Friday, June 26, 2009

Giveaway - another blog

Well after doing the sew mama sew giveaway I found a number of wonderful blog and this one is giving away the cutest of cutest patterns. I mean wow...I will be super super happy to have this pattern...

http://littlemunchkins.blogspot.com/

so check out her blog and see the cool things that she has going on!!!

Vacation

What a week!!!! I have been at my in-laws house doing a week of canning. I have only ever done jam (which is pretty easy). I wanted to have some salsa and salmon which my mom-in-law does super well and what a better way to learn. So, we did 8 batches of salsa (over two days). Four batches of Jam...fresh strawberries picked in the morning and canned that afternoon...should be good!! Then we did 17 pints of Salmon. That was harder then I thought just because of the time of pressure canning. But now I am set for a year and so is she.

It is nice to have this relasonship with my mom-in-law...so blessed!! So, tomorrow I am heading home....man I miss my love, my husband!! It will be a long day tomorrow so ta-ta for now!!!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Taking the plunge!!

Well, I am making my first quilt and true to form I want to do it ALL!! So, I am doing free motion quilting!! This is the back and the front of the quilt. I am having a blast doing it!! It is a lot of work. For someone who goes to the gym three times a week my arms hurt from quilting...I find that a little bit funny!!

It is going to take many a more hours, but it is going to be worth it. My husband is going to love it. It own blanket. I guess the trick now is to not let the kids steal it, like they have done with every other blanket!!! LOL

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The waiting game

I guess I am more of the instant gradification then I thought. I purchased some thread online because the price was awesome, now I have to wait to get started on the quilting part of my quilt. I don't like to wait I wanted to get started two days ago. I mean it shipped out on thursday. WHY IS IT NOT HERE!!! Well, I guess my pretty quilt will have to wait all sandwiched up for another day. The other thing is, why do my mail not some until 6-6:30. Ohh well, I guess paitence is the name of the game.

On another note, I got the quilt sandwiched together. It is HUGE!! It took quit of bit of work. I used the spray basting method. I think I worked up a sweat getting it all pieced together. It was hard to get all the wrinkles out, but alas it is done and waiting for my thread.....maybe today....maybe today!!!

Monday, June 15, 2009

MommyHood

Well I know it is not about crafting, but I just have to put it out there. Being a mommy is hard!! Number 2, Jojo, is being very stubborn and disobiendent. We have tried everything we can think of and I am very tired. I guess being more stubborn then your child takes a lot of energy. I don't seem to have any extra right now....well I guess I just have to have more caffiene.

On top of that....number three, ladybug, is sick. Number four, tate, is teething. Well at least number one, Brother, is doing just fine. But hey, wait that is only 25%, does that mean I fail. Well, I guess I will just have to study harder!!

(and if you couldn't tell I am using nicknames for my kids....I feel safer that way).

Happy Monday!!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Finished Quilt top



Well I finished my first quilt top. I am doing the oldredbarnco.blogspot quilt along and having a blast. I am learning so much, it is incrediable....
I am very excited to try the quilting process...well nervous really. I do have a tendency to bite off more then I can chew because I am going to do free movement quilting. But I guess you have to start somewhere and why not here!!
More pictures to come as I finish more and more of it!!!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

My first quilt...the start

These are the strips for my first quilt. I am doing a contest on a different blog. And I am following her six week step by step directions. For my first quilt I am very excited.



I will update as I am getting along. I am two weeks behind, but I made them up today (likely they were easy...pick you fabric and cut into strips. Now on to week three...sewing them together).

Monday, June 1, 2009

Sew Mama Sew questionare

Well I am new to the blogging and relatively new to the sewing, so I thought I would dive in feet first and all the way.....here we go


What brand and model do you have? Kenmore 385

How long have you had it?About 6 years

How much does that machine cost (approximately)? It was about $200 (I think that is what my mom-in-law said)

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)? I love to sew clothing for my kids. But I have done curtians, pillows, and one basic quilt

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? In the last year I sew once a week on average (sometime I take a break and other times I sew once a day)

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name? I love my machine. It does everything that it needs to do. I would love to get a 'fancier' machine, buy my tried and true little lady does the trick.

What features does your machine have that work well for you? I love the extra stitches, and the button holer is WONDERFUL. I do cloths and without that it would be very difficult.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? I thread pops off a lot from the top and not the bobbin. Then I have to totally retread it, to make sure that it goes through all the ness. places.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it! When we lived in an apartment I had to haul it in and out of the closet and she took it really well. But no no crazy stories. Well, I guess that when my mom-in-law gave it to me I was very touched. It was not many years after I married her son and the extravagance of the gift really touched me greatly.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? I would. Expecially if they are new to sewing. It doesn't take long to understand and it does stiches wonderfully. If you are more advanced or would like a ton of extra stiches then this machine would not be for you!!

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine? The cost to your sewing ability. What I mean is, if you are a casual sewer then a fancy machine is kinda a waste of money. If you just need to do little hems here and there. If you love love love to sew and would even consider a business in it, then a more expensive 'fancy' machine would be most likely better. If you don't think that you will use the different stiches then don't worry about them so much.

Do you have a dream machine? I don't as of this point have a dream machine. Like I said I am kinda new to all of this, so I sure it will not take long to get one though. Expecially after this month on sew mama sew!!

To Dress my daughter!

Here is my first post of my craft projects. I love this dress pattern it is really cute!! My 'model' was not really in a good mood, but the dress is shown non-the-less. I had a small amount of trouble with the collar, but figured it out!! I didn't even have to use my seam-rippers in this dress. I think that it is the first time!!