America.. the beautiful

Well - it's been an adventure to say the least. We arrived at my parents house last night and will be spending a couple nights here. We will continue on to Duluth tomorrow morning... only a 4 hour drive. We are staying a day to rest so my Mom can spoil the grandkids for a bit.

Here are a few things I've learned as we've been driving from state to state for the past 3 days...

- People still hitchhike

- Even my dog, Biscuit, doesn't like Sunchips! bleck!

- Biscuit does likes Honey Roasted Cashews

- Kids can eat their weight in munchies when bored

- Kids do a number on your car when traveling.. no matter how many time you say "ALL your trash goes in this bag"

- I forgot how blue the sky is when you aren't looking at it through pollution (sorry Phoenix.. but it's true)

- My dogs bladder can actually tell time! She woke me up nightly at 2am in each hotel/city/time zone.

- No one looks good walking a dog at 2 am.

So today is a day of rest and then we will be unloading our truck tomorrow in Duluth. We can't wait to see my husband - the kids and I haven't seen him since early May!!! He's been there working the new job and getting to know the town. We got a new house in Hermantown - which is just outside of Duluth. I can't wait to see it in person - I've only seen pictures.. lots of pictures.

Speaking of pictures.. here are a few from the road...

Somewhere in Colorado...

My trusty sidekick, Biscuit. She get's car sick so she was taking Dramamine every morning. It helped her sleep and rest. She did so good!!

The sunrise yesterday morning.. somewhere over Nebraska.

I'm excited for this trip to be over and be at our new house. I have a lot of unpacking to do and can't wait to sleep in my own bed again.

I'm arriving at a good time too! The Minnesota Shop Hop is coming July 30th. I won't be traveling the entire state - but I will be visiting some of the quilt stores in the Duluth area! Anyone want to join me?

Catching up!

I sat down this morning to catch up on all my Quilting Bee blocks. I had 4.. yes 4 to do.

The first was for Adrienne - She had requested that we make a "mini quilt" block. It is 20 x 20 inches. This is what I came up with.

I'm not 100% in love with it. I was limited on my colored fabrics and wish I had used them differently. But that's what happens when you are designing as you go.

The second is for Angie - she requested circles and was very open to any kind. She is making this as a charity quilt for ALS Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge. She asked that we each make a smaller signature block for the back as well.

Can't wait to see this one complete - her fabrics were so pretty.

And the third is for Sorrel - The story about her quilt is very touching! It is to finish a quilt that her Grandmother started for Sorrel's cousin, Adam. But her Grandmother was never able to finish before she passed. Adam has downs syndrom and he is a HUGE LA Lakers Basketball fan. He just recently moved out on his own and Sorrel is going to give this to him as a house warming gift. How sweet!!

And the fourth.. well.. it was supposed to be for Dorrie. BUT.. ready for this.. I can't find the envelope of fabric. I know I opened it.. I looked at it.. and then I must have packed it. I'm sick about it.. it's not like me to lose something like that. I'm guessing it's in a box.. stacked in either my dining room or my sewing room. Hopefully she will forgive me. :-)

So now I'm all caught up and the sewing machine is going into it's safe styrofoam box this afternoon. And it will rest there until I am moved into our new house in Minnesota. I'm going to miss it because sewing is how I relax and unwind.. I always say if I didn't sew.. I'd drink.

So looks like I'd better get me a 12 pack of something later today.. that should get me through this week.. you think?

More Free Fabric...

Ok.. I have one more box of fabric to give away. You just pay for the Flat Rate postage and it's yours.

Box #5 - Flat Rate Postage $10.70 - SOLD

Box #5 contents:
Hushabye Jelly Roll scraps
4 Fat quarters from Me & My Sister designs
2 panels for canvas Breast Cancer awareness tote bags
Easy Gromment Bag kit - includes fabric and pattern
2 yards of Ballerina Fabric
2 yards Butterfly Fabric
1 yard Scooby Doo fabric

And from the previous post - Box #3 is still available.

As with the others - first comment with an email get's it. I will invoice you over Paypal and if paid before Monday, I will be mailing on Monday morning.

Good luck!!

FREE FABRIC!!! Yes.. it's true!

Just pay for the postage and it's yours!!

My move is your gain!! I'm packing the sewing room today - Finally!!

I have a lot of fabric and I've boxed up 4 Flat Rate Boxes from the US Postal Service for you all. All you have to do is pay for the Flat Rate Postage!! It's an awesome deal!!

Box 1 - Flat Rate Price $10.70 - SOLD

Box 1 contents:
Authentic Charm Pack (full)
Love U Charm Pack (partial)
Sultry Charm Pack (partial)
3 Authentic Fat Quarters
Misc Fat Quarters
Some of my Scraps.. and they are good size chunks of fabric too.

Box 2 - Flat Rate Price $10.70 - SOLD

Box 2 contents:
Christmas Apron Panel
Christmas Childrens soft book panel
Halloween Fabrics
Fall Fabrics
Watermelon Fabrics (1 yd of each)
Misc Yardage

Box 3 - Flat Rate Price $14.50 - SOLD

Box 3 contents:
OVER 12 yards of Baby Flannel

Box 4 (The motherload) Flat Rate Price $14.50 - SOLD

2 Charm packs of Chocolate Lollipops Fabric
32 - 5 inch squares of LOVE flannel by Amy Butler
Northern Solitude Charm Pack
4 Northern Solitude Fat Quarters
Kansas Winter Charm Pack
Kansas Winter Dessert Roll
Leftover Giggles Flannel Jelly Roll Scraps
5 Halloween Fat quarters
8 misc Fat quarters
Advent Calendar panel

HOW DO YOU BUY??
The first comment for each box gets it - but you must leave me your email address. I will invoice you via Paypal. And the boxes will be mailed out on Monday.

And - no worries.. if you don't get in on one of these 4 awesome deals - I might have a couple more posted this weekend as I work my way through my stash.

Good Luck!!

Pillow Swap complete.. kinda

I finished my pillow for Project Pillow Swap.. a little bit late. It was supposed to be mailed by yesterday (sorry). So I'm mailing today.. just one day late.

My partner's color preferences were "Apple green, poppy red, chocolate brown".. so the only thing I"m missing here is the brown.

I don't have a 16in pillowform inside it for these pictures.. so it doesn't look as "full" as it should. But you get the idea.

And here is the back..

I really hope she likes it. I'm tossing in a few extra's for her.. my signature Phoenix coffee mug from Starbucks and a fat quarter pack. I love putting the coffee mugs in with my swaps.. I don't know why.

Speaking of Starbucks - I mentioned in my previous post how I have been off the crack java for about 6mths now. Well - I had a really super bad night a couple nights ago. I won't go into details cuz I can't relive it.. but it involved an overflowing toilet.. 2 inches of water.. all around midnight. So the next day - as I'm telling my enabler Bobbi all about it and she tells me to go get a Starbucks. "You deserve it" she says.. so I did.

And it was sooooooooo goooooood.. but that's it.. just one. I'm done!!!!

Procrastination... I'm good at it.

So way back in March - a conversation with a friend from out of state went something like this..

Jackee - Hey Heidi, would you have time to make me two purses/bags?
Me - OF COURSE!!!! I can do them while the kids are on Spring Break!!
Jackee - Are you sure? I already have the fabric for one of them so I will mail it to you.
Me - No problem.. put it in the mail and I'll get it done.

Yeah.. like 3 months later!!!!! I'm so bad sometimes!

I'm really happy with how they turned out though.. This is a pattern from Lazy Girl Designs called "The Miranda Day Bag".

This is the one I made with the fabric she sent me...

And below is the one that I made with fabric I had on hand. I had to use corduroy on the very bottom of course.. because I love corduroy.

I'm getting them in the mail to her tomorrow!!! I hope they are everything she wants them to be!

Nothing beats Winning!!

Awhile back a was a lucky winner for a giveaway over at Jennifer's Vintage Sheets blog. I'm in love with the idea of using vintage sheets for quilting (even though I haven't made one yet).

Jennifer had a giveaway last month for a custom made camera strap - and I won!! I sent her the measurements for my camera strap and she made this just for me!

Isn't it purdy?!! (sorry about the picture quality.. couldn't use the camera to take a picture of the camera. So I had to use the cell phone)

She also felt bad that it took her longer than she wanted to get it to me.. so she included a little bonus gift.

Some Vintage Sheet fat quarters and charm squares! I'm so in love with them. I love the feel of soft vintage cotton sheets that have been washed many many times. I'm inspired to hit the thrift stores now.

But I must wait until I move (if I can fight the urge) because I have enough stuff to pack already!

iLOVE

Remember when I fell in love with the Block Tool? I gave one away because I wanted everyone to know how wonderful it was (and still is).

Well, I found a version of it in the Apple App store. I almost jumped out of my chair.. I couldn't buy it fast enough. And it was only $3.99 afterall. And since I'm 100% off my Starbucks addiction - I figured it's cheaper then my ole' "triple vente nonfat no foam latte".

Wow.. I can even say it now without craving it.. see I'm over it.. I think.. yeah yeah.. I'm over it!

Anyway.. I love my Block Tool - the digital version is just like the "real" version.

Sometimes when I don't have the energy to sew - but I'm in that creative mode.. I sit down and page through the block tool for inspiration and ideas.

See, just like the original version, it gives you requirements for 5 different block sizes of each design.

If you are a quilter.. and you have an iphone, itouch or ipad.. go get this app!! It's so worth it!

Utility Apron Tutorial

I thought I would give you a quick and easy tutorial on how to make an apron (like my moving apron) using a Tea Towel. It is important that the towel be 18 x 27 inches or larger.

You will need the following:
1 Tea Towel
1/4 yard of fabric for ties


Start by folding your towel RST (right sides together) and press. The folded edge is the top of your apron. Now fold the bottom "front" up to form your pockets and press again. It will look like this:

Set that aside for now and move on to the ties.

Cut 2 strips from your fabric 4 inches x WOF (width of fabric).

Press in half with WST (wrong sides together) as shown in picture.

Now open back up and fold each edge to the pressed seam - as shown.

Next fold in half again and press.

Stitch all the way around your ties using a 1/4 or 1/8 in seam allowance. On one end of each tie, fold the end in 1/4 inch to create a finished end.

You will have two ties that are 1 inch x WOF.

Insert one end (the unfinished end) of each tie into the fold at top of apron. Pin in place.

Stitch down each side, along bottom of pocket and top band of apron. Then decide how many pockets you want and stitch those as well.

That's it - apron complete!

June Friday Night Sew-In

Are you ready to get some projects done?!
Are you looking for a fun way to connect and sew with friends?!

Then the Friday Night Sew-in is for YOU!!

As many of you already know - I'm in the process of a move from Arizona to Minnesota. My husband is already in Minnesota, working his new job. And I am back here in AZ - sorting and packing all of our things. All while taking care of our two (very active) boys (mama needs a break!!!)

My co-host, Bobbi, will be doing all the work for the June FNSI including sign-ups and 2 Giveaways. So go on over there and get yourself signed up!!

Craftyvegasmom

(I will probably still sew with all of you that night since I am trying to finish some projects before I pack it all up.)

Boxes.. bubble wrap.. and cuteness!

I've started the packing for our move to Minnesota.. I have 4 weeks before the moving truck drives out of town! It will be here before I know it!

So I will be seeing a lot of this for awhile...

As I was packing.. I realized that something was missing. I kept setting my tape and Sharpie down and then had to look for it everytime I needed it. SO.. I made myself this super duper cute "Moving Apron" using a tea towel and some fabric. It makes my 'packing clothes' look HOT and Sassy!

....now if I could just do something with my hair.. maybe I'll wear a hat tomorrow..

The Goofy goes on.. and on..

A while back you may remember a tutorial I did for the Goofy Doll..?! (it's in my sidebar if you are interested).  I've made a few... here are some snapshots of Goofy past..

And this morning I made two Goofy Snakes.. My boys came up with the idea so Mom got to work.

Aren't they cute?!!