New Years Resolutions

I will be a Stashbuster in 2009.

• I will buy only the fabric I need to finish a quilt: backgrounds, borders, backing.
• Before buying fabric, I will shop my stash.
• If I don't have what I need, I'll try to make do.
• I will decide what fabrics I don't want in my stash in 2010 and I will use those fabrics. I will find a use for these fabrics or I will make things to donate.
• Failure is not an option!

Brown Family Aprons

Mom made aprons for all the women in our family.

Here we are.

We also recieved embroidered tea towels and awesome potholders. Too bad I'm the only one that cooks.

Family Bad Sweater Contest

I've been tagged

Write a note with 25 random things and tag 25 people.

1. Once a week I spend that day at the Hy-Vee deli using the internet and writing because I get more accomplished when I can't hear the fabric calling to me.
2. Today, while chilling at the deli I think one of the other patrons was dealing drugs on her cell phone. She kept giving me the stink eye.
3. I adore thrift stores and finding funky accessories.
4. I'm addicted to the silly rabbids.
5. One of my favourite professors died last night. I'll remember Zelda with fondness.
   
6. I would really like to write a book.
   
7. Most days I hate owing a cell phone.
8. I miss Gunnison. I miss the atmosphere and the people.
   
9. I had a dream about Syracuse last night. I miss my friends.
10. I adore Parmesan cheese and will eat pizza just as an excuse to use Parmesan cheese.
11. I need to post some tutorials.
12. I hate my haircut. I can't wait for it to grow out.
13. I am craving cheese.
14. The pregnant chick at the counter just sits on her ass until someone comes to the counter and expects everyone else to clean for her. She also spent a lot of time chatting with the drug dealing lady.
    
15. All my favourite tv shows get canceled: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Pushing Daisies, October Road.
16. A little boy was just looking over my shoulder. He wasn't even embarrassed when I caught him.
17. I wonder if I'll ever be ready to have a baby.
18. I love British swears. BUGGER!
19. I've read every book by Dead Koontz.
20. Every once in a while I look up jobs in Ireland.
21. Some days I feel like I'm on uppers. I feel all fluttery inside, jumpy, and edgy.
    
22. I think my eyes are getting worse.
23. I don't want to go to the bar tonight, but C really wants to go. He does stuff for me. Tonight I do stuff for him.
24. I'm not getting anything accomplished on my deli day.
25. I'm not going to tag anyone. If you wanna do, then go to it.
    

Scarf/Blanket

I made this ultra-wide wool scarf upon request of my grandpa. He has acute asthma and really needs the scarf when he goes out in the cold. He's pretty goofy all bundled up.

WPA Wallhanging

I whipped this up Christmas Eve for my mom. It is a WPA poster on Printed Treasures. I love the poster.

She'll hang this up in her sewing room.

Stash Sunday

Mom's New Scarf

For those of you who don't know me, my mom and I are very patriotic. I designed this scarf for my mom. It is linen and quilting cotton with a satin fringe.

She was so thrilled!

My Christmas Present

I asked for a gym membership, instead C bought me a Wii and a Wii Fit as a birthday/Christmas gift. I can easily say that I love them both. I try to use the Wii every day and lost 10 pounds in a month.

Apron

My mom made aprons for all the women in the family so I thought she needed one as well. The fabric is from the Aunt Grace Ties One On collection.

We've been calling them scotties, but I was corrected the other day. The dogs are actually Westies.

The ruffle around the sides is hand pleated. I've got to find a better way to do pleats.

The Perfect Give Wrap for a Quilter

I'm trying my best to be green this Christmas season. These are the pretty little gifts I wrapped up for my mom. I think she may have been more excited about the fabric than the gifts.

Work in Progress

This quilt is a Christmas gift from my very dear friend. He is a self-proclaimed history nerd. These are all WPA posters from the 1940s. We recently went to an exhibition of posters from World War I and other artifacts. I really hope the he loves it. I've had a great time piecing it, like stitching a history book. I collected most of the images from the Library of Congress.

Click on the image to make it larger.

Goodies

This is one of the goodies I won on Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day. Going Sew Crazy gave this away as part of the Pay it Forward movement. I love the fat quarter and gave the clothespin dolly to my mom for Christmas.

Part of the deal is that I Pay it Forward to three people. I'll be posting more on that later.

Gift Wrapping

I made 12 reuseable grocery bags to use instead of gift wrapping. They were super simple. I hope to post a tutorial after the holidays.

Hot off the sewing machine

Two messanger bags made out of wool and Christmas gifts for my uncles.

Stash Sunday

Quiz

I need to travel more.

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland/world
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the mona lisa in france
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen niagara falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an amish community
36. taught yourself a new language (does an attempt count?)
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen michelangelo's david in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. had your portrait painted
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the sistene chapel in person
50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkelling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theatre
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies.
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a cheque
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guard in london
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the alamo in person.
96. swum in the great salt lake.
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee

Who has cabin fever?

I had a bit of cabin fever this morning. So I packed up my laptop, phone, and journals. The Hy-Vee deli isn't much to look at, but it is warm and it isn't the same four walls I've been staring at for the past week.

It is also a good place to come to concentrate. From here I can't see the dirty dishes or the pile of laundry in the hall or the sewing projects that need my attention.

On the Ironing Board

Prepping for a block exchange for Gertie's 30s club.
I finally have enough blocks for two full-size Buckeye Beauty. Wahoo!

On the sewing table

Blocks for Buckeye Beauty block exchange.
Marshmallows for hot cocoa on a snow day.

Sewing Injuries

Yesterday I was on my way out the door to run some errands before the weather hit. I forgot my notebook and ran back into the house. On the way into the house, I tripped up the stairs and landed full force on my shin. I screamed and moaned for several moments. Today it is turning a nice shade of black.

Last night, I was working on a Christmas gift. While pulling pins out of the hand pleated material, I sewed right through my left index finger. I freaked out to say the least. After a moment the bleeding stopped and I was back at the sewing machine.

An hour later I missed a pin and broke a needle. One of the pieces hit my eye. It didn't do any damage but it freaked me out.

I've been a bit shy about sewing today. But I have so many projects to complete.

Another great giveaway!

Lovely Video

Tagged.

1. Who was your FIRST prom date?
Will. Sophomore year

2. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?
Black Velvet in place of cough syrup. I was 12.

3. What was your FIRST job?
Painting houses when I was 15

4. What was your FIRST car?
Tweety. 1990 Dodge Shadow with a very squeaky belt

5. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
No one yet today.

6. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
Mom

7. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
Miss Graves. I think.

8. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?
London in 1994.

9. Who was your FIRST best friend, and are you still friends with him / her?
Johnna. I have no idea where she is today.

10. Who was your FIRST kiss?
Mike.

11. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
Chris

12. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
Look at the clock, pull the blankets up and wonder why my neck was so swollen

13. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?
Oak Ridge Boys with my mom when I was a little girl.

14. What was your FIRST tattoo or piercing?
My ears were pierced at 18 months. Belly Button at 18. Tongue at 23. First tattoo at 24.

15. What was the FIRST foreign country you went to?
England

16. What was the FIRST movie you saw in the theater?
ET... maybe?

17. When was your FIRST detention?
I flipped off my teacher in second grade. That's right second grade.

18. What was the FIRST state you lived in?
Iowa. Texas. Iowa. Colorado. Iowa. New York. Iowa.

19. Who was the FIRST person to really break your heart?
Will.

20. With whom was your FIRST date?
Eric.

21. What was your FIRST pet?
Missy the mutt

22. Who was your FIRST roommate?
RaeLynn. What a piece of work.

23. Who was your FIRST love?
Will.

24. What was your FIRST screen name?
alexanderwhyme same as today

25. When did you have your FIRST baby?
before 35 i hope.

Stash Sunday

Another great giveaway!

The Goodies:

• Bloom Quilt
• Louisa Quilt Kit and Pattern
• Henry Glass charm pack
• Kiesha bag by Lola...again
• Fat quarter stack ofHenry glass fabrics
• 2 pink lemondade fq bundles
• a darling toddler skirt
• Homespun fq roll
• And more!

Go to the new store and create a customer account. It is that simple.

Another great giveaway!

Confessions of a Craft Addict is hosting an amazing giveaway! Leave a comment and put in a plug for your favourite charity.

The charity I work for the most is Home of the Brave Quilt Project. We make quilts for the families of fallen soldiers. I am extremely patriotic and politically outspoken; however, I also think action is worth more than mere words. While I’m opposed to any war or violence, we cannot forget those who make the sacrifice to serve. Home of the Brave also works with Operation Support to send stockings and gifts to soldiers deployed. Oh yeah... i guess I better add that my mom is Iowa State Coordinator of the Home of the Brave project. Go Mama!

I work for other charities throughout the year as well.

Say Thanks

A Christmas Quiz

The rules: "Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you......Tis the Season to be NICE! "

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? This year will be wrapping paper from years past. I used to be very anal about the wrapping paper. It all had to coordinate and no tape could be showing. They had to be perfectly wrapped.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I prefer a real tree but I don't have the time for the maintenance or the clean up. I have a very small artificial tree.

3. When do you put up the tree? I put up the tree when the mood strikes me.

4. When do you take the tree down? When the mood strikes.

5. Do you like eggnog? In very small moderation.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I'm sure it was a bike.

7. Hardest person to buy for? my uncles

8. Easiest person to buy for? my mom

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I don't have one

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail, but not this year

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? a long term boyfriend gave me a book. It wasn't a bad book but I would have expected something more personal.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I start sewing in October.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? i'm sure I have

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? anything and everything

16. Lights on the tree; colored or white? white only. I can't stand multi-coloured lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? It depends on where I am.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? no. no.

20. Angel on the tree top of tree or a star? Santa tops the tree this year.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? It all depends on the year. I love doing it in the morning.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I adore snowmen.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? glutony

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? a job becuase I have everything else

Stash Sunday

Michelle Obama's Gown

Check out this slide show of sketches by fashion designers showing their ideas for Michelle Obama's inauguration dress. Which one is your favorite? I like this one.

Wee tree

My wee Christmas Tree. I have mostly snowman ornaments, but I love my little tree with the scrap fabric for a skirt. I think I'll need a larger tree soon because my ornaments are getting too large for this little guy. I love the Charlie Brown look of him though.

Stash Reorganization

Merry, Merry

Lavender and Rice Eye Pillows made for Christmas gifts.

Wanted: Pattern

I love them so much! The tutorial is available from JCasa in her etsy shop.