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A Life Full of Laughter: September 2009

"All that I'm after is a life full of laughter...."

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I need some advice!


My husband bought me a package of pre cut diamond quilt pieces for our anniversary while we were in Amish country. That was in March and I'm finally getting around to them! I want to make a quilt for our bed. I know I could just make them into stars and applique them onto squares. I'm thinking there might be other things to do with them though. Any ideas from anyone?

Steelers bag finished!



I finished my Steelers bag today! Thanks so much for all you generous quilters out there that sent me fabric. I loved all of it and my bag is awesome!!! :) So far, in the month of September, I've made three of these tote bags. Each one is a different size!! I have to admit that I probably like the Steelers one the best!

Friday, September 25, 2009

Rough week

Well, this week has been pretty rough for me. First, I heard about my dear internet friend passing away. Then yesterday I got a call from my brother telling that he's getting a divorce. It's so sad! They've been married 10 years and have two beautiful children. I feel so badly for everyone involved. They live in Florida, as well as my parents, and now I'm dying to get down there to visit. It's hard being so far away from them! Please join me in praying for my brother and his family.

Okay, on a more positive note, I have gotten a great response to my requests for Steelers fabric! Lots of very generous quilters have been sharing with me. I've even gotten a few packages in the mail already. Plus more have been promised! It's so great getting squishy envelopes!!! I promised everyone that I'll be putting pictures up as I work on my projects. Originally I was hoping to get enough to make a tote bag. Now, I think I'll actually have enough to make the tote as well as a throw to cuddle up with while watching the games. Quilters are the best!!!!

I haven't been sewing much, well, really I haven't sewn any for about a week. But I have been reading tons of quilting e-mails as well as blogs. Gosh, I could be busy for years from the ideas I get from everyone else. Plus, I have gotten lots of quilting books from the library to drool over. My mind is very full & I'm itching to get on that sewing machine!!!

Bye,

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Remembering an online friend

I just found out that a wonderful young lady I met through a couple different Yahoo e-mail groups has passed away. She was young, probably in her early to mid 20s, and married just six to eight months ago. She recently discovered that she was pregnant with twins as well! Her life seemed to be a fairytale. Her marriage seemed to be very strong and they both seemed to love each other very much. It's so sad. Her name was Lorenza and she passed away suddenly on August 30 of a brain aneurysm. She was only 5 months along so unfortunately they lost the babies as well. I can't even imagine how her husband and family are feeling. I'm shocked and upset myself. I only knew her through the e-mails I've read, but she seemed to be such a wonderful you lady with a beautiful life in front of her. Please remember her family, and especially her husband, in your prayers!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Steelers fabric?

As you can see by reading my blog, I have gotten completely addicted to making tote bags. Now I want to make a purse size - alittle smaller than the pink and brown one I just finished. Since I'm a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan, I'm thinking it would be fun to make a purse out of those colors. Of course, my husband is a Cleveland Brown's fan so I'm having a hard time convincing him to buy me any Steelers fabric. Plus, I don't really need alot & it would be expensive to buy all the different types for just a few squares of each. So, my plea to everyone reading is if you have any type of Pittsburgh Steelers fabric it would be so great if you'd share with me. Even just a couple squares would be a help. Thanks so much!!

Bye,

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

"Small" bag theory





I finished the next tote bag!!! I'm going to call this one "small" bag theory. LOL! It is basically the same pattern just using smaller (3.5 inch) squares. I absolutely love the colors! Ashley thinks it looks like a diaper bag and I sorta think she's right. I want to use it as a tote for work though. I can fit lots of "stuff" in there! I was hoping for it to be a purse too but really it's still alittle too big. I'm thinking of making it out of 3 inch squares next time and using less of them. Can you tell I'm getting addicted to making totes?! It's so neat that I'm getting more confident too. I decided I wanted to put pockets inside this bag. I basically figured it out myself and that feels good. Plus, I was wanting the corners to fold in some instead of being so square. I used thick thread to make ties on each side. Then they can be tied or left open depending on how full the bag is. I have to admit I'm kinda proud of myself!!!

Bye,

Saturday, September 12, 2009

New tote bag

I've been quilting up a storm yesterday and today! It's so fun!!! I am just so thrilled to be back at it & I don't want to stop. I've started another tote bag - this one is from the same pattern as the last one but I'm making it smaller. I used 3 1/2 inch squares this time. It's checkerboard style with brown and pink fabric. So pretty & girly! I'll post a pic as soon as I get it done.

Steelers won the other night - YEA! They are so good. It would be so awesome if they would actually win the Super Bowl again this year. That is a long time away though so we'll see how the season goes. I sure hope Troy Polamolu is feeling better soon & back on the field!!

bye,

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Go Steelers!!!!!



Tonight is the opening game for the NFL season!! I am so excited! Go Steelers!! They are the best team in football right now and I hope they win the Super Bowl again. My husband is a Cleveland Browns fan so we don't always see eye to eye on sports topics. LOL!! But of course, I know how to pick the winners.

Speaking of winners, we watched America's Got Talent last night and I can't believe the level of singers they have this year. WOW! Barbara Padilla, the opera singer and Lawrence Beamen are both just amazing. I like Lawrence alot but if Barbara won that would be alright with me too. I can't wait until the finale Wednesday night!

Ashley and I watched So You Think You Can Dance last night too. I am so happy it is starting again. Although I really don't like the audition episodes too much. I prefer when they are down to the top 20 and paired up. Of course it is only the first night of auditions, but I saw someone I liked alot. Her name is Mollee Gray. I think she'll make it to atleast the top 4 but Ashley doesn't think so. We made a bet on it! Hopefully I'm right.

bye for now,

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Busy

I have been so busy the last few days. I haven't done any quilting though. I've been thinking about it alot and catching up on group e-mails. We've been straightening up the house and my husband got me a new ceiling fan! Isn't it pretty!?!


I got to quit my job today too!!! YEAH! I've been working for my brother-in-law at his milk delivery business. He runs it out of his house and his wife had been doing all the office work. They hired me about 6 months ago to work a few days a week and give her a break. It's been alright but I'm really used to not working and being home with my family. Tom finally decided that I should quit so I told them today. They took it pretty well but I could tell they were disappointed. My last day is going to be September 23 - praise the Lord!!!

So You Think You Can Dance starts tonight. I can't wait! I am so excited for all the new shows to be starting. I just love all the reality shows - well the ones that aren't too trashy. You'll be hearing me talking alot about them too.

Bye

Monday, September 7, 2009

A quilting finish!!


I actually quilted for 4 1/2 hours yesterday (Sunday)!!!! I am so proud of myself. It felt really good too. I started out with the intention of quilting for 15 minutes but it turned into 4 1/2 hours. LOL! I suppose that is proof that it felt good to be behind my machine again. And, even more exciting, is that I actually finished something. This is the "big bag theory" tote that was featured in the McCalls Quilting magazine a few months ago. I started it in May and am finally finishing it! I love the way it turned out and the pattern was every easy to follow. My only complaint, and it's my own fault for not looking closer at the pattern, is that it is SO big! I was wanting a tote to use as a purse but this one is going to be too big. The picture with the magazines shows you how big this tote is - there are five magazines piled inside there! Anyhow, I loved it so much but want it smaller. Next time, hopefully tomorrow, I'm going to make it smaller. I think I'll use smaller squares and less of them. It's going to be out of pink and brown fabrics. I just love those two colors together! Hopefully I'll have another tote to show off soon!

Friday, September 4, 2009

Getting my groove back!

I'm finally getting my quilting groove back! It feels good too. I have been away from quilting for so long that it was starting to stress me out. But my husband finally stepped in to help me and we got it all worked out. He told me last night that I needed to take some time for myself this weekend. He wants me to relax and get excited about quilting again. Now, we're having a yard sale tomorrow and Saturday so that is taking some of my time. And I have to go to work for alittle bit on Saturday morning. But other then that we'll be home and I"m going to be focusing on all things quilting!! LOL!

Today I spent the day reading e-mails from Yahoo quilting groups I belong to. I've also looked at lots of quilting blogs. I have gotten so much inspiration from everyone it's amazing! I had planned to get out all the projects I've started and decide what I like and what I want to change. I was going to pick four of them and they'd become my "Fab Four" that I would focus on. I didn't get that far though. Instead I spent the day on the computer and helping to get the yard sale ready.

BUT tomorrow is another day! In the evening, and maybe if I can sneak inside some during the day, I'm going to drag out all those projects and get thinking. I want to pick my Fab Four and focus on them. I'm going to commit to sewing 15 minutes every single day. It doesn't matter which of the four projects I work on, or if I decide to sew longer or not, but I have to do my 15 minutes. I really think it'll make a big difference!!

Bye,
 
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