February Through September

Whoa!!!! Man where did that part of my life get to? Isn't it crazy how fast this year is blowing by? Evidently, it has for me anyway huh? lol. It's kind of sad really. I always find myself about this time of year wondering where my time went and what I did with it so far for the year. And on this day of reflection, I can tell you all that it hasn't been spent sewing like I wish it had of been. I've lurked around in quilting blog land a tad now and then when I had time but not like I should have so if you all get a minute, drop me a line and let me know what you've been up to with your time this summer. Any major projects started? Completed? Doesn't even have to be sewing related. What about flower and vegetable gardens? Kids sports and activities? I'm happy to hear about all of it.

I did finish that Carhart purse I last posted about. I don't have any pictures of it because as soon as I got it done I loaded it up with my junk and am still carrying it. But I'll still get a pic of it on here soon so you can see this crazy idea for what it turned out to be. lol. I really like it and when I'm done using it my sister has already called dibs on it. lol.

Honey had taken me garage sale-ing last fall and I found this sweet little white metal canopy baby doll crib. I started putzing with that for awhile. I wanted to really go all out on it but my enthusiasm soon waned as I realized I didn't have a great way to attach a canopy to it. It is missing parts there somewhere because there are hooks on each corner of it to attach something. Just not sure what. lol. I'm assuming it was some kind of curved rod to attach a canopy to. I thought I'd have hubby take it to work and remove those hooks for safety reasons and just do some sort of elastic, stretchy type of canopy cover but nothing really struck me as a good idea. I'll post a pic of it and perhaps you all could give me some input. I'd appreciate it because I am totally at an impasse with it. My mind is roadblocked to the notion. lol. I wanted to do a bed skirt on it too but for the life of me I'm stuck there too. Because of the way it's made at the bottom, I'm afraid if I use an elastic piece on that it will stick out too far and look weird. I'm such a weirdo. I worry about some of the craziest things. lol. Another reason I could maybe just use some tips from folks who know what they are doing. lol. I spend all this time thinking about this project and then I had to step back and realize it's only a doll baby bed. Know what I'm saying? Geez, maybe that's where all my time goes now that I think of it-Procrastinating projects. (Shakes Head) I think we all know how daydreaming about sewing can be an obstacle sometimes. lol.

Just recently I started making a blue jean purse/tote for my sister-in-law. I think she's using it as a gift though so I didn't finish it up until I was able to see her and get a go ahead on it. I wasn't crazy about the way it was turning out so I wanted to make sure it was what she wanted before I went ahead and did anymore to it. Saw her Saturday and turns out she loves it so I have to get that done.

Just last week I decided to sit back down and try to do some sort of quilting. For whatever reason I had a hankering to do some piecing. My sister had given me all kinds of pre-cut blocks some time ago and I've pondered and pondered (another example of my daydreaming. lol.) of what to do with those so I just started whacking out all kinds of little 2 inch squares for a couple of days. Bonnie Hunter does wonderful things with two inch squares. Heck, she does wonders with whatever she touches. I guess she was my inspiration for doing that. Anyway, I had gotten together a whole hosts of colors of squares and at one point thought about making a big quilt out of them all but then the notion of making a big quilt put me right off. I'm in no mood to tackle that kind of project and have it laying around for months so I did a doll quilt out of the yellow color scheme using some of the ugliest individual fabric I've ever seen, however, I think it really, really turned out super cute. I had to use a color I'll call Cheddar and again, Bonnie Hunter is to blame cause she really likes that color and seeing how she uses it gave me the guts to throw it in on this mix and I'm not disappointed. I'll have to post all my pics at another time though. I have that to quilt and it's done. I suppose it could be used as a doll quilt, a table topper, or baby changing/tummy time pad. Why limit myself right? lol.

It's just been due to my attitude, circumstances and health that I haven't been much engaged in my passions and projects these last several months. It's my own fault I don't have more to show for my time. lol. That's also another story for another time. lol. But, I also haven't been doing much computing because my computer went kaput!!!! Poof, gone like yesterday. lol. That put a major, major crimp in my lifestyle for awhile now. Until just recently that is. My good friend, Melissa has sold me a lovely Dell, on payments even. Needless to say I should be able to keep in touch a little bit better now. We'll see. I do daydream alot you know? lol.

Unfortunately I do have a house to clean today too so I will sign off for now. I hope there is someone out there still hanging around. lol. Stop by anytime and I will do my best to reciprocate. Have a great Labor Day. Enjoy!!!!

Renee

Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's Forty!!!!

And look at who's home from work sick for the second day. This is my poor, poor honey. Yesterday, the 13th was his big 4-0. He felt lousey. Poor honey. Not even a good home cooked meal made him feel much better. And he didn't even eat a piece of his birthday cake. He was a good sport though. We had Tony and Steph over and Shawn and his girlfriend were here and we had a little birthday dinner for him. I just wish he had felt better.

I talked to him about an hour ago and he said he feels pretty good today so far. It's snowing to beat the band here again and he works in Mansfield which is about a 25 minute drive normally but in this weather, it takes forever for him to get home. Plus after work tonight he has to stay over for his big review/evaluation. That in itself could take hours. lol. So, I don't know when I'll see him but I sure can't hardly wait for him to walk through the door at night, especially tonight. Sometimes I feel like I am wayyyy, wayyy too dependant on him. He truly is my other half and I just don't feel whole without him. I misses him when he's not here. lol.

I tried sewing the other day and I kept having one interuption right after the other and at one point I just decided to give up on it for the day and I haven't made it back over there yet. lol. I had some little triangle squares left over from that horrid tablerunner I made sometime back so I pieced some of those together and made twelve little 3 3/4" squares. I was in the progress of putting denim sashing in between them when I decided to give up that day. I have three more pieces of the denim to put in length wise and then I have to go across it yet and then I guess I'll have me another little baby doll quilt top. I just don't have it in me right now to tackle a project like a baby quilt so I'm playing around with this and that and I like making the little quilts so I can work on my technique. Plus, when I get done I just might have me a whole little stash of baby doll quilts to give out to my little girl buddies. lol.

Shawn's girlfriend asked me last night if I could make a t-shirt memory quilt out of her cheering t's. She explained to me the one her friend had and I'm sure it will be pretty easy to make one. I just have my sewing room such a wreck again that I couldn't dare tackle such a project until I do something in there. And there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to do all the things I have to do, let alone the things I want to do. lol. I don't know if I mentioned it but a friend of mine has asked me to make a quilt out of a top her grandma made. It is lovely. I want to say it is a trip around the world pattern but now that I think of it, I can't say that just yet without checking again. lol. It's so pretty though. I'll have to photo the top and show you guys. I'm scared to death to tackle that job too but I'm going to. How will I ever get over my fear of making a full size quilt if I don't just try it?

What's everyone else doing? I just love seeing what all ideas everyone has. Sometimes I think I spend too much time sitting here on the computer admiring other folk's goodies than actually working on some of my own. lol. I used to look at baby quilts on etsy til my eyes crossed. lol. After I'd found myself sitting looking for ever, I'd kind of get ticked at myself cause I'd spent that time just sitting here basically instead of doing something productive. lol. oh well. When you need ideas, you have to do your research. lol.

Speaking of research, I got an article due on Associated Content today or tomorrow so I better get busy on that. It's one of those I wish I hadn't sign on for after the fact. If I hadn't responded to the call, it wouldn't be a big deal but I did and they have deadlines and I'm afraid if I don't submit an article I claimed that they may not let me claim them in the future and/or not let me write for them period. So, I'm off. It's a silly little article about French Baby Names. I'll post the link once it's published.

Meantime, Happy Quilting to All.

Renee