paint chips make me happy!

get a free quart of paint today over at glidden - i chose onyx black, because it's only a quart after all, and i could not decide on any of the colors! so many pretties to choose from. i almost got warm gold, and deepest aqua. i love looking at paint chips!

more love in the mail!

this time it's from knitty bitties! packaged up so cute!



















check out her etsy for your very own quilted list taker. she also makes great crayon books for kiddos!

the vegemite taste test

all right, becky left me a comment and i realized i had never sampled the vegemite. today is the day! i've been up a few hours, gotten a lot of chores done, and i figured, i could use a healthy breakfast.

here goes!




















umm, yeah. that's, er, healthy. i'd show you an after photo, but it would be rude. let's just say, it's not my taste. thanks, though, becky, i can mark another thing off my bucket list!

and sorry, i know i told you here i wouldn't post any lingerie photos. one of the best things about living in the country is staying in your nightie until noon. (or later...)

fabric love

marianne over at pickled pear lane sent me this fat quarter bundle of katie jump rope fabric! i am so excited to turn this into a quilt.

i am thinking of a four leaf clover pattern, that i found in a library book about the kc star quilts. the four leaf clover is a pattern i saw on an antique quilt once and fell in love with. basically, it's a nine patch, but the outside edges are curved. this creates a circular design between the blocks, i just love it. i haven't run the numbers yet, so i don't know how much fabric i need exactly. but it should be easy enough to either buy more (yay!) or to fill in with some from my stash. that would make it more scrappy, which is the look i like.

speaking of quilts - i guess my husband works with a guy who has a long arm quilting business on the side! i told him to get a quote for me, and i'm hoping that he'll give us a super deal! then i could get emma's quilt done right.

fantastic refashion

Summer of 69 Thrift Store Refashion Frock

I LOVE THIS!!! i can't believe it only took her an hour or so, it's so cute and summery!

Marseilles Dress SHABBY APPLE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Marseilles Dress SHABBY APPLE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

to do, to do...

well, i thought i'd take a break from showing off all the cool stuff i've won (yes, there's still more!) and talk about some things i'd like to make.

first up, this super simple argyle fleece throw. i don't know about you, but i love fleece. at least at first, before it gets all pilled up. it's so soft! i know they make some "anti-pill" fleece, but i haven't ever tried it. this blanket looks really easy, and i was thinking it would make a cute baby size blanket. so that will probably be what i start with. i anticipate some quality netflix time while doing all the hand stitching! if you know any tricks to keep it from pilling, or brands of fleece you like, i'd love to hear them - a baby blanket gets a lot of wear so i don't want to waste my time if it will look awful in just a few months.

i really want to make some raised garden beds. this project will probably have to be next spring - we just finished tearing up our yard and it's a bit late for planting anyways. but the lowe's garden club magazine has plans for a strawberry bed with a bench along the outside, so you can sit while you harvest your yummy berries! i think this would be especially nice for the kids, so they can "help" pull weeds and pick produce. we have a spot in our yard that is perfect, i'm thinking two boxes would be just right. one for tomatoes and peppers, one for berries and herbs.

i want to sew a few things for myself - my summer clothes are just sad. tanks and the same shorts in three colors. that's my uniform. this skirt is first up - so cute, and she says it's easy! i'm thinking i have at least two fabrics that would work for it. i also want to make some cute thin cotton tanks. and this ruffle top tutorial might make me try sewing on knits! ok, and this ruffle one too - so sweet. and maybe better for my nonexistent bustline!

finally, for the need to finish stuff. i need to hem my living room curtains! they are just hanging there, ten inches too long and raw edged. we are having a party next weekend, so that's my motivation. i was planning to use another fabric to trim all the edges with, but now i'm thinking i just want to get it done. i can always add trim later if i want.

i need to finish sewing my blocks together. i have totally stalled out on my quilt top. i haven't had any time for sewing the last couple of nights, and i am feeling cross.

more handmade love!

all the way by royal mail from the uk!

i have already hung these up in our mudroom! they are just perfect, i had a bare spot to fill and these just belonged there. i love that you can see them from the kitchen, and when you're coming in or out of the house. thank you handknittedthings! they are even nicer than the photo showed!

owl love

i got this cutie little list taker with adorable owls. the tiny pink polka dots inside are the perfect complement. check out her blog and her etsy shop! she's even having a destash sale right now.

prize number four

this sewing "apron" is so great! the idea itself is genius, and i adore the fabrics she made it in! it hangs around your neck. it came with a seam guide and a retractable cord. i've already added my own tools - the seam ripper gets a lot of use. love it, and when i'm not wearing it it hangs so nicely over the back of my chair. thank you so much for this!

send me to chicago!

ok, gals, i need your help here! i am dying to go to BlogHer, and i've entered a contest to try to win a scholarship to go this july! please check out my photo essay, and if you like it just click on the little likey link. thanks so much for reading my blog, this is a little view into my life outside of crafting!

my first mini quilt!

i was thinking of joining a doll quilt swap, so i made this one last night out of scraps from my quilt top. i should have been joining blocks instead, but i was anxious to finish something!


i backed out of the swap - i think i need more practice first, but i love this little gal! i'm not sure what to do with it exactly - it's not the right shape for emma's doll cradle, but it might look cute hanging on the wall. i could make different ones and hang them in her room to match her quilt.

prize number three

so i get a package the other day, and inside are these wonderful fabrics! this was another goodie from the sewmamasew day, she sent me two prints and a ruffly trim. i can't wait to use them! the kitty print will go in a quilt for sure, and the shrooms might become a tote.

and! an australian coin and a sample of vegemite. i've always wondered what that stuff looked like, and now i know! i'm a little scared to try it though. thanks so much! i'll have to add the link in a little bit, the card is in my sewing room and my husband's sleeping in there (night shift) ok, so here's the link, finally! go check out what becky's up to.

more postal love

today two of my swap packages arrived! both were fat quarter swaps, and they are just fab.
first up, cupcakes, yum!














second was for the 2hippos swap, and this is the first of three i should be getting. love this teeny polka dot print!

prize number 2

this cute and practical "green bag" from the green bag lady. paper or plastic? FABRIC! mine is bag# 5185 - and the web site shows that 5585 bags are in use! amazing! if you have fabric to donate to her cause, you can contact her through her website, and she also has patterns to make your own! be sure to check it out! and thanks, teresa!

prize number one

here's a peek at what the lovely postman has been bringing me.















a sweet finger puppet set from becka rahn. go check out her etsy shop too. some of my family thinks i'm a little weird, but i adore puppets. i have a small collection, and these are the cutest ones yet. especially loving his argyle vest.

SEWN contest is now over!

here are the random winners:
lfinndesigns! wins the original bag full of goodies.
and happycakes0428! wins the second bag (which is cut out but not assembled!)

thanks to everyone who participated in the sewn giveaways - i haven't won anything yet, but i think i may have overloaded last week anyways! did i mention, i won two more prizes after i posted about how much i'd won? gulp. i sure do wish i'd bought a lotto ticket that day.

yes we can!

we made it! 100+ posts and counting! the giveaway will end tomorrow, and i will try to draw winners by dinnertime! now, i'd better get busy making bag #2...

more treasures

i did go garage sale-ing this morning, it was another city wide event, and i couldn't stay home! even though i needed nothing, i managed to fill the entire van. two end tables, one bookshelf, a barbie condominium, and a spiderman backpack. i also got a big round mirror - and i love mirrors! a vintage raggedy ann and andy sheet, some fabric and toys, it was a lot of fun.

i also finished up a few more washcloths, they just needed their ends woven in. i plan to give these away as gifts, and i may whip up a few more to put in my etsy shop.

on hold

so i'm making good progress on my quilt top! i am nervous about screwing it up at quilting time. but i will keep on moving forward, i have 11 blocks done so far.

i am being extremely lazy this weekend. reading, swilling beer, eating pecan pie, and watching big love on netflix. i have so much that i should be doing! painting, planting, cleaning, sewing... we are hosting a birthday party here for 100+ people the end of the month! this will be the first time a lot of our family and friends will be at our house, and i should be getting ready. but let's be honest. most everyone will be outside, fishing or canoeing or just drinking beer! a gazillion kids will be running around, and i will be stationed at the chip bowl. so i'm not getting worked up. yet. i did back out of doing the birthday cake and offered to do cupcakes instead. hooray for easy!

i have gotten a couple of my fabulous prizes, but i am missing my camera (again) and so that post will be later, possible monday. thanks for stopping by!

cutting along!

more strips cut, some sewed together - i still don't know what i am doing, and it appears my blocks will be 12 inches? not sure how i managed that, but as long as i keep throwing in new fabrics i hope i'll get enough for a twin size quilt. i love how the brights are looking - that block in the top right is pretty blah. i think i need another blue or maybe a chocolate brown? the pink and greens are threatening to take over!

and i didn't slice off any fingers.

so here are some of the fabrics i've chosen for my first quilt-along! i'm already behind. this will be for our daughter, if it all works out. all the fabrics are from my stash, although several i bought a few months ago with quilt making in mind. a few are treasures found at the goodwill - a moda feather print and a robert kaufman floral. the very bottom is a cotton moire print i got there too. the rest are from hobby lobby, joann's, & wallyworld. i know they may not hold up forever, but it's my first attempt. also, there may be a few other fabrics making an appearance, because several aren't full 1/2 yard cuts so i need to fill in some blanks. since snapping this pic earlier today, i've gotten all but two of the fabrics cut into 2 1/2" strips. it's exciting to play around with the patterns, and i think it will look adorable in her room. crossing fingers...

whew.

the guilt over all the prizes i've won has been bothering me - so i decided to give away the other two clutches i made! random number generator selected #222 and #165, which is K.Anne and Candice! i've contacted them both and hope to hear from them soon. there, now i feel better!

jackpot!

i knew i felt lucky, but i think i should have played the lottery instead! in sewmamasew's giveaway day last week, i won not once, not twice, not even three times - but 4. please don't hate me. i can't even really believe it! i won some great stuff, and as each package arrives, i will be posting pictures and links to the sender's blogs. i have a few new projects to start this week, so i hope to have more finished stuff to share soon too!

if you haven't already joined up, click over to the old red barn's co. quilt along (see the button over there on the right? scroll down if you have to!) for chances to win prizes, including a janome sewing machine. man, what i would do for that machine, i can't even write about here. but i'm just saying, i hope i didn't use up all my luck already.

my two cents

What brand and model do you have?

i actually have two. the first is an old sears machine given to me by my grandma. i haven't used it in years though, i'm sure it needs a good cleaning and possibly a tuneup! the second machine i have is a brother, the very basic model. i found it on craigslist and got it for $25, along with some fabrics and trims.

How long have you had it?

about 2 years.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?

$70

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?

i sew basic bottoms for my kids, tote bags and wallets, pillows and curtains and blankets. nothing too fancy.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?

i try to sew at least every third day, or i get antsy! but i play in my fabrics every day!

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?

i am kind of ambivalent about my machine. i paid $25, so i can't expect too much, right?

What features does your machine have that work well for you?

it runs. that's pretty much it!

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

it refuses to zigzag! it has some tensioning problems that i haven't been able to resolve. so i have compensated by using french seams if the unfinished edge would be a problem. also, if i wind the bobbin too full it doesn't work properly. as i said, i bought this used, so the problem may be limited to my machine and not the model itself.

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!

the only story i have is that before i had a room to sewing, i had it on my dining room table with the cord stretched out. my 3 year old yanked the cord and pulled it straight out from under me while i was sewing! luckily, i wasn't actually running the machine and no one got hurt.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?

only if your budget is such that this is all you could afford. even then, i think you could watch for sales or a used machine that might be better.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?

that depends on what you use your machine for, obviously. i would love a machine i could do lots of decorative stitches with, but i don't think i need an embroidery feature. i would also love to have the scissors button.

Do you have a dream machine?

i've not looked, because it's simply not in the budget and i try not to torture myself.