One of the hockey moms is expecting #3. After two boys, she is having a girl. I asked her what the plan was for her nursery and she replied "pink and brown with butterflies." I dug through my stash and came up with this:
She loved it!For the end of the school year, I finished three quilts.
For the Kindergarten teacher:
For the second grade teacher:
This one proved a bit more of a challenge, as I gave them a square (rectangle actually) and let them design at will. Some ended up "tall" and others "wide". It was a bit of a challenge, but she really liked the end product! As usual, I didn't have enough backing, so I pieced one together.
Made this for a friend, whose nephew was taken too young by cancer:
It was a bit hard, knowing that these shirts and sweatshirts once belonged to a promising young man.
I took care to outline each design, holding the quilt together a bit better than if I'd just stitched in the ditch. The final measurement was 64" x 80".
It was an emotional one to put together, I tell you. But getting a phone call saying it was more she'd dreamed of made it all worth it. I hope it brings the family some peace, if nothing more than to hold.Rotary cutters are very, very sharp.
Super Glue is an excellent at-home stand in for emergency room Dermabond.
Glad I had recently restocked heavy duty bandaids at home...
Another project in the works.
...
Also, I'm feeling a bit naked as with my weight loss, I can no longer wear my wedding ring, or grandmother's for that matter, without fear of losing them.
I'm wondering if I should have them resized now, or wait until I'm where I want to be. If I wait, I'm tempted to head to Target and pick out a 'cheapie' so I don't get those leering looks. Ha ha.
...
We had a delightful weekend with my parents. They came early enough Friday that Mom and I went out for lunch. Our only commitment was my oldest daughter's dance class at 1 pm on Saturday. Otherwise we put together puzzles, played wii, shot a few games of pool and generally relaxed.
I'm a bit under the weather today, but I'll leave with the news that last week I finished a quilt I started back in February 2008...
...
The last of the packages are in the mail...
Sweet sleeping bags for American Girl Dolls...
They are so much fun to make. No two are exactly alike - I am not that good with sizing.
The dresses I posted the other day have found good homes. Thank you so much for taking them off my hands.
...
Today I was planning to make more cookies. Right now I have gingersnaps and chocolate (that need to be frosted) shortbread. I also made fudge and Anise candy. The kids are in near heaven, but I have had no more that 1/4 of a cookie.
I'm still sticking to South Beach. So far, I've surpassed my expectation. Usually I get a few pounds down, decide it's 'good enough,' and go back on the food binge. Not so this time.
It's a funny thing. Usually this time of year I'm putting just about any food in my mouth multiple times. Not so. Not that it doesn't sound good, but I'm just trying to make it though one day at a time. So far I've been successful.
...
The gingersnap cookies are my maternal great grandmother's. Dare I say they made my husband nearly moan? The fudge is my paternal great grandmother's. I can barely keep my oldest out of it. It's what she wants to give her teacher for Christmas. The anise candy is my paternal grandmother's. The chocolate shortbread? Nigella. Right now we are in a 'don't ask don't tell' on how much butter I'm using.
A big part of the holidays to me is not only keeping tradition, but creating new ones.
What are some of your favorite traditions - food or otherwise?
...
It's that time of year. Things are starting to get out of control. I have one too many irons in the fire. Two packages to be mailed off today, a third by no later than Wednesday. And then what I want to do for my family as well.
My machine's been humming...
My crochet hook's been working overtime...
...
I have been meaning and meaning to get these on etsy, but haven't made the time. I have three little dresses that need a home. They fit an 18" doll (American Girl).
If you're interested in one (or more!) shoot me an email. swiperbootsdora at gmail dot com They're $10 each.
...
Back to work!
I read somewhere that as adults we don't lose track of time often enough.
Remember being a kid and completely losing track of time? It might be playing outside, Legos, Barbies, reading a good book... Doesn't really matter, but the fact of it is that we lost track of time. We enjoyed ourselves.
As adults, we tend to be so plugged in to 'gotta do' that we forget what we like and want to do. This last week I've been indulging myself a bit. I tend to lose track of time when I make these:
Dresses for American Girl Dolls. Silly. But fun. 
Sweet little buttons.
Carefully hand sewn snaps. Maybe a bit of ribbon.
I'm debating putting a few of these on etsy to see if they sell. Also, the school is having a craft fair, but I'm not sure I could get enough done to warrant a booth.
Today I'll be sorting through my fabric to see what others I can make. Maybe I'll fit in a bit of cleaning... Maybe...
Though no comparison to the pioneers, I feel like one without running water at my kitchen sink. The part won't arrive for 4 to 10 days, so until then I'm bringing water in by the pitcher from the bathroom. We looked for a 'cheap' replacement faucet until the part arrives, but I can haul water for $39.95 + tax. That and the bathroom is 12, maybe 15 steps from the kitchen. So I guess it's a good think I don't have to walk down to the creek because the well ran dry.
Fortunately, my dishwasher still works. There would be mutiny if it didn't. Heh.
...
Something fun for today: an American Girl dress - made by me!
...
Early hockey tomorrow - out of state game starts at 7:50. Must get four adults and three kids + hockey gear out of the house by 6:45. Oy.
...
My daughter's shoes arrived today at noon. Considering I ordered them CST at 7 pm, I am amazed. Not only that, but they fit and she loves them.
...
I'm finding it hard to think of anything to share today - just the usual. I did however get an order of crocheted dishcloths, American Girl sleeping bags, and American Girl clothes. Fortunately, she knows how I operate - let me know early. FWIW - it's still early if you'd like to order something...
...
Tomorrow I'm expecting a package. I can't wait to share it with you all.
...
I've set myself up with a couple challenges this month.
1. I'm going to walk/jog/run every day and blog about it. This month I just plan to keep track of my minutes. There won't be any pictures, because really... Who wants to see that?!?
2. I'm going to sew every day and post a picture of what I've done. Right now I'm working on a Double Wedding Ring quilt. I've really enjoyed making this, and look forward to doing pieced arcs next time versus solid ones.
I really like how this one is coming together. I haven't decided on backing/binding yet, but I have a feeling once I see it all put together, something will come to me.
...
Still trying to recover from Saturday night. We had a good time.
...
Halloween is tomorrow. I need a costume. Tomorrow.
What do you think my odds are given a sewing machine and a white sheet so I can turn this:
Into this:
There are a few things rattling around in my head that I just can't quite shake.
-Friday I went to a quilting class on double wedding ring quilts. I bought the acrylic templates. Now I just need to settle on the fabric for my 'test' quilt - meaning it will be lap/throw sized versus bed sized.
-Saturday and Sunday I sorted my fabric. Nothing terribly exciting, as I'm only half way done. I did however find a couple of half started projects that I'm looking to finish. I may offer these as a giveaway at a later date.
-An event Saturday night (early Sunday morning) as left me shaking my head and wondering what is happening to our friend's marriages. Love, honor and cherish have been replaced with bitch, complain, and bicker.
-Since we moved a little over three months ago, we've had two displaced husbands stay at our house. One night only, then I strip the bed and kick them out (with a hug, of course). I have my own marriage to look out for.
-Early this year I started a Dear Jane quilt. Needless to say it's been put away for awhile. I started using quilt quality fabric with muslin for the background. After the quilt expo last weekend, I'm wondering if I shouldn't use something a little better than muslin for the background.
Here are my possibilities:
a) use what I have for another project - wall hanging, pillow, something that won't get a lot of use - and start over with the better background fabric.
b) pick up where I left off, leaving my decision (re-make or just leave) of what to do until later.
c) one by one, take the blocks apart and remake them with other fabric for the backing.
Initially, I chose muslin because it was so much less expensive then other fabric. Now, I'm regretting my choice, as I really want this to be something that lasts a long time. What would you do?
...
Costumes must be done by tomorrow, as the class parties are Friday.
Next year, I'll just buy them.
Yea... Right...
Earlier in the year, I joined a block swap. Having never done one before, I was a bit nervous. I mean, what if they didn't like my work? What if it wasn't good enough?
Every month, one or two people send out fabric with instructions. Some are vague: have fun with the fabric. Some are much more specific. July's quilter wants to make a string quilt.
After making the four squares, I just couldn't decide how to put the fabric together.
Exhibit A:
After putting it all together, this is the one I liked the best.Oh, you wily triangles...
I do love how you come together.
I made this lap quilt for my back yard neighbor. As one of the few full-time stay at home moms in the neighborhoo, I leaned on her quite a lot when we first moved here. Yesterday she called to see if I would like to see some fabric she was looking to get rid of. What I found was a box of wonderful purples.
At some point I'd like to make The Todder a twin size quilt like this.
...
Note to self... Don't try and hand stitch quilt binding for five hours straight or a pinched nerve will result.
Last week was a flurry of activity. One of my friends I made a quilt for wanted me to show off my stuff to her friends. In an effort to have a wide variety of things to show, I pretty much marathon quilted for several days. The final day, Friday, ended in me spending from 6 pm to 11 pm sewing the binding on more than one quilt.
The show Saturday was great. Several of the women were interested in the "baby clothes" quilts. There was a fantastic turnover and one even wanted a king size quilt for her bed. Whoot! We'll see what pans out.
With all the sewing, my machine finally bit the dust. To finish the final project, I pulled out my grandmother's sewing maching. Fortuantely, Thursday my new machine arrives. Until then, I'm on sewing hiatus to let my hand/wrist heal.
What's coming my way? A Brother PQ-1500S High Speed Straight Stitch Sewing Machine:
She's a beaut, eh?
...
Over the next few days, I'll be putting some of my quilts on etsy. I'm looking to make room for more...
...
