TR block and Commitment to Loveliness

I wonder if I should cut down on my list of things to try to accomplish. Seeing as I got only one thing accomplished. It seems homework takes up more of my time. I know that working and taking a Senior level programming class is hetic, but I so want to be able to find time to do other things.

This is a fun way to increase femininity and beauty in our lives each week without even trying! All you have to do is choose five things that you would like to work on or do during the week that will increase the loveliness in your life! Here is my list for this week.


1. Quilt the wall hanging for the office "Pat's Butterfly Garden." Seeing as my husband got the quilt rack made for this to hang on my wall at the office.
1 1/2. Stain quilt rack.
2. Get the pumpkins stitched done for the pumpkin swap.
3. Do my tackle it Tuesday spot. Done 10/2/07
4. Pick a design and start it for guild small quilt auction next month. Done 10/6/07
5. Paint my fingernails and toenails. Done 10/4/07

If you want to participate in A Commitment To Loveliness, just stop by Emma's blog and join in. It is a great way to set weekly goals for yourself.

I did manage to get my TR block put together before the end of the month and posted to Pat's group to be in the monthly drawing. The hand dye eggs are from a Fat quarter I purchased from Kim at the Weevillage get together. I have been holding on till I found the perfect use. My daughter was helping me pick out fabrics for this block and found the hand dye it was so perfect.
I bought this sewing machine last week. I have wanted one that did the blanket stitch for a really long time. And my wonderful husband said I could go ahead and get it. Now to get my homework done so I can play with it. I tell my kids homework first before play so I too have to abide by the rules. So my machine is awaiting me.

Blue Valley Quilt Guild Show

Well I played hooky for a few hours today and headed to Seward, NE for the Quilt show. It was said that there were 300 quilts on display and they were truly inspiring. Of course I forgot my camera at home some 80 miles away. But luckily for me a LQS owner/friend had her's so she took a picture of the most amazing hand appliqued quilt. I will post a picture when I get it from her.

I entered the raffle drawing for this quilt and received these cute little bags with the pig coming on one side and going on the other side. Inside the bag was scraps of fabric.

I made several small purchases which sure brightened up my day, at the same time lightening my wallet. It was fun to go to this show, but going by myself I had no one to make oh's and ah's comments to and I did not want to start talking to myself. ;-) Below is a picture of my purchases. There is even a Fat Quarter of Hand dyed fabric. The lady is from the Omaha area. So now I have a source to get some pretty's.

Homework

I spent most of this day reading my Java book and answering discussion questions. I did get some down time and was able to pull fabrics for my Time Remembered block. It is all ready to be fused down onto the background. So with any luck I can get this weeks program written like yesterday and have my entire weekend free to sew. I just remembered that I did make an apron today, I found the tea towel and fat quarter when I did my tackle it tuesday. The halloween fabric actually is stitched in the middle turning it into two pockets great for holding miscellanous items while cooking up those gouley treats.

I have a question if a person starts stitching down their applique using a machine zigzag stitch would it be horrably wrong to switch in the middle of the blocks to a different stitch. Seriously I know there is no set standard, but honestly would it look alright or tacky?

My Tuesday Continued

I did not get near as far as I wanted on my tackle it tuesday. Here is my cutting table area of my sewing section, it had gotton rather buried. I managed to find a bag that had all the fabric and instructions shredded by a kitty. What a mess I plan on later using tape to put the directions back together so I can finish the quilt. I managed to get things neatly organized into totes to later be moved to a more permenant home.

Ok now for the reason my cutting table is in totes and my tackle for the day was delayed.

I had started sorting and organizing my table when I received a phone call from a quilt guild memeber. She asked what I was doing? and then asked if I could take some time before guild meeting to stop by her place. She then informed me she was moving to Wisconsin and could not take all of her fabric stash and was I interested. What quilting women in her right mind would turn down free fabric. So I left 3 hours early and almost did not make guild. I had to go home unload the car and go back to her house to pick up the rest of the fabric. The first trip I brought home 9 bags of fabric, the second trip I had 7 bags. Thats a total of 16 lawn and leaf bags of fabric. Boy did she downsize. Before this I had two totes of fabric, now I have more fabric then I will know what to do with.

I did tell this friend that I would donate what I did not keep to our local quilt guild to make cuddle quilts for the local Health and Human services for the kids to have when they are removed from their homes. She was ok with that but very empathic that I took what I wanted before giving it to the guild.

Here is my big revelation from yesterdays events. I received some fabric, decided to pay it forward. It says we reap what we sow. Well I sure had a fabric harvest. My husband said no more giving away of fabric, we have no more room. But I plan on giving away most of what I was giving, because there are others who would also enjoy a fabric harvest, and children who feel comforted by the quilts they are given in their time of turmoil.

I will never forget this friend said. "I felt with everything you had been through with losing your mother-in-law and such that you would appreciate this more than anyone else I know." She herself was struggling with lifes struggles so she was reaching out to me. So this gift will be used and payed forward time and time again. It will also be a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles and that we have friends and the best friend of all watching over us and guiding us; we have acces to Him when ever we need

Tackle it Tuesday continued to Wednesday

I decided to tackle the other corner of my sewing room. I got started and received a phone call from a quilt guild memeber. So my tackle it tuesday will have to continue through Wednesday. Which technically is today. But I'm just getting home for the night. So tomorrow's post should show all of tuesday's work and more. Oh I mean today's post I guess.

Drum Roll Please !

And the winner is.

Wait pictures first. Here is all the names of those who left comments.Ok. Now the names are in the bag. I had my helper Samantha draw out the name, that way I cannot be blamed for being biased. Now for the winner's name. Ok, her Daddy was behind her saying she was picking out her chores for the week. I did not bother to say anything different until the name was picked. So if you cannot read my writting the name drawn out was Bren. So if the winner would email me her snail mail information I will drop the beautiful Fat Quarter into the mail.

Thanks everyone who played along for your chance to win.

My weekend

I spent almost the whole weekend working on an homework assignment for my Java class. Talk about frustrating trying to track down one little error and having your eyes go buggy from reading lines of code. So never got as far as I wanted too.

Oh tomorrow I will be drawing the winners name for the fat quarter. Thanks to everyone who has posted their comments this week. At least now I know someone in blogger land actually reads my blog.

This is a fun way to increase femininity and beauty in our lives each week without even trying! All you have to do is choose five things that you would like to work on or do during the week that will increase the loveliness in your life! Here is my list for this week.

There were somethings I did not get done lastweek that I'm leaving on for this week.

1. Quilt the wall hanging for the office "Pat's Butterfly Garden."
2. Get the pumpkins stitched done for the pumpkin swap.
3. Do my tackle it Tuesday spot. Done 9/26/07
4. Pick a design and start it for guild small quilt auction next month.
5. Continue working on my Home management binder. I had this one worded wrong lastweek.

If you want to participate in A Commitment To Loveliness, just stop by Emma's blog and join in. It is a great way to set weekly goals for yourself, quilt related or other wise.

My pumpkins

I have my pumpkins fused and cut out ready to be ironed onto their backgrounds then just need to stitich them down. Once that is done I can put these blocks into the mail and on their way to being swapped. I hope to get these all stitched down this weekend. I found the cutest little stuffed pumpkin the other day while at Hobby Lobby and thought it might look good in my office at work. But right now it is sitting on my cutting table next to my unfinished pumpkin blocks.

My husband did a house chore today. As you can tell by the picture he had the kitten chasing dust bunnies under the sofa. She was taking a break when he snapped the picture.

Gratitude Wednesday

I have found that in the middle of the week we need to take a moment to be thankful for what we have and to express it. Thus it is once again Gratitude Wednesday for me.

This picture express the freedom we can have by not holding grudges and being content with what we have.

So today I am greatful for

#1. My husband taking our daughter to church tonight.

#2. Piece and quit to read my homework.

#3. My cats not hissing every time they see each other.

I am sure there is more that I am greatful for, but am having problems thinking of them.

Tackle it Tuesday

Today I choose to work on a corner/top of my sewing machine cabinet.

There was a pile of 5 jeans, little girl coverall shorts, and a top all waiting to be fixed. So yep I got to sew today on the fix it pile. I just love my husband dearly and choose this section first to be tackled so that I could get his jeans stitched since he gave me so much guff over all my thread. This did take me a while today. Especially seeing as I ran out of thread and had to go to town and get more before I could finish sewing the jeans. Luckily tonight was gymnastics and I had to make the 30 minute drive anyway. Or those jeans would still be waiting to be patched. How in the world can guys rip out the behind of their jeans? My hubby says its because he uses it all the time to sit. ;-) NO really.
Actually he usually is working on one of the cars when he rips his pants.
Anyway the pile is gone and I even dusted and organized the bins. As you can see by the picture not only is it much better, but I had an helper. Everything that moves she tack's down with those little claws, trust me it's not going anywhere.

Now to determine what is store for next week's tackle it Tuesday.

Do not forget to leave your comments if you would like to be in the drawing for Fat Quarter giveway.

Monday, Monday, Monday

Where to start.
My kitty Mitzy who has been at the Vet since thursday got to come home today. To bad her and Reese do not get along. Which is why she originally went to the vet Reese bit her in the foot and oh boy almost paralyzed her back paw. So now I have to keep these two seperate so Mitzy can heal and be able to stand her ground.

Then it was Dance class for Sam. Time to get the homework finished.

Another picture of my little Maine Coon Sadie. She loves to play with the mirror. I find it so delightful to watch her playing. Just a very fuzzy ball of energy, and fun rolled into baby teeth and tiny claws. Who just loves to attack feet, nose's and of course fingers. What kitty does not.

Got sidetracked and just had to purchase this great bag. This bag is so darling I just had to have it. I know I shouldn't have, but I just could not resist. And there was only one of them. Go figure I found this at Pat’s Store.

I recieved a fat quarter from Rhonda. So I want to pay it forward. So All comments starting from yesterday, Sunday Sept. 16, 2007 and going throuhg Sunday Sept. 23, 2007 will go into the hat to recieve a Fat quarter from me. I will draw out the winner on Monday. This is a great way to also get to know other bloggers.

Now I hope to find some time to work on some sewing. Lots to do little time to do it all.

Commitment to Loveliness

This is a fun way to increase femininity and beauty in our lives each week without even trying! All you have to do is choose five things that you would like to work on or do during the week that will increase the loveliness in your life!

Here is my list for this week.

1. Quilt the wall hanging for the office "Pat's Butterfly Garden."

2. Get my pumpkins designed and maybe fused down for the pumpkin swap. Done 9/17/07

3. Do my tackle it Tuesday spot. Done 9/18/07

4. Pick a design and start it for guild small quilt auction next month.

5. Finish my Home management binder.

If you want to participate in A Commitment To Loveliness, just stop by Emma's blog and join in. It is a great way to set weekly goals for yourself, quilt related or other wise.

Saturday's accomplishments

I managed to get my pie block stitched down. I have the third TR block on fusiable webbing; so tomorrow I can pick the fabrics out and get stitching on that block. Then I'll have my blocks done for Pat’s Yahoo group. I also managed to get my awesome wall quilt "Pat's Butterfly Garden" stitched down today. I hope to be able to quickly quilt it tomorrow. I am enjoying my slow week of school, knowing that next four weeks are going to be to hectic to probably do any sewing. I managed to finished reading my last book I have by Emilie Richards called "The Parting Glass." This book took me a little longer to read, partly due to the fact I only read before bed and the fact I was so tired every night that I'd fall asleep reading. The book was really good, I just was really, really tired. Emilie has a few other books I have not read, but I am going to switch authors and read "The Suicide Club" by Gayle Wilson

I should not have watched the NE vs. USC game tonight. Talk about bumming a person to watch USC walk all over your favorite team. At least we did not lose to bad. But I was really hoping we could topple the #1 ranked team in the Nation. Oh well another year.

I am working on a new "Home Management Binder" that I found on Bren’s blog. I am hoping that this will help get me organized and at the same time allowing extra time to accomplish other tasks that I don't have time to get too.

Thread and more thread

How many of us want to own every color of thread so that we do not have to run to the store everytime we turn around. Well I still do not have every color but I still am in thread heaven. I was able to use my Joanns 40% off coupon and I know have 100 spools of thread. Let me just say without that coupon I never would have thought of purchasing this great product. It is know hanging on my wall in what is known as the sewing room at the end of my living room. My hubby hung it up immediatly soon that I could start using the money I spent. I think He hopes I now will do lots of projects, maybe including one for him. Wonder if his helpfulness was a hint. ;-) Ok he says I'd only need one color of thread for him. Hum would that be black. NOPE blue so I could patch the holes in his jeans. Guess I best tackle the tower O' Jeans before he uses the sewing machine.

Life catch up

I made this watermelon set as a birthday present. Just amazing how cute it turned out. I also have been working on my TR quilt along with the Farmers Market quilt both from Pat’s Yahoo group.

The Blue Ribbon Pie is darling. I cannot wait to see what other fabulous blocks are awaiting this quilt. I finally finished my Java I class on Monday; then started Tuesday Java II. So with the intensity of the class my blogging and quilting may be very sporadic.

Kitty Pictures

The big Calico cat is Reese and the little one is Sadie. She is such a cutie and so full of fun.

Wednesday's Gratitude Journal

Feeling like taking off a few heads today. So instead I am going to find something to be grateful for and at least one thing I will do for MYSELF tonight once home from work.

#1. Hubby- who always listens, even if I repeat myself. ;-)
#2. Sam- she always has such a positive outlook on life.
#3. Sadie- yes I know she's a kitten, but she is full of life and bounce (which I could use a little of).

For me.
#1. Take a walk- enjoy the starts of fall.
#2. Spend 30 minutes in my sewing room.
#3. Find a project that is about finished and put on top of finish list.

Whelp I sure feel better now. All heads can stay attached.

New kitty and Reese

Traveled to 5 1/2 hours yesterday to Kansas and picked up my new Maine Coon Kitten. Right now we have settled on the name Sadie for her. While I was there I got Reese who was the mama to Dennis' Mom's cat Cleo. So at this moment I have 6 cats and one dog all under one roof, and oh boy the fur is flying with all the hissing and growling. They will settle down eventually but in the meantime it is kind-of loud.