A little quote to start your day...

Untitled, originally uploaded by domestiCass.

I have definitely wondered this myself sometimes...and then I have undoubtedly decided it IS the others that are crazy! :) I thought my brother would like this quote so I put this together last night for his birthday Monday.

Please don't forgot to go here to enter my giveaway.  It closes Sunday at midnight.

Also, please be sure to stop by Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday to link up any finishes you had this week!



Yay for Fridays!!!!

Cassey

Weekend Block Madness

 
Reminder go HERE to enter my first ever GIVEAWAY!!! 

 It's open until midnight on Sunday 04/10/11.
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So this past weekend was the weekend for kiddie parties apparently.  My LO was invited to 2 parties!  My very kind husband offered to take her to the second one on Sunday by himself to let me sew a little bit.  

These are the blocks I finished Sunday:

First I added the outer sashing to this block for Stephanie in the Christmas Bee:

   


Next up I dove into 2 blocks that I thought were going to be a cinch (as did a lot of the other ladies in our bee) just to find that they were deceivingly easy looking upon first glance!  Matching up the top silk strip and the bottom silk strip after adding the diagonal silk strip was not easy at all!  I had the luck of being one of the last to try this block so I had read all of the comments and suggestions everyone had made but it still proved to be tricky.  I can't wait to see how Anna's quilt turns out with all of these put together!

 Next I worked on the block that Melissa requested for the 12 Month bee I'm in.  I really like how it turned out.

And finally as a quick gift idea for the party we went to on Saturday I used this quick little tutorial that Carlee from  Ladybird Ln posted.  It is a fun, fast and (most importantly) CHEAP handmade gift!  I made this towel and washcloth for under $10 and it took less than an hour!!!!

Happy Hump Day All! 

Cassey

Stylish Blogger Award and My First Giveaway!!!

Why thank you Stephanie from Spontaneous Threads!!  I am very honored.  In fact I am so happy to have been picked for this award that I think I will have my first giveaway to celebrate!!!  More on that later.  First there are some duties that come with being chosen for this award and I am more than happy to fulfill them.


First - Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.

• Done above but here is Stephanie's link again  Spontaneous Threads.  I would highly recommend checking her out.  She always has some creative goodness happening there.

Second - Share 7 things about yourself.

1. I am a huge sci-fi addict...books and movies I LOVE them all.
2. Maybe this one is because of number 1 but: Given the chance, I would go into space without a second thought if I could take my husband and daughter (even if we weren’t guaranteed safe return).
3. My kindergarten teacher’s name was Mrs. Cowie (cow-ee)…pretty funny when you’re in kindergarten.
4. My grandfather bought my cousins and I a Shetland pony that we named Charlie when I was 1. We had him up until I was in high school sometime.
5. Meatloaf shares the same birthday as I do. The singer not the meal. (Just because we're talking about Meatloaf did you know that Meatloaf’s credit card says Meatloaf?  That useless piece of knowledge was brought to you by Pop up Video).
6. I tell everyone my first concert was Metallica but it was really Nelson because I got free tickets and it was a week before Metallica.
7. My brother once told my mom that I had gotten a tattoo on my butt and my mom made me pull my pants down to prove that I didn’t.

Thirdly - Award 6 recently discovered great bloggers.  I was able to find 5 that I have recently discovered and the 6th is one that I found awhile ago but totally love.

• Laura at Hobbying Around.  Laura is in the 1st VQB that I signed up for. 
• Janet at Entropy Undone.  I found her blog recently through my #6 nomination.  She made a fantastic pillow that I would like to try to copy recreate sometime.
• Julie at Distant Pickles.  She is in 2 VQB's that I've signed up for.  I especially enjoyed this post.
• Heidi at craft:nosis.  Found through the flickr group for Block-A-Palooza.  This was the post that got me to become a follower: New York Beauty.  Isn't it fantastic?!?!
• Melissa at A Child of the Wild Blue Yonder.  I totally love her choices in fabrics...maybe one day when I grow up I will be able to throw things together like her.
• Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Sarah's blog is great!  I found her blog through a giveaway she hosted that I won a few months ago and I still read it religiously.  She hosts a linky party every Friday and she features one of her favorite blogs every Sunday.  Do not read this blog if over achievers bug you because she will totally get under your skin.  I don't know how she does as much as she does...she's amazing!

Lastly - Contact the owners of the blogs you nominated to tell them about the award. 

•  Emails forthcoming.

Okay so now onto my first GIVEAWAY!!!  I am so excited to finally do a giveaway!

Here it is:

The Art Quilt Collection - I won a copy of this book in a giveaway awhile ago but the publisher sent me 2 copies!  I tried to contact the blog owner that I won the book from but she never got back to me so I want to share the wealth with all of you.  :O)  This book is really interesting.  There is so much inspiration to be found here! In it is a quilt that uses pleated fabric.  It looks really hard but I wouldn't mind trying that sometime...luckily, with that particular quilt it gives you a little tutorial to see how it is done.  I am happy to have this book in my collection.

I am also throwing in 2 charm packs.  Spirit by Lila Tueller and Dream On by Urban Chiks.


 You have 3 chances to win!

One - Leave me a comment - telling me 2 random things about yourself.

Two - Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment telling me you did. Or if you are already a follower let me know that instead.

Three - Blog about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment telling me that you did so. 

I will leave this giveaway open until Sunday 04/10/2011 at midnight.

A winner will be chosen using Random Generator on Monday morning.

Thanks again to Stephanie for giving me the Stylish Blog award!  

In other giveaway news Julie at Jaybird Quilts is having this giveaway featuring fabric shoppe.  They are giving away some of Ty Pennington's Impressions so get over there quick!!!  It's open until Thursday!

Also, check out this link for Lindsay's site at Craft Buds for a list of giveaways going on all around bloggy land!

Happy Tuesday to everyone!

Cassey 

 

Do you ever just have one of those days...

...or in my case weeks?  I have been so sick and then busy (because of being sick) that this past week has been a blur.  My house is in shambles partly because I have a 4 yr old and partly because I do not have a dining room table at the moment.  I just feel so discombobulated and it is driving me crazy!  I am thankful that I purchased the extra protection plan on the new dining room table so that it was able to be taken away in order to be refinished.  New furniture and small things (such as kids and pets) do not live harmoniously as I am slowly learning.  I was so hopeful for a productive weekend of sewing which I think I somewhat had but then when I woke up today I felt like I didn't have a weekend at all because I was sewing all weekend.  Ok, so maybe I'm just in a funk.  Nothing seems to be making me happy at the moment.

I did manage to finish 3 sets of blocks so that is good.   They were all for the Christmas Fabric Bee I'm in.

First up were Fairly Merry's self designed blocks:

They were a lot of work but she very kindly had done all of the cutting for us!  It was nice to be able to just dig right in!  These went out today so they should be home soon.

Next were mod mosaic blocks for Spontaneous Threads:

I have another one but I didn't have enough of the white sashing for the outer border.  Luckily, I had some of this same fabric on order so I am hoping it will come soon and I can finish up the second block too.  These are April blocks so I'm good for time.  This was a first for this type of block so I probably was not as conservative as I could have been with the white.  It was a lot of fun!

Finally, were Toerintx's blocks.  She requested pictorial blocks...uh oh, that is completely foreign to me!  I racked my brain for days trying to come up with an idea.  I drew up a few ideas and settled on a juggling elf.  GOOD NEWS: It came out exactly as I had drawn it.  BAD NEWS: I am not the best at drawing.  I have been told that it looks "folksy" which I have decided I am going with rather than "goofy" as was my word for it.  Either way, I hope it is ok.  It was so much fun to do.  I just wish I was better at drawing.

And for a second block for Erin I made a quick wonky star (something I have had lots of practice at.)

These are on their way home as well!

On Saturday I received fabrics for 2 other bees I'm in and luckily I have now had experience making both types of the blocks requested!  Hopefully, I can knock those out this week.

I should have another set of March blocks to share but unfortunately the fabric came up missing!  Very strange!  After 7 days of having not received it I contacted the sender and she said she had received a "Return to Sender" package which was the one she sent to me but the fabric wasn't in it.  I believe she sent out a replacement package last week but I still haven't gotten it.  I feel really bad.  That hasn't happened to me before.  Hopefully the second package will come soon.

How did everyone else fare this weekend?

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!

My little one turns 4 on Saturday!  It's amazing how quickly time flies.  This year she is getting totally spoiled...but I guess that's what happens when there's only one.  We are huge hockey fans and yesterday she had a special visit at her "school" (aka daycare) from Slapshot, the Washington Capitals Mascot. He was fantastic!

And here is her birthday dress I made.  I am so stinkin proud of this dress!  It is my first garment...ok so maybe it was an easy pattern but it was easy enough that I will totally try to make more clothes for her!  What makes it even nicer is that she LOVES it!  Normally she's "meh" about the things I make her but this was a winner from the start.  I used Fandango by Kate Spain.

I've been busy with birthday plans this week so I haven't had a chance to catch up with my bee blocks which makes me feel like a slacker but oh well.

Right now I am just enjoying having this time with my baby and relishing the nice weather!  There was enough daylight this evening when I got home that we were able to play outside for an hour.  It is so nice to see green again!  

So sweet and nice looking

 ah, that's more like the girl I know.

Sorry still new at this blogging stuff. I have no idea how to line my pictures up right.

Have a happy Friday everyone...and enjoy the weekend!

I am so smart it hurts sometimes!

Toot toot!  Did I forget to mention that being humble is not one of my traits???  Ok, so last night while I was randomly quilting a pillow top for my daughter and increasingly getting tired of changing my stitch length at the start and stop of each line - especially from doing this...



I had a light bulb go off!  I felt like I could take on Watson and win!!!  Maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration (the beating Watson part not the part about being a pure genius).  I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner! 
I programmed the stitches into my machine! Ok, so am I smart or just late to the game???  Once it hit me I couldn't contain my excitement.  I had to tell everyone who would listen which interrupted my husband watching the hockey game and my daughter who was almost asleep.  Let me tell you they were thrilled (on the inside apparently). So now I don't dread stopping and starting while quilting.  I just leave my programmed stitch menu up and tap the stitch I want once instead of hitting the stitch length button like 4 or 5 times for each stop and start!

That was my breakthrough for last night.  Are there any other smarties out there who have had a brilliant epiphany they would like to share????  I am always open to tricks & tips!

Here is the finished pillow.  It is for my LO.

Made using Miss Print's Not Your Traditional Log Cabin Pillow Tutorial

She begged me to buy her enough Hello Kitty fabric to make her a pillow...me being the crafty mom that I am had to make it with a pretty quilted top.  Her favorite part...the back.  Oh well, lesson learned.  I could have just sewed two pieces of the HK fabric together and been done with it.   

I still think this is much cuter!

I also broke out the embroidery unit for my machine.  It's been collecting some serious dust.  It has been nice to have when I want to embroider baby gifts or wedding gifts but I don't get much use out of it.  I added this little border pattern to the left side.

I also did a little free motion in the right corner but as you can see that is well hidden in these photos. It was just shameful!  That will definitely take more practice...by the looks of it we're talking YEARS of practice!  I've read all kinds of tips on how to successfully do it but it's like my brain, hands, and feet aren't connecting when it's go time.

Happy Fat Tuesday all!

Sewing Marathon

That sums up my weekend pretty well!  I didn't remember until Wednesday that in passing conversation I had told my best friends mom that I would make her a set of place mats for her birthday on March 8th.  In January when I made the offer, March seemed so far away...fast forward to last week.  So this past weekend was do or die time.  I went to my LQS on Thusday at lunch and bought 3 yards of assorted fabrics without knowing how much I would need as I didn't have a design in mind yet.  Friday after work I quickly sketched out an idea then headed to JoAnn's for backing and applique fabric...another 3 yards later I was set to sew.  However, after getting home that night my daughter had other plans for me...so bright and early Saturday morning (by this I mean 9-ish) I finally sat down to work.  By 10:30 last night I had finished 8 placemats!  That has to be some kind of record, right???  I was also very pleased to find out that I didn't buy too much material which is normally the case...I only had about a 1/2 yard of ivory left.

Sorry for the overexposure...it was 11 pm and I was beat.  The green looks way greener in the pictures than in RL which I think is also giving the backing a greenish color.  In actuality the backing is brown and tan.

Although I don't expect the dog will be dining at the table I couldn't leave her out...maybe she can use it for her dog dish.

Happy Birthday Ms. Vickie!

My binding can still use a TON of practice but it has greatly improved after using some of the tips from this post.






In other news my very smart husband came up with an idea to store my batting where I can still access it and it's out of the way...sometimes you just gotta love redneck engineering...  ;p

This week I hope to finish a pillow that my LO has been patiently waiting for and that's about it.  The hubs and I are going away for a kid-free long weekend with 3 other couples.  Friday can't come soon enough for me this week!  Does anyone else have weekend plans they can't wait for?