Is it December already?

A lot has been going on here, so excuse the total lack of posts!

We were finally affected by the economy along with the rest of the nation, and could no longer afford Gabriel going to the private school he was attending. As much as we hated to, we had no choice but to pull him from GLS and homeschool for the rest of the year. (our local public school is not a favorite of ours!)

Money was tight for a while, and not too long after my last post, I sold my sewing machine to, among other reasons, help buy books for Gabriel's homeschool curriculm and some dentistry work I needed done. This made me sad, but also helped me to focus on my family and spend more time with them! So it wasn't that bad....

...but this is a blog about sewing, right? So let's get on with that!

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Without knowing that I no longer had an ELECTRIC sewing machine (eerrr....I did have the treadle that was given to me through my step-dad's parents), my again gracious Step-grandparents, Brenda and "Squirrel" gave me HIS grandma's sewing machine for Christmas (still at their house).

It's a BEAUTIFUL Singer 15-89, that WORKS, and it AND the cabinet (and stool, which itself was full of all kinds of vintage goodies) was in near perfect condition! I'm sure it needs serviced, as it hasn't been used in nearly 30+ years, but I am estatic! I was also gifted some other goodies along with it, I will have to post pictures of it all together.

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That seems like a lot in itself, but I also happened upon a Singer ELECTRIC 66 RedEye. Unfortunately, it needs a good bit of work before it's usable.

My grandfather also bought me a Shark brand new-ish style (plastic, not computerized) sewing machine at a local auction...I've yet to mess around with it yet, but it seems to be in working condition. I plan on using it for small jobs such as mending quickly, and for possibly teaching sewing to the local tweens that are interested it seems!

I have much to do around here nowadays, what with homeschooling and housework and keeping 2 little boys entertained INDOORS (said with a groan, as you know little boys HATE staying inside all.day.long. ) so posts will still be few and far between!

But at least I updated!

My Virtual quilting friends

I've not disapeared! My machine has been "broken" (i.e., the tension was so messed up that I couldn't sew on it) but is now fixed.

I have caught up on all that I "need" to be done at my house, sewing wise, and have 2 more blocks planned out for you all.

I haven't disapeared! comment if you see this, please!

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie!

Today marks my 6 year wedding anniversary to the love of my life, Lee.

6 years ago today, we married on a mild October Saturday, and then honeymooned in the Great Smokey Mtns, in Tennessee.

I guess I could share some photos, huh?

We took the boys with us this morning into town and ate breakfast at Hardees, then off to Home Depot we went, to get mums for the front of the house and some lumber to finish off my hubby's new work-bench in the garage and to add a railing on the back porch to hide some rope lighting.

After coming back from town, we all took naps, and that was a blessing. Usually at least one of us doesn't get to nap if everyone else is!

Tonight we have church, where Gabriel will most likely get to hold the basket (and get a dollar from every family), since his birthday is Thursday. This time of year is soooo busy for us, between all the birthdays and our anniversary!

Pumpkin Patch!

Gabriel's kindergarten class had their field trip to the Pumpkin Patch today! It started out COLD and rainy, then when we got there it was just misty and muddy, still cold....and then the day turned HOT. Gotta love Alabama fall's.

We decided to hit the park when we got home after changing into some cooler clothes, only to have to come home early, as the weather quickly changed to cold again!

Pictures of the pumpkins to come!

The Weather is finally starting to change!

Here in Alabama, we have HOT and we have COLD days, mingled in with a few "cool" days in between somewhere.

It has been COLD in the mornings (ok, in the 40's, so not too COLD) and "cool" throughout the rest of the day....we love it!

Now, if we can just get rid of that rain that's flooding us....

That's all, carry on, I am just happy that the weather is finally cooling off!

Happy Birthday to my dear husband!

He is 29 today (only 1 year away from the big 3-0!)

I have been/still am VERY busy, between kindergarten doings/field trips, family reunions, birthdays, and my anniversary (which is next Sunday).

Gabriel will be 5 on Oct 8th, which happens to co-incide with his fall break at school, and then his party is the following saturday, complete with bouncer house and a sleep-over....so I am running wild at the moment!

Sewing is at a slow, almost standstill, but I'm working on quilt blocks, both for personal and gifted quilts, and a virtual quilting bee (which I am very behind on, sorry girls!).

Soooo....not a lot of posts going on lately, as you can see....I've virtually disapeared online, so thank you to all that have reached out to me, even if I haven't gotten back with you, I appreciate it!

A doll quilt

An online friend is going through a rough patch right now, and since she isn't sewing at the moment, when her daughter asked for a quilt for her dolly, I jumped at the chance to help her.

Granted, it's not perfect, and a bit wonky, but it's for a doll, and I'm sure she'll love it! I do!

Although I did poke a pretty deep hole in my finger with the needle while hand-sewing the binding on the back, it was a fun project to sew for a girl, and also inspired me to continue doing so (look back soon for a picture of the dress I made for my baby sister!)

The back is reversible to princess print, isn't it lovely!?

My baby is now a big boy!

Yes, it is true...he is officially a Kindergartener!

Gabriel started LAST Wed. and so I've been really busy with him and all the "new school" stuff, sorry for the delay in posting!

Sooo...here he is on his first day of School, he did great!

And just for comparison...here are a few baby pics as well! *sob* He's growing up too fast!

I'm not avoiding you!

I promise!

I'm busy cleaning up and organizing my over-run sewing room! Which is taking FOREVER!

But I'm *almost* done, so it won't be much longer! And then I'll share pics of my sewing space and of course the projects that will come out of a clean and organized room!

Finally the pictures!

I call this quilt "Mommy's Lil Monkeys".

I have yet to label it! It's in the wash getting all crinkly and nice and soft!

And for the other pics! Can you see that I did the free motion quilting? I was very proud of that!

Ok, now this is the whirlygiggle quilt I'm working on...I LOVE the stick figure kids, and of course I had to incorporate the monkeys in again!

Virtual Quilting Bee

Since I don't have enough projects going (can you hear the heavy sarcasm?), I'm joining a Virtual Quilting Bee at my friend Crystal's blog!

http://cre8tivecrys.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/who-wants-to-play-with-me/

Please join us!

Whew....I did it!

I got more thread today, and finished doing the FMQ (free motion quilting) on it. I tried a new way of stretching/basting it and was happy with it overall....I still think I would prefere a stretching frame *ahem, pawpaw build it for me, ahem* LOL

I also put the binding on, still need to whipstitch the back on though. I will probably do that tonight.

I know I promised pictures...BUT....my batteries are not charged yet...I actually just put them in the charger a bit ago, since I was gone all day. Sorry!

Since I didn't have any new pics to share with you, I thought I'd share a picture of my sweet little boy! This was taken LAST August, on a field trip with our homeschool co-op to the Chattanooga Aquarium. He was MORE than thrilled, can you tell? LOL

He is starting Kindergarten in 9 days, I can't believe it! I'll definatly post pics of his first day of school, along with newborn pics for comparison (and for my pity party as I am so sad that my baby is growing up!)

2 posts today!

Don't get used to it, chances are it may be days between posts, LOL

I've not felt well this weekend, so sitting at watching movies/computer/sewing was about all I could handle.

I've completed 19 blocks of the 48 I have to make for Gabriel's WhirlyGiggle quilt!

I also pieced a back (a simple pieceing) for a finished quilt top I had done last year before Christmas! Then basted and pinned it, and have stippled almost half of it, but I ran out of thread :( I will get more tomorrow. It's Moda's line with the monkeys (don't know the name!) I will take pictures when I get it done and post them....which reminds me, the batteries are dead, I need to recharge them.

Today's project

After making a quilt for Asher's 2nd birthday, Gabriel decided the HE needed another one too. (I made them each one, Gabriel's for his 1st birthday, and Asher's for his 2nd).

SO...I'm following the CrazyMom blog's WhirlyGiggle tutorial, and making him a scrapy quilt for Christmas/His birthday, depending on when I get it done! LOL

Here is the link for the tutorial I'm following:
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2009/02/whirlygiggle.html

I'll try to post pictures of the finished squares soon. (Well, what are done already, LOL) I'm doing prints and solids in fabrics he likes. That poor child....he loves fabric almost as much as his mama! *SWOON*

So I got a blog...

Ok, so I didn't think I would ever start a blog...I mean, I'm too busy!

But I guess I will..I used to keep a journal, but that got tiresome, and I love looking back at old memories, but don't really enjoy handwriting anymore, as typing goes SO much faster!

I'll use this blog to keep track of cute memories of my 2 boys, Gabriel and Asher, and to share sewing projects that I do...

I'm venturing into more complicated quilts and clothing, so hopefully this will help keep me motivated!