Spring Has Sprung ...

Spring Has Sprung

... a bit early this year!

Trees are budding and flowers are blooming!

I've only lived in my new home a little over 1 year now and honestly I don't remember these beautiful flowers last year. Daffodils or are they Buttercups?

I'm not well versed in the names of plant life but nonetheless these flowers have bloomed on the little ridge in my backyard. 

They are beautiful!

As beautiful as they are ... I feel a little cheated that our winter has been so mild and so wet.

We have had so much rain ... but no snow!

I would have really enjoyed one good fluffy white beautiful snow.

Earlier this week - me and my daughter early voted in the Primary.

One of the perks of working where we do is being able to vote early in all of the local, state, and federal government elections. It feels great to vote! To cast my ballot and make my choice for elected officials.

Longing for a Snow Day ...

Longing for a snow day ...

It snowed here yesterday ... for about 15 minutes! ugh!!!

Then about 15 minutes later it was all gone!

😞😞😞

Why do I long for a snow day?

The quiet peacefulness of snow. No work or school. Time to snuggle in and enjoy being at home.

In my case ... at home in my sewing room.

No snow day for us yet this year ... bummer!

This is the Stars and Stripes pattern by Thimble Blossoms

My sister asked me to make a couple of baby quilts for gifts for June babies.

One boy quilt and one girl quilt.

As I am still working from my stash of fabric only, I eyeball this little stack of red,white, and blue fabrics gifted to me from a friend.  It turned out to be the perfect amount of fabric to make this adorable little boy baby quilt. As I mentioned, I used the Stars and Stripes pattern by Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms. I'm going to use a coordinating red binding to finish this quilt once it has been machine quilted. I had so much fun making this sweet little quilt and it went together so quickly.

I was also able to choose the fabric and get it ready for piecing, the baby girl quilt top my sister requested.

Pictures coming soon!

I'm also working on 3 t-shirt quilts. I finished one this past weekend and if I'm really really lucky ... "fingers crossed" ... I hope to finish the remaining two this weekend. T-shirt quilts aren't my favorite quilts to make but they are very popular.

As far as my personal quilting projects go ... I'm still working on the Red / White Wonky Stars.

With all of the commission work I am presently doing ... this quilt project is on the back burner for now. 

I am however still pondering learning how to make my own clothes. 

For more than a couple of years now I have been thinking about making some of my own clothing.

For whatever reason I am very intimidated by this process!

That being said ... I have decided that once I complete all of the commission work I am presently working on ... I am going to dive into the world of sewing my own clothing!

There I said it out loud! 

YIKES!!!!! 

Red and White Wonky Stars

Red and White Wonky Stars

After my post yesterday morning ... I decided to remedy the fact that I haven't been in my sewing room for a week or so. It felt much longer than a week!

Trust me ...

I'm still obsessed and fascinated with red and white quilts and my red and white fabric stash is always at the ready. So I pulled a solid red, natural muslin, and 29 red prints and started cutting.

I decided to begin making these interesting and fun wonky stars.

This pattern is a free tutorial by Victoria Gertenbach of

The Silly BooDilly blog 

This will be the second wonky star quilt that I have made using this pattern.

I made one for my nephew, my sister's oldest child.

It felt wonderful being in my sewing room for a few hours playing with fabrics and building a few blocks. It truly is the little things. Time to relax and be creative. 

Happy Monday everyone!!!

Elusive

Elusive ...

Routine of any sort seems to be elusive for me at the moment ...

I haven't been in my sewing room for a week or so! 

What?? Why??

January flew by and February seems to be on that same break neck speed path ...

I don't like it!!!

I feel rumpled and wrangled and all sorts of at odds without my sewing room time!

I don't like it!!!

But for the life of me, I can't seem to get things back in order or under control ... ugh!!!

With the addition of a part-time job, along with my full-time job, I'm feeling more

than a bit rushed and drained these days.

I've decided to just breathe and count my blessings ... 

My December birthday poinsettia continues to thrive!

My daughter gets me one each year for my birthday.

I need to read up on how to keep this plant alive year round ... hmmm

Friday evening dinner and margaritas with a friend at my favorite family owned Mexican restaurant ... after working my full-time job and my part-time job.

Saturday morning I woke up to snow!

Not enough snow but still it snowed! 

It was relaxing to watch the big fluffy snow flakes fall to the ground.

I spent Saturday morning helping a friend with his fishing club Facebook page.

I entered the 2020 Tournament Schedule.

Added the Tournaments to the page as individual Events.

Provided Tournament Rules.

Added the new digital clip art provided by my friend's son to the page.

Answered the messages that had questions, that were posted on the page so all are informed.

It was nice to be able to help a friend.

28 years old ...

Where does the time go??

Then it was off to the grocery store to get all of the fixin's to make

a requested birthday dinner for my baby girl.

Her birthday isn't until the 12th of February but I wanted to be sure

to have the time to celebrate her ... with her ... with a few of

her favorite things.

In this case, baked chicken with mushroom gravy, sticky rice and green beans.

For dessert ... a Birthday Icebox Pie 

💖💖💖

#wearefamily

And, just like that ... BAM!

Here we are at Sunday and the start of a new week!

Yep ... routine and sewing room time remain elusive ... 

One Small Change

One Small Change

I've spent a little time making a few fabric snack and sandwich bags for my lunch bag. 

I would like to do my part and lessen my footprint.  I am working to stop using single use plastic items. Such as sandwich bags. I am also looking into shampoo in bars, not bottles. And, returning to laundry powder in a box. I want to be a good steward of this planet.

These bags do not have zippers, snaps, or velcro.

Think the original Glad Sandwich bags with the fold over flap.

These bags are 100% cotton and machine washable.

Pack with snacks and sandwiches ... wash ... and repeat!

One Small Change ...