Knitting Like Crazy

I have been knitting like crazy!  I've just mailed the following blankets to the next knitters in line to add to these lovely blankets and I'm happy to put down the knitting needles for awhile and pick up my sewing needle as I still have a binding to finish hand stitching before Christmas!

Sunny Baby - Preemie

Gridiron Glory

Candy Corn - sorry, I'm too lazy to rotate photo

Lavender Fields - again, being lazy

At our Quilt Group's Christmas Party/Sew What You Want

Receiving Blocks

I have started receiving blocks back from my Let's Bee Together group.  

As of this post I only have 4 back (out of 11) and I look forward to getting the others back soon so that I can add them to the 8 I have from when I had my local quilt group do the same blocks for me back in February.  

8 blocks from local group

4 blocks so far from Let's Bee Together group

From Staci of The Confused Quilter

From Marta of PolkaDotClassic

From Linda of Stray Stitches

From Wendy of Calculating Quilter

Quilt Mystery

I'm pretty new to the quilting world and when I really started getting into it last year, I suppose I developed more of an appreciation of quilts in general; suddenly I remembered a quilt that I received as a Graduation gift.  At some point I was able to move the fish tank off from the top of my cedar chest to retrieve the quilt.  Something that someone put so much time and effort into should not be in my cedar chest, it should at least be in the linen closet where I can easily pull it out on a chilly day.  So, I successfully moved the full-of-water fish tank, opened the cedar chest, and imagine my surprise when I did not see the quilt in there where I had assumed it was, where it used to be.

Between 2001, when I graduated, and when I opened my cedar chest in search of the quilt, 9 years had passed, 6 moves had taken place, and I had shared a living space with 3 different people (excluding my husband and kids).  I started with my parents - neither one of which had recalled the quilt being left at their house.  I emailed my former roommates - neither one of which think my quilt somehow ended up with their things, but they'd keep an eye out, or some of their stuff is in storage, etc.

When we moved in May, I was diligent in checking every box that was still in our garage from our previous move (yeah...no comment, please) and the quilt was not there anywhere.  A couple of months ago I was at my in-law's house and they had recently emptied their storage unit onto their back patio and I inquired about whether or not my brother in-law still had a storage unit or if the back patio included his stuff as well.  He still has stuff in storage and, since my husband and I lived with him on 2 separate occasions, I guess that is my last hope for the quilt.  My mother in-law said they'd keep their eye out in the house and then I just need to make sure my brother in-law will check once his stuff comes out of storage.

That is my last hope, otherwise, I have no idea what happened to that quilt.  I'm sort of heartbroken about it and mad at myself for letting it get away.

Has anything like this ever happened to you, with a quilt or something else?

Fab

I just discovered this new (to me) deals of the 'day' type website. 

"Fab.com features daily design inspirations and sales at up to 70% off retail."

I just joined (it's FREE!! to sign up) and have seen several items that would make great gifts!!

Use this link to sign up (when friends sign up under you, you get credits so it would benefit me if you used this link and I'd greatly appreciate it :)

I just wanted to share a great find with you all, this company does not know I'm blogging about them, I'm not paid by the company, etc.

Dirty Boys

Things I've Been Working On

This one started as a Crazy Nine-Patch Lattice Quilt, but after I made the nine-patch blocks I discovered it was a baby quilt and I didn't have enough to make more....so, enter a little improvisation (mess?).  This is an early picture, there will be the thin yellow border around all of that center grid and the outside border of the larger squares may still change several times as I go.  Back when I did the Treasure Shop Hop I decided to get 1 fat quarter from each shop, these are the fabrics from that adventure.

Geeze, lady!  Been sewing long?!  These blocks for my local quilt group are supposed to look like that.  Beth got her inspiration from the Waverunner quilt along.  Some of Beth's fabrics are also from fat quarters purchased on the Shop Hop, this was a fun idea we plan to do again next year (buying a fat quarter at each shop, I mean).

Veggie Tales is a blanket for West Coast/Central Oddball Knitters (although, I think our group name has changed several times so I don't really know what to call it anymore).  If you are a knitter and would like to join our group, feel free to leave a comment and I can email you more info, or you can find us on Ravelry, I think we're called Western Regions Oddball Baby Blankets there (see how one could get confused on what to call the group?).

For my local quilt group.  I'm unsure of what the pattern is but Terri will end up trimming those little points to create "square" rows and then place them side by side in zigzag form.

Sara borrowed some of my Crazy Curve templates, used up some of her fabric scraps she had on hand and asked us to make a block that looks like this - I'm not sure what she plans to do with them.

I bought this quilt kit awhile back and pieced together the top.  It also came with the binding fabric and I purchased the backing fabric at the same time.  Last week I bought some batting so one of these days I can get it all together.  The pattern is called Fire Escape.

3 and Grumpy

My baby, Calvin, turned 3 on Friday!

Trying to show me how old he is

Frustrated with Mommy for taking pictures - how dare I?

Decorating cupcakes for his party

A Blogging Award? For ME?

Linda over at Stray Stitches awarded me with an award:

Thank you, Linda!

There are rules to this award...
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. Share seven things about yourself on the post.
3. Pass the award to fifteen bloggers that you think deserve it.
4. Lastly, contact all of the bloggers that you've picked for the award.

Here are seven things about me...

1.  I have 2 sons, hence the title of my blog, and I love being a mama of boys!

2.  I am a hunter...of big game, you know, elk, deer, etc. but I have yet to actually "seal the deal."

3.  I'm pretty new to quilting, but it is definitely a passion.

4.  I love thunderstorms, especially those in the summer.

5.  I would love to be good enough at it to be able to decorate cakes as a job.

6.  I sometimes feel like I've missed out on something by not growing up in a small town, I blame this on listening to country music (although I do listen to many kinds of music).  I do think the small town way of life is something that would suit my family.

7.   After seeing some of the online quilting bee groups that make a block for each other each month, I created a local group like these.  We are currently into our second year and it's so fun to see people's skills developing (including my own) and friendships forming! 

Now, I will pass this award on to 15 of my favorite bloggers (though, really, I love so many).  Most of these are "smaller" bloggers so I hope you will visit their blog, show them some love and if you like what you see, become a follower, because we all love new followers!

1. Life As A Lee

2. Applique Addict

3. Renegade Quilter

4. Ardea's Nest

5. Kate Quilts

6. Wyoming Breezes

7. Twin Fibers

8. Crazy Mom Quilts

9. Jaxson's Journey With Sensory Processing Disorder

10. The Vintage Sheet Blog

11. Stash Resolution

12. Polka Dot Classic

13. HoneyBear Lane

14. Lucky Duck Dreams

15. Teaginny Designs

If any of you came over from Stray Stitches and are new to my blog, welcome.  

I haven't been blogging very consistently lately as we've been adjusting to new schedules with work, school, etc.  I hope to get back in the groove and post more very soon!

Have a Fabulous Friday and Wonderful Weekend!

Crazy Curves

I'm not kidding, you guys, I absolutely loved working with these circles!  The video tutorials on Elisa's site made sewing them so easy.  I did do a couple of practice blocks, but within no time they were going together quite nicely (not to say that they are all perfect, but I'm completely happy with this as my first circle quilt top).  

Again, fabric won in a giveaway from Quilt Dad, some purchased at Wish Upon A Quilt.

Works In Progress

Besides the circle quilt top on the wall and table, my sewing room/office is STILL a work in progress after our move in MAY!

Templates and pattern for circle quilt won in a giveaway quite some time ago from Elisa and this is my first time using them.  Have to say, I LOVE the curves (thanks, Elisa, love the templates and patterns!)!

Fabric for circle quilt is a Fat Quarterly Fabric Pack purchased from Wish Upon A Quilt in addition to scraps won from John Adams a.k.a Quilt Dad's  Mother's Day Giveaway (thanks, John, loved the fabric!)!

May Block for Let's Bee Together

Before I left for Florida I managed to finish my May block for Mollie in Let's Bee Together (after I found it, because it had gone MIA during the move...along with SOOO many other items - has anyone seen my cat?).  I had hoped to get it into the mail before heading out but that didn't work out so I just sent it last week and she should have it by now.  

I was a bit nervous because I had to stretch a pretty small amount of fabric a long way and I didn't want to be doing any cutting and wasting, especially since I didn't have any of the fabrics in my stash, or any time to get more from Mollie.  I stuck with this simple stacked rectangle look (does this type of block have a name?  I'm sure it does).  You can see where I had to add an extra strip of white (which I'm sure isn't the same 'white' as I was provided with) on the edge.  I added it there because I figured she could choose to take it out pretty easily that way.

I'm working on a hand applique block right now for my local quilt group and I actually love it!  I wasn't so sure on the day we had our lesson from The Applique Addict but now that I can sit on the couch and do it at my leisure it's fun.  The block is of a pair of flip flops, I have the actual shoe part done but just need to add a small flower decal to them and then I'll have some pictures to share.

Annnnd...since June is almost over (when and how did that happen?) I need to also finish start the block for Let's Bee Together for Carolyn and hopefully the Canada Post is no longer on strike so her blocks get to her!

Flurry Giveaway Winner

I'm home from a lovely Florida vacation and I have chosen a winner for the 2 charm packs of Flurry that I was giving away before I left.  As you may recall, I had won a giveaway and so I was paying it forward by hosting my own giveaway!

True Random Number Generator picked good ol' number 6:

The number 6 comment is from a new follower, Sallie.  I have emailed you, Sallie, so check your email!

Thanks to all who entered and be sure to check back as I'll have a couple more giveaways in the near future!

Look Who's Back

Hey...did you miss me?!  

My last post was on Mother's Day and I mentioned we were spending the day moving.  I kind of think we went about things all wrong because we spent all month moving!  We had to be out of our house by the end of May and now that we're finally out, we can start getting things more settled in at the new place (maybe soon I won't have to lie on my belly to type on my computer that's on the floor!)  

Thanks for waiting for my return, I'm glad you're still here because I have a surprise for you!  I guess all of my traveling for the Shop Hop paid off because I got a message a couple of weeks ago from one of my local quilt shops that I had won a prize!  While it wasn't the coveted $50 gift card to each shop (the grand prize), I was happy to have won anything at all!  Here's my loot:

Twelve Days of Christmas Appliqued Quilt pattern, Christmas note pad, miscellaneous Christmas charm squares,  length not yet determined cut of "minky" fabric, baby quilt pattern and some kind of ribbon

 I haven't decided what all I really want to keep and use so maybe you'll be seeing some in a giveaway soon, but in the meantime, while I was picking up my prize, I decided to get a prize for one of you as well - paying it forward in a giveaway prize type of way!  I'm a complete sucker for a lot of the wonderful holiday fabrics out there and these are some I really love, but have yet to even use for myself.

These 2 charm packs of Flurry can be yours, all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me what type or color or line of fabric you're a sucker for.  If you want an extra entry, leave a comment if you're a follower (become one if you are not yet following).  If you so desire to have a 3rd entry, feel free to blog about my giveaway and leave the link to your post in the comment.

I'm going to give you a little bit (or a lot) of time to enter this giveaway.  I'm going on a little vacay and I'll choose the winner on June 15th, so get your entries in before then!

No-reply bloggers must be sure to include your email in your comment or your entry will not be considered - thank you!

I've won 2 other giveaways recently as well so I'm thinking I'll be having 2 more giveaways of my own soon...so stick around!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms, grandmas, aunts, sisters, godmothers, guardians and friends.  Not only those with biological children should be appreciated on Mother's Day...it takes a village!

Story about the pictures: tucked away in a deep corner between 2 buildings at work is the most beautiful tree, well, it's really beautiful in the spring anyway.  The only way I see it is by passing by a certain window in that corner and I'm pretty sure not very many people have even noticed the tree (I've pointed it out to several people and the reaction is usually something along the lines of "thank you for showing me, I had no idea that was there."  I have no idea why, but I'm really drawn to this tree (which I believe is a saucer magnolia).  For several years I've been admiring it ever spring so this year I decided to bring my camera and try and get some pictures.  I'm hoping one day to have a tree like this of my very own!

Hope you all have a fabulous Mother's Day!  Me?  We're moving today!

April Block for Let's Bee Together

Here is the block I made for Melinda for our Let's Bee Together online quilting bee.  I sent it in the mail Friday and am hoping she's received it by now so I don't spoil the surprise for her.

I used the tutorial for this block, the only difference being that I used one piece of fabric for the center rather than the 4 squares.  I hope she likes it!