let's play ball

Little man is off to a good start with practice for his second season of baseball. We have been practicing for two weeks now - twice a week at the park. He is a bit behind the other's on his team since they have been playing since they were 4 or 5 yrs old. My fault as I didn't know I needed to start him that young. Oh well ... we will do our best to get him on the same playing level soon.
The coach is really good with him and is giving him some great tips. I try really hard to pay attention to what they are saying and doing during practice and apply it to our time in the yard. He needs alot of practicing but that will be fun for us to get in the yard and play and work together to get him having fun playing baseball.
We will be busy until summer with ball and practicing and such but it's lots of fun and gives him a way to make new friends.
until next time ...

Stash Busting Report Week 12

Here's my weekly report for the 2009 Stash Bustin Challenge I joined on Judy's blog. You should check out the other's blogs and see what they are up to. HERE is the link for week 12's reports.

This week I did use some from my stash but I had to buy some too. That was okay though since I used it up as soon as I brought it home. I worked on the next step on the Quilt Along on Judy's site so that is being counted.
Fabric Added this Week: 1/2 yard
Fabric Added Year to Date: 1/2 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 2 yards
Fabric gifted this week: 0 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 29 yards

Here's my thread usage report --I started the year with 34 total spools of various sizes and colors on hand. This week I was able to finish off those two spools (I kept thinking they might never be empty) hurray!
Spools added this week: 0 spools
Spools used this week: 2 spools
TotalSpools used to Date: 5 spools
TotalSpools bought to Date: 2 spools
until next time .... happy quilting

step 4 completed

here is step four completed for the quilt-along on Judy's Site- ready for the next step now!

until next time ... happy quilting

we went on a short trip

The kids were on Spring Break last week and we went on a trip last Thursday to spend some time with friends. We had a nice trip and no one wanted to leave to come back to work or school. Why must vacations fly by so fast?
Today is truly Spring and it is so nice out I wish I could take a walk instead of being stuck inside. I need to clear my head and walking does it best for me. That would also help with my goal to lose weight too. I have cut back on my snacking but have not started a food journal which tends to help me more so than anything. Seeing it written down as to what you eat in a day's time will really make you see what you eat in a day's time. I am hoping to jump start my life changes this week since it is the first of Spring and time for renewal of life.
I haven't counted fabric usage for my stash busting report for this week - sorry it is late. I did use fabric for the Bears in the Farmhouse challenge and some crumb blocks I made last week and I finally finished off thos two spools of thread I was using for crumb blocks and scrappy block piecings. I'll try and do that tonight.
until next time .... happy quilting

another finish

quickly posting of the picture for the Scrappy HST quilt for my sister. I finished the binding last night.

until next time ... happy quilting

Quilt-Along Step 4 progress

I am terrible - after this mornings stash busting report I went to cut the sashing strips for the Quilt Along - Step 4 that I need to finish today and low and behold I do not have enough of the gold fabric. ;o(
I searched high and low for something well anything kinda similar to the fabric I started with. Found one FQ only but that is still not enough so ... I had to break down and actually ... I hate to say the words .... buy fabric! I just bought one half yard to hopefully finish the sashing. It is in the wash now then I am sewing the rest of the afternoon.
I'll update my status later on today.

And here is what I got done today ... not as much as I hoped due to several phone calls but that is okay. I didn't get Step 4 totally done but I made some progress - we have until the 24th or 25th to post our pictures so I still have some time. Need to work on two inner borders to finish this step. whatcha think so far? my sashings are a bit wavy. I need to work on getting them together better. Still learning with each quilt.

I also made six crumb blocks doing the leaders and enders method. Thanks for sharing that idea with me. I am now multitasking while quilting ... lol

I have two sides of the binding done on the Scrappy HST quilt for my sister and hope ot have the other two sides done before too much longer. Wanted to post before I shut down the computer for the night.
until next time ....

Stash Busting Report Week 11

Here's my weekly report for the 2009 Stash Bustin Challenge I joined on Judy's blog. You should check out the other's blogs and see what they are up to. HERE is the link for week 11's reports. They are doing just great.This week usage is small so I am not counting it. I didn't buy anything so I am still doing good. I didn't sew much but I have make progress in others areas that I wanted and needed to this weekend. This afternoon I need to complete the next step on the Quilt Along on Judy's site so that will be added to next week's count.

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric gifted this week: 0 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 27 yards

Here's my thread usage report --I started with 34 total spools of various sizes and colors on hand on last count.
Spools added this week: 0 spools
Spools used this week: 0 spools
TotalSpools used to Date: 3 spools
TotalSpools bought to Date: 2 spools
until next time ....

time for change

today is the first day of changes for me ... I am going to find ways to change lots of things around me and with me to make life more enjoyable and make us happy again.
Change #1 was getting my hair done. I can not tell you when the last time I went to a salon and got my hair done. I have neglected me for a long time and I need to change that. One of my 2009 goals is to work on being a better me. This is a start.
Change #2 is to start watching what I eat closer and drinking more water instead of coffee and diet cokes. I was looking in the mirror at my face (my very round face I might add) while my hair was up in those pretty little rollers and I couldn't help but see how much weight I have gained and how my face has changed. I almost have a double chin and that is sad. Another goal for 2009 is to reduce my intake and lose more weight. I want to work on losing 10% of my weight by summer and keeping with it and lose whatever I can to feel good again. I weigh a bit over 170 and stand 5'4". I need to start keeping a food journal and hold myself accountable for what goes into my mouth. I have got to start fitting in exercise into my life again. I am not happy with how big I am or how outta shape I am. I plan to do daily walks again and use that ab roller and exercise ball daily. I need to get my kids involved and let them know I need their help to motivate me to do this.
Change #3 is to clear more of the clutter from my house and enjoy the extra space and the happiness less stuff will give us. I got up this morning and started in my bedroom. I made great progress. I want to work on small areas at a time and sort through the stacks, piles and boxes I have been avoiding due to emotional ties. It is time to let it go and move on. If it is something the kids will want later on I will store it in a box at the top of my closet if not I will either sell it in my next sale, donate it to whomever wants it or toss it. I have found that clutter makes you feel stressed and I have enough of that in my life. So my reducing my clutter I will help reduce my stress too. Two good things in one!
Change #4 is to spend some time doing what I really want to do. If it is quilting or watching a movie or taking a walk or whatever. I need to do something I want to do daily to make me happy. Life shouldn't be full of just have toos - we need to throw some want toos in our lives and be happier cause of it. What will it matter if I leave the clothes unfolded and go for a walk instead. They will still be there when I get back or there the next morning for me to fold when I start my day.
Change #5 is to try and remain calm! To learn to deal with daily situations differently. Not make everything into a drama scene. To count to ten more often instead of losing my cool with my kiddos. To learn to deal with the hormones of a teenager and not raise my voice at her when she is driving me insane. To learn not to raise my voice when my little guy is having a bad morning and takes it out on me. To learn to walk away and deal with it later when I am calmer. To not let things get to me that I have no control over. To not make something outta nothing. I tend to over-analyze things. (I get it from my mother I think.) To stop looking at the worse and look for the good in every day.
sorry for the non-quilting post and enough of all this ... I am going to go sew for awhile on those sashing strips and then I am going to run some errands.
until next time ..

First Finish for 2009

Doing a happy dance here ..... I was able to finish the binding for the HUG QUILT tonight and that means I have finally finished something for 2009!!! I can remove it from my UFO/BOB list and add it to my completed quilts list. How cool is that?

The pictures are not the best as I can't figure out how to take photos to show the beautiful quilting Tirane did on this one. But here goes ...

not sure if you can see the butterflies in the quilting pictures but they are stunning. Thanks Tirane for the beautiful quilting on my quilts.

until next time ....

I'll be binding

I got two quilts back from Tirane in the past week. I need to bind them now. I plan on working on the HUG QUILT tonight while watching a bit of TV. I hope to bind the Scrappy HST one over the weekend. If I can manage some close up pictures of the quilting I will share that with you - she did an amazing job on the butterflies on the one and her quilting on the other is just so nice. Pictures will tell all won't they? And to think both will be coming off the UFO/BOB list. Won't that be nice? Two finishes for March too!! I know I am behind on finishes but that is okay. Slow and steady wins the race right?

Little man started ball practice the other night so my weeks just got a little busiers so I may not be posting about getting things done for awhile. He did so good and the weather was lovely. Today it is raining and yucky out and he is supposed to practice tonight and he was really looking forward to it too. He'll be bummed out about it. We really need the practice too. This is his second year of playing and most of the other's have been playing since Tball so his skills are a bit behind the others but that is okay. His coach seems to be good and willing to teach those who need it. We will see.
until next time ....

Quilt-Along Step 3

Judy's Quiltalong update ..... I got step 3 done today ... here are my blocks. Whatcha think? I decided to keep the 'paws' tone on tone using four different colors. I used four squares of twelve different fabrics for the 'paws'. I used the same goldish fabric for the joining strips and various squares for the center of each block. These blocks were kinda hard for me. This is my first attempt to make this block.

until next time ....

Stash Busting Report Week 10

Here's my weekly report for the 2009 Stash Bustin Challenge I joined on Judy's blog. You should check out the other's blogs and see what they are up to. Here is the link for week 10's reports. They are doing just great.
This week I didn't get much sewing done but that is okay. But I did make progress sorting those pile of scraps .. and had a yard sale and made three little crumb blocks.

This week's usage includes - 3 little 6.5 inch crumb blocks and the backing fabric I sent along with my aunt's HUG quilt. That is all I used this week. Hope to get some sewing done today. I need to complete the next step on the Quilt Along on Judy's site. Might have a photo to post later on.

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 1.75 yards
Fabric gifted this week: 0 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 27 yards

Here's my thread usage report --I started with 34 total spools of various sizes and colors on hand on last count. (still nothing finished off )
Spools added this week: 0 spools
Spools used this week: 0 spools Total
Spools used to Date: 3 spoolsTotal
Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

until next time ....

setting aside the scraps for now

after making a small dent in the pile on the table I have to put those scraps away for now. I need to get ready for a yard sale this weekend and work on blocks for the Quilt along on Judy's site. I did make some nice progress on this and am happy with what I got done. I now have a small drawer of strips/strings for string blocks. I have a small container of 2.5 inch strips for log cabin blocks. I have a small drawer of odd size and shaped pieces for crumb blocks. All are nicely pressed and will be ready for me to work on those projects without alot of time sorting, pulling and pressing. I will get back to sorting and organizing this container at a later date.
I got the Scrappy HST quilt back from being quilting yesterday. Tirane did a wonderful job hiding my waving border on this one. She is a wonderful quilter ... ya'll need to check out her blog and pictures She is sure to please. Now I need to get the binding done on this one to be able to give it to my sister when I see her on the 19th for a mini-vacation with her family. This will be my first 2009 finish!
until next time ....

scraps scraps and more scraps

Tuesday's Update ... Trying 30 minutes of Progress a day ...
I have been making myself do 30 minutes at a time of working thru this mess. I have a good start but not anywhere near done. I have a nice stack of various size strings, a stack of 2.5" strips for log cabin blocks, lots of smaller pieces/ odd shapes pressed and put into a shoe box for crumb blocks and then there are larger pieces of fabric I found while digging and those are pressed and set aside waiting to be cut down to whatever I can use. I didn't want to stop pressing to cut yet. I have made some progress - there is a dent in the pile on the table and I am not giving up. When this is done I will be able to pull a tub or box and sew on whatever scrappy project I want to without having to sort and press. Think of all the time I am saving myself by doing this now.

~~~~~~~~
My only sewing related goal for this week is to press, sort, cut and organize this huge pile of scraps. Think I can do it?

I'd like to cut down these scraps into usable pieces: squares, strips and strings. So that way they are ready to use when I am ready to sew. So many scraps ... so little time to sew ...
until next time ....

HUG Quilt Ready to be quilted!

Here it is - ready to be quilted. This is a scrappy Sister's Choice Quilt set on point. I still have alot to learn about setting triangles :o(

I have this ready to be sent out to Tirane to be quilted. Feels good to be able to use from my stash and those BOBs and create something special kinda quickly. I even have a piece of pretty blue floral to use as the backing for this one. Will not be piecing a backing as it is ready to go.
until next time ...

Stash Bustin Report Week 9

Here's my weekly report for the 2009 Stash Bustin Challenge I joined on Judy's blog. You should check out the other's blogs and see what they are up to. Week 9 Progress Reports
This week I didn't get much sewing done but that is okay. I made progress in other areas I wanted to. I did get those HSTs trimmed and almost completed the Hug Quilt for my Aunt. More sewing on that this afternoon until the kiddos come home. Might have a photo to post later on.
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 1.5 yards
Fabric gifted this week: 0 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 25.25 yards

Here's my thread usage to date --I started with 34 total spools of various sizes and colors on hand on last count. (still nothing finished off but closer on two different spools)
Spools added this week: 0 spools
Spools used this week: 0 spools
Total Spools used to Date: 3 spools
Total Spools bought to Date: 2 spools
until next time ....

see our snow

I am so happy to see the snow ... I know I posted that I was looking forward to Spring and all the pretty flowers blooming but ... snow is something magical to me. We don't get much of it here and when it falls I love to see the difference it makes in the scenery. Oh so pretty to me.

I know we didn't get much but it is still SNOW!!!

until next time ....