Sometimes life is so much bigger than you're ready for!

I'm not sure these quotes help very much, but I don't think they hurt either:

"When it rains, it pours."
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
"It's better to have loved and lost, then never have loved at all."
"No man is worth your tears, and when you find one that is, he won't make you cry."
"God never gives you more than you can handle."
"That which doesn't kill you will only make you stronger."

I'm sure there are more out there, but these were all I could muster. I have been absent from the blog world for quite a while, November 10th to be exact. I think that is because my life fell apart on November 13th; my birthday! 47 days later and I still lack the appropriate words of wisdom, a healthy view of what happened and the courage and strength to move forward.

There are things in life that dramatically alter the way you think and feel. Things that shake your very core and challenge your existence. Although I am healthy, alive, loved and sheltered I can't help but feel that I suffered a tragedy. I think the worst events are often those that have no real end, no final conclusion and drag on for longer then necessary, keeping the pain always at the forefront of your mind and life.

Through all the hurt, there are bright spots, happy moments, best friends, loving family and compassion. It is these things we have to hold on to and cherish because charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting, and pain is temporary. Time will eventually heal the wounds of our heart and patience is the only way to get there.

I promise to try harder the next few weeks to post something inspiring, something crafty, something productive and something kind. I am ready to move forward and with the support of those around me I am positive that I can and will! So, if you have a moment I would ask for your words of advice and encouragement. Without truly knowing what I am going through it can feel like there is no way anything you say will bring me peace, but kind words and thoughtfulness often go further than you can imagine!

To everyone that has read my blog, has offered support, has pushed me forward, or pulled be back, thank you, I really couldn't do it without you!

Wordless Wednesday

My Very First Mug Rug

I'm officially addicted and in love... with both hexies and mug rugs.

I love how vibrant my mug rug is!

The colors are not from my traditional palette but they help to spice things up.

I really got into making hexies, I even made different sizes! I have a ton extra, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them.

They got out of hand and I just kept going.

Wouldn't this just make morning coffee that much more enjoyable??

Christmas Quilt

Is everyone ready for Christmas? Although I've barely started my fall quilt, I am already done with my Christmas quilt.
It makes me want to watch Christmas movies and light up the fireplace. Did you notice that ALL of the stores have Christmas decorations up already? Can you believe that? We haven't even had thanksgiving yet, what about the cornucopias, the turkeys, the pumpkin pie? Are we really ready to give up the oranges, yellows and browns for red and green. Although I'm very happy with this quilt, it's going in the closet until December (where I think it belongs).
This quilt measures 62 x 72 and will serve as a lap quilt during the Christmas season, or whenever I'm feeling particularly blue.
Christmas always seems to make me smile and feel warm and comforted. I used three different types of quilting on this quilt.
The center was stippled using the traditional stipple.
The colored sashing was stippled using a loop technique and around the outside I tried something new.
I think it looks like Christmas lights all around the outside of the quilt.
I once had curtains that I had made out of the binding fabric. When we moved last year I decided to cut up my curtains and recycle the fabric.
Needless to say I have a lot more where this came from!
I just love the way quilts look all rolled up, it's so fun and warm looking.
I can't wait to use this quilt next to my Christmas tree!

Hexies

I think I may be addicted... they are so cute and adorable!

I am in to all things trendy.

Maybe next I'll make a mug rug!

Another Baby Quilt

Last weekend I did a lot of quilting and therefore I finished this pretty little thing. I'm having a difficult time coming up with a name for it. Hmmm... yup, my mind is still completely blank!

This quilt measures 41" x 55" and will make a gorgeous baby crib quilt.

One of the best things about this quilt is that it was made of mostly all scraps and completely of stash, not one fabric was purchased too recently. All of the white zig zags were pieced and are made up of different fabrics, I think it makes it look way more scrappy and quilt-like if that makes any sense.

I do enjoy when things are uniform, but sometimes I also enjoy a little variety.

I think these bunny rabbits are absolutely adorable, perfect theme for a baby quilt.

Don't even get me started on the binding, I really love the color, I think it makes the quilt that much more special.

This quilt has been washed and packaged and is off to its intended recipient. Currently the only quilts in my WIP list are for me... how exciting. I'm not sure that has EVER happened!

I was also able to quilt this Christmas quilt last weekend. I took a fairly large chunk out of my to-do list, quilting 2 quilts. I know what you're thinking; "It's too early for Christmas talk." Well, then I won't tell you that I watched The Grinch That Stole Christmas the other day, because you might think I'm crazy... (or I just really love the holidays)!

I saw soooo many pretty decorations for Halloween and fall. I love the colors, all of the oranges and reds, so fun and bright. We only had 13 trick-or-treaters, but I had a blast giving out candy with my husband. Halloween is such a fun time, and now we have enough candy to last quite a while!

Waste Not

Have I mentioned that I LOVE Amanda Jean's "No Triangle Zig Zag Quilt Method"! I'm not really a huge fan of triangles, so this works perfect for me! The only problem I seem to have is that I end up wasting the outside scrap triangles. As you can see in the picture below, there are triangles along the outside of the quilt that are cut off from the edge of the quilt. These triangles usually do not contain enough fabric to be saved for scraps. However, I no longer have that complaint!
This time, by combining 4 scrap triangles into one block I was able to save the scraps that were cut from the quilt and create the beautiful squares shown below:

Aren't they all so pretty? They are a miniature replica of the color palette used in the original quilt. Now I just need to figure out what to do with them? Pillow? Quilt with other random blocks/colors in it? Doll Quilt? Stuffed cube, child's toy? Table runner? Potholders? Purse? Cat bed?

I really have no idea! It just so happens that there are only 7 of them (I'm not a huge fan of odd numbered items, so difficult to use without wasting something)... Such a dilemma! Any ideas?

Weekend Purchases

There is something about remnants that I just can't ignore. I love them, I buy them whenever I find them, no matter how different, interesting, unique, colorful or dull. I have a true love-affair with fabric and I'm ok with it!

I love Remnants because they are:

1. usually 50% off,

2. just enough fabric without being too much,

3. usually something I wouldn't normally buy,

4. and always leftovers of what someone else thought was pretty or useful.

For all of those reasons they make a perfect addition to my stash!

Remember my last fabric purchase? I bought nearly 19 yards, this time, I've expanded to 23. I just can't help myself, I found the only fabric shop in the country where NO ONE goes there to buy remnants. I can literally just venture there once a month and walk out with over 30 100% cotton 1/2 yard pieces of fabric half-price.

So I purchased these...

and these...

and then fell in love with this fabric...

So I bought fabric inspired by it, to make a fall quilt around it.

Now that all the fabric is washed, dried, ironed and folded it can be put away and I can concentrate on more important things; like cutting into my new fall fabric and making a fabulously festive quilt!

Happy Halloween

Last year I purchased some Halloween fabric and never got the chance to use it. So this year I put it to good use. Since I'm not sure I would get a lot of enjoyment out of a Halloween quilt, since it can only be used for about a week, I decided to make a bag/purse!
I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out! I love it so much, I gave it away. What can I say, it's my nature. I get more satisfaction out of something, by gifting it to someone else than keeping it! I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I really like this bag.

Complete with a Candy Corn inside, did I mention it is reversible? Upon completion Kevin and I sat around pondering what to do with a Halloween bag... to make a long story short, there isn't a lot of options aside from the obvious; using it for a week as your purse and storing it away until the following year.

However, if you happen to be taking little children Trick-or-Treating this would be a perfect (fashionable) item to carry all those necessary items around in. Like the extra hats and mittens kids so often discard while running door to door. Or the candy kids like to keep out of their candy bucket to pretend they don't have a lot (I always found people gave me more when my bucket looked more empty). Or to hold a purse which is now conveniently hidden in a festive, handcrafted bag. As I don't have any children, I thought of someone that did and shipped it off immediately to my sister-in-law! Shhhh, she doesn't know it's in the mail yet...

I'd like to think that Daisy was sad to see it go!

And Pepe too, who found it quite comfortable.

This is a process photo, I really don't use a pattern, or a guide, I just start sewing, cutting, assembling and pray for the best. It usually turns out pretty well.

I tried a new type of stipple, on the inside, just to be safe. I'm not that crazy about it. It might be because I've worked VERY hard at being fluid with my stippling and this doesn't require that technique at all, or because it reminds me of Frankenstein's bolts in his neck. Either way, I went back to traditional stippling on the outside.

Luckily this stipple wasn't that visible on the Candy Corns and actually looks kind of cute when not viewed on the batting.

I also made my first tag for this quilt, I was quite pleased with the way it turned out. It's not permanent, but at least it will get my blog out there for people to see.

And this ladies and gentlemen, is what happens when you "live" where you quilt. This folks, is "Life" not to be confused with "Neglect" (I really do love my quilting projects, I just also live with my husband, a cat, and a dog!) So perhaps, later on today, I will try to fix what Life has messed up and begin to sew these pieces together so Life cannot mess with them again.

Do your quilting projects ever get like this?