Black Sheep Bliss

Making A Comeback....Hopefully

2012-01-15T20:08:00.002-06:00

I cannot believe it's been a full year since I've posted on this blog! Then again, it's been a CRAZY year. Thankfully, I'm working full-time and doing photography part-time. That takes up so much of my time I haven't been able to blog! But I'm going to try my best to jump back in. I have a couple projects in the works and have a few already finished.

THANK YOU PINTEREST!

I'm a pinning fool and there's so many creative ideas on pinterest I could stay busy day in and day out! If you haven't been to the site, you need to go!!

Anyways, if anyone is still out there listening, I'm alive!

Madisons Quilt

2011-01-31T13:43:00.004-06:00

I'm finally posting the quilt I finished a few weeks ago. It was a labor of love. It was for my cousins daughters 1st birthday. I literally worked all day and night for four days straight to finish it.

The hardest thing besides cutting all the 5x5 squares was constantly laying it out on my carpet to make sure I sewed it in order.

My living room was a disaster for DAYS!! I'm just glad my husband wasn't here during this time or it would have drove him nuts!

I'm very happy with the end result! My cousin Liz is too!!

I was in such a rush to get her the quilt before the birthday party I forgot to take a finished photo so Liz sent me one of it laid out on her queen size bed.

Rabid Wolves

2011-01-15T17:06:00.002-06:00

My husband is off doing a military school for a while so I've been left to fend for myself amongst rabid wolves, aka, the kids. I thought my husband was going so I would have a break kinda. Don't seem shocked. I need breaks...We all do! Anyways, I thought it would be a perfect time for me to get a lot of projects done while he's away without waking him up or interrupting his sports.
Nope, someone has been sick and home since. First was my youngest, he was very sick for four days...FOUR DAYS! Next was my oldest son for just a little over a day. I had a two day break and now I woke up with a fever and sick. Sick mom, dad gone, five kids....just isn't right.
I hope mine is the day one and not the four day one. I have a quilt that HAS to be finished in the next few days. I know I can get it done, I just don't want to be sneezing all over the thing!

Has anyone else been sick this winter? It feels like it's a never ending story around here!

Great Start to 2011

2011-01-07T00:03:00.006-06:00

Is anyone else still dumbfounded that it's actually 2011? Crazy isn't it?

Besides the fact that my back went out (old injury) and I can barely move, I've gotten a lot accomplished.

I wanted to make a handbag the other day and I had two flat quarters I bought a while back and didn't know what I was going to do with them since my dog, Max, is a boy. I had tortured him enough recently...

Can you see the shame? He looks so stinkin cute though!!

When my daughter seen them she squealed and asked for a purse to carry her Littlest Pet Shop animals (I so can't wait for her to stop liking those). This is what I came up with eyeballing it. She loves it and that's all that matters, but I'm kinda proud of myself for making it in an hour without a pattern. I wanted to put a zipper in it, but I messed my chance up so I put a magnetic clasp instead.

Other than that, this is a sneak peek at a quilt I'm working on for my cousin's baby girls first birthday. I hope to get it done by the weekend and I'm going to push it even faster if I can get my back feeling better.

Another goal I'm adding for 2011....No more staying up all night and taking really bad lighting pics. I'm going to try to get to bed by at least midnight every night and do my sewing during the day while the kids are at school.

Oh, speaking of school, I'm going to take a few of my quilts at different stages to my second graders class tomorrow. This week they did a story on piecing quilts and I offered to show the kids first hand how it's done. I'm a little nervous. More than anything, I don't want to embarrass my sweet boy. I will just have to resist the urge to kiss his sweet little cheeks in front of everyone! Wish me luck!

2011 Sewing Goals

2010-12-30T17:05:00.003-06:00

Giant Pinwheel Quilt
Wonky Star Quilt
Tumbler Quilt
Table Placemats
Embroidery Owls Quilt
Reupholster the Wing back Chair
At least one purse per month.
Coin Stacks Quilt
Hourglass Quilt
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

2010-12-28T20:42:00.006-06:00

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

2010-12-23T20:54:00.004-06:00

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

2010-12-16T02:58:00.009-06:00

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

2010-12-14T00:35:00.007-06:00

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

2010-12-09T00:08:00.004-06:00

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

2010-11-28T17:53:00.008-06:00

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

2010-11-13T22:38:00.008-06:00

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

2010-11-10T21:55:00.003-06:00

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

2010-11-06T17:36:00.004-05:00

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

2010-11-04T13:42:00.002-05:00

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

2010-11-02T15:10:00.004-05:00

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

2010-10-31T22:09:00.003-05:00

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

2010-09-08T19:07:00.007-05:00

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.

Handbag Tuesday

2010-08-24T12:35:00.005-05:00

What's a girl to do when her husband is gone for a month and the kids are in school all day? Make a total wreck of the house and not have to clean it up before husband gets home from work :). Ok, yes, I need to clean the fabric scraps that are tossed all over my living room and the cutting board and ironing board and needles laying around probably need to be cleaned too, but not yet.....just one more day....please!!

This is what comes from time alone without having to worry about anything.

I'm very happy with my handbag and I have a shirt almost done to match it. It's almost my one year wedding anniversary and I wanted something pretty to wear out.

BTW, there wasn't a pattern. I kinda had it in my head of what I wanted and just made it. I'm very proud of it! I've already had a few friends asking for one. Honestly, I don't know if I could make the same one twice..haha

Halloween Quilt in August

2010-08-23T13:25:00.004-05:00

It's been the hottest and craziest summer I think I've ever had. Thats saying alot considering I've had three newborns in the summer. This summer....this summer I want to forget! So, to get me in a better state of mind I've been crafty. I've been writing like crazy and sewing nonstop for the past two days. It's been fun and time consuming and I'm loving it. I made a halloween quilt. I know that it's odd since it's only August. I'm trying to be ahead of the game this year and not let halloween sneak up on me. All I have to do is bind it, but I'm very happy with how it turned out. It's so bright and cheery. My kiddos love it.

So, now that school is back in and I have "free days" I will be back in business. What are your back to school plans?

Family Fun

2010-06-15T16:02:00.003-05:00

I've been absent lately due to the fact that I have three childrens birthday's in the month of May, babysitting three of my neice's, and taking a family mini-vacation. I have made a few things that are just steps away from being finished. I also broke my favorite sea shell display and ended up with a much better one.

I will post pictures soon, but right now I'm still babysitting and have 8 kiddos in the house so by the time I finish feeding them they are hungry again! TTYSoon I hope! ;)

Orange Brick Stand

2010-04-28T11:09:00.009-05:00

See this stand? I bought it for five dollars at a used furniture store in town a few years back. I used to be red, but the top was chipping severely so I sanded it down. I thought I wanted it white, but halfway into it, I didn’t like the white on it.

This is the color I decided to paint the stand. I hadn’t planned on it until I saw the color at the store and fell madly in love….It’s called Orange Brick and for some mysterious reason makes me want to sing Wizard of Oz songs.

Seriously, I’m in love. Love love love love. My favorite color is burnt orange and since Michael was totally against the color in our wedding, he’s getting it in his house..haha (evil laugh happening here).
I planned on starting to paint the stand today, but last night I just had to test it out. Right in the living room floor. With no floor covering (like it would hurt my grass for carpet anyway). Once I started, it was hard to stop…..so I didn’t.

Excuse the hair and lack of make-up. This is about ten o’clock last night.

Can you see the I Heart U in the middle there? I kinda have this habit of painting that on everything I paint. It was above the door in the living room for a few months. I don’t know why I do it, I just do. My almost seven year old liked it.
See how well the paint was going on? Michael was looking at it like it was going to explode at any moment. I told him not to panic, but that really didn’t help. I could read his mind. “I married a lunatic!”
After a very late night last night, this is what it looks like today!

I am so happy with it. I tend to buy a lot of browns and neutral colors, but this really makes the living room pop. And it goes with my favorite picture that’s also in the living room.

Before

After

I’ve started on painting the kitchen too. That’s a task…
It took me hours to write all the number of comments down on a paper and draw a name…haha. I let my son pick one or two and he said one so Lillie is the winner. And since she’s my sister-in-law and lives two miles away she’ll get it soon. ;)

Giveaway

2010-04-23T16:01:00.007-05:00

It's been a great week for me. And since I got this after a year and a half.

Someone will get this.

It's a plaque that says "Enjoy the journey" and two sets of India Overseas, The Natural Fiber Resource, kitchen towel sets.

I picked something I would put in my own house and I hope you like them too.

To enter comment on this blog post. The deadline is 11:59 pm on Sunday the 25th. The winner will be announced on Monday the 26th. USA residences only please (until I learn more about sending internationally).

Have a great and happy weekend.

Golden Crust

2010-04-21T22:12:00.006-05:00

For the past six months (or more) the walls in every room in my house has been multicolor. That's my way of saying I've either half painted or parcially painted every room of the house. Seven rooms. Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, living room.

Today, that changed....some.

Michael and I finished painting the living room today. It used to be a sage green and as much as I like that color, I got really tired of looking at it. Plus, it made the living room look small. We had started painting on it three months ago then I got sick and had surgery so it was put on hold.

I promise, my living room was spotless before we started a few days ago. This is what happened.

See that horrible green carpet? I hate it!!

I am very happy with the walls. I don't know how long it will take to put everything away and put things back on the wall, but at least we accomplished something.

That checkered chair will be one of my upcoming projects. It is the most comfortable chairs I've ever had, but we'll get into that later.

Believe it or not Michael and I had actually discussed it and decided to finish the kitchen before we start on anything else...yeah right!! I can multi-task. I painted seven rooms at one time remember? ;)

New Camera

2010-04-19T16:14:00.004-05:00

I got it! I got a new camera. It's not a DSLR, but it's a good camera. 12.1 mega pixels, 4x zoom and it's a Cannon. Oh, it's pink too!! I'm extremely happy that I found it and it was on clarance.

There's nothing and I mean nothing better than a sale.

Now, I can actually take pictures and put them on the blog!! Hopefully it'll start getting a bit more interesting. Please forgive me if there's random pictures because I'm having a blast with this thing. I haven't seen a clear picture in so so long.

As you can tell from the background of this picture, I'm painting my living room a calming golden crust from Dutch Boy. I will post that as soon as it's done. I plan on rearranging everything on the walls. I'm just tired of the same thing everyday. Gotta change it up some.

I'm in such a good mood this week I believe I will have a giveaway towards the end of the week. Don't know what I'll be giving away, but come back and check.

Happy Monday all!!

Starting my kitchen garden

2010-04-08T18:19:00.005-05:00

This week I've been potting herbs. I found this kit from Wal-Mart a few months back, but the seeds didn't sprout. This time I bought the seeds separate and reused the cute little lime-green pots that came in the kit.

On the left I have basil, in the center I have thyme and the right is sage. This is after a week of being a seed. Nature amazes me. {Please excuse the messy counter, I was in the middle of cooking when I took the picture.}

These two little budding seeds are lavender. I've never even tried to grow it, but, I know this is strange, I watched the movie "It's Complicated" and Meryl Streep made lavender ice cream. "WHAT??" I thought to myself. "I gotta try it."

I've always thought of lavender as being an ingredient in smell good body stuff and candles. Never in my wildest dreams did I know it could be comsumed. So, since I like the smell anyways and I don't plan on buying a sachet of lavender from the local lingerie shop and try to add it in ice cream... This way, I know where the lavender came from and that there is no added smell good stuff in it. Keep your fingers crossed on my herbs for me. I've been known to have a black thumb, but at least it's not from lack of trying. One day I'll get it right!

I'm Finally Back

2010-03-29T13:32:00.002-05:00

It's been a long long time. Too long. Things have been crazy in the Polk household in the last few months. I found out I had one stage before cervical cancer and have been having biopsies then surgery. It's been a week since my surgery and hopefully it'll be my last!! If you have children please talk to their physician about the HPV vaccine. It can end cervical cancer. I will be taking my children to get the vaccine.

I am starting to feel normal so I'm back in the saddle and ready to get my craftiness on. Spring is here, the sun is out and I'm in a very good mood. I have a lot of things planned to post this spring so bare with me and sorry for disappearing for a while.

Pillows

2010-02-22T08:02:00.004-06:00

I finished a wonky block pillow for my daughter. She thinks its great. I think I need to learn to do a hidden stitch something awful.

I have finished a few different things, but my camera is again acting up and I can't get a clear picture to save my life. It has this mist in the lens and I don't know what to do to get it out! I'm thinking a new DSLR camera would fix it!

I have been going through some medical issues lately and it has prevented me from being able to post as much as I want. My stress level has been at an all time high! I will be spending much of this week back at the doctor and when I know more, I'll tell you more. Prayers would be great appreciated.

Goings On

2010-02-08T08:10:00.003-06:00

It's been a while since I've posted. Winter has hit the plains and down here, all hell breaks loose when it snows! Kids have been home, their mom has been going crazy!
I have been doing a lot of different little things and will show pictures as soon as there's a day of even partial sunshine outside. I made my daughter a wonky block pillow. I've started making coffee cozies. I love cozies!
I've opened an Etsy shop. It's empty right now, but I'm hoping to fill it soon with a variety of different stuff. Please bare with me, I will be posting more often. Now it's back to yet another snow day with the kiddos. Hope every ones winter is going great!

Summer Quilt

2010-01-26T16:09:00.005-06:00

It wasn't on the first half of my 2010 list, but I had to make this quilt. It only took me a few hours to cut out the pieces and about two hours to sew it together.

I am SO happy with it. This is the fabric that I won here . Since the colors were so rich and dark I put white with them to make them pop. I think it turned out great. I can't wait to get it quilted and binded.

It's a bad picture, but it's cold and windy outside.

My daughter can't wait to use it on her bed. I told her it will be a summer quilt. I'm going to put a thinner batting in the middle and it's not full sized. If you've ever been to Oklahoma in the summer, you know there's only so much an air conditioner can do so thin is key!

Help me name this quilt. Under the Sea just doesn't fit to me. What do you think??

2010 To Do List

2010-01-19T23:08:00.003-06:00

This year I plan on doing a lot of different things. I plan on finding a job also so this should be interesting!! Anyways, here's what I have so far and trust me, it'll grow.
1. Make a star block to go in a frame for my daughters wall.
2. Finish all three of the girls quilts that were supposed to be done by Christmas.
3. Finish editing my book and get it turned in.
4. Paint the kitchen walls and our bedroom walls.
5. Find a wing back chair to redo! (This one I can't wait for)
6. Make the girls clothes for spring pictures.
7. Learn to knit! (I have the book, just haven't opened it)
8. Silhouettes of all of us. (Already finished one of the youngest and I LOVE it)
9. Make a postage stamp quilt.
10. Make a wonky block quilt.
11. Do some embroidery.
12. Redecorate just about every room in the house.

That's what I have in the thirty minutes I sat down and made myself commit to something. These are the things I want to get down and I will do them I'm positive....well, pretty sure, that I will. As a matter of fact I'm going to start working on the first one on the list here in just a minute.

Sorry I don't have any pictures just yet, but I will. What's on your project list this year??

Four Dollar Find

2010-01-09T19:53:00.004-06:00

Today my sister-in-law called to see if I wanted to get out of the house with her and go to our local resale shop. Of course I wanted to go! I love our resale shop! It's CHEAP!! Everything was on sale!! Lillie and I attacked. We went straight to the house stuff and ended up with great buys. I don't remember what all she bought, but it was a lot and only cost her three dollars!

This is what I found... A wine glass rack, two small shelves that match what I already have, two decorative balls, and the molding thingy. All for $4.00!!!

I have already started spray painting the molding thingys black and they look awesome! I can't wait to hang them in my bedroom. The wine rack....I have no idea if it will work in my kitchen, but at 75 cents I had to try!

Nothing like good finds to brighten my day!!

Bathroom Curtains

2010-01-05T10:17:00.007-06:00

This was what the curtains looked like in the guest bathroom aka kids bathroom. They were HORRIBLE! I hated them as I put them up, but something had to go up there and it was all I had at the time.

I found this fabric that I fell absolutely in love with and their bathroom was the perfect place for them. I will admit, their bathroom stays a disaster 99% of the time so normally I don't even think about doing anything to it. Here lately though, I've decided I'm going to redo their entire bathroom and they are just going to have to live with it!

Here is what the curtains look like now!! I LOVE them. Since it's a tiny window I made them larger so it gives the illusion that the window is bigger.

I am going to be putting a little yellow throughout the bathroom. I picked yellow for the bottom because for some God awful reason the builders put a yellow bathtub in there!

I will be putting more pictures in the coming weeks of the transformation of their bathroom. This is just the beginning. Before long it will be my entire house getting overhauled!

Four Days of Freedom

2009-12-28T18:46:00.003-06:00

I must say, this Christmas has been the best I have had!

There were a few bumps and screams, but it turned out to be wonderful.

I was able to have all the kids and my Army Man so I am more than grateful.

First we went to my mothers for Christmas lunch with all the trimmings. It was our first time in years to have Christmas at my mothers. Usually, we have it at my place or at my sister-in-laws. We knew a winter storm was brewing so we hurried from my moms on an hour and a half trip to my mother-in-laws. Surprisingly, the kids didn't fight....much!

Once at my mother-in-laws it didn't take long for the weather to start turning. It was time to make the forty-five minute trip home if we didn't want to get stranded. As soon as we crossed the border of Arkansas/Oklahoma, the Oklahoma side was a BLIZZARD!! I'm not exaggerating. We couldn't see. ANYTHING...except white. White road, white sky, white windshield! So bad that on a four lane divided road, people were driving on the wrong side of the highway. Scary stuff. But, believe it or not, driving twenty miles per hour and an hour later it was just barely snowing and we made it home fine.

Christmas Day we took the only kid to get to stay home, my oldest, to watch Avatar in 3D. Let me tell ya, that movie is awesome, and the 3D is unreal!! Since then I have been able to read a book for the first time in a very long time. It's called The Lightning Thief, a Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan. I saw the previews watching Avatar and knew they were books. I LOVED this book! Very very good imagination on this one and if you like Greek mythology, you'll like the book.

So, I'll shut up now, but what did you do on Christmas vacation??

My Loot

2009-12-15T22:36:00.005-06:00

This is my winnings from Elaine's Crafty Corner.
I Love Love L-O-V-E the fabric! And much to my surprise she sent me two extra pieces of fabric to go with it! I would have a picture of the wristlet to go along with it, but the batteries went dead on the camera and I forgot to pick up more today.

Thank you so much Elaine!

Because my camera is dead, read above, I took this picture with my BlackBerry Curve. I made this for my daughter to hang on her wall. That girl is always making something, drawing, or asking for pictures of people, so I made her this memory board.

My camera is HORRIBLE! I bought it years ago when digital became really popular. Back then it was awesome. Now....not so much. The megapixels are really low and as the years have gone by and the many falls, it takes more blurry pictures than any other kind.

I want a new one and hopefully will in the new year. I don't just want any camera though. If I'm going to spend anything, I might as well spend it on something I really want. So, my dear sweet wonderful Army Man, if you happen to read this..... Oh nevermind, he's not gonna read this!!

My Christmas to Myself

2009-12-12T19:35:00.004-06:00

Today I went Christmas shopping for 15 kids. Yes, that's right...15 kids! By myself I might add. I drove the thirty minutes to the nearest decent sized town (people around here call it a city, but it's an overgrown town) and fought with bumper to bumper traffic and people So not in the Christmas spirit. I walked aisle after aisle trying to figure out what to get who and I'll admit, half the time I was in this eyes glazed over daze at everything. People kept running their carts into mine, not getting to one side of the lane and knocking things in the aisle and NOT PICKING IT UP!

After a good three hours in one store I am happy to say that I have almost completely finished my christmas shopping. I still have to finish out my sister-in-laws (both of them) and buy for my parents and my husbands parents, but still.....I'm almost finished. I was so proud of myself for this wonderful feat that I decided I deserved a little Christmas cheer myself. hehe

I allowed myself twenty dollars for myself for Christmas. Here's what I got!

This is from Amy Butlers Nigella line. I got a yard a piece.

This is Joel Dewberry's Ginseng Collection from Free Spirit and I got a yard of each.

Now, did you pick up that I only allowed myself 20.00? Yep, I got EVERYTHING for 19 and something cents. The fabric was only 3.95 per yard. I about peed my pants. Theres tons more there, but I can't allow myself another 20.00 for a week or so!

I have no idea what I'm going to do with them, but I love them and can't wait to figure it out. I'm thinking of redoing a chair for my daughter in the Free Spirit.

I won!

2009-12-09T18:15:00.002-06:00

I won a contest at Elaine's Crafty Corner in the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day. I'm so excited. I never win anything. You can hop on over there and check out what I won.

It's the cutest Fat Quarter 5 pack featuring Heather Ross Medocino for Free Spirit and Moda's Neptune Atlantis AND the cutest little tree wristlet! I love it and if I get it in time I will be using it for Christmas.

My nine year old, Emily, and I are already picking out things to do with the fabric. She wants something for her (of course). I am not positive but I imagine I will find something great to do with it.

As soon as I get the material and wristlet I will post a picture on here!

2009-12-02T12:54:00.002-06:00

At p.s. i quilt Rachel is part of a drive to get quilts for flood victims in Ireland.

Before I read her blog I wasn't aware of the flooding going on there and it is very sad.

If you would like to be part of the quilt drive please go to her site and help out.

I know it's a busy time of year for everyone, but you don't have to send an entire quilt.

You can send just a quilt block. I plan on sending as much as I can get finished.

Onion Bread

2009-11-29T16:50:00.003-06:00

I have wanted to make this bread http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/09/rosemary-onion-bread-with-blue-cheese-topping/ for a while now and today with it raining outside I figured what better time?

I have never made bread other than in a bread machine and I was actually scared of doing the yeast right, but I did it! I didn't have rosemary or blue cheese, but the bread turned out excellent and was so fast and easy! I was pleasantly surprised.

I will probably be making this bread many times in the future. Tonight I made a potato soup to go along with it.

Please ignore the cooking stuff in the background.

Current Quilt Projects

2009-11-28T12:49:00.005-06:00

I've been working on four seperate quilts. Three are for my daughter and my two step-daughters for christmas. Hopefully I'll be done in time!

The purple is for my daughter Emily because she Loves purple.

The top to this quilt is actually done, but I don't have an updated picture yet. It's for my youngest step-daughter Kacey. She loves all the colors of the rainbow. This is also my first quilt EVER so I learned a whole lot with it.

This pink quilt is for my step-daughter Kyla. I hope she likes it. All I have left is trimming it with yellow and the dark pink then I can get it quilted.

This is for my living room. It's "cotton blossoms" by moda and I LOVE IT! I am only working on it when I feel like I'm going to rip the girls' quilts apart and burn them piece by piece so it's taking me awhile. I know I can't wait for the finished product on this one!

Are you working on anything with a time limit right now?

Finished Wreath

2009-11-27T18:17:00.005-06:00

This is the final product of my book wreath.

Here is the beginning phase of the wreath and I got too caught up to take more pictures other than the final product!

Tips on making this wreath: buy lots of glue sticks, buy a small wreath, and don't use hardback books! Reasons: I ran out of glue sticks, my book wreath is way to big for my house and it's going to be a present to my mom, and the hardback books don't have the same antique look and the pages are a lot longer so I ended up cutting a lot of excess.

I did have a blast, along with blisters, making this and I plan on doing it again with a smaller wreath. Hopefully this time it won't take up an entire wall!

Flea Market Fancy Giveaway

2009-11-23T13:07:00.002-06:00

I'm posting for the giveaway at http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/fleamarketfancyfreaks/2009/11/its-time-for-a-flea-market-fancy-giveaway.html Hop on over and add yourself to the list.

Book Wreath

2009-11-22T21:45:00.005-06:00

I found this blog today http://www.livingwithlindsay.com/2009/11/librarians-please-avert-your-eyes.html and I HAVE to make these. I'm going to make one for every booklover I know and I'm going to make one for myself. I have tons of books that are aged and I'll never read again so why not recycle and make them useful again?

As soon as I can make it to the dreaded Wal-Mart for a foam wreath I will post my finished project. Can't wait to tell my husband I'm going to hang books on the wall. :)

Getting Started

2009-11-22T19:59:00.002-06:00

I would like to say hello to anyone who might possibly drop by before I get the blog ready for viewing. I leave you with promises of humorous stories of my attempts at creating something and my utter elation when I get something right and actually finished!