Key to Quilting: Resources

Mike and I spent a few hours this past Saturday at my favorite sewing shop.  I think he enjoyed it as much as I did.  While speaking with the lovely ladies who work there, I had a revelation - I don't know very much about quilting!  Yep, so I am planning on taking a beginner's quilting course this summer.  I am so excited!  The ladies I spoke with know so many simple things that are life savers when it comes to quilting.  I felt a bit silly explaining some of my issues with my first quilt, but they were so helpful and have given me my quilting mojo back.  I am going to put away the Christmas quilt I was working on and try to handle some smaller projects until I begin my Summer classes and hopefully after my quilting class I can finish it up the right way.  (P.S. - Spring classes are officially over, thank goodness!) 

Also, I found a few things I need/really want for my birthday. ;) Hint hint to the hubby!

Horn of America sewing cabinet

Darning foot

Ruffler attachment...this baby is awesome!

Walking foot

Plus any and all Moda fabrics and various patterns by lovely people like Camille Roskelly, Sweetwater, Fig Tree Quilts, and many more...what's a girl to do if she can't dream? Lol!

Lesson learned!  Use your resources...local shops, relatives who quilt, internet videos, blogs, google...whatever it takes!  Success is at your finger tips, you just have to reach for it!

So until next time, I wish you much peace, love, and quilting!

Jamye

Fun in the Sun

This past weekend was so beautiful outside, I think we only stayed in the house long enough to eat breakfast.  On Saturday, we went to visit Kelly and Ivan at their home and the kids got to go swimming. 

Then on Sunday, we met up with the Gomez family and all of the kids got to ride rides and play games.

 

 They had just come back from being upside down!

All together it was a great day!  I hope to have more just like them this summer...minus the awful sunburn I got for forgetting the sunscreen :( OUCH!

 

Brittney and Daddy

Logan wouldn't pose with Sharky lol!

Brittney playing in the splash park!

There is so much to do in Kemah for people of all ages!  For more information on Kemah click here.   

***Aerial photo borrowed from the Kemah Boardwalk official website.

Jamye

April 2nd

April 2nd is a day that is so important in my family!  It is Brittney's birthday, my nephew Kameron's birthday, and my Mom and Dad's Anniversary!  Along with all of these wonderful things, April 2nd is now World Autism Awareness Day.  My nephew Kaden has Asperger's Syndrome, which is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.  I think my nephew is awesome, so World Autism Awareness Day must be extremely AWESOME!  You should support Autism Awareness everyday...there are many ways to show support!  You can visit Autism Speaks here to find out how you can help and/or you could purchase the Piece by Piece Scentsy warmer and 100% of net proceeds go directly to Autism Speaks.

You never know, but you just may be able to help some family like this. :)  P.S. - Kaden is in the red shirt.

*I am not a Scentsy salesperson and am in no way affiliated with Scentsy or Autism speaks, I just think it's a rocking idea and support this message :)

Jamye

Spring is in the Air!

I am so happy this time of year; Spring and summer are my seasons!  There is something about warm weather that just makes me goofy and enjoy life a tiny bit more.  Maybe it is because we get to be more social during those seasons...all I know is I am one happy girl!

Mike and I have been very busy with spring cleaning, landscaping, and a surprise bedroom make-over for Brittney's 6th birthday present. (Before and after pictures soon, I promise!)  We have also decided that now is the time to finally get back into shape and make some serious lifestyle changes. (Before and after pictures? Maybe not lol!)  We have been eating healthy and have been losing weight and are about to start P90X.  I am so nervous.  I had tried P90X about three years ago and it is outrageously intense, but I am ready this time.  No pain, no gain!  I'm feeling the same way about school too; if I can tough it up and take classes all summer I will finally finish in August 2012!  I can't wait until then...my life will finally be semi-normal.  Then I will have plenty time for peace, love, and quilting!

Jamye

My life is BANANAS!

My life has been out of control!  Work has been busy, school has been intense, and on the homefront everything has been going nonstop.  At work we have won two awards that will be presented at the Texas Water 2011 conference.  I am so proud of my work family for being awesome and loving what we do so much that we are capable of awards!

School has been test after test and the difficulty of the material is getting harder and harder.  I will just have to push forward and battle through the storm per se.  I only have one and a half years left and then I will be able to do whatever I want to do.  I will finally be able to quilt when I want to, plant my garden, buy a boat, keep my house clean, cuddle with my loves, and have a baby!

Mike and I have started a lifestyle change...I won't say diet, because diet sounds so temporary and I am hoping for a more permanent change.  I have to get back to my goal weight by our Frio River trip in June.  So far it has been going great! I can't wait until June...doesn't the Frio River look so appealing!  (Picture borrowed from tripadvisor.com.)

At home we have been planning our landscaping and spring cleaning like crazy!  I have boxes of toys and clothes that are being donated or passed on to people who can use them...making room for new clothes and toys (Brittney's birthday is right around the corner).  Next year we plan on tearing down our deck and replacing it with pavers or concrete.  If we do the concrete my hubby is going to decorative saw it!  It would look awesome!  I have also been planning the interior design for the house, which is so hard because the possibilities are endless and I am bad at making decisions!

We have added two more family members to the fish tank...a yellow tang and a banded serpent starfish!

I will post some before and after pictures of the house as soon as I get some decorating actually done!  Until then I wish you much peace, love, and springtime goodness!

Jamye

Stich in the Ditch

I have been steadily sewing my quilt together using the stich in ditch method.  I have to say it is quite hard to maneuver the whole quilt around.  I can see now why you would want a quilting frame.  I will probably have to invest in one of those babies!  Until then, I will continue to do it the hard way (as shown below lol).  It's not so bad, as long as I am making progress I will be happy!

Progress is happening all over my house, not just in my sewing room! :)  I have been cleaning and organizing like a crazy person.  We are beginning to decorate our house...finally!  Mike has been making us a beautiful fish tank with cute little fishies for me to look at!  Today we officially adopted two clown fishes...aren't they cute!

Thank you my sweet valentine for your hard work on the fish tank!  I love it and I know the kids do too!

Now I must go study...hopefully everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day!  As long as I am snuggling with my honey I know I will. ;)

Jamye

Quilt Sandwich: Attempt #2

Finally, I can declare success!!!!!  After a little doctoring of the seams and straightening my far right edge, I was able to finally layer my quilt into a beautiful (almost edible) sandwich.  With a little help from some spray-on quilt baste and curved safety pins, my layers are securely fastened together patiently waiting for me to stitch it into its permanent position.  Ah...relief at last!

P.S. - Sorry Mom for accidentally calling you to ask you a sewing question at dang near midnight.  I promise I had no clue what time it was.  (She said she wasn't asleep, but she may have wanted to protect me from feeling guilty.  The world may never know!)

Update on the home front: 

1.  I had my Lasik eye procedure on January 29th and it went very well.  Preliminary results show 20-15 vision! Yay! 

2.  Mom and Dad donated their almost new king sized mattress to me and the hubby and we are now sleeping on high cotton...literally!  It is a huge step from a queen sized mattress sitting on the floor to a king sized on a bedframe.  Our bedroom is finally looking good.  Now for the rest of the house...I am thinking rustic meets cottage style?  Who knows, but I sure am excited!

3.  It is so cold here in Texas!  Forecasts of snow for the end of the week...I sure hope so!  I feel so bad for everyone who is at risk of becoming a human popsicle...especially my poor hubby who had to work yesterday and tonight outside.  Poor thing said it was 19 degrees last night. 

4.  Saving the most important for last.  I spoke to my oldest brother two days ago and he was in New Jersey waiting to fly to Virginia.  He will be deploying soon so I wanted to wish him safety and hope he knows how proud of him we are and how much we already miss him.  Love you Jeff...remember we are with you no matter where you are!

Jamye