Hello Monday!

Are ya smilin' yet????

Well ... just wanted to share a smile with ya today...

Also, just so you don't think I didn't get anything done this weekend, I did change my view from this:

To this:

I took one very inexpensive, old frame that's been gathering dust under the bed, or in the closet, I forget ...

and covered it with an equally old, un-needed sheet...

then covered the whole with a layer or two of batting...

I cut a piece of beautiful, lovely fabric large enough to stretch around to the backside of frame and materials...

and after securing the back with a few pins, I replaced the cardboard backing of the frame...

I then took ribbon and tacked the ribbon onto the back of the frame to come up with this beauty:

I adorned the front of my board with buttons for a wonderful "inspiration" board.

I did take many, many more pictures ... fuzzy and dark though they are, really need to get me a new camera (my apologizes!!)  ... but I didn't want to bore you with all of the details.... just let you know how super easy this project was and in the end, I now have inspiration just waiting for me to gaze upon when I need a quick break from the presser foot :)

Oh, and I did get some quilting done on Gammie ... hope to have more to show soon... best be getting back to that now :)

Quiltastitc Monday to you!!

Hello, hello!!



Nothing like getting in your face and bein' too cheerful, eh?



First things first .... have you seen Sew I Quilt's Madam Samm and AccuQuilt are giving away a Baby Go? ... well they are ... check out the link in the righthand column of my blog if you please :) ... when you're done here ... I gotta keep you captive as long as possible!!



Did you know this was my m'GRug from Madam Samm's contest?

 We were supposed to create a m'GRug that best described ourselves ... well this is what I came up with. I love every color under the rainbow ... and the promise the rainbow represents.  I adore the color pink, in any shade and as I have two daughters, I thought the two colors pink represented them well...the star is also a version of the friendship star for which I strive to be and for which I am grateful, friends.  Notice the heart stitched in the middle? Love my friends!  The third segment is also all about me (heeheehee) I love being out of doors when the sun is out, the sky is blue and the grass is in it's springy crispness...can't you smell it now?  Ahhhhhh......  The two roses, well yeah, you got it ... my two girls again, they are my life.  I couldn't come up with pink roses so used the red ... however, I love planting flowers and my flower color passion is anything that will grow in our short Montana growing season ... any color rose :) Can you believe all of that in one little m'GRug?  (note .... they are called mug rugs, but every time I say that word in my head, I get funny little pictures and wish there was another name.) 

Have you seen Pat Sloan's new Mug Hug?  She made it for Lizzie B Cre8tive's new endeavor ... which is AWEsome by the way .... a brand new E-Zine ... DreamLaughCreate.  Holy buckets ... if you haven't checked out this new FREE online magazine go to it ... wait
wait
wait

Not right this very second!!!  Finish my post, because, well heck, I've been agonizing over this for ... like ... forEVER! ... hahahaha nah, just an eternity and I'd really like to know you were here, so could you kindly leave me a comment just to let me know you stopped by?  Oh and besides, I'm not done posting yet ...

Okay, okay ... Just so you know I haven't just spent the past week blog hopping ... no, seriously! ... I've included a couple of pictures of what I've accomplished this week:

Blockapalooza Blocks 7 &  8 ... Love 'em, even the orange pieces ...
who knew?!?! :)

This is my MBS quilt, Ritzy Crackers, which I made for my daughter's kindergarten friend who is moving away next week.  All of her classmates, and the teachers, signed the quilt and I finished it so it can be presented to her on her last day.  I used Sandy Gervais' Giddy line ... two charm packs, plus some light pink Moda Solids.

My last minute Valentine gifts for my husband and two girls .... what's a mom/wife to do when you don't live close to town and husband could care less about cards?  Raid the stash!  These last longer too!

Quilted this beauty for a friend (Yes, Julie, your second is on the machine now!!)  By special request (mine), please hop on a horse and start galloping before taking too close a look at my quilting ... I'm still a beginner, but I SWEAR I'm trying my best!

Okay, okay ... I know you're chompin' at the bit to get over to that new E-Zine (if you aren't you should be) so I'll help you out by providing the link again ... Dream. Laugh. Create.

Please remember to check back with me in the very near future ... if you notice, I am very close to my 100th post and I believe I will be very "cliche" and have a giveaway.  Like Sweetwater anyone?

Hi {{wavin'!!}}

Okay, so I couldn't think what else to title this post, so ... this is what you get ...

Just wanted to share a bit of fun I've had recently ...

13 Little Knome Hats????

One Little Monster in the Kitchen?????


Nah ...

13 Little Treat Bags for Pre-School Valentine's Party 

 Aren't these fun? Had to bring treats for AbsterGail's party today ... knowing me, I couldn't just put snacks in a sack, now could I?  Well, I quilted some fabric:

Cut said quilted fabric out with rotary cutter and pinking shears (pinked top edge)

Before I turned this piece into a cone, I added a quick decorative stitch along the top, under the pinked edges, in essence to stop the quilting from unraveling after the cutting and then I shaped into cones.  I used my machine's hem stitch to sew the edges together:

I added a 14"  ribbon handle with a decorative button to hide the stitching of the ribbon:

 And, wah-lah ... Valentine Treat Bag:

And oh my goodness, did I ever fill them with goodies ... went over to Bakerellas' website and found this most .... holy cow, oh my goodness, gotta be a kid to eat more than one ... recipe for Cake Balls (recipe here).  Ingredients ... yes, this simple ... Devils Food cake mix (baked, cooled and crumbled), cream cheese frosting (straight outta the can), chocolate chips (melted for dipping).  If you feel the earth quake tonight, it has to be because my chair broke after I ate another ... (no, really, I made the mistake of eating one and wow! can you say "Glass of Milk???")  Yes, that good.  Just Sayin. ;-)

Now, just to let you know I'm staying up to speed with some things, here's my Block 5 for the Block-a-Palooza quilt along: 

Lovin' it!!!  The next block was posted today by the most Awesome Happy Zombie.  I've got the pattern printed and hope to get it sewn tomorrow.

And ....  

please parden the picture, I laid it out on my bedspread, so no, that's not the border!!

This is a quilt I started this past week for a friend of my daughter Emily, who is in kindergarten, actually her friend is the "other" Emily in her class.  Well the "other" Emily is moving away at the end of the month.  I thought it would be fun for her to have a little memory quilt with all of her classmates' signatures.  The pattern is called "A Ritzy Cracker Quilt" by  Mary Lane Brown which I picked up over at ModaBakeShop.  I'm using Sandy Gervais' Giddy line for Moda.  The pattern calls for the quilt to be 44 x 52  inches, if I use all 42 blocks.  However, I'm thinking of using just the 30 blocks you see here.  It is for a very small 6 yr old.  Cop out? ... lol ... nah :-)

Well, thank you for letting me share the cumulation of my week.  Now, get on with you to the really cool blogs out there and I'll catch you again real soon!  Thanks for hangin' with me!!

Love, hugs and Quiltastic day to ya!

P.S.  Lookie, lookie!!  I finally figured out how to get my siggy block to work ... isn't it the most awesomest?!!!?!!  Thank you M.Samm!!!



Surprise Finish ...

Okay ... for some time I've been pondering a project I wanted to make as a surprise for a lady friend ... bouncing from one idea to another.  Then when the March/April 2011 McCall's Quilting issue came out and while cruising it's pages, I found this pattern:

A Gift for Mom is what this is called, designed by Kari Carr.  I immediately knew it was what I wanted to make.   Isn't it funny when an idea hits you like that?  However, as you will note from my finished product: 

 I took a few liberties from the pattern ... big liberties ... guess I just can't help myself.   

The pattern calls this a "cozy quilted shawl" design. I used a soft minky swirl inside. The front of both sides are pockets ... see here: 

I got the "coffee break" and the "coffee cup" from the Whimsical's Companions book ...again, borrowing and taking liberties with patterns, it's what I do, but its what I had in my mind for this particular lady friend so when it spoke to me, I listened. 

Tell me what you think .... hit or miss?  Could you see yourself wrapped in this, drinking your morning mo-jo cruising the blogs or newspaper?

Well, either way, its off to the mailbox tomorrow and fingers crossed hoping the surprise hits a happy mark!

Meandering Stroll

I've been taking a little stroll around our bloggihood and spending a wee-bit of time (okay several hours ... shhhh!! ) reading blogs tonight.  Wow!  The things happening in the 'hood!  A few things I felt the need to share, so please bear with me and I thank you for your indulgence....


First of all ... please add to your prayers Jenny of ELEFANTZ and her fellow Austrailians.  Oh my goodness, puts life in perspective.  She and her family are just opening the battened down hatches after the cyclone Yasi has passed over which, of course, were only just being aired out after the recent floods.  And still, while she and her family clean up from this disaster, she's thinking of others around her and even many of us in the U.S. going through the ice storms and snowy blizzards. .... Might be worth a stop over to give her your best wishes?   Thanks!


On a happier note, one of my all time favorite bloggihood neighbors, Ms. Vanessa from V and Co.  was spotlighted on her local news program, Channel 4's Good Things Utah.  Yes, I am taking the liberty of sharing the broadcast link here.  Her spot was that good!  I've admired her fabulous crafts and projects but avoided this particular beauty as it uses ruffles and I have had ruffle phobia until I watched her.  Way cool technique and I may even be sharing a Valentine's Day pillow or two for my daughters very soon here at Why Knot ... just sayin.  Check Ms. V out, you'll enjoy it.  Trust me. :-)


Oh yeah, next on my bloggiland stroll I wandered through this site .... The Sewing Summit.  I've been mentally doing a search of a "mom" retreat I could convince my husband I really wanted to attend this year.  I think this may be it.  Last year, as many of you  may recall, I attended the Sisters 35th Annual Outdoor Quilt Show (blogged about here).  I went with a fun group of ladies and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I was toying with the idea of attempting to make a trip down to quilt market this year, but knew that was probably  out of the question and really, in all honesty, not the place for me ... yet ... as much as I drool over the idea.  Then I heard rumors of The Sewing Summit here and there in the bloggihood.  From their website, I share these words:

We are a sewing and blogging conference for the modern sewist who wants to connect with others in a fun and inspiring setting. We are planning classes, panels, speakers, vendor demonstrations, networking events and more.

This summit will be held October 7, 8, and 9 in Salt Lake City.  I'm thinking I could convince my husband to be primary care giver for a few days ... any advice on plausible, convincing arguments would be greatly appreciated :).  Anyway, any thoughts on this summit? Anyone else thinking of attending?  How fun to meet bloggihood neighbors and while absorbing all the creative mojo surely to be located in one location!  Just thinkin. Hopefully soon to be plannin.

Oh ... and I have sewn a bit ... check this out:


Block-a-Palooza Block #4


I've also been working on another quilt for one of my daughter's best kindergarten classmates as she is leaving in a couple of weeks and my daughter will sorely miss her.  I should be able to share pictures after the weekend.

Okay, the hour is again late. I should probably connect my my head with a pillow.  I thank you for stopping by and visiting ... it means the world to me! 

Excused Absence ... (lots of phots)

I claim excused absence .... really, I had a note!

Oh wait ... that's not it ...  the dog must've eaten it ...

No? You don't buy that either?  Oh man ... how about this?

I'z been bizzy bizzy ... truly!

Here's proof:

My first three blocks for the Block-a-palooza Waiting for Spring quilt along.
I'm using Sweetwater's Sunkissed line by Moda.

Postage Stamp Quilt Along with Rachel at P.S. I Quilt
using Moda's Kansas Troubles line of fabric.

Close-up view of postage stamp quilt.

Kindle Book cover outside

Kindle Book cover inside

Second Kindle Book cover

Second Kindle Book cover (inside)

I made these two Kindle book covers for a couple of school friends of my daughter's.  Her mom is a quilter but doesn't do small projects and since I do, I thought they'd enjoy having covers for their Kindle Christmas presents.

I made two of these potholders but only photo'd one.

Snap bag .. Tweet Tweet fabric ... Moda, of course!

I made the potholders and the snap bag as donations for an auction at our church to help offset costs of the pastor's daughter two eye surgeries.  They were making baskets of kitchen items and spa/bath items.  Figured the snapbag could be used as a cosmetic bag and who couldn't use more hot pads? :)  This way we didn't have to run to town either to purchase items ... just sorted through the trusty ol' stash pile!  Yay stash pile!!

Oh, yeah, I also travelled this past weekend to see my SIL get married.  Fun was had by all but I'm sure you'll agree, my daughters seemed to have some of the most fun:

Abbie dancing with one of her uncles.

Emily dancing with her daddy.

The happy couple.  Congratulations!

And, I'm so proud of myself, I'll share, though there's not much to share yet.  I'm learning to embroider!  Yay me!!  This is on my list of things to try this year and since we had an eight-nine hour drive to the wedding, here is what I started:

Okay, so not very good yet ... but I am just starting! 
Pattern is from Jenny over at Elefantz...she's doing a free BOM.
Beautiful pattern, I hope to do it justice!

I also replaced one jacket zipper, one baby-sleeper outfit zipper, put two zippers in a tent flap, made a canvas seat for a tree stand and put buttons and button holes in my husband's work shirt collar.  Do these count?

LOL

Okay, enough excuses ... I'm off to make more now.  Hopefully this time I'll catch the dog in the act of eating the note!  Hugs to all and thanks for sticking with me!!