So Where Have I Been?

Actually it is kind of embarrassing. A friend gave me a computer game- Seven Wonders ll and I am terribly in love with this game.  It is just a jazzed up Bejeweled Blitz.  It has several levels and I have been stuck on one level for about a week now!  Another friend calls these games “time-suckers” and that certainly describes this game.  I have to wean myself off…

In the meantime, I have been doing a little sewing.  In fact I have the baby quilt on the frame. I don’t want to show too much, but here is a peek:

It will actually be done before the shower!

I will post more pictures after Karen receives the quilt.

Movie Monday 1/16/12

I remember watching Billie Lauder on Alex Anderson’s show (was it Sew Many Quilts? I can’t believe I don’t remember!!).

I think Eleanor Burns does the same trick. Either way It is still neat.

Enjoy!

The Owls Have Landed!

A New Project for the New Year!

My niece, Karen is expecting a baby girl this coming April.  Last week we went to Mission Rose to pick out some fabric for her quilt.

We picked out Terrain by Kate Spain for Moda (I love this line!).  Karen’s theme is owls.  I found a picture we both liked and I started it today.

This is how far I got today.  I want to sew down this layer before adding the momma and baby owl. I am loving it already!

The quilt is going to be a variation on a Chinese Coins pattern. (I got the idea from a quilt on Moda Bake Shop) This will be part of the center of the quilt.

Karen’s shower is Feb. 11. Will it be completed in time? Stay tuned!

Movie Monday-make that Thursday

Oh I hope you like this as much as we do!

Michael and I went to Katie’s on Christmas morning to watch the boys open presents.  We got Dylan a guitar and this is part of his first concert.

In case you don’t recognize the song, I only know it as “The Tractor Song” by Jason Aldean.

Enjoy!

Dylan’s Guitar

This Better Be Good

So at 3:00 I decided to look for something to cook for dinner.  I found a recipe and surprisingly I had all the ingredients.  I defrosted the turkey tenderloin( I lied-I had to sub in the turkey for chicken tenderloin) and at 5:00 I started cooking.

I guess I should have read directions along with the ingredients.  45 minutes later this was ready to go into the oven:

It is a potato crusted chicken and veggie casserole.  It has to cook 45 more minutes.

This is what my kitchen looked like:

What you can’t see is the bottle of Kahlua that fell and broke inside that corner cabinet.  I don’t drink Kahlua, I don’t like Kahlua, I don’t know why there was Kahlua in that cabinet.

So I have more than enough time to pick up the kitchen before my casserole is done.

I will let you know how it turns out.

Happy New Year

 

Yes I do realize that it is January 4. I have been thinking about this post for a while.

While reading other’s blogs I have made note of resolutions, changes and plans others have for the New Year.

I asked my husband what his resolutions were for this year.  He informed me, “I don’t have any. I am already perfect.” (well, OK he is darn well near perfect, except for… oh, never mind.

I have broken several New Year’s Resolutions through the years, but I will share a couple of goals I have for 2012:

1.Losing Weight.  This is everyone’s goal isn’t it?  I have the tools and a good start on this one.  I did gain 2 pounds between Thanksgiving and January 1, but I did manage to make some good choices over the holidays and now that the cookies are all stale (That is right! I did not eat them all this year!)  I am back on track.  In July I said my goal was to be 50 pounds thinner next year at this time. My doctor and I agree this is a healthy goal that allows me to be satisfied at the end of a meal.  Again, I hope to be 50 pounds thinner next year in January.

2. Projects. We call them, UFO’s, WIP’s and the albatross around our necks. I would like to believe I will finish one a month or that I will finish one before I start a new project but will even that make me happy-or whittle down all those unfinished projects?  I like to create, I like to experiment, and I like to make pretty things!  Sometimes Things I start don’t always work out  as planned. So I give myself permission to finish those things I want and to gift or get rid of things I know I won’t finish.  And it is OK to start a new project!

3. Fabric. Yes this is a problem-and I work at a quilt shop! But this will be a resolution. Stop buying fabric when bored at work and double check my stash before shopping. Stop “stocking up” and use what I have. JoAnn’s and the fabric stores will survive the economic crisis is I don’t buy interfacing until I need it!

4. OKAY, this is the biggy and this comic sums it up quite nicely:

http://www.gocomics.com/grand-avenue/2012/01/04

I do worry how others view me and I am always looking for approval on everything I do.  I know that I drive my kids crazy worrying that I might have said something that was taken the wrong way.  I APOLOGIZE WAY TOO MUCH! Sorry about the caps, there…

Anyway…let’s work on this mantra:  I can’t change other people. I can only change myself and how I view others. And they are not all angry with me or judging me constantly!

Sewing pictures, later!

Digital Christmas Story

Please click on the link below for an interesting take on this wondrous story. Have a joyful and blessed Christmas!

Digital Christmas Story

Movie Monday 12/19/11

No tips today.  Just a fun video from the 30’s predicting fashions in the 21st century. I love the men’s fashions.  And the cell phone holder is spot on! Enjoy!

A Christmas Miracle!

Yes I finished a Christmas project before Christmas!

Okay, I started it for last Christmas…but it is done!

I made a tablecloth for my table.  No batting, quilting or binding makes for a quick finish.

I found 60” wide fabric that I think was intended for a tablecloth so I used it on the back(the border stripe was on just two sides)-so it is reversible!

It feels so good to finish something!

Christmas is Coming….

Buddy does not like to get his picture taken.  It is that or I just take lousy pictures… But we love him so much we just keep trying!

We were holding cheese to get him to look up!

Happy Holidays | Carlson School of Management

This is really cool. Enjoy!

Happy Holidays | Carlson School of Management

Where Did Monday Go?

Yesterday was Movie Monday wasn’t it?

This weekend went by in a blur and then yesterday was Monday.  Adrienne was home for the weekend and we celebrated out family Christmas.  Yesterday as I was heading out the door for work Katie called: she had hit a deer with the car taking Dylan to the doctor.

 

I won’t post a picture of the deer.

I picked up Dylan and took him to my house so Adrienne could watch him.  In the car we talked about what happened and Dylan said “Sometimes things happen but we are all okay.”

I think I will try to remember that.

The Stockings Were Hung….

 

Adrienne, Joe and Leonard are here this weekend.  We are going to have our family Christmas tomorrow.  Do you know what that means?  I get to open a present!  Yes!!

Here we all are decorating cookies last night:

It is wild and crazy-and noisy!-when we are all together but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

The Kindness Of Quilters

This is a post that is long overdue.  I had a very favorite pattern that that I used to make –by hand- when I first started quilting way back in the late 80’s. I usually made it as a pillow to give to very special people.  The pattern was designed by Linda Brannock.

I went to find it a while back and it was gone.  I searched for it frantically.  I did several web searches and I even found a kit on e-bay but I did not win.

So I did another search and learned who had made the pattern and I found her website.  I sent her a note asking if the pattern was still available.

I got a lovely note from her daughter.  Karmen said she was going to visit  her mom and she would check out the pattern.  After several searches, Karmen found ONE copy of the pattern and sent it along to me.

Please visit Karmen at her website A Quilter Awakens.  She does beautiful work.  Thank you Karmen for being such a nice person!

Sneak Peak

I have been doing some embroidery over the past couple of days.

I will post another pic in a few days when it is done.

The Latest from Japan

As many of you know, I have a love affair going with Japanese books and fabric. 

This is my latest book:

Not much from the cover, but look inside….

It is a book on reversible quilted projects.  Of course they are all completed by hand although I suppose that it could be adapted to machine sewing.  Here is my first project:

It is (to me, at least) the cutest little pouch made from just 3 hexagons! I just love it! It took me an evening to HAND SEW it all together.  The folding took me longer-the first hexie took 45 minutes but then it got much easier.

This is the next project I want to make:

The purse is on the left.  The two bigger pictures show the piece before sewing it into shape.

The book also shows cathedral window shapes-but oh, the twist that has been put on them!  I will post more on that later…

Movie Monday 12/5/2011

Is everyone ready for the holidays?  Neither am I!  The house is decorated and I have wrapped some presents but there is still lots more to do.  The girls and I made sugar cookies last Friday.  This Thursday Adrienne and her family are coming home for our Christmas together.  And we will be decorating the sugar cookies together.  We will also try to make some more.

Today’s video is origami. I have done some origami in the past and I hope to try one of these snowflakes this year.  It is a rather long video (20 minutes) but the directions are very good. 

Please let me know if you make one-and enjoy!

By the way, I know I have been ignoring my blog lately and  I have so many things to share!  But sitting and updating everything just has not gotten done.  I hope you will stay with me-I promise to post very soon!

Monday Movie- 12/1/11

Yes, I know I Know I have not posted in a while.  Yes I know that it is not Monday.  I hope that if I post a video of my grandsons (and Buddy!) you will forgive me.

I have lots to post- I will catch up soon!

In the meantime, enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

Movie Monday 11/14/2011

Good Morning everyone!  Sorry this is a little late.  I had some computer problems but I am now set to go.

This week’s video is a little self-serving but I am not getting paid or anything to show it.  I thought you all might like to see how I-any many others-set up for machine quilting.  While it may seem a little tedious-it takes me about a half hour to an hour now-it sure beats crawling around on the floor basting or safety-pinning my quilts!  My set up is similar to Kathy’s-I just have a different version of the frame.

Enjoy!