First top finish of 2013

Well, at least I finished a top earlier this year than last!  My only top finish is 2012 came in July.  Now, to be completely honest, this top finish was made possible by the Mod Bento Block swap from 2 1/2 years ago.  I *FINALLY* made something with the blocks I received.  Each block was about 8 3/4" so it's only about 35" square, perfect baby size!  

Nothing spectacular but it's a quick finish.  It will probably be a gift for one of the many babies that are being born in my circle.  

#scrappytripalong

Yep, I've been bitten.  I need another project like I need a hole in my head but these are so quick and simple.  I've done two so far and I'm loving how quick and simple they are.  I know it's the "scrappy" trip along but I'm loving the block I did in DS Quilts fabrics.  I have a bunch of fabric from the Picnics & Fairgrounds collection and a few other prints of her subsequent JoAnn line.

Yep absolutely LOVING the DS block!

Happy 2013!!!

Ok, where did 2012 go?!  Seems like just yesterday it was January 1, 2012.  

I wasn't originally going to a 2012 year in review but a lot has happened so I figured why not! 

January:

I tried to get myself into a UFO program and I failed.  Miserably!  I didn't complete one top on my list of UFOs, I did piece all my dresdens now they just have to be appliqued onto backing fabric.

February:

I began the Dear Jane BOM from Twiddletails.  I ended up having to cancel the fabric portion but still get the instructions.  I'm still maintaining the binder of instructions and have been collecting fabrics more to my suiting than what the kit was providing.  After seeing the same fabrics in different colors it really wasn't what I had in mind.  

March:

I bought myself a new (to me) car!!  Finally I have a reliable car that doesn't randomly die out on me.  This was a HUGE moment in my life!

April:

Was pretty much a blur, I can't remember much of what happened!

May:

Wrecked my car before I ever made the first payment.  Thankfully, it wasn't my fault but I'm still dealing with insurance companies to this day.

June: 

Moved my mom to Virginia and had a fun road trip and subsequent vacation in Virginia Beach.  Took my daughter on her first airplane and she had a blast, we had a great time just the two of us on that trip!  Also started the FQS Designer Mystery BOM.  I've managed to keep up with that one!

July:

My daughter celebrated birthday number 9!  I can't believe it.  I also went to Colorado on a solo trip to get to know my boyfriend's mom and step dad better.  I had met them briefly once before but had a blast with his family and really enjoyed all the wonderful scenery.  His sister and gram were also there.

August:

This was when my boyfriend told me he loved me.  We are still very much in love and it feels like our relationship has only gotten stronger by the day.  

September: 

Was a low key month, getting back into the swing of school starting and adjusting to that routine again.  I also found out I had been promoted at work!!  Still not sure if I love the position but with everything comes adjustment.  

October:

My sweet daughter broke her arm!  She fell roller blading and did a number on her radius and ulna.  6 weeks in a cast and now she is still in a brace.  Hopefully that'll be gone next week!

November:

My crazy son turned 5!!  My baby is all of a sudden such a big kid now.  He's such an awesome kid (when he wants to be) and such a challenge all at the same time.

December:

Turned out to be a wonderful month!  We celebrated New Years Eve at Key Lime Cove, all 5 of us.  Myself and my 2 kids, my boyfriend and his kid.  It was so much fun but so tiring!  And water?  I don't want to see it for a LONG time now!

Here's to a happy, healthy, & hopefully quilty 2013!!

6 months down, 6 months to go

1. Month 2 - 2012 Designer Mystery BOM, 2. FQS 2012 Designer Mystery BOM month 3, 3. DMBOM month4, 4. DBOM month5, 5. Designer Mystery BOM month 6, 6. FQS Designer Mystery BOM month 1

LOVING how this is looking so far!  Month 6 is in the middle of the bottom row.

Picking up an old hobby

I seem to go back and forth on my hobbies.  The quilting bug has lasted now for a few years but recently I've gotten back into knitting and crocheting.  I've had a granny square quilt in the works for a while now, hoping to get it done for my daughter for Christmas, she's been drooling over the squares for a while now.  I recently made her a hat that she LOVES!  It's a free pattern you can find here.

I followed the pattern for the 9-adult.  That's a HUGE size range.  HUGE!  I did 7 rows of the 'puff' stitches, the hat is kinda slouchy on her and although she's average for her age.  I'd cut out a row of the 'puff' stitches and add another row of the single crochet brim.  I used Hobby Lobby's I love this cotton and a size M hook.  For the flower I used this tutorial.  

I recently ordered some Jacquard acid dyes and want to try dyeing my own yarn.  I can't wait to get started with that one!  I think I'm going to try Kool-Aid dyeing too, the acid dyes can get pricey, Dharma Trading has the best price at $3.55 for a 1/2 oz container.  I picked up Jet Black, Silver Grey, & Hot Fuschia, can't wait to see how that turns out!  I'll definitely post those results.  

The only things I've been up to is decluttering and purging TONS of stuff.  Clothes that are too small for the kids, clothes I don't want or like, magazines that have built up, and just other miscellaneous crap that's built up over the past year or so.  I finally cleaned off my sewing desk and this is the end result:

You can actually SEE the top rather than assume it's there.  The top is still a bit cluttered but it's always been like that.  The floor is devoid of thread and fabric scraps and all of my rulers have been returned to their proper spot.  

We're wanting to buy a house in the near future so I'm hoping decluttering now will make the move a LOT easier.  Especially since we're going to hire movers but pack it ourselves.  

I'm still here!

Not much exciting has been going on here, hence, the quietness on the blog.

I've been working on a few projects, completing very few ;), and dreaming of so many more!  

I won a bundle of Tilly by Daisy Janie from Mary on Lake Pulaski earlier this year and I finally decided on the pattern Coming Soon by Camille Roskelly.

There are 3 people close to me having babies, my friend from high school is due in December, another high school friend is due in January, and my boyfriends sister is due in February so lots of quilts to make.  

I also started making onesies with the age in months ironed on them for my friend due in January.  I found the idea on Pinterest, you can find the original files here, just scroll down to the bottom of the post.  

I also have blocks 4 & 5 done in the FQS Designer Mystery BOM.  I really love this Vintage Modern!!  I am however, getting a little tired of the white with grey dots.  There is a lot of it in this quilt!  I have gotten really good at making flying geese and scant 1/4" seams.  I've never done so many of these in my life.  I think for the setting kit I'm just going to draw up paper pieced geese and do them that way.  

This is month 4.

This is month 5.  

A lot of things have been happening too!  I'm really busy with the kids, of course, my daughter is now in the 4th grade and my son, well he's a handful and drives me battier every day.  I also got a promotion at work!  I'm now an operations supervisor which means I'm responsible for deploying ambulances, signing in/out narcotics, assigning vehicles, and dealing with discipline.  There are a myriad of other responsibilities but those are the biggies.  Not sure it's the right fit for me but I've only been doing it a couple weeks so we'll see how the cards fall.  I may end up going back out on the ambulance and leaving the supervisor position.  I will give it an honest effort but I'm going nuts being in the office, that's for sure.

My Love

It's not very often I share too much about my relationships or personal life but I just want the world to know how much I love this man.  

I think we're perfect for each other.  We compliment each other perfectly and he just makes me feel like the most important person in the world.  I love everything about him, he is truly my best friend.  Never in a million years did I think I'd find someone so wonderful and caring after the horrendous marriage I had.  I also never imagined I'd find someone so soon after leaving my marriage, we met less than 6 mos after each of us ended bad relationships.  Almost 2 years later and I'm happier than I could've ever thought possible.  I love you honey!!