Hopping To It

Block #8

I have been busy trying to catch up on my Hop To It quilt.

Block #7

There are 12 blocks in all and I am currently working on # 9.

Swoon - 3 + 4

 I got a little behind, but I'm back on track now.

It's week 5 and I have Swoon blocks 3 & 4 completed. With any luck, block 5 will be done by the end of the week. Cross your fingers. 

Superstar

My mother-in-law and I have been taking a class to learn how to make Moravian Stars. They are supposed to be made with white paper, but you know that I couldn't resist making them out of something a little different. 

Because You Know We're Hardcore

That's right, I said it.... quilters are bada**...and we like to make "To Do" lists

so BOOM... there it is. The ultimate comp. book cover for the bada** quilter.

You lookin' at me, you lookin' at me?!? That's right, I didn't think so. You don't want none of this.

Don't be messin' with no quilters. We will mess you up.

Nuff said.

(Quilting: It's not for Grandmas anymore.)

Peek-a-boo

Look at the cutie that is helping me model my new quilt.



I think he likes it!

Do you see that little smile peek-a-booing at you.

He had such a good time! Oh so cute. Cute, cute, cute.



Hummmmm

The sewing machine has been humming this past week. I put the last stitches in this quilt top for Karen's shop today. It's made using Jaybird Quilts Taffy pattern and Amy Butler's Lark fabric.  

I have another quilt top at the halfway stage. I hope to get it completed in the next couple of days to show you. The boys have been snotty and coughing and all kinds of good stuff this week so I have stayed close to home. It's amazing what you get done when you are not running errands all the time. I'm starting to see why some people never leave the house. It's nice to get caught up on things here. Especially some sewing.



Week Two, Block Two

I am really making an effort to get some things made this week. I turned off the t.v., am limiting my time on the computer and I am trying really hard to stay focused. I have my little list of things I want to accomplish this week and I am working through it. Block # 2 of the Swoon Quilt is crossed off the list. 

Fletcher Rides A Bike

Sunday we went to my parents so we could have a nice place for Fletcher to learn to ride his bike without training wheels. (we live on a gravel road, not ideal for learning to ride a bike) He didn't give up and HE DID IT! Yeah Fletch!



Baby No-No is One!

My little niece calls Nolan , No-No and we have all adopted the name. I was going to try to have a simple Birthday Party - just have family over for cake and ice cream. Well, if you know me, you know I rarely can keep it simple.

My mom gave me the giant Animal Cookies box and that was all the inspiration I needed. If I had given myself more than 2 days to pull it off, I could have gone way over the top. (if you know me, you know I could have gone waaaaay over the top)

Nolan is a great baby. He sleeps thru the night, he loves to play with balls, his big brother can make him laugh like crazy and he makes me happy every time I see him! We are all so blessed to have him in our lives. Happy Birthday, No-No!

One Down

I just finished piecing together the first block for the Swoon quilt. Man, I don't know if I'm rusty at piecing or what, but that took me the better half of the day. I had to think too much on this one. I'm kinda mad at myself because right out of the gate I cut the fabric wrong. I wanted the dark fabric to be where the light fabric is and the light where the dark is. Only eight more to go.... I was going to try to make this quilt quickly, but I think I might shoot for completing one block a week. That sounds more

 do-able. It is good to be quilting again, though. Even if I did have to match a bunch of points. ;)

Longest Post Ever

Shew... it's been a little while since I've posted. There has been so much going on, I'm not quite sure where to begin. The Holidays were a whirlwind. As much as I tried to get most things done to prepare for the holiday early, I was still making preparations right up to the bitter end. For some reason I had pictured in my mind a December where I would sit back and relax while knitting and quilting by the fire. Uhhh... that didn't happen. I actually don't know why I ever thought it would.  I managed to get Nolan's Christmas stocking knitted and hung by the fire with care by the night before Christmas Eve. Nothing like waiting til the 11th hour. I'll have to post pictures of it later. (I just realized I forgot to take one.) If I am adding it all up correctly, Nolan's stocking would be the 17th stocking I have knitted for family members over the years. I have an 18th to make this year, as my sister is due in February. Last year I was on bed rest during the holidays, so I think this year I was trying to make up for that. I baked waaay to much, tried to make waaay to many handmade gifts, and ran around completing errands waaay to much. It was Nolan's first Christmas and I wanted everything to be special and to begin to make some new traditions.

Let's see... what else. I went ahead and got a jump on my New Years Resolution. This is the year I am going to lose weight. I am damn determined to finally get it off. All 50 lbs. of it! I decided after a shopping trip that I was going to have to get serious about losing weight. I was having trouble fitting into the clothes at store I used to always shop at. Apparently these stores don't want the big girls sportin' their style. I used to be a solid size 6. I used to walk in these stores and pick something off the rack and take it home. I wouldn't even need to try it on. Not so much now. Shirts don't button up over my boobs and if they do they have that oh so lovely gap. Pants don't look right, (i.e. muffin top) etc... You know the story. Anyway... it was pretty depressing. So after I binged on some holiday cookies and feeling sorry for myself for a little while, I bit the bullet and got myself a personal trainer. I started my workouts the Monday after Thanksgiving. I know what you're thinking...the holidays are only like the worst time ever to start a diet, but I figured it was just like any other day. It was just another excuse to not diet. I have been lifting weight with the trainer 3 times a week and following his diet and I am proud to say that as of today, six weeks into it, I am 13 lbs. lighter. I still have a long way to go, but 13 pounds is 13 pounds! (and that is during the holidays... I kinda feel like saying Boo-ya!) Now I am adding in cardio. I'm signing up to do the Cooper River Bridge Run at the end of March. I am making goals and sticking with it. (hide yo boyfriends laaaadies! I'm bringing Sexyback. tee hee.)

Okay, next. Anthony, Nolan, Fletcher, my mom and I did the Running of the Lights at Tanglewood on New Years Eve. It's a 5.5K race that takes you thru the Festival of the Lights at Tanglewood Park. It starts at midnight and it is a lot of fun. We walked it, but maybe next year I'll run it. Who knows.

Ummm, what else.... Nolan turns one tomorrow. I can't believe it's been a year. At this time last year I was having contractions and trying really hard to deny that I was having contractions. He is such a great baby. I am so lucky to be his and Fletcher's mom! I'll post pictures of his party. We are going with the Animal Cookies Theme. It came out kind cute. If anyone has suggestions on how to make red icing with out it tasting super nasty from all the food coloring you have to add to it, I'd be glad to know.

To sum up the longest post ever.... everything is good here, boys are happy and healthy which makes me happy. I'm working on the healthy- that's top priority. I WANT to quilt. I did not make or finish very many quilts last year and I plan to do better this year. I have some to complete and many I want to start. I have my brain full of new ideas that I want to make for Flaunt. I have tutorials I want to share....blah, blah,blah. I want to thank you all for stopping by my blog and taking the time to read it. It's kinda a good feeling knowing that there are people out there that stop by.

Oh yeah, that picture way, way, way back up there at the top is the beginnings of a new quilt.

I'll just say... Swoon, Pat Bravo, Kona. Stay tuned ....