Mommy Humor: When the Crib is Outgrown

Every mommy knows there are a few guarantees in raising children, one of those being that kids will grow. Now there are lots of reasons for keeping stuff beyond its usefulness ...

1. Save it for future children

2. It's still in good condition and throwing it away would be a waste.

3. Hadn't gotten around to taking it to a donation site or give to someone with a child younger.

4. (My weakness) "It was my baby's and I can't part with it!"

Well, last night, something I hadn't gotten around to getting rid of came to good use - in an unconventional way. 

My mom came over to pick up some stuff and help me with my (Quiltsmart) Lone Robin border for the next meeting for the Round Robin group. 

In my creative area of our office space, I have Lil Monkey's crib mattress leaning against the wall. I've offered it to 3 soon-to-be moms, who didn't need it for one reason or another. 

So last night, while trying to decide what fabric to use for a border, we tried laying it out with different fabrics and borders I'd been working on to see what combos would work best. While looking for a place to lay it out, my mom saw the mattress and said, "Can we pin it to that?" Laughing, I agreed. 

So, just like that, I suddenly had a display work surface. I'm really going to miss it when we finally get around to getting rid of it.

(** Note: this was not the border chosen for the next meeting. This border is the Diamond Border, part of the Smart-ease series. I absolutely love it!!! I'll post a photo after I reveal at the meeting on Sunday.)

Until our next cup of tea ...

Life and Crafts: A Balancing Act

What a busy weekend we had! It's been a few days since my last post because we really ran around a lot this weekend. Lunch with my parents, trip to a quilt shop where Grammie got to show off the No. 1 Grandchild to her friends, a trip to the store to start our first ever holiday village, with A LOT of input and advice from the littlest among us. Who knew he was such an expert!?!

I was able to get some work started on a variety of projects this weekend, including some work on the next border row for my Lone Robin which is Quiltsmart inspired this year. I can't show you what I am doing, but I can tell you that I am excited about the technique that I am using for this border.

I actually spent a little time throughout the past few days conversing with Mattie and Quiltsmart Mandy about project notes and ideas. So inspirational when you find friends who share the same interests and passions.

There was so much going on event through yesterday and this morning that I am only now getting to sit down and write it all down. In fact, I am sitting here with a fireside seat at La Madeleine, ready to write a book, but I only have time for a blog post or two. Mmm, this tomoato soup is amazing ... Oh, right. I'm on a time limit!!

I also made some Christmas ornaments this weekend and will post as soon as I take photos.

This time of year is filled with so much inspiration everywhere! The past few weeks I have been out delivering the Winter Issue of TEAinTEXAS and I have visited about 5-7 antique shops a week. Just this morning, I visited an antique shop and found a lost treasure that will eventually find a home at my mom's house, but I'll tell you all about it before then.

My list of Quiltsmart projects is growing, but still manageable. There are some quick projects that I will be showing finished soon, and some that will take a little bit more time as my calendar fills with holiday activities. 

Until our next cup of tea ...

Round Robin Review

You may remember my post in September about starting my second Round Robin. This year, I am not passing my quilt along, but rather adding each border myself, holding with my theme for the year of "A Year of Quiltsmart". Therefore, I have been labeled a "Lone Robin". I feel like a rogue undercover agent or something.

So you may remember my medallion (center) was a red and green Princess Feather, a retired design by Quiltsmart. For the second row, I used the Watercolor Interfacing (provided in original Princess Feather pattern). I cut 2.5 inch squares and ironed to interfacing then sewed top to bottom, followed by left to right.

After the squares were sewn, I cut them in half across the white part and sewed them onto the medallion, turning it "on point". This was actually the first time I had ever turned a quilt "on point" so I was a bit more excited than a normal person would be (but I never claimed to be normal).

I am really excited about how this project is turning out. Our next meeting is early December, so I need to get started on the second row, which is partially cut. I can't wait to see how it turns out. I'll check in soon wiht updates ...

Until our next cup of tea ...

 

 

Here We Go Again ...

Hey, it's that time of year again ... the weather is getting cooler, the trees are changing colors and ... The Round Robin is starting again.

Now you may remember from my post completing my first Round Robin that it was a stressful activity for me. I don't do good trying to "guess" what other people may like, especially when it is people that I don't know and in some cases hadn't met, until the first meeting.

This year, I decided to do the Round Robin again with a twist ... literally and figuratively.

I ma participating again as an independent member of my mom's group. That means that I am part of the group, in structure alone, I am doing a quilt, but not passing it and taking another. My hope was that I could still learn from other quilters and get some guidance while also holding myself to a goal to finish a quilt. (Seriously, I have started so many but only have 4 completed to date.)

As I said earlier I am claiming it to be the "Year of Quiltsmart" so I am concentrating on working on some Quiltsmart projects I wanted to do. So here is my medallion ... Its the Princess Feather by Quiltsmart. I think it may be a retired pattern, but I've had it for a while. I love the way it actually looks like it is spinning!

I must say that I have been nervous to actually get the the point where you stitch things down and have quite a few small projects that are pinned down, but I was too nervous to stitch them for fear of doing it wrong. But for our 10th anniversary, my dear sweet husband replaced my small sewing machine (who was puffing out her last few stitches with great effort) with the Viking Husqvarna Opal 670 and really this machine is so exciting to get creative with that I have stitched right past a few fears and hesitant breaks.

Today we headed to our first meeting at Quilter's Cottage in Richmond, Texas. This quilt shop is a cute little cottage that is full of fun fabrics and inspiring quilts.

I'm already finished with my first border, which is good since the next meeting is October 19, the shortest time between two meetings. This was done to allow for more time between the last two exchanges which traditionally has quilters (in our group) are rushing to complete the final borders before the reveal, which is done at a 4-day retreat.

I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Until our next cup of tea ...