I won :)

Almost two weeks ago, I entered a giveaway over at My Giveaway Today. It was for a penguin gift tower from Executive Baskets and I was hoping to win it for my sister, who is decorating her nursery with penguins and polar bears. Well, the way their giveaways work is they run for one day only, and then the next day you have just that day to claim your prize. I won (out of 668 comments! Can you believe that?) on Dec 7th, but didn't even realize it until Dec 10th!!! I was devastated that I missed it. At Shaine's urging, I went ahead and emailed MGAT anyway, explaining what happened and that I understood if it was too late. It wasn't! She said she planned on choosing another winner that night, but she hadn't yet, so I could still claim it!! Right away I had an email from the company for me to tell them where to send it, and I had them send it straight to her! How nice!!

Here is the little penguin in his new home. Pardon the finger, apparently I am not the worst photographer after all ;) I hope you like it, Chelsey, and that little Perry will like it too!

2010 in Status

So, on Facebook there is an application that makes a collage out of your status updates from the last year. I remember for 2009 it was pictures, which I thought I still had but apparently don't. Here is my status collage:

I find it amusing that the majority of them are about food, being tired, or me being a smart aleck! It reminded me of some great stuff that happened throughout the year, like when I got Cullen to flush the toilet while Shaine was in the shower (it makes the water really hot, and no it isn't mean, he deserved it for dumping ICE WATER on me the day before!), funny things Shaine said ("When is cinco de Mayo?" or when asked what his middle initial is he said "M as in Mary" instead of "Micheal" or "Mark" or any GUY name ;) ), or when Shaine won the state NCO of the year competition! It has been a good year, and I am ready for the next one.

And in other good news, I think Cullen is finally potty trained, during the day anyway. Hopefully in the next week or so we will be sans diapers for him all the way! Woohoo!

How has 2010 been for you? Hopefully good. Favorite memories? I am thinking that maybe I will gather up some of the neat partial-FQs I have and get a scrap bundle going for an I-Spy Giveaway at the end of the year! It would be my first giveaway, so what do you think?

I ♥ the mail lady!

Well, wouldn't you if she brought you all these goodies yesterday?

Okay, so my Go! got here last week, but I knew if I opened it there would be no chance of getting the costumes done! Besides, I am waiting on the correct dies to get here. I think I will take some of my scraps and cut them into squares tonight, though, just to test it out!

As for all the fabric, I have plenty of friends and family members who are currently expecting babies early next year, so I am going to be making quite a few baby quilts, I'm sure!

Another thing that came in the mail yesterday was part of my Christmas gift from my sister. It requires assembling, so I haven't taken a picture yet. What is it, you ask? Well, it's a shelving unit for fat quarters! And apparently it holds up to 300 of them! Considering I have nowhere near that amount, I think she's encouraging me to build my stash up a bit! Seeing as how I start my NEW JOB tomorrow, I think that just might be happening very soon! Also, our roommate is moving out at the end of this month, meaning that I will have my guest room/sewing room back! I can't wait!

Oh, and while on the subject of building up my stash, there are two giveaways going on right now with a sweet selection of goodies! First, Little Miss Shabby is giving away a NINE FQ stack of Summer in the City, with lots of ways to gain entries! Second, for a shot to win your choice of a jelly roll or a layer cake of Pure (like my charm pack up above!), head over to That's Sew Shawna and try your luck again :)

Make a List Monday

I have been reading the lists that Sarah, from Confessions of a Fabric Addict, makes for herself each week, as well as the updates showing how much she got done off the list from last week. It hit me that I could probably benefit from making myself a list each week. I am sure I will never COMPLETE the list, but at least if I have it organized it might make it all seem less daunting! So here goes, my crafty to-do list:

1. Stitch up some quick cake stand covers for my sister

2. Finish the owl pillow she asked me to make for her (all that is left is to stitch up the opening from stuffing it

3. Finish spraypainting Cullen's costume (I thought I had enough blue spray paint on hand, but fell just a bit short, so I have to get a new one)

4. Complete making Shaine's costume... I can't wait to share this one!

5. Sketch up an idea for a new baby quilt for a good friend, and for my brown bag quilt

I think that is all reasonable stuff to finish in a week! Nothing too involved, so hopefully I will be able to get it done. The costumes I have to get done, so at least I know those will be crossed off the list! ;) Are you as excited about Halloween as I am?

Oh, and be sure to head over to Sarah's blog this week! Her birthday is Friday and to celebrate, she is giving away two great charm packs, and there are lots of ways to earn yourself an entry. Check out that blog post here! Good luck :)

And just so this isn't a post without any pictures, here is Cullen at Halloween last year:

Swaps and a Giveaway!

I have signed up for two swaps in the last couple days!

I am SUPER excited, as I have not yet participated in any. First, I signed up for the fourth round of the Pillow Talk { Swap } and I can not WAIT to get started! Here is my inspiration mosaic:
I am sure it probably seems all over the place to a PTS veteran, but I attempted to show styles and designs that interested me. I love bright colors, but as far as our home decor goes, we have mostly jewel tones... (Although I have already warned Shaine that a really awesome pillow may call for new curtains and wall hangings!) Truth be told, I haven't been sewing or quilting long enough for anything to be "old" or "outdated" to me yet anyway! Everything is new, interesting and amazing! (Whoever makes mine will be lucky, I am going to be easy to please!)

The second swap I signed up for was The Inchy Flower Swap. Each month you send to someone, and receive a 1 inch hexagon flower. Each month is a different person, so you are sure to have a WIDE variety of prints and designs when all is said and done! I better practice to make sure mine are up to par.

The giveaway I mentioned is at Green Fairy Quilts. This is one of my favorite online fabric shops, and the one I check first. They always have great deals and sales, and until Monday you have a chance to win a fat eighth bundle of Breakfast at Tiffany's (gasp!) or a $30 gift card to the online store (for the most referrals). I am sure I will not be able to refer too many people, but if you do happen to head that way, mention me :)

GREAT things going on!

Yesterday I nearly died.

Ok, not really, but when I laid down to feed Aubree, and decided to check my email while doing so, I got an email that sure made me think I did! It was an email from Ariane, of Ariane's Crafts, telling me that I won a giveaway on her blog. Not just any giveaway, but THE giveaway! An Accuquilt Go! Cutter and three dies!

I immediately called my sister, and made her get on the computer to check Ariane's blog to make sure! I have entered a few Go! giveaways, but I never realistically expected to win one. I can't wait to try it out! The dies I chose are the rag quilt die (so I NEVER have to snip those edges again!), and the apple core, and the drunkards path. I chose those last two because they are ones that I absolutely love the look when they are done, but I have been too intimidated to try. To even be slightly off while cutting could cause serious headaches and waste!

I also finished the binding of the quilt I was working on in my last post. It is now all washed and crinkly, and I love it! It's the first quilt I actually used FMQ to make a DESIGN, not just stippling or wavy lines... well, attempted to, anyway ;) It's not perfect, but it is cute, the hubby even says its awesome, and I can't wait until I get better at FMQ and can compare my progress. Its a nice sunny day out, but as we have just recently had a bunch of fire ants moving into our yard, I don't want to set it down, even for a second, so when Shaine gets home I will go outside and take a nice picture to show it off. Next on my to-do list is to baste and -hopefully- finish Shaine's memory quilt by Sunday, so he can show it off at drill and maybe get a few people interested in one of their own!

Today also marks the kick off of the Fall into Fall Giveaway bash. If you haven't heard of it yet, you DEFINITELY need to check it out. Well over 100+ bloggers are hosting giveaways. If I had heard about it sooner, I would have tried to get some stuff together, maybe some FQs and embroidery floss. Hmmm... I'll save those for when I have some more followers I guess! Anyway, grab yourself a snack, something to drink, and get over there to see if any are ones you would be interested in entering!

Another great giveaway going on right now is over at Spun Sugar Quilts! She is celebrating her 600th post with a fabulous giveaway and 6 winners. Fat Quarters, charm packs, pincushions, magazines, patterns and more could be yours, so head over there to throw your name in!

New goodies and giveaways!

Yesterday the mailman left these in the box for me:

I ordered them from Green Fairy Quilts, on Monday NIGHT, and they were in my mailbox on Thursday! The shop has GREAT prices and even better sales (the layer cake, charm pack, and shipping was less than 25$!), and the fact that it got here so fast makes it even better! I am not sure what I will do with them yet, but I love the charm pack colors and flowers, and may use them in a baby quilt. The colors in the layer cake match the living room decor quite well, also!

We are also sort of last minute planning Cullen's upcoming 2nd birthday party. It is in two weeks, which may not be THAT last minute, but I feel like invitations should have been sent out two weeks ago! It won't be too fancy, pizza and cake here at the house, but we are renting an inflatable jump house (40$ a day through the MWR!) and we have lots of water balloons that we never used this summer, so it should be a fun day. I am even thinking of maybe finding a little pinata ;)

Here are two more Accuquilt Go! giveaways, also:

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts (ending Friday!)

Millie's Quilting (ending Saturday!)

OH how I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to get my hands on one :) I keep crossing my fingers that one day that lovely random generator site will favor ME ;)

Want a Go!?

Ryan has opened submissions for the Accuquilt GO! giveaway he is hosting.... You can have up to 5 chances for this one! Good luck!

Go HERE to enter!

Go! and enter this giveaway!

Sherri from A Quilting Life is hosting an Accuquilt Go! giveaway!! How amazing is that? It seems there are alot of these going on lately, Heather at A La Mode Fabric just ended hers, and Ryan (I'm just a guy who quilts) is opening his on Monday! As much as I love getting the extra chance by blogging, I also realize it could LOWER my chances as well, but I figure I don't have alot of followers (all THREE of you ♥), so it shouldn't hurt much! I spent about 20 minutes earlier showing Shaine youtube videos of how it works and why it would be a great tool to have, but at this point in my quilting, there is absolutely no way I could justify buying it! I wish I had a bunch of trustworthy friends that live close and quilt, so we could maybe all go in together! Ah well, maybe in a few years I will make some really good ones, get some commissions, and then I could convince Shaine I NEED one!

Anyway, this one is open until Sept 2nd, and the winner will be announced on the 3rd (The day my daughter is supposed to be born! Maybe it's a sign!), so head on over and try your luck!

Big Things This Way!

First of all, Cullen has a new little cousin on the way! Shaine's cousin's wife (confusing, maybe?) is in labor at the moment, and little Liam will be here soon! I am going to try my hand at some embroidery to put his name on a little blanket I want to make for him. I will hopefully have that to show in the next few days. I certainly have enough embroidery floss to choose from:

Also, I finally went ahead and opened an etsy shop! There isn't much in there yet, but hopefully will be someday soon, I seem to have been bitten by the sewing bug and have LOTS of plans/ideas in my head!

Lastly, 44th Street Fabric is having ANOTHER giveaway! How awesome is that? And this time there will be two winners, one receiving 2 Lily & Will charm packs and a quilt pattern, and the other receiving 2 Fandango charm packs and a quilt pattern (thats the one I am hoping for!). Get over there for your chance(s) to win, and good luck!

Some more finished stuff and a giveaway with a CAUSE!

So I finished the last two Halloween totes... I played around a bit with the measurements on each one, so they aren't all COMPLETELY identical.And here are all three:
And my niece got the dress I made for her yesterday to celebrate her first day of preschool and she loves it! I am just so glad it fits (it ended up a little longer than I intended but thats okay), since it was a surprise, I couldn't just ask her measurements, and living several states away makes it hard to get them on the sly. Here she is enjoying her dress:

Okay, so usually I only blog about giveaways I enter that I REALLY want to win.... This time, (although I would really love to win the charm packs) it is more about loving what she's doing. Jennifer is having a giveaway here for THREE charm packs and a pattern.... but what I find more impressive is that she is also training to participate in the Nike Women's Marathon coming up VERY soon in San Francisco, benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society... Her info and support page is HERE. I am waiting until Shaine gets home to see if we can spare a little more to donate, but seeing as how we already donated to support my old Army friend, Reinalyn, who is preparing for the same race, he may say no.

Post office?! (+a giveaway!)

So I FINALLY made it out to the post office to mail some projects/gifts/requests that had been waiting around to be mailed (Including the rag quilt for my sister that had been looking mighty nice draped over my couch.... I definitely need to make one for my living room now!), and I experienced a bit of shock over how much it costs to ship stuff, even regular ground mail (non-priority). After HAVING to buy the "cushioned mailer" envelope because they didn't have ANY of the plain ones in stock, and then paying for postage I paid nearly 5$ each for two packages that each weighed .75oz... and almost 11$ to mail the box with the quilt (which was what I expected there). Am I doing something wrong? What is the secret to affordable postage/shipping?? Flat rate boxes and envelopes? Buying the envelopes elsewhere? Help!

Also, another giveaway I found that sparked my interest, and should spark yours as well! They are giving away a quilting book, four FQs, and a charm pack of Bella solids at Stash Manicure. Hurry on over for your chance to win these great goodies, I'm sure crossing my fingers!

Awesome giveaway :)

It still doesn't cease to amaze me how much generosity some people show with their giveaways! I know sometimes it is from a third party/sponsor, but often times it is precious fabric yardage, scraps, FQs, etc from that person's own beloved stash! One of the great blogs I follow, Little Miss Shabby, is having a giveaway with lots of little scraps from Swell by Urban Chiks. Hurry on over to enter before this Saturday!!
--------------------------------------
Meanwhile, the hubby and the boy came home last night! It's so good to have my little man back, even though it took until noon for him to give his mama some kisses! I can tell he was spoiled by all the family in Michigan, because his patience level is now zero. Where I used to say "Wait" or "Hold on" while getting him a snack, drink, etc... he used to put his hand down and wait patiently. Now it's an all out tantrum. *sigh* He'll learn soon enough that doesn't work when he realizes that while he throws himself on the floor whatever he wanted got put away!

I made a nursing cover for my friend this week:



And also finally finished putting together the rag quilt squares for my sister's quilt:


Still need to fray it... I only cut a few inches along one edge and already got bored. I can tell this will take me awhile LOL! I will have to find a good movie on TV, wait for Cullen to get to sleep, and get to town! (And yes I did buy spring scissors!)

That reminds me of a funny story that happened to me yesterday. I was nearly out of the thread color I used for Chelsey's quilt, so slightly before noon I grabbed the almost-empty-spool of thread and headed over to Hancock's, as it is rather close to the house. Well, they didn't open until noon, and with Walmart just across the street, I didn't want to wait in my hot car for 20 minutes. Went to Walmart, saw the spring scissors I need, one pair for 10.99, and another larger kind for 15.99, but nothing even close to the thread color I needed (even though I originally got it there!). Back to Hancocks. Walked in, found the thread, looked for the scissors and realized that the exact same brand/type/style EVERYTHING for each pair was 15.99 and 21.99, respectively. Now, I am not a huge cheapskate or anything, but 5$ extra for the exact same thing? I put the thread back on its shelf, and headed out to try a different Walmart (we have 3 within a 2 mile radius). It wasn't until I got to that Walmart, and grabbed the almost-empty-spool of thread that I realized I put the wrong one back!
I inadvertently just STOLE a spool of thread!
I felt embarrassed and a bit humiliated, so after I ran a few more errands I went back and paid for it. I believe what goes around comes around, and I need all the good karma I can get!

Halloween Nights!!

I have been drooling over this fabric since I saw it for the first time about two weeks ago. Shaine says its too early to order Halloween fabric ;) HOWEVER, Bev from 44th Street Fabric is offering a giveaway, with two winners! One winner gets two yards of fabric from the collection, and another winner gets two charm packs! How awesome is that? Hurry on over to try your luck!

I probably shouldn't be greedy, since I won a giveaway there barely more than a week ago, but I just couldn't resist!

New Sewing Machine! (And a few new giveaways!)

Well, just after my last post, my sewing machine decided to take a dive... The shuttle thingy (excuse me for not knowing proper terms!) that spins around to pick up the bobbin string no longer spins. I am sure it is an easy fix, but above my head. The ironic thing is that while I was trying to peek and see if I could fix it myself, I realized what the problem was with my bobbin tension the last few weeks! Anyway, considering the sewing machine cost me less than 100$ to begin with, and I still need to buy the 25$ walker foot to fit it, I am sure you can guess that I am not exactly jumping to pay for servicing/repair. I had been hinting at Shaine that I wanted a new sewing machine anyway, and I have seen tons of good reviews on the Brother CS6000i sewing machine. It's inexpensive, COMES WITH the walker foot-- as well as several other nifty feet and accessories, and an extension table, and all for 153$ when all was said, done, and totalled up! I don't need a super fancy several hundred dollar machine, and probably won't for a long time, if ever, and if all the 900+ reviews speak truth, this machine is good for basic quilting and will last me a long time. I sure hope so! If any of you have used this machine, please let me know! Either way I am POSITIVE it will be MUCH better than the Singer Inspiration 4205 that I impulse bought two years ago without any research. Don't get me wrong, it did what I wanted it to do, but for a little bit larger of an investment I could have had much more!

So, since Shaine and Little Man are leaving me for TEN WHOLE DAYS on Friday (is it wrong to be excited about some alone time?!), I told Shaine I NEEDED the new machine before he left. Well, we ordered it last night, and it is supposed to be here tomorrow. I am so excited! I can not wait! I have some great ideas for new crafts, and can't wait to post them when they are finished!

The charm pack I won from Bev at 44th Street Fabric came in the mail yesterday! It is Freebird, by MoMo for Moda. So cute, and I could not be more excited! I am thinking a cute tote/purse? Maybe a matching clutch too!

Anyway, until I get my new machine and some new projects underway, here are a couple great giveaways I have found lately.... Be sure to check out the blogs themselves, too, lots of great stuff there!

• Fabric to make a replica of the really awesome bag she has a tutorial for at That's Sew Mandy
• Six gorgeous fat quarters at Jewel's Arm Candy
• Quilt kit, pattern and fabric from Moda's Blush line (Soooo pretty!) at Stash Manicure
• Fantastic giveaway with TEN prizes and winners at Portland Modern Quilt Guild!
  

Good Luck!

The last week or so...

It has been such a busy week that I haven't even popped on to do more than just check up on everyone else's blogs! I have, however, gotten a bit done outside of the internet ;) I finished the blocks for a new pattern I tried (found at Quilter's Cache). It is my first attempt at paper piecing, and looking at the finished blocks I wish I had chosen more contrasting fabrics, but I think it will still look nice overall. I am going to add some brown sashing, and then have yet to decide how I am going to do the outer border and backing, so until I do I need to decide on which layout:

Option A:


Option B:
I also found the PERFECT way to use the Botany Jelly Roll I have been holding onto. I am not one to resist the urge of cutting into fabrics because they are too cute or too pretty... in fact, it's the opposite! I can't WAIT to find the perfect idea or inspiration to cut into them! I am starting on this one as soon as I publish this post, so expect pictures soon!

I am also super excited because the first thing I found out this morning is that I won a giveaway at 44th Street Fabric for a charm pack! I am not sure which one, as there were 7 charm packs, and 7 winners, so it will be a great surprise when it gets here in the mail! If you haven't heard already, there is another giveaway that just started, with 2 winners receiving 5 different 1.2 yard cuts of beautiful Rural Jardin fabric by French General. I feel like it would anger the Fabric Giveaway Gods by entering so soon after winning one, so I will be sitting this one out!

Also in the mail on its way to me is some fabric Heidi was giving away free to anyone willing to pay the postage. What a great thing for her to do, right? I am waiting on Box 2, and can't wait to see the Halloween and Christmas fabrics, as I have been pestering the manbeast that I want to make a BIG quilt for Christmas!

Giveaway again :)

It is so great of some of these bloggers to do these giveaways! Maybe one day I will be able to do the same!

Michigan Quilts Giveaway--- ziploc bag with lots of 3" squares (and they look well coordinated already!) and the book Quilts, Coverlets, Rugs and Samplers by Robert Bishop

Another giveaway and progress

So, I decided to take out the horrible attempt at machine quilting and just hand quilt the circle quilt. It is taking me a long time, since it isn't easy to do with a toddler running around, but it's SO WORTH IT! I love how it is coming out, and I can't wait to finish it all up!

Since I have been handquilting (and find it a bit therapeutic) I told Shaine I can wait on the walker foot, and since I did that, he let me pick out a Jelly Roll for a new quilt idea :) I picked Botany, and found one on sale for 18$ :) I can't wait for it to get here!

I also told him I am not feeling up to flying to Michigan next month after all. He is a little bummed about it, but it will save us a lot of money, and I told him to take Cullen with him. Is it bad that my son isn't even two and I am already looking forward to a week of peace and quiet?? Think of all the quilting I will be able to get done!

Also, found a few more giveaways today:

Martinique Jelly Cake -- So much I could do with this!! *crosses fingers*

Cute Charm Squares-- 7 winners will be chosen!

Fat Quarters--- And also a chance to win a Candy Cane Lane quilt book!

Another Quilt Shoppe-related giveaway-- Fat Quarters!

Giveaway of 5 Patterns and a Botany Layer Cake-- I just bought a Botany Jelly Roll, and can't wait for it to arrive!

Searching...

So I have been trying to find a decent beginners quilting group/guild in the San Antonio area. Everything I have found seems to be extremely out of date and inactive. Also, call me stingy, but I can't afford a high amount in dues until this baby comes and I can go back to work, since the hubby is limiting me on how much I can spend on anything related to quilting. I can't really blame him, we do have things we are saving for, but I sure can pout about it!

During my searching, however I have found a few giveaways of various kinds! Here are the ones I found that haven't ended yet:

An Accuquilt go! cutter giveaway *gasp*

A stack of Heather Ross fat quarters

Moda's Candy Bars (Sooooo cute!)

Beautiful hand-dyed wool, fabric, thread, and a handmade bag!!

Cutie Pinwheel Giveaway! (I love these :) )