Attention Texas!

I will be taking a trip to Texas soon for work. I will be alllll by myself.

You know what that means... I will have my evenings to explore on my own. Nobody's agenda but my own. 

I've been researching quilt stores and yarn stores. But I trust you guys so much more than google!! 

I will be north of Dallas in Frisco TX. Where should I go? What should I eat? 

It's official....

I've been meaning to do this post for awhile. I need to take a small blogging break until October.

So much is happening and chaos is all around. I just haven't had time or the brain power to give the attention needed to my blog.

**CORRECTION** See, my mind IS scattered!! Wendy from http://sugarlanequilts.blogspot.com  will be taking care of the FNSI the next 3 months. I'm so sorry for the mistak

Very sorry about the mistake, Wendy!!

But, Anthea from www.hibiscus-stitches.blogspot.com.au has been kind enough to host and care for the monthly Friday Night Sew In until October!! Yay Anthea!!

So head on over there soon. She will be posting a sign up for July FNSI very soon. 

Thank you for understanding and for being here!! I appreciate each and every one of you!

Friday Night Sew In - Signup!

I'm late... AGAIN!!

I totally spaced getting the signups posted. It's been a hectic week. I'm gearing up for a job interview on Monday. Wish me luck!

I will be sewing tonight. I have been cutting fabric this afternoon. I'm making tote bags. Will you be sewing or have you already?? Get your name on the list! Let's get busy!

Welcome to the Blog Tour!

The giveaway has ended. I have drawn two lucky winners!!

Mary from http://ipiece2-mary.blogspot.com

And 

Lovie from http://loviesquiltsandlife.blogspot.com/

Congrats! Send me your address!!

Welcome to the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Vol 7 Blog Tour!

I'm excited to have my block in this latest volume of the 100 Blocks series. Each and every volume is FULL of inspiration and ideas.

Here is a picture of my block... it's called Whirly Zig! It is a combination of two of my favorites, pinwheels and zig zags.

In celebration, I will be giving away an advance copy of the magazine which will be available in stores on May 7th. Just leave a comment for a chance to win.

And don't forget to visit www.quiltmaker.com for links to all the blogs in the tour! There is plenty of inspiration to be seen along with goodies to be won!

Thank you for visiting! Giveaway ends Saturday!!

He Can See!

My youngest has wanted glasses for a couple years now. I'm not sure when glasses became cool. I remember when I first got glasses, I was in the 8th grade and I was devastated!

Well, his dreams finally came true. His prescription isn't very strong, but he says they make a difference in the classroom. We went to pick out his frames... I loved this pair. But obviously by the look on his face, he didn't.

This was the pair he fell in love with..

So, this gave me the perfect excuse to make him a cute little case.

I found a great tutorial HERE.

The tutorial called for a magnetic clasp. I didn't have one on hand, so I used a plastic snap instead. It works great!

Also, I had about 45 minutes to burn today and I was right by Goodwill. So I stopped in to see what they had. I found this plaid Full size flat sheet. I plan to use it for the backing on a denim quilt.

I also snatched these 3 vintage (aka used.. old) pillowcases for 99cents each. I think they will make great tote bag linings!

How about you? What kinds of treasures do you find at thrift stores?

Drumroll please....

Yes, I'm late announcing the winner of the 100 blocks giveaway. I woke up the next morning sick as a dog. I am coughing like a truck driver who smokes 2 packs a day. It's ugly and exhausting. My husband was making fun of me this morning because he says when I'm coughing during the night, I keep saying "I'm sorry".  I think he's making that up because I have no recollection of that at all.

But today I'm feeling 'better'. I'm sewing and I have started a full attack on my mountain of laundry.

So.. I decided to draw 2 winners to make it up to you. The lucky ladies are....

#34 Wendy B. from Sugarlane Quilts

And

#20 Valerie from The Pumpkin Patch Quilter

Congrats ladies! Send me an email with your address and I will get these off to you both!

Busy Weekend and a GIVEAWAY!!

I had a very fun and busy weekend. My sister and her 2 grown children came to visit. We barely slept all weekend and we did a 5K on Saturday morning. By Sunday night.. I was pooped.

Saturday night after a little Just Dance competition on the xbox with all the kids, we sat down to sew.

My sister wanted some more of these iphone/ipad/ipod holders. And actually, they can be used for any phone or tablet.

The pattern is from HERE.

The pattern says to fill them with rice - However, I usually fill them with crushed walnuts. I like they way they feel. 

BUT, my sister really wanted them to be washable. So we filled them with those poly pellets that are used for stuffed animals. They are more spendy than the crushed walnuts but are definitely washable. 

I'm in love with the argyle fabric!

And finally.. I got my package of advanced copies of the newest 100 Blocks Magazine this past weekend as well.

It's great and full of inspiration so I'm giving one away!!!

All you need to do is leave me a comment. Just tell me what you would like for Mother's Day.. or what you have planned for yourself.

Giveaway will end Thursday noonish..

In Need of Some Cheap Inspiration?!

We are library folk.. we love going to the local library. And my kids tend to bring home too many books.. just like their Mom.

We made the trip yesterday. I got this lovely pile...

These 2 aren't quilting related. One is knitting and the other crochet. The crochet book has library 'checkout' stamps in the cover from 1984. I love that.

Here is another oldie. Full of scrappy quilt inspiration.

Here is another non quilting book. It's for braided rugs. I've always wanted to make one. But I don't see it happening any time soon. Fun to look though.

And this quilting book is one of my favorites. My library has 6 or 7 volumes of this series. They are awesome!

And this Classic Country... I'm not a big Thimbleberries fan but I must say that this book is filled with beautiful quilts.

And I'm SO HAPPY that we went yesterday. Because today we are cooped up in the house due to a Spring Snow Storm.

How about you? Do you frequent the library for inspiration?

Playing Catch Up

So as I have mentioned before, I am doing the Fat Quarter Shop Mystery Designer Block of the Month. This is my first Block of the Month and I love it!!!

Today between transporting kids, taking my car to the shop and picking up dinner (yes, takeout saved the night), I managed to catch up on some of my blocks. This is what I have complete so far....

These are the 3 that I put together today. To be fair.. I had them all cut out already. Saves so much time!!

And tonight I will be finishing the 10th block below.. She's all cut and waiting for me. My youngest son has a friend sleeping over.. so hopefully they won't want anything to do with me.

I will definitely be joining the next Mystery Designer Block of the Month which begins in June! I love the fabrics for next year too!! The fabrics will be from the Avalon collection by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda Fabrics. This next one is described by the Fat Quarter Shop as a spectacular row quilt filled with basket blocks, star blocks, house blocks and flower blocks.

I'm not huge on Applique.. but then I kept reading and it says "Each block finishes at 12" and will be an easy to intermediate pieced block (no templates, applique or paper piecing).".. SOLD!!!!

Click picture to go to Fat Quarter Shop!!

How about you? Are you sewing tonight? Are you in the Mystery Designer Block of the Month Club?? Talk to me.

Photo Booth Bomb

So my home PC is currently at the computer clinic. The Ethernet card died. But she should be back today. 

I wanted to do a blog post so I had the great idea to use my iPad. I went into the pictures and discovered that me 9year old little boy has been having fun with the Photo Booth App. 

Seriously?!

Have you ever used Photo Booth?

I never knew what it was until he showed me.

This one above reminds me of a fish in a tank. Too funny!

And below.. my favorite one of all.

I just might frame this one!!

So What's Up?

Ok.. I have been promising that I would explain my "funk" and why I haven't done very much blogging lately. First let me start by saying that I know things could always be worse! I am an optimist. I am always looking for the good in every single situation. It's not always easy.. but thats who I am.

So here goes..

Some of you may remember that we relocated here to Northern Minnesota from Arizona (almost 3 years ago now). When we came, it took me over a year to find a job! Yes, an entire year!!! You can read a little about that HERE.

Well, my job was very stressful. I worked LONG hours and with some pretty demanding and unforgiving people. I have worked in my field for almost 20 years and this was the first time I had been in this type of environment. It wasn't fun. So since the beginning of December, I have been at home again. I am looking for a new job.. but for now I'm giving it all to my family. And honestly.. I don't miss that job or those people AT ALL!!

But - at the same time all that change was happening - we had to make the decision to put down our beloved family dog of 15 years. I had no idea how much this would effect me. I knew it woud be bad, but holy cow! I was a wreck, worse than I expected. My sister drove to be with all of us and hold my hand as we said goodbye. It was horrible.

I know many of you have been there and know exactly what I'm talking about.

So, I told you I would explain the funk and that's it.. I'm out of work and my buddy is gone. But I'm ok.

Last Minute Friday Night Sew In Signup

Um.. Where did March go?? I was thinking FNSI was another week away. This has been a very busy month.

Are you ready? Do you need to get some sewing done? I do! I have been working on a baby gift that has "stalled" and also need to finish the duvet cover for my son. So I will be sewing tomorrow FOR SURE!! And probably not just tomorrow night either (if I can swing it)!

So let's do this..

Apple Dumplings (aka Apple Crack)

So occasionally, I make this dessert for my family. We call them Apple Crack because they are addicting!

Ingredients:

2 Tart Apples

1 Prepackaged roll of "original" Crescent Rolls

1/2 Cup Butter

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Vanilla Ice Cream

1. Peel the apples and cut into quarters. You will have 8 pieces.

2. Open Crescent Rolls and wrap dough of one crescent around 1 apple chunk. Some stretching is needed. But they should cover the apple easily.

3. Spray a baking dish with non-stick spray. Place all dough covered apples in dish.

4. Next, melt 1/2 cup Butter and 1/2 Cup Sugar in saucepan. Bring to a boil and heat until sugar is melted.

5. Then remove from heat and stir in 1/2 Cup Vanilla Ice Cream into the Butter/Sugar mixture. Stir until melted. The ice cream is the essential surprise ingredient.  

6. Pour mixture over dumplings and bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 40 minutes.

7. Dish yourself up before letting anyone else in the house know they are ready.

Serve with s scoop of vanilla ice cream... YUM!!!

My FNSI Results and a Winner!

Well, I started my FNSI during the day on Friday. My kids have been on winter break all week so it's been a revolving door of sleepovers and play dates around here all week. But on Friday I managed to finally spend some time organizing my sewing room. It was much needed.... but still not complete. 

Then Friday evening after dinner, I sat down and started crocheting. I made something off Pinterest finally!! These adorable mug cozy's. 

Click HERE for pattern. 

Aren't they cute?! I can't stop making them.

I also worked a little bit more on this slouchy hat for my neice.

Hopefully I will finish it this week. I didn't work on my duvet cover at all. But I have it all laid out and ready to sew. I just need to get busy.

And now for a winner. I promised you a giveaway.

I used Random.org and the winner is #55 - Karen from Kindred Quilts

Yay Karen!! I will be sending you a mug cozy (tell me what color/colors you like - I have many to choose from) along with a surprise charm pack.

Email me your address and I'll get your goodies in the mail to you. 

Thank you for joining everyone!!! 

laid

Delayed Friday Night Sew In Sign Up

My FNSI Funk. I have been a horrible blogger lately. I'm in a funk. I need to do a post about everything. I will do that soon.

But for now, it's time for the Friday Night Sew In! And since tonight is the last Friday of February.... Tonight is the night! I have been crafting and creating. And I WILL be sewing tonight. I'm working on a duvet cover for my teenager. I have it laid out and ready for construction. And it helps that it's snowing... So that makes it really easy to stay in where its warm and be creative.

Sorry for the short Signup time... But, to make up for it, I'm doing a giveaway this time! I will draw a winner on Sunday from the participants.

My FNSI Results

well, I wasn't as productive as I had hoped to be. My sewing room is a gigantic mess. But I was able to make progress on my block of the month blocks (along with my trusty helper).

I still have 2 blocks that need to be assembled (Dec and Jan). But they are cut and ready for me to finish.

I am really going to love this quilt when it's done!!

January Friday Night Sew In

I'm here... I'm alive... And I have a lot to tell you. But before I get to all that, we need to get signed up for the January Friday Night Sew In!!! It is this FRIDAY!! January 25th!!