Test....Passed!

I'm happy to report that I passed my OCN exam today!  Whew, what a relief!  Now I feel like I can get back to crafting.... That is if I can pull myself away from the Sew, Mama, Sew- May Giveaway Day!  There are just so many great blogs out there, and so many awesome things to try to win.  I really wish I posted something on there to giveaway too, *sigh*.   I ran out of time in the day/week/month.  I think I'll actually have a post with pictures on Monday.  Knitted or sewn, maybe both?  I worked on some charm squares at my class on Wednesday,  but this week just ran away from me.  Off to bed now, working the next 2 days.... hope you all have a great weekend!

Back in Action

Hello ladies... I'm back in action, well my laptop is, at least.  No quilty things to post about today... but I do have a picture of the yummy yarn I mentioned the other day.  So far I've done about 7" of ribbing for the back, and I love the stripes.  I got a great book by Jane Ellison called Knitting Noro.  The patterns are really simple, and they showcase the beauty of the yarn.  This happens to be a bonus for me, since I can't figure out how to do the pattern I originally wanted. *sigh*  Those darn pretty lacey patterns may as well be written in a foreign language - I just don't get them!  How anyone can figure them out is a mystery to me.  I think I might need a to take a class in the fall.  I do find knitting relaxing, but I think I'm pretty slow.

I am posting a picture of my new pincusion, too.  This may look familiar to a certain giveaway winner (it's the same one as I made for Carrie in a different color).  The pattern is by Bird Brain Designs, but I combined the heart and the flowers differently than they showed.  I like that they are easy and fast to complete.  How could I not love it, wool flowers and hearts are just divine.

Another giveaway

There's a really great giveaway over at Yellow Bird Art.  Go check it out, it's ends tomorrow, hurry up , it's really good!

Crazy Week

Hello all, I know I've been missing for the last week. I have to admit to a few things...

First, my computer (aka baby mac) is acting up and my IT geek (aka hubby) is away, so I am using his computer... therefore no pictures.

Second, I've been cheating on/ignoring my quilting, *gasp* but it's because of the most glorious yarn I've ever seen! It's Noro brand called Silk Garden Lite, and it has to be the best yarn I've ever knitted with. (Well, I haven't knitted a whole lot, so I guess I'm a little biased!) But it really is so pretty, and it's one that changes colors, with nubs and texture and angora fibers, oh my!

Third, I worked a lot this past week, and so I haven't put my spare time to good use towards sewing at my machine. I also feel like the weather plays a big factor in how much time I spend at my machine. Lots of time spent outside, and doing gardening, kids sports, blah, blah, blah.

Fourth, I am taking the OCN exam next week, and I've actually had to study! It's for my particular specialty in nursing, a certification for Oncology nurses. Haven't had to do that for a while, so I'm a bit out of practice. Truthfully, I'm a lot nervous about it. Keeping fingers and toes crossed, though....

I'm going to get back on track soon, and hopefully get baby mac working again, too. Have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day. Thank you to all of the service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Check out this giveaway... it's awesome!

Go to Suzanne's blog (Just Another Hang Up....I really like that one) for a really pretty giveaway!  Make sure you follow her rules, she seems pretty strict!  But she's a mother to 7 kids, so it completely justified! :-)

Cotton Candy Lane

The Cotton Candy Lane top is finished.  I was able to miter the borders, with the help of a great set of instructions I found online.  If you ever need/want to try it out, it's right here.  It wasn't as hard as I had imagined it, I just had to pay close attention to where I was lining things up with my ruler.

I got the hot pink minky dot for the back, and I mean HOT PINK!!!  It matches the darkest pink in the blocks, and it's super soft!  The best part is that it comes 60" wide, so no piecing the back either.  It's all pin basted and ready for quilting.  I think just a simple stipple will do, since I've never quilted with minky before, so I'm not quite sure how stretchy/difficult the quilting will be.  I'm posting a picture of how I stretched it out.  Sorry for the dark photo, lighting isn't that great in my livingroom.

  

I have two folding tables that we use in the summer for big parties, etc.  I figured it would be better than crawling all over the floor.  (I really dislike pin basting because of having to be on the floor, it's a real killer on the back and knees, don't you think?)  Anyway, I set the two tables up together, and taped the back, batting, and top together, and I pinned away.  I can say it was way easier than the way I've done it before.  I'm not sure how well it will work for a bigger quilt top, but I'm willing to give it a try.

Cotton Candy Lane?

Here is the Cotton Candy Lane top, so far. (I'm thinking of that for a name.....Hmmmmm, how does that sound?  Not good at naming quilts yet)  Still need to put borders on it,  I think I'll try a mitered border this time.  Haven't done that before.  It's about 50x66, and I was thinking of using hot pink minky for the back.  Hey, this is definitely one girly quilt, and I think it should be cozy too!

I mentioned the pin cushion swap yesterday, and I have another swap to post about today!  

L. Jane E. has thought of a Crazy Swap and started another new blog (she's been a busy girl) to organize it.  Check it out here.   Even if you can't sign on now, keep checking, because we will be doing something different each month.  No obligation for a year long commitment or anything.   Hope you want to join us,  I have a feeling it's going to be good..... :-)

Pincushion Swap

If you are interested in a pincushion swap, go to Kim's blog here.  It sounds like it will be a lot of fun!!!  And, honestly, is there a limit to how many pincushions a quilter can have?  I think not :-)

And the winner is......

The winner of my giveaway is.....  post #7!!! I put the numbers in a hat and it's Carrie P. of A Passion for Applique!  Congrats Carrie!  I think this will also be a spirit lifter for her, since she has been having some elbow pain recently, and can't work on her sewing right now.  I'll email you for your address, Carrie.  Thanks for all of the comments on the post, I found a few new friends to blog/quilt along with.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Just a quick note to say HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!! I hope you all have a lovely day!!! I'll be posting the winner of my giveaway later today...And I just had to post a picture of the cutest needle case ever, that my daughter made for me! I LOVE IT!

Wednesday's Progress

I've been working on a few different things, and one of them has NOT been my Aunt Millie's Block. :( I just am having a mental block, and I know it's the hand piecing, but I'll get there. It isn't even a huge part of the block, and I could probably do it differently, but we'll see.... So, this is what I've been doing instead: I finished my A Tisket A Tasket January block.


The May block was just posted yesterday here. It's super cute.

I got my Soiree purchases in the mail. The yardage is yum, yum, yummy!  I used quiltshops.com website to search for it. I always have good luck finding what I need, and all of the stores have all been very speedy to ship my purchases. This time I ordered from Desperate Quilters. They even sent a packet of tea, and a free Moda pattern, too. Highly recommended. I pieced all of the blocks from the 2 charm packs, I just love that fabric. I'm feeling like I might go back for more! (Don't tell hubby, he just shakes he head after coming back from the mailbox, and there's another purchase waiting for me!)  I can just imagine a cute, summery, something good made with it!



And finally, I'm back to working on my Primitive Garden blocks.  I have posted about these before here, and here, and here.  This block is really neat. The garden gloves aren't shaped quite as they should be, but they'll do. I'm slowly working on these blocks. They are fused down, beautifully hand died wools from Primitive Gatherings, and then blanket stitched with perle cotton floss. The blanket stitch goes pretty quickly, it's the prep work that takes time and patience. Much like anything else, I suppose, the work is definitely worth it in the end.

Giveaway

Soooooo...  I am so excited that I won my first giveaway, but I'm also excited that I'm now having my first giveaway, too!  I received the bags in the mail from Artfully Ooglebloops, and I picked out my favorite,  I also got some pretty blue yarn and a zentangle tag, which are way cool!

 This is the bag YOU could win:

There will also be a little extra surprise for the lucky winner, so here's how it goes: Leave a comment on this post.  Tell me who you are, and something about a project that you are working on currently.  I will pick a random winner on Sunday.  

These bags originally came all the way from American Samoa from Barb.  She made 5 bags, and then started the giveaway.  Each time someone won, they picked out their favorite, and then offered the rest as a giveaway to the best bloggers out there - quilters like you!  She also happens to be having another giveaway going on right now.  You should really take a look, she has some beautiful things on her blog.  

Working, not quilting :(

I am working today, and the weekend, so no new pics. I do love my job as a nurse, and I love the people I work with as well. I really think I enjoy my days at home even more, because it gives me the perspective of what truely is important. Not to take your family and your health for granted. Enjoy every day,and do what makes you happy! The sign in my kitchen says: Live Well, Love Often, Laugh Much!

I did start the Bunny Hill Designs : A Tisket A Tasket January block yesterday. If you haven't seen it yet, you must go take a look. There's about a million of them on their Ficker account, too! It's so cool to see how everyone does things differently. I'm not on Flicker yet, but maybe I can figure it out next week. The blocks are super cute, and super easy to put together. I have some Moda Aviary charm packs that I'm using, and then adding in my scraps to use some of them up. I just need to do the embelishments and it will be done! Maybe Monday?.... My Soiree purchases are in the mail, so I can't wait for them to finish that up too! Big plans, High hopes.

I hope eveyone has a great weekend!