...around the house

I look forward to summer vacation every year. I always have several projects I've promised myself I will complete during my time off from school. A few weeks ago I decided it was time to update the curtains in my scrap room since I was planning on spending a lot of time in there over the next few months. The pic above shows the old curtains-along with my inherited chair from Jamie. She decided it didn't fit in with her new décor. I have since moved the chair to the living room because I really enjoy the light coming in through the window, and I thought it looked a little crowded with the chair in front of it.

And, here are the new curtains...and new curtain rod...

...a different view, I love all the natural light.

Another project I started a couple of weeks ago, in anticipation of being home for the summer, was repainting one of my brown tables. I forgot to take a picture before I painted, but trust me-it looks a lot better now. 

It looked too bare without something on the top so I put together a quick quilted runner to add more color. I'm really happy how it turned out. 

I also enjoyed putting it together just to be able to quilt again. I don't have time during the busy school year, and quilting is one of my favorite hobbies.

I think I have enough fabric to quilt non-stop for about 10 summers in a row! Now, off to start a new project...

I've been busy...

Remember this?

I finally stitched the last stitch in it yesterday...I'm so happy with how it turned out...

Here's a peek at the back...fabric is by Sweetwater...

I loved Sweetwater papers when they printed them for scrapbooking...and they produce awesome fabrics, as well...their graphics/patterns remind me of "down-home", comfy-ness (I'm sure that's probably not a real word)

Here's the spot it was made for, beside the bed in my bedroom...

Now, I need to get to work on the one for the other side table. I'm using the same fabrics, but a different pattern...so, more to come!

Now, I want to re-paint my furniture...Hmmmmm...
which color should I choose?

Some finished projects...

As I mentioned in this post, I have several projects in different states of completion....I was happy to get a few things finished today...

I'm trying to use up as many leftover fabric scraps as I can and it's been fun to make some small projects to practice my machine quilting on...I normally like to do all of my quilting by hand, it's just something that is very relaxing for me in the evenings when I'm too tired to do anything else...

I made a couple (with several more waiting to be finished!) of small potholders, mug rugs, or whatever you want to call them...

They coordinate with the table runner I made in this post, and they are just the right size to leave on the counter for my hot tea or sonic drink!...

Now, I'm off to finish my next project, more on that tomorrow.

"Yeah" for snow days...

Happy New Year & a Project

I found this inspiration on Pinterest yesterday and couldn't wait to try it. I already had the perfect frame to use that would look great in my sewing room. I found another frame to move the existing picture to before I started the project.

All you need is a small piece of fabric and some pillow stuffing, I had both of those on hand so the project cost me ZERO $$$! The directions were super simple, you can find them here. The only step I added was using a glue gun in a few places on the back of the fabric to help hold it in place as I put the back of the frame back on.

This was a very quick and fun project--a great way to start off the new year, creating...Happy New Year to all of my family and friends, I sincerely hope that 2012 will be the year all of your wishes and dreams come true:)

...a little quilting, and some soup

I'm making two small quilted table toppers for my bedside tables.

All stitched together by hand, because my machine has been in the shop being cleaned and adjusted.

I love all of the fun colors, including the red!

Since I have my sewing machine back now, I think I'll add the strips by machine, I'm anxious to get them done.

And, this is a potato soup recipe I found on Pinterest, I was going to blog about it. But---it has been in the crock pot on high for 3 hours and hasn't even started to cook. So, I put it in a pot on the stove--me and hubby are getting hungry. I'm glad I tried it while I was home instead of waiting until tomorrow while I would be gone all day to school.  I'll have to let you know how it tastes, if it ever gets done----I can report that it sure smells good!

...more quilting and off to dallas!!!

I have had so much fun lately with fabrics. I've returned to one of my long lost loves, sewing and quilting. It was one of my fave hobbies that received very little attention during my several years of the famous "scrapbooking venture" with my sis. I must say, I've missed quilting. The soothing effects of the monotonous, tiny, hand stitching relaxes me. And, to prove how serious I am, I took my sewing machine in today to be cleaned and serviced. It hasn't been properly cleaned in more than 10 years!

I have missed stepping into fabric stores and viewing all of the different colors, patterns, and designs of material. There is so much out there, I feel like I've been missing out. Maybe that's why I have way too many projects going on in various states of completion right now. I'm sure having fun, though!

This little table topper was stitched completely by hand, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The fabric is from a line by Camille Roskelley, Bliss. I used pieces from a jellyroll, pre-cut strips---makes the process go a lot quicker. I love the colors she puts together, and her sweet, simple style.

The backing is fabric I had left over from Grayson's 1st birthday party favors I made. I've used it to finish off several projects, guess I over-bought! I'm enjoying the finished product and have plans to make many more.

Early tomorrow morning Kelsey and I are headed to Carrollton to stay with the little ones while the little ones' parents go on their anniversary trip. This will be the first time G & M will be in school while we are there. So......you can bet I have my "stitching" packed up to go with me!

"Happy Fall Break"

.....inspiration and a "ta-dah"

While it was cold and snowy and looked liked this outside my kitchen window, I was curled up with a blanket on the couch
devouring each and every page of this book and getting more and more inspired by the moment. I haven't quilted in a long time and the pics in this book made me anxious to start another small project. Sooooo, out came the fabric scraps and away I go!

I had forgotten how fun it was to arrange colorful fabric squares together, just like piecing together a puzzle. And I had so much fun with these colors!

The plan was to make a new table runner for the dining room table. Most of the projects in the book were sewn by machine, but I love to hand quilt so all of mine were pieced by hand. Besides, it gave me something fun to do while waiting for the snow to melt.

Here are all of the strips pieced and ready to sew together.

And, I just finished quilting and binding it today!

I love it! And, it was so much fun--I'm trying to decide on another project to start.

The backing of the quilt was some leftover fabric I used to make crayon rolls for Grayson's 1st birthday, for party favors. The colors were perfect!

Off to pick out my next project!

A visit.....and some bright table fun!

These two are coming to visit for a week--and I cannot wait to see all of the FUN we get into together! We are going to have such a great time. I thought it would be fun to decorate the table in something bright and colorful. I found a tutorial on sewing some stuffed Easter eggs out of fabric scraps (we all know I have plenty of that!). I searched around the kitchen and found different sizes and shapes of glassware for the candy, and the bunny tray was something I found last year. When I put everything together, I thought it looked pretty cute. Especially all of the colorful candy!!!! The only thing I spent money on was the sweets!!!!

As promised...

Remember these?
Well, I made some more and turned it into this!

A fun little pillow, full of Yo-Yo's. It helped me use up some of my fabric scraps and now it's dressing up my couch in the living room. Mission accomplished!