Domestic Goddess

Fabric philosophy

2012-01-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

Forgive me for this mental meandering, but I was thinking last night, as I cut into my Pam Kitty Morning fabric.

Here's my big, deep thought:

Finding fabric you love is like finding the perfect guy for you.

Seriously.

Think about it. There are some horrible (for me) fabrics out there. Just yuck. I don't go in for browns and dark greens and the like. I like bright colors. I also don't go in for stocky guys. I like mine tall, with blue eyes, dark hair and named Aaron.

I digress.

There are fabrics here and there from different collections that I like, but I don't like the whole collection.

Then, along comes the PERFECT collection. In every way, shape and form. I like it all.

Pam Kitty is it for me.

Look at how awesome it is

in red

in blue

in pink

in green and yellow

See what I mean? Truly gorgeous stuff I tell ya.

So now I want to make it all with these fabrics. I bought all the fat quarter bundles from Fat Quarter Shop (which is why I was okay with lifting the images of each bundle). I'm now in the process of cutting them into wedges for Dresden plate blocks. I have a sneaking suspicion there are going to be a boatload of these and I'll be able to make a bed quilt for me and an extra lap quilt. Or two twin quilts for the girls.

Then I saw this one and now I have to make it as well:
It's in McCall's Quilting magazine and it's so cute!

I've had this pattern for a while and I just ordered the prints I want to make it.

Adorable, no?

And while I'm at it, I'm going to get the fat quarter collection again and make a bed-sized double wedding ring quilt for myself. Because this fabric is perfect - old-fashioned enough for these traditional quilts, but bright and modern enough for me.

Love it. Just like my perfect (for me) guy.

*Just want to note that there is nothing inherently wrong with dark colors. Or grey. Or gray. Or whatever floats your boat. They just aren't for me. It's a good thing we all don't have the exact taste in fabric, or men. There'd be a lot of disappointed quilters out there!

Creative Resolutions

2012-01-01T17:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I don't know how creative they are, but they do regard my creative pursuits.

Here they are - I've kept it to five:

Be a finisher of quilts. I know this one is easy for some of you. I was terrified of machine quilting at first. Now it's just a matter of "git 'er done" and I've got a plan. I'll still work on piecing new tops, but my goal is to quilt all my finished tops (ahem, that would be a whopping 15!) before the summer. Wish me luck!
Um, whittle down the WIP list. Having a baby put me a tad behind.
Write, every day, for 1.5 - 2 hours. I have the time set aside for this in the evening. This means that sewing has to happen during the day.
Get Christmas done BEFORE November. Hey, a girl can dream!
Try something new, and difficult, like applique or a double wedding ring. Challenge myself! I think my Dresden plate quilt will be a good start because I'd like to applique each plate to the blocks.

There. I'm starting on numbers 1 and 3 this week for sure. Basting and quilting another Matchbox quilt.

What about you? Any resolutions?

Done . . . and not done

2011-12-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

Finished:

colored pencil roll for nephew
Captain Jack Sparrow costume for other nephew
doll sleeping bag and dress for niece
scripture bag for niece's birthday

Left to finish:

robe and jammies for L
dinosaur tails for all
jammies for husband

These dinosaur tails should whip up quick. And the robe will be fun, if nothing else. Aaron's jammies are already cut out. I do have some shopping to do - tomorrow or maybe Thursday. I'd like to be completely done by Thursday so I can enjoy Friday and Saturday.

And next year, I'd really like to not cut it so close. For real.

Christmas Quilts part deux

2011-12-16T14:30:00.000-08:00

These have been way too long in the making. They were started in Seattle (all the HSTs sewn together) and finished in Moscow (Idaho, not Russia). But they are done in time for Christmas cuddling, and that's what counts.

So many projects to finish this next week. Linking up to Amanda Jean's Finish It Up Friday - and hoping she hosts a big one next week to show off our Christmas crafting!

My Christmas Kitchen 2011

2011-12-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

Hmmm. What shall I make this year?

Easy.
Peanut brittle for the husband.

Caramels for the husband and kids, if he'll share!

Coconut cake on Christmas day, because I make the best one. Really. I was taught by my very Southern Gran and I've been perfecting it over the years. It is awesome and I just might eat the whole thing!

Coconut macaroons for all, including friends.

I'm done with spritz cookies this year. My cookie press is about to get hucked out the door. Note to self: just because Williams-Sonoma makes and sells it, doesn't make it the best there is. My mom's old Wilton one works WAY better than this thing. I can only get the trees to come out. Darn thing.

I'll make some more sugar cookies next week for the kids. We've got gingerbread creations set for Monday's FHE. A house, a tree and a train!

Oh, and donuts. Tomorrow night is the donut fest. Our annual Freedom Fry, to celebrate the holidays and the Bill of Rights. I'll be frying a boatload. Good times. Guess I should get the house cleaned up a bit, eh?

And then more sewing!

Fabric Tuesday

2011-12-13T13:20:00.000-08:00

I finally finished these quilts. Shown here is the Christmas Barn Raising quilt (please pardon the bad, hazy lighting - I'm not trying to be fancy - we're just having awful overcast skies!). I've also got one in diagonal stripes (I'll save that one for Friday). Oh how I love these quilts. Red and white, backed in red flannel and perfect for snuggling. My kids are a little hesitant - they just keep staring at them right now. We'll get snuggled at storytime tonight.

This quilt makes me happy. I should be doing other sewing, but I wanted them finished for this Christmas. My other Christmas quilt tops can wait for next year, but I wanted these two done. Hooray for finished projects!

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday!

Help me convince my husband

2011-12-10T06:51:00.000-08:00

Clothes and I don't seem to get along. I'm shaped funny. (Okay, here comes full disclosure, but I'm not bragging!). I have a large bust (thanks to my paternal grandmother) and smallish/normalish waist and hips.

You'd think I'd be loving life, but I'm not. It is impossible to find appropriate clothes to fit my figure. I say appropriate because Victoria's Secret seems to get it, but that's about it. (I do like their t-shirts.)

I'm not about to start dressing like a 20-year-old party girl. Not happening.

So I want a dress form. So I can buy the patterns I like and make the clothes I want rather than getting frustrated every Sunday morning before church because I can't find anything to wear. I'd also like to be able to adjust the stuff I buy so that, oh, I don't know, I can look in the mirror and see that I have a waist. Apparently clothing makers think that if you have a large bust, you must not have a waist to go with it.

Oh, and having babies has really messed up my shape too.

So I'm working on Aaron to get a dress form for me for Christmas. Or my birthday. But I want one.

Any advice on getting one?

Finish it up Friday!

2011-11-18T06:44:00.001-08:00

Don't have a quilt to show for this week - actually, between now and Christmas it's going to be like that. Lots and lots of Christmas sewing projects to finish up.

But I'm so glad this dress is finished, and just in time. Laurel's baptism is Sunday afternoon. She looks lovely in it, and it has her little touch of purple.

Now, to finish baby Caroline's blessing gown and Laurel's new scripture bag. Good thing my parents are coming to town today. I'll be sewing all day tomorrow!

Linking up with Amanda Jean's Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend - we woke up to snow, finally, so my kids are quite giddy this morning.

If I Were Queen

2011-11-16T19:05:00.000-08:00

How do you like my tiara? Harry Winston dear. As it is snowing outside, I went with the snowflake tiara tonight.

Oh, I was going to tell you what I would decree if I were queen. Just feeling royal tonight, or wishing I was.

If I were queen, everyone would learn to properly load a dishwasher. As in, efficiently and neatly. I am married to a man who, though his mother is British, did not teach him proper dishwasher loading technique. I cannot let him near it. It is disastrous and there are usually dishes left over because his inefficiency and sloppy loading did not allow room.

Unacceptable. This must be taught. I decree it, whilst wearing my diamond snowflake tiara.

Okay, admittedly, I really just wanted to use the word "whilst" - how was it? Did I sound royal enough?

Fabric Tuesday

2011-11-15T12:25:00.000-08:00

I'm playing along in the Quilt Story Fabric Tuesday again today. Yes, I'm working on dresses for my girls when I get a moment, but I thought I'd play around with these blocks a little too.

I'm making this quilt, using Riley Blake's Indian Summer. Loving how it's coming together.

Because it's Monday

2011-11-14T13:24:00.001-08:00

Because it's Monday, and my children (including Caroline) are being cooperative, I'm making cupcakes for FHE tonight. What is FHE? Find out here, if you're curious.

I've had this page bookmarked in the Flour Bakery and Cafe cookbook, the recipe for Chocolate Cupcakes with Crispy Magic Frosting. I'll admit that I was lured in by that frosting. I can't wait. I'll be sure to let y'all know how they turn out. There's an interesting process - the recipe tells you to let the batter sit for an hour at room temperature. We'll see if it makes a difference.

Have a lovely Monday. We're expecting snow again, but it keeps melting before my kids get a chance to go play in it.

Christmas Sewing

2011-11-12T06:59:00.000-08:00

We woke up to snowfall this morning, and I have been known to listen to Christmas music while crafting, so I thought I'd share some of the crafting I'd like to get done for this Christmas.

And yes, my mother will think I'm crazy, given that I've got a one-month-old and four other rowdies running around. But I enjoy being ambitious! All links will take you to the tutorial or the pattern.

Okay, first, a little tissue holder for those I know who carry tissues in their purse. If I had a matchy matchy one with my bag, I just might be responsible enough to carry some myself. These are super easy and super cute.

For Miss Caroline (and maybe my nephew Jackson), I found these cute little stuffed turtles. Might I add that I can get Laurel and William to enthusiastically stuff things for me so I don't have to? I'm shameless, but resourceful!
I bought this pattern for stockings last year just after Christmas. I've got them cut out, mostly, but I'm struggling with how to get their names on them.
This is a two part gift. I thought Jackson would like to have something to throw a ball into, and these round nesting baskets were just the thing.
A mug rug (not this one - just an example for those who don't know what a mug rug is) for a special person. I've got it all designed and the fabric chosen. Just have to sew it up and ship it off.
Fabric beach balls, to throw into those round nesting baskets.
Stuffed dinosaurs for all my crazies, because I know they'd love them.
A crochet hook clutch for Laurel, who is learning to crochet at Activity Day and loving it. So far, she's made the world's longest and skinniest scarf for her stuffed flamingo. Hopefully she'll learn some more stitches this week.
An art bag for Laurel - I've searched high and low and this one is perfect for her. But complicated. We'll see if it gets done or not.

I've got other, top secret ideas, but these are just a few. They won't all get done, but I'll have fun trying.

I'm also creating my first tree skirt. This is uncharted territory for me because I can't find what I want anywhere, be it finished product or pattern, so I'm having to design it myself. Easy-peasy for some of you, but I'm challenged that way. Here's hoping it turns out, because the picture in my head is awesome!

Happy sewing (back to making little white dresses for me!).

Soup is ON!

2011-11-10T11:04:00.001-08:00

Yes, I'm sewing dresses. Every spare minute I have. Which means I need some easy-ish dinners, preferably involving my dreamy slow cooker. And I do understand that easy-ish to me might be intimidating to others - long lists of ingredients don't frighten me away. Love them.

So here's what is going into the slow cooker at lunch time, and into bowls at dinner time, and into the freezer after that (because it makes a boatload!). I confess the minestrone bug bit me hard after a trip to Olive Garden back in August. I promise, this soup is a bazillion times better. I made a few changes to the original recipe - I cook the sausage right in the slow cooker (because I can do that in mine) so that later I'm cooking the veg in the fat from the sausage rather than a drizzle of olive oil. I know olive oil is better for you, but it's about layering flavor. Why waste that sausage fat? Not this girl. Course, I've been known to use bacon fat at times. That's my Southern heritage there, y'all!

Sausage Minestrone Soup with Orzo
adapted from The New England Soup Factory Cookbook

1 pound sweet Italian sausage
1 pound hot Italian sausage
3 T. olive oil (if you must)
1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 ribs celery, sliced
5 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes
12 cups chicken stock (no kidding!)
4 cups tomato juice
2 bay leaves
1 can (16 oz.) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 can (16 oz.) dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (16 oz.) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1-2 zucchini, diced
1-2 summer squash, diced
1/2 c. dried orzo
3 T. chopped fresh basil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

First, cook your sausage. If you are lucky enough to have a slow cooker that lets you brown your meat first, do this. If you are using a pot on the stove, you can do the same thing. I'm not sure how this would work in a regular crockpot or slow cooker. I'd just go with the pot on the stove.

So cook your sausage and then set it aside. If you're the healthy sort, drain off the sausage fat and add the olive oil. If you're the healthy but like more flavor sort, just keep your sausage fat and add your onion, garlic, celery and carrots. Saute for 8 minutes.

Add tomatoes, stock, tomato juice, bay leaves, chickpeas, kidney beans, cannellini beans and cooked sausage. Bring to a boil. If using a slow cooker, transfer it and cook on low for about four hours. If using a pot, reduce heat to medium and simmer 40 minutes, adding more stock if too much liquid evaporates (not a problem with the slow cooker).

Remove and discard the bay leaves (or leave them in and then assign dishes to whomever gets them in their bowl).

Add the zucchini, squash and orzo. Cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Stir in the basil, salt and pepper.

This freezes beautifully.

To Do Tuesday

2011-11-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

Yeah, that sums it up. I'd rather be quilting. I'd rather be making a huge dent in that WIPs list, not to mention actually finishing a quilt or two.

One small problem. Well, one small, Caroline-size problem and one bigger, Laurel-size problem. In the form of these:

We have a baptism/baby blessing on the 20th. We have family and friends coming in to town. As these are my girls, I am making the dresses. I bought a ton o' white fabric, spent August and September cutting it out and now I MUST sew it into dresses. Here's hoping they will be as pretty as my girls are.

After this is done, then I'm on to Christmas sewing, and won't that be fun? Dinosaurs for the kids, quilts for the boys (I might be burning the midnight oil to get those done!), a tool clutch for Aaron and a few other gifts. I love Christmas sewing, but I need to get started on it sooner next year. Right. Like that will happen!

Have a lovely, productive week. Pictures of these finished dresses will follow, I promise!

WIP Wednesday

2011-11-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

I may have mentioned before how much I like lists. I like them a lot. I have to do lists and Christmas card lists and birthday presents lists.

My two most current, and most often referred to lists, are these two. One is a "Quilts Ready to be Quilted" list. It has *gulp* 14 quilts on it. Yeah, I've got to get to it, I know.

The other is my WIPs list. This one should not be getting longer. But I can't help myself. If I didn't have access to other blogs and Moda Bake Shop and Fat Quarter Shop, I might be able to slog my way through this one and add these *big gulp* 30 quilts to my other list.

See those Postage Stamp quilt blocks in the background? I'm almost done with them! Then I put the top together and piece the back and it moves to my other list. Yikes!

What's funny about me is that I'm not intimidated by any of this. I'm more embarrassed to admit it, but not intimidated. I've got the quilting planned for several of those "readies," so I'm more steps ahead than you might think.

My goal is this: while I'd be stupid to say I won't purchase and plan more projects, I will at least not start any new ones until I've got more space.

Wish me luck!

Fabric Tuesday

2011-11-01T04:14:00.000-07:00

After I joined in on Amy's Bloggers' Quilt Festival last week, I browsed around the other blogs, bookmarking and following as I went. One of the first sites I visited was Quilt Story. Every Tuesday, they host a "Fabric Tuesday." Now, I've been doing "To Do Tuesdays" on my own, but sometimes my to do list isn't so exciting. Now fabric? That's exciting.

So today I join in on the Fabric Tuesday fun.

And just in time for Fabric Tuesday, a box o' lovelies arrived from the best online quilt shop EVER a.k.a. Fat Quarter Shop. Seriously. I heart them. A lot.

I've been needing to make some "boy" quilts. While my guys are tough guys and have no problems cuddling up in a pink/green quilt, or something with lots of flowers and butterflies, they deserve something a bit manlier. We are huge Richard Scarry fans in this house (seriously - check out "Busytown Mysteries" on Netflix - so much fun!) and when I saw this fabric at FQS, I knew it would make some great quilts for my little men.

So I ordered two FQ bundles - each comes with a panel with different vehicles, which I'm going to fussy cut and use as individual blocks. The colors are great - orange, green, blues, some reds and yellows.

I picked out some coordinating fabrics in orange, red, green and blue. I'm going to use this quilt pattern - it will be bright and fun and they'll love it. I'll have to border them differently so we can tell the difference. William's will be red, James' will be orange and Henry's will be blue.

Can't wait for my pattern to arrive so I can get started. Want these done by Christmas - can she do it?

Looky looky!

2011-10-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

In spite of this sweet baby girl (try to deny it, but she really is the sweetest little girl!):

And these four crazy trick-or-treaters:

I was actually able to do this today:

I wanted to participate in Rachel's quilt-a-long many moons ago, but I was in my second-to-last quarter at UW and just didn't have the time.

Funny that I think I have the time now that I have a newborn, am homeschooling my two oldest kids and I have three birthdays to celebrate this weekend. But hey, it's all relative, right?

I'm halfway through on my blocks and am so excited to get this quilt top done this week. The weather here in Northern Idaho is chilly-dog and we're in need of more quilts.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

2011-10-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

I like things to be matchy-matchy. I made my first quilt when I was 18 or 19. This was back in the day when you chose maybe three coordinating fabrics. I made a double Irish chain using a yellow solid, a French blue check and a white on white floral. I still have that quilt and I still love that quilt.

But I needed to move on. Scrappy quilts scared me. I liked looking at them, but wasn't sure if I could make them. Now I know this quilt isn't as scrappy as it could be. I've since done scrappier, promise. But it was a challenge for me to mix the fabrics, even from the same line, and make something beautiful out of it. I loved this pattern so much, I'm ashamed to say I've made half a dozen just like it. But I've given two away, so that's a good thing.

I waited a long time to quilt this quilt. It's funny, but when my Henry was born (over 2 years ago), my Gran gave me some money to spend on me. I, naturally, bought fabric. I bought the fabric to make this quilt and while I got the quilt top done forever ago, I didn't quilt it. Well, Aaron bought me my Juki in May, just a few weeks after my Gran passed away, and I finally, FINALLY worked up the nerve to quilt it. What did I learn? That straight line quilting can be a better idea than free motion quilting. I learned that imperfections should be expected and not fretted over. And I learned that finished quilts are so much nicer than unfinished ones!

Enjoy the rest of the festival - I know I am going to do some serious blog hopping! So many great quilts with great stories.

Oh. And in case you were wondering, here are the specifics on this quilt:

Pattern: Matchbox by Abbey Lane Quilts
Fabric: Oh Cherry Oh by Me and My Sister (don't try to find it - I'm buying up all that I can!)

Finished!

2011-10-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

Laurel, as Abigail Adams. I think it turned out beautifully. She was very happy, and that's what counts. I am hoping next year she opts for something simpler, but she's already talking about being a cobra. Sigh. That's what happens when you raise a geek.

And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Future Project

2011-10-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

Oh, who am I kidding? I want to get started right away on this. But I won't. I will finish up that costume and the dresses for November before I allow myself to get going. But I want to, so desperately.

I was cruising around on etsy when I discovered this stack o' lovelies. An Oh Cherry Oh fat quarter bundle. Someone was destashing and I was going to reap the rewards. This is my all-time favorite line of fabric and I keep buying it for different projects.

What will I make with it this time? Well, I'm so glad you asked. I plan on making this quilt, times two (one using the pinks/greens and one using the reds/aquas). You can buy the pattern here.
Can I just say I love Allison's patterns? This isn't the first one, or the last one, I've purchased. I've got a Kaleidoscope in the works, and I'm dreaming of what I'll use to make the Seville quilt and the Basket Case quilt. I still need to buy the Shortcake and Sugar Dish patterns. But that's for later. I've got too many WIPs and future WIPs to add to the pile.

But that won't stop me from making these little fabric baskets. I will have some yellow FQ left over from that bundle, and as my sewing room is decorated in yellow, I thought, why not? I'm always need storage spots for scraps and "stuff" - these will be perfect!

Okay, baby is sleeping now (I was taking a nursing break, so don't think I was just wasting time - I was multi-tasking!). Back to the Abigail Adams costume.

To Do Tuesday

2011-10-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

The trunk or treat is Friday night. Laurel's costume is cut out, but I have to get sewing. Thank goodness for Gran last week and Opa this week. I'd never get this done in time without their help. The only reason I have time to blog this at all is because baby Caroline eats all the time!

If I get it done early, I'm going to make trick-or-treat bags for the kids as well. We'll see. I'm not going for crazy ambitious, but I would like to check these off my list. After Halloween is over, I get to bury myself in white fabric to make a blessing dress for Caroline and a baptism dress for Laurel. Oh, and Laurel's scripture bag as well. Sheesh, then we jump into Christmas sewing!

Have a lovely, productive week!

Coming Soon: Pumpkin recipes!

2011-09-25T07:56:00.001-07:00

Some friends and I are forming a baking group - basically, we bake and get together to eat what we've baked while our kids play. I'm thinking we'll do themed months and I want November to be pumpkin month (October should naturally be apple month!). So I'll be playing around with pumpkin recipes and sharing my favorites soon. Apple recipes as well. Can I just say I LOVE fall? Because I do. And I won't be pregnant and I can wear my sweaters and funky socks and cook soups and be warm and make quilts . . . LOVE IT!

WIP Clean-Up Week

2011-09-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Also known as: Jennie's using the last of her nesting energy to get the sewing room a bit more organized!

So, what's on the agenda? Here goes (but I'm tired just thinking about it!):

Sew three pairs of jammy bottoms for Aaron - already cut out
Cut out blessing dress for baby Caroline
Cut out baptism dress for Laurel
Quilt L'Amour quilt #1 (already basted and ready to go)
Sew binding on L'Amour quilt
Baste Caroline's quilt
Quilt Caroline's quilt
Cut out Laurel's Abigail Adams costume

That's the have to get done. There are extra things to do that I will get to as I can. Hopefully I can get more done than this - I want to get started sewing on Laurel's costume for sure. Those other dresses don't have to be done until later in November, so I do have a bit more time on those. And a gazillion other projects. I'm trying to baste a quilt as often as possible - keep that baby in the right position!

Pictures to come - I've taken the plunge and started quilting on my Juki. It's pretty awesome. Laurel is amassing quite the collection of doll quilts, but it's worth the practice.

Best Banana Bread EVER!

2011-09-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

Does everyone have a tried-and-true, best banana bread recipe? I do. Nothing I learned at the CIA either. Nope. You just cannot beat Betty Crocker's recipe. Love it. And can I confess that my favorite part of the bread is the top - that kinda sticky top that you just don't get anywhere else? Aaron likes the end pieces, which is just fine with me.

By the way, do not leave out the nuts. Unless you are allergic, you should really put nuts in just about everything. We have a very short list of things that should not have nuts. Banana bread is not on that list.

Betty Crocker's Banana Bread

1 ¼ c. sugar

½ c. butter, room temp.

2 large eggs

1 ½ c mashed ripe bananas (3-4 medium)

½ c. buttermilk

1 t. vanilla

2 ½ c. flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

1 c. chopped nuts

Now can I just say creaming method and be done? Please? Okay, okay. Cream the butter and sugar until it's light (and I mean light!) and fluffy. Add in eggs, one at a time. Dump in the bananas and vanilla. I stir together the dry ingredients, then add that whole mess after the bananas. Others will have you do it in batches, beginning and ending with blah blah blah. Just pour in the dry, pour over the buttermilk, and mix it on low until it just comes together. And don't leave out the nuts. I take it off the mixer, give it a good scrape and stir with my spatula, then pour it into the bread pans. Bake at 350 until it's done. Don't ask me how long - at least an hour-ish. Every oven is different. In Seattle, it took over an hour. Here in Moscow, it's right at an hour.

There are those who might add things like chocolate chips, but that's really not for me to judge on. I did make a banana pound cake the other day that was a dead ringer for banana bread, but you put in a layer o' hot fudge. Now that's awesomeness.

Chicken

2011-09-07T03:22:00.000-07:00

I love chickens. I love them fried, I love their eggs. I love them baked, braised, sauteed, barbecued, smothered, stewed and in a pot pie.

I also love them at the fair. I love the funky ones with feather dusters on their heads. I love the big ol' roosters.

I am also a chicken myself. But I'm working on it. Baby steps, right?

I took the plunge and ordered the fabric I want to back my quilts with - I think enough for about 6 of them.

*gulp*

When it gets here, there will be no place to hide it. It will stare at me, reminding me that I need to just git 'er done.

And, as I am 35 weeks pregnant and doing my dangdest to avoid another posterior baby, making quilt sandwiches by crawling around on the floor will actually help things. So here's to quilt sandwiching and babies in the right position!

Terrified!

2011-08-26T05:14:00.000-07:00

This is my shrink-couch moment.

I am terrified to quilt a quilt.

I know I have an awesome machine for it.

I know I can do it, that I just have to dive in and try it.

I know I can start small and simple.

I know all these things.

Yeah, still terrified.

But I'm wondering what will get scarier: the prospect of quilting or the stack of quilt tops that need to be finished (last count: 15 - SO embarrassing!). The quilt tops are quickly winning out. I want to use them, not look at them in their little boxes and wish I had them to snuggle with.

Here's hoping I get over this fear soon so that we don't freeze this winter!

Still Here

2011-08-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

I'm still here, still busy, still pregnant. Got my law student (that's his handsome self up there, posing with a perfectly roasted marshmallow, all for me!) off today and so begins are latest and greatest adventure. I'm so proud of him. I don't get too personal on this blog (usually save that for my other one), but I just love this guy - he's a hard worker and he's determined to make a good life for us.

The least I could do is finish quilts in time for Christmas! I've been sewing like crazy - I've got 56 blocks done on my string quilt. I've got some catching up to do on the FWQAL, but I'll get there. I'm also finishing my last two (hooray) classes at UW. Then I'm a graduate! Hooray!

Our landlords are remodeling the upstairs next week, so we'll be escaping the chaos and chilling in the air-conditioned goodness of my parents' house. I've got sewing projects there to cut out (baptism dress, blessing dress) and lots of fall/winter shopping to do. It will be a nice break, although we'll miss Aaron a whole lot. But it's his first week of classes, so he can really focus and work out the kinks in his schedule without having to worry about neglecting us. We'll all adjust when we get back from K-town.

In the meantime, happy sewing. I'll be ordering a boatload of flannel to back my quilts with - that's decision is a long story, but for another day - and then I will (gulp!) start in on the quilting of my finished quilt tops. Scary. But if Aaron can go to law school, I can quilt a quilt.

Blackberry Cobbler

2011-08-07T17:10:00.000-07:00

Blackberry cobbler and I go way back. Growing up on the southern Oregon coast, blackberries were a way of late summer life. We spent hours picking bucket after bucket of berries that, if they actually made it home, were turned in to cobblers most days.

One summer, my Gran was visiting us. We picked a mess of berries, and brought them home to her. She turned out the best blackberry cobbler I've ever had. I should know. I ate it through my tears that time.

See, I was so excited to get it to the table, and she was letting me carry it there, that I was dancing around. The exuberance of a child and hot, syrupy berry juice do not mix well. I ended up dumping some of that cobbler onto my right arm and burning it something fierce. While everyone else enjoyed their cobbler, I was standing at the sink, crying as the cold water ran over my wrist. I don't remember if I was crying over the burn or because I had to wait to have my cobbler. Room temperature cobbler's got nothing on hot cobbler with vanilla ice cream melting into white pools around the berries.

In honor of that cobbler (and the little white scar on my arm where the burn blistered), and in honor of my Gran who passed away this spring, I made this cobbler today. And did not dump any of it on my arm.

Meme's Blackberry Cobbler (adapted from Bon Appetit, Y'All)

1/2 cup unsalted butter
4 cups fresh blackberries (which are scarce here in Northern Idaho, so I used frozen and didn't feel one bit ashamed - didn't thaw them or drain them)
1 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling, if needed
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
pinch of kosher salt
1 cup whole milk (or 2%, which is what I had)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Whipped cream (what we used today) or ice cream, for accompaniment

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Melt the butter on the stove in a large cast-iron skillet. If you brown the butter a smidge, all the better I say.

Place the blackberries in a large bowl. Using a potato masher, mash them to release some of their juices. If the berries are tart, sprinkle over some of the sugar. I skipped this step as my berries were frozen and I'm impatient.

To make the batter, in another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the 1 cup sugar, milk and vanilla, and stir until evenly blended. Remove the skillet from the stove and add the melted butter to the batter; stir to combine. Pour the batter all at once into the skillet, then add the blackberries and juices to the center of the batter.

Bake until the top is golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the batter comes out clean, about 1 hour. Serve hot (most definitely), warm (still okay) or at room temperature (not in my house you don't) with whipped cream or ice cream. Save some for breakfast too.

Christmas Quilts

2011-07-30T06:45:00.000-07:00

Here are the finished Christmas quilts, so far. Yes, they need to be quilted. Can I admit to a smidgen of nervousness associated with that prospect? And I need funds to buy batting and backing. I'm thinking of backing them all in flannel, just for extra coziness. Good idea? These are just snuggle quilts for everyone to use when they need one.

These are the two I finished up this week. It was just a matter of putting together the barn raising quilt and sewing the sashing on my Holiday Hostess quilt. Still, I'm glad to have them done!

I have the Christmas tree one (that I need a different foot for on my sewing machine - long story!), one using Riley Blake Christmas Candy and then I've got a string quilt in mind using up all those red scraps I've got left. So eight in all. People need eight Christmas quilts, right?

I'd stop making them if the fabric companies would stop designing such cute Christmas fabrics!

Out O' Thread Blues

2011-07-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

No wordless Wednesday post today, because I have words. Frustrated words because, as I was putting together my barn raising red and white Christmas quilt, I ran out of thread. Grrr. And since my credit card info was stolen and we're dealing with that for the second time in a month, I'm without funds to get more thread.

Okay, technically I could drive to the branch in Pullman (there isn't one in Moscow), go inside and make a cash withdrawal, but that would waste even more time.

So, while I sing the "Out O' Thread" Blues, I'm prepping other projects.

Here's what I've accomplished so far:

prepped the white strips on paper for the rest of my string quilt blocks
cut the white pieces I need for my red/aqua pinwheel blocks
cut the rest of the green material for my Christmas tree quilt
prepped my Christmas stockings - all seven of them!

Still left to do, before I can go get that thread:

prep my Sunkissed quilt
cut the sashing for my Holiday Hostess quilt
cut the sashing for my strawberry pinwheel quilt
prep Laurel's purple quilt for her birthday
finish prepping Cowgirl Salt Water Taffy quilt (just the girly prints)
prep Cowboy Nieces and Nephews quilt (just the manly prints)

Then I will earn my trip to the store to buy a truckload of thread so this doesn't happen again for a while! But prepping is great because then I can enjoy the sewing without the fussing around with the rotary cutter every few minutes.

Books for Children

2011-07-19T04:33:00.000-07:00

I am a reader. I read for fun. I sometimes neglect other things because I need to finish a page, a chapter, a book.

My mother is a reader. I grew up watching her devour books. She always had a book in her hand. As a child, I would spend hours at the library, bringing home stacks and stacks of books. They were my friends and I have some vivid memories of the stories I read. This was how I learned about the world outside Coos Bay, Oregon.

I just knew my daughter would be a reader as well. But she wasn't, at first. We struggled with it for quite some time. I suspect she has inherited her father's dyslexia.

This summer, everything has changed. I did a dance of joy watching her walk up the stairs, book in hand, wanting to finish before she had to eat dinner. I have to force her to turn out her light at night to go to sleep. Even then, I'm not sure she doesn't turn it back on once I'm asleep (or lost in my own book!). She quickly breezes through the books I buy and bring home for her.

Which leads me to my problem. I want some slightly more challenging but still age appropriate books for her. I know, I have friends who allow their 8-year-olds to read Harry Potter, but I'm not comfortable with that. The first one or two books are okay, but they get very dark very quickly and I'm not sure my daughter could handle that. A little mystery, a little danger is okay.

She loves Magic Treehouse. She's read the first two Ivy and Bean books and enjoyed them. I'm reading The Magician's Nephew to her in the hopes that she has a desire to continue the Narnia series herself. But what else? Most of the books that are the next step up involve "tweens" who like to shop, have slumber parties, have crushes on boys, etc. I consider it my job to keep her young and innocent as long as possible. So, no, I won't be introducing those books.

Here's what's on my list right now for her:

Pippi Longstocking books
Some American Girl books (I think she'd like Felicity the best)
The Hundred Dresses
Betsy Tacy books
The "Shoe" books - Ballet Shoes, Skating Shoes, etc.

Am I missing anything? The Ramona books, perhaps?

And please don't get me started on early reader books for William. While I value the Dick and Jane books as classics, they have been classically frustrating for both my readers. Far too many "exception to the rule" words to make them easy and understandable. This book was much better. William was so proud of himself for reading the whole thing on his own. That's a good book, in my book.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-13T17:08:00.001-07:00

Houston, we have a problem

2011-07-11T08:06:00.001-07:00

So I might have finished that blog post on Saturday afternoon and glanced over and saw a stack o' charm squares I've been wondering what to do with. And I might have thought "Why not make two Farmer's Wife quilts in tandem?" And I might have gone ahead and started.

But they are SO cute and so much fun!

I finished seven blocks on this one. That last one, with all those teeny tiny triangles (these blocks finish up at about 6.5") was stressful, but it came out alright. Phew!

I have to control myself today though. I have homework and homeschooling to do as well. Luckily, I can cut out the pieces while I work with Laurel and William. Theoretically.

Happy Monday!

Farmer's Wife

2011-07-09T16:18:00.000-07:00

It's official. I've joined a flickr group. Not just any flickr group - a quilt-a-long group. An ambitious one, but well paced. It's the Farmer's Wife Quilt-A-Long.

You take this book. You read all the awesome letters on why being a farmer's wife is so great (all written in 1922 as part of a contest). You smile and hope someday you can have the simple life. Okay, I don't dream of being a farmer's wife. I dream of being a lawyer's wife with a lovely little sort-of-farm - some chickens, a pig or two (hey, we love bacon and ham!) and a huge vegetable and fruit garden.

Then you make the quilt blocks. The group is making two per week, but I'm about 6 weeks behind, so I'm playing catch up. I finished 6 today. They are cute and time-consuming, but it's going to be one fabulous quilt once I'm done with all 111 blocks.

Block #1 - Attic Windows

Block #2 - Autumn Tints

Block #3 - Basket - yes, she's missing her handle. Working on the applique tonight.

Block #4 - Basket Weave

Block #5 - Bat Wing, but I made mine look more butterfly-ish

Block #6 - Big Dipper

I'm just using a FQ bundle of Sew Cherry fabric - a lot of the quilters are going full-on scrappy, but I struggle with that and as this will end up being a queen-sized quilt for my bed, I went with something I love looking at.

So, are you a Farmer's Wife too? Really, join in the fun. 2 blocks per week? No problem! Once I catch up that is . . . .

Superfast!

2011-07-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

Clearly I need to work on my clever blog titles. But we say that around here a lot. In a superhero kind of voice.

Here's how the early afternoon went down. I went from this:
To this:
With this:

In about an hour. I'm not exactly sure how long it took because I was

Homeschooling Laurel and William at the table next to me
Fixing lunch
Getting milk for thirsty kids
Distracting James and Henry from the Accuquilt awesomeness - that was tough!

But not too shabby, right? I have 144 apple core pieces and 96 2" squares from the scraps. And a pile of scraps in the corner that is making Laurel drool all over her math homework.

I think I like this little GO! Had I used a template and hand cut all those, I'd be doing it until next week. I've always wanted to try curved piecing but have hesitated because the cutting scared me. Yeah, I know, my grandmother would have done it. But you know what? If she could have, she would have used one of these GO! cutters in a heartbeat.

I've got the Double Wedding Ring dies too. Just waiting for the right fabric to jump out at me so I can finally have one of those. Squeee! So excited for that!

In the meantime, I'm taking a break from my string quilt and prepping some other projects. It's kinda fun.

Merging

2011-07-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

No, this blog post is not about traffic. Traffic does not exist where I live now. I don't miss Seattle's traffic either. Not even a little bit.

But I said it wasn't about traffic!

It's just about me possibly bringing back together all the branching out I tried to do a while back. Did you know I have a blog just about cake baking? And one dedicated to just Sunday cookies (a tradition in the household I grew up in)? I also started one all about my quest for my Southern cooking heritage. And then there's the one I've done with friends about tasty dinner recipes for families. I like that one a lot.

So here's my dilemma. Do I merge them all into this one? Do I keep things separate? Here's an insight into my brain - I dream of being compartmentalized and organized and everything neatly in it's place. I like my separate blogs. I haven't done much with them, but that's only because I was in school and life was crazy and I couldn't do it all. But I could just use separate categories for things all on this blog. Cakes, cookies, Southern cooking, dinner recipes, etc.

Thoughts? I don't really want this blog to be all about sewing and quilting, for two reasons. One, that's not what being a domestic goddess is all about - there is so much more to it! Two, that's not all I'm interested in.

What I've been up to . . .

2011-07-01T15:06:00.000-07:00

String quilts are HARD! I mean, I know they are easy to put together, straight seams, randomness, yada, yada. But that randomness takes planning. And time. I have to pick out the set of 6 or 7 strips I'm going to use for that block, iron them all, then sew each one, iron it out, repeat. And then do it again for the other color.

I've got 25 blocks done. I've got I-don't-know-how-many to go. I'd like to make one big enough for my bed. We'll see how far my strips o' fabric go. I've got more orange than yellow.

Just for the record - I'm not complaining. I'm having a blast and I've got my little sewing room and all is well.

Progress!

2011-06-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

Well, and why not start with my favorite block? This is my all-time favorite Christmas fabric. I'm hording it like food storage. But I did fussy cut 20 squares and turned them into these blocks - this is just my favorite one - love the present.

I love red and white for Christmas. LOVE it. There is a touch o' green in there, and I'm debating on adding some little fussy cut green tree fabric with the sashing for some popping green color - but not too much. Thoughts? The sashing is a white on white snowflake print (Micheal Miller again) and I think the little bit o' green would be nice, or would it be too much? Voice your opinion!
This is the Easy As Cake quilt from Moda Bake Shop. It came together rather quickly, and isn't meant to be anything special other than something to get us through our first Moscow Christmas. I'm thinking that I'll have enough Christmas quilts to hand out to my little family this year. That will be fun!
Just some happy red and white HSTs. I have another one in the works, although I'll do it as a barn raising quilt this time. More Christmas quilts!
I made two versions of this Jelly Filled quilt - I separated out the greens/blues and the pinks/oranges/yellows. It will make for two smaller quilts, but I'm happy with them. Just good, snuggle on the couch quilts once I add the borders.
Version two - I think I like this one a bit more, but is that even a surprise?
I'm loving the Double Hourglass quilt, even if there is a mistake. Can you see it? Yet another reason why I need a design wall so that I'm not hurrying to get those blocks off the floor before a little helper rearranges them. So one block got flipped. Once I spotted it, I wasn't super keen on fixing it. We'll live.

Yes, I need to improve my photography skills. Working on it, I promise. I need a better camera (and one that doesn't disappear on me).

I also finished some coin purses/wallets that will be handy little gifts. No pics and I still need to put snaps on them. Made a shark one for William and a cupcake one for Laurel. I'm wanting to make a matchy-matchy bag/coin purse/laptop sleeve for me. Too cutesy, or just right?

Well, happy sewing. I'm about to dive into my string quilt and that may consume the rest of June and most of July. But I want it for my bed, so it's got to be big!

Back in the Saddle Again

2011-06-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

I'm giddy to be back in the sewing saddle. Although we're not completely unpacked, the important rooms of the house are in functioning order - the kitchen (including an entire closet for my baking "stuff" - Aaron thinks I should be embarrassed by this, but I'm not!), the garage (read: MAN CAVE) and my sewing space. We opted to make all the sleeping rooms downstairs, which meant that I get the master bedroom for my sewing space. It's huge! Granted, I have to share it with my little homeschoolers and artists, but I don't mind.

And I set up my new BFF - my Juki, which is the champion thoroughbred I knew she would be. With her help, and the help of a fenced backyard, I've finished a lot of unfinished projects. Pictures to come - I want nicer, outside ones, and the weather isn't always cooperative here in Moscow.

But here's the list:

Finished my two Dream On Jelly Filled quilts
Finished my red and white HST Christmas quilt
Finished my Double Hourglass Christmas quilt
Finished my Easy as Cake Christmas quilt
Got started on my Holiday Hostess quilt

There's so much more I want to do! Make Christmas stockings, finish a gazillion other quilt tops, actually quilt all these quilt tops (waiting for August/September for that).

Life is great! Hope yours is too! Pics of finished quilt tops to be posted by this weekend (with cooperative weather!).

A New Baby Girl to Sew For!!!

2011-05-18T22:27:00.001-07:00

Yep, that's right. I've got a new baby girl to sew for!

Oh, the fun stuff I get to make this summer and fall.

Okay, back to packing and writing papers.

Can't Help Myself

2011-05-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

Couldn't stand it - I have to finish my degree. Still, it will only be two classes, which will leave me plenty o' time for other things, like getting settled in to our new little home. I've got projects galore that will hopefully get me organized. Time will tell.

Just an update. No pics. I'm lame. But I'll take some of my sewing space when I get moved in to it (T-minus 24 days and counting).

And, in case you think I've been wasting time, here's what I've got to do this week:

Critique 2 novel chapters for novel writing class
Write an 8 page paper on a poet - not fun
Start a 12 page paper on 1920s English literature and art - sorta fun
Research for both papers
Write a poem
Pack as many boxes as possible in between times
Oh, cook meals
Ultrasound on Thursday, where we will hopefully find out pink or blue
Meet with summer quarter professors to set up independent study
Pay bills
Give notice on house
Outing to the Killer Whale Museum in Friday Harbor on, well, Friday

That's all I can think of for now. But see? I want to be sewing. I'm itching to sew. But I can't do it. Literally - everything is already packed away. Sigh.

I'll be back in the saddle soon. Promise.

A Productive Summer Awaits

2011-04-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

Shhh. Don't tell on me, but I might just spend the summer NOT going to school.

Yes, I will be one quarter, just two classes, shy of my degree. Right now, "so what?" is my defense.

We haven't had a summer off from school for 5 years - either Aaron or I have been in classes full-time.

We're moving to Moscow, possibly in June, so I can't finish right now. It's cool. Moving in, getting settled, checking out our new town, heck, our new backyard, is going to be great. Also, making friends is kinda important too. So when I have this baby, I'm not asking complete strangers to watch my kids while we go to the hospital. Just thinking I might not be too comfortable with that.

So I've all kinds of projects to do when we get there. Laundry bags - wait till I tell you how cute those will be. Lego cinch sacks. Ditto the cinch sacks for train tracks. Some storage bins for Laurel's doll clothes and accessories. Fun stuff like that. Easy projects. Loving it.

So, next Sunday will be pictures of my plans. They are going to be awesome!

Where I've been...

2011-04-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's been over a month.

I can 'splain.

Back at the beginning of March, I got a big ol' bonk on the head. My first (and hopefully last) concussion. Not fun, let me tell you.

No one knows really how long they take to recover from. I'm going on 4 weeks now and still not back to normal. Reading is still difficult to do. I haven't even wanted to get out my sewing machine. yes, it's been that bad!

So that's where I've been. I'll be back in the sewing saddle soon (I hope). We're gearing up for our big move at the end of the summer and I've still got to graduate. But I'll be doing some sewing in there as well. I've been going crazy without it.

Someday...

2011-02-23T06:43:00.000-08:00

Do you ever find yourself saying things like:

"Someday I'll get to sew more."

"Someday I will be able to sew without a little person in my lap/on the table/asking for milk/touching my fabric with sticky fingers."

"Someday . . . "

I'm feeling that way lately. I've got so many, SO MANY, projects in the works. I can barely make a dent in them. Why?

Hmmmm, let's see.

I'm in school full time. 15 credits. Lots of homework.

I have four children and am pregnant with my fifth. I'm currently dealing with nausea like never before and am totally exhausted. All. The. Time.

I homeschool two of our children.

I will be moving in six months. Just before baby is due. Awesome. The stress from that alone is killing me!

I am starting to sound whiny. I don't mean to. I love my life and and so blessed to have the opportunity to finish my degree. But I'd be a big ol' liar if I didn't 'fess up and say I just want to be home with my babies and sewing machine.

I will post pictures shortly of what I've been working on. Some doll dresses, some quilt blocks. Good times.

Breathing out...

2011-02-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you are overwhelmed?

There are those bumper stickers that say stuff like:

"When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping!"

Well, that's not me, entirely. I go shopping for ideas for projects. I've got the fabric. So, when the going gets tough for me, I get sewing. It's my therapy. It has a certain sense of accomplishment, no matter how small.

Case in point. Yesterday afternoon, after homeschooling lessons were done, I got out the sewing machine. I sewed together four strip sets of five honeybun strips each. Not much. But it put a tiny dent in something I'm working on. It is quantifiable and definite. I like that.

I also realized that one of the classes I'm taking is not bringing me all that much satisfaction. I took it because I needed another class, not because I need this class in particular. Unfortunately, the time of day was awful for me (1:30? Give me an 8:30 class!), the professor was knowledgeable but talked on and on for an hour and a half, and the reading material was dry, dry, dry.

So I dropped it. It is so liberating to have my schedule magically free up like that.

So I can sew again! And craft with Laurel!

I've got a little secret . . .

2011-02-07T19:09:00.000-08:00

First, don't you wish you had lips like that? Oh, just me. Okay then.

Second, I've got a secret. A good one. But I can't tell.

I know, Aaron is always telling me that two people keep a secret . . . if one of them is dead. Nice, huh? But true. But see, I'm not telling you the secret. Just telling you that I have one.

But I will tell this much (can you tell I hate keeping secrets?):

It involves my laptop, some colored pencils, scissors, tape, posterboard, and eventually a jelly roll (that's fabric speak for 40 2.5" strips rolled together for those not in the know).

More to be revealed later.

You are what you sew...

2011-02-01T02:51:00.000-08:00

I read something just now that got me to thinking. Another blogger made the point that when we make something, it always describes how we are feeling, that it is a representation of who we are. Well, I can buy into that.

I love bright colors. I love sunshine. I miss sunshine! When it's gray and dreary, I crave bright, vibrant colors. Is it any wonder this is what I'm working with these days?

Plus, a big ol' box of yellow and orange strips for a string quilt, and some left over for a HST quilt. Yep, I'm craving sunshine alright.

Sew Much Fun!

2011-01-29T12:31:00.000-08:00

This will not be an attempt to insert "sew" puns. But I must admit that I had a fabulously good time. It's lovely to spend an evening with women you have something in common with, and then talk and find out that you have more.

Here's my thing. I love Relief Society at church. I love that we have our faith, give or take, in common. But that does not a friendship make. And since we rarely get the opportunity to discover the other things we have in common, we're just a bunch of women who share a common faith.

Which is why I'll be forever grateful that my friend from church discovered the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild, picked me up last night and introduced me around. It was fun. I got some sewing done. I got out of the house for a few hours. I was inspired to work on more projects.

These women weren't just "hobby" quilters. Many were working on quilts as gifts for new babies, cancer patients. Still others were planning on participating in the Little Dresses for Africa project. They do service. They donate quilts to local shelters. It's awesome.

The lesson for me: that goodness, charity, kindness and companionship can be found anywhere.

Can't wait for the next sew-in!

Gearing up!

2011-01-25T08:34:00.001-08:00

You know that nervous and excited feeling you get before the first day of school? When you wonder if you'll make any new friends? And you're excited to learn?

Just me? I hope not.

I've got that feeling because this Friday, at 6:30, I'm attending my very first sew-in with the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild. I don't consider my quilts very modern, but I guess they are. I'm just not one to categorize things, I suppose. But I digress.

So I'm sewing together my Oh Cherry Oh honey bun strips so I can have the blocks ready to sew at the party, I mean, sew-in. I'm going with a friend, Rendy, so I'll know at least one person there.
This means I have to be a good girl and get my homework done and have dinner ready for my husband and let him run away on Friday afternoon so he's refreshed and ready to parent through bedtime. He's awesome and it's gonna be so great!

Voters wanted!

2011-01-16T18:56:00.000-08:00

Edited post!!

First, I have no idea how to add pictures to my blog in the places I want them.

This is my third option, listed first. String quilt. Half square triangles. With a twist. And I like twists (usually cinnamon twists, but this will work).

I was going to make something using this tutorial on Moda Bake Shop. Bright, fun, cute, easy.

Then, while I should have been studying, I remembered this quilt block from p.s. i quilt, featured in the Quiltmakers 100 blocks. It's completely adorable, and I do like the inclusion of the white - makes it a smidge less busy and definitely allows me to make a bigger quilt with my fabric.

So, voters, which should I make? I won't say which way I'm leaning, since I'm back and forth on it. Although now that I've found the one over at Sew Katie Did, I'm shamelessly favoring that one. But tell me watcha think!

Democracy will prevail! Help me.

I should do a giveaway to encourage feedback, but I honestly can't think of anything to give away. How 'bout the winner gets the scraps when I'm done? For a ticker tape quilt?

Let's Try This Again...

2011-01-14T11:05:00.000-08:00

Organization took precedence last weekend, and all I got to do was a little bit of ironing on my jelly roll. So this weekend I'm going to get the cutting done. Well, some of it let's say.

And then, on Saturday night, a double date. I haven't been on a double date in forever. But it should be fun and we're going here:
for fantastic Greek food and then to Seattle Pie Co. for amazing pie! I'm so excited!

Have a great weekend! What do you have planned?

Plans for the Weekend

2011-01-07T06:41:00.000-08:00

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away!

When the sky looks like that quite a bit, is it any wonder that I'm drawn to fabric lines like Dream On and Sunkissed?

If I'm a very good girl, and get my homework done (read at least one book and start a second), I can play around with these. Just to stay loose, keep my craft bug going.

Oh, who am I kidding. It's like dangling a carrot in front of a horse. It's what keeps me going. My carrots are just in fabric form.

And we're getting a piano! So excited. I've already ordered some self-teaching books and I have a teacher for Laurel sorted out (mostly).

So excuse me while I go read a very interesting book about women in the Klan. Seriously.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T10:39:00.001-08:00

I figure that since this blog is all about me and my interests (rather than the family blog), I can have separate New Year's Resolutions. And pictures of some of them too!

First. Get my hands on one of these babies.

Then figure out how to machine quilt on them and quilt the dozen quilts that are languishing in my laundry/sewing room.

Second. I MUST have this cake for my birthday this year. This is the third year in a row that I've wanted it and, by darn, I'm getting one.
I have two Oh Cherry Oh (yes, it's an obsession) honey buns that are going to become a quilt using this pattern on Moda Bake Shop. Super fun and bright.
I fell in love with this pattern and fabric and went ahead and ordered the jelly roll and pattern for it. I just need to get the background fabric and backing and binding and get to work. Pattern purchased here. I'll be using the Sunkissed line and it's another super bright and cheery quilt.
I've got another project in the works using the Sunkissed line, but it's going to be someone's Christmas next year, so it has to remain a secret.

I've had this pattern for quite a while. I saw a Dream On jelly roll on sale and decided I would cave and make a quilt out of it. I love the citrus-y colors of that line. I think I'm just responding to the gray skies over Seattle.

Also on my list to finish/work on:

my orange/yellow string quilt - I hit a snag and decided I wanted bigger blocks. So I've got to figure that out before I move on with it.
I'm thinking I'm going to use the Sugar Twist pattern to make a "lemon twist" quilt - or citrus twist using my orange/yellow fabrics (I've got quite a bit!).
Lots and lots of doll dresses!
Finish my Delft Blue Dutch pinwheel blocks and sew them together.
Finish my strawberry print double pinwheels quilt.
Make my Christmas tree quilt.
Sew together my double hourglass quilt blocks - need lots of floor space for this one!
Sew together another Christmas quilt - again, need lots of floor space for this one!
Finish my red/white diagonal stripe HST quilt (just two rows to sew on).
Sew together my off-center diamond HST orange/yellow quilt.
Sew together my red/white HST barn raising quilt.
Sew my Holiday Hostess Christmas quilt.

And those are just the things I can think of right now! Sheesh. I'm crazy, with school and all going on besides. But this is honestly my therapy, the thing that keeps me sane. And during the school quarter, I prep projects, do the busy, boring cutting parts so that when I have a break, I can just sit and sew. It works for me.

I'm also debating taking the summer off so I can play and sew and all that. But we'll see how the year plays out.

Ho Ho Ho!

2010-12-30T06:30:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

First, I'm grateful for the lovely Christmas that arrived for my children. They are all happy with their new toys. Thank you for remembering that socks and underwear are lame gifts. As always, you remembered batteries. You are truly a wonder. You were a smidge noisier than in years past. I realize that some noise is necessary ("arose such a clatter" and all), but did you have to knock those photos off the wall? Yes, they are non-believers, but they are family.

I do have one teensy-tiny complaint. It seems you must have forgotten something for me. Was it the rain here in Seattle that threw you off, you being used to snow? Or maybe our lack of chimney (although rumor has it you can conjure one up if needed)? I received some lovely things in my stocking (notably chocolate things), but no gift card for fabric. Since I was rather specific in the fabrics I wanted, I was sure I would find them wrapped under the tree.

Imagine my disappointment upon discovering there was no fabric-shaped gift under the tree for me, especially after I baked your favorite chocolate chip cookies (by the way, here is the recipe for Mrs. Claus, but please tell her she must be strong and wait the requisite 24 hours before baking, no matter how much you beg).

Santa, I rarely ask for gifts, and typically turn the gifts I do receive into outlets for gift giving (my Kitchenaid being the workhorse around here for Christmas cookies). Some lovely little fat quarters would have been most welcome, and would have made a wonderful quilt for one of my star-eyed little ones to snuggle under.

I've contacted your customer service elves who instructed me to contact you directly. I'm sure we can clear this up. A mistake must have been made. You were most likely exhausted, having taken care of Europe, Africa, South America and the Eastern U.S. before arriving in soggy Seattle. Perhaps you were expecting a latte with your cookies (sorry, we're a non coffee drinking family). My apologies if you were. You certainly polished off the cookies and milk.

There is a giveaway going on at p.s. i quilt. If you've got any pull, I think a $50 shopping spree at fat quarter shop would fit the bill and save you a return trip to Seattle - it's horrendously gray this time of year. You just have a lovely vacation somewhere warm and let me make a quilt so I can keep warm too. I'm running out of hot chocolate.

Sincerely,

Jennie

p.s. If you happened to drop two gifts, my birthday is in March and I'd be ever so grateful for a new sewing machine. I realize it's off-season, but I have been very understanding about this whole gift-dropping business. Just saying.

Sunday Show and Tell

2010-12-19T13:51:00.000-08:00

Here's a modeling show if what I've been finishing up this week. Kit volunteered to model her new clothes for me. I am so excited to give these little dresses to Laurel (and a couple for Grace!). And so I introduce the lovely Kit.

Here she is wearing a sundress with matching hat. I am making a little white t-shirt to go underneath because we believe in modesty, even for our dolls! Pattern: McCalls 5554

I discovered BunnyBear, who designs historically accurate patterns for American Girl dolls. This is one of the dresses from the 1930s line, #9361.

A little party dress. After making the BunnyBear designs, I'm less interested in patterns from the big pattern companies. They just don't have that polished look. But it's a fun dress anyway. Laurel loves it, and that is what counts the most.

Another dress (this one's for Grace) from BunnyBear.

Another BunnyBear pattern (I'm starting to feel like a commercial for them!) - this one is the Emily dress from the 1940s. LOVE this one. This one is on it's way tomorrow to Grace as well.

Another sundress, same pattern.

This cherry dress is, without a doubt, my favorite one. I love everything about it, especially that red collar. I might go crazy and make Laurel a matching one - I have plenty of that cherry print.

Another one...

A blue butterfly Emily dress. I played around with the collar and cuffs. I think I'd rather have them be white/contrasting from now on. But I like it just fine and Laurel likes it too.

I've got a sitter for tomorrow afternoon so I can sew up my bean bag fish. Then I HAVE to sew that apron. It's a quick sew, so I'll be done with it by Tuesday evening. I might work in a new batch of stockings before Friday, but it's not a priority. I've also got some dinosaurs to make. And a birthday present to make and ship after Christmas.

Happy sewing! Just five days to go!

We have two winners!

2010-12-18T00:25:00.000-08:00

Wow! 442 comments later, we have two winners.

For the patterns, I offer you #253, Stephanie Zito, whose favorite holiday treats are shortbread cookies. Those are quite popular around here.

And for the fabric, I offer you #133, Kathy, who loves snickerdoodles.

I've e-mailed you both, and congratulations.

Thanks to those of you who chose to become followers. I'd thought of making that an extra entry, but I'd rather you become a follower because you really want to, not because you just want another entry. It's like bribing people to be your friends. I'm not down with that.

As for holiday treats, I'm now seriously craving shortbread, gignerbread, English toffee, sugar cookies, stollen, linzer cookies, and peanut brittle. And I just discovered a recipe on Martha Stewart's website (yes, I'm a HUGE fan!) for pecan pie with English toffee bits in it. How spectacular is that? Totally going on my Christmas day menu!

Tomorrow I'm posting photos of finished Christmas items - I've been a busy little elf this week. I've already posted some on Wednesday - more to come tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-15T22:23:00.000-08:00

Giveaway is here!

To Do Tuesday

2010-12-14T06:56:00.001-08:00

First, if you're looking for the giveaway, it's still up! Never fear! Just click on the link or scroll down. And thanks to all who've left comments - it's been so fun and I'm already wanting recipes!

Okay my friends - here's my list for this week:

Sew blue/brown Emmeline apron - it's all cut out and ready to go.
Sew black/lime Emmeline apron - this one is for my awesome friend who's been babysitting for me.
Sew art journals for kiddos.
Cut and sew fish bean bags.
Sew doll dress.
Finish doll blanket.

Actually, this brings to mind a question. In years past, I could do my Christmas sewing with my kids right there - currently, there is not the space for a separate sewing room for moi. Now, I have curious little eyes with lots of questions, usually: "Is that for me?"

What to do? Stay up late? Make the husband take them away? Now my boys, all I have to do is put on a movie. But my girl - she is one curious little bee. I'll for sure have to do hers late at night. Rats. No early bedtimes for me!

Happy sewing! And, my apologies for no pictures this time. Promise to have several for Wordless Wednesday.

Giveaway Time!

2010-12-12T22:30:00.000-08:00

It's giveaway time at Sew, Mama, Sew!

I've got two. The first - Patterns! A Portabellapixie dress pattern and Heather Bailey's stacking baby toy pattern.

The second: three half-yard cuts of some Christmas-y fabrics.

What do you have to do to enter?

Leave a comment telling me your favorite holiday treat. My favorite would have to be spritz cookies - batch after batch and I can't get enough of them. But I'm also a fan of caramels and Russian tea cakes and now I'm starting to miss baking with my mom, so go ahead and comment away. One entry per person please. Giveaway is open until the 17th. Winner will be announced on the 18th and I'll ship on the 20th. Deal?

Awesome. I'm so excited!

The Apron I'm Making

2010-12-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

Honestly, I needed a quick distraction from this blasted paper I'm writing. So I'm blogging about fabric.

Here are the three fabrics for the Emmeline apron I'm making for the wife of a friend at church. He said she likes blues and browns. Well, it's his lucky Christmas, because Moda's Pure collection is a stunning one, and all blue and brown.

Side A

Side B

The binding and ties and neck strap

Will she love it? I hope so! I know I would!

To Do Tuesday

2010-12-07T02:25:00.000-08:00

Friday is the ward Christmas party. I signed up to bring something from my "heritage" - y'all should know by now that I claim my Southern heritage first and foremost. So I'm bringing a glorious coconut cake.

Our ward did a service auction a couple of months ago. I put up for auction a custom apron. It was a hot item, and there were quite a few disappointed ladies when it was all over. Well, one very perceptive husband, who listens this time of year when his wife mentions she likes something, contacted me - he's a friend of my husband. He asked me to make his wife one of my aprons. He even knew what her favorite colors were (how many husbands can readily have that info available). I ordered the fabric and it got here yesterday and it's gorgeous! Now I want one in blues and browns! So that will be cut out this week and stitched up next week so I can get it to him in time for Christmas. Can I say that I love being an elf?

Here are some preliminary ideas. I'm thinking ours will just have one big hole for the shark's mouth. Y'all are going to be so impressed with Aaron's awesome artistic skills, I promise.

And this is about how basic I'm going to get with my fish - in fact, I just downloaded a picture of Goldfish crackers and blew it up for my pattern! Aaron says I should make them all orange, but I'm thinking lots of colors would be more fun.

Happy crafting! I cannot wait for school to be done so I can get serious about all these plans. One more week and I'm a free woman. Just one week.

Fuzzy Math

2010-12-04T22:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is a test. Ready?

What do you get when you add plywood+grey spray paint+fabric+navy beans?

We'll find out on Christmas.

Wanna know how? Okay, here it is. I have three little boys. They have a lot of energy. This is a blessing and a curse. In the winter, in Seattle, it's more curse-ish. William walks around like a caged mountain lion in the wintertime.

I've been burning brain cells trying to figure out a fun, homemade gift for these boys of mine for Christmas. Laurel is easy. Coloring wallet, doll dresses, doll blankets, heck, a bag of fabric scraps! But what to make for my boys that they would honestly love? Tough.

The solution is so beautiful, and it also involves Aaron and I doing it together, which makes me even happier. I'm making fish shaped bean bags for the boys with their initials on them (5 or 6 each). Aaron is going to cut a plywood bean bag toss thing in the shape of a shark with the hole being the shark's mouth. He's going to use his awesome artistic skills to paint it and I just know it's going to be the coolest present ever. I can't wait!

This will be a tough one - we'll have to hide it at Uncle John's house (who fortunately has the woodworking tools Aaron will need for this). The bean bags will be a bit easier to hide. Cutting and sewing them might prove more difficult...

I love Christmas! I love coming up with ideas for people.

Oh, and I practically wore out my rotary cutter this morning. I prepped a whole mess of quilting stuff so when I finish school in a week (HOORAY!) I can get busy. I'll have to work on my kids' gifts at night. Priority is the stuff being shipped - that's gotta get done first and in the mail. Then I'll get stuff done for home.

Isn't She Pretty?

2010-12-03T13:25:00.001-08:00

Replaced my MIA rotary cutter.

You see those lovely shadows? That is sunlight - an unusual occurrence here in Seattle. And it's sunlight coming through my Christmas tree. Can't beat that, can you?

If I can crank out a paper and get some homework done today, I'll be able to use this girl.

Non-Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

When you're worried and you can't sleep,
Just count your blessings instead of sheep.
Then you'll fall asleep counting your blessings.

That is most definitely how I feel today. But I have so many blessings that I slept just fine.

I meant to post pictures of my amazing accomplishments yesterday. But I didn't get to sew last night. The group that was in the community center didn't leave on time.

So I will sew this weekend. It's okay. I have a paper to write anyway. It's no secret I'd rather be sewing instead though.

To Do Tuesday

2010-11-30T06:38:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go...

Okay, it's the last day of November. That's Christmas season, y'all. And it's especially looking like Christmas in my sewing room (what passes for a sewing room around here - I'll give you the grand tour another day).

I have our community center reserved for tonight for a little sewing party. Might just be me and Rendy, but we're going to be busy bees working on Christmas. Here's what's on my list for tonight:

Sew at least one new dress for Kit

William's boy doll

Just discovered this art journal here and I must make them for my munchkins. I might even get one too!

Can I just say that I'm longing for the days when handmade goods were appreciated as gifts? At church, instead of choosing gifts, maybe even making them and then wrapping them, now we are instructed to just buy gift cards. It's just so cold and impersonal to me. I'd love to make a little girl a doll and blanket and one of these art journals. Now, it's just about giving people money.

It makes me glad for those who do still appreciate handmade gifts. I'm even making a commissioned apron for a friend at church - he's one of those perceptive husbands who listens when his wife says she likes something. Well, she told him I made pretty aprons and he e-mailed my husband and we picked out fabric and now I'm making an apron for her. I hope she likes it. I'll take pictures, of course!

But that comes after my finals and such. Classes officially end on the 10th, and I have just one final on the 13th.

And here's my early Christmas present - I discovered yesterday that I will graduate in June, if all goes as planned! Hooray!

My Christmas Kitchen

2010-11-29T14:11:00.000-08:00

Corrie over at retro mummy is the inspiration for this post. So here's what will be coming out of my kitchen this Christmas - some are traditions and some will become such.

The first - peanut brittle. Aaron is not a cookie man, and we paid out quite a bit for a baking and pastry education, so let's produce some candy! He gets a tin of this every year under the tree. I'll have to make more this year though - Laurel is a fan now too!

Next: December 15th will be our family Doughnut Fry. A family friend back in Kennewick has been doing this their whole married life and we're officially adopting it this year. We love doughnuts and we like our friends and family. Aaron chose the date because it is not only part of the Christmas season but because it also celebrates Bill of Rights day. Yes, we're flag-waving Americans around here and proud of it.
This coconut cake is heavenly. I just made one for Thanksgiving and I'll be making one for our church Christmas party.
Aaron and I fell in love with these coconut macaroons this year. We have some special family members whose favorite cookies are coconut macaroons. Will be shipping some out in December!
Spritz cookies. It's all about the butter. I've been making them for years, first with my mom, now with my kids. We like the tree shapes and the stars. I don't want to think about how many pounds of butter I will use up creating gift tins for friends. I know some people like to give a variety of treats, but I like to give just a bunch of one thing. It's easy on me, they taste great and the kids don't fight over them.
Course, I have to get through my finals first before I start baking. But I'll be going to the store to stock up on butter and sugar. 'Tis the season.

Can I leave it up forever?

2010-11-28T20:30:00.000-08:00

Loving my new blog decorations. I'm limited at home regarding decorations for Christmas. Still creating what I want. In the meantime, I thought the blog could use something fun.

Busy week this week - and some sewing time on Tuesday night. Getting together with my sewing buddies for a few hours after bedtime. I'm super excited to get some projects done for Christmas.

You. Must. Try. These!

2010-11-25T17:34:00.000-08:00

Okay, my first Thanksgiving dinner as hostess was a success. The turkey was perfect, the gravy was spectacular (well-worth the four, count 'em, four pounds of shallots), the dressing was yummy and the mashed potatoes were just dandy.

I have an oven space issues, however. As in, not enough. So I was wracking my brain, trying to figure out how everything was going to arrive on the table on time and hot. I was not leaving out my yams. Even if I was the only one eating them.

Enter my gorgeous slow cooker. This girl has been coming to my rescue more often than I'd like to think. So I did a little Googling and lo and behold, it's been done. Candied yams in the slow cooker. I just peeled, sliced, layered with brown sugar and white sugar and butter and four hours later, awesomeness. I kid not. Oh, and I pulsed the sugars with the scrapings from a vanilla bean. When they were all done, I put the yams and most of the liquid in my mixer and whipped them up. Topped with marshmallows (don't judge) and I was in yam heaven.

This one is on the list every year now. I will get my kids to eat them. Who wouldn't like something with toasted marshmallows on top?

And now that I've fed my husband one of the best meals he's ever had (he can't stop going on about that gravy), maybe he'll fix my sewing machine tonight so I can sew tomorrow. Homework can wait. I need some crafting time.

Happy Thanksgiving all! I hope it was a lovely day for everyone!

My Thanksgiving Menu

2010-11-23T14:16:00.000-08:00

Because we're on our own for Thanksgiving this year, and because I know, I just know, that my kids will most likely eat only a few things on the menu, I'm making what sounds good to me.
Here it is, in all it's excess and glory (links provided when possible):

Herb-Roasted Turkey with Shallot Pan Gravy

Sausage, Cranberry, and Pecan Stuffing

Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Rolls - lots and lots of rolls from my zoji

Ambrosia - Gran's recipe, and this is all for me - oranges, coconut, pecans and maraschino cherries - Heaven!

Mom's Famous Orange Jell-o - and I even have the Jadeite green mold just like hers - I searched and searched on e-bay for one for quite a while. This is the. best. jell-o. ever. It's orange jell-o, boiling water, orange sherbet instead of cold water and a can o' mandarin oranges, drained. Awesomeness. We've been eating it in our family for years and years. I can't imagine Thanksgiving without it.

Brown-Sugar Glazed Yams with Marshmallows - I must have these. I will eat them all myself if needed.

Brussels Sprouts with Onion and Bacon - Aaron and I share a deep and abiding love for brussels sprouts. Yeah, we're weirdos.

Carrots with Shallots, Sage and Thyme - my kids love carrots, so we'll see if they eat these

And for dessert:

Chocolate bundt cake - for the kids
Pumpkin tarts - for Aaron
Lemon tarts - for me (I might share for Laurel)

I'm not meaning to exclude my kids from the process. I know what they will eat (turkey, potatoes, maybe carrots, definitely jell-o and rolls for sure) and I know that I want more than just kid friendly food. I also want them to see adults enjoying different things. James and Will can be quite adventurous if they see Aaron and I enjoying something.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Thanksgiving Plans!

2010-11-21T14:42:00.000-08:00

I have big plans for this four-day weekend coming up. They are primarily centered on my family and feeling grateful, but I've got other things on my plate too. Such as:

catching up on homework, maybe getting ahead (don't count on it - how boring!)
fixing my sewing machine (today) so I can work on some projects
Of those projects, I think I can crank out two Christmas quilts
avoiding any shopping like the plague - I know there are great deals, but dealing with crowds of bargain hunters is not my idea of fun. I'll stay home with the leftovers.
decorating the "kid" Christmas tree - we bought a tiny one years ago and it's going in the kids' room this year.
decorating the house for Christmas - getting ready for the Christmas tree

That's a good list, isn't it?

Okay, I might go buy one thing. A rotary cutter. Mine is clearly not wishing to be found. I cleaned (and I mean REALLY cleaned) yesterday and still no sign. It's gotta be hiding under the washer/dryer or something. So rotary cutters and blades are on sale at JoAnn's for $6.99 on Black Friday. I'll be there at 6 a.m. (or whenever they open - I'm up early anyway) to get one so I can use my fabric therapy for finals coming up.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving week!

Hot date

2010-11-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

No, silly, I do not have a hot date with Gordon Ramsay. I'm a married woman. He's married. But I could have a smidgen of a culinary crush on him. Just a smidge.

No, the hot date is with my awesome husband who is as much a Hell's Kitchen junkie as I am. We don't have a TV, but we do watch our HK episodes on fox.com. We were going through withdrawals a few weeks back during the World Series. But Chef is back and we're watching the latest tonight. SO excited.

And then we get to fix my sewing machine together. The old girl needs her tension fixed so she can get me through the holidays and continue to provide fabric therapy for me. Poor girl - she needs a break!

That is all. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I win a Go cutter. Because a little business idea is bouncing around in my brain and I'm wondering how great it is. We shall see.

Have a lovely weekend!

Go! Giveaway round 2

2010-11-18T21:51:00.000-08:00

Yet another Go! Giveaway, this time over at Simply Solids.

I've got big plans for one so it would be awesome if I could win one instead of buy one. But we'll see. Here's hoping the random number generator works in my favor this time around!

When life gives you grapefruits....

2010-11-17T17:07:00.000-08:00

(also known as Jennie can't find her flippin' rotary cutter!)

You make do, that's what you do. And let Aaron eat the grapefruits.

I've had a ginormous stack o' HSTs that need to be cut - because they aren't quite yet HSTs. Do I need to explain?

So I sat down with my new scissors, my stack o' blocks and started cutting. Sure makes me appreciate that little wonder of a rotary cutter that is still in hiding.

But I got something done, so that makes me feel good.

Still, I'm running out of projects to do that don't require a rotary cutter or a wonky-tension sewing machine.

So Here's a Question....

2010-11-16T16:13:00.000-08:00

I love my husband.

He can fix lots of things.

But he can't fix everything, although he tries. He has successfully extracted many many pins that little fingers have stored inside my sewing machine. But, in the process, he has also made some adjustments to my sewing machine that are giving me unsatisfactory results.

My tension is off. WAY off. So now he has to take it all apart, again, and try to figure things out. He refuses to let me spend money to have someone else look at it. Not that he knows exactly what he's looking at all the time, but he's a figure-outer kinda guy. So I now have no sewing machine. Again.

I will grant you, he did figure out the blown fuse problem. That was pretty impressive.

I just want my machine back. I need the therapy time.

So I wish you happy crafting. I'm off to my corner to sulk until I get my rotary cutter found (turns out he put it somewhere - where, we still don't know) and my sewing machine back.

Winner Winner

2010-11-15T08:06:00.001-08:00

I'll have to figure out how people post a picture of the random number generator. I have witnesses that I used it - I was going to just do eeny-meeny-miney-mo, but Aaron though I ought to do it the right way, even if there were only three of you.

I feel torn about this. It's like inviting your entire senior class to a party and three people showed up. But three awesome people, so who cares who missed it, right?

Okay, so the winner of the lovely fabric is (drumroll please):

Adrienne, who likes to sing the second and third verses of the national anthem. If you don't know them, look them up. The third is my most favorite, and here it is, in honor of our winner:

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto "In God is our trust!"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Okay, I got chills just typing that! We need to hear that verse more often. I'd tell you to e-mail me your address Adrienne, but I know it already. I'm thinking my next giveaway will be something that is finished. Little coin purse? Some Christmas potholders? I'm going to keep at this.

One other thing! There is a lovely giveaway over at Retro Mummy. Fat quarters - lots of them - in the sweetest prints imaginable. Just looking at them makes me baby hungry, but only if they are babies of the female variety. Adrienne, you are so lucky!

Okay, I'm blessed to have three awesome boys. But the girly stuff is beyond cute.

Finished!!!

2010-11-14T22:45:00.001-08:00

I just love finishing projects. Even little tiny, easy ones like these little beauties:

They whipped up so fast and simple - just have to put a snap on the inside and embellish the outside with a button or something else cute. Super fun and completely from scraps - that's always a great thing, right. So, friends and family, don't be surprised if you end up with one for Christmas!

And then there are big projects that just needed two rows to be done. And so, while introducing my children to the Sound of Music, I finished this off. It's a perfect, large, snuggle on the couch lap quilt size, although with some borders and binding, just might work for a twin. You know, I'm beginning to get serious about the twin beds in the master bedroom....

I also finished a few pillowcases for fun. That's the trouble I'm having these days. I have Christmas sewing that needs to get done, but I can no longer do it in front of my inquisitive little kids! So I'm stuck doing that at craft days (oh darn, need another one!). And I still cannot find my rotary cutter. Grrr. I'm beginning to run out of already prepped projects. Girl's gonna need that soon...

In the meantime, happy sewing!

Sewing Day Recap

2010-11-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

Since Rebecca asked, I might as well 'fess up. I did get some things going during my sewing day. I've just discovered how quickly piecing together a quilt is compared with fiddling with doll clothes. Love making the clothes for my girl and her dolly, but the hemming and gathering and facings and all that are time consuming! I almost completely finished a Christmas dress for Laurel's doll. That's it. Sheesh!

So I'm really glad I'll get to have yet another one of these days. Because I've got quite a bit of sewing to do in not a lot of time.

Happy Veteran's Day and a Giveaway!

2010-11-11T14:46:00.000-08:00

First, I have to say that I love this country and I love veterans. I'm married to one. I'm the granddaughter of two, the sister of two, and the friend of several. We owe a lot to these men and women who risk so much and sacrifice everything so that we can be free, and that others can be free too. Democracy and freedom isn't just for Americans.

Okay, now to the part that most are interested in. You are dying to hear about my super productive day, right? That's why you're here. Well, it was awesome. We had about 13 ladies show up all day and we got to visit and work and it was just what I wanted it to be. And we planned the next one, because we had such a good turn out and such a good time.

Oh, and the giveaway. If you don't know the routine, here it is:

For one entry, leave a comment. That's it. But to make it interesting, tell me your favorite patriotic song.
For two entries, link it to facebook or your blog. Or both, for three entries. Leave me a comment for each extra entry.

That's it. And you win what is pictured above - 4 half yard cuts of this lovely decor-weight fabric in blues and browns - perfect for fancy grocery bags or anything else you might think of. Giveaway closes Sunday and I'll announce a winner Monday.

Let's roll!

Go! Giveaway

2010-11-10T11:06:00.000-08:00

Before you get excited, I am not giving away a Go! cutter. Don't hate me.

But I am telling you to zip yourself over to Lavender Ridge and enter the giveaway (thereby reducing my chances, but I won't judge you).

If you win and you are my friend, please share. I will if I win!

Happy crafting - and look for my not-quite-as-exciting giveaway tomorrow.

To Do Tuesday

2010-11-09T09:52:00.000-08:00

I am up to my eyeballs in papers - papers about Marianne Moore, papers about some critic's opinion of Marianne Moore, my own poems to write (and I've written one about quilting, one about waiting tables, and one about ice cream - I take the advice of "write what you know" to heart).

But I'm getting giddy with excitement that Thursday is coming so soon. I have projects prepped and ready to go - doll clothes for Laurel and Grace, a boy doll for William (he's been asking for one!), dinosaur families for the kids, pillowcases, cute little clutches, bags, zipper pouches, and a sleeping bag for Will's doll. Phew. I won't get it all done, but won't it be fun to start it?

There's really just one thing on my to do list for today.

Find my rotary cutter.

So embarrassing, losing that. A child has not found it, as we have no bleeding fingers in my house presently. But I am at a loss. Just another reason why I need an entire room dedicated to sewing and cutting and crafting. Then the supplies don't have to leave their room.

Oh, and I will be having a giveaway on Thursday, in honor of my craft day on Veteran's Day. So be prepared to work for this giveaway (okay, not much, I promise). It's my first, so I hope it goes well.

What's on your to do list - even if it's not crafting?

To Do Tuesday

2010-11-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, even though I'd rather be creating something, I get to spend most of my week studying for a mid-term, writing the rough draft of a paper and celebrating three birthdays. That last one, that's the good one. I'm SO excited for birthday week this year. I've had their presents for two months now and it's KILLING me to have to keep them hidden. Ask Aaron. I'm terrible with secrets.

But I do get some time in the afternoons when I can't get any studying done and my kids are happily playing. So I've managed to almost finish my chimneys and cornerstones quilt top. My one craft goal for the week is to have it finished. Then we're off to Gran and Opa's house for a family party. Hooray!

Happy sewing!

Photo Cards - or why I don't do Christmas newsletters

2010-10-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

I don't do Christmas newsletters. I know, they are a way to catch everyone up on your family. But they just get so long. Some people do them by person. Some do them chronologically.

I'd prefer to let the pictures do the talking. If you want details, read the blogs, right?

So, here are my top choices for picture Christmas cards from Shutterfly. I've been a customer of theirs for years and they have always exceeded my expectations. This year, the cards to choose from are all so darn cute. What's really super is the chance to put more than just one or two photos on a card. We had some fantabulous pictures taken in September and I would love to use the individual ones of everyone on one of these cards. You can find th photo cards here.
This one is my all-time favorite, mostly because I can include so many photos. I don't like having to decide.

I really liked this one because I can just give you all a picture of my Christmas (year-round, really) blessings. But you want to see me, don't you? Nah. I look the same as I always do. It's my four little ones that change so quickly.

Love the blue. Really love it. We look good in blue.
Or dark blue. We look good in dark blue too.
Christmas cards aren't the only thing you can get. I'm ready to throw a party, and these invites just might make me do it.

We're starting our annual donut fry this year. Aaron's been wanting one ever since we attended the donut fries hosted by the Stites family in Kennewick. Well, he's strong-armed me into this year. Get this. We're having it on Bill of Rights day - anyone who knows Aaron will laugh and say that is so appropriate. This polka dot card is so me and would work perfectly.

Why don't we do tree-trimming parties anymore? Who do you invite to a tree-trimming party? Who cares? It's a party. It's for fun. Just another chance to get together. I want my holidays to be more about the people and less about the gifts. Maybe that's why there used to be so many get-togethers.
Really love this invite. Maybe for a cookie exchange? Or a Elf-fest (I'm seriously contemplating this one so I can get all my Christmas sewing done on time!).
And for those family members who have everything and you want to give them something truly personal, why not one of these? I chose my two favorite desk calendars for you.

So head on over to Shutterfly. Once I get my photo CD, I'm placing my order. Look for one in the mail! And if you want a card (or invite!) from me, send me your address!

I need a giveaway

2010-10-27T08:50:00.001-07:00

I've decided I need to do a giveaway. In honor of something.

But what?

Birthday week at my house next week? As in, three birthdays in four days? Nah, I'm already too busy!

Halloween? No, too soon!

Veteran's day? Actually, not a bad idea. My veteran is giving me the day to do some sewing. I think that would be a great day to host a giveaway. Now, for something fun to giveaway. I like winning supplies. Some people like finished things.

Share your thoughts!

To Do Tuesday

2010-10-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

Or why I love deadlines.

Trunk-or-treat is Saturday at 5. A certain little blondy-blue must be in costume by 4:45.

I have a deadline. I have the fabric cut out. I have read the instructions. I know what I'm doing. If I didn't have to sleep, I'd get a lot more done.

Finished product pictures forthcoming. By Saturday night!

Happy Halloween sewing!

Then I can get back to "me" sewing! Until I remember my Christmas deadline....

Weekend Recap

2010-10-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

Did I get all my homework done? You bet your sewing machine I did! When a girl's got some serious motivation, anything is possible.

I didn't work on what I'd planned. More on that later. Here's what I got done:

These adorable pinwheels - I've had this strawberry print forever. Actually, I made an apron out of it a couple years ago. I had a dozen 5" squares of it just sitting around. I got the Dream On green stripe, the Essential Dots bubblegum pink and this cute red check a couple weeks ago. Well, it just all came together. 12 blocks later, I'm in love. I'm going to add another white border to each block and then I'm going to do a scrappy bit of sashing between them.

A close up of the red pinwheel:

A close-up of the pink pinwheel:

A close-up of the green pinwheel:

Now, as to my original plan. I did get a whole six rows done on my chimneys and cornerstones. One small problem. I did not calculate correctly. I might have enough for 12 rows total, but it's not really what I envisioned. Or I could chop the six rows I have in half and make two baby quilts. What I will do with two girly baby quilts I don't know. But it's something. Thoughts? This is what the baby quilt would look like:

Finally, I was tooling around on flickr (it's a bigger problem for me than facebook these days). I found this picture and decided to figure out my own version. I'll be using the reds/pinks and greens from my Sparkle All the Way layer cake. I'm quite excited about this one. I got all the squares cut. It goes into the futures pile.

So it was a rocking productive weekend. I think a lot had to do with sending Aaron to the gun show on Saturday. Shh. He thought it was for him, but it was really for me. If I get him out of the house, I don't feel required to entertain him or find things for him to do. I always feel guilty about having projects I can do with the kids around. He gets a little stir crazy and I feel bad for him. All his hobbies (guns, motorcycles, models) are not child friendly. Not that I'd let my kids loose with the rotary cutter and we've already seen how many pins James can get inside my machine, but my hobbies aren't inherently dangerous.

So off he went to the gun show and I cranked out a stack o' quilt blocks. If I could have someone around to just iron pieces for me, I'd get so much more sewing done.

And now, I MUST get Laurel's costume done. It's all cut out. I think I'll be spending my afternoons getting it together.

Happy sewing!

Reward Time

2010-10-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

If I'm very good and focused, and get this done:

This, being a paper on Heart of Darkness, writing a poem, analyzing another poem, and writing yet another paper on yet another poem. If I'm really good and get that all done by tomorrow afternoon (well, the paper on HOD has to be done), then I get to play with this:

My Holiday Hostess quilt top

My Chimneys and Cornerstones quilt top - of which two, count 'em, two rows are already done! Hooray. I'd like to get this one done this weekend. But there is that Halloween costume to worry about as well. Not to worry. The Siamese kitty will be ready before next Saturday at 4:45 p.m.

Watcha think? Can she stay motivated? With rewards like this, I'm pretty sure I can.

Me Time

2010-10-19T22:01:00.001-07:00

Two blog posts in one day? Unheard of. But I'm feeling grateful, so I thought I'd share.

Tonight was about me. And it's never about me.

I got to attend an activity at church, a "service auction" where we bid on goods/services that were donated by the other women. No money - just points earned by filling out a questionnaire - things like "did you wash and fold a load of laundry today" and "2 points for every diaper you changed today" - stuff like that. Super fun.

I donated a custom apron for one lucky winner and a family donut fry for another. In the process, I made a new sewing buddy. And I get to make donuts for the young women in our ward, which will be so much fun.

So, I have a sewing buddy and I get $75 worth of flowers, my choice of color. I blew all 102 points on a bouquet of flowers and I couldn't be more excited.

Wahoo!

So life is good again. But boy am I tired. Henry had me up at 2:30 and I couldn't fall back to sleep when he finally did go back to sleep at 4. So I read for a while and then thought "Why am I not sewing?" so I whipped out the sewing machine and sewed together some triangles and then cranked out two rows of my chimneys and cornerstones quilt. Hooray for me!

But no more quilt sewing until that cat costume is done! I've got it almost all cut out (hey, it takes up the whole table - you know how often my table is completely cleared off?) and will work on it this weekend.

To Do Tuesday

2010-10-19T04:49:00.000-07:00

Must make a decision. That's what I need to do!

I still have red/aqua fabric. Seriously. I have made the barn raising quilt, the matchbox quilt, the dutch pinwheel quilt and I have one more in the works using HSTs called chimneys and cornerstones. So, the decision is between this one, called flying kite pinwheel:

And this inspiration, which would be a departure for me, in a good way. I've been loving this Dresden plate, blogged here, for quite a while now. I'm a little nervous about applique, but I think it could be super cute and such fun.
I know it sounds like I've already made up my mind, but I haven't. I love that little pinwheel a lot too. Pinwheels make me happy. but that Dresden makes me happy too.

I just refuse to buy more red/aqua fabric. I think I've had enough!

That's all for me today. I've got the service auction at church tonight, a paper to finish, another paper to finish by 11 p.m., oh, and my awesome family to take care of.

To Do Tuesday

2010-10-12T21:37:00.001-07:00

What with poetry writing (ugh!), essays on Joseph Conrad and food writing, there's not much time left for sewing. But then there will always be time for sewing. Especially with Halloween coming up. We bought James' costume - he'll be Dash from The Incredibles and I can't wait. William will be a shark - Aaron is taking on that one. I picked up a monkey costume for Mr. Henry. All that's left is my girl. She has to be a cat this year. Not just any kind. A Siamese to match her stuffed animal Molasses. So, we got this here pattern:

And a whole lot of fleece in tan and brown. I'll cut it out this weekend and maybe even get some of the sewing done. Finish it next weekend.

And I can cut it out, thanks to these babies arriving yesterday. You should hear that gorgeous snap they make. It's like music!
I prepped a few projects on Sunday in an attempt to wind down and not think about schoolwork. I finally cut the fabric for my Holiday Hostess quilt - see this post for a pic of the fabric. I've changed my mind on a few things, but I think it's going to be lovely and fun.

I also prepped another pinwheel project using the last of one of my favorite fabrics. I only had 12 5" squares left, so it was a challenge coming up with something. But I got it figured out and it's gonna be cute!

Happy sewing. My reward for getting my paper done early is quality time with my sewing machine. Let's see if I make it!

In the Doghouse

2010-10-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

Not me. No sir. I'm not in trouble. No, that would be my beloved.

When I was a kid, my mom kept a lock on her sewing scissors. She knew we would grab them to cut any number of things, mostly paper.

Once again, I should have followed her example.

Aaron needed a pair of scissors the other day. Now, he could have asked me to find him some (we've actually got a big ol' box in the art cabinet with at least three pair). But no, he just used the first pair he could find.

Ahem. My sewing scissors.

Was he cutting fabric? Nope. Was he cutting paper? Nope. Was he cutting tape? No again.

What did he cut?

Fiberglass.

Do you know what fiberglass will do to a pair of scissors?

If I wanted to cut in wavy lines for the rest of my life, he'd have done me a favor. And the scissor sharpening people won't be close by until mid-November. Me no like.

So, in the end, he did do me a favor. I got to order a pair of Ginghers and they'll be here on Tuesday. So life isn't so bad. I just couldn't cut out a certain Halloween costume this weekend like I'd planned. Sigh. Friday. I'll get to it Friday.

My Favorite Quilt Shop

2010-10-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

Meet my favorite online quilt shop, the Fat Quarter Shop. I have been receiving fabulous packages from them for a few years now. The shopping experience is wonderful, the website is searchable (by color, very helpful!), the pictures are excellent and the prices are comparable to other quilt shops.

I just had a bit of a hiccup regarding an order I had received. The fault was mine - I was a bit confused about what I was ordering. I wanted a bolt of white Bella solids. I somehow got ivory. I e-mailed Kimberly at the Fat Quarter Shop. She quickly resolved the problem, shipped out a new bolt and had UPS pick up the mistake. No hassle, no fuss. What a great company. I'm finding that so many places go out of their way to blame you and make sure you know you made a mistake. Not so, and I will always appreciate it.

On my wish list, a few fat quarter bundles:

All coming soon and I'm on the e-mail notification list for them - another great feature.

Happy sewing!

To Do Tuesday

2010-10-05T06:09:00.001-07:00

I've got a lot of crafting to do these days. I thought making a To Do Tuesday blog every week would keep me accountable. In no particular order:

I want one more aqua/red quilt. Okay, probably two more, given how much fabric I have! I've been in love with this pinwheel block for quite some time and I finally found a tutorial for it (I'm a bit rusty on my geometry and didn't want to have to figure it out myself). So now I just have to prep the fabric and it's ready to sew.Our ward has what they call a service auction every year. The sisters bring either tangibles (cookies, crafts) or service coupons (free babysitting mostly) and they are auctioned off. Not with money, but with points. It's kind of complicated but pretty fun. Sometimes entire tables go in together to get something big (dinner at the bishop's house, a chocolate party).
Well, I'd thought about offering a birthday cake to the winning bidder. But that get's complicated because I don't do kids cakes, the super duper decorated ones. I just do good tasting cakes is all. So Ididn't want any confusion or disappointment. Instead, I'm making an apron. Out of this fabric. It's the Emmeline apron from Sew Liberated and I've made several and loved them all.
Laurel's new doll will need a new little blanket for her bed. I got the minky fat quarters on sale a while back. This should whip up pretty easy.
For Christmas, Kit, are soon to be latest addition, will have quite a wardrobe. The doll clothes on the AG website are a mite too spendy for me. I got Laurel a few specialized outfits (raincoat and boots, cowgirl outfit including hat) but for the regular clothes, I'm sewing them. I found these patterns here, and I just love them. So I've got these all cut out and ready to sew.

My awesome friend found these here and I'm making entire families of them for my kids for Christmas. I know Laurel will play with hers, and the boys will as well. They are just too cute, especially the ones with the ric rac. I might make some for our nursery as well. We have three in our ward and the one with the youngest kids has very few toys. These could be fun for them.
William is very much into sharks these days. He has the Webkinz shark and it goes everywhere with us. I thought it was time to make him some new pillowcases, so I got a couple yards of this fabric. The fun thing about my Will is that I know he'll be very excited to get them for Christmas. He's not the sort of kid (yet) to go "Pillowcases? How lame." I love that about him.
I made the girl versions of these, found on the same site as the dinosaurs, for Laurel last year for Christmas. Ever since, William has been asking me for a boy doll. I'm happy to oblige. I'll make a blondy-blue for James and a brown haired, hazel eyed for Will. I think it's sweet that they've asked for them. They just want to play with their sister and have their own doll to attend tea parties, etc. William sleeps with a Bob the Builder doll he won at the fair a few years back. I think if one of these dolls is wearing Thomas jammies or John Deere clothes, he'll be in heaven!
And what gets me through all this crafting? The Trader Joe's candy aisle.

Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels:

S'mashing S'mores

Lovely little boxes that keep me happy.

Happy crafting!

p.s. One more quilt is germinating in my brain. I'm really excited about how this will turn out. More on it later. I want to complete a few blocks before I decide to really go for it. Should be fun!

Red and Aqua Dutch Pinwheel finished!

2010-10-03T17:32:00.000-07:00

Here she is - isn't she fun? I absolutely loved these blocks. They were fun to put together and I love looking at them.

I got the idea for the baby pinwheels as part of the sashing from this blog. I need a clothesline set up so I can take cuter pictures. The grass shots are just not working for me. That, and it's overcast. But I'll just be happy it's done and I can cross it off the list.

Next? I can't make any more quilts, though I really want to and know I will. Need to get some Christmas sewing done first. Then I sew on another quilt top.

And I really need to see about taking a machine quilting class soon. I'd like to snuggle up with these beauties soon!

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

New fabric

versus
Unfortunately, I know who's going to win. Sigh. School is back in session.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-22T22:49:00.001-07:00

Advancement Statement

2010-09-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

Just a fancy way of saying "Progress Report" - but when I typed it in, I discovered that I'd used that super original title for a previous blog post. I know, shocking, eh? So I whipped out the trusty thesaurus (my favorite dinosaur) and came up with that beauty you see at the top of the post. You're welcome.

Having no thread is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it forced me to do some prep work that I would have cheerfully ignored. The curse is that I'm finding new projects to do. I meant to take pictures of my personal form of project organization, but I forgot until 17 words ago. So you just get to see mostly finished stuff. And one of those curses.

First, my red and aqua matchbox quilt. This is the one I'm keeping. I can't access the network at home to get the photo of the one I gave away. They're practically identical, so if you cross your eyes whilst looking at this picture, you just might see two.

Apologies, but the grass outside is a tad uneven, so it didn't lay perfectly flat. That, and I had to hurry and take the pictures before Laurel got tired of holding Henry back. When my little man sees a blanket spread out, he views it as a personal invitation to walk to the middle and dance. Hence my hurry.

Here are my three favoritest blocks, though I do love them all. These ones I just love a little bit more than the rest.

And my favorite of the favorites. Strawberries on aqua with red gingham. How awesome is that?
And I think I'm officially burnt out on that pattern for a while, although it is a lot of fun and super cute.

So, as for my crafting curse. I made a "No Thread To Do List" and have been gleefully crossing things off. Then, I was getting out yet another bit of prep to do when I found this:
The quilting elves must have hidden it on the back of the shelf. I have no recollection of purchasing it, but I must have. I know Aaron didn't - you mention "jelly roll" to him and he thinks of dessert. Not that I wouldn't love for him to surprise me with a stack o' jelly rolls, but I know this is my forgetfulness at work, not his thoughtfulness.

So I'm a bit giddy. See, I was going to order one of these to complete a project with another jelly roll. I already have the other one - it's bright, you can't miss it. So now I can just go right ahead and prep the quilt. So excited that I have a bit of instant gratification. I've a mind to buy a few more and "lose" them. But then I'd know I'd lost them. So it wouldn't work.

Monday and the thread sale at JoAnn's couldn't get here any sooner. I want to get back to my sewing machine!

Oh, and today is my half birthday! Just realized it. I think I'll make myself half a cake. Or eat half a cake.

When life gives you lemons...

2010-09-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

...or, when you run out of white thread and you're too cheap to go buy more until it's on sale (next week at JoAnn's).

Yep, there I was, cruising along on my HST barn raising quilt. Had 8 rows out of twelve done. And I run out of thread. Curses. Searched the sewing room. I have all kinds of notions - velcro, elastic, ric rac, bias tape, snaps, and colored threads. No white.

So what does a girl do?

She works on other projects. I've had these pillowcases cut out for ages for Laurel's new room decor. Not that she has an old room decor. But when we move and she has her own room again, this is what she'll get:

I didn't make a quilt. Not because I'm a bad mom. Because I already gave her a quilt and there was an incident with grape juice that made me decide that a quilt would be for later. Instead, I found that this quilt from pbteen.com matched perfectly. I've also got some shams to match.

I ironed the rest of my HSTs, cut out some little gifts for Christmas and organized my fabric. But I'm dying to get back to sewing.

Oh, and yesterdays post. Loving those Dutch pinwheels. I need more of that fabric so I can make more blocks. They're even prettier in person.

Happy sewing!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-15T19:24:00.001-07:00

A Message from my Sponsor

2010-09-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

I can count on a few things in my little world.

Aaron can always make me laugh.
I will never know what it is like to sleep through the night.
Pride and Prejudice just keeps getting better (and don't get me started on Colin Firth!).
When I get out my sewing machine, Laurel will ask:

"When will you teach me how to sew?"

I've put it off for long enough. First, she had to be able to count and do some basic math. Then, she had to be tall enough to reach the pedal. Well, she's ready. And she wanted to start with clothes for her new chipmunk, Rainbow. Um, no. But she did agree to a pillowcase, tutorial found here.
I bought the Tweety Bird fabric a while back, knowing she was going to want it. Sure enough, it's what she went for first. Thank heaven I bought a yard!

So here's how it went down. We measured. I cut. We measured again. I cut again. Laurel talked to me about everything. Laurel picked out her ric rac color (yellow to match Tweety). I ironed. I pinned. She sewed, VERY slowly. Painfully slowly, but she wanted to be careful and I was patient.

Oh, while I pinned she organized my pin cushion by color. Because it needed to be done.
She learned that there are a lot of steps to sewing. Stopping, pressing, pinning again, trimming corners, then sewing some more. She had fun and kept saying "I'm good at this!"
The finished pillowcase!
Honestly, I did most of the work, and that's okay with me. I wanted her to get bit by the sewing bug and see how fun it is. She'll be starting a little patchwork project with some 2.5" squares I have in my stash. One of her animals, I believe Brownie Bear, has a birthday coming up.

Now, back to my HSTs!
Yes, I share a table with a big ol' box o' crayons. The life of a homeschooler. But aren't they pretty? I ironed them last night and now I'm getting started on putting them together. These are so much fun to play with!

And I'm baking off the best chocolate chip cookies. EVER. Trust me. Try them. You won't be sorry, except that you have to let the dough hang out in the fridge for a day. Resist the urge to eat the dough.

Status Update

2010-09-12T21:30:00.000-07:00

Just a quick word from the sewing trenches - oh, who am I kidding. I'm loving every minute of it. If I could drop out of school and spend my days with my sewing machine and my kids, I'd be the happiest camper. But I will take what life gives me and just keep praying for that oh-so-perfect job to come along for Aaron so I can make that little dream come true.

So, um, a status update really should have a photo of what is done. And TWO quilt tops are done. I took a photo of the first one right away, because I gave it away yesterday. But I have yet to get said photo off the camera. But it's coming. I'll post pics of both. And yes, I gave away one of the red/aqua matchbox quilt tops. And it felt so good to do it. A quilt store here in Seattle is taking donations for quilts or quilt tops. If they aren't quilted, they take care of that and then pass them on to women and children at a local shelter. Laurel and I got to talking about it and we thought that a teenage girl would really like something bright and cheery. So we gave one away.

I figured out what I want to do with my two Christmas layer cakes - I'm going to make them up in these two quilt patterns. Both are on Moda Bakeshop - don't make me post links, please!

Okay, I will. The first is called Easy as Cake
This one is called Christmas Packages
But I'm not just making plans for more projects. I'm getting things done, I tell you. I just started sewing on my half-square triangles and I *heart* HSTs! So easy and so quick and just fun. I have all of them cut and sewn for my barn raising quilt - going to iron them first thing in the morning and hopefully have that one done by tomorrow night. Wishful thinking, I know, but a girl's gotta have a dream.