I won something! Little Cotton Rabbits had a giveaway on her blog for her new hedgehog pattern. It is so darn cute!  What a nice surprise to wake up to this morning.

I’m doing a quick, drive by posting to show off my latest quilt.  It’s just back from the quilter.  I’m in the thick of the kids’ final weeks of school and mine too.  I will have a 4 month break before my next class starts and I’m just thrilled.  Think of all the crafting and reading (for pleasure) that I will get done.  Can’t wait!

On to the beautiful quilting job.  The woman who quilted this is so talented!

Ok, back to my crazy schedule. Boo!

I had one last day before the kids come home from the in-laws so I figured I would spend it sewing.  I got this quilt finished.  It is another quilt from Moda Bake Shop.  Instead of the recommended fabric, I used Swanky.

I even quilted it myself which I said I wouldn’t do again. I’m actually pleased with how it came out.  I especially love the corners.

I also made a cute bag but I am out of velcro for the closure so I’ll post a picture after I replenish my supply.

The kids come home tomorrow (yay!) and school starts for me Monday.  Good bye sewing! WAH!

I was able to complete this quilt in just two days. I love how it turned out. Especially the prairie points. It was very, very easy to do.

I had a friend come over today and we did some crafty things.  I started and finished this adorable carrot runner.  I’m having Easter at my house this year.  I thought this would be so cute for the center piece.  I love how it came out and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.

After my friend left I started sewing the blocks for this quilt from Moda Bakeshop.  I love how they are coming out.  Funny how I picked the orange fabric to sew first after my orange project from earlier in the day.

I couldn’t resist any longer.  I ordered a die cutter/embosser and it came this week.  What fun!   I know that I am going to have lots of fun with this thing.  Plus what is not to love, it is pink and black! =)

Here are a couple of shots of the first things I made.

Those are felt flowers and cardstock flowers.  I love that this die cutter will cut more than just paper.

If you are interested in where I got this, Ritz is having a big sale until the end of March.

I spent Sunday working around the house, finishing up homework and doing some crafty stuff.  First up I finished this pincushion from Elegant Stitch.  I’m sorry but I just looked and it is sold out.  I could not get the finishing right with the piped edge.  I was so unhappy with how it turned out that I came home last night and ripped it out and put on a twisted cord edge.  I think it looks a lot better.  Sorry for the crooked shot.

Then I started working on a cute bag with some Heather Bailey fabric from my stash.  I used this tutorial.  It is a little crooked but I like how it turned out.  I’m going to make another using a different technique to see if I can’t get it straighter.

Several months ago I was visiting a fabric shop and they had a cute sample of an apron on display.  It is a 15 inch square on point.  Very simple and a cute idea.  I made a small one for my niece and a little larger one for my nephew.

And finally, I had to leave you with two funny shots of one of our cats, Sammy.  The first made me think he was in trouble, giving himself a timeout.  The second shows you how big he is.  I came back to my sewing area to find him sitting on my sewing machine table.

Back in June 2007 my dear friend, Lisa, sent me a get well present.  She sent me a beautiful pair of Gingher scissors (I believe the design is Maria).  Anyway, I pretty much picked out some fabric and a pattern right away and started stitching a fob for these gorgeous scissors.  I got about 70% done with the stitching and stopped working on it.  For months and months and months it sat on my dresser collecting dust.  This past weekend I finally picked it up and finished it.  I wanted to do a ribbon rouching for the edge of the fob but the ribbon I had was too narrow, so I ordered some 13mm ribbon from my favorite LNS on Sunday and it was in my mailbox today!  I just finished applying the ribbon edge and couldn’t wait to upload the photos.  Isn’t it pretty?  I love how it turned out!

Thanks, Lisa!  I love, love, love the scissors.  They are sure to get lots of use now that my fob is done. =)

The details:

I used this pattern.  I used Gloriana silks in Fiesta 037.  This is my all time favorite silk.  So soft!  The fob was meant to be stitched over one but as much as I love the look of over one stitching, I don’t like stitching over one.  The fabric was a piece of Lakeside Linens Thistle Pink from my stash.  The rouching instructions were adapted from Plush.

My ds turned 12 on Tuesday.  I feel sad that I didn’t get here on the actual day to put up a birthday message.  I have been sick as a dog the last week with a flu/cold thing.  I spent the better part of his birthday in bed while he was at school.  I did manage to get up and make him a cake and then take him to see Mall Cop with dh and dd.  We had the entire theater to ourselves.  I have never had that happen.

My ds is absolutely a delight.  Which is especially wonderful because when he was two and three years old I wasn’t sure that either of us would ever survive toddlerhood.  He was a monster.  One of my favorite shirts of his at the time said, “Warning I am 3″.  That pretty much summed it up.  He hated anyone but me and my dh.  I thought he would never get socialized.  He loves everyone now and almost never has a mean thing to say.  Although with 12 on the horizon for some time now I have noticed more biting remarks.  I quickly keep him in check though.   He is leaving the 6th grade this year for middle school and I am having major anxiety about it.  We don’t live in an affluent area and the school he will attend has a wide variety of kids that attend from very good to very bad.  I worry for him and for me!  Will we survive?  Time will tell, but so far we have done pretty darn good.

Love you, buddy. =)

I’ve seen this done on a few other blogs and thought it was a great idea.  Here is a look at what happened in 2008 in my life.

January

My dd turned 9.  Her last single digit year.  She is terrific daughter.  Loving, caring and really has a soft spot for animals (real and stuffed!).  She and her big brother get along really well and are great pals.  I love that!  January was also the start of a “year without surgery” (my goal for 2008, which I did reach!).  I know that seems silly, but I had five surgeries (two of them major) in 2007 and many, many weeks off work to recover.  I also started my second quarter of my back to school routine.

February

My ds turned 11.  It is hard to remember when he wasn’t in our life.  He is a great kid.  I’m continually impressed by how smart he is and how wonderful he is to his sister.

March

My dh fulfilled a lifelong dream of having a fishing boat.  He has spent a lot of 2008 making it perfect for him and has taken it out quite a bit.  It isn’t my favorite outing, but he and the kids have a great time going out to the lake and exploring.

We also had a family trip to Tahoe.  The kids loved playing in the snow.  We rented a really fun house with lots of arcade style video games.  Everyone had  a blast!

April

According to Picasa we didn’t do too much.  A quick outing to Super Franks on a cold day.  It’s a bit like Chuckie Cheese but more bearable!  I’ve included a photo of one of our cats.  Sammy, the 21 pound monster!

May

May found us visiting the beach, celebrating Mother’s Day, doing two major science projects (that netted the both of the kids trophies) and a field trip with my dd to a local park.  I also went to Vegas for the first (and probably last) time.  It was fun, but very expensive!

June

I turned 39 and we celebrated Father’s Day.  The kids went camping with my dh and in-laws.  I had a major work re-org and couldn’t get away.  Truth be told, camping isn’t my favorite so I wasn’t entirely broken hearted.  I did miss them though!  I also finished my first year back to school.  Yahoo!

July

My dh and I visited the De Young Museum to see the Chihuly exhibit.  I was absolutely blown away by the beauty of his pieces.  Incredible!

I finished the only quilt I finished all year in July and sent it off to my best friend for her birthday.  It was well received for sure!  We also celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary in the family.  Fun!  The kids went back to school (year round).  DD started 4th grade and DS started 6th grade.  His final year at this school.  Wah!

August

We went on a weekend rafting trip with my brother’s family and cousin’s family.  While the rafting wasn’t my favorite, the weekend was really nice.

September

I started back to school for my second year.  We also lost our 17 year cat. =(

October

Family trip to Disneyland.  It was my niece and nephew’s first time to the Big Mouse’s House.  Great fun was had by all!  Was pretty sure that my accounting course was going to kick my ass!  I also went on a field trip with my DS to the Egyptian Museum.  Mummies!

November

Another low picture month in Picasa!  It was pretty much a blur with Managerial Accounting continuing to kick my ass!   My dh and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary and 18 years of being a couple. =)

December

The highlight of the month was my dh’s 40th birthday party.  We had a Mexican themed event, including a 3 piece Mariachi band.  Very fun!

We also did our annual gingerbread house decorating event with the cousins.  I actually made the houses this year instead of buying a kit.  They were delish!

All in all 2008 was a great year.  I normally do not make resolutions, but I feel after working in my house for the last two weeks getting it organized, that I must make a few.  No more magazine and book purchases.  I just don’t need anymore since I’m really not reading right now unless it is for school.  I also want to start saving more money, which will be easier if I’m not spending it on magazines and books!

Happy New Year!