i have to say...

some fun links

First of all, I had to show you my new coffee cup. I think it's just the cutest, and it makes me happy to use it in the morning. 

Aqua + Polkas = Happy Me

Here are some links that I wanted to share:

***You must see Pam's Christmas quilt.  There are so many sweet details and it's simple adorable!

***Erin made up a pattern for her Kitchenaid Mixer block.  So cute!

***I want to make homemade lotion.

***Shrimp Chowder in on the menu for this week.

***I just noticed that I pinned this one twice, so I must like it lots!

***This is a cute Christmas card idea!

Have a wonderful Friday!

 

it's a pinteresting day!

Today seems like a good day to share some links, don't you think?

***This is a cute idea for re-using food cans. 

***If you have been wanting to make tinted lip balm, here is a how-to.

***I love the ric-rac edge on this simple blanket.

***I like this table runner tutorial.

***Isn't this re-purposed window the cutest?

***Do you like Kombucha Tea?  You can make your own.

***Pretzel Bread. Yum.

***My friend, Marti has started a blog called 52 quilts in 52 weeks.  And guess what?  She is going to make 52 quilts in 52 weeks!  She did it this year, and decided to start a blog to document next year's progress doing the same thing.  I can't wait to see what she comes up with!

Have a great day!

 

i'm sailing!

OK, I should say "I'm quilting!", but every so often I feel the need to work a Bob Wiley quote into a post!

This past weekend I was able to attend Amanda Jean's Quilting Retreat! 

And I have to say that it was great!

We focused on machine-quilting designs and I think I am ready to break out of my rut.  Finally.

These pictures above and below show some of the blocks I finished.   You can see what Amanda's finished quilt looks like here, and her quilting designs here.

We had a mini-quilt swap and I was so happy to come away with this lovely made by Tara.  I am seriously happy to have this hanging in my shop/office!:

Tara also did an AMAZING job of coordinating the retreat and preparing all of the meals.  The food was so so good, and my first at-home breakfast of grape-nuts seemed mighty lame when compared to he amazingness I ate all weekend long!

Here is the back of the quilt that Tara made:

Every one of the ladies at the retreat was just lovely.  Audrey, Carmen, Jennifer and Penny were there.  What a treat to spend a weekend with so many wonderful women!

I took some wonderful goodies away from the retreat, and last but NOT least is a kit to make Penny's Sunshine on my Shoulders quilt!  I am little bummed that sewing will be focused on the craft fair and then Christmas, which means that I will have to set the kit aside until January.  Aaargh!

I do have to mention the sweetest thing!  On Saturday we went fabric shopping at a couple of shops in town.  Carmen knew I was looking for an aqua Farmville floral, but we couldn't find it anywhere.  Let me say that I thought it was so sweet that when she went home for the night, she went through her own fabric stash and brought me a piece.  That sweetness really made me smile!

So, as far as I know, Amanda and Tara put on this little retreat every year.  And I will say that if I could sign up now, I would. It's a great thing to be in the company of women who share the same passion and creativity.

And it's just an extra bonus that they were all so lovely to be around!

i forgot to consider real life

Lots done!

I had two friends come over yesterday and today to sew for our craft fair.  My list of what I think I can get done is always huge, but what actually gets done is more modest.  I think this is because I fail to factor "real life" into the equation!

Like my sewing machine.

When I take my foot off the pedal, it doesn't stop.  Just keeps on sewing.  This is not good!

Especially since I am attending a quilting retreat this weekend.  Looks like we are heading to the sewing store tomorrow!

I did manage to finish some totebags with the help of Aubry's Hello Kitty machine.  6 total, but only 4 in the picture.  1 more to go.

In progress is my pile for the retreat quilt.  We are quilting as we go, so I need twenty 17" squares to work on.  I picked a citrus-y color palette.

Now all I need to do is to add the binding to my swap quilt. Hopefully the sewing machine store can get my machine working right so I can get that done!

Happy crafting!

 Thanks for hosting WIP Wednesday, Lee!

what's in a name?

Cindy over at Live a Colorful Life has a fun feature each Monday called The Name Game.  And guess what?  Today she's talking about me.  My blog and my shop: where did I come up with their names?  Check out Cindy's post to find out.  There is a little fabric-y giveaway going on there too.

Have a happy Monday!

things that might pinterest you

***I need to remember this. Every day!

***Seeing this makes me want to learn to crochet.

***These posters are pretty cool.  Click on the link to the website to see more.

***I am crazy about the look of this quilt!

**Simple little design boards.

***Melody Miller's latest--Ruby Star Shining.  What do you think?

Have a great weekend!

my view yesterday

Today? Sunny and 49 degrees.

Snow days are always the best when followed by sunshine!

Have a  happy day!

some pinteresting things

I made a bunch of soap this weekend for my upcoming craft fair, but the only reason that I made a "bunch" is because the first 2 batches didn't work out right.  One was soft like pudding, and the other one wasn't scented correctly, since I didn't check my essential oils prior to starting.  (Note to self: always check supplies on hand before I start making soap bars.)  This is in no way related to this post, but I thought I would include it anyway.  :)

Here are some fun things that I have found on Pinterest:

***Such a cute poster about simplicity.

***Who doesn't want a little heavy cream in their chicken soup?

***Pie baking with no calories or fat.  I love this!

***I actually have everything to complete this look, and I wouldn't have thought of it without seeing the picture.

***I printed off this yardage card to replace my hand-written one on a 3 X 5.  Much cuter!

***This is a cute way to reuse cans, and to add some fresh herbs to the kitchen.

***I wish this was true.

***Tanya Whelan's upcoming line.  Love!

***Great Christmas candle idea.

That's all! Anything pinteresting in your world today?

the things about fall is...

...I love it!

Every year as summer comes to a close, I have a hard time letting go of the warm days and swimming pools and lemonade.  But once fall comes with it's 70 degree temps and beautiful trees blazing with color, I remember that fall is actually my favorite season.

It's simply perfect!

I love waking up in the morning and having to put socks on once my socks reach the cold tile floor.  And who doesn't love an apple pie made from fresh picked apples?  A corn-maze at night is so fun!  And buying a pumpkin and planning how to cut it is great!  And, of course, I love stew, and that is no good unless fall has rolled in.

Tomorrow the temps are supposed to be 75 and sunny, and that sounds like a park day to me.

Perfection!

some links for you

***Whip Up has compiled a wonderful little guide to designing fabric.  Lot of great links!

***VeryKerryBerry has put together a freezer-paper tutorial for paper-piecing.

***Kristie shows how to make an adorable metal-frame purse.  I have a set of these that need to be used, so I will be checking this one out, for sure!

***This site just cracks me up. 

Have a great day!