A Countrygirls Quilting Adventures

FNSI... Results

2012-01-21T17:25:00.000-08:00

Well I didn't quite get the things that I wanted done last night but I did get some things sewn. No finishes but hey at least the sewing machine was running. The best part is I did more in the last 24 hours than I have done in over a week. Now if I could keep up the momentum that would be great!! So here are some pictures of what I got accomplished:

This is clue 3.. not finished they have since been cut into HST's and I need to square them up so that I can use them in another clue but the sewing is done.

This is clue 4 minus some ironing. So I did get something done last night.. Maybe we will actually have a lap quilt for next Christmas. All in all I am happy with what I have gotten done. Hope everyone else had a great Friday Night Sew In.

Friday Night Sew In

2012-01-18T17:58:00.000-08:00

Well its that time of the month again. Bobbi over at Crafty Vegas Mom is hosting this months Friday Night Sew In. If you haven't heard about it its one friday a month where you plan to sew (or craft) until you can't see straight any more.

I have talked to my girls in the Silly Gals Quilting group and some of them are game as well. Its supposed to be rainy and yuck here in Lemoore and Mom and I had no plans of going anywhere any way. In fact we figured that since it was supposed to be nasty that we would have a movie night anyway.

Do you have projects in mind already? I have a few. In talking to my husband I think that this year 2012 is going to be the year of the home made/ hand made gifts for christmas. Well I had better get to getting things ready as I can not do marathon cutting sessions.

I leave you with a picture of Diego.. He is our foster kitty desperatly in need of a forever home as he also has 5 brothers and sisters needing homes.

The mommies of the adorable babies need homes as well. We took them in and are trying to find people who will love them as much as we have tried. I already had 4 of my own before the mommies adopted our yard for thier home. Due to summer heat we brought them inside to have their kitties and I was too sick to find them homes when it was apparently prime time to re-home them.

January Guild Meeting

2012-01-05T21:30:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the January guild meeting. It was my turn to donate to our little quilt raffle. The little quilt raffle is held every month and the members of the guild buy tickets 1 for a $1 or 6 for $5. Its to help raise money for the guilds activities like materials for charity quilts and what not.

Being January I thought it would be nice to donate something that said winter. I thought and thought and of course procrastinated. Here is the table runner that I came up with:

Mom and I thought that it was cute. In fact we were hoping to win it back.. smiles. We were 2 numbers off from winning it back too. How funny would that have been. I couldn't in good concence take it back home I would have let them pick another ticket. Here is a closer picture of the embroidery snowman.

The snowman can be found at Embroidery Library . I have gotten alot of great designs from there. Well that is all for me today.

Thursday Night Sewing

2011-12-29T21:04:00.000-08:00

Well I did actually get something done tonight. I completed 2 of 3 blocks for our guild block of the month. I still need to write up the instructions but that is easy. Here they are..

Common Threads Block January 2012

Simple but I think that they will make a great quilt for whomever wins the blocks. I have debated getting a jelly roll to make the same quilt but I am going to pass on that until I get some other things done.
I also completed step 2 of a mystery quilt that was supposed to be worked on for Christmas eve and Christmas Day. I cut a bunch of stuff those days but wasn't up to sewing. I decided to do a scrappy christmas quilt. Here are my squares cut for clue 2:

Christmas Mystery 2011

I am working out of my comfort zone on this one. Its supposed to be scrappy and I decided to use some green fat quarters that I got through the Cotton Patch stuff your stocking deal that they had this year. They picked the greens, some that I wouldn't have touched with a 10 foot pole but its supposed to be scrappy. We will see how it turns out.. Smiles

Tomorrow is belated Christmas with my family. So tomorrow Maggie (the dog) and I are going to hop in the truck and drive to my parents house. I don't think that I will have the chance to sew tomorrow but you never know.

New Years Resolutions/ goals

2011-12-29T11:53:00.000-08:00

Well if your like me you set a resolution or like last year a new years goal and things happen and you fall short. This year is no different I have my list of goals and things that I want to accomplish in the new year. My number one goal is to have a happy and healthy baby boy here the end of march. Having the baby is going to happen no matter what so that is one goal that I can't fall short on.

Then there is a list of other things that I would like to make happen like making sure that I have a good meal ready for Keith when he comes home at night. This past year was rough with being sick and some other medical issues and Keith alot of times would come home and make dinner even though I was home. I felt bad so that is one thing that I want to change. I am going to stay up on the cleaning through out the week so that we can enjoy the time we have together on the weekends and not be spending it cleaning house.

But this blog isn't about making dinner or cleaning my house its about my quilting and craft adventures. So I have set myself a goal of being more active on my blog, sewing or embroidering one christmas item every month until next christmas, and then of course keeping track of my stash and busting as much as I can.

The new year starts on Sunday so I am going to give myself a bit of a head start and not count the fabric that I bought at the after christmas pre inventory sales as added to the stash. But anything bought from today December 29th to Sunday is fair game. Nothing will be counted as busted until it is sewn into a project or donated to someone else. Completed tops even needing borders will be counted as busted.

So what are you doing this new years? I have fabric all cut to sew all sorts of things and hope that I have the chance to get something done.

Oh one more goal for the year sew something or be creative every week even if it means that I just meanded something or sew'd uniforms for Keith.

Friday Night Fun

2011-12-16T23:21:00.000-08:00

Well after several months of not feeling well and having absolutely no sewing or embroidery mojo at all I actually sat down to the embroidery machine. Mom and I have been sitting here watching TV together and I have been watching her crochet and knit all sorts of things since she has been here. But a couple days ago she realized that she hadn't made her traditional ornaments to hand out to the family at Christmas and most of her patterns were at home. She had a few here and was having trouble with the one that she wanted to do so I told her that I would help her. It really is amazing what you can find when you actually read your emails. I get tons of embroidery advertisements and rarely have the time to browse them but this time I fouind some great ornaments to make for mom to give to the family. Here is a peak:

Its not the greatest picture but it was the best I could get. There are a couple embelishments that I need to finish but other than that I think that they look great. I hope that the rest of the family likes them as much as Mom and I do. Those worked up so easily that we then picked out these:

Aren't they super cute? They are little gingerbread men. Then while we were thinking about it Mom says but then the girls (triplet granddaughters/ neices) will want their own ornaments and we had only planned on making one per family. No problem I had the perfect solution.. Tiny Christmas trees that had hidden Hershey Kisses. So I proceeded to try to make those as well. Here they are:

And here is what it looked like before we laced the ribbon through to close them up. They were super easy and look great!

Well I hope that everyone else was as productive as we were. Hoping that Saterday will bring the same. Until later...

Very Unproductive Monday

2011-10-24T17:14:00.000-07:00

Last night was a rough night I was pretty sick though were not exactly sure why. It pretty much has ruined the best of my Monday since I am still feeling the aftermath. I slept extra today since I didn't sleep well last night and have tried to eat things today that would calm the acid reflux but nothing has seemed to work. Tonight I am going to have a bake potato for dinner because it is on the safe to eat list.

The last couple hours I have been scanning through the Moda Bake Shop website and have found so many great things. As I mentioned in my last post I want to try to complete 1 Christmas project a month until next christmas and have decided to start looking for my projects now. Its too late for this year but I might get some good end of season sales.

The first on my list are some Christmas placemats using the "Table Graces" pattern.

If you haven't seen the pattern it is super easy and can be adapted for just about any holiday. Keith and I picked up fabrics for a fall/ Halloween set and a bright and cheery Christmas set. The intention was to get those cut out and kitted up so that when I was up to sewing I could sew away but was just not feeling up to doing any of that today.

I look forward to all of my up coming holiday projects even if most of them are just in my dreams at this point.

Wednesday pondering...

2011-10-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

Well my ponderings started last night but they were too late to get them out there on my blog and I was having computer issues any way. Last night Keith asked me to come out to our front room and sit with him. When I got out to the front room he had all our Lemax Ceramic Halloween houses out and had decided to decorate the wall unit with them.

While we were out there we started talking about lots of things the baby, the up coming holidays and pretty much anything that came to mind. Keith will be missing the birth of the baby but we know that he will finally be home for Christmas. Last year and this coming Christmas he will have been deployed but in my opinion him being home for the baby's first christmas will make it all worth it.

Keith and I have found that we like to decorate for the holidays together. Our second Christmas together we went crazy with lights and decorating the yard. We even had compliments from some guys that I worked with in the navy that lived in the apartment complex across from the house we were renting.

So even though it is a a few monthss early I have already decided on a couple of my 2012 goals. The first is that I want to complete one Christmas project every month for the next year for us to decorate with for our super special Christmas. I already have some things in the works but they will need to be finished. I hope to get more than this done but 12 is a good goal.. 14 if you count the 2 months left of this year we are too far into October for me to figure something out for this month so if there is a finish for this month that is a bonus.

My second goal is to learn and make use of my Gracie II frame this would help me complete alot of UFO's. I have already ordered new tubing for the frame rails and have pulled muslin out to sew leaders and enders for the rails.

What to do with Tuesday

2011-10-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Goodness what to do with my Tuesday? My first thought is to think about and make a list of the things that I want to have ready to work on if I feel up to Friday Night Sew In. I actually had my days wrong and thought that last friday was sew in night and it wasn't. But I was happy to get the things that I wanted semi accomplished.

First thing that my Dad asked yesterday when he came in was "What are you working on now?" Being that I really had nothing in the works but 4 patches I showed him that and told him all about that. I am glad to see that my family likes to see the things that I make as much as I do.

I spent the day looking at old quilt magazine and craft books contemplating the projects I could make using my stash. The more I use the more Keith will let me buy later but I have to prove that I can use my stash.

Well Until later...

A case of the monday ickys

2011-10-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

Well today has not gone as I had intended. I wanted to finish my 4 Patches and get those and Noah's Halloween costume out in the mail but am just not feeling up to it. Yesterday Mom and dad stopped by to bring back my car and there were some baby things that Mom made that she wanted to be sure that Keith got to see before he leaves in November. So they were here for a little visit and we celebrated Dad's birthday with a chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cake from coldstone.

I was up early this morning to bake some cinnamon rolls for breakfast for the 4 of us. Mom helped me put together a pot roast in the crockpot as Keith was getting ready to leave for work. Sortly after Mom and Dad cleaned up and packed to head back to Colorado. The pregnancy ickies have kicked in so I am just feeling horrible. I have been told that when you are sick during pregnancy that means that you are going to have a healthy baby. I sure hope that is the case because I have felt so yucky.

But on a better note I have found a fellow blogger that for many more reasons can be an inspiration and sure left a bright spot in my day. I started out looking for quick and easy quilts for many reasons but mostly because I want to be able to sew something ANYTHING and at the same time I want to have something to show for it. I wanted to have quilts and things done for the arrival of our new baby and figured if it wasn't simple and fast it wasn't going to happen.

Michele Bilyeu of With Heart and Hands is fantastic! If you have a chance to look at her blog she has done alot of charity work, art quilts and has even done some fabric dying. She has tons of links for free quilt patterns and a very motivational statement about how she copes with her mothers Alzhiemers. If you are a supporter of Project Linus she has some great ideas.

Saterday Sewing..

2011-10-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

Well I can't say that I got a whole lot accomplished but I did get some sewing done inbetween the resting. since Keith is home we spent some quality time with each other watching the shows that he asked me to record while he was gone on the ship for the last month. He has also done alot around the house that I haven't been able to do.
My goal was only to work on my little rug and try to get some 4 patches completed to send to Regina this next week. I set up an attainable goal on my blog of 25 completed squares and I already have 69 - 2 patch blocks ready to be sewn into 4 patches and a few strips that I have yet to cut. Here are my half complete blocks..

This is all that I have to report hopefully they will be completed and ready to send to Regina Monday as planned. Since I have already cut more squares than my intended goal I am going to go ahead and change my goal to 50 squares. Until next time..

Trying to get back into blogging.....

2011-10-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

So I figured that I would try yet again to get back into blogging if you only knew how many posts that were started and never published. I only wish that I didn't feel as if I had over tasked myself to the point that there was no time to sit down and write. Alot has happend since I last posted anything and well I'm sure that there is alot still yet to happen.

Keith returned from deployment and shortly after we found out that we were expecting no suprise right? Most people that we know are on the same family schedule because we are all on the same deployment schedule. Though most of the people we know already have their 2.5 kids and arent planning on any more.

It has been an extremely rough start for us I have been sick for most of the last 4 months and they are telling me just give it a couple more weeks.. I'm wondering how many more weeks is a couple because the dr has been telling me that for a while.

As with any other mom to be I have a list that seems like its never ending of the things that I want to make and do before the baby gets here. Keith will be deployed again so my mom will be here to help me thank goodness. I don't know what I would do with out parents like mine.

SO on with the point of this blog my quilting, sewing and crafting adventures. I have a list of things that I want to start working on hoping to finish some UFO's here before the holidays as well as make the holidays tolerable since Keith will be missing them again this year. But Ryan and Molly have decided that they and my nephew Noah are going to be here for christmas so the four of us are planning to have a good time.

Being in bed most of the time does not make it easy to do any sewing so I have over the last month dug out a couple little projects that I can work on while I am in bed. I have tons of cross stitch and things that I have had for years but I picked these from my blackhole of a stash:

If you have never done them or seen them they are latch hook rugs... I learned to do these as a kid and have several that have been stashed away for I don't know how long and 2 I bought in the last year that are for Keith and possibly my Dad I haven't decided who is going to get them. Right now I know that I have 4 of these small ones that measure 12 X 12 and they would be perfect to put out at christmas.. More over perfect to keep me occupied while in bed. Here is how I have done so far:

I know that is not a whole lot done but it is a start and that is good enough for me. Until the next time.....

Time for Friday Night Sew In....

2011-10-12T14:46:00.000-07:00

Its that time of the month again time for Friday Night Sew In. Every month Bobbi of Crafty Vegas Mom or her cousin Heidi of Handmade By Heidi host a friday night sew in to encourage us to stay in and work on some of our projects. Its a great way to set aside the time to work on things that get pushed aside during our busy schedules. Or in my case a not so busy schedule. In my case it will be getting past the side effects of pregnancy and being able to get out of bed.

I am determined this week though. Keith will be home and be able to help me do some cutting and prepatory things that would make FNSI more productive. If I am not up to sewing then I have some other little cross stitch kits, latch hook rugs and goodness knows what else that I can have Keith dig out of the sewing room for me to work on.

I have fabric pulled to cut for Regina's 4 Patches 4 Hope, and am planning on working on those so that I can get them in the mail to her on Monday. I think that she has set a very attainable goal of 1000 - 4 Patches and I have set my first goal of 25 patches that I want to donate. Unfortunately with baby on the way and currently no job I cannot afford to donate money as well but will do what I can with stash.

Regina's 4 Patches 4 Hope

2011-10-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

A Friend of mine Regina has started a project called 4 Patches 4 Hope to honor the memory of her mother who recently lost her battle with breast cancer. I plan to help her reach her goal and I hope that you might join in as well.

Heres what its all about:

4Patches4Hope began as a desire to use my passion for quilting, and the power of social media and word of mouth, to create quilts to comfort those undergoing cancer treatments and at the same time raise money for cancer research. The original timeline was to begin on Valentine’s Day, 2011 and culminate on my mother’s birthday –today - October 4, 2011.

For one reason or another, I did not get the ball rolling and start to get the word out about the project, so then I revised my start date to START on Mom’s birthday.

Unfortunately Mom’s cancer had a different timetable, and on July 12, 2011 her battle with this disease ended.

As I worked through the emotions that came after - I decided to forge forward with this project - as there are mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, daughters, nieces, friends and more who could benefit.

The concept is simple - Make a 4 Patch... Make a Donation... Make a difference.

How to Help:

1. Make light-dark 4 patch block(s) using 2 1/2” squares (blocks should finish at 4 1/2” square).
Use any colors you like for your “dark” but please try to use white or ivory for your “light.”

2. Send the finished block(s) to:

4Patches4Hope c/o Regina Arlauckas, PO Box 363 Churchville, NY 14428

3. Please consider making a $4 donation for each block you make to the American Cancer Society via the link at The American Cancer Society or enclose a check to the American Cancer Society with your blocks. (Please do NOT enclose cash and be sure your checks are to the American Cancer Society.)

4. The goal is 1000 blocks and $4,000 by February 28, 2012.

5. Received blocks will be assembled into “comfort quilts” and donated to the Anderson Medical Center in Anderson, SC and the Pluta Cancer Center in Rochester, NY.

6. Each block donated will enter your name into a drawing for “participation prizes.”

7. Donations of backing fabrics, batting and services are also appreciated.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Share this on your own blogs...
Share this with your friends...
...Share the dream of a cure.

Design wall Monday

2011-04-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

What was on my design wall today... well not much of anything until about 30 minutes ago. And technically it wasn't on the design wall it was on the floor. I finished cutting a quilt for a store sample and plan on sewing it this weekend. I have a bunch of things on my list that I want to get done for the store as well as done before Keith gets home. So here is what was on my design wall/ floor today...

Its a small quilt. But a quilt none the less. The pattern can be purchased at Quilter's Quarters. These are some of the post card patterns that we carry from Villa Rosa designs. They are quick and easy patterns.. I have made 2 so far and this is my 3rd. A 4th is in the works.

Well I made it!! Two Days in a row lets see if I can make it 3

Until later!!

Wow I Can't belive its almost the end of April.

2011-04-24T23:04:00.000-07:00

Boy does time fly.. even when your not having fun. Keith is still deployed though there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel there. Things at Quilter's Quarters are going well. I'm still plugging along. We have gone to 2 Quilt shows since I last posted and are preparing for our Heart of the Valley Shop Hop so we have been really busy. As those of you that have done shop hops know each shop has their own block and then puts together their own version of what the completed quilt should look like. Here is a peek at our quilt.

The staff at the shop put most of the squares together, I did a couple and then I assembled the top with the advice of Linda the shop owner. She told me what she wanted it to look like and I got to work. We were pretty happy with the out come.

I have done a couple other shop samples but looking at my pictures it looks as if I haven't taken pictures of them so I will have to do that this week so that I can get back into posting. I have quite a few things that I plan on getting done before Keith gets home still and mom is here helping me. This weekend I tried to cut some kits that I had so that I could just sew through out the week but that was unsucessful.. I miss cut some things and had to search the internet for replacement fabric. Luckily I was able to replace the panel and the 1/2 yard that I miss cut. What the cutting table looked like after some not so nice words.

Tomorrow will be spent working on things in the shop for our Mothers day sale coming up and then hopefully I will have some time to sew or embroider. Well I am off to bed its late and I open at the store tomorrow.

Until Later ,

A little (big) set back...

2010-12-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Saying goodbye to Keith didn't go quite as we had planned. The Sunday before he was set to leave I started not feeling well. Monday early morning I thought that I was feeling better but after the drive down to San Diego what ever was bothering me kicked in. That made for a fun ride home by myself let me tell you (Not Really). After about 5 more days and goodness knows how much cold medicine I went into Urgent care to find out that I have Bronchitis again. I just hope that this isn't going to be a December ritual this will be the 2nd December in a row.

As you can imagine I haven't felt much like sewing. I made it to only one half of the christmas workshop at the quilt shop. So I have a really neat Christmas Bargello table runner that isn't finished but it will be before Christmas. I am determined. (Update its christmas and its still not finished but Keith and I will be celebrating everything when he comes home so hopefully by then)

Finals for my classes are this week so I will be focusing on that with a little sewing here and there. I have several swaps that I am behind on and need to get out as soon as I can get them done. (Update finals are done and I have registered for the next semester.. hoping it goes as well as last)

Tonight I still didn't feel much like sewing but I was able to get some FSL Reindeer done for some of my swaps and get some templates cut out for some other projects. (Update that was all I got done with some other things that came up I just didn't make it. Sorry swap buddies I will be sure that what I send is special.. Life just mowed me over this year)

Paula's Sewing Challenge

2010-12-07T19:11:00.000-08:00

Any one up for a Challenge? A little friendly competition to get the creative juices flowing? Then you should pop over to Paula's Sewing Challenge Blog. She has announce bi-weekly challenges to get more crafters to post about their projects.

I don't know about you but I'm in!! Anything to 1. Get me sewing 2. Get me to post about my finishes and 3. Use fabric from my stash sounds like a good idea to me. Right now I'm focused on Christmas projects but as the challenges change I'm sure that my focus will change to. So head on over to Paula's corner of the web and tell her what your working on.

Thanksgiving

2010-12-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

Well with Thanksgiving over and Christmas fast approaching I guess its time to get moving on all those christmas things that I wanted to get done but haven't touched. Though I will have to take a slight pause so that I can finish homework for this week and to say good bye to Keith. This week he will be departing for another deployment and I promised him that I would keep up the sewing so that we might be able to start our own Etsy or Ebay shop with all the things that we have created with the embroidery machine or been able to sew and customize. He's excited and were not looking for much just to make a few extra dollars here and there.

My brother, his wife and my new nephew noah were here yesterday but will be heading back home today. This is what we worked on yesterday so that I could show off my new machine. They are sucker covers:

They work up really fast and easy and can be found at Designs by SiCK Embroidery Library (the link can also be found in my side bar). If you search sucker alot of different designs come up these are just the few that we decided to make.

Then I had ornaments that I had to make for the shop to show for our E-Club (Embroidery Club). If I hadn't mentioned it before I lucked out and got offered a job working at the local quilt shop Quilters Quarters. Its a nice friendly little shop located in Handford California or you can visit us here online. I will be taking over leading E-Club starting in January and cant wait. Here are the ornaments that I made and we will be making at our next E-Club meeting.

You can find these designs at Embroidery Library under minitures or by clicking here. I actually found the instructions here also at embroidery library. In talking to the ladies at the shop we feel that the minatures could be enlarged just a bit and look better in the snow globe. You can do that easily with your embroidery machine or software. I found the plastic ornaments at Michael's Arts and Crafts but I'm sure with a little searching you can find a good deal online as well. The sparkly grass was holiday basket grass that I found at the $1 store. Hope I have sparked you interest!! Happy Holidays!!

Project Pictures

2010-11-25T10:29:00.000-08:00

Well I promised to share pictures of the projects that I had done in the last couple of days. One isn't complete yet I have some finishing touches still yet to do but I can show the other two. Here is the first. Its a USB stick holder. With the new machines I can take the designs straight from my computer and put them in my machine.

Here is a picture of it open. You can barely see that the pockets are numbered. I should have choosen a darker green. I love the way it turned out and will be making more for some friends.

You can find the designs for this at A Design in Stitches or a bigger version at Embroidery Project. They have some great designs. You can see how they stitched out. Don't miss their Black friday sale all designs are $1 on both sites. They are a mom and daughter that share their passion.

And last today for now I have Baby Closet organizers. I saw these and thought that they were adorable. There are actually more to the set but I only made 6 of them. They just hook on the closet bar like at the store and help the new mom organize clothes as to size. I know I didn't give my brother and sister all the same sizes. I gave them alot of 12 month and bigger and Noah turned out to be small so they have a ways to go for those.

The designs for this can be found at Designs by Sick. As you can tell I am having loads of fun with the new machine. Now to get to my 3 Christmas swaps as well as the Christmas Ornament swap that I have been meaning to work on. With so many more possibilities its hard for me to decide what to do. Until later! Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Been a while...

2010-11-23T09:04:00.000-08:00

Goodness I have alot of catching up to do. I have no clue where to begin. Well my last day in the Navy was November 12th. So I am now a civilian. I am also finishing up my first semester at Columbia college and getting ready to sign up for the second. I will be getting a much needed break from school because I have a lot of stitching and planning to do.

So lets catch up.. Last week Keith and I got this super fantastic deal on a Viking Diamond. Yes I already had 2 embroidery machines but they both only stitched a 4X4 area and it was driving me crazy. There were so many other projects that I wanted to work on but couldn't because my hoop area was too small.

So here it is: (Well the box anyway)

And the embroidery attachment:

And here I am super excited about the hoops that came with it (and of course the mess behind me but that has since been made worse and cleaned up):

And here are the first couple of projects that I worked on:

Its a wine bottle wrap that I found at Embroidery Library. You can find the design for purchase here and the entire set here. They have really good prices and I am pleased with the way that they stitch out. If you get the chance look at the projests they are pretty easy to read and they have a lot of great ideas. I just realised that I never took a picture of the second project or the others after that so until the next post!! My quilty friends and family are going to get some great gifts this year. I will be sure to let you know where I find my designs.

If you get a chance check out Designs By Sick there is a link in my sidebar. They have great prices and have daily freebies that you can get to check out the designs to see if you like them.

Friday Night Sew in!!!

2010-10-15T16:27:00.001-07:00

Ugh... Where to start. I knew that Friday night sew in was this weekend, but thought that I was going to be making the drive to Fallon, Nevada to spend time with Keith. Well as with anything else plans changed and I ended up making that drive last weekend instead of today. So this week I oficially started leave pending seperation from the Navy and I have take the new found time to be lazy of course but also get some much needed cleaning, and organizing.

My goal is to have the house clean an as much of the things that were laying around either put away or thrown away before Keith gets home. I am planning a few nice dinners for when he gets home since shortly after Thanksgiving he will be leaving for deployment.

So lets get to the topic of this post... FRIDAY NIGHT SEW IN!!!

So lets all get together and get sewing!! I'm not sure yet what I am going to be working on but I have been cleaning up and making room in the sewing room ALL day.. so after a little more cleaning.. some vacuuming and the some decision making I will be getting to that sewing I have been wanting to do for months!!

Here is a little glimpse of what the sewing room looks like now.. I thought I hd before pictures but I can't find them.. well I am off to clean, eat my dinner, pick a project and sew for the evening ... ENJOY!!

Looking for....

2010-10-02T16:36:00.000-07:00

So I'm home from San Diego got lots of great information about how to write a resume and get a job etc. But before I can do that I have to finish some classes and try to get into the VA work study program. Since both colleges that I need to take classes from are already in the middle of classes I have to wait until the next session.

I have been walking around today looking at what I can work on in the mean time and I found this super cool fat quarter bundle. I know exactly what I want to do with it but I need to find the perfect pattern. Does anyone know if a good throw size quilt that uses fat quarters? I have 16 fat quarters that I want to split in 2 piles and make a his and hers throw. I think that it would be something nice for Keith to come home to.

Well last week I had a bit of time to surf the net and I found this:

you can read more about it here. I know that I am starting a little late but I can't wait to see what the designers talk about. Looking forward to catching up.

A Case of the Mondays

2010-08-09T13:03:00.001-07:00

I am going to have to admit I have a case of the mondays.. Just not feeling the interacting with the rest of the world. Class is over and my package has been sent to the medical board in Washington DC for them to decide my fate so I should be excited right? Happy that I have some free time after work so that I can craft and create to my hearts content right? I just feel BLAH!!

All I want to do is go back to bed. Keith will be out to sea for just shy of a month and I have the house to my self to clean and re-arrange and try to continue to put away and organize things. For the most part things are put away we are just tweaking the last of things. Okay that is not completely true we have alot of things that are on the garage waiting to find a place in the house.

We'll see how productive I am while Keith is gone.

Strip Club Quilt Anyone??

2010-07-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

I am having some troubles... trouble getting back into the swing of things and getting back into my sewing room. I have done alot of re-organizing and have almost every thing put away in its own spot.

Now to get back to the sewing.. I obviously can't sew for as long with out some major breaks because of my arm but I need to get back in there and start busting some stash. Is there anyone out there that is in love with Strip Club Patterns? If you haven't heard of them before they are Cozy Quilt Shop's exclusive line of patterns. Cozy is located in San Diego California. The shop and the ladies that work there are awesome. If there is one thing that I miss about San Diego its that shop, the friends that I have made there and being able to go to strip club saterdays for my free pattern. If I could take them with me everywhere I would.

I have several strip bundles from Cozy and countless patterns. I'm curious anyone out there interested in working on a cozy quilt with me? They are super easy and the instructions are step by step... like a mystery quilt but with out the mystery.

I have 2 thoughts.. I can work on one that I have already started (as long as I have unpacked the pieces already and have them all) or I can start a new one in the hopes that some one out in blog land will want to play too and will help cheer me on.

Ok so here are the 3 that I have already started and will need to get all the parts back together..

The above pattern is called "Gift Boxes" and mine is not this colorway. The shop has actually changed things since the first time they did this pattern. The first time it was very pretty fall colors and nice warm flannel. That is what I have half sewn in a ziplock bag some where.

This one is called "Cactus Wreath" I love it!! I started this one prior to going on deployment what 2 years ago now? Maybe even before I transferred here to Lemoore so it has been in the works for a while.. I think all the strips are cut to size and just need to be chain pieced. Not sure if I have the background fabric for this though so it may have to wait a little until I can get some.

This one is called "Cross Walk to Paris" and I am not completely sure what stage it was left in. What I do know is that I started sewing this on a machine that I no longer have so I may have to re-sew a bunch of things to make them fit together nicely.

And Last this one is not started yet but I have the fabric for it. Keith picked it out because it was his favorite oriental fabrics. I believe we changed things up a bit.. the background will be a deep blue purple and the smaller squares will be cream. I think that the thin black border might be red and the outer border black but I'm not positive. I let Keith pick out what he wanted and I know I thought that we were good on the color combo's but I will have to see what the measurements are to know what was supposed to go where.

So who wants to sew with me? We can have an online get together maybe chat through messenger.. watch some movies in the process.. listen to a book on disc? This coming weekend will be the last weekend that I have before Keith gets home. Hes home for a little while and then I can do all the sewing I want on the weeked for another month or so while he is gone again.

Christmas in July

2010-07-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

Well I have seen several Christmas in July Sales and things going on online so I don't feel so bad about my holiday post yesterday. I have decided to do some searching on the net for some ornaments that I could make up and put away. Here is the first...

The pattern for this cute little star can be found at Craftideas.info I can see so many things that can be done with this.. like instead of a straight stitch hem a cute embroidery stitch. Or maybe an embroidered name? Oh and if you stitch them cross point to cross point they would be a cute banner or garland... Just changing the fabric would give you different looks as well.

For those out there that love snowman here's an adorable snowman made out of terrycloth:

This one will take a little more time than the star but its still really cute and I don't see why you couldn't use some left over fleece. Pattern for the snowman can be found here.

If your like me not only do you sew but you do a wealth of other crafts so for the crocheters out there I found this:

As a kid I remember having crochet candy canes on the tree. These aren't exactly like the ones that we had but nothing is like mom makes right? Mom is always unique and special in her own way. The pattern can be found on the Learn to Crochet site.

Here is a Mini christmas Stocking. Again we had stockings on our tree as a kid but they were knit and not crochet.

This one would be cute in reds and greens or maybe blues and silvers? You could put a couple of mini candy canes in it. If you can crochet grannie squares your golden. You can find this pattern here

Well this is a start. I unpacked and re-organized my yarn last weekend and I think that I have some green and red with silver through them and some white yarn that would be perfect. Well I hpe that I have given others some ideas.

This weekend will be spend putting away somethings.. 2 boxes is the goal.. writing out baby shower invites for my sister in-laws baby shower and possible working on some goodies for that. First I have to wait for the water heater repair guy and then another repair guy that I am going to leave secret since mom reads this. After that the weekend is mine.

12 Days of....

2010-07-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

Well summer of course!! I know the last post was all about December and I promise not to beat you up with the holiday countdown yet. But I have still got to blog and get those creative ideas flowing or the holidays will roll around and I will have nothing completed and I will keep myself up to the wee hours of the morning trying to complete things.

Last year I gave Keith goodies for the 12 days of xmas. Mind you they had nothing to do with the actual 12 days it was just like his little advent calendar leading to our first Christmas as a married couple. Keith seemed to be more excited about the special ornaments that he got and I liked to see him smile like a little kid as he put the ornaments on the tree. So this year I will be on the look out for some more of those special ornaments because those I can pull out everyday and snap a picture and send it to him while he is gone. I thought that we could pull the small tree out and put it on the table to decorate for our celebration when he comes home.

So with that in mind are there some special ornaments that you have made for your family that you could share with me? Have you seen any neat ornaments online? Let me know... and I will keep you posted as to what I find or make. This is I think #1 on the list.. (Isn't it cute?)

They didn't have a female sailor though so I will still be on the look out for that. You can find the above ornament at Ornament Shop.com as well as several other adorable ornaments for your pets, anniversaries etc.

Did you know?....

2010-07-08T07:06:00.001-07:00

That there is only 168 days until christmas? Well for the rest of the world anyway. For my family its about a month shy of that. We plan on celebrating a bit early so that we can include Keith before he leaves for deployment. It will be just a little celebration probably between my parents and Keith and I.

Never the less.. I have been having issues to get motivated to do or make anything so I guess the time would be to start working on things now so that some of my projects will be ready before he leaves. I assume that he and I will do some celebrating when he comes back from cruise as well because we will have missed Valentines, his birthday, Easter and my birthday as well as Christmas and New Years. Not exactly sure what I am going to do for them but I have almost a year to figure some of it out.. Smiles.

So I guess I'm here to figure out where to start. My projects for this year need to be kind of simple so that I can get them done. Not to mention he will be gone alot between now ans when he actually deploys so I can work on them while he's gone and it will be a suprise. So what should I make? I'm thinking about making a valance from car/ nascar fabric to put above the garage window... What do you think? Last year I gave him some craftsman chairs and a craftsman table that looked like this...

I think that making a valance for that window would sort of complete his man cave out in the garage what do you guys think? There are some of the old metal signs that we have picked up various places for the walls and I am going to look into a nice clock for the wall.

Wow 1000th post...

2010-07-07T15:17:00.000-07:00

Not mine of course.. lol.. maybe someday. But Jill has reached her 1000th post and she wants to celebrate with everyone so pop on over and check out her blog and her give away.. Shes got some great prizes just waiting to go to their new home. Go check her out by clicking the nifty button below. She has great pictures of her project and her puppy dogs are so adorable.

Congrats Jill!! On hitting 1000.

There are people out there looking for heros....

2010-07-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon bloggers! I hope that everyone is having a good Thursday. I know that mine feels like it has been really long.

So I was looking for some ideas on the internet and ran across an interesting website. Its called Wish upon a Hero. Now if you haven't seen this site before its really pretty neat. You'll have to read all about it at the link posted above but its all about caring for others and letting people out there know that you care. If you choose to join the site you will of course have to create a login but having a log in allows you to 1.) Make a wish for everyone to see that maybe some one out there will have the ability to make it come true. and 2.) grant wishes to other people to show them that you care.

Its really easy some wishes are as simple as I wish for ideas of things to send my husband on deployment (this is how I found the site) and then others are actually items like a lady wished for someone to help build a fence in her yard for her foster puppies.

Now with most of my friends being crafty type people and I have never known any of you to not help some one in need if you can. I'm passing on this website. It could be something as simple as a card to let some one know that you care.. smiles

How about it? anyone interested in becoming some ones hero with me?

Appreciating Moms....

2010-06-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon everyone!! Goodness I have been so out of the loop with my blog. Hopefully after all the appointments and receiving a final decision from the navy things will slow down for me and I can focus more on being creative and less on the stressful things in life.

Have you heard?? Regina is having a give away!! She is giving away a yummy cook book in support of the American Cancer Society in honor of her mother who is currently going through chemo. Thoughts are with your mom Regina as this is a topic that hits close to home in many ways.

I myself am a supporter of ACS but also of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in support of my Mom. Every year the navy gives me the opportunity to donate funds from my paycheck to charities that I choose through a program called the Combined Federal Campaign. Every year for as long as I can remember I have always donated to ACS, The Lymphoma Society, and the Epilepsy Foundation.

So here are some heart felt thoughts going out to all mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends and other realitives that have been affected.

Who Knew?

2010-06-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

Who Knew that you could meet so many interesting people through blog land? A friend and fellow blogger Jill was asked to review a book on her blog. In return she gets a copy of the book to keep and is giving away a copy on her blog here.

As I was taught last week in my Transition Assistance (to help me become a civilian again after being a sailor for 12 years) its all about networking! Who knows what kind of opportunities will come your way.

So Hop on over to Jill's Blog and Check out Sandra Dallas' new Book Whiter than Snow.

Been Busy

2010-06-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

Good morning blog world!! How has everyone been doing lately? Things have been busy here in my circle of the world. I have been getting paperwork together to send to the Navy Medical board for them to make a decision as to if I can continue my navy career. The Orthopedic Surgeon believes that they will make the decision to separate me so with that being said I have had several appointments with college counselors. I am currently enrolled in a business course and have been told that it is quite possible that I could graduate with my BS in business with a minor in accounting in 2 years .. less if I work on some transfer courses at the junior college.

Keith is gearing up to start the tedious work up cycle before leaving for deployment so I will be helping him getting ready to go as well as putting together a plan to work on things at the house and my craft things. I'm hoping that if I keep myself fairly busy that the time that he will be gone will go buy pretty fast.

Ok so back to this business class. We have a class project and I think that it will be super fun. We are writing business plans. Keith and I have talked about this off and on and I know what kind of business I am going to write about.. But I need your help... I am going to open a Quilt Shop!! And I need your help deciding what to name it. This is of course just for my class but who knows maybe some day I will be come a successful quilt shop owner and you can say that you helped me name it.. smiles.

Until later,

Been MIA from blog land.. but with good reason.

2010-05-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

Good evening everyone! Well I know that I have been MIA for a long time. I haven't forgot about my blog friends out there I promise. I have been busy with things other than sewing. If you haven't read things Keith and I were looking for a house. We put in a bid on one house that I blogged about in a few previous posts but we were out bid. Disappointed Keith and I sat back to re-evaluate and decide if buying a house was really the thing for us. After a lot of thought we decided to put a bid on another house. It had come down in price and it was actually the first house that we had wanted but because it was priced so high that it was not feasable for us. Things worked out and we have been going through the paperwork process to buy this house.

Well tuesday May 4th we were supposed to be able to pick up our keys that didn't happen we actually closed on the house about a week later. I am really excited. Mom and Dad came up to help us move. Mom and I tried put things away while the boys are moved the heavy things in the morning since Keith had to work still. Mom is still not able to walk very far or for very long but she and I did some grocery shopping and she walked more that few days than she had since her surgery.

So that is in a nut shell what I have been working on. The begining of march I had some health issues that pretty much sucked the life out of me but I think this new house is really going to turn things around.

My brother and his wife are now expecting their first child and Mom and I have offered to throw the baby shower. Right now mom and I are just talking about the hand made decorations like the diaper cake for a center piece and all the things that we are going to attach to it to decorate it.

Stay tuned for pictures of the latest embroidery machine pictures... Mom and I think that they will make a great addition to the diaper cake decorations. Pictures of the new house will hopefully be around soon to. We have some but its so bare that we need to move things in first smiles

Today I plan on wirking on installing the blinds that keith and I ordered... Shh don't tell him.. I hope that he won't be upset.. but I figure with a power screw driver I will be set.. should be easy. Afterall I tore apart and put the fridge back together ..

Extremely Rough week

2010-03-05T09:31:00.001-08:00

Well it has been an extremely rough week for me this week. I finished some blocks for my Silly Gals swap on Tuesday and then the week went down hill from there. Do to this weeks events I think I forgot to take pictures of my blocks so I'm not sure I will be able to show them. I will retrace my steps to find my camera to check one more time though as the blocks have already been mailed. I think I have finally wrapped my brain around everything that has happened and am going to try to slowly move on. I had a list of things to try to get done last weekend that never happened .. maybe this weekend I will be able to bounce back from that.

I did cheat on the stash report last week (I never wrote one) So this week I will confess to the fabric that was bought last week with a purpose in mind and then hopefully this weekend I will be able to use some of that stash so that my report won't suffer so bad from it.

Until later

Update on the House

2010-02-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to post an update. There were at least 2 bids put in on the house ours and 1 other. The bank counter offered saying they would take the best and highest.. We took that as to mean that the other bid and ours were so close that they wanted to try to get us to bid more. Keith has worked out all the numbers and has sent them back to the Realtor so we will be signing paperwork again this afternoon and then waiting to see who had the better offer.

Bids have to be in by tomorrow at 1pm so with any luck by friday we should know whether we are still looking or if we need to start packing things to get ready to move.

Any way back to the pictures of the house... Look at this one for a minute..

Do you see the wicker baskets above the bar area in between the beams in the ceiling? Well to be honest the are going to get pulled down.. they look like some that my mom had when I was a kid.. But I can see something else very different there.... I see six special quilted pot holders hung there for display. I think I have a couple already but would really like for Keith to help in the decorating so I might just have him pick some fabric and I will make some special ones.

Prospective New House

2010-02-23T08:14:00.000-08:00

Keith and I have been thinking about and looking into buying a house since before he left for deployment. We have been looking and can't even count how many houses that we have looked at. We put in a bid on one about a month ago (The day before my surgery actually) and was out bid by some one else. That in it self may have been a blessing in disguise because Keith found a really nice older home on about and acre last friday. We put in a bid this morning and have been told that we should know by next week if our offer has been accepted.

If it gets accepted there will be a bit of saving coming our way just so that we can be prepared in case the navy does seperate me for my arm. I have told Keith that I will do what ever it takes to help make ends meet even if it means getting 2 part time jobs here in town, and or even doing the ebay/ etsy thing if need be. Every little bit will help even if it doesn't seem like it. That extra $20, $30 or $50 can be put towards utility bills, storage, car payments you name it.

So I think I will be alot better with my stash reports here in the future using ALOT more than I will be purchasing. I have alot of Kits and fabric set aside for specific projects in the hopes to limit the things that I inpulse buy.

So are you ready to see some sneak peeks of the house?

This is the front of the house. The grass looks lot greener in real life and there is a big gravel drive through or round about not sure what you would call it.

Here is a picture of the fire place. Looks like it will keep us toasty warm in the winter.

Here is the view into the Kitchen not a whole lot of counter space but we will manage (if our bid goes through)

And part of the back yard. There is a small pool and spa its almost like a little resort area with a patio area and then a sun type area. Over all really nice. We'll see.

Stash Report 8

2010-02-21T18:49:00.000-08:00

Well this week I did pretty good. I didn't buy any fabric, I finished a couple UFO's meaning that I can count that against my net fabric used. Maybe a little at a time and I can get back in the positive.

Fabric added this week: 0.0

Fabric added year-to-date: 25.45

Fabric used this week: 1.375

Fabric used year-to-date: 5.6

Net Fabric Used: -20.8

I hope to get a few fat quarters used before next week. We'll see what the week brings. The squadron put Keith on nights as of this past friday so I am home in the evenings by my self. Maybe I will get bits and pieces done in the evenings.

Friday Night Sew in!!

2010-02-19T11:22:00.000-08:00

Friday was February's Friday night sew in!! A group of quilters online have come together to support and encourage each other to sew and be creative. You don't even have to sew per say. Last month for Friday night sew in Keith and I folded and re-organized some of my fabric stash as it was the only thing I could do after surgery and you know we had fun.

This time my brother and sister in-law will be in town visiting but the plan is for them to help me grocery shop and then have a nice relaxing evening at home. Pizza and movies for dinner and just be able to enjoy our time together. I'm hoping that I can steal a few minutes (ok longer because of my arm) away so that I can finish some pillows that I have been promising my brother for almost 2 years now. I figure if I finish them then he can take them home as an early birthday present.

Things didn't work out quite as I had planned. I didn't sew Friday or Saturday but I did get those pillows done for Ryan. Only one went home with him because the second wasn't quite ready for him to take home. I didn't really like the way parts of it came out but he loves them and doesn't want me to redo them. I guess thats all that matters. I have lots of other Dale Jr fabric to make things for him but I think those are going to be put on hold for a little while. Keith and I found out Friday that we are going to be an Aunt and Uncle. My brother and his wife Molly are going to be having their first baby.

The second is a picture of one of the finished pillows with its proud owner and soon to be new Pappa. He refused to let me take a picture where you couls actually see his face. The pillows are huge and can be used to sit on the floor. He wanted them when we were all sitting on the floor at his house playing video games. He had his own room/ office where he would play games and use his computer. They have since decided that the game room is going to be the babies room so I'm not sure that they have a need for these pillows BUT its a couple UFO's completed and fabric that I can count towards my stash report since they haven't been counted in previous reports.

Hope that everyone had a productive weekend and has a great week. Until later...

Stash Report 7 (SUPER LATE)

2010-02-15T18:00:00.000-08:00

Well better late than never I guess!! I actually didn't post Sunday morning because I was in the middle of a project and wanted to count it for the end of the week totals. I did finish it Sunday about 11am or so but got side tracked doing things with my husband and didn't ever get back to post.

Fabric added this week: 0.0 (Yeah I did it!! Nothing this week)

Fabric added year-to-date: 25.45

Fabric used this week: 2.0

Fabric used year-to-date: 4.25

Net Fabric Used: -22.2

So my net went down a little bit. Not much But if I just get a couple a week while going through therapy then it can only get better once I'm getting better. This next week I plan on finishing a couple UFO's that have never been counted before. Two birds with one stone (or two seams really)

Keiths Birthday Cake

2010-02-12T21:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Keiths birthday. Keith asked for a chocolate cake. Last year we had an ice cream cake but this year I decided to bake him a cake. So here is how the cake turned out..

and we added this yummy low caalorie ice cream. The ice cream is the best silky chocolate.. mmm.

Just thought I would share a bit of Keith's birthday with everyone!!

Yahoo group Valentines swaps

2010-02-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

This year I participated in 2 valentines swaps with 2 seperate yahoo groups. I am a little late in posting about them but Shellie knew that I got it I thanked her on face book and I recieved Fayes today. All I can say is thank you so much ladies!! You have definately brightened up the last weekend before having to go back to work. Shellie and Faye have out done them selves thats for sure.

Here is a picture of Faye's swap goodies.. She sent a fabric bag, little pouch, scissor fob, little note pad and a pin cushion. I think I am going to use the bag to keep all my things together that I am working on in the living room. I have a short list (or maybe not so short) of things I would like to get done this weekend.

And here are the goodies from Shellie.. I swear the box kept multiplying when I wasn't looking.

Let me see if I can mention everything.. Shellie I'm sorry if I miss things... there was a baggie full of chocolate and gummy bears, a doll pincushion, cranberry potpourri, some post cards for my scrap book, a scrapbag, fatquarters, charm pack a little drawstring bag full of thimbles( super neat), a crochet pouch with a spoon from niagra falls tucked inside (I love it, you'll see why soon), cinnamon heart sachets (I think correct me shellie if I'm wrong) and then she sent a cross stitch magazine and a soduko book to enjoy while I'm still not able to sew. Thank you so much I love it all and can't wait to sit down and work the puzzles.

Here lilly decided that some of the fat quarters were hers.. She likes purple like her mama.

Shellie your spoon filled the last space in my spoon case!! Here is a picture... I actually have more spoons from deployment but we have yet to find them. So here is the case as it is right now.

I think it looks great. We're not sure where to hang it yet but are waiting until we find another house we don't want to put more holes in the wall here that we are just going to have to fix when we find a house to buy.

Thanks again Shellie and and Faye!

Stash Report Week 6

2010-02-07T03:01:00.000-08:00

Well nothing was busted this week except for some water soluable stabilizer and perhaps some cut away as well since hand towels don't count.. smiles. Perhaps next week. There are a couple things that I would like to try to make at a very slow pace that is. This coming week is Keith's birthday so I would like to "TRY" to make a special Birthday place mat. I already have a pattern in mind and there is an embroidery pattern that I think would be perfect to go some where on the place mat. Whether I make it that far is a different story. It really is the thought that counts. As soon as we (Keith and I) Figure out what (1 color and 2 size) blocks we are going to use for our super secret Christmas projects there will be some busted stash.. Things will be embroidered and put into a WIP project box. In an effort to organize the sewing room we have several of those art bins from Joanns designated as project boxes.

Fabric that was added was already confessed to earlier in the week it all belongs to Thimbleberries Club that I'm hoping that others are working on too. I signed up for it prior to deciding to start stash busting. I don't know what my group is actually doing because they are in San Diego but maybe I will find an online support group working on it too.

Fabric added this week: 3.6 (There is actually more because they sent me the first trimesters fabric but it was packed nice so the others will be counted as I get the pattern books)
Fabric added year-to-date: 25.45

Fabric used this week: 0.0 (towels don't count but I sew'd)
Fabric used year-to-date: 2.25

Net Fabric Used: -23.2

I have a question for the other ladies working on stash. When do you count it as busted. When cut or actually sewn. Being my first year doing stash busting do I get to count UFO's that have been added to the flimsy pile as busted stash as long as they haven't been counted before?

Movie Saturday

2010-02-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

Well today Keith and I decided that we were going to go see a movie. So we went and saw "Dear John". There were good parts and bad parts. I won't ruin it for you. There are reasons that I like the movie that only Keith and I will understand. Keith on the other hand was not a fan of the movie. He said there were parts that were too slow. My favorite quote from the movie was "Two Weeks that 's all it took". If your not up for a sappy tear jerker then I would avoid this movie.

We are now back home and Keith has decided to look for the "Eggs of the Day" on face book. Some thing that we started before my surgery and it just became our thing. Its silly really but we have fun.

In the last week I have done a little bit of sewing. Well that's actually a lie. I set the machine and pushed go and it did things all on its own. So all I really had to do was hoop some things. Some things I can post and then others that will have to wait until the Valentines Swap buddies receive them. Here are some Free Standing Lace (FSL) leaves that I did this weekend. I'm having trouble deciding what to do next. There are 2 projects that I know that I want to do but I have to decide what colors that I am going to do. They will be started now to be gifts for Christmas 2010. I know its a long ways away but I have no idea what this year is going to hold for me and want to have them done and put away as soon as I can.

Pay it Forward

2010-02-05T21:12:00.000-08:00

As most of you that read my Blog know I Received a Pay it Forward Gift from Regina this week. I love it! Its awesome and couldn't have come at a better time. I have one more week of Medical leave and then I am back to work. So it was just the thing to cheer me up before having to go back to work.

So here is my pay it forward! The first 3 people to comment on my post will receive a pay it forward goody from me. All you have to do is post about it on your blog when you receive it and do the same send to 3 more people. It doesn't have to be anything spectacular huge just a little something that you have made to brighten up some one elses day.

If your not part of one of my Yahoo groups please be sure to leave me your email so that I can get your address from you. Mom if you want to play its okay too.. I will help you post to your blog and then tell all the girls that you are having a give away.

Mail call!

2010-02-05T16:47:00.000-08:00

Good evening everyone! Well I have been really bad about updating my blog. I'm having a rough day today.. my arm is irritated and I tried to take a nap but the meows decided that they weren't going to let that happen. Keiths kitty (Sandy) Kept licking my face particularly my eye lids and I couldn't stand it any more so I came out to the living room and Thelma decided to climb all over me. Shes not usually the persistent kind so I took that as the sign that I wasn't going to sleep.

A few days ago.. Monday or tuesday I got loads of things in the mail from some ebay auctions, a blog give away, Regina, and the Cozy quilt shop (yes more fabric but I can explain).

First I want to say thank you thank you to Regina. I received a little notebook, fat quarter, thread and a hand made card for her pay it forward gift. So yes the next post that I write will be to follow through with my pay it forward responsabilities. Keep an eye out so that you can be one of the first 3 to sign up.

The blog give away was a great little stampin up photo album and some paper to go in it. I plan on using it to make a little photo album of our wedding pictures to be able to put on our coffe table or the shelf behind our couch. I also recieved some pencils and a note pad that will happily find their place on my desk, or in my sewing room when I get them both cleaned off.

The ebay auctions were un-important at this point they were rubber stamps that may be used in projects and scrapbooks to come. I got some really cute christmas stamps that will be perfect for some christmas cards for next year.

Last but not least I got my first installment of this years Thimbleberries Block of the month. I am pretty excited about this one. I am working long distance with the shop in San Diego on this one. They decided to do the Dusk version of the quilt but I have debated getting the fabric for one of the other versions as well. Are you working on the 2010 Thimbleberries block of the month? Leave me a comment and we can motivate each other to finish our monthly obligations. This month is pine trees!

Stash Report Week 5

2010-01-31T14:25:00.000-08:00

Well I can't say that I got any sewing done. Although I did get some towels embroidered. Some didn't look so great but thats okay. They weren't that expensive and Keith says that we can use them in our Kitchen.. LOL. Turns out the tension was off on the new embroidery machine so it went in for servicing yesterday. Hopefully they won't have to order any parts.

Back to the stash report. I received in the mail this week 2 packages with fabric and Keith bought me a Kit. Yes I ordered them both of the ones from the mail with projects in mind or should I say giftee's in mind. I need to get another turnover so that I know that I have enough to find a project for the other one. Have any ideas of a "Holly Jolly Snowmen" Turnover? Let me know. I want to make some easy tops that Keith and I will be able to display at some point and time. Did you know that there is about (rough estimate) 0.8 yards in a Turnover and 2.8 yards in a Jelly Roll? Well here is the report.. Not great but after some cheering on from Jill I have started marking fabric for projects when I can sew.

Fabric added this week: 7.6
Fabric added year-to-date: 21.85

Fabric used this week: 0.0
Fabric used year-to-date: 2.25

Net Fabric Used: -19.6

I know not great but, hopefully soon I will be able to sew little bits here and there. Crossing fingers I had a few bad days this week so I don't want to push things too far. I know once I can sew I will be pushing things from the stash pile over to the flimsy pile.

Thursday already and Frustrated!! Ugh

2010-01-28T06:24:00.000-08:00

Though I'm sure that Keith is not saying "Wow its thursday already" that is the thought that went through my head this morning. Actually the first thought through my head this morning was where the heck is my registration for my truck. It never got mailed from Colorado in the first place. I called on it and then priority mailed a check to a lady name Pat who said that she would take care of it in a timely manner (after asking me why I can't just come into the office and take care of it.. Duh active military not living in the state). It has been sitting at the PO box since the 11th and still my check hasn't been processed, nothing has been mailed back to me as being wrong.. What the heck?? So when my parents are awake I am going to call dad and see what he is up to this weekend.

He wanted to drive to colorado to fix this in the first place and I talked him out of it. Looks like we may have to go anyway since the trucks registration expires in 4 days. Ugh I am so mad. I told the lady once it was expired that I could no longer get on the base since I had no proof that I had recieved the card so that I could make copies of it and the check that I sent back.. So the truck will sit.. The lady is lucky I have another vehicle at this point or I probably would have been on the phone to her supervisor a long time ago!!

Our new addition to the sewing room

2010-01-27T15:30:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago Keith and I stumbled across an embroidery machine on craig's list. Not just any e-machine but a Babylock Pro-Line embroidery machine. Yes I already have a Brother Disney machine but in reading the group emails some of the ladies were having issues with things and were having trouble getting replacement parts. Plus the deal really was too good to pass up. Along with the machine I got a Madeira treasure chest FULL of Rayon thread 200+ spools (If you have priced them online lets just say that I got the machine and thread for less than I could buy the treasure chest for). I got a similar deal on my Brother machine a few years ago the lady sold it to me with a box full of about 100 spools of thread.

So does loads and loads of thread count as stash? If it does I had better get to sewing .. Smiles. Using the embroidery machine right now is a bit easier than actually sewing. So I have been putting together my list of things to do using the embroidery machine. When I feel up to it of course. I have done a bit of work on EQ 6 but wasn't happy with the way things came out so all in all I have been non productive while on surgery leave. Thats okay though once I feel up to it I will be sewing to my hearts content.

Keith and I have talked and think that this year is going to be a hand made gift year for our families. If I start now I might actually get things done in time to mail them out to his family and not be sewing the night before Christmas eve for my family.

We will have to see what the new year and the new machine brings. Currently one of the swaps that I am participating in has a requirement of a hand towel and I am trying to decide on the perfect design to embroider on it. I had some issues with the machine this morning and realized that the lady that sold me the machine gave me a bag of the wrong bobbins which we all know can cause big problems.

Here are a couple of pictures of the towel that I was playing with this morning. It doesn't look too bad. Not very centered but it was the first thing that I tried with the new machine. I hope that my swap pals will like what ever it is that I finally decide on. Until later....

Stash Report Week 4

2010-01-24T16:09:00.000-08:00

Well I guess everyone will say that I have fallen off the stash wagon. Joann's was having a sale on calicos and I thought that it would be a great time to add some of those fabrics that we use for back grounds and things like that. I never seem to have enough of the filler fabrics.

Then there was this pink fabric that had black and grey horses on it. My friend Regina in San Diego loves the color pink and we used to go riding all the time. You know how that works if you don't buy it it won't be there when you want it. I will be posting pictures later maybe everyone can help me figure out a fussy cut pattern to use with it. I have some ideas but more will be welcome.

Fabric added this week: 14.25
Fabric added year-to-date: 14.25

Fabric used this week: 0.0
Fabric used year-to-date: 2.25

Net Fabric Used: -12.00

I know I know. When I am able to sew I will start working hopefully fast. I want to sew some pillowcases for the APQ Challenge.

Fab Shop Hop.. Pie Days Yum

2010-01-22T10:23:00.001-08:00

Today I came across FabShopHops "Pie Days". It is a special hop that starts today in honor of National Pie Day. There are 30 shops and 90 pie recipies and patterns. There is also a Challange that goes with it making a quilt using at least 36 of the blocks that you found. Sounds like fun to me! The pie blocks will make a great quilt for that baker that you know. I think they will also make a great wall hanging for the kitchen, pot holders or even place mats for that favorite dessert. Yummy!! Are you in? I will be for an EQ 6 Challange not much more until okayed by the doctor to be able to sew. I apparently have used my arm too much doing the every day things and have irritated things until they hurt. So I will be taking it REALLY easy the next few days.

PS Hop fast there are only 2 days to get all those pie recipies. I have seen a bunch and they all look yummy so far.

Friday night sew in/ Stash Report Week 3

2010-01-17T18:41:00.000-08:00

Well I did get to do a little (very little) organizing on Friday. Sorry I didn't get to posting about it to share pictures with everyone. I am a bit run down with all the pain meds. I have set up several times to use my computer and to work on eq only to get to the point to actually work and put the computer down because I was tired.

I was going to share a picture of my arm because we were allowed to take bandages off yesterday but it looks gross and decided that it was too graphic for blog (Looks like frankenstein).. That and well today I actually made Keith sick poking it.. He got light headed and said he felt like he was going to pass out.

So stash report is slim this week no purchases no usage

Fabric added this week: 0.00
Fabric added year-to-date: 0.00

Fabric used this week: 0.0
Fabric used year-to-date: 2.25

Net Fabric Used: 2.25

Online Shop Hops

2010-01-12T16:33:00.000-08:00

Have you ever participated in the FabShopHop online? I have several times and have come out with gift certificates and things a couple of times as well. Mom even won some neutral fabrics once that was awesome.

I have also participated in shop hops her locally. The San Diego Quilt run as well as the Southern California Quilt run. Both of which are awesome it was fun to see the shops that you don't normally shop at and make friends with people you didn't know were so close. Being that I have moved too far north of San Diego to be able to participate and enjoy the time in the shops to look at the new gadgets and gizmos and the new lines of fabric, I have resorted to shop hopping online.

There are quite a few shop hops when you actually look at it. They are kind of hard to keep straight and keep track of. Last night I decided that I was going to participate in the Mystery Quilt Dash. Its actually Mystery Quilt Dash #6. If you haven't seen it or have never tried it, its pretty easy there are 7 shops that are participating and when you have found the Mystery blocks much like the bunny for FabShop, you will have all the clues to Mystery Quilt #6. This would be a great thing to do when you don't have the ability or the motivation to actually sew or quilt. I reccommend taking your time and looking through the shops but you don't have to.

So who's up for the Mystery Quilt Dash? Who's going to join me? It actually ends on January 14th but, there will several others that I will try to post as they come along. You can always sign up for the FabShopHop that will be ending this month.

Blog Giveaway!!

2010-01-11T21:41:00.000-08:00

Head on over to Bobbi's she's having a giveaway for her 99th post! And her prizes are super awesome and extremely generous. Check her out!
First Prize:

Second Prize:

Stash Report Week 2

2010-01-10T12:17:00.000-08:00

I didn't want to post this until I knew I was done but I will do it now and anything used after this will count towards next week.

Unfortunatley I can't post pictures of what I sewed until it is recieved by its happy new owner so look for those next week some time. A couple of them are my original designs. The ideas came from another pattern but I didn't quite like the other pattern so I decided to make my own.

Fabric added this week: 0.00
Fabric added year-to-date: 0.00

Fabric used this week: 1.5
Fabric used year-to-date: 2.25

Net Fabric Used: 2.25

Friday Night Sew in!

2010-01-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

Well the girls are having a sew in this Friday, January 15th. I have vowed to participate in some way or another. But the surgery on wednesday will be the deciding factor as to what I am able to do. If you check out Hedi's page she says that you can work on any project that you want sewing, crochet, knit it doesn't matter. Being that I won't have the use of my right (dominant) arm I will probably not get to be too productive but hope that I can get some organizing done. If I can get some fabric folded or some books put away that in itself will be productive.

So for those of you that are able to participate come join us. I will be here cheering you on.

Smiles,

No sewing Tuesday:

2010-01-06T07:34:00.000-08:00

Well Yesterday was a no sewing day. I have lots of things to do but when I got home I was so cold that I took a hot shower, put on some warm clothes and snuggled up in blankets. Mean while Keith was roasting in the house. It has not been super cold here the usual cold for this time of year but we haven't seen the sun in a couple weeks between the rain that we had and the fog/ over cast that never seems to go away. Its left me with this bone chilling cold that I just can't get rid of. Makes me want to not get out of bed in the morning and if I do not leave the house.

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Wednesday!

I guess the having trouble sleeping does sometimes lead to good ideas. Keiths birthday is in February (the 11th to be exact) and being so close to Christmas I was having trouble coming up with a gift idea. Well some where between last night and this morning I had a great thought! He has off and on read about "Geocaching" and talked about that it might be fun but has never actually gone out and done it. If you have never heard of "Geocaching" its basically the modern day treasure hunting using a hand held GPS tracker. Sounds simple enough right? But you never know what obsticals are going to be between you and that treasure.

Well that is all that I have for this morning. Hope that everyone is having a great day

What has this world come to??

2010-01-04T08:21:00.000-08:00

Last night I talked to my younger brother and found out that some very mean and nasty person decided to steal his snoopy christmas lawn ornament new years night. He said that he and his wife went to bed about 11pm or so and when they got up in the morning it was gone.

People at work today seem to think it was a drunkin New Years prank and they may be right but why ruin some one elses new years by making them feel uncomfortable. I don't know if you have ever had your car or house broken into but I have and it leaves a very uneasy feeling. A feeling like its going to happen again and for me it was the feeling that some one is out there watching me get into my truck in the dark in the morning.

So last night I searched on ebay and managed to find another Snoopy (Red Baron) like the one that he had and bid on it. Was lucky enough to win it and Keith and I will be giving it to my brother for his birthday. Yes his birthday is in march but when you find a deal off season that is some times the best time to buy.

Today has proven to be the typical monday where everything that could go wrong has. I hope that, that streak is over for the morning since things have finally settled down.

Stash Report Week 1

2010-01-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

I aim to start off this year using fabric rather than buying it but with the surgery coming up we'll see how that works out. I haven't bought anything except for the charms that I got on the 31st but that was last year so technically it doesn't count. Plus its for a gift so it will be leaving the house this week anyway.

I have stewed long enough about the projects that I wanted to make for my secret holiday pal and am finally seeing progress on them all. As you could see in the previous posts I have been organizing my fabric stash and trying to get a count of everything that I have in stash. There are alot of things that I want to make and hopefully this will be a much more productive year than I had last. Blog posts and all.

Fabric added this week: 0.00
Fabric added year-to-date: 0.00

Fabric used this week: 1.75
Fabric used year-to-date: 1.75

Net Fabric Used: 1.75

Fabric stash accounted for: 150.0 (and counting)

Unfortunately the fabric that I pulled for projects today wasn't counted yet, and the other parts of it were scraps that I had cut previously. I haven't figured out how to account for scraps yet but I think the scraps that I used add up to about a fat quarter.

So I'm looking good so far lets not let this surgery hold me back.. smiles

Weekend is almost finished!!

2010-01-03T15:12:00.000-08:00

Well the weekend is almost over and I didn't get as much done as I had planned but I got alot more done than I ever imagined when it came to folding fabric and cleaning up the sewing room. I wanted to get a lot more sewn but that hasn't happened yet. I have a bunch cut and will be headed back to the sewing room here in a few to see what else I can get sewn before having to quit for the evening.

I seem to have mis-placed alot of patterns. Not sure where they got put but hope that all the clean up and re-organizing will help me find them. I have gotten almost all my goodies ready to go to Jill super late for the Christmas swap but never forgotten.

I am going to try to get a couple things sewn so that if I make it to the 250th blog post that I am able to send out a prize with out making some one wait for ever for it. It will be nice to participate in blog give aways and what not even though I am unable to sew for a little while. I have a couple things already for a swap with the TQ gals and think that there are some coming up with my Silly's group too so I will have to look into things for that.

Here is a sneak peek at some of the fabric that I have played with today! What do you think?

Organizing and clean up

2009-12-30T18:47:00.000-08:00

Well its about that time for us to clean up after the Holidays and try to do a little re-organizing. Keith asked me to do him a favor and organize my books and patterns because he was a little upset when he picked up some books to ask me what I thought about them and I said "I love them they are at home" He was looking for gifts and I was ruining them all. So in an effort to make things easier on the both of us we are going to figure out a way to organize my books and patterns as well as re-fold and organize the stash.

They always say to start small right? Well tonight I am starting with this shelf. It had some books and things on it and it will soon have fabric folded in the hopes that I can get together a stash report and be more productive this year.

Well I think I have finally folded one of the stacks that was sitting in our "Super Spare" room (the room where everything gets thrown until it finds a home). I put it neatly on the shelf that showed above. It now looks like this..

and my stash is already up to 36.5 yards. Not quite as much as Jill, but I haven't even begun to fold rubbermaid containers or count the numerous fat quarters that I have all packed up in totes.

I decided to go back and fold a bit more before showering and heading to bed and I managed to fold and count 39 more yards of fabric bringing my stash counted and folded so far to 75.5 yards. If our goal is to use more than we buy this year I guess I had better start making some plans to figure out some fast quilts, placemats, tablerunners and wall hangings. My total count of panels that we're intended for wall hangings tree skirts etc so far are 6 but there alot more that I have yet to fold.

I am headed to bed but I will keep you posted as to my progress tomorrow. Mom will be here and the boys (Dad and Keith) will be out in the garage so I can see twice as much getting folded if we just spend an hour tomorrow.

Embroidery Machine Madness

2009-12-29T14:18:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I joined a site called Designs by sick. They have great emb designs and have created so many ideas for me. How many of us have gone out and bought those cute little embroidered hand towels for the bathrooms or for the kitchen for the holidays? Now I can make them.

I was sitting at work today thinking about all the things that I could make and there are patterns for Sucker/ lollypop covers and the first thing that popped into my head was to make a sucker bouquet.. how cute would that be? Then I got to thinking .. I always joke with Keith that I am going to decorate the bathroom with finding nemo.. low and behold I found a tropical fish design set that would be perfect.. a couple hand towels, the edging on a shower curtian maybe a toilet tissue cover or kleenex box cover, and a little wall hanging or something.. viola bathroom make over.. add to it an inexpensive basic toothbrush holder and soap dish.. and that would make a great house warming gift.

I don't know there are just so many possibilities its unreal. you know all the hand embroidered redwork and blue work? I learned how to do all that but I can now order the designs from this web site to make quick centers for quilt blocks etc. I know its cheating but hey! When your short on time and need a gift whose going to complain?

Secret Pal

2009-12-29T12:46:00.000-08:00

Well I know that my secret pal is no longer a secret!! Jill has posted on her blog about all the super awesome things that she made and sent to me. I couldn't have recieved a better christmas present from a quilty friend. I came down with the bronchitis icky's and am still trying to get over it so her goodies are pretty late considering. Keith has come up with some other goodies to add to the mix and I think that we are actually going to have to get another box so that we can fit them all in.

The fabric has been pulled for several goodies.. some has been cut and others waiting to be cut in circles. (we had to find the right size circle template.. smiles) .. there are other things that I'm hoping she will be on pins and needles waiting for (hint.. hint). Then of course there will be some sugar and spice and everything nice thrown in there.. maybe a little cream too if she has been a good girl.

I'm hoping that the extra time off that I am getting for the new years holiday will give me the time to complete the things left to finish and then get them in the mail the Saterday after new years. I think that mom and dad will be up this weekend too so there will be some one to help me cut and wrap some things.

But I'm still thinking about those goodies and can't wait until she recieves them. I hope that she enjoys them as much as I loved the ones that she sent me.

Christmas has passed... New Years Goals

2009-12-29T11:05:00.000-08:00

Well Christmas has passed and the new year is fast approaching. Many of my blog friends have decided to set "Goals" rather than make resolutions this year. I think that I am also going to follow that guideline and maybe change it up a little. I have alot of things that I want to do in the coming year but have no idea how the upcoming surgery is going to effect things so I figured that I would start with a few goals and then go from there.

Goals:
1. To update my blog at a minimum of once a week.. but try for more. If you only knew how many post have been sitting in my account as a draft. I have wanted to update things but always wait until I can add my pictures and never do.

2. Plan a "Date night" or "Together" night for Keith and I at least once a week. Just time for us to sit down and do something together. We have some puzzles and things that we are looking forward to doing together.

3. Re-organize my sewing room. Keith has decided that he is going to help me and we are going to clean up and re-organize things and its not going to be the dumping ground to hide other things.

4. Finally learn to use my Quilting frame. I bought one coming back from deployment, it sat in a box and then in the closet for ever because I didn't have the space for it when I moved in with Keith because of room mates.. Well now its in the sewing room and has become a table for STUFF! Keith is determined to help me learn. That and he says my quilt addiction has got to start making us some money so that he can retire.

5. My last goal but is actually #1 on my list of To Do's is to have as speedy a recovery from this surgery as I can. I promise to do all the things that the therapist tells me to do and work really hard to get the functions of my arm and hand back.

I don't think that these are to far out of my realm of things that I can accomplish.

Bronchitis ickys!!

2009-12-22T17:41:00.000-08:00

Well I am home sick with Bronchitis! Yeah thought it wash a cold but when things kept getting worse , I guess vitamin C, ornage juice and tylenol doesn't cure bronchitis. Then to top it all off the lady in the ER said that I had the begining stages of Pneumonia.... WHAT?!?!??! How in the world did I get that? Haven't I had enough to deal with this month? I told medical I just needed to get rid of it so that the navy could do my surgery in January. Two cough medicines, an antibiotic, and an inhaler later I was on my way home. Told to stay home and rest for 3 days. I was supposed to go in and work Thursday and the command decided not to work! Yeah so I can rest and try to make it to my brothers for Christmas if I feel up to it. My family will be happy to hear that.

I wish that I could say that I have gotten alot done while being home but up until today I have had so many coughing fits that I just didn't feel like doing anything. Hopefully Christmas and the weekend following will be a little different and I will get some sewing done. I have a whole list of things that I need to get sewn for my secret santa that thank goodness understands that things are going to be late. I feel horrible but will add a few extras just because she had to wait.

Dear Santa

2009-12-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

I'm sorry to be writing you this letter so late but this cold is kickin my butt. I have been drinking lots of water and orange juice like a good girl and hope that all the vitamin C will soon take care of it.

I'm writing to let you know that I really REALLY would like the the fat quarter bundle Blessings by Brannock and Patek from The Fat Quarter Shop. As you know this has been a very trying year for me. I have been very patient through the trials and the tribulations of Navy Medical and the many appointments that I have had. It was recently decided that the Navy is going to do a second nerve surgery on my arm. I think that this Fat Quarter bundle says it all! It would forever be a reminder to count my blessings and to remember the blessings that I have already received.

I would be really grateful if you would bring me the Blessings Fat Quarter Bundle as I think it would be just the ticket to a speedy (well as fast as it can heal) recovery. I could spread the bundle out where I could see the beautiful colors and feel the wonderful fabric. I think that this would be just the inspiration that I would need to get through the trials of therapy and even be therapy in itself! Hmm... imagine that Fabric Therapy. You know they were teaching some people over at the therapy clinic to sew when I was there earlier this year!

I know just what I would like to make with the fat quarters too!! This year I want to set a goal to make a Dear Jane Quilt or one that is similar in design and Blessings would be just perfect. I'm sure that my quilty friends will be the blessings that I need and promise to help me through therapy and cheer for me.

Smiles,

P.S. Mom if your reading this, this is a blog "Challange" and not something that you should secretly pass on to Keith. Although I wouldn't mind if you did.. Smiles

Oh Christmas tree Oh Christmas tree!

2009-12-15T10:11:00.000-08:00

I just thought that I would show you a picture of our first christmas tree together.

Its not the best picture but its ours. There were a lot of ornaments added as the month went on because I was giving Keith special ornaments for his 12 days of Christmas. Here is a view of our winter village. We each picked some pieces and when things went on sale the collection grew.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

14 Days until Christmas!!

2009-12-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that there are only 14 days until christmas. Sunday I will start Keiths "12 Days of Christmas" goodies.. He is excited about it but a little upset when he realized that I was planning it. I told him that just because I was planning something doesn't mean that he has to do the same. But he feels like he is not creative and that bothers him.

I think he will feel better once he realizes that it was nothing too extravagant.. most of them are christmas ornaments that I searched for through out the stores and some had to revert to ebay for. Mark Martin doesn't have christmas ornaments this year so I had to do some searching.

If I get out of work at a decent time today I am going to try to go to a neighboring towns walmart to look for something as we went to ours and the christmas stuff is slim pickings. Keith said last night I guess we will have to shop earlier next year then.. LOL I guess so if they are not going to re-stock. They were stocking some Christmas stuff right after Halloween stuff went out and Halloween was slim pickings the first week of October.

I haven't decided what of the 12 things that I am going to give him on Sunday.. I'm kinda thinking that I will just put them out and tell him that they bigger ones are for the last couple of days and that he can pick as long as he doesn't peek at them. I think that sounds like a good idea that way even I don't know what he is going to get that day because I won't know what bag or box he will choose.

Well I am going to go ahead and post this and start making my to do list for today and the rest of the weekend.. want to be as productive as possible.

Colder Weather = Comfort Food

2009-12-10T07:03:00.000-08:00

I know food has nothing to do with Quilting or other crafts but in my head it does... Come in the warm house smell the great food.. and settle in for a warm day of crafting and comfort in the house.

Today has been alot warmer than the last couple days. Yesterday when I came in to work the thermometer on my truck read 25 degrees.. The little kid in me was hoping for a snow day from work but it didn't happen.

On days like that all I want to do is go home turn the heat on cook some soup and find something creative to do. Perhaps one of my favorite (and Keiths too) is the Broccoli Cheese Soup at Panera Bread... and you know what I found us all a recipe! So here it is.. Panera Breads Broccoli Cheese Soup ... There are quite a few versions of it this one had high rankings but I know what ingrediants I'm putting on the grocery list this week.

How many out there are still doing christmas shopping? Or frantically working on Christmas projects to give as gifts? Does dinner (or lunch) get put on the back burner because your busy doing other things? My plan this weekend is to try to work some crockpot recipes in the am (or the night prior) so that Keith can go and do what ever shopping he has left and I can work on projects that I desperately need to get finished.. I have a feeling I will be burning the midnight oil finishing up my secret santa gifts.. not that I don't have the list going its the motivation after work that is killing me.

So its going to be a crockpot weekend so that Keith can shop and I can sew and dinner will be ready when we are ready to eat. Saterday is looking like Awesome Slow Cooker Pot Roast and Sunday may be a soup or some chili and cornbread. I'm sure that I will change my mind 100 times but the pot roast sounds so good that it is going to happen.

What will be on the list of sewing this weekend... Well I have some super secret stuff that the children will soon hang by the chimney with care.... and no christmas is complete with out santa's mode of transportation..

Christmas Traditions!!

2009-12-09T09:35:00.000-08:00

What are your Christmas traditions? When I was a kid Mom would always buy lots of ingredients to make Christmas cookies, fudge and well pretty much what ever new recipies we would find. One year she made Orange creme fudge, and I think I remember Rasberry and Blackberry fudge as well. (Don't tell Keith if I get to those they will be a suprise).

We would put out cookies for Santa and Mom or Dad would read the christmas stories that she had pulled out of various magazines that year or the ones that she had saved from the previous years. Christmas eve we would get to open one present that mom and Dad choose for us and it was usually a brand new pair of Pajamas... I loved my pajamas probably because I am always cold but I love them. From what Keith said his family would do the same and well the new Pajamas didn't go over so well with him. But then again hes a boy and well what boy is ever excited to recieve clothes on any holiday?

Lets get back to those cookies though because that was the real purpose of this post. Depending on how my watch and other projects on my to do list go this weekend will decide if I get to the baking that I have promised Keith and Mom that I would get to for Christmas eve at Ryans and for special goodies at the house.

I happened to see a comercial for Betty Crocker Christmas cookies and remembered that the best cookies came out of Mom's Betty Crocker cook book. So I started surfing the Betty Crocker site and found some fantastic cookies, brownies, etc.

Super Easy Christmas Tree Brownies

Candy Cane Cookies

Spiral Snowman

These are just a few that I have seen that are fast and easy. Most of the new recipies use the betty crocker mixes rather than baking from scratch. Some of my favorites are Snickerdoodles with the red and green sprinkles on them and Chocolate Krinkles those are awesome. Gingersnaps those are the best to dip in milk.. smiles. I'm not sure if the recipe that I linked to is the same as Mom's recipe but it sounded similar.

Well that is about all for the recipes and holiday fun today.

More Holiday Helpers!!

2009-12-09T07:08:00.000-08:00

I guess it has been a couple years but a while ago I set out to do the 12 days of Christmas gifts and it ended up being so much more. Here is the link to my previous post 12 days of Christmas part 1 and then to the post following it Part 2. Keep in mind that some of the links may be dead ends but alot of them still work. If you see something that you like and the link doesn't work let me know and I will do a search for some other great projects that are similar.

I know that there are alot of people out there that do other things like crochet and Knit so I figured what is the harm in posting about those things as well. I know that this blog is titled Quilting Adventures but it wasn't always that way .. I Changed it a while back and have no idea why. I actually crochet and learned to do it at about age 5, what can I say I wanted to know what mommy was doing. After joining the navy I rarely crochet and even less now due to the nerve in my arm. I actually tried to crochet a project a couple weeks back and failed miserably had to ask mom to do it for me.

I personally would like to set a goal to crochet, knit or cross stitch, plastic canvas, or quilt 5 small ornaments for our Christmas tree this year. I think that is a safe goal.. anyone what to join me? I have a few ornaments in mind some that I already posted about and then others that I saw and will post about now.

This blog has alot of neat things. The lady has decided to take a break but alot of her patterns are for sale on ravelry. She has some cute patterns for Christmas ornaments starting here.

Here is a Christmas light ornament.. very cute

and a couple of reindeer's here and here.

I hope that you will join me if you have time to play and make a few ornaments whether they go on your tree or get used as package toppers I think it will be fun and those 5 before christmas shouldn't be to hard to achieve.

Holiday Helpers!!

2009-12-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for some creative gifts to give to people? Maybe a creative something to take to the guilds secret santa exchange?

This Link has ideas for making gift baskets not just for your favorite sewer but for others in the family as well.

How about a wine gift basket? That is what I am going to put together for my brother and sister-in-law. Here is a pattern for a bottle cover/ bag could be used for wine or apple cider. I myself am going to modify the pattern a bit and make the bags smaller and use them to wrap some Marinades to put in my husbands stocking because he loves to grill.

Do you have some one that is going to be at your house for the holidays and doesn't have a stocking to hang up for Christmas morning? Here is a quick and easy stocking pattern that could be used for unexpected guests or maybe an exchange that you could fill with sewing goodies and notions.

Here is a few quick ornaments that you can make to give to neighbors, attach to packages, give as teachers gifts or maybe use as a project to spend time with your kids.

Stocking Ornament

Star Ornament
Yo Yo Wreath Ornament.. I personally would use a darker green fabric that has the hollyberrys printed on it but if you don't mind sewing on the beads I'm sure it will look awesome.

Well that concludes this segment of Holiday Helpers we'll see what I can find through out today and this after noon. If I find some good things to share with everyone I might get some thing posted this evening but that all depends on what couple time Keith and I decide to do. Yesterday we go home had a fish tank emergency and then after dinner I was pretty much done. Fell asleep on the couch and Keith woke me up to tell me the new Kitty unrolled the toilet paper and then to tell me that it was time to go to bed.

200th Post gone!! No give away... :-(

2009-12-03T14:35:00.000-08:00

Well since I was a dunce and missed the 200th post (Its been one of those days believe me.. smiles), I am going to wait until my 250th post and will host a small give away. Yeah I know your thinking to your self you hardly post but I am going to set myself a few minutes every night when I get home from work to talk about what I did the day before. Like yesterday for example I came home ate dinner and then let Keiths new kitty out of isolation to let her roam a little.

I didn't tell you about the new kitty did I? well its about that time for me to be cleaning up to get out of here and head home.. We lost Keith's 3 year old angel fish this morning and well there was one other shocker for this morning but it was my fault I was stupid and don't feel like posting about it today so maybe another time. I think I am going to go to the pet store this afternoon and get a new filter for Keiths tank as he is not fond of the one that we have now, pick up some kitty christmas presents and then head home to cook dinner and relax. Have had a headache all day and the fumes from the work that the contractors are doing in our building hasn't helped that at all.

So heads up be watching for that post 250.. who knows what the give away will be but I'm looking and planning.. might be right after christmas or so.. I still have yet to post Keiths 12 days of Christmas.. those to a lot of thought and not much planning so I'm hoping that he will enjoy them.

I also had a 12 days of Christmas gifts post that I thought I had typed out but apparently I only have it in email. Looking for some last minute gifts? Some Blog give aways? Or maybe some last minute things to make your holiday brighter? Stay tuned those will be posted here in the next couple days as well.

And Secret Pal if your reading watch for those teasers that I promised. Smiles!!

22 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!

Where did November go?

2009-12-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

Well I have no idea where my november went and if you have looked at my blog I just finally pushed all the posts that were sitting as drafts out on my blog with out pictures because well lets just face it I write them tell my self that I need to add said pictures and then never do. I had 6 or 8 posts that needed to be published and now they are out there. The latest weekend post was actually from the begining of November but pretty much says what I have planned for this weekend. Anyone that has been around and known me for a while knows that last february I was placed in a Limited Duty status for the navy. Taking me away from my normal job working on aircraft and putting me at a desk were my arm was supposed to get better through all the therapy and what not.

Well the latest on that is that I have finially been able to stop making the drive back and forth to San Diego. A few weeks ago they sent me for an EMG study where they shocked the crap out of the nerve in my arm to test the conductivity and reaction time... It didn't go so well and I had a follow up with the Orthopedic Surgeon last week. He has taken responsibility for my case file and now most of my appointments will be here local. I was hoping that they would be able to fix things with out another surgery on the nerve that has already been worked on but that isn't the case this time. Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday January 13 and they have given me 30 days convalescent leave from work after surgery to start the recovery process. Pending the out come of this surgery will decide if the navy seperates me from Active duty.

My hopes for the new year.. to have some relief from the nerve pain that I have had a gain the motivation to sew back. (crossing my fingers)

This Weekend!!

2009-12-03T10:05:00.000-08:00

Ok as many times as I have said it before and it never happens I am setting some goals for this weekend.. Keith has decided that he is going to work on the yard and wash cars and what not so I am going to do something that will help to organize my sewing room.. Yeah its a mess, for as organized as I had gotten it before mom came to help .. we crammed a bunch of things in there before Keith git home to get them out of the way.

So this weekend I am going to write my list and actually post it to my blog to maintain some sort of accountability for things. I am going to fix my blog and actually publish the posts that have been sitting waiting on pictures or for me to finish writing them, and I am going to fix my 100 blocks in 100 days thats on the side of my blog.

The group that was working on the 100 blocks has since disbanded so I have some other goals that I am going to keep track of instead. I have an up coming Christmas swap that I am going to be working on for a secret friend.. well not really secret we know about the swap but all the goodies are secret and I am going to put out some teasers.. smiles. Also there was one other friend that had signed up for the swap but due to prior commitments we didn't get enough participants and I want to send her a little suprise .. just because.. I hope that it will make her smile.. I might even have a family member mail it from some where so that it really is a suprise.

So I am off to make my list and start getting it typed to put on the blog.

Nancy Halvosen

2009-11-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

How many of you out there are like me and LOVE Nancy Halvorsen's designs? I love them and everything about them, the colors the fabric designs as well as her patterns. I love it all. A few years ago I bought the Peppermint & Hollyberries book and that stared it all. I currently have all the FQs to make the reindeer quilt (shown on the back of the book) and have had them since I purchased the book but have yet to do anything with it. Then along came Star of Wonder, 12 Days of Christmas, and this year I believe in Santa.. all books that I have purchased and yet to do projects out of.

Keith has also looked through the books and pointed out the things that he liked and well, they have in turn been added to the infamous list of "THINGS/ PROJECTS TO DO". It seems as though things are always added to the list and very rarely do things get finished to take off the list. Maybe that will have to be my new years resolution.. Its going to be that or Keith has threatened to send me to fabric buyers anonymous. Ha ha ha.. who's coming with me? It will be like a sewing bee or something like that.. a guild maybe?

Oh and did I mention that there is a new book out? Called "Sew Necessary"? All sorts of things to organize your sewing space.. and yes I will have to purchase that one too!

How many of you out there have started the Christmas Count down? Have started working on christmas projects? I would like to say that I have done the second and am trying to ignore the first but that is not happening for either of them!! With the upcoming Doctors appointment and the possibility of another surgery possibly just before or just after christmas in my head Christmas is too close!! and needs to be pushed back a couple of months.

Keith and I have purchased several of the ceramic houses and shops from the Lemax 2009 Christmas Village. If you have a chance check them out they are super neat. We purchased christmas lights to put up on the house.. that can be programed to flash different sequences (sort of) that is another story for later. We have a couple new ornaments one for our first year being married and on with an eagle and the flag. Then there is the christmas shopping... I have purchased a few things for him, some special 12 Days of Christmas goodies that I will post here when I figure everything out and can get pictures (he won't know he still doesn't know how to get to my blog) some other odds and ends and then one other thing that I put on layaway at sears for 2 reasons... 1 so that I knew that I had it and it wouldn't be sold out before Christmas and 2. so that I could take advantage of the 30 day return policy incase he wants something different. I didn't want to buy it now and then have something be wrong with it and not be able to return it.

So anyway today when I get home from work will be yet another non creative day. Unless you consider baking breads for the Divisional potluck tomorrow being creative. I still have banana and zuchinni breads to mix and bake and Keith is going to make ziti for me to take in the crockpot.

Update on Doctors and other things.

2009-11-12T19:18:00.000-08:00

Well where to start?? We are finally getting some where with the doctors and my arm pain. Tuesday I had an appointment with the neurologist here in town and she performed an EMG nerve conduction study on my arm. This is nothing new it was actually the 4th time that they have done it twice before the surgery once last year when i returned from deployment and then a couple days ago. The last one was more indept than any of the other procedures that I have had done and they found out that the nerve that the doctors have already moved once is either still being pinched or pinched again by scar tissue. Either way we have some answers.

We are not sure yet if they are going to decide to do surgery.. I have some more follow up appointments.. and if they do we have no idea when but assume that it will be sooner rather than later because of the chance of further damage.

So in light of that I have started to get my special christmas things together because I know what happened the last time I had surgery. The last time I had surgery in October and still had a removable cast in January. I have put together gifts for the "12 Days of Christmas" for Keith and think I am still missing a few. Most of them are just special ornaments and then I will have to fill in the missing days but I think it will be fun.

Keith still hasn't figured out how to find my blog so I will be able to post them here to show everyone and share.. it will be fun!

Advent Calendar....

2009-11-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

Taking a poll.. do you have an advent calendar that counts down to christmas? What do you put in the pockets? As a kid my mom made one that had pockets on the bottom and a big green christmas tree on the top. Each pocket had and ornament that we would velcro to the tree and the last two were always Santa and his Reindeer.

I currently have quite a few advent calendar panels and a bunch of them have pockets to fill. Just curious as to what to put in them.. I have ornaments and small candies but would really like to put other things in there other than candy.

Looking for mantle banners?

2009-11-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

Has any one seen the holiday mantle banners? I vaugly remember seeing patterns for holiday banners that you drap across the mantle that had santa's or something on them that I'm guessing that they tucked under the things that you have sitting on your mantle.. has anyone seen these?? Or remember them?? If you could point me in the right direction I would really appreciate it. Keith has talked about making this Christmas special and I want to make sure that I get some things done to make them that way.

I know that I won't get to them this year but I can put the banner patterns on my wish list of books to buy. And things to complete in the years to come. I did find one in a Nancy Halvorsen book that is a santas head but I'm looking for some more as well. I would really like some snowmen or snowflakes or something .. I think that I could take the basic idea from the one that I have and adapt it to what I want but I still want other ideas.

Projects in progress and upcoming Thanksgiving

2009-11-01T13:36:00.001-08:00

While Keith was deployed I kept looking at the Twilight Frost tree skirt in the connecting threads catalog. Finally I wrote him and sent him a picture and asked him what he thought. He told me that he liked it and so that was that I had to have it. It arrived in the mail while mom was staying with me but because we were busy getting things ready for Keith it was put away. I recently pulled it out, seperated all the fabric and it has all been cut and prepared to sew together. Can you believe that the hard part is done and yet I still haven't sewn anything.. How frustrating. There are peices currently up on my make shift design wall and I hope that after the commad potluck I will have the time to sit and sew.

I have come up with so many christmas ideas for Keith some of them that aren't going to work out this year and then others that I have been putting things away for, for a while now. This weekend I hope to be able to organize and figure out what I have left to get so that I won't have to worry about it.

We were working on planning our menu for Thanksgiving but have decided to order a Turkey meal from Omaha Steaks. Its already been ordered and we recieved it. There should be enough for us to have a nice meal and then to have sandwiches the next couple of days. There were a few side dishes that didn't come with the meal that we are going to cook. I might try to make some rolls with the bread machine I'm not sure yet though.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

Well our plans of watching movies for Halloween didn't pan out we were too busy back and forth to the door for Trick or Treaters and watching all the little kids so excited to be dressed up to pay any attention to the movie at all. So we have "Monsters Vs. Aliens" to watch for another time when we have some relaxing time together.

Keith and I decided that this time instead of ordering pizza that we were going to make our own, with the premade pizza crust of course but we got to top them with everything that we wanted and didn't have to wait for the delivery guy or go pick it up.

As far as our candy went well .... In the begining Keith was being the nice guy on the corner and handing out handfuls of candy. I'm sure that the neighborhood parents were thrilled and that one day they will get us back for it. Soon we realised that there was going to be a shortage of candy and I made the run to the grocery store to get more. As I was pulling up to the grocery store the bag boys tackled some guy that I am assuming was shop lifting.. so I decided to be quick and get the heck out of there.

Over all we had alot of fun we carved our pumpkins.. I brought some of those cotton spider webs home and Keith hung them in our doorway, and to make things more festive Keith turned on the stereo in the Garage with creepy halloween music because XM/Sirus had a special channel just for that purpose parties and Haunted houses.

Update on Projects and Posts to come....

2009-10-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

Well there isn't much to update on the projects that I have been working one. I have yet to finish the blocks for Keiths coming home quilt.. but that is going to be my project for tonight. Mom and Dad are here and we are going to do the lawn one last time before Keith gets home. He gets home Wednesday can you tell that I am excited?

I know that its not time for new years resolutions yet but I have some goals for the month of november.. I want to organize my quilt room.. maybe not completely but I want to make it a little easier to find some things. Then I want to make my list of UFO's and TO DO LATER projects and get those on a list on my blog.. maybe if I have a list that I can look at it will motivate me to get things done.

100 Blocks in 100 Days

2009-10-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

Well the Prolific online Quilters have started a challange.. 100 quilt blocks in 100 Days. Just something to get us sewing. I would like to say that I am doing well but.. I'm not. So far I have a meesly 2 blocks on my counter and hope to add at least 7 more this weekend if not more.

I do have a couple thoughts though.. I have been trying to change some things here and there in our house and really haven't gotten all that I wanted to get accomplished. I recently embelished a kitchen towel for a friend and have started bathroom towels for my brother. I think that it would be awesome to embelish a few towels for the bathroom for the holidays.. I always thing about the kitchen stuff and never the bathroom.. so that was just put on the list for projects to think about. They don't count as blocks but I haven't gotten my patterns for the blocks I really want to go crazy on.

When I finish the above mentioned 7 blocks that I need to finish for Keiths quilt then I can start digging through my UFOs and start working on those blocks. I have alot of motivation while I'm sitting here but most days that motivation is gone before I ever make it home.

My goal tonight 3 blocks! If I can get 3 today and another 4 tomorrow that would be awesome. Stay tuned to see what I complete this weekend. I have the weekend to my self no yard work, no duty, and minimal cleaning.

Getting caught up..

2009-10-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

Well this week I feel like I have gotten nothing accomplished. Nothing new in the house nothing new sewn. Well that is not completely true.. I finished 2 blocks for a coming home quilt for Keith and then a Halloween towel for my Halloween swap partner. I will wait to post pictures about it when I know that she has received it. I don't think that she reads this but I don't know so I will leave some of it to be a suprise.

I did put together a shelf unit for our closet but have yet to get things organized on it and in looking at things think that I am going to go get another shelf before they are no longer on sale. I should be getting out of work by about 1030 or 11 today since I am only here to help out duty section not to actually stand duty.

I have my list of things that I need to get done before I can settle in for the night and flip on the tv and fight with lilly about eating my thread. Which reminds me I need to stop and get some more. I am currently debating if I want to drive to Fresno or to Visalia today.. I really don't want to make the drive but there are things that I need.

Here are the latest blocks.. Just a few more to go and they will be off to Jill to quilt for me since I didn't get a chance to even learn how to use my frame. Soon though.. Keith will be home and I won't have to worry about re-arranging the house.. LOL

I got to sew!!

2009-09-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

I am super excited! Just before Keith left he made a comment to me about he wondered if my friends would make him a welcome home from deployment quilt like they made me last year. As always he had that cute little boy grin. Well it just didn't feel right to ask one of my quilting groups to help me out and I hadn't been sewing much at all not because I didn't want to but because I didn't feel up to it. Sewing is something that I love and with all the issues with my arm some days it just felt like a chore and I didn't want to associate the two.

Anyway I have been talking to my friend Jill alot more the last couple months than I have in the last year or so. Together we decided to put together a quilt for Keith a block sampler like mine but different so that we could both curl up on the couch together with our own quilts when he gets back.

I just want to send out a great big hug and thank you again to all the ladies that helped to put together my quilt. Quilts really do make things better. There is not a day that goes by that I dont look at or lay with the quilt and think about the love that went into my quilt. Alot of days when I get home from work and don't feel well I curl up with it and a few minutes later Lillybeth is curled up with me.. smiles.

Ok back to my sewing... This weekend I pulled out my Carol Doak "Learn to paper piece" DVD and decided that I was going to learn to paper piece. To top it off I am a glutten for punishment.. I couldn't pick an easy block to learn on I picked one that had like 500 pieces to it. (okay not really but it had alot). I finished it about midnight last night and you know what? I really liked it! Here are a couple pictures of the blocks that I finished this weekend. Hoping to finish more tonight.

Here are the 2 blocks that my mom made. Yes your seeing those right they are both cross stitch and I think that they look fantastic. (The first one is actually cream fabric not yellow but I couldn't get my camera to take a good picture.) They will both get borders before being added to the quilt.

Thats all for now!! :-)

What a week..

2009-09-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

Well I think enough has happened this week to last me the rest of the month. First was Keiths fish.. then yesterday it was a hot chocolate/ coffee fiasco translated the carpet in my truck needs to be cleeaned.. and then last night....

My desktop computer died... I think its the power supply but haven't decided if I want to replace it again. The computer is old and I probably need a new one but I have no I dea what I am going to do to try to fix or better yet to get my information and files off the computer.

Then last night I had trouble sleeping (a normal thing now adays) and really really didn't want to get up and go to work this morning. It actually felt like a chore to get in the shower pain and all.

Needless to say it has been a rough week or so and I am looking forward to going home today and taking a nap.. possibly just going to bed for the evening.

Poor Poor Fishy....

2009-09-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

Well today I had to send the 2nd of Keiths fish into the fishy after life. The first one I didn't even notice was gone until I went to clean the tank... Ok let me back up a little.. I noticed something was different but couldn't figure out what was missing and figured that I was just feeling guilty for not cleaning it. Keith asked friday if I had cleaned it and I admitted that i hadn't.. when I looked in the tank after talking to him I noticed that one of the other fish was sick.

I'm pretty stupid when it comes to fish so I looked it up on the internet to figure out what the fish had and then how to make it better.. the reported cause for the fish ickys was a dirty tank! My first thought OMG I'm killing his fish!!. So I preceeded to clean the tank and I found some things that we already had to medicate the fish that was sick. easy enough right? Yeah or so I thought... Its really hard to clean a tank while trying to watch a curious Lilly thats hissing at the fish bucket on the floor.. comical I wish some one was here to see it other than me.

Anyway after cleaning the tank I thought good now maybe the sick fish will get better... Mmm ... not so much it spazzed out swimming full speed face first into the glass and the rocks and then upside down.. I freaked out... It layed in the rocks and I thought for sure it was dead.. I went to get the net to scoop him out and he was swimming again .. NORMAL.. this went on the spastic tendencies and then today he finally gave up.. I know that it sounds wrong.. I should have flushed him before but I continued to medicate the tank in the hopes that it would cure him.

The rest of the fish are doing fine.. begging for food as I walk past the tank and then teasing Lilly.. She sits on the floor staring into the tank but hisses at them when they are close enough for her to touch.. What a goober.

Sunday projects... BOM

2009-08-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

Well I didn't accomplish any thing spectacular, But i did get some sewing done. I had some fat quarters that I wanted to make into a Yellow Brick Road quilt that I ironed last night. It took me almost all day to get them cut into the strips required (I had to keep taking breaks) About 5 or so I decided to go find something that I could just sew.. some charms or something. I found a bag full of Block of the month blocks and decided to play with those. I completed 3 months worth and have decided that I have been up late enough and I am headed to bed.. Good night everyone!!

Finally some sewing!

2009-08-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

For the first time since Keith has been gone I actually sat down to sew. I got up this morning thinking about what I wanted to work on and the first thing that came to mind was some UFO's that have been sitting on my shelf for almost 2 years now.

I started some christmas pillow cases to be uses as make shift stockings because I had gotten gifts that were too big to fit in the stockings that my family already had. If I recall correctly I had all but the trimming and sewing the last 2 seams done when I went to mom and dads for christmas eve. While running through my parents garage I caught where the driveway had raised up from the garage and ate the concrete hard. Well being as I had already hurt my arm once and had surgery I tried to protect it as I was going down and ended up hurting everything up to my shoulder (on christmas eve.. ick). Needless to say the pillow cases never got finished.

Well I pulled them out and finished them today and will put them away for mine and Keith's first christmas as husband and wife.. I have alot of other projects planned for this year but will be happy with what ever I get finished.

Keith is Off..

2009-07-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

Well I'm sorry about the weeks worth of missing posts.. Keith and I were really busy. I took him to the airport last night and he is sitting waiting for his flight from Virginia to where ever its going. I haven't gotten much done today I had a list going of the things I wanted to start working on but really haven't done much of anything since I got home from Therapy. I made some cute little coasters for a friend in my Sillygals group but forgot to take some pictures of them. Luckily I have fabric to make some more just like them.. Smiles.

So no pictures for today and no sewing done yet but maybe after dinner and a little bit of clean up. We left the house in a bit of disarray yesterday when we were getting all of Keiths last minute things together.

Busy Busy

2009-07-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

Well Keith and I have been very busy the last couple of days with all the things that need to be done before he leaves. The last two days have been all about moving my things out of storage and in to a unit that Keith and I share.. it will save us money and cut down on the number of places that I will have to visit every month to pay our bills.

I still have to decide on what new cell phone that I want.. I have looked at a few of the LG enV3 and enV Touch.. I also looked at the different blackberries. I have yet to decide what I want.. All I know is with all the running around that I do and the ammount of time that the email on the ship is down.. I want a phone that lets me know that I have email from Keith so that I can email him back.

Keith doesn't know but I already have a small stack of "Miss you" cards that I got a couple months ago.. I figured if I started a few months before the 6 month deployment that I would have enough to send him a couple every week.. being that deployment came early I guess I will have to make the rounds of the card stores here in town. Know of any good stationary stores online?

Keith knows that I can't lift the heavy boxes so his care packages will be smaller.. but I'm hoping to get one out to him about every couple of weeks. He says that he's not going to get off the ship in a couple of ports so I want to make sure that I send him not only food but some other things.. like his favorite magazines and we figured out that I can put movies on Memory stick Duo cards that he can watch on his PSP.. so I am already working on that for him.

Our Favorite Picture

2009-07-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

Well I promised some pictures and I will post more later but I thought that I would share this one with everyone.. it is one of my favorites!! I like how they used the special effects and made the background black and white.

Well I have to get going Keith and I are going to go watch some TV together.

Starting over

2009-07-20T08:09:00.001-07:00

Wow I feel like I am starting over with this whole blog thing. I have been so busy (or beat down rather) with medical and everything going on that I didn't have anything quilty or crafty to talk about so I pretty much quit blogging all together.

Well we have alot of catching up to do.. in the last month I went to North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida to meet and visit with Keiths family as well as be supportive to Keith and his family through memorial services for his Grandfather. Not the first meeting that we had all imagined but it worked out.

While on vacation in Florida (the day of the memorial to be exact) we caught rumor from a friend that Keith was going to be deploying. This was not in the plan he originally had orders to a squadron that wasn't supposed to go on deployment until January. The navy modified his orders for a different squadron and he is set to leave to meet them in about a week.

When we returned from florida and started getting things together for him we decided to go ahead and get married before he left for deployment rather than wait until November/ December like we had originally planned. So on July 11th we got married.. the funny thing is he reminds me every morning "Your my wife" with a big grin on his face.

This week is going to be all about having nice meals and spending time together.. and getting his things ready to deploy. I guess this weekend we are going to go out for a nice meal maybe a movie.. I am kinda looking for things that we can do for a quite at home date night maybe a couple of them.. What would be a good at home movie to watch?

So after he heads out for deployment I will be doing alot more sewing and hopefully quilting.. Yeah!! Oh and I can't wait I am already planning a weekend sew-in with a friend for the weekend after he leaves.. Keith has even helped get things together for me.. smiles.. Just hope my quilty friend doesn't have to work too much that weekend. (oh and pictures to follow of our ceremony.. Smiles)

Thoughts of projects to come...

2009-04-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

It seems lately that all my projects revolve around a person in mind.. Never just because I want to sew something its always that I have seen a fabric line that I think some one just has to have. Well this project is no different.

The project I have in mind today is no different. Before I left for deployment I realized that Keith was really interested in boy scouts. That was his thing when he was younger. He has all this stuff that he collected while he was in scouts. I think he's afraid that I am going to ruin them or something so I decided that I had to find something else to make him with scout stuff. This idea all came about when I ran into the Boy Scout line of fabric by Robert Kaufman. There is alot of really great prints and I think that it would be great in a Yellow Brick Road or similar pattern.. Now to figure out what colors and what prints to use.

2009-04-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

Good Monday Morning!!

Well its Monday and its morning. I did not want to get out of bed and apparently Lilly did not want me to go to work because she kept laying on my uniform while I was trying to put my ribbons and other devices on. She really missed us this weekend.

We had a pretty awesome weekend in Morro Bay. It wasn't intended on being a quilting weekend but it ended up being one. We passed a sign on the way that said something about The Cotton Ball.. I asked Keith what it had said and he told me it was a quilt shop. I told him that it hadn't even crossed my mind to look up the quilt shops in Morro Bay. Well we pull in to the hotel and what do you know The Cotton Ball was across the street.. Not at all planned but a nice suprise.

Keith decided that he was going to look up the store and find out about it and found out that there was actually a quilt show in San Luis Obisbo about 20 miles south of where we were at. I thought it was cool that he would look it up and mention it.. But even better after we spent the day just hanging out in Morro Bay on Saterday, Sunday we went to the natural history muesum we went down to the quilt show.. we had fun had Rob from the Cotton Ball sign his book "Making Waves" and explored the quilts. Keith really likes the japanese/ orintal style quilts and fabrics so I guess I am going to be on the look out for some of those things so that I can make some things for him.

What to write about?

2009-04-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

Do you ever sit down thinking that you have this great conversation that you just have to get out there and then you sit down to do it and ... Nothing... You just go blank. Yeah that is how I have felt the last 2 days. I wanted to post but had nothing to say.. well nothing nice any way. Had some issues with Navy Medical but won't get into them since it just makes me want to rip out my hair.

Any way Keith and I are going on a little mini vacation this weekend I can't wait. We are going to go out to Morro Bay here in California. There is also a glass blowing place in Harmony that sounded cool so we might stop in there too I don't know. Either way we are going to make the best of this trip and take lots of pictures that I can post later. I found out yesterday that Keith will be going on deployment January 2010 so I have already started making notes as to the things that I can do and send to him while he is gone. Granted he is deploying to Japan instead of going out to the ship but I am going to start working on projects and putting things away now so that he will get all sorts of goodies and things while he is gone. Cards and letters and what not.. Time to look for some special fabrics for pillowcases or that super secret quilt that he'll just get in the mail one day.. By the way I have already found some fabric that I think I might use.. It would be a suprise to him and would have nothing to do with the sponge bob quilt that is still unfinished from last year.

Is any one a fan of Debbie Mumm fabrics and novelties? I have seen so many cute pin cushions and wall hangings and fabrics that I decided that I was going to look up her website today. She like us has a blog. Today being earth day she has a pattern for a tote bag that you can use for groceries. Mom has crocheted me several of these bags and I have yet to use them for anything other than carrying my crap to and from work or to and from Mom's. I'm sure that there are other patterns and things that are on her blog.

Well I guess I had better get going .. Until later

Thursday at last!!

2009-04-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

I swear that it feels like this week is never going to end. Monday as Mom reported to the group was my birthday. I guess Keith had special things planned but went home sick from work. Complained of a bad headache and cough.. when I got home he had a 101 plus fever and I told him that if it wasn't down in a couple hours we were going to the ER. It came down and because I really didn't feel like a special meal I convinced the boys to have grilled cheese and soup (tomato for me, chicken for them) for dinner. After dinner George came in the house with an ice cream cake (that he put all 31 candles on) I swear that he was trying to light the house on fire.

Keith, George and Kevin gave me a really nice Nikon camera (its purple.. smiles) and I also got a new chain for the necklace that Keith gave me at christmas .. the other one was really delicate and the jump rings were opening and I didn't want to loose the charm. (Frown) I haven't done any sewing this week.. Tonight though I am determined! Keith has watch and it will be just me and one other room mate.

Its Almost the weekend!! Yeah

2009-04-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

So I have been doing alot of shopping online lately.. I know that is the worst thing that you could do when your just not feeling like yourself. I have a bunch of things coming to me in the mail (some of which has already arrived) I now have Moda's Bistro Jelly Roll and their Love Is In The Air Jelly Roll.. sitting on the shelf trying to figure out what they are going to become. They haven't called out to me anything yet so they will just sit there.

I have a super secret project that I have been working on but will put more out when I have a better idea if its going to work. I have been wanting to make several gifts for some people and haven't gotten around to doing it.. but hopefully if this project turns out the way I hope I can add that to the list of things to make for them.

If I recall correctly my online group SillyGals a couple years back kind of worked together on a quilt called Shimmer.. and it looked like this... (from a magazine but I couldn't tell you which one)

Well I was pretty excited to see that a seller on Ebay had put together all the fabric and the magazine in a kit with Thimbleberries fabric. I put it on my watch list decided if I really wanted it and it was still there that I would bid.. Well 3 days later I still wanted it and last night I was the winning bidder.

A couple weeks ago Ms. Gadget Girl Jen raved about her Creative Memories Side Kick:

I will soon be the proud owner of one of those as well.. I am excited.. I also ordered some more bobbins, a couple bobbin savers and some new patterns.. Yeah once I get back to that sewing kick I'll be set. So I'm going to sit here and hope that the day goes by super fast and then the evening slows down so that I can play.. I have easter shopping to do this afternoon and will be needing to get together the menu for sunday since there will be about 10 people maybe more at the house on Sunday.

Good Morning!!

2009-04-09T07:22:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a beautiful Thursday morning so far. I got up early with a little help from the meows.. (they act like they are starving or something) but after dropping Keith off at work I was able to go over to the Starbucks here on base and get a delicious Carmel Apple Spice. Being early to work I get to sit here for a little while in the piece and quiet.. no phones ringing, no one asking questions.. its nice.

I have done alot of looking at things on the Internet today. Yesterday we went and paid my storage and tried to dig some of my things out of storage.. yeah that didn't happen.. We didn't find my boxes of books or fabric or anything. I am super glad that I packed the fabric really well so it should all be ok when we find it.. if its not well then Keith already knows that I will not be a happy camper. I actually pulled out some fabric yesterday to take some measurements and work on some things but got side tracked reading blogs and searching ebay for some things that we can no longer purchase in the stores here.

So today I hope to go home and work on some things.. Keith has off work tomorrow.. Just found out today so I'm hoping that we will get out of work early as well so that I can go and play. Tomorrow is Breakfast Club at the LQS so I can go and pick up that pattern Saturday morning if I feel like it.. LOL. Its now the end of the day I started this post this morning and I am wiped out.. I meant to write all about the new things that I am a proud owner of but I don't have the pictures here and available.. So I will have to wait until I get home to post pictures. So until later!!

Lessons Learned

2009-04-08T13:16:00.000-07:00

If I have learned anything in years past its.. If you see fabric or Notions that you really like buy them... if they are something that you see all the time you can wait for a sale but if you see fabric you like buy it or you may never find it again. I have been lucky enough to have friends all over and the internet has come in very handy when looking for something that I liked the first time I saw it.. Decided later I loved it and then it wasn't there.

Today while searching for that infamous shop hop bunny I came across this sight.. Jojo's Gift Shop. I'm not as lucky as my friend Jill who seems to have really good luck when it comes to raffles and such but like alot of other websites you can sign up for the newsletter for a chance to win prizes. Perhaps the best prize today was finding all the great sales. They have a pretty good selection of Jelly Rolls and Charm squares at some really great prices. Looking for something or just looking to add to your stash this is a good place.

Okay and for everyone that knows me they know that I love my kitties. Just like Jen and Jill with their puppies.. My kitties are part of the family.. while looking for the bunny at Material Pleasure I was looking at their sale fabric and they have alot of Makower's cat fabrics that are silly but adorable.

Well I am going to get going for now.. Depending on what Keith has planned for the weekend that everyone is at retreat.. I may try to create a retreat for myself at home.. I have a few projects in mind I just need to find them (dig them out of where ever they got put when I moved)