Welcome to The Jungle!

I have been quite busy!  About two weeks ago I finished a quilt for my friend who is having a baby.  I call this quilt, "Welcome to the Jungle".  I love it!  It is my favorite quilt, by far! It started out as a quilt for my son, but I decided half way through that it would be perfect for my friend's baby.  She lives in Florida and the quilt was very light weight.  I used all light cotton fabrics and a cotton sheet for the backing.  The colors and patterns all worked fantastic together.  I am quite proud of it.  And when she received it in the mail she said she got a little choked up, that is always a good sign, haha!  I can't wait to see the little guy all wrapped up in it!  AND unbeknownst to me, it matches the nursery perfectly!  How cool is that!  I posted some pics for every one to take a gander at the quilt.

I am currently working on two quilts simultaneously.  These will be the last two for my friend with all the pregnant friends!  :)  One is sports themed and the other is Minnie Mouse.  I hate to say it...but I truly hated the sports one.  She didn't want any specific teams or even a specific sport just "sports themed".  She said "like balls and stuff".  Um, ok.  So it took me forever to find fabric.  I was looking for something that I would want in my sons room.  So after a month or so of looking for and not finding the perfect fabric.  I finally decided, what difference does it make it if I would love it for my sons room?  It is not for my son!  And once I finish the quilt, I will never see it again.  As long as I do the best I can, and make a quality product, it doesn't matter that I don't like the fabric.  BUT....It sure doesn't hurt to LOVE the fabric, I'll tell you that!

Once I finally got over my material dilemma, I went to Jo-Ann's and purchased some flannel with "balls and stuff" on it.  I made rather large blocks in order to finish faster.  (I know this sounds terrible, hahahah!)  I used some complimentary solids and prints and hung the blocks up and took a step back.  I HATED IT!  It needed something....BAD!  I went back to Jo-Ann's to get that "something".  But instead I ended up with 10 new fabrics for a Spider Man quilt for my son!  hahaha!  I told you people I was indecisive and unable to commit to my crafts!  One of the fabrics I got for the Spidey quilt was an indigo denim.  When I brought it back to the office, I realized that is the "Something" that the sports quilt was missing.  So I used some of that to finish up the front of that quilt.  And in my haste to hurry and be done with it, I almost forgot to add the Chinese symbol for loyalty that she wanted in the first three quilts.  So glad that I remembered when I did.  I was able to applique it on even though I was more than half way done with quilting my sandwich.  I am looking forward to finishing it!  The quilt that I loathed has now become quite likeable.  haha!

And the Minnie Mouse quilt is in the works.  I have 6 blocks finished.  I am using pinks, browns and oranges.  Again, this quilt is a challenge for me since I am not a Minnie fan.  I need to just get over it and get 'er done!!  I have no real plan for the design on this one.  Just letting the chips or fabric fall where they may.

My boss asked me if I would make a memory quilt for him out of some of his mother's clothing that the family kept after she died.  Of course!!  His sister said she knew someone that was going to make a quilt out of them...but she never did, that was 10 years ago.  So he asked his sister for the clothes back in November.  She gave him the clothes at Xmas.  He was pissed because none of her nicer clothes were in the box.  He says it's mostly tee shirts and frumpier items.  I told him that tee shirts make a very soft and comfy quilt.  I can't wait for him to bring them in so I can see what I will be working with.

Also, I have finally gotten the nerve to start working on something for one of my besties.  About a year ago she came over for dinner and brought a bag of scarves that her grandmother wore and collected.  My friend has had them for years and would wear a few of them in her hair from time to time, but overall they were all just sitting in a bag in her closet.  She asked me if I thought I could do anything with them.  I said a memory quilt would be awesome!  Having said that.  I have NO CLUE how to sew such lightweight and sheer items into a quilt.  This past Friday, I pulled the bag out of my sewing table cabinet and started getting ideas.  I sorted all of them by coordinating colors and put them in big zip lock bags.  I've decided that her collection of scarves will become three quilts.  I bought a whole bolt of fusible interfacing thinking that will be my first step with the sheer items.  Just kinda making it up as I go along. I need to google what type of needle I should be using for silk and polyester.  I am excited to start!!!  Especially since she just purchased her first home.  I would love to have at least one ready soon so I can give it to her as a house warming gift when she is all moved in.

Wow!  After reading everything I just typed, I am tired.  haha!  I have a lot of work ahead for me.  Trying to keep busy in this cold snowy weather.

Shock the Monkey

A friend of mine asked me to make her four quilts for three of her friends and her sister, all of whom are pregnant or have just given birth recently.  Actually...my friend asked me to knit blankets for all of them.  I told her I knew I couldn't commit to such a long project.  So I suggested I knit stuffed animals for all of them.  She liked that idea...and so did I (at the time).  I was so excited about the projects!!  That night after work, I stopped home to pick up my son so I could tote him along for a fun filled trip to Joann's.  I picked out yarn and bought a new set of circular needles and another set of DPN's to replace my misplaced size 6's.  We got home and I started the monkey's body right away.  I was cruising along, every day during my lunch breaks and when I could squeeze some time in at home.  I finished Mr. Monkey Man...all but his ears, tail and half a sweater.  I seriously just could not bring myself to pick up those damn needles to finish.  Honestly, it would take me one lunch hour to finish him completely and I could bless this little boy with a fun monkey to play with and snuggle.  NOPE!   I had become quilt obsessed again and could not think about knitting.  All I could think about was using my 50% off coupon from Joann's and getting some new fabric!  So one day, I saw her on Messenger and sent her a quick IM and confessed my scatter-brained, project commitaphobe tendencies and asked her how she felt about quilts for the kiddos.  She was on board...phew!   About a month has passed and I have just completed Quilt #1, which I have named, "Shock The Monkey". 

First Blog entry - Whoo Hooo!!

So here goes... After thinking long and hard; and I mean hours, about what to write my first blog entry, I am still kinda blank.  I suppose I should write some little tid bits about myself.  Maybe write about a project I am working on or try and come up with something witty.  I don't want to bore you all with random babbling that will most likely ramble off topic several times (as I am prone to do) so I decided on a bullet point list of  fun facts about me: "Mama No Time".  Ready, here it goes - randomly listed... not in any particular order.

• I am a mother 
• I have a teenager and a toddler
• and 2 dogs
• I may be crazy
• I reluctantly work full time
• I wish I had a magic wand
• I am a fabulous cook
• I love being artsy fartsy
• I wish I had more time to spend with my family
• I have road rage
• I want to buy a house
• My kids drive me bat shit and brighten my day all at the same time.  Amazing creatures!
• I wish I was organized and disciplined enough to make a living making and selling my crafts
• I NEED MORE SPACE
• I'm totally in love
• I don't get enough sleep
• I rolled down a hill the other day for the first time in probably 25 years
• I should be working right now
• I am cynical
• Haven't been on a vacation since 1998, *edit* I have been reminded my last vacation was actually in 2001 or 2002
• Need a vacation
• I taught myself how to knit
• I could fill a book with the one liners that flow out of my "Hubstah's" mouth...and it would be a top seller
• Been with the same man for almost a decade and a half and we are not married.  Why fix something that ain't broke? or Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free?  My thoughts and feeling on this one vary from time to time
• I think Lenny Kravitz and Johnny Depp are the cat's pajamas
• I can't commit to a hair do'
• I am a recovering Facebook addict, that still dabbles in it more than she should.
• I talk in my sleep
• when I notice that it is 3:04, I always announce that it is hoe o'clock
• Always strapped for time, I often pluck my eyebrows in my car... but only at red lights.

Although I could go on forever, I think that's enough for now - as my work day is nearing it's end.  Hooray!  Until next time!