Yikes!

Where did the time go? I'm sorry it's been so long since I posted. I have been busy, although I have thought about posting a few times and just didn't get to it. I had 4 customer quilts waiting for me after we painted the bedroom. I just have one left that I will do tomorrow.

The kiddos are out of school for spring break next week. They're excited. We are going up to Salt Lake City and Helena, Mt to see family. I'm looking forward to it. I have no idea what the weather will be like. We would love to see snow, but all that winter gear takes up a lot of space in the suitcase! Here in San Antonio it's 79 degrees. Almost hot...But at least it's nice enough for the kiddos to play outside. The irony is they both have a cold but they should be over it by the time we fly north.

I have a very, very, very exciting opportunity that I'm considering. It's a big deal, one that is exciting and scary at the same time. It's also one that could change the dynamics of our family. But I can't tell you about it yet...Isn't that mean of me? I should probably keep quiet for a bit until I know whether I'm going to take the leap or not. I'll let you know either way very soon. How's that for drama?

My daughter Katie turns 12 next week. Oh my gosh, only one more year before she's a teenager. She did mention the other day that "you know mom, that I'm going to be in junior high next year." I started tearing up when she said that. They want so much to grow up and it's sad for me. They are great at this age. They are growing so quickly that before I know it, they will both be as tall as me in just a couple of years....Katie is wearing a women's size 9 shoe for heaven's sake! I am proud of both my kiddos. We are very lucky parents.

The above pictures are of customer quilts I've done this week. I have another one done, but Hubby hasn't held the quilt up for me to take a picture. I'll post it and the one I'm working on tomorrow probably this weekend.

Gotta go!!

Remodel pics.

Doesn't it look serene? I think it's so much better. I hope the color won't turn away buyers when we decide to sell. The wall color is spiced nutmeg. The ceiling is parisian taupe. Sounds very posh doesn't it?

This all started when I asked hubby if we should get some dark chocolate brown high thread count sheets. Yummy!

The best part of it is how clean and uncluttered the room is. Moving the furniture really gave us some extra space that we were lacking with it the other way. Now, if only the upstairs bedrooms would be magically transformed like this!

Not much going on...

Well, I didn't get the photos loaded of my bedroom. Maybe tomorrow. But I did clean my longarm thoroughly and loaded a new customer quilt. She did applique and wants meandering in the blocks. It seems so simple, but boy it is tough on the arms to keep the machine constantly moving at a steady and well-planned pace. I am trying a new feather idea (new to me) in the sashing. I think it looks ok. We'll see.

The double wedding ring quilt went home today. I'm glad that project is done, but it was really good for me in many ways.

I am anxiously awaiting a new template set for my longarm. I want to use it on a couple of quilts for the Fisher House and then on my son's quilt. I can't wait!!

I am now trying to gather up all my expenses over the past year. It is incredible how much money I spent on the machine, supplies, thread, batting, etc. Not to mention the trip to Houston for quilt market and festival. That alone was almost $2000 (including classes and hotel). This is a very expensive hobby to get started in.

I hope this year I make more money on quilts than I spend. That would be a novel idea! I'm not very good at saving money. I need to stay off the computer (placing orders on-line) and out of quilt shops. If I stay busy enough, this may just happen!!

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Busy, Busy...

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I last posted. My son recovered fine from his stomach virus, but my daughter came home at noon on Friday with a headache. Hubby came home from a business trip around noon and the whole family was together. It was kind-of nice.

I am the workshop chairperson for my quilt guild and we had our meeting this past Saturday. We had the Singing Quilters, who were suprisingly entertaining, for our program. Our workshop was to make quilts For Those in Need. We had 58 people sign up to attend and ended up having about 50 ladies stay to work on quilts. It was so heartening to see so many there helping! The month before was another great turnout when 17 members of our guild demonstrated their unique talents in quilting. We had well over 100 stay for that workshop. It's been great to see the membership step up and embrace our classes and programs.

My daughter got glasses last week. She only needs them during school to see the board so I don't see her wearing them. But she looks good in glasses and was excited to get them. She said she couldn't believe how much better she can see! This child has wanted glasses for years...and had perfect vision. Careful what you wish for!

So after a long day Saturday, hubby and I were wondering what we should do Sunday morning. He says "maybe we should rearrange the bedroom furniture." Three days later we have a newly painted and rearranged bedroom. It was a lot of hard work, because the ceiling was painted also. But it looks beautiful. I feel like it's more of a retreat now. We painted the ceiling Parisian Taupe and the walls Spiced Nutmeg. And somehow it all works with the scrappy delectable mountains quilt on our bed. I'll upload pictures tomorrow...

I finally finished the second double wedding ring quilt from the same client. And I took it to show off (with her permission) at the guild show and tell on Saturday. What happened after that? I came home with tops to quilt for three new customers!!!! Wow, that's pretty exciting! I now have a waiting list! I am so blessed...

Long Day...

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, the first anniversary of receiving my long-arm. I can't believe it's been a year already! It's gone fast. I have definitely improved over that time period. I'm looking forward to another great year with it.

Today has been a very long day. My son started vomiting at 7:30 this morning and is still sick tonight. He hasn't been able to keep anything down. I feel so bad for him because I know it hurts. I hope he's able to sleep through the night.

I am hand stitching the binding on a scalloped edge double wedding ring. It has been a good project to have in between bouts with DS. But I will be really glad when it's done as this is the client's second queen size quilt of the same pattern in a row. I am half-way through the binding, maybe I'll finish it by tomorrow evening. (I'm not the world's fastest at hand-stitching...)

Here's hoping tomorrow is a better day...

It's Sunday night and already the weekend is over. It went by super-fast considering I didn't do much this weekend. Yesterday I read the paper, took a nap, played on the computer and that's it! Today I did get out of the house. I was invited to a wedding shower of a dear friend's daughter. It was really nice. Delightful company, delicious food and a relaxed afternoon spent with friends. Those are some of my favorite things!

I am now sitting by the fire watching the Grammy's. Guess what I came home to today? I'm so excited about it...Hubby had a dozen roses and the biggest box of Russell Stover Chocolates I've ever seen waiting for me. There were also Valentine's cards from him and the kiddos. He cleaned up the kitchen, washed the sheets and made the bed and did all the laundry. That is the biggest gift to me. (I really tire of doing laundry.) So coming home to all of this was wonderful. And we ate take-out Chinese for dinner. Talk about getting spoiled!! He will be going out of town this week so won't be home on Valentine's day. But he done good anyway!!!! (My children really listen to those chocolate commercials - Russell Stover's advertising worked on them.)

I am once again reminded of how fortunate I am to be married to my husband and surrounded by my children who love me. I need to remember to be grateful everyday for the blessings I have in my life. I hope you do the same.

Feeling smart...

I finally figured out how to post my picture in my profile. It took me waaaayyyy too long, but it's done now. I officially exist!! And it's not a half bad picture, either. I had my daughter take photos of me, because there are no pictures of me on our computer. I'm always the one taking the photos...

Buffalo Ridge for my son...

Yeah!!! I just finished my son's quilt top that I started before Christmas. It has been a labor of love. The pattern is Buffalo Ridge from Pat Speth's book, Nickel Quilts. I love this color scheme. The fabrics are from the Charleston III collection by Judie Rothermel. Isn't it yummy? The top is bigger than I expected it to be. I made the twin size but it's big enough for my daughter's queen bed! I'm going to use a wool batt and have an awesome masculine print to put on the back. I'm going to quilt it with the Baptist Fan design. I can't wait 'til it's done, because it's going to be beautiful. This may be my favorite quilt that I've made so far... did you see the pic. of dear son helping hold the quilt top for a photo?

Quiet

I am so lucky to be a stay-at-home mom. One of the many benefits is every morning at 7:30 when hubby leaves for work, the kids put on their backpacks and head out. I kiss them all good-bye, tell son to ride safely and shut the door. Silence. Sometimes it's the best sound to a mom. At the beginning of the school year, I would often go all day without any noise; no t.v., no music, just the sounds of silence.

My husband doesn't understand how I can stand to be in an empty, quiet house all day. As soon as he or the kiddos walk in the door, the t.v. goes on. They can't function in silence. I think it's multi-tasking in a busy world. The kiddos are happiest when the t.v. is on, they are playing with their friends and listening to music.

Sometimes I am overwhelmed by all the noise. It doesn't take much to put me over the edge when the t.v. is blaring, the kids are fighting, the dog is barking...it's enough to drive me to madness! Am I the only one like this?

My birdie!

Here is a project I've been working on for a few days. I'm so pleased with it!! I am still struggling with smooth curves with needleturn applique but I'm getting better. Even the stitches on the back look good!

This was taken from the Darlene Christopherson book, A Perfect Union of Patchwork and Applique. Isn't it lovely? This book has many beautiful pieced blocks and gorgeous applique. I don't plan to do a whole quilt but maybe just a couple of more blocks to make a small wallhanging.

Sunny Days

It's a beautiful, sunny day here in South Texas. I should feel lucky that we aren't having the terrible winter weather that the eastern half of the country is having. I do miss snow, though. I think I was born a cold-weather girl but was geographically separated at birth! I can't complain though. It's 73 degrees right now!

The kiddos are home from school. Strep throat has been making its rounds at the elementary school. My son came down with it Friday morning, the day of the school spelling bee. Poor little guy. He was so nervous about participating. We thought he had just made himself sick with worry. Turns out he realy was sick! The kids are dropping like flies in the fourth grade. I feel bad for the school nurse. She has been swamped with sick kiddos.

This is my first post so I'll sign off now and see if it works!