Friday, January 30, 2015

Scraps

I have so many scraps, I feel like I am being averrun with them.  One of my goals this year is to work on those scraps.  As Bonnie Hunter says, if a strip is 12" or more it goes to the strip drawer! 

I can do that.  So I started with this.....


and I ended up with......


now put it away.  I will press another tray full  and do it again!  and again!  and again! 

hugs...

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Lemon Extract

OK, my vanilla is still in the marinating stage.  I am finding it takes months to get it to the right place.  My friend who made me some vanilla several years ago.  it  is the BEST vanilla ever!  and it is dark, rich, fragrant,  and oh so yummy. 

I am patient.  I can wait.  So, I have a couple of friends who have lemon trees.  And they are generous.  Thanks gals!!! 

Soooo, with that being said, I am going to make lemon extract.  whew!  Hubby bought the vodka for me.  He is such a sweetie.  I feel so guilty when I have to do that.  silly I know.  But that is just the way it is....

So here are my beautiful lemons.  this is just some of them.  16 here. all zested. 

 
 
16 lemons and that is all the zest you get!!!  these lemons were smaller than the meyer lemons another friend gave me. 


and here is the bottle with 3 cups of vodka, the zest of 16 lemons.  in a month, we will see what we have.  I just need to shake the jar from time to time.  And yes the jar is green.  so you can't really see what it looks like. 

But I can tell you my hands smell like lemons, my home smells like lemon.  Love the smell! 
hugs....


Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Happy Dance!

A $1.39 a gallon for gas! WHAT?  oh yeah.....  a very happy girl....  I don't even remember when it was this low. 


 
Life is good......  hugs...

Monday, January 19, 2015

Stash Report 2

bobbins used this week: 1
bobbins used year to  date: 11
Thread spools emptied this week:  0
Thread spools emptied year to date: 0
Fabric used this week: 0 yards
Fabric used year to date:  23 yards
Fabric added this week: 0 yard
Fabric added year to date: 8 yards
UFOs finished: 3


No finishes this week, but I am close!!!  this is how I keep track of what I accomplish....

 
In one of the yahoo groups I belong to, we are swapping bonnie hunters mini bow ties.  I am swapping 6 sets of 6.  these are extra, because I want MORE!!  I am so greedy......

 
This is my first block finished for the Bonnie Hunter Grand Illusion Mystery.  I made a couple of changes.  my neutral I chose to use 1 fabric.  I also chose to put a solid tonal pink block in the middle. 

 
AND I do have a quilt on the frame.  It was from a class about 4 years ago.  I think it is a This and That pattern.  not sure.  Kansas Troubles fabric. 

 
 
So that's my update for today!  now, today is a stay at home day.  I have to the time out.  20 minutes piecing, 20 minutes or 1 complete row on the frame, 20 minutes house stuff, 20 minutes scraps..... 
 
 
any ideas for dinner?  hehehe......
 
 
hugs...

Sunday, January 18, 2015

I am 29, again.....


Hi everyone, last month I had a birthday.  My daughter from CA was visiting, and had to leave.  so we all had breakfast before she left! 

  




I tried to get everyone.  it is always so wonderful to have my family around me.  I feel so blessed!

after breakfast, I went to Toni's for our sewing day.  there was balloons, a hat, a sparkle ring to wear!  and presents!  oh my.....


I have the best friends!  I can't believe this is the only present I got.  I felt truly loved! 

thank you friends and family, you are the best!!!! 

hugs....







Saturday, January 17, 2015

A new month, A new chalkboard!

this month it is Gunner's turn to write on the chalkboard.  here is what he came up with....

It says Winter Wander Land.  it has dots all over the chalkboard.  simple, but I love it!  Thanks Gunner man for helping Grandma.....

love ya kiddo....

hugs.....


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Stash Report 1, 2015

this is what I have used since the beginning of the year. 

bobbins used this week: 10
bobbins used year to  date: 10
Thread spools emptied this week:  0
Thread spools emptied year to date: 
Fabric used this week:  14 yards
Fabric used year to date:  14 yards
Fabric added this week: 8
Fabric added year to date: 8
UFOs finished:  2

There is a baby shower for my brother's wife this Saturday.  they are having a little boy - Parker.  so I have been busy getting ready for it. 


first up is a baby genius quilt.  my mom pieced it over the summer.  I quilted it and put the binding on.  here are the stats...

68 x 80
9 1/3 yards used
1st UFO project finished


this is a kit my mother purchased.  she decided she did not want to make it.  So I finished it .

49 x 51
4 2/3 yards used
2nd UFO finished!

I have been making mini bow ties for a swap...


I have 36 made for the swap.  but I don't think I will stop there.  they are so fun to make.  the pattern is on Bonnie Hunter quiltville site.  it's called Cheddar Mini Bow Ties.  Now if you are so inclined to swap  these lovely blocks, go over to Quilting Bee.  it's a yahoo group.  it's a new group, but we have been doing fun things.  there is still time to join in if you would like.....  You know you want to!

Last year, Vicki and made this quilt. 
 
It's called in Grannies dream.  I haven't been able to find it online.  So I think the pattern is no longer available.  We used a green ombre fabric.  so the dark green is top and bottom, with the lightest green in the middle.  the quilt looks like it glows.  I love it!! 
 
I stepped out of my box this time.  once I loaded it, I worked from the front of the machine.  A first for me!  I quilted horizontal lines.  I tried to put 3 rows in each section.  I still have to put the binding on, so I haven't included the yardage as finished yet.  I really love how it turned out.
 
 
 
 
I used lime green thread. 

I have also been working on Bonnie Hunters Grand Illusion Mystery.  I have all the pieces done.  just need to start putting them together.  My friend Maggie has her top done! 

Isn't it beautiful?  I can't wait to get to this point! 

hugs......

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year!!!!

I can hardly believe that it's 2015!  Where did 2014 go?  This time of year I get so excited to make goals, organize, get rid of extra stuff!  Do you? 

One of the things I wanted to do this past year was keep track of everything!  Well, I only posted on that 32 times.  I would like to do better this year. 

so my last undate is.......

bobbins used this week: 6
bobbins used year to  date: 85
Thread spools emptied this week:  0
Thread spools emptied year to date:  14
Fabric used this week:  0
Fabric used year to date:  53 3/8
Fabric added this week: 0
Fabric added year to date:  47  1/2 yards

As long as I am in the black on buying/using fabric, I feel good!!!

Now about those goals.  I don't want to have so many that I can't possibly achieve them all.  I want to concentrate, work on, make new habits, become better. 

I have my sewing goals:

1.  sew 15 to 20 minutes a day. 
2.  cut scraps 15 to 20 minutes a day
3.  clean sewing room 15 to 20 minutes a day
4.  ALWAYS have a quilt on the frame.  Try to quilt at least 1 row each day.
5.  Get rid of extra stuff in my sewing room - sell or give away
6.  FINISH UFOs.  Try not to start more than 5 new projects

and my personal goals:

1.  Pray each morning and night
2.  Read the Book of Mormon every day.  Read the whole book in January, then more slowly and study for the rest of the year.
3.  Organize my home be getting rid of extra, no needed stuff.  take one area or room at a time.
4.  Simplify!
5.  Make my bed every day
6.  Walk
7.  Be happy! 

I don't know how to add a pdf here.  if any of you know, please share with me.  I made 2 tables so I can check off each day.  Bonnie Hunter said in one of her books that you do something for 21 days and it becomes a habit.  That is the purpose for the tables, I can check off each item every day.  by day 21, I want this to be a habit! 

So lots of talking, and no pictures....  so here you go!  A bunch of sunflowers, cuz they make me smile........