3 & 4 down, 8 to go

Baby Xavier arrived last week Tuesday. Oh, he is already one week old today! Happy Birthday Xavier! Here is the quilt that he was given.

Here is the back and then the front...Blogger is not letting me arrange photos...ugg...

It is a snow day here (which means no school) in the frozen land of Wisconsin. In our yard, it there is about one foot of snow. The weather persons think another 5 inches is on the way. The kiddos are lovin' it! I did bundle Jenna up to experience the snow. There is so much clothing on her it is pretty hard for her to move! She absolutely hated the snow pants. Once I managed to get her outside, she was okay, but not a happy camper. So I tried to bring her back inside, and she screamed even more because she wanted to go back out....


Here is what our dining room table looks like today. I finished both art caddy/bags for Jackson and Hailey. They LOVE them. All filled with fun art supplies and of course educational books!


I also was able to finish one more art bag. This one will be filled with goodies and donated. It's my favorite. After making three of them, I think I got the hang of it. Of course, the pattern needed lots of modifications!!!




Only 8 more items left!!!


Hailey's 9 Patch
Quilt for our bed
Holiday quilt
Simple Abundance Quilt
Scissors Quilt (the fabric line escapes me...)
Shadowbox frame
Bulletin board
Crocheted block blanket

Loose Ends

This is what the pile of granny squares looked like yesterday morning....

Look at all those ends to be woven in! Well, they are tucked and snipped off. Done. (I see why I stopped working on this, over a year ago.....)

Next step is to sew together the squares. Nope. Wrong. I decided each square needs one more row. Just one more.....and then I will sew it together! Or maybe crochet it together...I have little time to decide while I am adding that extra row to each one!

2 down, 10 to go.

This quilt was started for Jackson over 6 months ago. Can that be right? Yikes!


Jackson picked the fabrics and style. It was a little bold for my taste, and maybe a little hard for me to work on. The pattern he selected was much, much more busy, so I did simplify it. The best news, the quilt is washed and it did not bleed! Nope. None. The back is a Target brand RED sheet. And the color stayed perfectly. I am not sure if credit goes to Target sheets or my new super awesome Norwex laundry soap.
Jackson response to his new quilt, "Mom, I wanted a green alien on it...but I like it. Can you still add a green alien?" I have not added a green alien, maybe someday. For now I declare it finished.

Updated project list with 10 items to go

Hailey's 9 Patch
Gift quilt
Art tote for Hailey
Quilt for our bed
Holiday quilt
Simple Abundance Quilt
Scissors Quilt (the fabric line escapes me...)
Shadowbox frame
Bulletin board
Crocheted block blanket

1 down, 11 to go.

In our house, menu planning always seems to be a daunting task. With a little brainstorming and online blogging research, I came up with this system. Our meals for this week....

I purchased the frame at Pier 1 a few weeks ago. Not for this project, but just because I liked it! I used double sided scrapbooking paper and regular white paper to create the squares. The front has the menu item and back has the recipe or shopping list.

I also made a basket to store all the remaining meal cards and a few extras. From here of course.... (the first one I made was too large, but it works perfectly for storage in the pantry!)

Tonights menu selection was Pizza. Here is Chef Hailey preparing here meal!

Hopefully this new system will keep us on track with our meal planning!

Updated project list with 11 items to go

Jackson's Outer Space Quilt
Hailey's 9 Patch
Gift quilt
Art tote for Hailey
Quilt for our bed
Holiday quilt
Simple Abundance Quilt
Scissors Quilt (the fabric line escapes me...)
Shadowbox frame
Bulletin board
Crocheted block blanket

WIP

My goal is to finish some projects that I have started. I have started a terrible habit of starting a new project before finishing the last one. If I write them down, will I finish them sooner? Lets see!

Jackson's Outer Space Quilt
Hailey's 9 Patch
Gift quilt
Menu board
Market Tote
Art tote for Hailey
Quilt for our bed
Holiday quilt
Simple Abundance Quilt
Scissors Quilt (the fabric line escapes me...)
Shadowbox frame
Bulletin board
Crocheted block blanket

12 items. After making this list, I realize that some of them are so close to being completed. The challenge has begun......

Progress

Last weekend (Thurs to Sun) was Crafters. Always great to see the ladies, but not a whole lot of progress was made on my many WIP. Most of this was due to being sick for the whole day on Saturday. Of all weekends to be sick in bed! I did get three quilts ready with just the hand sewing of the binding left. They were all pretty much finished before the weekend. It seems I get so close to finishing projects, and then just let them sit! My goal is to get the bindings sewn soon. I want them to be finished!!! Then I will show you photos....

I also finished knitting a hat for Hailey (which I also started last winter!) My model was being a little fussy, but her sister wanted to wear the hat. Here is Jenna in her big sisters hat! (Sorry for the blurry photo!)

Hailey has been asking for a hat for her friend for over a year now, so I finally made it! Hailey insisted that the yarn was blue, and the flower pink, brown and blue. I asked her several times if she was sure, and she was adamant! I just could not visualize these colors together. But I dug deep into my stash and found some colors that I think turned out pretty well. Here it is....

October

The last two weeks of October have been filled with family, a trip and Halloween fun. Let me share....

Stuart's folks came to visit. We had a splendid, whirlwind visit.

(We sewed with Grandma too, but I have not taken those photos yet!)

Then trip to San Antonio. Why San Antonio? That is the first question people seem to ask. Well, we traveled with Sarah and Dave. The four of us listed some cities we each wanted to travel to. Places like Napa, NY, Nashville, Palm Springs, ect. After we crossed off any city that any one of had been to, we were left with San Antonio. Off we went.

I traveled with this cowboy....

And these cow folks too.....

We walked to the Madhatter for breakfast one morning. Yummy.

We stayed at the Emily Morgan. 14th floor. Directly next to the Alamo. Awesome Priceline deal. Haunted. (or so THEY say....)

Speaking of haunted....

Then Halloween came along. These are delicious. You should make them in your spare time.

Jackson was a Police Officer. He wanted handcuffs. Watch out!!

(and of course he does not want his photo taken!)

Hailey was a Candy Corn Queen. Yes, we made that costume.

You can't buy Candy Corn Queen costumes any old place!

And Jenna, Jackson and Hailey picked her costume. Elmo. Her true love.

And she loved her costume. I was a little afraid she would want it off,

but she was comfy and warm on our cool Halloween night.

That is all folks!

Where are you???!!!

I know that is what you have been asking when visiting here! No worries, I am around :)

The sewing machine has been working overtime in the recent weeks, and finally a few items are complete. These quilts have been done for a little while, but it seems the hand sewing of the binding takes me some time to complete. Practice has proven to increase the pace, but still finding the time to sit and hand sew for more than 10 min at a time is the real challenge!

Since the weather has been overcast the last few days, I decided to take the photos indoors. I placed my quilt on the floor and went to get the camera. Here is what I came back to:

An additional quilt has also been finished. Here is a tiny glimpse. This is a gift so only a peek. And of course Jenna's little hands. She is obsessed with cameras so it is hard to get a photo without her in it!

And the (drumroll....) 9 patch quilt!!! (From Crazy Mom's quilt-a-long) The top is almost finished. I just need to finish the rows around the edges. It will be going on Hailey's bed if she likes it when it is complete. She was not happy I put brown, blue, and green in it!!

See that yellow frame up at the top of the photo?

Here is a closer peek....

Does it look familiar? Not the artwork -- that is a masterpiece Hailey created. Which is a bird sewing, if you did not see that on your first glance! Anyway -- the frame. Stuart gave it to me as a gift when we first started dating (that would be 10 years ago!)

So where have you seen it before? Do you need some hints.....tv show....peep hole....

Here is the answer....

Organized or Obsessive?

Found!

I knew it would show up sooner or later! Well, later it was...

This past weekend we were cleaning out the kiddos playroom (whoa, it was a MESS!) and found the camera. Tucked away neatly in the electronics bin. ummmm....

Since we have now purchased a new camera (and the fact that I slammed the old camera in the van door and slightly dented it before it was missing) we have decided to give the camera to Jackson and Hailey. They both love taking photos, so we will see what they capture from a kiddos' point of view.

On that camera....are photos of Jackson's 7th birthday!!! He had a fantastic birthday (back in July) at an indoor water park.

September began with sending Jackson and Hailey off to school. As you can tell by the photo, we did not need to push the out of the door! In fact, Hailey had her coat on about 20 min before it was time to leave. Both are doing excellent and love school. As for Jenna, she is home with me. That nap mat I previously posted about, it remains in the bag. I (with a few persuasive discussions from Amy and Papa) will continue to take her to work with me. Jenna loves going to work, and we love having her there, so it is all working out.

As for projects, I am working on quite a few right now. Soon, soon something will be complete!

Fantastic Photos!

Recently I reconnected with a friend from high school and learned that his wife was a photographer. After peeking at her website I was thrilled to see her work and signed up for a session with for the kiddos. Of course I hid from the camera -- maybe next time. Our sneak peek at our proofs came back and I could not be more thrilled. Take a peek here.

Finished projects!

I have quite a few WIP so I am fighting the temptation to start anything new until I get a few things finished. This week -- two items finished!!!


For Hailey's preschool graduation her gift was some lemon fabric that she had picked out a few weeks prior. See I told you I was behind! I originally started the dress with a store purchased pattern. MISTAKE. Store patterns, well, that can be left for a whole different post. On a visit to the local quilt shop I spotted a pattern I had my eyes on for quite some time. It is a $$$$ one, but I managed to justify it because it is size 6 months to 8 years, so I "should" be able to use it many times over! Anyway, the combo of lemon fabric and new pattern lead to this:

My model was quite her charming self so there are lots of photos to show!

My second completed project is for Jenna. She will be starting daycare after Labor Day. They take naps on a nap mat, so I made a Oh Cherry Zig zag Quilt for her to nap on. Moda also sells the Oh Cherry print on a bag. Perfect. Now, lets just hope she uses it :)

What a Beautiful Day....

Yesterday was a the perfect weather day. Sunny, 75 and beautiful. My kind of weather! Today will be another day just like that. Hopefully I can get some photographs taken of recent projects. And the weeding....oh, I think there are some weeds in my backyard taller then me. Really. I am hoping the kiddos will think they are super-kids and get using those muscles! We shall see.

We took full advantage of the weather yesterday and attended a Bluegrass Festival put on by our local community radio station. It was really fun. The festival was at a local park on the lake. The area of the festival was fenced in, so the kiddos could play on the playground, dig in the sand, hula hoop, dance, make art projects (more on that below) and the big boys played Kubb. Jackson knocked the king down, winning the game for the boys. He was VERY proud!

Back to those art projects. Jackson created a rain stick out of, get this, a fabric tube! They had cut the fabric tube into pieces and he hammered thin nails in to it. Taped the bottom closed and added rice. Taped the other end closed and decorated. Fantastic toy. Hailey made a drum out of another wide fabric tube. They cut the top off a balloon and stretched it around the form. Decorated it with colored duct tape there you have it, a drum.

Soon we headed back home and enjoyed some grilled dinner and homemade ice cream. Excellent day. Here are some photos.....

I would also like to take a moment to ask you a favor. The Guestbook Store has always donated to kids in need around the holidays. But this year we expanded that - and will be continue to do more things soon (I will tell you about that later). Please take a moment to read my sister-in-laws story on her blog.... School Supplies The start of school is right around the corner and the thought of kids not having supplies breaks my heart. So if you are out school shopping, pick up a few extra things and drop them off to the local school. The front desk will gladly take them and see they go to children in need of them. Or pick up a supply list by the school supplies and fill a backpack. After school starts, these items go on clearance....feel free to do it then as well!

Cheers!

To a new camera! Of course I cheers with a cup of coffee....it is 8:30 in the morning. :)

The good news is the new camera and that I am back to blogging.

The bad news, the old camera is missing. Simply missing. I have looked high and low, and again, and again. Right now, I think Jenna did it. Why? Cause she takes everything! Really. I am sure someday it will show up in the bottom of the pantry, or in some random cupboard....but until then. I enjoy my new little point and shoot (someday I will upgrade to a big girl camera) and try not to think about my boy boy turning 7 and all the photos from his special day -- poof.

Going back in time....

Have you been wondering if I left the blog world? Nope. Just trying to keep up with summer and life!

Lets go back to the beginning to of July and show you what we have been up to....

A litte water fun on the 4th. We went to a friends cabin (thanks Bob and Colleen!) and had a great day.

Summer is not complete without a fair. Jackson and Hailey had a blast riding the rides this year. Jenna enjoyed chillin' with her cashews!

Jenna makes sure her new best friend Elmo is fed.

Stuart left for Typecon mid July. He was presenting his new Filmtype book. So, while he was away, we kept ourselves busy.

Family Camping. We headed up to my brother's cabin for a weekend of R&R. And that is was :) It was so nice to have cousins that love to keep busy and let the parents relax. Here I am relaxing with my folks and cuddling with the girls.

Summer is not complete without good old Wisconsin corn on the cob.

We took a drive to visit Vino in the Valley. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and took a stroll around the yards.

To be continued....