Fabric Therapy

Good morning friends!
*yawn* *stretch*
Getting fabric in the mail can brighten even the darkest day. I practically tore into the package with my teeth yesterday trying to get it open. It didn't matter that the kids were starving and fighting with each other, that the kitchen was a disaster, that I had to bake, that the piles of laundry somehow grew while I was at work........none of it was more important than petting my new fabric. Just look at it:


I managed to get 4 dozen of pizzelles done last night. Not only did I offer to bake 12 dozen cookies, I offered a cookie that has to be made on an iron.....two at a time. Yup, I do it to myself. There's no one else to blame. I'm pretty sure it's genetic, right Deb?

Some day soon I will try to take pictures when it's actually light outside. I apologize for the poor quality.
*yawn*
I'm off to make lunches.

In less than a month

It will be Christmas. I am in a constant state of anxiety attack. I told David last night that we need a wife..... get your mind out of the gutter.... we need a wife that can cook, clean, and shop. Clearly, I can't do it by myself. My to-do list is huge and my amount of time left is not so huge. The next time that I sign up to bake 12 dozen cookies, please just slap me. Yes, I offered to bake 12 dozen cookies for Friday yet I can't manage to put together a decent dinner on any given night lately. What the??? I do this to myself, there is no one else to blame. *sigh*
I have been doing a little crafting but I still can't show any photos. I will leave you with this handmade (card shot in bad light). Our school has adopted a soldier who is stationed in Iraq and I was asked to make some kind of a handmade card to go with his gift. The picture is crap but the card is actually kind of cute.

Deere John, Goodbye.....

........I will miss our time together, on the cutting mat and at the sewing machine. They were all good times but I've got to move on. Please don't be sad, you are going to a fun new owner who will love you like you deserve to be loved. I'm not a one quilt woman, I thought we had an understanding.

I'm sending you with tissues to use until the tears stop.

Now button up and get in the gift bag, you're outta here!


Yup, I have officially flipped out.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by cbcyr.

This cute turkey was made by Gabby last night. You can give this kid a small pile of anything and she will create something. She made the head and body from paper bag that she folded into origami balloons that she just "remembers" how to fold from a year ago. I can't wait to see how her talents emerge as an adult.

I hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving and spends at least part of it being thankful.
Have a great day!
ps- "Deere John" quilt by tomorrow......I promise!

Did you know?

That koalas aren't bears? That koalas can fall asleep while eating? That koalas never have to leave their tree?
Well, we know these things because Julia did her book report/diorama on koalas this weekend.

I know that diorama making wasn't on my weekend list but I figured it would be a good idea to get it done because the week is likely to get crazy. I LOVE dioramas! We had so much fun making this together.

Julia came up with most of the ideas and I worked the hot glue and added tiny details. We were going to make the koalas out of pom pons but I then I thought felt would be easier.

Pretty cute, huh?
My sister sent me a gift card for JoAnn Fabrics (thanks Deb!) so that we can make her daughter a nursing school graduation quilt. Here are some:

Some buttons:
I bought the doctor pack for that red cross button.
Look at this cute one, I have no plans for it but I needed it:
This was the deal of the week.

I did ok in the remnant bin but I found this fiskars cutting mat set on clearance for $35 and then it was 50% off that. $17 for the mat, ruler, scissor and rotary cutter! woohoo!
Deere John is almost finished...pictures by Thanksgiving, I hope.
I need to go cut up berries. Why, you ask? It's Golden Waffle Day at work today. I work for a small advertising agency and the boss said that Monday is golden waffle day and asked if I would pick up the toppings. How could I refuse? Did you ever wonder why I NEVER complain about my job?

productivity

I love being productive. No- I really need to be productive. In fact, if I am not being productive it troubles me. David tells me I'm squirrely when I am in hyper-productive-multitasking mode. I can't ever just sit and relax, unless I am having a glass of wine/coffee and chatting but even then my wheels are turning and I inevitably start fretting about the things I could be getting done. I envy people that can just be, and that's pretty much everyone in my life. I wonder if that's how Martha feels? I wonder why my house is never clean like Martha's. OK, I'm starting to get a little antsy so let's move on to crafts.
I made lots of things yesterday, and almost none that I can share today except for these pumpkins.

I got the pattern here . They took less than 1/2 hour from start to finish! I'll give them to my mom on Thanksgiving. Mom and Frank are having a sad week, it looks like their beloved dog Patrick may have liver cancer. They have had him for as long as I've had Sammy (13 years) and they love him just as much.
In between crafts I did tons of laundry and this blanket was in with Julia's bedding. I crocheted this while I was pregnant with her.


The summer of '99 was one long heatwave and I was completely miserable. When I wasn't floating in the pool I was making this blanket, it seems so much longer than 7 years ago. Anyway, I thought I would share a picture of this much loved blanket.
Today is "Deere John" quilt day after church and a trip to Joann fabrics. Wish me luck or at least productivity :)

yawn

I am so boring lately, I know. I have some things in the works that I can't post about because they are gifts so bear with me.
I'll give you a little peek at one thing I may or may not be working on that may or may not involve some or all of these items:

I just received a package of some fabric from Z&S Fabric but I can only show you two for now due to the afore mentioned gifts:

No plans for it but it was a steal on clearance and will be of use some day...... Gabby's teacher is an Italian language major...... maybe I can think of something with that leaning tower fabric...... hmmmmmm, I'm going to let that idea cook a bit.
OK, my sewing machine and dryer are both calling me. What to do, what to do?

Friday, at last!

What a long week! It's been raining everyday since.... I can't remember when, I'm feeling the urge to gather pairs of animals and buy some lumber! We had report cards this week and I am proud to say that I have three brilliant daughters. I haven't had much crafting time and when that happens, I knit a scarf. It's portable, mindless and keeps my hands busy. Isn't this yarn pretty?



I am hoping to finish "Deere John" quilt this weekend in between 40 loads of laundry.
That's all for me, have a nice weekend!

faux

I purchased this cute little number for the 11 year old daughter. It was exactly the one she wanted and she was thrilled.....for 2 minutes.

daughter (with tears in her eyes)- "I am NOT wearing this" as she throws it at me.

me (shocked)- "Why? What happened?"

daughter- "it's made from fox fur!"

me- "no, no, it's not, I would NEVER buy real fur"

daughter (pointing to tag)- "it says so right here..... F A U X, and that means female fox!"

me (trying real hard not to laugh)- "Erm, Gabby that says faux which means fake"

daughter (sheepishly taking coat back)- "Fine! But I'm asking Olivia Yoo tomorrow if it's true, she'll know"

me- rolling on the floor unable to breath

So, how's everyone else's week going?

next up

The "Deere John" quilt for Jacob, as he refers to John Deere. He has a crazy obsession for all things with wheels, I hope he loves this. This will come together quickly and then I'm on to a quilt for his mom. I didn't have much time to work on this yesterday but I got a good start.

Here is Mr. Cutie Boy, Jacob:

Five minute craft

Sometimes five minutes of crafting is all you need to get your fix.
I saw a onesie done like this somewhere and have had it in my mind's list of stuff to do. My nephew and his wife are expecting a baby girl soon and my sister and I are in getting ready with handmade gifts. I am sending a pieced crib size quilt to her to finish, thanks Deb! It's made from the leftover squares from the horse quilts that I swore I would stop talking about.... sorry, oh and by the way, the "L" quilt met its new owner today and it too is loved......sorry....... that's really the last time.
I had a rough day with my brain. We really weren't getting along and I think it shut down on me a few times. I was at the register at Joann fabric when my cell rang, I was supposed to pick up another little girl and drive her to the birthday party that was starting in 20 minutes. oops. She got a ride from someone else but I really felt like a piece of crap. Then I went through the drive thru at Dunkin Donuts thinking that a caffeine fix would help, I yelled my order into the box, the boy said "$1.85 drive up", and I just sat there for more than a few minutes just vegging out with a line of cars behind me and the boy waiting for me up ahead with my coffee. What the??? Where is my brain??
Scarey.
I came home made dinner and had a glass of Merlot, I think I'm all better now.

Amen!

Done.
No more talk about the horse quilts.
I have spent so much time with them that I'm not even sure if I like them anymore. All of a sudden the colors don't match, my stitching is crap, but........ the first quilt met her new owner on Wednesday night and it is loved. That's what matters. I'm sure the "L" quilt will be well received tomorrow.
I am suddenly free of the giant yarn ball costume and the horses and I can't wait to jump into something new and quick. There is a Christmas Fair that I would love to do but I don't have much of anything done to fill a table and I don't forsee any free time to do anything so I guess I will make some Christmas gifts instead. There's a John Deere quilt for my little nephew Jacob, he has a John Deere t-shirt that he loves and used to call it his Deere John shirt. I know, too cute! There are loads of teacher gifts to make too, I'll need to think. I'm going to take tonight off from sewing and go out to dinner with my husband, my mouth is watering for a dish of Calamari Soleo from a favorite nearby Italian restaurant.
I leave you with the results of school picture day. The morning was a flurry of hair and a rare glimpse of the three in the same room, getting along and helping each other.

My girls!

Ethel?

phone
Originally uploaded by cbcyr.

This photo has nothing to do with today's entry.
Cool phone though, huh? I had a gift card from Pottery Barn and there isn't a whole lot you can buy for $100 and I fell in love with it. I love how it looks against my newly painted kitchen wall....very retro... I feel like I should give Ethel Mertz a call.
I am frantically trying to finish the second horse quilt for Saturday. It's a difficult task while trying to keep up with my family's busy schedule. We are in full swing; dance, art club, basketball, singing, drama, Tech Ed, Italian club, birthday parties, walkathons.
My anxiety level peaks in late fall and late spring and I find it hard to cope.
OK it's 5 minutes till pasta........I promise to post some new entries over the weekend....... possibly with something interesting.

three days to spare!

Quilt #1 of the ongoing, twin-horse quilt, saga is complete! "G"'s birthday party is Wednesday. Now I have until Friday to bind "L"'s quilt. This is the first year the twins are having different parties. It's a rather dreary morning here so I have rather dreary photos.

I think Sadie is my favorite horse on this great fabric

I even had time to stitch up a tiny extra while the quilt was in the dryer. The idea and pattern are courtesy of Vicki


Julia has been home sick with a fever since Wednesday, poor kid. Today she seems a little perkier and her temp has been normal all morning, *fingers crossed* hopefully, she is on the mend.
As soon as quilt #2 is complete, I can start on some Christmas gifts. Stay tuned!

And first place goes to.....

And first place goes to.....
Originally uploaded by cbcyr.

Giant ball of yarn costume!
Our community hosts a Halloween Parade every year. Kids line up by grade at the sea wall and march a few blocks behind a truck blaring Halloween music, they stop at the judging panel and show off their fabulous costumes and find out if they win a prize. From there they move on to hot chocolate, cider and donuts and dance in the streets. FUN!!!
My camera shy middle daughter won 3rd prize for her group! She was an old Noni (Italian grandma) complete with rosary beads and a cane. That's her, 2nd one from the left.

She really played the part, complaining about her brittle bones and scolding children, she is quite a character!
It was a great night but do you know what the little one asked as we walked home with tired and sore feet....... Mommy, what am I going to be next year?