. monday .

Today was definitely a Monday! The things on my to-do list got trumped by more important things and the things that needed to be done today...well, didn't get done as quickly as I thought they were going to.

An exciting part of my day - my blog got redesigned by the fabulous Designer Blogs (http://www.designerblogs.com/). I worked with Emily and I love what she created! I wish I knew how to do this cutesy stuff - but since I don't, I'm grateful for Emily and people like her that are smarter than me!

I also got another picture from Kate in her series of hand-drawn pictures for my office door.

This is depicting an event that actually happened last week. I'm surprised she caught all those detail while she was wailing on the floor! So so funny!

Here's hoping the rest of the week is much much better (and goes by faster) than today!

{ projects in progress }

I got to spend some time in the craft room today – which was a pretty nice place to be since it’s so windy and nasty and ugly today!

I finished this quilt top this morning…I’ve been working on it off and on during this past week.

I wound all the bobbins I have in the white thread I use for piecing. You would not believe how much I love just putting in an already wound bobbin. Silly, isn’t it?!

This is the new quilt top I started this afternoon. It’s a plus sign pattern using some fat quarters that Nick and Kate gave me for my birthday.

And, the craft room mascot thrown in for good measure!

I’m snuggled up on the couch now, under a quilt that I’m binding, watching the Oscar Red Carpet Show. Love the red carpet!

{ happy birthday! }

Today is my dear friend Kate’s birthday.

I think birthdays are a day set aside to stop and think about that person and the impact they have in your life.

Kate is:

• a dear and consistent friend I’ve had from childhood through college and now as adults. Our parents were friends first and fostered our friendship.
• the wife of another one of my oldest friends. I don’t remember NOT knowing Nick!
• the mother of my goddaughter, Kamryn. Whenever I say that out loud or type it or think about it, I still can’t believe Nick & Kate asked me to be part of Kamryn’s life and their family like that. Love. <3
• my example for a genuinely happy and cheerful attitude, no matter the situation. I have a lot to learn from her!
• an outstanding volleyball coach (reigning Coach of the Year – whoop whoop!) who encourages her team through her positive demeanor.
• so gracious and kind and giving and loving…
• fun to be around (obviously!) and especially craft with. This girl does not follow a pattern to save her life! It makes me laugh (and cringe at the same time since I’m SO not that way!) – but it always turns out just the way it’s supposed to!

I’m so thankful for my friendship with Kate. She brings a lot of joy to my life and to so many others’ lives too.

Happy Birthday Kate!

{out of necessity }

How does that quote go? Every invention was born out of necessity?

If you know our extended family even a little, you know that we all have back problems. Ice packs are our friend! Everyone has a rotation of ice packs in the freezer ready to go at any time.

My Dad has been using an ice pack on his ankle for a few weeks after he stepped off a sidewalk wrong. He says he suggested this idea to me about two weeks ago, but I don’t remember that.

I’ve been using an ice pack this last week on my neck – I’ve had a sore neck, shoulders, and hips which have been contributing to a headache. Not fun. So this weekend, I thought out loud to my family and said, “You know, I should make an ice pack envelope out of flannel.” (Since usually we wrap it in a kitchen towel and it never stays the way it’s supposed to.)

My Dad started laughing and said sarcastically, “great idea…I wonder where you heard that before!” Oops.

So, here it is!

I had this flannel left over from the backing of a quilt – it was a pieced backing, so it already had these two pieces sewn together. I laid the ice pack on it to measure it (very precisely) and cut.

I folded it about 3/4 of the way up, right sides together. I pinned along the sides and sewed up both sides.

I sewed the edges of the flaps in about 1/4” (the white fabric part) so it had a finished look. I should’ve done all of that first, but you live and learn. :)

About 3” of velcro sewn on and wha la! An envelope just right to hold an ice pack!

I’ll be making more of these for the other members of my family!

{ Ethan Jonathan Perkins }

Ethan Jonathan Perkins

February 18, 2011
9 lbs, 14.5 oz
21 inches

Congratulations Todd, Jessica, and big sister Emersyn!

I got to snuggle this little guy for a good hour today…he is so sweet and has super kissable cheeks! We had a great first bonding experience!

I finally got to give him this quilt that I’ve been working on for him! It is from fabric from one of my favorite lines of boy fabric – Riley Blake All Star. It’s made using the Raw Edge Circle Quilt Tutorial by Cluck Cluck Sew.

I backed it with a blue sheet and machine quilted spirals in the middle of each circle. Yah! It was fun and it went pretty fast. It was good practice because it didn’t have to be perfect – in fact, wonky was better!

I hope Ethan will love it and get to use it lots to play on and keep him warm.

So glad he’s here so we can get to know him! His momma’s a champ and he’s got a pretty proud daddy!
Much love to the Perkins! <3 you Ethan baby!

{ quite contrary }

I just entered to win this fat quarter pack…

Click on the picture to go to the website to enter.

This fabric is designed by Jen Allyson aka The Project Girl. I’ve seen her name around the scrapbook world for a quite a few years now…and now she’s designing fabric! It would make the cutest summer quilt. I really really want to win it – which is why I entered all 5 times possible!!

You can purchase the fabric here.

{ weekend in Spokane }

Yesterday, my Mom, Grandma, Melissa, and I went to Spokane to see Legally Blonde: The Musical. The billboard outside the Opera House said “An Elle of a Show!” It was – it was a lot of fun and followed the movie storyline very closely. The music is fun and very energetic!

Melissa was so funny – after the finale, during the curtain call, the actress that played Elle came out in a super sparkly pink dress. Melissa gasped loudly and so forcefully that she made herself cough!

We went to River Park Square afterwards for dinner at Twigs. Such a nice setting and a great dinner!

Grandma and I stayed over night in Spokane last night so I could take her to her eye appointment today. Last night we went to a few shops that we never seem to have time to go to (as much as we could on a Sunday night when everything closes early!). We decided to find some dessert, so we went to The Onion. Check out the size of Grandma’s dessert!

She wants to make sure everyone knows that she did not finish it!!

Before her eye appointment today, we went to the quilt shop and picked up three of my quilts that I had dropped off there in October to be machine quilted.

I’m so glad to have them home and now I have some binding to do!

{ happy valentine’s day! }

I am finally sharing my new favorite quilt! It’s been hanging out on it’s new home on the couch for a few weeks now – I figured it’s probably time to share with everyone.

This is from the Double Dip pattern by Thimble Blossoms.

I’m in love!

I love the red ric rac….love love love!

And the pink and red polka dot backing is to die for!

I will definitely be making another one of these. It was pretty quick to put together and the finished product looks more complicated than it really is!

Look at this cute little Valentine bug. She just turned 10 months yesterday. Can't believe how the time flies by!

P.S. This is also my February 14th post - what I LOVE!

{ sunday }

Day 13: The organizing/cleaning tip I love the most…

I like to be organized – and sometimes it probably doesn’t look like things are organized, but they are! I’m one of those people that has to have things in close range or I forget about them. You can see that in my office and in my craft room. And my bathroom for that matter.

My crafty organization tip is to put your quilt projects into individual boxes. I put everything starting with the pattern to the backing and binding in one box. I also cut all my borders as soon as I bring them home so that I don’t forget what I intended each fabric for. It works for me. And I like seeing all my project boxes stacked up – and I like even more getting to put an empty box away!

My cleaning tip is using these-

 

I wipe off the bathroom counter with one of these every other day and it takes care of the surface spots and nastiness. I use powder mineral makeup and it kinda makes a mess everywhere.

{ showing some love }

Today’s love topic: The splurge to show myself love…

My number one splurge is Starbucks…a trip to the city isn’t complete without a stop at Starbucks. I don’t get one everyday like some people who live nearby a Starbucks do, so I feel like I’m treating myself when I get a delicious coffee drink once or twice a week.

Other splurges:

• Acrylic nails – I try to keep them looking fresh and manicured, but sometimes, like today, they’re looking a little beat up. Time for a polish change! I splurge on this because #1, I am not good at polishing my own nails AT ALL, #2, my own nails are fairly thick, but they peel badly and my cuticles are terrible, and #3, because I want to and I can. If I couldn’t afford it, I wouldn’t do it. I definitely do not enjoy getting my nails filled – it’s not my favorite thing, but I love the end result.
• Getting my hair colored – to me it’s a must, but I guess to some it could be considered a splurge!