Friday, July 31, 2009

A good sale on fabric. . .


Are you looking for some precuts or yardage on sale? Kelly at Cotton Charm Quilts is having a fabulous clearance sale. I bought yardage for purses for the mothers in my life...at $5.80 a yard. It also would be good for quilt backing or borders. Go check it out and get sewing! Her shipping is also very reasonable.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Playing with some scraps

First, I'd like to say a big thank you for all of your nice comments. I really appreciate the extra "cheering" section I've had lately. I'd also like to say that I've had a couple of new commenters leave me some really sweet thoughts. . .thanks again.

Have you ever had one of those days where you start a project, get about halfway through it and then switch what you are doing? Oh yeah, distracted by some pretty fabric that is just sitting around your sewing room.

Here is what I ended up finishing with some scraps of material. . .3 pretty kitchen towels. Aren't they bright?




Here is a project that I started first(the tutorial can be found on the Moda Bake Shop thanks to Rachel from P.S. I quilt- Rachel is also having a giveaway over at P.S. I quilt, so don't forget to head that way, too.)

I was originally going to do 3 of these blocks instead of 9 for a table runner as a gift. Then when I got the 3 blocks done (aren't they cute???) I decided it would be to big for said table. Hmm. I have another charm pack so I might just turn this into a baby quilt yet...just you wait and see. For now, I am thinking about it. But I do love the disappearing nine patch...how fun are they? Why did it take me so long to try that?

Onto more important events. . .this guy turned 5 this week.



Oh, I do love him so. Five years of kissing those sweet cheeks.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Charming Girl's Quilt Club July Finish!



I made it! I finished. Whoo-who! Just in the nick of time, as well. Here are both of my finishes.

I love the finished look of my Keyholes quilt top (pattern by Anka's Treasures and fabric by Minnick and Simpson)now that it has my borders on it. It is very large too. My husband is loving the size of it.


And if possible, I am more deeply in love with my finished Cottage quilt (pattern and fabric by Fig Tree Quilts). I love it. LOVE IT...sing it off the roof tops love it. A special thank you to Mr. Dandelion for helping choose the binding material...a perfect fit if I do say so myself.


Stay tuned to August's projects. I am not sure which to pick as I have so many things I'd like to get done!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Forecast looking a bit brighter: WIP


So, I just made the time to get started on this quilting project. Sometimes you've got to do that...just make the time. I am over half done and definitely feeling like I might get it done before the end of the month.


Onto family news, last night Buddy and I had a conversation that went like this:
B: Mama, is Barack Obama real?
Me: Yes, he is really a person and he is our President of our country.
B: No, is he really on our Planet Earth?
Me: Yes, he is really on our Planet Earth.
B: I want to meet him.
Me: Well, he lives a long way from us, he is really busy because he is the President, and it is hard to meet him.
B: You mean he lives by Grandma and Grandpa?
Me: No, he lives even further than that.
B: I don't care, I still want to go to his house and bowl with him. (I guess we do pay attention to our Weekly Readers.)
Me: That would be fun, but I don't think just anyone gets to go to the White House and bowl.

Although, personally, I think anyone would be lucky to bowl with this cute face. So, if you are reading this Mr. President and you get bored some day, Buddy would like to bowl with you.

There is a nice giveaway to be had over at bitty bits & pieces so check it out!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

A bit of monkeying around

We spent the last few days at my parent's house. We had a nice visit. My mom was invited to go to a Sock Monkey Making Party. I was lucky enough to get to tag along. It was a good time...a nice group of ladies sewing, greats sweets to eat, and these cute little monkeys.

I still need to embellish mine and I have some ideas. I will post the final project when I get it done.

In other project related news, I did get the binding done on Judy's quilt. Here is the big ta-da on that!

And finally, the countdown is on for the Charming Girls' Quilting Club July finish. Unfortunately I have been gone most of July, which I was not planning on. So, I am going to shift it into gear and try to get as much done as I can, but with company coming for the weekend and a birthday party to prepare for...I am hesitant to say I will meet the deadline with my second project. Not a very good start for me. Not good at all. I spent the afternoon sewing, and am pleased to say I did get the Keyholes' quilt top done. I also would say if I hadn't joined the club that this quilt top would not have been finished before the end of the month, at least. I will show you the top at the end of the month...hopefully I will have some how managed a miracle and finished the cottage quilt, too. Hmm. We will see.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Camping, A Visit with Friends, and a Trip to the Emergency Room


Well, some of you knew I was going camping. And although I admit I was a bit skeptical, we had great weather and a great trip. I truly enjoyed myself the 2 nights we camped. This was my first time camping, and we went with friends which added to the fun. The boys did the cooking, which is always a treat for me. Doesn't this sunset entice you to visit Michigan? Our state is very beautiful and although our economy isn't great right now, tourism still seems to be thriving. If you would love to see beautiful beaches, come to Michigan.

Buddy, as I knew he would, loved camping. He was busy the entire time and a happy camper. He even ate especially well.


When we left the campgrounds, we were not too far away from friends. So, we stopped by their house, and stayed with them through the weekend. We had a great time there, too, and even went to another beach.
I took this picture so you can all appreciate the length and thickness of Buddy's eye lashes and the cuteness of his nose with the freckles he has befriended. Isn't he just perfect?




The last day we were there, I misstepped coming out of their house, and down I went. By that night, I couldn't put any pressure on my left foot. So, on our way home, Mr. Dandelion suggested we needed to stop for an xray. Can I just say that the ER nurses were just the nicest group of people? We were in and out of there in less than an hour and a half....and the only reason that we were there that long was the x-rays? They said the x-rays looked fine, so off to home we went to unpack. Poor Mr. Dandelion ended up doing all of the unpacking, and starting the laundry. Mr. Dandelion even ended up carrying me over his shoulder down the hall to bed when I couldn't bear to stand on it at all. Then Mr. Dandelion banged my foot into the bedroom door...oh yes, he did. He told me I should have been watching it....and I asked him how I would watch it hanging backwards, upside down on his back. Good grief.

I was in a sour mood having just escaped the couch from that pneumonia episode, I was afraid I would return to it for some time. Luckily, when I woke up this morning I was actually able to walk a bit....I have taken it extremely easy and I hope the sprain continues to improve each day. Mr. Dandelion thinks I am a walking time bomb these days, perhaps he is right.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Charming Girls' Quilt Club- July Edition


Carol mentioned this club, Charming Girls' Quilt Club, which I thought sounded fun for finishing up some of my UFO's and unstarted projects that I have laying around. Thanks, Carol! So, this month I plan to finish this quilt top, Keyholes which I still have laying in 9 blocks. I actually ended up ripping 2 of the blocks apart because somehow I sewed them backwards! Trust me, this is something only I could do! LOL! I am using the pattern Keyholes by Anka's Treasures and the fabric is by Minnick and Simpson, Christmas Past. I love this fabric. As I already mentioned, this pattern by Anka's Treasures is a real gem and any level sewer would love it.

And I guess I am feeling a bit ambitious as I am going to throw another entry onto the pile! I am planning on quilting and binding my cottage quilt, which uses a variety of Fig Tree Quilts fabrics and the pattern is Joanna's design as well.

I hope some of you will join in the fun....there are some great prizes to be had....and finish up your UFO's!