She made me do it!

Bizzy Kid quilt pattern

photo stolen...ahem... borrowed from Alison of Cluck, Cluck Sew

oh yeah. I bought it.
I HAD TO!
SHE left me no choice.
It's fabulousness just overcame me and before I knew it I hit the paypal button.
you can do it too... here

I'm pulling fabrics now.... :)

a work in progress

That describes my sewing space perfectly.

A work in progress.

A couple of weeks ago I got the best deal on some plastic tubs at Canadian Tire.

Like almost free kind of cheap!

so of course I bought lots!

and then I went back and bought more for my scraps-larger ones...

the smaller ones are shoebox size and they fit my other WIP's perfectly!

which made me and the hubby happy.

less than $15 = happy hubby

organized sewing space = happy ME

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so what are these other WIP's?

Well there are more than I'd like to admit....

AND this does confirm to my hubby that I'm good at starting but not so great at finishing...

but it's all relative--

and now that I'm organized--it'll be so much better!

I've told myself that once there are no more boxes for a project then I can't begin anything until I finish one--so on with the show

this one is a scottie dog for my dear middle child who has asked for a "dark blue" polka dotted dog stuffy.

SPECIFICS: Scottie Dog (free) pattern from Denyse Schmidt HERE

STATUS: so far the front patchwork is done and the back will be made from the royal blue felted sweater in the picture

Next up, a quilt made with a layer cake of my fave Sweetwater fabric called MAKE LIFE...

this quilt is a modified Disappearing 9 Patch using a special cutting method

SPECIFICS: Easy Bake pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew available HERE

STATUS: blocks completed...now I have to sew my quilt top together

now this quilt has been put away for a good reason.

I'm mad at it.

Mainly, it's just not going together right and is just not playing fair.
So I put it away and was going to leave it there for a LOOOOOONG time but then taking it out to take these photos did spark a tiny desire to see it finished....

and then as I folded it up and put it back in it's tub--and saw all the stray threads--

I remembered all the seams I've ripped out on this baby and it may stay out of my sight for a bit longer :)

SPECIFICS: fall quilt adapted from the Sugar Pop n' Change (free) pattern

STATUS: retired until further notice

These lovely blocks were gifted to me from Heather Bostic of (House) of A La Mode fame.

She was making a quilt in aqua, grey and orange 'til her hubby nixed the orange and then lucky me!

So far there aren't enough to make a quilt the size I'd like so I need to add to it...

SPECIFICS: inspiration quilt HERE

STATUS: blocks in progress

Lastly, probably my most favourite project at the moment.

A quilt for my pumpkin's bed (double) made with the love Sultry fabric by Basic Grey for Moda.

Using a couple of layer cakes to make an oversized version of the Disappearing 9 Patch.

Take a good look at this fabric--isn't it so pretty?

I just love it in all it's pinks and limes and browns.

thanks to my mom who understood my need for this fabric and came to my aid with her credit card until I could pay her back--now that's love! Thanks mom!

SPECIFICS: Disappearing 9 patch (oversized) --my first bed quilt

STATUS: initial blocks sewn--slicing and dicing, trimming and quilt top sewing in progress
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So I guess that's most of them that I'm working on however I have tons more swimming around in my head.

And I may have just purchased a layer cake of Lori Holt's new line "Sew Cherry" to make a quilt for someone super special but it won't do to name names at the moment

*wink wink*

Dear John...

I had terrific potato salad this weekend and it reminded me of you.

Your potato salad will forever be my favorite!

Although your cryptic recipe forever leaves me trying to duplicate it but never quite mastering it!!

We had a campout in the neighbour's backyard.

12 adults, 13 children--tons of excellent food!

and running toilets--totally your kind of event.

What also made me think of you was that it was your wedding anniversary.

I called mom.

I think she had a hard time of it this year.

Not that I can blame her. We all miss you.

I sometimes sit and wonder what if you hadn't "ditched us for heaven".

If you were still here, happy and healthy, how life would have ended up.

What would you be doing?

Would you have visited us for Canada Day?

Would we have had a huge celebration to commemorate your wedding day?

I know that there will forever be a little part of every celebration that is missing something.

that something is you.

oh--

and it will always be missing your potato salad because that recipe you left me is waaay too vague!

LOL!

love,

your daughter.

mmm mmm....good!

We had Prime Rib roast for dinner tonight--serious yum!

I learned how to cook the best prime rib watching Rob Barrett Jr. in his youtube video series "Cooking for Dads".




yes, he's corny--but he's original and fun.

and his recipes are seriously good.
Every. time.

I love the cooking show venue he offers although he also has a cookbook.
Check out some of his other videos--he's made over 100 episodes!

and then maybe you can have something yummy for supper :)

Friday Favourites

My hubby pointed out the other day, that I have been neglecting my blog...and he's right.

Well, no more!

I'm going to have at least 3 posts a week--that's my goal anyways...

So it all begins today!

Jeni over at In Color Order (her Etsy shop is always full of great stuff!)

posts from her flickr favourites on Fridays.

Her Friday posts always inspire me.

So I was thinking that I might do the same seeing as my flickr favourites are abounding and changing continually!

sometimes there will be a theme and sometimes not :)

this week I just looked at what my newest favourites of the week were....Enjoy!

1. Japanese + and X Quilt, 2. Stargate Quilt Front, 3. Strings Quilt Back, 4. 4, 5. apple cake quilt top, 6. City Green Front, 7. [3 x 6] Bee Quilt Block, 8. [3 x 6] Bee Q2 2011 - Beehive 5, 9. "Hope" progress for MeredithQuilts

Hello, old friend...

spring has begun :)

"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end."

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

I thought I'd be...

Calmer. Cooler. More in control.
not ridiculous, but poised, witty even.

so. not. the case.


I stuttered and probably spoke in sentences that made no sense.
I spoke fast. Like lightning speed.

My voice wavered and I don't think I let her get a word in.
Oh. stupid. me.

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I just got off the phone with the celebrated Do It Yourself-er Kim of the DIY dish girls.
and let me just say that I think they are awesome, both she and Kris.

Why did I have this super chummy chat with Kim you ask??

well let's back track...
I just bought their DVD.
Yes this one...


On SALE for $10 bucks till friday! (May 27, 2011)

This DVD is chalk full of ideas for your kids to make and do this summer!

Not convinced? check out this excerpt from the video:



My kids and I used this video clip to make a gardening apron for my daughter and a tool belt for my son--they loved it and really connected with the video!

so anywho.... I ordered it and had a question but my email wasn't working and at the bottom of your invoice is a phone number.


so I dialed it.


and KIM picked up!

and I went on and on like a gas-fed duck and she was super friendly and didn't even seem to notice what an absolute dork I am!

moral of the story?


buy this DVD for your kids, your grandkids, for birthday gifts, and just because--it's a wealth of crafting fun!

p.s. by the way, I am in no way being compensated for this review-- I just knew when I saw it on sale that I HAD to have it!