That Thing I Do....

2009-12-24T08:25:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours!
I pray that Christ shines in your heart all year long.
And you keep your eyes focused on Him in the coming year!
May you experience the childish joy every day, in the gift that has already been given to you!
Merry Christmas!

2009-12-16T10:01:00.002-07:00

Yes, I'm alive.

Have not been on the puter much.

Too busy running to plays and concerts

and trying to accomplish all that needs to be done.

Currently feeling like I am supposed to be this...

But will never measure up. LOL

Doing a lot of this...

Running around trying to finish making, buying, and wrapping these...

Because our normal Christmas Eve celebration with the Gramas has been moved up by a whole week. My mom is going out of town. Emily is going to visit her mom in California for the entire Christmas vacation. Sooo we are having an early Christmas on the 18th! 2 days away.

I found out last week.

Shoot me now

Trying to get secret santa gifts organized and packed and ready to ship. (already late because of above issue) And trying to wrap and pack out of state gifts. Hard to do when you can't find any boxes! A wee bit stressed :(

(have i mentioned i love polka dots? lol)

Spending a LOT of my time chasing this little turd

Can you see she is laughing at me?

Because she keeps stealing these and burying them in the snow outside!

Doing a LOT of this as well. Snow. Mud. Paw prints. Pine needles. Chewed up popscicle ornaments. And no presents under the tree because of ms. theif.

This has been running 24/7 because we have been in below zero weather for over a week. It's FINALLY warming up enough to only have 2 layers on, instead of 8.

It's going to be very weird with only 2 of my children here for Christmas this year.

I am trying oh so hard to feel the spirit... of the season, of the Holy Spirit, of joy... but I feel like someone pushed the fast forward button x300 and trying to catch little snatches of precious moments in all this unplanned craziness, is .. well... crazy.

LOL

I was on target to get everything done before I instantaniously lost a week!

Does that count??

Somehow I don't think so! :P

Back to chasing the pup, and getting things wrapped and packed!

You may not see me much until after the new year!

Bren

Bathtub Obsession

2009-12-04T10:24:00.007-07:00

Our puppy Lexi has developed a bathtub obsession. If the bathroom door is left open, you can find her in the tub! If i am drying my hair, she is in the tub. The minute she comes into our room, she goes and climbs into the tub! LOL

Thanksgiving morning, she invited herself into the shower. (door wasn't securely closed I guess!) She LOVES to play with the shower drain. This is her all time favorite game (currently)! What a goober!

She does this little horse head shake when she plays. Rears her head back and bounces her two front paws saying "play with me!". She tries to get the cats to play with her - no such luck. Pounce is a tough girl and just beats her up. LOL Neekers runs and hides. But Lexi doesn't give up. She wants to PLAY!! :)

So... I'm up there drying my hair today, and she comes loping in, and jumps into the tub for a little game of chase the drain filter. LOL I finally remembered to grab my camera. The beginning is a little slow... hang in there for a little while and then you'll see her normal game. Throw it up and then "chase" it. Over and over. LOL This would go on for HOURS if I let her! Talk about easily amused! hee hee!!

Quick update

2009-11-21T08:32:00.003-07:00

I took the plunge yesterday! With two big towels and 1.5 cups of salt. LOL

And Praise God!!! No bleeding!!!!!!!!!! :D
I just love the popcorn look to the quilting!
Breathing a HUGE sigh of relief!
Soo thankful nothing bled!!
Thank you so much Tammy and Gayle, for your dye grabber reccomendations!!
I will definitely be looking for those the next time I am at the store!!! Cuz this was just nerve wracking! LOL!!

Taking the kids to the library today, and a couple thrift shops, looking for a costume for one of their plays in December. And Kohls. And the girls have asked if they can go to the movies today. We'll see if we actually get the other goals accomplished! Shopping with a 14 year old, and a 13 year old and a 7 year old is CHALLENGING to say the least!
Wish me luck!!
xo
Bren

A Few Finishes for Friday!

2009-11-20T09:32:00.003-07:00

Finishes. Finally!

I have been procrastinating on painting those last two walls. :( BUT the positive is that I have been working diligently to get some of these quilts finished! :)

I have no name for this quilt. The only thing that comes to mind is sugar and spice and everything nice! It is just sooo girly! The ricrac was a pain, as i literally had to stitch both sides down, or else it just kept curling up. But the effect was worth it!

I love this tangerine binding! The back is a sheet from target :) And with matching fitted sheet and pillowcase when on the bed - how cute will that be?!

This is what's currently in my machine. Sssh... just a sneak peek!
Finished binding a couple small prim hand stitched quilts.

And this.... oh boy. I just finished binding it last night. I am PETRIFIED about washing this! It will only take ONE of the 6 reds to bleed to ruin this quilt. GULP. But look at how awesome and sharp they are against the white!!! How could I resist?? But yah... very VERY nervous. And yes, I always add a cup of salt to the first wash of a quilt... to keep the bleeding factor down. And I always throw a towel in with it - hoping that IF it bleeds... the towel will just suck it up! LOL

I'm thinkin I might put more than a cup of salt in with this one!! Say a prayer for me. LOL This is a Christmas present... and i will NOT be making it over if it bleeds. :( I will just have to try something else for that person!

The back looks like this... it looks so flat right now.. cant wait to see it out of the dryer! But thought it wise to take pics BEFORE the wash... just in case! LOL (hyperventilating)

Finished a couple other things last week. But unfortunately can't show you those, until the people receive them!

So yes, I AM being productive - just not on the blog!

And yes... i keep staring at those two walls. They aren't getting painted by themselves. Bummer, huh? :P

But my frame of mind has not been in the tackle the humongous project mode - go figure!

And my brain keeps saying TICK TOCK.. almost Thanksgiving! Better hurry up!!

Wish I could sush that voice up!!

But I think that voice may be the ONLY reason I actually get it done!

And oh yes, you can guarantee IF and WHEN I get it done, I WILL be posting boring pictures of my walls! LOLOL Just for the accomplished/checked off my list mentality of show and tell!

hahahaha!

Hope you have a wonderful day, and are getting finishes of your own done!

:D
xo

Bren

Fabric Love

2009-11-09T12:04:00.003-07:00

Ok, so i did a little fabric shopping...

But in my defense... before you see all the pics....

I am making all my Christmas presents this year...

And I was shopping for 5 different quilts here.

Only a few pieces were for stash building!

All the rest are for specific people, for specific quilts!

Honest!! :)

And yes... I fully admit I am addicted to dots. Circles. Swirls, & Words!

Always have been. Fear I always will be! LOL

Crazy how that's what I am always pulled to!
Really hoping to get all my painting done, so I can go turn all this fabric into quilts!!! :D Hope you are getting to be more creative than I am right now!

I'll catch up soon, I promise! LOL!!

xo Bren

Painting puppies and snowmen

2009-11-09T09:57:00.003-07:00

2 snowmen in our backyard after the blizzard. Hee hee... they just make me smile! Too bad they can't stick around longer than a day here in colorado!! :)

Painting... painting ... painting.... we are slowly replacing all the 70's hollow wood doors through out our house, with 6 panel white doors. Yay!!! This nook will be the last to be replaced... as there are 3 doors in this nook. Can't wait! (why not all at once you ask? Just a bit cost prohibitive when we are doing so many other updates to the house! And having 12 doors needing replaced at $60 a pop... yah... do the math. LOL)

Got one wall in the family room done, and all the trim. Now for the other wall with the bookshelves and entertainment center on it!

Got one wall in the living room done. :) Easy peasy wall. LOL Now for the vaulted ceiling wrap around wall, with more book shelves and a big desk on it! The nook with the window, has been painted bright white. Not sure i'm loving it yet. That green wall you see will soon be red. So the entire living area of the house will be all the golden tan with white trim (looks soo sharp!!) and then only that one wall of red. Above, you see the little wooden panels by the wood burning stove? I think those will be red also... for continuity as it is a tri level house and you see everything all at once. I "think" this will all help it flow alot better. I am LOVING the neutral color with the white trim! The kitchen is chock full of color, and is the central part of the house seen from the living room and family room and entry way and dining room.

We have 2 of these 70's wood banisters. :( One right here in the entryway/living room. And one that keeps you from falling out of the kitchen. We are thinking of tearing this one out, and putting in a short wall with a flat top ledge. The one in the kitchen is a little tougher. We really LIKE that you can see thru it down into the family room. (keeping eyes on kids lol) Replacing it with a newer thicker banister would cost hundreds. :( So... prolly gonna be a sanding fool after the new year and try to paint it white. Iffin that doesn't go well... then we may replace it. But for now I have to try and keep the costs down, so i can replace the kitchen cabinets and all those doors! Slooowwwwllyyy upgrading things to pull it into this century! Hard to do when in your head you see it as it should be! And not being able to attain it right away all at once is the frustrating part! LOL

My poor hubby is a little disgruntled coming home to his living room being all squished up - no place to sit and relax! I keep reminding him this is a GOOD THING! And don't the walls look GOOD!? But yep... takes wayyy too long doing it this way!!

I was pulling the tape off yesterday... and my little helper decided to get in on the action and wanted to HELP ! Looked like fun! I can pull it off too Mom!!

She's such a love! But hard to paint with a pup who loves to be right next to you all the time! And yes.... she DID get her tail in some paint! :( Baby gates only work, if you put them up!!!

Hope you have a very blessed day!!! Say a little prayer that I stay motivated on this humongous project, and dont procrastinate the opposing walls for much more than a day!! :P

Bren

Giveaway shout out

2009-11-06T08:20:00.002-07:00

Jennie over at Sunflower Quilts is having a great giveaway! Quilters go check it out! :)
http://sunflowerquilts.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-first-blogiversary-and-giveaway.html

We are getting our new roof put on today. It has been put off and put off... apparently the contractors couldn't get building permits in our area, without jumping thru a bazillion hoops? Anyway... the pounding and hammering should start today, so i HAVE to be out of the house all day, or it will drive me up the wall! Me thinks i will do a little quilt shop hopping :D Have been suuuch a good girl... and i am prepared for that to end today! hahaha

Painting has come to a screeching halt. Sadly. I have just lost all physical motivation to tearing my house apart each day. :( Mentally... i still want to finish. Am excited to have it done! But i am not a fan of moving all furniture to one side of the room... painting ONE wall.. waiting for it to dry, painting second coat and waiting for it to dry, and then moving furniture back. Next day start on opposite wall. yah. no fun. LOL I am the kinda girl that likes to paint like a maniac all day and then be DONE. You know... EMPTY rooms. Where you can knock out like 3 rooms in a day - including trim!? This one wall thing is killin my painting mojo!! :( Maybe i will be motivated this weekend after a little fabric shopping, and sams club shopping?? hmm... could beee :)

2009-10-31T09:39:00.002-07:00

Ok, so much for that resolution to not be a bad blogger! :(
Please bare with me... it has been on "crisis" after another here the last few weeks. NOT enjoyable. But being a mom certainly throws you some serious curve balls when you least expect it!
It seems they have been coming fast and furious. We have put on our armor, and are fighting the battle, and God has our backside. I'm pooped. And in the middle of all this... one of the things that will not make sense to you, unless i explain it all (which i'm not lol) we are painting. Completely painting my son's room, dressers, bookshelf, all of it. I am painting the entire house, minus the kitchen. So far I have gotten my nemesis of a hallway finished (5 doors with trim, and 10 stairs and a banister - oh yes.. have avoided this one for a lonnng time!) the entry way with the front door and closet door and trim, done. Sadly that dumb hallway and entryway took me 3 DAYS of constant work! OY! Moving onto the more "normal rooms" now. Family room and living room. Paint stuff everywhere - oh - and a PUPPY who wants to be where we are with all that wet paint!!
Oh my gosh i was sooo sore after the first full day of painting, i could barely move! (pathetic i know) and that next day I caught the flu. My daughter has it full force, and so do i. And then we got 18" of snow. Add in wet frozen hyper puppy. LOL All of us in our jammies... painting... coughing..... covered in paint... kids on fall break.. and we're all shut-ins! What a joy. LOL
But... through all that is going on it has been very cathartic. And it feels soo good to have clean crisp walls, something accomplished through hard work. A clean slate so to speak. Just as our Father gives us a clean slate for our souls we are pushing the same mentality through the house with fall cleaning and painting. (We've lived here almost 6 years so it's past time!!) I love the freeing mentality of getting rid of stuff, and cleansing... less cluttered (i have 2 girls that are packrats - need i say more??) I am proud of the big black trash bags that are going out the door. I am proud that my kids have taken on this cleansing mentality with such a great attitude. I look forward to being done. I look forward to all of the initial reasons for it being done. I look forward to relaxing on the couch and looking around and being thrilled with the results! But mostly right now... i look forward to a good night's sleep not covered in paint! LOL!
I may not blog for a while... we'll see how long it takes to finish the living room and family room, and this flu crud!
xo
Bren

It's snowing... again

2009-10-10T10:47:00.002-06:00

Well it's snowing. Again.

Our 4th snow of the year, already!

Sheesh.

Our trees are JUST starting to turn. And now, I think they are freaked out. LOL Trying to turn faster. Green leaves dropping before they had a chance to do their beautiful color dance. :(

My all time favorite time of the year. And we've officially skipped it this year!

:( boohooo!!

No dry crunchy leaves to walk through. No smell of dry leaves in the air. No gorgeous red and gold fire dances as you drive or walk down the street. Just a few. Just enough to really get a feel for what we'll be missing! LOL

Sniff.

Well, since the beautiful snow is falling, all soft and peaceful, I am keeping my jammies on all day. I have lit candles. (punkin spice - i can pretend it's fall)

I have a stew in the oven. And I just cut out a prim little applique quilt to sit and work on, while I turn on a movie or 3. The perfect kind of day for curling up and nesting. Also my favorite! (but usually reserved for WINTER. LOL)

I just wonder what this bodes for our winter? Apparently it's going to be a long one! So I best get my creative mojo in gear! ;)

I hope you are having a gorgeous fall day where you live! And if you have any of that dry crunchy leaf smell in the air by you... can ya send me some??

bright blessings, Bren :)

2009-10-08T09:35:00.002-06:00

I have been a bad blogger!

Things have just been so busy it seems. Ms. Lexi keeps me busy allll day!

I have managed to sneak down to my craft room here and there when the little spaz is sleeping though!

I finished a couple blocks for our online quilting bee.

And learned how to do wonky stars. Well... I quickly became addicted and saw the possibilities of this design! LOL

So started another quilt. LOL It's "That thing I do" afterall! :D

These were pinks and oranges. Then i started on blues and greens. I don't have all those blocks together yet. Minimal sewing time and all that...
I think it will be a sweet, fresh colorful dose of sunshine when it's done!
I did get the top done on this one.... well.. mostly done. LOL
I still need to add a white border and a red outer border, and then gonna sammich it up and get started on the quilting. This too is a Christmas present. I still have 3 more others to get started and finished before Christmas! Yikes!!

But I love the funky, bold, in your face statement that this makes! Fun fun!!

And thiiis little spaz... oh boy is she growing FAST!!

We just had our vet visit on tuesday. She is now 23 pounds, and no chub on her! Major growth spurt happened last week - i swear she went to bed a chubby little puppy and woke up a teenager! LOL! It was weird how fast she seemed to grow!

We'll be signing her up for puppy kindegarten here real soon. Ms. Spaz needs to learn some manners and socialization! I have been working with her every day, and she is finally getting the hang of things! Yay!! But we're still not acheiving a "no pull" on our walks. (yah.. more like "i'd rather choke myself to death cuz i gotta get over there, riiight noowww mama!!" ) Snot gonna be pretty when she weighs 70 pounds and is still pulling stunts like that!! LOLOL Soooo... off to obedience school we go!
Just look at that ragamuffin face!

And her and Daddy have devoloped a wonderfully special relationship! :)

When not tied up with her under my legs, we had been going to track meets - and those are finally over! (Praise God! lol) And now we are into wrestling! Bay's first match is today!
Ya know.. i just gotta say, I am sooo proud of who he is becoming!! And I love that he's going after all the things he wants to do!! It's awesome to watch them grow mentally, emotionally, as well as physically... and discover that their new "improved" bodies can do things they couldn't do before! LOL
Bay is coming into his own. He LOVES sports. He's become an incredible team player, and loves team sports - but also loves individual sports where he feels HE shines! It's neat to see the confidence shooting skyward, and a sense of "i CAN do that!" always showing!
Now, of course, is also when the teenage boy's ego gets seriously over inflated! LOL!
And as a Mom... always a Mom LOL...
it's hard to watch a kid that is all muscle, skin and bone try to LOSE weight that he doesn't have to try to make it into a different weight category! I'm thinkin.. where's it going to come from?? He has NOTHING extra on him! And then the Mom worry sets in. LOL I keep chanting that it's only for a month and a half.. and it's great to see him develope a sense of self discipline!! But yah... still a mom. LOL
He's excited for today's match... and a wee bit nervous! As he should be!! :D
Him and his best friend have been practicing everyday after practice. It's such a testosterone filled sport! LOL!!! Perfect for two boys coming of age and needing to prove how incredibly strong they are - warriors dontchyaknow!
Cracks me up.

Ok, i've rambled long enough. I will try to be better at blogging this next week!
Hope you have a wonderful creative weekend!
And may God bless you in abundance!!
xo Bren

One BIIIIGGG Weiner!!!

2009-09-27T19:05:00.002-06:00

Do you know what this is??

ONE BIIIG WEINER! -Mobile that is!

Granted... not the most flattering shot. LOL But I couldn't pass it up - too fun! :)

The weinermobile was down at our local grocery store today. We sang the Oscar Meyer song and got whistles too!! hee hee

ps... the first shot is INSIDE the weiner mobile

NO WAY!

2009-09-21T13:04:00.002-06:00

ALREADY????!!!!

we NEVER have snow before halloween!

holy cow... what does this bode for our winter?

needless to say... babysitting the puppy this morning was tons of muddy fun. she LIKES THE MUD. shoot me now!

Firsts

2009-09-20T23:21:00.002-06:00

A week of firsts!

Lexi went on her first (and second and third) walk this week- and learned to listen to commands. She did soooo well!! I am soo proud! LOL!! She learned "with me" (basically walk with me, or heel), she learned "sit", she learned "no" and "no bite" AND "no bark" ! She has been sleeping through the night, with no accidents (well.. there was one night she wasnt able to hold it). AND... now this is a biggie folks... LOL... we hung a strand of bells on the back door. We jingle it every time we go out to go potty saying "outside potty". DO YOU KNOW WHAT SHE DID TONIGHT???? THREE times - so it wasn't a fluke!! LOL She went up and rang those bells and stared at the door! Oh my gosh... i was flippin!! LOLOLOL!!! I asked her if she needed to go potty, and she barked once like YES! (open the door already!) I did... she ran and pottied! :D
And then we came back in. Ten minutes later there go the bells again! LOL And again about 15 minutes later! And yes... kinda funny.. but she DID pee each time! (and then of course had to terrorize her monkey stuffed animal for a while)
Ok... so i may be a total dork... but i am ONE PROUD MAMA!!! :D She is one smaaarrtt cookie!

And yah... she likes toes. LOL

And unfortunately..... she thinks when the cats run across the room, or meow at her, that it's a game of chase!

See below for another first this week....

Pounce is NOT happy being terrorized in HER own home! She is up on the 7 foot shelves, looking down at "that idiot dog"! Think she's high enough up?

And last... but certainly not least!

A BIG week of firsts for our daughter!

Her first Homecoming dance... her first semi formal dance... her first "grown up" dress AND heels!

And.... her first day of being 14 !

Happy Birthday my dear sweet Emily!!

You are beautiful inside and out!

I pray that you stay focused on our Father God, and not let the secular world sway you away from His eternal love in these growing years ahead. You are an incredible young woman!

We love you more than I can put into words!

Mom

(and she received my first quilted quilt that she loved so much as one of her birthday gifts)

Yup.

A darn good week of firsts!

Thank yous and hodgepodge

2009-09-17T10:42:00.002-06:00

Ok, this post is going to be all over the board! Just because i am so limited in time with the computer lately, since miss Lexie took over my life! I am absolutely BEAT. LOL It's like having a toddler in the house again! And no.. we're not crate training. I am doing it the "old fashioned way" of taking her out every 15-20 minutes to potty... and watching her with an eagle eye 24 hours a day! She discovered she has a voice, as of 2 days ago... and yup... you guessed it... now she thinks she should be barking at EVERYTHING. OY! So the learning continues!! :)

First of all I want to thank my swap partner Vivian!!! Viv made me the sweetest little quilt for the doll quilt swap, called Love and Chocolate. That brown fabric is such a luscious chocolate color! Isn't it adorable?! She also sent along two darling fat quarters of fabric, and a chocolate bar! The DQS7 has been sooooooo much fun!! I cant wait to do another one!! The anticipation... the "research" (or stalking) of your partner... trying to figure out what they like... all in secret.. and then trying to make a quilt for them - wayyyy fun!! I would reccomend it to anyone wanting to try it! :) Thank you Viv for your sweet package! I will be hanging it in my sewing room!!

Lil miss spaz ... this is her favorite place to take a nap - smack in between the tomato plants! :)

I have been having fun (before Lexie came) making houses... wonky houses for a funky quilt that is! These blocks are for the Bee Addicted 3 online bee. Each month a different person gets to choose what they want for their quilt. Then they send out fabrics they would like you to use, and their chosen design. In this case, Becca requested funky houses. Anything goes. All colors and prints, design and construct! Ok... call me a nerd... we all know the truth! LOL But this was WAYYY TOOO FUN!!! Now i will be sending the blocks to her... and she will put all the blocks she receives into a quilt (i think she's making this for one of her kids?) . Talk about a fun whimsical, totally creative quilt! All made by different people, and their interpretations! Cool huh? You can click on the bee addicted button on my side bar, and see some of the other blocks that have been posted if you want :)

doesn't this look like smurfs should be walking out of this house?? LOL

Since Lexie got here, i have not had any time down in my sewing room. Soooo since i am a babysitting fool, but hate to sit with nothing to do, I started working on my handwork... little prim quilts for Christmas presents. :) My hand quilting is improving... still not great... but definitely getting better!

A while back I won a contest in my online group AAPG, and Kelley's box got here a week or two ago and I haven't had a chance to post and tell you about it! Check out this adorable needlepunched pillow with a big sheepie and strawberries!!!!!!!!!! I saw this a while ago in her unfinished projects picture and i flipped over it!! LOL It was love at first site!! So when I opened the box she sent me and saw those berries I was doing the happy dance in a big way!! How dang cute is that, I ask you?!?!?!?!!! :D I have much love for it! LOL

And because Kelley is the sweetest most awesomest friend ever... she sent me this bunch of homespun squares that were left over from the last quilt her mom made her! OMGosh... well the happy dance just got MUCH bigger at that point!! LOLOL I can't stop petting them! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!! I started hand piecing them together... i think they will make a perfect border on a quilt i have planned! Hmm... i wonder who it will go to??

And last but not least this is a top i made a couple weeks ago. Really simple, but bright and cheery. I was making this as a Christmas gift... but once I got done, decided it doesn't suit the person I made it for. So will be making a different one... but hoping to get this basted and quilted sometime soon. Maybe this weekend when the kids can watch the puppy??

Oh.. this was the Flea Market Fancy quilt from Crazy Mom Quilts (on sidebar) if you like it and want to make one. I just LOVE her blog, and all those awesome quilts she makes! Great tutes too!

Ok, that's it. Puppy's now awake and nipping at my ankles saying "Pay attention to meeeee!!!"

Please pray for me. LOL Pray i can keep my sense of humor (and patience.. but definitely NOT praying for patience!!) through potty and barking training!

Hope you have a very blessed and creative day!

Bren

Pictures, Puppy, and Cartwheels

2009-09-10T20:43:00.004-06:00

Pictures, Puppies, Cartwheels, and a final decision on a name!

LOTS of pictures! Kids were playing out front, trying to do cartwheels. (i never realized they couldn't do a cartwheel!! Oh my gosh!) lots of laughter, camera not keeping up with all the movement, even the puppy never stopped moving - until these three shots! She had soo much fun out there chasing the kids and playing! We are ALL HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE!!!

We have come to a decision about this little butterball's name. It is final. :) Voted in 5 out of 5!

Ladies and Gents... meet Ms. Alexis Thompson - "Lexi" for short. :D

Bailey critiquing cartwheel form... cuz he can do sooo much better donchya know. LOL yah. ok.

The beginning of a DOG PILE - including a dog!

Everyone was moving way too fast for my little camera! Most of the pics turned out blurry like this... LOL... but you can "see the action" happening this way also. :)

haha... such nice form! :D

I think we tuckered the poor girl out! LOL Nigh-nigh bebe Lexi :)

Happy Birthday Danny :)

2009-09-10T09:56:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday Dan!

The love of my life! The one and only thing y0u have asked for, and yearned for ... at least 5 years? This little butterball of happiness, I hope she brings you as much joy as you have always brought me!

Danny is still pondering her name. He's thinking Sassafrass - Sassy for short :) We should know by tomorrow if that is the name that will stick!

The newest member of our family :) she is the sweetest little thing! A light golden (retreiver). So even tempered, so loving and sweet! And CUTE doesn't even TOUCH it! LOL

But since Danny is off working (yay! PTL!!) guess who gets to be consumed with potty training until it's accomplished? LOL

No biggie. :)

The absolute JOY and amazement on his face when he met this little girl.... it's all worth it!

Bren

2009-09-07T17:37:00.002-06:00

I got to sew yesterday! :)
Bailey has been realllllyyy sick with the flu, major high fever, severe cough, and then come to find out pneumonia. Poor kid. He had me VERY worried. (I dont usually freak out, having 4 kids, lots of colds and flus... but this was BAD) The dr. said "congratulations, you're now a statistic! How's it feel?" H1N1 flu. Now trying to keep everyone in the family away from him and staying healthy!!! Emily told me today that she has a sore throat and he stomach is upset. Oh Lord... praying.... HARD!!
Bay is feeling immensly better. Many people have been praying for him - thank you to you ALL!! You are such a blessing to me!! xoxoxo And Praise the Lord for His healing!!

That's it for now. Just wanted to give you a sneak peek. If you saw my sewing room right now, you'd be rollin on the floor laughing - it is a MESS again!! Go figure! LOL
Blessings, Bren

Sewing blues are over...

2009-08-31T13:39:00.002-06:00

This is me right now....Granted... even though I'm feeling like an idiot. Still smiling.

I wasn't about two hours ago though, when I sat down to do surgery on my sewing machine.. opened the bottom panel and THIS is what i saw!!

Holy cow!! Do you SEE ALL OF THAT?!?!?
I had just cleaned my sewing machine at the beginning of the summer. June-ish. So haven't really thought about it much since then. Didn't need to... right? ha. yah. right.
And I keep my bobbin casing clean - every time I change my bobbin. Didn't think there was much of a need to do more, more often! (see how clean and nice the bobbin casing is? lol)
Then I'm thinkin... ok.. this is all just surface fuzz. Bound to happen when you sew as much as I do. I started digging it out. And digging more out. And even more. Holy cripes.. the bottom casing was FULL. Completely and totally FULL. No wonder my poor baby wasnt working well anymore! I'm not such a good sewing machine mama :(

After getting all out that i could... tweezers, brush, a bent pin as tools... i used canned air to blow it clean and even more chunks came out.
I opened up the top and got that all cleaned too... and it was looking much the same as the bottom. :(
Then, figured while i was in there, I ought to oil her up a little. Looked it up in the manual (after spending half an hour looking for it) and do you know what it said???
"Your sewing machine needs to be cleaned and oiled after every 8-10 hours of use"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh my gosh. erm.... yah.... never knew that.....
LOL
WHOOPS
and I probably sew 2-4 hours a day? so what... you need to clean and oil it every other day? nooo wayy!
But, I WILL be doing it much more often - every other week or so - now! Holy shamoly. That was definitely new news to me! hahaha!! Sooo glad i didnt totally ruin it! It just needed a little TLC!

Looks as good as new - and amazingly enough - actually runs like brand new now too!!
DUH!

When was the last time you cleaned and oiled yours?? :D
Am i the only ding-a-ling that didn't realize this???
xo
Bren :)

Sadness

2009-08-29T11:15:00.002-06:00

I think i broke my sewing machine

Stepping out of my box...

2009-08-28T09:56:00.004-06:00

So... all you prim hookers... turn your heads QUICK!! LOL I've been stepping out of my box - and LOVING IT !

Cheryl, if you're reading this - can you believe all the BLUE/AQUA i'm using??!?!? LOL (note to everyone else... i do NOT DO blue!)

But for some reason, making these fresh quilts call for a totally different palette, and I'm all over embracing hot pinks, lime greens, aquas, bright yellows, and my favorite... polka dots! :)

This is my DQS7 (doll quilt swap 7) quilt that i am sending to my partner. Hoping she likes it! (i made a second one for Kelley.. think she'll disown me??)

My partner was a veryyyy hard one to figure out! Weeks of stalking her blog... and reading and rereading what she likes and doesnt like... i was in such a state of confusion, it wasnt even funny! But.. i did narrow down that she's partial to blues, and greens..likes funky and wild, and has a couple kitties. So i went from there. Crossing my fingers this makes her smile... and not frown! :D

Had tons of fun making it!

Bren

2009-08-22T10:35:00.002-06:00

Works in progress.... currently on my machine.... calli's quilt

Finished hand sewing the binding and got this one washed! Really happy with how it turned out!

And i pieced the back with a piece of left over red floral moda backing I had sitting around. Doesn't really "go" with the front of the quilt... but since it will be living on my couch, and it "goes" with the couch and pillows great, i figured WHY NOT?!? :D

Been busy working on sorting thru the garage. Dirty work! But it's gotta get done. That is... when no one is home, hovering over me! :D

Have a blessed weekend!

xo Bren

2009-08-17T09:09:00.004-06:00

Rockin busy weekend!

Ok, remember my last post?? LOL
Well "someone" (who shall remain nameless) was wondering around the house, absolutely irritated that they had nothing to do. LOL Someone else said "you need to find a project! or a hobby! There's plenty to be done around the house!! Fence needs to be built, gutters cleaned and fixed, back yard garden area needs to be whacked down, lawn needs a good clean edging...
pick one!
(i know.. that person sounds mean, huh? but dude... they've all been left unattended to and need some attention!!)
Soooooooo... guess who got fed up, and adopted a project? and went to home depot ? And came home with LUMBER!!! (surprised the socks right off of me! lol as that NEVER happens!!)
And guess who had a plan?? And started clearing out the garage? And then poutily said I needed to help? LOLOL
Guess what WE BUILT?!?!?!? (i am soooooooooooooooo excited i cant stand it!!!!) I know... boring little life is obvious when something like this excites you! hahaha! But check it out!

WE DID IT!! We made a huge 12 foot by 3 foot deep, by 8 or 10 foot high, shelf area in the garage!!! oh my gosh!! We ROCKED it! Can you tell i am just deliriously proud of us??? :D Mostly of HIM though! Watching all those muscles in action... oh my... fanning myself!!

It was a GREAT day... really felt accomplished!

Now... granted... I have aquired yet another job. LOL It is my job to sort through the whole garage, and weed and seed, and make a pile for garage sale, pitch other stuff, and store the rest in a very organized way. Gonna be a ton of work!!!! BUT i am sooo up to the challenge!! Am very excited to get our garage in order! How cool is this????!!!! :D

In other news... i have been sneaking away in the wee hours of the night to sew. And this is the other top i have been working on... for my wee littlest daughter... for Christmas. Don't know how I'll be able to wait until Christmas to give it to her??

Sugar and spice and everything nice! It is now sandwhiched and basted... and awaiting quilting. Used a really cute girly sheet for the back side... and going to give her the fitted sheet and pillowcase with the quilt... it will all match when its on the bed! How cute will that be??!!

And.. last pics of the day...

Finished the quilt that i quilted last week.. got the binding all hand sewn on, and just washed it this weekend. Looooookkkk at that wrinkly crinkly yummyness!! Donchya just love it?? Yah.. i think this is my favorite part of the quilting. LOL When it comes out of the dryer! Silly?

All done!! :D

Someone's arms were getting tired holding it up for ya'll to see! LOL

With that i am going to say adeu.

Cio.

Sionara

Bubbye

Hope you had a great weekend too!

Bren

Good day

2009-08-13T09:25:00.003-06:00

Hiya!

Long time no see, huh?

Well my kidlets are finally all in school, and i think all the papers have been signed, and extra supplies bought, and this week is back to school night at all three schools. I believe we will be able to BREATH a little after they are all done! LOL

My hubby runs his own business, and business has been pretty slooowwww lately. For the last several months. So my honey is home a LOT.

Consequently I am getting a whole lot of NOTHING done!

(Don't get me wrong - i absolutely LOVE having time with him!!!) But why is that? Why is it that when your hubby is home, you struggle to get anything accomplished?

Is it because when they see you doing laundry, they think oh.. no big deal that can be put off for a while - and come search you out and say "hey! let's go do this!"

Or is it because when you go to vacuum and they are sitting and enjoying some time off, they then feel guilty for sitting... and consequently shoot you the evil eye for working - so you avoid doing that when they're home? (you know.. to save their feelings, and not put them in "that place"?)

Or.. is it because every time you go to a different room of the house to do something (even clean toilets ) they follow you like a little lost puppy, until you give them your full attention? And eventually just give up trying to get your chores done?

My wonderful husband is sooo supportive and forgiving when it comes to my crafts.. my art life. He puts up with the wool piles. He doesnt make me feel guilty for disappearing down to my sewing room... as long as i dont stay down there too long. LOL (ie over an hour) He doesnt complain too loudly when he finds a needle stuck in the couch, or thread or snippets on the floor in front of the couch. He's AWESOME!!! And he realizes that this is a PART of who i am. And if i remove that part, (ie creativity) i am not nearly as happy go lucky, or as open to new ideas (his), or just an all around good sense of well being. I am sooo thankful that my husband really "gets" me, and loves me anyway!! Definitely a God match! :D

And we love to spend quality time together. After almost ten years, we've not run out of things to talk about, and are eager to tell each other about new things we learned about that day.

Soooooo.... why then? Why does it just screw you all up when you're together ALL the time?? My poor laundry room looks like something out of a horror movie. My kitchen needs mopping, bathrooms need to be cleaned, and I haven't vacuumed since last week (eek!!) I also havn't sewn since posting that last picture! Granted, we've been busy with kid and school related stuff. Like i said... he's ALWAYS READY to leave and go somewhere!! lol

So yesterday... he had some work, and left the house at around 9! Do you know... i did NOT run for that laundry room or the vacuum???? Nooooo. I literally RAN for my sewing room!! LOLOL Knowing he would be home in 3 or 4 hours, I saw a window of opportunity - and mannn... did i take it!! LOL!!

I got one of my quilts quilted! I put Pastor Jerry on my mp3 player, and went to town sewing. Got it done and stitched on the binding. Started to figure out the backing for the green and white quilt, and got slammed with a headache that wasnt easing up :( I stared at that fabric for over an hour, trying to figure out dimensions - something normally done in 5 minutes. LOL

I finally gave up after an hour, as it just wasnt flowing. Did some laundry, and then took the quilt and needle and thread and sat down to hand sew. What a BLESSING that was!! Some quiet hand sewing time.... aaahhhhh. Just what the doctor ordered!!

My headache eased up, my honey came home, as did the kids, and dinner got made, homework got done... and i actually got SOMETHING accomplished!! It was a GOOD day! :D

Bren

Things I'm Learning

2009-08-03T12:16:00.002-06:00

Things I'm Learning...

I'm learning that you CAN become obsessed with Flikr.
That it's too hot to hook, when all the wool fuzz just clings to your skin when you're clammy
If doing windmills or matchy matchy seamed points -open the seams. The bulk factor is insane!
I like Half Square Triangles (HSTs) for all the things you can do with them.
I do NOT like HSTs for sewing them all back together IN ORDER and staying sane.
Leave the little corner tails ON the HSTs until AFTER matching seams and piecing. Realllly helps to have them there! Lesson learned after clipping them all before sewing. LOL
As long as your seam allowance is the same through out, nothing will change. Like dying, if you are using the same measuring tools the ratio stays the same. Mess with that just once, and you will see consequences in the end.
I LIKE starch :)
I need more room on my sewing table.
Pinning is a GOOD thing
DON'T whatever you do, no matter how HOT you are, turn on the overhead fan, when you have a bunch of little blocks laid out all perfect.
DON'T leave your layout on the floor overnight, when you have two mischevious cats that like to play in the MUD, and then come back in to clean themselves on TOP of something.
DON'T assume that said pieces of fabrics are not play toys for bored cats at night.
ALWAYS have backup blocks made, in case you didn't follow the above "donts".
And last but not least..... I AM A TOTAL SEWING SLOB LOLWhen fixated on a project and totally in focus, i dont care where all the little pieces fall. lol my floor looks like a chopping wharehouse burped in my room! they are everywhere all over my floor. lololol a couple swipes of my feet to gather them all up and toss them in the trash, and all is good. but in the middle of it.... oh myyy!!! :D

Trying to decide whether i should put a long white border on either side? If i dont, i will lose my points of the squares and windmills to the binding? What do you think?
Thrilled to have this top "done". Laid it out upstairs in the family room. (first mistake) as i dont have much floor space in my craft room. I got my exercise going up and then back down to my craft room (12 stairs) piecing each 4 square block, and then back up cuz i got confused, and then back down, and then back up to get another batch. lol enter in not liking HSTs again. :)

Well, my kids start school on Wednesday!! I have been crazily chasing the sales, trying to outfit each child with new school clothes, and school supplies. I have shopped more in the last week, than i have all year. (no, i don't LIKE shopping!)
Got the house clean, helped my girlfriend paint her dining room, calli started dance class, got a good start on my doll quilt for the swap, cleaned the house again, and have been falling into bed around 1 or 1:30 each night. Totally exhausted with no time to squeeze in anything else.
Let me just say... i LOVE the summer!! I love the freedom of being able to go do things on a whim, as there is no schedule... i love saying YES to my kids wanting to go and do. And i love the sunshine!!
But i am desperately looking forward to being back on a schedule!!! I will feel soo much more orderly, so much more in control of getting things accomplished, and its easier to schedule things in when you know that these 3 days of the week are already spoken for... so i have that day and that day open. Ya know? Looking forward to having 4 or 5 hours without the kids each day, that i can actually focus on some things that need to get done.
And... mixed emotions on this one... happy/excited/dreading getting my exercise routine back on track. Gonna be one SORE mama for a week or three!!

And... looking forward to cooler weather so my wool can be on my lap again!!!! :D
Hope you have a very blessed week! I probably wont be posting again, until next week, as each of my kids start school on a different day this week, and those are "momentous" days. I started a tradition when my oldest son started school... i bake fresh chocolate chip cookies on the first day... and they are fresh out of the oven when they arrive home. LOL This is going to be a KILLER for me this year... three seperate days of fresh choc chip cookies (my all time fave!!!) while dieting and not allowing myself to cheat!!! oh Lord... give me strength!!!!!
I dont think i'm strong enough to say no to that smell or taste three days in a row!!!! Shoot me now!!!!!
xo Bren