Personal Pouches

I started making these thinking about using them for coupons, recipes, notes, etc.  Then I realized that every lady needs something pretty to put her 'personals' in, right? But they really can be used for anything that you want to hide or keep safe in your purse.

Different version here. Same purpose, just a tad more involved to make.

Mug Rug for Me

What is a Mug Rug? It is larger than a coaster, smaller than a placemat. Just a little "rug" that you can put a drink and a small snack on. They are typically about 6" x 10" or anywhere in that range.

I have been looking at mug rugs for awhile, but just wasn't inspired to make them. Until now. Lately, I have been enjoying making small projects, pincushions, sachets, pouches, needle cases, etc. and mug rugs fit right in. They are kind of like small quilts.

So I told myself, okay...let's do this. But what to do? Took me a few days, but then I knew that I had to make one for me, to have on my sewing table. I wanted pink...pretty...bling. So I grabbed some scraps from a recent quilt project and here's what happened...

Here is the back:

I love it!! It is just me.

 It was FUN to make and so quick. I am going to make many more of these. Oh! just realized I want one for my office desk...hmmm, what design? Train maybe? (Our business is model train related.) Or another feminine pretty one? 

I'll show you what I end up making when I get it done.

Wedding Quilt Fabrics

Now that I purchased the AccuQuilt GO! Fabric cutter and the DWR die I figured I better get some fabrics for this wedding quilt.

I asked the happy couple what their top three color choices would be for the quilt because I really don't know the bride-to-be very well. Only met her once so far because I live in another state. The happy couple said they like these three colors:

Black, White, Champagne

Champagne? Hmmm, exactly what do they have in mind for this color? Not tan, or ivory, or off-white, but champagne! Should there be a hint of yellow to it? I don't drink champagne, maybe I better get a bottle so I can see the color...or have a drink.

Maybe I'll need a drink by then end of this quilt. Or during. Or before.

After my new tool purchase I was looking at fabrics on Ebay and found some Black/White fabrics so I purchased some fat quarters and 2-1/2" strips. It's a start. A girl's gotta have options.

I searched for "champagne, fabrics" and it came up with several items in satin and brocade, but I'm not sure I want to put those materials in the quilt. Then I saw some "champagne" 2-1/2 inch cotton strips. Yes, the color is actually called champagne, it is from R. Kaufman. So, I purchased them.

When the happy couple told me the color choices and having thought about it, I have a vision in my head of the tone of the quilt. After seeing the colors here, it doesn't look like my vision. How am I going to make this work?

Where's that drink?

New Quilting Tool

As I mentioned, I plan to make a quilt for a wedding gift for Kory & Whitney. I have an idea for the double wedding ring (DWR) because it is traditional, but I want to put a modern feel to it. I've heard that the DWR can be a challenge to do and I have been a little nervous about it, especially since I don't have a lot of time.

I was reading a post on the Quilting Board forum (www.quiltingboard.com) about the AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter. I never thought I would need to purchase a cutting system, I'm comfortable with my rotary cutter and ruler. After reading the post, I started looking into the GO! Fabric Cutter, just checking it out and seeing why other quilters were so happy with it. It looked like a nifty tool, but did I really need it?

As I was browsing around I realized that this could be a useful tool for cutting out applique patterns. I was seriously considering the little one, the Go! Baby, for putting cute little touches on projects.

Then I stumbled onto this....

...a die for the DWR blocks!

That looks like something I need, right? Yeah, I thought so too! A great tool that will cut out the pieces - exact. Must be fate. So I have just purchased the GO! Fabric Cutter and the DWR die. Had to get the larger system, because this die is too large to fit the smaller, but that's okay. I'm sure I will find many things to use this for. Check it out!!  www.accuquilt.com

Now I am really looking forward to getting to work on this wedding quilt!

They are Engaged!

This is my oldest son and his fiance. Aren't they beautiful? They just got engaged and will be getting married in May 2013. I am very excited!!!

I plan to make them a quilt. I'll have five months to get it done by the wedding date. Hmmm, not sure that it will be done before the wedding, but we'll see. Black, white, and champagne are the colors they want. I am considering the double wedding ring (DWR) or cathedral ceiling pattern.

Nah, not cathedral ceiling. I think that is too busy and I'm not sure about the weight with all that folding.

I like the idea of the DWR because it is traditional, but I want to put a modern feel to it. I have a layout in mind with partial DWR in the center and a flying geese border and maybe a black/white toile fabric border.

Did I mention I have five months? But isn't there a rule that you can give a gift within the first year of marriage? Might have to take advantage of that.

Mystery Quilt

I am following a Mystery Quilt a-long through the Quilting Board forum, www.quiltingboard.com.

Directions are posted for selecting fabric, then each block weekly. When starting, it is not known what the finished quilt will be, it's a mystery!!

Here are my blocks...

This is where I left off when I decided to go to Seattle to be with mom. The quilt-a-long has continued without me, so I do know what the finished quilt will look like. 

You can see a picture here of Judy's quilt here: 

http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachments/blocks-month-week-f9/378234d1353770057-8-c-twelve-blocks-together.jpg

This has been SEW FUN!! First time I've ever done this and looking forward to more. If you are a quilter and haven't visted the Quilting Board, I suggest you do. It is a great place for inspiration and fellowship.

Oh! And I am very pleased that my blocks have been approved by Inspector Samir. Hooray! Isn't he just the prettiest kitty!?! 

Summer 2012 Garden

During summer 2012 we continued to improve our garden area. This years focus for me was the pathways. I really wanted to decrease the amount of weeding to be done.  I tried recycling ideas for the paths, newspaper, then cardboard, but wasn't happy with the way it ended up looking. I ended up putting black plastic down, then covered with wood chips. I am very pleased with the results.

Here's the row with beans and carrots. See how much cleaner the rows look? Much better. Was easier to focus on the weeds just in the planted areas - believe me, there were plenty there!

This is the berry section. We have strawberries, blackberries, gooseberries, raspberries. Look closely...see the chicken? We have five hens and they like to make dust baths there in the strawberry patch. We have bird feeders just to the left and they like to hang around there cleaning up what the finches spill.

Here is the rhubarb I replanted from another area in the yard. We thought it was dead, but after daily TLC it came back to life. It is very happy in the new spot. I love rhubarb pie!!

The herbs. The sage, to the right, came back full-force. What a hearty herb that is!! I have thoughts to expand my herb garden in the summer 2013. We'll see what comes of it. 

Notice the bridge? I LOVE that bridge. 

Yes, I yelled.... LOVE it. 

Holly's Hub E. made that bridge for me. He is so talented in everything he does. Thanks E!

  My lavender. I love my lavender. 

Here are the tomatoes and corn. We got some corn, but most of the stalks didn't produce early enough and the weather turned before we could harvest. 

 Again, I had lots of green tomatoes! I did manage to get some red tomatoes this year. Need to figure out how to get them to all turn red.

Watermelon!!

I planted flowers this year at the end of the vegetable rows. 

They were so pretty.

Un

2011 Garden Recap

I am combining two blogs into one. This is the last post on my Sapphire Gardening blog from 2011.

*****************************************************************************

The garden is doing great. I'm so excited. There are zucchini coming, beans, broccoli just about ready to be picked. The tomatoes are starting to get blossoms. The peppers, I'm not sure about, they are still pretty small. Only time will tell what will happen with them.

I love watering the garden every day. I hand water so I can see how much water the plants are getting and I don't waste the water on the pathways and other areas. Weeds are here and there. Weeding is not my favorite part, but I'm keeping up with it okay. 

One challenge for me has been the pathways. I would like to put down landscape fabric, then mulch. I've run out of steam at this point to tackle this though. I remind myself that this is year one and we've come a LONG way. :)

Lars' cantaloupe is growing big, but I don't see evidence of fruit or anything that will be fruit. It is a mystery...hope something edible happens.

 

Broccoli...

Beans...

Spinach, onion, lettuce...

Tomatoes (and peppers in front)...

Corn...

Next will be harvesting and canning or freezing.

Waiting ...

The last week has been full of...

Waiting...for mom as she got a MRI brain scan.

Waiting...for mom while she got a bone scan.

Waiting...for mom while she got a PET (radioactive sugar injection) scan.

Waiting...for mom while she got a  tooth implant.

Waiting... for mom while she got her hair cut/colored.

Waiting...for mom as she got a manicure, pedicure.

Waiting...for mom to get off work.

Waiting... for tomorrow, when we hear the results from all the tests. Has the cancer spread outside the lung?

Waiting... to hear if mom needs surgery to remove part of her lung.

Waiting...to know when I can go back home, even if for a week or two.

Waiting...to see my husband, son, dog again.

Waiting...to be able to quilt again.

Waiting...to start my MF diet again; to loose 10lbs more.

Waiting...to be able to share happy, pretty things with you again.

Pretty buttons

Look at these glass buttons...

Aren't they pretty? I purchased these beautiful glass buttons from Ebay. I will use them to embellish pretty
things I make. I love looking at them, they make me happy.

Lynda

Unexpected Creative Detour

Just as I was getting back in the sewing groove, I encountered a detour and I am now in Seattle.

Just before Thanksgiving, my dear mother was told she has..

lung cancer.

Did I really just write that?? I keep thinking they'll say...just kidding...we made a mistake.

Aaahh, but not so.

There is an area on her left lung that has cancer about 4.5cm in size, (about the size of a golf ball). I decided to go to Seattle to stay with her while she goes through a series of tests; brain MRI, bone scan, PET scan to see if the cancer is anywhere else in her body. We'll hear the results on Dec. 5th.

What we currently know is that it has been caught early. Mom was having shortness of breath and feeling very tired and mentioned this to hear doctor when she was having some other tests done. The doctor decided to do a CAT scan because he was more concerned about a blood clot at that time. That is how they discovered the cancer. Usually lung cancer is not detected until later stages because there is not really any symptoms until later, when more area is affected.

I have been in Seattle for a week to-date and could be here for several more. If the cancer has not spread they will do surgery to remove the lower lobe of her lung. I will be here to take care of her (and her cats) through this. If the cancer has spread, there will be chemo, etc. and we'll see what happens with that.

Because I flew to Seattle, I do not have my sewing machine! I am missing it dearly. Mom continues to work, so I am alone a good portion of the day. Right about now, I am wishing I had a nice hand project to do, but I don't. What to do? Go shopping!! I've been to local quilts shops, fabric shops and bought some goodies. I have been playing around with making flower embellishments.

Check out my mess on mom's table. lol.

My Space

Recently, I changed our guest room into my sewing space. I was using an alcove at the top of our stairs, but it just wasn't enough room. I love, love, love it.

Creative slump broken

The last couple months I have wanted to start sewing/quilting again. I like to sew in the fall/winter and garden in the spring/summer. But lately, I seem to have had a creative slump. I blame Pinterest. I am a Pinterest addict. I love to spend the evenings (OK, weekends too!) browsing for things to create by either sewing or crafting. I was spending my free time looking for things to make, rather than making things.

I need to find some balance. No surprise there. That statement pops into my head regularly.

Maybe it wasn't a creative slump as much as a doing it slump. The ideas are abundant, but I wasn't getting anything done. What to make - aprons; potholders; sachets; pin cushions; cooking; baking; or I should organize; oh! but I should clean first ( work before play).  Ah heck, I'll just take a nap.

This last weekend I decided to break this slump and then realized I wasn't happy with my work area. For the last three months we had people staying with us until their house was ready. Finally, they moved out. That gave me an idea...

Change the guest bedroom into my sewing area. No more guest room, no more visitors staying. *grin*         (More on my sewing room in a later post.)

So now my room is all set up and I love, love, love it. Yesterday, I spent all day in my room and actually made some pretty things! It was so fun. 

Here is a cathedral window pin cushion I made following the tutorial over at Moda Bake Shop: 

A patchwork heart pin cushion:


Here are some potholders I made awhile back. I learned how to do these at a quilt retreat a couple years ago:


I made a couple more pin cushions and a couple sachets too. The sachets even have lavender that I grew in the garden. My room was smelling good while making these!

More later...til then,

Lynda

Pounds off

Spring/Summer 2012 were great! At the beginning of May, I started the Medifast diet. My mom had been on it with great results, so I decided to do this diet because I knew I needed something simple to keep me on track. It worked!! I lost 30 lbs this summer. I have gone off MF the last few months and have not gained anything back, but I know I need to continue to be conscious of what I eat. I plan to go back on the plan to lose 10 lbs more here in the next month or so.

Along with the diet I started walking down our road, which is about a mile and has a pretty good hill to it. At first it took me about 45 minutes to make the walk down and back. After a couple months, I was jogging part way and occasionally walking twice a day. What a good feeling it is to be stronger.

The neighbor at the end of the road has a sense of humor...keep the gate shut so nothing escapes.

Losing

Spent three days sick with cold/flu and mostly in bed this past weekend (New Years weekend!). Although I didn't do much, I didn't eat much either, so managed to loose about a pound a day.

Now that I am better, I did Zumba tonight. I am new at this (and out of shape), so I did a half-hour. Feels great. I'm still focused and motivated. I've been eating well and actually finding it a bit difficult to eat 1200 calories a day. My stomach feels smaller after my sick days. That's okay.

I have a membership at the gym, but it is lonely and impersonal there. I still think I am too 'new' at this to try classes yet. A friend was telling me she goes to Curves and that I should try it. I think I will!!

I've lost 8lbs. so far.