My life right now....

Consist of taking care of two awesome grandchildren on top of our daily crazy life.  I am loving it.  Every wonderful, and trying moment of it. And while they are visiting, we are trying to make as many memories as possible.  

There has been crazy amounts of playtime:

We are growing green onions from our scraps:

We visited the Stingray Reef in Kemah:

Uncle Michael, Hannah and Dalton 

And went to Galveston to play at the beach and ride the ferry

And I just have to add that I love, love, love this photo that my daughter, Kaylyn, took of the two of them sitting by the creek

I think this would make an awesome art quilt, except I don't make art quilts.  Maybe someone out there would make a grandmother something so special??? LOL

So as you can see not much sewing or quilting getting done around here lately, but I do have two more pictures for you.  My daughter finally asked me to show her how to quilt.  My grandson had to join her, and yes she is working on her own quilt, LOL:

And I did finish up a pillowcase dress for my granddaughter

So I guess that gives me some progress and a finish for this week so far.  Yeah!

Hope your days are filled with so much love and awesomeness!

Linking up to:

Live a Colorful Life

Love me some summer.....

Yes, I do love me some summer.  Sun, sand, ocean, pools, and sundresses.  I have been drooling over this Riley Blake Designs "Seaside" collection for sometime now.  I am just IN LOVE with the beach scene print. When I found the Tea Party dress pattern at Oliver S + Co. I just knew the two were a match made in heaven. So with out further ado, I present my Princess Hannah's new summer sundress!  I can't wait to see her in it. 

Don't you just love this fussy cut on the bodice?

And this coordinating polka dot hem lining?

And yes, I am to lazy to hand stitch a hem and don't own a serger, so I totally cheated and did a double topstitch on the hem line. I love the way it looks!

And the great thing about this pattern is there is also a coordinating playsuit pattern for a boy and bloomers for the dress.  This is perfect because next I will be making the playsuit in the "Seaside" plaid for my grandson.  Won't they just be the two cutest things.  Okay, I'm done gushing for tonight. 

Love,

Linking up to:

Richard and Tanya Quilts

Plum and June @ Simply Miss Luella

Crazy Mom Quilts

Live A Colorful Life

I just have to share this.....

This overwhelmingly warms my heart.  Music is an amazing thing! Enjoy!

Challenge Completed and a Sew Together Bag

Crazy I did it!  I have finished my table topper quilt for the Henry Glass & Co. fabrics Desire to Inspire challenge.  And I love it! Here it is:

This was such a fun challenge.  It was also my first time binding a quilt.  It was much easier than I thought it would be.  

This last week I also finished my Sew Together Bag by SewDemented. This was a little challenging for me.  I still have to learn how to get my machine to sew over thick areas of fabric such as the side seams of the pockets.  Putting the binding on this was the hardest part.  I did however, learn how to install a zipper.  It was super easy with her instructions. 

My daughter loved it, but asked that I make one using laminated cotton so she can use it for make up.  Oh boy, don't know if  I'm quite ready for that binding again.

I also designed a pattern this week for my dear FIL's quilt.  I did it on graph paper and figured the math my self.  Hoping I did it right.  I will start cutting on it this week.  Here is the fabric I have been hoarding for this project.

I think it will be perfect for an ol' cowboy. What do you think?

Now onto the Riley Blake Designs BOM.  This months block is the Churn Dash or as they call it Simplicity. I have to say I love this block.  It is so easy and you can do so much with it just by changing up fabric patterns.  

And here are January, February and March's blocks all together:

Here are all the blocks I have made with this wonderful fabric:

Well that's all for now folks. I hope to be back this week with another finish.

Linking up to

Richard and Tanya Quilts

Live a Colorful Life

Busy Bee Quilts

Quilt Story

Sew Much Ado

Sew Many Ways

Crazy Mom Quilts

Challenge Accepted!

This week was a great week.  Why you ask?  I received a sweet little package of some beautiful fabrics in the mail from Henry Glass Fabrics.  I am so excited and honored to have been asked to join their Desire to Inspire Challenge.  This challenge is meant to get people sewing more, using your creativity, and working with what you are given.  You can read more about the Desire to Inspire challenge here.

So, this week I was surprised with this beautiful bundle of fabrics to work with.

Sweet Land of Liberty by Color Principle for Henry Glass Fabrics

And here are the blocks I have completed so far:

pattern: RBD February Mystery BOM

pattern: Bee In My Bonnet Houses from her Row-Along

pattern: My own (worked out perfectly with 13 stripes in the right order, huh?)

In other news to add to a great week, my daughter recently turned 22 (Happy Birthday baby girl), found out she only has two more electives to complete after this semester to graduate with an Associates Degree, applied to University of Houston Clear Lake, and is considering working towards her Masters (after she gets her Bachelors of course).  She's going to make an awesome teacher.  

Well that's all I have for today.  Hope you all have a great week!

Linking up to :

Freshly Pieced

Better Off Thread

Richard and Tanya Quilts

Plum and June

Live a Colorful Life

Lily's Quilts

I Love Retro!

I love me some retro.  I mean, now that I'm an adult. By adult, I mean almost 40.  Let me explain.

In my twenties and early thirties, I was not so into antiques or collectibles   I had no idea what it meant to own Fiestaware, old Pyrex, fine china, or Sterling Silver serving sets.  I had all of these things that were given to me when I moved out on my own at 17 years of age.  I still have the silver and the china of course, those were a no brainer when it came to keeping something. But over the years of moving from this place to that one, quickly packing, being to lazy to pack everything and thinking "Oh I don't need or want that", I no longer own the Fiestaware and have just a couple of pieces of the white and aqua Pyrex.   

In the last few years I have done a lot of growing up, realizing that I love antiques and retro items.  I love retro colors from the 50's to the 70's.  I also love antiques that are painted.  Not painted as in looks new, painted as in looks like it was painted years ago and is worn.  I love shabby chic antiques. I also love retro print fabrics. This leads me to my Valentines gift from my husband.

We live on the outskirts of Houston on the way to Galveston, and today we had to make a jot into the big city to run an errand for my hubby.  Well, yesterday while checking out the discussions on my flicker groups I noticed a post by Rachel Booth about an Amy Butler Charm Swap she is hosting on her blog Sew Happily Ever After.  I started searching for a local shop that carried Amy Butler fabrics on the internet, and I came across a shop in Midtown (artsy fartsy area of Houston , love it),  High Fashion Fabrics.  So, while we were out and about we stopped on by.  I had no idea what to expect.  I thought it would be a small fabric store.  Boy was I wrong.  This place is AMAZING.  REALLY AMAZING.  If you want specialty fabric, wedding dress fabric, lace or bling, they have it.  In huge amounts.  At top dollar of course.  They also have, wait for it, quilting fabric!!!!! They have tons of prints including a whole wall dedicated to Amy Butler. 

I did not end up buying any Amy Butler fabric today, it just wasn't moving me.  I instead found two great retro style prints by Michael Miller, Sweet Stuff and Candy Shop from the Retro Basics line.  So, in honor of Valentine's Day, my dearest hubby (the greatest hubby in the world) bought me a yard and a half of each.  OMGoodness, I'm in love.  

I'm thinking I am going to make kitchen accessories with these.  My kitchen accent color is red so I think these will work perfectly.  A cover for my Kitchen Aid mixer, some hot pads, an apron, and some decorative towels.  Or maybe a diaper bag for the future. Or a book bag for my granddaughter.  Hmmm, so many options. 

In other news, I have been working on more blocks with my Riley Blake Designs fabrics.  I finished this months Mystery Block by RBD.  It was my first time ever attempting applique. 

I also tried my hand at making my own paper piecing pattern this week.  It was actually pretty easy.  Keep in mind this is meant to have four of these squares put together to make one block.  I just haven't gotten the other three finished. 

I love it!

And last but not at all least, I have to brag on my awesome son.  Michael received his first stripe on his yellow belt in Brazilian Jujitsu tonight.  I am one proud momma. He studies under one of the most famous BJJ Professors, Vinicius Draculino Magalhaes. 

Michael's nickname is "Guard Master".  This was given to him by his assistant Professor, Brandon Wolverine Mullins.

So my WIP's now include:

1.  Daughters quilt... still need to finish quilting and bind it.

2.  I Used To Be A Layer Cake.... my pieces are not matching up on some strips and I have not gotten back to fix it. 

3. My sampler / bom RBD quilt... This will be worked on over the year.

Projects I need to start:

1. My dear FIL's quilt... I just can't decide what pattern to use.  Maybe I will post pics of the fabrics and ya'll can help me decide.

Oh, and did you know Crafty is having a sale on their classes for Valentine's Day?  It is running February 14-17.  Head on over and sign up now!  They are up to 75% off!

I have taken several of their classes and I have learned so much.  

They are invaluable and you have access to them FOREVER.  What could be better than that?

Linking up to :

Freshly Pieced

Bold Goods

Quilt Story

Richard and Tanya's

Sew Much Ado

My Week In Pictures (WIP)

I have been very busy working this week, so I have decided to share with you my WIP and a special occasion.

 Some fun blocks including Riley Blake Designs Mystery Block of the Month for January, Whirling Star block from Fresh Lemons,  my own scrap pieced block, and the Craftsy BOM for January 2013.  I have used "The Sweetest Thing" and "Seaside" prints by Riley Blake Designs and the sage green polka dot is by Lakehouse Dry Goods.

I started my year of RAKs this week :

The recipient was underwhelmed by the thought of having to pass it on to someone at some point.  Kind of broke my heart to know she would rather be selfish and want to keep it as hers.  My thought was to make something beautiful, love it , hug it and pass it on to someone who might need something to brighten their day or even their week and then to keep that going.  I want it to be loved by many and be well worn when this is all done. 

I'm joining the April Showers Blog Hop at Sew at Home Mumy.

And Finally , drum roll please! My beautiful daughter and her boo celebrated their 3 year anniversary this last weekend.  These are just a few of the cute pictures they sent me: 

I can't wait until they get married and start having lots of babies for me to spoil to death.  

Oh, My hubby is insisting that I share the following link with your :

www.ilivingapp.com/jamestoye

Take a look no pressure if you're interested let me know.  

So pretty uneventful.  The sun is still shining, I still have two jobs, we have food in our bellies, clothes on our backs, and a roof over our heads.  Life is good.   

Be Blessed and Always ask the Lord for more, just MORE.  He will answer!!!!!!

Linking up to :

Live a Colorful Life

Bold Goods