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,

A new blog and giveaway

So check out Quilt and Quilt Things; it is a brand new blog. She is having a giveaway to kick things off.

I have also decided to join in on Fall into Fall Quilters Blog Giveaway. I have not yet decided if I am making something or just giving away some great quilty stuff. I will decide by the 1st of October. The drawing will be on the 15th. I will announce what I will giveaway and what you must do to be entered. Check it out and join if you'd like. It seems like it will be fun.

Until later,



ETA: Come on all you kind, giving quilters out there, think about joining in on the Fall into Fall Quilters Blog Giveaway. Debi has now added a prize to the participants! Just click on the scarecrow to sign up:

Just Us Quilters Blog...where did it go??

Do any of you quilters out there know what happened to that blog? I noticed today that my button for Just Us Quilters is broken. The picture is gone and the blog is too. I found *sew* many quilt blogs there and had not long ago added my little blog.

Happy Sewing,



ETA: She is back up; go to Just Us Quilters and re-sign up!

A new giveaway found, project picture and a good mail day!

Okay, first off, I want to thank all the wonderful comments my few readers have left. Thank you for making me feel *sew* much better. I am still crying as I type this, but I know this will pass as it always does. I really wanted to work at that company.

As my dearest friend always tells me, when God closes one door, he surely leaves another one open, you just need to find it. Well I found a very tiny doggie door. I am going to see what it will take to open my own quilt store. It will be online only for many years if at all. I have a sweet, gracious sewing buddy, who has been amazing the past year as a true friend, that is very interested in owning and operating an online fabric store also. She is willing to partner up with me to see if we can make this dream we share a reality. I sure hope I can figure it all out as she will be backing this endeavor financially to start. Otherwise, it would still be only a dream. Anyone with any information about how to go about this, please give me a hint. <wink>

Since I have lots of time on my hands yet again, I have been catching up on my blog reading. I have missed several giveaways! However, I did find one this morning that you can still enter. Hop on over to My Yellow Farmhouse and leave a comment. Her blog is pure, unadulterated eye candy!

I did whip up a pocketbook like that I mentioned in a previous post. However, I used some home dec fabric for the first one. I truly love this little bag.  Hopefully, if I can keep my mindset

 

 

 

 

 

 

positive, I will get the other one done today. I plan to make matching accessories using some great tutorials I found online. These will be made to match the home dec fabric pocketbook as I purchased the small remnant that was left after I had my yardage cut.

In other happy news, I got mail!! LOL My prize I won from Linda over at Living4Quilting arrived yesterday afternoon! Again, thank you *sew* much Linda. It really helped me out of a very, very low mood.

 

Happy Sewing,

Bad news

Well, I worked for a week, but had to resign due to personal reasons. It hurts really bad. I love working there, as I have worked for that company in the past seasonally.

Turns out that I will have to be a stay at home mom for the rest of my life. I am thankful that I have a wonderful hubby. I pray that nothing ever happens to him or his job.

I may not write anymore. I am very distraught and despressed at the moment.

Sunny

What I am working on

Well, I have started my new job. I love it, but my feet are definitely not use to standing all day long. The kids and hubby are still adjusting to the new schedule as is my poor old body!

The best part of this job is helping the customers with their projects and, of course, talking crafting and sewing all day long. A customer came in with a darling little pocketbook that she made. I simply had to make one too. So I picked up the magazine and some fabric to give it a go. She said it was quick, easy and pain-free. It is definitely sounded like my kind of project indeed.

Here are the fabrics I picked. Everything is cut and ready to sew up. I'm hoping to have it done tonight.

I have been neglecting housework all week due to the new job. I am trying to get that under control so that I can play in my sewing room.

I found the photos of another quick project I made a couple of weeks ago for my fur baby.

I used McCall's 3472 in the smallest size.

I recycled an old sheet for the pillow insert, and old pillows for the stuffing. My dog's name is Chili Pepper, so naturally I found some fat quarters with chili pepper prints. My plan was to make 2 covers, but so far only one is complete.

The first one was made entirely wrong. I do not know if I was still asleep or ill that day, but I messed it up completely. I have to re-cut all the side pieces.

So far that is all I have accomplished in the crafting/sewing/quilting department. If my schedule stays as it is right now, I will have Friday, Saturday and Sundays off. Also, I have not been scheduled to close either. I have my fingers crossed that it stays this way as it is ideal for me.

Happy Sewing,

Oh my goodness...I won, I won, I won!!

I have never won anything ever in my life. I start this morning at the new job. I am *sew* behind on everything from housework to reading my favorite blogs. I just happened to stop and check my email just now. Lo and behold, I have won a giveaway! Woo hoo!

Linda, over at Living4Quilting, picked me as one of her winners for her 100th post giveaway. I am floored really and *sew* excited to get my goodies. Thank you Linda!

Off to get ready for my first full day! YAY!

Oh, and for those commenters talking about the paycheck issue, well, I already know I will not really make any money. I have worked for this company seasonally before and, unfortunately, always spent all and more before payday. LOL!

Happy Sewing,

Wardrobe Refashion

I have signed up to Wardrobe Refashion. I have done this sort of thing on and off for many years. I am really starting to look at all my clothes in my closet differently now. I hope that by pledging for 6 months, I will remember to take before and after photos to share.

So here is my Pledge:

I, Sunny, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 6 months. I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings!

Signed,

Good News...and bad news...

I finally got a part time job outside of the home. I am *sew* happy! This will give me something to do and a little extra cash to spend on my hobbies. Plus, I am working at a fabric and craft store, so I will get a discount on purchases. I also get to talk about crafting and sewing all day long. Just wonderful!

Bad news is that I will not have as much time to play in my sewing room. I have not even had a chance to do more than iron the backing fabric for the butterfly quilt.

This holiday weekend has been packed with activities with the family and starting this new job. I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe labor day.

Happy Sewing,

Yo-yo's

Just a short post for now. Life sure gets in the way of my hobbies sometimes! LOL

I purchased the yo-yo makers made by Clover because I have been unsuccessful making them the old fashioned way. I have been wanting to try these things. I finally got around to doing a couple. I am not so sure that they are any better then the ones I made without them. Albeit they are more uniform, but to me the stitches are just too big for the way I want them. Here's a comparison of both types:



I used the same sized circle for these. The one on the left is with the maker and the right is without. They are a little hard to see. I think that for embellisments I will use the makers. As for the quilt I dream of making, I am going to keep practicing.

This should be very productive day as my hubby has to work tonight, and it is dreary, so no plans to leave the house.

Happy Sewing,

A ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.....

Having all my fabric up on my old/new shelves in my sewing room closet makes such a difference in being more productive. I apparently purchased this beautiful fabric specifically for backing of my quilts. I loved the soft hand and soft print. No wonder I purchased over 10 yards of it.

Good thinking on my part! LOL

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I can get this quilt done for my daughter's room.

 

(The background fabric says P.S. I love you! I plan to put seed beeds or tiny buttons for the eyes.)

 

Happy Sewing,

Yucky day, yucky fabric

Well Fay has not really done anything here but make it gray and dreary. Hardly any rain so far. Slight wind finally.

So I have been re-ironing the muslin backing I purchased to back my butterfly quilt. I am really not liking the hand of this stuff. I cannot use it. My daughter has a textile...hmmm, aversion or something. I am going to need some nice quilt store stuff. I will have to wait as funds will have to be saved. One day she will have it.

Sew onward to someother WIP or UFO or new project.

Happy Sewing!

Sunny

My Big Board Pics

First up is the picture of me just getting started. I used 1/2 inch plywood (the nice sanded type) and added a layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. I then wrapped that with 100% cotton batting (Warm and White), 2 layers. I am thinking now that I might want more padding. The plywood was more expensive then the regular type because I was not paying attention when I picked it up. Regular, cheap plywood is fine. Also, the foil may not be necessary, but I wasn't sure. My plywood was supposed to measure 30" x 60" but was a little more in both length and width. Which was strange since I watched the woman measure accurately. She may not have cut as accurately though (she was new at Home Depot).

 

I then wrapped bleached muslin (the cheap kind-no photo) and the silver ironing board fabric. If I recall correctly, I used 2 yards of each fabric because of the widths they came in. I stapled around the edges like crazy. I think I get carried away with the staples on any project like this! I was undecided about what fabric I wanted to use, thus I purchased the silver stuff and the  muslin. I then decided to put both on so that when the silver stuff needs to go, I still have something over the batting. I also chose Warm and White batting and bleached muslin because I tend to burn the seeds in the natural types and stain my fabric.

 

I decided for now to just screw it to my old ironing board. I added some handles for easy moving by myself. The handles, screws and ironing board base were all re-purposed stuff I had on hand. The wood, foil, fabrics and batting were all new. The handles I cut off  a free bag. I really despise those particular bags as they do not feel like real fabric. They tear way too easily.

 

Another view of the back, leaning against my fabric closet: (You should be able to click on the pictures for the larger version to see any details that may be of interest. *wink*) I think I am going to add one more larger handle to the opposite side for ease in standing this thing up. I open the legs while it is like leaning because I cannot do it the normal way the old ironing board works. However, I cannot seem to stand it up on my own very well. Another handle should fix that though. It is not really that heavy. The old metal stand I am using is the heaviest part, lol!

 

Here it is set up as I will normally keep it in my tiny sewing room. Please excuse the mess and the nasty carpet. This is the only room with the original carpet still in it. I have yet to shampoo in here during my deep house cleaning the past week or so.

I love how at the top height it snugs up perfectly against my extra cutting table by the window. This allows me to keep my irons and ironing supplies off the board.

 

Here is the board in use. Of course, this is not a large piece of fabric. I wanted the set up out here to be visible.

When I want to iron my large pieces of fabric and quilt tops, it will be set up here in the formal dining room. This room is still mostly empty as my large dining table is in the small breakfast nook right now. I like it this way at this point because this empty floor space is where I cut and pin patterns that are oversized like home dec, and where I layer and baste my quilts. It use to be my sewing room, thus the fancy design wall you see in the background. My new sewing room, oldest son's old room, is unfortunately just too small for a design wall.

 

I must say again that I am loving this board. I realized that I do still need a regular ironing board. I wanted to be able to remove the big board and still use my ironing board, but for now I purchased a small table top one for only $7.88 (guess where at that price, lol, the 88 cents is a giveaway). That will work fine for now. Eventually I want a really nice ironing board for garment construction and regular clothes ironing. I also no longer care for ones with T style legs. I'd much rather have the type with 4 legs as they are more stable to me. I have had this ironing board for, most likely, going on 17 years.

 

I also did not do cleats or anything on the bottom of the board to hold it on my old ironing board. This way, I can take it off, and it fits perfectly on my main cutting table  in my sewing room. Here's a picture of that cutting table without the board on top as I forgot to photograph it while it was on there before screwing it down. Duh. Anyway, this table is old and broken so I do not fold it up and move it around anymore. I like that I can store stuff under it unlike the newer one from JoAnn's. One day when I make curtains and other stuff for my sewing room, I will make a skirt to hide this stuff and protect it from sunlight.

 

Well, that's my DIY board. As I said I love it. I am re-ironing the backing for my daughter's butterfly quilt now. One of the reasons I finally made this board was that backing. It was a nightmare ironing and was still very wrinkled using my old ironing board. The backing is 90 inch wide bleached muslin.

Next post, I will be posting some photos of a few finished projects that I have been working on. Until then....

Happy Sewing,

Giveaway!

I am so sorry most of my posts have been giveaways lately. I cannot seem to pass them up. They are wonderful for discovering new blogs and inspiration. Go check out Calamity Jane's Cottage for this adorable bag giveaway! Just too whimsical.

ETA: Also, go to Lurline's Place for her 100th post celebration. She is giving away a beautiful bag.

Check out the blog of Designer Heather Mulder Peterson. She is giving away a pattern. If you comment, mention that that Sunny sent you there, and we will both get a copy! How cool is that! I am always finding these giveaways from anotehr blogger and sometimes mentioned who I got the information from. This is sweet.

AND....browse Debi's blog. 200 posts!

Happy Sewing,