Monday, August 31, 2009

A Productive Sunday

This was one of those days when I decided I needed a "me" day. Just to do what I want to do. So, after I fixed breakfast for Jim and Rob (lol, okay, we'll say that's what I wanted to do) I spent a good part of the day finishing up this baby quilt for a friend's new baby.

I did this in the quilt-as-you-go manner but when I put the blocks together, I used a little bit different technique. Well, the same technique as I always used but a bit different in construction. Instead of cutting the front sashings one width and the back another, I cut BOTH front and back sashings two inches wide. When attaching them, I took a half inch seam. Like I told Judy, you can't be married to the quarter inch seam thing when working with these numbers! It really went a lot faster. Oh, I found these particular instructions on sew-whats-new.com.

I also worked on Kerrington's little sundress that I've had started for a while now. I'm doing the hand work around the neck and armholes and will add some froo-froo decorations, I think. I'll take it with me to work on while watching her today.

Judy and I went to see "The Time Traveler's Wife". It was interesting and afforded Judy a few hours in cool comfort since her a/c is on the fritz. She came to our house later and we had leftover tacos and I made a fruit pizza.

Time to get ready to go see Miss K. Have a good Monday.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Weekend notes

It's Saturday again, and I should be getting ready for work. But, I just had to post these pictures of our little Kerrington. She loves her monkey bouncer and can sit in it for a long time before she wants out. Usually it's because it's naptime! And, have you EVER seen a cuter water baby? I think NOT! lol


It tickled me to see her wearing the little sunhat I made for her. I'm so glad she doesn't mind wearing it! This was taken on a weekend outing to the lake with her mama and daddy and her Grampoo and Gramille Jackson. She loves the water.

On a sad note, please remember my friend Leota and her family today. Her cousin was killed yesterday in a truck accident in Louisiana. I have no more details right now other than they know his rig burned with him in it. Leota is distraught, as you might know, since this is one of her cousins who buried his dad just a few weeks ago in Dallas. Hard, hard time for the family. Our prayers are with you, Leota!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Bookmark

Maybe I've found a quick way to use up even some of my smallest scraps. This little bookmark was made in about an hour. The hardest part was turning it inside out since it's only about two inches wide. Then I had a hard time getting the opening turned under and sewn. You can't see that part 'cause it's at the bottom of the bookmark.
I bought these little charms a while back and I thought this one looks nice in this space.

It's after 10 p.m. and I didn't get another baby block quilted. Oh well. Tomorrow's another day. Gosh, I was thinking I still needed to give you an update on Dad :-( Goodnight, all.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

A lazy Sunday

Still feel as though I'm forgetting something very important. Not having to take Dad his Sunday morning coffee makes me a little sad. Yet, I still feel his presence. I slept in a little this morning and before I ever sat down at the 'puter, I decided I'd better take care of some paperwork. That done, and breakfast over, I worked on the baby quilt for a while. Then Judy and I met one of my consultants at the shop. Kym attended the Scentsy convention in Utah last week and had lots of things to share and show. She's a sweet girl and is one of my favorite consultants. Actually, she's one of my first ones!

I'd like to take this moment to remind all of you who enjoy Scentsy that all products are 10% off for the month of August. There are quite a few scents that are being discontinued in the Fall/Winter catalog. If you would like to know if your favorite scent is still going to be available, give me a call or drop me a line. You can order online at www.scentsy.com/4886.

After coming home from my meeting with Kym, I took a nap. Nearly two hours! I guess I needed it. I'm not sleepy now but I really need to get to bed since it's almost midnight. But, before I go, I leave you with a couple of pictures of two of the baby quilt blocks I quilted tonight.
I'm doing this one with the quilt-as-you-go technique. I still haven't decided what fabrics I'll use to connect the blocks. It's a little scary to use a solid color on the back since it is not very forgiving of any mistakes made. But, I really like the feel of this soft cotton fabric. I'm glad I decided to use this quilting "pattern". It's really just a freestyle meandering.

Off to bed so I can see our little Kerrington tommorrow. Have not seen her since last Wednesday when I left their house so I'm needing my Kerrington fix! Have a good week if I don't get back here until the weekend.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

This and that and more!

Is she growing up or what! No, she's not walking yet, but Miss Kerrington likes to stand up. She and Grama V. have some good times on Mon., Tues., and Wed. I need to work on another outfit since Auntie J. said she's getting tired of seeing her in this outfit. lol She meant that nicely, I'm sure.

How about these cute little cup cozies? Kate and her mom, Judy, sent me a book with the pattern in it. Such thoughtful friends I have made through my computer. Thanks, you two!


These are four blocks of a nine or twelve block baby quilt I'll be working on the next few days. I didn't even work on it tonight since I was busy at Farmtown. lol The pattern is the Disappearing nine patch.

And, last but certainly not least, is a picture of Dad. I think he was about 21 years old in this picture. One of Judy's friends photo-shopped (is that a real term now?)it into a background with the flags. Nice, isn't it? Thanks, Howard!

I thought I'd better get this done since it's almost 11:15 p.m. and my eyelids are getting awfully heavy. You wouldn't think that taking care of a cute little angel all day would be tiring. A very good tired, though. I'm still lovin' it!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Remember this quilt top?

I finally had a block of time to sew these borders back on. I'd taken them off before Dad died and had not attempted to work on them again. So, after getting home from work today, I decided to "get 'er done!"
This first picture shows the top as it looked when I got it. I had laid it out on the floor and realized that the borders were way too wavy to do any quilting.
After removing and re-attaching the borders, you can see a bit of a difference in how much flatter it lays. I cut off 1 1/2" to 2" of each border! I had to really work with the excess fabric of the center and there are a lot of places that have puckers but I think I can disguise it with quilting. That's the problem with so many bias edges within the quilt top itself. I had to be really careful not to stretch it at all.

The next step is to prepare the lining, or backing, as some folks call it. I bought it a long time ago and it has been waiting patiently on the top shelf in the closet. Maybe I can get that started tomorrow because tonight is Kerrington night! Yup, Rob and April are going to the fair so we get to watch sweet Baby K. April won some tickets from a radio show to the Motor Cross races and they'll stay for the concert. I'm hoping we can keep Kerry Berry all night, but we'll see.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Another week gone by

Another week under our belts and I have not done much of anything except take care of baby Kerrington and work at the shop. I did, finally, get the fleece blankets embroidered and delivered, so I feel as though I accomplished at least one thing. I meant to take my camera to photograph Kerrington and I forgot all three days. She's getting pretty active now and I find myself just sitting and watching her "do her thang" as she bounces up and down in her monkey bouncer or staring at her angel face while she sleeps. Oh, I did help April finish some alterations on pjs for K.

So, here it is, Thursday again. My posts may become even more few and far between now that Judy and I have signed up, again, at the gym. I heard yesterday that the swine flu and obesity may be directly connected. Obesity does NOT cause the flu, they say, but those with a few extra pounds on their frames may be more susceptible to it and end up with more severe complications, ie., pneumonia, etc. So, it's good that Judy and I have arranged to get ourselves back to working out, or "cheerleading" as Dad would say.

Alrighty, then! Time to shower and get ready for work.

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Phone pics

These are just two pictures I've had on my cell phone. I don't have the software to transfer them to my computer, so Rob had me blue-tooth them to his phone and then emailed them back to me.
This is one of my favorite pictures of Dad. We were sitting at the Wound Care Center in Lubbock one day and he was looking so well that day that I couldn't resist taking his picture. He was always a ham when it came to pictures. Unlike a lot of us, he really liked his picture taken.
Here is Kerrington letting everyone know how she feels about her grandma. I am so enjoying my time with her this summer! I didn't even spend this much time with my own boys when they were this age so this is a real blessing for me. I think she is really beginning to recognize me.

Monday, August 03, 2009

August BOM

A quick post to show you the August block of the month.

I still need to quilt it, but isn't it cute? And, I had found butterflies to decorate the wooden plaque it will hang from at the shop. Since I don't go back to work until Thursday, I don't feel rushed to finish it right away. By the way, I have NOT finished the July BOMs lol. They'll get done.