Must Make one of these!!!!!!

So in the arena of Quilting I have been a busy bee!! Not necessarily as busy as my mother however, I've been making a good solid dent on my "quilts-to-make-before-I-get-married" list.

This is my most recent "finished top", I just got the flannel backing for it from my favorite pumpkin patch. I should be done in the next two weeks or so--depending on how my current project is going.

This is my current project on the design wall my mom made. It involves a whole lot more piecing than the first one but I think that using the indigo, pewter and honey line I got from the houston quilt festival with a few more blue fabrics will look great.

Here's the picture in the book

(I inverted it sideways so it matches the designwall above)

However, the reason I have posted today is not for a quilt update. it's for these suckers!!!

 I know a certain person in my life would love to find one of these on her doorstep. Oh heck....and I might just make one for myself too--My own pin cushion. :D I love how they look all stacked up!!! You can find the instructions on how to make them HERE. Thanks design*sponge for the great find.

--off to do more productive things other than sewing--

dre

These Boots are Made for Walking

So with the Fall Fashion Season well underway I have been in search of the perfect pair of boots. I have fantastical images of my fashionista alter ego wearing a great pair of boots and leggings and a super cool plaid tunic. *sigh*  I had just about convinced myself that with a great pair of boots that I too could be a smooth fashionista. So a month ago my search for these magic boots began. You'd think that with the fact that I work at a fashion retailer that I would immediately find these perfect boots. LIES! and the reasons are as follows:

1. I had to remember to check our boot section religiously every day I came in and during my lunch break. 
2. I'm super picky about my footwear. I didn't want pointy boots or squared toe....I wanted the perfect arc at my toe. 
3. What I wore to work  normally didn't complement me trying on boots. 

So, after a month of desperately searching for these boots. There we're instances where I would check people out and I'd see the boot-type I wanted...I just hadn't checked that day. I found myself becoming increasingly jealous of our customers who now had the boots that I had been searching for. LUCKY THEM!!!!

Then...this past Sunday....I found not one! but TWO! (Which lead to me returning the Juicy Couture dress that I had bought the week prior--my credit card bill couldn't take it!!)

So drumroll please!!!

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these are now my brown Steve Madden motorcycle boots!! (Just think of them with a pair of dark wash skinny jeans!!!)

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And for the next awesome pair!!!

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These sleek Franco boots were just what I wanted for really great boots to wear to work! Think about them with a cute black dress and thick sweater tights.

I was so excited about these boots!! I was so excited that I didn't realize that I don't own any skinny jeans...or tunic shirts....or thick tights. >.<

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whoops....

--looking for some cheap yet stylish clothes for her boots--

dre

New Project

:D I've been working on this quilt project.

It's called Little Bits from last minute patchwork and quilted gift.  I loved the modern look of this project.

Here's the strip that takes the longest to make!

isn't it cuuuuttteee?

--harassing my aunt for flannels this morning---

dre

UPDATE: Samples of possible flannels for this project are on their way!! The rest of this quilt top will be finished tomorrow!! (I'll add a pic to this post)

*sigh* why?!

It is a well known fact amongst my friends and family that I have a disturbing weird *ahem* unique habit of giving inanimate objects names, personalities, feelings.....one or all of the above. 

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There was that one incident with Spot the daffodil....

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. *cough* anyways.....

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Meet Akai. Kai (kah-yee) for short. This is what I got during the Cash for Clunkers hysteria. Akai means Red in Japanese--I thought it would be appropriate. I mean, look at it! Shiny, Unused, most definately red, and until last Wednesday unblemished.

That was when I had the sad and unfortunate event of getting into an accident. I got rear-ended at a yield (is it just me or does rear-ended just sound raunchy? I had to stop from giggling or feeling dirty whenever I had to explain what happened)

THIS was the result of the altercation. *whimper* All I thought was--my poor baby car!! After the accident and getting home, I felt the urge to hug my car, apologize for the guy that didn't stop or at least slow down at the yield and of course--use duct tape (a car's version of a bandaid in my opinion) to make it all better. My mom convinced me not to do the last of those things. After a quick patch up and re-attachment of the bumper, I drove my car until Monday when I left it at the body shop to get all shiny again. Geico was great about taking care of everything and even got my rental lined up by the time I arrived on Monday. They're also making sure that my case of whip lash is for sure undercontrol before closing the incident. (bless all doctors and their perscription of muscle relaxants, perscription aleve and souped up bengay)--back to my car.

Now I don't proclaim to be omniscient and all powerful in the way of cars-- but two seconds after getting into my rental, a PT cruiser, I decided that despite the cute exterior--the PT cruiser is one of the worst rides ever (that sounds raunchy too now--doesn't it?!).

[No PT Cruiser picture available since seeing it, never mind documenting it, was a waste of time and effort for the very , in my opinion, evil car]

Thankfully, I got a call this morning to pick up my baby and have it happily parked out front. :D

(picture of the happy jeep parked out front coming soon)

--happy to never see a PT cruiser again--
dre

Give Away At The Pumpkin Patch

this is not a picture of a the pumpkin patch--I took it in Houston, but I still thought I could share. :P

My Aunt is hosting a giveaway at her blog, Pumpkin Patch Primitives. She's giving away these fat quarters.

                            

This is an actual picture of the Pumpkin Patch. 

So here's the deal, you must post about this giveaway on your blog and give a proper link to it before October 31.  If there are more than 250 entrants then she's adding another fat quarter bundle to the  fray and giving out two fat quarter packs, more than 350....she's giving a $100 gift certificate to her store.

So head on over to her blog and let her know that you posted and that I sent you there!!! I've spent enough more on fabrics....now I have to get 'em from a give-away. I promised myself no more fabric purchases until next year.

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except for the backing of Ryan's quilt.

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oh! and the border!

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or the cream for the stash buster quilt on my list.

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I better add the backing to that one as well.

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Who am I kidding?

--going broke--

dre

Houston Quilt Festival: Day 2

So I'm going to preface this parade of beautiful pictures from the exhibits with a mission I had going to the festival (beyond losing copious amounts of money to quilt vendors).

The day before we set off on our adventure, I was excitedly telling everyone my plans for the weekend at my work's break room. Beyond the initial shock that I was excited to go to a quilt show, everyone thought it was pretty cool. Except for one person who chuckled at me and mocked quilting as square patches being sewn together. I believe the words "What's the challenge in that?" came out of his mouth (of course it has to be a guy who thinks that).

As the daughter of a quilter and a quilter myself now, I took offense and decided I would take magnificent photos and return to prove him wrong. This years exhibitions were excellent and I definitely proved him wrong *cackles*

Sometimes, I was so shocked that what these people used was actually fabric and thread (sometimes a dab of fabric paint) and not a canvas with pens, pencils and oils.

I loved this one because it looked like a clear picture but  the piecing was so simple.

That's a little white felt-like fiber in the eye to make it look real!

This traditional quilt with some crazy attention to detail. At a distance you think, a medallion quilt that has an ohio star.  but upon closer inspection.....

There's also stars in the patchwork. And that scalloped edge that you think is applique....try again my friend.

Those are itty bitty pieces of fabric laid juuuussst right for there to be that illusion.

The talent that was displayed in the exhibits was incredible. I'll let them speak for themselves. These were some of my favorites.

There was this bedazzled beauty.

Fabric! That was the only medium used for this quilt.

I'm so impressed!  Look at the teeth close up.

 Wow....The attention to detail of this one just blew me away.

This one triggered a whole bunch of high school memories since my favorite teacher's classroom had this as a poster on her wall. The triangles on the girls dress actually are not sewn into the quilt. What a great idea!

This one really stuck with me because it reminded me of the modern art piece in a sea of traditional. You never think about the close up of a quilt block. I think this was too cool.

This is so beautiful. I thought about how great it was to capture this moment on a quilt.

I'm closing this post with my favorite entry from the doll exhibit. Who doesn't want these cuties crawling out of their Grim's book. :)

I had a great time and I can't wait to go next year! (I'm determined to go.)

--signing off for now--

dre

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off to Houston we go!

There once was a girl with no stash, 

her mother's closet she would crash,

So off to the festival she went,

and look at the money she spent! 

And now she's got fabrics gallore.

 --love, Dre

(I know it's the wrong rhyme scheme--but I was too excited to  figure it out.)

Check out my acquisitions!! My goals for this festival trip? Finish the fabric selections for Ryan's quilt. (All I'm missing is the brown yardage and flannel backing) and make a more robust fabric collection.  I only have 2 charm packs of Momo's Wonderland and 4 fat quarters of Sanae's Arcadia (pretty sad, huh?)

So here's the close up of the accent batik fabrics for Ryan's quilts.

Then I got a few different collections of fabrics for stashing...

This was some bits of fabric from various asian specialty booths. My favorite is the fishy one at the top.

I have no clue what to do with this charm pack but how can I say no to Momo's new line Odyssea? I just happened to come across a matching brown in a pile of fat quarters.

These are just some cute staple pieces to have.

This is happy purple themed collection that I picked from 2-4 booths.

This Last one was my most prized acquisition though....

The picture doesn't do it justice! It's a gold green, cream and navy blue.  I have like...3 potential projects from these great finds. (1/2 yard for $2.50!!!)

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It was friggin' fantastic. I'll let you know tomorrow about the actual exhibits.....and maybe some more acquisitions?

--signing off for now--

Dre

I just HAD to share this

Tell me this isn't the coolest watch you've ever seen.

You can order it here.

--signing off for now---

dre

Oh to be 5-years old again......

Sorry for the delay in posts. I find that all I want to talk about is my job--however, we all know that writing about your job on a blog is bad news. So I was waiting for inspiration. It came in the form of a "Where the Wild Things Are" trailer.

Words cannot describe how ecstatic I was upon seeing just the title of this movie on comingsoon.net. No really--I'm pretty sure there was crazy screaming from my room when I saw it (Tweens getting Hannah Montana tickets had nothing on me). My HTB came into the room asking me what happened. After telling him the exciting news all he did was shake his head and murmur what he tells me all the time.

"You're such a little kid"

After seeing the previews for WTWTA on TV for the first time I thought about this. I am always so happy about children's films. So my question to myself was, why do I get so excited about certain film's that are obviously made for children. My first thought about this was--what type of films am I talking about? I'm not talking about your disney movies like Enchanted or Hannah Montana the Movie. I'm talking about timeless ones. So here's my list of movies that I feel bring out the 5-year old in me.

I'm starting off with my most recent viewing, Ponyo. This was one of the most memorable ones for me right now because I watched it with HTB on my birthday, and I also was in Japan when it came out in theaters there.

From there, I go to all of the Miyazaki films-- Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, and My Neighbor Totoro.

After that I go to my Disney vintages, Lion King, The Rescuers, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and, Fox and the Hound. I'm throwing in Lilo and Stitch as well (because I think it's the best thing that Disney has done in years).

There are many more but these will be enough to satisfy my argument.

These films without a doubt, no matter how many times you watch it have that moment. In Ponyo this is the moment where (*********spoiler alert*********) Sosuke is looking for his mom, but you know that Ponyo's life is on the line (***********end of spoiler************)

Another non-spoiler moment to use as an example would be my Neighbor Totoro when Mei goes missing and Satsuki is desperately looking for her.

These are moments that grip your heart, the first time you watch it you're hooked. After that, you just watch it over and over to get that same rush. It makes me jump up and down when Chihiro realizes Kohaku's real identity. It makes me sing along with your favorite disney characters (Tale as old as time....). It teaches me that ohana means family. It makes feel like I can do anything and forget about all the trouble that I'm currently dealing with. Suddenly, I'm 5-years old again and completely moved by that feeling.

I can't wait till October 16th. Maybe you'll see this version of me in theaters....

Thanks T-brenda for the e-mail. (isn't that easter bunny creepy? notice my ariel couture sweater.)

What makes you feel like you're 5-year old again?

Projects :D

I woke up super early and have gotten this far. :)

Incredibly, I've also been quilting (now that I can abscond my mother's elna sewing machine regularly). This is my current project, a super "pint-sized wild thing" quilt from Camille Roskelley's collection. They're 4inch blocks--super hard to get together and sew. I'm in a rush to finish this one so I can get onto my surprise project for HTB! Gotta get it done before I go to Rochester to see him!!

Now I'm off to find some delicious-ness from my fridge, we went to Central Market in South Lake and the thought of fresh produce in my fridge is making me drool. Now if only I could make up my damn mind!!!!

I promise I'll be posting much more often! The Craziness is FINALLY dying down.

Hallelujah!! :D

--signing off for now--

dre*

PS: Drop by my Aunt's blog to check out her awesome give away! it's a super cute and simple quilt kit.

So... *saunters back in**whistles* it's been a while, ne?

I'm so sorry for dropping the ball on my blog. I got home from PR only to go running around like a crazy woman with interviews, driving stuff, grandparents, and a trip to boston. (crazy huh?)

However, how better to kick off my new design and a renewed desire to post than with some awesome news?

I am an official employee of Nordstrom!

There is a new store, Nordstrom:The Rack, opening in Southlake on August 21!

So I've been brushing up on my fashion and accessory knowledge, and getting my paperwork done the past few days.

I just got back from an awesome weekend in my hubby-to-be (HTB-for short).

isn't he cute? This is an old picture from Spring, but I like it a lot. :)

I flew down to Logan for a quick two day trip about 2 Friday's ago. Friday was a trip to Boston for a visit to the MFA, Faneuil Hall and a view of the tall ships in the harbor. Then on Saturday it was a Nolette Family trip to New Bedford for a look at the Whaling Museum and the Forts that were on the coast (I'm a sucker for Museum trips, can't ya tell?).

I got home late on Sunday only to hit the floor running yet again. Although it's been pretty successful! I've gone to a few training sessions, worked 2 days at the Nordstrom at the North East Mall (pay check happiness), and *drumroll please*

I FINALLY GOT MY LICENSE!!

Freedom could not have come any sooner since I start work this Wednesday officially at The Rack in South Lake. I went and got gas for my car this morning as well as a bucket of paint for my room. (my next post will have pictures--I don't know why my computer won't upload it)

Expect a second posting today!! :) with pictures and some more goodness. I'm having some formatting issues and think if I start a new post it'll be resolved.

--signing off for now--

dre*

The End of a Chapter

As you can see from the picture above--you guessed it! I graduated last week (with honors, thank you very much). It was so great to finally reach an endpoint I've been working towards for four years. Even better, I got to celebrate it with my whole family (we're a pretty big group aren't we?). It's pretty great to have such an awesome support system. My grandmother of my father's side couldn't make it because she was not feeling well (but I surprised her by heading to PR right after graduation)

I can't believe how much I've accomplished in the past four years!! When I came to college I was determined to take advantage of every opportunity that came my way and I would make the best of this time. I can proudly say that while it was tiresome--my time in college was fun and taught me more than textbooks could ever. :)

I'm currently in Puerto Rico getting some much needed R&R, and perfecting then sending out my resume.

I'm currently waiting for a call from the National Staff of Phi Sigma Pi (I applied to be a Regional Consultant). I hope I get it! I believe that if you are passionate about a job, no matter how inexperienced you might be, you'll learn along the way and possibly, make a difference.

I should be back in Texas by the 23rd and then I'll really kick start the job searching and studying for GMATs.

--signing off for now--

dre

I solemly swear, I'm up to no good--in memory of Prongs

Sometimes you put off getting in contact with someone in your life, and then it's too late.

My mom once told me that it was hard to keep your friends you made in high school all the way through my college years. 

But I'm sure she wasn't talking about my Marauders. The 5 people you see above are people that no matter how long ago I haven't spoken with them, no matter when's the last time I saw them...no matter what--will always be my best friends.

As some put it--These are my people. 

We all went different ways, drifted apart in varying degrees--but once we'd get talking it was like we were in the same yellow colored room where we had all our "HQ meetings" (AKA, Sleep over at Dre's).

Brad, also known as Prongs (we all had Harry Potter aliases), was an ex-boyfriend turned best friend. He was the only boy of our group and also the only self declared Griffindor. He was shy when you first met him but once you got him in a group, hilarity ensued. In general Brad was one of those people who you know deserved way more than life gave him and you wanted to make everything better. 

I haven't spoken with Brad since his Birthday in September. He was down in corpus christi, Texas living with some family he's got down there. Yesterday, I received a phone call from his cell from his siblings letting me know that Brad passed away last week from a seizure in his sleep.

Brad was only 22 years old. 

Keep Brad in  your prayers...I want to say he's in a better place but honestly, it's too soon for me to believe that. 

As Jessie (Padfoot) posted on his wall;

 "Don't Worry Prongs, We'll get Wormtail for you. Love you, Miss you."

--signing off for now--

Dre (Pigwidgeon)

5 things I could not do without....

So, I see this 5 thing application on facebook but I decided to bring it to my lovely blog instead. (I'm a facebook purist--no applications on my profile, please)

So here it goes:

1. My Agenda--Moleskine Agenda:

There is not a time where I am not carrying my trusty agenda. It has this fabulous pouch where I just dump ridiculous amounts of stuff. the Left side has no free space since I write lists for my lists and the calendar side (the right) looks like ink vomitted on it with all the different colors indicating due dates and assignments.

2.

In lieu of discussing I can't mention these suckers. they're stuck everywhere. I have two packs in my aforementioned agenda. I give them to people with assignments, numbers, love notes and smileys.

my job search would not be possible without postit notes. I write the date, person, phone numbers, and any important info then stick it to my agenda for future reference.

I'll write notes to my future self and place it on the week that I need to tell myself that.

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My Crackber--I mean, Black Berry Storm

So, Ryan for valentines day got me this sucker. Now, fully equiped with a data plan, I am a crackberry addict.

My email, calendar, contacts, music (8gB) and twitter is accessible through this. >.<


4.
You're not seeing double. I also have an Ipod Touch. While my BB is fab with all the business side of my life my Ipod satisfies the geek in me.

The games I play on this are innumerable and with the new genius application that they do isawesome for lazy playlist makers like me.

My brothers have them to so we have a running score of various games that we play and see who is better at it. Not to mention that when my bb acts up or dies (I forget to charge it a lot) I can still rely on my Ipod to send out emails, check my schedule and write notes.

5. Google Applications: You name it I've used it at least once. I would be incredibly lost with out my gmail, igoogle, google reader, google docs, google calendar....google...google...----you get the point right?


--signing off for now--
dre