31 Day Blog Challenge!

I just saw this 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge in a Facebook group I'm in and I just had to jump at the opportunity to join in! I used to blog a lot. But my frequency in blog posts has definitely died down over the years. Even though it's not something I've really given a lot of time to, it is something that I really want to get back into!

This challenge is the perfect opportunity to get back into the habit of blogging...

The gist of the challenge is to blog everyday for 31 days... doing it during December, potentially the busiest time of the year, means that if I can make it happen now, I can make it happen anytime of the year. (I'm not planning on blogging on Sundays.)

I don't really have a plan about what I'll blog about, but I'm excited to explore the possibilities and hopefully find my voice again.

My first thought is that I hope that I'll be able to figure out how to finally settle in to the things I've been wanting to share but have lacked confidence in expressing. I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately, how I feel like when it comes to me and social media, it's like a roller coaster ride. At times I probably share too much of the struggle and real life experiences, and then I go for months feeling very introverted and closed off, not wanting to share anything at all. I think the problem is that I can't decide how I want to use social media as a tool. Sometimes I feel like it should be all business, but I just can't do that....It's not who I am. So then I don't know how to balance the business with real life and still be professional and not just some crazy lady. lol. I'd prefer to find a more consistent and comfortable spot, wherever that happens to be on the spectrum, so we'll see! The struggle is real!

Last night I was talking to my husband about something, telling him that I felt like a little fish in big waters. He told me the nicest thing. He said, "of all the things I know about you, one is that you are really good at adapting." It doesn't sound like a compliment, but to me it really is! It really boosted my confidence that I can tackle any challenge. So maybe *forcing* myself to blog everyday, will be just the push I need to adapt to my personal challenges that I've been facing when it comes to blogging. I'm rather excited! 

So here's to blogging!! If you want to join in, be sure to hope over to Muppin.com for all the details as well as to see who else is participating!

Now to go take a quick nap so I can hopefully get over my cold!! ;)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Blogging Troubles and Updates and Fun

If you're wondering what my Log Cabin Pincushion Caddy looked like from Monday's post, I added new and improved photos. I don't know why my pictures weren't showing up, but they should be now. (vacation is trouble!) Anyway, I'm sorry about that.

Isn't it cute?! I love how it turned out.

Make sure to go check it out and enter the giveaway, for a free copy of Jamie and Jill's book!

(if you haven't already)

I remember a while ago when I was having a giveaway, and people were having problems commenting on my blog. Is that still the case? I'm just wondering if there is still something wrong that I should fix, or change? I'm just wondering. If you have a difficult time leaving a comment, will you let me know? Thanks!


Anyway, we are back home from our awesome vacation!!! I had such a blast! It was hard to leave, but it's always nice to be home.

Now that we are home, it is hitting me hard that summer is almost over! Hunter starts kindergarten in two weeks, Jackson starts preschool the beginning of September. I spent the whole morning making eye appointments, and dentist appointments, filling out registration forms, and...

I finally bought my plane ticket to go to the Sewing Summit in September!!! It is now officially official!! I  am so excited! Now to get my class planning finished and polished off! I'm so nervous, but excited! They posted the class schedule yesterday along with the class descriptions. You can check it out HERE.  I'm excited to see who wants to/will be taking my class. I'd love to know what questions everyone has so I can be sure to cover them. :) Eek!

Hope you are having a great week!!!

Dreams & Inadequacies ... it's a long one.

Source: Uploaded by user via Stacey on Pinterest

Mentioning dreams, can I just say that I have been having THE weirdest dreams lately?! I think it's because I'm trying to change my diet, but really this is a different story.

Source: Uploaded by user via Natalie on Pinterest

I have been thinking a lot about my dreams lately. I am not one that is content with sitting around being idle. I love doing and going and being. I like to know where I'm going, and get there. I don't think I'm over-the-top busy, though my hubby might say otherwise. ;) But what is life if you don't have something to look forward to?

Source: Uploaded by user via Natalie on Pinterest

So I've been trying to compile a list of all of my dreams. Here are my dreams in relation to quilting/sewing:

• I would love to write a book(s), or be in a book(s). I have a few ideas that I think would be great and would love to write. (Time is the biggest issue here, as well as priorities. This is more of a down-the-road dream, I guess. Though it doesn't have to be. I'm just taking these as they come.)
• I would love to publish more patterns. To go along with this dream is to get all of my patterns stream lined and to have a more professional feel to them (this is on my to-do list). Maybe even have some printed patterns that I could sell in quilt shops!
• I LOVE to teach and would love to teach some quilting classes. I would probably contact some local quilt shops and see if I could teach there, if they weren't so far away... too much driving involved with where we live now. bummer.
• I would love to have a quilt in a quilt fair or a show or something. no.idea. where to even start with this one.
• I would LOVE LOVE love to design fabric! This is a huge one I've been thinking about a lot lately. I've really started to look at fabric in a different way. Becoming an observer more than just an admirer. What is it that I love about one print but not another? What are my favorite color combinations? How does it all fit together? There is so much to learn...

Source: mobilephun.com via Kin on Pinterest

Thinking about all my dreams has kind of led me to taking a head dive right into all my inadequacies. For the last couple of months I keep thinking about the fact that I call myself a "quilter" - only written. I have never told anyone out loud that I am. I don't even know how many quilts I've made, or that any are very professional, but I wonder if I am even adequate enough at making quilts to call myself a quilter. I'm sure that people who are avid and professional quilters would be appalled at some of my techniques or results. lol. (Does that make me an underground quilter, hiding from the quilt police?!) ;) I don't really mind, but I don't want to put a label on myself that I am not. Which is fine, I can be a wanna-be-quilter. But where is the line? I don't know. Is there a line? When does one *become* anything?

Source: picmonkey.com via Coleen on Pinterest

That whole issue has a big impact on a lot of my above mentioned dreams, since they all revolve around quilting/sewing. I know we all have inadequacies, and I definitely don't want to let them stop me. That is one thing my dad taught me... when we fall, we get back up. We don't quit, we keep going until we've crossed the finish line, no matter how far behind we are.

Source: Uploaded by user via bettyvision on Pinterest

Next, do I really know what I'm doing design wise? I don't want to sulk or be a downer, but there are sooo many amazing and talented people out there, and sometimes I feel like I'm back in college, it's the first day of my painting class, my oil paint busted out of it's tube and there is paint all over my hands, which I wiped all over my pants, it's all over the inside of my bag, my painting looks horrible and the teacher walks by and all he says is, "oh, so you're one of those..." yep. That's me. (I dropped out of that class pretty quick. lol. That experience is not why.) The summer after second grade my dad put me in some summer classes and everyone got a real hoot out of my descriptive writing of some boxer shorts, when I guess they were just shorts. lol. They looked just like the boxer shorts my sister and I would wear to dance in, which I guess were actually called wind shorts. Actually I think I explained them as boxing shorts. I don't know. lol. It all makes me laugh. I have no shame. But the point is, I tend to see things differently, and it's true. I like to think outside the box, and I think sometimes I stray so far from the box that it gets a little absurd. So extreme that all the good stuff has fallen out of the back of the truck along the way, and all I'm left with is weirdness. That is me. I guess I've just learned to be a little less obvious about it. :) Anyway, point is... well, perhaps there is no point, but rather just the roller coaster ride that any designer rides of the current trends. The ins and outs of what the people are going to want. But I don't like doing things for other people. I like designing for me. And I like different.

Source: Uploaded by user via Natalie on Pinterest

Which leads me to my next point. Sometimes people laugh at something I say, which I guess was actually humorous, and I think, that was such a stupid comment, why are you laughing? I don't think I'm a very funny person, and I often don't like the things I design. Not that I think they are ugly, but it's not my taste. I don't know what my taste is. Is anyone else like that? You make things that are awesome, but you hate it. Not that I hate it, and I'm not saying that the things I design are awesome. I am standing on neutral ground here. I do like some of them, and I am proud of a lot of things I've made (for the fact that I actually made it with my own hands! I love that!) But seriously. Does it just mean that I need to dig deeper? Have I not even scratched the surface of what I can do? In high school we had an art exhibit and a bunch of us included some tempera paintings we did. They were supposed to be reflective of who we are. I definitely painted on the side of self expression more than aesthetics. I got first place. What? There were other paintings that I liked way better than mine. What is it about art that people love? Do you love what is aesthetically pleasing? or do you love the things that come from deep within the designer? Is it the picture or the emotions it stirs that we are drawn to? I don't want to just please others. I do want to reach deep inside me and pull out whatever is in there, but it's scary. Inadequacies swarming like a swarm of gnats... whatever. :)

Source: Uploaded by user via Carole on Pinterest

I also feel the constant pull to do too many things at once. I used to let life get in the way of me doing what I wanted to do, and instead lived in front of the sink doing dishes. lol. We have since moved to a place that has a dish washer. Thank goodness! ;) No, our house isn't disgustingly dirty. It does get messy, but it also gets clean. I am fine tuning the balance of life, responsibilities, and recreation. Anyway, what I was saying, I just figured that one day I'd get to it. Then I realized that one day is the ultimate thief of dreams becoming reality. If I don't start now they will never happen. So I started doing. And it has been such an amazing journey!! I can't even believe where I am now. I'm so grateful! The problem here lies in what to focus on. I feel like when I focus on one thing, I feel like I'm left in the dust in another area. Obviously no one can do it all. And I have a problem of wanting to do everything. I don't want to just do patterns. I don't even want to only do paper piecing patterns. I have so many ideas... and I want to make them ALL!!! (insert evil laugh). But as I put one thing aside, and still see others making all these accomplishments in that area, it makes me feel a bit left out in that I'm not making progress there also. Does that make sense? I don't so much have a problem with this, as I realize that I don't want to drive myself crazy trying to do it all. Just today I felt a little overwhelmed by this, so I might as well include it in my long ramblings. ha. :)

 

Source: Uploaded by user via Natalie on Pinterest

Anyway, after lots of thinking, and lots of talking writting, I don't think I've come to any conclusions. yet. I am definitely enjoying lots of family time, and lots of time with my cute little ones. It's been a fun summer. So for now that means more time to think and ponder and figure it out. Who knows where I'll be in a year, or in half a year, or even a month from now... I sure don't. But I'm excited to find out! Life is good, and the more I live the more I realize how great it really is, and how much of it all depends on our perspective! Attitude really is everything. I'm so glad that we really do have the power to make life what we want it to be!

Source: Uploaded by user via LeeAnn on Pinterest

Now I wonder, what are your dreams???

 

Google Reader vs. Bloglovin

There may have been some competition between these two blog reading platforms, but that will soon come to an end. Have you heard the word that Google Reader is going by the wayside come July 1st? That's Monday. Do you have a plan for how you will read your blogs once they are gone??? May I suggest something???

Bloglovin! You can import ALL of your blogs from google reader to bloglovin in just a few simple steps:
 (I've included two screen shots that may or may not be beneficial.)

see the top right

1. Open an account with Bloglovin
2. Go to the drop down menu by clicking the heart in the top right corner
3. Click settings
4. Scroll down to Other and go to Import Blogs, then click a few more buttons,
   and there you go!

Do the pictures help??? probably not. lol.

(rolling my eyes)

It imports your folders as well, which is so nice!!

I hope you'll add me so you can keep reading along with me and all my adventures! :)

Cleaning House... or rather, Cleaning Blog

I suppose if I'm going to spend the day sprucing up my blog, I should at least write a blog post too! :) Come check it out! I made new pattern icons, a new blog button, rearranged a few things, I have a new header! (it's so bright compared to what it was before!) I even had the Mr. take a picture of me to replace my old one. It is definitely getting colorful around here. I still have some cleaning, deleting, and figure out to do, so bear with me while it comes along. :) I would love to rework all my pages as well, (like my tutorial pages, and project lists, etc.) but we'll see how that goes. I've spent long enough just on the main page that now I need to get back to other things. Oh life, why do you fly by so quickly?!

(here's a peek of a few things in case you are reading from a feed reader, or on your phone, or somehow where you don't see the entire site. I know I read blogs a lot like that lately.)

new blog button

new tutorial and pattern buttons

So what do you think? Any suggestions before I finish up? Do you hate the new layout? Since you are, after all, the ones who read my blog. :) THANK YOU by the way! Is it too cramped with the icons on the left? I think I'll try them at least for a while. I'm kind of excited about how they turned out.


which photo gets your vote? On IG almost everyone has voted for the top, but I do like them both I think.

Can I ask you a question? I need some help. What do yo do for wrinkles?? I know it doesn't look like I have any in the pictures (because I Photoshopped them out. ha!) But really, what do you use? How do you prevent them? or get rid of them? It's only been recently that I've really started noticing them, but I have crazy crows feet, and also in my cheeks when I smile. The bags under my eyes I'm sure come with the territory of a new baby, but I'm only 31. I don't want to be wrinkles yet! I'd love some advice or tips! Maybe I should look on Pinterest. lol.


So anyway,  besides working on my blog, I've been doing some fun sewing projects that I'm REALLY excited about!

Of course my project for the Kate Spain blog hop... that you'll have to wait for. But here's a peek.

I don't know why my IG photos are always so dark on the computer. They seem to always look better on my phone. Has anyone else noticed that?

And this one. I want to finish it up for the Mini Quilt Challenge over at Ellison Lane Quilts. Which is next week I think? I better hurry! :)

What have you been working on lately? Enjoying your summer? I really have been wanting to get back to the good ol' blog. So hopefully I can make some more time for it soon.  I miss you all! :)

I've been enjoying this guy, and apparently so has the Mr. :)

(I'm so lazy. I'm sharing a picture I took with my phone of a picture that is on my computer. lol. By the way, the new Flickr is really driving me crazy! I don't like it. Everything is too big, and too slow, and too dark... I wish it was customizable so I could change it back.) :)
But isn't this picture so cute?! I love these guys!

Bloom Your Blog with Jessica Sprauge

Have you heard of Jessica Sprague? She has an awesome site with some great digital scrapbooking supplies. But even more than that, she offers SO many great classes for photoshop, illustrator, and more. Whether you just want to learn the programs, or you want to start scrapbooking, or how to take better photos, there is something there for everyone. Ok, I don't mean to sound like a sales pitch, but I really like her site. She has some free classes you can try so you can see what they are like.

Anyway, I decided to sign up for one of her classes, Bloom Your Blog. (It was on sale, and I had a coupon. You can't say no to that, right?!) In we are learning some good food for thought on setting up a good blog design, and will learn how to make headers and buttons, etc in Photoshop. I don't know how to do very much in Photoshop (I mostly use Illustrator for everything.) so this should be good. Hopefully I can spiffy up my blog some more! :)

Some of the things I've been thinking about for my blog, are the style I want to portray, and the color scheme (which is always a tough one).  (Don't hold me to this if this doesn't actually materialize into an amazing blog! lol. Trying to stay on top of the class is hard enough right now... I'm already a day behind.) ;)


The style words I picked are: fresh, clean, calm, fluid, and sunny. I also like classy.

and my thoughts about this: What I've struggled with is coming up with a distinct style to match my blog name and idea. from blank pages... where it all begins. I really like the idea of it, that everything we do is a creative journey and starts as we begin to fill up our blank pages (add in everyday is a new beginning and everyday we start over with a blank page to make that day our own. Which I don't think I really portray this idea constantly on my blog, but I would like to more.) I want a look to portray that, but don't want just a blank blog.


I checked out some colors, and here are a few of my favorite color schemes from Pinterest:

Source: lizzybloves.com via Diane Bohn on Pinterest

Source: photocardboutique.com via Diane Bohn on Pinterest

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Diane Bohn on Pinterest

LOVE love this one!

Source: creaturecomfortsblog.com via Diane Bohn on Pinterest

Source: design-seeds.com via Diane Bohn on Pinterest

Source: makeitmyown.blogspot.com via Diane Bohn on Pinterest

I love the teal and green, with a pop of yellow.


Ok, so that's all for now... I just wanted to share this with you, in case anyone is interested in any of the classes. Plus I just love color. :) And if I don't write any of this down I'll never remember it. ;)


UPDATE: Here is my Mood Board on Pinterest. This has been a lot of fun! :)

Hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday!

Happy 2 Years!! from blank pages... linky #5 AND a Giveaway!

Boy does time fly! I have officially been blogging for 2 years TODAY! Wahoo! I cannot believe how far I've come in 2 years! I have too many wonderful friends to count, I never would have believed you if you told me I would be 10 followers shy of 400! This whole experience has been one amazing ride and I wouldn't trade it for anything!! Thank you for all of your comments, friendships and support! It wouldn't be the same with out you!


I totally forgot about my blogiversary last year (I think I was pregnant??), and well, for this year I wanted to do something especially fun.  I've actually been meaning to do this all year long but never got around to it. Any kind of anniversary is special though, so I decided I needed to take a little extra time out just for this.

(I wasn't going to do this part, but saw it on someone else's blog once, and since people like to celebrate these things with giveaways too, I figured it might be interesting to see where I'm at...)

In 2 years I have:

• Published 404 posts (I believe over half of those are from this year!) :) (oh, and this doesn't count all the posts that I moved over to my Our Story section of my blog. This is just quilting/crafting stuff.)
• received 3240 comments on my various posts
• had 87,091 pageviews from 29,948 unique visitors. wow.
• I have 390 followers via GFC (only 10 away from 400!!) and 405 subscribers in google reader
• 139 people like my Facebook page (that I don't do anything with).

Anyway, basically it goes like this. I don't believe any of that. If you told me two years ago that I would have stats like that I would have laughed. Or punched you because I thought you were teasing me because I'm sure I was dreaming about it. ;) #widrn Eating a slice of humble pie. (= what I'm doing right now) You all are seriously awesome! And I just want to thank you for stopping by and saying hi. Maybe these numbers seem huge, and I'm sure to a lot of people they're small. But to me, I'm pretty excited about it. (I am NOT bragging. We all start somewhere and end up somewhere else. This is where I'm at on this day. Tomorrow I'll be somewhere else. I love watching where life takes us. Ok, now I'm rambling...)
 

Here is my picture round up of projects and posts from the last two years!
(click on the mosaics to go to Flickr and then you can click on the links to find out more about each photo.) :)


The beginning: first quilts, paper crafts, things I sold in my Etsy shop, first knitting projects, Christmas presents, etc. This is all from 2010 and a few projects from before that.

there are a few totally awesome awful projects that were left out. Oh well. ;)

2011:

Bags, paper goodies, sewing stuff, things for the little ones, and yes. Number 2 is a baby. I made my third baby in 2011. :)

All things quilting:
do.Good Stitches bee blocks, minis, quilts, quilted pillow, etc.

2012:

Pillows, Pouches and other sewing items

And Lots of blocks (do.Good Stitches, Moody Blues 2, [3x6] Mini Sampler Bee, 4x5 Modern Bee and just because)

Quilts and quilted goodness

I think it's safe to say that my skills have improved over the years, as well as my photography skills. ;) It's been a fun journey! Thanks for hanging out and looking back with me. It's always nice to see what I've actually accomplished, and that I haven't just been little miss busy body for no reason. :) Swaps have definitely been my favorite thing I've sewn for! They always seem to push me the most as well, which I really enjoy. I hope to jump in another swap here soon! :) But until then, there are WAY too many other things going on!

I think my goal for this next year is to finish more quilts! I have a few still sitting in my closet, that have been there for a while, so next year you will see some of those for sure! I hope. If not, I guess it will just be something better. :)

These mosaics definitely took WAY too long to put together, so I'm just going to leave it at that and not type anymore! lol.


Now I want to see the things YOU'VE done! I think everyone needs a special occasion to celebrate their creations and give themselves a big pat on the back! So here's the perfect excuse! :)


Here's what to do:

Create a blog post that highlights, or shows off all of your creations you've made! Is your list too long? Just pick your favorites, but make sure to search back in time and get all the goodness! Don't skimp on the celebrating, even if it's a little embarrassing going back to the beginning. ;)

Then come back here and link up your blog post in the linky. This will also count as this weeks from blank pages... linky. Because today we are celebrating the beginning of us! :)

You don't have a blog? Make a mosaic and post it in Flickr (or wherever) and you can link up your mosaic here. Need help making a mosaic? Here are some good instructions to help you out. I use Big Huge Labs Mosaic Maker. I read recently that someone liked a different mosaic maker better, but I have no idea where I read that or where it was. If it was you, let us know. :)

Make sure to link back here in your post so others can come join along in the fun as well! :) (you can grab a button or something. :))



And because celebrations are ALWAYS more fun with prizes,  I will be giving away to one lucky reader......

A 5" charm pack of Anna Maria Horner's LouLouThi collection.

30 squares cut by me from my unwashed fabric stash.

To Enter: 

(you must do at least 1 - otherwise I won't know you've entered! bwahahaha! - it's late. 

All others are optional.)

1. Link up a blog post or mosaic to the linky (1 entry) and leave a comment telling me you did (get an extra entry)
2. leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite memory as a child
3. follow this blog and leave a comment telling me you do.
4. follow me either on facebook, twitter, or intagram! (only one entry even if you do all three)

This giveaway is open to international participants as well! Yay!

I will leave this giveaway open until I pick a winner the morning of Wednesday, September 5th.

Good luck! 

Have fun!

And thanks for stopping by!

Today is The Day...

That I celebrate the 2 year anniversary of my first blog post!! It is also still my most popular blog post, according to google analytics. Go figure. I came in with a bang and just went down hill I guess. lol. ;) I am SO super excited that my blog is where it is at today!! And I'm so excited to celebrate it with you!

Today is also the day of interruptions. Boy is that ever an understatement. But it is the best day for it, as well as the best interruptions ever! My oldest was so happy to have me read to him in German today! Yay! What could be better than that?! Rumpelstiltskin was one that we read today and he loved every second of it! We've also done a ton of puzzles and games today. More than usual for sure. It's been so much fun! Maybe I should try working on a big project every day just so they will want to play with me so much every day! :)

Anyway, my point is that I am working on my post for the day, but it is taking a LONG time. It will also include the linky for the day, which is way fun! as well as a super sweet giveaway (at least I'm excited about it. Ok, I'm actually still deciding on what it will be, but it will be good.)

So here is my quick intermission telling you that you need to check back later so you can celebrate with me! I'm sorry that I can't tell you when it will start. It's just like me to be late to my own party. :D cheese!!! Just know it's coming. :)

Until then, Happy Thursday!! :)

Did you know???

If you linked your blogger account to Google+ that you are probably a no-reply blogger and didn't even know it?! Yep! I found out last week that I was. I searched the web universe as well as google+ to see how to change that, but alas, there was no luck. The only instructions I could find to become a reply-blogger again was to unlink my Google+ account. And that's what I did.

I have noticed in the last few weeks that some other bloggers have also become no-reply bloggers, of whom I know were not so earlier. You may want to check it out! I think part of the reason why I didn't know is because the bloggers I comment on, and who have replied back to me have my email address anyway, so I have no idea when this change took place. If it's something recent that google did, or if it happened right when I linked my profile.

If you want to comment on my post, I would be more than happy to let you know if you are or aren't. If you don't hear back from me in email, check back here and I'll tell you in the comments. If I have your email anyway, then I'll go ahead and email you and confirm either way. It's kind of annoying to just find out now. To think of all those awesome giveaways I've entered. :( boohoo. ;) lol.

I just wanted to give you the heads up in case you are concerned about that. A HUGE thanks to Mike for letting me know!


In other news, I officially have the worst phone camera ever. Everyone has such beautiful pictures on Instagram, and mine are poop. Ok, not always, but they are not as nice as I wish they were. Oh well. Continuing with my potty-mouth pictures. ;)

see what I mean?! lol. talking about the quality, not the fabrics.

I decided to start something new today. It was one of those days. One of those days that I need some beautiful Lou Lou Thi to cheer me up. This has been sitting in my stash for a while, and I think I have the perfect pattern to use this in. If it doesn't turn out, I'll just close my eyes and pretend that it looks like Denise's. She's going to have to wash that quilt ever day with how much I'm drooling over it. ;) Her quilt is what made me finally decide that I love this fabric line. It's perfect! I'm also excited because it's been getting rather chilly here. A strange phenomenon for me being from the high desert mountains of Utah, and that it's still the middle of August. But it's nice because it makes me want to snuggle under a soft beautiful quilt, and I have yet to finish a snuggle quilt for myself. This will be my end of summer/fall treat. ;)


I have some very sad news. But I'm not ready to share that yet. Stay tuned, and perhaps be ready to comment. But you'll have to wait. I'm still crying and dreaming and wishing, and not ready to let go yet.


I did finish the fasted quilt top ever!

 
It's not actually sewn together in this photo, but it is sewn together now.

These blocks were donated to me by Melinda. They are beautiful! I think I'm going to put a large sashing around these, and then find a fun way to quilt it. This is for Quilting for a Cause and 100 Quilts for Kids. I keep getting more blocks in the mail and it's awesome! I've got some creative ideas going around in my head for what I want to do with them all. But I need more solid fabric... or bigger cuts that coordinate. Anyone want to donate some fabric?! :) I can tell you what colors I need. :) heehee.


I've also done some clean up on the home front. Ok, blog front. I put all my buttons on a new button page. You can find the link on the top of my page with all the tabs. My computer has been so SLOW lately, and then after I started putting that page together I realized that it's Safari that is slowing my computer down so bad. Now that I'm in Firefox, it's as fast as a dream. But I don't love firefox on the Mac. Oh well. ... Anyway, the page is up, and there's a bit less on my sidebar. I still need to figure out what to do with some of the stuff on the bottom, and some of it will be changing soon anyway...

I also cleaned out my email inbox finally! I'd say going from 2,600+ emails to 776 is quite an accomplishment. lol. I blame it on moving and no internet. ;) If you are waiting for a response from a blog comment, I'm sorry but I don't think it will come. Please leave another comment... I am starting over and hoping to do better. All the comments in my inbox were just too overwhelming to feel like I could ever respond to them. Plus I don't know if that would be weird to get a "thanks" from a comment you left three months ago.  lol. :)


Want to know what you can look forward to this week... a very cool project that I am SO excited for. I am dying to share it with you and really hope you'll like it. It will also include a bit of a tutorial, so stay tuned, that is on Thursday. I also have a bit of a modification to make to the linky party, so I hope it will be a little more inviting for people to join in on, and I think it will be a little more fun as well. Thursday is going to be a busy day around here! I haven't forgotten other projects and such either, it's just bee busy outside of my blogging/sewing universe as well. Sorry about any delays in things you are expecting/waiting for... but that's just how it goes sometimes. ;)

Anyway, my one time only Monday Update is now over. lol. :) 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Lots of Hugs and an Update on the Blog

I need to write everyone back and tell you THANK YOU for your comments on yesterdays post. I feel SO much better! I think writing about it helped me more than making the quilt, though that's not for me anyway, I'm really excited to send it off in the mail (tomorrow hopefully). I think the thing I have always had the hardest time from, is when people try to act like they like you but obviously don't. No one has to like anyone, so don't fake like you do. Anyway, that's another story that I'm not going to go into on this blog. lol. :)

On a happier note, I finally cleaned up and updated my Made It page! :) Right now it's only lists and links (I want to add some mosaics of everything), but wow! I've made way more stuff than I thought I have. I think there are a few more items that I have hidden in some other posts, so they aren't linked, but anyway. It's fun to look back at everything. (as well as highly amusing to see the silly things I made and remembering how I thought I was doing such an awesome job with my tutorials and pictures and posts. I'm sure I'll feel the same way in 2 years from now about what I'm doing right now. :)

On a sad note, I cannot find my bee blocks! (My Moody Blues blocks, the Candy Land blocks from do.Good Stitches, all my blocks from the 3x6 Bee and 4x5 Bee - they are all going into different projects - one I NEED to finish this week, and of course the rest are very soon. Not good.) In Utah I had them all in one fabric bag, and now I don't know where that is. I thought I had opened up all my sewing boxes, but perhapss not. I also kind of remembering seeing the bag already though, so it makes me super confused because it's not anywhere where I would have put it! Ahhh! I will be spending the rest of my morning searching for that bag. Wish me luck!


And to end on a happy note again, I made my first paper pieced Letters! SO fun! Those small pieces to curve out the corners are craziness though!

I can't wait to get this blocked in so it looks a lot better. I totally forgot to reverse my patterns before I printed them though. oops. I ended up tracing the lines on the back of the paper for the "S", but I didn't on the "T" which means that It ended up a lot closer to the "O" than I wanted because my extra space is on the left side of the "T" instead of the right. Oh well, I love them. I'll be sharing more about this project in the next couple of days... if I can find my bee blocks! lol. I will either way.

maybe maybe I'll make up a whole alphabet of these. Or maybe just show you how to make your own alphabet. :)

What have you been up to lately? Are you getting ready for August?!

 Yikes this summer has gone by fast.