PUPPIES!!! and more finished stuff

First, I'd like to introduce you to my two new sisters-in-law, Bayley (left) and Bessie (right). Scott's parents lost their dog Fred Thanksgiving weekend. It was really hard on everyone and Dad swore that he'd never have another dog because he couldn't take the pain of losing one. That lasted all of two weeks. By Christmas, he was already in major new puppy agitation mode. We tried hard to convince them that they needed to get two puppies but they resisted. They found these little cuties online from a breeder in Texas. Dad printed pictures out and dragged them around and emailed them to poll his friends and family on which one they should choose and they decided on Bayley. They'd had her for just a few days when they decided they needed Bessie too. (Don't make me say I told you so. . .) They are as sweet as they can be. Crazy hyper puppies but super sweet. Oh. And those puppy bellies. . . Sigh. I miss those fat puppy belly days. And our kids got along just fine with them. I called Roscoe "Officer Harrell" all weekend because he would bark and nudge when he needed to put someone back in line.

And I finished these last week -

(Scott vetoed any of the pictures I took of the front or side of the hat being online so you'll have to make do with the back. Which is fine because it's the best part of the hat, but the cutest part of the boy is hidden. . . )

I'm working on a sort-of-secret project but I can share it here because I don't think any of my fellow travelers read the blog. Remember I said we were going to South Africa in July? Even though it'll be steamy here, it'll be winter there. We came up with a brilliant plan to knit hats for all eight of the travelers. Here are the first two. I love them. Pattern for my hat here and Scott's hat here. My problem is that I want to keep them all. Selfish selfish. But hats crank out so easily that I could give them away and knit another for me quickly. And then I have to remind myself that I don't really wear hats. . .

xoxoxo

Obsessed

Yep. I was one of those nerds who waited in line ten days ago when the new iPad2 was released. I bought Scott one last summer as an engagement gift (because I was an excellent fiancee) but didn't really get why it would be lots of fun. He'd had it for months and I still didn't quite get it. When we went to Florida in December, I decided to play with it a bit and was immediately in love. (Do you realize I can keep up with my blogs lying in bed, people? WOOHOO!!) So I asked for one for Christmas but knew I wanted to wait until the new ones were released. So I waited. And I love it.

There are two problems though -

1. I stay up WAY too late looking at that thing. (By the way - she's called Ginger because she has an orange magnetic cover.)

2. I've found so many new blogs to follow in the last week and a half. Which means I'll be going to sleep even later. Sigh.

One of the blogs I found is Lily's Quilts. She's doing a dresden plate quilt-a-long. I've always loved dresden plates but thought they looked really complicated. Turns out they're easy peasy mac-n-cheesy. As soon as I saw the technique for making them, I knew I had to have one pronto. I found the blog on Tuesday and cut fabric and pieced the top on Thursday. I decided to make the pointier blades on the plate rather than her nice rounded one and I also decided just to make one small panel as a wall hanging for one of our bathrooms. (So in the picture, that's not the world's largest dresden plate block, it's a mini adirondack chair.) I've got too many other projects going to commit to a whole quilt of them right now although I'm so amazed at how easily it came together that I can see more in my future. I love how it turned out. I had a charm pack of Love by Amy Butler and used almost the whole thing. Started on Thursday, finished the binding on Saturday morning. How's that for instant gratification???

Also, with the mug rug madness going on, I have to show you the little one I made for Scott for Valentine's Day. When I started sewing two years ago, I made him a little coaster for his desk. And when I say little, I mean little. It made sense for a can of soda maybe but we use those big hulking Starbucks city mugs and you couldn't even see the little coaster when he put his coffee down. So this was a silly little Valentine's add on gift. Made with Ruby Star Rising. Binding is one of the Amy Butler Midwest Moderns. Tag on the back is a design Scott made for me and I had printed by Spoonflower. Love it!!

xoxoxox

Tearin' it up, people! - February finish #1

Ok. Ignore the fact that this was one I was supposed to finish in February. I actually had it all done in the proper month except hand stitching the binding. I LOVE the front of this quilt. Wish I could be as enthusiastic about the back. I had some major fabric shifting going on. In fact, it upset me so much that it was the main reason I let this sit for a week before I finished the binding. But it's not so bad, and little things like that just let the handmade show through, right???

But you know what I'm happiest about? Spring is happening!!

Truly happy.

And I have my knitting group tonight and a quilting group on Thursday so I'm not sure if I'll be back at my machine until the weekend but maybe I can be back on track with all of this year's projects? Maybe??

xoxoxox

As promised - March finish #2

I know you probably think I'm stretching it a bit to call one block a completed project. This one was pretty easy (apart from me not measuring correctly once or twice) but these have been significantly more challenging than I was expecting. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy so far with the results, but they've taken some problem solving skills I'm a bit rusty on. So I'd like to present the March block of the month. You saw the January star. Hopefully you'll be seeing February in the next few days. And I'm sewing the binding on the pinwheel quilt so I'm very nearly done with that one too. HOORAH!!! Particularly since I know of five more babies due this year and my brain has already promised each one of them a quilt.

And, hello? Please notice that I've finished my two required March projects in the first week. Woot. Now to go back and finish the three (one January and two February) things that are sitting. . .

xoxoxo

Productive weekend - March finish #1

Here's one thing (two things?) I completed yesterday. You'll have to wait until tomorrow to see the other - and maybe more. (The light today is no good for pictures.) I'm feeling super productive and have so many things I want to do swirling around in my head so instead of spending lots of time typing and retyping here, I'm going to go do them. Another post tomorrow. Promise.

xoxoxox

WE'RE FAMOUS!!

Oh my. Click here for a link to a wedding blog post about us. Our most wonderful photographer said that she wanted to get our wedding onto a blog. I never imagined it would actually happen but lo and behold, it is finally time for my 15 minutes of fame. . .

xoxoxoxo