Look what I got in the mail!!!

Debra Spincic made this great quilt for me! ( I hope she doesn't mind that I stole her picture: see the one on the left  I tried to take and you'll see why!) It was to commemorate getting into LPN school, but wow....was I taken completely by surprise! She talked about it in this post. The funny part is that I actually read it, and never picked up on the fact that it was for ME! She is a wonderful friend, and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank her from the bottom of my heart!  Debra gets me, and that is not a great feat! Thank you, Debra! I smile every time I touch this quilt or see it.....I smile because of you!

Working on the Stars on Alabama Quilt...Still

With all the snow and ice, I've actually had time to work on Grandma Hunnybunny's quilt. All that's left is quilting the borders and binding it. The tension just wasn't right every time I tried to do a sample. I played around with it yesterday and managed to get it perfect, (after a few mishaps and some ripping was involved) so I may be ready to bind it this weekend. Then there's the label to think about. Last time, I wimped out, and had my friend, Debra,do a beautiful label for the Boyscout quilt. I may try to do one, or just get her to help me out again. She did such a beautiful job! By the way, she's working on a special project, the Homeless Teen Project for Willis Independent School District in TX. She's taken it upon herself to provide a twin sized quilt for each teen. If you would like to contribute to the Project, she will gladly pay postage for the supplies or swap embroidery. Just put a note in your box. Email her at debraspincic@yahoo.com. As quilters, we should get behind this very gracious lady and send her some donations of
* Miscellaneous Blocks or Quilt UFOs
* Thread
* Backings like Sheets, Shower curtains, Curtains, Tshirt Knits, Wool blends
* Batting (or Pieces), Bedspread, Wool Pieces, Fleece
* Any Sturdy Fabrics
Debra has a heart as big as the state she's from, and she organized projects where we got Quilts of Valor into soldiers' hands, and quilts for a children's home.
This picture is for laughs. My crazy boys, Hollywood, Dyl Pickle, and the Legal Adult. The Legal Adult and roommate were guests at our house while awaiting their power to be restored. It's always good to see him, and since he's grown up, even more so.

The Dark Knight

Well, you knew I was going, didn't you? I mean, the whole free world went, according to box office totals. We opted for the Saturday night show. Again, we went with Diva's parents, same babysitter, out to eat later...your basic parent's night out.

Here's the scoop I didn't know: he actually appeared in the movie without The Joker makeup. I guess I never noticed the scars under the red paint.
The story of how he got them changed every time he was about to off someone. That's about it on origins, though. I think two of the best lines were, "I'm like a dog chasing a parked car. I wouldn't know what to do with it if I had it!" and talking to Batman, "You complete me."

Heath Ledger did a great job. The story has enough subplots to keep you busy. It's a shame the guy isn't around for his kudos. He certainly deserved them.

Quilt Everyday....the Results

You remember the challenge issued to "Quilt Everyday"? Well, here are my results:


Finally finished binding the Scout quilt! I had never done a GOOD binding before, so I'm at least pleased it turned out.

Debra is making me a label for it and I'll post it when it arrives. I'm more excited about the label than the quilt!

This is for Grandma Hunnybunny, but I'm not sure I'll make it by May. But I've been cutting out the fabric,(my biggest handicap) for a month now.

Quilt Everyday.....with us!

The Quilting Diva is challenging us to Quilt Everyday. That has always been my dream anyway, so I'm in.

Something quilty this way comes....WIP from the past

You all remember my Quilt of Valor that the Quilt Studio web ring took as a project? My part was the piecing, and I did have my issues with it.
The next step was quilting it, and it was done by the wonderful Deb at Contemporary Traditions. Didn't she do an awesome job?! She was kind enough to let me use her pictures. What's funny is her camera actually made the quilt look correct...color wise. My camera made it look like a cream color. I guess I need that Ott-Light after all!

I don't know about you, but I really love these feathers. Man, did she make it sharp!

Also, she gave us a tutorial
featuring this quilt. I'm still pretty apprehensive when it comes to borders, and she was nice enough to break it down for us.

So, go to her website and give her some love!

WIP Wednesday....on Thursday.

Don't get too excited....two posts in one day, that's not like me at all. But for those of you who thought I wasn't quilting, here you go. The binding is being sewn on. I've actually worked on some Boy Scout neckerchiefs this month, but that doesn't constitute quilting.
I'm determined to get this to the recipient by the end of the month or die trying. Of course, I've said that before in the course of two years trying to finish it. Glad he's a friend of mine.
Maybe it will turn out after all.



My first edge that even remotely looks straight. But don't ask how many times I'm ripped it out and started again. I know, I know, ripping is bad, that's why I use a scapel.

Yet another New Year's

Okay, so I'm a little late with the New Year's subject. Everyone else has most likely posted their resolutions. And I'll most likely get to that. But I thought it prudent to go back over 2007 and find the good, and the bad
It's easy to start with the good:

1. Actually finished two quilt tops for charity.

2. Finished a quilt top for The Quilt of Valor Foundation.

3. Bought a Singer 201 at Goodwill for $9.75!

4. Bought a Singer 15-91 at the same Goodwill a week later for $25.75.

5. Bought a Singer 99K on eBay for $30.

6. The Rock Star got his Tenderfoot in Boy Scouts.

7. The Dyl Pickle turned 4 as Spiderman.

8. The Hunnybunny family came to visit from North Florida.

9. I have walked 106 miles since last May.

10. The Diva, Geronimo, She-who-must-be-obeyed, and Idgy joined my inhome daycare crew this year.

11. We visited our old stompin' grounds,Chattanooga, Tennessee.

12. And we celebrated our fifth aniversary.

13. I did teach someone to quilt this summer.

The bad:

1. The Legal Adult moved away, moved closer to his dad, then moved back to Kentucky.

2. Got a nasty heel spur which curtailed my workouts at the gym.

3. My husband's '93 Honda blew up, but I did get a new 2007 Kia Optima.

4. Laurel Burch passed away.

5. I accidently deleted my old blog.

6. Played a year long game of "Come here, no, go away" with the Legal Adult. He's back in Kentucky and apparently I'm at the top of his "Do Not Call" list. Hey, join the club. We've got T-shirts.

7. Inadequately dealt with middle school drama from the Rock Star.

And I think that's all ....now I feel cleansed having dumped the year on all of you. Thanks for your patience!

Just a little of this and that

Well, to appease the mother-in-law in my life, Here are a few kiddo shots from her favorite little man:
He played so hard that day with the Diva that they just gave out!
This is a self-portrait...stole Mommy's camera and took a bunch of "interesting" pictures.

What can I say about this one? He looks so perfect...and thankfully, peaceful!

We are headed for the panhandle for the first time since.....well, I deleted the old blog, so I can't remember. But, it's been over a year. We're driving outside of Nashville first, spend the night and drop off the Rock Star to see his daddy-o for the holiday. Then, we'll head toward Tallahassee from there. It's a lot easier breaking up the trip.In sewing and quilting news, I think my obsession has driven my Hunnybunny nuts. With two kids, (and at times during the school year, 7 kids, and only 1100 square feet, some of my stuff is getting to be, well, messy. With that in mind, I made a crucial decision: one of my machines had to go. I have 4 and can't possibly use them the way someone with only one could. So, I'm parting with the first of my collection: my Singer 201. This was the one I found at Goodwill that started it all. I bought a power cord for it and a cheap cabinet to house it in. I think my friend, Lake, could use a little sunshine that only a sewing machine can give. She has an old Kenmore, but really wanted one of these old Singer's. I still have my 15-91, and 99K. The only thing I'm really going to miss about this machine is that huge space between the needle and base. Lots of room for rolling up your quilt there.

She's a dear friend, and we worked on that very LOUD quilt, "Proud Mama", that you see here.

I'm sort of in a sewing "slump". It's not that I don't have anything to work on, it's simply that I don't find myself motivated to finish anything. Ever get like that?

So,I submit to you my new project: a hobo bag!

Remember that cool Jacobean Rhapsody fabric I bought at Paducah over a year ago? Well, this is it. I was pretty nervous cutting it.
You have to click on this and really blow it up, but I'm trying to embellish it before I sew it together. So, now you can see why I'm trying to give Hunnybunny less to complain about. The beading stuff will certainly drive him the rest of the way nuts!

And last, but certainly not least, my buddy Jane Ann, over at The Jettstream, inspired me to create a cutting table out of a former micro-wave table!I noticed this old, rickety micro-wave table in the garage of one of the kids I keep so I asked what they wanted for it. 0! Gotta love 'em!
A few dry board wood screws later....TA-DA! It's sturdy! Thanks for the inspiration, Jane Ann! Go and visit...she's chalked full of great ideas!

WIP Wednesday: Quilt of Valor (top, at least) ready to mail

Hello, y'all....

I'd bore you with the crazy details of why it's taken me so long to do this quilt top, but let's just say I found a few more of my quilting weaknesses. So without further adio, I give you a Quilt of Valor quilt top.This was a quilt kit from the Quilt of Valor Foundation.


Here's a link to our friend, Quiltfrenzy's webpage for directions. It's called a Faux Log cabin, and had the piecer read her directions, I'm sure it would have turned out better.






But to quote Hunnybunny,"It is what it is...."...(How profound!)





I also won a eBay auction for some quilting software last week! I rarely EVER win, I usually just get the Buy It Now option. But I saw this Quilt Design Wizard, made by The Electric Quilt Company, so I thought I'd at least try it. I'm sure I'll go up to the EQ6, but this will tide me over.

How clean is your house? Couldn't help my studio...

I don't want these chicks visiting my house. Have you seen this show,
How Clean is Your House?"? Well, Dish network lets you preview a channel for a month in hopes that you'll upgrade your TV package. This month, I've been watching the BBC. Most of it isn't my thing, but these ladies are a scream. I saw them on Lifetime for awhile, but they've not been back. I think it's the whole corporate thing because they use things around the house to clean with instead of store bought products. It does amaze me the houses they go into. Most of the time, it's houses that haven't been touched in a number of years.

I think my 'studio' of sorts embarrasses Hunnybunny. You know, the tablecloth on the wall with various and sundry blocks and borders. Then there's the whole fabric everywhere in our bedroom thing, along with my thread, needle, and now sewing machine collections. He's really been a good sport about it all. I try to keep it organized, but I still fall short.
Still working on my Quilt of Valor. It had some issues (operator error type issues)that Debra helped me with over the phone. That was kind of cool....now when I read her blog, it's like I can hear her voice. No picture of my mess today. I don't want the quilt police to make a house call.

Nice girls can finish first

Debra was kind enough to nominate me for this very kewl award, and I'm touched. She ROCKS OUT LOUD! As creator and administrator of the Quilt Studio Web ring, she has given us something wonderful, an online guild of quilting friends. Thanks, Debra!