Navajo...Almost

Today has been busy and productive, and I haven't even put shoes on today!
This morning I got up and made my block for today. The calender says it's a "Navajo" something or another but I only made 2/3rds of the block. I left off 2 borders of HSTs because I felt like it and I made it 9.5" instead of 12.5". Really I have had this "not enough caffeine" brain fart feeling all day and couldn't figure out how big to cut the squares for the HSTs to make the whole block. At least I'm honest!!

I put another coat on Hannah's toe nails, which we painted last night and then I painted her finger nails. She was really good about letting me hold her hand still and blow on her nails til they were dried. Then she grabbed up a pacifier (greatest teething toys EVER these hard pink ones!) and happily showed Daddy her pretty nails. It was really nice today so Tony took Jeremiah out to play on the park.

While they did that I made another ordered bag, a little fun and bright one for a 6 yr old girl. I really like the way it turned out. Here's a pic of the back of it.

By then Mom and Diantha had arrived and I put the zipper in the lining of my Shakespeare book bag to finish it. Got it listed in my Etsy shop while Mom did the math (hehe!) for the variable star within a star blocks I need to made for my Shakespeare in the Park quilt (see a pattern??). They need to finish to 15" blocks so I was a little thrown on this.

Mom started folding my laundry (isn't she WONDERFUL?) while Diantha and I alternately cut squares, played with Jeremiah and I made a quiche for dinner (with tuna, chopped onion and spinach...yummm..) Then they left and I have tried to put up all the laundry she folded, which I've managed. I still have 1 basket left to fold and some boxes of kids outgrown clothes to tape shut and label. Then more squares to cut and diagonals to mark for my flying geese. But EVERYTIME I try to do ANY of that Hannah fusses. Oh well.

Our weather was really weird today! Hot this afternoon, so much so that I had to turn on my air conditioning already!! This morning it was a little cold though and I got to wander around in my slipper socks Mom knitted for me. I said I wanted some to take to the hospital when I had Hannah, 'cause even with the effort of labor and the hormones your feet always get cold there but that I wanted LOUD ones because by golly if I was going to have to have my feet in styrups I wanted them to be interesting! This is red heart yarn from walmart but look how the yarn striped and patterned as it knit! Cool, huh?

Looking for Fabric!!

I am hoping that someone can help me! I used a blue fabric in a cow quilt for the last W/U and I need more of it to add 1 more border so my quilt will be twin sized. I *know* I bough this fabric at JoAnn's but it was years ago and OF COURSE they don't carry it anymore at the local store.

I am hoping that someone has it in their stash are are willing to trade (or let me buy it), or that maybe someone has seen it at a store near them. I need about 1/2 yard to be safe.

It's a blue water marked or splattered cotton print.

The color is true on my monitor. Thanks in advance!!

Road to Oklahoma

Everytime I write/type the word "Oklahoma" in my head I hear "O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A OKLAHOMA!" Stupid musical. Am I nuts?

Isn't this block a Jacob's Ladder? I think this calender is trying to mislead me. That's the least of my worries apparently because I just noticed that I put 3 of the 4 patches in wrong. There is supposed to be a diagonal line of black square going from the bottom right to the top left. Crap. Now I've got to take it apart and fix it. Just not right this minute. 2 out of 5 isn't that bad is it?

Hannah has been fussy today and running a very low grade fever off and on so I haven't been a productive ball of fire. I think she is teething. I hope, hope she feels better tomorrow because I am selfish and want to get some sewing done. Mom is supposed to come over and we're going to work on my Shakespeare in the park a little bit and I'm sure she will bring a project too. Tony has a Drs appointment at 10 to have his hand looked at again. I am sure his bosses won't be happy but we are hoping the Dr makes him stay on light duty as he still is having a lot of trouble and pain when moving his hand. He changed Hannah's diaper this morning and it hurt him so badly I didn't think he was going to be able to finish it.

Our weather has suddenly turned very warm, in fact even with all our windows open it is hot in my house 'cause I ran the oven about 3 hours ago. My kids are running around in their underwear/diaper and sweating but hey, be cool or have brownies?

I like variety

There wasn't a block today so I thought I'd share something Jeremiah did yesterday. When I had to remake my block, before I sewed the 4 pieces together he took them and played with them on my design wall. I was amazed at the different ways to put together the same 4 pieces! I think the moral is to play with your fabric!

Today I've been working on a bookbag/tote that is so great. I have other bags and quilts that I need to do but I had this in my head for about 2 weeks now and I just ha to let out!!! I couldn't stand it anymore. Hopefully I can finish it tomorrow and get on to stuff I need to do and not have it end up a work in progress.

Yesterday I quilted my Good Times with Lula quilt for the Bumbling Bounty Hunter's quilt challenge. I backed it with one of Hannah's nursy-blankies and stipple quilted it. I gave it to her as a play quilt and she immediately began to eat her toes. I still need to wash it and put a label on it but tomorrow. I need to add a label to Jeremiah's anyway so I can do them both at the same time. Another project done, 10,000 more to go!

A Betsy Bag

Now that everyone who I wanted to surprise with this is safely at church I can share pics before I head out to a later service (then on to the party).

My sister Beverly (Betsy) turns 2 on Monday. She is an incredibly bright little kid and she, like her big sister Des, LOVES red. When Mom said she could use a bright red little purse to go with her Easter dress (leave it to Mom to find a bright red Easter dress...wonder if she's done that before?) I immediately pictured this little bag in my head. Please bear with me and all the pictures, I am so very thrilled to have had this turn out exactly like I intended! I didn't have a pattern, just an idea and I "made" the bag in my head a couple times to work on the bugs. This is what I came up with, a "Learning" purse. The lining was acquired years and years ago, the outside of the bag a couple weeks ago but they have the SAME flowers on them! Serendipity! The outside also has a yin/yang looking paisley.

Here you see all the tabs and flaps open. The closure for the bag is velcro (though a button is sewn to the outside of the top flap). The tab on the left also has a button sewn to the ouside but is actually a snap closure. The tab on the right has a big button and button hole. All three buttons are vintage pearlized ones, very pretty!

The bag of the bag. The outside is quilted in pairs of random wavy lines on a diagonal pattern. It's quilted with red thread so it doesn't show up very well in the pics.

The right side of the strap has a 4" zipper that opens to a little pocket inside the strap. I can't believe I didn't mess this up!!

The is the left side of the strap. It has gromets/eyelets that have a red ribbon threaded through so Be can learn to tie ties in a couple years. HOW often do you get to use a hammer in sewing? I can't even begin to tell you how much fun that way!

Wanted Basic Math Skills

I did alright in school. I graduated with honors. Okay, so I hated algebra and got a really low score on my SATs in the math part but gee whiz. Basic math skills when it comes to quilting: Half of a 9.5" quilt block is 5". (Including the seam allowance.) Plain and simple. So what did I do? I cut my components to be 4.5" and then I was short and ended up wtih 4" which gave me a 7.5" finished square. At least now I know what I did wrong and can remake the block to the correct size, LoL!

Today's block is a repeat already, I included it in Jeremiah's green quilt (see post With Fear and Trembling). I really like this block now though it bugs me I haven't figured out how to speed piece it and have to cut all the triangles individually instead of using the HST trick. It also bugs me because the outside edge of the blue floral is cut on the bias and that can lead to stretching so I must take care. I guess this block will get stashed and I can use it on the label of this quilt when it's done.

My cup runneth over. I have been being so discouraged about sales and such and suddenly I have SO much work lined up thanks to friends and family. 4 bags and 2 quilts. Then I have my own aggenda of my Shakespeare done by 10/2, a throw quilt for a friend who's getting married in May and 2 bags I have in my head that are trying desperately to get out! See, that's the thing about being creative. When the muse strikes it's actually almost painful to ignore it and do what you "need" to do instead of what you "want" to do which is create! I'd go ahead and make one of the bags in my head but the way today is going I would probably mess it up, LOL!

My day is slightly off kilter. First I started to make a little bitty purse for a 3 yr old and the lining fabric I wanted to use actually SHRUNK when I ironed it. Hmm... I've used this fabric before! How did that happen?? Then I made the quilt block wrong. I refuse to let it get me down. I WILL remake the lining. I will remake the block. They WILL be wonderful. Stay tuned, LOL!

Puss in the Corner

I am finding that I like making my block first thing in the morning when Tony's still home. I don't know that it helps me or keeps the kids occupied, I just like getting it done for the day so by this time of night when I am tired I don't have to think, "Oh crap I gotta make my block!" Wake up, pour a nice cold glass of mountain dew and sew. Ah.... 3 1/2 minutes of peace. LOL!

So today's block is Puss in the Corner and I kinda like it. Still sticking with my 3 colors, I figure I will do 9 blocks like this and do sashes and then some creative borders and have a nice lap/baby quilt. Maybe THIS one will make it to my etsy shop (since my green one became Jeremiah's!)

Went grocery shopping this morning then rushed home so Tony could go to work, and the kids and I left at the same time to venture to JoAnn's. I needed to get a couple little notions to finish Beverly's birthday present and I snagged the LAST 2 FQs of the blue/white/metallic floral I've been using. Glad I did, now I know I will hve enough for a small quilt. I'll need to get some more of the black but they still had a bolt of it so no worries.

I finished Beverly's birthday present tonight just after dinner and OH MY GOSH is it INCREDIBLE! I took a bunch of pics and they just don't do it justice. I am so proud of myself and tickled I could just die! I don't use patterns for my bags and I have no seamstress-sewing background to help me figure out the non-quilty aspects so I made the bag in my head over the last two days and just trial-and-error'd it. And it worked! And it is WONDERFUL! AND, I didn't have to throw out and parts and start over. Praise GOD! It all worked and it's great. I am not sharing pics tonight, I will tomorrow though in a seperate post. I want it to be a surprise for everyone at the party tomorrow.

Tomorrow and Sunday are combined on my block calender and I will try to make the block tonight just to get it out of the way. We have a full day planned tomorrow that will involve being gone until late at night. Also I have lots of quilty engagements now! I have I think, 4 bags "ordered" (thanks Jenn!) and my dear mother in law called a couple days ago wondering if I could make a queen sized quilt for her companion by his birthday July 1st. And I wanted to get my Shakespeare quilt done by my anniversary October 2nd. I had better get crackin'!!

Crazy Anne

This block looks nothing like a "Crazy Anne." It actually looks more like a Stuck-up Sophie. Or a Morose Mildred. Or Confused Caitlin. Eh.

I managed to get my block for today made this morning while Tony was home. It didn't turn out like the calender page again, cause I used 3 fabrics istead of 4. Also worked on more on my secret something I'm doing. Called my Mom to find out what Besty wants for her 2nd birthday on Monday. Mom said she'd like a little handbag, in red of course. I have this idea in my head that is WONDERUL and INCREDIBLE and terribly CLEVER! Have to wait to see if I can do it, ROTFL! Need to hit the fabric store in the morning to look for some gromets. Walmart didn't have any today. I leave you to wonder. Anyway, when I called Mom put her (Betsy) on the phone and it went something like this:

Me: Beverly, what do you want for your birthday

B: No

Me: For a present. You get presents on your birthday. Like Christmas.

B: Hi!

Me: Betsy, what do you want to open on your birthday? What kind of present?

B: Hey Daddy

Me: No, listen. Do you want hairthings?

B: No

Me: Do you want a train set?

B: No

Me: What do you want for your birthday?

B: No (I hear Mom asking my question again.)

B: Dew!

----Side Note----

I got another etsy treasury west tonight, calming storm colors, LOL!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=45751

Westward Ho

What the heck kind of name is that for a block??

I am just in a cranky mood. My kids have not been sleeping well at night for 2 or 3 nights now and keeping me awake, this evening my house is in turmoil and Hannah is incredibly fussy (also for 2 or 3 days now). The minute I set her down she cries. I pick her up and she cries. I nurse her and she cries. Ugh. I started to try to put up laundry to try to make the house look better for when Tony got home and only managed to get about 20 hangers out, which Hannah threw all over the floor so now there is more of a mess.

Today started early for me (esp after an equivelent of about 3 hours sleep) at 8:30. Hannah wanted to play, which worked because I was able to piece the last 4 pieces I needed for my W/U top and sew it together. Still working on the borders. I can't decide and I'm going to leave it on the design wall to mull over it for a little while.

This evening I cut out some pieces for another quilty project, the one I'm not going to share pics of. Except..maybe another tease, LOL!

Got about 15 pieces sewn together and the pieces cut out for my block for today before Hannah pitched a fit again and cracked head on the table leg. I really hate today's block. I love the fabrics but I'm just not feeling the pattern, I think it's kind of ugly. I like mine done in 3 colors WAY better than the calender pic that shows 4 colors. I love the blue floral which is odd 'cause I usually don't do florals and I think I might go buy another couple FQs of it and some more of this black and do a sampler quilt out of these fabrics. That would be another one for the Black and White quilt challenge and maybe I can come up with names for these colors that would go for the Initial Challenge too. Maybe Dream-vacation-Blue, Nior and Blanca? Blue, white and black? LOL! Don't know if that will fly for the Initial Challenge since black and white are freebies anyway. Might just have to come up with something else for that one. It's due June first though so I am well on my way to procrastinating.

Oh, in my overwhelmed and foul mood I misread the calender: They say the block name is Friendship Block for their sampler quilt Westward Ho. It was Monday's block really that I didn't do, I did Tues and Wed for my w/u so now I'm caught up!

Clean couch at least

I had today planned out in my head. Housework, sewing, put up laundry from yesterday (8 loads). Got up this morning (after almost no sleep because the kids were restless), downed some caffeine and motivated myself to do a load of laundry, unload/load the dishwasher, wash big pots and pans by hand, clean off and wipe down the counters and stove, clean living room/dining room and vacuum. Then it was about noon and I thought, "ALRIGHT!" I have a lap quilt I want to cut out, need to work on my w/u (block from yesterday) and do today's block. Ah, no...

Tony decided since it was nice and clean he mighth as well help by flipping the couch cushions. Helpful, yes, except... in doing so we discovered someone had poured? spilled? something unidentifiable but slightly yellow and opaque in between the cushions. So my major accomplishment today was taking off all the pillow covers and slip cover for my gargantuan couch (seats 6 adults comfortably) and wash them (2 large loads). Threw off my whole day! I had a nap with the kids, put the couch back together, made dinner and revacuumed the floor. I am NOT folding any laundry. I refuse! It will still be there blocking the hallway tomorrow. BTW my Mom made the beautiful slip cover you see on my couch. My dh's old drinking buddy (LOL!) gave us the couch as a sort of wedding present (and sort of because he needed to get rid of it). It is so comfy but so ugly so Mom made covers for everything. WHO gets a custom made couch? We do. :-D

Hannah is uncooperative again today so I did manage to get just a leeeettle bit of sewing done. I apologize to those who read my blog to see my block a day. Today's block and Thursday's are going into my N2Quilting Weird and Ugly Challenge quilt so I can't share pics except for this little tease, LOL! I also have another project I would like to start working on this week that is going to be a surprise so I can't share pics of it either. I am behind a little, I didn't do yesterday's block but I will hopefully get to it tomorrow and then I can share pics of it and tomorrow's block.

Blessed silence

All is quiet at my house as my babies nap on the couch. I wish I were napping with them because I am so incredibly tired today but instead I am using the quiet to look up pictures of Shakespeare in yahoo images. Yes, Shakespeare. No, I won't tell you why.

Today I didn't do a whole lot. Washed 2 or 3 loads of laundry (guess that tomorrow's Tackle it Tuesday is going to be??), ran the dishwasher and finished spinning the Inconcievable batt Mom bought off etsy from XtremeSpinning. I traded her some of my black merino for it and weighed out the same grams as the batt and she said, "I only get the exact same amount?" HA. Merino for mystery, so who is ahead? I don't know really because it made one awesome yarn! The whole time I spindled all I could think was "I love the 80s...."

I started to cut out my block for today, which was actually the block on the calender for Thursday so I'm ahead but it doesn't matter in the slightest because I can't show you. LOL! It's going to be my W/U challenge entry so it must remain a secret until the voting is over.


I can show you the only other quilty thing I was working on today. Jenn sent me some disappearing nine patch blocks in the mail a while back, which I think were for the swap that I swapped out last night and I forgot them so I am sending her other goodies in return. I squared the blocks up and played with them for a while on my design wall, rearranging here and there. This is what I came up with but then I was 2 squares short so I drew a couple leaves on the paper of my heat and bond, cut them out and ironed them to a beautiful salted handdye and cut them out again. Ironed them onto some very subtle WoC fabric and tada! Bet you can't even tell I'm short 2 blocks, LOL! I think this needs a thin solid border then some pieced borders and it will make a nice lap sized quilt. Right now it's going to be 30"x36".

Thanks to Mom figuring out the timing I was able to snag abother treasury on etsy. I picked all bright and colorful baby quilts and called it Baby Geniuses. Go check it out, you don't have to be an etsy member to look at the lovely quilts and you can even see Jenn's which is actually named Baby Genius! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=45313

8,942 First Seargent!

Sorry, I just had a flashback to Pauly Shore peeling potatoes in In the Army Now. LoL!
I, we, FINALLY got the purple charms swapped last night, er this morning at about 1am. Mom came over and it took us 3 hours to swap out purples and anything goes blocks for the N2Quilting list we are on. And I had already worked on it for an hour when she got here!! Apparently everyone LOVES purple because I ended up swapping about 80 sets which we all know means 800 charms.

Mom and Dad came over about quarter to 10pm and brought Beverly, cake, popcorn and Reese's cups. Always welcome! B who is 2 next week was a big help in swapping the charms! haha! Dad and Tony took turns walking Hannah around to put her to sleep while watching the Dark Knight.

My precious baby son Jeremiah decided he is a big boy now and that he is so big he can spend the night at his Nana Cheryl's (my MIL) house. Last night was the first night I've ever spent away from him in 3 and a half years--he even stayed with me at the hospital when I had Hannah. I can't believe he's so big already but I'm glad he loves his Nana and feels safe and comfortable. AND, Cheryl lives about a block away. LOL! We didn't have to go get him though, he is brave.

Yesterday morning started out not with church as usual but with a trip to the ER for Tony to have his hand looked at. Saturday night at work he ran it into a big metal car part they make (he works in stamping parts for the assembly of cars) which happens to have spikes all over it. Thank God it didn't fall on his hand and crush it! He has about 12 little depression marks across his knuckles and it broke the skin on the knuckle of his middle finger. This morning finally he can move his hang better but yesterday he couldn't move it at all and it is sooo swollen so we went for Xrays which told us nothing was broken just really bruised. A tetanus shot and prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medication that's a joke later we were on our way. So much to be thankful for in that situation! It is a very dangerous place he works in, if a person is not careful and even when they are it still is.

Well now I have a diaper box full of envelopes to mail and I am sooo sleepy! Better drink some more caffeine and get moving, LoL!