Quilts

I got a quilting frame and quilting machine for Christmas and I'm absolutely in love with it.  It makes quilting the tops of quilt allot more enjoyable than trying to do it on a regular sewing machine.  I wish I could afford the $10K setup with a real long arm and automated quilting but I can't and this setup works just fine.  I can always make it automated but for now I think I will pass.  I really love to make quilt tops but even with this setup, quilting the tops is still my least favorite.  I'm trying to finish some of the quilt tops that I have done and not make more till I finish one.  So far I've finished 3 quilt tops that I had done before I got my frame and 1 quilt top that I just made.  I also have one new quilt top on the frame ready to be quilted.  I plan on turning on the music and having a couple margaritas  while quilting tonight so I can add another one to my stack of finished quilts, that way I can make some quilt tops:)  The first quilt pictured is done with Sandi Henderson prints from her Ginger Blossom and Farmers Market line.  I used Hip to Be Square pattern by Busy Bee  Designs.  The second quilt was one of the first quilts I made using a baby quilt book by Alex Anderson.  I used some old Amy Butler prints to make this one.  The third quilt was made using scraps from Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom and Farmers Market print, I didn't use a pattern just did a crazy quilt.  The last one was made with Patty Young's Andalucia fabric using Miss Molly from Abbey Lane Quilts.

I am ME

I believe in God

But I don't go to church

I live by the 10 commandments

But I don't understand some of God's choices

I do believe that even though I don't go to Church I will definately go to HeAVen

I measure myself against what I want to BE

I'm not the perfect size

Or the perfect mom

I'm not as successful as I think I should be

I'm not as motivated as I should be

However,

I try to motivate myself to become closer to the perfect size

I work on being a better mom

I think about the things I can to do to be successful

I try to think of ways to be more motivated

Some days,

I can't help but think about how disgustingly fat I am

I can't help but think of all the ways I'm a bad mom

I can't help but think about all the things I should be doing to be more successful

I can't help but think about why I can't be as motivated as other moms

And some times,

I can look at myself in the mirror and appreciate that I have nice legs

I can look at how happy my kids are and pat myself on the back

I can count the successes of my life

I can look at all my accomplishments and realize that motivation played a part

But most of the time,

On bad days I can find quite a few things to smile about

And quite a few things to laugh about

I can make myself laugh and smile when I am at my last straw

I can feel a little sexy

And I can forget about everything by just hearing a giggle come from one of my boys

I will never be perfect

Or the perfect size

I will never be as successful as the one I envy

Or the perfect mom

but I am Me

More PJ Pants (Thrifty under Fifty Challenge)

Some more PJ pants I made for the Thrifty under Fifty Challenge.  These are an altered Amy Butler pattern found in her In Stitches book.   I've cut down the waist and added some cuffs on the bottom.  I have one last picture left from the Thrifty under Fifty Challenge but I will share that in the next day or so.  Don't want to bore you all in one day:)

Beauty and the Geek (part of the Thrifty under 50 challenge)

Some finished softies I made, well I say finished but really they don't have shoes yet.  I've found these take allot of time and for one that has a very short attention span they aren't something I will be making lots of in the future.   The geek is for my 2 year old for Christmas but I'm betting the dogs will get it and destroy as soon as it's out of the wrapping......

These were part of the Thrifty under Fifty challenge but I just now took pictures of them.  They cost me $13 to make, $10 for the pattern and $3 for the buttons.  The monkey pattern was free though.  The patterns are from MMMCrafts , which I love to visit because she has allot of cute ideas.

Thrifty Under Fifty Car Mat to Go

I have to say that I stole this idea from Jamie.  She is a very talented seamstress and has allot of great ideas.  She was kind enough to post pictures of these car mats on my group.  I used Michael Miller Merryville line to make these and I ended up  getting 4 out of the scrap I had which was just under a yard.  I still have 3 more to make but I'm not sure I will have them done by today which is the end of the Thrifty Under Fifty challenge.  I think I will make a couple of small changes on the other 3 too.  The zipper needs some work and I'm thinking I might be better off to go with a flap and velcro, so it will be easier for little kids to get to.

Thrifty Under Fifty PJ Pants

Even though my boys like to run around with the least amount of clothes on as possible, I thought I would make them some PJ pants.  Hopefully they will wear them but if not they were easy to make.  I made a pair for my youngest, 2 for my 4 year old and 2 for my 9 year old.  I need to make my 11 year old some too but I'm waiting to get some different material for him.  It's so hard to find good quality boy fabric that isn't geared toward toddlers.  

Thrifty under Fifty Completed Project cost $0

Pot holders made with fabric scraps, heat resistant fabric and batting from fabric stash.  I didn't use a pattern so total cost was nothing $0:)

PJ pants and a Rag Quilt.  Used patterns and material from my stash so it didn't cost me a dime.  Rag Quilt needs to be washed and cut still.

Thrifty Under Fifty Completed Projects

Andalucia Katy Kitty
Originally uploaded by Cocoa Dreams

Katy Kitty done in Andalucia by Patty Young. The pattern was purchased from MMCrafts for $10.  I had the fabric but had to buy some buttons for $3.  So total cost of Katy Kitty was $13.  I still have a coat, skirt and shoes I need to make for her.

I've been Picked

I've been picked for the You Can Make This $50 and Under Challenge!!  Woo hoo!!  I feel like I just won something!  So you all will have to keep coming back and see what I've made and guess who I'm making them for because I can't tell you who it is till after Christmas.  I've been to YMCT a couple times but never really spent much time looking on the site so I'm guessing by the end of this challenge I'm going to be a YMCT junkie.  I have quite a few presents I would like to make and really need to get my creative juices flowing so I can come up with cool ideas for all the men in my life:)

See Katie Sew: A giveaway for two

See Katie Sew: A giveaway for two

Give Away

Give away at See Katie Sew  This blog has been around for 2 years but I just happened to find it today from going to some other blogs I frequent.  Anyways I really don't need anymore material but I can't help but enter because a girl can never have to much fabric right?