life just got a little off balance

The husband and I are divorcing. We had a very ugly, ugly day yesterday and it did not end well. His alcoholism has come full circle and he now has to face the consequences of his often 1 bottle of Jack a nite habits. As of now I'm taking life day by day, moment by moment. Going to try and potty train my son (we're all prepared with an Elmo potty seat and Elmo undies), finish up all my swaps and sewing obligations, and enjoy the summer with my kiddos. My night ended up decent last nite by watching the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup. That was pure awesome!

This is the start of a new life for me and my kids. I can't wait to see what life has is store for me now! People normally take the word divorce very hard, to me it's a sigh of relief.

Have no worries, I still plan on keeping up with all of my obligations, right now expect no changes. I will continue to keep in contact with everyone and keep y'all updated! I love my readers :) My world may have been shaken up but I'm here to stay.

lawn sculptors

I did mention that I would tell the story of the riding lawn mower. Well, my dad got mad at my brother because he only cut the front yard so he started cutting it. Then my dad let my daughter help him.



Well, he failed to suggest to her that she follow the lines that he had already started. Instead she did this:


And this:


And this:


So she earned the title of lawn sculptor!

2 new tops

Well, 3 really. I can't show you one just yet. Yes, yes, I know it's no fun but trust me, you'll like it! The 2 I can show you are these:



They're both made of a hushabye layer cake and the snowballed with 3 inch squares in the corners of Kona bone. I made these for my daughter's 1st grade teacher who is expecting twin girls any day now. Just need to find a suitable backing color and I'll stipple them and send them off!

wanna win an accuquilt GO!

Head on over to Amy's Creative Side to find out how to enter. I'd seriously jump up and down like a fool and cry if I won this. I want one but I'm ridiculously broke at the moment.

sch-weet!!!

I got accepted into Doll Quilt Swap 9! I searched flickr for some inspiration and this is what I came up with:



1. Mini Quilt from Swap, 2. Spiderweb Mini Quilt, 3. Texture mini quilt for sewdeerlyloved, 4. heather ross mini quilt, 5. Colorful Tree Mini Quilt, 6. iPhone mini quilt teaser, 7. Cherry Berry Pie Mini Quilt, 8. mini mushroom and gnome quilt, 9. Heather Ross quilt swap for Suzanne (foofanagle), 10. Toadstool and a tiny mini quilt, 11. Mini Quilt in a Bag Swap, 12. Mini Quilt in a Bag Received Round 3, 13. Winter Time Mini Quilt Swap '10, 14. dresden mini, 15. quilting , 16. red and aqua, 17. Red and Aqua Flying Geese Pillow, 18. Alobsiger's gnomlette!, 19. Gnome Approved, 20. large family of gnomes lives here, 21. LOVE LOVE LOVE, 22. Summer Cherries DQS 7, 23. finished cherry quilt 002, 24. scrap quilt block 18, 25. Euro Bee Block for MonaW

*star sampler* block 1

It's here! The first block and it's super easy! I'm gonna give you a little hint with these, STARCH!!! You will have a bunch of bias edges in this block and it will make your life just a smidge easier and your triangles a little less distorted. All seams are 1/4" and your block should measure 12 1/2" square.



What you will need:
Solid:

4 - 4 1/2 inch squares

1 - 5 1/4 inch square cut twice diagonally

Print 1 (mine is fleur de lis):

2 - 4 7/8 inch squares cut ONCE diagonally

Print 2 (mine is the dark color):

1 - 4 1/2 inch square

1 - 5 1/4 inch square cut TWICE diagonally

You're going to start by sewing your triangles from the 2nd print to your solid triangles. Make 4 of these. Press your seams toward the darker side or open if you prefer.


Next, you're going to add the pieces from the above step to the triangles from your first print. Make 4 of these. Press seam toward the print you just added or open.


Now arrange your block like so:


Stitch your rows up and press your seams toward the solid square on each row, this will make them nest nicely when you sew them. You can also press them open if you prefer. Your finished block will look like this:


Since all 16 blocks are going to be different you only need to make one! Block 2 will need a duplicate print, just so you're aware. I would save your favorite prints for block #3, it's pure awesome and would look awesome with all prints, you will need 2 duplicate squares for this block if you choose to do all prints, if not, just one duplicate will be needed!

happy memorial day

A heartfelt thank you to all the veterans who served our country. In loving memory of all who went to war and did not return. Let's remember what this day is really about when we fire up our grills this Memorial Day.