Sickie Sicks

So Little Bit got hit again on Thursday night/Friday morning with a bug. The fever didn't last long, and she had to go see bio dad, but this morning it was back so she is home sick from school.
I was hit some yesterday, and ended up sleeping til 4:30 in the afternoon, and went back to bed at midnight.
I'm still sleepy, and very fuzzy headed but of course what child actually sleeps when their sick? Not mine, I've just browbeaten her into taking a nap or quiet time, if she wants me to consider letting her go skating with Grandma tonight. But she's up again, so no nap for me...more tea lol.

I've not felt well enough to tackle anything large but I did make another small Tumbler quilt top, or mini top anyway. I cracked open one of the few unopened Moda tin samplers I had left, this one was Inspiration, which had 4 2.5 fabric packs. I used the Kansas Troubles and Barbra Brackman's line, to create this 16.5" x 12" mini top. I haven't decided if I will keep the edges or cut them off and just deal with a straight edge.


I really do prefer the smaller size tumblers. There are 72 tumbler patches.
I think I may buy a layer cake and see what I can't do with it, maybe make a set of matching place mats? I'll have to try to find one with out a lot of stripes, because they really stick out to me, though that could also be because they're from the lighter of the two lines. I really felt that the KT needed something to lighten it up, otherwise I find it kind of depressing, and the Seneca Falls line was still a reproduction line, but not with the same almost tea dyed look.

For my moment for the weekend, DH and Little Bit and the mass of things on the island in my kitchen that serves as general storage, file cabinet, lunch bag holders, etc etc etc.


I really feel uncomfortable showing the mess but hey that's what moments is about. Being real and not Photoshopping life to some unrealistic ideal of what life should look like, but what is. Not that I wouldn't love a magazine spread for a house, or maybe I would, but between my illnesses, Little Bit's needs, and DH's aversion to housework, well that's what it looks like til I get so fed up and reorganize, and that will last all of one week, maybe.

I'm rambling. I need more tea!

More Pin Cushion

Go check out Quilt Hallow for a chance at winning a beautiful table topper/tree skirt.

The weather here is poohy today, actual hail between light showers and teasing glimpses of sun, so I've not felt like doing much at all, and I'm hurting more then the pain pills are helping so sleep is out of the question.

I decided to make another pin cushion since nothing else really called to me, and I honestly wouldn't trust myself with a rotary cutter right feeling this out of it. I stuffed about a cup of the crushed shells into this one so it is quite a bit firmer then the last one, which feels like a fuller bean bag.



I managed to get a better picture of my pins, with some detail showing up! No idea how it happened, when all the ones I tried never worked but I'll take it and play some more.


Sad news is I only have enough shells left for one more cushion. :(
Good news, I can get the stuff easy, close by, for cheap :)

Picture swiped from FQS
Anyone out there who has seen/has the Rouenneries faded red paisley, I need some help in matching/identifying the blue/grey/slate colour in the paisley, or the brown in the roche(dark grey) paisley. I think either one of those would really set off a quilt done in the line but I can't really see it/match it, and can't get out to the quilt shops for awhile, so was hoping to order some online, but I just can't match it well on the screen. I think it might suit Chocolate, Vienna Nights, or maybe Anticipation, all older lines(2005ish) from Moda. The picture makes it look like the roche but it isn't a match, I checked lol. The paisley is a really interesting print as it has an olive green in it too.

I, of course, am getting sleepy now that Little Bit will be home in 45 minutes so I'd better go make myself some stong tea.

Couldn't Wait

So last night after I finished my blog post, and generally got ready for bed it happened. I tried to resist, really. But they looked so cute! So I dug out the scraps of Cornicopia from this
and decided I had to make just one. At least before bed. Later today, probably more.
I didn't fill it as much as I'd like, I have no funnel though. Which I can't quite understand, I thought I had a funnel or two, but they are no where to be found, so I may be just crazy cause DH says he's never seen one here. Oh well. I put some of my pin toppers on. I love pumpkins, so this made me happy, and the little snowman, he was quite a bit of work, but cute I think.



I'm definitely going to have to make some more of these Tuffets. And get the new set of patterns when it comes out.
I don't know that this will replace my mini quilts, but it is a cute way to use and keep scraps from a fabric line used in another quilt, especially if they're only little/narrow pieces.

Mail Delivery

So my package finally arrived from Craft Town. The one I ordered October 6th? For my October Schnibble? Yeah that one. To be fair they had called and said the Rouenneries yardage would be in "soon", like next week? oh yes. Ok, just ship it all when it's ready, but if it's late just send the rest and the yardage separately. The whole order was supposed to be put aside. Well it finally shipped last week, with yardage but without one of the charm packs, which apparently had sold out, AFTER it was supposed to have been put in my order and set aside. Hmmm...ok, at least it was refunded. Oh well. I'll just think before ordering next time anything that isn't in store right then. The price was good too, so no more complaining.
It's here now and that is all that matters. It's not like anything hinged on me having this fabric, I managed to figure out the Cindy Lou Who pattern without the pattern for the Schnibbles parade, and even if I hadn't it is not the end of the world. Life.


I can't wait to make the Tuffets, hopefully will get better pics of the pin toppers and maybe actually get everything set up nicely. DH made fun of me for buying my crushed walnut shells online instead of going to either the pet store or big box hardware store. Apparently you can get big bags of it cheap.
Who knew? Obviously not me lol.
Not that the shells cost much, 1.50 for a lbs. And in reading the pattern Carrie mentions you can get them cheap in a big bag at the pet store. Now I know.

I have no idea what to do with my Rouenneries charm packs now, and since I only got about 1/2 yard of the two fabrics, I don't know what I'll do with them. I saw a Cindy Lou Who in Rouenneries and didn't love it as much as I thought I would, it's lovely but not the wow I was thinking. So I think I'll put them away and maybe another of the Schnibbles patterns will fit.
Ok maybe not put away, you can't pet things when they're actually put away.
So FYI, there are 24 'darks' and 18 'lights' in one of the charm packs, counting the oyster as dark.

I ordered the fabrics and pattern for November's Schnibble, Picnic, from Quilt Taffy. I didn't get the kit because it was several dollars more then putting it together for myself, which irritates me but that is a different rant. I got a 60 pack of American Jane fabrics, not the Moda charm packs, so it won't be as scrappy but I think I'll like it better for this pattern. There are 4 of each of the prints. I also got some cream/white material for the background.


I don't know why, but I've been feeling inclined to try different online stores lately. No reason, just trying new things, looking for better prices, seeing if I can get things faster. Must be part of my general boredom lol. I can't wait to be able to go grocery shopping etc with out worrying about being able to get things up to the apartment. I've been feeling coped up, even though I go out with DH to all of Little Bit's things in the evenings.

Quick question to my crafty friends, anyone know how to transfer a pattern ontop a dish towel for stitching/embroidery? Transfer paper?

Twas a the day after Halloween....

...and the new start of Standard time...and I'm sleepy because small children do wake up to the clock, anymore then cows do.

Little Bit went out Trick 'o Treating with my brother's girlfriend's two children, with them and DH for company. I stayed back at their house to give out candy, which didn't take much as there were only 4 or 5 groups of kids in the 2 hours I was there. Not much but they were cute.
My dad actually came out and saw the kids and spent the time talking to me, which was hard because the brain fog was really bad yesterday and I really couldn't string together a coherent conversation.
Little Bit was Princess Aurora, I ended up buying this costume, I'll finish the other and give it to her at Christmas as a new dress up dress.
The other two were a witch and Belle. The little one dress up as a witch has the most expressive face, and is too smart for her and everyone elses good.
And in the interest of Moments I didn't crop out the mess in my hall way in the picture of Little Bit.




I dressed up in the same medieval wench costume that I have since my mom made it for me 12 or 13 years ago. My headdress was quite popular this year lol.



Here is Little Bit's Poochie designed by the awesome Happy Zombie. DH carried a larger bag so she could empty her loot out and not have such a heavy bag. I made this kind of quick so it's not the best example but this pattern is easy and really nice way to show off some of your fav FQs. I used ribbon for the handles instead of making fabric ones.

I figure that Little Bit can use this at Halloween for the next few years.

Year of Schnibbles Part II

So even though my pattern and fabric still haven't arrived, I ordered them Oct 6th, I still managed to get my Schnibbles done. YAY!
I really didn't like this pattern when I first say it, but that was a case of the fabrics and colours just not doin' it for me. When I looked at it closer I say how awesome this pattern is, and Thelma showed with hers how amazing it can look supersized. So moral is? Look more than once, and closer, when at first you don't like something, a gem may be under the sand.
Now I didn't have my pattern yet, it'll probably get here next week, just because you know, so I did a mock up in EQ and it ended up the same 33x33 so I think I got it right. I'm really interested to see if I figured things right when it gets here.


Now since my charm packs hadn't arrived I had to hit the stash for this one, so I though I'd make it a bit of a challenge. I set one of my smaller tubs of FQs on the table and let Little Bit pick some out. All but the borders are ones she picked. I then attempted to make it work, not enough fabrics for a real scrappy, but too many for clean lines, but it was fun and Little Bit got to help some so she was happy.
I chose the borders from the stash, so free quilt! Close enough anyways.
I'll get this quilted up as soon as the restrictions are lifted, apparently quilting falls into too much strain category...or so DH thinks, and he's bigger then me lol.

Here are my two pups, looking all sweet and innocent like but I don't believe it, they're just waiting for the top to get close enough that they can claim it.

This and That

Ok I found this blog post from Commonplace Life and wow, Thank You. I really need that sometimes to remember it's not just me.

I've not been feeling well lately but I did get Tumbler Block quilted, washed and dried. This is a good way to show off a line of fabric, and it really isn't any harder than sewing together squares. I think the pattern called for 4 charm packs, so one layer cake would do, to make a lap size.



Little Bit had skating on Monday and it was costume day, but since her costume is a) not sewn yet, and b) long she got to wear a costume I had worn back in elementary school that mom had in the closet of lost/forgotten things.



The pictures through the glass didn't turn out but it was cute, so many kids skating and falling down in their little costumes. They had the ice pad lights turned off so it was a little dark and "spooky", especially since it was warmer so there was some steam coming up off the ice. The kids loved it.

So I'm not a sewer, asides from piecing. I've done it, and my mom is quite good at your basic sewing of clothes, and she almost always sewed our Halloween costumes growing up. But I think I may have bit off more then I can chew. The collar of Little Bit's Pink Belle costume has me stumped and I'm really not sure this is going to work out, and mom is off for a conference tomorrow afternoon so can't help. I've only got part of the bodice done, and am still working on the over skirt, and haven't touched the underskirt yet. It's all cut out though.
Good thing DH and I picked up one at Costco, Princess Aurora, just in case cuz I think just in case is here. LOL. I think this may end up being a dress up dress and she'll get it at Christmas.
And after reading that post above, I'm going to be ok with it.