My First Bloggers Quilt Festival-Spring 2010

My first quilt was made in 2001 after I got married.  I wanted to make my mom a "throw" for her newly decorated living room.  She had made a quilt for me when I went away to college that I treasure so I knew a quilt would be sentimental to her.  My aunts are also incredible quilters so I figured it was in my genes. :)

Since then, I have made a few baby quilts, always with my own pattern, out of blocks, with straight stitching.  You would think after nine years that I would have more to "show" as far as quilts go but it has only recently become a true "hobby" thanks to my friend Amy (the wonderful, amazing, incredibly talented, and inspiring Amy).  

She hosts a wonderful "Bloggers Quilt Festival" twice a year.  I've watched in the past, but this time I'm actually joining in the fun!! It's open to all quilters, from novice to professional.  I definitely fall in the "novice" category.






If you follow my blog you will recognize this quilt (as I just shared it's completion with you a couple weeks ago), but if you are new here, read on.

Amy asked if I would be willing to test a pattern for her.  I had never used a pattern before but was excited to try!

Her pattern calls for one layer cake and one charm pack (plus 1/2 yard for binding and 3 1/2 yards for backing).  I used the Moda Blush line and love the result!!

Since I was in the mood to try new things, I also tried free motion quilting for the first time.  I'm officially addicted.  I want to quilt everything.  I even look at matelasse and think "oh yah, I could do that." :D

My new quilt is used daily in our family room.  It's the perfect size for snuggling! My girls love it and are already asking when I'm going to make a quilt for each of them.

(The doggies happen to like it too!)

Go check out the Bloggers Quilt Festival and see the incredible talents of others!

Friday Funnies

It's been a busy week! But the girls have not failed in giving me at least a few tidbits to share for our Friday Funnies.
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Bailey has learned to quickly "blame" others (mostly Skylar) for things.  When I ask "who made this mess?" she is quick to reply with "Skylar did." Or when I ask "who is stinky?" she always says "Skylar is." (of course it's ALWAYS her because she's the only one still in diapers).  So, it was really funny the other night when Skylar fell asleep on the couch at 7pm and I said "Who let Skylar fall asleep?" and she replied...... "Skylar did."

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We had a church picnic last weekend (and I still need to post pictures).  Reagan was most excited about the watermelon eating contest.  She was just certain she would win.  We were ready to head home but she begged us to stay longer so she could compete.  And wouldn't you know....she won.

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One night Bailey came into our bedroom declaring "I've got probbies." It took me a few minutes to figure out that her "probbies" were "problems" and that her "probbie" was that she couldn't get her baby's arm into a dress.

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We have tried to be encouraging to the girls by saying "Good job" and "high five" when they do something well.  For example, when Bailey uses the potty, I always say "Good job! High five!"  I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised when I opened the door to leave the bathroom and Bailey was standing on the other side and said "Good job mommy! High five!" :D

Friday Funnies

Last week someone (who shall remain nameless) posted as her facebook status: "FYI: your kids aren't that funny."  Hmm.  Well, my cynical, humorless, single, childless, former-facebook friend, I happen to think my kids are really funny! And I'll prove it.

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A conversation in our house last week while the girls were playing:

Reagan: make sure he has a parachute

Skylar: he does have a carrot suit

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Bailey has been citing her memory verse from Ephesians as "Children, obey your carrots in the Lord..."

Apparently we like carrots here.

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Skylar: Mommy, look! A mow lawner!

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Skylar while playing with stuffed animals:

"Come on scout, cross the river with me! You can do it!"

"I can't walk on water! I'm not Jesus!"

"It's just a river, not a ocean Scout!"

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Bailey came out of my bathroom last week with a Maxi pad and said "Mommy, bandaid?" :D


What do you think about making this a weekly occurrence? Want to link up with your Friday Funnies?

Bigger and Better

There is never a shortage of ways to help others.  Hopefully you don't have to look very far to find folks that are doing something good for others; something bigger than themselves; trying to make the world a better place.

Today you don't have to look very far at all.  A dear friend of mine decided to do something really big to make a difference.  She's walking 60 miles in 3 days to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.  It's a giant responsibility but she has taken it on with perseverance and a determined resolve.  It's getting harder and harder to find someone that has NOT been directly affected or known someone affected by breast cancer. My very own Nana is a survivor.

In order to help raise funds, she has had a few folks offer products for her to auction.  If you can, would you stop by and check out her item of the week? While you're there, leave her a note of encouragement and maybe follow her journey to "Saving Second Base." (How great is that title?!) You can also click her google ads.  Each click earns money toward her fundraising goal.  How easy is that?!




Just click on her button!
Thanks friends!!

I have a Disorder

It's bad.  It's really really bad.
Some might call it an allergy to overpriced items, but I refer to it as the "I could make that for less" Syndrome.  Aka: ICMTFLS

I went shopping on Mother's Day.  Without the girls.  It was wonderful (Thank you for that gift Honey!).  I love shopping with my girls, but I am very focused and on a mission when they are in tow.  When I'm alone, I have the luxury of "browsing".   Unfortunately when I'm alone, my disorder goes into high gear.

I walked through Pottery Barn and found a beautiful quilt for Reagan's bed.  On sale.  For 100 dollars. Plus 40 dollars for the shams.  Plus 60 dollars for the sheets.
Bargain.

Or not.  Not when you have ICMTFLS.  

Thanks to Amy and my newfound love of quilting, I am pretty sure I could make it for less. 

Sometimes my disorder is SO bad that I can even look at something like this:

Or this:

and think "I could make that...for less." 

It only gets worse when I go into the furniture department.  Thanks to one of my favorite new websites:

I'm even convinced that I could make this....for less:

I guess things could be worse.  I could have the "I've just got to have that" disorder where I actually spend the money.  Instead, my disorder is more delusional (and free).  

Anyone else suffer from this? Should we start a support group?

Photos courtesy of potterybarn.com and potterybarnkids.com

A Project!

A few months ago, I tweeted about wanting "a new project."  Amy was quick to jump at my request and asked me to "test" a quilt pattern named Simple Times for her.  (Twist my arm.  Please!)

I was nervous at first because I have NEVER used a quilt pattern before.  I have always done my own pattern.  I also wanted to do her fantastic pattern justice.

I used one layer cake (pre-cut 10 inch squares) and one charm pack (pre-cut 5 inch squares), both from the Moda "Blush" line.  Gorgeous! Three of my favorite colors are Aqua, Chocolate, and Red, so I was drooling when I got the fabric in the mail.

I did choose a coordinating fabric from a different line for the backing (cause I had a coupon), but I think it turned out great!

The cutting and piecing were cake (pun intended), and I love love love the scrappy result.  My girls actually fight over who gets to use the quilt!

Even my doggies love it!

And because I love Amy and she inspires me to try new things, I decided to go ahead and try free motion quilting.  It's not perfect, but I am officially addicted. 

(I know, seasoned professionals are cringing....or snickering).  

It actually turned out better than I thought since my "practice attempts" on scraps had my husband questioning if I was going for the "amoeba" look.  But apparently I have redeemed myself because he has asked that I make a quilt for our bed (a California King size) with a heavier batting.  

Baby steps Honey, baby steps.  

I used 100% bamboo batting on this project if you were wondering. 

I did try to do hand binding, but the process was too long for me (and my end threads kept coming undone) so I seam-ripped the whole side I had done and machine bound it.  Hopefully Amy will do a tutorial on binding soon....(hint hint my friend!). :D

She is offering this FANTASTIC pattern on her blog, so head over there and enter to win a free copy! 

You won't regret it!

Your doggie might thank you too! :D

Thanks for the inspiration and the "project" Amy!!

Word to my mother

I get to blog about being a mom all the time so for mother's day, I thought I would tell you a little about the woman that taught me everything I know and loves my girls as much as I do.  She's my mom.
And she's amazing.

She has always been one of my best friends.  I never went through a phase where I thought she was uncool or I didn't want her around.  On the contrary, I had friends that wanted to come to my house because they loved my mom too.

She's the most selfless person I know (almost to a fault). She has always put everyone else's needs ahead of her own.  She has a wonderful, giving, and loving heart.

She gave birth to me...without an epidural! Of course she had to leave the room when my epidural didn't work with Skylar, but that's a whole other post.  She did manage to be in the room when Bailey was born. (and arrived by plane less than 12 hours after Reagan was born).

She actually picked out Bailey's name.

She works hard at whatever she does and does it right the first time.  She's a peacemaker and doesn't raise her voice (Clearly, I still have much to learn from her).

She's crazy funny! When she and her sister get together, my sides literally hurt from laughing so much.

(She's going to hate this picture!)

She loves to give hugs.

She takes my kids to Disneyland!

She loves her family and God with all her heart.

She's the only woman I know that can come through a nervous breakdown, a brain aneurysm, a stroke, and a TIA (all within a couple years), and come out on the other side with even more beauty, more patience, more grace, and more faith.

I can talk to her multiple times a day and we still do not run out of things to talk about (something our husbands will never understand).

She genuinely loves her grandkids! (and being a grandma).

She has always been my biggest fan!
I'm blessed because she's mine.

Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you to the moon and back!