Winners and Losers

This is the mess I worked on yesterday

Here is a bit more of the stuff that makes me question myself of why do I try new quilts.

I refused to give up and was at it again this morning before the sun was up. This is NOT how I like to work!!

Nice scorch mark on the ironing board cover, yep it's been that kind of week so far.

It's not perfect but it will do, one of 9 bird houses that will be in the new quilt I am piecing.

Lets start with the winners!  The winner of the pastel coaster set is      http://justnorthofwiarton.blogspot.com/coaster

 The purple set is headed to Jane's house over at  

 http://lifebeginsatretirement.blogspot.com/

Congrats ladies!! E-mail me your address and I will get them in the mail

Here is another winner. Carla over at 

http://halfdozendaily.typepad.com/my-half-dozen-daily/

Is having a giveaway, check it out and get your name in the hat!!

Now for the loser. That would be me. 

Hubby and I worked together Saturday getting the front yard all cleaned up and looking spiffy, we had a great time working together and accomplished a ton of work. The bad news is I picked up poison ivy along the way, nasty rotten stuff. It started on my wrist and is slowly moving to various area's of my body. I would imagine I will be seeing the Dr. by the end of the week if it doesn't stop spreading.

Monday I took my regular sewing machine to the shop for its annual cleaning and tune up, it's beginning to sound like a freight train (not good) Bad news is they are backed up for weeks so I will have to make do. They suggested to use the hose of the vacuum cleaner to give it a good clean out until they can get to it. Since I need a quilt by the end of the month for a Birthday gift it sounded like a good suggestion until.... A small part got sucked up, grrrr Hubby helped me fish it out of the vacuum bag. Turns out to be the thread cutter for the bobbin. The machine still sounds way off but its working so I moved forward again.

Monday afternoon I worked for hours trying to get the first quilt square right with no luck. This morning I was at it again with the same results. After checking with some of my breakfast buddies this morning they all agreed the pattern was off, double grr. It took all day to figure out how to make the adjustments, just when I thought I was home free I ran out of border fabric for one side. It's back to the fabric store for me.

During the ripping and running of playing around with the quilt I left the iron in the downward position burning my ironing board cover. Just another day in paradise.

When hubby brought in the mail tonight I was so excited to receive a letter form the DD of my Sr Pal. The excitement went away fast as my Sr Pal passed away at the end of last week :(. She was 89 years old and in very poor health so it wasn't unexpected but still I am so sad for her family. We will be making a donation to the hospice home they requested in lieu of flowers along with a note to the family.

I am looking forward to a good nights sleep and a new day tomorrow!!!

Happy Easter

 It was decided Saturday that Nanny could use a new kitchen. I have been wanting an outdoor kitchen for the longest time to do some canning but what the heck a mini kitchen will be just fine. Papaw and Tyler worked hard building my new state of the art kitchen.

 The fella's need to take a break, Tyler was kind enough to help Nanny with some holiday desert baking.

 Frosting cupcakes is hard messy work.

 So worth the wait!! My new kitchen is more than I could have wished for. See the little head peeking in the back window, Ha

 Kara was quite taken with the burners that make real boiling or frying noise when a pot is put on.  The box wasn't kidding when it said batteries and assembly required!!

 Our grands worked hard on Easter dinner.

 Then helped out with a little yard work around the place.

Before heading home for the night.

Thank you Lord for all of our blessings!!! Hope everyone had a great Easter!!!!!!

Blog Candy

1 and a 1/2 set of spring coasters

After a day of chasing Kara around as well as getting the downstairs cleaned, even the kitchen windows  (I know, an over achiever, Ha) I was in the mood to do a little something fun.

While waiting for the quilt name tags, (or is it labels) to finish stitching out I dug around in my scraps for something springish to do as blog candy. I ran out of thread on the second set so it's off to the big box store in the morning for me, then I can finish up the second set. The photo is not so great as once again I am taking it after the sun has gone down and I haven't even cut away the stabilizer, but trust me they really are cute. Maybe tomorrow I will have time to get a better picture of them, if so I will post it in the morning.

 Here's what to do for a chance at a set (2 to a set).

Leave a comment between now and Monday night of which set is your favorite. I will do the drawing Tuesday morning and post the winners. Easy peasy!! 

Have a Happy Easter everyone!!!

Birthday Quilt Complete

 Remember this box of minky strips?

 They have now been pieced and quilted for DD # 3 Birthday quilt.

 Up close look. We have had off and on rain all day so I couldn't get a shot with the sun out, the green is off in this photo.

 Finally cleared off the kitchen table of all things sewing. Easter decorations are up and looking festive.

All 13 Easter baskets are filled, tagged, and ready to hide on Easter Day.

I wish I could say the house is all cleaned, Easter dinner has been organized, and I am setting with my feet up sipping a cup of tea. The reality is I am chugging water as I am working on our Easter menu, then it's into the pantry to see what I might need to pick up from the store tomorrow.

I did get the upstairs as clean as it needs to be, the living room and grands room is in good shape. I haven't even started in the powder room, family room, and kitchen (the real problem area's). I have vacuumed the downstairs 2 times today and still am finding dust bunnies from finishing DD # 3's Birthday quilt. When I do the next minky quilt I plan on setting the machine up outside!!!

The quilt turned out perfect!!! It has a minky backing as well as the pieced minky in front. I did use batting for this quilt but I am thinking I might like it better without the batting, it is super heavy!!! I have a little of the strip fabric left as well as the backing that I will work up into some cuddle mini blankets for baby gifts but that will happen AFTER Easter!! The sewing sweat shop is closed for a few days. Time to get busy on the house and yard before family and friends join us for dinner Sunday.

Here is whats on the menu so far. Have you gotten everything lined up for your Easter dinner yet? Other than the eggs I think we are in good shape. Tyler will be coming over before Sunday to help me make and decorate our cupcakes. Now that I think about it I might want to hold off on cleaning the kitchen floor until he has finished doing his thing!

Ham

Al gratin potatoes

Broccoli casserole

Macaroni salad

Deviled eggs 

Homemade rolls

Bread and butter pickles

Applesauce

Peach cobbler

Cupcakes

Hump Day

 Our "Lady Banks Rose" is in full bloom.

 I love this bush, and no thorns to deal with.

 The garlic is coming along, I think. At least its still green so that might be a good sign.

 Remember that cute farm fabric from Monday? This is the first set of tea towels I made with it.

I changed things up a bit on the second set of towels. I think the contrasting red fabric works better.

Mason and I had a pretty quite day. While he napped this morning I got busy on some tea towels and another project using the farm fabric from Mondays shopping spree. Unfortunately I made an error in cutting on the other project (stupid pattern) but didn't know that until I began sewing. I am trying to use it up as I go whenever possible so when I finished cutting out this morning I cut the leftovers into 5x5 charm pieces. Dumb mistake!! I now need to buy 1/4 yard more fabric to finish up with. 

I also attempted to figure out my new bias machine from the 26 page manual (give me a break) It will be going back to the store for a full refund in the morning!! It will only do a single fold tape which is no help to me. Then its on to the bank to deposit that refund money  into our Christmas/Vacation account before I get any more wild hairs up my rump to spend $$!!! 

I have another free day tomorrow since DD#1 In laws are in for the Easter holiday they want to have the kiddo's for the next 2 days. Friday will be Kara and I all alone. Next week is a BIGGIE for me. Its Easter vacation for teachers so I will have a full week off. Hubby is headed back home from up north so we hope to get busy on the garden, it was too wet to work on his last trip home. We are sooo far behind the game this year but we can only do what we can when we can.

After the running around in the morning I MUST start cleaning. I have threads, fuzz, and lint all over the downstairs. I know fiber in our diet is a good thing but I am thinking fabric fiber is not what the Surgeon General has in mind.

Spending Hangover

 This seersucker fabric was marked down to $3.99 a yard, can't pass up a deal like that.

 This fabric will be used for something for the little girls. I have so many patterns put back for them I need to get busy working them up.

 I couldn't leave this in the store.

 Or this.

 Lots of the things I will be making for the little girls require ribbon ties or seam binding to finish off. The packages of pre made binding and ribbon are not tickling my fancy so I invested in this tool. Hope I can figure out how it works.

Carla over at 1/2 Dozen Daily has me felling like I need to get on the hexie bandwagon. I picked up a template yesterday then cut some out to work on in the evenings. Hopefully I can use up lots of scraps to make a "Grandmothers Garden" quilt by next year.

I spent money like a crazy woman yesterday, good thing this doesn't happen often or we would be in the poor house for sure. I had taken $400.00 with me for spend money on our girls weekend. I only spent $21.95 on a GREAT history of quilting book from the smokey mountain region and less than $50.00 eating out. I had planned on depositing the rest of the money back in our Christmas/vacation account but.... I decided to head to my favorite quilt shop first to check out the price of the bias tape attachment for my sewing machine. I figured spending the leftover money on something useful was a fiscaly sound move. OK I know putting it back in the bank would be the best option but lets just move on shall we.

The attachment was over $300.00, Oh My. In addition to that I would need yet another presser foot that ran over $90.00, I think the total price was around $460.00 for both. I can pick store bought bias tape for around a $1.00 a pack when its on sale so I moved away from the counter lickety split. Then proceeded to loose my mind in all the new fabric that has come out since Christmas. I can justify the spending since I truly do use my fabric. I am not a hoarder (well not not much of one) But I had my heart set on a  way to get away from the cheesy bias tape and ribbon so many of my patterns call for. Then I remembered.....

There is a stand alone machine that will make bias tape, as an added bonus you can upgrade to the machine that will also make piping. Bingo!! Off I went to the big box store with a 40% off coupon in hand. They wouldn't take the coupon but did give me 10% off which helped a bit but it was still $110.00. It better be good for that price. If Mason man will be cooperative tomorrow I will give it a try. I blew threw my leftover money like it was going out of style but I have no regrets, can't wait to get busy cutting it all up!!

Do you ever save money faithfully then have a blow out now and then? 

A Free Day!!

 Since I can't get the little girls to stand still for a picture figured I would just take a still shot of one of the dresses I made them this week. Took less than an hour to make one up, now that's my kind of sewing!! And no cost involved, just pulled from my stash.

 Kara is a little confused as to what sports season we are in, she is stuck on "touchdown".

 Kiss for Mommy.

 Not to be left out AJ the beagle needed a kiss as well.

 My quilt just for me is coming along.

 This box of minky pre cuts are for DD#3 upcoming Birthday quilt.

Building a minky quilt is messy work. I ended up using the entire can of adhesive.

DD#1 is taking the day off tomorrow to enroll Tyler in Kindergarten for next year, Mason man is going to tag along, that frees me up for a full day to do as I please!!! I am thinking a second cup of coffee or tea, finish up DD#3 birthday quilt and maybe work in a little free motion quilting. Our temperatures should be in the high 80's, maybe even hit 90 degrees, figure setting in front of the fan with the sewing machine going will be a good way to spend and unexpected free day. I do have a few errands I will do first thing in the morning so just maybe I can be a bit ahead of the game for a change. Hubby will be headed back home this week, we have Easter dinner Sunday and of course an Easter egg hunt, and some MAJOR work to get started on in the yard. I need to get my play time in while I can.

The minky quilt has come together really fast, I watched this video http://www.cuddlesoftkits.com/cuddlesoftkits/baby-row-by-row-step-by-step.htm

over and over thinking, no way can it be that easy but it was. The only problem I had was trying to protect my floors from all the spray adhesive. I need to square it up in the morning, attach the binding then make a label and call it done. The downstairs is covered in minky fuzz, lots of dusting, vacuuming and mopping will be going on after I enjoy my free day. I feel like a kid who just found out they are having a snow day off from school!!