work in progress friday

Stripey crochet blanket.

I am 90 some odd stripes into it.
Probably around 150 stripes to go.

work in progress thursday

A new scrap quilt in progress.

ALL scraps. Nothing from the stash.

I am working in the wrong season as far as colors are concerned.

That must be a sure sign that I am a designer, right Roxanne?

books

I hear that it is national library week.

In honor of that, I thought I share what my library book stack looks like currently.

(just for the record, there are 55 books in that stack)

I hope one of the kids doesn't run by and accidently knock it over, or we could have a serious injury on our hands.

I am currently reading:

The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini (I am really enjoying this one, I was skeptical)

The Pact by Jodi Picoult (having a hard time since it is a heavy read, but trying to perservere)

Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley (for the second time, at least)

Rachel Ray 30 Minute Get Real Meals (I have tried 2 new recipes from here and they were surprisingly good and not too fussy to make)

AlterKNITS and One Skein both by Leigh Radford (the photography and inspiration in these books are so fantastic!)

What are you reading?

about a year ago...

I was about 9 months pregnant...(her birthday is in less than 2 weeks)

....and I had my best mail day ever!

I got not one, but two handmade quilts for my little one about to be born (gender unknown)...

from my sister Clair....

and from my friend Linda.

Aren't they both gorgeous???
Both quilts have gotten a lot of use, and have held up wonderfully!
That was one great mail day.

What was your best mail day ever?

On a side note, it looks like the chances of us moving to WI are very slim at this point. I am kind of relieved, kind of disappointed. I guess that's the reaction when you are split completely 50/50 going into it. :)

lots of fabric (in pictures)

The past few days I have been devoting my time to organizing my craft room. I've worked several days and still am not finished.

I spent the entire afternoon on Saturday (and well into the evening, if the truth be told) folding my cotton fabric stash...

...all the while berating myself for heaping and hording and not just using what I have....


...finding fabrics that haven't seen the light of day for ages, but they aren't quite vintage yet...

...and these are my flat folds (at least 2 yards)...

....my newly fattened scrap stash (thanks to Roxanne's sister Becky)....

....all color coordinated.

My baskets literally runneth over.

Now, before I give you the false impression that I have it all together (which I definitely do not), I have to show you this picture....

I still have some work ahead of me.

now, just for fun, here is the prettiest load of laundry that I have ever washed in my life. (and I have washed a good plenty, mind you)

(a new doll quilt I finished over the weekend for little A)

The sun is shining and it looks like spring may actually visit Michigan this year after all.
I can hardly believe it, but I am so excited.

and the winners are.........

Mama Urchin

Amy Jo

Thanks, all, for commenting and playing along.
(I wish all of you could have won...)
Amy Jo, I think your prize will be hand delivered. ;)

my 100th post

It's give away time!
Those of you who know me are probably surprised that it took me this long to get to 100 posts. (A combination of always having something to say and a little obsessive compulsiveness.)

You: post a comment.
I: will draw a name. (on Sunday around noon)
The winner: will receive something handmade by me.
(It will be your choice-one of four things.)

Thanks to all of you who stop by.
And thanks a bunch to those of you who comment.
I appreciate it so much.

I was going to end this post with photos of cards that I made while stamping with my dear Amy Jo yesterday, but I can't seem to find my camera. (I think my husband took it with him today.) Thanks for the fun day yesterday Amy, I needed it so much.

more denyse schmidt inspiration

I am still working on projects from this book.
{In fact, that may be all you see in the next several days. Consider yourself forewarned.}

Some fabric cards.


And a few new vinyl zipper pouches.

{I love the tape measure tabs!!!}

I think my vinyl sewing has come to an end, at least for the time being. I have used up all my thrifted zippers that match the brown and turquoise color scheme. And I am trying really, really hard to use what I have, since we may possibly have an impending relocation. It's not easy! {The possiblilty of relocating or using what I have. ;)}

My husband has a job interview tomorrow in Wisconsin. In one of our hundred or more conversations about moving, my husband had asked me "do you really want a license plate that says America's Dairyland?" Because that's really the important stuff to consider...

have you seen this book?

It is fantastic!

I checked it out of my local library, and it is bad news for my to-do list.
But, I found out that it is fun and fairly easy to sew with vinyl.

Who knew???

by the way, my husband thinks I've crossed over to the scary side of the crafting world. :)

This bag took me less than an hour to make. I ended up making two right away. (The total cost less than $5 for both...hurray for 40 cent vinyl remnants and 50% off sales and coupons, right Amy???)

The hardest parts were:
getting the top seam even (you really can't pin vinyl)

and

cutting into the tape measure, even though that was my intention when buying it.

And out of the scraps, I made a little zipper pouch.

(more of these to come....there are still lots of vinyl scraps to use up!)

There are 30 projects in the book. So far, I have made 3 of the projects. (one quilt, and these bags above.) And I hope to make 15 additional projects. Yes, the book is really that good.

What are some of your favorite craft books? I'd really love to hear your suggestions!

do you need thread?

if you do...I would recommend ordering from connecting threads. they have great prices, even when you add on the shipping costs. I have ordered from them a few times now, and the quality of the thread (as far as my experience goes) is great. Each spool is 1200 yards. Oh, yeah, that's a good thing. And it fits on your machine like a normal spool of thread.

shown is the essential neutral set and the essential country set. I hated the label of the "country" set, but the colors are great. (the last thing I need in my house is country...images of blue geese come to mind....are you cringing yet?)

loads of goodness

Things are finally getting back to a routine...lots of organizing and putting things away going on around here. I have some fabulous new items that traveled home with me.

A little pillowcase dress for my sweet little girl.



Thanks for swapping with me, Linda. I love it. (I would have little A model it, but she's still waking up from her nap...) You are an excellent seamstress! I am so impressed with your ability to sew, as always.

Roxanne was super generous to my family, with gifts all around.
I love my new orange bag. She is one talented purse-making gal. They are even better in person than in the photographs.



A little purse for A. (her first purse!)



And a matching wee bunny.



And my little artists are working on filling up their fantastic notebooks.



Some of P's artwork, age 4.



a mountain with clouds and V birds....(p's description)



spiderman hanging from a tree...getting the bad batman.



and an alien. (I love kid artwork!!!)

Now, some of Z's drawings....age 6.



Easter eggs (with little sister's hand, of course)



fresh frout (fruit) in Michigan.

Thanks so much Roxanne...and Linda. I love my new stuff.

i'm home...and overwhelmed

oh, it is good to be home. and for a stay-at-home mom (who spends A LOT of time in said home) it's good to have a renewed appreciation for it.

the trip to mn was great. we spent lots of time with family and friends.
traveling (with kids) is a lot of hard work, but well worth it.
I did a lot of shopping. got some great deals. bought lots of fabric. {I love mill end outlet!}
met up with blog friends and stayed with my sister. had a blast.
got to give judy her quilt.






[here are a few projects that I finished up right before leaving.]

now, on to the overwhelmed part.

my husband went to FL on a job interview a few days before our trip to mn. {i don't want to move to FL}
while on our trip to mn, he found out about another job opening in hudson, wi...much closer to home. {i think i want to move to wi...although I do LOVE living in MI...I would miss it.}
(he wasn't even looking for another job, I might add, they are looking for him. which is great.)
but still, the possibilities are turning our world upside down. we are constantly talking about our options. looking for properties on the web. dreaming. planning. yikes.
it seems that relocation may be in our near future....but then again, you never know. whew. wouldn't you be a little overwhelmed? it is exciting, and I am so proud of my husband. he works hard, does a great job, and he is a great provider for our family. he is making a name for himself in his industry. I am so happy to be at his side, where ever we may end up.