Another Coffee

I need to make this.

I need to make this for my sewing room - it looks so handy and not that hard to do, except for finding the lights for cheap

Photo box

Coffee with Brady!

Another coffee video

Donating Plasma

I got up early this morning and went to start the process to donate plasma. It took a long time, but I can do worse things for $50. I took some money out and paid for produce basket and picked up the girls. Now I'm resting and watching The Great British Bake Off. I just love this show. I've started giving instructions to my classes in the style of Mel and Sue. If you haven't seen it, check it out on youtube!

The Great British Bake off

Coffee with Mrs. Wilson - trying a new format

Sewing weekend

Usually in the spring time our schedules are super busy. Since it's the beginning of the year, things really haven't geared up yet, so we've been able to enjoy a few chill weekends. The girls have been able to spend some quality time with my mom. And I've been able to sew. I rearranged the play room again to make it more of a studio. I still have some storage ideas to set up, but I'm happy with the result at the moment. This Friday I was able to sew. Saturday I quilted at my church for LWR. I did the binding for 3 quilts and pieced a top. Then I spent the rest of Saturday, most of Sunday and a good chunk of Monday sewing. I got a lot done.
I thought we were going to do a Valentine's bake sale for Grace, so I cut out a lot of Valentine's themed tissue holders. The bake sale will be later in the year, but those are things that could always be used for some gift or sales thing.
I'm trying to work on a messenger bag using a free pattern online - which sucks. So it's slow going.
I have a system - I cut lots of things; I sew all the things; I iron all the things; I regroup and figure out what's next.
I was also working on the round robin for the quilt guild. I had some (male) students help me figure out what kind of border to do. I think it turned out ok, though it's not as good as the first one I did. And it's not all that straight.
I pulled out Alletaire, thinking I was going to start the quilting process, which I'm determined to enjoy. I love it so much, but I can see how my skills have gotten better in just the last 6 months. Because I didn't end up cutting it straight, I'm putting on the final borders in the worst way you can do it, but it is what it is. I have a plan for the backing. Again, it's a process. I just need some time to work on it.
I like that I have a lot of projects going and they're in different stages. Finishes are coming - I can feel it. I am almost finished with 50 or so tissue holders. I just need to quilt and trim some Christmas potholders.

Round robin border #2 with Tri-rec units. Not as perfect as I want. 

Why my sessions are not so productive :) 

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Me n my happy place, sewing at church

Quiltville Mystery Quilt

After the success of last year's Alletaire, I was eager to again embark on En Provence - Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt this year. I loved the colors but I just never got into the pieces. I'd make a few here or there. I don't count well and my sewing was really shoddy. Now, since the reveal, I decided I didn't need another quilt, especially since I haven't completely completed Alletaire, so I'm going to make place mats and a table runner for a friend's wedding. People on facebook have been altering the layout and I found one I liked better - it has better flow, or maybe is just easier to read.
So I laid out some preliminary pieces and I'm really discouraged. My sizes are way off and I'm going to have to make a bunch more pieces and I have too many of others. So I'm going to put it away until I really have some focused time to work on it. I'm excited about it. I loved using the tri rec ruler. I like another piece quite a lot. It's just a lot of pieces.

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This is a screen shot of the layout I like. I love the circles. I'm going to make 4 placemats of the magenta stars and 4 with the purple (blue here) stars. 

Business ventures

Grace and I are seriously considering starting a business together.  Last year,  I had the thought that since my mother painted and my sister made wreaths and redid furniture and now has a silhouette, and I sew,  we can start doing little vendor booths together. Last weekend,  Grace and I started chatting about her crafting and how I was going to get serious about a business this year.  I've always been "made for you by Lulu."  Any food stuffs I make always come with that and a logo.  This year I'm going to get a real logo made, then some labels and a stamp and some cards.  I've planned and started working on inventory.  I need to decide on a website platform. Figure our how to take great pictures.  Grace wants to be "Gigi's Doll Boutique" and we're working on patterns for doll clothes and accessories.  I know it's going to be a slow process with lots of steps, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. 

New series: Coffee with Mrs. Wilson

A few of my favorite things

My friend Michelle came in from Austin last week and I was able to spend some time with her.  We went to a new local brewery then to dinner with other friends and back to the brewery.  Great beer.  They had a coffee porter that made me really happy. 

I found these on my phone - In May 2011

From Aggiecon - Gracie and Scott eating at a Japanese restaurant. I'm there too, and so is Ric.

Books I used to love - Soulless from Summer 2011

** Going through some old drafts. Still feel this way about the second book. I did continue the series. It was ok but not as good as the first book. She has a spin off series with the daughter, which I young adultish, I think.


;------- This is an excellent book. I read it because of the buzz. It was great. Funny, original, steampunky, etc. Fantastic. Listening to it was great too. I got the second book, but put off reading it because I wanted to savor it. The second book ended on such a horrible cliffhanger. I was so pissed. I read the 3rd book, but that's the last one I'll read.