Piece in 2012!

January has been a great month.  I have slowed down, taken some time off and spent more time having "down time".  I am amazed at how little down time I seem to have.  As part of my down time for January my wonderful daughter and I made this quilt.  It came together fast, looks great and is totally unique.  I am definitely making more circle quilts!

So, 2012 is all about having more down time with the family.  We plan to hang out with each other, enjoy each other and just be together.  Hopefully this will be a sign of a peaceful year with our family and friends.   

Here is the finished "Piece in 2012" quilt that Rayne and I made.  I LOVE the way it came out.

Kids have the most amazing ways of seeing things.  Rayne picked out all of these fabrics and the design. 

We had a blast making this and I can't wait to do another one with her. 

Also, Here is a sneak peak on another project I am working on!





Sewing Lessons 101

I know I had a great year in 2011 and I am looking forward to another great one in 2012!  Unfortunately, unlike other bloggers I do not have a photo log I can post with what I made this year.  I can tell you I will not have this problem next year!

Sewing Lessons 101 are well underway at my house.  My 5 year old daughter came to me and said "Mom I want a sewing machine."  I thought she was kidding, but after 4 weeks of " Did you get me a sewing machine?" and "Can you show me today?" I decided to teach her.  I WAS NERVOUS.  We went though how the machine works, what the parts of the machine are called and where not to put your fingers.  I put down green tape for her to line up her fabric.

Then she did it! She sewed her first seam.  It had a 1-1/2" seam allowance, was mostly straight and was all hers.  I was so proud.  HerE is the first project she completed.  I only made 4 of these seams for her.  She did the other 10 herself.

She has had about 9 lessons so far and she is doing great.  We have moved her green "line" so she is now at a 1/2" or 1/4" seam allowance.  Impressive huh!  She has made 2 purses and a blanket for our dog.

But that isn't enought for her.  She told me she wanted to make a peace sign. I was like.... huh!  I didn't know what else to do, so we Googled.  She found an image she liked.  So, she picked out fabric, I cut fabric, she sewed fabric, I ironed fabric, she sewed fabric, I cut fabric, she picked out more fabric.... you get the idea.

This is what we designed and she pieced.

I sewed it to the blue background she picked out.  She did the rest of the piecing.  I am so proud.  I am calling it "Piece in 2012".  Get it!  It is 42" diameter and I am quilting it tonight.  I can't wait to see how it comes out.

I gotta say, we are having so much fun with our sewing lessons.  I can't wait to see what she wants to make next!

I will keep you posted and I wish all "Piece in 2012"!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

The magic in a child's eyes at Christmas always makes me cry.  I love to the look on their face everytime they see Santa, hear sleigh bells, and sing the wrong words to Christmas songs.  I love how important it is that they pick out the perfect present for grandparents and they get the icing and candy just right on the gingerbread house.  This time of the year always reminds me that people are kind, considerate, passionate, and full of surprises. 

Here is what we have been up to at our house!!!

I have finished 5 of the 20 blocks for the quilt I am making Rayne.  She told me they coming along great and she would like me to be done my March.  Ummmm, does she know how big this quilt is?!

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I am almost done with my quilt in oranges, reds, golds, and mustards.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this quilt.  It looks even more amazing then I thought it would.  I am using veriegated thread for the first time and I think it adds a little more depth to the quilting.  I am still improving with my free motion quilting and this quilt really shows that.  It is amazing how much better I get just in doing it for a couple of hours.  Well, I am actually 10 hours into quilting and only have half done.

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I am also working on a new quilt block.  I started playing around with some jelly rolls strips I had left over from a couple of previous projects so I just sewed them together. And then I cut! And then I ironed!  And then I sewed those to some other fabric I had.  And then I cut! and then I ironed!.... And I hated it!

So, I headed to the fabric store with a quilting friend and we but our heads together and came up with a plan.  So I headed home.  Cut fabric!  Sew!  Iron! and here is the progress report for the first 12 blocks.

All I have to say is LOVE IT!

Tales of the Weeks

Well, it has been forever since I posted.  That is becuase we have been so busy.  In the past three weeks we:

Went to Calloway Gardens for Ronald Bike for MS Fundraiser.  My cousin, father-in-law and husband all rode 96 miles to raise money for MS.  We all had a great time cheering them on.  Here is Ronald crossing the finish line. 

Celebrated our anniversary 6 year anniversary.  I can't believe how fast it has gone by.  Can't wait to see what we do for the next 6 years.

Gone camping at the lake with our friends.  I did have a cute photo of the kids and Ronald fishing but I can't find it. 

I made Ronald a new apron for grilling complete with a tool belt.  I tried my hardest to make it more manly but it is still an apron.  I like the flaming chili peppers!

More photos to follow!!!!



Monday Design Table

I would like to start posting where I am on Mondays with my projects.  Most people post a snap shot of thier design wall.  However, I don't have a design wall yet and today is not Monday.  This is a work in progress!  But, I did take a photo last night of where I was with the quilt I am working on for Rayne.  She picked this quilt pattern herself.  I feel like I have been cutting for DAYS... oh wait, I have.  So far I have cut about 6 yards of fabric and I am sure there is more to go. 

Here is where I am today though:

We will see how I do with my design table!

It is the weekend!

Friday is here.  The sun is shining.  It isn't 100 degrees outside.  This is going to be a GREAT weekend.  Here is the lineup.

Gymnastics.
Cleaning.
Elmo Live.
Girls Night Out.
Margaritas.
Sunday Relaxation.
Sewing binding down.
Fabric Cutting?!

Do you think I should let Rayne help me cut?

I am sure there will be some other things thrown in there.  Always seems to be on the weekend.  They always go so fast and seem to be so much fun. 

FABRIC, FABRIC, FABRIC... Oh the Possibilities

Well, this weekend was one of my favorites sales at Joann; all clearance fabric was an additional 50% off and I had an additional 10% off coupon!!!  After three, yep 3, trips to Joann I have lots new fabric to show for it.  Here is a sampling.  I say sampling because I think I bought 65 yards of fabric.

Rayne is having a blast with all of these fabrics designing her next quilt.  I can't wait to see what all of this turns into!