Flash Update--and some empty promises to return. XD

You missed me and you know it!!! 

So I've been incredibly busy--I know I know, that is no excuse! but I have decided that after much busy-ness, I should sit down, enjoy a can of coke and type away to all my loving readers (you heard me! all four of you!!). 

In all honesty, I've been lurking the webs and not putting any time into writing on here. (sorry)

So what have I been up to since the last REAL update, you ask?

I got a new job that is soOoOoOo much more satisfying. I'm not going to share where for reasons of not wanting to be on the news as one of those people who talk about their jobs on their blog and get fired for it. (I'm not being paranoid....just being careful)

My current job, (which is in the finance industry--who knew!), involves me passing the Series 7 and 63 exams to be a registered representative. 

Now, that means only one thing...

.

.

.

.

Sometimes, I forget how to speak because there's too much information floating in my brain. 

.

So on my down time, to blow off the frustration over short and long margin accounts, and to prevent damage of company computer equipment. I've been living recklessly!!!!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

ok, I lie, I've been quilting. 

As you can see from my opening picture I have officially upgraded from Mom's singer, I was clunking away on, to a nearly silent brother sewing machine.

(This is me working on the stash buster in December-on Mom's Singer)

go ahead, scroll up and look at the shiny white machine on the left. 

.

.

.

.

I'll wait

.

.

.

Ok, now that's we're back lets focus on what I've done!

remember this? my stash buster? where I proved that post-it notes reign supreme in my whole scheme of things?

well it's been upgraded---I mean, quilted.

A HUUUGGGEEE thanks goes to Margaret Gunn, who quilted this beautifully. She also did Ryan's quilt but I'm not posting it until it's been bound and sent to him. 

On top of getting 2 of my big projects of 2009 quilted I also started a few others. 

So, my obsession with fabric and all things crafty is genetic. So I'm well aware that when I see something pretty (like oh, lets just throw Sanae's new fabric line called Oz) I want it and I want to do something with it quick!

So off I went, grabbed myself 2 charm packs and a yard and a half of white fabric, and joined Mom at the Dallas Quilt Guild's retreat. 

The results you ask?

These suckers were a hit at the retreat, everyone asked me who was the designer and I was more than happy to share my love of Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms' pattern Wild Things.  (Honestly, I think they were more surprised to see that I was at the retreat and excited to get a move on). 

All it's missing is the border that I am planning on piecing. But I was super lazy......and I haven't worked it out yet. 

Instead, I moved on....and decided to work on a disappearing nine-patch that was born of frustration and therefore cursed (more on my theory about quilts born of anger in the future)

.

.

.

.

Quilts can be cursed. (don't let anyone tell you otherwise)

.

.

.

So after some anger issues being managed, Surf n' Turf was put back in it's ziplock bag, yelled at, and banished for an unforseeable amount of time from my thoughts. 

Here it is, don't let it's sickeningly looks fool you....it's cursed and banished. 

.

mourn it......

.

.

.

moving on...

.

.

.

like I did. (at least until I look at it again and think how cute it is)

Thank you to SweetWaters' Make Life Fabric Line, I was able to erase the nasty memory with the smooth execution of a beautiful Piece of Cake Pattern. 

Doesn't it feel great when everything works out like you plan? can you hear my happy sigh when I see this super cute project executed with no anger? You can can't you...

So here's what's left to be done, 

Wild Things, border

Stash Buster, binding

Ryan's Quilt, binding

Piece of Life, Piecing

Surf n' Turf (not thinking about it)

aren't they just precious?

:D

--signing off for now-- (promise to return soon! <---see? I told you about the empty promise!)

dre

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!!!

.

.

.

.

.

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

.

.

.

.

And for the next awesome pair!!!

.

.

 .

.

.

.

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. >.<

.

.

.

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. 

.

.

.

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

.

.

. *cough* anyways.....

.

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.

.

.

.

.

except for the backing of Ryan's quilt.

.

.

.

.

oh! and the border!

.

.

.

.

.

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

.

.

.

.

I better add the backing to that one as well.

.

.

.

.

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