My Made-up Pattern

I have been trying to find the perfect pattern for the great Moda prints Layer Cake I got for my birthday. I still have not found the one. So tonight I made up my own. I'm not sure if it is truly an original thought or if it was inspired by something I've seen somewhere, but I think it might be it...
I am going to use the prints with white corners. I think it will be a cute, scrappy kind of quilt. And I kind of like the horizontal shape rather than the traditional square.
And if I don't like it, I will still have half of each block left over. :o)

Kari's Picnic Quilt

I was so honored that Kari had her bridal shower while we were in Fergus for the Annual Convention. Since we won't be able to make it to their wedding, I was able to bring a gift for Brent and Kari to the shower. I had so much fun making this for them to enjoy at the "Lakehouse".

I made a picnic quilt in pinks, reds, and aquas with a cherry print for accent. Then in order to make it more practical for picnics by the lake, I backed it with vinyl tablecloth fabric for easy washing and to keep you dry when the grass is damp.

It was a little tricky to work with, but it turned out gorgeous! In fact I've already bought more supplies to make more picnic quilts!

Clothespin Apron

When you hang laundry it's nice to have the clothespins handy. A few years ago my mom bought me this nifty clothespin apron. But after much use, it was beginning to look a little ragged.

Sonja sent me a link to a blog with a cute pattern for a clothespin apron. I was inspired! So I took a bit of scrap fabric and made my own. It's not exactly like the pattern, but it only took me an hour to throw together and it works! I hung an entire load of laundry just this morning in nothin' flat!

that's the very cute, but not so handy, clothespin bag I made while we lived in MN

hanging on the wall behind me

Now I am picking out fabrics for my next apron...

New Threads

Ok, well I don't have any new clothes or new sewing threads. But I did go to JoAnn's Grand Opening and bought a couple of thread organizers.

With all the new thread I got for my birthday, my thread drawer was becoming quite a hodge podge of spool and a tangle of loose ends. So my big 50% purchase was a thread rack for the wall. I love it,I can just look up and find just the color I want! Now I just have to fill it up! :o)

I also bought an organizer I have been trying to find for years (seriously). This spool holder is fantastic! It is compact and locks the spools in so you avoid the oops I dropped it and now I have to play "follow the thread" to find them all - game.

And then as a last-minute impulse buy while standing in the checkout line I picked up the newest issue of McCall's Quick Quilts magazine. This is by far my favorite quilting magazine and this one had about 7 patterns I really liked! I just don't know which one to think about making next... LOL

SmileBox

I just found this cool new thing called Smilebox. I'm not quite sure what I think of it yet, but so far it's kind of fun. Here's what I did tonight. It took me less than 10 minutes to throw it together and it's kind of cute. If you pay their yearly fee, you can print them, add your own music, share without ads and burn them onto your own DVD. We'll see what I think of it after I play with it for a bit...

You can check it out at www.smilebox.com

There are some things I like about it and things I don't:

1. I like the cute little scrapbook look you have for your slideshows

2. I like that you can have music (and add your own if you pay)

3. I don't like the way they display the pictures you choose from on the tiny little sidebar. You can hardly see what they look like.

4. I don't like that the pictures you have used don't disappear after you use them. It's hard to keep track.

5. I do like that you can burn them on to a DVD (if you pay)

6. I like that you can add videos, too.

7. I like that you can send personalized e-cards with pictures. Great for invites or thank yous!

8. I like that there are lots of options for the free stuff.

9. I don't like that there is almost too much to choose from.

Make a Smilebox photobook

This Amp Cover Rocks

It doesn't rock because it's so cool but because it was so easy to make. I used some felt I had lying around in my stash and it doesn't need to be hemmed! I really don't like hemming.

Zack wanted a cover to protect his new baby: the Fender Frontman 65R.

This new cover will protect it from dust and other harmful contaminants.

It also has a little flap to reveal the handle so it can stay protected while on "tour". Being on the road is full of dangers for a poor defenseless amp.

Don't worry Zack, it's safe now!

Robots & Rockets Quilt

I love robots! If it wasn't for the fact that they always turn evil and try to take over the world, I would probably have one to help around the house and stuff. But these litttle guys caught my eye as soon as I walked into the quilt store in Cannon Beach. This little guy with his doggy made me forget about the "evil taking over the world" stuff and said "I'm perfect for a baby quilt!" Robots are so sneaky that way!

I just couldn't let the leftover fabric just sit in my "I'm sure I will use this for something someday" pile, so I also made a burp cloth, binky bag and reversible bib.

the rocket side has a yellow button

the robot side has a blue button

You know, the more I see it the more I think that maybe not all robots are that bad after all. :o)

Wait! I knew robots were bad!

That pink one is trying to steal my binky bag!