What do you think... too much?

 I've been making these mug rugs for my boy's teachers.  Do you think they'll like them or are they too crazy and far out?  They are all raw edge applique so it wasn't too hard.

  Hopefully these teachers will feel appreciated by me.  I may not be on top of it all the time but I do love them and think they are saints.

in the meantime

Source: fairyicon.tumblr.com via Lisa on Pinterest

"The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."—Mother Teresa

Ruby Flannel Blanket

I'm making a very sweet alternative to a quilt made out of flannel fabrics from Moda Ruby.  The tutorial was in  the August issue of Quilt magazine.  I've wanted to try this ever since.  It looks very cathedral window-like when finished.  I made this blanket in an afternoon.  

I bought 5 1/2 yards of flannel for this blanket.  I would suggest much more fabric.  Then I made a template out of  cardboard.  My circle was alittle smaller than the 10" circles in the magazine.  Using a ten inch circle would be great for a flannel layer cake.  I made mine 9 inches.  Sew two circles together right sides facing using a 1/4 " seam allowance.  Using sharp scissors cut a slit close to the seam of the right side or side you want showing of the circle.  Turn and press all your circles.  

I made a template with my leftover cardboard of a 5 inch square or any other size that allows enough scallop on each side of the circle so that you can turn the edges and they don't overlap.  

 VERY IMPORTANT:  position your circles so the slits are under the scallop turn.

 See my fingers?  I'm showing you the aqua circle that has the slit..it's covered by the grey scallop.

 Press your finished blanket scallops down and then sew them in place.

 I've finished a few rows here.  I used my free motion foot to sew these down.

This blanket isn't completely finished.  I need to turn it backwards and hand sew the holes...there were some weird piecing issues but overall it's super cute and not too thick like flannel gets when layered with batting.

Facebook diet

These last few weeks I've wanted to not log in to facebook.  But my grandfather was in the hospice and we were waiting for him to pass away.  Everyone texts....everyone but me.  If i had my druthers we would write letters.  But I would find out about my grandfather's passing 1 week later because the man on the horse would have to ride 120 miles.  But what is it about facebook that makes people spill their guts, or comment in snide ways or overreact?  A lot of it is this imaginary wall that people think they have by saying things on facebook that they would never say in person.  After they say something terrible they say "just sayin."  Really you weren't being silent?  The younger the person on fb, the more outrageous their opinions are.  I have to say I remember those days, my parents thought I was a communist.  Back then I was very liberal and very mouthy.   But now I am on the other spectrum, but still see when people are talking "out of their youth."  It reminds me of the things I said about mothering before I was a mother.  I was a social worker with children and i would give a family advice and they would ask "how old are your kids"  --imagine the door closing ...NOW..

I get a kick out of people my parent's age on facebook.  They post a comment to their friend in their status.  Everyone reads  "that's great I love you too."  or worse when it's very personal information.

Facebook is this generation's attempt at community.  Something we have lost.  The next time you want to say what you are doing, how about getting on the telephone or better yet walk to your neighbor and share a meal or visit at the fence line.  I love my neighbors.  It's become a great thing for my kids and my family.  During the Ice storm our neighbors saved us and our neighbor across the street.  We all shared a generator plug.  I do live far from my family and have found great comfort in writing and reading from my 81 year old grandmother on facebook.  I also use it to "show" my mom and dad things and the boys.  so yes It's alittle hypocrytical at this point.   I would much rather get a phone call.  This is going to be a part of my Facebook diet.  I will be gathering phone numbers soon of all the people I want to talk to.  So be warned :)

So my advice  "turn off the computer" and "go meet some people"   learn appropriate social behavior.  If you see a friend how likely are you to slam  someone just to see how many "likes"  you get?  You will not learn how to treat others on Facebook.  Teach your kids to have friends in real life.

I haven't updated in awhile.  I cleaned up my craft space and started some blocks for the Farmer's Wife Quilt Along.  It's super fun.  I think i will buy some charm packs because these squares are all 6" finished...seriously could do it with a few charm packs.  Right now it looks clashy but i hope with the 90 more blocks it'll be nice and varied.

I'm making a tunic/dress to wear.  I want to get some tall black boots to wear with this.  I'm not sure if this look is flattering to me.  We'll see...

I'm working on the trim on the sleeves right now I hope i can finish before I leave my sewing machine.

Most surprising of all my crafts this month is this beautiful Tiffany Lamp that I started when I was pregnant with Logan.  It seems like a lifetime ago that I cut this glass.  I'm thankful to my beautiful creative cousin Shanda for finishing the job and taking over all my projects that were in my mind.  I am so an idea person who loses her gumption.  I need to work on that.  Quilting seems to fit into my life better than shards of glass though.

If it's not one thing its another.

I'm thankful for all those things but we have been battling sickness over here the last two weeks.  My youngest son has not been sick very much in his life so we have been having a lot of "firsts."  Pink Eye and now stomach bugs.

This one has become VERY creative.  His teachers can't get him to stop drawing on things.  I have honestly never sat down and colored or drew with him until this year because he couldn't sit still.  He is already skipping ahead and connecting sounds with letters but let me say that his teachers have to be saints.  Some days I push him out the door and sigh with relief.  Grumpy is his nickname at school and home.  He eats breakfast, gets tons of sleep...so who knows.  

My oldest son got an evaluation for speech therapy.  I'm very happy about this.  Being in a grade older than his age he's automatically the baby in how he acts but speech will just help him in alot of ways I think.  He's modeling his newsboy hat I made him.  With the sickies, there's been lots of crocheting in the evenings.  

Yes there are towels under my granny square but i was blocking it best I could after finishing it.  It's  a big square and I should have stopped and made something else out of it...I thought about sewing it together and making it a shrug but i had a certain member of the family laugh about it.   Maybe a huge pillow? I dunno.  

hooking away --why i love crochet

fast

great gifts

fashionable/easy

portable  and inclusive---i can sit with my family and talk and be a part of the family while I make things.adaptable.  I can make so many combinations of this pattern!

F"Ahhhhh"ll (FALL)

It seems like everyone is SO excited about Fall.  I am one of those people especially when I look at my garden plot and feel so sad about what could have been.  Nothing grew and we put a lot of effort into that thing.  Okra is growing now because it survived the heat.  But it's the spiny tough kind.

I have been making a lot of the sock monkey hats.  I really should wash my kid's face.  This child always looks dirty, even 5 minutes after a bath.  He's also my accident prone one.  It's because he makes sudden fast movements at the same time that we open a door, walk around or are standing still.  He jumped up last week and collided with my temple and glasses and ear.  I'm still recovering.  Anyway the sock monkey hat was supposed to be OSU colors but the lighter orange just looked gold when all was said and done.  Luckily those are our town's colors so we are keeping it for the boys.  There's always spirit days at school.  I love these hats cause you can pick your child out of the crowd.  I'm not sure what crowd he would be in but I'm hopeful it will come in handy.

This is my latest venture.  It's taking FOREVER!  It's not knitting with needles it's knitting with a crochet hook.  They call it the Knook.  I thought it was the B&N reader, but no...it's just a crochet hook with a thread through it.  It's pretty mindless and fun with the ombre yarn.  Hopefully this will be a scarf for me.  Then I will make a stockenette scarf.

These guys are proving to be more work for me during the day.  They are escape artists.  I was quilting yesterday and had knocks on the door from my neighbor saying they were in her yard.  Today I had to put up chicken wire in several spots.  They will be too big to get out.  They are too big to carry (for me) now.

I've been working on my Amy Butler Lattice Quilt.  It should be done soon.  I finished Meander quilting the blocks now I just need to quilt the borders and then sew on the binding.  I will probably hand sew it.

I will be glad to get this last commission in the owner's hands and finish up some UFO's and start on my stash alittle.

I made this top with the Lazy Girl Lazy Angle.  I love it.   I don't love the quilt though.  I was trying a certain pattern and after piecing it realized I screwed up.  I may just take it apart and piece it a different way.  If anyone has suggestions I am all ears.  I may bring it to guild to see what I need to do.

I hope everyone enjoys the cooler temperatures and aren't caught in any wildfires or floods.  It has been a trying year for people.  

Remember me?

I've been on a blogging break.  There are a whole whole lot of changes going on around here.  I get used to an idea then it gets switched up.  My baby turned 4 this month and starts school in 2 days.  

I went to Jo-Ann's last week and picked up the stuff to make a nap mat for him.  I stayed up all night making it and I'm so glad I spent the time doing this.  It's just so much nicer than a towel.  We met the teacher and I took his school supplies up to his school across the river and then this afternoon I got a call that they are having a Pre K class at my son's school right by our house..  "uh yeah"  "of course"  was my answer.  

So now my boys can start going to the same school and the little one can get used to our smaller home school instead of the big school across town.  I'm excited.

My oldest started 2nd grade this week and he was super excited and so funny how he wants to wear certain clothes now.

In crafting news, family reunion brought me several orders of the monkey hat...

And school will come at a great time to layer baste and quilt this quilt that I've been working on for awhile.

dog days of summer

I can't resist these little babes.  We got two   TWO!  Yellow Lab Puppies.  We wanted dogs for the boys.  It was for sure an impulse buy.  We saw them for sale on the side of the road.  They have been living in our laundry room that has a doggy door.  It rained last night and the weather is alot cooler so these little babies have been exploring all .33 acres of our yard.  The boys are still afraid but hopefully they'll get used to them.

Sock Monkey hats...super addicting.

I bought some patterns this week and have been making some sock monkey hats.  It's so much fun.  They come together so fast.  I sold this one very fast but plan to make many more.

This week I'm doing final enrollment for my youngest and spending some quality time with him by himself this week.  He turns 4 on Saturday and I can't believe it.

I've been looking at my scrapbooks and realized something.  I don't want a newborn again..no way.  I would like to time travel and visit little baby chunk and little pooter.  They were so cute.. they didn't talk back they were cherubs and so sweet.  They were such easy fun babies.

Now they are just trouble....   this picture was just the beginning of their hijinx.  I hear it gets worse.

Gingham...i love it....

Taken in the morning behind the trees...

I just finished up this quick quilt.  No frills really simple...very busy..I've noticed it getting busier and busier...oh well.  I might just tackle some unfinished scrap quilt tops in my stash and quilt them up real quick.  I'm enjoying the finished feeling.

finishes....

Since my last post was about unfinished things.  I thought I would focus on what I finished last week.

I'm debating on whether to list the quilt in the store.  My friend's brother was seriously injured in Afghanistan.  He is a triple amputee and they are having a benefit for him on August 6th.  I am donating something, but I'm unsure exactly which quilt.

The doily is for sale.  I'm testing the waters trying to see if it sells.   I will probably end up giving it away but if I could sell it, it would be a more profitable craft than quilting.

I am making another Twin sized quilt for my friend.  Holy Cow this fabric is beautiful.  We are going with Amy Butler Soul Blossoms.  Here's the yummy surprise I got in the mail today!

In other news I entered my quilt in the Riley Blake contest.  http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/cutting-corners/contest/

Please go vote for my quilt.  A cruise would be awesome.