Saturday, July 31, 2010

*happy dance*

I had this big plan to take pictures on Thursday.  Pictures of boxes.  Pictures of delivery men.  Pictures of the set-up.  But it turns out I was so darn excited that I didn't do it!  I know, I'm ashamed of myself too.

But I did take a picture today.  Meet my new baby:


Isn't he purdy?  I'm thinking he needs a name.  I'm going leaning toward male names so I can say something like "I'm spending the night with Gary".  Anyone have a good name?

I quilted these two quilts for my mother.  They're the first two to roll off the machine.




Thursday, July 29, 2010

My Big Exciting Day

The day I've wait weeks (actually months) for is finally here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is it??????

What has me so excited I can't sleep?????????

Well, hopefully it isn't a big let down for you all, but I just can't tell you yet!

I want to tell you with pictures!

So stay tuned!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

It is 3 a.m.

And I am still awake.  It has been one of those nights.  Maybe I am just over tired.  Or in need of chocolate.  I don't know.  I don't often talk about my oldest son.  It seems like I have to talk about so many personal things in regards to him with perfect strangers so much that I choose not to share here.  Sometimes it is good.  Sometimes it isn't.  Anywho....I am kept awake tonight thinking about pure joy.  How often we see it on our kids faces.  How often (if we're lucky) we feel it ourselves.

I dug this picture out of a drawer a few weeks ago.  It is my favorite picture.  I thought it had been lost.  I believe I took it just days before he was diagnosed.  It was right before Easter that year (obviously, from the bunny ears).  Last year, last month or even a few hours ago I couldn't have told you why it was my favorite picture.  But as I was laying in bed, it hit me.  This is the only picture I have of him with a look of joy on his face.  Not a smirk or a grin.  True joy.  And I can't for the life of me remember the last time I saw it on his face.  I am just thankful that at one time he felt it.
I hope you all take the time today to recognize your own moments of joy.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

And the winner is....

I would never have believed it.  I honestly thought that it just didn't happen.  But it did.  I was so surprised I even copied the Random Number Generator Image.  Unfortunately, I did it wrong so it isn't showing up correctly....grrrr

Anyway, the winner is #1!!!!!!  Congrats Miss 376!


Please email me your info and I will get your prize out to you asap!  And thanks again to Chris from Curby's Closet for providing her pattern to give away!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Lehi Foam Day 2010

Today is a Utah State holiday.  I love having two reasons to stay out all day and watch fireworks at night during the month of July.  Lehi, Utah had their first Foam Day last year.  It was soooo much fun.  Just foam and free watermelon.  Very relaxed, very few people.  It was still a great time, but it was a lot different this year.  They had bounce houses.  They had a dunking booth.  I wish I had gotten a picture of Lorelei being dunked, but I missed it.  *sniff*
Then they had "train" rides for the little ones:



And some of the bigger kids couldn't resist going too:

There was several live bands:


Face painting:


Glitter Tattoos:


Balloon hats:

Balloon swords:


And of course food and vendor booths and watermelon.  Did I forget something?  Oh yeah, the FOAM!



 





Happy 24th!

Friday Night Sew In

Last night was the July Friday Night Sew In.  I wish I could report that I got a ton of stuff done.  Alas, I was lazy.  My kids stayed up way too late.  Usually my youngest is in bed by 8 pm, but last night he was up until ten.  That doesn't make for a happy baby.  Or a happy mommy.  Oh well.  I did get the first two blocks of this star quilt done.  Which, since the blocks are humongous, is actually half way done!

Wow, this picture makes it look wavy.  I should have straightened it out better before taking the pic.  Oh well.  So, how was your FNS?

Friday, July 23, 2010

Gearing Up

Yesterday was a busy day at work.  Which, of course, is always a good thing.  This lovely lady (whose name I forgot-sorry sorry sorry) brought in her Omigosh quilt.  Oh my gosh, it is amazing!  Check it out!
(she and the quilt are less blurry in person)



(a close-up so you can appreciate all those little tiny pieces)

I also finally got around to taking this table runner in to be displayed at the shop.  It has been sitting on my sewing table for a couple of weeks but I have somehow managed to leave it behind every day when I go to work.  Oops!  So I made a special trip today to drop it off.
You can buy a kit for this by calling the shop.

And finally, Lorelei and I had our Girls Only Day.  Too much fun.  We went shopping.  Lorelei got a few bracelets and picked out some to give to friends.  Lorelei also chose the Olive Garden for lunch.  It was so tasty.  Then we went to Incredible Pizza.  Yes, it is a buffet.  But you can just go in and play games.  We raced cars.  We mini-bowled.  We mini-golfed.  We had a great time.  Lorelei had a ton of tickets/points by the time we were through so she got a stuffed killer whale.  Did I remember to take a single picture during all of the fun?  Nope.  But I did snap one when we were headed out the door.



Tonight is the Friday Night Sew-in.  If you're not signed up (and you don't have a hot date tonight) you should.  And tonight is the last night of my giveaway.  Again, if you're not signed up you should be!  See you tonight!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

It's Official!

I am in love!  ♥ ♥ ♥

I want to write sonnets.

Love poems.

Haiku.

But I am not that talented.

My love has taken over my life.

Has taken me away from my sewing machine.

Away from my computer.

Away from the fridge.

Oh, Nook.  I ♥ you!



BTW- If you haven't gotten yourself entered for the cute boot pattern, just scroll down.  There is still time!


Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Coming Soon: New Blog Look

Spending money on my blogs has not been one of my top ten priorities.  In fact, it hasn't been in the top fifty.  I'm not normally so cheap, but I just haven't been able to justify the expense.  But, because of all the other blogs I read each day, jealousy has reared it's evil little head.  How come my blog isn't that pretty?  So, I have decided my blog is ready for a new, grown-up look.  I've enlisted Designer Blogs to help.  There is a lot of happy-dancing going on here and nervous waiting.  I'm on the list and my blog makeover should be ready by the middle of August.  I will not miss my weird header than shows off my lack of photoshop skills!  Please let me know what your favorite blog design ideas are so I will know what to steal and call my own when the time comes!  LOL

And now for a shameless plug in the name of family:

Have you noticed the button for The Sewing Shack in my sidebar?




My sister owns The Sewing Shack and sells Moda precuts and various sewing patterns.  And she sells them for super duper cheap!  You can get yourself a Moda Bliss Jellyroll right now for just $26.99!  In fact, all of her Jellyrolls and Layer Cakes are just $26.99!  She does ship internationally (if you were wondering).  Check it out and tell her I sent you!  

Monday, July 19, 2010

One of those days

Are you aware than many people do not consider molasses as part of a well stocked pantry???  I didn't!  I went to make cookies today, discovered we were out (when did that happen?), and had to pester no less than 6 neighbors before finding some.  Thankfully, neighbor number 6 had molasses and saved the cookie dough from being dumped into the garbage.  Whew!

And then, because I wasn't already whiney about running out of molasses, I did something to my back.  I can hardly move.  *poor me*

So, while I am on the couch feeling sorry for myself, Lorelei starts screaming upstairs.  I finally coax her downstairs (there is no way I can climb those stairs right now) and discover that she has fallen and needs to go to the doctor to get a few stitches.  Luckily, we were able to get her right in and ended up only being at the doctor's for about 30 minutes from start to finish.  Yea!  And then we headed over to the market to get a treat for Lorelei (stitches deserve sugar) and molasses to take back over to neighbor number 6.

I'm done whining.  I'm going to bed.  Have a good night all!

I need your ideas!


{Wondering what the deal is with the super old, super grainy photo?  It is simple.  I am the photographer in our family and I have about 20 photos that I am in that have been taken in the past 12 years.  Lame, I know.  I really need a good photographer (with amazing airbrushing skills) to take some pictures of me and the family.  Hopefully I will get to that before the summer is out.  I just can't get really excited about posing for pictures.  Ugh.}

*******************************


Friday is Mother/Daughter day.  The day Lorelei and I have been looking forward to all month.  And we are planning on doing it up in style.  Small problem:  mommy is out of ideas.  Pedicures?  Bowling?  A movie?  Seriously, how lame am I?  Lorelei wants to go rock climbing.  Whose child is she, anyway? I'm thinking no.  So, who has ideas for something in Salt Lake or Utah County that doesn't involve ropes, bungee cords, or death-defying acrobatics?  I'm thinking something active and lunch somewhere "fancy".  I wish I knew of a place that did a fancy "tea" type party geared toward eight-year olds and not five-year olds.  Let me know what you've got!

Friday, July 16, 2010

The Cutest Little Boots Ever


Do you remember these?  I made them last year using a pattern from Curby's Closet.  I ♥ these!  Super cute, quick, and ridiculously cheap to make.  They were my new favorite baby gift to give!  What could possibly be cuter?




Quilted Cowboy Boots, that's what!  How did she do that?  These came into the shop the other day and I immediately emailed Chris (of Curby's Closet) to beg for a copy to keep for myself give away.  See how much I love you all? 



You could make these with the standard toe.



Or these rounded toe cuties.

Who could not ♥ these????

So you have two chances to enter:
1. Leave a comment here telling me about your favorite pair of shoes.
2.  Leave a comment on Chris' blog OR become a follower (you can do both if you like!) and then come back here and leave a comment letting me know which you did! 
Easy peasy!

Giveaway closes Friday, July 23rd at 11:59 PM MST.  Winner will be announced Sunday, July 25th.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Yes, I do have the mind of a thirteen year old boy

Let me just preface this by telling you that I have the utmost respect for Eleanor Burns.  She is an amazingly talented woman.  This book of hers, however, leads me to believe one of two things.  One, that Eleanor has no friends in the editing department (or they are clueless).  Or two, that Eleanor, like me, likes to insert little jokes here and there for her own amusement.  I hope it is the latter.

*Boom-chika-waa-waa*

Fast & Thrifty Thursday

Somedays you've just got to get things done fast (and cheap).  Today was one of those days.  First up:  dinner.  My kids love Cheeseburger Biscuits (that's what we call 'em).

Step one:  a can of biscuits placed in a greased muffin tin ($ 0.64)

Step two:  top with 1/2 lb. browned, ground beef and some shredded cheese ($2.85)

Step three:  bake at 400 for 9 minutes or until biscuits are completely baked


Serve with barbeque sauce and steamed veggies ($1.20)


Not for the most sophisticated of pallets, but it sure beats beef-a-roni for the second time this week!  And adds up to be just $1.18 a person.

I've also been peaking around the internet for designer pillowcases.  Holy cow!  I should be selling these babies!  Here are two that I made with just over a yard (each) in 20 minutes.


I plan on making several sets that match each other (these obviously don't).  I ♥ eclectic bedding!

And because my day isn't busy enough, the little guy is feeling sick.  He sat on the floor by the couch the entire time I was cooking dinner and doing dishes but has otherwise insisted on being held all afternoon.  I hope he sleeps well tonight.  Looks like nothing is going to get done until bedtime!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

IMMD (It Made My Day)!

Monday, while visiting a few of my favorite blogs, I found this terrific post by Gene Black.  He is always posting examples of his amazing artwork.  I did, however, misread his post.  Where it says "the giraffe and the boots" I read "the giraffe in boots".  Apparently, I read what I want to read.  I told this to Gene and told him how disappointed I had been.  ha!  And then this showed up in my inbox today:


This totally made my day!

Little Birds


This book just came into the shop last week and I have to say I am in love.  There are so many projects I want to do (I am currently working on a redwork pillow).  I also love the little section before each project that tells you about the designer and gives a link to her blog.  Check it out!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

FNS





Next Friday (July 23rd) is the Friday Nigh Sew-in. I just love this! Hopefully, I will actually get some sewing done that night! The 24th is a state holiday here, but we don't have any big plans for the weekend. Let me know if you're going to participate!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Motivation

Every once in awhile I have the desire to take up knitting or crocheting.  This is always a bad idea.  It doesn't, however, prevent me from trying yet again.  But it does always end up the same way.  At some point I will have some half finished project that is too tight on one end and too loose on the other.  Needles and all will find their way to the thrift store within weeks.  Which is why, despite this total awesomeness, that I am going to try to resist any yarn purchases.  Lord, give me the strength.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Good Read


At first, I had no idea why I was asked to review Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas.  But then I read this lovely article, and then the book.  First the article:


Sandra Dallas, Whiter Than Snow
Nothing defines my characters more than their sewing.
In my first novels, my female characters smoked. My books are set in earlier times, long before we knew about the evils of tobacco, when a woman who smoked was independent, a little daring, sophisticated.  As a writer, I could do so much with smoking:  A character could watch the smoke curl up or blow smoke into someone’s face. She could pick a speck of tobacco off her lip or snuff out a cigarette in anger. And there was all that wonderful smoking paraphernalia, such as Bakelite cigarette holders, monogrammed cigarette boxes, and remember those huge standing ashtrays with sand in them?     But today, smoking says something negative about a character, no matter what the time period. So my characters have quit smoking.  Instead, they quilt.
The way a woman stitches says something about her.  A woman who takes small, even stitches is different from one who sews with big, sloppy stitches. A quilter who selects black and white fabrics for her quilt is more somber than one who picks primary colors.  And the patterns the women choose, whether an intricate design with thousands of pieces or a big, bold pattern of large blocks, say something about them. 
The titles of the quilts, too, affect the stitchers.  Log cabin quilts were a favorite of women who helped escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad.  More than onepioneer woman pieced a Road to California before setting out for the West.  And it’s hard to imagine that a woman who likes her toddies would make a Drunkard’s Path.
My characters don’t just sew.  They are part of a community of stitchers—the quilting circle.  I first wrote about a quilting circle in The Persian Pickle Club, thinking there were a few quilters out there who might relate to the subject.  What I didn’t know was there are 27 million of them and that they understand the significance of the quilting circle far better than I. So I’ve included sewing in virtually all of my books, to a greater (Prayers for Sale) or lesser (Whiter Than Snow) degree. 
What these readers know is that quilting isn’t just about making bed covers.  In a quilting circle, women support each other.  They share each other’s joys and sorrows, help in times of need, pull together when a member is threatened or in trouble.  Quilting is a way of sharing, and the work of the women’s hands represents warmth and comfort not only because they are making a quilt but because that quilt is made with love.
I’ve often been asked if I’m a quilter.  Some years ago, I wrote The Quilt That Walked to Golden, a history of quilting in the Rocky Mountain States, for the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden, Colo. In the book, I write that quilting all but died out during World War II, and the women who picked up their needles a generation later were often self-taught.  They did things no self-respecting quilter would do today, such as use polyester fabric or quilt in the ditch (on the seam line.)  I tell of one woman who made a quilt for her sister as a wedding present, a stuffed quilt made of huge puffs filled with cotton.  She didn’t know when to stop stuffing, and as a result, the quilt weighed 25 pounds. Their brother had to take it to the wedding in the back of his pickup.
But my sister cherished the quilt anyway.
© Copyright 2010 by Sandra Dallas. Reprinted with permission from the author.

And now we get to the book:
While references to quilting and stitching are woven throughout the book, this is not a quilting story.  Nor is it about the women of a guild.  Instead, the book starts with a bang in the form of an avalanche.  It courses it way down onto the town of Swandyke, Colorado and catches nine school children walking home after the last bell.  The majority of the book focuses on the lives of these children's parents; their lives before the avalanche.  They are all extremely likeable characters.  Or, at the very least, understandable.  I sat down the other night and read this book from cover to cover.  It is amazing!  And, while it did make me tear up a bit, it was incredibly uplifting.  I don't know how I have missed reading Sandra Dallas' other books.  Now I am off to Amazon to purchase the rest!