MIA

HELLO!!!!!  I have to say that the last two weeks have been MAD crazy busy!  The quilt show was AWESOME!!!  I have much to report, but for today, you will just get a little tidbit ;)

I worked for a friend in her office for three days last week and was able to finish the Rainbow Basket Weave baby blanket.

I used scrap yarn to make this SUPER funky little blankie.

I used a free pattern on line.  (Google "Basket weave blankets for Romania)

It needed some blocking, so I blocked it on the guest bed.

I love it, and hope one of my kids will want if for one of their "someday" babies. ;D

If not, it will just end up being one of those weird baby doll blankies little girls use when they come play with the dolls at my house.

It measures just under 30" square.

Rainbow Knitting

I've been letting my fingers heal from all of the hand piecing and hand quilting.  Knitting has been perfect :)

I have also had a deep desire to just sit on the sofa and veg.  Knitting is perfect for this super UBER lazy streak ;)

This will end up and very small baby blankie size.  I am using scrap yarn, so the color repeat in the rainbow will be changing as the scraps do ;)

Basket Weave Baby Blanket

I finished my first knitted baby blanket tonight :)  It is so soft and sweet :)  This is the pattern I used HERE.

The yarn was a birthday gift from my sweet friend, Suzy, who taught me how to knit a few months ago.  I loved the yarn and wanted to make something that I could "pet" and lovingly gaze at :)  This little baby throw is perfect for both needs ;D

I am going to be linking this up with Elizabeth and SHOW OFF FRIDAY over at a Pieceful Life :),  Sew Many Ways Find a Friend Friday and Sarah over at The Fabric Addict for CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP???

WIP Wednesday ..so much to do... so little time...

Yesterday, my head was still tender, so I just chilled.  I did get all of my curved petal pieces pinned, sewed and pressed :)

Now I am working on sewing the sashing on the square petal pieces...

So here is what I've got simmering on my burners...

I've GOT to baste and quilt Corrine's quilt.  It is driving me NUTS that this is not finished.  As soon as I finish this post, that is where I am heading.  I can finish my quilt later.  I've got to get this bad boy DOnE!!
Here is the other spur in my boot...

Ashley's quilt.  I was thinking that I'd give it to her for her birthday in July, but on second thought, I think it will be her graduation present.  I've got to get it off of my "to do" list.  I don't like a long WIP list.  It makes me anxious and I feel like I am accomplishing nothing.
Also on my WIP list is some sort of knitting project out of the AWESOME yarn I got for my birthday from Suzy...

I am thinking a throw.  Here is what I have so far... DO NOT LAUGH!!!

I'm going to have to undo it and get longer needles, but I have been playing with a pattern to see if I like it.  This is a "no hurry" project, like the Retro Flower quilt is going to have to be.  I can live with a few of those, for a period of time, but not too many.  I am always in a hurry and I want everything done NOW ;D  My poor kids :(
Oh, I have to get my hubbies quilt finished for his birthday next week.

I am using Emily Herrick's brilliant "Going Coastal" to make her equally brilliant quilt "Surf Shop" quilt for him.  He's going to LOVE it!  THANK YOU, Emily for the pattern.  I am SO excited to make this quilt :)  I am also making the same quilt, different fabric, for my nephews room.  I need to do some figuring for fabric as it is for a twin sized bed.   ....another thing on my list :)

So here is the action plan for the week.  I am going to get Corrine's quilt basted and start quilting on it today.  I'd like to have it all finished by tomorrow night.  100% possible.  I need a big finish for this week.

I'll work on David's quilt Saturday while he is at work.  I can probably get it cut and the top pieced.  Quilting can be done next week while he is at work.
I am sure there are more plans that need to be made, but these will work for now :)
I am linking up with WIP Wednesday

The day after..

Unfortunately, the day after a nasty migraine, my brain feels like it's bruised :(  I call it hamburger head.  Anyhoots, I just chilled for the day.  I did get a batch of petals pinned and sewn.  I also FInIShED my socks!!!

 
I also got two more presents :)

I am SO excited for this book that my friend Chrisann bought me.  It was just published and it's by the FABULOUS Denyse Schmidt.  After a good look at the book, I am very pleased with it.  It has 20 quilt patterns that are very beautiful. Many different techniques are used; stamping fabric, applique, foundation piecing and traditional piecing. It is very much like her title describes it to be, modern quilts with traditional inspiration.  Her instructions are very clear.  I would say that it is a little more advanced than a "beginner" level, unless you are a brave and fearless beginner ;D  The quilts in the book are all very classic.  I LOVE them :D  There are also removable templates in the back of the book.
Today I hope to get another 37 petals done, a check book cover and maybe a pencil case.

PS- I am linking this post up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict WHOOP WhOOP!!
and Crazy Mom Quilts finish it up Friday!!!

It's my Birthday and I can cry if I want to!!!

Let me just say that today was a GREAT day!  Unfortunately, first thing this morning I was hit hard with a nasty migraine :p  I get them every once in a while, but usually just one and I can manage it ok.  Today I got a double whamy one.  I was feeling better and decided to try church when another one hit again.  I got out of the the car and went back in to sleep while the family was at church.  When they got home my brain was in some serious pain so I downed some Tylenol and Advil.  After about an hour, no relief, and no surprise really, I sent my daughter out to find me a diet pepsi.  I started to sip on that.  Slowly my head began to surrender.  I think the pepsi has a magic placebo affect.  Who cares ;)  Company started to show up and after about an hour of talking to them through wincing eyes, I actually started to feel better. :)
So, here is the recap of the exciting events for the day :)  First off the family made me crepes with whipping cream and strawberries and sausage on the side :)  YUMM!!  Head hurt, but I muscled through it.  Next was the attempt for church, which was a no go, so I took a 2 hour nap :D  Nap good!  When my baby brother arrived, he served me his AmAZINg flan with , you guessed it, strawberries and whipping cream :)  It was the perfect appetizer.  For dinner my hubby grilled bacon wrapped filet mignon :)  It was TASTY!!!  Oh yeah, there was salad and fruit too, but I was kinda hung up on the meat.  I LOVE meat!  For dessert, many of our neighbors came over to share in the cake extravaganza.  My hubbs bought red velvet, carrot and tuxedo cake from costco :)  SUPER good!  I had the tuxedo cake and was in heaven!
Now for the presents :)  I sure was spoiled today!  My hubby gave me a speaker system for my kindle so I can listen to music or books while sewing :)  My 17 year old gave me a wonderful card and a gift certificate to Rodizio's Brazilian restaurant :D  YUMMY!

 My 20 year old got me a "What Would Sue Do" Tee Shirt.  I LOVE SUE!!!

My friend Shanelle got me...

A pretty necklace, running socks and some yummy smelling hand sanitizer:)

My friend Suzy gave me YUMMY yarn :)

My SIL and bro, gave me a gift certificate to Gracie Lou's Quilt Shoppe!!! :()

My sister and my friend Jill are going to take me out to eat this week :) ..two separate trips!
My mom sent me cookies and these books :) ...and don't forget the fabric from yesterday :)

The note from mom.

My sons made me a BEAUTIFUL card :)
and finally, my friend Kim MADE me these AWESOME soaps :)

They smell SO yummy!
I am off to bed.  This silly headache is the kind that hiccoughs for days :(  I am so sad....  Maybe I will get lucky and it will be all better tomorrow ;)

Frenzy Friday, the sequel!

Well, I was right!  I did end up forgiving DH for abandoning me on his day off for a work meeting.  He took me to see Mirror Mirror, which was pretty good.  I liked it :)
So while he was off for work, I baked bread with my 6 year old.  He grinds the wheat for me and adds the flower as the KitchenAid WORKS it's magic :D  My cousins recipe that I use is HERE.  This time I added pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and some quinoa.  YUMMY!!!

For those of you with a keen eye for detail, yes, my son is wearing lederhosen.  He dressed up as Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater today for school.  They had a nursery rhyme picnic and got to act out a nursery rhyme.  He played the piano and sang the rhyme.  Yeah, we were pretty proud of him.  Our other boys wore a sign that read "Jack" and jumped over a candle stick, in their regular clothes.  My "current" 6 year old, had me help him go on line to find a picture of Peter so he could create a costume. Thank heavens he found a picture of a boy in lederhosen!  We have 4 pair of lederhosen in various sizes.  You've gotta love having a German MIL :)

Here is an old picture of my boys when they ALL fit into the lederhosen.  I am so glad we have pictures.  I tried to freeze my family right where they were about 4 years ago, but it didn't work and they just keep getting older :(
Well, lets get on with the story of the day.  While the bread was rising I hopped on the elliptical.  Now for some EXCITING news, the doctor wanted me to run a little bit today :)  He wanted me to run around my block, just under a 1/4 mile.  It felt SOOOOOO GOOD!  You may think that sounds crazy, but to make my body work that hard, even for a very short period of time, was exhilarating!  I didn't even know that I missed that feeling.  I came home hot, sweaty, totally out of breath, heart pounding out of my chest and nearly in tears because I had forgotten about the rush.  I miss that rush, I NEED that rush.   It's kind of like the exertion burns off all of the stress and "fuzz" that clouds my mind and body.  I know that you are now certain that I am bonkers, but I don't know how else to describe it.  Pretend that stress forms little strands of fine glass through out your whole body, layer upon layer, thicker and thicker :(  Running shatters it all, sending it flying out into the universe.   Ok, that does sound weird, sorry, I'll move on to the quilting now ;D
I was able to get the third batch of petal pieces sewn.  111 down, 129 to go!

They are so cute as a chain with all of the pins :)  I usually don't pin, let alone sew over my pins, but this project seems to demand it, so I am just relaxing and going with it.  I sew these pieces so slowly, that hitting a pin hasn't happened ....yet ;D  They are all pressed too :)
I also got some knitting it.  I am onto the heal of sock #2  :)

Saturday should be a relaxing day ;D  I am hoping to ellipt, run, shower, color my hair, finish off the sock for my birthday sunday and get at least one batch of petal pieces pinned, sewn and pressed!  My mom did mention that she wanted to take me shopping Saturday for my birthday.  We shall see if that happens too :)
xo to you all!  Have a WOnDERFUL weekend!
PS- I mentioned to my hubby that he should be pretty excited because he has an AWESOME wife that not only bakes and quilts, but knits now too!  ;D

On the 2nd Day of MY Birthday...

Hold the presses!  I forgot to show y'all how my daughter responded to the boy who asked her to prom (how he asked her is shown HERE)....

There are many Swedish fish "floating" in the sea of jello :)

This bowl is full of blue Jello and a duct tape note in the bottom under the rocks.  His dad said his hand turned blue from all of the "fishing" around in the bowl.  So, she poured shredded paper ALL over his porch and then put the bowl and sign on top of it and door bell ditched the whole thing :)  We could hear him yell, "OH NO!!!"  as we drove out of sight ;D
So, for the 2nd day of my two week birthday celebration I kept on working on the retro flower quilt.  I sewed two batches of petal parts and pressed them.  They are SO cute!!!

I was able to start my 3rd batch of 37 petal pieces.  I think they are REALLY cute!

Here is what I have left to piece...

Oh, and ALL of the squares :)
I also started knitting my second sock, since one sock is kinda rough to wear ;D

 I have an addendum to a previous post.  I may have to finish my sisters quilt because I CANT stand not having it finished.  My hubby just informed me that he has a meeting tomorrow morning ON HIS DAY OFF about an hour away from our home.  I'm kinda grouchy about it so I may just quilt ALL day to spite him....not really, but that sounds like a good idea.  I'll probably be over it by the time he gets home at noon and wants to take me out on a date ;D
xo!  Happy Friday!!!