Progress Report and Chart Winner

I actually wrote the following post on Tuesday…but Blogger has been acting up for me…so hopefully it’s working now…

As meager as it is, I did promise an update on Jack’s stocking.  Still working on that big ole person…lots of dark red overdyed perle cotton for this one!

I have been trying to stitch on this every day, but like yesterday…it doesn’t happen EVERY day.  I have also been working on stitching a gift…but can’t show it yet!

The winner of the chart…and I’m going to be honest…it wasn’t random.  My blog, my rules.  So, I chose my favorite comment.  Cari, please email me with your mailing address, so that I can get this chart right to you!

Today I’ll be stitching on that gift again…and maybe convincing myself to pull out a quilt sandwich that needs to be quilted…

I survived the week!

Well, this was a crazy week!  Between work stuff and home stuff…Phew!  I’m pooped!  However, I did manage to do a bit of stitching and sewing this week…

I finished the quilt top for Jack.  I will be doing this for his birthday.  It’s made from an American Primer  by Moda charm pack.  The inner border is American Primer also.  The outer border is a Moda…but I’m not sure from which collection.  It just worked perfectly though…

I also received and finished the FQS Block of the Month.  This is number 4…

I did stitch also this week.  I worked on Jack’s Stocking.  I also finished something for my LNS and finished off something for me.  I’ll try and have pictures of those tomorrow!

Here’s hoping that we all have great weeks this coming week! 

OMG this is so cute!

first, i apologize for the corny title…i work in a high school, and i just watched the first episode of “Glee” that i DVRed from earlier in the week…so i’m full of corniness right now.

but anyway…have you seen this?  new from Victoria Sampler…

OMG this is so cute!

And And And…the Victoria Sampler ornament in the new JCS 2009 ornie issue is a coordinating christmas tree scissor sheath! 

OMG!

Edited to add:  Thank you sweet commenter who corrected me!  This is a VICTORIA SAMPLER design.  THANK YOU!!!!!

Finish, Sale, Giveaway

My finish is the 2nd in this series, Hope.  I started this over a month ago, and I finished it up yesterday.  So, one less WIP!

And, as much as I want to pull out the 3rd design and finish it, I am going to work on some existing projects first!  Most importantly…that stocking!

So, for sale, I have the chart and remaining limited edition Gentle Arts fibers for Hope.  If you are interested, the cost is $5.  Please email me at diannebbrown@hotmail.com (sale pending)

Finally, the giveaway.

When I was going through my WIP collection a few days ago, I found the chart for Geranium House by LHN that I finished a few months ago.  The chart is well used…but absolutely still readable (just curled around the edges from being drug around for so many months as a WIP.  Rather than try and sell it, as it is “loved”, I’d like to give it away.

If you are interested in owning Geranium House by LHN, please leave a comment on this post.  The post must contain your name, where you live, and use the word Geranium.

Here’s my example :

Hello!  I am Dianne from Richmond Texas.  I would love to have this chart, because that way I can have GERANIUMS in my house all the time, since I can’t keep them alive outside.

Hope you all have a great Sunday and end to the weekend!

Really? I mean, REALLY?

I’m not a fan of owning up to things.  Like, admitting to how bad a problem is.  This is probably the reason that it takes so long for me to commit to a weight-loss routine, or a new budget, etc.  Two nights ago, for some CRAZY reason, I thought that I needed to get an ACTUAL COUNT of my WIPs.  So I did it.  And I’m still alive.

46.

REALLY?

Two of these are  from about 1 month after I started stitching years ago. 

They’re on AIDA, which means I definitely won’t ever pick them up again.  They may actually go in the trash!  (I won’t tell if you won’t!)  So, it’s a good thing that I don’t like the project any more anyway!

So that brings the project to 44.

Another one is SORT OF OK (it’s a project on a Tea  Towel)…but realistically…I don’t see myself picking it up again.

43.

I think I can live with 43 for now.

One of these WIPs is the stocking that I started last year right after Jack was born.  It’s a Shepherd’s Bush stocking.  I. LOVE. IT.  But, last year when it became very apparent that it would not be done in time for Christmas, I put it aside for other things.  Now, it is definitely time to pick it up again to finish.  Here’s a pic from this morning (early, no light…):

I worked on it on and off over that last week, so it does have a little bit more than when it was shoved aside last year.  I do love the colors in this one though!

Before I go, I want to thank all of your for your kind thoughts and hugs from yesterday’s post.  As my mom so quickly reminded me (and most of y’all), kids are SO resilient.  Us mommies usually take things harder than they actually affect the kids.  That post was written at work, about 45 minutes after the phone call, so it was choc’ full of emotion…that I couldn’t really “let out” in public at school in front of 2800 high school students!  Thank you all so much for listening and for holding my hand though the day! 

And by the end of yesterday, both Nicholas and his mommy felt OK about the whole situation :)

My heart is breaking...

Just got a phone call from hubby.
Nicholas (3 year old) was having a melt down.
He didn't want to go to school today.

Background: This year is the first year that he's not in the same building all day. He starts at one school, gets on a van, rides about 3 miles, and then finishes the day at an after-school program. It's a LONG DAY for him. And me being the put-together, everything is great mommy, OF COURSE has not let on that it kills me that he has to do this. Back to the story...

Hubby says that I need to talk to Nicholas.

NICHOLAS (crying): Mommy I don't want to go to school.
Me: Why not, baby?
NICHOLAS (crying worse): I don't like the blue school and the red school.
Me: Tell me why you don't like your new schools.
NICHOLAS (still crying): It's too long to go to two schools all day, mommy.
Me (now crying but trying to pretend that I'm not): I know, baby, but your teachers are nice and....(can't remember the rest...but I'm sure that it was a bunch of lies wrapped in happy words to make him feel better...)

Of course, I'm at work when this happens, and immediately feeling like so small. Things running through my head like: OK, well, I'll quit, and we can sell the Honda, and be a one car family. I could do grocery shopping after Josh gets home. We can go without health insurance for me and Josh and just get it for the boys...and we could do less cable, or less cell phone, or something...

Meanwhile, Hubby calls back.
He's talked Nicholas into school.
All is well.
For today.

My heart is still breaking for my little boy.
Today being a mommy really stinks.

Project Updates and my Sweet Husband

First up:  Project updates.

I’m actually UP. TO. DATE. on my FQS BOM (wow that’s a lot of acronyms…). 

Block 3 is my most recent finish.

And here’s block 1…cause I don’t think that I ever showed it to y’all:

  Here’s blocks 1, 2 and 3:

When I looked at all of these together, I thought to myself…hmmm…self…that block #1 looks a bit smaller than the other ones.  So I measured them all, and sho nuff, that block #1 is exactly 3/8 of an inch TOO SMALL!  All around!  I mean I can fudge with an 1/8th…but 3/8ths…that’s really really really off!  They’re supposed to be  12.5” squares, and it is definitely 11 7/8” square.  Well, one day I’ll pull it apart, but today is not that day.  I can already tell how much my piecing has improved just over 3 months.

My latest quilt top finish was a fun little “just cause” gift from my mom.  I got it about 2 1/2 weeks ago, when she was picking up my kiddos…and I think I started it like a day or two later.  It uses the Nature’s Chorus line of fabrics. 

I will say that it was definitely not one that I would have jumped at just looking at it alone.  However, this chart paired it with some dark Moda Marbles, and boy does it work well!  The shop that my mom visited in Estes Park had this as a model, and my mom bought the stuff to make it exactly as the model/chart prescribed!  It finishes out to 45x45…so it will be a nice small lap size or crib size quilt.  I might even turn it into a wall hanging for my house…the colors are so nice!  (This pic is a bit overexposed, so the colors are a tad richer and deeper than this shows).

Second update:  Boys first day of school.

My boys go to a preschool program that didn’t start until yesterday.  The way that my husband’s and my schedules work out, he takes them to school and I pick up in the afternoon.  So, naturally, I laid out their clothes for the first day, had everything packed and ready to go so that he didn’t even have to think.  The one thing I forgot to remind him was to take the first day of school picture!  So, when I set out to load my pics today of my quilt updates, I was very surprised to see these on the camera:

I. LOVE. that he took the time to take these…and that it was a sweet surprise that I got on my camera today!

Ha!  Had to throw that one in too!   Love ya babe!

Question...and a good link for a giveaway

Question first...

I have the chart for Cosima by Monasterium Designs...and unfortunately, I know that I will probably never complete this chart. I love it...but...you know... It is a VERY limited edition chart. Only 250 were printed and they are all signed by the designer. If anyone out there is interested in purchasing this chart, please contact me by email, or leave a comment on this post.

Also, check out this AWESOME giveaway from FQS. I'm definitely a Figgy Groupie...so the fact that I'm sharing this with you shocks even me! JK...go check it out!
http://www.fatquartershop.com/Fig-Tree-Quilts-Fabric-Moda-Fabrics.asp

another great contest

FQS is having another great contest…for a $100 gift cert…

http://www.fatquartershop.com/Civil-War-Tribute-Judie-Rothermel-Marcus-Brothers-Fabric.asp

This BOM I could DEFINITELY get into…very very pretty!

So, head on over and compete against me for that money!