Mutant?

My Tag is so dang smart!

I know you already knew that.

Here's yet another story that proves it.

Back when this arrived at my doorstep

 

I recognized that it was a different type of warthog.

See the spots?  The darker areas of fur?  

Except, those are not spots.  

They are mutations!

This warthog was some kind of mutant.

Like a teenage mutant ninja warthog.

I kept a close eye on it.

And wondered what the difference was all about.

Well, the other day,

good ole Tag got to the bottom of it.

Literally.

He found that the mutant ninja was stuffed

with an unbelievable amount of polyester fiberfil.

And, that it had smuggled in a weapon.

A weapon of mass destruction!

Guess the mutant ninja was waiting for

it to come out the other end so it could be used.
To destruct.

No worries.

We're safe.

Now.

Thanks to Tag E. Butt,
Labrador Extraordinaire.

Okay, so the wmd?
It's really the grunt-maker

from the belly of the warthog.

What can I say?

Need to entertain the masses

(and myself)!

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

How Do You Spell Relief?

V - A - C - A - T - I - O - N!

YAY!

I am on vacation!

And, I'm gonna have a good time!  

Not going anywhere, though...

just digging in and getting it done.  

Declutter & destash.

A little sewing.

My list is very long.

If I get half of it done,

I will be one happy girl!

 What will you be doing this next week?

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Donations NEEDED!

Any size, any amount, lump sum, monthly payment.  Whatever works best for you.

Yeah.  So.  I went for my first visit to the fitness center yesterday.  Nice!  I did some cycling and then some strength stuff...worked my back, my lats, my bis, my tris, my blah, blah, blah.  Today was the appointment to have my body assessed.  ha!  What a  hoot!  Actually.  They're kinda mean.  The fitness place.  They signed me up with a young hot hard-bodied boy!  To assess me.  How unfair.  Mike...an EMT/volunteer fireman (just like my son).  Just adorable.  And, by the way, has PSALM 91 tattooed on his left forearm (not the entire psalm, but the words, 'psalm 91').  Made me smile even more!  Anyway.  I totally left my inhibitions at the door, so the hour with Mike was more fun than embarrassing.  It was also very interesting.  I learned a lot, did a lot and was pleasantly surprised to hear that I am more flexible than he thought I would be. 

Okay.  The donations.  Needed!!!  So that I can have Mike be my personal trainer.  

I am just kidding.  Well, I do want a personal trainer, but it's very, very expensive.  So, I'll pass.  For now.  Until I strike it rich.  Or, win the lottery!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Must leave something for you to look at...

so here's a photo of my current project.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Momentum...

I am over the top excited and about to bust my seams!  And, it sure wouldn't be a pretty sight for anyone's eyes to behold.  hahaha.

Here's the first thing.  I quit smoking.  Quit.  Done.  No more.  7 days smoke-free and feeling strong.  Kinda like the Helen Reddy song, "I am woman...hear me roar!"  Empowered is my word of the day.

I've been doing a lot thinking about myself.   Trying to figure out what it is that I need.  Praying and asking God for direction.  Considering all that I do and don't do to take care of myself.  I made up my mind that - once and for all - I need to quit smoking, lose weight and become healthy.  So.  That's what I'm doing.  

I feel great.  How did I quit smoking, you ask?  I smoked one night up until bedtime and didn't smoke the next morning.  Or since.  Easy as that.  No nicotine patches, no nicotine chewing gum, no drugs, no hypnosis.  What then, you ask?  

God.  It's me and God.  I asked for His help and He is giving it.  He definitely has my back on this one.   

And, I joined a fitness club!  Today.  Yup, I did!  I am sooo excited!  It is really time for me.  Ya know when you feel a nudge...inside of yourself...like a 'come on, you can do it' sort of thing.  Or, like a 'well, I really should try this...' but then you don't.  Today I feel as if the wind is at my back...moving me forward.  Momentum...moving toward...what? 

So, that's what I'm feeling.  

My Faith in God and a wee bit of my Irish heritage.  

Awesome! 

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Postage Stamp Quilt...

Yes, another one.

No, I have not finished the first one.

(quilt top & backing are done...

need to baste/quilt/bind it)

I am working with a jelly roll...

Aviary by 3 Sisters for Moda.

Having fun, fun, fun!

Making strip sets and cutting them apart,

then putting cut-apart strip sets back together!

Tutorial that I am loosely following can be found here.

Hope you're having a great Saturday!

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Music-themed Table Runner

Almost done showing gifts I made for Christmas 2010!

This is a table runner for my Godmother, my Aunt Bev.

It measures about 14 x 45 inches.
(click to enlarge)

closeup of the choir...

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Still Working....

on a few Christmas gifts.  

Jody received her box yesterday.  In it was the apron she asked me to make, modeled here by none other than herself...

The bench pad she asked me to make...

And, the quilt I made for her!  It was a surprise for her...I showed this before (here), but never told you who it was for.  Here is my niece/God-daughter, Jody Lynn, with her new quilt!

Remember this fabric that I showed way back here.  I used it for a baby quilt for Carole's new grandson.  Remember Carole?  She's the one who received this quilt.  When I heard that her daughter was expecting a baby at the end of December...and that Carole made her first goal to be here for that baby's birth, I decided to make a quilt for the baby.

Just so ya know, not everything comes easy to me.  I know there are a few of you who think so.  Not true.  This is the 4th design that I tried out for this quilt.  Not kidding!  Had the first one all done...complete quilt top done...and hated it.  Really bright!  And, just ugly.  Tried using different fabric...too boring.  Found a design that I thought would work, one that would make the best use of my fabric...made mistakes with trimming.  Had I kept going, the quilt would have been about 12" square!  haha!

It was maddening...someone did not want me to make this quilt...but I prayed and asked Kim to pray...and this is what I made.  And, by the way, I love it. 

I followed the 'zigzag quilt without piecing triangles' tutorial by AmandaJean of crazy mom quilts.  Thank you AmandaJean...you saved my life (or, at least my sanity)! 

 Measures about 35 x 41 inches.

That's all I have to show for today.  Stay tuned for the never-ending list of Christmas gifts yet to be finished!  {grin}

pssst...did I mention that one of my goals for this year is to finish sewing Christmas gifts before Christmas?  yeah.  It is a goal.  Pray for me.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

The End...

of 2010 is upon us.

Here's a peek at some of what I've done this year.  Baby quilts, lap quilts, table toppers, doll quilts...these are my faves of 2010.

For a complete list of what I've finished this year, go to my '2010 Finishes' page (in the tab under the header photo) and follow the links.

What does one think about at a time like this?  As one enters a new year...a new decade?  I think that most of us think about past accomplishments & failures.  Reflections.  Determinations.  Resolutions. 

The resolutions I am making for 2011 are resolutions I need to make...whether tomorrow is the start of a new year or not.  Things need to be taken care of and attention needs to be paid to what I'm doing.  

I'm trying to concentrate on the progress I made in my personal life these past 12 months.  Not the failures...ohyes, there are failures.  I do believe that my biggest progression this year has been in my walk with Jesus.  I feel closer to Him and that is such an enormous comfort!

My sewing/quilting has been a source of (mostly) pleasure for me.  I still consider myself a beginner...but am willing to admit that, perhaps, I am an advanced beginner?  I need to increase my level of difficulty...that's one goal of mine. 

I want to thank you, my blog friends, for coming here to read my blog.  Oh, I'd still probably write if no one came to read, but it's much more fun when one gets feedback & comments.  I am so appreciative of you all and hope you continue to visit me here in blogland in the new year.

Happy New Year...may you receive many blessings.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

More Handmade Gifts...

This could go on for a bit, yet...

A few gifts I made have yet to be given.

I'll post photos of them as they are received.

 I showed the coco express quilt at our 

Thanksgiving celebration and Jill fell in love with it!

I didn't give it to her, though.

I did, however, make these two pillow covers.
Quilted.  Decorative.  18".

One for her birthday and one for her Christmas gift.

For my sister, Joyce, I used scraps

of her black & white quilt to make these.

Also quilted.
The first two are 14" and the third is 18".

 

My sister, Julie, received these today.

Four 15" cloth napkins.

The colors are much prettier than shown.

Perhaps she'll take a photo I can snag from her.

(she didn't want pillows)

I guess that's it.

Thus far.

About 5 things left to show.

Yeah, I know, I am a slowpoke.

But, hey!
I am all excited...

and so looking forward to the new year!

I have many projects in mind that 

I am really looking forward to working on. 

One goal I am setting for myself this next year...

increase the level of difficulty in what I do with my quilts.  

AND, I have a lot of organizing and

rearranging to do in the very near future.    

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Merry Christmas

Well, here it is Christmas Day afternoon.

The festivities are over.

I went to son Matthew's this morning.

He made us a huge breakfast.

Conlan and Jasmine loved the tv/floor pillows.

I received a very nice framed photo of the kids

and a new mouse pad with a photo of the kids on it.

Love them!

Here's Conlan.

(aka up & coming rockstar)

In his suit, no less.

He asked for a suit for Christmas...

can you believe that?

An almost 8 year old?

Perhaps more Michael Buble than Jon Bon Jovi?

(Gotta tell ya, though...I've seen Jon in a tux...looks so good!)

Here's Matthew, hard at work.  Makin' bacon, methinks.  

And, here's Miss Jasmine, Miss Blue Hair (before her time...isn't it usually the old ladies that dye their hair blue?).

Unfortunately, those are about all the photos I took.

But, here are some of your favorite brown dog!

With a new...you guessed it...WART HOG!

From Santa (aka Aunt Julie)...

 

 

 He hasn't let it out of his sight.

It was a great day.

I need to finish up 3 gifts and get 2 packages shipped.

Then, I will officially be done with Christmas.

Right now, though?

I am going to sit and spend some quiet time reading.

In my jams.

Snuggled with Tag.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Pillows for Two...

I whipped up 2 of the 4 pillow covers I need to make for the grandkids.  These are for Jasmine & Conlan...I will see them tomorrow morning.  I found some great home decor fabric on sale...YAY!  I made these pillows for the grandkids to use on the floor while watching tv or while reading propped up in bed...or whatever.  They're 24 inches square. 

Jasmine's fave color this year is lime green...

 (I think the pillow is upside down)

I put zippers in them so that they'll be easier to wash.

 

Conlan is Tag's boy.  Seriously.  Tag thinks that Conlan was put here for him.  And, Conlan does love the brown boy.  I figured brown dots would be ideal for him.

I washed the fabric before putting these together.  This piece shrunk enough so that the width wasn't quite as much as I needed.  But, it had nice wide selvages.  So, I used them!  My flash whited this out, but the zipper is actually halfway between the two white edges.  I think it's pretty cool, but am sure that Conlan will not be as impressed.  {grin}

Hope your Christmas is Merry!

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10