Bad Habits

Okay all you quilters, sew-ers, and all around creators. I was rummaging through one of my quilting magazines the other day, and came across a cute column of confessions. So I am going to throw this out to you also. What is your worst habit when it comes to your creating? What is the most unconventional thing you do, even though you know what you should be doing? Is is starting too many projects at once? Or not finishing a project before moving on to the next? Maybe it's forgetting that you have a family. Well, here goes my confession - I have a real bad habit of putting pins in my mouth instead of in my magnetic bowl. That stupid bowl is just too far away from my machine, even though I can reach it - with both hands! I have been known to have 15 pins in my mouth, letting just one go when I need it without losing all of the rest. I would call that talent - but I'm sure others call it a bad habit. I also have this insatiable urge to have my little 1/4 cup full of semi-sweet chocolate chips right next to my machine, just to nibble on while I'm buzzing away. I think I even have a rhythm down with that one. "sew, then snack, sew, then snack..." You get it. You'd think that just getting to sew and quilt would give me all the endorphins I need. Evidently not. So what's your hang up? Maybe you're not ready to confess. After all, when we confess, we are acknowledging that we actually have a problem. Who wants that?!

A Finished Project...

I finally finished my "Christmas Wish" block-0f-the-month project that I have been working on for the last nine months. I have looked forward to each new pattern and can't believe that it is finally done. The colors are different than most Christmas quilts, but I really like the end product. What can I say.....I'm a rebel sometimes. Not often, but sometimes.

Here's a close up of one of the blocks. I have enjoyed doing the embroidery on this project the most.

One Happy Woman!

Let me just say that I LOVE my new machine. Who knew that sewing could be better than it already was....ME! Here is a look at a tabletopper that has been waiting patiently for me to finish. I decided to quilt around each square for an easygoing look. It's also reversable, which to me is "killing two birds with one stone," so to speak...

So far my favorite feature on this machine is the fact that I can wind a new bobbin without unthreading my machine. WOOHOO! I know that may sound dumb to most of you, but it is a new luxury for me. Be back soon with the second tabletopper I made from the same charm pack of Cotton Blossoms... isn't life great?!

My New Toy!!

I have been paying on my new Janome sewing machine since May and I finally went to Vegas and picked it up yesterday. The ladies gave me a free lesson on what it does and let me practice some fun stuff too. This has been a long time coming, as my other machine is older than half of my kids! I promise to post more often, now that I can get some projects done that have been patiently waiting for this nice, new tool...

Another One of These...

Got another table topper "top" done yesterday. The kids were gone, the husband was gone, and I was looking around the house for things to do, which is pretty sad. I figured I'd better get started on another project. This one is for my daughter and will end up on a black kitchen table. Should look pretty cool on black, I think. I used a tradition line of "Collections for a Cause" and just need to back and bind. The sashing and border is actually done in a tan color, but it didn't show up very good in the photo. Off to the next thing...

I LOVE Doing These...

I love coming up with ingenious wedding gifts, not the boring towels or pots and pans. Ever since my two daughters started making these magnet boards, I have fallen in love with them. So I have another opportunity to make one for a young girl who is getting married that I was a youth leader to. The best part of making one of these is buying the paper and coordinating it all. They all turn out so differently. The magnets even match!

(A close-up of the pretty papers and fun magnets)
I have another girl getting married the middle of August, so I'll post that one too. She is getting one herself. It makes a great place to put all of those wedding announcements you get!

Lost Pictures...

Sorry I've been gone for so long. Between having grandkids all month of June and a quick trip to the beaches of Carlsbad, California where I grew up, it's been pretty crazy, with no time to blog. At least it wasn't my top priority. I looked through my camera disk and found these pictures. I must have forgotten about taking them, because this project has been done for quite a while. I still have to have it quilted, but it's pinned and ready to go. Just a fun tabletopper that was fast and easy... I love those kind.

I love the cream in it. This was done with a "Tranquility" charm pack.
And of course, I am incorporating the scraps into the back. I'll post the finished product when I get it back from the quilter. She's been out of the hot Nevada heat and up to her cabin in the Utah mountains for the last 3 weeks. I have a pile stacking up just waiting for her...