Neither Sleet nor Rain nor Snow

It takes a lot more than a little storm to stop this family from having friends over for a fire. We all had a blast sitting out the storm by the fire. Yep those big white blobs are not a defect in the picture but snow flakes. Of course I really should have thought a little about the fact that maybe having a fire the night before a final at school is not one of my better ideas. The fire ended around 1:30 A.M. so I was able to get a couple of hours sleep and now I need to try to keep my eyes open so that I can get a couple of hours of studying. Hmmm maybe I should borrow our artist's thinking cap. It seems to be working for her.

I can just see how those antennas are bring more energy into the brain and really making it work extra hard. Then again the teacher may think that it is a little distracting for the rest of the class. Okay enough procrastinating I am really getting off the computer to go study!

Temptations Part 2

Just heard back from the quilt shop. Not only did they not get my money but there was another $900.00 floating out there that they never got. Turns out it was batched wrong with the credit card machine. The is a big chunk of profit for a little store. Money has now been deducted from my account and a lot of others.

I feel better and no Neen I did not get a discount.LOL

Temptations

Every year a group of friends and I go to a Quilt show in NH. One of our favorite vendors we have nick named Temptations. Well this time around they have really earned their name. It all started out with the most beautiful bundle of fabric above. It is the "Love Is" Line by Nancy Halverson. I just love all her fabric. Now this was the year I was suppose to be good so I didn't buy it but couldn't stop thinking about. I decided that if it was still there by the end of the day I would get it because it would be meant to be. Well good thing for me Melissa NH also fell in love with it and she bought it. Phew! or so I thought!

The owners said they had one more and would bring it in for me the next day. Wasn't that nice of them.NOT! So the next day I HAD to buy it. After all they brought it in especially for me.

I am a check book balancer and I balance my check book every week. I watched each day as all the purchases from that weekend left my account. I noticed that the beautiful fabric above never seemed to leave my account. Ahhh what to do what to do! I started wondering if maybe I used a different card but know it didn't show up on any of my accounts. I have to admit another temptation creeped in. Thinking well it is not my fault if they didn't remember to charge me. Hey I am only human and I think anyone would be tempted. Well I figured enough time has gone by and something had to have happened. I figured nope they are not gonna charge me for the fabric. I also knew that there was no way I could cut this fabric and enjoy sewing it knowing that a quilt vendor never got their money even if it wasn't my fault. I just got off the phone with them and they seemed shocked that I called to say hey are you gonna charge me. And I feel so much better knowing I made the call! And now I am gonna enjoy my gorgeous fabric.

Perfect Day

Some days just end up being perfect. This was one of those days. Of course it helps that it started by getting me my Christmas present. A little early but that is fine by me. WE loaded up the two cars and headed to Sanford where we dropped my van off to get a remote start put in. I really missed my old remote start that went with the old van. See all my nagging paid off and now I have a new one.

WE had to kill time while we waited for the car to be ready so we headed to Bonanza for some lunch then off to Walmart so the kids could get each other their Christmas presents. I take two and Jim takes one to shop then we keep switching off until they all picked out presents for each other.

Don't they looked excited to be shopping. The best part about this is that the kids didn't even fight the whole time! This is a rare treat.

After shopping found out they still needed another hour to finish the van so I decided that we should pick up wrapping paper at Mardens where it is cheaper than Walmarts. Had to pick up some fabric while I was there. I got 6 yards of pink backing fabric. 6 yards of peach with design backing fabric. These rest of the bolt of the yellow backing fabric. The other bolt was regular fabric just begging to be twilered. And then the other three cause I couldn't resist!

After that we went to the pet store. No we did not get anymore pets although the kids did ask for a rabbit. Picked up dog food and mouse food and fish food and hamster food. See we don't need anymore pets!

Picked up the van and came home! While I got dinner ready the kids and Dad cleaned the room above the garage and put up the tree. I went to visit Dad and dropped off some flowers my husband got for my mother.

Came back to help supervise the tree decorating.

While decorating the tree there was still no fighting with the kids! This was truly a great day. We have a nice rhythm. I had out the ornaments and Dad helps hang them.
See doesn't it look nice all decorated!

And the kids are off to bed. We woke up to find there is no school today because of a snow storm so we made 5 layers bars which are now cooling. I am gonna log off then go pick up some friend for the kids to play with then I am off to play in my sewing room. Gonna finish something on my design wall today!

I'm thinking it is time to finish the one on the left. I am considering hand quilting this one. It is a special quilt as my friend Cheryl designed this one. Hope everyone had a great day!

Tis the Season

The holiday season has begun. And with it all the family traditions. Thanksgiving was done a little different this year. After having a turkey at my husbands parents house I headed over to my cousins house. It was wonderful. Everyone brought something(I made two desserts) We had two different kinds of turkey and all just relaxed. Trust me we needed that. The night ended over my uncles house for my Grandmothers Birthday. It really was a nice relaxing Thanksgiving.

A new tradition for ther last three years had been that on Saturday we load up the kids and Jim's best friend and his wife. We drive to NH and get a hotel room then the next morning we spend the day at Santa's Village. Everyone had a blast but I froze my bottom off and caught a nice cold which I am now nursing and constantly giving my husband dirty looks for. He is trying to tell me you can't catch a cold from being outside all day in the cold shivering.

The good news to this is my shopping is all done and so is most of my wrapping. I am getting so good at shopping I even bought some people the same present twice.Opps At least I still had the receipt and can return them.

Hope everyone is well and happy!

Zippers Part 2

Once all of the layers are zippered on add your batting and basted. Then stretch your top over and bast. You are now loaded and ready to quilt.
And then every quilters favorite saying quilt as desired.

And now you have a quilted top. The best part if you run out of thread or want to work on something else all you have to do is unzip.

Happy Quilting

Dawn-Marie

Zippers Part 1

As the saying goes"There is more than one way to skin a cat" Okay that is kind of a gross saying but the point is this is the way that I have done my zippers. I know there are probably others ways but this is the way that works for me.

You will need three sets of zippers. Then separate the zippers. At this point you will only be using the section that hast the metal pull tab. This part of the zipper will be sewed directly on to the leaders. I just pinned them on and then used the machine that is attached to sew them. Make sure that the zippers going on the leaders for the backing fabric have the tabs in opposite ends. This way if you have a directional border you can up zip and turn the quilt around and rezipp. If the two zippers are going in the same direction you will not be able to do this.



After the zippers are sewn on re zip the other end. Mark the middle. Go by the markings that should already be on your leader strip. DO NOT fold the zippers in half and assume that is your halfway point because it will not be. Also on the backing fabrics mark a and b to coincide with the zippers on the frame. This will ensure that your top is centered. If you do not do this you might think something is wrong when everything is all zipped and does not line up. I also not if fabric is right side up or wrong side up.
Now pin your quilt top to the correct zippers. this is the best part. You can be sing this in your favorite chair. Watching your favorite movie or just hanging out with family. You will only pin one side of your top and both sides of your backing. Make sure to find your center of your fabric first then line up the center of the fabric to the center mark of the zipper. Start pinning from the center out. So this for all three zippers.

Now zipper to the leaders in the same order as you would have pinned them.

Back from Nashua

I am back. Well okay I have been back since Monday afternoon but this is my first chance to write. As you can see above I behaved myself. Well I almost behaved myself. Okay I had tons of fun NOT behaving myself but I can tell you my friend Melissa pile is twice as big as mine.

My sides are still hurting from all of the laughter and fun that was had. I got even more sewing done than I thought and show and tell with the gang was even better than looking at the quilts at the show.

I have to say out of all the quilting trips that I go on this is my favorite. Not because of the quilts but because of the friends that show up!

I can't wait to start playing with these fabrics. The orientals are going to be the first ones I work on as soon as I finish the challenge quilt. I might have a change of plans on that quilt though. I pulled out a UFO that was designed by my friend Howdy and am thinking that this should be the quilt that I enter or maybe I will enter two. Hmmm time will tell.

Dawn-Marie

A little of this a little of that

We have a rule in our family. No buying anything in the couple of months before Christmas. Well it seems my husband doesn't quite like this rule because he came home with this little four wheeler for the kids. With two more on order! Now the kids can all go four wheeling with him. I am thinking this would have made great Christmas gifts. Heck we wouldn't have had to buy them anything else if they had these under the tree. Hmmm I better have one good gift under the tree for me for me.

My dear, dear friend Neen came over the other night to finish up her guild quilt. Here she is hard at work on the "Queen Neener" Yup I named it after her. She wouldn't let me get to close with the camera cause she didn't do her hair. Look at the concentration in her eyes. That quilt is going to keep some cancer patients nice and warm during their chemo appointments.

And this is what I got accomplished while she was here. It doesn't look like much but trust me that is good for me. On the right is a scrappy binding. this is my new passions to use the left over fabric for scrappy bindings instead of finding one big piece of fabric. It is now attached to the quilt and ready to stitch down which I will do in Nashua. The rest is the start of the Challenge quilt(see Teri I started it)

I have to get packed to go to Nashua tomorrow but first I get to go over to Neens house tonight for dinner then I get to go to her guild meeting. I am very VERY excited. I have never been to a guild meeting before! I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas!

But (sigh) before I get to do any of this I need to pick the kids up early for school to take them to get our flu shots. I am glad my kids are good at getting these. They actually reminded me that they needed them.

Have a great weekend!

Dawn-Marie

A Shiver Went down my Spine

Today while cooking my kids breakfast my gabber asked me if Annabelle Lee was a real person. Of course I had no clue as to what she was talking about. They often spring these types of questions on me without giving me the background information. They just let the question hang like I should have been reading their minds to know where the questions come from. She informed me it was a poem and then started reading.

When she started reading I think I stopped breathing for a second and slightly burnt the eggs.Opps. The poem was an Edger Allen Poe poem. It was a poem that I loved so much as a young girl that I used to have it memorized. To hear my darling daughter reading this very same poem to me just filled me with such joy and at the same time just a touch of sadness. I watched years just slip away as I watched myself reading this poem. In a second she brought me back to my youth and the simple joys that just reading a poem could bring to me.

My daughter looked a little shocked as I started saying the poem with her. She could not believe that I knew the words without looking. and I could not believe with all the books and poems out there she would pick my favorite poem to read to me. I do believe there is a little of me in her. These are the moments that are meant to be cherished.

Tagged again

Okay Giz I can be a good sport again so here goes.

4 Jobs: Making beds and working in a kitchen at a nursing home, Working in the accounting dept at a bank, cutting hair, managing a construction insp company.

4 Films I could watch over and over: Emma, My Fair Lady, Pride & Prejudice, Gigi

4 TV Shows I watch: CSI; The Biggest Loser, Dancing with the Stars

4 Places I've Lived: Portland,Maine Westbrook, Maine

4 Favorite Foods: Italian Bread, Spaghetti Pie, Stuffed Artichokes,Fresh Maine Crabs

4 Favorite Colors: Purple, Blue, Red

4 Places I would like to be right now: Retreat with friends; Home Sewing; Someplace warm; Home reading to the kids

4 Names I love, but could not use on my children: Sasha(already used it on my cat when I was younger), Emily Victoria, Andrew John

4 People I would love to tag: I don't know enough bloggers they have already been tagged by Howdy.

10-20-30

Okay Giz your wish is my command. Sorry the picture is so old but it is the only one I could find on the computer. Here is a picture of me and my husband Jim.

Ten years ago I got married. Yep ten years ago this month as a matter of fact. We got married in Vegas. My parents his parents my best friend and a few others were all there. It was a lot of fun.

Twenty years ago I was a sophomore in high school. I can't think of anything special for 20. Now 21 years ago I got my license and a job and a car. And 19 years ago I fell in love for the first time.

And Thirty years ago I was starting first grade. I loved first grade I had the best teacher ever. I guess that would be a big change in my life but can't remember much about it.

That s about it. It is fun reading all of these. Now to see if I can do the link. http://relevantblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/10-20-30-let-virus-begin.html

Dawn-Marie

Pumpkinland

It's that time of year to get ready for the fall and of course Halloween. The kids really wanted their pumpkins. Can we just drive up to the local Hannafords and get some nice cheep pumpkins? Oh no not with these kids. You just gotta get your pumpkins at pumpkinland. The drive was nice and the weather was perfect. Nana came with us. Usually Nana goes and mommy gets to stay home but she lost her helpers this year. Here they are getting ready to go into the cornfield to ge tthe pumpkins. We have my son the whirlwind , Nana, my daughter sunshine, my daughter our gabber and our cousin .

Once you are in the corn field then the hunt is on for the perfect pumpkin. With so many to choose from this could take a while. With the weather being nice and warm there is no need to rush except that the tractor will take off without you if you don't get back on before they leave.

Oh the joy of the perfect pumpkin. You get so proud you would almost think that you have grown it yourself. And the dreams of just how you are going to cut them up so that they will look nice and scarey.

Now that everyone has their pumpkin it is time to head back out of the fields load the pumpkins into the van and then go and enjoy the rest of pumpkin land. There is still so much to see. Getting lost in the corn maze is always fun and then the BIG slide. The kids really enjoyed the pig races. And just in case you think I am not really at all of these trips here is a picture that I actually made it into.I am hoping for a nice relaxing stay at home weekend this weekend. Who knows maybe we might even get the pumpkins cut.

Party by the Fire

Another busy weekend. It was a long weekend and to keep the kids from diving me up the wall I let them have friends over a couple of different nights. One friend is real shy and wouldn't come over with out his mother. Not a problem as far as I was concerned his Mom wanted to make a quilt. So the kids had fun and the mother and I played as well. I got the border and the quilting done on the cancer quilt and am now sewing down the binding. I hope to have it done by this coming weekend and get it to its new owner.

Here is a closeup of the quilting. I only get to use my machine maybe 6 or 7 times a year if I am lucky so I don't get much practice on it.
The next night my girls had three friends over and James had another friend over for a sleep over. They were all real good. I managed to get the binding finished on Kayla's quilt which I started years ago in Vermont. It is washed dried and has already been used.

I am so happy to have these off my UFO list. I am now motivated to get a few more tops done. I do have one that I have to start as a friend challenged me to make a quilt and enter it in a show. Got to think about getting that one started before she starts cracking the whip. Will have to wait a few more days though because I have a major test this Friday that I have to study for.

I hope all is well with everyone out there.

Dawn-Marie

Our Weekends

It is that time of year for kids sports. While I tried real hard to get the kids to all do the same thing on the same day it just didn't happen. the girls really wanted Field Hockey and while our whirlwind would have played Field Hockey in our area it is a girls sport so he decided he was just as excited to play soccer. Of course Field Hockey is Saturday mornings and Soccer is Sunday afternoons. I always feel like hmmm am I suppose to be somewhere right now.

The kids are really enjoying their sports. Iur whirlwind stopped three goals last Sunday. He really enjoys being in the goal. Doesn't really care for offensive. Says he has to be around the ball to much.LOL Here he is saving the ball. They have won both games so far. I don't think the kids even realize that at the moment. They are all just having fun playing.

The girls are doing real good at Field Hockey as well. They won't play any games this year. This year is all about learning technique. Dad brought the wrong camera so their pictures are kinda far away. Can you see our vet scoping our artist out. I can see her thinking hmmm I know I can steal that ball.I have been trying to finish up the cancer quilt. Haven't had much time between work, kids, their sports and my school. I hope to get some work done on the quilt this weekend. Will post a pic as soon as the top is complete.

Girls are real excited I am taking them to see "So You Think You Can Dance" at the Civic Center tonight. I sure hope we have good seats. Jim is gonna let our whirlwind pick out something special that they can do together tonight as well. I need a nice relaxing even. That is if I can forget about my three page paper and 3 minute sign video do on Friday.ARG!

Till next time,

Dawn-Marie

If it's not one thing

All the kids are finally getting better from this nasty virus that has been going around. Our whirlwind just has two more days of meds and the girls are off their meds. Phew but know it is off to the vets for poor Spotty. The vet visit will cost more than it did to buy the hamster. The vets doesn't like to hold hamsters so it is kinda funny watching him when they have to go in. Poor Spotty has something wrong with his ear. Not sure they can help but gotta at least try.

Today was school picture day. The morning started out smooth enough until our artist decided she wanted to do her own hair. I wanted to let her but after a couple of her "NEW" looks we had to agree to disagree and it was either let Mommy do your hair or Mommy is not going to pay for the pictures. Of course we will see if she changes her hair when she gets to school. Our vet just put on a head band and was good to go.

Both girls have decided to run for student council and were typing their speeches last night. I was so proud when I read them. They both stated that if they did not win the would give who ever did win their full support. Such good sportsmanship. Here is hoping they do win though.

Dawn-Marie

Now What to do with them

It is that time of the year. Time for picking Apples. My cousin Eric called and was taking the family did we want to go to. Silly question. So we loaded up the children and headed off to find the orchard. After only a couple of wrong turns we made it there. After paying and playing a little we got to picking. But of course got to teach the little cousin how to teeter totter first.

Got a ride to the good apples. Not sure what Daddy was doing but by the looks of it Daddy was not behaving himself. Oh well what else is new.

It didn't take the kids long to figure out that the best apples are at the top of the tree. That is were the little hands can't get their hands on them. I have to admit some of the apples even made it into the bag although I think more went into the bellies than into the bags.

Now the fun is over and a have made quite a few apple bakes so now what on earth do I do with all the left over apples. I hate to think of them spoiling but am getting tired of making apple bakes. Anyone got any good apple recipes?

Busy Busy Busy

School has started and things have started off with a bang. The girls are signed up for cake decorating, girl scouts and field hockey. our whirlwind is signed up for boy scouts and soccer and we already have three birthday party invitations. Yikes!!!! I sooo needed the long weekend I took last week. My friend Neen and I went to NH to pick up our friend Melissa and then off to Pennsylvania to stay at Neens sisters house for a quilt show and just some great time gabbing. Got to finally watch "Wild Hogs" What a great show.

Came home late Monday night and had to bake three cakes and 9 batches of frosting. It was worth it the girls had a blast at their class. Our vet decorated the ballet slippers and our artist did the flower. I already had them wrapped up before I remembered to take the picture. Opps

Sure wish I had my camera with me this morning. I came upstairs after I got home from the gym to find our whirlwind pushing one of his Thomas Trains around and sitting as one of the passengers was his hamster Spotty.LOL It was so cute. Spotty was quite content to sit and enjoy the ride. By the time I got a camera Spotty decided he was done riding.

Class for me tonight then Field Hocky in the morning. I will try to remeber my camera.

Sorry about the picture layout. Can't figure out how to get them in a nice order. Well summer is almost over and it is the first day of school. Can't you see how happy they are to go back. They miss seeing all of their friends. This should last for about a week before they are ready for school to end.LOL They went to their open houses yesterday and were able to meet their teachers. I am really please with all the teachers that were picked for them this year. I think it will be a great school year. James is a little nervous about the fact that this is the year when he starts to really get homework. I think he will do great though.

I went to NH Friday night for a Friday Frenzy. It was so much fun!!! Melissa and AnnieK were there as well and of course Sue who owns The Quilt Patch. I was going to be good and not buy anything. sometimes it is just so hard to be good. But I sure am gonna have fun with those fabrics. Not sure how they all ended up in my hands. Picture decided it wanted to go above.

It was nice to come home to the family though and look was was blooming when I got home.Hmmm not sure why the pictures won't go where I want but isn't that a pretty rose bush.

Hope everyone has a great week.

Dawn-Marie

Looking for a good read

I am very excited about this new book coming out. Just had to order one already. This book is written by a friend of ours. I am so excited for him. Hmmm he has one character in this book Detective Jim with a wife Dawn and 3 kids. Boy that sounds familar.LOL I think the next book the lead character is Detective Jim. Can't wait to get my copy and start reading.

http://chuckigo.com/

Dawn-Marie

Time for myself

No pictures today but hopefully soon. I spent the night working on the cancer quilt. I have the top all complete minus the two borders.(Thank You Neen for mailing me my missing blocks) I really like how it is coming out. I might just make this quilt again. As soon as the borders are on I will post a picture.

I also spent some time working on my Black White and Ugly. I am hoping to have that top done in time for show and tell in Pennsylvania. I am so excited for this trip! There will be no sewing tonight. I have to go to the gym after work then off to take the kids to the movies to see "Hairspray"

Dawn-Marie

A Full Weekend

Whew I need a few days off to recover from such a full weekend. Friday after work I rushed home to make my little cousin Gracie her Birthday cake which is above. Then off to dinner and a movie with my cousin Jodi. My kids were all having "High School Musical 2" sleep overs. We saw Stardust and it was a great movie! I will be buying that when it comes out on DVD.

Gracies party Saturday then I was off to spend the rest of the weekend with my friend Neen and got to meet a new friend Teri. I have known her for a while in cyberland but this is the first timeI have had the pleasure of meeting her in 3d. I got a lot of sewing done which I am very happy about. I am making a quilt for a friend with cancer and want to get it to her soon. Her daughter use to babysit for us all the time. I will post a pic when the top is done.

I have been given a challenge by Teri to make and enter a quilt in the Maine show. Think I know what I will make but am pretty sure I am not anywhere near show level. She seems like a pretty good task master and will keep me on schedule.

Dawn-Marie