Fabulous Friday!

I'm so excited I got the Jello Shots top done. Now I need to piece the back and baste. I'm hoping that I'll be quilting this one this weekend. The forecast is mostly rain.

Also, I said if I cut the squares I would sew them. So here are the leftovers from Jello Shots. I haven't decided what it will become. I'll take suggestions.
And in closing another photo from the Munchkin photogs.
Catzilla! Run people of earth before she nuzzles you to death. Seriously, this is how I get woken up nightly. It would be unbearable except she's so dang cute.

Quilting Update

Two posts one day...what's a reader to do?

Here's the finished quilt for Nugget.

And finally the finished wallhanging for Kristin.
It doesn't look like it's hanging straight, but I promise it is.

And TADA the largest quilt I've ever quilted on my sewing machine. 72"x84"! No puckers or pleats on the back! Whoo hoo! Old Red Barn's Quilt Along.
Here's the backing fabric. I got it as a sweet deal on super sale. I love the cherries and paisleys.
And naturally, a quilt on display attracts the feline of the house. At least I know she's staying true to the feline/quilt form.

Photo Essay - Part 1

You may remember my last post where I gave the Munchkin the camera and sent them on a photo assignment. Here are some of the results. They took some great shots and some shots that I thought ended up being kinda cool even though they weren't in focus. There much more, I'll save those for Part 2.

Nuggets of random funny

On Tuesdays this summer, I am tied to my home office computer doing work (ack, ack). This morning the oldest Munchkin asked if she could "borrow" my camera.

A sampling of her photojournalistic work.
Then naturally we had to get some fashion shots in.
Who knew Chihuahuas liked American Girl Doll clothes?

And finally, the duo could not resist a mirror picture.
Stay tuned, I'm sending them on an assignment later today to get some neighborhood photos.

Wow, over a week, really?

So a quick post to say that I survived the epic 4oth birthday party last weekend! It was awesome! Hubbie and fam did a great job. Lots of people from my past and present were there. It was great fun. In fact so much fun that I had only 2 pictures on my camera. I was too busy drinking margaritas from the Margarita Machine that Hubbie built, eating FAB mexican food, and visiting with friends and family.

As to what else I was up to last week, well, finished Nugget's Chinese lady quilt and started quilting the largest quilt I've ever tackled on my sewing machine (pictures to follow), made back to school doctor's appointments for all of us, picked up some medical records, took a kitten for shots, took 3 8 year olds, one 7 year old and a 10 year old for a long overdue birthday bowling extravaganza, and lots and lots of laundry.

Y'all take care!

Yeehaw and Yippee-ki-yay

I finished the oldest Munchkin's Quickie Quilt yesterday. Naturally she slept with it last night. I had to get "creative" to solve a couple of miscalculations, tried a new technique, and learned some things.
- First, I didn't buy enough fabric for the center panel and the backing. So the quilt is "shorter than it is long." For Munchkin's purposes it doesn't matter she turns it sideways and it's the perfect 10 year old napping size.
- Second, when I cut the border and binding I miscalculated how many strips of each size I would need. I was left about 8 inches short on the borders. Luckily, Munchkin had picked the same fabric as I had used in a pillowcase, and low and behold I had a scrap just big enough to finish the border.
- Third, I didn't have enough backing fabric. So I had to beg, steal, borrow, and creatively piece the horse fabric to make it work. It's not ideal, but again, Munchkin is just thrilled with her horsey quilt.
- Fourth, I had planned to use leftover pieces of batting for this and Nugget's quilts. Wouldn't you know it the piece I had selected for this one was wonky on one side and about 2 inches short on part of one edge. So after recently reading about piecing batting, I decided that's what I would do using the zig zag stitch on my machine. Worked better than I could have imagined. In the past I had tried the hand sewing method, but due to my obsessive/complusive nature I always pulled my stitches too taut. I will definitely be using this technique again.

Now, why I like making these Quickie Quilts.
- The girls get to pick their own fabric combinations. Although they often don't pick things I would, the quilts turn out lovely and in the end mean so much to them because they picked out the fabric. And because they usually pick fabrics that reflect their current interests they LOVE the quilt.
- I can practice my freemotion quilting. After reading lots of posts recently about people being afraid of freemotion quilting, this is a good project to practice on. Cause let's be honest, these aren't going to be heirloom quilts. So don't look too closely at my stippling I didn't take my time.
- Because they are quick and easy to do, little cutting and seaming, they provide almost instant gratification for the Munchkins and me.
- And best of all the Munchkins have homemade Mommy goodness.

Here's Nugget's Quilt. I did my cutting, seaming, basting, and quilted a fourth of it this afternoon. It should be done in a couple of days.
Naturally she picked Asian(Chinese to her) fabrics. I like the parasols so much I might go buy some more for me.

Oh and here's a picture of a motley crew waiting for fireworks on the 4th.
And more Munchkin artwork.

OMG, where did summer go?

Ok, I realize that here in GA we still have 4 weeks until school starts, but really? Really, is it time to start thinking about school supplies and homework?! Ack, ack! I'm not ready. I was just getting into the swing of lazy summer days, going to the pool, catching lighting bugs, and ice cream. Boo! I don't want to be the one to tell the Munchkins, sigh.

On the sewing front, I don't think I'm going to make my "Stake in the Sand", but I'll have a lot of progress to show. One reason I've come to terms with this is that back at the beginning of the summer on a trip to JoAnn's I told the Munchkins to pick out 3 fabrics each. They wanted a quick Mommy quilt for Summer 2009. At that time, in the very green days of Summer Break, that seemed like a couple of quick projects that I could whip up once I finished my "Stake in the Sand (SITS)" projects. Well here we are now in the wilting days of our summer, and the "quick projects" rest in a pile on my sewing table. So Tuesday I paused my "SITS" and started the quickie quilts. First up, oldest Munchkin's. Naturally she chose 2 horse prints and a westernish print. (I'll have pictures later, I'm almost done quilting.) These are not challenging quilts and are not very inspirational. But I've got to tell you, it really makes me proud and very loved when my girls want and then cherish these things I make for them. Hopefully, one day they will be digging in a box of old things from their childhood and find a fraying, faded, and well loved quilt that I made them and smile because they think of their CRAZY MAMA and how much I loved them.

Well, ta ta for now!

As promised!

Well not only did I get some sewing in today, but also laundry, photo shoot, dog walking, vacuuming, treadmilling, dish washing, and grocery shopping....whew!

First, here's a patriotic girl at heart. She purchased these items in the $1 section at Target with her own money.
Now onto sewing updates.

Here's the completed top of the Old Red Barn Quilt Along. I've got the backing and quilting thread in my possession. I'm just waiting on my order of batting from fabric.com to arrive.
Next up, Jello Shots. I think I've already decided on a home for this one. This top is half way done. I LOVE how it's turning out...I have the backing for this one too. The layout of this one required whole family participation. Hubbie to direct the action and placement of 9 patches, Nugget to assist in the placement of 9 patches, Oldest Munchkin to wrangle animals so the careful arrangement on floor was not disturbed by Chihuahua or kitten, and me to be the "creative" consultant.
Finally, I've gotten around to quilting the Oh My Dog wallhangings. This one is almost finished...only binding and label required. I'm so in love with white on white quilting. It makes me so happy to see.
Just so everyone believes me, this is what I have to put up with when I'm sewing. One day someone's tail is going to end up in the sewing machine.
And finally, at the beginning of the summer I went through all the school papers to sort out the keepers and the tossers. Here's some Munchkin artwork.

Blue dog, blue dog what do you see?
My portrait that was included in my Mother's Day Card
One fish, two fish, red fish, rainbow fish
I'm going to be framing these and hanging them at the top of the stairs and create a Munchkin's gallery.

I survived turning 40!

Thank you to everyone who has left comments here, on Facebook, emails, or phone calls wishing me a very Happy Birthday! I have to say this year was so much better than last. But being totally honest, I would be lying if I didn't admit that last summer has been on my mind. I have to say though, Hubbie, my Munchkins, Sister, Mother, very dear Friends, and all of you out there in blogverse made this birthday a real good time.

First, although I didn't reach my initial weight goal by my birthday, I have lost 50 pounds. I've been holding there for a month or so. It's been hard this summer with the Munchkins home and relaxing and having fun. Ice cream, frozen drinks, backyard barbeque, all yummy tempting things that have called my name. The good thing is that I've been good to hop back on the wagon and continue my exercising. I'll just kept working on it! But I've got to say I'm very happy with the results so far.

Second, if you normally read my blog in your reader, visit my blog in person. I've changed my header and it is one of my most favorite photos I've ever taken.

Third, I know I promised pictures of my sewing progress, but instead of a photo shoot I sewed some more. I PROMISE (cross my heart) to post pictures today or tomorrow. It's overcast here in Hotlanta so lighting is not ideal.

And finally, to revisit turning 40.....SO EXCITED! My best friend told me that I'm officially a Cougar (rowrrr!). I read that I now have the license to act inappropriately, say what I want, and wear whatever I thinks looks good on me. Mainly, to loosely quote Scarlett O'Hara, "I can finally tell all those people that I've wanted to, to go to Hell." So if you think you're on that list, watch out.