July 4th Table Runner

I have been having a love affair with stars and quilts lately.  It seems like nearly every quilt on my to do list has stars of some sort on it.  I am a star junky - so I often ask myself why I don't have a patriotic star quilt that I have made hanging up this time of year.

So I made one - a carpenter star quilt out of Prairie Paisley II.  I love it - may be in my top 3 favorite quilts of all time.  Problem is - I haven't quilted it yet.  Alway seem to have a backlog in quilting my own quilts.

So last Sunday I wandered downstairs to check out the sewing room.  About an 1 1/2 hours later I came upstairs with this.

I had seen a table runner similar to this in the latest Potterybarn catalog.  I love this runner but why pay $69 when I can make one myself?  I like the length of the Potterybarn runner and the simplicity of it.  So I may have to make another pass at this little project.  But for an hour or so project I think this turned out pretty cute.

I even managed to quilt it and get the binding sewn on within that short amount of time.  Within the next day or so I had the binding stitched down and had it on display.

The only space in my house that looks festive.  Maybe this weekend I'll get around to the rest of the house!

WIP Wednesday - Wren's Quilt

I haven't done a WIP Wednesday in a long time!  But I have a few finished quilts to show off.  When my sister Whitney was trying to get Baby Wren's nursery all in order we decided she needed a quilt to hang above the crib.  Whit has tried to incorporate several colors into her nursery theme so we couldn't go wrong with the Moda Ruby line by Bonnie and Camille.

Having done a zig zag quilt  out of the Bliss line I was nervous this quilt would look exactly the same, but Whitney loves a good chevron quilt and wanted this design.  So I went for it.

I love how it turned out.  The colors are a little softer and more muted than Bliss and I love the addition of grey into the mix.

The back is a cute polka dot looking pink, which is perfect.  And I got a GREAT deal on it from the Fat Quarter shop.

Look at this darling little girl.  Hope she loves her new quilt!  Its my 400th post - how fitting that its around two of my favorite things - finished quilts and Baby Wren!

Menu Mondays

Monday - leftover maple glazed chicken in a ceasar salad
Tuesday - Scrambled eggs w/ peppers and cheese w/ a side of toast and fruit
Wednesday - Citrus Grilled Salmon w/salad
Thursday - Fish Tacos w/fruit
Friday - Tuna wrapped in lettuce

Weekend Updates

- movie with the whole family
- saturday morning errands w/ me and the kids
- yard cleaned up and all flowers planted
- dinner with my in-laws
- binding added and completed on two quilts
- 4th of july table runner sewn, quilted, and bound within a few hours
- swimming with nick one last time before he leaves town
- sunday afternoon with my siblings and dad

...finally feeling like i'm back in the game...

One Resolution Down

I think at one point I wrote that one of my goals for the year (maybe in 2011) would be to go to a movie with the whole family.

We saw Brave and although the movie was so cute, I have to say I loved that Sammy actually sat on my lap, ate whoppers (hoppers as he calls them) oreos and coke and watch the whole movie.

It was a dream come true for me.  Isn't that crazy that one would dream of going to a movie with her whole family?  What can I say - I'm simple like that.

Menu Mondays

Monday - Shrimp and Veggie Tacos
Tuesday - Maple Glazed Chicken breasts
Wednesday - BBQ Salmon w/ salad
Thursday - Fish sticks w/fruit
Friday - Beef Tacos

Treat for this week I'm going to try making some watermelon popsicles.  I have lots of watermelon I need to use and have been dying to try out my new popsicle molds!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, but especially to the father of my kids.  I couldn't ask for a better dad and husband.  He is so good to our kids and so good to me.  I am grateful every day that I found and married the love of my life.  He is my rock and my best friend.  I'm lucky that I fall in love with him again and again every time I see him with our kids.  He is such a fun "Disneyland" dad and they love him to death.  I have loved watching him become a dad.  He he kind and sweet with the kids, yet stern and tough.  Yet he spoils them rotten.  They certainly have him wrapped around their little fingers.  He is everything in a dad a kid could hope for and I'm so lucky he is the dad to our kids.

I also wanted to wish my own dad a Happy Father's Day.  He is a kind hearted, loving father who is always there for me whenever I call.  He comes by my office regularily to check on me.  He is the first person I call when we need help with cars, yard, house issues and he always comes running.  He is a wonderful grandpa to our kids and is such a great example of what a father should be in life.  I am so lucky to have had him growing up.  

                                      

My father-in-law Ken is also a great father to my family.  He is kind and loving and is the greatest grandpa to our kids.  Always chasing them around, taking them on walks and playing iPad games with them.  He is a constant support to our family and we are so lucky to have him in our lives.

Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there.  I am blessed to have so many great dads in my life.  

Menu Mondays

Monday - Filet steaks in this marinade w/ baked potatoes and watermelon
Tuesday - Baked Ziti w/homemade cesar salad and garlic bread
Wednesday - Crockpot Beef Stroganoff (so good)
Thursday - Peanut sauce stir fry
Friday - Leftovers

Baby Wren

My baby sister Whit had her own sweet little baby.  Can't believe we finally have added a girl into the mix.  I can't wait to spend a little more time with this little one.  I think she is going to be everyone's favorite for awhile. 

Welcome to the world Baby Wren!

Sewing Retreat

My friend Ann and I stole a few days away this weekend to Park City for some serious sewing time.  I brought up 8 projects - knowing I wouldn't get to them all, but nice to have some options.  I am happy to reports as of today I have completed 3 full quilts!  We still have a few hours to go tomorrow, so hopefully I can add one more into the mix.

Here are a few iphone picks of the completed quilts. 

First up is Patchwork Chevron quilt pattern from the Modabake shop.  The fabric is Rouenneries Deux by French General and I love this quilt.  Not a good picture I know, I'll post a better one later.  I do love the reds and greys in this line.  I do have to say, I didn't love how the pattern went together.  Very  hard to get all the square to line up once the half square triangles are made up, but the end game look of the quilt I love!

This is a turning twenty baseball quilt kit I bought a few years ago.  I got the blocks done this last week, and put the quilt together this weekend.  Fun, fast quilt!

This star - is the Carpenter Star pattern which I love, goes together really well and fast.  The picture distorts the colors a bit, but this is done out of red, light blue, navy blue, and tan.  By far my favorite quilt I did this weekend.  My goal is to get it quilted this week and binding on it so I can get it hanging up before the 4th!

It has been such a fun, fatting productive weekend.  Nice to get away from everything and focus on something fun just for me - but I have to say - can't wait to see my little ones tomorrow!