Sunday, August 30, 2009

OOPS, I Did It Again!


Designer: Jardin Prive

Need I say more ~ Would you believe that I pressed "ADD TO CART" a mere 20 minutes after posting my last post! Really now, how could I resist?

I am convinced that the Dave Barry quote, found on Julie's blog, is true:

"There is a fine line between hobby and mental illness"

I must thank Jeanne whose post could not have made it easier for me to purchase My Lady's Quaker, thanks Jeanne!

It was comforting to read all of your comments to my Ambitious or Absurd post and as Gabi stated, we are not absurd we are merely "ambitious collectors" ~ sounds good to me.

To justify my many purchases I shall share with you a picture of my most recent finish:


OOPS...battery died, no pictures today! (and that's the truth)


Until next time...

Monday, August 24, 2009

Ambitious or Absurd? You Decide...

Do you remember back in January I set out on that endless journey to complete my first HAED titled, Wintery Heirloom? No need to get excited, I am not here to post that I completed that monster of a project. In fact, I have made very little progress:

January 2009

August 2009

What is wrong with me? Why can't I sit down and stitch on this?

Could it be that I was too busy contemplating my next HAED purchase?


Or, maybe this beauty…


Struggling to put needle to fabric on Wintery Heirloom one would wonder why I managed to press ADD TO CART becoming the proud owner of both designs!

Let me state this very clearly “I have BIG DREAMS of completing A Moment To Cherish before one of my sons decides to marry”~ With a 20 and 22 year old, I think (hope) I still have time!

But WAIT... did I have BIG DREAMS of completing that Folk Art Wedding Quilt for one of the boys? A beautiful block of the month by Robyn Pandolph. I believe I did, and over the course of about 4 years, I have managed to complete 4 of the 12 blocks…

Folk Art Wedding Quilt
Robyn Pandolph Block of the Month

This does not really qualify as “progress” now does it? Actually, I have not worked on this quilt for about 3 years. So much hand appliqué, so little time (or maybe interest)!

Much like the Bermuda Triangle many of my projects have become a modern mystery, disappearing into that “Stitcher’s Triangle” ~ a black hole that defies explanation.

So why, why, why do I continue to buy, buy, buy???

Blackbird Design: I Thee Wed
M Design: Family Tree


Ambitious OR Absurd? I will let you decide!

  • Ambitious: Having or controlled by ambition
  • Ambition: The desire for personal achievement
  • Absurd: Ridiculously unreasonable, unsound

Yes, I do manage to complete some projects ~ usually those small ones. It's off to the Post Office with these two exchanges!



Until next time...

Monday, August 10, 2009

One Of The Best Days Of My Life ~

August 10, 1987 ~ Yes, one of the very BEST days of my entire life!

HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY GARRETT !!!

Hey Garrett, in honor of your birthday I dedicate this post to you and wish you a very happy birthday.

Here are a few memorable pictures that are certain to make you smile as you ponder this question:

"Why is she doing this?":D

Answer: "Because IL&IMY"

Your very first picture

Puppy OR Person?


Garrett (it's a person)
Monday August 10, 1987
6:07 PM
9 lbs 8oz ~ 22 inches

(you look like Lily)


Here are some notable facts from 1987:

1) You were born :D
2) Ronald Regan was President
3) George Bush was Vice-President
4) Popular song: "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" Whitney Houston
5) Hit Movie: Fatal Attraction
6) Gas was .87 per gallon (is that possible?)
7) Stamp cost .22 cents
8) New car cost 9,293.
9) New home cost 129,000


You were born under the year of the Rabbit ~ You are the kind of person people like to be around ~ You are affectionate, obliging, and always pleasant ~Being cautious and conservative, makes you successful in business.


I would agree that you are all that and more!

Adorable At 8 Months

And yes, you were dining on the dog food!

Cute At ONE


When I grow up I want to be...

A Mickey Mouse Fire Chief

Had I known where life would take you I would have propped you up at a desk, diligently working on the computer, with a poster of Time Square taped to the window before snapping this picture.

I really do not know where the time went:

When you get home from work tonight maybe you and Drew can break out the Arts & Craft box and update this with your larger "rainbow hands" and send it to me! :D


Wishing you a wonderful birthday!!!!


And remember...


Have a great day and an exciting, rewarding, happy, healthy and safe year ahead!


IL&IMY, always!

MOM

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Summer Exchanges

Two wonderful exchanges arrived on my doorstep. The first was a Fair & Square exchange that was sent by Darla. She stitched me the cutest design taken from the Gift of Stitching magazine (great online magazine). I just love that there is a little dog and that she changed the design up a bit and added my initials. Thank you so much Darla for the wonderful blocks!


Fair & Square #14
Stitched by: Darla

The next exchange piece was from Moni who was my stitching partner in the FTT: Seasonal Exchange Summer rotation. Moni stitched a decorative hanging heart with a strawberry motif. The backing fabric on this is truly perfect; it has tiny strawberries growing from the vine. I love pieces like this that I can easily display on door handles, knobs, or pegs. This beauty is hanging from a peg on my hall tree.

In addition, Moni treated me to a very generous piece of fabric, a pretty piece of backing fabric, ribbon, variegated floss, floral buttons, 2 wonderful patterns, and a delicate and very pretty crochet sachet that has a scented heart shaped soap inside. I venture to guess that Moni made this, it is beautiful! A special thank you to Moni for making this summer exchange extra special.

FTT: Seasonal Exchange ~ Summer
Stitched by: Moni


So, what did I stitch for Moni?

This is the first time that I finished a piece as a fabric basket. I received one from Chris back in the summer of 2007 and loved it. It only took me 2 years to finally get around to making one myself!

FTT: Seasonal Exchange ~ Summer
Designer: LHN
Design: Season of Growth
Stitched for: Moni

Okay, are you wondering how I remembered "who sent me what" over 2 years ago? I have a horrendous memory so I assure you that I did not rely on that! When I first entered the world of exchanging, I started a photo album to document the exchanges that I sent and received:

I do have the pictures on the computer but this book has become a great resource and a source of enjoyment. Sometimes I just like to grab the album and a cup of coffee (naturally), sit on the couch and flip through it.


In my last post I showed you the beautiful squares that I received from Jill in the F&S Summer Exchange. Let me share with you the squares that I sent her ~

Fair & Square Summer
Designer: Prairie Schooler
Design: A Prairie Year Book #13
Stitched for: Jill F.

Life is GOOD…my Primitive Wizard of Oz arrived and I rushed to pick it up. I would start it TONIGHT however, I was unable to get the fabric and must wait until that gets ordered. Jenn, keep those “FYI” links coming and thanks again for this one.

For now I shall leave you with this "Wishing Custom"...

JUG
When blowing into a jug, if you can get a sound on the first try, make a wish.

Until next time...