HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!! I've been boo'ed. Yep, sure have. LuAnn got me!!! I have to now boo some folks but right now I'm stumped. Please be advised that before the day is over I shall name a list of those to be boo'ed yet. lol. I just wanted to pop in real quick and wish everyone a fun and safe Halloween. I'll be back. Watch Out!!!! You could be the next person to be boo'ed.

Renee

I almost forgot. Last night was trick or treat here and my son's little sister-in-law came over to go out from here. Let me present Dr. Alissa. Isn't she cute?

Blog Etiquette

As anyone who has ever visited my blog can tell you, I'm a newbie. I've had this blog now for a few months but I've already learned that there is so much to learn about the right way to run a blog if you want folks to come back. There has been one thing in particular bugging me about how to respond to comments left on my blog. My question was kind of simple yet I felt silly asking it so I did a trusy dusy old google search on it and found the answer. I feel silly telling you all too but I have to say I wasn't quite sure how to do it correctly. lol. I didn't know whether I should respond on my blog or leave a comment on theirs. lol. I've been kinda winging it and found out today doing my blog etiquette search that I might be making some mistakes. lol. Mistakes? Me? lol. Now that I've read a few articles on the topic, I feel I might somehow owe some apologies. Thing is I never meant any disrespect or wasn't trying to "self-promote" by leaving comments on other blogs either. Sometimes I think I just get overwhelmed by the quantity of blogs I read or want to read and then my attention isn't focused as much on the main reason I wanted to do this blog in the first place. lol. Sorry if that doesn't make sense. It's me today, trust me. lol. And please, my apologies to anyone I may have offended by not responding correctly or for going about it the wrong way. I'll mind my p's and q's better now. lol.



Anywho, I'm wasting time today like a mad man. lol. I'm going to sew those corn bags today though sometime probably after lunch. Maybe sooner, it depends on what the kid wants to get into while he's home between schools. He is such a trooper. He is a real good kid too. Sometimes I take for granted what a good kid he is. I'll have to be sure to remind him today of how proud I am of him. I think he needs a little pick me up. We had an ugly spat last Monday and he's just now getting around again to speaking to me. I've felt like crap about it for long enough now and think I'll try to talk to him a little bit today. Maybe he won't be so sore with me anymore. That hurts.



I might at least to try to cut out another project I have to get done today too. But, priority will be laundry. It's scarey over there in that laundry room right now. I kind of got behind on it this weekend because our waterbed sprung a leak and I had a ton of bedding to wash-pillows and all. Now I have to play catch up. I'm going to put a roast on around 1 or so for supper tonight. Shawn, the youngest mentioned above is off work tonight and will be home to eat a meal with us for a change. I kind of want it to be a good one. I'm also hoping our oldest, Tony and his wife Steph can come up too. I'm waiting to hear from him to see if she has to work tonight or not. He still may come himself if she is working. It will depend on if he has his little sister-in-law tonight or not. lol. I think that's funny to say cause his wife's little sister is only 7. He/they keep her a couple nights a week when Mom works and he tries his best the night's he's there with her by himself to keep her occupied and entertained. Not an easy task for a 22 year old young man but he does it bless his heart. lol. I think he thinks she will drive me nuts if he brings her around or something cause he always stops by and then goes home just before she is due to arrive and he keeps her there til Steph gets home and she takes over. lol. He knows it doesn't take much out of kids to drive me slightly crazy. lol.



Thanks to all who commented on my table runner. You know, the more I look at that ugly little thing, the more I like it. lol. I love the quilting design on the back of it. That's the thing about quilts for me, I think the back of the quilt is just as interesting and beautiful as the front of it. I have a little more than half way to go on pulling stitches and tying it off. And then it's done. Wah-Lah!!! lol. The other night I almost went blind trying to work on it in poor lighting. Now I really wish I had just backstitched this instead of leaving the ends to tie off. But, now Tony tells me he'd like a table runner for his entertainment stand. But, he said he gets to pick the fabric. lol. No one here is in love with the samples I used in this one. lol. So, I might see if he wants to go through my stash tonight if he comes up and pick something out.



Is anyone getting excited about the holidays? Sister and I were just talking about Thanksgiving last night. I want to have it and she wants to have it too and we aren't sure yet if our brothers can make it so we agreed to investigate and get back in touch the next few days about it. Round here, this takes weeks of planning for me. lol. Especially if I'm cooking.

Welp, I have bunches to do here so I am gonna close out for tonight. Happy Quilting all.

I Quilted Today!!!!!!

Woo Hoo!!! I did it. I got to quilt some today. Not much but the day isn't through yet. At least I was moved to do it and now that I'm started, Watch Out!!! lol. I did try to do that stupid stipple quilting again yesterday and I swore I'd never do it again. lol. I will of course but not for a long, long time. lol.



Today, I just decided I'd start on that stinking little table runner and see where I ended up. This is what I came up with. Kind of infantile but as I told my hubby last night, I might have forgotten how to do it. lol. Gee Whiz. Next thing I am going to do is make my boy that corn bag again. He's kind of hounding me about it so I best get to making that for him. lol. Then honey reminded me I have one more seat cover to do for him and a friend stopped today and I told him I would have two pairs of pants mended for him by Friday. So, whether I am moved to do this stuff or not, looks like I just better do it and quit putzing around. lol.











While browsing my blog roll last night I stumbled up on a great cookie recipe thanks to 32.5. I believe with some chopped pecans, these could soon become my favorite cookie. They are called Brown Sugar Buttons and you can find the recipe on a link via 32.5's site. Which reminds me I have to let her know how well I liked them.



Also, today I wanted to mention that Julie over at Julie's Blog has participated in the "tagging" I did a little while back. Julie points out some neat things about herself and I wanted to take the time to thank her for her participation. She has in turn gotten to tag three of her buddies. And so on. lol. If you're interested in meeting new people or you already know Julie, stop by her blog and find out some amazing things about her you wouldn't have known.



I also wanted to mention that I am in love. Let me show you with what! I found it through Holly's Blog. It's the Lake House Dry Goods line. Here is a link to the website: http://www.lakehousedrygoods.com/. Oh my goodness aren't those some sweet fabrics? I love everyone and I love on Holly's blog how she uses the different fabrics to make basically the same quilt in a couple different varieties and I can't say which one of them is my favorite. I love them all. One day I'll quilt like that, won't I Santa? lol.



And now Motherhood calls as I suppose I should start thinking of some supper. My youngest son Shawn is very seldom home for supper since he works but he is off tonight and I just don't know what to fix him. So, I'll go ponder. I might post back later with some more progress. Cross your fingers for me.

Gonna Be Real Quick Tonight

I am gonna get off this computer for the evening here real soon but I wanted to stop and say Hey to everybody. I hope you all had great days. Hopefully you got some quilting done. I didn't get any sewing done but I got alot of needed housecleaning done and I did start to clean out my sewing room. I might be more productive that way. lol. I have before and after photo's of my progress.

This one is before:
I couldn't even get to my machine. It was the catch all room after this last weekend's carpet laying incident. lol.



And after:
At least I can get to it now. And I got alot of stuff organized that I want to work on. I found alot of works in progress that I depise having but I put most of them away right back where they came from. I don't need that pressure under my nose constantly. lol. Maybe I'll make a list of the top pressing matters. Then I can see just how fast (slow rather) I really am at completing tasks. I know I can drag my feet but maybe seeing it in black and white would motivate me. lol.



So that's about it around here. Tomorrow when I get off work I'll have a good 2 hours of free time before anyone gets home that I can hopefully go over and spend putting the finishing touches on the sewing room and start the projects. Please pray for my motivation. I'm serious. I need to get to cracking on getting things made for my etsy site as I need all the extra cash flow I can come across right now. lol. But, for tonight I am signing off. Hope you all have a good evening. Thanks for stopping by today.

Renee

Okay, Remember Me Sayin'???

Awhile back I was asking for ideas on quilt block patterns and got some really great suggestions. I did manage to find a table runner pattern I thought I'd try and while it's been ready to quilt for some time now, I'm just finally getting around to getting a pic. I want to try that daggone stipple quilting technique again but I want to be prepared for the hassle when I do tackle it. My famous last words, Maybe tomorrow. lol. Anyway, here it is according to pattern and all:









Don't laugh!!!! lol. It's the first time I ever did the triangles like that and I got in a hurry and put it together using pre-cut "vintage" to say the least, fabric squares. My son told me if I was going to do this I had to nail those corners lining up. He's the only one who will be at least partway honest with me when I ask for his opinion. lol. He's right though. Sometimes I rush through stuff that I am just doing for the heck of it to see how it turns out. You should have seen the first coffee cozie I made. lol. Wow is all I can say. lol. Anyway, she aint pretty but she's mine and I'm going to use it on my table or counter when/if I get it done. lol.

I'm waiting for my son to get home from work here soon so I'm gonna be short tonight. You are all probably silently saying woo hoo. lol. I sometimes think I have too much of the gift for gab. lol. Hope everyone is healthy and well. Have a Great Night!!

Renee

How Was Your Weekend?

Good evening everybody. I hope this finds you all well and relaxing from a wonderful weekend. Look at what I got to enjoy last night.













Yep, even the White Castle. Yummy. For some reason I love those little cheeseburgers. And their fries aren't bad either. Honey and me decided to spend the evening doing something together for a change and since it was Sweetest Day, I told him I'd be a cheap date if he'd take me to White Castle. lol. The sunset photo's are from on the way there last night. I told my friends over at Our Gang Forum that it was the perfect October sky. We ordered our burgers at the drive thru and parked in a side lot and ate and watched the people go by. That is one busy little intersection and I am so glad we don't live in that town. It was in Mansfield, about 15-20 minutes south of us. I would have it made if White Castle would come to town. lol. I would want to work there. lol.

I hope everybody is enjoying the fall season and are getting ready for the cold because it is coming. We had some pretty heavy frost this morning. I walk to work but if I drove, I would have been scraping this morning. Yuck, I don't like it. My youngest is a senior doing post secondary education at a community college called NCSC. It is in Mansfield. I am sure not looking forward to him driving over there this winter.

I hope to get to sew some either tonight or tomorrow. It might be tomorrow because I worked 8 1/2 hours today and I don't feel so swell today. This cold seems to be okay one day and the next I am right back to it. Thanks to everybody who sent me well wishes since I said I was sick a few days ago. It will pass. I just wish it would hurry up. lol.

Honey laid carpet today in our son's room. Both boys helped him and it looks pretty good. Plus it is such an improvement over the old bare floor we had for the last 3 years or so. Shawn actually cleaned and took a little pride in the room after they got it laid. lol. I don't go up there normally. It's scarey. lol.

Well, I have some laundry to do for work clothes for tomorrow. So, I hope everyone had a great weekend. Happy Quilting.

Renee

I'm Sick

Yuck. Honey gave me his sickness. I'm coughing, sneezing, wheezing and my nose is all stuffy and my eyes are all watery and burning. How nice!!! I have been gung ho to do some housekeeping here at home today since it's my day off but the more I'm awake here, the more I think I might just take it easy today. lol. i've been up since 4:30 and I'm about to get the boy up for school but I'm convinced once he leaves for school, I am gonna hit my recliner for just a little while. lol.

There hasn't been so much sewing going on here at all lately. I'm going to quit making plans to work on stuff because it never seems to happen or work out the way I plan. It gets frustrating to me. All I want to do is finish that table runner I started a week or so ago. I finally took the Flower Garden pictures off the blog here because I'm walking away from that one for a moment. Having it plastered all over my blog as a work in progress just re-iterated what a loser I am everytime I look at it. lol. So, poof-it's gone. lol.

I hope everyone is doing well with their families and you're sewing away. I wish I could find a good balance. It's getting that time of year now when time seems to get even more precious and we have less and less of it for ourselves. Honey and me just had a talk Sunday about trying to work more together on stuff so that each of us individually aren't running around here like chickens with our heads cut off never seeming to accomplish anything. Life is too short to be wasting time. In fact, I'm considering making some major changes around here so that we can focus on what is really important to us, which is the family and being together. I just need to figure out the financial means to do it. And with the trouble this world is in now, my hope of doing it fades a little more each day. I think I'm just destined to work for the man and keep running in to walls and falling down and getting up and running into them again. lol. It's sad when your focus becomes all about money and getting by versus enjoying your family for what they are every minute of every day. One day it will happen. lol.

I have some major reading to catch up on as well. I have compiled what I consider a great list of blogs to visit and I find all kinds of inspiration from reading them but it has been several days since I've been able to sit down and catch up with everyone. I hope everyone is doing well. And I'm anxious to see what everyone is working on. It's always something new and evolving. I love it.

Here's hoping everyone has a great day.

Happy Quilting,

Renee

I Got To Sew Yesterday & Today

Mind you, it wasn't much sewing but it was progress. I found a pattern for a table runner I liked so I got the pattern and I am actually following it to a t. Not quite a quilt block but a pattern just the same. lol. I kept getting interupted yesterday and I probably would have it together if it weren't for a distraction today. I had just gotten the squares ironed out and laid out in front of me on the table how I wanted them to line up and I hear Knock! Knock! Crap!!!!! That was at 3:15 today. My company stayed til 5:00 and in between then both my sons came home and my husband too. He of course was in a hurry for his supper so he could go to the card game tonight. Right after supper I visited with the oldest boy awhile and run him off so I could go pay a bill before it got dark out. Just now getting back in and a chance to sit down for a minute here. Phew!!!!

I am so glad tomorrow is Friday and it is my weekend off. I got 2 people on me right now for sewing projects they've been waiting on so I hope to get those out of the way. I want to finish the table runner. And I hate to say it but I still have that one dog gone dad blasted golf cart seat cover to do. lol. Plus I've insisted to the hubby that we lay some carpet that I've had on our front porch for 2 weeks. That will probably be Sunday, the carpet laying. Of course it is supposed to be beautiful this weekend and I might just say ta heck with it all and enjoy the weather while we still get the chance. lol.

I appreciate the responses I got to my last post about a good quilt block to start with and the Project Linus program. There's a couple more things to do this weekend as well. I'll look into the program and see if there is a local drop off site around here. I'm sure I could always mail one somewhere too if there isn't a drop off someplace near. But thanks again for the info ladies.

I have to order the kid's cap and gown and graduation announcements tonight and send a big fat old down payment with the order form for tomorrow. Nice. Not! He mentioned it to me earlier this week but I didn't see any info and then today he brings it up that it's due tomorrow. Oh my. He' such a turkey. But I love him dearly. It's awesome to see him mature and gain his independence yet it is so sad too because this is my baby. In just a little under 6 months he will be 18, then graduating high school and heading off into this great big old world. Watch Out World is all I got to say. lol.

But, we have to get busy on that task so until next time....Happy Quilting.

Renee

High Hopes

Well, so I haven't gotten any sewing done. I don't like it. But alas, tomorrow is my day off and I plan to sew like a fool. lol. Yeh right. lol. Not sure what I am going to sew yet but I will sew tomorrow.

I went to a coffee shop the other day, thru the drive-thru and ordered a tall coffee. Well I was just getting it to investigate the cup sizes and see if my cozies would fit them or not. Don't you know, they use styrofoam cups too. Not really a need for cozies with styro cups. Well, like a dummy, I have my son ask for a sleeve. Of course they don't have sleeves either. Well, why would they? lol. Oh well. I just wanted one of these elusive sleeves for measurements anyway so I guess I'm off to Starbucks next. Then there are two other small independent owned coffee houses in town as well. I just have to find one that uses paper cups and might not mind having a little basket full of cozies on the counter for sale. lol.

I am itching to try making a quilt block. A real quilt block. Nothing I have made so far has been real extravagant or according to any pattern per say. But looking through all the great quilting blogs here lately I am seeing some lovely quilts made out of the most beautiful blocks and I'm just kinda getting the hankering to try something. Any ideas on a great starter block? Sure would appreciate any tips.

I have two quilts that I am not real happy with and I am thinking of donating them to project Linus. Has anyone ever done this? They are cute and all but just not perfect and maybe I'm too hard on myself but I just don't feel right selling them. Money is so hard to come by these days and it's going to get worse. So I thought I may as well let some little kid get some use out of them.

I wish I had some more stash. I never think I have enough of anything worthy of putting together and making a quilt top of but I wonder if I had all the fabric in the world if I wouldn't still feel that way. lol. I seriously need a little lesson on choosing what colors to put together and which go best with each other for sure.

What makes you all get off your duffs and get busy with your projects? I sure could use some motivation. I need some way to make extra money and sewing is about my only talent to do so with. Aside from motivation I also need help with getting out there and showing my wares. I guess I'm afraid folks will make fun of me mainly. Not everybody appreciates sewing and quilting. And I'm also "awkward". lol. I don't like crowds, I don't like to stand out, and always wish I was at home whenever I'm someplace else. That rules out alot of craft shows and fairs and such. So, that's way I like the online gig at etsy. But it's not proving such a good thing for me right now. I just noticed that I've been a member since July 07 and I still haven't had a sale yet. But there is alot of competition on etsy. And alot of beautiful, skilled work too. Oh, what's a girl to do? lol.

I've been thinking about going to one of our local quilt guild meetings. Maybe I could find a group to be comfortable with that can help me get better at what I love to do and help me build some confidence in my stuff. And ways to get rid of it. lol. We'll see. I make no promises. If hubby can't or won't do something with me, I usually just don't do it. He is my rock and when I'm with him I can go anywhere and do anything but take him away and I'm lost, running for my house til he gets back to me. Told ya all I was "awkward". lol.

I think I'll close for now and go see what I can get into. I might poke around tonight at some stuff and get it ready for sewing tomorrow. There are a few little things I think I can get cut out tonight and have ready to just throw on the machine in the morning. Sounds good, eh? Will it happen? lol. Who knows? lol.

Keep creative friends!!!

Renee

I've Been Tagged Too

I have been tagged by Sara at The Quilting Bookwork. I'm awaiting details but I'm sure that since I've been tagged that I have to tell 7 things you don't know about me. And then I get to tag people for the same thing. Sounds fun. Here goes my list.

1. I am petrified to absolute death of birds, bats, winged creatures of any nature up to and including large butterflies.

2. I could be a hermit for the rest of my life. I would be content to never leave this house again. lol. Seriously though. It's true.

3. I don't see in 3-D. I was an adult before anyone told me that after a very thorough eye exam once. And that explained all those years I wondered what the heck was the big deal with the 3-D glasses and books in the happy meals that had all the other kids so fascinated. lol. lmao. Crazy!

4. I don't like to touch raw meat, especially hamburger. lol. Chicken and turkey are nasty too. lol.

5. I once answered 12 correct answers during an episode of Jeopardy.

6. My youngest is a "gifted student" and doesn't realize his own potential. That's one thing that I wish I could open the door to for him. I know we all must make our own way but as a parent I want to pick him up by the shirt collar and make him go where I want him to go. lol.

7. Country music makes my ears bleed!!!!! Yak, Hock, Blah. That's all that was poured down my throat as a kid and as soon as I had a chance to not listen to it, I seized it. lol.

Okay, those are pretty useless facts but that was a hard little task. lol. Glad it's over. lol. So, now I get to tag some folks. Here goes:

Julie @ Julie's Blog
Niki @ Pumpkin Country
LuAnn @ Loose Threads

Come on girls!! Let's have a little fun. It's a great way to get to know folks and see all kinds of great quilting blogs. So, happy tagging and quilting!!!

Renee

Another AC Article

I forgot to mention last night that I had a part two to a story I've written about my experience with Effexor published. I am glad to say that I am now completely off of this medication and I am feeling pretty good right now. If you're interested, here is the link. Thanks in advance if you take a peek.

It's been a busy day today and when the fella's all take off this evening, I'm spending some time with my sewing machine. lol. I have to work tomorrow so I don't look to get a whole lot done tonight but I do have one thing I want to wrap up and get off my plate and that is the goal for tonight.

What goals does anyone else have for the weekend? Or month? I think I'm going to take some time and make up some of those coffee cozies and hit the local coffee shops to see if they'd be interested in carrying a few of them. Wish me luck.

Until next time, Happy Quilting!!!

Renee

These Kept Me Busy Yesterday

These are coffee cup cozies. If you want to go "green" and you buy coffee to go at different places, these I think are just dandy. They are intended to replace the paper sleeves that coffee joints give you so the cup's not too hot to hang on to. They save a tree and jazz up that ordinary cup of joe a little bit. They can be made out of most any color, style of cotton and a thin layer of quilt batting. I found making them to be very easy. Trying to make a pattern was the hard part. I thought I could just make a paper pattern based on my cups at hand and be sewing cozies all day. NOT!!!!! I feel really dumb now but no matter what I tried, I knew I wasn't getting it. So, I headed to my trusty computer and did a google search for a free pattern for one and WHALAH!!!!!

I have one more seat back cushion to do on the golf cart. I have high hopes of getting that together and done with tomorrow night. I have decided that because that little Flower Garden quilt I'm working on is like driving me nuts, that I just might tuck that stinker away for a minute. Just Walk Away Renee, as the song goes. lol. There is a customer at work who has been singing that to me for this last week. lol. What a geek. lol. Anyway, I have a court house steps quilt in pinks and pink florals that I started ages ago and think that I would really rather mess with it for awhile. I still have blocks to cut out for it even but I can't get it off my mind lately so it's like calling me. lol. Does that ever happen to any of you?

Other than that, life in general isn't treating me too bad at the moment. The old man is good, the boys are good, my new daughter-in-law is good. My sis and my bro's are good. It's a good feeling.

I'm kinda run down a bit today so I'm saying goodnight for now. Talk with everyone later.

Sweet Dreams,
Renee