UFO Challenge

I have joined Susan for the 2011 UFO Challenge. She has all the details on her blog http://www.blackberrycreek.typepad.com . Sounds like a fun way to get rid of those UFO's cluttering my shelves. I think of it this way, if I finish UFO's then I would have empty shelf space and what do you do with empty space....? You buy more fabric to fill those holes. I am going to look at all of my UFO's this weekend and make a list of the things I would like to finish. Join us.

2nd posting tonight, don't miss 1st

This is a quilt I started a couple months ago, but I lost interest, just wasn't a fun quilt. I bought the kit from the Fat Quarter shop. I like the colors and made it for my family room, just perfect for the room. But the directions were confusing until I got to the very end and then it all made sense, but by that time it was too late the mistakes were made and I'm not one to rip apart a whole quilt. Because of the colors the mistakes are not that noticeable.

This is my least favorite part of quilting. Pin basting. Don't like the pinning. Anyone else feel this way? This was how I was taught but I wish there was an easier way. I bought an offbrand machine quilting table but I never could get my sewing machine to work on it. I am checking out some of the ones on the market now, but I really have to check them before I purchase another one. Anyone have an opinion on a good one?

Everyone has been sharing their Christmas trees, here is ours. I thought it would be different this year to go back and use glass balls, in red and white. Candy canes and bead garland. I was so proud and thought it looked so pretty and then my DH asked why I was advertising for Target. So now when I look at my pretty tree all I can think of is Target and their bulleye.

Got to love him.

Pictures I promised

I may be late posting my picture, but let's see if I can do this. .

It has been 17 years (that's what the news channels say) since we have had a white Christmas in the Nashville, TN area. We didn't have anything like my sister has in Buffalo, NY area, but it was still pretty and was wonderful to have snow on Christmas



This is my little guy waking up on Christmas morning. He was more interested in finding his puppy instead of looking to see what Santa left for him.

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This is his new puppy, Gibby. They have really bonded and have become friends, except when Stevie wants to play Wii and Gibby wants to chew on the cord or controls. Not the best pose

We had the most wonderful (use that word a lot) Christmas. Spent time with my parents and my oldest son. Had my first Christmas dinner in our new house. I enjoyed every minute. Snow, family, food, gifts what wasn't there to love.

This is the quilt I made for our Secret Santa at work. I was real surprized that it was the men in the office that wanted and stole the quilt from each other until it was declared a "dead" gift. I thought one of the women would have stole it. It was a simple quilt without a lot of piecing but our price limit was $25.00 and we all know you can't make a quilt for $25.00. So I justified by using items I hand left over or had been in my stash for awhile.

This is the back, I almost like it better than the front.

Here is a close up of the fabric in the center of the quilt. Love snowmen almost as much as gingerbread men.

A close up of the Christmas trees. Simple but I thought it turned out very pretty.

I hope you have enjoyed the pictures, more to come.

Changes

I have made a few changes, so hopefully I managed to correct the problem I had with posting comments.

WINNER!!!!

I'm a winner..I'm a winner!!!(doing the happy dance) First time I have ever won anything in blogland. I'm so excited, this has made my day!!! I have been taking part in the In Stitches bingo game at www.the-quilt-shoppe.blogspot.com and I was choosen as a winner in the daily giveaway. It's too late to enter but you may want to watch and enter the next time. It is a lot of fun.

I know, I know I failed again. No posting and no pictures esp. after I said I would. But I have a pretty good reason or at least my son thinks so. I had to go and meet Santa's elf and pick up a puppy for my son. Santa can't bring puppies on his sleigh because it's too scary and cold. After I met Santa's elf we had to go to Wally World and pick up a kennel and bed and food and toys and puppy pads and.... you get the idea, as bad as having a baby, but Santa thought Stevie would like to pick out what he thought his new puppy would like.

How do you hide a puppy for a week??? We couldn't, so he came into our family early. I do have pictures (Yeah, I know I always say that) but the expression on my son's face was priceless when he opened that box and saw his puppy. Even his dad said he would never forget that expression. He was so excited, even jumped with both feet. After a lot of dicussion, we decided this would be a good thing for Stevie. If you don't already know, Stevie has Down Syndrome and because of this he doesn't really have friends to play with at home, so we thought this would be good. He feeds hims and makes sure he has water. Although, when Stevie fills the water bowl, half ends up on the floor, but that's ok. I found it was less messy if I cleaned up poop, so I have poop patrol when I am at home. Not quite getting the puppy pad concept yet, but we are working on it. Oh forgot to mention "he" is a Boston Terrier. We were trying to come up with a name that Stevie could say pretty plain (he has a speech problem)we went through what seemed like a thousand names and every one Stevie would say NO, NO, No. Then as a joke my husband said "how about Gibby? They were watching I Carly at the time, and Stevie said YES! We have brought up other names but it looks like you will be hearing a lot about Stevie and Gibby. Name kind of fits him, I must admit. I promise I will have so many pictures you will get tired of looking.

WHEW!!

Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post. I haven't been slacking, I've been super busy, like everyone else. I thought I had given myself enough time to finish everything, WRONG. I am at work so not a lot of time to post. I did finish the notepad holders for my son's teachers. And yes I took pictures, they are in the camera. Will I share? Yes as soon as I get home I will try and post. Never finished table runners for my family. Never finished MY Christmas quilt. I have the top and back pieced for my Dirty Santa exchange at work, so I have 5 days to finish it. I have notepad covers and calendars to make for my family. Sounds simply and would be if that was all I had to do. Tonight I am traveling to look at a puppy for my son for Christmas. Insane? YES.

Will show progress next time. Although my list is long I do finish some things.

My Present to Marie

This is what I made for Marie. I hope she like them. I made a table runner, kitchen towels and mug rugs or hot pads (her choice). I really liked the way they turned out. I hope she likes them. I liked the table runner so much I made one for myself. You know one of those, to me from me gifts. The pictures are not the greatest but I thought they were very pretty.
(I can't seem to get my pictures to post where I want them)
We have a Dirty Santa or White Elephant or Secret Santa exchange at work. This year I decided to make a quilt throw. I have it all pieced and need to start quilting it tonight. This is the first year I have made anything for our exchange. I hope they like it. I hope someone fights for it, just a little. I will post pictures after I quilt it.

Secret Santa Reveal

I mailed the box to my Secret Santa, Marie in Dallas, OR. then I opened my present from her. HOW DID SHE KNOW???? How did she know that I love gingerbread men? I have candles, candle holders, a little house all with gingerbread men. This is what she made for me. I love it. Thank you very much Marie. The picture doesn't do it justice. It is beautiful.

Secret Santa Reveal and My First Giveaway

Yesterday when I got home there was a little box sitting on the kitchen counter. I was so excited. I always get excited to see little packages on the counter because that means it mine.

I looked at the return label to see where my little package came from. It was from my Secret Santa. Did a little happy dance right there in the kitchen. I wanted to tear open that little box so badly, but I stop a moment and got my wits and I thought it would be very impolite to open my present when I have not mailed mine to my Secret Santa. It's finished , it's ready, it's waiting to be put in a box and addressed to be mailed to it's new home. So that little box sitting on my counter is giving me motive to get my act together and get my box in the mail, because after it is dropped in the box I can tear into, I mean open my present.

Saturday and Sunday I made 80 jumbo muffins for my cousins daughter class at school and a few of those 80 will be left at my house and my parents house for out of town Thanksgiving guest. My sister and her husband are coming from Buffalo NY, my niece, her husband and Miss Sophie is coming from Cleveland, OH. My nephew, his wife and baby Vinny are coming from Charlotte, NC. Can't wait to see Miss Sophie, she will be 3 month old and Vinny will be 3 weeks.

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving and is able to spend time with family and friends. I love tradition, leave a comment about your family tradition and I will have a drawing for a "little present" Nov 29, just in time for the holidays. And you too can do a happy dance.

Give away

The nice people at Burgundy Buttons are having a give away. Go over and visit www.burgundybuttons.com They have a great on-line store. I have purchased several times and always been pleased with the selection amd the prompt shipping. Have any questions, they are prompt to help with that also.

I should have some eye candy tomorrow. Finishing up some items to share.

I have been working on my Secret Santa and some very cute table decor for Thanksgiving. I bought the pattern from Sweetwater for a little house that you put your silverware in. Very cute. My family is coming to my house for Thankgiving this year. I've never had Thankgiving dinner at my house. Everyone has always gone to my parents house.

This year is different... we moved within 10 minutes of my parents, into a new house that I just love. Until last May we lived about 1 hour from my parents. We had a beautiful house that we built. I don't mean we had a contractor, I mean we built it. We built a log house, everything except plumbing, HVAC and roof. Everything else we did. We lived very far out in the country, our closest neighbor was a 1/2 away. We had 138 acres. Wildlife galore. I loved it there, but (always a but) the drive was awful, I needed help with my son who has Down Syndrome after school, his zoned school was not real good, so he went to a school out of zone and it took us 45 min to drive to school. It was real hard after my husband became disabled. He was not able to help take care of it and it was just too much for me to handle. So we sold it right as our new house was completed.

We moved into our new house the weekend of the Nashville flood, May1-2. That's another story that I will share one day.

Need to go sew, talk later

Picked the one to use

How do you like this? This is Christmas Magic by Moda. This is what I am using to make my Secret Santa exchange. I really like the colors. Sorry I can't share what I will be making it's a secret. I will be making more than one of everything cause I want to treat myself too. I wanted to get started tonight but I cannot find everything I need in my stash. I just hate it, but I guess part of my day will be spent at the

fabric store. LOL what better way to spend the day!

I finished it!!!!

I finished my great nephew's baby quilt. He came into this world Nov 2 at 6:02 a.m., 8lbs 2oz and 21 inches long. Can you say basketball player? He is just a tease.... acting like he wants to meet everyone and then just quit. His poor mother, but I don't think this will be the only time he tests his parents patients. Anyway, tah dah eye candy for you.

I actually pieced it back in August and was so proud that I has it ready in time for the baby shower but....... Pure yardage had not made it to the stores yet so I could not finish it. Pure hit the stores about a week after the shower but then I had school starting and then my son's Down Syndrome Buddy walk. I finally got back to the quilt but the little guy beat me.

Pretty simple piecing, a coin quilt. Didn't really follow a pattern.

I couldn't take the pictures outside, I was at work, so I had to take them in our conference room. And look at my cute little label.

I ordered them from Sweetwater and I just love them. Next time I order I might leave a little more room to write in the date and a name.

Hope dad, mom and baby like it and enjoy it.

I am goingto start on my Secret Santa exchange. I have so many ideas so I will have to narrow down what I want to make. Post a comment so that I know I not just talking to myself. OMG I just notice I put the label on upside down, too late now, FedEx man has it on a truck headed for Charlotte, NC, maybe they won't notice. That's what I get for rushing this morning before work.

Baby Boy has arrived

Congratulations to Dave and Kate on their new baby boy.

He finally made his appearance after weeks of false labor.

(They have a cuties name for that now but I'm old school so it's still false labor to me)

8lb 2oz and 21 inches long.

Everyone is doing fine and resting at home. Kate went for the midwife and water birth, it's my understanding she had a rough time. Baby boy was delivered at 6:02 a.m. and they were home at 9:00 a.m.!!!!

I spend more time at the grocery store than that. I thought he may be giving his slow great aunt time to finish his baby quilt, but oh no, he had to enter this world right on time.

Good news is I'm almost finished and can FedEx it to them tomorrow. All I have to do is finish sewing the binding, about 24 inches, wash it, wrap it, box it,and wait for the FexEx man.

Oh and take a picture for all to see.

I found a new way to sew binding down and it is sooo much quicker and looks so much better. I might be the only one who has never tried this but I am so happy with it. Instead of a slip stitch, or what I call a slip stitch, you go under the binding or through it, come out with needle and tack it down then go back in where the needle came out and continue. Stitches don't show and it is so much quicker than my old way.

Spooks and Gobblins.... don't let them get you!!

Happy Halloween!!

I know a little early.....but if you knew me well, you would know that I am never, ever early for anything. I hope everyone has a safe and fun trick or treating night. I just found out from my sister that where she lives, (NY) they have a time that the trick'r treaters go door to door. Never heard of that before. We, here in the South,

go from right before dark until everyone turns their lights off. Then, when I was growing up, that's when the egging and rolling houses took place. Did anyone else ever do that?

I finished the treat bags for my son's class at school and guess what?.....I forgot to take pictures. That's another thing about me......I tend to forget things, but I have been checked out by a doctor and he says I 'm fine, just forgetful. Now what was I saying.... oh yea, I think I have an extra one at home, I will have to check and see.

Went to pumpkin patch with my son's class yesterday. We had a lot of fun, we may go back tomorrow. We didn't get to do everything. I haven't uploaded my picture yet, try to do that tomorrow.

Tonight I wanted to go to a scrapbook crop but I think I better stay at home and finish the baby quilt. I have a feeling with all of the false labor, she might go pretty fast and soon.

Stevie's Buddies are #1 !!

Stevie had about 38 walkers on his team Saturday for the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk in Nashville, TN. He won 1st place for the most donations, we raised $8,805.00. Way to go "Buddies" we couldn't have done it without our family and friends. The Walk is growing larger every year. Six years ago, when we first participated, there might have been 200 walkers. This weekend we had about 2,000. Oh and by the way that's SpongeBob on his cheek not dirt. We had a lot of fun. I provided a taco dinner for all of Stevie's walkers. The Assoc provided entertainment by the Wannabeatles and they were very good, played all of the Beatles songs....maybe I'm telling my age, but they do have a good show if you ever get the chance to see them. The weather was wonderful, a nice breeze, not too hot, not too cold. Last year we all had to wear coats it was so cold. I am so very proud Stevie. He has touch and changed my life (for the better) more than I can explain. When I think of Stevie I instantly smile. He doesn't like to be treated like a baby, he thinks he can do just about anything.

Oh, almost forgot to mention, he won 3rd place in bowling at the Special Olympics today in our area. Way to go Stevie!!!

Tomorrow I will take a picture of the Halloween bags I made for his class at school and the quilt I have pin basted for my nephew's new baby, due any day now. Poor mom she has been having false labor pains for days now.

Enjoy our Buddywalk pictures.

He received his medal when he crossed the finish line.

New week, new list

I am so excited. What a couple of days. Finished son tax return. Finished garage floor. (that was a lot harder than I thought it would be.) Pin basted the baby quilt for my newphews soon new arrival. I feel such a weight off my shoulders. Now I can quilt and sew, but that's not work, that's fun. Doesn't sound like much but my poor aching body says otherwise. Early to bed tonight, my youngest son starts back to school, end of fall break.

Need suggestions on quilting a coin quilt. I was think just an all over strippling. It's easy and fast and usually looks good. What do you think?

Can someone explain how to add a button to my blogs?

Baby shower and ...Shhhh it's a secret

First.... pictures from my nephew's baby shower, due Nov 1.

I'm so excited I received the name of my Secret Santa pal. Now to decide what to make, I have several ideas but I haven't decided on which one just yet. Wonder what colors she likes, does she like more country or modern. Decisions, decisions. I like more modern with reds and greens but you just never know.

Well good news, dh and I finished painting the garage, this weekend we will paint and seal the floor. Mark one off of my list. As soon as I finish my post I will start working on my sons tax return. I will be glad to mark the tax return off my list. Can you say procrastination Then it's quilting time!!!! Me time. Do anything I want or nothing at all.

Next on my list is my youngest sons Buddywalk. For the last 6 six we have participated in the Annual Down Syndrome Buddy walk to raise money for the Middle Tennessee Down Syndrome Assoc. Our team has won several years for collecting the most money. It's a lot of work, but I enjoy it. We are "Stevie's Buddy Club" if you are in the Nashville area, come and join us, Oct 23 at Centennial Park, 9:30am, look for us in the safety green t-shirts, we're easy to spot. I guess I should explain a little. Stevie was born with Down Syndrome in 2002. Almost everyone ask if we knew before he was born. The answer is no, but were we surprised, were we devastated? NO. He had several medical problems. Had surgery when he was 2 days old for a blocked intestine. He stay 32 days in the Neo-natal unit at Vanderbilt. When he was 6 months old he had open heart surgery to repair defects. During his first 4 years we were in the hospital atleast twice a year. We thought we were going to lose him several times. Prayers from family and friends pulled him through. He is my gift from God. I was blessed with a wonderful son. I prayed for a long time before my prayers were answered and God gave me the most wonderful son anyone could ask for. If you like to make a donation please leave me a comment and I will get in touch with you.

What's a girl to do....

Happy Friday to you.
Seems like everyone has a list and once a week or so they check finished items off of their list. Well, I have decided to keep a list. My list was so long that I don't know how I will manage. I know the rules....priorities.
I guess first on my list for this weekend is start and finish my sons tax return(three seperate business in a box) , but my husband wants to seal and paint the garage floor. Which is first on his list, so that I can move some things (his things..tools, toolboxes) from storage and into our new house. He is disabled and cannot stand for very long so I know I will be the one sealing and painting. I know the garage needs to be finished before cold weather. I guess I could do the garage in the morning and then spend the rest of the day working on the tax return. Yeah, that's what I will do. That means tonight I have to clean out the rest of the garage, oh boy what fun on a friday night. I would rather be sewing tonight have a lot of quilting projects that are calling my name. I don't know why I have to work a fulltime job....Oh that's right I like to eat and quilt and scrapbook and have a home and cloth my son. Being positive..if I get the garage finished and all the things in storage moved then I would have extra money (instead of paying Ms Martha at the storage bldg) to spend on quilting. I knew there would be a GOOD reason to finish the garage.
I promise very soon I will start posting pictures of the quilting projects I have in progress and the ones I have finished. Just too much going on.

I joined the Secret Santa swap over at Charming chatter between charming friends. go check it out I don't know how to link to it yet. If you want to join and cannot find them leave me a comment and I will give more information.

Well I guess I had better go back to work and do what I am getting paid to do. Have a nice day, leave a comment if you visit, so that I will know someone other than me is visiting.

October 1. Yea. I get to decorate for fall tomorrow.

Where to start...... I am making treat bags for my son's classmates. They are so cute, using the pattern and labels from Sweetwater. Signed up for their monthly club and I think I am really going to like their stuff. I'll post pictures when I finish them this weekend. That is if I can figure out how to post pictures. LOL

I also need to finish quilting my nephew's baby quilt. I made it using Pure. Don't you just love Pure. It is wonderful, I just want to buy more and more.

More important I need to finish my oldest son's tax return. Extension running out very quickly.

So it looks like I have a very busy weekend, cutting grass, cutting back flowers and such and everything else listed above plus grocery shopping. Hopefully I will be able to quilt some.

Have a good weekend.

How time flies

WOW! When I started this blog I thought it would be real simple to post every other day but..... not that easy. Still working out some of the kinks. Bear with me.

I have been very busy. I have an eight year old who happens to have Down Syndrome. He is playing on the quilt in the header of my blog. (Have to find out to make that a tad smaller, remember bear with me.) Well for the past 6 years we have participated in the Annual Down Syndrome Buddy Walk. I have been conducting a fundraiser and for this mom it has really drained me this year. But we have raised money to support programs through the Down Syndrome Assoc, so it is all worth it. One day I will share pictures and Stevie's story with you. He is one amazing little boy and if your ever need to smile or having a rough day, all you need to do is see or talk to Stevie, he will brighten your day. Amazing little guy!!

Not much quilting lately. But I did manage to buy fabric. Lily and Will layer cake, I think I know what I want to make, but that may change. Scared I wouldn't be able to find it later. I have found some patterns I would like to make on Piece N Quilt. I have always wanted fall and Christmas quilts for the beds in my house, so I think that's what I will work on this year. I already have a fall quilt almost finished, it was a BOM at my LQS, but before I could finish it last year we had to pack up to move. THE MOVE is a whole different story.

No I'm not trying to make up with a long post, just had a lot of little things on my mind.

I will be sharing thoughts and accomphishments in the quilting world, with a few crafts thrown in. Right now I am making a Coin quilt for my nephew's baby boy due in Nov. I am making table decorations for their baby shower also. Will post a picture when I have some completed.

My 1st entry

This is my very first entry to my new blog. Where have I been for the last century? I have been like an ostrich with it's head in the sand and I let technology slip on by, but not anymore. Well, since this is my first time at this, I would like to describe myself and see if I have anything in common with anyone who may wander across my little blog. The biggest reason for starting this is because I have been following so many quilting blogs that I want to join in on the fun. I love to quilt, although I do more quilting in my head at work than I actually do at my sewing machine. By the time I get home from work, even though I have the best of intentions, I don't feel like sewing very much, but I have gotten better since we recently moved and my craft/sewing room is a little organized now. My son is older and that makes it a little easier. I started quilting because I always wanted a quilt for my bed. I could not afford the quilts at the flea markets and stores so I thought I can do this. I have always loved sewing and crafts so that's what I did. I started quilting, no pattern, just some calico fabric and a sewing machine. Although, I started on my own, I was introduced to a local quilt store and took a few classes, had a very good teacher and fell in love with quilting. So from now on you can follow me and my world of mostly quilting with a little scrapbooking and crafts thrown in for good measure. I will have to show you a picture of the baby quilt that I have made for my niece's baby girl due next month. Thanks for reading and visit back. Leave a comment so I know someone has found me.