The List

I need to stay focused to get a few things accomplished this weekend. Of course I need to work on the Purina quilt. I am actually having a little fun with it now now that the jeans are worked out. Mason walked through the room last night and saw all shirts cut in strips. He warned me I was going to be in trouble when Rex finds out what I did to his shirts. Why does everyone keep telling me that?

This is the short list of what I really should work on:
Purina Quilt
Craft for a Craft swap for Swapbot (thinking a tote and small matching bag)
Plaid Quilt
Zipper Critter

I have some ideas for bibs and appliques, I was trying to come up with simple shapes that even I could handle. Maybe I can find some time to play around with these ideas.
Monkey Duck Fish
Lion Bear Dog
Cat Pig Frog
Lady Bug Bee Rocket
Pirate Rabbit Butterfly
Cupcake Strawberry Monster

And last weekend I bought all the hardware to completely redo Mason's closet. He said he would help me this weekend. Tiny closet so we should be able to accomplish it in a couple of hours. Closetmaid has a great design tool on their website that will give you a complete parts list. I first used it when I redid the pantry last year.

Last but not least I want to make a flash diffuser. Odd little project, I will have to let you know how that one goes.

Working on the Fly

Working with blue jeans is not as easy as it may appear. The waist band on jeans is actually curved when you lay it out flat. Instead of fighting it any more I am going to work with it. Laying out the jeans on top of the fabric from one of the legs and sewing it down. Then I will cut the size and shape I need. Why didn't I think of this a week ago.

It is very important to have the zippered fly as of the pants so they can be opened to show a little but of the Purina checkerboard "boxers" on the inside. I can't take credit for the idea. My mother is totally responsible for it. I confess that now so when Rex sees it I am not to blame.

I do have a bit of concern about balancing the weight on this quilt. The Purina shirts are pretty thin after decades in the laundry. The denim is heavy, I am hoping I can put the denim more towards the center and bottom of the quilt so it lays better across his lap. We will see how that works out. Now that I think about it, I guess the fly part of the pants needs to be in the middle. I am going to get in so much trouble for this quilt.

Just A Little

Just a little shopping today. I am not sure if I like the middle ones that are half black, half white. They might not make the cut. I know I already have a black with white polka dota but this is a smaller dot. I steered clear of the florals, just wasn't what I was looking for. I think I need a couple more black with white

and then I can work on picking my color.

Work Has Resumed

Work on the Purina quilt has resumed. The plan in my head has changed a little bit from my initial design.

I am thinking more of a checkerboard stripe between the rows. Partly to add some length to the quilt. Rex is a tall guy.

I am loving the checkerboard fabric. Should get a little more sewn tonight after work. The blue jeans are trying to get the best of me so there is no photo of them yet.

I picked up some minky fabric in the remnant section yesterday. Almost a full yard of minky for $3. Not a bad find. The green was a nice cotton print, half yard for $1.

And then I splurged. I am back to collecting black with white prints. Not to be confused with white with black prints. I just love the look of black prints with a bright color. I have a project in my head but need to collect several more prints before I attempt that.

Now I just need to make a list to work on this weekend so I can be super productive. I think my attention deficit is kicking in again.

Need More Time

Mason's wound is not healing the way it should, they are putting silver nitrate on it in hopes it will close up. We spent most of last week running between doctors appointments trying to get him healed enough for school to start. I am thrilled to say he made it through the first day of school yesterday without incident, although the wound is still trying to heal. But it isn't looking real promising that they got all of the cyst during the first surgery 9 weeks ago. Running between the appointment will stopped off at the book store to pick up reading for the waiting rooms. Mason got gamer magazines and I got quilting magazines... big surprise, huh?

And look what I found inside directions to make a laptop sleeve. How funny is that. Of course I like my version better. I really do need to make a couple more of these. Guess I will read their directions and see if I can incorporate anything into mine that makes it easier.

There was also an article about making tote bags using trims. Another thing that I can add to my list of projects. And look what Diane emailed me, a tutorial on making the raggedy edge bags. How awesome is that. I mentioned it to Kim last night and she is already picking out colors for her new bag. Just not enough hours in the day. Wonder if my husband would let me quit my real job, stay at home and sew all day.

Purchase for the Pattern

I am glad to finally get the kids back on a regular schedule. School started today. The tax free weekend took up most of my spare time the past few days. Kim is really into plaids this year. Most of the clothes bought were plaid. Then we ran into this bag while out shopping.

Normally I wouldn't buy one but I figured it is no different than spending money on a pattern. Kim is interested in making some for herself and friends to use for school. It is just the right size to put a couple notebooks into. Not sure I really like the raggedy detail on the bag and it probably won't hold up. It is lined with that cheap plastic lining. At least I have something to pattern off that I know she likes.

And I did start cutting on the Purina quilt. Now that was stressful. To know these shirts have been around for a couple decades and couldn't be replaced. More photos coming soon when I get a chance to work on it.

Plaids

Several months ago I won a give away on a blog. Not only did she send me a fabulous embroidered wall hanging she sent a stack of plaid fabrics in different sizes and shapes. I finally pieced them together. For some reason these just scream (maybe holler is a better word) cowboy to me. I am thinking about cowboy boots or a hat appliqued in the middle. It will be a little while before I work on this again. Kids start school on Monday and I am excited about working on the Purina quilt. My mom gave me some creative ideas that I can't wait to incorporate into the quilt. So between another doctors appointment and school clothes shopping the Purina quilt should come together.

Terry's Treasures Blogiversary Giveaway

I am becoming more mezmorized by incorporating embroidery with quilting. Terry has a great give away on her blog for her blogiversary. Go check it out you won't be disappointed. Of course these are my favorite patterns. Now just to find an extra 20 hours a day to sew.

Very Refreshing

I have had a few less than great swaps from swapbot. But every now and then I get a fabulous swapper than understands.

The swap was a color themed pink and green. See the embroidered flip flops? Those are on some great dishtowels. I might even be able to get Kim to do dishes with those. A journal, tissues, tissue holder, fabric, lace, vintage hankies... not one but three and more fabric, some of it even has lady bugs on it. She followed the rules of the swap, she notified me when she was late. She read my profile. Very refreshing, it really made my day.

There might be some bad news in this swap... I might have to start collecting vintage hankies. They are so adorable and really brought me back to my childhood.

Funny How That Works

We moved Mason into his "apartment" bedroom on the main floor of our house over the weekend. His room looks great. If he wasn't laying in his bed this morning I would show you a photo of it. We even moved in the loveseat recliner in there for him. Of course he just loves it. He moved into the smallest bedroom in the house and now has 1/4 of the closet space he had before so everything he didn't need or want is now scattered all over the house. Funny how it works that way. My craft room looks like a fabric bomb blew up in there. I sewed for about 30 minutes Friday night and haven't touched the machine since.

I did find these cute little guys during the room shuffle over the weekend. I had made a friend at work a dozen bibs for her little guy but ran out of snaps. This got tucked away in a box about 10 months ago.

I have a couple days of vacation that I will lose if I don't take soon. I am thinking about taking at least one day off this week just to give the house some needed attention.