2011 Sewing Goals

1. Giant Pinwheel Quilt
2. Wonky Star Quilt
3. Tumbler Quilt
4. Table Placemats
5. Embroidery Owls Quilt
6. Reupholster the Wing back Chair
7. At least one purse per month.
8. Coin Stacks Quilt
9. Hourglass Quilt
10. At least one other quilt.

That's all I have right now. I didn't do well on last years list, but I also had two surgeries and was sick for months. Hopefully this year will be much better! I think 7 quilts and 12 purses is a good start! :) Eventually I would like to have a quilt for every season and every holiday.

What did you get done in 2010 and what are your sewing goals for 2011?

Owl Be Ready

Excuse my very lame attempt at using the word "owl" in the title. I've been sewing a lot lately, getting a ton of use out of my Christmas present. (Sewing machine).

It was my first time trying placemats and potholders. I have the potholders finished, though the bias tape doesn't look spectacular, I think they turned out cute and will be very useful.

Aren't these potholders adorable? I love the little guys and the wood backing. I can't wait to put them in my kitchen and start using them. Trust me, in my kitchen they will have marinara stains on them by the weeks end!

These are the unfinished placemats. Just like the potholders I put the owl pattern on the face and the wood on the backing. I did cut out the owls and sewed them on the backing just for a little extra something. I'm seriously IN LOVE with them. I want to have a dinner party just so people can see them.

As soon as I buy wider bias tape I will finish these and post the pics. I can't wait.

Have you been doing any projects or making any lists for 2011? My 2010 goals were a HUGE bust, but that's not going to stop me from making a new one and trying again.

Workin the Elves

This year I had five elves. Five kids to do my bidding or they wouldn't be able to play xbox. The amount of productivity you can get out of kids is kinda amazing!

This evening the girls asked if they could help me cook Christmas dinner. I think it's good to show them that it takes effort to make something, teach them a recipe, and start a tradition. They loved it, but it made it ten times longer and harder! haha. It was well worth it.

While doing this I learned the oldest, Kyla, my stepdaughter, is extremely good at dicing parsley. Realllllly good at it. Emily, my daughter, is good at mixing and measuring.


I let them make the appetizers that have to be prepared ahead of time so Kyla and Emily made Sausage Balls and Hot Pepper Dip. We'll just toss them in the oven on Christmas and be done with it. I'm actually excited to try them. I pray that everyone makes a fuss over them cooking them. It took them FOREVER!

Kacey, my youngest stepdaughter wanted in on the action. I wanted her to make something simple and fast so it would keep her attention and still be fun. I literally let her do everything. I just told her what to do. She made a green bean casserole. She was more than happy about it and I can't wait til she sees people eating it.
Isn't she just adorable?

I love this! It was WAY more work than if I would have done it myself and twice the dishes, but it was well worth it. I know before long none of the kids will want me to do anything with them. I'm hoping they'll look back on their childhood and say regardless that there were five of them and they drove their mom crazy, I took the time to be there.

Ok, I'm going to go now before I get too sappy.

I'm not a sappy kind of person.....

Yes I am, but don't tell anyone.

I've been sewing after the kids go to bed every night and I'll post some pics later this week.

MERRY CHRISTMAS all. Remember Jesus Christ is the reason for the season! God bless you all.

Sleepless Nights

I've been having a bit of trouble sleeping at night lately! It really sucks the next day, but I do get a ton of crafts done in the middle of the night! Last night I made a stocking.

Tonight I actually went to sleep at a decent time and my husband wakes me up to tell me what hours he works the next day! Bless his heart, he doesn't have trouble sleeping at all! BLAH!!! So, after an hour of sleep I have been up redoing the ottoman to a chair-ottoman combo.

This is the ottoman before! My mother gave it to me like this cause she knew I would have fun doing something with it. Truth be told, I've been a little nervous to redo it. Guess I couldn't mess it up any more than it already is though....

Just ignore the laundry on the chair and the bag of snow in the crate by the chair. Eventually they will either be worn or put away! ;)

I picked Denyse Schmidt's County Fair and I think it turned out great! See the wingback behind it? Yeah, that's next! I am still nervous about that!

The more picks I post, the more and more I hate my carpet!!! Next time there may every well be bare floors in the pics! ha. My husband would kill me!

Fabric Wish List

I have a fabric christmas wish list. Here it goes!



Central Park and Bliss are my two favorites that I don't have. I want both of these ridiculously bad! They make me happy just to look at them!


Seriously, how amazing is the Prayer Flag? It's beautiful! I would make a quilt and throw pillows for sure!
Sherbet Pips makes me miss Colorado with my kids. I want to make stockings out of this!!
Origins makes me think of late summer nights for some reason. I would want a quilt for sure!

I can see so many different things I could do with the Azure Blue Swoon and the Lime Green Swoon. I think a brick quilt and some throw pillows would be great in these. Not to mention handbags, tops, and even tablemats! The possiblities are really endless!!

Awww, a girl can dream right? Anyways, what's on your wish list and what would you do with it?

Like Sand Through An Hourglass

These are the days of our life. Ok, I had a soap opera moment. I just cut out all the printed fabric for a new quilt I'm going to do. It's an hourglass quilt. It'll be my first and I'm really excited to get started on it.

This is what I cut out. I'm trying to think of the collection name, but I can't remember! It's been a year since I bought the fabric. If I find the name I'll edit it in.

I'm debating on the brown background. I think it would look great with a light blue, grey, or off white background. I'm going to have to look around a bit before I start sewing.

BTW, all of these pics were done at midnight so lighting is HORRIBLE and yes, that's my leg.

Balls of Joy

We have decided to have a theme of a Frosty Christmas this year. This is my first year with a real "theme". Not that I won't throw in different things, but for the most part I reallly want to stick with royal blue, silver, and white. I want a snowman and snowflake Christmas. If I can get photos taken when the sun is out I'll repost them!

After decorating the tree with all the balls I wanted I had some left over. I decided to take the glass from this photo:
and make this for the holidays:

I'm not showing the whole stand yet, cause I'm slow and I'm not done yet. Don't laugh at my butter lid bottom, I will eventually change that.....eventually.

Anyways, I just took the extra ornaments and some wrapping ribbon and put them in the glass. I think it turned out really pretty. I am doing a lamp with snowflakes right now and it is SOOOO cute when I have it lit up. I can't wait to show the whole thing.
Though my nickname has been "the nutcracker" or sometimes even, "the nut" I couldn't resist buying this little guy. Reminds me of my husband:
There's just something about a man in uniform!! ;)
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and made it back unharmed from Black Friday shopping!

Balloonfest 2010

I will never forget the first time I watched a hot air balloon. I was still a teen, a married teen (crazy back then) and living in Colorado Springs, CO and woke up one morning to the sky littered in hot air balloons. Seriously, you couldn't look anywhere in the sky without seeing a hot air balloon in sight.

It was beautiful. It was magical. I was mesmerized.

The weekend of Oct 22nd I took my kiddos to the annual Poteau Balloonfest in Oklahoma. Though our small town doesn't attract hundreds of hot air balloons like Colorado Springs does, but it was still a blast. I used to take the kids every year, but the last few years something always came up to keep me from going. Luckily, I was able to drag my reluctant husband and five more than eager kids to the festival.

My kiddos taking in the sites

We watched the local college cheer leading squad do some neat cheers and flips which of course cause three little girls to want to do the same thing.....thanks.
I don't know what they were looking at here, but it breaks my heart that they're this big!

Yes, I bought all the girls a bracelet. For some reason the boys didn't want a beaded bracelet.
Night finally fell and they lit up the balloons. I felt like I was sixteen all over again!

They suckered us in. As we walked by they begged us to let them play a game. Even though my husband begged me not to, I couldn't help but let them. I almost choked when I found out the cost. Those light sabers they're holding.....five bucks a piece. They were more, but I refused to pay the guy anymore so he gave us a discount......wow! I know I'm cheap, but come on! In this economy and it cost us just to get in?????

Ok, rants over.

Somewhere along the line my youngest, beloved son was possessed by demons had no control of himself! I go to bed every night wondering if my sweet son came home with us that night, or this little boy in the photos......

PS...I watched Paranormal Activity 2 last night which did not help with my fears!

My front yard

Every year about this time I get amazed at the natural beauty that comes from my front yard. The rest of the year I can't stand trying to take care of all the trees and shrubs in the yard. I spent twenty minutes in about a ten foot area of my front yard this evening and this is what I got.

This is my favorite.

I don't know what kind of tree that is. I just know it has these cherries. I don't think it's a normal cherry tree though. I'm too afraid to try to eat them!

Sibling Rivalry

Just by looking at this picture it tells one half of the relationship between these too. Kacey is growling at Matthew and Matthew is sticking his tongue out at her. This is typical....half the time. The other half they play together non-stop.

This photo wasn't an intentional shot! I asked them to just look at one another and this was the result after about five seconds. Now, it's my favorite photo EVER! These two will either crack you up or drive you nuts! Most of the time I'm nuts, but I wouldn't trade a second of it.

These two are probably the closest of all the kids too. I can see them getting into a lot of trouble together when they're teenagers! (you can't see me doing the sign of a cross right now(I'm not even catholic either)),

Threes

Has anyone else noticed how bad things happen in threes? I have. I always have. I'm waiting on my third right now.

Last week my Jeep broke down. Thankfully it ended up being the battery, but you wouldn't believe what a hassel a simple battery caused! Four hrs, let me repeat, FOUR hrs of back and forth to the local auto parts store to get it taken care of. Between me (yes, I'm semi mechanically inclined), my brother (mechanic), and the auto parts guy (unfortunately not all that mechanical), we got it fixed.

This week it turned cold so I decided it was time to turn the central heat on. Yep, it's not working. CRAP!! Ok, we can make it, we can bundle up til we can afford to get a repair man out here.....haha....As I sit and type this, I'm freezing my rapidly growing booty off! Thankfully, my brother came, took it apart and is going to try to get it fixed. I love my brother. I seriously don't know what I would do without him! Not only is he a friend when I need one, he's also always there to pick up the broke pieces of my Jeep, house, and life and put it back together.

So, two things down now and I'm terrified of next week. I've been sick so I hope that's the last third. I doubt it. It doesn't feel over yet. Lord, just please let it be cheap!!

BTW, I've finally started thinking about Thanksgiving this year..... Still don't know where we're going or what we're doing. All I know is I could really use some comfort food about now.

Haunted House

As I said on the prior post, Halloween is my second favorite holiday. It's a bit ironic that it is. I'm not a fan of scary movies and I HATE being scared. Though, I do love scaring others (usually unsuspecting childern). Nikolas, my sweet oldest, hates this halloween with a passion......I'm sorry son.

It never fails when halloween comes around I get at least five calls to go to one of our small towns haunted houses. Everyone thinks it's fun to go with me because I turn into a blithering (is that a real word) idiot. I'm a tall girl. I'm 5'11", put I will hide behind my 5'4" friend and throw her infront of any scary thing coming my way. I have scrapped arms, screamed, twisted ankles, and even peed my pants a little once or twice.

Yes, I seriously get that scared. I know it's ridiculous and I think it stems from my older brothers torturing me as a child. They would have me watch Freddy on Nightmare on Elm Street then make me go to bed and later wake me up with butter knifes taped to their fingers. If I had more money I would see a psychiatrist.

Anyways, I didn't get to go to a haunted house this year. I was way too busy with party planning and kids sports and I missed it. I did get to decorate the house though!!

BOO

Whoopie Cushion and a Blind SEC Referee

This has been a fun and crazy busy time for my family. Halloween is my 2nd favorite holiday(July 4th is my first). I decorated as much as I could on a budget and then we had a bonfire/chilli cookout with all our friends and some family. I have been running around like a crazy lady trying to get ready for the party and when Saturday finally got here and it was time I threw my hands in the air and said, "That's enough" and stopped cleaning and decorating. I figured since it's my second favorite holiday of the year I might as well enjoy it.

A New Cub Scout

My seven year old has decided to be in the cub scouts! Wow! My older son has never been much of a boys boy. Don't get me wrong he's all boy, but not like my younger. Matthew (the baby) likes dinosaurs, trucks, guns, anything Army or camo and mud. He's fearless. He will climb or jump off anything.

He will make the best scout! I know he will. He will probably be a lifer! He's just that kind of boy. He wants to try everything. I am very proud of him.

He scares me a lot. He makes me laugh daily.

My family and I always laugh to each other about something he said or did and I write it down to torture him with it when he's older.

Prime example. This was a few hours after he had to get his seven yr old shots:

"Momma, if I'm angry today it's not my fault cause that nurse told me I would have a temper"......

For those who didn't get it right away, he was talking about when the nurse said he might get a temperature. He thought he had a free day to act up!

He says things like this often. He makes having to be on bedrest, air lifted, and multiple hospital says worth every second. He makes my life a much better place.

His head stuck in his sisters chair. Took a lot of lotion on the ears to get it off.