I survived!

What DIDN'T we do this weekend!?! First, the parade on Friday night. Of course, it snowed! But we kept warm inside decorating our cars until the very last minute.

Once we were out there, the snow stopped and the kids did a great job moving forward - having a movie to watch helped!

I brought up the rear carrying the banner I made from fabric fused to fabric. I cut the letters free-hand - kind of fun, although some letters (S, N, W) are hard to get right the first time!

Saturday and Sunday were super busy, too (I won't bore you with the details of the 2 basketball games, Santa's workshop, movie, luncheon with our "adopted" international student, grocery shopping, laundry, blah, blah, blah), but I did get some sewing done.

1) All four of my wallhangings are now completed and just waiting to go into frames - photo to come when the frames arrive.
2) I finished all the sashing and cornerstones for my Plaid Dresden and got one row sewn together (I know, the photo looks the same as last time, but I promise you, there are more sewn seams this time!)

3) My latest Leaders & Enders project has been to make scrappy log cabin blocks from my scrap bag using 2" strips. Here's what I have so far, all in various stages of completion, and none completely done.

4) I did all the prep work for a project I am working on for my niece for Christmas. I've never made clothing before, but I'm trying out a skirt. We'll see...

Today is bright, but frigid, and I really just want to be on the couch quilting and sipping tea, but you know how it goes. Instead, I will embrace my full life and the excitement that each new day brings!

All I want for Christmas...

Quilt blog buddies, this post isn't really for you. You can read, of course, but this is my annual list for my family who always wants to know what I want for Christmas. But who knows, maybe you'll get some ideas for yourself...

What I want for Christmas is that we all get to hang out together, playing games, eating homecooked food, sharing deep conversations snuggled up in front of a fire with tea and popcorn. I want all of our children to strengthen the bonds with their cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents. I want big breakfasts and sleeping in and everyone pitching in to get done what needs doing so we all feel like we are on vacation together. I want snow for the kids to play in and heat in the house for us to warm up in, and hot cocoa - not hot chocolate from a mix. But if you feel the need to get me something more, something to go under the tree, well then...

I don't usually go all domestic, but a bread machine would make me SO happy! Eating fresh bread at mom's last month was such a treat, but I truly don't have time to do all the mixing, kneading, etc, myself.

My feet are perennially cold. I've asked my hubby for slippers for every occasion for years now, and still, I scurry around in socks. Any slippers will do, but I prefer warm and fuzzy. Fun colors and styles won't hurt either.

Country music makes me happy. I don't own an Ipod; I still use CDs. I don't have these, but I sure would like to have them.

And wouldn't I look great singing along with some Western shirts? I only have one or two, and they are cordouroy. I'd love some cotton ones, and again, fun colors and styles are always welcome. With the snaps, of course, so my shirt will just breakaway if I get snagged on a fence or something while I am roping calves...

You can never go wrong with quilting supplies, books, notions. And finally, if you make me something, I promise to cherish it!

What's on your list?

Parade Prep and Bee Buzz

No sewing yet again. :(

Instead, I've been dismantling and reconfiguring cardboard boxes for this Friday's parade. Here's Donald sporting my prototype of the cardboard cars for the parade. Note that it is not yet decorated, as the kids will be doing that on parade day with colorful markers. We are also trying to find some bumper stickers from the Drive In to put on their cars. We have gotten authentic Drive In movie popcorn boxes to fill with popcorn to eat as we march down the street watching the movie. Should be fun!




I particularly like the license plates!


I have finally swallowed my fear of critique, and I've joined a Bee! I think there might be a few spots left if anyone else is interested. I'm always worried that others won't like what I do, but all the positive feedback from you all on this blog is helping me to become more confident in my quilting abilities. My month will be August (when I'm not so darned busy with work! Ugh! I'm feeling monumentally overwhelmed today and doing my best to do what I can and not worry about the rest) so I have plenty of time to figure out what block I want others to make for me, but here's what I'm thinking:

I saw this photo somewhere online and saved it on my hard drive as something I'd like for myself (if it is your photo, please let me know so I can give credit). You know how I like scrappy, but I'd love to have the variety of so many other peoples' scraps, not just mine. Besides, this is one of those blocks where you actually make two blocks every time you make one - more bang for your buck! We'll see, I might come up with some other idea in the next 8 months. Anyway, I can't wait to get started in January making blocks for others.

Tonight is Donald's karate class, Jason's basketball practice, and then a road trip to watch my husband's team play (and hopefully beat!) Roanoke College. The good news is, there is no way I can cook dinner so we are eating out. The bad news is, yet another day where I'm not likely to get much sewing done. Maybe some hand quilting on my last wallhanging at Jason's basketball practice. We'll see.

Rear view

Not much sewing happened at my house last night. First of all, there was basketball practice for Jason, and second of all, I am in charge of the Cub Scouts for the Christmas parade this Friday night. We are partnering with Hull's Drive In (whose Board I was recently elected onto, so this knocks out two organizational responsibilities at once), and Orrison's Tree Service, a business owned by the father of one of the cub scouts in our den. Here's the deal:

Some Cub Scouts will lead the way with our Pack banners and flags. Then comes the Tree Service truck, on the back of which will be a movie screen and projector (and generator) showing a Christmas movie (Charlie Brown, I believe). Then come the Cub Scouts, in cardboard cars, eating popcorn and watching the movie. And bringing up the rear, a Hull's Drive In banner which reads "Follow Us to Hull's Drive In."

The good news is that it is the first time I've been excited about the Christmas parade. The bad news is that I'm in charge of making the cardboard cars. I made my prototype last night (and of course forgot to take a photo), and now I have only 13 more to make by Friday. Ha! At least I don't have to decorate them - that will be the kids' responsibility while we are lining up for the parade on Friday.

But on a sewing front, I have finished 3 of the 4 twelve inch blocks to be framed. (yup, another goal not met; it seems to be starting to be a habit!) I don't really want to show the fronts until I have them framed and ready to go, but here are the backs. First, my favorite so far, probably because there is so much stitching to see:

In comparison, this one seems to need something more, don't you think?

This one, too. Hmmm, if I find myself with a little extra time before they get wrapped, I might just put a few more stitches in.

That's it! Have a wonderful Tuesday!

The Art of Making Do

There's been a lot going on at Casa de Hutchinson! Thanksgiving was fantastic! (Of course! Any holiday with that much food is great in my book!) But since Adam had to work on Friday afternoon, we were back home by 1 PM on Friday. I spent the afternoon putting together a captain's bed that I bought for Donald. Lots and lots and lots of screws, but I did it! He likes it and I like it, so everyone is happy. But in addition to the big box holding the bed parts, there was another box waiting for me - my long-lost string quilt, Calling All Strings (because it was foundation pieced on phone book pages) that I sent to the long-arm quilter's in February.

Granted, the wait time was horrendous, but there were extenuating circumstances, so I'm not mad. And she did a lovely job!

Originally, I had planned to give this to my father-in-law for his birthday last March, but obviously, that couldn't happen. Instead, I think I'm going to give it to my brother for Christmas. He mentioned earlier this year that everyone had a quilt from me except him, and he's right! Well, except for me and Donald.

I'm going to have to wait, but hopefully, Donald's will be ready by Christmas, too! I finished piecing the top this weekend, and here it is on his captain's bed that I put together.

It isn't very wide by design - I didn't want the quilt to get in the way of opening and closing the storage drawers under the bed. I meant for it to be longer, but I ran out of fabric. So much so that I had to cobble stuff together. There are three of these patched together white pieces,

and about 5 of 6 of these cobbled together red and blue blocks (the blocks are supposed to be 5" square, but for some I had to combine two fabrics to make 5").

And, of course, I already mentioned that the inner white border is not the same white as the white in the blocks, because I ran out of that, too. I've already shared before that Roberta Horton's Scrap Quilts: The Art of Making Do was my primary source of inspiration when I first started quilting, so "make do" is what I did. You can't really tell from a distance. Besides, it is not meant to be an heirloom, but rather a utility quilt, made with love.

In fact, all that is left of those 9 fat quarters are these few scraps. There goes my idea of making a matching pillow sham. I'll just cut these down to useable squares and add them to my scrap squares tins.

And you know I couldn't resist cutting into some of my other new fabric, right? I decided to join the ranks of those who are making mug rugs for themselves and others. This one is for ME!
Hand quilted in the ditch.

It is on my desk at work right now, which reminds me, my coffee cup is empty.

But before I dash off to the coffee machine, I just have to brag on my hubby a bit - his team has started the season undefeated, 4-0, their best start to date! On Saturday's game, my brother and his girlfriend came over (the guy waving and the woman next to him), along with her two children (who are also waving) and my two children (who are making faces, OF COURSE!), and my cousin and his wife (in front of my brother). I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!

Who inspires you?

Lately, I've been getting lots of inspiration from Beth at Love Laugh Quilt. Thanks again, Em, for pointing me her way. First, there were the house blocks for her Friendly Neighborhood. Then yesterday, as I contemplated how to make my final 12.5" block out of my GGG fabrics, I remembered a Spiral Log Cabin I had seen on her blog. Perfect! So, now all four of my 12.5" blocks are ready for quilting. I sandwiched and basted these three last night so I will have some hand work to take with me to my mother-in-law's house for Thanksgiving.

My goal (here I go again with the goals!) is to have them quilted by the time I get home on Friday night. Angela tells me that the custom frames are nearly ready for shipment, so hopefully I can put the blocks in them next weekend and then they are done and ready for gifting.

I've been making good progress quilting the GGG quilt. I'm sad to leave it behind for 4 days, but next weekend, I'd love to just sit and quilt on it for hours.

My goal is to have it quilting by December 1, so I can start quilting another project - Donald's quilt. I made some progress sewing his borders together last night, and putting his whole top together shouldn't take more than a couple of hours more.

And finally, there was squishy mail waiting for me when I got home yesterday! I showed you most of the end-of-bolt fabrics I bought from Above All Fabrics - here are the three for which I couldn't find a photo. Aren't they yummy!

I'm so proud of myself for buying some COLOR! I'm gonna have to make something for ME; I'm thinking maybe a Mug Rug since I do enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. Which reminds me, I am cold and my coffee cup is empty - time to get my daily dose of hot caffeine.

48 hours of fun

After the skunk madness of Thursday night, it was nice to take the kids and the (still slightly smelly) dog to my mom's house Friday night. Adam was in Philly with his team for the weekend (they won both games and are now 3-0; GO GENERALS!!!) so I thought a visit with my mother was in order. Mostly, we just ate and played Bananagrams while the kids played.

I love visiting my mom. There's no hassle, no expectations, just hanging out, working together to do what we want to do and eat what we want to eat.

After we left her place on Saturday, life was pretty hectic while I

• took Jason and his buddy around to deliver their Cub Scout fundraising peanuts and popcorn
  
  


• delivered a couple bags of stuff to Goodwill
• dropped the kids off at their sleepover
• dropped the dog off at home and emptied out my car
• drove to 30 miles north to pick up an Air Hockey table from a co-worker who was selling it

When I finally got home, it was 6 PM and I was tired, but I had the house to myself and there was NO WAY I was going to waste it sleeping. I brewed a pot of coffee and then settled down with my GGG quilt to do some hand quilting while watching MEET THE FOCKERS on TV. I ended the evening by running a bubble bath, lighting some candles and sinking into the tub with my current book, one of the Coffeehouse Mystery series by Cleo Coyle.


This morning, the kids didn't get delivered home until 11:00 AM, so I slept late (8:30!!!) and then hit the sewing room to work on Donald's quilt. I'm trying to not work on it while he is with me because I do want it to be a surprise, but it is hard when he seeks me out to play where I am. This is what is currently gracing my sewing room floor.

It was a wonderful day. The kids came back in great moods, made even greater when they saw the Air Hockey table. (Yeah, we STILL haven't finished painting our basement; what of it?)

I sewed, I took a nap, I snacked, I read, I claimed the title QUEEN of the Air Hockey table. Now I'm planning to head into the living room to get some more done on my GGG quilt while watching another movie. But first, here are some things I got accomplished in the sewing room today:

I made another 12.5" block from the GGG scraps to be quilted and framed

I finished the rows of Donald's quilt. Now I just have to sew those together and sew on the borders. I had planned to do an inner border of the white in the blocks, but I ran out. I'm hoping to find another white in my stash that is close enough to not be noticeable except right up close. (By the way, did everyone except ME realize that what I was making was a Disappearing 9-patch, except I didn't make it the D-9 way, but rather cut and measured every single piece separately? What a ninny!)

(They are hanging backwards - that's why they look like pastels here)

I made two 12.5" houses to play along with Beth at Love Laugh Quilt and her Friendly Neighborhood Quilt Game.

The first is one of the blocks I made to send to V at BumbleBeans, and then forgot. I just had to add borders to make it 12.5". The second was inspired by Em, who always has the most fun wonky houses. I'm just not feeling it - how do hers turn out so cool and mine turn out so weird? It was supposed to be a castle with three princesses. Oh well. I have until Jan 1 to make as many houses as I want. Are you going to play along, too?