stash busting table runner

It's not very often that I make something for myself but considering how much I LOVE Bubblegum Basics I knew I had to before I work through my whole stash.

This runner is approx. 42" long and 11" wide.  Fits perfectly on top of my dresser.

I think next time I might sandwich the front, batting and back together before I stitch on the pieces.  We'll see.

Chains!!!

Have I mention, I LOVE countdown chains?  So fun!

Just added a few more to my etsy shop.

Daily Dialogue

"Mom, take a picture of me getting the earwax out of my ear."

"Okay.  Are you going to eat it?" 

"Ewww, thats gross." (while smiling as though he is actually thinking about it)

Picnic

We had our first official outside-on-a-blanket picnic today.  Gone are the days (at least for a few months) of pitching the blanket in the living room.

Ditch Water

In all my years growing up on a farm, I never saw the water come into the ditch.

So when my six year-old came running in the door yesterday exclaiming that the water was coming in "10 minutes!", I was just as excited as he was. 

I quickly finished the dishes, bundled up Thing 1 & Thing 2 and waited for the water to come.  It did.  Finally.  After about 30 minutes.  Take if from me, it is SO hard to wait patiently when you are so ridiculously excited!

The water master had a few guys helping him.  They didn't understand why I was taking pictures. In fact, one of them said, "So, why are you taking pictures of the water?"  He was completely dumbfounded.  

To blog about, of course!

Can you add something to your bucket list once you realize it should have already been there? 

That evening I asked my six year-old what he was thinking when the water was coming in.  In his true character, "I was thinking I want to be one of those guys when I grow up so I can help the water come in the ditch."

Nice.

parties, parties and more parties

The weather man was right.  I woke up the next morning to snow.  I think I was being teased.

Gratefully it was melted before noon and it was warm enough to play outside by the time the party started.

I was able to take a mini vacation and visit some family and friends over the weekend.  I had so much fun! As I was packing I realized it was only the second time in seven years (since I was married) that I wasn't packing for or sharing suitcase space with someone else.  In fact, I was able to pack all my things in a bag not much larger than a purse.  It was fabulous!  Of course, I went shopping and came home with twice the amount.  Like it said, it was fabulous!

However, I did miss my little family.

Daddy was spectacular.  Every day was another party.  Apparently, Saturday lunch was a nutritious combination of cheeto puffs, cereal, root beer, french bread and yogurt.  As I was closing the door to leave I heard my six year-old say something.  Thinking he must be expressing his disappointment on my departure I thought it best to go back in and reassure him that all would be well and he would enjoy his time with daddy.  I opened the door and asked if he had said something to me, to which he replied, "No, I am just planning our boy party."

Pretty sure it was an enjoyable weekend for all!

Hoping For Warmer Days

It's beautiful today.

Really, it's beautiful everyday.  Sometimes it's just hard to see.

It's cold and windy.  It's usually windy here.  The clouds make their way across the sky, occasionally allowing the sun an opportunity to warm our skin.  The wind picks up again.  Goosebumps.

The trees and bushes want to bloom.  Hoping for warmer days.

My sons birthday is tomorrow.  He'll be six.  There will be darts, a treasure hunt, a piñata and mud pie.  The weather man says there will also be rain.  Maybe snow.  Move the piñata and little boys inside?  I sure hope it doesn't rain.  Hopefully their mamas send them over dressed appropriately.

My grass needs cut.  Hoping for warmer days.

Grandma's Eggs

A few nights ago, Fabio* was tucking our children into bed when my first-born said, "(snif snif) something stinks."  Second-born piped in with, "(a long pondering snif) Mmm...it smells good.  Like grandmas eggs.  I'm hungry!"

*Name changed to protect the stinker.

rain rain STAY ALL DAY!

My 5 year-old kept trying to get out of going to school this morning (I can only wait to see what the future holds) with "stomach pains" and "being too tired" and finally, "Its raining today!  I think they cancelled school mom" (while crossing his fingers).

I decided to go out and take some dilettante* pictures with my amateur point-and-shoot.

I love the rain!... and puddles.  Unfortunately I was not able to take any pictures of myself dancing through the puddles.  You'll just have to imagine...

I love this barn and the big wood pile leaning against it.  Also, these are plum trees...YUM!

Digging the wet/dry contrast...

Had to add some worm-age!  This thing was about one foot long.  Can you see the little trail it left through that spot of mud?

No, not much to look at but this is my favorite tree.

Can you guess why?  I call it my Love Tree...

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!

*Yes, I did just look up a synonym for amateur on my handy-dandy mac dashboard and dilettante was the only word that appeared that was not in my microscopic vocabulary.

Shop Update!!!

I have always loved paper countdown chains.  There is something so fun and exciting about removing a link.  Then another.  And another....  Until finally the big day is here!

When Mr.  Knickers was about two months away from graduating, my boys and I made a huge paper chain to count down to the big day.  My boys loved it!  The same goes for Christmas and birthdays.  Yeah, we love paper chains around here.

Since I adore sewing it only made sense to make one with fabric.  Now I have a few in my shop...

Not only are they a great representation of the excitement and anticipation of a coming event, but they are pretty dang cute too.  Cute enough to keep hanging up as decoration long after the special occasion has passed!

I also added a pattern for a Table Topper...

Go check them out here, here and here.


Oh, and did I mention my oldest lost his first tooth?  Crazy!

Remember how I mentioned

I was working with these...                                           

                                                   

Well, I finished the kits a while ago but FINALLY listed them in my etsy shop.  

Here it is in red/blue/pink...

and again in blue/green/yellow.

These kits are for baby sized quilts...my soon-to-be six year-old still sleeps with his baby blanket this size...so does his 24 year-old auntie, but don't tell her I told you so.  I LOVE that size!  It is easily packed, easily carried by little ones and so. very. adorable!

The coolest part about this whole thing?  I sold one within an hour of posting it.  Can you believe it?  Thank you so much etsy buyer!!!

Go check them out...you know you want to!!!

packing lunches

It has been a little quiet around here.  My apologies.

I dont typically buy chips but Mr. Knickers has been doing a lot of day traveling and when added to a sandwich and fruits/veggies they make for a quick lunch.  This is the reason I don't like to buy chips...

My five year-old didn't have school today so he asked his daddy if he could go to work with him.  He even offered to pack their lunch for them.  SIX bags of chips, a handful of easter candy and two bananas.  Daddy helped even it out by making sandwiches and taking a few bags of chips out.  Love that kid!

Spring Has Sprung!

I know they are weeds, but I was SO excited to see little green things peaking out of the dirt.  I couldn't believe it...in March!

This wonderful place I call home is known for it's crazy weather.  Let me paint a picture...two days ago, in the space of about five hours, the sun was shining, birds were singing and the last remnants of winter were melting.  Soon we waved goodbye to the sun as it hid behind the approaching ominous cloud cover.  The wind began blowing and the rains came sprinkling down.  Before long, as if in perfect harmony, the rain was driven out by a fierce onslaught of hail and roaring thunder which laid siege on all below.   It looked as if the hail was intent on penetrating the earth, hoping to weaken its defenses.  Almost as if the ground put up a shield and began to defend itself, the hail fell helpless into a benign layer of white.  This war only lasted a few minutes.  It was soon taken over by the healing powers of the quiet and peaceful snow as it fell dreamily to the ground where it stayed under the protection of the clouds for the remainder of the day.

Basic Pinwheel Tutorial

It is no secret, I LOVE pinwheel quilts.  I made one for my baby, but have it hanging on his bedroom wall because I don't want it to get ruined.  I know, not very nice of me, but he doesn't know the difference.  I recently made another and wanted to share a "How To Make A Pinwheel" tutorial.  These are instructions for a basic pinwheel.


What you'll need...
2- 5" squares of the same print
2- 5" squares neutral fabric
sewing supplies


How you'll make it...

1.  Using a fabric pen or chalk, draw a line diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner on the wrong side of both neutral squares, as shown below.

2.  Place a neutral square and a printed square right-sides-together.  Sew 1/4" along each side of the line as shown below.

3.  Cut along pen line.  Press seams toward the dark side.

4.  Cut off the nubs.  Sew two together to make half a pinwheel.  Press seam open to reduce bulk.

  

5.  Then sew both halves together as shown below.  Press seam open to reduce bulk.  

5.  Trim your pinwheel.  I like the final size of my pinwheels to be 8" square, so I trim them down to 8 1/2" square. 

Here is the final product.  LOVE IT!

(ignore the shadow)

Not much...

to report on.  We have been sick around these parts lately.   Sick big brother, sick babies and I think I am getting a little sick now.

Mr. Knickers had a nose job a couple weeks ago.  Not really.  It was a whole bunch of fancy worded procedures that basically translate into helping reduce sinus infections, sleep apnea and snoring (crossing my fingers on that one).  Hope it worked!

Until next time...

I asked my husband...

if he thought we should make our little girl a "mini kitchen" (I love this one) when she gets a little older and he said, "We might as well train her young.  Maybe we can get her a washing machine too."

I should have seen that one coming.  :)

I was invited...

to another picnic.

It was a cracker, banana, and "milk and water togedder" picnic.  I loved it!

Up Next...

My next project is going to consist of a bunch of this...

OH. MY. YUM!  I can't wait.

Jean Quilt

My first jean quilt...

I made this for my sister.  

Note to self...use a DENIM needle.  I might have gone through a couple universal ones.  I didn't have any when I started but now I have a nice little supply of denim needles.

Hope you love it sis!

The Other Day...

...my son asked if I could help him make a hammock using a blanket. I grabbed a couple folding chairs and we figured it out!  He LOVED it!  I only wish it was big enough for the two of us to snuggle in together.

I LOVE these little feet!

He also invited me to a "Chip Picnic".  He broke them himself and we shared from this bowl.  We might have refilled the bowl several once or twice.

I want...

to learn to KNIT!  Doesn't that sound fun!?

Snow Lickers

Neglectful Blogger...and Sewer

I know, I know... I have been completely neglectful!

Somehow, four small children keep me busy on my toes.  I haven't had much time to sew and therefore I take even less time to blog because I feel there is not much--sewing wise--to blog about.

However, I am determined to change that!  I am going to shoot for updating my blog once a week.  That may not sound like much, but for right now it is a lot.  Hopefully I can find the time to work on projects so I have something to blog about.

Oh wait, one thing I have been working on is a jean quilt for my sister (picture coming soon).  It is almost done...thank goodness. As much as I have enjoyed working on it, I am so ready to move to the next project.  I find I am like that with most of my projects.  Once the end is in sight I start thinking about all the other projects I want/need to tackle and then get excited to move on.

And another thing... I am going to be posting a crib size Pinwheel Quilt tutorial soon.

Busy Busy!

I know I have been absent for a while.  Between holidays and working on projects, life has been real busy. I am working on a pinwheel quilt tutorial right now and will have that posted soon.

Christmas Tree Hot Pad

I posted a tutorial over at Apron Girls for this easy to make hot pad.

on this day...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Accidents Happen

My three year old was hanging out with me the other day as I was sewing.  I had told him he could cut the thread scraps (with scissors I didn't think were very sharp).  All of a sudden my machine stopped.  I found that the cord to my pedal was snipped.  He wasn't hurt--thank goodness!  I called the repairman, but he was three days out.  No sewing for three days?  I decided to fix it.  I have seen my hubby do enough electrical work that I figured I could do it too.

Here is a pic after I stripped back the outer cover.

Covered with electrical tape.

I am happy to say that it works good as new.  And yes, when I can part with it for a few days I will get it professionally fixed.

five year old photographer

This is what you get when a five year old takes your pictures.

The 'while I am fixing my hair' picture...

the headless picture...

and the "mommy, I really want twenty just a few sideways" picture.

It was a lot of fun having a photo shoot with him.

This is the one my hubby nominated for my blog photo.  He loves the crazy eyes!

Two Firsts

First First...  Free motion quilting.  I LOVE IT!  I am definitely a beginner, but I sure learned a lot.  Now I just need more practice.  I just recently got a new machine and my old one didn't have the free motion foot, so I always just did straight lines.  It was SO FUN to create a different look.

Second First...  Hand stitching binding.  Up to this point I have successfully avoided hand stitching on my bindings.  Once I start a project I like to get it done as quickly as possible.  Hand stitching never sounded too appealing.  Than I took the plunge and I REALLY enjoyed it!  It was one of those mindless things, like folding laundry, that gives you the opportunity to just slow down.

The best thing about all of this is that they were done on my first quilt pattern for sale, which will be for purchase soon.  Infact, this photo is a little sneak peek of it.

My Life

I think winter is finally here.  Than again, it was 60 degrees just last week.