Another gift completed...

As Angela stated on a recent post of hers----there is a craze for these mug rugs lately, and I'd already considered making one a month ago for a close tea-drinking friend when I saw my first one. And the recipient isn't a reader of my blog, so I'm safe to post this.

I came upstairs to snap a picture and my phone started ringing. It was DH. I didn't even realize he had left WITH girls in tow....he was in town and wanted to know what size batting I needed for Jen's "floofy" quilt. LOL....

Short version: I knew he needed to go to town today, so over coffee this morning, I had asked him to consider dropping in to the local craft store to pick up a bag of polyester "floofy" batting since I no longer keep any of such kind on hand. Plenty of cotton batting, but that's not the request of my SIL.....

So-----I guess now I MUST concentrate on piecing a backing for her quilt so that I actually CAN finish it before heading out on Friday to celebrate Christmas with the family.

Happy Saturday sewing!

Christmas is closer every day...

I have accepted that I just maaaay not finish some of my Christmas deadlines....and I'm OKAY with that!
Without getting into all the 'drama,'---life around school this past week has been more mentally and emotionally draining than ever, and.......I've found myself reprioritizing certain aspects of my life.

Case-n-point....

Thursday evening, I left EVERYTHING AT SCHOOL and said...."NOPE! Tonight, I'm making gingerbread houses with the kids!"

And....

That is EXACTLY what we did.....

Caitlyn's class made gingerbread houses on Tuesday, but she was home sick and with an ear infection. She was sooooo bummmmmed! So, I asked her teacher if we could work something out, even if it meant she sent supplies home with Caitlyn so that I could help her make one at home.

Not only did her teacher send supplies for Caitlyn, but she also sent enough supplies for ALL the girls to make one!!! How absolutely considerate!!! She didn't need to do that, and the fact that she did just reiterates the amazing staff of teachers we have in our District. THANK YOU TIFFANY!!!!

The night turned in to a family memory because we ALL were involved; even DH. THESE are the memories I want to remember and have the girls remember; NOT that mom was locked down in her sewing dungeon frantically trying to meet deadlines; NOT that mom was secluded to the dinner table preparing for tests and grading papers (although, SOME of that still needs to happen).

So....Happy sewing. Happy family. Happy Saturday to you all.

Small town atmosphere

Short post tonight; it's getting late and I'm tired.....


BUT.....

I love where I live!!!

Where else can you live and confidently leave your car running, unlocked, while you head into the grocery store to pick up a few items?

Where else can you live where you walk down the aisle, see a parent of one of you students and kindly share some words, in another aisle actually see one of your students who you would guarantee would rather be ANYPLACE other than school but yet thinks it's the best thing in the world to run in to you at the store and then finally wish a good evening to yet two more students who are checking you out at the cash register and bagging your items at the end of the belt?

Where else can you live where you walk in the pharmacy, know the Pharmacist by name (and he knows yours) and meaningful talk commences while getting meds for a sick child?

I live in a small town. And I LOVE it! I am NOT a big city girl; neither is my husband. I know we lose out on some "opportunities" for our girls when it comes to extracurriculars, skating, gymnastics, etc......but we're okay with that knowing what we GAIN by living in a community where .....

we can leave our car running, doors unlocked, while doing a quick run in the grocery store for a few items.

I hope you love your town as much as I love mine.

Giveaway update

This evening, I took a break from all my deadlines and enjoyed simply fondling and tidying my fabrics. I have been keeping my eye on this pattern (Random Reflections), so I sorted and put together 20 fabrics that fit a "girly girl" theme, and then I started cutting two strips from each to create a fun and bright roll to be added to my "going-to-make-some-day" pile. AND, as I was cutting away, I thought......I'm gonna cut an extra strip from all the fabrics that have enough fabric.

16 fabrics ended up going into this mini-roll, which will be part of my giveaway. That's 40 inches of fabric :0) Can you realllllly resist????



The other odds-n-ends that I've put together {{so far}} are two tools and a new pack of pins.


So, if you haven't already done so, head over to the giveaway post and comment ;0)

Stash Report Dec. 6-12 and December goals update

Let's start with my December goals and see how they are going....Is it really already the middle of the month?!?!?!?

Goals
1) Continue spending ~10 hr/weekend towards AP-Statistics lessons:
Yup--6 hours today

2) Finish quilting Twilight for customer:
Yup. Done. Mailed. Received.

3) Quilt Morning Run for Kayla:
Yup. Done. Ready for wrapping.

4) Quilt Angie's quilt:
Yup. Done. Ready for wrapping.

5) Finish Jen's Diamonds:
Top finished today. Quilting by next weekend.

6) Start/Finish Travis's Camo quilt:
Next on my list

7) Quilt Green Beauty for Kathy:
Planned for last week of December (vacation)

8) Stay caught up in RRCB:
Ummm.....may need major catch up during last week of December

9) Finish In Flight top and quilting:
Last week in December

10) Quilt Transitions:
Last week in December??? {{LOL}}

11) DO NOT buy any more fabric to finish the year's Stash Report in the black:
Almost. WILL finish the year in the black, but did hit some sales from Connecting Threads

---

Stash Report: Dec. 6-12
Used/week: 7.875 yards
Purchased/week: 0.0 yards

Used/year: 227.896 yards
Purchased/year: 221.736 yards

Net used: 6.16 yards


Remember to sign up for my 600th Post Giveaway :0)

Jen's Diamonds top done

Knowing I needed to put some time into prepping for Statistics today, I was downstairs by 7:15 am to get some sewing time in. I told myself...."until noon"....

...I'm on such a roll that MAYBE I'll say ... "until 3:00".... ???

Anyway...

Jen's Diamonds (86"x96")
I JUST finished the top a few moments ago. I used up a good amount of fabric piecing together the borders. At first, I considered a piano-key border using the fabric odds-n-ends that I still have from the 10-minute blocks, but.....ummm...I caved. That would have taken a load of time that I just don't think I have. So, instead, I slapped on three sets of borders once the blocks were pieced. I needed to get the quilt wider FAST in order to fit a queen bed, so the side borders are 8" wide. THEN, I didn't have enough of the brown fabric to also make the top/bottom 8" (which honestly would have made it too long), so they are only 3" wide, using up the last of that fabric. I would have liked the top/bottom borders to be more like 4-5" just so that visually it would "fit better" {{I'm a mathematician, so the "golden ratio" is often an image I like to see}}, and 8" sides vs. 3" top/bottom....just doesn't look right.

So, I headed upstairs with it to see just how "bad" it looked on Cass's bed (queen size). Can't even notice the difference since the borders are clearly on the draped sides.

Oh, and do you notice the different layout of the blocks? When I headed downstairs this morning, the checker-board layout just didn't look right, so....I played around and came up with this layout. I like it better because there is some symmetry to it now; specially for those blocks that have that crazy brown/copper fabrics.

DH started a fire earlier upon rising, but since I've been downstairs all morning, I haven't really noticed. I have a small vent in my sewing room where I get some warm air, but we don't have the infloor heat on. Since my sewing room is now tile, and I was also working in the open area for pinning borders, etc..........tscha.....well, the temps downstairs usually range from 55-60 degrees. My 'sewing' wardrobe usually is sweats, sweatshirt, toasty-fuzzy socks ....

So when I came upstairs to take a pic of the quilt top on Cass's bed....I was hit by a wall of wood-furnace heat. OMGOODNESS!!!! Needless to say, I have since stripped off my sweatshirt and socks.


Okay, I have chaos going on in the kitchen. Time for me to go put something together for lunch before my kids drive me crazy with their whining.

3rd December finish: Morning Run

Morning Run (72"x92")

Freshly laundered, Morning Run is ready for gifting to DH's boss's daughter.  Overall, I'm pleased with how it turned out.

The quilting was from a book via Golden Threads; no name was given for the pattern.

I used a Thinsulate batting rather than my normal Warm-n-Natural.  I wanted her to be able to completely wrap herself up in this quilt, and sometimes I find that the Warm-n-Natural along with the amount of quilting a pantograph has us complete, the quilts are "stiff" until well broken in.   This one is easily at "snuggle status" already.  

I'm actually reminded of my Orange Crush (the first Bonnie mystery I took part in).  I used Thinsulate batting and it's my FAVORITE quilt to snuggle in with!  I love it!  Light, yet plenty warm!

While Morning Run was in the washer/dryer, I set out to piece the borders for the individual blocks of Jen's Diamonds.  Ehh...still not in love with this quilt.  I'm a bit nervous that it won't end up with a look that Jen will like...

Okay, time to get dinner going....

600th post. How did I get to this point?

Wow, I was just taking a break from my quilting morning and was going to drop in a quick 'update' post, but....lo-n-behold, this is my 600th post!!! I KNEW I was getting close, but...well....tscha....didn't know how fast it was approaching.

So, since I bowed out for my 300th,
and again for my 400th post
and again for my 500th post...

Time to celebrate this one!!!!

I have nothing put together because this just snuck up on me, and I have no clue what I am going to put together because I'm amidst Christmas deadlines as my blog followers well know, but maybe this little promise of 'someffin-someffin' will pull you readers out of lurkdome; at least enough to say "HI!"

Many giveaways have different rules/guidelines/lalala, and I really will keep this easy for you.

So, ONE SIMPLE RULE:  comment & tell me where you live (no addresses please, just city, state and/or country) and you're entered!!! :0)

Having said the simple rule, I do have one additional simple request....since I'm up to my NECK with Christmas deadlines, I'm wondering how many (IF any) home made gifts you have made for others for Christmas. (quilts, stitched towels, mug rugs, etc...) 

AND {more importantly}, if you're still working on yours as I am mine.  

(not required for entry, but would be nice to know I'm not alone).

Since all my deadlines need to be met by next Sunday (12/19/10), I'll keep this open until then.  {{Do you hear me screaming from here???  Next SUNDAY already....holy buckets!!!}}

So, comment away, and one lucky winner can expect to get your own little quilty gift for Christmas (or shortly after depending on crazy Christmas shipping times).

My goal:  stuff a Medium Size Flat Rate box full with whatever quilty-quilty I find :0)  

*******Please be sure I can contact you by having your tools set up where I can reply if you are a fellow blogger (aka:  change your No-Reply status), or leave your email in your comment.  T'would be so sad to win but not allow me to contact you of your winnings******

UPDATE
I've put together PART of the giveaway package....take a peek at that post.