole week. Couldn't have asked for a better way to kick of the Christmas season!

Costumes this year!

2009-11-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

I finally got the make the kids costumes! Years previous one thing or another has kept us from making costumes, but this year they were done at home!

Er... Some took more work then others:)

This is Jaina's Dorothy costume "Before". I HATED it and so I tore the straps off, made them smaller and placed in a different spot, and then sewed it all back up.

And actually that was a pain since the straps are sewn into the waist band and top stiched on. But it was much better the second time 'round.

For Brendan I made the hat (I made a hat!!), topstiched on a muslin collar, and added yarn "hay" at the hands and feet. I figured that would be tons more comfortable then actual straw.

Finally the fun part, the patches. Loved that bit!

We used corduroy pants and a fleece pullover as the base and added the elements. It was effective and meant I didn't have to do his from scratch. Whew!

My Mom always made my costumes and I always felt more special for it. It was something that was important to me, even at a young age; so important, in fact, that I've wanted to do it for my own kids. Even though the seam ripper sat at my side, I had a ton of fun.

I have to admit,

I loved the outcome.

And you know what? I think they approved:)

Grosgrain and the Queen of Hearts

2009-10-16T04:50:00.000-07:00

There are those in the world with talent they never discover. And then there are those lucky enough to know exactly what their talent is.

Kathleen is one of those lucky enough to know where her talent lies.

And it lies here:

A-fricken-mazing. Truely. I'm not going to enter beacuse Jaina is set on being Dorothy for Halloween, and it takes 3 weeks for anything to get here by mail! But, still, even if you don't have a little girl think about taking the time to go see her work. It's fantastic!!

Quilt Festival

2009-10-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

I planned on posting this yesterday, but with a sick 3 year old my time was spent cuddling on the couch! I did want to still play along, though, as I have such fun going through all the blogs and seeing all the quilts.

This is one of my favorite quilts, mostly because I figured out the pattern all on my own. I was new to quilting (this was all of a year ago:) and I was so amazed that I was actually able to figure out sizing, cutting, and I got the whole thing together!I did have issues with the binding, and this is actually the second binding to go on this quilt, but I sure learned a lot! It's amazing what you learn with a seam ripper in your hand. It may have taken me forever, but I finally managed to get it into the hands of a good family friend at a time when he needed the reminder of friendship. For me that is what quilting is all about, being able to wrap someone you care about in a physical reminder of love.

Thanks for stopping by!

2009-10-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

Ah, the kids are back in school for about 3 hours a day. They are much better friends now then they were a week ago!

But since we are not keeping them in for lunch the school doesn't provide a morning snack (it's all or none), so we take a bagged snack. And, of course, I had to make a cute bag for each kid! I found a tutorial here, mostly for the dimensions. I didn't really feel like having to figure them out on my own! I'll admit to fussing with the size, and though it worked well, if I make any more I'll make them slightly deeper. What I did works well for a snack but would be too small for a lunch.

I really do love them!

Jaina's is made out of Sandi Hendersons Farmer's Market Vintage Cherries via her rocking Aunt Angie (Thanks Angie!!). Angie sent me several pieces of the line since she knows how much I love it. And look how amazing it looks for this lunch pack!

Brendan's was a stash pull; his only requirement was that it had to have green. He loves green, just ask him, he'll tell ya:)

As for other quilting news, I have to admit that I finally did it, I finally spent a 50% coupon at Joanns.com for batting. I can't really get any here that are what I normally use, and I can't buy one at a time and make it worthwile, so I bought a 45x40 yard bolt of warm and natural. Can't wait till it gets here! I can get back to actually making quilts again once I have batting. What a concept:)

Couldn't help myself

2009-09-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

Er...

Jaina's quilt isn't done being quilted, Brendan's has yet to be basted...

And didn't I say something about finishing my WIPs?

Yeah.

So, instead I cut these! I've collected these fabrics over a bit of time, but they sat as I tried to think of a good quilt design.

I just love them all together! And I finally found a great pattern. It's from AmandaJean, from crazy mom quilts, via Bee Square Blog.

It's a zig zag made from squares and not triangles, brilliant! And I'm in love!

(Please forgive the quality of the photo. I laid it out as a test this evening without my "helpers" that, uh, "help" so much!)

Can't wait to get this all pieced together!!

It's Offical, I Can Sew

2009-09-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

I had thought maybe I'd lost the ability to sew... But no, I have managed to find the ability again! And it's thanks to the fabric bundle my Dear Mother sent me. She sent the pattern and the fabrics, I think, to kick start my lagging quilting life. And, too, to remind me that she loves me:)

I love her too! And here's the little quilt. And notice the hands at the top! They are finally starting to pull their own weight 'round here.I really like this little quilt top. It's small so it went together quickly, and it's the first time I've done a star. It sure was a learning process for me! I only had to rip a few seams:) Basting and quilting this is on the work list for next week.

I also managed to get the borders and the backings done for the kids brick quilts. I'm gonna sit and get those basted tomorrow. Hopefully next week I can get those quilted! Wouldn't that be a nice change. I've decided to just try to get my wips done and actually get to enjoy the tops that I've put together and love so much. It's such a waste to have them sitting in a closet.

Uh, I'll let you know how it goes!

Er....

2009-09-04T04:59:00.001-07:00

I didn't mean to fall off the face of the Earth. I just don't feel like I have anything to talk about. The closest I've come to quilting is buying some fabric and cutting borders for the kids' brick quilts. At this point all I have to share is this:

Between being at my parent's house for 7 weeks, moving houses here in Hungary, and taking the kids out of daycare to stay home with me, I haven't had time for much. We've started eating better, going to bed at 9:30 (seriously!) and doing school work with the kids (Jaina just turned 5, Kindergarten here we come); I feel like life is changing and I'm struggling to keep up with the change. There have been casualties, and my poor quilts are one of those things. My 10 wips will be wips a while longer while the dust settles.

Oh, and it got to be in the 90's here this summer. For some of you that isn't hot... For me, it was horrible! And, needless to say, quilts weren't exactly in my mind!

So, now it's turning to fall, I can feel the change in the air. School has started, and the days are getting shorter; I'm beginning to see my life settling down, at least enough to get Halloween costumes made and Christmas presents started. Life here isn't perfect (it isn't anywhere I've ever found), but I'm happy, and I have my family. I am blessed and am trying to find the little moments to stop and breath.

I thank you for still stopping by in those moments you take for yourself. It means a great deal to me that you think highly enough about my little life to care what happens!

Jenn

Mother's Day Hungarian style

2009-05-02T04:49:00.000-07:00

Today is Mother's Day here in Hungary. I was invited to the kids Preschool/Kindergarten this week to play. The kids all sang songs and the school was nice enough to mix English and Hungarian songs. It was really was quite fun and the kids loved that I was there.

And as with any good kindergarten there were gifts to Mom: Sweet little turds. It's fun to start being on the receiving end of school projects.

So, happy Hungarian Mother's Day to all you Moms out there:)

A Momma's love for Amy's Quilt Show

2009-04-24T02:04:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for good weather to photograph this quilt for Amy's quilt show but it just hasn't cooperated. I finally had no choice but to click away with weird lighting. Oh well, hopefully you still get the idea!

Okay, this isn't "my" quilt, as I didn't make it. It is, however, my favorite quilt because Mom made it for me. When I left for Basic she started it and when I came home on leave for Christmas from my first base she had this for me: I've been very patriotic my whole life and loved it immediately. But wait, wait till you see it close up:

She peiced this folks. Yep, this is the kind of work Momma can do:

Yeah... I still haven't tried my hand at half-square triangles yet.

This quilt is amazing and I love it. I wish we were settled and that I had the right place to display it. This quilt should be seen all the time.

I'd actually use it but I'm terrified I'd ruin it. She even handstiched details like the stars on the outer border.

My Momma, she not only makes fab quilts, she fills them with love. Everytime I take this quilt out I think of her and what she means to me. I think that is the compliment for any quilt, that it is made through love and cherished because of that.

Thanks Momma:)

And now, if you will excuse me, I'll be spending the rest of the day at Amy's wandering through blogs. I wonder how many new links I'll be pasting into my reader today??

Sandi Henderson

2009-04-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

I am in love with Sandi Henderson's Farmers Market fabric. Love, love, love. I bought a bit in the orange and green colors to go into quilts for my mom's house. Then I moved into a house with orange walls. Needless to say, Mom mailed that fabric back to me and this is what I did with some of it:

LOVE IT!

I stretched a bit of Playful Paisley and Petal Party over canvas (actually it was two pushed together to make it big as big as I wanted) and stapled it down with a normal stapler. I, uh, don't have a staple gun and I really wanted to do this project. The thing is that I love this fabric and I wanted to live with it every day. I adore it and I find myself buying chunks of it here and there. So it seemed very natural that I use it as art, I think of it as art after all!

Oh, and did you notice that Medallion Bloom on the widow? Yep, i still have to cut it to size and hem it but it is so going to be the curtain here and in my bathroom.

Did I mention I love Farmers Market??

When I heard Sandi was busy doing another fabric line I literally did a little dance. I can't wait!

My stuff, Blocks and a Challenge

2009-04-15T04:26:00.000-07:00

Well my household goods finally got here last week; this is both good and bad. Good cause it's nice to have my own stuff back, bad because it meant that there has been no time to work on anything sewing related. I did manage to steal time to cut out Little Bs quilt rectangles:

He had been asking to "make" his quilt like Little J had done, so since my cutting mat and rulers had shown up I cut them up for him. Isn't this a cute combo? A little Katie Jumprope and a few others that are escaping me at the moment. Oh well, I'll look it up if anyone just has to know. And I finally got one PIF gift done. Sadly I'm still working on the others. Maybe I will force a little sewing time now that my house is back together and the kids are back at school after their spring break (they take Easter seriously here) and get those all done so I can put them in the mail!

Speaking of finishes I am going to commit to Jaquie's April challenge Spring to Finish. My goals are to get the remaining 2 PIF gifts done and the kids flimsys done. That's only 4 projects. I think I can handle that!

This little girl

2009-04-02T05:15:00.000-07:00

All for the love of this little girl. Neither Heaven nor Hell could stand in my way. Course all that I was fighting was scraps of fabric, but you know, whatever!

So, I did it. I cut into the Darla fabric. It's an bunch of ugly cuts I had to do with just scissor, but it'll get the job done:)

I had Little J "help" me lay out her quilt and she had a ball. I see another quilter in the family in the future! But then I redid it. Heh. And the I saw a few mistakes and redid it again... So... Yeah.

Huh? What?

This was my first layout. I fixed a few things, but you get the idea of how it's gonna look at the end.

Now I need to go buy a 220 Volt iron so I can get this wonky bunch of rows sewed into an actual flimsy. Yea:)

I'm very excited.

And I made a skirt for Little J. I hate it, she loves it, guess who won? Yeah, she wants to wear it all the time now. Trust me when I say I didn't really lose:)
Hope you all have the same kind of love in your life that I have in mine!

PIF, and new fabrics

2009-03-28T00:39:00.000-07:00

Firstly I blogged about part of our trip to Lake Balaton here. Enjoy:)

Okay, so here's the deal... My first year of blogging came and went on the 25th, and my Pay It Forward one year mark passed yesterday (the 27th) and I only have one done. Not mailed, mind you, just finished! So, just being honest with you all, I'm not gonna do much for my one year mark! I'm still trying to figure out how to get the second PIF gift done, and the third will have to wait till my household goods get here (hopefully like the 9th of April) as the supplies got packed up. So, yeah, basically I suck. But at least one is done and will be winging its way to Liz sometime this week.

As far as new sewing goes, I'm running into a problem... How to sew something I can't cut?? I have no mat and no rulers to cut with and though I know that women use to have to cut with mere scissors (the horror!) I'm not very good at getting the cuts straight. Maybe I should do something wonkey, eh? That way straight lines aren't important... Hmmm....

Anyway, I ordered some new fabric for two reasons. First was a new green twin sized quilt for Little J (her quilt from Grandma is a full), and second, well, cause I wanted them! Here they are:

These are Little J's fabrics. Both kids are moving to smaller beds because they are now sharing a room. A room that is very green. Very green. Anyway, this isn't a bad thing, both kids have green in their color schemes, but both quilts are full size and are ending up filthy as they drag the floor. I was surfing Esty (like you do) and I saw this bundle and fell in love:It's Darla by Tanya Whelan (and a little Farmer's Market from Sandi Henderson) and I ordered from Lanie Jane Fabric at Etsy. I love fabric bundles; I'm the type that can't buy one cut of one fabric, I always end up with a bunch of coordinating stuff. So the bundles are a fun way for me to still get a chuck of coordination without have to order a ton of different cuts.

Um. Yeah.

Anyway, I'm thinking a brick quilt like this for her. I still have a pink and green stash coming that was suppose to be for her bed and I want to do a square in a square pattern... This quilt is more because I love the fabrics, and cause I wanna. Just keeping it real folks:)

This is the kids room. Green. That's all I've got to say about that.

Actually I like the green; it changes color through the day depending on the light and talk about a happy color!

The rest of the fabric are not assigned a project as of yet. They could go in J's quilt.... Or I could save them for me:)- Haven't decided yet!

And that, ya'll, is the big update. I'm sure I'll be showing you the updates of the rooms as I go along. Curtains and all that. Mostly for Mom and Grandma, but I'm sure that someone out there will be interested. I think. Maybe? Oh well, I'll still have fun blogging it anyway:)

On the road again!

2009-03-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, I the only sewing sort of experience I've had so far is hacking decorator fabric up for curtains and pinning them to the window and buying more quilting fabric online. Cause, you know, I don't have enough fabric:)

Anyway, we been keeping busy and I thought I would show you with what. But it's after midnight and I'm tired:) Normally I don't mention my other blog cause there's political stuff on there and, you know, whatever. I don't go there here. However, I blogged our recent trip to VENICE on there so I'm gonna link to just that post. That way you can go see it without, you know, seeing the other stuff:)-

So, here it is: Venice

I'll probably be doing this for our trips... That way I only have to blog it once. And I swear I will get sewing. I will... If only I can figure out how to cut into that cute fabric with a rotary cutter, but no rulers or mats... Hmmm.. That was, perhaps, an oversight on my part.

Note to self, for future moves, send rulers and mat with cutter.

Sigh....

2009-03-01T13:43:00.000-08:00

Dear readers:

Did you know that you are still out there?? Yep, just thought I'd share that bit of news with you. I, however, am still reeling at the notion! I wanted to let you know that we got to Hungary safely and soundly, and my sewing machine has as well! I, uh, haven't used it yet, but it's there waiting patiently for me. And i get a sewing room here!! Whoo and Hoo! I'll have to run around taking pictures of the house and the town to share... Though honestly if you want to be impressed with the town I should wait until spring. It's, well, it's dreary right now, to say the least. And interesting as well. There are obvious parts of town that scream Soviet architecture (such as it was) and is a reminder of what this part of the world has lived through. They are a quiet people that keep much to themselves; they have houses surrounded with fences; they have an old town of gray and the new buildings of riotous color. It's an interesting mix, and one that I'm looking forward to seeing more of. They are a personable people when you meet them one on one, but they are a quiet people that mostly keep to themselves.

I think I'll like it here.

So, hopefully I'll get pictures taken and some more stories to share with you all. Till then I'll just tell ya that tomrrow (the 2nd) is the second time I will (ahem) turn 29:)- As I will every year. I'm going to celebrate by oridering a bicycle jacket and some new fabric. Ah, and sharing my day, and my cake, with the three bestest people I could hope for.

Thank you all so much for still being out there. I don't handle rejection well and when I started this blog I had to just throw myself out there and hope for the best. That you all care and are still wandering about waiting for me warms my heart in a way I can't easily explain.

It's good to be back!

Oh, I should edit this to add at least one photo. This is my yard last week. Coming as we did from sunny, and in the 70's, California this was a bit of a change!

2009-01-27T20:29:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry, all, that it has been so long since I've posted. Life has been crazy and that isn't going to change much in the near future. I'll try to post more of what is going on, and a few pictures, some time soon; as of right now I'm sitting in the lobby of the hotel on a public computer... Not so much a great thing for blogging, ya know? Anyway, I wanted to let those of you out there still reading know that I'm surviving, and will be traveling soon. Hopefully (cross your fingers for us will ya?) we will be in Hungary on the 10th of Feb. So, yeah, we'll see!

I'm working on my PIF gifts... Um... Though some of my materials went into my long term shipment (think long slow boat) from California to Italy, then by truck up to Hungary... I'll be writing Cherri and Liz soon... Um, I'm hoping to make that March deadline!!

Well, thanks for sticking with me through this strange time. Hope to see you all soon!!

New online store: Gracie Lou's

2008-12-17T21:00:00.000-08:00

I found a new online store (read new new, not just new to me), Gracie Lou's quilt shoppe, and to celebrate their newness they are doing a giveaway.

There is some seriously good stuff they are giving away! Thing like fat quarter bundles and a completed Bloom quilt!

And they carry some really darling lines; Woodland Bloom, Farmer's Market, a bunch of cute juvenile prints... Really, cute stuff. So head on over, it's worth a look!

A non-quilted project... But at least it was something!

2008-12-17T20:34:00.000-08:00

Well, still not much going on here. Shocked huh? Since my machine is in storage and I've had to borrow Mom's machine to sew (which isn't a problem) I haven't seemed to be, well, in the mood to sew... But I did manage to make a few non-sewing related presents for my in laws and my grandmother.

I suppose I should mention here:

Grammy and Grampy Jordan, and Grandma Linda: if you are reading this and want to be surprised, stop now!

Okay. I don't think they actually read this, but you never know! So, anyway, on to the project!

Like all parents of young children, I have tons of art laying around. I mean really, there is no way I could find uses for all this art! I also like to send a sorta scrapbook to the above mentioned family members since they are far away and don't get to see the kids much; I figured out to use the art as the scrapbook pages. Yep, then they get the art without having to look at it and say, "Aw, neat! Um... What are we suppose to do with it??". So, without too much more rambling, here is it! Well, one anyway... And I'd better get the other in the mail tomorrow, or it isn't gonna be a Christmas present. More of a "It was gonna be a Christmas present, now it's just a present, present." (So much for the lack of rambling!)

Front. Cause, you know, I like to be helpful.

This way I actually got to put the kids art in there with photos from the year. It's a really fun way to show all the highlights for the family.

I even use the bits and pieces that I cut off the bigger sheets, and the small art. Waste not, want Chocolate. Hah! At least in my house:)
So, yeah, a fun gift to make. And I just upload all my pictures to Wal-mart and have them print them. I'm pretty much guaranteed to be there at some point in any given week so it's easy for me. Anyway, that's about it around here right now. I'm gonna try to get to some scarves tonight. They won't be too exciting (no new mouse traps round here) but I'll show ya anyway.... Can't wait, huh??

Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T22:50:00.000-08:00

Well, I know I've been rather quiet round here! We've finally gotten all settled into my parents house while Hubby is away. Though with all that has been going on I haven't, exactly, done much (read any) sewing! With Christmas coming soon I'll be headed to the machine to get some handmade goodies for under the tree. Don't know about quilts, I guess we will have to see! I have a bunch to update, but I'm really here to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving!

For me, Thanksgiving is a day to stop and remember; it is history and family, it is a day to relax and to think back on the year. My family have been movers for our history, we haven't been in the same town for more then two generations, and on a day like this I think back to their travels, their trials, and I wonder how they would see my newest journey. Would they be proud that I am willing to up and move to somewhere new? Would they be surprised I'd leave the place they worked so hard to get? And I wonder about the future of my children. Needless to say, today the future of our world seems uncertain to say the least. As my family was here at the time of the Revolution and the Civil war, I wonder what they would say to me, what advice they would give me, when I look on the horizon and see the clouds gathering.

But more then that I am thankful to live in a prosperous time, in a blessed land, and that I can continue to share the joy that this nation allows with my children.

So, to all of you, American or other, I hope today is filled with joy and family, of happiness and of the promise of the future.

I am alive

2008-10-26T01:09:00.000-07:00

Though, not Frankenstein. Um. You know, the whole it's alive thing... Anyway.

I've been remiss on this little blog, both in not telling you about what's going on and for not blogging in general. Here's the thing. We are moving. Yep, imagine that, a military family is moving! Shocking:) But we are moving to Hungary, which is a little different then moving to Virginia, ya know? I've been packing like a mad woman so we can put our stuff in storage and I've literally touched every item that we as a family own. All of it. Gah. It's shocking how much gunk we were carrying around with us, and it had to go. Like the stinky cheese from 4 months ago that you forgot about in the middle drawer, it was just bad. Bad bad bad. So, now that I am within striking distance from my goal I figured it was time to sit and write.

Now, Hungary. Yep, can't wait! Here's Budapest:

And this is the area we will be in (sorry the pictures are small, can't seem to make em bigger):

We've been overseas before, in England, but this is more of an adventure then that. This is a brand new base, just being set up, in a country with a very challenging language (and only 10% of people speak English). We are both crazy excited and can't wait!

So, that's why I haven't been blogging. No time, and no crafting! And I didn't want to talk about the assignment too early as I didn't want to jinx it! But I hope to be around more... And there is a chance that I'll have actual projects to show soon! Cause I'm moving in with my folks for a few months while the Hubby gets in country and the AF gets everything together. This both means help entertaining the chillins as well as being around someone that inspires quilting! And she has quilting frames! Bonus:) They are actually my Great Grandmother's quilting frames, on which many a quilt was tied. Ah, family, how sweet it is:)

Ruffled Feather and Feet

2008-09-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

Over at Ruffled Feathers, Carrie has a way with knitting needles. I'm horribly keen to win one of her scarflettes and so here are my feet pictures!

Me and the kids. Notice Little J lifting her dress so I can see her Strawberry Shortcake shoes better! And also that the only one without cutely turned toes is me!
And this is me, one of the rare times I'm not in tennis shoes.

Do wander over to see Carrie's great blog, I know you'll love it as much as I do!

But I'm still hoping I win:)

Quilt month: 3

2008-09-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

Well, time to talk stash.

This is my stash.

Heh, pretty huh?? I sorta went overboard with my stash, and, as a military family that moves often, the stash has to be mobile. Which is, of course, not nearly as condusive to quilt making as, say, this is. But, alas, we work with what we have!

I seem to be the type that becomes emotionally attached to my fabric and I wonder if I'm alone. I am the type to horde a fabric I love, afraid to use it because then its gone. AH! I'm estatic to see that I'm learning that fabric is much more satisfying in a quilt then it could ever be stuck in a few bins in my garage! I'm actually getting to the point of being excited to cut into a fabric I love and see it put into a quilt. Hey, progress! Whoo hoo!

The problem is that we are gonna be moving soon and I have to trim down. The thought of getting rid of any of it is difficult; I end up with quilts worth of fabric where I can just see the quilts in there... I see them... lurking!

I love to have fabric, I love to see it, to mess with it, to re-fold it. I actually take joy in figuring out how to fold the fabric just so, so that it fits perfectly in my bins.

Again because of the move I'm not sure of what to do about the amount of fabric I have. I really can't take it all with me. So keep watching and you'll see some fabric give-aways coming here soon.

The other problem is this:

And this:
I had a few holiday projects planned, that I'm obviously not going to need to make this year. It's kind of a sad thing to put away the ideas of the projects I wanted to do. But we have a great advanture awaiting us! I hope to sit down and write a post letting you all in on the adventure, where we are going, what we will be doing. Apparently I have a few things coming soon! Who knew:)

Quilt Month: 2

2008-09-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

Wow! 2 posts in 24 days for quilt month! That just has to be a record or something. Anyway, I figured that now is a good time to introduce you to my first quilt. Please be kind, it was 1996!

It sat at the foot of my bed when I was still at home; we found this great basket at Pier 1 and, amazingly, the quilt fits in there like it was planned!

Yep, that's a biscuit quilt. I told you it was 1996. They were all the rage then, really. I swear I was in style!

I just kinda threw together fabrics; the peach/mint/white strip is a piece of fabric that was curtains when I was 12. Yep, pieces of my past still going strong.

I had fun with this quilt, I still remember working on it Easter day with Charlie Heston's Moses talking in the background.

Though to be honest it isn't finished. Ahem. It still looks like this:

See, this thing is really heavy as is, I've been afraid that if I continue to quilt it it will end up so heavy as to be useless. Though, I suppose, it's useless as is, isn't it! Heh. How bout that. Well, anyway, that was my first. It was my last for a decade, too. Once I jumped on the bandwagon I sorta leapt right back off and it wasn't until last Sept that I started doing quilts again. Apparently that wagon is either really slow in it's turn around or I was way off the beaten track and it took a bit to get back to me.

Next time I think I'll show you all my stash... And try to figure out what to do with it!

Draft....

2008-09-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I started the draft for my first post for quilt month early in the month. When I actually posted it blogger posted it on the day I started the draft. Odd. So if you see Quilt Month: 1 down there, it's actually new, even though it claimes it's, like, 2 weeks old. Eh, what ya gonna do:)

Grosgrain and Kathleen... Does it get any better then her?

2008-09-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

Ah, it's been a while since I've had the chance to put my name in for a great outfit from Kathleen! She's done a few for the little girls, sold one for $150 for Nie-Nie, and I would never put in for one I didn't think Little J would love, it would be too sad for something as wonderful as what she makes to sit in a closet not being worn! But this little outfit is right up her alley. Go, look, adore:)

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2008/09/table-cloth-skirt-and-dinner-party-top.html

Quilt Month: 1

2008-09-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

Well, alrighty then! I've been meaning to write this post for quite some time now, and Mr. Monkeysuit's quilt month is a good reason to do it! Though it's the 17th already. Heh. Ahem. Oh well, better late then never! (That's my thought on getting quilts done as well, if you hadn't noticed:)

So, my issue is with the controversy over tied quilts. This was my quilt from when I was a kid:

Notice it is tied. Which mean, of course, that I grew up with my quilt being a simple one. It was a few yards of cloth, sewn together to make a full sized sheet, backing and batting added, and then tied. It now looks like this:

Why would I save this? Because it was mine. I remember it from my childhood, it has always been around. This wasn't done by my family, but it was done by the women of my Great grandmother's ward, for my mom, 30 years ago. This is literally a piece of my family and community's history, even if not done by family hands. What was done by family though are these:

My son's quilt, pieced, tied...

My daughter's quilt, pieced, tied...

I dare say that it isn't the stitched quilting that makes it a quilt, but rather it is the effort involved, the love that is put in, that makes it a quilt. Mom made both of these, plus others, for my kids.... And yet I am told that they aren't "real" quilts. So lets look at that, shall we?

QUILT: a coverlet for a bed, made of two layers of fabric with some soft substance, as wool or down, between them and stitched in patterns or tufted through all thicknesses in order to prevent the filling from shifting. (Dictionary.com)

Tufting is tying, really, and all "quilting" is are the stitches placed to keep the three layers together. Tying is simply stitching with a greater distance between the stitches then a more traditional stitch. I say traditional because it was once necessary to stitch closely to keep the batting in place. Modern battings have made tying a very viable option for quilting and for me is the preferred method. I have tried machine quilting, and I have to say that I prefer cuddling with a tied quilt. They fluff and become squishy because the batting is allowed freedom to, well, squish.

Really, what it comes down to is semantics and personal preference. Tying is claimed to not be quilting, and I say it is only the distance between stitches that changes peoples views. Well, are we now going to be stitch Nazi's? With tape measure in hand to see if it's "real" quilting? Please read my smile into that statement, but really, think about it. There are those that claim it is only a "real" quilt with "real" quilting if it's done by hand! Well then, tying is more "real" quilting then machine quilting is, as it's done by hand:)-

My point is that to define a craft that is done to share love seems to be a sad way to perpetuate joy. A quilt, 2 layer's of fabric with a batting in between held toghether with stitches, is a physical embodyment, and manifestation, of warmth... Joy... Family... Friends... Home. It is not lightly that I share my quilts with people. And, possibly, why I don't make all that many. Quilting is personal, I've seen it first hand just what a quilt can achieve in the right hands. So, please, don't judge a quilt by the distance between stitches. Judge it based on the love it represents, and the joy it brings.

Politics

2008-09-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

I almost didn't write this post, but I feel compelled for some reason. Tonight I read a crafty blog by a woman who, in essence, accused conservatives of being murderers. Yep. Made the comment that it isn't liberals that assassinate people, it's the conservatives that have the guns. Needless to say I won't be reading her any longer.
My point isn't that she shouldn't say what she believes, it is instead that we each need to understand why we believe what we believe. Does she really believe that conservative kill people? Does she really believe that it is only the right on the political spectrum that have evil among them?? I am shocked at such an allegation.
So, I won't read her. I won't spend my precious free time conversing via blog with someone who is so one sidedly angry.
Which is why I don't post politics or religion here. This is my soft space, my space full of sewing, fabric, family and joy. Not anger, not one sided abuse.

Whew.

Okay, now on a different note, I'm going to start a few new things here in September. One will involve giving away fabric I will simply never use; the other is more posting of quilts done by my family, and of my own musings on what quilts are. I've decided to follow along here with Mr.Monkeysuit (though really all I blog about is quilts as is:) The point is that I've really only blogged about the quilts I've made as I've made them (oh, and cleaning!)... Not much of me in there, so I'm gonna start expanding a little on the things I talk about, even if it is still quilt related:) So I may be posting more regularly, but not always with something done by me! Hope you all will enjoy:)
And hope you all have a soft, safe place to be in your own life.

Motivation apparently, well, motivated!

2008-08-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

Seems that this has been a weekend of getting some stuff done. Amazingly, really, as I've been glued to the TV with the Olympics the last two weeks! Maybe now that that is over I can get back to the cleaning, organizing, and sewing!

Here is my motivation at work: (Before pics here)

There are still a few things to find homes for, there always is! But at least I'm making progress. Part of what came out is now just sitting in my garage since there were a few random things of cleaners up there. Now I have to figure out where the local hazardous waste centers are to get rid of that, and that's one more thing off the list! But with the possibility of a big move I've got a lot of motivation to get stuff cleaned up, moved out, sold and tossed. I figure that even though Jade is done, I'll just keep plugging along with her idea:) I'm sure you will see (hopefully) a bunch of great clean rooms in the months ahead!

As for quilting, the project I'm currently working on is one of those I'll-show-it-to-you-after-I-mail-it types... Though I have a ton of things on the list, so stay tuned to see what I accomplish!

DONE!

2008-08-22T23:56:00.000-07:00

Holy Moly, it's finished! All that's left is to put it into the washer and mail it. Hallelujah!!I would have prefered to have been able to use the teal print, as the orange makes it a spicy quilt! But it wasn't to be, and the orange is striking. At this point it's gonna stay or I'm gonna chuck the whole quilt:) I'm a happy girl at the moment!

Crafty Giveaways

2008-08-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

Jen over at Crafty Giveaways has Disney Princess panels she's giving away. Though I really suggest you wander over anyway as she is a neat lady and had some great giveaways! Check it out: http://craftygiveaways.blogspot.com/2008/08/crafty-giveaway-4-disney-princess.html

Oh, and I'm going with the Orange. Jacquie and I both like the idea of the bias, but as I'm still just struggling to get the darn binding on the thing I think I'll avoid the first time bias thing for today! And since both she and A Spoonful of Sugar echoed my thoughts of the dynamic element of the orange that's what we are doing. I finally got the quilt square and got the orange cut (a very bit larger then the dolphins strip) and have it about halfway attached. So far so good. Wish me luck!

Opinion?

2008-08-21T15:58:00.000-07:00

So, how to say this.... I managed to lose the Dolphins binding. Yep. Lost it. And the very sad thing is that I never left the house with it. So, where did it go?? Ah, anyway. That all leads me to wonder what to do instead. I have a few options, lets see if any of you have an opinion:
There's the different, but complimentary, green:

The backing and strip green, on the grain:
Same on the bias:
Or the Orange... But note that I had to get more of the orange and it doesn't quite match:

On a more personally positive note I got the borders on the strip quilt. If you all don't remember, I pieced the backing for Grandma's quilt and it was too much, so the backing ended up as a topper for me. Being smaller then I wanted it (it was a baby quilt size) I added the borders to help make it a full size. I'm really happy with how it turned out; Rob told me it was very summery, which I'll take as a compliment!

An update

2008-08-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I am happy to report that I'm making progress. The Dolphins quilt has finally had the binding pulled off (only took 2 weeks:) and I cut and pieced my first Soldiers Angels quilt. This is for the Blankets of Belief. Here's it all cut out:

I managed to get the whole thing pieced yesterday. You'll have to excuse the pic, it's actually upside down! Oh well, you get the idea:) I'm really happy with it and I wasn't sure I would be, to be honest. When I had the pile of fabric sitting together I just couldn't see a quilt. The fabrics are all so busy that the lack of contrast really threw me. The tan pieces were my saving grace, really, since they bring the busy-ness down and give it some interest.

And the backing:

And now on to the, ahem, fun stuff... Cleaning! Jade at Chikaustin had a series where she exposed herself and I had to go along for the ride! Though, to be honest, I've managed to bust time by a bit. I wanted to get the laundry room and the garage done by the 16th. Well.... Not so much. But we may be moving soon (like very soon) and far away (like very far away) and so now I have to expedite. So here is the first set of my series. No after shots yet, but you can see where I'm starting and will be waiting with bated breath for the after shots! Sure, why not:)

So, this is the laundry room. I'll be out of town this weekend so I'll start in on it on Monday and will post pics of the after. Cause I gotta get it done, might as well let you all come along for the ride!

And last, but seriously not least, is my new layer cake! Oh, so excited! As soon as I saw Lila Tueller's fabric and I just had to have it. I was beyond excited when my local shop had a Layer Cake and Charm Packs of Woodland Bloom. I love the fabric so much that I'm just gonna do squares and let the patterns and the colors of the fabrics speak for themselves.

I really love the way the fabrics look together, such an amazing line. Can't wait to get it started!

Can't believe I won! Thanks Sara!

2008-07-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

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:)

2008-07-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-12T11:23:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-07T00:55:00.000-07:00

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!!!!

2008-07-06T22:15:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

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!

Grosgrain: Roosters-N-Rickrack Pinafore GIVEAWAY!!!!

2008-06-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

Oh, I must tell you all about Kathleen's give away! She makes the most-adorable-dresses-ever. And I mean adorable! She actually giving aways her beautiful work! Can you believe? So, here's her page.. Go, oggle, adore, comment:)
Grosgrain: Roosters-N-Rickrack Pinafore GIVEAWAY!!!!

I am still here

2008-06-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

I swear, I am still here! It's been hectic around here, more so then I had thought it was going to be. It's suppose to be summer (though, round here we don't exactly see the sun too often), and I'm suppose to be quiltings, sewing, you know, catching up! And yet... And yet, I haven't sewn since I made shorts and finished Grandma's quilt; goodness, that was a month ago! We have had a busy time lately, it seems, and the ending was Little J turning 4.

I did manage to make this little dress for Little J before we left; however, I still need to attach the shoulder straps. And this is a really fuzzy picture. Sigh. Oh well, it's cute, and she will have fun in it, and really, that's what matters:)

And this is Little J on our way to Disneyland. We've been before, but this was special as it was for her birthday. She had fun:)

I'm not sure how life manages to move at such a pace, but there it is! I'm currently making a list of all the quilts I have to make. Cause, see, I have an inability to buy "stash fabric"... I tend to buy "quilt fabric". I see a print I love, and then procced to find at least 2, 3 or 4 other peices to go with it. So I don't have stash fabric, I have stash quilts! 17 so far, and that was just the last count. Yeah, I know, I'm crazy. But, at least I enjoy looking at it all, imagining the quilts I could, uh, make... If only I ever sat to quilt! Oh well. So here is a (very) small smattering of my "quilt stash". These are a few of the ones that cross my mind often and, therefore, are higher on the "to get done" list! I'll let you know how it goes:)

Grandma's is done

2008-06-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

I got Grandma's quilt done, though I haven't started on my own yet. The kids and I are headed to southern Utah, and though it's not as hot as it usually is, it's still much much hotter than here. Since it only get's to the upper 70's on nice days shorts and skirts aren't exactly staples in our wardrobe, so I was on a skirt/shorts sewing kick for a while. I still have to sew in elastic on 2 shorts and the straps on one dress (after that I'll show ya). But here is Grams quilt:

I cheated and used a french seam for this, and stiched in the ditch with the same decorative stich. I had to use a straight stich to start the seam (you can see it here), cause the decorative stich kept gunking up and not moving (but as this is just a fun quilt I'm not worried about it). My thinking was simple: this isn't going to be used too often, a french seam can be pretty strong, and, well, I'm lazy! Oh and I hate handsewing. There are a few of you fainiting right about now, but it's true, I suck at it and as such I hate it. Yes, I know, if I did it more I wouldn't suck and I might not hate it, but there it is!

I'm gonna be out of town for the week; hopefully when I get back I'll show ya all the other stuff I've been up to!

Reunited

2008-05-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

I have finally been reunited with my sewing machine! I actually got a quilt top done yesterday! Whoo hoo! Actually, turns out I got 2 done.

(For some reason I can't get blogger to link so you can make the image larger, so I'll just have to tell you about it. The blue strips have cute bees and pink flowers on a gingham background; the yellow and white both have blue polkadots (or as Little J would say, polkanots:)

To begin at the, well, the beginning: Grandma has something like 14 Great-Grand babies, and no baby blankets at her house. She also has a network of friends a mile wide and it isn't unheard of to have random children, or neice and nephew's babies around as well. So, all in all, she needed a blanket for the little ones.

Enter the eldest Grandchild (that would be me). Grams had also made the comment that here Mom and I quilt and yet she doesn't have a quilt from either of us! Well that just settled it then, didn't it? A quilt was in order. Here is the bad part, though: I had her pick out the fabrics and bought them... IN JANUARY! I feel bad that I'm just getting to it now, but I am getting there, so I guess I'll forgive myself:)

So, this is how it gets to two quilts. I cut the strips for the front, and managed to double the number needed. In the end I decided to use the cut strips to piece the back, and bought a coordinating blue; once I got it done, however, and the two sides being pieced seemed to be too much. My mission today is to buy backing for both, and get at least hers done. I'm gonna keep the second, and add a border to make it a full size blanket for my kids.

I also cut the fabric for one of my PIF gifts; I'm gonna try to get those done in the next few weeks as well. I should sit down tonight a write a list of all I have to do and what I'd like to get done before the summer semester starts. Well, I suppose I should put that on my to-do-list:)-

2 down, 1 to go!

2008-05-20T15:02:00.000-07:00

Well, 2 of my classes are done, my last final is tomorrow!! Hopefully this means two things, first that I can sew more, and second, that I can blog more! In the last month it's been a bit hectic round here, and I'm estatic to finally be getting back to a calmer life. After tomorrow I get two blissful weeks of having nothing to do, followed by a week at my Grandparents, and then it's back to school mid-June. Whoo-hoo!

Anyway, through all the school work and the sicknesses I did manage to make Little J a dress; it's reception was lukewarm at first, but I think she warmed up to it:)

It's just a shift type dress, and it looked darling with the red tights she wore. I've got another all cut out, and plan on making it (and a few others) before we end up in the southern Utah heat.

So, to those that have hung with me during my month long study/puke-fest, I thank you:)

that time of the semester...

2008-04-23T14:53:00.000-07:00

where I'm just happy to get my laundry done! And after the crud issues I had gotten really far behind. I haven't been blogging much because of the amount af assignments and tests coming at me. Hopfully it will quiet down a bit soon and I can get back to sewing and blogging! But I can't help but pass on a really great deal and a really neat site!

Camille at Simplify is giving away a really pretty quilt! Yep, giving it away!! All you have to do is wander over and leave a comment. Oh, and if you'd mention I sent ya I'll love ya:)-

On a totally different note, I got my Pay-It-Forward package! Whoo-Hoo! Jacquie at Tallgrass is the best! I'll have to put pictures up tonight, when I have time. This was just to let you all know to throw in for that sweet quilt:)

Internet and "The Crud"

2008-04-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

Well, my internet went down for a week, and then we were hit by "The Crud". The two little ones and myself... So far the DH hasn't been struck, we shall hope it stays that way! Needless to say this has kept both my blogging and my quilting at bay. It's not safe to quilt when you're afraid that it might not, well, stay clean, if I'm not being too graphic! I figure that I'll start putting some of my mom's wonderful work up while I'm not quilting.

Both the quilt on the wall and the bed were made by dear Momma. This was in our old house, prior to window treatments, while my DD was still co-sleeping with me (hense the no crib thing:).

Not exactly a great photo of this one, but it's all I can find at the moment. This is for my DS and is a crib size. I just LOVE the little bitty bear paws she did!

And this is the one he slept with most often. And you can even see the dear Momma's feet!

She made him a full size blanket that he sleeps with but, alas, I haven't gotten any photos yet. I will soon and post them when I get the chance. There are plenty more that she's done, but this is all I have photos of at hand at them moment. More to come, I'm sure!

So, thanks Momma, for wrapping my little ones in Granma's love!

The only "quilting" this week

2008-04-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

So far this week this is the only thing I've gotten done. I call it "quilting" because there are two layers and I ran seams. However, this is really a cheater quilt! I promised a little lap quilt for my daughter that would fit in the car and a backpack easily, and this is it. She LOVES the whole princess thing and we found this as a scrap piece. It is 44x26, cotton front and flannel back.
(click either image for a larger view)
I did a simple french seam (with a decorative stitch) because this isn't exactly an heirloom piece! It was strong enough, and fast; I also quilted in between the blocks with a decorative stitch. It wasn't really necessary, but I thought it was a sweet effect and added more interest to the whole.
The quilting adds a neat effect onto the back as well. I'd have added the photo, but it didn't really translate well onto film. Just trust me that it's cool:)

My anatomy test yesterday went really really well, and I have my history test today. Hopefully that means that I will have time to sew tomorrow. Here's keeping the fingers crossed!

dresses

2008-03-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-03-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-03-27T08:09:00.001-07:00

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

2008-03-26T15:53:00.001-07:00

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!

2008-03-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

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.