I'm BBBBAAACCCKKK!!!! Yay!

I am finally able to start sewing, quilting, and crafting again. It is only a little at a time, but I am *sew* happy to be able to get back to it. I doubt there will be much said on here, but I may post pictures of my projects when time permits. I cannot seem to get into things like Instagram and the like. Not that I am a writer but I want to actual chronicle my projects. I do not have a dedicated sewing room any longer. My oldest moved to New York and was married last year. My middle has turned 18 and is almost done with high school. It has been a very long time. I am still single, but have a job I love that allows me to work from home! It is the best thing that has happened to me since my divorce 10 years ago. It has been a struggle, but I have come through. It is a very modest life I live now, but I am finally at peace and happy again. Currently I am working on a baby boy quilt for a family member that is due in March!

Blue and white 9 patch and snowball

Well, that is what I have a terrible photo of at the moment. I hope that I can share more of my projects soon!

Happy stitching,

An update just for my sanity

I haven't been able to read blogs or do anything crafty for a year now. After my last post things got really ugly.

However, I have survived and am getting stronger daily. I am finally divorced. I have primary custody of my children. I found work, although it is a minimum wage job at a factory. I am very happy to have found anything. My living situation is scary. The marital home was awarded to me, but it is in foreclosure due to my not being able to pay the mortgage while unemployed. I have no idea what to do about that. I definitely do not make enough to make the payments anyway. My mother still lives with me but is herself unemployed now.

I had to sell my wonderful Designer SE with all the goodies I had for it to finance my divorce. I have a little mechanical machine (a Viking Emma) that does the work for mending and such. I hope to one day have a lovely embroidery machine again. I really miss crafting (and staying home with my kiddos).

The last few months have been an exercise in survival. Learning to work full time again with managing kids and a home. I seem to have no time for anything. However things are getting routine with me and the kids now, so I hope to start crafting again (especially on every other weekend when they are at their dad's).

Sunny

Gosh it's been a loooonnnngggg time....

Well, it seems that it has been some time since I was able to post last. Holidays are always hectic, but this past season was horrible. My life has changed dramatically. I am now divorcing and going to be a single mom. My hunt for employment has gotten nowhere. I am not sure I will get to blog ever again. I miss my hobbies terribly. I have no happiness in my life at the moment except for my two little ones who are still with me at the moment. I dread this, but I may have to sell my machines to pay for an attorney for the proceedings. I had to move away for several months. I am back home for now with my kids at my house. He has moved out for the time being. I am very depressed and trying to cope with all of this. Our 10 year anniversary was coming up in April. We have been together for almost 12. I am completely lost at the moment. I've given up my sewing room so that my mother could move in with me to help out for the time being. Please if anyone read my blog, pray for me and my children. I am scared out of my mind and not doing well.

Sunny

Some giveaways going on now....

As I was browsing around blog land today while the baby napped, I have found some more giveaways going on now.

Check out Michelle's! It's her birthday. What a great way to celebrate.

Also, check out Jane's A.R.K. Lovely stuff indeed.

Julie has reached her 100th post. She is giving away a package of "pink." I love it!

Elizabeth is giving away an absolutely stunning quilt! Check it out and sign up to win. I have added a banner in my sidebar to reach her giveaway quickly.

Happy Sewing,

And the winners are.....

It is time to pick the 3 lucky winners of my "Fall into Fall Quilter's Blog Giveaway!"

I put all 206 names (WOW that still knocks me off my seat!) into a hat and randomly pulled 3 names:

For prize #1: terry of Terry's Treasures!

For prize #2: tisme (Tammy) of tismetries!

For prize#3: sue of Quilting Chatter!

Congratulations ladies! Please send me your snail mail addy so I can get your goodies off to you.

Thank you everyone who left a comment. I appreciate all the kind words about my blog and my crafts. I am sorry that I was unable to answer everyone back personally. It has been a very hectic couple of weeks.

I have found myself babysitting for a coworker's of my husband's. Their care giver quit, and they needed someone right away. I have been in that situation before when my oldest was young, so I could not say no. She is a precious little darling. It is actually helping to cheer me up. I don't feel so useless now. My babies are growing up and do not need mommy so much anymore.

I plan to participate in Debi's (Quilting With Debi) Whirl Into Winter Quilt Blog Giveaway coming in January.

Happy Sewing,

Fall into Fall Giveaway!

ETA: The winners are Terry, Tammy and Sue.

I am happy to be participating in Fall into Fall Quilters Blog Giveaway being hosted by Debi from Quilting With Debi.

This is my very first giveaway. I am *sew* excited. So far there are 40 participants. Be sure to hop over and check out everyone's giveaways. Just click on the scarecrow in my sidebar to navigate there. By the way, Debi is giving away a prize to those who participate in this.

I could not decide what to giveaway, so I am having 3 prizes! All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post between now and October 14th. I will draw 3 names on the 15th. It is not necessary to have your own blog, but I must have your email address in the comments in order to notify the winners.

So without further ado, the goodies:

First up is the pocketbook I made with coordinating checkbook cover, zippered coin pouch, key ring and a nifty little notion from That Patchwork Place® called "Ruby Beholder."

Next up is an electric potpourri burner with ivy leaves, a grape smelling tart from Yankee Candle called Shiraz, and almost full yard of beautiful fabric with gold ivy leaves all over from Marcus Brothers. There is only a small rectangle cut out of the fabric as it was for a challenge in the quilt guild I use to belong too. The light is new, I did however take it out of the box and test it (and photographed it the other day).

Finally is a book of plastic templates for hand piecing called Best-Loved Quilt Patterns from Oxmoor House, a little fall fabric basket that I just finished, 4 fat quarters from an old collection called Morning Glory by Moda and a cute little composition book for your pocketbook. There are no instructions to the templates. My house flooded a few years back and the companion book that held all the color photos and instructions was totally ruined. I have decided I am not going to hand piece, so I cannot use these. The fat quarters are pre-washed as they are from my stash.

**Please forgive the dark photo quality. It has been overcast and gray here for days. Also, when I finished the little fabric basket it was already getting dark.

Good luck everyone and have fun!

Happy Sewing,

ETA: Please stop by Zana's Ninis. Her blog is very new, and she is participating in this "Fall into Fall" giveaway.

Also check out Quliter Going Bananas 100th post giveaway. Her prize is a mystery!

Hop over to Drucilla's Stitches for her Fall into Fall Giveaway.

Update (very pic heavy)

So I am still very down in the dumps. Other things keep happening to me that have just knocked me lower and lower. I am trying very hard to not fall into depression again. Last major episode had me away from my love of my crafting for almost 3 years. I am attempting to keep blogging to help hold my head up.

I found some pictures that I had meant to post about. Apparently, I forgot about posting. So, I am going to do an update on projects, share the stuff I have done (even if it was a little while back) and give a sneak peak at some of the stuff I am going to put in my giveaway.

First up is some totes I made a few months ago before I started blogging. I had purchased 2 kits from a local sewing machine shop. The pattern was called "Totally Toteable Totes" by a local designer. I seem to have misplaced the pattern, so the name may be a little off. I have had these kits for many, many years. The kits came with the pre-quilted fabric and the coordinating prints. The pattern just intimidated me a bit.

Well, I decided to just go for it.  It was simple, but I did change the construction some after making the black tote. I am disappointed in the first one and wish I had not used that fabric first. The blue and yellow one is made *sew* much better. I also added a little loop inside the second one to hook my keys to. It already had the potholder like pocket and covered button and loop closure. There is also plastic canvas in a sleeve at the bottom for stability. It can be removed for washing. The blue one is really not my style, but it reminded me of those Vera Bradley bags. She has one now that is going for $46 and another for $78!

I wanted the black one more. It is okay. I just did not like the way it was put together following the pattern exactly. I may be giving away the blue and yellow, or I may use it for my library bag. I have not made up my mind yet. I still need to make my kiddos a library bag.

Next are just some utilitarian sewing. I was just *sew* happy to have these UFO's done! They were in my pile for at least 4 years!Surprisingly they still fit my daughter! All that was needed was elastic on all of the knickers.

 

The tank is from a camisole pattern and just whipped up at the same time from some scrap fabric given to me by a friend who moved out of state. I wanted to use my new coverstitch binder I purchased off eBay.

 

 

 

I also made my second pocketbook I posted about earlier. I made the handles a little longer this time. I think it turned out really cute. I may be giving this away too. Still not completely sure. I want to make coordinating accessories first though.

 

 

 

 

I also won another giveaway! I had forgotten I entered this one. It is from Helen from her blog Quilts & ATCs. If you have not been there, cruise over there now. She is in the UK and does wonderful work.

I also went shopping sometime last week or the week before. Here are some of the goodies I picked up. Not all the fat quarters are new. I was playing with the colors and deciding that I want to might  try the quilt in the magazine I got the pocketbook pattern from. I will not be using the top row of fabrics in the quilt. The rust, green and tan colors go well in my master bedroom. I also went to my local Yankee Candle store (my favorite candle and fragrance shop in the world) and got some more tarts. I decided to try out the oil, so of course I needed a couple of new burners! I will not get to do this much anymore. This was spent out of my one and only paycheck I received. : (

I am also playing around with these fat quarters:

I am calling it Salsa! (These prove my love affair with BRIGHT fabrics! LOL) I am not sure if it will be bag or a placemat for my doggie's food and water station. Poor little fellow needs something as he slips on my laminate floors when he is trying to eat. It is incredibly funny to watch, but I am starting to feel bad for him.

I need to make a jacket for my littlest boy as he lost his last year, and I am sure he has grown a bit. Just need to find a pattern, a zipper and pick up some fleece.

As for my daughter's quilt, I was playing with ideas for quilt designs and noticed that the top borders are really wonky. Most of it I can deal with, but that top portion is just way too bad even for me. Can you see it? Looks like I need to frog stitch and try to correct it some. One day this quilt will be done and on her bed!

Now, I have decided to participate in the big fall giveaway I posted about a couple of days ago. This is my very first giveaway! I hope it goes well. I may have more than one prize. Here are some of the things I know I am giving away so far:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am still trying to decide on what else I will include. I also want to make those little fabric baskets I keep seeing everyone make. If I get one done soon, I may include it too!

Of course I have been trying to catch up on housework and yard work too. I am close to being done with that...for a day or two at least. VBG

I have lots of things I would really like to get made. I want to redecorate my guest bathroom using 1930's reproduction fabrics. I want to sand and repaint my coffee table and end tables in the formal living room. I want to make a table runner for fall, lots of potholders, a Halloween wall hanging and *sew* much more. I am thinking about crocheting some new doilies or a blanket. I want to get a counted cross-stitch started. My, my, my. I do believe I have crafter's ADD. I seem to get bored easily and move on to something else, even before I finish what I was already working on. I may need some professional help!

Well, until next time...

Happy Sewing,