Maddie And Me

I Hate Paper Piecing

2012-01-31T15:14:00.000-06:00

There I said it, and I feel better now. I am working on a bee block for my "To Bee Orange and Aqua" group. There is no doubt that the block is beautiful and the finished quilt will be gorgeous, but I really do not love doing the paper piecing. I am not a precise quilter. I just do what I want with no real rules. Paper piecing is full of rules and having to do things in a very precise manor. I do think my head may burst from all the thinking that I am having to do. This is not to say I will not paper piece. I do have 2 quilts in mind that I would love to make that are pieced in this way, but I really have to get myself jazzed up in order to start them. One day I will, but for now I just need to get through this block and get the dear thing in the mail back to the quilt maker.

Allergic to Winter

2012-01-18T12:48:00.001-06:00

I think I'm allergic to winter. This is a sad thing because I love winter. A gloomy cloudy day is so happy to me. I love rain and a little bit of snow. Ice I'm not to fond of. But back to being allergic, I have had nothing but migraines and sinus pressure since the cold more winter like weather has rushed in. It makes it very hard to enjoy when it feels like my head my explode right off my neck. Not a pretty picture. I can't help but be a bit on the grumpy side.

I am working on a bag for a high school friend that said she wanted one. Granted today I haven't even made it into the sewing room. I have been folding and putting away the mountain of laundry that has piled up. I hate doing laundry. Its not so much the washing but the putting it away. But the bag is cute. Just a tote with a patchwork pocket in mostly greens.

I am also doing the swoon-along http://www.flickr.com/groups/1904864@N22/ I have no idea how many people the group is up to. It will be fun seeing how different one quilt will look in different fabrics. I still haven't picked out what I want to do mine in. I did do a test block in pink and grey. I think it will turn into a baby quilt for my friend. I thought I had till April for that wee baby quilt, but surprise, she had that sweet little baby girl 3 months early. Baby Olive is doing really really good for coming into the world at 26 weeks. Beautiful tiny little 2 lbs 7 oz (I think) baby.

No shop stuff this week. the house needs to much attention this week and my focus is off. Hope to back at creating fun stuff next week.

Maddie has been working on a quilt for her teacher and his wife who are expecting their first baby next month. She did the layout and the sewing herself. I helped with the cutting and some of the quilting. She rocked it too. This quilt turned out great!

Sick Week

2012-01-13T13:37:00.000-06:00

Well this week did not go as planed. Sick, sick, sick around here. Not me but the kids, one right after another. Started with Lucas over the weekend and the first 2 days of the week. It his Wyatt on Tuesday and I just sent him back to school today. And Abbie started last night.I don't think I have slept all week. The Hubby person drives trucks and is gone 5 days at a time, so this has been all me. Then yesterday I slipped and fell on some big rocks in my front yard and binged myself up.

But I did get a few things done. I made that notebook cover and listed that little bag. I made the bag before Christmas but hadn't gotten around to listing it on etsy till this week.

Next up is helping Madelyn finish up the quilt she is making for her teacher's soon to be born baby boy. She had done a great job on the quilt.

As for my goals for this month, I will only get 2 things listed in my shop, my friend was having her baby in April had the baby yesterday, 3 months early. Baby is doing great and mama is also.

I did good

2012-01-07T19:03:00.001-06:00

So one of my goals for this month was list 3 new items in my etsy shop every week. So its Saturday and I added 3 new items. Yay for me. They are little things and didn't take to much time getting them together.

So in other news, Maddie started making a quilt for her teacher and his wife that are having their first baby next month. She is using the super cute rocket ship fabric from Prints Charming. And because she is doing this little project my very thoughtful Wyatt insisted that I make a quilt for the teacher he had last year who is also expecting a baby soon.

So I dug out the super cute charm pack of Sherbet Pips by http://comfortstitching.typepad.co.uk/comfortstitching/ super cute fabric. Now that I started I want one for me. I may have to hunt down more of that fabric. I need to et this one quilted and wrapped up for him to take to her. He was so excited to come home from school and see that I had started it.

The January ToDo list

2012-01-05T16:31:00.000-06:00

We will see if this help me to stay organized and inspired to get some stuff checked off my todo list. This and the fact that my sewing studio is almost complete and and is turning into a great work space, I should do well. So for this month...

get some things made and added to my sad little etsy shop, the goal is 3 items a week finished and listed. Can be small and simple.
Get fabric picked out for a friend who is having a baby in April. (maybe I can get this made and sent before the baby comes unlike a year and a half later)
Finish the quilt bee quilt that is on the longarm (It is giving me some trouble)
gather fabrics and decide on a layout for quilt number two for a friends boys. (she is prego also so a baby quilt will happen too in the next few months)
write my first tutorial for a fun little netbook holder I made before Christmas.

floors and umbrellas

2012-01-02T19:02:00.000-06:00

What a weekend. The hubby person and I (but mostly the hubby, i fear power tools with sharp edges) put in most, (we ran out of wood floor) Wood floor in my sewing room. I would have to say that it is freaking awesome. I bought all the floor samples and leftover chunks of wood flooring from this very nice man in a little flooring store. So with the hubby home for a few days, (he drives a big truck and is gone a lot) We spent a few days putting in what floor we had. We got all but 3.5 feet x the length of the room done. I love it. Its a patchwork floor.
So now I am getting my room set up so maybe I can use it for its intended reason.
I also need a place to hid on days like today. Wyatt has his best friend over and nobody is getting along. So I am in hiding. Its a scary place in the living room. So I sit safely back here typing and cutting up and umbrella. Pictures will soon follow.

2011-12-06T00:57:00.001-06:00

We are working hard at getting settled in our new house. I feel like I have been moving for a year and a half, so it is nice to find the end. Our house was built in 1955, it has old wood floor hidden under the carpets, so we are pulling them up one room at a time. So far my living room is set up, I still have some things to hang on the walls, but all in all it is good.

My sewing room is the place I am most excited about. It is a great space, 15 feet by 22 feet. Nice big room. The trouble is that it was stuck so far into the 1970's. Nasty wood paneling and shag carpeting. The carpet was the first thing to go, (sadly it has been sitting outside in the rain) and the paneling is primed and ready for paint. I just picked up my flooring, well most of it. I will soon have what I call my patchwork hardwood floor. I went to this super nice floor guy and asked if he would sell me whatever leftover wood he had. So he has spent the last few weeks digging out floor samples and leftovers for me. I have about every color wood floor you can find. He charged me less then what cheep fake wood flooring would have cost. It will be beautiful!
So soon I will be happily sewing away on the huge nameless Gammill quilter. Once I get the tension right and that stinking thread stops snapping on me. Grumble!
The Christmas stuff is out, the tree is lit and I hope that a few days a week I will remember to turn on our house lights.

Bad at this blog thing

2011-11-17T23:05:00.001-06:00

I am so bad at this blog thing.
So here is what has been happening. We have a house, yay! It has been a long year and a half and I am very happy to say it is over and now we are on to new adventures. Like painting, I hate painting. I have a huge sewing room. So happy too because I also have an old Gammill long arm quilting machine that has come to live with me. It fits great in my sewing room. The room is a work in progress though. Lots of primer over 1970's wood paneling. But It will soon look great. I am trying to decide between a very bold aqua color or the grey I have in the rest of the house. The grey is warm and makes me happy but the aqua is bold and beautiful. Yup, still thinking on that one. So right now life is unpacking and painting. All I want to do is get sewing though. In a week or so I hope.

Reliving Life

2011-08-09T03:35:00.003-05:00

So it is 1:30 in the morning. I should be sleeping but I'm not. I was sitting at my sewing machine working on a bag, (Birdie Sling by Amy Butler) and thinking. I am thinking about how my life has been this last year. I have had to deal with some stuff that I have never dealt with before. Some things like moving to a new state, well I have done that but this one was a little different because we have family here, My hubby loosing his job, months with no income, living on the little that was put back, living with family that I knew but not that well, and know now maybe too well, hubby going to school to drive very large trucks, getting a job that has him on the road 5 days a week. All in all it has been a busy and very trying year. I am very thankful that I don't have a tendency to be depressed because this year may have killed me if I did.

Last July we moved up to Oregon from our home in Santa Cruz, California. We came up here with big dreams and the hope of getting to know my dads side of the family. We had visited a few times in my childhood and a few times in adulthood. I truly have a loving family. But when we came up here we were thinking it would only be a few weeks living with family and then we would be finding a house of our own. My parents were selling their home in Santa Cruz and moving up to Oregon and had offered to put a down payment on a home for my little big family. The first offer they got, that was suppose to close a few days after we made it up here, it fell through. Not nice. So their house went back on the market and the waiting game began again. We lived with my grandparents for a few weeks. The time we spent there I felt no mater how hard I tried nothing I did to help them out was done right. Sad really. With my hubby taking a big pay cut we were trying to figure out what to do. My wonderful cousin and Aunt offered a room in their home till things were figured out. We spent a little over 4 months with them. We laughed a lot, had some hard times, my help was better excepted, (well so I thought) there. The company that my hubby worked for offered us a house on their property. So in January we moved out of my aunts and into what I called the 70's vomit house. It was a 40 minute drive to get the kids to school every day then a 40 minute drive home. It sucked but we had our own place for a bit. Rent was cheep and we were able to get a few things we wanted/needed. It felt good. Little did I know, the trouble was a brewing. Feelings were being hurt and noses disjointed. But at this time I didn't really know. So after a few months there my parents house finally sold and they moved up into our lovely house of vomit. They started a house hunt for them, we looked at a few houses for us, they found one and paid it in cash and thought they would use their instant equity for a downpayment for us. Hubby lost his job due to paperwork not being as it should have been. All of us, my crew and my parents and grandmother (mom's mom) moved into their new house that really isn't big enough for all of us but we are making it work. I found a house that was great but when we looked into making an offer we found out that my parents couldn't pull from their equity for 6 months. Well that was a shocker. But we are dealing with it. My dad was spending time visiting his sisters and parents, then coming home and telling me all the lovely thing that were being said about me. All kinds of trouble I had caused with out even knowing it. I hadn't helped enough, I should have payed for more things, didn't keep things as clean as I should, and sadly the list goes on and on. And keeps going on. Every time I think something has been worked out then back it all comes. When you ask but are never told of what is expected of you , you don't know. Then with everyone holding on to all kinds of crap that I had no idea about is making me crazy. So here I sit in a state that I would never have moved to if it wasn't full of family, and my family thinks I'm shit. I am stuck in a situation that I can in no way rectify. It is some fun stuff I tell you.

Thank mercy goodness I go with the flow really well. I will at some point in time have a house that will be all my own. I can then work on making this place feel like home. I may even see my family from time to time, I will try to be on my very best behavior, use my manors and perhaps hand out gobs of cash. But first I will have to find it, I somehow misplaced my gobs of cash. So sad. Just needed to boo hoo a bit. Now back to the regularly scheduled program.

A year

2011-07-18T08:13:00.002-05:00

So we have been in Oregon for just a few days shy of a year. And wow what a year it has been. I have managed to live in 4 houses, only one of them rented, all others have been with family. I have made most of my family mad at me in one way or another, be it money related, or my big mouth, or them feeling that I am irresponsible in one way or another. All in all it has sucked. I am hanging in there in hopes of things getting better. We should be able to hunt for a house by November. I am really hoping that getting a place we can call our own will help us feel at home.

The hubby starts a new job this week. It will keep him on the road 5 or so days out of the week. Not great for the kids and I but it will help him stay out of all the family stuff that seems to follow me around. I feel sad dragging him to a place that is so full of negativity. I never thought San Antonio would remind me of good times. But it does. We had no money and I hated that city, but I didn't have the people troubles I do here. I see why being alone is an easier place for me. I pull away from human contact. All I do is rub people the wrong way. I guess I am having a bit of a woe is me day. They happen, not often, but they do.

I just need to sew something. Sewing always makes me feel better.

Got the sewing mojo back

2011-06-25T02:01:00.003-05:00

I am sewing again

Oh yes I am sewing again.

I am finally feeling it.

I don't know if it had to do with taking care of a little one and 3 other kids or bad living situations. But the living thing still sucks, but I am sewing. I am thinking it is a sanity thing. My hubby lost his job and with that we lost the house we were living in. We lived on sight.

So I am working on way to many things at one time. A few quilts, a few pillows, some baby stuff, yay!

A New Year and A New Begining (I hope)

2011-01-12T14:48:00.003-06:00

So another year has passed. I would say quickly, and it has been fast in some ways, but all in all it was not a fast going year.
In February we brought home out baby girl. I cannot believe it has almost been a year now. That is the one thing that has flown by so fast. Soon she will be toddling around. With her being my last baby I just want her to slow down a bit.
April Dave and I had our 10 year anniversary. And spent some time almost alone in Hawaii. We brought Abbie with us. But the other kiddo's stayed with Mamaw and Papa.
We moved from Santa Cruz to Medford OR. in August. We have spent a lot of time with family from my dad's side. and that brings us to now.
We will be moving into a rental house this weekend. It will be nice to see my stuff again and to be able to spread out a bit. We have lived in one room of my aunts house for the last few months. Poor her huh? But what I want the most is a good place to sew. It has been a long time. I have been able to do a few things but not to the degree my brain has been creating things. It is time to get them out of my head and onto fabric. I may blow up if I don't.
I hope this year hold some great things and happy times.

Wonky coins with tufted tweets

2010-11-22T16:29:00.001-06:00

Wonky coins with tufted tweets
Originally uploaded by maddieandme1

I have a huge need to make things, to create. I am unhappy when I don't. Right now in the living situation I am in right now creating anything is hard. I am such a mess sewer. I can't make a mess here without making people crazy. Setting up and taking down, setting up and taking down. It makes it hard to find the time for all that is involved. I try, but it doesn't happen as much as I would like. I find myself feeling sad when I don't have something to make. There is no lack of ideas but a lack of my own space.
I was able to finish up this fun quilt for me. I love it so. The colors make me happy!

2010-11-14T22:16:00.000-06:00

I did it again.

Life

2010-11-13T20:23:00.002-06:00

Life is an interesting place for me right now. Not having our own place to live has led to some very interesting situations for me. I am not sure if I would be dealing with some of this stuff if things had worked out as we had expected when we started this trip we find ourselves on. We moved up here to Oregon in August. We thought it would be only a few weeks bumming off family. But the sale of my parents house fell through. They are still in Santa Cruz trying to sell a house in a really bad market and we are up here staying with family. I can not tell you how much I appreciate that they have made room for us here. there are a lot of us to make room for. But now that we are here and people have gotten a taste of my wonderful personality I have upset many people by just being me. I have come to the conclusion that I suck. But the funny thing is I am ok with sucking because that is who I am. I am very comfortable with myself. I know who I am and I feel like I am a good person but not a person many people like to be around for long bits of time. I love my family weather they understand me or not. I am sure there will be many more things I say or do that will upset or offend. Sad but true.

On a lighter note I have been able to do a little sewing. It is amazing how much I miss a good place to sew. I am a sad girl without sewing. I have Christmas coming I need to make gifts. Ack. I am working on a list of things I would like to make for people. I know I will not make it to everything thing but I will try.

I am finishing a quilt up for me. There are not many me quilts, but I love this one and knew it had to be mine the minute I saw the fabric. Mine mine mine. I will get a pic up when I finish.

opinions

2010-09-29T18:29:00.002-05:00

opinions- Something we all have. Something that has brought me a bit of trouble. I am a firm believer in the fact that everyone has a right to their own opinion weather it is something you agree with or not. This should not take away the right to have one. Or express it if you see fit. I did this on facebook and offended a few people. Nothing new for me but then the nasty emails started flowing. So here I am having to stand up for myself and this right I have to an opinion. Free speech also. If you are going to take something personal that was just me expressing an opinion then maybe you just have a guilty conscience. There is nothing I can do about that. So I have been called nasty and immature and I have others monitoring my behavior. I am not a child, I think things through before I do them and I am quite willing to deal with the consequences of my actions. I admit when I am wrong and will apologise for any wrongdoings. In this case I do not believe I have done anything wrong. I will not stand back and be walked all over because of an opinion. So here I am expressing my opinion on opinions. Take it or leave it but here it is.

Transition

2010-09-06T11:31:00.002-05:00

Transition, I really hate transition. Here we are in Oregon with no house. Staying with family. It is a really hard thing not having any space of your own. I want to sew. I want to set up a new sewing room. But nope not right now. I am in transition. With a hubby and 4 kiddos. School starts tomorrow. The kids are happy to be going back. I am happy that they are happy. Madelyn will be starting the 3rd grade. Wyatt will be a big 1st grader and Lucas will be going to my Aunts private kindergarten. Smaller classes will be good for him. With his mind for story telling this is a good place to start him. Less kids to distract. It will be down to just me and Abbie for 4 hours a day. I wonder what I can get done.
I will be making quilts for my Aunts classroom. They have a rest time and all get a blanket and stuffed animal to rest with. Her blankets needed to be updated so I will be making some fun quilts. I am happy to have a project. Limbo is not a good place for me. I want a house to curl up in and sew. My things out of storage.
So here is to the new adventures life takes us on and the patience to get through transition. I will be alright, life will go on and we will get a house. (I keep telling myself this, positive thinking works right?)

2010-07-19T15:52:00.000-05:00

Crazy Life

2010-07-08T00:41:00.003-05:00

So much has been going on. But where to start? Hummm?
* Our trip was nice. I still can't say that I love Hawaii. But it was nice to be away. The nicest day was the day we rented a jeep and took off just to drive around the island. We saw sea turtles basking in the sun on the beach, ate shrimp out of a truck(yummy), went on a silly tour behind a macadamia nut plantation place, and just drove. We will not mention hubby getting lost trying to find Punch Bowl cemetery driving to fast and scaring the s*** out of me. Grumbling and cussing and being unpleasant. Finally getting there then being mad at me for not caring or having any need to get out of the jeep. I'll keep that to myself.
* Lucas had his 5th birthday while we were gone. That made me sad. So we got him a huge anamatronic Dino that he loves.
* Got an offer on the house after 2 days on the market.
*Lots of house cleaning
*Finishing up a quilt for a friends little girl.
* teething baby
* making pillows
* making beds

Changes

2010-05-17T10:47:00.003-05:00

Life is full of them. More are happening around here. We are spending our days painting and scrubbing and tossing out the junk. There is a lot of junk. We will be moving again soon. We have been living with my family for a year now. They have decided that living here isn't working after my dads retirement. So they are selling their house and moving to Medford Or. They are buying 2 homes and we will be living in one of them. It will be nice to spread out and have some room. A sewing room maybe. That would be so very nice. So instead of sewing I am painting.
I hope we will be finished soon. My arms are killing me.
I do have some super fun things going on soon. I super amazing friend is coming to spend a few days with me from very far away. I am counting down the days. (and going a little crazy with excitement) Then a trip to Hawaii with the hubby guy. We have been married for 10 years now and this will be our first trip almost kid free. Abbie will be tagging along. I am strangely not a Hawaii fan. We will see if it is more fun with the hubby.

On my second cup of coffee

2010-04-01T12:11:00.002-05:00

I am on cup number two this morning. Having a quiet moment is something that i am not accustomed too. It is after 10am and Lucas is still sleeping, Madelyn and Wyatt are at school and Abbie is napping. So here I am on cup number 2. (Lucas was up really late so he is sleeping in, a lot in) So what to do in my quiet moment? I really don't know. I have spent some time online looking into home preschool programs for Lucas. I am trying to decide if I should send him to Kindergarten in the fall or to give him one more year at home. I don't feel he is ready and I don't think the next few months will change a thing. I can't get him to sit still for 30 seconds. So how could he be expected to in a school situation. He would disrupt the whole class. So I am thinking we will start in the mornings working on some preschool stuff to see what happens. Any ideas on what programs are good?
I need to catch up on some swaps. I have had a hard time getting myself back into sewing. Having a baby has thrown off my sewing mojo. But I am trying. As much as I have loved these swaps I think I need some time off. Maybe I can get myself to finish up some of the quilt tops I have sitting around.

March was an interesting month. We ended up running up to Oregon to be with some of my family. We had gotten a call that my Grandmother (my dads mom) was rushed into the hospital. She was very unresponsive and not breathing well. When we heard how bad it seemed I got my gaggle of kids packed up and my dad, Dave, the kids and I squeezed into my car and we headed out for Oregon. We drove all night and got in around 6 am. Not knowing how my grandma was doing. I was able to go in to see her later that day. I have never seen such a contraption that they had strapped to her head. This mask thing that was doing all of her breathing for her. I guess it was better then a tube down her throat but she was not happy. Unable to talk she was so frustrated. But she did get out that she wanted to see Abbie. "Where is my baby?" she asked. No kids were allowed in ICU so I showed her pictures on my phone. I left feeling horrible. Hoping and praying that she would be able to meet her great granddaughter before we had to head home. She spent the next few days getting better and better and after about 5 days in the ICU they moved her into a room where she could have the kids come in to see her. She wasn't able to hold her but she did get to see her. We had to leave for home before they let her out of the hospital. But I am so happy we were able to drop everything and go. We had a great time with the family we are not able to see very often. After we knew my grandma was going to be alright the sad lifted and we were able to let all the silliness out and just have a good time together. A lot of laughing and swimming and playing.
But it is good to be home and get back to our everyday lives. Happy that everyone is happy and healthy.
Now i have a visit from a great and wonderful friend and a trip with my hubby to look forward to. I am ready for June.

Nothing But Sick Kids

2010-03-02T15:18:00.003-06:00

With Abbie heading towards 3 weeks old what a whirlwind of a trip this has been. She is such a easy going little one. She fusses here and there but I don't think she has really cried yet. She just got over a cold. We have become good friends with Kerby the nose sucker. See, such good friends that the nose sucker got a name. But she took it all so well, no crying even with mommy sucking her brains out every few minutes for a week. Now this nasty cold is working its way through all the other kids. Lucas is the only one who hasn't had it yet. Something to look forward too.

Over the last few days I was able to finish up a quilt that I have been working on for a while. I used Woodland Wonderland by Jay McCarroll. I love the strung out deer and the mushrooms. I also tossed in some Amy Butler. I was going for a almost all grey quilt. I love how it turned out. This one is for me. It's 75" square. Nice cuddle under size. I do wish I had a better picture but it is all rainy and gloomy out. So this was the best I could do.

Now on to other projects. Happy Sewing to all.

Look- I had a baby

2010-02-13T21:28:00.005-06:00

I had a baby so very fast it was almost scary. Because I had dilated to 6 without going into labor the doc sent me over to the hospital to brake my water on Thursday. I got to the hospital around noon. It took till 6pm for the doc to make it in to brake my water. With my other kids it took around 2 hour to have a baby. Not this time. Water was broken at 6 and Abbie was born at 7:01. As soon as one contraction was over the next one was hitting. I put up with it as long as I could. I asked to have my good friend the master of pain killers come see me, but it was far to late. So one contraction later the eager beaver was out.

Born Feb 11, 2010

So here is our little dark haired Abigail Elisabeth - 7 lbs 8 oz-

ready to have this baby

2010-01-25T16:06:00.003-06:00

I think I am in boo hoo mode now. Not sleeping well, large and very uncomfortable. Very ready to have this baby. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes a while back. I get to check my blood sugar 3-4 times a day. My fingers hurt. And with how determined I have been to eat the right things and snack right (i am not a snacker so its hard) I still have had blood sugar numbers all over the place. It is crazy. I have lost weight in a time where I should be gaining. But I think that is due to a totally new way of eating. I miss chocolate and pumpkin spice starbucks.

I think I finally have all the baby things I needed. Crib is set up painted pink and ready for baby. Infant seat is ready and well equipped with the orange owl quilt. Then the smaller stuff is also purchased and ready. Now all I need is baby Abbie. So the clock tics on and I dilate further and further without any real labor starting. I go in tomorrow, it will be interesting to see if I am further then I was last Tuesday. I was just shy of 4cm. Almost half way there.

No Power = No Sewing and crazy kids

2010-01-21T13:23:00.002-06:00

Living in the trees has its perks and its down falls. Like falling trees. And when the trees go down the power goes out. Thankfully no trees came down close to our house, but close enough to wipe the power out for the last few days.
So we have been doing a lot of Lego building, kids running trough the house in the dark, in turn driving the grown up out of their minds, and I have done a lot of reading.
My mom picked up a new book for me the other day. I love kid book. Like the Harry Potter's and such. She had herd that this series was that good so she picked up the first book in the Percy Jackson and The Olympians for me. So with 2 powerless days I have finished the first book the Lightning Thief. What a fun book. The chapter titles are enough to pull me in. Things like...
*Three Old Ladies Knit the Socks Of Death
*I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom
*We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium
What could be better?
Oh, I know, my favorite line from the book
"What horrible things would you have to do in your life to get woven into Hades's underwear?"
So that is the question of the day.

Now that the power is back on and the kids seem calm, it is back to sewing. I have a few things to do before this little one makes her entrance

Lack Of Brain Function

2010-01-15T12:22:00.003-06:00

Proof once again that me and my pregnant brain do not get along. Wyatt lost a tooth at school yesterday. So he spent the entire day running around talking about the tooth fairy coming that night. So I made all the arrangements that needed to be done to make sure the tooth fairy succeeded. Then I went to bed. Yup, I forgot to the tooth removal and the depositing of cash. When I got up Wyatt met me outside his room with a very sad look on his face. *Oh crap, stupid mommy.* was what was going through my head. He told me how sad he was that the tooth fairy hadn't come. I told him that maybe she had way to many houses to visit last night and maybe he needed to try again tonight. But the poor boy was still looking heart broken. Than Madelyn gets up and he told her his sad tail. So while they were talking I ran back to my room and took $5 out of hubby's wallet rolled up one of those gold dollar coins in it and headed into his room. I was able to hide the money in one of his stuffed animals mouths. Then I called him in there and told the boy he didn't look very good and that the elephant looked like he had something in his mouth. He pulled out his riches and was so excited that the tooth fairy had played a trick on him. So this is now know as the day that the elephant saved my a**.

Then just to add to the already crazy morning we were having Madelyn's kitty came home. Her kitty has always been an inside cat. No outside skills at all. She got out a few days ago. Madelyn has been a mess. But this morning I heard a lot of kitty crying outside the front door. So her baby came home. And even with all the crazy excitement we made it to school on time. Now I am ready for a nap. No more excitement for me today please. I have had all I can take.

Sleepy Me

2010-01-04T00:46:00.003-06:00

At least I now know why i have been so sleepy. I got a call from my doc on Christmas Eve, she told me I was positive for gestational diabetes. Yup, no pie for me. I meet with some kind of nutritionist this week. So I have spent this last week guessing my way through what I should and should not eat. And I am its just because I can't, I want chocolate and cinnamon rolls and all kinds of other sugar and carb filled foods. But I have been a good girl and stayed away from all the bad stuff and all in all been a big whiner about the entire thing. But with only a few weeks to go before I have this baby girl, I think I can do it. It will be interesting to see how big this girl will be. My other baby's were between 7 lbs to 7 lbs 10 oz. But because I am as big as a large house I have a feeling this may be a bigger baby.

I need to sit and make a list of all the things I am behind in. My quilt groups have been so hard for me to keep up with. Being so tired and having so little inspiration. I still haven't managed to get a Christmas gift out to one of my grandest friends. Sorry! Tomorrow it will be on its way. Then there is all the getting ready for baby stuff that I still need to do. I spent all day painting her crib this wonderful pink. I need to get it all ready for her to have a place to sleep when we bring her home. I still need to pick up her infant seat. I am sure there is more but my brain doesn't work right.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a nice New Year.

Christmas Time

2009-12-24T15:55:00.003-06:00

I love this picture. Wyatt had me laughing for hours with that thing on. He has put a stash on everything he has made in the last few weeks just to make me laugh. I love this boy!

I love Christmas time! But this year it has been hard. I am guessing that it is because I am pregnant and have nothing left in me after taking care of my kids. I am sleepy and grumpy. But today is Christmas Eve. Now I am sad that it is almost over. I am happy I was able to get everything done. The one big thing that has been hanging over my head was Madelyn's quilt. Last night I finished the binding and got it tossed into the washer. today it is all dry and wrinkly. Happy Happy me to have it finished. i do think it is my favorite quilt yet. I love how it looks.

Birthday

2009-12-13T12:33:00.002-06:00

I have decided that technology hates me. in the last 2 weeks I have had to set my iphone back to factory settings and then my computer went on the fritz. So after 3 days of trying to get the stupid thing going I have the joy of packing it up and sending it back to HP to get fixed. Everything that could have gone wrong on it seems to have. So here I am using my hubbys computer. Mine should be back in 2 weeks or so. Ack 2 weeks without my computer, I may go insane. Or I may get a ton of work done. My sewing gift list seems to be huge. My main focused is Madelyn's quilt. After that I am tying to finish a patchwork duvet cover for my grandma. I have other things on my list but at this point they my not get done in time and I am not going to kill myself trying.

So yesterday was my 31st birthday. I would still like to know if I am suppose to act like a grown up now that I am in my 30's. Do grown ups get vulture dolls and think they are the greatest thing ever? Well I did. And when I have my computer back I will get a picture of him. He needs a name. What is a good vulture name? I also got some new quilting supplies. And a quarter from my brother. We have had a silly birthday thing going on for the last 10 years or so. It started with a quarter to him on his birthday and then he upped it for mine and I got 2 quarters. It has gone up and up through the years. He will never be able to beat last years gift. We were still in Texas and he was here in Cali. So instead of sending me a bunch of quarters he took 30 pictures of a quarter in different places and text ed them to me all day long. The quarter on the back of a toy horse making it a quarter horse and the french guy holding the quarter making it the french quarter were my favorites. So this year we are back down to one quarter. Too fun.

Two Finished Quilts In A Week

2009-11-25T13:14:00.003-06:00

That's not bad. I got 2 quilts finished in a week. One I have been working on for a long time. The other was started and finished in 2 days.

This one was made for my brother. I started it maybe 2 years ago. The poor thing has sat in my ufo pile for so long. I pulled it out and tried to get it finished for his birthday. But that came and went. I finished the quilt up and gave it to him the other day. I think he liked it. But non of us are very good at showing our excitement.
This quilt was made for a friend who had a little baby girl this week. It is nice to know that some things don't take me forever to complete. This was made in 2 days. I even tried my hand at free motion quilting. It went ok. Some stitches are a bit spaced out. But I have never done one this size. Just doll size. I am not ready for a twin yet but maybe one day soon I will take that leap.

Birthday, Disneyland and a funny thing

2009-11-07T12:14:00.003-06:00

We spent Wyatt's 6th birthday in Disneyland. Halloween also, being that Wyatt was born on the 29th and Halloween is the 31st. So we made a good trip out of it and spent 6 days in Disneyland. Yes I made it even though I am 6 months pregnant and have a huge belly. Everyone had a great time. Wyatts birthday was spent eating breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. Super fun place for the kids to eat. The characters come visit you at your table and take pictures and sign cards for the birthday kid. Lucas spent most of his time under the table hiding from all those scary Disney characters. Silly boy. Then we were off to California Adventure. Wyatt loves Bug Land and the new Pixar Toy Story ride. Then we went over to Disneyland park.

Halloween was spent at Disneyland with the kids all dresses up. Madelyn was Minnie Mouse, Wyatt was Jack Skellington and Lucas was Spiderman. They all looked too cute. Because there was no Trick-or-Treating we took them to the candy store on Main Street and let them pick a few sugar filled treats.

The crowds were low and the weather was nice. What more can you ask for?

So on to my funny thing-

We live in a small neighborhood that has only two ways in and out. One is over the scary rickety bridge and the other is a gated fire exit. This is there for big trucks that go over the weight limit of the bridge. When the gate is open a lot of people take that way out. My Hubby drives a huge work truck and takes that way whenever he can. He even has a way to make the gate look locked so the big people in charge of the gate don't really lock it. (normally you would have to call and arrange for them to unlock it, big pain) So I guess the county doesn't want people using this exit and are talking about pulling people over and big fines for using this way out.

Last night Hubby's boss called and asked if Hubby could bring the truck back to the shop. So last night at 11 I get into my car to follow him in to pick him up. I guess I could have let him sleep at work but I am nicer then that. So off we go. I followed him out of the fire exit thinking *I hope there are no cops out there*. I turned a little hard and bumped the curb on my way out. That is when I saw the flashing lights out the back window. I say something bad and look out the back window again. Flashing lights but no cars. What the heck? So I keep going. Look back again and no lights, and still no other cars. Confused I keep following Hubby in spending more time looking out the back window then I should. So by the time I got to Hubby's work I was a little spooked. I got out of the car and walked over and opened the back. Then I saw it. A bouncy ball that flashed red and blue lights when bounced. I guess the curb was enough to set the stinkin thing off. I laughed all the way home. So no cops and no ticket, just an over active bouncy ball and a good laugh.

Pumpkin Patch a Birthday and a Trip

2009-10-27T11:45:00.002-05:00

We spent Saturday driving up the California coast from Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay to go pumpkin hunting. We have been going to this pumpkin patch for years. Well not the years we spent in San Antonio. But years anyway. But I guess in our few years off they decided to go all nuts and up the prices for all the fun things to do. And there was all kinds of ways to spend your cash. We had lots of fun anyway. We ran, well everyone but me ran around trying to find the perfect pumpkin. Wyatt took no time at all, Lucas was next but had a hard time focusing at the task at hand. Way to many things to climb on, hang on or crawl under. But finally he found the pumpkin that would come home with him. Then we had Madelyn. She picked up and looked over a hundred pumpkins before picking hers. I guess she gets that from me. I drive everyone nuts at the Christmas Tree Farm. It takes a long time to find the perfect tree. So after Madelyn hunted and hunted she finally found a worthy pumpkin. So then it was off to the hay maze and bounce house. Madelyn, her cousin Allie, my brother and my hubby ran off to do the hay maze and I took the boyz to bounce. It would have been nice of them to put in a few places for the grown ups to sit. It was kinda funny watching all the moms and dads looking impatient while the kids were happily bouncing away.

This little boy will be 6 on Thursday. So off to Disneyland we go to have the best birthday/Halloween ever. We are taking 6 days off to go play like crazy people, eat yummy food ride on rides and dress up for Halloween and run around Disneyland. Even 6 months prego I will be living it up in the Happiest Place on Earth. I may even be more excited then the kids. And they are so excited I don't think there will be much sleeping tonight.

So off I go to finish packing.

Have a wonderful Halloween everyone!

Stormy

2009-10-13T12:02:00.002-05:00

Today is our first big storm of the season. I love stormy weather. But as the winds pick up and the small branches continue to hit the roof of the house I may begin to reconsider. We have a huge tree in our yard with its huge branches. Like the size of a small tree branches. We have had a few come down over the years that I grew up in this house. Nothing big happened but still.

So we are all home today. School is closed. Not that I was going to hop in my car with all the people who don't know how to drive in the rain. But here we are and it is just a mater of time before the weather or some really bad driver takes out power out. Then I get to figure out how to cook the chicken i had out for dinner. Camp stove it may be.

But for now I think a few cups of hot chocolate and a movie will do just fine.

Crazy Life

2009-10-11T23:01:00.002-05:00

Life is crazy. I don't know if it is because i am pregnant and everything seems to take so much out of me, or if it is just plain crazy. I am leaning toward just plain crazy.

I am behind on all my swaps, so sorry everyone things will be in the mail soon. I was able to get most of a quilt done for my brothers birthday. I made the top long ago but had never gotten around to quilting it. So I am happy to be down to sewing on the binding. His birthday is the 14th so I have a few more days. this one was made out of the super popular gnome fabric by heather Ross. When I saw that fabric a few years back I knew it had to be a quilt for my brother. I will get a pic before I give it to him.

Wyatt went on his first school field trip Friday. they went to Johnson's farm to pick pumpkins. We had so much fun. I was a brave mommy and let my boy go on the bus with his friends and I followed behind in my car with Lucas. I could have gone on the bus with the class but I had a feeling that all the bumping around on a bus seat would cause my prego tummy to bounce and also the fear of it making me wet my pants. And as funny as that would be, it is not what i want Wyatt to remember about his first field trip.

We fed goats and chickens, went on a hay ride and the kids were able to pick pumpkins off the vine. The kids were all too cute and had so much fun.

My picture are not loading. So sad.

ITS A GIRL

2009-10-07T15:42:00.001-05:00

Funny Night at The Movies

2009-09-14T11:20:00.003-05:00

So my hubby and I ditched the kids with their Mamaw and Papa on Saturday night and went out to see a movie. I am not really a huge fan of chick flicks. Give me blood and guts any day. So off we went to see Inglorious Bastards. If you want blood and guts, nobody does that better then Quentin Tarantino. Great movie. I, like always was the only one to find most of the move laugh out loud funny. I know shame on me for finding the many ways they found to kill the Nazis funny, but it was freaking hilarious.

So we get to the movie a bit early and get some snacks and went in and sat down. It was a slow night and not many people were there. I still have a bit of a cold. But the funny thing was when the guy a few seats down from us sneezed. This woman about half way down the theater hopped up out of her seat, said something like *I can't believe this* and stormed back to the back row where the sneezing guy, his girl person and my hubby and I were sitting. She looks at sneezing guy and asked him if he had the flu. He answered with a slightly confused *no I do not, do you?* Nasty lady said no and sneezing guy answers with a *well I glad we got that cleared up.* Then you have me laughing like a hyena. WoW! really if you are that worried about something like getting a flu bug, why would you voluntarily put yourself into a room full of other people? So nasty lady turns with a jerk and halls rear a little further up towards the front of the theater. So nasty lady like to go to movies where peoples heads explode with the help of a guy wielding a baseball bat but if simply terrified of the flu. Go figure.

Now I need to get my rear in gear and get some of my swaps done and get to the Post Office to mail the growing stack of swaps ready to go out. I am only a few months behind.

What A Week

2009-09-04T09:59:00.003-05:00

This week has been so much fun. Sick me and now sick kids. Poor Wyatt was still thinking he was going to school. He was really not a happy boy when I told him that they didn't let sick kids go to school. This will make for a fun day. He is extra grumpy now. I just want to go back to bed.

But I was able to get most of Lucas' quilt top finished. Now I am waiting for my fabric to come so I can finish the borders. It is a little bright for my taste. But Lucas loves it and that is what it as all about.

Then with my cute bright space fabric scraps was made a baby quilt. I really love how it turned out. The dark gray really toned down the bright colors in the space fabric. Then I had at a lot of fun quilting it in stars. Too fun!

Now it is back to taking care of sick grumpy kids. Thank goodness for the long weekend.

I'm Back (I hope)

2009-08-20T13:11:00.003-05:00

I have been out of it for a bit. Feeling to bad to sew. Well really feeling to bad to do anything but lay around. This is the reason why...

Baby or aka- The Blob

This scan was done at 9 weeks. I am almost at 14 weeks. We will find out if the Blob is a girl or a boy in October. Then this little one will arrive in February. I am a self proclaimed baby junky. I love love love newborns. And really it has been so long, by the time this little one comes along Lucas will be almost 5. I needed a new one before he started school next year. As it is Wyatt starts Kinder on Tuesday. Sniffle. He is so super excited about it. I hope my shy guy does well.

Our summer wasn't as fun as I would have liked. Being sick, we were not able to do as many things as we had planed. We did go to Disneyland at the end of July for Maddie's birthday. We spent 5 days down in Disneyland. We had a great time. I love Disneyland. The weather was great and the crowd's were low for summer. It is a great place for a birthday. I'll add some pics later.

July? So soon?

2009-07-07T12:44:00.003-05:00

I wish I had a list of grand and wonderful things that I have been up to, but nope. I have been loving the sleeping in thing. Summer is so good for that. I love Santa Cruz summer weather especially when I compair it to the temps in San Antonio. It is good to be home. But as far as getting things done I have been one lazy girl. I need to make myself catch up an a few things. Things that should have been sent out last month.

I have to get one more pink tree's block done for Miss Pink Tree herself for our ten make two quilting group.

I also need to make some basket blocks for the little red hen for our 8two8 group.

After that I get to start on my July stuff. I hope by the end of the week.

I am also working on my strung out deer quilt. One for me, can you believe it? It would be quilt number two that I made for myself.

The kids have spent their days out in the back yard or running around with me doing all the things that need doing. But at the end of this month we will be celebrating Madelyn's 8th birthday in Disneyland. Can a birthday get any better then that?

My Weekend

2009-06-22T12:03:00.003-05:00

So my weekend plans had been a trip to Costco and working on my deer quilt. What my weekend turned into was a trip to a small town in Nevada to pick up my little brother and his friend after crashing his car and rendering it completely useless as a car. But I guess it could have made a nice planter box if he could have gotten it home.

We found out about his crash Friday evening and by 8 pm Hubby, Lucas and I were in the car heading their way. My Mom and Dad watched the other 2 kids. Friday night we made it as far as Hubby's family's house in Sacramento, then Saturday morning we drove out to Battle Mountain Nevada were they spent the night. We loaded the battered and bruised car crash victims into our car and drove to Reno for the night. Hubby took off to play the slots for a bit and Lucas and I played games at Circus Circus's midway. After hubby won a whopping $15 we went up to our room to get some sleep. Then Sunday morning after a big cup of coffee we were off for the drive home.

So all in all they are fine but little bro doesn't have a working car and we got to have a unexpected road trip.

My Wee One Is 4 Years Old Today

2009-06-15T18:24:00.004-05:00

school is almost out

2009-06-10T22:30:00.003-05:00

I love summer brake. I really love having all my kids home with me. This is not to say that they don't drive me a little crazy sometimes. But I really like them around.

Today was Madelyn's end of the year party. Lucky, lucky me, it was at a park. I really hate parks. To many kids Lucas can hit, push or kick. I tell you that boy is one of a kind. We talked all the way there about being a nice boy and keeping his hands and feet to himself. We got to the park a little after 10am and didn't leave till almost 2. That is a lot of time to make sure the boy was being good. i will have to say he did well. No reports of Lucas in flicked injury. Madelyn had a good time. I think I only saw her when she needed a drink or a tissue. They all three have nasty noses. Wyatt played alone mostly. He is a shy one and kinda keeps to himself.

No sewing today. I was so sleepy by the time we got home that a nap was much better sounding then anything else.

Tomorrow is the last day of school. Half a day too. Happy me!

Let the summer fun start.

The Allie Quilt

2009-06-04T16:07:00.004-05:00

This is another quilt I have been working on for far to long. This one I started in December and I finished it yesterday. It spent a long time folded up on a shelf. I pulled it out last week and worked in what little times bunches I had. I think it turned out nice, but I am sure sick of looking at it.

Next big quilt projects are Madelyn's woodland creatures and Lucas' space quilts. I am waiting on one more package of fabric for Madelyn's and I can't make up my mind on Lucas'. I have 4 different lines of space fabric to choose from and I am having trouble picking.

What do you think?

It only took me 6 months

2009-05-28T16:58:00.003-05:00

Yup that's right, 6 months. Not that I worked on it all that time. But I am so happy it is finished. Wyatt asked me to make him a pirate quilt. So I spent some time collecting fabrics. Then I spent some time cutting. And some time sewing blocks, then sashing. Pinning and quilting. Then last night I finished up the binding, tossed it in the wash and then dried it. After it was nice and dry, I snuck into Wyatt's room and put it over him. He was so excited this morning when he woke up. He has been dragging it all over the house with him today. I think he has thanked me 250 time. It is always good to know that the time you spent was well worth the happy day he got from his new quilt. Now it is on to the other two kiddos.

Just For Fun

2009-05-18T15:13:00.000-05:00

And because Katy asked....

“Let’s Play”Let’s Play rules: IT’S HARDER THAN IT LOOKS! COPY, ERASE MY ANSWERS, ENTER YOURS, POST IT ON YOUR BLOG, FACEBOOK, ETC. USE THE 1ST LETTER OF YOUR LAST NAME TO ANSWER EACH OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. THEY HAVE TO BE REAL PLACES, NAMES, AND THINGS. NOTHING MADE UP! TRY TO USE DIFFERENT ANSWERS IF THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU HAD THE SAME 1ST INITIAL.Have Fun!!
1. What is your last name? Casey
2. A 4 Letter Word? Crap
3. A Boy’s Name? chris
4. A Girl’s name? Cath
5. An Occupation? cop
6. A Color? Charcoal
7. Something you wear? coat
8. A Beverage? Coke
9. A Food? cake
10. Something found in the bathroom? crap
11. A place? China
12. A Reason for being late? car crash
13. something you shout? CRAP (i say crap way toooo much)

THE VOODOO THAT YOU CAN DO

2009-05-17T17:06:00.002-05:00

I took Maddie out to an art supply store to stock up on some fun things. Pastels and artist pencils, watercolors and some good paper. Her grandma gave her a table top art easel to work on and she wanted some real art stuff. So off we went down town to get some stuff. She had a great time looking at all the art supplies. She would like to be an artist when she grows up.

Then when we were finished spending a small fortune on her we went down the street to Urban Outfitters It has got to be one of my favorite stores. Just so much fun. I found some great windup owls on sale. Had to get me one and one for a buddy. They are mystery colored. All closed up in their box. I was lucky enough to get the super awesome green one. I don't have any idea what color miss buddy's owl is. I will have to wait till she gets it. I was tempted to peek but I am being a good girl and I will wait. I also found the great and wonderful Paper Voodoo. So great, how can you go wrong. How many times have you felt the need to put a hex on somebody but you had no idea how. Welcome the paper voodoo doll. Happy me!

I am so stiff and sore from a bunch of work that hubby and I did yesterday. We took out an old sliding glass door and put a wall up in its place. So our day started out great. We went to Home Depot to get the stuff we needed. Well hubby dropped me off at Starbucks and I walked from Starbucks over to the fabric store then I wandered over to Home Depot. We got the stuff we needed and went out to my dads truck that we had borrowed for hauling supplies and some wonderful person had sent something through one of the truck windows. Thankfully he left a note so hopefully it will be fixed. After that we went back home and got to play with more glass. There was no safe way to get the doors out of the house without breaking them so I had a little fun with a lot of tape and a hammer. But by the end of the day we had a almost complete project. Hubby is finishing it up right now. He is kinds scary with a nail gun.

What did you do over your weekend?

i love santa cruz

2009-05-08T10:05:00.003-05:00

I really do. It is such a great place to just be. Down Town Santa Cruz has got to be one of my most favorite places to just wander.

After a crazy trip to Office Max to get a new sewing/computer chair, I thought we all needed a cookie from the Pacific Cookie Company. Yummy. And the grownup's got some coffee from The Bad Ass Coffee Company. It was nice to just sit and people watch. It is a great place to people watch. Santa Cruz is known for its many types of people. There is a bit of everything you can imagine.

I am wanting to get a few mothers day gifts done today. I figure if I put it down here it may give me the push I need to get something done. A little virtual kick in my Bad Ass Coffee drinking bottom.

Mommy's Day Off

2009-05-03T00:13:00.005-05:00

I get to go play with my cousin tomorrow. No kids, just me and my cuz. I don't get much me time, so I am super excited about our adventure. We are headed to the Jan Jose Flea Market. I have never been to this one but I here it is huge and lots of fun. I will ave my eye out for buttons and other fun sewing stuff.

I have been busy working on a kids art quilt for Maddie's teacher back in Texas. There are not a lot of things I miss about Texas but her teacher is one of them. She is such a wonderful person and we miss her terribly. Before we left I had the class draw me some pictures. I used printable fabric and copied all of their art onto the fabric. It really was a lot of fun working with their art work. Each drawing reminded me so much of the kid who drew it. All in all the quilt turned out great. A few puckers in the quilting but nothing I couldn't live with. Kinda nice not being a perfectionist. I am going to have Maddie work on the label and I hope to get it sent out next week sometime. I want the kids to be able to see their art in the quilt.

Last Wednesday Maddie had a field trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Because I don't know any of the moms from this new school I drove her over myself and The boys and I wondered apart from the class. Maddie was given the choice to go around with one of the groups or stay with me. She picked me, go figure. So I got to have a fun day with my kiddo's. Not a great place to be when you are scared of fish, but we still had a great time. We met the class for lunch, something I soon regretted. I don't know what it is about me that makes people run away in fear, but some people seem to run. Maddie ate with the class and I took the boys to another table. We ate happily all alone. I will have to say that I may not put off the best effort to be friendly, but man I got the cold shoulder from the bunch. I even think I did my hair normal and all tattoo's were covered.

The Wonderful World Of Disney

2009-04-25T23:27:00.003-05:00

I love Disneyland. It really is my happiest place on my earth. I am a junky and it had been 3 years and 2 months from my last visit. We were able to get annual passes and I hope to make some good use out of them. Our trip this last weekend was not long enough for me but I think we tiered the kids out. We drove down on Saturday morning, spent the day in Disneyland, went back to the hotel at around 12am ish. We spent the next morning in California Adventure, then on to Disneyland till closing. Then we spent Monday in Disneyland till around 6pm. Then it was into the car for the long drive home. Our 6 hour drive took around 8.

Tattoo and a Trip

2009-04-17T23:23:00.004-05:00

Lookie what I did. I spent my day yesterday doing. I love how it turned out. Mac at The Gilded Lily did a great job. I went in with my idea and he went above and beyond. The buttons make me crazy happy

Then at around 3am we are getting in the car and driving to LA. I am in need of a Disney fix. There is no place I love more. So I will be gone for a few days and come back a happy girl.

See you soon.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T16:27:00.004-05:00

HAPPY EASTER!

Sunday Stash # something

2009-04-05T13:40:00.003-05:00

Miss. Katy over at i'm a ginger monkey had such a cute Sunday Stash/black and white fabric for our next 8two8 person Lisa. So here is what I found. Well not in my stash, I had to go out shopping. But I fell in love with the sewing machine print. So this is what I have come up with. I don't normally pay any attention to black and white fabrics, but I love this and I think it is going to be fun. I will post the finished pictures as soon as I am finished.

New Stuff

2009-03-29T11:19:00.005-05:00

First- Wyatt's head is healing nicely. The glue is still there but it is slowly peeling off. I don't know if he will have any kind of scar but he seems to think it will be cool if he does.

Second- I love fabric stores. I have always loved then, but San Antonio really didn't have my kind of store. I called them *country bumpkin* stores. All super Little House On The Prairie kinda flowery. Not my kind of thing. I love big bold prints and lots of color. So all in all shopping in the stores there was not my kinda thing. So online I would go. Fun, but not the instant gratification that going to a shop is. I still check my favorite online shop a lot http://www.fabricworm.etsy.com/ . But I love to go into this shop now that I am back home. http://www.hartsfabric.com/ I think I could live there, or at the very least spend gobs of money. When I walked in last week they had the entire line of the super wonderful Wonderland prints. I was a good girl and I didn't get the whole thing. I wanted to, but I didn't. Now I have to decide what to do with it. Other then a decoration.

Third- I got me a few new toys. A laptop. I don't have room for my desk top out in the main parts of the house. So it has been set up back in my room. When I am back there I cannot hear what shenanigans my very mischievous boys are into. And let me tell you they can make some trouble. So I have not been spending the time I like to with my virtual buddies. Makes me sad. So I got me a new toy. It has taken me a few days and one funny trip back to the store to get it so I know kinda what I am doing. But now I am here and feeling good. But I am telling you the wireless mouse thing was a stumper. The magical Geek Squad dude was wonderful with his cool firework hair and fixed it with a touch of his magical hands. Or proved that technology is not really my thing.

I also got an ipod-iphone music dock thing. I did get that to work without any assistance. So I guess I am not totally inept. Because we all know how hard it is to plug something in. But because I have mastered that skill all went well.

then I got some strange little device that is called a thumb drive. I wanted to move all my pictures from the one computer to the new one. I wanted one shaped like a thumb. Not something they have in normal stores. So I got a boring black stick like thing. So me being me went online when I got home and found a thumb shaped thumb drive on ebay. Happy me. I won and soon I will have the wonderful contraption. What great fun that will be.

Last of all. I did a personal swap with the wonderful and super amazing LauraJ. She sent me this wonderful little quilt. I am so in love with it. Green being my new obsession. It is beautiful. She also sent that super cute dotty bowl and a calender that will remain photo less because it is of questionable content. Cracks is all I will say. Made me laugh. Some chocolate was also included and disappeared really fast as soon as Lucas saw it. Last of all some pencil cases for the kids. They were very quickly filled with various objects. Thank you Laura, your package will be flying your way tomorrow.

WOW

2009-03-22T10:43:00.004-05:00

It is so hard to get back to the computer during the day. Before our move back to Cali the computer was set up with my sewing stuff in the dining room that I had taken over as my sewing room. Here in the new place of living there is no room for that. So it is tucked back in my bedroom far away from my very mischievous boys. So all in all not much time is spent on the computer. Sad, I miss my virtual friends. But very soon I will be able to get me a laptop and all will be right in my little world.

I have been getting a bit of sewing done. Bags and quilts. Happy me.

Look what Mr. W did to his head. Who knew sewing tables could be so dangerous.

A trip to urgent care, some glue and a $600 bill later he is all fixed and I am wishing that there wasn't a 3 month period with no insurance.

Life is Crazy

2009-03-10T10:42:00.004-05:00

Sorry it has been so long. So many thing have happened I don't know were to start. We are back in California, happy me! It all happened so fast it kinda left me spinning. But after a 4 day drive and a nice stop at the biggest hole in the world, AKA. the Grand Canyon, we are home. And it feels like home. Sorry Texas people but that place never felt right. I am a Calli girl.

Madelyn has started her new school and is doing well, making friends and wrapping people around her finger as always. Wyatt, who always seems to have a hard time adjusting to things is doing great and Lucas just loves having more people around to charm.

I was fast to get a sewing area set up but the other unpacking is slow going.

Can't seem to focus

2009-01-20T14:51:00.003-06:00

focus? Whats that? Oh, something I can't seem to do. S here we go, a list of the things I need to do. Maybe then something will get done.

Get my giveaway stuff in the mail (sorry to my winners, I have not forgotten, it will be there soon)

Finish up LauraJ quilt for our little swap

Get Novembers 6" words quilt in the mail (sorry Olivethebeach )

work on the 6" triple quilt thingies

Katy's sew connected 2 quilt blocks for February

Katy's 8two8 quilt blocks for February (yes Katy gets 2 quilt in one month and I don't want to talk about it)

Wyatt's quilt needs sashing and then to be quilted

Allie's quilt needs to be quilted

And our move back to Cali seems to be happening sooner then expected so I will also be packing. I hate packing.

Sunday Stash

2009-01-18T08:58:00.002-06:00

I was able to get my hands on the very wonderful Woodland Wonderland by Jay McCarroll. He is a winner of Project Runway. Just a little tidbit for you. Anyway, I love this fabric. So fun, the deer do look a little strung out, but I love this stuff. I mixed it with some Amy Butler and made some fun blocks. Now I am having a difficult time deciding on sashing colors. I am going between gray, white or getting more of the strung out deer. HELP!

My Boy and his Backpack

2009-01-17T17:17:00.005-06:00

When it comes to things I make, Wyatt is my biggest fan. He is not a huggie Love kinda kid, but he sure can show you how much he appreciates the thing that are made for him. He has been asking me for a pirate backpack. So last week I finally got around to making it for him. I think he has told me how much he loves it every day sense. His fashion sense is definitely off a bit though. I think the kid would live in jammie pants if I let him.

My wonderful friend Katy made that robot for him for Christmas and he has slept with it every night. He loves the things that are made for him. Now I need to finish his pirate quilt.

Sleepy

2009-01-13T20:32:00.003-06:00

I have been so sleepy the last week. It seems like every night I end up with a little boy climbing in bed next to me. Being that this little boy is 3 1/2 we took his plug away. Also know as a pacifier. I guess I was having a hard time letting go of that baby-ness. It is sad when your baby starts acting like a little boy. But little boy he is and so it was time. But with no plug sleep doesn't come as easy and last as long. So I in turn don't sleep as well. And then along with babies turning into little boys I have been suffering with super fun allergies. I can't take anything because I pass out and with 3 little people in my life sleeping when they are not isn't an option. So I am kinda a walking zombie lately.

What have I been working on? Well, hats,quilts, bags.

Madelyn got this super cool hat knitter thing for Christmas. So we have had a great time making hats.

This is my little sneak peek of and swap that I am doing with the beautiful LauraJ I will show more latter. I am almost finished then in the mail it goes. I can't wait to see what she has been working on.

Bye for tonight. Talk soon.

sunday stash

2009-01-04T07:23:00.002-06:00

Flea Market Fancy by Denyse Schmidt.

This has got to be one of my favorite fabric lines ever. I have had all these fat quarters for a few years now. I am still looking for the perfect quilt pattern. One day I will get brave and cut into my wonderful bundle.

School starts again tomorrow. I am not ready for the early morning rush yet. One more week off, please. I do get more done in my day one child less for a few hours. But I really do like having my kiddo's all in one place.

This week I need to break down and take all the Christmas stuff down and pack it all away for another year. It always makes me sad to see it go. It is all so cheery and warm and nice. But Santa and trees and snowmen wouldn't be so wonderful if they were out all the time. So into the box they will go at some point this week and life will get back to normal. And I will not have chairs in funny places.

my year of quilts 2008

2008-12-31T16:38:00.001-06:00

my year of quilts 2008
Originally uploaded by maddieandme1

Some of the quilts I have worked on over the last year. Not all are finished yet. I have some work to do.

my year of bags 2008

2008-12-31T16:37:00.001-06:00

my year of bags 2008
Originally uploaded by maddieandme1

Some of the thing I have made over the last year.

Sew Connected 2

2008-12-29T20:03:00.003-06:00

I am part of a virtual quilting group. Their are 16 of up and we each get a month over the next 16 months to send everybody a bit of fabric for them to make into a quilt square. Then all the squares are sent back to that months person and they get to assemble all the blocks into a wonderful quilt for them self. January is quiltinkimmie's month. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24842261@N05/

This is what I came up with.

I hope she likes it.

Next month is my wonderful friend Katy's month.

time for sunday stash

2008-12-28T11:41:00.003-06:00

Birds

I love bird fabric.

This group of fabric I ordered from the wonderful Fabric Worm http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5973558

On another note. We had a nice Christmas. The kiddo's had a wonderful time.

Sorry for the sideways picture. This is a doll bed that I made for Miss. Maddie

My wonderful friend Katy http://www.imagingermonkey.blogspot.com/ Made this wonderful robot for Wyatt.

And Lucas just kept wanting more things to open.

2008-12-24T11:30:00.000-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sunday Stash a day late.

2008-12-22T10:44:00.003-06:00

I am a day behind. We were at Hubby's Christmas party for his work Saturday night. He was awarded a nights stay in the hotel the party was held at. Not having family around our munchkins got to join us. We had some friends girls come watch the kids in the room. I think they terrorized the hotel. Oh well, we were down stares pretending to be grown ups. But anyway we were out part of yesterday, then when we got home I spent my time cleaning. Fun Fun. With the house almost picked up and most of the laundry finished and put away here is my Sunday/Monday stash...http://www.fatquartershop.com/index.asp?Store_id=499&Shopper_Id=6992626837176992

Birthday fabric bought with a gift certificate to one of my favorite online shops. It was from my Mommy, Daddy and Grandma. It is always good to feed the fabric addiction.

Cold

2008-12-16T14:57:00.003-06:00

I love cold weather. Winter is my favorite time of year. But I am a California coast girl. Winter is cold, but there is no snow. Well maybe every few years it sprinkles down a bit but nothing sticks. So I have lived California winters for 27 years, they are mostly the same. I have now entered my 3rd Texas winter. Holy crap, they are all so different. You have no idea what the next day will hold. Our first winder there was a freeze. The entire city shut down. The next winter you hardly needed a sweatshirt. Now this year it is just plane nuts. One day we are in the low 80*s then the next it is 31*. I don't know if I am hot or cold most of the time. Today is cold. I guess tomorrow is going to be spring time weather. Ack.

Ok, that is enough weather ranting.

My 30th birthday was last Friday. Hubby took the day off work. We went to lunch, got my slice of Chocolate Cheesecake, picked Maddie up from school and then did a bit of Christmas shopping. We got the kids an air hockey table. What a hit that has been. There was no way to hide the giant box so it is all set up and the puck is flying.

My mom, dad and grandma got me a gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop. So I did a little shopping. And the wonderful Katy sent me an amazing sewing box full of goodies.

Back to sewing. I have a few things to finish up before Christmas.

Giveaway Winners are...

2008-12-12T08:09:00.003-06:00

So, I did the names in a jar method.

And the winners are...

And if you can't read all that...

The Quilt goes to Vintage Bubbles

The Bag goes to Jacquie

And the mystery prize goes to LauraJ

So, I will try to email you to get you addresses. Sadly I am not finished with the bag and the quilt. So give me a week or two to get it finished and in the mail.

I am off to get me some yummy Cheesecake for my Birthday. Thank you for all your comments

Sunday Stash 4

2008-12-07T20:29:00.001-06:00

fabric
Originally uploaded by maddieandme1

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me. This is a bit of my pirate stash. Mr. W is very into pirates so I am working on a twin size quilt for him.

Sunday Stash #3

2008-11-30T20:59:00.004-06:00

This is by Heather Ross.

She has got to be one of my favorite fabric designers. I love the fun and whimsy in her fabric.

This will soon be a doll bed and doll quilt for Maddie for Christmas.

who would like to win something?

2008-11-26T11:15:00.005-06:00

So with this being my 50th post and my birthday in a few weeks, I am going to have a giveaway. I am thinking I will have 2 winners.

Winner number one will get a baby quilt made out of these-

And winner number two will get a bag made out of these

You have till December 11 to enter by leaving a comment on this post. I will pick the winner on my Birthday - December 12.

GOOD LUCK!

I am off to make a bag and a quilt.

Talk later.

HOCKEY

2008-11-24T09:10:00.003-06:00

We were given tickets to a hockey for last night. I have always liked hockey. There is something about this sport I can get into. I hate basketball. SHHH, don't tell anyone here in San Antonio. They are all crazy deranged basketball fans. I am guessing because it is their only major league sport. I don't know. But what I do know is that their shoes squeak, and that drives me just shy of insane. I hate squeaky shoes. Hockey has no squeaky shoes. But they do slam each other into the glass. Our seats were great. In prime slamming zone. We got to see all kinds of faces distorted against the glass.

Now Wyatt didn't care for all the noise. He sat like this the entire game.

The Worcester Sharks (whoever they are) Won. I can't say I care about who won or who lost. I went because it was fun. It was just good to watch the game. And a few good punches between the teams. (I like the fights too) Oh, and we did get a puck that went flying into the crowed.

Only in Texas would you find a restroom sign with cowboy hats, spurs and a bowlegged baby in a hat.

Now back to crafty stuff. I have a lot to get done.

sunday stash

2008-11-23T07:18:00.003-06:00

It is time for Sunday stash once again.

I was asked by the wonderful and very amazing Katy of http://www.imagingermonkey.blogspot.com/ to do a nappy bag for one of her friends.We decided the best way to pay me for my work was in fabric. So this is what I got in the mail last week.

Amy Butler

And Heather Bailey.

I guess it is kinda like paying an elephant in peanuts. You pay Beth in fabric. And I am completely good with that.

A Giveaway

2008-11-20T15:45:00.000-06:00

Again not mine. But it is a fun one.

http://camilleroskelley.typepad.com/simplify/

Quilt Class

2008-11-20T12:47:00.003-06:00

I had a very small quilting class at my house last night. Maddie and one other little girl came over to make a quilt top. They just sewed strips together to work on sewing strait. For first timers, they did great. Next week we will quilt it. Then I will bind it for them.

I put together a small box of supplies for each girl. Thread, scissors, a seam ripper and a few other small things. All in all it went great. But now Maddie is going to be bugging me to sew all the time.

sunday stash

2008-11-16T08:53:00.003-06:00

I am new to the Sunday stash but here we go.

I am doing a small quilt class this week with 3 new sewers. Maddie and 2 other little girls are going to be doing a very simple strip quilt for their first project. I will try to get the finished project posted as soon as they are done. I have one very excited girl waiting to sew. She is telling everybody she talks to.

In Honor Of Veterans Day

2008-11-12T08:12:00.003-06:00

by Maddie.

Tagged I'm It

2008-11-06T13:05:00.002-06:00

I have been tagged by http://septemberbird.wordpress.com/
7 random things about me.

1. Fish scare the living daylight out of me. I love to go to places with water but will not go in it. I miss living close (10 minutes away) to the ocean but because of the presence of fish I will not enter. I have seen the ocean from the beautiful beaches of Hawaii and Costa Rica and only went in because I was grabbed tossed of the shoulder of a friend and ran strait into it. I got out fast. I have had fish jump out of aquariums and hit me. I hate fish. Ack.

2. Clowns scare me. I had a clown at a gas station grab me and try to dance. I also got into a strange argument with a mime in Disneyland. I was the only one talking but we did have a good crowd gathered around. I told him I didn't like clowns and I think he was trying to tell me he wasn't a clown. It went on for a while. I think I laughed for days off that one.

3. I love Disneyland more then my kids ever could. I am a junky. I have not had a Disneyland fix in almost three years and I need to go bad. In the year before we moved to Texas we went 6 different times. Most of the trips were 5 and 6 days apiece. My Hubby said that he wishes he could see it through my eyes. It is my magical place. I cry every time I walk through the train tunnel leading you to Main Street. And I do the park the same way every time. We enter through the left tunnel, walk up Main Street, then we go into Adventure land, then into Frontierland, I will only enter Fantasyland through the castle, we walk back to toontown, then into Tomorrowland. Then I cry like a baby when we leave.

4. People think I am weird. Do you believe that? Me weird? Just the other day a friends Mom asked if I was a bit weird. He told her I was a Lot weird. I think she saw me in these. Apparently this is not normal behavior. Who knew.

5. I love Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino. But this time of the year I switch over to the Pumpkin Spice ones. I could live off of Frappuccino. I don't, so nobody tell me how bad they are for me. I like to get the biggest one too and I don't share them well.

6. Fabric is one of my favorite things. I have had a hard time buying it online because I can't touch it. There are no good fabric store close by so I have to order it. So I pet it when it gets to my house.

7. I think Armadillo roadkill is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. An armadillo on his back with his legs sticking strait up in the air can make me laugh for hours. Sick but true.

So I will tag my dad who I call Fred even though his name is Mike, Miss Gingermonkey (sorry Katy) and anyone else who actually read through all my craziness. Good luck.

Laughing

2008-11-06T11:00:00.002-06:00

I was once told that I laugh to much. Is there really such a thing? I have always been a happy person. But the last year I have found that I laugh a lot less then I used to. I am still the one that people don't like to take to the theater because I am the one who find things funny that nobody else seems to. Case and point The newest Batman movie. Before we saw it all I heard was how dark and scary the Joker was. I found him to be so completely hilarious. I laughed from beginning to end of that move.
We moved to Texas 2 1/2 years ago and I will have to say that we are not happy here. We have had good time and have come across some wonderful people but the joy we had in life isn't there. So we have made the difficult decision to leave behind friends and go back home.
I am hoping to be laughing a lot more again. I need to be happy. I think my kids will be happier having their grandparent close to them again. I think life will be fun again.
I am not sure when this move will happen. Any time after the first of the year I guess. When we put our house up for sale.

On a craftier note I have been working on a last minute baby quilt. The baby's room is a hunting theme i guess. This is the best I could do with what I had. Sorry it is sideways

Then there is this last minute notebook thing I made for a teacher at Maddie's school for her birthday.

Happy Me, The Party Is Over

2008-11-03T05:20:00.002-06:00

Look, we are ship builders. How cool is that? W's party went well. He had a great time and I am still alive. So I guess it was a hit. I don't like throwing party's. They are so much work, then nobody shows up. We invited three family's One came, one showed up for 10 minutes then took off, and one said they would be there but never came. W was so happy running around and being the center of the world that he didn't notice.
He picked a Pirate's Of The Caribbean cake. I guess it was good. I am not a cake eater.

Everybody but L in or around our ship. L was throwing a fit in the house. I love three year olds.

Party set up. The pinata looked like my father. I was calling it Pirate Fred (I call my Dad Fred, his name is Mike but I call him Fred) So I told the kids that they get to beat Papa with a stick. Maddie thought that was funny. W on the other hand did not like the idea. He told me that his Papa is his best friend and we can't call the pirate Fred. But I did when he wasn't around. We left his head in the tree. That was the only part that survived the brutal attack.

2008-10-31T10:58:00.001-05:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

My Little Boy Is 5 Today

2008-10-29T11:14:00.002-05:00

I can hardly believe my boy is 5. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LITTLE PIRATE. He is fending off monsters I didn't even know we had living in our garage. He is fully armed with his monster killing hanger, his pirate pants and his backpack. He has recruited his little brother who isn't feeling good to help with the monster killings. What a great birthday. We will be having pizza, brownies and carving pumpkins tonight after Daddy gets home from work

treat bags for a birthday boy

2008-10-24T13:18:00.002-05:00

I am having a hard time with my boy turning 5. He really was just a baby. This is a picture of one of the many treat bags I am working on for his birthday party.

Cutting

2008-10-23T10:50:00.003-05:00

That super cute little tree trunk is the wonderfully amazing quilt I received from mypurplecrayon for the Out Of The Box theme. I am loving the 6" mini quilt swap. It is just to much fun. I need to get her package to her.

I spent most of yesterday cutting out crayon rolls, checkbook covers and credit card wallets for the craft show in December. I feel like I have gotten nothing done. I guess it is because I have no finished products from all the work. I don't like that feeling. I should feel like I got a lot done. I cut out 10 small and 10 big crayon rolls, 10 checkbook covers and 8 card wallets. Now it is on to the sewing. But I am taking today off to work on some treat bags for W's birthday party.

I am using the wonderful tutorial by the wonderful Pink Penguin http://ayumills.blogspot.com/2008/09/tutorial-reversible-patchwork-bag.html I am doing 7 pirate ones and 3 girly ones. Well may be 4 there is a family with a little baby girl. Man there is a lot of piecing on these. I'll get a picture up when I have some finished.

A Giveaway- but not mine.

2008-10-15T22:45:00.002-05:00

Check out this beautiful quilt. She is just giving it away. WOW

Feeling Better

2008-10-15T11:28:00.005-05:00

My arm is feeling better. Still a little swollen, but very little pain and I can feel my fingers once again. Happy me. And I only cheated with the sewing thing a little. Well the sewing part didn't hurt it was using the cutter and ruler that hurt. But all is good.

I have done a few crayon rolls for the craft show. I have many to go, but its a start.

This is the wonderful package I got from John http://quiltdad.blogspot.com/ for the 6" mini quilt swap. I love it all. I still have to get his in the mail. Sorry John.

This is a quilt I am working on for a cute little red head boy. This is one thing I will soon be able to cross off my Christmas list. Its a long list. I need to get moving.

So Sad, No Sewing For Me

2008-10-05T18:17:00.003-05:00

So I can't use my sewing machine for another week and a half. I slipped and fell in my kitchen and hit my arm on the wall, then the floor. Thankfully I did not brake anything. I have been put on light duty because of nerve damage. Something about crushing them and giving them time to heal. I am trying to be good, but it is hard to do. I am doing a small craft fair at Maddie's school and I have been working on thing. Now I am at a stand still. Sad me.

a giveaway

2008-10-01T09:09:00.002-05:00

My wonderful friend Katy is having a giveaway on her blog, So scream on over and sign up.
http://www.imagingermonkey.blogspot.com/

Ideas

2008-09-18T10:10:00.005-05:00

I am think of doing a small craft fair at Maddie's school in December. I have been working on some small inexpensive things to sell. I have made up some checkbook covers and some card wallets. They are fun and don't take to long to make. But I need some more ideas. I need some kid things. I was thinking a few color pencil rolls and some crayon rolls but I am at a loss for other things. I just finished a baby quilt and I think I will do a few more. And maybe some small bags. Any more ideas for me?

Things

2008-09-16T09:01:00.003-05:00

So, on my walk home from dropping Maddie off at school I was noticing some things.
* I miss trees. Real trees. there are trees in Texas but from a girl who grew up in the Redwood Forest in California they look like over grown bushes. So I miss real trees.
*There are no mountains. Here they have the Texas Hill Country. Well, in this house we call it the Texas Bump Country. Hill? Back home a Hill was when we were driving from Santa Cruz "Over The Hill" to San Jose http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz_Mountains Wonderful highway 17 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_17 I love that drive.
* Texas has more sky then I have ever seen.
* I can't get in my car, drive for ten minutes and see the Ocean. Not that I go into the ocean but I miss seeing it.

sick of being sleepy

2008-09-14T10:03:00.006-05:00

It has been so busy. With school and taking care of kids I feel sleepy. And now everybody is fighting off a cold. That seems to equal grumpy kids and a lot more kid bickering. Maddie is moody and wanting to be left alone. Wyatt misses Madelyn so much when she is at school, he just wants to spend time with her when she comes home. This leads to her yelling at him and him crying because he feels left out. I don't know what to do about it.

Lucas just feels yucky this week and wants to be held. So not much has gotten done on the crafty end of things.

I was able to get this quilt top done. Now it has been added to the pile of quilts to get done before Christmas. I am very happy with how it turned out.

This is what my boys were up to when I was working on the quilt. The found a loose string in my blanket and tied it onto a chair. Then they spent a long time attaching Lego's to it. They were so proud of themselves.

Explore and Experiment

2008-09-02T20:04:00.003-05:00

*I can never stand still. I must explore and experiment. I am never satisfied with my work. I resent the limitations of my own imagination* -Walt Disney

I feel this way all the time. My problem is I take on to much and I am never satisfied with what I end up with. Maybe I don't give myself enough credit, but still.

So the long check list has shrunk and now I need to make a big trip to the Post Office.

My 2 quilts for the mini quilt swap are done and packaged. I forgot to get a picture of the all by hand one. Oh well.

My Strawberry swap stuff is all packaged up and ready to go.

Today I finished my Doll Quilt 4 swap quilt. Thank goodness.

I am putting the binding on the Booty Swap quilt, so that should be done tomorrow.

I am almost finished with my Fairy Tale swap thing. A few more days and that will also be checked off.

So next it is on to my September mini quilt swap. I was able to pick the theme for September. Owls and Mushrooms it is. And my wonderful partner and I have all kinds of fun things plotted.

I am so happy to have you John.

http://quiltdad.blogspot.com/

This is Katy from http://www.imagingermonkey.blogspot.com/ and I having coffee together. We live way to far apart to really have coffee so I thought this was the next best thing. Thank you Katy for being a good friend. Maybe someday we can really share some coffee. I love You!

Giveaway On Sugar Shop's Blog

2008-08-30T22:55:00.002-05:00

Giveaway On Sugar Shops Blog. Go see her.

http://sugarshop.typepad.com/

Fritos

2008-08-18T12:55:00.003-05:00

OK, so this may prove I am nuts or there are others that think Fritos are the perfect food. They may not be good for you, but they are yummy and they go with so many things. So here is my favorite Frito combo list.

Fritos and bananas

Fritos and peanut butter

Fritos in a PB&J sandwich

Fritos and yogurt

Fritos dipped in mustard

I think I need to get some sewing done. My mind has turned to mush. I still have a huge list of things to do but all I can think of are chips. This is funny because I don't normally care for chips. Fritos are the only kind I eat. They are Wyatt's new favorite so I seem to have them around a lot. Bummer.

This last week I did trade this bag for this...

ouch!

Road Trips

2008-08-11T14:43:00.002-05:00

Normally this would be a crafty blog but today I am going to share something about me.

I love road trips. With gas prices the way they are it put a big restriction on going anyplace. But I love to get out on the road and drive.

When we lived in California we would pack up our car and drive to LA on a whim. I love Disneyland more them anyplace I have been. Not that I have been many places. My hubby proposed in Disneyland and we had our honeymoon there. My kids have been more times then most people believe. Lucas, my 3 year old had been 6 times before we moved here and he was only 10 months when we moved. It was only a 6-8 hour drive from Santa Cruz and if we left at 2 or 3 in the morning we would be in Disneyland soon after it opened.

My Moms favorite crazy me story involving driving to Disneyland is...

My mom, grandma, brother and niece had been down there, I didn't have the money for tickets so we stayed home. When they got back they were showing us things they had picked up for themselves and us and my Mom said something about how she wished they could have used the last day on their pass, but they just couldn't. That is all she had to say. *One day left on passes* We were in the car two days later, 2am driving to LA, Hubby,Little Brother, 2 small kids and Me. We spent the day there and drove back after the park closed. I have never been so tiered in my life, but it was so much fun.

Now we live in Texas and a road trip to LA would be a big thing. Plus, I have made that drive and it isn't fun. But if I had a full tank of gas or maybe 5, I would be in my car driving like a crazy person to LA and spend the day in Disneyland.

By the way Maddie has been 16 times and she is only 7, She had the fun of spending the week of her 4th birthday in Disneyland. It was wonderful.

what's your name fruithead

2008-08-06T19:01:00.004-05:00

I am so tired I can't think of a good title.

What a busy week it has been. Well busy for a girl who stays home with kids and a sewing machine all week and doesn't venture out till the weekends. My Mom and Dad came for a visit this last week and we dropped them off at the airport just a few hours ago. So now we are home. The kids are sad but keeping themselves busy. We ran around all week.

It is funny how much of the city we saw when we first moved, but how much we still have to see.

The Japanese Tea Garden was a nice spot to run around. Although the kids were wondering were the tea was.

I got this wonderful quilt from the Miniature Booty swap from Colene. My two favorite colors. I love it Colene, Thank You so much. I took the picture then ran inside to hang it above my cutting table. It looks perfect.

It also reminds me to get mine finished and sent out. I am sure bad at the sending part. I have three packages ready and waiting to go to the Post office. This week, by Friday.

I finished a bag for my Grandma. She wanted something patchwork in black and white. So this is what I came up with. I think it turned out nice.

I hope to get a few things finished now that my company has gone home. I am on a strawberry hunt for the Strawberry Swap, I am reading Brothers Grimm tales for inspiration for the Fairy Tale Swap, I have a small quilt to work on for the Booty Swap, 2 quilts for the 6" Quilt swap and I need to finish the quilt for the Doll Quilt 4 swap. I may need to take a swapcation.

Drink Coffee, do stupid things faster with more energy.

2008-07-28T14:28:00.004-05:00

That isn't a movie quote. It is what a card said that I got in the mail today. Made me laugh.

What a long weekend I have had. I have been working on kids room to get them under some bit of control for my parents. They will have to sleep in the kids rooms. They land here in San Antonio tonight. Late tonight. Like almost tomorrow, tonight. I will have to say I am a big chicken and I don't like driving around this city so late at night without Hubby. He has to work late and doesn't know if he will be back in time. GREAT!

We went over to a friends last night and came home with a kitten. I have a huge weakness for Kitty's. So this is Frappuccino.

So I have a bit of a thing for Starbucks. Nothing major.

I had a fun trip to the mail box today.

First I got this wonderful package for the super wonderful Katy. It is for Madelyn for her Birthday. We will see what is wrapped up tight on the 31st. She also added a few cards for me. They are worth a good snort. They had me laughing. She and I had the same favorite. *Damn Right I'm Good In Bed I Can Sleep For Days*

Then I opened my doll quilt form The Doll Quilt 4 Swap. Oh my goodness, I love it so much. What an amazingly fun quilt. I took a pic outside where the light is good then came in an got it up on my wall. Did I say I loved It? Thank You Amy!

Then I opened my July 6" quilt swap package. What fun I had opening this one up. Not only did I get myself a way cute little quilt but also a sweet little pin cushion and a stack of fabric squares. Thank You very much lucyellen. I love it all. I am having trouble finding the picture, I will post it soon. Sorry!

My family will be around till the 6th. Blogging my be a bit slow.

you shut your mouth when you are talking to me

2008-07-23T14:09:00.003-05:00

That one is from The Wedding Crashes. Makes my hubby laugh every time we watch that movie. It has been on TV a lot lately. Hubby used that one on one of his employees. Left him speechless. That is had to do to that guy.

I have had to live without the computer for 2 days. It was terrible I tell you. Hudson had a bad case of the computer hiccups or something. But he is back to his wonderful self. I am a much happier person also. Apparently I have a computer/Internet addiction and I was not a nice person. I think my family would have to move out if I lost the computer, my sewing machine and coffee at the same time. Sorry Family.

Did I show you my new cutting table? No, OK I needed a place to cut fabric on. Something on the tall side because I like to stand when I cut. I have a hard time sitting when playing board games or card games to. So I wanted something I wouldn't have to bend over to far to cut fabric on. This makes finding a table difficult. Finally after a lot of hunting I decided that i would have to have Hubby build one. I think it turned out better then anything I could have found. Plus I painted it a happy color.

I lub it.

You would think with no computer I may have gotten all kinds of sewing done. Well not I started a few things but nothing has been finished. I am trying to get a messenger bag finished for Maddie for her 7th birthday on the 31st. My parents come into town on Monday so I need to be finished before then. After they come we will be living at Cracker Barrel. They don't have them in California so they need to eat it as many times as they can while here. So I should get on it.

There's no monsters on the porch you ninny

2008-07-16T18:16:00.003-05:00

The title has nothing to do with anything. It is just one of my favorite lines from *Meet The Robinsons* It has to be one of my all time favorite Disney movies. That a big thing because most Disney movies rank in the favorite category. But I would have to say I have a strange collection of favorite movies. *Monty Python And The Holy Grail* is in the top 5. Does that scare anybody?

So the real reason I was here is my little mushroom quilt. I thought it was fun so I was going to show it off. The theme for this months 6" quilt swap is triangles so I have been trying a few things.

Not What I Wanted To Be Doing

2008-07-14T21:03:00.002-05:00

At 8:00 I was getting kids ready to go to bed. I go into the very messy boys room, look around and decide that cleaning will be a tomorrow thing. But then something catches my eye. There are small black things crawling around on the floor. Now I am not talking a few. Gazillion would almost cover what my eye had just seen. Then the seen from the new Indiana Jones move flashes through my head. (yes I did go see a grown up movie, with other grown ups, and no kids) So I go get the ant removing tool, also known as the vacuum. So here I am tossing toys in buckets and vacuuming at the same time. What talent I poses. I am still in awe with how many ants were in there. I know this is Texas and there are a huge number of buggies and when it rains they come in. And in they came. I have a huge number of bites to prove it. Did I tell you they bite. So I am going to take some Benadryl and a shower and go to bed.

Maddie And Me

I Hate Paper Piecing

Allergic to Winter

Sick Week

I did good

The January ToDo list

floors and umbrellas

Bad at this blog thing

Reliving Life

A year

Got the sewing mojo back

A New Year and A New Begining (I hope)

Wonky coins with tufted tweets

Life

opinions

Transition

Crazy Life

Changes

On my second cup of coffee

Nothing But Sick Kids

Look- I had a baby

ready to have this baby

No Power = No Sewing and crazy kids

Lack Of Brain Function

Sleepy Me

Christmas Time

Birthday

Two Finished Quilts In A Week

Birthday, Disneyland and a funny thing

Pumpkin Patch a Birthday and a Trip

Stormy

Crazy Life

ITS A GIRL

Funny Night at The Movies

What A Week

I'm Back (I hope)

July? So soon?

My Weekend

My Wee One Is 4 Years Old Today

school is almost out

The Allie Quilt

It only took me 6 months

Just For Fun

*THE VOODOO THAT YOU CAN DO*

i love santa cruz

Mommy's Day Off

The Wonderful World Of Disney

Tattoo and a Trip

Happy Easter

Sunday Stash # something

New Stuff

WOW

Life is Crazy

Can't seem to focus

Sunday Stash

My Boy and his Backpack

Sleepy

sunday stash

my year of quilts 2008

my year of bags 2008

Sew Connected 2

time for sunday stash

Sunday Stash a day late.

Cold

Giveaway Winners are...

Sunday Stash 4

Sunday Stash #3

who would like to win something?

HOCKEY

sunday stash

A Giveaway

Quilt Class

sunday stash

In Honor Of Veterans Day

Tagged I'm It

Laughing

Happy Me, The Party Is Over

My Little Boy Is 5 Today

treat bags for a birthday boy

Cutting

THE VOODOO THAT YOU CAN DO