Book cover exchange

For our christmas guild christmas party we did a quilted book cover exchange. We chose a bag which contained a book and some fabric a few months ago. This is what the one I rec'd ended up looking like. It was a little address book. I thought it turned out cute. You should've seen some of the covers...WOW! I didn't feel experienced enough to start cutting up fabric and creating something fancy. I happened to have some coordinating fabric for the binding that went well with her fabric. Anyways, she was pleased when she opened it and had actually forgotten what fabric she had "thrown in" for the cover. I should've took a pic of the one I rec'd. This is the inside and where i was brave enough to add some character..lol

We started decoration for christmas. I just love these little snowmen I found at a dollar store!

They are so cute!!


I am posting 5 of the 8 cute little stocking I finally finished. I will add another pic sometime soon of all 8

I'm trying to be productive and get little projects out of the way. I am a first year member of our quilt guild (yay!) and this year we are giving quilt covered books for our gifts at the christmas banquet. Cool idea. I few months ago, we brought in a "book" of our choice(I brought in a mini album) and fabric of our choice in a brown paper bag. We put it all in a bin and then everyone picked one, so we had to take that home and cover it. Mine isn't so creative as I am kinda a newbie, but I think it's going to be pretty cute. I'll post pics of the finished product : ) I have to get it done, christmas banquet is Tuesday night. I've always been a bit of a procrastinator.

Then I have to put the one remaining strip of border around my inlaws lap quilt and I am going to take it to be machine quilted. I still haven't rec'd my quilting feet for my new machine..grrrr. I am so looking forward to learning this technique.

I am so behind in posting. I spend more time looking at other peoples blogs when I have time, much more fun! I finally got my new sewing machine..yay!! It's a janome (quilters companion 6019). I am still waiting for the quilting feet that were supposed to come with it, I can't wait to learn to machine quilt. I think I will put together more quilts if I knew how to quicken the whole process. I added a few pics. I love my little pillow. This was made from left over material from a couple of christmas runners I made.

I am finally working on completing the my first jellyroll quilt(lap size). The center went together pretty quick, I just needed to get more material for the borders. I need to add another strip around and it's ready to be sent to be quilted!! I wasn't so sure I liked the colors, but once sewn together it's quite beautiful.

Jellyroll's and cute little stockings

I am in the midst of sewing my very first Jellyroll quilt. It's going to be a lap size and I am planning on giving it to my mother and father in law for christmas. I wasn't sure about the prints, but boy, once it was sewn all together it's lovely! I still have to go get more fabric to sew on the border.

I am also making these cute little stockings. There are 4 more to be made and they will go on once of my christmas trees this year.

I am hoping to convince my husband to buy me a new sewing machine. I really need one and now that I am getting into quilting, i want to be able to machine quilt and I cannot on my old kenmore : ( I have researched a bit and have my site set on a Janome. There is a dealer about an hour from here and I am going to go there and see what is available that doesn't cost an arm and a leg!

Happy Thanksgiving.

This year we are having a quiet Thanksgiving. We had our Turkey supper yesterday and enjoyed the candle light and mellow setting. Giving thanks for being together and healthy. Last year my sister were with us, they were sure to call to say Hi and that we were missed. Living 3 hrs away from family can be lonesome at times.

cooking/baking with Emma

Emma made a casserole for supper last night. I told her that I want her to make supper once a week and she can pick what it will be. She did a great job and we all enjoyed it.

I think she is so beautiful...don't you?

We also made some wonderbar cookies...mmmm, chopped up wonderbars!

Cute little fabric basket.

I loveeee this little fabric basket.!! I have been following crazymomquilts christmas tutorials and have been so inspired. After seeing the little fabric basket the other day I knew I just had to try it. I had some fabric left from my scarecrow wall hanging and ta-da!!
Link can be found from crazymomquilts site...http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/
I just have to figure out what to put in it!! I want to make some up for christmas. Wouldn't it be so cute for christmas baking...any other ideas ?

Mr. Scarecrow

I saw this pattern in a quilt magazine and had to make him! I completed it just in time to display on these beautiful fall days.




Isn't he sooooo cute! I am so please on how it turned out.

Sunflowers

My inlaws have grown these beautiful tall sunflowers this year. I thought what a great photo op! So we grabbed the step latter and took some pics!

First day of school!

It's been quite busy in our household the last week..wood to put in for winter, we'll be nice and cozey now!

Getting kids ready for school. This is a pic with my beautiful sister Shauna who is a hairdresser. She did the kids hair for back to school. We went on a family canping trip this past weekend. A pic of me and my husband.
Nothing like gathering everyone around the campfire.
Tonight I attended the quilters guild meeting. I am so excited!! Last year I went to one later in the year, but I was just too busy and not in the right head space for sewing etc. But I have it out now and I am ready to start some projects. I bought some beautiful fabric tonight at the guild to make a table runner for christmas time. I will prob start some of it tomorrow even though I have another project on the go! I really want to make a quilt for our room this winter. That will be my "Big" project. I loved it when they did show and tell tonight...some beautiful quilts...very inspiring.

Eight 13 year old Girls in total!!

My Daughter convinced me to let her have a "end of summer" slumber party. This was a huge feat to take on...these girls are wild!!! I was still telling them to shhhhhh at 2:30 a.m.! Ah well...it was one night and memory they will have forever : )

I got busy making them a few goodies to have, they sure loved those cupcakes and cakepops(thank-you bakerella!)

Emma took a pic of me during the pre-party preparation.

p.s...I did require a late afternoon nap the following day...whew! those girls wore me out!

Yesterday...I made a apron!! : )

I've been wanting to dig out my old sewing machine and do make something. Wasn't sure what do to, but knew I wanted to do something simple since it's been a while. So, I went to walmart found a great apron pattern and grabbed some fabric.

I have only made a few things with patterns over the years. I have never found them easy, but I guess I need to just practice! It's like a puzzle..putting it all together.

I'm pretty proud of my apron : ) Next time I will tackle one of the full aprons.

I especially like the pocket on it...cute : )

We just got home today from renting a cottage for a week that was right next to a lake. It was so nice to get away from the phone, t.v. and computer. My favorite part of the day was first thing when I would rise before everyone, put the coffee on and then once it was ready I would sit in front of the big window facing the water and read. I loved the silence..so quiet I could hear the clock ticking. Life is so fast paced and noise seems to be always around. Sometimes we forget the importance of the simple things.

Family and friends would come out to visit us. My mother and sisters rented the cottage next to us..but they only came certain nights at separate times. It was nice to spend the time I did with them though. I really love my sisters dearly and especially my sweet little niece Isabella!!

The kids had a great week and got along really well and Emma gave me barely any attitude..ahhh..that was wonderful..lol

I originally started blogging just for cooking. But, I am being so inspired by all the blogs I have been reading! I'm not sure how I'll do with this but I am going to try and blog a bit about my life too. I am on a journey to simplicity in my life. I have an inner calm after going through quite a few years of depression and discontentment. I have a beautiful family and feel so blessed.

This is my little niece Isabella...is she not the cutest!!! I love her so much, wish she lived closer. I will get to spend lot's of time with her next week when we are meeting for a family vacation.

Cupcakes for my inlaws 40th anniversary.

For my husbands parents 40th anniversary I made some cupcakes! They were quite the hit!! I used bakerellas recipe for the chocolate cupcake and dora greenspans buttercream recipe...a match made in heaven. Oh and those are chocolate transfers on top...ppl couldn't believe they could eat the decoration ;o)



My nephew couldn't wait to get ahold of one of these. He's just as cute as the cupcake : )