one shabby chick

A quick quilt

A friend of ours had a baby boy last week and I'm taking them dinner on Monday night so I whipped up a quick quilt this afternoon (at least it would have been quick if my thread didn't keep breaking while I was quilting it - ughh!).

The center is a fat quarter of this and then I used 6" borders of this fabric. So quick and easy.

I actually tried a meandering free-motion instead of the loops I normally do..I need a little more practice but it will be nice and crinkly after I wash it.

The binding is Michael Miller pony in brown - I've been dying to use it as binding and finally found something it (sorta) matched with.

I finally finished up this little "I don't know what to make it into" quilt the other day.

I did little hand-sewn circles with yellow embroidery floss and then did some free-motion quilting with the machine too. I need to finish the  binding and then maybe I'll give it to the girls for a doll quilt.

I guess I could always save it for Christmas and pair it with one of these. A plan is forming now :-)

Bela isn't feeling well so she's going to stay home with my parents (and not wear her cute costume!!). I'll take pictures of the rest of us even though I'm pretty sure Hubby is not wearing a costume.

I'd better start using my fabric stash

Because have you SEEN the cuteness that is coming?

Anna Maria's new line - Good Folks

 

Tina Givens has two new lines - how unbelievably cute is that bird print - and the printed patchwork....oh my!

These rockets by David Walker are so adorable!! And so are the little planets!

Scattered

I'm feeling a little scattered this week. I really can't wait for the kids' soccer to be over.

We painted their pumpkins today after school and then I remembered I still needed to make the girls' bloomers.

I made one bonnet last night at quilt class and then another one today - they were really easy. The tutorial uses a bandana but I just used a fabric square (16"-18").

(this is Baby girl's bonnet)

I used cheap muslin for the bloomers in case I messed up - I love the pattern Sandi made. I can't wait to make the girls some new ones out of some cute prints.

I used the ruffle capri pants pattern - so easy. I was rushing so bad so they aren't nicely finished but hey - who had sewing machines on the prairie anyway?

We had a party tonight - rushed home after soccer, showered and were out the door. It was one of those parties that is a friend of a friend (or in this case, a sibling) so we didn't really know many people.....but the kids had fun.

Tomorrow should be much more relaxed...we have a Fall Festival at church and then are going to our friend's house for a potluck/trick-or-treating (plus there is no soccer).

I need to make the boys some ninja masks....and some trick-or-treat bags (if I have time).

Sore back = Finished bindings

I played (soccer) on Sunday - not sure what I was thinking...my back is now sore. Not as bad as yesterday but still sore.

So yesterday I spent the day icing it and finishing up a few quilts that needed binding.

Polka Dot border:

(the back)

(the front)

I don't know what it is but it always feels so relaxing to hand-sew something.

Zig Zag border:

the back:

The pictures all look kinda hazy because the sky is so wierd today - vog everywhere!!

I'm working on this binding now - I am loving the candy cane effect of this fabric.

We kinda left Halloween costumes to the last minute (and have 2 parties to go to) - fortunately I have a plan and it does not involve that much work on my part (well, maybe a little).

The girls are going to be characters from "Little House On the Prairie". They already have adorable patchwork calico dresses from here so I am just making them some little bonnets and long bloomers.

The boys want to be ninjas so I think all I need for those costumes is a trip to Walmart for some black clothing.

I'll post pics of the bonnets and bloomers when I'm done - I think I'll use this pattern for the bloomers and just some white cotton I have lying around.

Have you seen the pictures from Houston's Quilt Market? Looks like Anna Maria Horner has a new line coming out soon - how cute is that fabric? And a baby on the way too!!

Pumpkin soup

I can't wait for soccer season to be over - I can't wait to sleep in (or at least not HAVE to get out of bed) on Saturday mornings.

This morning our eldest had an early game in Aiea (it's about 1/2 hour from our house - everything here is approx. 30 min. - 45 min. from our house!). It was raining everywhere and when I got home, I was in the mood to make some soup.

I saw the pumpkins outside and decided on pumpkin soup. I looked through all my recipe books and online and couldn't find one that I liked. So I just made my own.

I cut up a medium size pumpkin - I saved the seeds to roast them with a little olive oil and salt and pepper.

I added some garlic, onion, chicken stock and water (and salt and pepper) and brought it all to a boil - I also added some cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice but I'm not sure if they were good additions or not.

I simmered it for about 40 min. and then blended it in batches in the blender. I added some heavy cream at the very end.

The pumpkin seeds were done roasting by then and I had also made some pecorino crackers (which are feeling really heavy in my stomach - too much sampling!).

Now I am off to sew - I started piecing together one of the coin quilts last night.

Dusty and tired

We are home from the pumpkin patch...dusty and tired.

We had fun - it was a quick trip - only about 30 minutes from our house. At first I thought it might rain but it hardly ever rains on that side of the island.

We had a little talk from one of the ladies from the farm - great info about pumpkins and all the things the farm is doing/growing - she let all the kids ask her questions and we learned a lot.

Then it was off to the hay ride - it was sooooo dusty I almost wished it had rained!!

Then we got to go pick out our pumpkins - Bela got it into her mind that the "best" pumpkins were in a patch very far away so we trekked all over looking for the "perfect" pumpkin.

Here's the one she finally picked.

This one looks like the best for carving.

I was looking for pumpkins with interesting stems so I could try and re-create something like this. And make some pumpkin bread at the same time.

Baby Girl wanted a "baby" pumpkin....

I am exhausted now but itching to sew...maybe a quick rest and then I'll sew a little.

A new headboard

Well, it's not really a headboard - it's artwork hung behind our bed since we don't have a headboard.

Hubby has promised to (one day) build me a bed so until then we just have the metal bed frame.

I had bought the gold (they aren't as gold as in the picture - more tarnished in real life) frames at Costco and the prints here (of course) and have been waiting for some free time to put them all together.

I bought the center artwork years ago on Ebay (very shabby chic)...there's another one in the girls' room (it's pink).

I love the way it looks - I just want to stare at the wall behind my bed now :-) It's motivating me to make a quilt for our bed too - I want the bed to look as cute as the wall.

I also washed and dried the baby quilt.

I can finally cross it off my list - I'll let you know when I find out how/where to auction it off.

My back and neck have been bothering me today - think I am just doing too much and need to take it easy (as in no soccer today).

Tomorrow we have a field trip to the pumpkin patch. I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to show :-)

11 years ago

Eleven years ago today I embarked on my most exciting adventure yet - Motherhood.

(my outfit is horrible since as a first-time mom, I had no idea what size clothes to take to the hospital to leave in - I ended up taking things that were still too small to fit in!)

Our eldest was born on Thursday at 10:49 pm on Oct. 23rd (I had to look that up in his baby book).

I was 10 days overdue and as much as I was dreading labor (the unknown), I was ready. Or so I thought - who is ever really ready for parenthood?

our tiny first house - yep, that's the fridge behind me :-)

I think I wrote this last year on his birthday but Hubby and I both could not believe the doctors and nurses just let us leave with a tiny newborn - what did we know about raising a child?

Parenthood is definitely one of those "learn as you go" things right? And this poor guy has been our guinea pig for 11 years now.

We know he secretly wishes he was an only child (maybe all eldest children feel that way) but he is a great big brother.

Yesterday my mom took him on an annual "birthday date" - they went and saw this movie (his choice, of course). 

Then came the birthday drama - There was a misunderstanding about presents and somehow my parents bought him this yesterday for his birthday (and he found out).

Hubby and I talked (and my parents) and decided that not only was that too big of a present but also we didn't want more video games (especially portable ones). We have a Wii and I feel like that is enough for our family. I just picture us in the car or going places and he would be glued to the video game and not be interacting with us. My parents were totally fine with that and not offended at all.

So I talked with him this morning and told him we would take it back and my parents would buy him something else for his birthday. Hubby was worried it was going to be one of those sad memories from his childhood that he would always remember. I don't think it will be (at least I hope not).

He is really fine with it though (after some tears this morning) and I am so relieved. I don't want to bum out his birthday but I want to do the right thing for him and our family. And I feel like this is the right thing.

Tonight is pizza with the family and he is baking Key Lime Bars with my sister this afternoon for his birthday dessert.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy - you are such a blessing to us and we love you so much.

The Host

Well, I finally sat down and finished the binding on this quilt - I just have to wash and dry it (and email someone about putting it in an auction - I think I'm a little behind on that!).

I had the lovely chore task of ordering trophies for two of the kids' soccer teams, and I was almost finished listening to this book, so I headed off to the trophy store and Costco with ipod in hand.

Ok - how did I leave the most gut-wrenching part of the book for when I was driving on the freeway - seriously - I wanted to burst into tears driving down the road....instead I just sobbed softly to myself while my 2 year old stared at me from her car seat wondering what had gotten into her mother.

I wasn't sure I was going to like The Host - I mean, how do you top Twilight? Plus - the narrator's voice annoyed me at first..and it took a while for me to get into it. I didn't love it like I love the Twilight series...but I did enjoy the book...especially the last 1/3 of it. I'm usually not much of a science-fiction person but it was a good book and very interesting.

**My neck is much better - I even went to soccer practice today - yeah!!

Pain Reliever

Thanks so much for all the nice emails - I am feeling much better - every day my neck (and back) improve. I couldn't play on Sunday - it was so hard to just sit on the sidelines and watch. 

I had to stop taking the muscle relaxers and codeine - man, they made me so sleepy and zombie-like! I've moved on to much better forms of relaxation...Belgium beer.

I haven't done any sewing but I did sit at my sewing area today and sort all my fabric (and patterns) - I stacked them by colors and only had to re-fold a few pieces so it went fast (hmm..I wonder what color fabric I love the most?).

Playing with all the fabric got me in the sewing mood (sorta) so I pulled out one of my newly organized patterns and dove in.

My brain must not be working right because I'm having a hard time figuring out the instructions for the center pole. I have scrapped the first one and will try again tomorrow.

I'm using blues for a baby boy who is due any day now - I may switch over to a quilt if this proves too frustrating. Maybe the drugs are still lingering in my brain :-)

I really want to try one like this...how cute is that quilt?! I am loving all the beautiful creations I am seeing all over blogland...like this, this and this.

Almost forgot - got a fun (and yummy) present from the bride for making all the table runners...they look so pretty I feel bad opening any of them....but the pumpkin butter is calling to me.