rainylakechick

Sewing Spaces

2009-11-10T15:45:00.004-06:00

I wish I had more space for a room dedicated entirely to sewing!

If I did, I would install Ikea's Expedit desk and shelf system.

This scrapbooking space is inspirational:

Here are some other great IKEA craft workspaces:
- dontcallmebecky
- modkidboutique
- yvestown

And a special shout-out to the organization skills of Marcy Penner... This space is amazing!

Block Party Fabric Giveaway!

2009-11-02T13:40:00.004-06:00

The group at Block Party are having a fabric giveaway...

Don't miss out!

Texas / UTEP baby blanket

2009-10-27T08:01:00.020-05:00

This weekend we were out of town for a wedding and I had to miss my friend's baby shower! I was so sad to miss it... I had come up with the perfect baby gift idea months ago. And doggone it. I couldn't be two places at once!

The mom-to-be is Texas Longhorns graduate. The dad-to-be is a UTEP Miners graduate. Both are big football fans. Their lil' baby boy even has a sports themed nursery waiting for him!

What was my baby gift idea? A Texas Longhorns / UTEP Miners baby quilt.

The UTEP Miners side was made using the school colors (orange & blue) and a white background. A friend gave me a Miners t-shirt, which I used for the UTEP logo and the Miners pickax. The best part of the t-shirt was the Texas Longhorn, stamped with a pickax!

The Texas Longhorns side is a myriad of Longhorns fabric and a t-shirt. Texas fabric is much easier to come by, especially in its hometown! I had the best time creating wacky, modern blocks with Texas fabrics.

The quilt was binded with black & white fabric, to tie the two sides together.

I hope Baby Brown enjoys his new blankie!

Working Girl

2009-10-26T11:05:00.005-05:00

Sometimes its tough being a working girl.... Thank goodness for Carly Simon.

Happy Monday!!!

Puppy Graduation

2009-10-12T22:26:00.005-05:00

My puppy is a puppy school graduate!

Sunday was the big day. Graduation test included sit, lay down, sit & stay, down & stay, come when called, and tricks. Chauncey can "high five" and almost rollover.

For a graduation gift, I got Chauncey his first football. He is so ready to rumble! He's got fall football fever!!

Reasons I love Austin: Live Music

2009-10-02T15:05:00.005-05:00

Last night we saw a new "superband" play at Stubb's. Them Crooked Vultures features drummer Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Desert Sessions, Eagles of Death Metal) and bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).

The show did not disappoint. Their album doesn't debut till later this month, but every song was HAWT!

What can I say? Josh Homme is my music boyfriend. I love everything he does.

And Dave Grohl? That dude gives 110% to every song. Crazy amazing.

Halloween Crafts

2009-09-21T17:07:00.006-05:00

My cousin* Jodi was featured over at craftzine.com!

* Jodi's grandma and my grandma were sisters. Our moms are first cousins. I randomly found her on myspace a year or so ago, and I've really enjoyed getting to know her these few years, via the web. Who knew we would both grow up to be craftaholics?

Seventy Seven 9 Patches

2009-09-20T21:42:00.016-05:00

FINISHED! I sewed my last 3x3 nine patch blocks today, which was part of crazymomquilts' one-a-day quilt-a-long.

Here they all are. No, I did not sew one block per day. I used my cheating method and sewed them in bunches. Today alone I sewed about 25 blocks!

I also sewed an extra seven blocks, which I am going to use for the backing.

Stay tuned...
Next step: completing the quilt top with sashing.

And I have to add... I could not have completed these blocks without being a BIG WINNER from The Pleated Poppy during her scrap bag giveaway! Some of my favorite blocks were using fabric from the scrap bag. The block with the guitars has got to be at the top of my list.

Not that I need more

2009-09-18T15:31:00.007-05:00

Not that I need more charm packs, but aren't these Vintage Sheet charm packs adorable?!

32 different patterns for just $9.25. If I bought 2 charm packs, I could make a little lap quilt...

Not now, not now. I already have too much fabric. And after watching Hoarders on A&E, I might have a fabric Hoarding problem.

If I finish the 4 projects I'm currently working on, by the end of October, can I buy some? :)

My Little Golden Irish

2009-09-17T17:06:00.006-05:00

I haven't posted photos of our dog since the week we got him! He's a bundle of energy and always has lots of love for everyone. Chauncey won't ever be a guard dog. He's a kisser, not a barker.

Did you know dirt tastes good? So does grass and sticks and berries, according to Chauncey.

Plus, rain is fun to play in!

Chauncey hates it when you take too many photos. Especially after a romp in the rain.

We're still working on his retrieving skillz. His favorite toys are of the squeaky variety. Sometimes he'll bring them back. Sometimes... not.

Why the trouble with retrieving, for a Golden Retriever? Because he might not a Golden Retriever after all! We are thinking he might be a Golden Irish, a mix between Golden Retriever and Irish Setter. Chauncey looks just like Archie. They could be brothers!

And no, I haven't sewn anything for him. No bandanas, toys, or blankets. I would like to make a dog bed cover someday. Because dog beds are expensive, y'all!

Off to walk Chauncey to the dog park! He gets sad when he doesn't get to play with all of his friends at the park.

Tag, Tagger, Taggiest

2009-09-05T16:08:00.009-05:00

I've been tagged by my friend over at Spare Pages!

Here are the rules...

Go to the place where you upload all your photos. If you don’t upload them online, just go to wherever you store your pics on your computer. Open the oldest album, and post the first photo. Then tell the story behind it. Then tag 3 people!

I have lots of places where I keep my photos, but since most of my blog photos are on Flickr, I used one from there. I don't have a Pro account, so only the last 200 photos are kept in the photostream. This is my 200th photo.

This toddler's tshirt was made as a birthday gift for a little girl who turned two. I've since made another one for another two year old! It was a fun present to make. Maybe one of these days I'll write a tutorial?

Next I tag: Rachel, Cindy, and Channon!

Uncork & Unwind

2009-09-04T10:37:00.003-05:00

The limo has been booked...

Departure: October 2009.
Location: Texas Hill Country.
Description: Fourth Annual Limo Wine Tour!

I can't wait!

December 2005: The First Limo Wine Tour

Head's Up!

2009-09-02T11:09:00.001-05:00

Last week my friends and I attended a local baseball game. The Round Rock Express are a AA "feed team" for the Houston Astros. Our friends have season tickets and didn't use all of them, so they were very generous to share with us!

It was a fun game. We consumed baseball staples: beers and 'dogs. We all chatted, enjoyed the shade while the sun was setting, and cheered on the team. We were in great seats! About 15 rows up, right behind third base line.

Did you know there are pop fly balls at baseball games? Oh yes! Most of the balls flew into sections behind home plate. But during the 8th inning, one came our way!

All the girls ran because we did NOT want to get hit! And as much as we tried to get out of the way, one landed in our row. And most specifically... it hit Lori!

Getting hit in the back with a pop foul ball hurts, y'all!

But Lori is a super trooper. She marched on and made it to the After Party in the VIP Bar!

Behind on my one-a-days

2009-08-30T07:20:00.001-05:00

Okay. I'm behind on my one-a-day-along. Here's how much I have... About 22 blocks when, if I had been following "the rules", I would have finished all 70 blocks a month ago. And I don't even like one of the blocks, so technically, I've only got 21 for my quilt.

I could finish the other 50 or so, if I really wanted to, but I've been trying to make this very scrappy. I don't want to reuse a lot of fabrics, so I wait till I get through one project, and use those scraps to sew my 9x9 blocks.

I'm also cheating a little. Sewing 9 little 2.5 by 2.5 squares together is hard work, ya'll! I wrote a little tutorial about it! You end up with two blocks and the same amount of work!

Oh, and with all the Christmas projects I have going on now, I kind of wish I had stuck to a theme. Like Bison Girl's Red & Green Christmas quilt. Its holiday fantastic! Maybe next year I'll do a Christmas 9 patch quilt???

Row of flowers

2009-08-28T17:15:00.003-05:00

I've completed my fourth row for the Row Robin Swap.

My flower is the blue & green flower on the far right. The rows are grouped in order of assembly. The flower row on the left was done first and mine was done fourth.

When I started this row, I originally wanted to do a Dresden Plate, but I never got the pattern printed before I left work last Friday. So, I winged it! My cutting mat had lines for 30 degrees and 45 degrees. I was going to have nine petals, each at a thirty degree angle, but when I put the fabrics together, I didn't like it. I think the petals turned out to look like a daisy. I love daisies and I love this row!

Christmas Blocks!

2009-08-27T21:44:00.004-05:00

This weekend I got lots of sewing in! First up... Christmas in July scrappy blocks.

For this project, I have three swap partners. I needed to sew two blocks for each partner: i.e. make six blocks. Since I would be getting six blocks myself, I decided to make 8 blocks in total. I would have 2 blocks of my own to add to the received blocks.

After choosing fabrics and cutting strips, the process went fairly quickly. I decided to make two types of blocks and sew them in an assembly line.

And here is a preview of my quilt. One of my swap partners was super responsible and sent out her blocks ahead of schedule. :)

Christmas in July

2009-07-28T13:16:00.004-05:00

Its time for another swap! Now I've signed up for the Scrappy Christmas Block Swap over at modernjax.

If you want to join, there is still time! You have until August 1st.

Red & Turquoise Row

2009-07-25T16:34:00.016-05:00

I finally sewed something this summer! Because of vacation and the new puppy, I just haven't had time to sit at my sewing machine. Life has been busy!

Things at the Row Robin Swap have been slow. The swap has been really fun to watch, as it develops on flickr, but there have been a few hangups in my group. One person in my group went MIA. A participant sent her row to another participant. And then nothing. I feel very bad for her... No one wants to lose anything she has worked so hard on! With all the commotion, rows have been getting to me late, so I haven't had anything to sew since May. Its okay though. Like I said, I've been busy with life!

Without further ado, here is my row for Natasha. She wanted red and turquoise. I hope she likes it! My inspiration was this bento box from Sister Choice Quilts. However, I did the wrong measurements and didn't have the large inner square like she did! Oh well. I love what I came up with. :)

The row consists of four 12.5 by 12.5 blocks, separated by 3/4" white sashing. I wanted to match the sashing that Natasha used in her row. I love that she added this. It not only breaks up her blocks, but when I added it to my bento box blocks, it made each one stand out!

For the construction, I was able to use a lot of the scraps that had been sent my way. I also bought a considerable amount of fabric, including a fantasic red-orange wave fabric from Joann's. I used it in three of the corners. You will see this fabric in the future soon! I may be incorporating it into my next lap quilt, based on aunt june's Charley's Quilt.

On my way back home...

2009-07-19T16:51:00.003-05:00

Spent ten days on Rainy Lake this month! Beautiful weather and fun times with friends and family.

Now that I'm back in the heat of Texas, I guess I should sew or something. But I'm having too much fun playing with Chauncey. Yesterday we went to Redbud Isle to swim with the other dogs, including Chauncey's buddy Max!

Happy Canada Day, Eh?

2009-07-01T10:18:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow I will be up north.
In four days I will be fishing here.
WALLEYE!

In the meantime, I leave you with a little of Gord's Gold.

Beach Weekend 2009

2009-06-30T13:29:00.006-05:00

Its almost like an annual trip now! First 2008... now 2009! Same condo, but more space. We decided the boys don't drool, so they were invited along.

Ah, what a relaxing weekend! The sun, surf, sand, and friends... Can't wait for June 2010.

Favorite Things Swap!

2009-06-26T10:29:00.003-05:00

Do you like getting stuff in the mail? Aren't presents fun?

If you think so too... join the Favorite Things Swap!

The gist:
You get a swap partner.
You pick out three items of your favorite things and send them to your partner!
The items can be crafted or store bought.
You get three items back from a someone else!

If you've never done a swap before, I highly recommend it! Its always so fun.

Facesbook

2009-06-24T11:11:00.002-05:00

Are you one of those couples who are joined at the hip? Can you not have your own facebook page?

Good news! We now have facesbook.

Girls Rock

2009-06-23T15:01:00.007-05:00

Another baby shower!

A couple of weeks ago, I co-hosted a baby shower for our friend Debbie.

This party's theme:

Let's Potty Like Rock Stars!

I crafted all sorts of things. From the invitations, diaper cake, baby onesies, and earrings that were thank you gifts for the guests. Plus, I made her one of my infamous baby blankets and a Spongebob Squarepants onesie!

One of the games we played was "Name that baby". I asked all guests to bring a baby or kid photo of themselves for the party. To help guests from forgetting their photo, I suggested they email the picture to me and I printed them out myself. A few guests, including the mom-to-be, did that and it worked out great!

For dessert we had adorable baby cookies made by the dad-to-be's aunt! And since the mom-to-be is a huge Dairy Queen fan, we got her a Dairy Queen ice cream cake.

It was such a fun party! Good times with friends and family.

Chauncey playing with a tennis ball

2009-06-08T19:01:00.003-05:00