siggys done....check

finally....101 siggys ready to mail. thats a lot of signing! just in time for the 3/1 deadline. shew!

i have a crazy week planned. loads of family coming in, bon jovi concert, dinner with the father-in-law.....ill need some major sleep over the next couple days. i had a long time friend from back in ND here friday and spent a great night with her on the strip. we curled up on a couch at the bar and chatted for hours. it was the perfect night...

i also had an email from my first potholder swap partner Jamie....she is just the coolest! she is sending me a goodie box this week. a fun new craft project WOOHOO

have a great week everyone!!!

pillowcases for cancer

have you all heard of CONKERR CANCER? its the organization that makes pillowcases for peds patients in the hospital?


funny story....im walking through my hospital today that i work at and see these 2 ladies carrying a large tote and spot a TON of FABRIC! i get so excited and scream "whats in there?" and scare them....they drop the tote and look at me like "woah, this girl has issues". (i had just read that my hospital was taking part in the pillowcases for kids cause so i knew what was in there!)

I was practically jumping up and down and said "im a sew-er......im a sew-er!!!"..... then they finally understood why i was so excited. we talked, she gave me a brochure on how to get in touch with her and let me tell you, she was just as excited as i was by the end! she said they have an all day event where they bring their machines, irons and fabric to a place and sew away. raising money for the organization and making the pediatric pillowcases.

i already have it planned....im going to make girl ones. for 2 reasons....first-I dont have any girls in my family to make things for. second-a few years back an employee of our hospital lost her daughter to cancer. we all got to know this little girl over the course of her treatment. she loved butterflies.....so in her honor the first one i make is going to be with some fun, bright, colorful butterfly fabric.

to me its a simple gift from the heart.

Pinwheels

I started this quilt top a few months back. it became an UFO. now i have someone special in my life im going to finish it for....someone dear to my heart.....A good friend.

Arent pinwheels fun? Once you get going on them they roll out pretty easy. its all the ironing that gets me. the fabric is moda wonderland momo. i love it because of its bright colors mixed with the browns.

lets hope i can get this finished this weekend, along with my siggys and my million other projects that i have going. we would be bored if we didnt have atleast 5 things in the fire at once!

Bad Word Ticket

My youngest son used to give out bad word tickets when he was younger. It was something so cute and you just never knew when he would put one on your nightstand. Even Grams got one for the "D" word. she and i both had a good laugh about that!

well we havent seen one in years.....not until my husband started playing the PS3 online. LOL

(of course im blaming it all on the husband!!!)

it was SOOO funny i had to share it. Now that he is older, he has actually attached a money fine to it along with penalties. maybe he has a future in law enforcement...woopwoop.

(note to self....go to the bank and get some spare change)

sloppy joe recipe

I was surfing through one of my North Dakota cookbooks yesterday and was craving an easy sloppy joe recipe. I like the sweeter type of a "joe". after making them, i decided to share them with you.

there is a strange ingredient, but trust me....they are GOOD. (easy is always a perk too)

Sloppy Joes

1lb hamburger
1 small onion-chopped
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1tsp prepared mustard
1 can campbells chicken gumbo soup (trust me...)

Brown hamburger and onion. add the remaining ingredients, simmer until it thickens and serve on some yummy rolls.

yeah, can you believe it? Chicken gumbo soup....but i promise you dont taste it. although its weird to have rice floating around your sloppy joe... its GOOD. try it...I would love to hear what you think.

Friday Night Sew-in WINNER!!!

Heidi and I are so excited with everyones projects and how many people participated in the friday night sew-in! 194 people! how fantabulous is that???!!!!??!!! Your projects have given me new ideas and inspiration.

the lucky person via random.org is #68....Judy from scrappypiece.blogspot.com
CONGRATS JUDY!!! Judy spent the night "killin her stash" and made some CUTE projects. Heidi also has a winner on her blog....so be sure and check hers out too.

Judy just send me an email with your address and ill get these fabulous prizes in the mail for you this week.


also, we have set the date for March FNS. It is 3/19/10. I say we try and top 200.....tell your friends...tell your family...tell strangers on the street to join the COOL crowd and stay home on friday nights and craft with a bunch of us! Heidi will have the link again for the sign up.

happy craftin' everyone!!!

February Friday Night Sew-in results

Here is what i made .....

A quilt block for my sewing buddy HEIDI that ive been putting off for awhile. (sorry bout that)

A CUTE basket from a sweetwater pattern. I think im going to give it to my sons girlfriend as a belated Vday gift. (i had a little trouble with the top...circles are tough on the machine and fingers.)



I actually did more last night than i thought. After working all day and a good dinner with the family, it was hard to get motivated. I just wanted to curl up with my new granny quilt and relax. but once i got going, there was no stopping me :)


(note to self, next month kick the boys out for a few hours)


Heidi and I are both doing a giveaway, and the winners will be picked tomorrow. check out her blog to see what she is giving. Also be sure and blog about your sewing night. here is what i am giving away this time.....its very exciting!!!



I did the pin cushion to match the basket i made.....and a "make life" charm pack by moda/sweetwater.


but wait, we arent done yet. Heidi, the genius she is, created the flickr group last month. check out pics and upload (optional) of what everyone else did.

im actually going back to the sewing table right now. happy saturday and good luck everyone!

its here...its here....

its soft and cuddly....its perfect....its mine :)

THANK YOU to Granny for making such a wonderful quilt. I will cherish this for years to come.

THANK YOU to Valerie for making it possible for all of us to get one of Grannys quilts.

You should really read Valeries blog. They have such a wonderful family. She just posted tonight a quilt her father made. his first one! he did a great job too!

happy friday night sew-in to you all! We almost made 2oo of us friday night gals!!!! How cool is that?!?!?!

Granny and the pincushion

Have you all heard of GRANNY? The adorable, sweet loving and truly inspiring Granny who quilts? I have fallen in love with her and her family. Valerie, her granddaughter, is truly amazing. You have to visit her blog and read her posts about her life and her relationship with her mother and her granny.



I had sent off a sweet little gift for the 3 of them along with my payment to buy one of grannys quilts. I cant WAIT to get it!!! You MUST check out the post Valerie did with the picture of Granny and her pincushion I made her. It warms my heart to know that I made someones day today.

I am hoping summer never comes so I can curl up on my couch with my granny quilt and keep warm. I guess I could always crank up the A/C in july and pretend its winter. :)

whooooo got owls? ME thats WHOOOO

I recvd my ADORABLE potholders from Jamie in Pennsylvania and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!! im telling ya, she is the best swap partner EVER! owls....they are my new addiction.

look, she also sent me a cute valentine, a card and TEA for my cold!!! how thoughtful is that??? (thankgoodness cuz im still barking like a bulldog)


here are the potholders i made for her. she said i matched her kitchen perfectly, coffee cups and all. its my fav line ive used ALOT. BISTRO by MODA. I made them using duckcloth which I copied that design from a sweetwater project.

I cant wait for my next potholder swap.....but i wish i could get Jamie again. I know we will definitely become great blogging/crafting friends from this. so to you Jamie....a BIG OL THANK YOU and HIGH FIVE!!!

hes big...hes green...hes goofy!

My great nephew is turning 2 this week and i made him a goofy doll. you can find a tutorial on Heidis blog here. im nervous he might be scared of it cuz its as big as he is.....but i cant wait to give it to him. for the little ones its a nice big size floor pillow.

he also is getting a pillow case and i was able to find some CUTE fabric that matches the goofy doll! silly monsters all over it.

friday night sew-in....stay home without being lame.

Molly....one of our newest members did this post on our FRIDAY NIGHT SEW-IN and i had to share it. its soooo true! HIGH FIVE MOLLY!

Remember to sign up and join Heidi and I this coming friday night the 19th! sew all night in your jammies.....make some fun snacks, drinks, projects. Blog about it the next day and watch our sites for the giveaway winners.

Lastly, dont forget to have fun cuz your partying with 150 other crafty people.

see you friday ladies......(do we have any guys yet?)

Happy Valentines Day!

I am truly blessed with a loving family so we have all done special things for each other today. I got this bamboo from my hubby....

this from my son.....

(wild how the painted heart looks like it has arteries and veins)

these beautiful flowers and vase from my mom.....

My son and his girlfriend made us all breakfast---pancakes and sausage/cheese/eggs.

he gave her this adorable build-a-bear.....cuz he is a GREAT man with a BIG HEART!

I'm making them all their favorite dinner.... Spaghetti. (cant get much easier than that!)

Maybe ill make them heart-shaped rice krispie bars for dessert!

pillowcase #2

here is another pillowcase. for the teenager of the house. he is a rocker, so this one fits him perfectly. dont look at my crooked skulls on the top portion :)

I had a big surprise today!!! something that TOTALLY made my day. My greatnephew called me and said my name!!! he will be 2 this month and ive been waiting a long time to hear that sweet little voice say BOBBI. It made me so happy I went and bought him some flannel to make him a pillow case and a matching goofy doll for his bday. back to my sewing....

pillowcase youtube "how to" link

Here is a great link to a youtube video on the EASY pillowcase pattern I use. I dont always put the accent piece either. just a cuff and body. ENJOY! (ps...joanns has their flannel on sale for 2.49 a yard. works great for kids cuz its cheap)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLnrC9yo8tY

This is my tweens pillow case. i used that longjohnjersey type fabric for cuff. not the easiest stuff to work with but it made this case FUN! I cut the material 27 x WOF (width of fabric) for the body and the cuff was 9 x WOF. this size is perfect for a regular pillow.

pillowcases....

last year i had made my boys both comfy flannel pillowcases. they have used them ever since. well lets just say they are falling apart after being abused by boys. they have been drug all over the house, drug on roadtrips, drug to friends houses. lately they have been begging for new ones, which i think is SOOO cool cuz they are boys--a teen and a tween.


i found this flannel last weekend and decided it was time to make new ones. skulls, guitars, skater print. how cool are those? well the comment from the lady at the cutting table was "wow, your making pillowcases with such busy-crazy-scary fabric. how will they sleep?".


yeah, im thinking the same thing.....she MUST have all girls.


thanks to all of you for my well wishes. i know i was whining, but i hate being sick for such a long time. life goes on...even when your heads in a fog. im a busy working mom...what can i say...we dont get sick days from life.


are you all excited for the olympics? I LOVE to watch them. winter is my favorite too! ice skating, hockey, skiing. i love it all! im going to have my own little "friday night" tomorrow night a week early just to celebrate.

i need some umph

having a cold just makes me lazy. i cough...i cough...i sigh...then go to bed early.

tonight i stared at my sign "you sew girl" and decided gosh darnit, dont let this cold get you down! YOU NEED TO SEW GIRL! So I proceeded to move to the sewing table...move around fabric, pick up UFO's, look at a magazine then move back to my comfy chair. someone come light the fire cuz my butt needs to get going. i have a few projects that are a MUST finish this weekend.

maybe a quick trip to my LQS is just what Dr. Sewgood would order.......to get that fire burning once again.

my grandmas quilt

here is one of the many quilts my grandma made almost 40 years ago...and its still in great shape!!! its made from old polyester suits and i think a sheet for the backing. its SOOO comfy!

I am feeling a bit under the weather this weekend, so im taking my grandmas advice. hot tea with lemon and honey is what she used to give us. dont ya love my orange starbucks mug? its my fav!

ive also been working on my potholders for my swap. almost done!!! heres a sneak peak. ill give a full pic later in the week once they are mailed.

ok, back to my comfy chair with my cozy grandma quilt and my hot tea. its even raining which makes it that much more enjoyable to curl up today. maybe ill put in a good movie too. happy saturday.

WHOO WHOOO

look at this adorable owl my sister made me!!! i love surprises!!! he sits on my sewing table staring at me with those big adorable eyes as if to say "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?". remember those commercials :)

i love the big pocket on the back. ill have to find a treasure to put inside of it.

and lastly a dear friend of mine gave me this calendar....cuz she is one of the only people i work with who think quilting is cool. LOL

Pinafore....and the sisters

My Sewing Buddy Heidi and I took a class on the Pinafore bag in phoenix and it was taught by ME AND MY SISTER!!! The picture is of them holding our bags. What a FUUNNNN class too! they had prizes, giveaways, and a LOT of laughter. I love the pattern and know ill make it again!

of course the best part was getting to spend a few days with Heidi and laughing until it hurt. I got to browse through her patterns, her fabric, her sewing room.....its like being in a mini quilt store.

I had decided to make my pinafore bag with black/white and green because of a previous bag heidi had made. well i get to phoenix and heidi had her fabs all picked out too....black/white and pink!!! too funny!

If you ever get the chance to meet the sisters or take one of their classes DO IT! They really do LOVE what they do for a living.