Grateful.

Happy BLACK FRIDAY to all. A few shares from the Thanksgiving Holiday---we had the best few days....on Wednesday: NYC for Young Frankenstein and a fab lunch at Ruby Foo's:

And a perfect Thanksgiving day cooking together - (I got to play Gordon Ramsey, Lynne was the pastry chef, Rob the sous chef, Eth and Landon were busboys and prep staff, and Lar was the wine steward, maitre d, and bird carver. Hee hee) Seriously---we made a great team....and had a great time doing it. TOO MUCH FOOD as always---(*Note for next year: buy a smaller turkey or invite more people!)

Day Off #2.

LOVING the week off from work! Getting some cards made, some holiday projects going.... and in an hour heading to WEGGIES (Wegman's for the uninformed) to pick up THE! TURKEY! - 20+ pounder, fresh, premium grade (not sure what that means, but I have to have it. OH YEAH---more BREAST MEAT. It's all good, man.)

Have you seen CATHY Z's docudrama bits? She cracks me up. (Her voice is exactly what I expected, too...which is weird...because I never get that right when I "hear" someone who I only know in blogland...you know?)

Ali E is crankin' out the holiday projects. Very cool ornaments today -- I started some GLITTER ones again yesterday.....photos to follow....

Did everyone weep at the BACHELOR last night? Puleezeeeeee.....Last season was the DORKTOR (drip drip drip) and now I think old Bradley has forced me to rename the show "The Bastard" - WHAT THE? I hear the bloggers are saying he has an OLD GIRLFRIEND in the wings -- OR that tonight on the AFTER THE FINAL ROSE show (vomitfest) he will actually ASK ONE OF THE final two to marry him. WHA? Again...I swear I will never watch another of these humilationathons (right.) Just please, please don't tell me Mary and Byron split up. I really can't take it.

And the photo? My sis- and bro-in-law's new kitchen in their new house - they just moved in this month and we are cooking Thanksgiving dinner in THIS KITCHEN together. Gorgeous.

Holiday Blessings to all my peeps!! xo

Voila!

Good Sunday Morning! I present to you THE! QUILT! (sorry for the dim photos...it is another gray dreary day here!)

I am so dang proud of this thing! Start to finish in under three weekends. Love that!

IT'S DONE!!

WHOOPIE! THE! QUILT! is finished!! The answer to the binding question is the MACHINE stitching part went quickly (once I read and re-read three different sets of directions as to HOW to do it. The Purl Bee had the best directions - they used actual photographs....and Heather Bailey's helped, too. Her set was perfect for printing and keeping handy.) The part I didn't realize was that after you stitch the binding onto the quilt...you still had to fold it over and HANDSTITCH it over the raw edges....(that took me about 4 and a half hours---or an episode of Moonlight, one of Numbers, tonight's Saturday Night Live and Friday's Y&R. Thank God for DVR!) And now Rob is snoozing on the sofa beneath his new comfy cozy coochie!! Happy Happy Happy!

Pictures of the finished product tomorrow (too dark to get pics and it's way past my bedtime!)

Lyndee--did you find the LOFT fabric yet? Your's is next! xo

VACATION TIME!! YIPPIIIEEE!

Lucky me! Another WEEK OFF from work starts today....so much to do (how can it be a week since that last post!) OK...let's catch up!

THE! QUILT! is almost done! After a few false starts with the fabric selection...last weekend I went back to Lancaster and bought the backing - it is a yummy celery green and cream damask - the binding is cream with blue and green little tree-like designs (all from the MODA Shangri-La fabric line). I am doing the quilting part on the machine (just straight lines this time...following the rows -- very simple.) But I did hand embroider the flower patch at the bottom --Rob is anxious for his "coochie" to be done! He has class til 3 today---hoping to have it DONE by the time he gets home (how long can it take to bind it on the machine? I have no idea.) Luckily--I am NOT submitting this to a QUILTING contest---adhering steadfastly to the "straight is stressful" philosphy and enjoying just getting it all together. I think a "crazy quilt" is my speed!! OH! and did you see the MARTHA STEWART show on the 15th?! Anna Maria Horner is my new favorite fabric designer (I had purchased a few pieces of her CHOCOLATE LOLLIPOP fabric a few weeks ago to make some aprons....and just discovered her website and blog. LOVE LOVE LOVE her fabrics. BOHEMIAN and CHOCOLATE LOLLIPOP are her two line--uh, hello? Need I say more? C'est MOI!) She is quite the artist..and the woman has five children---how does she get all this DONE?

OH! Another big treat! SHIMELLE's "Journal Your Christmas" is starting again soon...and if you paid last year---you are in FOREVER! How cool is THAT? I pulled out my journal from last Christmas and I am so excited to do another one this year.....but first I must get through THANKSGIVING! : )

Obsessed.

I am SUPPOSED to be re-re-re-organizing my "studio" (remember...I stopped calling it a "Craft Room" because the hubby was misHEARING that as the "Crap Room")....but no. There are pin cushions to make!! (If I owe you one...they are coming along!) Guess who this went went off to yesterday??

THE! QUILT! Step Two

YEAH! The top is complete!! The batting is purchased and now I just need to make yet another trip to get the backing fabric (bought some tonight but it just isn't right. Should have waited til I can get the green that I really want. Oh dear. The dreaded PILE of fabric is GROWING! I am turning into my grandmother! ) Seriously, though-- I can't WAIT to have it all together.

THE! QUILT! Step One

First step is complete! So far, so good. Just had to stitch together 27 strips.....next is to applique the circles to the 5-inch squares - 18 of those (also planning to use the precut "charms pack" from Moda for those...this should be called "Quilting for Dummies" -- it really is too easy! Or maybe "Quilting for the Lazies" because who wants to measure and CUT all this fabric? I don't have the patience for THAT!)

edit: ooohh....didja see that big gaping seam? fixed it and reposted the photographic proof! : )

Apron Accompaniments!

Ok girls....I am trying my hand at another style of pincushion....wonder whose apron this one matches? xo

*Quilt status update. I have unraveled the Jellyroll and sorted the order of the strips (that took FOREVER to chose! There are 40 DIFFERENT fabrics!) First step is to sew 27 lengths side by side. I have a panel of 10 sewn up...wooohooo!

Check another one off my list!

OK....making the most of my mini-vacay here...getting things checked off the MASTER TO DO LIST (as opposed to all the sub-lists that are all over the house reminding me how far behind I am in life in general!).....

I broke my latest rule of "holding" my magazines for as long as possible before cracking them open. (Hate how early they come...I am not ready for Christmas yet--so don't torment me with all the goodies I will want/need/have to have until after Halloween at least!). So. I start paging through the latest Creating Keepsakes (Dec issue)...and right from the start there are TONS of things I want to lift....and so I did (I AM on vacation. I can do what I want!) Totally scraplifted one of the layouts in the "Mail Call" section. And then I bit the bullet and actually POSTED IT ON TWO PEAS! Another thing checked off my list (to POST SOMETHING SOMEWHERE!)....hoping this gets me motivated to scrap (other than minibooks!) and post more.

And now that I have that out of my system, I can get back to my QUILT (also known as my "latest obsession" according to my DH! Oh they have no idea the burden of being a creative genius, am I right, ladies?)

New Quilting Lingo "Jellyrolls"*

*New to me, that is. So I have today and tomorrow off, giving me a luxurious 4! day! weekend! LOVE THAT! And today I was off again in search of Heather Bailey fabric (no luck) and learning more about the quilt shops in the area. I ventured to LANCASTER, PA - land of the quilting, no? Found a lovely shop manned by a nice gentleman who knew his fabrics....when I went to pay -- at the register was his 12yr old son. Friendly and efficient young man-but seriously, aren't there laws about this? OK...I digress..... back to the fabrics.

So MODA has this new clever packaging of their fabric....long strips (40 in a pack) 2 1/2 inches by 45 inches ...and I bought a pattern that had my-name-written-all-over-it because the pieces are not EVEN and the rows are not perfectly straight. YUM! (Of course, I was not able to get the BLOSSOM fabric like in the photo on the pattern...but instead bought "Shangri-La"- which was appealing to me as well. Will give it a go and let you know how it comes out.

Halloween Boys

Introducing: My nephew ETHAN as Little Bunny FooFoo. He and his friends went Trick or Treating as bunnies...with one carrot thrown in. Cute, Eth.

...and my nephew MAX as a red M&M! : )

How can you not love Halloween?? (My SIL and Hubby claim not to! Something had to have gone terribly awry in that household! hee hee)

*Happy Halloween!*

Happy Halloween! Quite pressed for time on the carving tonight...but one little Trick or Treater declared "it's ok! he isn't a scary one" so it's all good, man. (Seems he was not going for the treats at the houses with the SPOOKY pumpkins!)

Speaking of scary, early in the night's proceedings, a pair of tricksters ring the bell. Standing at the door is a pint-sized Superman and his pal Batman. Before the words "Trick or Treat!" were out....Superman suddenly turned tail and scurried for the stairs, his cape all aflutter! Without his treat! Batman explained "he is afraid of that CAT!" (I didn't realize Peanut was behind me for a tenth of a second when I opened the door.) I assured Superman that THE CAT! was very much more afraid of him (not a fan of the little people, our old kitty) and after a bit of reassuring, Batman and I were able to coax the Mini-Man of Steel over with a Hershey Bar. Perhaps we should rename Mr. Peanut Mr. Kryptonite!

Fall Fun

Ok--again....apologies for the poor photo quality (where IS that dang camera manual?) - but wanted to post this mini book I made to remember our Fall Fun (payment to my sweet assistant, Mikayla!)...AND the start of a SCRAPBOOK PAGE because I am IN LOVE with this paper....and I wish I had a better pic to show how COOL the glitter letters look. David--your pumpkin makes me *GRIN* - xxoo!

Desperately Seeking Susan's Fairy Godmother!

Wouldn't it be great to have a fairy godmother appear with her magic wand and "POOF" you have two tickets (gotta take a BFF!) to SILVER BELLA!? Who wants to go?

Forgot the UGG BOOTS LADY!

How cool are THESE? The saleslady in the shoe department at Nordstrom's was sporting these...seems she has a friend who airbrush paints her UGGS for her....$75 per pair (just to paint them...not sure what kind of discount the shoe department staff gets on the actual boots!) She said she has several pairs all painted up. Cool, eh? (Not sure you can tell in the pic, but they had bling rhinestones, too. Jazzy.) When I get old I am SO going to wear purple hats and crazy boots.

Sunday Funday

Fun day with my sister Jackie, niece Mikayla and nephew David.

1. Trip to pick up some pumpkins and then lunch at Cheeburger Cheeburger.


2. Home to carve the pumpkins....
   
3. Quick trip to the mall - Nordstrom's, more specifically. This led to a new pair of UGGs and new winter coat for Miss Mikayla...and a demo at the MAC counter of eyelash primer...(which of course I had to buy after seeing the BAMBI-LIKE lashes it created.....and what is new mascara without a new pot of eye shadow...."Plum Dressing" - YUM-o.)

Fun day! Love you guys...cannot wait for our next shopping day/lunch at ZODIAC, Mikayla!! xoxo

More apron love....and a NEW! PINK! IRON!

First--my latest apron creation for my dear friend AIMEE... how about my artsy pics? You have no idea how many times I had to maneuver the folds to get the closeup shots with a STRAIGHT SEAM showing.... but my sewing motto is "STRAIGHT IS STRESSFUL" so to receive a gift of my sewing labors is to accept that philosophy. It's art, right? And I am perfect just the way I create, 'cause Donna D told me so. In person. More than once.

So back to my friend Aimee. We had another fun class together yesterday at MLPA....(thanks for the YUMMY ORANGE AND PINK BAG OF GOODIES, AIM!) Our class was a 5 hour Karen Russell lecture on Photography (or --"if you haven't read your manual yet, DO IT NOW.") Good grief that woman can TALK! Whew. I listened closely (even tho' I had the dinkiest lowest-grade camera in the room!!) and took good notes. Just in case I ever really DO decide to figure out how to USE my dinky camera. Or someday wake up with a burning desire to figure out what SLR means and then become obsessed with owning one. Because I really do want those fab-o pictures. I am just too dang lazy and impatient to figure out the whole camera thing. Really. Which is a handicap for the scrap booking hobby, I realize the conundrum. OH! And I WON THE DOOR PRIZE --ADOBE ELEMENTS!! Go me! So now...when I actually DO get a good photo I can use the DIGITAL BRUSHES I HAVE BEEN HOARDING!! yeahhhhh! (and no, I did not have to dance on the table to win it. But I think I may have ruptured the eardrum of the gal sitting next to me when I SHREIKED when my number was called! (Sorry about that, Amber! It isn't still bleeding, is it? I am kidding, people! I am not THAT loud!)

OH! And a few more goodies from yesterday. You know about my IRON and the YANKING OF THE CORD causing the "on/off on/off" funfest if you don't get the plug in just right? Well I asked the DH to please do his Ralph Nader bit and research the options for a replacement....gave him the "must haves" and he actually went to Bed Bath & Beyond with the 20% off coupon and bought me a NEW! PINK! IRON! How cute is that? Rowenta to boot!! Go me some more!

And lastly---while in Michael's buying some purple cardstock for some invitations---I just HAD to find something worthy to use the 50% off coupon that was expiring....so I bought a rotary cutting board for my sewing!!! Next coupon will be the good rotary cutter wheel like the quilt shop lady uses. Perhaps it will help with my straight lines issues! (Sorry for the crummy photo quality. As you can see, I still haven't read the camera manual!) And now I am off to the Pumpkin patch with Mikayla, David and Jackie! xxoo

Week 42 - Emily Art Deck Challenge - GRATEFUL

I am a few weeks behind again in the Art Deck challenge, but this week's came easily (mainly because I totally "scraplifted" Emily's idea!). The prompt was GRATEFUL and in keeping with Emily's suggestion, I have been jotting down something each day. So far this week:

SUN: Grateful for a day to create *heart* - Halloween costume for Mikayla & Sewing!

MON: So grateful for all my BFFs at work who make it all so much better.

TUES: Grateful for a surprise email from my mom : )

WED: Grateful for dinner date with Rob at Fioravanti (one of our favorite restaurants that we don't go to often!)

THUR: Grateful for Rob waiting for me at home at the end of the day - and today, with a SURPRISE (a Quilting magazine!)

Thanks for the great prompt, Emily! I am so grateful for you and your blog!

Lots more to be grateful for: for Rob leaving the porch light on for me on the nights I work late and it is DARK when I get home....for good books to read.....for lots of creative projects to work on.....for emails from sisters and friends.....for BFFs who listen patiently and lovingly....for nieces and nephews who make me smile and laugh with their stories and emails and text messages and phone calls and Facebook silliness...for good hair days when you really need them!.....for WEEKEND plans to look forward to.....for dinner plans with friends tomorrow night....for my cool new ORANGE cell phone with TEXTING KEYBOARD.....for a stack of fat quarters and fabrics waiting to become aprons!

Got Pincushions?

Seamstresses need pincushions, right? Who wants one? These are working in tandem with my apron obsession...I really do need one in every room. This one will sit on the end table next to my chair where I create/craft while hanging out with Rob (as opposed to hanging out in my corner of the basement). Loving the Bleeker Street fabric line....not sure I like the beads around the edge...(should I have used the velvet rickrack?)

*Trick or Treat!*

How clever is my niece, Miss Mikayla, with her Halloween costume idea? She is going to be a "Movie Theater Floor." She will dress in all black, and we made a "half-sandwichboard" (front only)....black foam core, adhered black sparkle felt squares for the "carpet;" along the edges are mini lights that you twist to turn on--they are supposed to last for 8 hours. Then the fun part---gluing down a popcorn box, candy boxes and "spilled" bits of gummy bears, Milk Duds, a wad of bubble gum (yes--it's real---I chewed and glued!) and SnowCaps. (The fresh popcorn still needs to be added to the popcorn container.) I think she got the idea from a magazine...she and her mom bought all the pieces and Mikayla and I put it together. Her brother David is going as JACK SPARROW. Arrrrrg! How cute does he look? They had a neighborhood parade today--so he was in full regalia.....(big sister did his makeup for him, he tells me!) I*love*HALLOWEEN!

(Note how TALL my 12 year old niece is compared to her shortie auntie!)

*For my baby sister*

Hope you like it, Nik! I am feeling like making a QUILT now....what do you think?

Love you, LaLa! (eek! don't show that closeup to the seamstresses in the family!! yikes...straight is STRESSFUL!)