Sassy a La Mode

Long time gone...

2007-05-30T20:00:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile, I know. I haven't really had time to do any crafting lately at all. There's literally not much interesting going on in my life right now. I can say I'm super excited that in just one week the hubby and I will be enjoying the lovely sounds of these ladies. We saw them on PBS this past Christmas and ever since then we've been hooked.
I definitely have a bunch of projects I really need to be working on, so, hopefully tomorrow i'll get a chance to sit at the sewing machine for a bit.

Out in the woods

2007-05-11T09:06:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a while since my last post. The hubby and I were away in Pennsylvania for a couple of days. Ever since I was a kid, my family has been very involved with living history reenactments and we had one this weekend. Just us, a tent, a campfire and friends and family for 4 days. Soooo relaxing and easy. Think of it as camping, just without ANY modern amenities. Of course, there was still time for the nephew to have a leisurely bath and I was able to sneak out my very modern camera.

I also had a ton of time to sit around and stitch on my grandmother's flower garden, which eventually, i'll post some pictures of. It's coming along very nicely I'd say.

I'm kind of sad we were out of town the same weekend the Queen was visiting. I had to turn down her invitation to tea and everything! I did have time before we left to finish up and mail my quilt blocks for this month's swap and Theresa has already received them, so I guess it's okay to post some pics. For the first time ever, I tried to embroider something. I think they turned out quite good. Her color scheme is red and white, which I had a ton of laying around, so it wasn't a problem. And this time, i also remembered to snap some photos. They make me want to do a red and white quilt!

On the block

2007-04-27T11:05:00.000-05:00

I joined a Quilt Block Swap a month ago. Yesterday I got my first swap blocks and how exciting! The cute little origami flowers are so intricate and beautiful. Su has some obvious talent, thanks for using it on me! I completely forgot to snap pics of the ones I sent her. I'll have to remember to do that this month.

A Day in the Sun

2007-04-25T10:02:00.000-05:00

How much do I love that first day at the beach each year when the weather gets warm. A whole lot! My sister and my nephew came for a visit this past weekend and it was pretty much 84 degrees all weekend. Monday we packed up some sammies and hit the beach. It was beautiful and breezy! Of course, this week, I'm sporting a fab farmer's tan because of it.

They came down from PA on Friday because we had tickets to a serious rock concert. The Doodlebops! As you can see, my nephew is a bit of a crazed fan! He's only 2, but man, that kid knows how to rock!

The rest of the weekend was spent at The Virginia Aquarium and Virginia Zoo. It was generally a fun-filled animal, sun, rock'n weekend. I hate that my sis and I live apart from each other. It kills me to not see my nephew growing up every day. Sigh.

Thrifty goodness

2007-04-17T10:51:00.000-05:00

Stopped by a local thrift store this morning just to browse and I found a great little Bermuda bag and a vintagy pillow case that I may have to think of something fun to do with. hmmm.

The outer part of the bag is attached to the wooden handles with small buttons. So I am now on a mission to figure out how it was made so I can make as many covers as I want for the same purse! Anyone know a pattern for this? Heck, I could even use the pillow case for a cute summery purse. I got both things for only $3!

Of course, I feel a little guilty being so excited over something today with such a tragedy only a couple hours away. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone at Virginia Tech and all the families affected by this horrific thing. I truly don't understand what would make a person want to do something like that to his college peers. Really, what is wrong with people?

Aprony Fun

2007-04-15T19:33:00.000-05:00

I've been promising the hubby I'd make him a grilling apron for just about forever now. He picked out the fabric months ago and I finally got to making it today with the Nor'easter keeping us indoors and in pj's all day long. I can't argue with that!

And yes, that is a half naked woman on a motorcycle there on the pocket. Here's a close-up in case you really need more. Hey, he likes it, and that's what really matters. But of course, I've got some hot girl on bikes fabric left over if anyone is interested. I simply cannot think of a single thing I would ever use the rest of it for. I also finished my log cabin quilt top this past week, just in time for class on Saturday. I'd show it to you, but then I might ruin a certain wedding surprise for someone, so, we'll keep that one under wraps for now.

HOPPY EASTER!

2007-04-10T11:17:00.000-05:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend. The past two weeks have been crazy for me. I decided that I had time for a part-time holiday job. I was the Easter Bunny at a local mall for two weeks. Do not ask me why I did this as I am still questioning my sanity. Although interestingly, I did learn a few things:

1. It is HOT in that suit!

2. I learned the wrong way to treat my future children by watching horrible parents toss their screaming and scared child on the bunny's lap so they could have one measley $18 photo.

3. It is HOT in that suit!

4. Some kids will do anything for a lollipop.

5. It is VERY HOT in that suit!

Regardless of the sweat and the fact that my face is now severely broken out, I have a few extra bucks and it's over now so...

This past weekend the hubby, the pooch and I hauled it up to Pennsylvania to my parent's house for the holiday. It was a nice time and we even got to see some snow. As my sister is the only person with a child under the age of 16, my nephew made a serious egg hunt hauling. We hid 65 eggs in the back yard. He was over it once he had found about 15.

A weekend away means laundry today. So I've got to go check on my next load. Later taters.

A WHOLE NEW BLOG STYLE FOR ME

2007-03-26T20:35:00.000-05:00

I was thinking that I didn't really like that whole brown thing I had going on. So this is new and refreshing. And also quite springy, which is good, considering it was a beautiful 76 degrees here in Norfolk, Va. today. There was even time for a trip to the dog park during which I was told by a fellow visitor that she was better than me because her dog was a rescue puppy from Katrina and it was obvious that my dog was a pure bred from a breeder. WTF?? Does it really matter? Apparently to some.
I haven't had much time for craftage lately. I better get my butt moving though, because I have a quilting class in 2 1/2 weeks and I am supposed to have a log cabin finished. oops. But I'm not trying to scare my Quilt Block Swap partner. Su, the blocks are done and will be in the mail tomorrow!

Tree troubles

2007-03-21T20:04:00.000-05:00

A note to all the pet toy makers out there. Why can't these things be slightly more durable? During a trip to PetsMart yesterday for the pooch's third, yes third toy of the same sort, we picked up a little something extra that he had grabbed and was dragging down the aisle. It's a plastic branch. And he really likes it.

The problem with said plastic branch is that it only really lasted a day. Case in point.

Can you see the hole? That is one of the little branchy nobules that he totally chewed right off. He is currently working on a second. It's frustrating to buy a toy for the kid and then have to sit and monitor him like a kindergarten recess aide while he plays with it. Grrr. What's a mom to do?

Konichi Wa!

2007-03-16T09:23:00.000-05:00

I finally have a moment to post after returning from Japan. The trip was wonderful. Except for that 14 hour flight. A big blargh on that! But I made it and I got to visit with a dear friend who I hadn't been able to see for at least a year and see some sights while I was there. By the way, they do not insulate their houses in Japan. Brrrr. But they do get three cheers from me on the heated toilet seats. Whoo hoo!

Of course, I did do plenty of shopping while there. We visited the Noritake factory and some other various pottery places. All of the pottery was breathtaking and much of it out of my budget. But I did buy lots of fabric, which is actually pretty inexpensive there. My favorite of all are these two. One is cats and one is dogs. They just make me smile. Here's the rest of it...

Can you see the little owls on the bottom one! Very cute! I do apologize for the crappy pictures. There is absolutely no sunlight coming into the house today. Rain Rain Rain and more Rain. blah.

Anyway, while I was in Japan I celebrated my birthday. The big 30. Oh well, I guess we all have to grow up sometime. But, upon my return I was greeted with a super cool present from my hubby. He built me this while I was gone! A design wall! yippee! It's pretty big actually, but it's really a great thing! I definitely had no idea he was going to do this. When I had gone to the quilt show I came home talking about them and how it would be nice to have one. I guess he just took that and ran...straight to Home Depot and the fabric store. What a guy! It's built pretty much into the wall, but he assured me it can come down if/when we move. Rock on!

Another one down...

2007-02-26T13:57:00.000-05:00

I finished my second quilt this weekend. I am really loving this one. I fell in love with the fabric and I think it just set off really nicely against the different white tone on tone's that I used. Just a simple Irish Chain, but i'm still learning.

I'm leaving on Friday to head to Japan, sans DH, for a week with my favorite gal and her son whom I have not met yet as he was just born in August. I'm excited to go but am not thoroughly ecstatic about the 14 hour plane ride. And that's only one flight out of the three it will take me to get there. I was trying to think of something I can do with all that time, other than watch dvd's and drink (did you know alcohol is free on international flights?!), and I'm seriously thinking about trying to start a Grandmother's Flower Garden with paper piecing. It can't be that difficult can it? Although paper piecing when trying to be drunk and sleep through the flight could prove hard. Hmmm.

Also, the quilt show this past weekend was AMAZING! I totally dragged along a friend from work who, hopefully, enjoyed it as much as I did. There was some amazing talent present at this thing. And fabric, oh, the fabric. I wanted to buy it all, but only came home with a few fat quarters and a ton of ideas. I snapped a load of photos, but this quilt in particular really captured my attention and I want to share it. How does someone even go about starting to make a quilt like this. It's so intense! I wish I could show you the detail on this thing, it blows my mind. The colors are wonderful too!

Anyway, i've got a load of laundry, aka recently purchased fabric, in the washer, so i've got to go. Later taters.

Moving right along...

2007-02-21T21:43:00.000-05:00

And, we have photos! Of one small piece of said random squares sewn together from cardboard pattern. The whole thing is too huge for me to figure out how to photograph. It's about a king size or more. I just didn't know when to stop.

And also, of my very first "real" quilt top that I learned in my first class. We did rail fence and I found it pretty fun. I also figured out how to miter corners all on my own. Okay, i had some help from these gals. But anyway...

It's not much, I know, but it's mine and it's all done. I'm working on an Irish Chain pattern right now that we learned in our second class. I found some really amazing fabric for it and I am super excited to get it done.
I've been working on my master's degree, so tomorrow is a really long day for me, work 11-6, class 7-10. Boo hiss, I am sure I won't have time to finish it tomorrow. Looking forward to this weekend off to sew and visit the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival!

new to this

2007-02-20T13:21:00.000-05:00

I recently got way into a new hobby, quilting, which in turn got me way into reading about other people and their quilting. You see where this is going. So, now I'll be a quilter, although not a very good one yet, who blogs about it.

I've always sewn and I have, on occasion, sewn squares of fabric together which I cut out with a piece of cardboard as my template. But I've been taking a class, and now I kind of know what I'm doing with the whole cutting up fabric and putting it back together thing.

I've finished just one top and i'm hard at work finishing up a second. I've been to the fabric store one too many times in the past week, but i guess that's okay. It's for the sake of the stash, right?