side work...

Since there is a plethora of things I like to do, I consign all the little extras at The Little Red Hen here in town. It doesn't make me rich and I don't depend on it as a second income, but it does give me reason to keep doing what I love. I'm sure my husband is always wondering what I will bring home next to work on, but it does keep me out of trouble ;).

I am a big button junkie, so these two necklaces were made in hopes that there are other button junkies out there!


My newest love is metal stamping. I have had some fun and have tried stamping on a lot of different metals. I made my friends washer pendants with their names on them for Christmas and have been busy looking for other things to stamp on!


I made some flower pins for a bachlorette party and had a few left over..I guess I will see if these sell.


Here are a few Paci-Clips I made. When Maxton was a baby he never left home without one clamped on his shirt. I pieced little scraps of fabric I had together to make the straps and I think they turned out nicely. I think this may be a staple in my baby gift giving!

a little room updating...

I've been busy getting things squared away in Max's bedroom for his transition from crib to twin size bed! He is very excited and can't wait for his big boy (half) of the room. Since we do have a 2 bedroom house the newest addition to our family will be squeezing into Max's other half. I opted NOT to make Max's bedding as I have too many quilts on my list to do (that I HAVE to get done). He wanted a robot room, so this is the bedding that we decided on. I plan to make him some custom robot room accessories instead.

I took a break from the usual house chores today to make some covered button hair pins.
There really isn't anything too fancy about these, just fun to sit down and do some creating! Last week I made 4 Dear Jane blocks, so I'm slowly working on those too. I'm hoping to get 2 rows sewn together so I have some motivation...at the rate I was going I'd be lucky to complete the top in 5 years, so here's to working on that little project more!!

getting our hands dirty...

I had a new idea today to do some painting on glass. I used an old frame I had and made this up as a practice run. It was fun to do and I have some more ideas on what other things I can make with this idea.

Upon finishing my afternoon project, I washed my paint brushes cleaned up my mess, and set the paint bottle as far out of reach as possible with intentions of putting it back in my craft cabinet (in Max's room) after he woke from his nap. Well guess what.....?!?!

Sneaky little guy found my paint before I could remember to put it away, and while I was making supper in the kitchen!!

We had just painted his bird house last friday, so he remembered how to get his hands all nice and covered for making a hand print. I'm just glad I found him before he could do any real damage!!

Times like these I remind myself why I have a camera, and how funny these pictures will look 15 years from now at graduation!

get with it...

I know I really need to. I figured I better just post something since I am sick of seeing that I last posted Jan 27th!

It's been crazy time at our house. My husband had to have a kidney stone removed on monday and so it's been back and forth to Dr. offices and the hospital. Crazyness! Since we have been making all that time for him, I figured it was time to make the time for me. I had my first Dr. visit as a 2nd time expecting mom. I was torn as to choose between my family doctor (who delivered Max), or to go to an OB. I opted for the OB since I am high risk due to pre-eclampsia with my last pregnancy. I am so glad I chose my new doctor, I even found out that my family doctor is no longer doing OB. I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings! I had a great experience with this first visit and even had an ultrasound to see how things were going (something I didn't get last go round). Everything looks good, but I still pray everyday that things will continue to go well!!




I plan to work on some sewing projects today since it's been a while since I had any alone time with my sewing machine, so I say to myself, "GET WITH IT"...and that's what I plan to do!

having a ball...

I decided to pull out my Seams to Me book and whip something up for my niece for her 2nd birthday. I decided on the patchwork ball. It was fun to do, but also taught me that I'm not the best with "Y" seams yet. I guess I will just have to keep going until I get it down!

Max really enjoyed the ball, so I'm sure I will be making him one too!!

I can really see how wonky this one is, but I guess you have to start somewhere!!

getting things squared away...

I've been slowly trying to get myself back at pace with quilting. Seems like after the holidays I always have a hard time getting back to working on things for myself! I ordered some of Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane fabric and started working on a log cabin variation. I have a few blocks done and have been busy working on a quilt for a friend.

I also decided to quilt my spiderweb quilt! Now it's time for binding!!

like a glove...

I'm sure I'm pretty safe to share this with you....I made these for a few people for Christmas. I call them "Curling Iron Cozies", but call them what you want. They are made with thermal batting, so when traveling you don't have to worry about placing a still warm iron into your luggage. I know I will be using mine quite often as it seems like we are out of town every weekend or so!

dear santa...

Dear Santa,

I was thinking that since I didn't get anything in my stocking last year....not even a lump of coal, that maybe you would really like to make this girls Christmas morning even more merrier by filling it with this fat quarter bundle....





or this fat quarter bundle...

I see your little elves at The Fat Quarter Shop are going to help you make some other girl quilters (who are in the same boat as me) out, so this is my attempt at that wonderful opportunity!

I know you are busy Santa, but I've been such a good girl the past 2 years!! I've changed diapers, babied my 2 year old, babied my husband, and have set my quilting aside to do the normal house work when I'd rather not!!

Love,

Becki

P.S. If you want your chance at something from Santa, go here!

P.S.S. You know Santa, if you don't fulfil my wish this year, you know I am probably just going to get this gift for myself......I hope that doesn't ruin my chances!!

I'm a winner...

YAY! I'm so excited! Paula Prass had a giveaway, and I won! Lucky me!!

Thank you Paula!

something new...

I've still been busy making gifts. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel though, I'm very excited for Christmas this year! This is what I got for Christmas. I wanted a small machine to take to classes and when I travel to my in-laws. I just cringe at the thought of my Pfaff riding in the back of the pick-up bouncing around with who knows what. This little guy is 3/4 the size of a regular machine and much more compact to travel with.


Tonight Max and I made a pillow and I couldn't believe how nice this thing sews! I LOVE it!


Here's Max laying on the owl pillow we made. He sat on my lap and helped me guide the fabric, then he helped me stuff it. What fun we had! I'm sure in no time he will be running the "pedal" for me!

this little elf is busy...

I took the pledge to make more of my Christmas gifts this year, and that's what I've been doing. Sorry I can't show any pictures, but there will be plenty after the end of the month! God has blessed me with so much, and I decided that I will use those gifts he has given me and share them with the ones I love!
This is a picture of a few gifts I made last year...

it's been a while...

...since I actually quilted on my machine. Most of my quilting is done on a Pfaff Grand Quilter, so it took some adjusting to regular machine quilting. I have a busy week coming up, so I hope to get some more time behind my machine.

As I type this, I hear some Christmas commercials on the tv in the background. I know this might be a bad thing to say, but I'm hoping for some snowy days this season. I have too many projects I need to work on, and I think the only way I will get any of them done is if we get some cold snowy days that require me to stay home!

digital fun!

I've been having fun with photoshop! I made one of these for my sister...

Now it's my turn....

I've been thinking about maybe custom selling these...we'll see. I have a bridal shower coming up and I made one for the bride. I found a very pretty frame and easel and voila!

t-shirt fun...

My good friends from Iowa made a visit a few weeks ago. Since their two children have birthdays very close together I decided to make them a fun shirt. I've been having a blast making fabric flowers, so I made a smaller version and added it to Alexa's shirt that I glitz'd with my crystal wand and embroidered her name on.

I've made Max a couple of these tie shirts, so that's what Dylan was getting. I think they make a cute statement for a "little man"!

my most perfect creation...

Two years ago today my life forever changed!

Happy Birthday my sweet Maxton!

I loved you from the first moment I found out I was going to have you

...and my love continues to grow stronger each and every day!

You never cease to amaze me....

and I hope you never do!

something fun...

If you are a fan of hand embroidery as I am, then you have to check out The Painted Quilt. Each first friday of the month she is doing a free embroidery pattern, and they are super cute. I can't wait to start Halloween Hauntings!

You will find her free patterns on the right hand side bar!

show and tell...

I found a couple fabulous tutorials on some blogs and had stashed them away in my "to do vault". I decided to do these for my sister-in-law for her birthday. Here is a very easy fabric flower that I made into a pin. You can find this tutorial here.

Here are some silhouettes of my nieces and nephew. I found this tutorial on Jessica's blog. You should check it out, she has lots of cool stuff!!!

finally....

Well I finally got the last piece to my armoire! I put it together yesterday after 5 whopping hours...I was tired to say the least. I hope this helps me finish lots of W.I.P.'s! I plan to put all my current project fabrics on the shelves so they can all stare me in the face each time I open the doors, or sit down to sew!!

this and that...

I wish I could have blogged about all the wonderful things I have been getting done in my new workspace, but that's not going to happen. After picking up my armoire packages from Menards we found that one side of the unit was all cracked and damaged, so it may be 2 more weeks before I get my new piece....such a bummer! I am so eager to jump back on the quilting wagon!!

Last weekend Max and I took a trip with my aunt, grandma, and grandpa. We went to New Ulm, MN for Oktoberfest. It was a ton of fun and such great memories were made there! Here are some pictures from that trip...