My first BIG quilt!!

I did it!  I finally made a big quilt and I actually finished it!  It finished up as a 6' x 9'.  It isn't perfect but I am so proud of myself.  I don't think I could have actually finished it up but it was a SANTA present for my nephew Isaac.  If you all have been following my blog for a while then you know that my sister finally having a baby in 2008 is what drove met to sewing.  I love making things for my nephew because he truly adores them.  This quilt isn't perfect but it was made with lots of love!

Hope you like it too!

~Blessings
Krista

Tinsel & Treasure

This weekend my sister and I, otherwise known as Lulu and Joy, have a booth at Tinsel & Treasure.  I don't have much time to write because I'm making a few last minute items but please come see us if you are in Knoxville.  We have wreaths, decorated insulated double wall tumblers, decorated Christmas ornaments, handmade children's clothing, burp cloths, bibs, headbands, and other hair accessories.  I'll try to post pictures tomorrow.

We are in booth #82! We'd love to see you there!

~Blessings
Krista

All in a Day of a Housewife

Click here to check out my newest creations on my craft business blog. 

What do you do all day?  I hear this question all the time.  I can even remember asking SAHM/W this question myself when I worked full time outside of the home.  I say it that way because I still feel like I work full time but I very rarely leave my house!  I actually probably work more now.  Now that I am a housewife I kind of chuckle when I hear that question.

So what have I done today.  It's 12:30 and I've already made breakfast then cleaned up the kitchen, made homemade laundry detergent, canned homemade apple butter, scheduled an installation appointment for DH, washed 2 loads of clothes, and now I'm eating my lunch and typing up a blog post.

Woosh.... I'm tired!

Actually the rest of my day is fully scheduled too!

After I finish my sandwich I have 2 embroidery orders to fill, and then I need to get started on the many things that I have to make before the Tinsel & Treasure show.

Charlie asked me this morning if I was happy just being his housewife.  I just smiled and said I love it!  I couldn't ask for more.  He then said but we don't have as much as we had when we were both working.  I asked him if that bothered him.  He of course said NO and that he loved having me at home.  I then reminded him that things are not important to me and never have been.  As long as he is good with it then I am very happy.  I feel like the Lord has me just where he wants me to be.

We don't have the things that we used to have.  We don't eat out as often.  I haven't been to the mall in months.  You know what?  I don't care!  I love saving us money by making our laundry detergent.  I love grocery shopping knowing that the meals I make are healthy.  I love the sense of accomplishment I get by managing the office side of Charlie's business.  I schedule his appointments, create & send in the invoices, and manage all the office stuff.  I guess my 'job' with Singleton Services gives me my office fix that I need every once in a while.

I also love that I have time to create things.  I love to sew and I really like knowing that my creations are going to someone special.  I put my heart & soul into every item that I make.

My children, although in college, act like they like me being at home too.  They come home every day and sit in the kitchen just to talk to me.  I feel like I'm more involved in their lives then I've ever been.  I no longer make their decisions but I do pray with them and for them as they are making decisions that will effect the rest of their lives.  I know that they love the home cooked meals that await them.

Well, my sandwich is gone and it's time for me to get back to work.

~Good Day to you all and Many Blessings,
Krista

Crafter's Block

Do you see all this fabric? It's literally yards & yards of fabric and I haven't been able to make a thing for the last 2 weeks.  I can't get past this little crafter's block that I'm having.  I usually can look at a piece of fabric and I think "oooohhh I want to make _____ out of that!" But not so.  I just look at it and think "Wow, that's a lot of fabric!"

Geez, what's wrong with me?  It's driving me crazy.  Any ideas on how to get passed this? I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks and many Blessings!
Krista

New Handmade Items

My brother and his wife are expecting their first baby.  We are all so excited!  She is due to arrive on September 26th.  This will be my parents' 18th grandchild.  Her name is Norah.  Isn't that adorable?  I can't wait to show you pictures of our newest little addition but for today I can only show you pictures of a few of the things I made just for her!

Check them out at Lulu and Joy's blog...

~Blessings
Krista

Quilts to make in 2009

Hannah's quilt was a hit! I'm sorry I don't have pictures. Believe it or not I forgot to take my camera and so I don't have a picture of the finished quilt. My sister-in-law has promised to get me a picture of Hannah with the quilt. I hope I get it soon so I can share with you. I saw Hannah last night at my brother's birthday party, and she told me she has slept with her new quilt every night since Christmas. She really loves it. When she opened it she said "It's just want I wanted!" Granted she said that with every present she opened...

My sister-in-law, Heather, has asked for a quilt next. She is so funny. She told me I could even make her a baby quilt too! I guess she thought that was all I could make. I am going to try to make her a Black, White & Red quilt using Amanda Jean's pattern. I think it will work beautifully in her living room.

I also want to make Beth a quilt using the same pattern, but using Brown & Turquoise. I already have the fabric for Beth's quilt. I just haven't been able to come up with a pattern.

I also want to make Charlie a Georgia Bulldogs quilt. He loves the Bulldogs. I found a blog where someone made their son/grandson a Bulldogs quilt but I can't find it now.

I would also like to make Trevlyn a quilt, but I don't have any ideas yet on colors or patterns.

I think it would be neat to make them all at least Twin size, and then make a pillow case to match. So, that is 4 quilts, and I still have Mother's too. I have her material and her pattern. I am planning on having hers ready by her birthday, which is March 16. I would like to have Beth's ready by her birthday too, which is March 18. So, lofty goals....

A Feeling of Accomplishment

Yes, I finished something! Lately it seems that I've been going from one project to the next without finishing anything. I hate doing that, but sometimes my ADD kicks in and I just can't seem to get anything done. I am that typical Mom that starts in the kitchen cleaning. I find mail on the counter so I take that down to the office. While in the office I find my coffee cup that needs to go in the kitchen. I take my coffee cup back to the kitchen. Then I find my car keys on the counter. I take those to my bedroom, and I realize I didn't make up the bed. Then ...okay on and on and on.... These really are my days. Most of the time I just can't seem to find a good rhythm, and I spend my time getting nothing done! Yesterday wasn't like that! I had a very productive day. Before noon, I had washed 2 loads of laundry, folded and put them away, made egg salad for lunch, and while doing that I put dinner in the crock pot so that could be cooking while I was working on my quilting. Then I started working! We have another baby shower tomorrow night. Did I tell you that we have 7 babies being born in a matter of months at our church? 2 of them have been born in the last month, and the other 5 are due between January & May. So this is the 3rd baby set that I have made. It is a coordinating baby blanket, burp cloth & bib. This is one of my favorites. I just love the rubber ducky fabric. They are made of a very soft and cuddly flannel. I like for the sets to be comfortable, and cute but still be able to be used. All 3 things can be put in the washer & dryer when they get dirty!

These are the squares for my niece's quilt. I received 40 charm pack squares, and I had to cut out the other 100! Have I told you that the cutting & binding are the things I dislike the most about quilting. I know all the colors are little funky! She asked for pink & purple, and that is primarily the colors that I am using, but there are other colors too! My husband came in last night and he said are you sure that all those colors are going to work? I told him well actually No, I'm not, but I sure hope so since I just spent hours cutting out all these squares! What do those of you with quilting experience think...Will it work? The end result will be a disappearing nine patch! On the left are all the stacks of squares that go in the quilt, and on the right is one square that I put together to let Charlie see an example of how it was going to go together.

A Wonderful Weekend

This past weekend was very eventful!

Friday night I took Beth Ice Skating. She started ice skating lessons a couple of weeks ago, and she is able to attend one free public skating session per week. Believe it or not, she is a natural. Beth takes after me in the fact that she is very clumsy, but when she gets on the ice she is very graceful!

On Saturday, I worked the UT game with our church then on Sunday morning me & the kids rode down to Dalton GA with some friends of ours for our national church convention. Charlie drove down on Friday because the convention actually started on Friday night so we met up with him there. I had the opportunity to see my brother, his wife, and children. Their new baby is absolutely a doll. This picture is of him, in my lap, isn't he just cutest baby you've ever seen? No, I didn't pose this picture...He was sleeping that way!

While in Dalton, I had the opportunity to see Val my real life and blog friend! We've known her family for many years now, but we don't have the opportunity to see each other very much. I wish I'd thought to take a picture of us together, but I didn't! Maybe next time!

We went out to eat on Sunday night with my niece and her husband to our favorite Mexican restaurant, Garcia's! As we were sitting at the table my children decided that I looked pretty good that night. It is really funny how it happened. We were talking about my blog, and the kids said I needed a new picture. The one I have posted is several years old, so they decided to take my picture.

To me I just look tired! I felt like my four hours of sleep on Saturday night was exhausted!

We stayed in Dalton until Monday because Charlie's dad was having surgery on Monday morning. He was having surgery to remove 7 skin cancers from his face and neck. The surgery was scheduled to be out-patient, but we didn't know for sure how it was going to turn out. The doctor was concerned over one of the cancers. It appeared that it had grown in to the bone instead of out like the others. Well, everything went perfectly! The doctor was able to get everything. We all left the doctor's office about 9:30am and went to Shoneys! Yes, you know it... we all love to eat. **Update-Charlie talked to his Dad last night and he hasn't even had to take any of the pain medicine!

This is a picture of the kid's with the grandparents!

After we got home on Monday we didn't do anything. I mean nothing. We all slept most of the remainder of the day. But the real world came knocking on our door on Tuesday morning! Charlie was off to work and the kids were off to school. I was off to my sewing machine. I finished this blanket yesterday. I'm not sure who I am going to give it to, but it will be a present for somebody. We have several ladies that are pregnant in our church, and so far 3 of them are having boys!

WOW...As I am sitting here writing this post...I hear snip, crackle, crash, BAM!!! then the dogs start barking like crazy. I rush upstairs to see what has happened! I look out the window and this is what I see...

We have 4 trees in our back yard. The one that you see is dead! I called Charlie to let him know and his first question was "Did the tree fall on the house?" Isn't it funny that he knew why I was calling? I told him NO, it didn't fall on the house, but we have procrastinated long enough. It is time for that tree to come down on our terms! We will be having a chainsaw party at our house this weekend if anyone is interested!

Little Boy Blue Blanket, Bib & Burp Cloth Finished!

My first full baby craft project is finished! Since I started this set for my sister's new baby I let her decide whether or not to add the satin binding, and she opted to not have it on this one. I have another pattern in mind that I think the satin binding will match better anyways! I hope you all like it. I loved making the set, and I'm thinking about selling them. What do you all think?

1st Baby Blanket

Help!!

I'm not sure if I like it with the satin binding or without! I have the binding just pinned on right now.

The blanket is made of 100% cotton flannel, and is 30" x 30". One side is blue flowers, and the other side is a solid royal blue. I have also made a matching burb cloth, and I am planning on making a matching bib too. I want to try to sell them if I can get good enough at it.

Opinions please....

With Binding Without Binding

Burp Cloth

Soft Baby Fabrics!

Help!!!

I am looking for somewhere that I can buy soft baby fabrics. I think they are called Minkee. Does anyone know where I can find the fabric at a good price? Joann's & Hobby Lobby have a few of the pastel colors in a generic but I am looking for a Chocolate Brown. The places I've found on-line are over $15 a yard plus shipping! Ouch! If it is going to be that expensive I will probably have to rethink the blanket idea for my sister.

Also, my grandmother told me that she used to make baby blankets with a 100% polyester backing, but she can't find the fabric anymore. She said it was a real soft satin feel. She wanted us to try to make one together if I can find the fabric. Any ideas on that would be great too!

Purses

I've used my sewing machine and made several purses. I am thinking about venturing out and making a rag quilt purse. If anybody has instructions or tips please send them to me. Here are some of the pics of the first few I've done.

I made these two purses for my nieces that live in Florida. I'm mailing them to them today.

I made this one last night. I'm not sure that I like it as well though. What do you think? I haven't attached the handles yet. I'll probably go with wooden handles.

Mother's Day

I am so excited!!! I came home from a fabulous Mother's Day Dinner with the ladies at church and my son had a wonderful gift for me! He purchased me my first sewing machine. I can't hardly wait to use it. I hope that I don't break it. It is a Singer 1732, and everything that I've read about it says it is perfect for beginners.

I don't know a thing about bobbins, tension, and who knew there were so many different stitches! Well, hopefully before too long I'll be showing you all pictures of all my different projects! I am hoping to make my sister a comforter set for the new baby. I know that is probably not a beginner's project but I still want to try.

I would be grateful for any suggestions!

My First Homemade Purse

Charlie went out of town today for a company trip. He'll only be gone overnight, but it gave me a little time to finish up a project I found over at The Happy Housewife. I still haven't mastered the sewing machine so most of it I sewed by hand.

The Placemat with Pink Ribbon attached

I attached the ribbon with heavy duty double stick hem tape. The kind you iron on.

After I sewed the sides togetherAfter I sewed the corners into triangles

The purse before I attached the handles

The Finished Product