After a good time at the park with grands we attended to transplanting some strawberries   Kaleb is showing himself to be a diligent little gardener.  After I showed him how to dig the holes and how far down to go, he set about doing  just that with me until we had all 20 plants transplanted.  I started the last year in a one time only will never do it again “topsy turvey” that I had gotten for Mother’s Day 2010.  (More about that advertising lie later!)  Then we decided to “water the lawn”.  Did you know that little boys need watered too???

 According to Kaleb he has to be watered at least once a day to grow big and strong–funny little guy!  Oh and that bit of red in the lower right corner?  Well … every little boy has to have a tent to watch his iPad movies in!  Even if little brother Logan will not let him have his privacy! 

After putzing away on some of the pots of dirt, it was time for Mommy and daddy and Siddalee to enter the story   Now here again is Logan at his most curious as all little boys that are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails do so well

Hmm… it looks so interesting and what is that crawly thing???

Somehow I don’t think he thought it tasted as good as it looked! 

So now we take a look at his twin “diva” sister over on mommy’s lap   She is quite the little lady and yes, she knows she’s all that! 

Can you resist that precious little smile?  Our little baby girl has gone through so much since she was born–so many health issues that I cannot even pronounce the names, let alone spell them, but here she is all dolled up in fushia and a blue jean skirt just 4 days after surgery on her tonsils, adenoids and ears   Quite the little trouper and such a loving little soul.  Can you tell how much we love her *winkee, winkee*.  And she has rediscovered her tongue of late and cannot seem to keep it in her mouth when she knows we have the camera!  But here I was able to catch her and her twin brother without the tongue!

We proceeded from this point on to making dinner and family chit chat as families do then it was time for dessert: watermelon, seedless of course.  This was a first for the twins and Siddalee like it but thought it was too messy, but Logan, now that is another story all together!  He loved it! Loved it so much that about all we could get him to aside from a bit of chicken and oodles of baked beans was watermelon!  3 wedges!  I could just not imagine where he put it all!  And neither could he!

Picture kinda says it all, yes? 

It was a great day and we all had such fun.  So much so that today is going to be filled with garage sales, flower planting and a cookout with hamburgers and hot dogs   and chocolate cake for dessert   Can’t get much better than that! 

Till later folks when I make my entry and show the pix for Allies Christmas challenge club

A few months ago I started a project to create a needlebook and matching pincushion to go with a wall hanging I had made.  This past week I finished it!  Since embroidery pieces and integrating embroidery into my quilting has become my passion, I felt the need for a large needle book that would accommodate the many flosses and needles which I use when doing large projects.  So I set about designing my own as inspired by so many I viewed on the net.  I think I did a pretty good job and just look at the inside!

Bringing up finishing things….???  Yep, I am finally working on and nearly have completed Jenny of Elefantz’ “Shabby Roses” blocks from her BOM in 2009   So okay, it took me this long to get to them, but in my own defense, I can say that I only 2 left to finish and only started on them last week   This is a project which begs to finished for Allie’s Gift a Month challenge   Think I can do it?  Only problem is, hmmm…are gifts for ourselves included in this challenge ????  Soooooo…if they are not, ahem, I will have to stop working the Shabby roses and work on The Alaska Wild for my son… 

Another finishing up is a WISP from 2010, my Beattitudes BOM!  I only have two verses left to finish on that also   If all goes well both the Shabby Roses and the Beattitudes should be finished by the end of May!  You can view some of the pics of Beattitudes here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/53475530@N07/?saved=1 

And lastly in regards to finishing is a baby quilt I finished for our Danielle’s new nephew (4 weeks and counting).  River should be nice and cozy in his new quilt: 

 This quilt was hand quilted using 4 stranded floss on  a pre-printed panel.  It took me a week of solid hand quilting to finish it.  He is also getting a travel changing pad with wipes and diaper space built into it.  The pattern for that came from Cluck Cluck Sew   It is a favorite of mine to make for new babies in the family.  I made one for Lydia and used it often.  Now I have to give it to the new moms! 

Well that is some of my escapades since I last wrote   Busy sewing I am!

In January Allie ( http://allie-oopssweethappylife.blogspot.com/) started a “Christmas Through the Year” project and invited all of us to join her.  And I did   The goal of said project is to make at least one gift a month toward our handmade Christmas pressies.  Allie shares links whether it is some that she has found or some that others have found, of really kewl giftable items.  And…she offers a drawing at the end of month for those participating by sending or publishing a pic of their finished item.  To date, I have about 10 giftees toward my gift list   One of the little tricks I pulled on myself was to choose things I had been dying to make or wanted to try with this project.  My last post had a few pics of those items, one of which was Allie’s birdcage. 

This month Allie published this as a freebie for us to play with: 

Now folks I gotta tell ya I had fun with this!  I added the little paper dolls that were a free file from Sindy at http://fatcatpatterns.com and I traced it out on tea stained fabric.  What do you think?  Is it gift worthy?  LOL well, I think so and it is my finished project for April   Would you like to see some other goodies I made for swaps and such? 

There is one that I have left out deliberately as it is going to a friend who reads my blog  

Have you noticed that all of these are stitchery pieces?  Yeppers!   I am addicted to embroidery and can’t seem to get enough of it.  I have become very interested in doing freestyle hand embroidery over the last few months and have two photos to show you.  The first is a 24 inch block that goes in my “the changling” BOM.  I had so much fun doing the pinwheel! 

May Block-the changling BOM

And the second one is from Sindy’s designs.  I did here crazy hearts mug rug pattern freestyle:

Crazy Hearts--freestyle

I owe a big thank you to Allie and Sindy for giving so generously of their talents and I believe in giving credit where credit is due! 

Hope you all have a great weekend!

And the needle sings...

As a stitcher, I choose those works that fit my emotions at the time….When I chose the one above I was thinking of keeping my eyes on the sparrow.  I chose light hues of blue and let the wisdom of age and faith guide me through the design of the outer border and then set my needle singing of peace and rest in our Lord.  This whole piece brings the air of “peace, love, and tranquility to my eyes.  Yes my eyes are on the sparrow and my Savior answered with the dove of peace.  Perhaps He wanted me to feel rested and calmed.  And perhaps, just maybe, He intended all those who view ‘the tender moments’ to feel the same.  Calm, peaceful, loved, and rested. 

For those of you who know me, this is not a surprise–that is to see me get all maudlin over a sentiment set to a needle song.  But you know, it really isn’t maudlin, it is just time…..time to let go of anger, disillusion, grief, anxiety.  It is time to “know why the caged bird sings”. 

She sings of .... freedom

I sing of freedom from the darkness of depression, freedom from the responsibility of others’ problems, freedom to smile and feel joy, happiness, and peace of mind.   Sometimes we just do not see. 

This definitely a New Day and a New Dawn!

This year has been especially hard on me and on my family.  We have had to do deal with many health problems that are long term.  We have had to deal with premature twins and several major problems with them.  We have had to deal with two parents, same family, both diagnosed with RA and my son additionally with spondylosis in his back.  We have had to deal with the oldest son’s sleep apnea and delayed treatment.  I have had to deal with an alcoholic husband who has not worked since May. 

I am not asking anyone to cry for me, just your prayers when you can.  You see, my eyes are on the sparrow. 

Can you hear her singing?

Another mention on this entry:  Have you checked out Dorinda 2011 Mystery???  Not like I have nothing else to do, but Betty twisted by keyboard fingers to join, so…..just kidding, she just made it sound so fun I could not say no to this project.  Head on over to ((  http://dodmystery.blogspot.com/2011/01/join-dorinda-mystery-2011.html  )) to read all about it    My theme is “My favorite things…”  Now whatever will I put into this one????

Another finish for me today was the first block in my BOM design for One Stitch at a Time. 

What is my next WISP project to work on???  I have several in mind but have not really decided on THE one as yet.  The most logical would be the two aprons I started for DDIL Danielle before Christmas.  No, they were not meant for Christmas presents!  I found the fabric in my stash whilst I was working on pressies though and since I had it in hand decided to cut it out and put all the bits and bobs in a zipper bag to work on after the New year…Well that time is here and Danielle’s birthday is January 30th, so lest I get my panties in a bunch in the last hour, I should get them done!  Now that will only take me probably the afternoon tomorrow.  So what is after that?  I do believe I should work on the Dorinda Mystery and quite possibly February block from OST. 

I will try to post new pics tomorrow evening Till then, remember, my Charming Word for the year is FINISHER and I expect you all to keep me on track

January Challenge for Elefantz blog

I made up mind to make the coming year one of doing and finishing   This is not a resolution–don’t believe in them, but it is a decision of heart to try my better than best to do what I say and finish what I do!  Okay, what am I getting at?  Why, finishing what I start you silly geese!  Laugh with me now!  yeah, yeah, I can hear it bubbling up, go on let it out!   

Honestly, how often do we tell ourselves just that?  Hmmm…I am 54 years old and I know I have said that a gazillion times in my short life.  Well, the time has come to cowgirl up!  Mean what I say and do what I mean!  Okay enough! 

I have many projects laying around my house in boxes, in totes, tote bags, plastic bags, grocery bags, garbage bags (no not full of garbage-well to some maybe, but to a quilter…?), sewing table-which happens to be my kitchen table at times *winkee, winkee*,  and lastly in storage and in the shed!  Sounds like a lot huh???  Sounds worse than it is because I have added my recently curtailed stash in various recepticles in that list   

What got me to the point of making this concious decision?  This past holiday.  Yep.  I started making holiday/Christmas gifts in May of 2010.  I worked right down to the wire of gift giving on Christmas Day and still had a few that needed finished.  I gotta tell ya, this has not happened in literally years and IT FELT GOOD!  I was a finisher for the most part!  And all gifts were much loved and much appreciated and I was not stressed nor broke because I couldnt finish anything so had to buy presents. 

SEW, this year, I started out the week after Christmas and am still working at it little by little by finishing those few things I had started before this past holiday.  The above skirt in the picture is a Valentine’s Day gift for my 3 year old granddaughter, Lydia.  I take care her during the week when her parents are at work.  She is such a bundle of energy and always helping gramma out in the kitchen and loves to help clean house.  Her favorite chore since she could walk and help out is dishes.  Yep, loves to wash dishes and she is darn good   The apron is for her take home with her to help mommy out in the kitchen   Mommy is going to have one also when I get it finished this week.  The apron I made for Lydia served as challenge also which was made by Jenny of Elefantz  (http://www.elefantz.com/).  When Jenny issued the challenge, I thought immediately of the skirt I had started picking out in June last year, so I grabbed it up and the few bits and bobs I had set aside to go with it and the above apron was born   So that is one gift down for the year. 

So what is it with the gifts and finishes?  Well, I had already determined to do this throughout the year again and start with those projects left unfinished from last year, so when I came across Allie’s post regarding making gifts throughout the year instead of waiting till the last few weeks (Yes, many of us are procrastinators LOL), I knew I was in the project all the way.  Allie of (http://allie-oopssweethappylife.blogspot.com/) is one straight up gal after my own heart.  And she is so supportive!  Drop by and pay her a visit.  Psssttt…I hear she is having a giveaway for a handmade by Allie if you enter a picture of a gift you made for the month! 

This would be the second gift which my little Lydia picked out to finish.  She helped me pin and I did the hand applique and then the binding.  She decided to give it to her new twin cousins this coming Christmas and until then she gets to admire our work LOL  Gotta love her, ey?   

The last part of my entry till next time…Have fun and finish!  Be a finisher!  That is my Charming Word for the year.  Finisher!

Among these very talented and splendid artists in thread are the girls from Among the Gum Trees  

http://gumtreedesigners.blogspot.com/ 

As Joy from JoyPatch likes to say “Gawjus” designs *giggle*  (I’m the giggler!)  I try to work all the designs from all the blogs of the lovely ladies that make up the blog: Jenny from Elefantz, Vicki (Tozz)-Tozz’s Corner, Dawn of Dawn Hay Designs, Judith from Creative Studio, Fiona from Mother’s Cupboard, Cheryl from Willowberry Designs, and ta da! Vikki Collumbine  from Sew Useful Designs!

Vikki from Sew Useful Designs is doing a giveaway on her blog this week!  She has just been published in Homespun Magazine that is showcasing her heart designs as pictured below: 

Do you see some of her hearts there on the front page of the magazine?  and they are so adorable!  Go here to read up on how she came to design them! 

http://sewusefuldesigns.blogspot.com

And you too can enter her giveaway!  2 of those hearts and a pattern and for us in the US, a real treat, a copy of the Homespun magazine that is also featuring a project from Dawn Hay of Dawn Hay Designs.  So if you win, you get all these lovely gifts and….all the projects that in the magazine!  Now that is a win/win giveaway!  

Make sure you check out all the Among the Gum Trees Designers–lots of cool freebies, BOM’s, and I dare you to stay out of their etsy stores! 

Till next time peeps! 

Carmen in AK where they are saying we are to get more snow tonight??????? Geez, will spring never arrive?

First things first:  I am  resale shop, repurpose shopping, garage saling, garbage picking f*a*n*a*t*i*c  I tried to give it a rest on Saturday, as I usually go on either Fridays or Saturdays, but …..I couldn’t, just couldn’t stay away!  Up here in AK, there are not too many garage sales going on as yet, however, we do have the resale shops, which I think the aussie girls call, op shops????  Well and anywho, I usually find at least one bedraggled piece of furniture, lamp, or a great item to repurpose, but not this last Saturday!  Imagine my chagrin on that one!  So…then next best thing you ask???  Why a trip to Wally World of course!  Now here I spent $37.89 and came home with two great coffee mugs, a set of six coffee themed towels, a coffee themed pot holder set, a set of 3 sweet pea scented candles, a set of six flour sack towels, and a hershey bar?  LOL had to keep up my shopping strength now didn’t I?  So that was my great shopping outing for the weekend (not so great really) but hey, there is always next weekend. 

So, I am making an apron out of two of the towels with big deep pockets.  Just so happens that the towels match some fat quarters I picked up a few months ago, so all is good.  As luck would have it, the way they designed the graphic on the towels, I only need one cut in half to make the body the of the apron.  Which reminds me, I really have to search the stash and see if I can find that chocolate brown polka dot for the ruffle–a little laugh here–I mean some aprons just have to have a ruffle round to the bustle! 

But that is neither here nor there, as I have had major problems with my right hand all day.  I think I beat the bread dough too vigorously when kneading out the air yesterday morning, so there has been no sewing or even cutting for me today so I gumped it along and let my design muse take the lead on my activities today.  I have some lovely stitchery samplers designed and I finally started working on the Feminine Elegance BOM once again and have decided to post two blocks a month until the series is finished as I have been so delinquent in keeping my committment to our group members on OST.  I really am trying girls and guys to honor my promise. 

This week was also the beginning and release of our Beattitudes BOM quilt project.  Here is a picture of mine, now don’t laugh, it hasn’t been pressed at the time this pic was taken! 

Matthew 5:3

I am just excited at working this series of blocks!  I think I am more excited to see what the others are doing with theirs **big grin**  So now I am working on verse 4, or rather not working on it at the moment…..But this is a great time to show all you non OST members what I did with Val Laird’s Love is…series.  My daughter-in-law, Danielle had been wanting a gift with scripture on it, so here is what I did: 

Scripture Quilt

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (New International Version)

 ⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

The above Scripture is stitched all around the individual blocks on the white border.  Here is some detail: 

 It looks so pretty in person–the pics just don’t do it justice, believe me! 

 The main point is that she loves the quilt and I am very happy with the way it worked out! 

Now in my last post I promised to show you all some pictures of my resale shop finds: 

Later, I will post some pics of last few weeks sewing and finds at the shops! 

Till then my friends, have a happy blogging day!

Carmen in AK where is just stopped snowing

Well that pretty much covers everything in my title for this entry.  Hah, and you all thought I was going to abandon this blog yet again, ey????  Nope, only a really bad cold has put me on delay of a few days, but I am amassing all my goodies (acquired just before I caught this darned bug) for their photo shoot  

On Friday I went resale shop shopping? (is that a correct statement?)  and found all kinds of neat loot to play with in sewing and crafts.  Items such as fabric, shabby chic style for my bedroom curtains, 12 pre-cut wof 12.5 inch strips of white cotton for stitchery projects (my second best find), down on the farm 1/2 yard remnants to match my Debbie Mumm jersey cows, 2 brand new white napkins in all cotton just waiting for some stitchery and a bag pattern , one new pink pillowcase ready for stitching, a bag of bead baubles to add to my stitcheries, and more.  Bottom line?  I only spent 15 bucks on the whole lot which made me a very happy, thrifty shopper! But then, wait!  Yeah, all that thriftiness took a left turn when I did a drive by at Joanns but….in my defense?  I only bought sale fabric, the jumbo ric rac (pink of course), pellon extra stiff for fabric baskets, pattern tracing paper (on sale for 99 cents a yard), a bag handle, and my bestest, most coveted buy?  A matroyshka (babushka) pattern for quilt and baby items!  And like I said, this entry is just to let you know I am not abandoning this blog, so pics of all the above will follow, and hopefully my cold meds will take effect and I can get it done yet this morning    

So until late peeps!

Carmen in thawing out AK where our temp is expected to go over 40 degrees F today!