sadly, i've lost it...

...my motivation, it's gone! I hope that it returns soon and I have good reason to hope that...my sweet husband got me this for my birthday, and it arrives tomorrow! I've waited a whole month, but luckily we saved $200 on shipping by special ordering it through Menards. It's sure worth the wait!!

Let's see, while I've been away so much has been going on.....

My beautiful little sister got married to her guy of 7 years.....

I was busy with designing the invitations, making the programs, throwing showers, being the Matron-of-Honor, taking engagement pictures, wedding pictures, and even the cake! Uftah!

I made my friend a couple quilts for her new baby twins...

Heather Mulder Peterson's trunk show is down at The Pin Cushion and I HAD to take some pictures of her pretties! She is so awesome!!

....and I guess I have just been busy chasing this guy around!

canning time...

I did a little canning on monday..actually, it took about 5 hours in the kitchen. Green Beans came courtesy of my mother-in-law and her enormous garden. Since I LOVE dilly beans, that's what I set out to make!

My box of prize beans...Snapped and ready for a good washing
Ready to come out of the canner

They turned out super yummy and I learned something new and fun to do!


Not trying to freak anyone out, but I got a new zoom lens for my camera and was lucky enough to find this little guy dangling from my in-laws warming shed. I was sure to stay as far from it as I could, so my new lens really came in handy! I just love playing with my camera!!

make a bag monday...

I made a bag!! It was easy and fun!

Anatomy of a Sewing Machine...

I thought I would share this! It's pretty cool to know exactly how the sewing machine works!!

summer fun...

I've seemed to keep myself busy for the past month. I need my motivation back to work on some quilts, but I've been exhausted! I took on the task of watching my cousin's 3 month old about 3 times a week, and have found how tiring it is watching 2 little ones!

Last month Maxton and I took a 6 1/2 hour drive to Cedar Rapids, IA to visit my good friends Misty and Greg. We had so much fun! I'm glad we got the chance to go and spend time with them. Maxton loved playing with Alexa and Dylan and every time he sees a picture of them he just giggles! Thanks guys for making our trip a special one!!

Last weekend we went camping with all of my father's siblings to celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday. We took grandma for a margarita one night at the resort and had a blast. My grandmother for surely is a 21 year old trapped in an older body!! Unfortunately my SD card was acting up and I didn't get any pictures :(

My little sister is getting married in 2 months and my little boy is the ring bearer...he looked so cute when I tried on his tux! He will even be wearing the cutie pie little skull and cross bone shoes!!

sweet simplicity...

I made a super simple quilt for my niece for her 8th birthday. We celebrated this past weekend and so I am now able to share this.

I'm never good at naming my quilts, so since her middle name is Lane this one worked great!

to Omaha and back...

I've returned from my Quilt Show bus trip to Omaha, and it was a blast! The months of planning paid off and it sounded like everyone had a great time! The quilt stores along the way were all wonderful and I picked up some great things. I thought I would share my goodies with you all!

I had never worked with paper piecing until starting my Dear Jane quilt, where that paper piecing is a necessity. I have found that paper piecing is fun (you either like it or you hate it). I found this cutsie little paper piecing kit of a watermelon and a pear. They are simple and small and way to cute to pass up.

I found my panel I had been looking for. I had purchased the set of fat quarters a while back and when I saw this panel all by it's lonesome I had to get it. It is a Free Spirit Fabric by Tina Givens called Fairy Tip Toes

Just some of this and that. I just liked these and that was good enough reason to buy them!

I fell in love with this Halloween grouping. Since Max is a Oct 27th baby, this will go to him one day! Until then it will look fabulous on my couch during the month of October! It is a Sheri Berry Designs Trick or Treat Street for Lynd Hurst Studio

Found my Wonderland by Momo! LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!!

Discovered this Moda Nest by Tula Pink...couldn't leave Nebraska without it!!

I had to throw in this picture of a Dear Jane quilt at the Omaha Quilt Show. It is the first that I have seen in person and it was VERY inspirational. This one was started in 2003. I'm ready to get back in the groove with mine!!

bags of fun...

I am getting ready for a bus trip to Omaha for their quilt show and I am soooo excited! I'm ready to get re-inspired with my quilting. I made a bag to take along so I can fill it with some goodies...AND ideas!! It was a fun bag to make and it was even more fun using these grommets!

I made this bag for a friend. She is pregnant with twins and has had some medical problems along the way. She is not due until September, so she still has a ways to go. I filled it with word searches, puzzles, and stuff to keep her busy...or at least occupied for a while.

my little trip...

(Daddy and Maxton in Deadwood)

My little family, plus my parents, grandparents, and aunt took a trip out the the Black Hills to visit my brother this weekend. We did the various tourist stops and had a great time. Since I lived out in the hills for 3 1/2 years I had taken many of the stops many times, but one thing I finally did get to go to was the Crazy Horse Monument. It was a pretty fun trip, just wish the fog wasn't so heavy. I never did get to see the actual mountain sculpture from the look out spot, but I didn't get too down as I have seen Crazy Horse many times from the road. I was just happy to hear the storys of history surrounding it!

(Maxton the Newsie)

(Maxton kissing his Donkey- "eeee aaah")

We had a good time in Deadwood, stopping at a casino my sister-in-law had done design work on. I was happy to see the penny slots as we entered (i am not a gambler and rarely stick my money into any machine), but I thought I could part with a penny. The machines did not take pennies, but would take a quarter for credit...I inserted a dollar as I was fresh out of quarters. Did not know what button to push, so I hit the maximum bet button and "pulled"...sure enough out fell 123 dollar chips.....my LUCKY day! I quickly cashed those in and called that a day!!!

(Daddy and Maxton feeding trout at the Fish Hatchery in Spearfish)

(Maxton and Daddy at Dinosaur Park)

All in all we had a great weekend and it was nice to spend it with my family!!

try this one on for size...

My cousin's little guy turned 2 last week, so I made him a little backpack. I used Max as a model so I could get the size right. I think this will work. Not so sure what Keean thought of it, but I know his mother liked it!

Wishing all you mom a very happy Mother's Day!!

hoping to get this totally finished before we leave for Easter...

...and am thinking I will have the top done by tonight so I can quilt it tomorrow.
Thanks to AmandaJean for this pattern! I love it! I am making this one for my nephew and will probably make another like it for my stash.

from this to that...

I've been working on a bunch of different things lately. I did a demonstration in quilt guild on saturday and my program was the infamous Spiderweb quilt. I think it got some excited, so I guess I will see what they come up with!

Other than that we've been busy getting things ready for Easter, a Tastefully Simple party, a trip to the Black Hills, and a camping trip to Snake Creek. I'm excited to also throw a trip to Cedar Rapids, IA in there...just nervous about driving all the way with a 1 year old!

i'm here...

Sorry I've been gone for awhile. The effects of the struggling economy hit close to home as my father was laid off from his job after 25 years of service. He is doing well (probably took it better than the rest of us) and is planning on going full time with his sewing machine repair service. I wish him the best of luck and am glad that he will be able to spend his last working years as his "own boss"!

My featured tool for today is my ipod karaoke system. It's by Griffin, and I LOVE it. I had read some not so great reviews, but found it on Amazon.com for a whopping 9.99 so I had to go for it. I love to sing in the privacy of my own home, and this allows me that freedom!!

Click here for a video about one of my favorite tools!