Swap box from heaven

I think I'm going to try and let the pictures speak for themselves.  This was my swap box from Christine for June's ALFALC swap.  You are supposed to include 3 fat quarters, some chocolate, and some sewing notions.  Since we are Flickr friends, I knew we would both go a little overboard.  She was the recipient of my sewing machine cover along with some other goodies.  She sent me the mother of all swap boxes.  I am so overwhelmed and so grateful. 

Getting close!

I'm making progress on my New Wave quilt in between working on swap packages. I really like how this is turning out! I hope it will be big enough! I added two more rows and three columns to the original pattern, but I'm still a bit nervous. My cousin wanted a longer blanket since he is really tall and he wanted it to be able to cover both him and his future wife when they sit on the couch. After I get the top together I'll measure and see if I need to add a border or something.

Kicking Trudy's Arse and a Neptune Giveaway!

A Flickr peep needs some help making blocks for a very worthy project.  Please check out her blog for details.  She will be adding a new post soon about the awesome giveaways you can win if you help!  I have donated a NEPTUNE Honey Bun for the cause.  Please, if you sew, take the time to read this story and help if you can.  You can check out the blocks made so far here.

Redemption....maybe?

I still have to stitch the appliques down, but this is my other block(s) for Natalia.  I haven't determined whether I will make one giant block or not.  I'm leaning toward leaving them separate so she can disperse the words throughout the quilt, but I'm waiting to make a final decision after I'm done stitching.  She says she doesn't care so the burden is on me. :)  Hopefully these will make up for the Plain Jane pinwheel block I made!

Another crazy week

My sister-in-law was visiting this week.  This is the first time we've ever been alone together for more than a couple of hours so we were both......um, curious as to how it would go.  Let me just say, we had a FABULOUS time!  Go figure!  It wasn't super exciting, but we ate a lot of great meals, she helped out with the kids, we stayed busy, and we got to know each other a bit better.  Roarke had both dinosaur camp (9am-1pm) and swim lessons (6pm-7pm) this week so we were on the go quite a bit!

We tried to go for a walk down my little town's Main Street and have a picnic, but Cian was like an overcooked Butterball turkey--hot, sweaty, and done!  He even managed to barf all over Aunt Raven--something I found pretty funny since it was happening to someone else for a change.  We did manage a few good meals:  Artichoke-Pepper Pasta, Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Korma, Curry Chicken and Bacon Sandwiches, and Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese.  The mac and cheese was AMAZING!  If anyone wants the recipe, just leave a comment and I'll email it.  It was the most yummy thing ever!  Three kinds of cheese--you can't go wrong! 

After the kids were down for the night we would have a glass of wine and talk or watch a movie.  It was great to have some girl time!  Oh!  We also got pedicures!  My hubby surprised me this week with an awesome new pair of shoes that he picked out all by himself.  I would post a picture, but I was getting some strange comments from weirdos on Flickr so I'll refrain.

I sadly took Aunt Raven to the airport today.  Her flight was pretty close to the time Roarke had swim lessons, so I figured I would stay in that part of town since it takes 30 minutes to go back home (I didn't want to have to turn around and come right back the same way).  I had to kill two hours so I went to Target to stock up on baby food and was planning on going to the grocery store on base, but I took too long browsing at Target--figures!  I decided to go to the on base food court for dinner then go to swim lessons.  I realize after I leave Target that I have forgotten Roarke's swim trunks.  Great.  We have 4 pairs of swim trunks in his current size already and now I have to buy another!  We just sit down to dinner when Roarke exclaims he has to go potty.  Geez.  I have two trays filled with food and I'm in the process of trying to feed Cian so he'll stop the audio onslaught he's been treating me too the past 30 minutes.  I hoover my food while I try to encourage Cian to do the same, scoop up all of Roarke's uneaten pizza and juice and make a mad dash to the bathroom.  I was planning on sitting back down to let everyone finish eating, but I realize the BX (military department store) was about to close and I still hadn't bought his trunks.  We race in (of course toddler boys clothes are in the VERY back) where, thankfully, they are all marked down 50%.  After our purchase we need to get going so I put dinner on hold.  We run out to the car where I strip Roarke down and put his trunks on and hop back in the car to race to the pool. (insert loud clap of thunder and lightning).  Lovely. We drive back home in a torrential downpour.  When we pull into the driveway I find my garage remote no longer works and I have to jump out to use the key pad.  Great. 

It's good to know things go back to normal so quickly after a house guest leaves. :)

Little to say craft-wise.  Tried working on my block for my Christmas bee.  I'm supposed to do a pinwheel and then another of my choice.  I tried to do the pinwheel, but I've ripped it up three times because I can't get the points to meet precisely right!  Arrrrrrr!  If anyone has a good tutorial or tips on this, let me know!  I think I'm going to work on the block of my own design and take a breather from the pinwheel!

Update:  I finished my pinwheel, though I "dumbed" it down a bit.  I had a more elaborate plan, but I've discovered pinwheels aren't my thing so I made a more simple block.  I must pull out my A game to redeem myself on my second block!

Projects and stuff

I'm working on a New Wave quilt (Oh Fransson) for my cousin who is getting married this fall.  His fiancee told me their living room is decorated with lime and orange accents so I liked this bundle of fabrics.  I can't decide whether I should leave them in color grouping like the picture, or to mix them up.  Thoughts?

I made this sewing machine cover for my Flickr friend, Christine for June's ALFALC swap.  It was a lot of fun--mostly because I just made it up as I went and I got to use some truly excellent Heather Ross fabrics that I knew she would love.  I really should try and venture out more on my own.  I always seem happier with the things I create versus following someone else's instructions (mainly because mine never looks as good as the original!)

Check out the awesome mini quilt Amy made for me, just because! She had been working on a larger version for our Modern Swap group and I was just nuts for it so she made me a mini version. I ♥ Amy! The back is so fantastic too! I need some way to display both sides at the same time. By the way, that AMH voile is soooooooo soft! Yummy!

Three year old quote for the day:  Roarke is sitting in his chair eating dinner while I'm getting my fork so I can sit too.  He asks, "Mama, I need some chocolate milk, please."  It's right over there I point to where I set his glass.  "Well, why don't you bring it to me."  This last bit is said in such an exasperated tone.  Like "Duh, Mom!"  I was pretty appalled at his tone and made him rephrase that statement to include some kind words, but I did think it was rather funny.

AND THE WINNER IS.............

Number 16.........Karen of badlandquilts!  Congrats Karen!  I'll be sending you an email shortly.  Thanks to everyone for stopping by and entering!

I'm really glad I didn't have to choose because two of you wanted this for a kid's quilt and I'm a sucker for the kiddos.

I will be having a Neptune GIVEAWAY in August or September so stay tuned!  I still haven't figured out what I'm going to do, but it may involve giving away a honeybun.  Can you all hear that?  That's the sound of my husband yelling at me from Iraq "Don't giveaway fabric!  Sell it!"  Ha ha ha!  Now you need to imagine me blowing a big raspberry.  Am I mature or what?

Last Chance!

Today is the last day to comment for a chance to buy the Neptune Jelly Roll!  See my earlier post for details.  Just a friendly reminder!

My 4th of July Disaster

Never let it be said that I don't have a sense of humor, especially about myself.  I am about to share one of the most humiliating yet hysterical experiences of my life with the world---well, the blogging world.  (Deep breath).  Are you ready?  Do you have some tissues handy?  You'll be crying with laughter in a few minutes.....

My in-laws are visiting over the holiday weekend and graciously offered to watch the boys so I could go do whatever I wanted.  I've really been wanting to see Eclipse so I jumped at the chance to go.  I've never been to a movie by myself, but, frankly, being home alone with the kids so much since Chad's away, I was looking forward to some kid-free time.  So I go to movie and had an enjoyable two hours in the dark with Taylor and Rob.  As I'm walking out the door I'm fishing around for my keys.  My purse is monstrous so it usually takes me a while.  Actually, I'm surprised the keys weren't in my pocket.  I usually keep them there so I'm not forever rummaging around in the abyss.  I'm standing in the middle of the parking lot still looking.  They aren't there.  My keys are not in my purse.  I feel around my backside and pockets again.  Nope.  Not there.  I walk back to the ticket booth and ask if anyone has turned in keys.  Nope.  I start walking back out to where I parked again thinking that they must be in my purse and I'll just find them when I get to the car.  Where is my car?  Shit.  Yes, I cursed.  Where is my freaking car?!?!?!?!?!?!?  It's gone.  My car has been stolen while I was taking a two hour mommy hiatus.  What are the odds?

I'm starting to breathe rapidly.  I simply cannot believe this.  I stumble back into the movie theater where the employees have gotten the manager.  I sink to my knees, literally.  I'm in totally shock.  This can't be happening.  The manager asks if I'm sure.  "YES!"  I tell him.  I'm positive.  I don't have my keys and my car isn't out there.  "Could someone be playing a joke on you?" he asks.  I begin to cry.  "I don't know anyone here!" I wail.  Then it gets really bad.  I start sobbing uncontrollably.  "Who would do this?  Who would take a car with my babies' seats?  What am I going to do?"  Keep in mind these questions are barely understandable since I'm crying so ardently.  A crowd gathers.  Two lovely ladies console me while the manager calls the police and gives them the description of my car that I somehow manage to sob out.  I call my in-laws to tell them what happened and that I may be late.  My FIL is going to come up and wait with me.  I have completely lost it by now.  I'm having a total breakdown in front of about 20 people.  Truly, I don't know what I'm going to do.  After all the phone calls have been made and we're waiting for the police and my FIL to arrive, I'm still wailing about my kids' car seats--really, this is my main concern, more than the car itself--a man comes in from the parking lot and says, "You have a black CRV, right?"  Yes, yes, I do.  He repeats my license plate number.  Uh-huh, that's right.  "It's parked right there." he says as he points to my car, plainly visible in the parking lot.

OH.MY.GOD.

I hug him immediately then dissolve into laughter and cry "But I still can't find my keys!" 

The story ends with lots of laughter (from everyone including myself) and embarrassment (all me).  I eventually find my keys on the floor of the theater.  My only defense about not seeing my car is that I knew I had parked next to the last handicapped space.  What I didn't realize was that there were four rows that had handicapped spaces.  When I walked out of the theater, I was looking only at the first row.  I will never live this down.  Ever.  It was so funny, I really don't care how much ridicule I have to endure. 

Though I'm not sure if I can ever show my face at that movie theater again.

Neptune Jelly Purchase-a-way

Alrighty. It was hard not to swap this because I had a truly awesome offer, but I resisted, barely. I am offering a chance to purchase this totally awesome Neptune Jelly Roll ($35 plus $4.75 shipping). All you have to do is leave a comment and Mr. Random Number generator will pick who "wins". You have until July 9th to comment.  Obviously, I can't make you purchase this, so if the winner changes their mind I will have another random number selected. Only one comment per person and please make sure I have a way of contacting you. You will only have two days after I contact you to respond. Good luck! TULA PINK ROCKS!

This contest has now ended.  Thanks to everyone who entered!

WHOOT WHOOT!!!!!!!!

Can you believe it? My LQS found more Neptune in the back. Not just any Neptune, jellyrolls and honeybuns! I'm thinking of doing a random drawing to see who gets to purchase one of these. I'm just selling them for normal cost plus shipping. I feel like the same few people email right away and get all the Neptune and other people are left sighing over the pictures days later. What do you think? Random? First come, first served? Ebay? I have to say I'm a little sick of eBay. I want this lovely Neptune to find a happy home and that doesn't necessarily mean the highest bidder. (I can see my hubby shaking his head in disappointment and telling me that I could make money to buy more fabric, but whatever. I'm kinda tired of the selling gig. It's my choice and as long as I get back what I spent he won't have a problem)

No, I'm not keeping all of these.  Most were already sold before I even picked them up from my LQS.  I'm keeping one of each--that's it!  I swear I'm not hoarding them!

Same old, same old

Yep.  Won a giveaway had a crazy crappy day.  Well, I'm not sure I can blame the giveaway this time since I won 3 days ago (Seriously, many thanks to Angela at Cut To Pieces for sharing her KJR scraps with me!).  Maybe I just have a weird life.  I was getting my kiddos ready to head out the door my plan was:  take my 3 year old to school, swing by the post office to drop off some things, drive to my not-quite-local quilting store 40 minutes away and drop off my sewing machine to be cleaned, then race back home to load my dog in the car for her vet appointment (oh, I forgot, I have to nurse the baby somewhere in there), then go pick up my 3 year old.  Easy peasy.  Well, normal at least.  This is how my day went instead:  get kids ready to go and just as we were about to leave my 3 year old says his tummy hurts.  I put him on the potty thinking he has to go.  Nope.  He instead projectile vomits all over me and my bare feet THREE times before my brain stops screaming "YUCKY!" and thinks to pick him up off the potty so he can throw up into it.  Too late.  He's done vomiting by that point.  Gross.  By the way, this whole time my baby is screaming downstairs because it's his nap time and he's not in his crib or car seat (the only acceptable places to nap).  I wipe everything off the floor, scoop up all the soiled clothes, rugs, and towels and throw them in the wash, and hand El Barfo a trash can with strict instructions to throw up in it if he feels sick before I come back upstairs.  I put the baby down for a nap in his crib since we are most certainly not going to school today and clean myself up.  We chill out for a while on the couch until it's time to take the dog to the vet------oh, he throws up 3 more times in the trash can.  Ewwwwww!  He looks green/blue/purple and his lips are white.  No Bueno!  Sigh.  I don't really want to cancel the vet because it's the appointment for my dog's sutures to be removed (she had a toe amputated due to infection).  I race to the vet and they speed me through there so they can get El Barfo out of their office---he barfs 2 times while we're there.  By this point I'm on the phone with my hubby's colleague (hubby is an ER doc for those who don't know) and am told that he needs some anti-nausea medication since he can't keep water down.  DUH!  So off to the ER I go.  By the time I get there it is pouring down rain.  Two kids, a stroller, an umbrella, a barf bag, a towel, a purse and my keys are my hand.  Where's my phone?  Oh, right, dropped in a big rain puddle.  Classic.  Did I mention he threw up twice in the car on the way there?  We spend 1.5 hours in the ER--this is quick for the ER. Hey, I'm not above pulling strings to get my kid seen ASAP, alright?  They give him some medicine and he starts to feel a bit better, but not before he barfs again.  Off to the pharmacy where they inform me they no longer carry this medication.  Great.  Like I want to drag this motley crew into Walgreens!  We go home.  Walgreens can wait since they gave me enough meds in the ER to get him to tomorrow.  El Barfo then sleeps for 3 hours, the baby sleeps nada.  Oh, did I mention that as I am typing this the baby barfed all down my shirt and into my bra?  Trying to be like big brother already.  How sweet.

Wanna see what my dog's foot looks like now? Don't look if you have a weak stomach.