Crazy Nine Patch

March was Crazy Nine Patch month for our Tethered Threads 2 Block Swap

These were so fun! I've always wanted to try them!

I'm hoping to make a quilt in this way soon.

--I've had the fabric since last year!

My seams aren't perfect but I think the more you do the better you get!

Not that I'm one to look for perfection but I tried my darndest considering these weren't for me.

I didn't add any fabric as she sent the perfect amount and I think this is a quilt that she is going to be gifting for Christmas...

ewwww...

what do
3 pairs of underwear,
2 pairs of pants,
2 pairs of socks and
1 shirt
have in common?


Sadly, they are all casualties of the war on potty training

(we do have a Boon Potty Bench and we love it)

actually he's doing quite well...
but my laundry room smells like a sewer plant
and at moments I feel like the room is spinning...

I'm not sure if the dizziness comes from the smell (ugh!)
or the fact that it always seems to happen at inopportune moments,
like when my hands are covered in chicken guts or egg shells and I hear those sweet words
"mommy, I poop--now!"

yeah.
Kodak moments.

Tip of the week: On a roll

Bacon.

I love it.

Especially when I'm pregnant.

YUM!

But our family doesn't eat a whole pound of it in one sitting.

And I have a few recipes that only require 3 or 4 slices....

You too?

Well here is your answer--

Roll it, Freeze it and use it at will!

See how cute it is all frozen and in your pan?





Start with fresh bacon.
A container to freeze it in
(I use a tupperware hotdog container).

Open bacon and lay one piece out like so.



then roll from end to end.


yes--it can be a bit tedious--but it's such a time saver and money saver it's worth it!






And this is why you had children, anyways.
to help you roll bacon :)





Place each completed roll in the container. Nice and snug.

Ta Da!

Freeze.

Pull out what's needed when it's needed.

As my 5 year old says,

easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

I entered the Ruffle Your Stuff contest!

yep I entered!have you been on any ruffle-y crafty adventures lately?If not, get to it!the prizes are AMAZING!!!Remember these aprons?yep. Ruffles.Enter HERE for your chance to win!

Where do I start?

Well I've been working on some "stuff"...

Like this quilt top finally finished!

I don't know why it took me so long...

the kids were so excited to hold it so I could take a pic :)

Now to start the back...

I've been inspired by this...

I've been working on other things too
Like some blocks for the month of February for my Tethered Threads 2 swap

yes. these blocks for Kim were fun.
the fabric was beautiful.

She had us use this tutorial from Oh! Fransson and we modified it a bit...

block #2 came together even quicker.
and then I thought I'd try another...

and then I realized I really don't like to make these blocks anymore :)

I was up until midnight because I couldn't stop
and then....

I did.
and I was done!

2 things I learned about myself:

1- I like straight lines. I love the wonky look but it's not my forte.

2- I like to use every bit of fabric. Every bit went into these blocks.

I even got a fourth one done but it was an inch shy of the 12" Kim was looking for.
I sent it back to her so she can play with it or add to it.

I also received these awesome blocks from Beth!

They came quite a bit ago and I just let them sit there looking pretty and forgot to blog about them!
thanks Beth!

these two blocks arrived this morning!

and I have to say they are AWESOME!

thanks Jen!

As the final blocks trickle in I'm really starting to sweat about what to do next.

I thought I knew how I wanted my quilt to look and now I'm not sure....

Once I get all the blocks I guess I'll have to decide :)

I think I've yet to receive blocks from 2 ladies and then it's down to the sewing machine!