I'm Back!

OK! Seriously this time, I am going to get back to blogging. At the end of 2010 I had far too much on my emotional dinner plate. In January through April I had tax season to contend with. In May and June I finished getting ready for the arrival of my baby, and finally folks in June the little boy was born; one month early, 6lbs 14.8oz and not a moment too soon.

He is the absolute best thing that has ever happened to me! That said, he is also the busiest! Who knew that being a single mother could be so difficult? Between the diaper changes, nighttime rocking, demanding feeding schedule, reoccurring picture sessions and constant responsibility, I feel as though I haven't had one moment to spare for anything!

I did however manage to complete my son's "puppy" (blanket) as we like to call it in our family as well as some other very small projects. I also managed to get Liam (my son) in for professional pictures and boy did they turn out ADORABLE!

Follow this link to see more of Meredith Austin's amazing work!

To ensure I don't fail this time, I already have some posts sitting in my queue just waiting for me to push the "Publish Post" button! Stay Tuned!

Beanie Bags

So I have to apologize because I haven't posted in a very long time and my last post was quite sad. I have been through so much lately but I am slowly recovering and that is the important part. So all of life's heartaches aside; I have some really wonderful news! I found out on my birthday (November 13, 2010) that I was pregnant. I am having a baby boy due July 19th, 2011 and I couldn't be more excited. I will be embarking on this beautiful adventure as a single mother and I have faith that with all of my family and friends everything will be just as it should! That said, I have done very little quilting. Between the morning, night and day sickness, the sleepiness and all the first time mother aches and pains; I have had a very difficult time fitting some quality crafting time in. I am trying to do a better job at setting aside time for all those things I enjoy soooo much! I am 24 weeks so I should be far enough along to get some serious quilting done. Tax season is also slowly coming to a close April 18th, so I should have some more free time on my hands before the little one joins us in this big, exciting world. This is a project that I completed before Christmas last year and I just never got around to posting about it. I created beanie bags for my nephew "Logan" and my little brother "Matthew". They were 3 and 4 years old and just beginning to learn and understand their names and the alphabet. I found the tutorial here for the entire alphabet, however I only used the letters they needed for their names. After I gave the beanie bags for Christmas the requests started flowing in. I think they're a great tool for children learning to spell their names. I think Matthew really found it helpful to have the colors go from red to blue, it gives little hints if they get stuck. I used a special stitch that my sewing machine does on the top to sew on the letters, this tutorial uses fusible webbing which I found very easy to use and relatively pain free!

I have now completed three sets of names for three other little boys. I shall post them shortly, until I have something more substantial to occupy my blog. I dragged back out my autumn quilt I had started before my birthday and I am slowly making progress. I need to get going on a baby quilt for my little kicker! I have the perfect fabric backing already picked out, I've had it for quite some time and I absolutely LOVE it!

Thank you everyone for all your wonderful comments and helpful advice, it has meant so much to me. I have learned that with the help of friends and family, I can make it through anything!

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!