Friday, April 30, 2010

pinwheel squares


pinwheel square #1
Originally uploaded by colimachia
Okay, so for the vintage sheet bee, this was the first try. It came out too big! It was supposed to be 12.5 inches square and it was 14! I did cut it down to 13 and then didn't have the heart to keep cutting. For these squares Jane sent us all some of the light yellow and another piece, the one with the tulips if you can pick that one out. She said her fav colors are pink, blue, yellow, and green, so that's what I based the other fabrics I picked from on. So, then I made square #2:
pinwheel square #2And, guess what? It was too small! Bah! Starting to feel a little bit like Goldilocks with the three bears. So, I added the border. I was trying really hard to get all my triangles to line up. The conclusion that I've come to is that I just don't think that's entirely possible for me! I think they turned out okay, I like #2 better. It will be fun to see what the final quilt looks like! These two are going in the mail to-day to Jane! Hope she likes at least one of them!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

the quilt finale

So, my friend Jan had asked me like for-ever ago to make her a cover for her kindle. I was thinking about what kind of fabric and what style and what in the world I wanted it to look like forever. And then, last weekend I was digging through my fabric totes and came across this little scrap of owl fabric that I had bought at the quilt store like before Christmas from the scrap bin. The scrap bin is this cool wire basket FULL of scraps and you pay a nominal fee per pound. I had squirreled away this piece of fabric specifically with the intent purpose of making something for Jan because she is in an owl phase right now......and so here's the finished product:
Kindle cover for Jan
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I really like the way it turned out, and best part was is that it was all fabric from my stash - bonus! One teensy little thing that I did not think through was the self adhesive velcro. In theory a good idea, but the stickum wore out! Other than that I like how it turned out. I vaguely used this tutorial for the seaming. Straight quilting is so much easier! And I used a denser type batting which seemed easier to work with too.

So, without further ado - here is my first ever quilt!!!! I'm not even going to point out all the mistake even though there are several. Just know they are there!
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So, I followed the recipe for the "scruffily quilt" on the Moda Bake Shop. I just used all of my own fabric and stuff from my Mom's stash. I bought the dark browns because my Mom said she always gets rid of those colors! LOL we laughed about that! I changed the size of the squares to accomodate a couple fabric pieces that I had that weren't quite big enough. I also turned some of the squares on point. And, I stitched in the ditch for quilting, and then hand sewed a fun button in the center of all the small squares. 100_2023[1]
Okay, so the back......what to say here? I used a new flannel sheet, nice and cozy, but a teensy bit too small. I thought - brilliant! I'll just put a strip of squares down the back like I've seen so many other people do. In theory a good idea, but I couldn't get the front and back squares to line up just right so the stitching is a little off on the back.....bah! I'm letting it go, though because frankly if I ripped the seams out any more I might as well just scrap it. My Mom kept reminding me, "it's just your first quilt, it's okay" so that's what I'm going with. I will get better with the next one, right?

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

what's happening wedneday

And here we are again at another Wednesday! This week was better, I've lost the water weight plus 1 lb. So, still on track! Not much gym time this week, but it's okay - I'm totally hydrating and eating better.

I donated blood tonight after work, and almost lost it. Right at the end I started to feel a little spinny and yuck. I think I totally freaked the ladies there out - sorry Red Cross ladies! The little lawn chair things you sit on came in handy, though. They elevated my legs and put my head down. I'm sure I was quite a sight! And, I heard them talking about me while I was in "cookie land". That was kind of weird.....but whatever.

Last night was the second meeting of our book club. I've decided I'm renaming it as "Literature Circle", it just sounds so much more sophisticated :) I did not come up with that term on my own, wish I did darn it! It's good, right? I think the best thing about last night was realizing that I am so not the only book nerd out there, hee hee! And it's funny how we all can read the same exact thing and have such a different perspective. Of course, it is a Christian book club so everyone was getting all this God stuff out of the book. While I was reading the whole time I was thinking how similar the book is to pretty much every other kind of book I've ever read - a little less detail in the "relationship" area if you know what I mean but seriously there's violence, sorcery, betrayal, drama, you name it. The only difference is the emphasis of the main character's faith. But, truly, if it didn't have that then it would be no different then any "secular" book. I am totally enjoying the book, it is very well written. I had not even heard of the author (Francine Rivers) before the club started and I really like her style, it's easy to read and the characters are engaging. I also really like all the detail of what life was like in 70AD, she's painting a really good picture - easy to visualize what's going on.

Friday, April 23, 2010

friday fleurs


I feel like it might be a good idea to start something new with flowers! So, to start this post off I'll share the flowers that were given to me that I mentioned in the previous post. Aren't the preeeety? Okay, now that that's over with let's get on with the new part.....

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After careful consideration I've decided that stipling may not be my forte. A few things have contributed to this decision. One fairly obvious fact is that I do not have a quilting or stipling foot for my sewing machine, nor do I have a quilting machine! LOL But I thought, I'm going to try anyway! On something small, which is a durn good thing since I'm not that great at it. I don't even think that practice would help in this matter. It's a little herky-jerky but I still like the end product because I like the fabric and colors. And I will use it anyway....so not a total loss. I've also come to the conclusion that I need to slow down a little and pay more attention when I am sewing triangles, because even though I said several times this week that I never want to do another triangle again, I do however like the way they look. Hmmpf.
In other, more exciting news - I've finished my first ever quilt. No pics yet b/c I want to wash it first and get all the little strings clipped and whatnot. I'm going to warn you now that it's really simple looking and there are lots of mistakes. But, frankly I got to the point of "I don't care anymore". So, I'll try not to point them out and we'll just not mention the mistakes anymore, k? Here's a sneak peak of one of my favorite buttons:
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I quilted with the easiest possible technique, stitch-in-the-ditch, and then added buttons to the middle of each square. I've always wanted to do that, add buttons. I'm glad it's done :) and the sun is fully out so I'm anticipating a lovely weekend - how about you???

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Are you kidding me?




What I'm saying is: brrrrrrr! Seriously, this is what I woke up to, white everywhere! I should've known from last night after spin class the clock on the bank said 37 degrees and it had been raining off and on all day. I guess I just didn't even think about it. Last weekend it was like 70 degrees! I thought, maybe, just maybe it's going to be Spring......guess not yet.
My day did get a little brighter though because I received two beautiful bouquets of flowers today! One from my friend Jan, pink tulips, and the other from the two doctors I work for! So nice. In case you're wondering, it's Administrative Professionals day today - I didn't realize it either until Jan said that's why she was giving me flowers! ha, ha, I didn't even know - what an even better surprise!
Okay, since it's Wednesday I'll mention that I didn't lose any weight, in fact I gained but I know it's all water. So, I'm not worried. I attempted spin class but barely made it through because my tummy was kind of yucky. Same today so I'm not even going to try. I'll get back to it when I've got my strength back. You can always join in the Weight Loss Wednesday if you'd like, just let Jennifer know and she'll add you to the list! I think it's been helpful to keep me on track because I know I've got to report something!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

book club and new bible study

Two things I'm pretty durned excited about: book club and bible study. I know, thrilling life I lead! Last week I briefly mentioned that I had started a new book club. Here are the details: it is through the church, called "Hidden Heart Christian Book Club", the first book is A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers. Last Tuesday was the first meeting where we all did the dreaded go around in a circle and introduce yourself thing, then took turns reading the first chapter out loud. I'm pretty sure that each meeting will be tres different from that one since we all will have read some of the book and can have discussion. One thing that I didn't realize but I'm actually looking forward to is that we will be working on memorizing scripture! Why, oh why would I be looking forward to that??? If you had read my blog like last year I had started trying to memorize scripture, then pooped out. I think that God is still working on me with this one, and I'm glad. It means He hasn't given up on me! And, it gives me something to concentrate on so that when I have a destructive thought, which I am prone to, I can try to focus on scripture instead. Good stuff.

Second thing I am excited about is that our bible study restarted again last night, with a new Beth Moore study! Ya-hooo! The study we chose to do this time is When Godly People do Ungodly Things. I say we chose, but really God chose it for us. We all put a name into a bowl of the study we would want to do off the list of available studies. We trusted God to pick the one that we all needed to do. I am so glad to get back to having bible study, namely a Beth Moore study. The thing is, I've learned more doing her studies than any other. I do think she's totally awesome, but truly I know that it is God working through her, she is just faithful to be out there and real with it. So, last night was cool to meet with the ladies and chat and we even did some reading out loud - why not, I'm getting so good at it! lol. To see where we're all at now and look back at where we all started is so amazing. We're all (except 2) really shy about praying out loud, and now we will all at least stutter through a prayer! Out loud. That might not mean anything to you, but to all of us it is huge!
I'll leave you with the first memory verse (that I have not memorized yet!):
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Vintage sheet giveaway

There are some fabulous giveaways happening over at the All Things Vintage Sheet blog for its Grand Opening, you must check it out! There is a new giveaway every day. Today's featured blogger is Mandy of Whimsiedots, she has a fabulous collection of vintage sheets and her etsy shop is overflowing with great prints! I'm definitely checking the VS blog to see who's on there and all the great chances to win!

In other news, I went to see "How to Train Your Dragon" in 3D today. It was the first movie that I've seen in 3D and I really liked it! I thought the story was good and the characters well developed. The dragons were super cute!

Friday, April 16, 2010

B square trial run

I did a test square out of some scrap fabrics to test out a pinwheel square for the vintage sheet quilting bee. It is sooo not perfect and I'm pretty much intimidated to send it. I've seen everyone else's squares so far and they are all perfect. The corners line up perfectly and frankly I just am not sure I'm going to be able to cut the mustard. I hope everyone doesn't receive my squares and think they are retarded. I'm sorry, I know that's not a PC term but I still love to say it. Sorry. But still, it's a fun word.
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so, there it is. I am going to work on the real thing this weekend so I can get it out in the mail. I hope she doesn't just throw it in the trash.
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On a happier note, I received a swap package in the mail yesterday and it was all super fun stuff! It was on Swap-bot, a swap called "Pick 5, Newbies Welcome". There was a list of all kinds of things we could send out and we needed to pick 5 things off the list and mail it out. My package came from Sarah, in England. I really enjoyed everything in the package. The cards are really nice, the ones with purple are fuzzy.
I sent my package out today but I won't post the pic until she gets it even though I'm pretty sure she won't be checking my blog. But, just in case I don't want to ruin the surprise.
So, BTW I am planning a baby shower for my friend Kristin, who is due in July. I'm hoping to have it towards the end of June, so I'm starting to think about how I want to do the invites and stuff. She's not finding out the sex of the baby so I need to go with a neutral theme, I was thinking Curious George since that is what she'll be decorating the baby's room in. I was also thinking cupcakes might be fun?

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

WLW 4-14-10


So I have some great news! I am down 4lbs!!!! What??? 4!!!!! I thought for sure it was a fluke when I weighed in on Monday, but today when I checked it's stayed the same so I think it's really true! I worked out 4 nights last week and was really good about hydration. This past weekend was Jan's daughters birthday and I did have cake and a hot dog (gasp!) but I was really good every other meal so I think it all evened out. This week has not been good for getting to the gym but Monday after work I did my pilates dvd. Last night I started a new book club so didn't get home until later so no working out. Tonight is spin fo sho! I'm just going to have to do the eliptical every night the rest of the week or if the weather is nice I'll try to get outside!


How is everyone else doing???

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Rock and Worship summary

And so, I am finally posting pics from the Rock and Worship Roadshow. So, basically it is a pay at the door type concert on a huge scale, all Christian artists. This year it was in the Rose Garden, which is a huge arena. We arrived at 8 am in the morning to wait at the door, which is really worth it because we got great seats in like the 6th row on the floor! The weather this year was eons better than last, the sun was out and pretty mild. The first band in the line up was Sidewalk Prophets, and they were really really good! I think they only did like 2 or 3 songs and I wished they could have done more!The second band was Remedy Drive, they were quite enthusiastic. No pics, sorry.Next up was Fee, and they were really really good also. I actually have their album but liked them better live. It's weird how that is sometimes. But, definitely a great band. Next up was Francesca Battistelli, she was so cute! Great voice, huge for such a tiny little thing! I think she's better suited to a smaller venue though, she was kind of lost on stage.
Okay, I'm bummed I didn't get pics of the next band, Family Force 5, because they totally ROCKED! I was too busy dancing to take pics, and frankly that's really saying something because I'm soooo not a dancer! They were so awesome. When they first came out on the stage in the purple matching attire, I thought "Whatintheworld?" And then the show began. Honestly I don't even know how to describe them to give them the justice they deserve! So entertaining, awesome music, and funny. All the kids there just loved them. I was the only one in the group I went with who liked them. Their music was closest to what I liked in my BC days - which was just joy for me to find something I wouldn't feel guilty for liking.
After FF5 I was thinking, how in the world can you follow them??? Well, David Crowder Band did that and more! David Crowder is flippin hilarious and their music is totally awesome. I had been looking forward to seeing them the most, and they did not disappoint! The best part, I think, is that they didn't have a flashy stage show - the music spoke for itself. So cool.Last, but not least, was Mercy Me. Sorry, the pic isn't so good. They were also at the last show, I'm pretty sure it was their idea. I was also looking forward to seeing them again because they put on a great live performance. The lead singer, Bart Millard, lost his voice that night. Can I please tell you how amazing it was to hear everyone in the arena singing along to every single song??? It was beautiful. Even I was singing.....! I know, right??? I never sing. When anyone can hear me, that is. I had actually asked God the night before to let me be able to worship him properly. So, sorry Bart Millard, it was my fault you lost your voice! But, that night I needed to worship God. And have fun doing it!!! I don't think the two have to be separate. Yes, there is reverent worship, but I think God wants more from us, because he is not boxed in to our "churchy" expectations. Think about it, if you had a relationship with someone and you only expected to do one kind of thing with them it would be pretty boring, right? You'd find someone else to do the other things you like to do with. God is not like that - He wants everything, he wants us to find enjoyment in Him, confide in Him, to trust Him, to laugh with Him, on and on and on and on! Check out Ecclesiates 3! The whole passage explains what I'm saying perfectly, but check verse 4:

"a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,"
As for Family Force 5, I think this verse sums up rather well:
Jeremiah 31:4b
"Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful,"
Cuz, that's pretty much what it was all about that night!











Wednesday, April 7, 2010

short and sweet WLW


Here's my disclaimer: EASTER! I totally overate. I knew I would and I did. But, I'm back to where I was before the concert. So, technically lost 2lbs, but really I'm calling it even steven because I'm just back to where I was.

Friday, April 2, 2010

lining it out

I'm taking a little break to regroup. So, as mentioned in my last post I did dig out the quilt to put the layers together and maybe get it sort of done. And I was also pondering whether or not to add a border or something. All of my progress halted when I remembered that I had sewn together the quilt top very very sloppily and had a bunch of seams that didn't match up. At first I was like, hmmmm, okay I'll just deal. And I think that's when I put it away all those months ago......and maybe, just maybe in the back of my mind knew that I just wasn't ready yet to do what I did today : I tore the thing apart!

Oh yeah. I did. I couldn't handle it, all the little seams not matching up and not just by a little bit, some of them by a lot! So, I took my seam ripper and went to it. So, I'm recutting the squares because I had cut them out before I had my rotary cutter and little line up tool thing. I know I will be much happier when things line up better :)

This is almost, sort of, like the color issue I have. Did I ever mention it? I like to line things up according to colors of the rainbow. My closet is separated by colors and in order of the rainbow. The pins on my pincushion. The folders on my desk at work. When I eat skittles, m&m's, jelly beans, I sort them by color and eat them in rainbow order. You can ask Kristin, who had a drawer full of Orbit gum in all different flavors and therefore all different colored packages. It was driving me crazy so I asked her if I could rearrange a little. I had to do it. And she was such a good sport about it.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Weekend listing and blog title explanation....

Here's the thing: and I know this will be a shocker and so I'm sorry but be prepared - I don't have a cell phone. Yep, I know! I should have one for various reasons, blah, blah, blah. But I don't really want one. I don't want to be in the store and on the phone. I don't want to be reached at all times. I am on the phone all day at work and so sometimes being on the phone on my time is just not desirable. Except for just a few minutes ago when I was stopped at a light and my friend Jan who I haven't seen in OVER a week honked and we waved and then drove in our separate ways. How nice at that one second it would have been to ring her and be like - "what's up dude?"

And so it's Easter weekend!!! Will the Easter bunny be at your house this weekend? I have to confess that I will be laying low. I'll go to church for sure, that will be nice. And I've sort of made a traditional meal of pasta salad with lots of artichoke hearts, asparagas, and a slice of ham. No big whoop for sure but it's always what I want on Easter. So, since that is really the biggest plan that I have I figured maybe I need to make a list of things to accomplish! Here goes:

1. Remember this quilt? Ya, me neither! I haven't worked on it since I sewed the top together so I was thinking maybe I'll drag it out and put the layers together.
2. I started a crochet project for an up coming swap, it's a Matroyska doll and it needs some embroidery and stuff added to it.
3. I might, maybe have a tutorial to share???? I don't even know. It's pretty lame, but I have made something for myself that others may or may not want to use themselves.
4. Okay, this one I'm pretty excited about actually - I get the "Victorian Trading Company" catalog to drool over and I saw a couple of things in there that I might try to make myself! I'll share pics if it works out well.
5. And I think I'll figure out how to make some pinwheel quilt squares so I don't embarrass myself when I make the real square for the April block in the quilting bee I'm participating in.

Since 5 is my favorite number I'll stop there on my list!

Also, I was talking to my dear friend, Aimee Bojangles (Bojangles isn't really part of her name but in my head that's how I think of her), and so we were blogtalking and I realized that I never had explained the reason behind the name of my blog title. Here it goes: When I was in high school I would constantly draw cartoons in class when I really should have been diligently learning. Did I ever mention that I got a D in Art class??? Well, maybe I was drawing cartoons....anyways Moppy Jane was my alter ego. She was super quirky and dorky but also had a super cute boyfriend. Ummm, basically the boyfriend part was just what I really wanted at the time - the super quirky dorky part was, and is, still true! LOL So, I'm working on a little cartoon drawing to add to my header if I can actually figure out how to make my own. We'll see, I'm not really that smart!