Bolo Heads

I didn't make it

2012-03-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

Last month I posted about this contest.

well today I found out I didn't make it.

I should not be sad about it.

I should be relived in a way because,

I was going to be out if town for the first two week of the competition.

It would have been a pain to try to finish Easter dresses,

and then add on three other projects

to the list of one hundred things to do before April 4.

Need less to say that I am sad.

Maybe because it has just been a crappy couple of days.

But the real reason is this...

I think I am better than who they chose.

I do this every time, every time I enter a stupid linky party,

every time I enter an online contest.

I just end up being upset about it.

I will make something super cute, take pictures,

enter ten linky parties and with out fail,

the next week I will not be featured.

I often wonder why.

Is it my photo skills?

Did I not show off that well how awesome I did?

Did I use fabrics that they didn't like?

Should I have done it in a different way?

I don't know.

All I know is that of the people they did choose,

two of them can not even sew in a zipper,

and some of the things were so simple I could have made them in a day.

Then I am left to wonder is that what they want..

Did they want something cute but sewn crappy.

Did they want something clever and trendy.

I mean even in the honorable mentions most of it didn't look that good to me.

I also have to wonder if they want someone with a

big blog and a thousand followers.

If the 98 of you who do follow me was not seen as worthy to the judges.

(by the way I love all 98 of you, and thank you for putting up with me.)

I know it doesn't matter, the things I make I love.

If I take the girlies out in things that I have made

I am stopped and told what a lovely job I have done.

I have had people stop in the middle of the parking lot

to ask me about a sun dress for crying out load.

But I do a post of all the things I have sewn and I get nothing.

I know I know it doesn't matter.

When I posted on Facebook that I was cleaning out my closet,

and to come get what you want,

all those dresses were gone in about three hours.

I know they did not come to get a free dress,

they came to get a "Robyn" dress.

That should matter but it still hurts to be turned down.

I want to make things that people see and love.

(I guess I do)

I want this little blog to grow, so that I can share my talents.

(I guess I do that too)

I guess when it comes down to it I just want

to be recognized as a new talent.

I just want this little blog to grow to be a big blog.

I want to contribute to the household and grow a business.

I am not a business minded person, and I don't know how to do that.

I thought if I win this contest then people would know me.

If people know me I will get more than nine views a day.

If I get more than nine views a day maybe I could get sponsors.

If I got sponsors then maybe I could get advertising.....

and so on and so forth.

I have always been told by the husband and the mother,

when are we going to start making money with your talents.

It is never "that is amazing" it is always,

now when can you sell this and make some money.

Maybe I am doomed to be the struggling artist,

and not the money making artist.

OK I am now going to cry while I make dinner, and blame it on the onions.

I will probably be deleting this post in the morning.

But right now I just needed to vent.

Thanks for listening to my whining,

I am now going to put on my big girl panties and get over it.

The Ayumi Bag

2012-02-27T12:16:00.001-07:00

Do you know Lori and Monica?

They are my favorites,

I love how fun and crazy Monica is

and I made my quilt from Lori's first fabric line.

Last week they posted about these super cute bags they were both making.

They made it so fun by swapping each others fabrics and treats.

I saw what fun they were having and thought I would give the bag a try.

I was already at the Joann's buying fabric for the swap.

I found a super cute fat quarter bundle.

Came home and went to work and Lala got this bag.

I was trying to get the fairy on the bottom of the bag

to be in the center.

I did not account for the boxed corners.

What I think is so fun about this little bag is the

drawstring bag sewn into the top.

See adorable, and I don't have to worry about

her running and things falling out.

Not that I really have to worry about that, but still.

I also love that it is fully lined.

How cute are the fairy wands.

Now I wish I could say that I was done

with one bag and we could move on.

Nope!!

I went crazy, and made this one for me.

I took my scraps from my quilt,

pieced them together, and voila the cutest thing ever.

I did contrasting bands and I love it.

Lined it with this super cute daisy.

I think it is fabulous, it is currently holding my smocking.

All the girls including Baubi are getting smocked dresses for Easter.

I wasn't done though.

I then called my sister and told her she needed to make one too.

She got this super cute fabric,

She was suppose to get five fat quarters and got six instead.

She said that I had to use all of them and

she wanted me to line the drawstring part.

I didn't want to do, but now I like it better.

Super cute insides.

I am loving this way to much.

Then on Saturday Baubi came into my sewing room

wanting to know how to sew a dress.

The amazing part of that whole sentence

is the fact that she doesn't sew.

She has fought with me every time I try to get her to sew,

and has told me "Why do I have to learn when I have you"

I told her she should start with a bag

instead of jumping all the way to a dress.

So here is her's.

I was gifted this fabric and it sparkles,

all the best things for a teenage girl.

It is kind of hard to see but it really does sparkle a lot.

Even the lining.

Look at how cute she is.

Please look at her and not my messy room.

I told you not to look at the mess behind her,

or the mess around her either.

I still have more to say about this,

but it is going to have to wait for later.

I have to go meet with Baubi's school counselor.

She starts High School in the fall.

How did that even happen.

The Rumors are True

2012-02-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

One day last summer I went to Quilts Etc.

It is a great place, they have everything, and it is just too fun.

They have a whole room that is just depression fabrics.

Anyway I was looking at their novelty fabrics and over heard a conversion.

There was a lady at the cutting counter talking to the lady cutting her fabric.

Like most quilters she was complaining about the ridiculous cost of cutting blades.

That is when I heard the most amazing thing.

She said, "Have you heard about Harbor Freight Tools?"

I was really beginning to wonder what in the world a tool store had to do with quilting.

She went on to say

"I heard they have 45mm blades for like $2.00"

"I think they are for a carpet cutting tool or something"

"I think I saw it on a blog, is it true"

The cutting lady had no idea what she was talking about.

Flash forward to last month.

Over Christmas I got Good Looking to paint Baby sister's furniture.

It is now bright yellow and adorable.

I wanted to find really gaudy vintage pulls, and spray paint them orange.

I went to the re-store and they didn't have what I wanted.

Then I thought maybe Harbor Freight might have some.

I went in and asked, the nice man said they don't sell cabinet pulls.

I thanked him and turned away and then a small voice said in my head

"cutting blades"

I quickly turned back and asked him

"Do you have round razor blades?"

He said "Yes they are for carpet cutters, but I am guessing...

(while giving me the up down look)

that you want them for quilting"

He walked me to where they lived and I found them.

Not only do they really exist, they really are less than $2.00.

On the day I was there they were on sale for only.

$1.79

I was so excited I bought a bunch.

There are two per package.

I quickly grabbed all my rotary cutters, and went to town.

The blades fit perfectly in these fiskars rotary cutters.

Look at those beautiful sharp edges.

Truly makes my heart go pitter pat.

Now before you start cutting all your squares for the swap,

run don't walk to your local Harbor Freight, and get your self a nice little stash.

If there is not one near you I found them on their web page.

Go here and get them shipped directly to you.

No need to thank me, really it is the least I could do.

Still open

2012-02-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

My first swap is full.

Yeah I am so happy!!!

Swap #2 still has two openings,

So go sign up here

Kelly green and purple are the colors that are left there.

Swap # 3 still has a lot of open space.

If you already signed up for one and are thinking that you might want more fabric,

(scrappy quilts take a lot of fabric)

You can sign up here

I am going to be working on emails today with all the extra info.

I just have to wait for Good Looking to leave with the kids ;)

If you are still wondering if you should,

Here are some projects to tempt you with.

Not to mention all the scrappy quilts going on on pinterest.

You will like what you get back I promise.

OK go already and sign up.

Here I will make it easy on you,

I won't even make you scroll back up.

and here.

Have a great Presidents day.

Start you engines,or fingers what ever.

2012-02-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

Today is the day!

It is snowing, and gloomy.

So let's get swapping.

If you are new, I will let you know what I am talking about.

Every spring I host a color charm swap.

It goes like this.

You go to the store (or your stash) and get ten fabrics of the same color.

All you need is 1/4 yard, or a fat quarter.

Go home and cut them up into four inch squares.

Here is a tutorial.

You then send me your cut squares in a SASE

(self addressed stamped envelope)

I take your fabrics, I do the little shuffle and you get back

200 different fabrics all the colors of the rainbow.

Now I am not going to lie to you.

I have had problems in the past.

I am trying something different this year,

I have set up a spread sheet in Google.

Follow the link, choose your color,

and add your info.

Now if you want to be in different swaps,

you can with out fear of being lost in the shuffle.

I am going to have three swaps this time.

Here are the links

Spring Swap #1

Spring Swap #2

Spring Swap #3

Just a reminder the colors are

Red

Hot pink

Light Pink

Orange

Yellow

Lime Green

Kelly Green

Aqua Blue

Royal Blue

Purple

Also just a reminder,

This is NOT Yellow

This is

This is not Green

This is

This is not Orange

Yep you got it, this is.

I am excited to try out my new spread sheet system.

I hope it really helps keep everything straight.

OK are you ready,

Get set,

GO!

Oh one more thing the deadline is going to be March 7th

I am going to Hawaii on the 4th of April and I have to have this all 100% done.

Oh and one more, one more thing, I am happy to have international swappers

It makes it a lot more fun. If you are planning on plying with us, I did have to change thing up for you this time.

There will be a fee of sorts, I have to have in my Paypal account the shipping funds before I will mail your package to you, and with fees and such from Paypal the fees are going to be this.

$13.00 US for Canada and

$20.00 US for everyone else.

I will send it back to you in a priority package with a tracking number.

I hope this doesn't count you out but I had a hard time getting paid back last time.

OK, now lets go.

What to do, what to do

2012-02-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

Have you seen what is going on over at

Family Ever After?

I follow the sewing competitions

and I always wish it was me.

I think it would be so much fun.

I never think of my self as a competitive person,

but when it comes to my sewing I am.

I think I am awesome, and I think I should win.

(self empowerment is everything right)

First step is to link up.

Then you have to get noticed by the judges.

Those judges are going to be tough.

I am not to worried about some of the competition.

I am sorry but I don't think the lady who made the napkins is going to make it.

I don't think they are looking for quilters,

so that narrows down the field.

So far there are 102 entries,

only ten are going to be chosen to go on to compete.

So here I am wondering what to do,

what to link,

what would best show the judges what I can do.

I could show some casual stuff.

Like skirts

I could show off my fancy Easter dresses,

from last year.

Maybe Christmas dresses

I could really rock their world,

and show off my heirloom sewing.

I can not forget Halloween,

because if you know me, you know I get a little crazy there.

Well that is all I can think of now.

I am sure when it is all said and done,

I will think of five other thing I could have posted.

Wish me luck, I hope I make it.

In other news I am going to Hawaii in April

I want to have the Spring swap done, and done before I leave.

Get ready it is coming.

Can I just say once again that I am not a technical person.

In blogger the pictures were all organized side by side,

and then when I hit preview it is skwampous.

Sorry, I really tried but the computer doesn't think like I do.

The Super Bowl is Coming, The Super Bowl is Coming

2012-02-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

I fell kind of silly admitting this,

but I never really watched the super bowl before I married Good Looking.

I did not grow up in a football family.

My mom would watch BYU football, and then turn it off when they started doing badly.

She truly believed that she was a curse to the team.

It even worked a couple of times

where she would turn it off, and then they would make a touch down.

OK back to the Super Bowl.

What are you making?

I make the worlds best potato skins

I am not even lying, I really do.

I have stopped ordering them when we go out,

because I know they are just going to be a disappointment.

Want to try them out for Sunday?

I know you want to so here you go.

Step One

Wash your potatoes.

It helps to have small children who think this is fun,

and will scrub the spuds so long that their little hands turn all pruney.

Step Two

In a large bowl pour in about 1/4 cup of oil,

and two teaspoons of sea salt, or any other salt you like.

Now toss your potatoes in the oil salt mixture until coated.

Step Three

Next you want to let them drip dry a little.

Sorry I don't have a picture of this, I just set them out on a cooling rack over

a cookie sheet lined with paper towels.

Step Four

Bake them up.

If you notice in that picture I have a foil lined cookie sheet,

that is to catch the oil and steam drips.

If you want to skip this step you can,

but your oven will pay the consequence of your poor choice.

Bake them for about 45 min at 425 degrees,

or until you can squish them.

Look at those beautiful crispy skins.

Step Five

Cool them down a bit,

they call the game "Hot Potato" for a reason.

Step Six

Slice them up.

You could cut them in half, but I quarter them so they will go further.

I have made twenty pounds of these bad boys. and come home with nothing,

and people complaining that they didn't get enough.

Quarter them up, so that you are not looking into some poor boys face

who was to busy playing to come get his food on time, and missed out on your potatoes.

It is heartbreaking really.

Step Seven

With a spoon scoop out the points.

Your cheese and bacon need a place to live.

Step Eight

Line then up in cute rows on a foil and parchment lined pan.

I used to line them up on just a foil lined pan,

and then I noticed people trying to pry the baked cheese and bacon off the foil.

Save the frustration and get the parchment paper.

Step Eight

CHEESE!!

and BACON!!!

If you are using bacon slices,

I find it is easier to chop up the bacon before frying it.

If you are going to use bacon bits,

please for the love of all that is good and holy don't use bacos.

That is just fake and nasty.

Costco sells a big bag of bacon bits made from real bacon.

You can also find then next to the bacos in the grocery store.

Step Nine

Cook them up.

I bake them at 450 for about five minutes,

until the cheese is all melty and delish.

Top with fresh chopped chives or green onions.

Serve them with ranch dressing,

and wait for everyone to tell you how amazing you are.

I really wish I had a picture of them all hot and melty,

but I took these pictures while waiting for everyone to come to my house for a party.

As soon as they come out of the oven they were gone.

Now you might be wondering what bout the potato guts.

If you are super awesome,

and know how to bake bread then you are golden.

I usually fry them up in the morning with some eggs.

I hope you try them and they are a success!!

Have fun watching the game, I am going to be there for the commercials

because the 49er's didn't make it.

Speaking of commercials have you seen this one?

I only wish they had, had TMZ saying he was going to die,

like in the movie how they say he needed a kidney transplant.

Have fun on Sunday.

I'm Here

2012-01-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

I am still here I promise.

It has been crazy here since Christmas.

It was my birthday on the fifth.

It was the big 4-0.

Good looking surprised me with a party,

Grandma Kath and Pap Bill came.

After they left my brother came.

He is staying here for a couple of days.

My brother lives in Samoa and we haven't seen him in almost three years.

It has been so much fun, and I have had a hard time getting back into the swing of things

since Christmas break.

I also forgot to show you the girls Christmas dresses

and they were fabulous.

I used this Susan Stewart pattern, and I am in love with it.

I used some super cute fabric from Riley Blake,

it is from the lost and found line,

and it sparkles.

I first saw the fabric over the summer, and knew it had to be their Christmas dresses.

We stuck with tradition and went to see the Tabernacle Choir sing,

Don't worry I was very aware of my shoes.

Then of course we went to Little america for breakfast,

the girls favorite part of the tradition.

Keeping with tradition, I was sewing the night before, this time the big girls skirts.

Here they are.

I sometimes wonder what it would be like

if they could smile a real smile, and not these big faker pants smiles.

The little girls love to take pictures on the stairs,

here is baby sister...

and Lala.

I will be back, but right now I am suppose to be taking my brother

to meet my sister for breakfast.

It is the last day they are going to staying at my house.

They are moving to my sisters tonight, and then back to Samoa next week.

I have to show you the presents I made for them,

but not now because we are going to be late.

Another Quilt

2012-01-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

I have a trainer,

You could say a personal trainer,

you know the ones that are suppose to make you skinny.

She totally would, if I would play the game.

you know that game where you are suppose to eat right,

and exercise more than the two days a week that she kicks my but.

I guess you know my new year resolution now.

Anyway we have a trade system, she kicks my but and I sew for her.

She has two daughters that I sew for,

and three boys who, I do not sew for.

That is until recently.

Her son was going to be leaving to serve a mission for the church.

I have no sons, if I did I would be panicked about my boy being in a foreign country,

and not being there to offer my comfort on a hard day.

Knowing my friend and her undying love of her son, I made him a quilt.

(of course I would)

He goes to the University of Utah,

So I used their school colors for the quilt.

He did not know I was making it, this is when he first opened it,

he looks pretty surprised.

I think he likes it.

I used white fabric for the backing, then bought fabric markers,

and had everyone sign the back of it.

So if he does get discouraged, he has on hand every one's good wishes

to review, and hopefully make it all better.

It became a very popular place to be.

I reviewed some of the things people were righting,

the sweetest came from his little sister,

she is eleven and loves her big brother a lot.

I am glad that I was able to make such a nice memory for him

and his family.

I hope he has the time of his life.

I hope he is able to find people that he can help,

and I hope he returns safely.

A Quilting Swap

2011-12-31T14:52:00.000-07:00

This is not a swap I am doing but one,

one of my swapping friends is doing.

Her name is Josie and though I have never met her in person

I am sure she would be a blast to hang out with.

She is hosting a swap with a friend on hers.

Her friends blog is Mrs. Pickle's so I am sure she is going to be fun too.

It is a quilt along swap, and sounds like fun.

I am going to be to busy this year to join but if you would like to,

and you are going to be a good swapper,

Go check it out, and happy quilting.

Memory Quilt

2011-12-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about how to tell this story,

Do I tell you all the details?

Do I tell you names and dates?

Do I just show you the pictures, and let you know what I did?

I have decided to tell you the story without names, and not too many details.

This September Good Looking had a neighborhood reunion.

Like a high school reunion but with the kids he grew up with.

While we were there everyone was telling me how much they liked my quilt.

I had asked Good looking's facebook friends to vote for it,

and so they all knew me because of it.

Fast forward two weeks.

I was downstairs sewing, and the girls came downstairs

to tell me that an army man was at the door.

It was one of his friends from the party.

He had googled our house

and was standing in my living room asking for a favor.

You see I learned at the party that his son had died this summer.

He was just fifteen, he had died a month before his sixteenth birthday.

He was now in my house asking if I could make his wife a quilt

out of his son's clothes for her Christmas present.

With out hesitation (which I think surprised him) I said yes.

Here is the finished quilt.

Like most teenage boys he liked his graphic tees, and super hero's.

His jeans, I tried to use the ones that were the most worn out.

He was a rugby player,

It just happened that the piece that was on his sleeve

ended up next to the one on his shirt.

I don't think that if I had planned it that way, it would have worked out.

This is the shirt that he never got to wear,

it still had the tags on it.

My quilter put his name and his dates on it.

The inside boarder is his robe, and the outside his jeans.

That black square is his rugby shorts.

I bound the quilt with his flannel shirts.

Good Looking's friend insist that I put his rugby bag on the back,

and that it still be functional.

His son like most teenager's left his stuff everywhere, especially his dirty socks.

He wanted to keep the bag working, so he could keep a pair of dirty socks in this bag.

I feel so honored that I was the one with the opportunity

to keep the memories alive in such a special way.

I know it must have been so hard this Christmas, the first one with out
buying boy toys, video games, and making his favorite holiday treats.

He was their only son.

In their tragedy they were able to help three teenage boys grow to men,

with the donation of his heart, and kidney's.

Also this Christmas a father of seven was able to be at home

with no more health worries, thanks to his liver.

I hope I did this story justice, and that you go squeeze your kids

and let them know that the world would not be the same with out them.

Patchy Stockings

2011-12-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

What did you do with your Christmas swap fabrics?

Here is what my sister did.

Aren't those just about the cutest stockings you have seen?

Did you want to make some yourself?

Here is how you do it, or at least how we did it.

Take all your squares and separate them by color, we did bright red, dark red,

greens, blues, etc.

We then went to the store and bought 5/8 yard for the lining, backing, and such.

Match light and darks, we wanted to tie the backing into the front so we matched

three with the backing fabric.

Lights and darks.

You need twelve blocks or 24 squares total.

match together and mark a diagonal line down the center of each block.

With your quarter inch foot stitch on one side of the line.

Flip it over and do the other side.

Please save you life and sanity by chaining them all together.

Now cut on the line you drew.

Two triangles, press first then open, and press toward the dark side.

lay on top of each other, opposite of each other.

Draw another line.

Repeat.

You end up with this super cute hourglass.

Easy peezy lemon squeezy.

Are you ready for step two.

Lay out your squares the way you want them to be layed out.

We liked the dark fabrics alternating.

Sew them together in rows, and then the rows to each other.

Then take your stocking pattern.

We made up ours.

I like to have a big toe and and big opening.

I made my pattern on poster board so I could easily trace it onto the fabric.

Trace pattern on three layers of fabric.

It is important that you lay your fabric out this way,

with wrong side up and then right sides together.

Sew with right sides together the patch fabric, and the backing.

Then with right sides together, sew the lining pieces

leaving an opening on one of the sides.

We put prairie points on the cuff, so we didn't cover up the piecing we did,

Here is how it goes.

Five inch square (we made five per stocking)

Press in half

Press in half again.

Line them up along the opening of the stocking, interlocking the points together.

Baste them in place.

Sorry I did not get a picture of this step,

feel free to kick me in the shin the next time you see me.

Turn the stocking inside out and press, slip it into the lining, right sides together.

Don't forget the hanger. I made them five inches by two and a half.

(fold in half, sew together, turn inside out)

Now sew them together.

Remember that opening we left in the side?

pull the stocking inside out using that opening.

It will look like this.

Close the opening.

You can hand stitch it closed, but I figured it is a stocking,

and who is going to be looking on the inside to see how it is sewn closed.

Stuff the lining to the inside, press it and you are done.

And just like that you have the cutest stockings on the block.

Have you used your squares yet?

Now are you sad that you didn't get in on the swap.

I will be doing it again I promise.

Until then I hope you have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Rectangel Reverie Palooza

2011-12-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

Lat year I found out about Monica of The Happy Zombie.

I love her, her posts are so funny, and she knows her stuff.

Not to mention how CUTE her fabrics are.

Last year she posted her quilt called Rectangle Reverie.

I fell in love with it, I had been buying red and white Christmas fabric for years.

Every year I would go the Joann's and get whatever red and white fabric they had.

When I saw Monica's quilt I knew that I was finally going to put my collection to good use.

At this same time Grandma Kath wanted to make quilts for her daughter's.

She has never made a quilt and wanted to learn how.

I figured that this would be an easy one, with no corner's to match.

Since the pattern calls for ten fat quarters, and I had ten half yard pieces,

we made two red ones. Then headed down to our friendly neighborhood Joann's.

When we got there we found all the Christmas fabrics on sale 90% off,

and with Kath's teacher discount, are you kidding me!!!

Kath liked the Debbie Mum's best, so that is what we got for the other two.

Did you want to see?

This one is mine, how cute is it!

Here is the back

My little back patch with all the fabrics from the front.

I love it and can't wait to make some more.

Here is the quilting, Picnik didn't like my pictures this morning, so I couldn't highlight it.

The red ones got snow flakes.

The Debbie Mum's got holly berries and stuff.

I am so happy with how they turned out.

How many quilts did you make for Christmas?

Curse the Small Children

2011-12-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

I have so much to show you,

just the things I finished this last week are amazing.

I made a baptism dress out of a friends wedding dress.

Then I made her a dunking dress using the lace from said wedding dress.

I have another friend who every year for Christmas has a chocolate party.

Yes you heard me right, a chocolate party.

She invites all her friends over makes all the fondant centers and lets you go to town.

I of course had to make the girls skirts for this occasion.

I found the cutest Christmas fabric at the Joann's of Christmas chocolates,

They are adorable, with jumbo Chocolate rick rack.

Also a week ago today,

I was binding four quilts, they are Christmas quilts,

once again adorable.

If you wondering well lady where are your pictures of these lovelies,

especially pictures of the chocolate.

This is where the title of this post comes into play.

Lala and Baby Sister were playing with my camera and now,

it is no where to be seen.

They were having so much fun taking pictures of themselves,

and sneaking in to take pictures of me.

Of course they can not remember for the life of them where it is now.

That is why I am saying

"Curse the small children!!!"

I am now offering money to who ever finds it.

It is hard to tell a story on the world wide web with out a picture.

When it is found I will be posting the pictures I promise.

If it is not found my sweetie is getting me a new camera for Christmas.

Although that makes for a very boring blog for the next month.

Have fun, hope to be back soon with pictures to show.

I'm Back

2011-11-30T08:48:00.000-07:00

I know this might sound strange but I don't like posting while I am doing a swap.

I am afraid that people will think..

"You got some nerve having fun while holding my fabrics hostage."

"Woman just get my fabric in the mail."

As of Monday all the swaps are done and in the mail, so I am back.

It took longer than anyone ever thought,

Some got my address wrong, some forgot, some dropped out, and I had to fill their spot.

I promise next time I will be nagging you constantly, so that no one forgets.

I have it all planned, the fun and sarcatic emails I can send.

Maybe it will be like childbirth,

and in March I will have forgotten all this nonsense and think it will be fun to have a swap.

I have been busy and I do have things to share,

I will be back to do just that shortly.

We are going to have hurricane force winds here tonight, so I will be hunkered down and ready to share.

Until then have a great day.

Halloween '11

2011-11-01T18:41:00.000-06:00

How was your Halloween?

The weather was perfect here yesterday, today is another story.

Yesterday the sun was shining and the birds were singing.

OK I don't know about the birds, but it was sweet.

Today the sun is gone, the clouds and rain are here, and the wind is blowing.

I am so glad that the weather was nice yesterday,

so that the girls didn't have to be bundled up hiding the costumes.

I don't know how many you made, but my grand total was eight.

I will start with the oldest and work my way down.

I am to lazy to picnic them all so bear with me.

Baubi

She didn't know what she wanted to be until a month ago.

She decided on Robin Hood.

Funny story....

I didn't start making hers until Sunday.

I miss cut the skirt, (that is what I get for doing it on Sunday)

I made a matching green ruffle slip, that is what she wore to school.

I went Monday morning bought another yard of fabric, came home,

finished the skirt, rushed to her school to give her her new skirt.

On the way stopped to get gas, and locked my keys in the car.

Good times.

My sister asked her son what he wanted to be for Halloween,

and with out hesitation asked

"What is Baubi being"

He was Little John

(I did not make his costume)

It is fun to have cousins who love each other so much.

Gowyn

Is finally done with Cinderella, and wanted to be something spooky.

I made her be a Gray Ghost.

She wasn't sure about it, but she warmed up to it.

Pretty spooky, huh.

We painted her face white.

Her dress was gray satin and lace.

Like last year, her best friend Tai came to play along.

(I didn't make his either)

They had so much fun together.

Here they are playing dead.

Lala

She anounced this spring that she was over Arial, and liked Belle now,

So that is what we did.

I think that she looks pretty fabulous.

So does she.

I asked her if she liked it and she said...

"No I LOVE it"

Here she is twirling, because like I have said in the past,

she is our #1 twirler.

Baby Sister

Since she cut her hair this summer, we made her be Rupunzel with the short hair

I have a niece who is very girly and princess 100%,

but when my sister asked her what she wanted to be she said

some warrior princess from star wars the clone wars.

Now since she has naturally long blonde hair, we made her rapunzel with the long hair.

Yes I made them both.

My sister made her braid from a wig,

she even put lights in it so that it would gleem and glow.

Her natural hair goes down to about the second pink flower.

Now if you are keeping track at home we are to five costumes so far, here are the other three

Ash-Nanna

(That is what Baby Sister calls her)

My sister has been planning for a year for my niece to be Mulan.

She gathered all the fabric.

She combined patterns.

She cut it out.

She started sewing it up...

and that is when my niece said NO!!!

She wanted to be something poofy,

she wanted a ball gown, and that is what she got.

we went through the stash and had all the fabric to make her a

Snow Queen

(or as she says a snow princess)

I combined two patterns, so that we could add some fuzzy trim.

Her skirt had six skirts, I am thinking that is poofy personified.

See her fancy sleeves.

She does have a pretty cute face,

could you say no to that face?

OK here are seven and eight..

The Chubbers

My sister has twin girls, and they are chubby little babies.

Everyone calls them the chubbers.

When you have two little girls, with cute chubby legs, and naturally curly hair,

there is only one thing they can be for Halloween and that is...

Shirley Temple

They were not quite sure what was going on.

Look at those legs, and those dimples for elbows.

So cute and squishy.

When we googled ShirleyTemple dress

there were two that came up the most.

This polk a dot one.

And this pink ruffle skirt one.

She didn't want to leave her dad's side.

They were pretty funny trick or treaters.

they would hold on to their candy until they got to the next house,

then they would put it in their buckets, and hold onto that candy until the next house.

Now you know whay I have been away from this blog.

I will get back on it I promise.

To all my swappers, I will be going to the post office this week.

I promise.

I Am Trying My Best

2011-10-24T08:09:00.000-06:00

Here is the deal with the swaps.

Swap one

I still have not heard a thing from someone who said that she wanted to do my swap.

I assigned her a color, and have not heard a thing from her.

She is now black balled, and will not be allowed to do another one of my swaps.

My sister is taking her spot.

Also someone else got me address wrong,

and that package is now on it's way back to my house.

Swap two

Over the weekend I got all remaining packages,

they will be on their way soon.

Patty's swap

Still waiting on a few packages to arrive.

The person who forgot my address, joined this swap,

just in case her first one was lost in the mail.

I am now guessing that the second one is now addressed wrong

and on it's way back to her house,

so that it can once again make it's way back to my house.

Christmas swap

I am now starting to get packages,

they are fabulous

You are going to be so jealous that you didn't do it.

Kim I love love love the Christmas robin birds,

I mean seriously how perfect are those.

Linda my Grandmother who I loved, and taught me how to sew,

Always had scotty dogs for Christmas.

Thank you so much for those.

I am trying my best, I really am,

I am only one person,

I guess I am not bossy enough,

or scary enough,

to get people to do what they said they were going to do.

Next time I will pester, like crazy.

I will send out emails weekly reminding everyone what they signed up for

and not to be late.

I guess when you plan something

and then give up all control to someone else this is what happens.

Lost packages and things late.

There are still four spots in the Christmas swap,

The deadline is Nov. 1.

It means that you will have to have them in the mail this week.

If you are in this swap please but them in the mail this week.

I am sure you don't want to be reading an email like this in the middle of November,

with me telling everyone about this one lady who said that she wanted to do this Christmas swap,

and then didn't send me her packages.

I hope I have cleared things up,

and that you will want to swap with me again.

My Quilt Story and a Swap

2011-10-07T08:10:00.001-06:00

I am featured to day on Quilt Story.

Go check me out, I am talking about my Jeweled Wedding Ring quilt.

If you do go check it out you will see that I am wanting to make this quilt again.

I know, I would be the crazy one.

I want to make a Christmas quilt.

I want the red rings to be green.

The white centers to stay white and

all the joining pieces to be red.

For the petals I will make them green and then quilt them like holly leaves

For the circles I want to have all different Christmas fabrics.

I think they will look like lights on the Christmas tree branches.

Won't it be adorable.

I went to picnik and played way to long and made a mock up.

something like this.

Squint a little it might look better.

So even though I am still waiting on two packages from my first swap,

and even though I still haven't filled up Patty's swap,

I am going to have a Christmas swap.

No colors to assign.

Nothing specific just as long as it is Christmas.

This is the plan gather 10 Christmas fabrics.(1/4 yard or fat quarter)

They can be from your stash or new from the store.

Cut them into 20, 4" squares send them to me by November 1,

and you will get in return 200 all different Christmas fabrics.

You can use them for a Christmas quilt of your own.

You can make stockings out of them.

You can use them to decorate your Christmas tree.

You can use them to make Christmas cards.

You can join me in making my Christmas Jeweled Wedding Ring quilt.

Because, I know you want to.

I think this will be fun I am hoping to get three swaps,

because it will take over 600 circles to make my quilt,

and I don't want any repeats.

So who is with me.

Leave me a comment with your email and you are in.

If you still want in on the fall color swap there are still spots open.

Leave me a comment on what color you want,

Kendra from ScrappinCricut I haven't heard back from you and I am holding a spot for you.

Let the fun begin.

I Messed It Up Again

2011-09-30T10:25:00.000-06:00

Every once in a while I think I can do things.

I think that I can take on projects, and not mess them up.

The last time I did a swap, I SO messed it up.

For this fall swap I thought I had it all figured out.

I thought I could keep it all straight.

See the continuing problem is...

I thought.

Now I have messed it up again.

Not only did I mess it up, I ruined it for a cute Grandma.

Her name is Patty.

She said that she wanted to have burgundy, and then I got distracted trying to explain the big flower tutorial to her and forgot to go back and put her on the list.

Now sweet Patty is at home with all of her burgundy squares

and no place for her in my swap.

I know am the biggest looser here.

I can't just add her, because then the numbers would be messed up.

I could have her send them to me and I just hold on to them for a year, and then she has her spot for next years fall swap guaranteed.

But who is going to want to wait a year, 365 days, 52 weeks.

To make up for all my foolishness I am going to have one more make up swap.

If you wanted to do my swap, and didn't make it, now is your chance.

If you did my swap and want to double up on the fall fabrics, now is your chance.

If you feel bad for my sweet Patty and you want to help her out, now is your chance.

If you want to let me know that I am a looser, now is your chance.

Here are the rules for this swap.

The deadline is going to come fast, so we can get it done and to Patty.

If you want in let me know what color you want, and then go to the store this weekend,

and get it in the mail next week.

I am going to set the deadline as October 15.

There is going to be another fat quarter sale at Joann's on the 7-10.

If you think that money is an issue you can get all your fabrics for just over ten dollars.

You can review colors here, you can see the basic rules here.

Thank you for saving my life here, and thank you for helping out sweet Patty.

The State Fair

2011-09-21T17:31:00.000-06:00

Every year I enter the state fair.

This year was no exception,

the only problem was I did not make a very good showing.

Out of six things I entered, I only got two blue ribbons.

I know....

I should be grateful for two, but when you have won ten in one year two is pretty sad.

Here is what I entered and what I got.

Baby Sister's Easter dress got a blue ribbon,

seriously how could it not.

Christmas dress also got a blue ribbon.

Musketeer got a second place.

She was at a party where they painted pumpkins, and did not give out smocks,

and yes she got paint on it.

I know, I was screaming about it too.

They marked it down because of it.

Baubi's pageant dress also got a second place,

I have to wonder who got first, and how they beat me.

My looser quilt lost again, this time second place.

No blue ribbon on that one either.

This adorable witch costume got third place.

They said the shirt was dirty, and that the red bow did not match.

I'm not buying it.

I never thought of myself as a competitive person, until I started entering the fair.

Now I find myself walking around the fair saying things like...

"Come on, how did that not win."

I still have never walked away with a purple sweepstakes ribbon either.

I get all sort of grouchy when I walk over to the sweepstakes table

and see what made it.

I know, I know I should be grateful but when I do all this work,

and all I get is a stinking second place, it rubs me wrong.

Good Looking knows this about me, so to make up for the fact that I lost the quilt contest,

he bought me this.

It was waiting on the front porch for me when we came home from the fair.

Isn't just about the cutest thing.

I knew there was a reason I loved that man so much, he is pretty fabulous.

In other news I have started getting fabrics for the swaps, they are good ones.

You are going to be excited about it.

I hope a whole bunch come in the next couple of days, so that we stay on schedule.

All Done

2011-09-16T10:07:00.000-06:00

Both of my swaps are full

I am sorry if you wanted in, and were turned away.

I have ladies swapping as far away as England and Iceland.

I think having ladies from those two countries is funny because,

last year I was stuck in England because of the volcano in Iceland.

I am thinking of having a simple I spy swap later but not today.

For those of you who made the cut, I hope you are having fun finding your fabrics.

We are looking forward to seeing what you got.

One More Time

2011-09-08T09:27:00.001-06:00

I said I would, so here we go.

It is officially fall, and it is time to swap.

Yep once again I am hosting a rainbow swap.

Here are the basics

Go to the store and buy 10 different fabrics of one color.

(1/4 of a yard or a fat quarter)

Go home and cut each fabric into twenty, four inch squares.

If you love me you will then sort those fabrics

into twenty piles of each one of the ten fabrics.

(because it is not fun for me to sort 2000 pieces of fabric)

(allthough I do love you and I guess if you don't have time I could do it)
Then I will send you back 200 different fabrics.

This swap is a fall swap, so we are looking for warm fall colors.

These are your choices.

There are two spots per color.

Burgundy

Orange

Gold

Sage Green

Forrest (dark) Green

Navy

Plum

Cream

Tan

Brown

I am not going to lie to you, I had an early bird special for those who swapped before.

So for swap one, we still have spots open and those spots are...

Burgundy, sage green, cream, tan.

All spots are available for the second swap, and if we are lucky we might just get to a third swap.

so with out further ado...

Let's get swapping.

And the Winner Is...

2011-09-06T11:08:00.003-06:00

I know I am late, but it was a crazy weekend.

Friday we met Grandma Kath and Papa Bill for raspberry picking.

They were driving up from Arizona and we met them along their way to our house.

If you are local and love raspberries you must drive on down to Payson and get some.

We walked away with 21 pounds of the little red beauties.

Then on Saturday after spending the day at Swiss days we stopped and bought two cases of corn

What do you do with two cases of corn you might ask.

You freeze it.

All of this fun was my way of consoling myself over my loss.

Yes I am a looser, I guess I don't have as many friends as others do.

Since the contest comes down to the popular vote I lost.

I think the fact that I lost third place to a wall hanging is what is really getting to me,

and rubbing me wrong.

I mean really a wall hanging. I know, I just have got to let it go.

So this morning after all the craziness had subsided, I wrote down everyone's name that voted for me, and put them in the cup.

Went in and distracted Baby Sister from Tangled, and had her pull out a name.

And the winner is

Becky!

Who not only voted for me once, but twice, and even tried to get her Facebook friends to vote for me.

I now need to find out what you would like to have around your neck as you sew.

Speaking of sewing I will be back tomorrow with swapping news so stayed tuned.

The Giveaway (a week late)

2011-08-29T12:04:00.001-06:00

I said in my last post that I would have a giveaway and then totally dropped the ball on that one.

Things have been crazy here. School started and my parents had to come home from their mission due to health issues (don't worry they are on the mend). Good Looking and I are fixing up their new apartment. Blah blah blah and so forth. Since Baby Sister started preschool today I finally have a minute. Speaking of Baby Sister she showed no fear going to school, I think she was irritated that I was there.

She has got to be the cutest one there though.

So here is my giveaway, and the story behind it.

I have what I call my tool belt.

Good looking no matter what small job he his doing he will strap on his tool belt. I am the same way when ever I am sewing even if it is a two second job I am lost with out my "tool belt". It is essentially a lanyard that holds my nippers. If Good Looking is wanting me to do something while I am sewing I say

"Sorry, I have my tool belt on, I am busy".

I first started using one when I was working in the sweat shops.

I found I was faster if I didn't have to look for my nippers. Since then I have found that once I set them down they are lost. Even if I don't have them on, and thinking that I can sew two seconds with out it I find myself grabbing my chest trying to find it. Something that my friend DJ thinks is hilarious.

I figured if you were going to be nice enough to vote for my quilt you might like one for yourself.

I will make it in colors that you want, and if you want something special, I will do that for you.

Here are the rules.... Vote for my quilt (Jeweled Wedding Ring)

Let me know that you voted for my quilt. One entry

You can vote from your smart phone.One entry

Get your facebook friends to vote for my quilt. Two entries

(there is a share button on the link by my quilt)

If you voted before let me know that you did, I wouldn't want you to miss out.

You have until September 1st that is when voting ends for my quilt.

September 2nd I will announce the winner of my giveaway, and if I won my contest.

Good Luck I hope you win.

I Made It

2011-08-22T16:32:00.002-06:00

This quilt contest is over.

My quilt is one of the finalists for the Riley Blake design contest.

I am so excited that I made the cut.

Now the real work begins.

I need your vote!

Here is the link

http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/cutting-corners/contest/

Just for fun I thought that you might want to hear the stats on this little beauty.

It measures roughly 90" square

It has 525 circles

64 petals

Each circle has about 25 basting stitches and

30 applique stitches

Each petal has about 63 stitches

So in total, without counting the binding that is a grand total of...

32,907 stitches.

No wonder my fingers hurt.

We went to a local quilt show, and since Riley Blake is a local company they had the bike on display.

Isn't it just about the cutest thing, Baby Sister isn't so bad either.

I would really like to win,

and pedal this beauty around town,

so could you please vote for me.

I mean if you go over and you think that mine is not so great, I suppose you could vote for someone else.

If you think that mine is the best, not only will you be my new best friend, you can vote for me too.

In case you forgot you can just click on over here and vote.

OK I think that might be enough begging for now.

I might be back later with a give away/ bribe.

I can't find my camera and it is no fun describing how great something is without a picture.

I will try to be back tomorrow with all the details.

In the meantime you can go vote for me.

OK, OK, I will stop now.

Let the Games Begin

2011-08-18T19:21:00.002-06:00

It is DONE!!!

I got it back from my quilter's on Tuesday,

Thank the heaven's above for this lovely world of blogging, because it totally saved my life this week.

If you are ever wondering, or needing to know how to bind a quilt, or make it look like you have bound a quilt in a day here is the tutorial for you.

There is this amazing stuff called fusible thread, totally saved my life, and good news Gutermann makes it and you can get it at Joann's. When I first saw this tutorial I thought it might be hard to find, but there it was, and there I was with my 50% off coupon to get it.

It is my new best friend, we are going to get along great.

I am glad that it is done, and after entering the contest yesterday I am almost done hand sewing down the binding. I guess it will give me something to do tomorrow while Gowyn is getting ear surgery for the third time. She is getting the tubes back in. I really hope this is the last time because, seriously she is 10. I really don't want to be watching her kids when she is 30 getting her fifth set in.

Now I just have to wait and see if I made the cut.

If I did I might have to have a give away to ~~bribe~~ ask you for your votes.

Until then have a great day enjoying the last days of summer.

It's Gone

2011-08-09T09:04:00.001-06:00

My quilt is gone.

It is off to the quilters.

I should have it back latter this week, so I can get the binding done.

I think I just might make the deadline after all.

Here are the flimsy pics.

I still have to add red dots to the white centers

I wanted to get it to the quilter in time, so I traced where they are suppose to go.

I did get some done

Look how cute they are going to be.

I can hardly wait to get it back and get it done.

Good Looking is really looking forward to this project being done.

He wants his house back in order.

Quilt Fail

2011-08-06T22:24:00.000-06:00

As I said in my last post, I was going to take the sewing machine to the lake and finish my quilt.

That was the plan, that while the generator was running I would be quilting.

The first and second day of our trip was spent setting up and getting settled.

It was not until the third day that I had time to set everything up and get started on the sewing.

I had been finishing up the appliqueing though, I don't want you to think that I was being lazy or something.

Anyway, I was setting up everything...

card table - check

sewing machine - check

power cord - check

pedal - check

extra needles - check

thread - check

all the pieces that were precut at home - check

iron - check

starch - check

I sit down to sew and think to myself... where is my presser foot

Yes it is true, I brought down to the lake, five hours away from my house, and three hours away from the closest fabric store, everything that I would need to get this thing done. Everything that is except the blankety blank blanken presser foot.

I had great dreams of getting it done and taking amazing pictures of the quilt hanging over the rail of our house boat, pictures laying against the red rocks, maybe even one looking like the sail of a boat.

I was going to deliver it to my quilter early, and she would have been blown away with my speed and skill. She would say things like, I can't believe you did it, you have it all done. I will have this to you in a couple of days, and then I would have sat back and relaxed, sat around today watching HGTV and drinking a Pepsi in peace. But no I was frantically trying to get it all done today.

I was really thinking it would just go together beautifully, and I would be done. Instead I have spent the day unpicking. Curse those little points that have to match together perfectly. It is now 10:30 at night and I have only one row done and still have to sew together the rest of my "melon" units and make all the circles. I don't want to talk about how my petal centers, are kind of similar and are not going to look random like they should. I will try not to complain about my sore back and my messy house.

I just really wanted to come home with pictures of it done to show you all :(

Instead I will show you some pictures of my trip that did not include sewing a quilt.

It rained three of the days we were there, and I got this shot of the rainbow after storm number two.

This is what was at my back while taking the rainbow picture.

Lala had way to much fun jumping off the boat, baby sister was to scared to try until...

The second to the last day.

This is good looking saying "you did a good job"

and this is him laughing with his friend when he didn't know I was looking. He is very good at fake smiling, so I love it when I can catch him off guard and get one like this of him laughing.

Yesterday we celebrated seventeen years together, I love that man more and more everyday. I am hoping for at least 117 more years with him.

Quilt Progress

2011-07-28T18:28:00.000-06:00

You may remember from this post, I am trying to win this contest.

I have been stitching like a mad woman trying to get all the applique done.

For those of you who didn't want to link over, here is the deal.

My quilt started out having 588 circles; all hand appliqued, because if you are going to do it, do it right.

The idea of getting it all done in time became too over whelming, so I decided to take off the last row and make it square. In doing so it saved my fingers from having to sew on 108 circles.

Also all I am ever going to do with this quilt is to have it at the foot of my bed, so I also figured it would fit my bed better if it was only four rows.

I made fat quarters of the red fabric and then traced the wedge pattern and circles on the fabric.

I found this square frame at Joann's and it help immensely.

I would stitch them all on and felt like I was making progress every time I moved the frame along.

We went to a family dinner and my sister in law said.

"Robyn aren't you tired of those circles yet, because I am tired of looking at you with those circles"

Thankfully they are all done and I am moving on to the next step.

Here is photographic proof of the last stitch, on the last circle.

It is not really the last circle just the last colored circles. I still have 46 red circles to make.

I had said before that we realised that letting them air dry helped them keep their shape better. I am no longer on the lake with 100 degree weather and the wind blowing. So after pulling out the cinnamon rolls one morning I had an idea.

Why not put them in the hot oven to dry, so that is what we did.

Step one get the girls to paint on the homemade starch.

Place them in the oven, and wait about 8 min.

Let them cool, pop out the template.

A perfectly round little circle, and no need to iron.

I did iron the back to hold down the ruffles, but I think I am sold on this crazy way to make them.

when I did iron them they did not dry all the way, and they would get a little wonky,

and no one wants a wonky circle.

The next step, is the petals and they are so sticking cute.

I almost didn't do them, I was thinking of having my quilter just do something fancy instead.

I was worried about my deadline and thought it might be OK with out them.

I am glad I stuck with the original plan.

I am loving them way too much.

We are heading back down to the lake, so I am going to be finishing it there.

The motors are going to be down for the first two days, so while we are hooked up to shore power I will be sewing. Good Looking told me once that sewing machines are not allowed on the lake. He changed his mind and said I could do what ever I wanted. He also said that I had better win the contest. I will be adding scissors, iron, thread, and sewing machine to the packing list.

Just to make you jealous one more time, here is an awesome picture of where I will be for the next week.

The Blessing Dress

2011-07-24T15:34:00.002-06:00

I was asked to make a blessing dress for a friend of a friend.

She is a mother of boys and has always dreamed of having girls. She told me that she has been dreaming of what her sweet baby would wear on her blessing day, since she was in high school.

She wanted an heirloom dress and she wanted it to be silk.

As I am typing this I realise that I haven't told you, first and for most I am an heirloom seamstress.

I may quilt and sew pretty dresses but if I were to say I excel at anything it would be heirloom sewing. I love creating things that will last for generations. I love leaving my heart and love in a garment. I think you can't do that with simple sewing, to put your "love into it" you have to heirloom it up. I love smocking and hem tucks. I love finding the perfect lace, entreduex is my friend and I love everything about it.

Anyway back to the dress... she came over and we looked through the samples that I had sewn before and she loved Baby Sister's dress, and she wanted to have some color. I smocked columns of lattice stitches and then embroidered the vines and flowers in the softest shade of pink and green.

I like to have a really long dress, what is the point in making a short blessing dress.

This one is actually shorter than what I usually do

Here is the front

close up of the details

If I were to make it again, I would do the sleeves different.

After seeing it all done, I wish I would have embroidered the flowers in the center of the sleeve, and have pin tucks on either side, with a tiny cuff.

The dress was too big for the day, she wanted to wait to take pictures, until she was a little bigger.

I added the ties to sinch it in, and it looks super cute.

She wanted hem tucks, I like to do them in threes as a symbol of the God head.

She wanted to have a bonnet and not a bow. I wanted it to look modern and not too foofy.

I love how it turned out, and I love how I attached the ribbon.

I hope you liked it....

Welcome

2011-07-22T08:34:00.000-06:00

If you are here visiting from

Funky Polk-a-Dot Giraffe welcome I am honored to have you here.

Take a look around, I hope you like what I have done with the place.

Feel free to come back and visit sometime.
Ignore those tabs at the top for now, I still haven't figured out how to get things in there.
When I do it will be fun I promise.

Since a blog with no pictures is boring,

I will show you a preview of something I was working on but haven't had time to post.

You know like a tease.

If you are always here, and you haven't figured it out yet. I am guest posting on

Funky Polk-a-dot Giraffe today.

Feel free to go visit her here. Kyla is a lot of fun and makes the very best hair bows.

Aubrey's Pageant

2011-07-16T23:53:00.000-06:00

This weekend was our first Pageant.

I think it would be fun to do it again next year, but Good Looking thinks once is enough.

Like I said earlier, I made Baubi's dress.

I was hoping not to, because I am crazy trying to get this quilt done.

This is what we learned when we went shopping,

She doesn't fit anything.

She is to short for ladies size 0, and too small around for girls size 14.

I tell her all the time to get enough sleep and eat her proteins,

now we have the proof that I know of what I speak.

This is the first time we have ever done anything like this, we are lazy parents so we don't have our girls in dance and gymnastics, we tried soccer once, and that has been about it for extra curricular activities at our house. This was her first time on stage, and her first time talking to an audience of strangers. Considering all that I think she did fantastic.

Her are the shots of her dress, and her competition.

Good looking got to be her escort for the formal wear, he did a good job and twirled her around when they were walking off stage, it was very cute. The girl in the back ground was one of the finalist.

Here they are on stage.

If her grandpa were writing this post he would say this...

"If that is not perfection I don't know what is"

He has said that about her her whole life, he is a really good Grandpa.

Love you Dad.

I have created some pretty fabulous things in my life, but I think she ranks pretty high on that list.

Here are the stair step sisters. I told Good Looking that we could have them all in it next year, but I don't think he is going to go for it.

How could I not do the bridal mirror shot.

Here you can see the back of her dress. I did bridal loops up the back and hid the plain buttons behind and showed off some fancy ones on the top. I hate zippers but that is a tale for another day.

This is the low down on what she won, a state finalist trophy (everyone got one) and a medal for being a runner up in casual wear. I was the really great mom who remembered half way there that I forgot my camera for that competition so I don't have a picture of her in her casual wear outfit.

If you look close you can see that her eyes are very red :(

She was hoping to do so much better than she did.

So I would like to publicly say

I think you did a great job, I so proud of you for trying. Next year the world.

The great flood of 2011

2011-07-11T16:00:00.000-06:00

Did it rain yesterday where you are?

We had a down pour and here is the sad sad tale.

I woke up, prepared the Sunday school lesson, prepared children for church and headed out.

Survived church, which is a feat in it's self because Good Looking is doing a job in Alaska. So I got to sit through sacrament meeting and teaching our seven year old boys by myself.

After church I did the unthinkable...I went to the Joann's. I am making Baubi's pageant dress and because she is so tiny, I could not just go to the store and buy one. (trust me I tried) Anyway I am making Baubi's pageant dress and ran out of thread. All I wanted to do yesterday was go get my thread and sew her dress and make taco salad for dinner. I really don't think I was asking too much, but I guess higher powers wanted to punish me for breaking the Sabbath and going shopping.

On the way home it started raining. I like summer rain. I think it is fun to survive a hot day, see the clouds build, and then feel like the day has been refreshed after the rain has stopped and the skies have cleared.

The rain kept building and building, I commented to Baubi "I think this is what they call a torrential down pour" (little did I know). We went a bit further, and that is when we experienced a true a torrential down pour. We couldn't see very far and the rain drops were about the size of quarters, then the hail started. It was so loud in the car we could barely hear ourselves. It slowed down the closer we got to our house.

As we turned into out neighborhood, I noticed that our good friends had friends over. The closer I got I noticed that their friend had a shop vac in hand. That is when it hit me, their house is getting flooded. Sure enough three window wells in their basement were filling up fast and they needed help. We pulled in the garage and I sent the girls over with our shop vac to see if they needed it. I could hear my back yard neighbors yelling at each other, the husband was on the roof trying to clear out the gutters and the wife was reporting on the state of their window well.

All the while I was calm, we have had at least four floods in past and I really thought all the problems were solved and I had nothing to worry about....oh was I wrong.

I had just posted on my facebook that I was so glad that my husband had fixed the gutters so I didn't have to worry.Then I thought maybe I should double check that one. Sure enough I went downstairs and the carpet was wet. This is at least the fifth time the basement has flooded and Good Looking has only ever been here for two of them. I went running back to our friends house to get back our shop vac. I tried to move the couches out of the way and tried to get the water out. It did not take long for word to spread that I needed help. The men in the neighborhood were over in no time, trying to get out what they could, but it was so much worse than we thought.

In the end I have no carpet pad in my family room. The play room/office has only about half of it's carpet pad left. Two sections of my couch are in the garage the corner section is in Baubi and Gowyn's room, along with the extra family room furniture. I have a bookcase in the laundry room and the entertainment center is in pieces off the carpet in the family room.

Here is the photographic evidence.

See that white line on the glass, that is how high the water got before it decided to see what my house was like. No the gutter pipe in the window well is not connected to anything, my husband likes to store stuff like that under our deck.

See that dark line in the carpet pad. that is how far the water got. Just so you know that wall is usually covered up by the entertainment center.

My father in law came over with a fan to try to blow it dry, it is not working the carpet is still soaking wet.

This is the whole room view. To the right sits a very large, very heavy sectional couch with a hide away bed and two recliners. To the left sits our entertainment center, it is big and has three sections. There is also a small bookcase next to the entertainment center.

This is the opposite view, this is the office/playroom the desk is usually looking at you, and a book case is in the spot where the desk is.

Now that book case is in the laundry room, blocking it.

Here is the inside of the laundry room, yep no laundry is getting done today.

This is Baubi and Gowyn's room, all of that furniture is not suppose to be there.

I really wish I could say that this part of their room looks like this because our basement flooded and we had to get things off the floor, and their room got it all. Nope it always looks like this.

This is our garage today, the kids love it. They think it is great to have such a cosy place to relax during the day. That white piece of furniture was a vanity of my great grandmother's it was in the office waiting to be refinished. It got so wet that the drawers are swollen shut. I hope that the heat of the garage can fix that problem.

This is the pony wall in the entry way, it suffered some damage trying to get the couches out.

This is what we figured happened. My husband buried the gutter pipe under the ground, with a pop up so that we wouldn't have to worry about it getting knocked off and flooding again. The unforeseen problem with this fix is where does the debris go. I will tell you... it gets stuck in the pop up and then the water doesn't have anywhere else to go but up and over the gutter, then onto the deck, and then through the cracks in the deck, and then finally into the window well and onto the floor.

I am sure it could have been worse, no one was hurt, there was no structural damage. The thing that is bothering me today, is that the carpet is still soaking wet, my house is in great disarray, I am suppose to be sewing a pageant dress, but my sewing room is also full of stuff and it is getting stinky down there, there are no screens on the basement windows so I can not open them up and let the stink out. The number one thing that is bother me, is the number one thing that I can not change, my husband is not here. He is not here to get the screens on the windows (I don't even know where they are, and if they are even OK to go on the windows) This whole fan business is just the thing that he would do, so I wouldn't have to. He would have everything organised and not crazy piled all over the house.

I am sure there are some of you saying "do it yourself woman" but here is the thing...... I don't want to. I want to be sewing a pageant dress, and finishing my quilt. I do not want to worry about calling the neighbor to find out who had the extruder, so that I can get the water out of the carpet. I don't want to worry about where we are going to put all the stuff until the carpet is dry and new pad is laid down. I do not want to worry about the proper placement of the fan to get the best air flow. I only want to worry about what to make for dinner, and how I am going to thank everyone who helped me out yesterday.

I began this long tale of woe by saying that I like the summer rain, and here is the fun part of the rain from yesterday. Our sad little dessert town now has a lake or a pond.

This is our local park it is also the retaining pond for situations just like yesterday. It was fun to see everyone gather to see how full it is (It's ten feet deep in case you were wondering) My friend even had her boys out there on the kayak, because what else are you suppose to do with that much water?

OK I am going to look for the silver lining, and never go to Joann's on a Sunday again.

Vacation Number One

2011-07-06T00:45:00.000-06:00

We are already down one vacation, and one more to go. They are both in the same place, our favorite place, the place that our children are always asking to go, and that place would be...

LAKE POWELL

We have our houseboat in bullfrog, so if you are ever heading to Lake Powell and are on your way, look for this...

the actual bullfrog that the canyon is named after. See there in the mountain side, you can see it jumping.

We stayed in Iceberg canyon, and the man in the moon kept watch over us. Can you see his eyes and nose?

There are so many fun things to see and find, but the best has to be what you see at 6:30 in the morning.

The water is so still it is like a mirror, I love it.

This one actually fooled people when I asked which is the reflection, just so you know it is the bottom one.

Baubi went water skiing, look at her skinny legs.

Then she went wake boarding.

Gowyn loves the knee board and could be pulled behind the boat for hours on end. We tried to get her up on the wake board but as soon as she head planted on the water she was done.

Another "fun" activity is the tube as you can see by Baubi's face the term fun is used loosely.

The girls loved having a party on the boat. It has a stereo so they would sit on the boat and listen to music and get their party on.

This is what I did for the trip. I sewed all the circles for my quilt. I followed this tutorial. I did not want to pay $15 dollars for the one size circle I needed, so I got template plastic that is heat resistant and Martha Stewart's circle cutter and cut out 45 circles. I would sew them up in sets. See I knew that assembly line experience would come in handy.

I had it down to a system, templates circles, thread and a baggie to hold the done ones.

I had the girls paint on the starch, and then I would iron them with my tiny iron. I had my sister in law help, until she burned her finger. It was after that, that we realised the circles hold their shape better if you let them air dry. It is surprisingly easy when it is over 100 degrees and the wind is blowing.

This is the final count after a week. They are all in nice stacks of ten, and in rows of ten, so the total for the week was 481. I finished the rest on the way home. I am now in the process of sewing the circles onto the fabric. I have 168 done 420 to go.

For those of you who don't know what quilt I am speaking of I mentioned it here. I am entering this quilt in the Riley Blake quilt contest. I am needing it to be done by August 17. So wish me luck, if you want to know more about the contest check it out here.

Tragedy of Tragedies

2011-07-05T14:05:00.000-06:00

Tragedy of all tragedies happened at our house a couple of weeks ago, and I am now just telling you about it. OK maybe "tragedy" may be a bit harsh, but to a mother of four girls this counts.

It happened back on the 15th of June. I was down stairs cutting out the circles for my quilt and Lala came running down stairs. she said the words that just cut to a mother's soul "Baby Sister cut her hair"

Now I know I may be being dramatic here but really to a mother of girls this is hard. I mean they were all born bald, hence the name of my blog (bolo means bald in Hawaiian) I wait for their hair to grow and get long as soon as I can I start putting ponies in their hair. I look forward to the day that their hair is long enough for curlers, and can I just tell you that baby Sister's hair was so cute curly. I always come up with funky ways of putting it up, and try to match hair thingies to outfits.

Also I think I need to let you in on some of my own history here, so you can further understand the trauma of hair cuts for me.

When I was in fourth grade my hair was down to my waist and I loved it, apparently my mother didn't, which I can understand now that I am the mom long hair can get irritating but still I love it. So here is what happened my mom came to me one day and said that her friend was going to cut my hair. I was OK with that and at first though I didn't think much of it. I also didn't think much of it when my loving mother put my hair in a pony, braided it and said OK let's go. Next thing I knew I was sitting in the chair and my braid was sitting in my lap. I was in complete shock, I could see the end of my hair out of the corner of my eye. It was not over she kept cutting I did not get a cute bob but a mom cut, I walked in looking like a girl and walked out looking like a boy, or at least like a little version of my mother. The next day at school boys were coming up to me saying are you the new boy in school? You kind of look like this girl who went to our school named Robyn, but we can tell you are a boy so you can't be her. My mother kept me hair short until I was a teenager and rebeled against her and started growing it out. Good looking would like for me to cut my hair short but I just can't do it.

I hope that gives you some idea of why I hate what she (baby sister) did on June 15th.

This is what I imagine happened, the neighbor was cutting flowers with a pair of scissors and baby sister saw this and thought that might be fun. She went on the house and found her own pair of scissors and started cutting the weeds (we still don't have flowers in the flower beds) It was a bit breezy that day and I hadn't got her hair done yet, so as the breeze blew her hair in her face she thought it would be a good idea to just cut that piece off, and the next, and the next, and kept going until she had given herself a mullet.

So here for your viewing pleasure Baby Sister the hair stylist.

For fun, here is a close up of that face

I think she is thinking... maybe this wasn't the best idea.

looking left

looking right

The back, oh my the back

the evidence

all in the grass.

Now thankfully my sister in law cuts hair. We have tried to get into the girls heads that only Auntie Staci cuts hair, that is what we told baby sister the last time she cut her bangs (when she was two) because she didn't want them anymore.

We got in the car and headed to Staci's house and she worked her magic.

She still is not sure about it.

I kept asking her does it have to be that short? She kept saying to me I am not the one who started it, I am the one trying to fix it.

Here is the end result...

I promise I did not choke her, (although I might have thought about it) that mark on her neck is from the hair cutting cape.

I would have to agree with what my brother said when he saw this picture.

"Why is that boy wearing a dress"

Brothers are fun

The other issue that I have with this whole situation is this if I had a boy this is the hair cut he would have. I would not shave his head and keep it super short, I would have the long bangs and tussled hair. I realise that some time has passed but I still hate it. All I want is a pony tail in the back of her head. maybe some little buns, for sure some curlers. I guess I will just have to get over it.

Well hello there

2011-06-28T10:23:00.000-06:00

I feel like I have been gone from here forever, I am not a very good blogger,

I really need to remember to tell YOU what is going on.

School is out, and glad to say all the girls graduated from their classes and are moving up to the next level.

Baby sister by far had the cutest graduation, seriously what is cuter than graduating from preschool.

See told ya...

I told you about grandma Kath and papa Bill coming to visit, they are coming back in three weeks and the girls are all excited about it.

Then this crazy thing happened, I went to the Joann's, and wonder of wonders, I was alone, so I thought I would look at the quilting books, mostly because I could (it is impossible with small children with you) and I found this book, I fell in love with the quilt on the cover.

It is one of those things that I would look at, and think one day, when I am a better quilter, or one day when I have more time (like that is ever going to happen) I would love to make that quilt. I am sure we have all had those moments, where we try to talk our selves in and out of things that we know we could do, or want to do.

Then the day I found out about the wedding dress I found out about this competition. I was hoping to enter the apparel competition, I mean really I could have taken it, but I had to make a bride's dreams come true.

Then I was in bed one night about to go to sleep stewing over all these silly things (fancy quilt, contests, and a deadline) I thought to my self now is as good a time as any. So I have put on my big girl panties and have dived in.

The rules of the contest are make a quilt using Riley Blake fabrics, easy I mean really what is cuter than Riley Blake. I have decided to make this crazy quilt out of Lori Holt's new line of fabric,Sew Cherry. I think it is the perfect bit of vintage for this quilt, I am doing red for the rings, and white for the background. and I have a time frame to finish it. You see I always do better with a deadline, I will put things off until forever without one. That is why I stay up sewing until 3:00 am sewing Christmas dresses, but that is another story for a different day. This quilt needs to be finished before August 17. Please keep me in your prayers, I am going to need it. I will be coming back here to keep you up to date on the progress, and hopefully you can keep me motivated.

If you have made a quilt out of Riley Blake fabrics, and you think you want to take me on, go check it out here.

Aubrey's Pageant

2011-06-08T12:25:00.000-06:00

Baubi got a letter in the mail a month ago saying that she had a chance to be in the National American Miss Pageant this year. So Baubi and I went to the open call, not even a week later, we got that call! I heard her scream so I ran into the kitchen. Now in July she will be competing in this Pageant. BUT she won't be able to if she doesn't raise enough money. She is also going to be doing optional contests, the photogenic contest, Casual wear modeling and the Top model photo shoot. Also in this Pageant she will learn valuable skills like: Interview skills, Public speaking skills and it will even raise her confidence!
Please, please help her out.
http://www.gofundme.com/Aubreys-Pageant

Thanks so much! :)

Grandma Kath and Papa Bill

2011-06-02T13:28:00.001-06:00

Grawma left this morning so now we are sad.

I should have taken a lot more photos, and then I should have taken better care of said camera so I could down load the few I actually took. I will blame it on the girls that is always more fun.

This is the tale of Grandma Kath and Papa Bill.

If you have other things to do that is OK, I realise it could get lengthy and there are no photos as just mentioned, but for personal records here is the tale of our "Soul Grandma"

My husband served a mission in Michigan from '88-'90

He is the only son, and his mother was very worried for him. She is a worrier any way, I always say that if she didn't have something to worry about, she worry about the fact there wasn't anything to worry about. The fact that her only son would be gone for two years with out her was a little too much for her to handle. My father in law gave him a blessing (a special prayer) that he would be looked after while away, and that he would find someone on his mission who would be like a second mother to him, watch over him, and care for him while he was gone.

He went to Michigan and was there for about a month. His first companion was a football player,and very big my sweetheart is neither, he had a 29" waist up until six years ago. One day he and his athlete companion were walking down the road his companion about ten yard ahead of him. Across the street in a cafe watching this from the window was Grandma Kath.

She had been baptised herself only two months prior, so she was familiar with the missionaries. She turned to her friend and said "Oh my look at that little missionary" He touched her heart that second. She invited them to dinner at her house and had a "greenie" meal for him. All the food was green and the funny thing is, is that the man hates green food. While she was making dinner she looked out the window to see that a dog had torn apart her garbage. It was all over the back yard and for a single mother and nursing student it was too much for her to take. They ate the green dinner and while she was doing the dishes she once again looked out the window and saw my sweet husband picking up all the garbage off her lawn. Once again her heat was touched. They all sat around talking and getting to know each other, later my sweety fell asleep on her couch, she has said that when she put a blanket on him she felt a wave of motherly love sweep over her for this little missionary asleep on her couch.

I don't know your faith or what you believe, but for me this is a testament that the Lord knows us, and our needs. The Lord knew that my Mother in law needed to know someone would be out there loving her son. The Lord knew that a missionary in Michigan, was going to need someone he could call and get support only a mom can give. Most importantly the Lord knew that a junior in high school was going to graduate, date and marry this missionary and need another mom in her life.

I could sit here for hours and tale you tales of our Grandma Kath. She told him what kind of girl to marry (once again glad I made the cut) Good looking and I got engaged in Alaska he called her at three o'clock in the morning Michigan time to tell her I said yes. They drove twenty hours in an old beat up van to be there on our wedding day. I tell her that our anniversary, is also her and my anniversary because it was the first day we met. I was so happy when they moved to Arizona that way they could be closer. They have been here for every baby blessing and baptism, we have been there for almost every Easter. She has helped in raising the children and dealing with all the drama in our lives. If something happens she is usually the first one I call.

We have told the girls they have blood Grandma's and Grandma Kath. I was thinking about it the other day and I think this is the best way to explain it.

I was adopted so I believe the Lord looked down and found the mother I needed. He then stepped in and gave me the mother I wanted.

We all grow up loving our Mother's everything about them, but then we wish they could be different. That is what Kath is, she is the mother I wished for when mine was driving me nuts as a teenager. Now that my own mother is living in the middle of the ocean serving her own mission, it is really nice to have Kath come and visit. She says she loves us like we were hers and our girls truly were her first grand daughters. We are all in the will along with their own kids. We are loved and bonded to each other. It is amazing what happens when the Lord steps in.

Just so you know Kath is married I promise he is our Papa Bill. After playing with the girls he sits in the chair and holds his heart and says "You have no idea how good this is for me". He is one of the hardest working men I know. He would work in the hot Arizona sun all day and then come home and start a major project, like yard work or working on the car, nothing ever waited until the week end. If it needed to be done it was going to be done that second. I have often told the girls that I hope they marry men who know how to work. I don't care what degree they hold, I just hope that they know how to be men, and they know how to work, just like Papa. It may seem a little past tense, that is because a few years ago Papa was diagnosed with MS.He can't work anymore, he can barely walk, he has to ride around in a scooter, he has braces on his legs, and he is still the same, While he was here he sanded and stained our deck, because he said it needs to be done and Good Looking was busy working.

She did all my laundry, cleaned the pantry, cleaned the storage room and we started making Christmas presents for the sister's. She did it all, and said the whole time said this is what parents do and I am glad to help you out. They are going to be back in July, she said to make a list of all the things that they can help with when they get back, It is going to be one long June waiting for them to come back, I hope we can make it.

Here is the proof

2011-05-26T11:25:00.001-06:00

If you are here from a linky party you can go here for all the back story.

I did not edit these photos so just bare with me.

Here is the dress, I did finish it on time and a day early. I thought it was all done and I wouldn't have to see it again. They didn't try it on until 9:30 at night and it was still to big. So they were back at my house at 10:20. Pinned, fixed, buttons moved over and I was done at 12:30. I was back up to their house the next morning and it fit perfectly.

So here for your viewing pleasure the five day wedding dress.

Front

Back

Eleven satin buttons, with loops.

I missed the mom seeing the dress for the first time moment, stupid camera.

Here she is my Ashley baby, getting married.

She liked it, she really liked it.

If you couldn't tell by looking at her face she really hates having her picture taken.

In the end I was glad I could do it for her.

Grandma is here from Arizona, so I don't know how often I will be here, hope to be back soon.

Wedding Dress Done

2011-05-23T20:01:00.000-06:00

The wedding dress is done.

It was picked up today for the wedding tomorrow.

I was so glad to be done with it I did not get a picture, so here is the pattern.

I tried to copy and paste it, I tried to add a photo, but it doesn't want to play the game.

For those of you who do not want to link over, it is a vintage Vogue pattern #V2962.

It is a halter top dress, and a tea length skirt.

I added four tulle skirts over the top to make it fluffy.

I also made (not in the picture) a long black sash to tie around her waist.

I hope that when she tries it on, it fits and everything is the way she imagined it would be.

When I made the muslin for it, it fit at the waist and was about four inches to big around her chest.

I took in two inches on each side so here is hoping.

If you think that this dress is beautiful (which it is) and you are on your way to Joann's to pick up the pattern a little FYI for you, this is the fullest skirt I have ever made. I even messed it up and lost some of the fullness and still the fullest skirt I have ever made. My industrial serger could not gather it in, and just so you know that is saying something, that thing is powerful. I was once again thankful for my grandmother and all the things she taught me, one of which was how to gather with a string. I am seriously going to have to teach you that one day.

When I get a picture from them, I will post it. Until then I am going to lay down in my bed and eat ice cream.

Then I have to clean my house because Grandma is coming tomorrow.

What Am I Thinking

2011-05-19T00:01:00.000-06:00

When I graduated from High school I knew that college was not for me.

School was a struggle for me and I was glad to have it done and didn't want to torture myself with it anymore. Especially if I had to pay for it and be disappointed with myself all over again.

I started working, I was a nanny and a sweatshop worker. This is why now, I am a mom and why I sew so fast. Today I got a call that I thought might be coming. The little girl I used to nanny for is getting married on Tuesday, yep in SIX days. I had talked to her mom a couple of weeks ago and she was telling me how tense she was that Lindsey still hadn't found a dress.

This is now where my super speed sewing is going to be tested. I am going fabric shopping in the morning to get the materials for her wedding dress. I think it is kind of funny that the little girl that I made Christmas dresses for is now going to get a wedding dress from me also.

I think it should be pretty easy. Big tulle skirt and a fitted bodice with 3/4 length sleeves and no train. My only hesitation is the fact that I sew little girl dresses and NOT wedding dresses.

I am not a tailor, I do NOT do alterations, (you can ask anyone who has wanted me to hem pants over the years) and I hate dealing with linings especially the ones that you have to hand sew down. I am sure in the end I will be grateful for the experience. I am sure I will love the fact that I was the one that made her dreams come true for her dress. I am sure I will be there fitting a dress to the same body that I use to kiss good night, and be blown away by this full circle moment.

But right now I am tired, I still have one more skirt to make before tomorrow night, when the big girls leave to go to Disneyland with Grandma and Papa. It is the most important skirt, it is the Cinderella skirt after all. I was hoping to get my spring cleaning done before Grandma brings the girls back. Finish sewing baby sister's summer dresses. Sleep in, enjoy just the little girls, clean the big girls room while they are gone, I am sure they wouldn't notice that everything was gone right. Now my next five days are going to be consumed with dress sewing and trying my hardest NOT to mess it up.

Anyway if you don't hear from me, know that I really wanted to post the Disney skirts, they are really cute and you would have loved them I promise. But that is going to have to wait until after Tuesday.

So if you have a spare minute could you take a second and say a little prayer for me. I really am going to need all the help I can get. If you are close I will take babysitting, house cleaning and meals.

Just saying.

Jean's Quilt

2011-05-17T11:24:00.000-06:00

This is the quilt I am going to enter in to the quilt fesitval.

Amy is hosting a blogger's quilt show this is my official entry.

My husband has two jobs he works in the shipping department of his friends company.

He also works for Carhartt clothing. He installs all their store displays, he builds the pant bins, hanging displays, signs etc. So if you live in the western United States and are shopping for work pants with your husband chances are pretty good that my husband built the pant bins.

He worked with a very nice lady named Jean. She always looked out for him, gave him a heads up when work was coming his way, and would fight for work for him. She became a great friend to us over the years. Corporate decided to change fixture companies, which meant that we would loose Jean, and that she would no longer have a job. It was a really hard time for us. Would the new company still want my husband to do the installing, would the next person help us out like Jean always did. I am sure you all have had similar experiences in your life. Things have worked out well and we are fine, and Jean decided to retire early.

Now this is what my husband will always say to me when he wants me to make a quilt for someone.

"I feel like we should do something for her" Translation can you make a quilt? He has said this to me over the years. When there was someone who helped him with his company, when his sister's friend got her citizenship. This is what he says "we should do something nice for them" then I get to get quilting.

I had bought a quilting book years ago called laps from fats. It is a collection of quilts that you make out of fat quarters. I found a FQ bundle of Amy butler's midwest modern collection.

This was perfect for Jean because

1- she is from Ohio and

2- her favorite color is sea glass blue.

Here it is...

Front

Back

I had some printable fabric and had Good Looking write her a thank you note.

He wanted the Carhartt logo included in the quilting.

My quilter did two like this

and one like this, she put extra batting behind it so it would pop out.

Can you see the puffy one there.

Here is a closeup of the quilting from the back.

Now something that I didn't quite expect when I made this quilt was the amount of scraps I was going to have. Then what was I going to do with all those scraps. Since they were "designer" scraps I wasn't about to throw them away and it didn't seam right to just throw them in the scrap bin.

Then I learned about the Ticker Tape quilt and I wanted to give it a try.

Since I did have a limited number of scraps I pinned every piece on.

I started in the center and worked my way out. so it is spaced further apart on the edges.

Front

I love how cute and soft the edges get when washed,

and just look at those lovely little squares on the back.

When I started making this my husband asked why I was making it. I said I saw it on a blog and wanted to try it, and he said "you are such a geek" it is true I am. It turned out to be a good idea to make it though. Just as I was finishing it he went to Arizona for a job and it turned out to be the same day as a friends birthday, so he had a gift for her too.

I am now in love with the idea of buying the fabric for one quilt and having enough to make two quilts.

Two for one, baby.

Baby Sadie's Quilt

2011-05-17T09:37:00.001-06:00

I am entering quilts to the Bloggers quilt festival, so if you don't want to see this again just keep moving.

If you haven't seen this yet, by all means stay.
I messed it up, I am only allowed to enter one quilt so this one is removed from the party, I thought I would leave it up since I was getting comments on it.

My big brother works for the church and moved to Samoa to manage the church farms in the pacific.

He has two boys, they are about the best two boys you could ever meet. Truly they are going to grow to be great men. The doctors have told them they they shouldn't have anymore children due to health issues. They truly are blessed with the boys, but as any mother will tell you there is nothing like a daughter.

About a month after they arrived they were asked to adopt a baby, a young woman was pregnant and her husband had left. They really didn't know what they were going to do. Months later they were called again saying that this woman was in labor, and did they want the baby.

I could tell you all the details or cut to the chase,

I think I will cut to the chase.

They got the baby,

a girl,

they named her after our Grandmother.

Here she is Baby Sadie, seriously isn't she about the cutest thing.

I mean just look at those cheeks, and those lips, ooh I just want to squish her up.

I went to work on a quilt, I found this great collection at the walmart. I know it is hard to believe but it is true, the walmart. I know there are those who will think that I am complete white trash, but oh well I liked it, and I knew my sister in law would love it. It has everything that she likes bright colors and small flowers.

Front

Back

I followed Care's great instructions. It was quick and easy and I love it. I can't wait to make another one.

Here is a close up of the quilting.

and her name.

I love her, and can't wait to meet her one day. It is hard when they live in the middle of the ocean.

Eric's Quilt

2011-05-17T08:49:00.001-06:00

I am entering quilts to the Bloggers quilt festival, so if you don't want to see this again just keep moving.

If you haven't seen this yet, by all means stay.
I have since removed this quilt from the party, I guess you can only enter one.

Last Year I went to Europe, My brother was stationed in England with the air force. One of the problems I was having was how to get there. My budget for this trip was little, and the fact that an airplane ticket was going to take up almost all of that budget was about to put me over the edge.

We have a family friend who is a flight attendant, he flies for United. My husband thought I was crazy for wanting to call him and ask for a buddy pass. I put on my big girl panties and made the call. I told him that I would love him forever and I might even make him a quilt for his kindness. He said no big deal, made all the arrangements for me, and even helped when I was stuck there with the exploding volcano. I don't think he believed me on the quilt thing, when I got home and asked about colors and things he might like for his quilt he was a little surprised.

I went and it was wonderful, heavenly, fabulous, all the things that you might imagine. We went to London and Amsterdam. Saw the tulips, and the naked ladies in the windows. It was the time of my life and now a year later I miss it. I would love to go back and take Good Looking, his ancestors are from Holland and I think he would like it even if he doesn't think so.

When I came home and started looking for fabrics it was tougher than I would have thought. I didn't want a flowery quilt for the man and didn't want to use just solids either. I was about at my whits end when I saw this post and I was sold, I was a little bit afraid that he might be offended but sent him a link to this sight anyway. He loved it and liked the cowboys the most. So with out further ado.

Eric's Cowboy Quilt

I used the double Irish chain pattern, I have made it about 20 times and could make it in my sleep.

After cutting up the cowboys on the front I wanted to keep them whole on the back.

Front

Back

Yes I did have my quilter, quilt save a horse.

Ride a cowboy.

It was fun to make it, of course after I was all done I found this pattern.

I could have saved all those cowboys from being chopped up.

I told him if he ever wanted to send me somewhere else I would make him another one, maybe firefighters or police officers, they even have campers.

I guess we will have to wait and see.

Rainbows

2011-05-13T14:24:00.000-06:00

All photos are of fabric from swap 1

The rainbow swaps one and two are done!

This is what I have learned from my first swap.

Do not let people be in both swaps.

I thought I was so smart I was going to keep track of everyone through my Gmail contacts.

I listed everyone by their email, what color they wanted, who had emailed me back etc.

then things got crazy. I spent the day checking comments, putting the email into my contacts, sending emails only to have Mr Gmail tell me I was a failure and it didn't go through. Then reread the comment check every letter recontact them, only to see I failed again. There were a few ladies that I had to track down through face book just to make sure it was all right.

In the end it all got confusing, and the ladies I said could be in both swaps, and assigned colors to were lost in the shuffle and were lost in the second swap. Now I have ladies sending me fabric for both swaps and only have space for them in one swap.

So my lesson learned was, only one color allowed per person.

I think that I should have been more clear about postage.

Some ladies I knew by first name only, some by first and last, some only by their email.

For some reason when they sent their self addressed stamped envelope they put down just their last name or a name I didn't even know them by. It may seen silly to you but it was kind of frustrating try to figure out who Jones was, when I didn't have a Jones listed.

Next time let me know who you are, I promise I am not going to stalk you, I just want to check you off my list and make sure you get what I was trying to send you.

Some swaps like you to separate your fabrics into twenty different piles.

I have done this for swaps and it bugs me. I don't know why, maybe I just want to get it in the mail, or maybe I think it looks cuter to have it all in stacks. I don't know, but from now on I am doing it.

Lesson learned, ask ladies to separate into twenty piles, because after separating 4000 squares of fabric twice I don't want to do that again, Just for the record fostermama wins, not only did she separate her fabrics she then hand wrote all her info and taped them to her fabrics.

What does she win you may ask...

The knowledge that she is totally awesome in my mind.

Speaking of separating fabrics...

I have learned that when separating 4000 squares of fabric don't get distracted.

This is my sad tale of woe, My friend DJ brought over all her fabrics for the second swap, we worked together separating the colors making our cute rainbows, something happened when we got to pink.

I can't remember if I was saying goodbye to a friend that was over, or if I was called away to be the mom, but at some point I put down a stack of pink fabric. I pointed it out to DJ when she was leaving, but it was late, and when I went down the next morning I totally forgot about this stack of pink fabric.

I finished my all my separating, put all the piles in their happy little bags, started filling up SASE, put all the SASE into a big shopping bag to take them to the post office. Got baby sister ready to go to the post office, ran back down stairs to get my paper that said who was who, and that is when I saw it...

The small stack of pink fabric.

Now what to do I could just forget it and not worry about.

I mean were ladies really going to go through their stack of fabric to make sure that they got 200 squares and then were they really going to be upset that they only got 199. There might be the one who sent in the pink fabric and wonder what happened to the one with the pink leaves and gold sparkles. After saying a few choice words at my self and then asking myself could I screw this up anymore. I decided to put one lone pink square into one Ziploc bag and tape it to the outside of every SASE.

So if you are in the second group feel free to pull out the razor blade and free that poor neglected pink square out of it's Ziploc prison and let it rejoin it's friends in the world of the rainbow squares.

Lesson learned, don't get distracted when surrounded by 4000 little pieces of fabric.

Canadians are nice eh.

Shipping to Canada a whole other story.

Just so you know it costs, $11.95 to ship a small priority box over the boarder, $10 Canadian equals

$10.06 US. You have to fill out a customs slip to send fabric over the boarder. I was asked what was the monetary value of my contents, I told the man it's about 2 1/2 yards total of fabric and he said, oh so like five dollars. Whatever obviously he does not buy fabric.

All in all it has been an adventure.

I have learned a lot.

One of the best things I learned, was that crafty people are really nice.

With every mistake I made everyone was kind and understanding, and although I am seriously rethinking my decision to host this craziness again, it has been fun.

It was fun to watch Lala run to the mailbox everyday. I really liked seeing everyone's fabric choices, and super fun to see all the different colorways of Joann's fat quarters.

I really hope that you had fun. Sorry that the fabrics are going out late, and for those few that I messed up I am so very sorry about it still.

Now that it is done I am hoping to get some sleep.

With all lessons learned, I am going to attempt this again in the fall, with fall colors so wish me luck.

Because if you have learned anything about me today, you know I am going to need it.

Big Flower Tutorial

2011-05-09T12:30:00.000-06:00

You said yes please, so here you go.

I first made these flowers when I made my wedding dress.

Instead of the big butt bow (that was very popular in the early nineties) I had three of these flowers.

I made them again for the big girl flower girl dresses, for my sisters wedding.

So here you go are you ready.

I used organza from Joann's Casa collection, it is my favorite.

It is 60" wide. I am sure you can use what ever you want,

but the wider the fabric, the fatter your flower is going to be.

You need to make a bias seam

I was not very smart and sewed on the line and now have a gray line on the middle of my flower :(

Don't do what I did, use the line as a guide and sew 1/4" away from the line.

Fold in half and baste it together

Make sure that your seam is not twisted, and laying flat.

I totally cheated,

I have an industrial serger,

it is my happy place,

it gathers while I sew.

I know you are jealous and you totally should be.

If I were you without this piece of heaven in your sewing room, I would first finish the edge either with your cute little home serger, or with a zig zag stitch on your sewing machine.

Then gather it up with you favorite gathering method,

you want it to be tightly gathered.

You might want to gather it twice,

gather, and then gather the gathers if that makes sense, because it totally makes sense to me.

It helps down the road to have it gathered super tight.

This is the most confusing part and should have taken another picture of me sewing this part.

Put your strip under your sewing foot starting at the folded edge.

Back tack a few stitches sew to the gathering, pull the threads back to the top.

DO NOT CUT THE THREADS

Repeat every two to three inches down the entire length of the strip.

Back tack

sew to the gathering

pull the threads back to the top

repeat.

This is why you don't cut your thread

You need it to gather

Your cute petal

It is possible that you don't have to tie the ends but I don't dare.

I don't want to risk gathering all the petals and then having them come undone.

See there in the upper left hand corner, there is the gray pencil line.

Now it is going to bug you that you know it is there, huh.

There you go let me know how it turns out for you.

I can't wait to see other peoples version.

I hate today

2011-05-07T13:21:00.000-06:00

This is my cry baby moment so if you don't want to hear it just keep going, nothing to see here.

Today is my least favorite day of the whole year. You see even though I am a stay at home mom, I am not very good at it. My children do not listen to me. For me to get my house clean I have to yell like a crazy woman, in fact that is what I always say, "Will you just do it, so I don't have to yell like a crazy woman."

Today is always the deal breaker, you see the day before Mother's day this is what happens.

1- My husband is out of town, for years (seven) my husband had a job where he traveled, sometimes he was gone for six to eight weeks at a time and this meant that he was always gone on this day. Sure enough par for the course he is gone today.

2- He always comes home on Sunday for Mother's day which means that the house needs to be cleaned today. All the fun we have been having needs to be put away and cleaned up. Now enter the crazy lady, I will start out asking nice. "Can you please clean up this mess." Then I will start cleaning my share of the mess and since I have left the room the children will go back to what ever they are doing because I am not there hovering over them.

I will come back to said room, to find said child looking at herself in the mirror instead of doing the work. and say again "Will you please just do it, PLEASE. I did not make this mess, please just get it done so we no longer have to have this conversation." I am sure you are now guessing (maybe because you have these same kind of children at your house) that yeah, they still don't do it.

3- At some point in the fight to get the room clean I will say something like this "It is Mother's day so can you please just for today do it because I asked." At which point they will look at me confused and say "No it is tomorrow" I will then respond "I realise that it is tomorrow, but for your gift to me can you please listen to me today and just GET THE ROOM CLEAN." Now one of two things might just happen 1. they will look at me say they are going to do it, and not or 2. they will look at me maybe get a little teary and say they are going to do it until they get distracted be some shiny object and get back to doing nothing.

4- By now it is two hours later and yep you guessed it my children have shown their undying love and affection for their mother by DOING NOTHING. Now this is when it gets ugly because at some point in all the crazy I will end up screaming and yelling breaking out into the ugly cry and saying "It is Mother's day please JUST DO IT" I am sure that all my neighbors can attest to this fact because I am pretty sure that they can all hear me loosing my mind.

5- It is at this point it hits me I am a looser of a mother. I am sure if I had done some thing different when they were little maybe they would listen and just do it. Or if I were one of those mother's that has every minute of the day organised then they would know it is time to just do it. Or if I had put the fear of God into them at some point so that they were afraid of me they would just do it.

But no, I decided when Baubi was a baby that I didn't want to break her like a horse and get her listen to me. I didn't want to break her spirit just so I could have a clean house and obedient child. When Gowyn was a baby girl and didn't talk and had the sweetest little countenance how could I put the fear into that, and keep her sweet. If you knew Lala you would instantly love her because she has that personality that everyone just wants to be her friend. Baby sister at this point is just a lost cause she will tell me while I am in the middle of trying to get her to do something "Mom, Mom, Mom" me "Baby sister if you want to go to the gas station this room needs to be cleaned" her "Mom it is OK" me "No it is not your pull up is still on the floor" Her "Mom, Mom, Mom it is cleaned up" me "No it is not" she will then pick up said sticky pull up and throw it away and proclaim the room is clean, forget all the clothes dolls and other paraphernalia on the floor.

6- At some point today Good Looking is going to call and see what is going on, and I will end up in tears of frustration telling him that they just won't listen, and it has been going on all day. He will then get the oldest on the phone and put the fear in her and have her take over the girls and get it done.

7- I will go to bed feeling like a complete failure only to wake up in the morning to tales of wonderful mothers who saved their children, who never yell, who wake up at five in the morning to make cinnamon rolls for their children for breakfast. The mother's who were so good at it had twelve more, or were so good at it took in foster children. Those mother's who keep a clean house who's children get straight A's while competing in sports and dance. Who inspired their children to change the world, and I can't even get mine to clean their room or put away their clothes.

It will then hit me that is why my own mom never went to church on Mother's day. Who wants to stand up in front of the whole church to get a flower when you are feeling like a failure the entire time. Just so you know my mom was not a failure she was amazing, but just couldn't see it at the time. So until that day happens to me and I look back at my girls and think, hey look at that, I guess I did do a pretty good job after all. Until that day in say twenty to twenty five years, I will hate this day.

Just a little side note to this rant, they are doing OK so far. Maybe because they are getting older, or maybe because the day is still young.

Rainbow Day Part Two

2011-05-03T08:50:00.000-06:00

Sunday was my niece's rainbow birthday party.

I finally gave her her rainbow quilt.

I was so excited to see her reaction.

I had got it back from the quilter on Tuesday.

Yes I was still binding it on the way there.

Here it is all done.

Front

Back

Quilting, the pattern is topsey turvey.

I even did Rainbow binding

Just for fun let's look at my corners. They actually turned out perfect.

Before presents, cake and ice cream.

Instead of cake we had donuts.

My sister in law made them rainbow donuts

This is Sisi's chocolate with extra special candles

They burn the color of the candle,

rainbow fire on the rainbow candles,

for the rainbow party,

for the rainbow girl,

it is too much, no not really. Just a little FYI I really like matching.

look at her cute puffed up cheeks.

I folded the quilt so that only the back was showing she was excited about the binding,

then we showed her the front and she lost her mind.

She kept on fluffing it, throwing it in the air.

Then she threw it on the floor head first.

Then she put all her presents on it, and hugged it some more.

This was about ten minutes later she was still so excited.

Look at her little arms jumping up and down

Hooray for RAINBOWS!

Thanks for letting us come play with you Sisi, I hope you have fun being

FOUR!

In other news...

This was Baby Sister on the way home, she always falls asleep like this,

with her hands in her lap and her feet crossed.

Look at her face she looks like she is faking, nope she is really asleep

Lala on the other hand totally asleep, with her head back and mouth open,

there is no denying that she is asleep.

I like how she uses her seat belt as a pillow.

(I didn't edit any of these pictures they are all straight out of the camera sorry for any poor quality)