thank you

Dear friends thank you for your sweet and supportive comments. Writing it down helped me feel better. But you all made me feel like I can do it.

And lucky me, mrlouwho came home three days early from his training yesterday! Whew.

i miss blogging - Kim, this is for you.

I miss having the time to sit down with a picture or two and tell you all about a current project!  Making a change in my habits has helped me be more present for my life here at home, but I'm finding it hard to post as often as I used to, or would like.

I finished a really cool project for the Spicing Up the Kitchen swap I was in on Flickr.  And guess what I did?!  Took some awesome pictures and then formatted my memory card without uploading them!  AAAAHHHHHH!! I've never done that before!  At least my partner can take pictures for me.  I hadn't wanted to post them yet, because I think a couple things I sent might have given away my secret identity.  Soooooo, now I'm waiting not so patiently until she receives the package and then I can tell you all about it.

My friend Sara of Sew Sweetness started a Heather Ross quilt-along that I promised to be a part of.  A lot of people are already finished (like Sara, productive-queen) and I have yet to start.  Next week.  Maybe, or the week after. And if you don't follow her blog yet, you should.  She's amazing.  She just started blogging a few months ago and has so many cool projects and great pattern reviews.  Really, go check her out.

I also started a non-sewing project with a group of friends that is helping me get back into the groove of taking pictures (not on auto) and I'll be able to share more about that soon.  That is if you are even interested!

Here's two more quilt blocks I finished (late) for last year's bee.

And remember that post I wanted to write about what I learned while I took a break (2 months ago!), yep, haven't done that either.

The upside?  I am getting more sleep, I've started working out, and the sun is shining more! YAY!

Oh and I FINALLY got around to making one of these cake plates.

ask me about how I didn't know the leprechauns were coming and then we made a trap and didn't catch them but they left these nice cupcakes because they had already given out all their gold.  yep, mom of the year, right here.

Actually two.  I *heart* them so much!

Seriously so easy.  Candlestick holder (thrifted) + cute plate from Marshall's + gorilla glue.  Total cost? approx. 5$

and this little crumbsnatcher will be 1 next month!! REALLY? Where has the time gone?

I love her happy face.  She is a such a joy and has won us all over, without question.  And can you believe that sweater?  We rescued it from certain neglect at a thrift store before she was born.  Hand crocheted and never worn. We love it.

Oh yes! And then there's the amazing antique store I went to selling all things distressed in white, turquoise and green!  AMAZING.  I need to tell you about that too.

Soon.  I promise.  And next week?  I'll show you some progress on my HR quilt (because I haven't started yet and need someone to keep me honest).  And maybe we should have a sew & tell in March!  I almost forgot!

Thanks Kim, for chatting today and telling me you missed my posts.  Hope this one tides you over.

obsess much?

Maybe I should have said last week that I have entered the obsessive stage of pregnancy.

After finishing this bag for my friend, I had to order some of Laura Gunn's Poppy line too.  This is going to be awesome (I hope!).  The graphics are very large, I'm thinking of buying some to put on stretcher boards and hang in my house, like this.

I used a gift card to Pink Chalk Fabrics that I won during Jaquie's Joy in the New Year Challenge in January!  They were super fast and have a lot of the new prints available.

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Amy did an awesome post last week about turquoise!  I've been wanting to do one myself and when I saw her's I thought, "Yes, I need to do it."  I actually wrote one a while ago that was kind of fun, but I have some new additions to share.

(l-r, top to bottom)  milk crate (Target), free chair painted blue, free table painted same blue (ionic sky - Behr), KitchenAid measuring cups (now if I could just find the spoons!), breadbox (Target), little vase, colander. bowl, bistro chair (Rustoleum spray - Aqua).

I know Pantone has declared Turquoise THE color for 2010, but I've loved it for so long (well turquoise/lt blue/baby blue).  Not that I'm saying I'm a trendsetter, I just think if you like something long enough it will come into style - and then I find you want to buy everything up while it's hot and available!

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I love Michael Miller's Dandy Damask.  I think it's out of print.  At least I know it's difficult to find.  I won a gift card to Fabric Depot from Jodi@Pleasant Home sometime last year and finally used it!  I was so happy to find some more dandy as well as this Farmer's Market print (sheepish grin) in aqua.

I was originally thinking of doing a little baby blanket with it,  but now I think I just want to stare at it.

And then I bought some of the dandy in brown and green.  I used it in my bird quilt and loved it!  I thought I could do a boy blanket with brown minky...

and then, OOPS! I already had 2 pieces.  So now maybe I'll do the borders on my quilt with it.  Goodness, I have enough of it now.  I guess this would be a good reason to get my stash organized and all in the same place.  I seriously had forgotten that I already had a bunch.

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Ever since I watched North and South last week I've been reminded how much I love all the great British period dramas/love stories. I found this video. Now I have a list of more shows to watch (and maybe rewatch, but I'm not telling). I also probably don't want to admit that I ran across this clip watching random videos starring Richard Armitage.....

Do you have any current obsessions?  Please tell me I'm not alone!

some embroidery (and just a bit of complaining)

So I've been trying to decide what to share with you all the last couple of days.  I've been a little sidetracked from blogging.  I have been helping a friend make a bag.  And she's been very clever.  I love working with other people on the same projects I do and see their twist on my design.  Here's what I'm talking about:

She's says to me, "it would be cute to embroider around the flowers".  I say, "Why, yes it would.  And maybe a few beads in there too!" and just look at what she did!

Now I'm a little jealous I'm not making this bag for myself.  Full reveal to come soon.  We've got to make some more time for another lesson.

I really love helping people learn to sew.  I mean really, what better way to make your home more beautiful, your accessories more personal, and have a creative outlet you can do in your free time (when not taking care of life's other demands)?
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I'm excited to be participating in this (click on the button for more info):

Tiffany emailed me and asked if I would contribute a recipe.  Of course, I picked the least photogenic food to share: meatloaf.  But what it lacks in good looks it makes up for in flavor.  I'll be sure to let you know when I'm up next week!

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I really think I'm entering the cranky, ornery, crying stage of pregnancy.  I watched this movie the other night and cried for Mr. Thornton (here's a clip - don't worry, it's not a spoiler).  I've been spending a lot of time on the hamster wheel that is laundry, food prep and kitchen clean-up, it's getting old.  And I'm feeling stressed by not knowing EXACTLY where we'll be moving in a few months.  And yet, every time I finish a small sewing project, or feel an elbow sticking out of my side or hear my daughter say something funny and my baby boy give me a big kiss, I think it's not all bad.

I've felt a little distracted from the blogging community lately.  Much due to the aforementioned time consuming tasks. I hope you will forgive less frequent comments and visits, but know that I appreciate everyone of you and your enthusiasm and creativity which is infectious!

I did finish those other two bags this weekend and have Penny's bee block to finish this week.  Maybe I'll have a lot to share on Friday!  I also need some help deciding what to do for my baby's quilt.... Care for any suggestions?  I have a stack of Amy Butler Love fat quarters.  I would love your input on simple quick designs I could use....

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And is it just me, or does Flickr run slow on Firefox?

bronchitis + ear infection + 7 days = unproductive

Hello friends!  I've just been double-whammied in the illness department.  With everything else that's going on, this is not fun.  I guess I should be happy that it's not swine flu.  But then again if it were, at least I wouldn't have to worry about getting it later.

Boo hoo for me.

Really though, I wanted to remind you about the Bloggers Quilt Festival this weekend!






Considering the fact that I'm lying here hardly able to move, while coughing up a lung a little sick, our Sew & Tell this Friday will be to go to Amy's site and participate in the quilting festival. Either by sharing a quilt or just looking at everyone else's! And don't forget the prizes!!

Next week Sew & Tell will resume and you can share projects from this week and next!

Oh, and again Amy Butler is killing me with new office supplies.  If I had a large disposable income I think I would have new bedding, new rugs and new desktop organizers, all from her site!


Speaking of Amy B. I didn't want to be totally picture-less.  This is one of my favorite stash pictures.

ahh, there, I feel little bit better already.