Quilting Retreat Day 2

Our quilting retreat day 2 was really awesome. Mom and I went to church early and then we came back and sewed. We got the tops done and then went to lunch and the fabric store. We all spent quite a bit, but Hancock's was having all their notions, fleece. and batting on sale for 50% off. By last night about 5:30 I had put on two bindings as seen in the photos below of our finished table runners. Each tablerunner is made up of a strada A and a strada B. We made 5 sets of A & B, then we mixed them up so no two A's would go with the same B's. So each tablerunner is completely different then the next. They have a really cool saying my mom embroidered on the back too. Leslie and I quilted them as mom basted. We got 8 basted and quilted, two with bindings, and 10 that need to be basted and quilted, but we had to clean up as my mom needed to head home.


This is Paul's mom Leslie and Missy the dog in our sewing arrangement. We were in the living room and my mom was on the kitchen table.



We had the ironing board set up on one end of the kitchen and the cutting mat on the kitchen counter. My mom is at the table working on embroidery for the backs of the table runners.

It was a long couple days, but we got a lot accomplished.

Quilting Retreat Day 1

Well today was the first day my mom, Leslie - Paul's mom, and I planned to sew the tablerunners for our wedding. Last night, Paul, my dad, and my little brother Ed, headed home to the ranch as it was opening weekend of deer season. I slept in this morning and then finished up the bag I made at class the last two nights. It is really cool, but you'll have to wait to see pictures as Paul took the camera. Leslie and I had lunch together and then did some shopping. We moved the furniture and brought sewing tables into the living room. We set up the ironing board, our machines, and about 4 started sewing. We got the stratta's done in about 2 hours. Mom came after she got off work, so it was about 5:30. She set up her embroidery machine and started working on the backs. We did take a break for supper, but otherwise we worked straight through. We got 5 tops completely done, 15 more that the main part is done, but they need borders, and there are 6 backs that still need to be done. Then we have to put the batting in and quilt and put the binding on. The project is coming along pretty well, so I'm excited. Hopefully when Paul gets home I can take pictures and show our progress.

Wedding Dress Shopping!

So the big weekend to go wedding dress shopping arrived quicker than I expected. This will probably be a long post about the weekend, but I offer an incentive at the end to those who make it through. Friday I met my mom and we headed down the road. I dropped my pickup off at my brother and sister in law's place, so I would have a way home on Mon. We met my dad in Philip (the nearest town) so he could take some stuff home and we were on our way. We stopped a couple times to eat, visit my aunt, and were to my friends house by 9PM Friday night. Jon and Nichole have been married 2 years and we planned to spend the weekend with with them and Nich is one of my bridesmaids, so she was going to take us to the dress shops.
Sat. morning we were up early and headed to a quilt shop in another small town. It was pretty cool and had Lazy Girl bags made up, so I got the towne purse and summer tote patterns. Then we were off to the first store Interlude. It was a nice shop with huge private rooms. I really enjoyed trying on dresses there, but didn't find anything I remotely liked. My friend Angie (the other bridesmaid) and her one year old son Carter joined us. They live in Albert Lea MN, so had about a 3 hour drive to meet us. We went to the second store, Ido2 which was in the same strip mall. It had dresses that were no longer being made and couldn't be ordered. I had my heart set on a white dress with straps. Those were my only two qualifiers, and reasonable priced. My friends brought me lots of dresses and I finally tried on an ivory one and although I wasn't crazy about it, it looked really nice on me. It was a little tight, but could be altered. Angie loved it and I called it the rope dress. It had big loops of cording that reminded me of rope. She even made me realize I look like a ghost in white and ivory was a lot better color on me. I tried on a few more and was tired. Since it was noon their time (we had changed time zones so were an hour ahead), we decided to go eat. We had requested a place that we don't have in Rapid. They have Panera bread which was awesome. My mom's cousin Sue and her mom Vi met us there and ate. Since I was kind of disappointed in what I had seen all morning, I decided I needed a break. We went to the mall and walked around, looked at the western store, and went to places like Yonkers and Macy's that we don't have. My mom looked at the fancy dress section of Yonkers and found a dress she loved, but it was 2 sizes too big. It was on clearance, so I said well it doesn't hurt to ask if they have it in your size. She did and they had one in Omaha. She didn't know if she should get the first dress she found, but she loved it, so I told her go for it. Purple is the color, that won't change and it won't matter what shade compared to the girls dresses. It is on order and should be shipped to my parents this week. After we left the mall we went to a place called Kathryn and Co. When we walked in they asked if we had an appointment. I didn't, because Nich called to check if we needed one and they said no, so I didn't make one. Well they might be able to find time for us, but they did close at 5. It was like 3:15! I think I tried on 3 dresses there and was ready to leave. I was not impressed. I mean seriously, we just wanted to look and try a few on, not take over. This was the only place they wouldn't let us take pictures. By this point my mom was looking at dresses on the clearance rack that we could use the train and make a new top to go with them! We ended up having enough time to go to the Dutch Rose quilt shop. It was an interesting little shop, but not many samples and not real welcoming. We only had 15 min. so we went through fast. Then we went to David's Bridal. I had a 4:15pm appointment and we spent a good hour and a half trying on dresses. Lots of them were neat, but didn't have all the elements I really wanted. We finally ended up leaving. My mom went to spend the night with her cousin Sue who had come out from SF and Nich, Angie, Carter, and I went back to Nich's. She had made supper for us and we all relaxed and caught up on our lives. It's been a year and a half since we were all together. I emailed pictures of the rope dress to my dad to see what he thought and later called and he liked it as did Jim. My friends met Paul at Nich and Jon's wedding and then they came out last summer and spent a weekend here with us which was fun, but that was before Carter. He is such a cutie and was so good while I was trying on dresses! We played with him and just had a relaxing night. Angie is a very well prepared, great parent and I have so much respect for all her mothering skills. Nich and I met in college our sophomore year at SDSU and lived together our Junior year, Angie and I met our freshman year in 4-H and she ended up getting an apartment with Nich and I and her roommate Sarah our senior year. Since we graduated 5 years ago, you can tell we've been friends a long time. Angie even set Nich up with her husband Jon and Nich tried to tell me he was interested in me when we were living together and he would come over all the time. So anyway, we stayed over and because of the time change were up at 6 the next morning.
We took our time getting ready and I took Angie's measurements. Then Angie and Carter had to head home about 9. Nich and Jon headed another direction to visit a high school friend, and I headed back to Sioux Falls to pick up my mom and have breakfast with Vi's family. By noon we hit the ground running. Mom and I had discussed the dress situation and I wanted to look at the possibility of making it. We found patterns and looked at fabric. We started at Mills End Fabrics and found a lot of fabric, some for my table runners, some for the landscape cross banner for the church, and some for coasters for the guests. I also found the LGD pattern City Bag. Then we headed to Joann Fabrics, since we don't have one, this was major for us. They have tons of lace and stuff to put on dresses. I also found a really cool ivory fuzzy fabric to make a jacket out of. While there we found purple satin, lining, and a sparkly satin to make the dresses for the bridesmaids. It was 60% off!!! We also found more fabric for the church banner. We really looked at all the possibilities for making my dress too. Then it was on to Michaels where we found the heart shape grapevine wreaths I wanted to decorate with and the invitations. We don't have one of these either so it was fun for us. We went back to the mall and did some more looking too. Then it was back out to Jon and Nich's for the evening. We discussed the day and took Nich's measurements for the dress. Mom also installed the My Label software program on her computer so we could do the 3D model of the girls measurements. When Jon got home from Symphony, we discussed the music for the wedding. He is going to play the cello for a couple of the special parts.
Monday morning mom and I got going again early. We went back to the Dutch Rose quilt shop and found a few things we needed. Then on to Heirloom Creations. I would call it the Cabela's of quilt shops in SF. They have a ton of gorgeous fabric, but also sell Janome, Bernina, and Viking sewing machines. I found the Miranda bag pattern! I was so excited. I also got the perfect colored thread to quilt my YBR quilts. Then we had to stop at Mills End again for a few more pieces of fabric. I found the coolest fabric there, but if you want to see what it looks like you'll have to email me your snail mail address so I can send the first three people to email me a little piece of it. It's awesome!!!
Then we went on to the dress shop Ido2. I tried on the rope dress again and finally decided that with a few alterations from mom, the price was right, and I liked it, that it would be my dress, so we brought it home. Since I'm not showing Paul until the wedding, you'll have to email me if you would like to see the pictures. I'm not posting them until after the wedding. We were ready to head home by then, so we got on the road about noon. We stopped in Mitchell and went to the Pin Cushion where I found the perfect fabric for another gift for the wedding. Then over to Cabela's. I needed to pick up a gift for Paul for X-mas. I just happened to walk by the shoe section and find purple cowboy boots, on sale that were calling my name! I had to have them, so I got them. I am so pumped that I finally found them. I had been searching all weekend for them. Then on to our next stop, Chamberlain, where they have the most incredible shop for a tiny town. I got some more gorgeous purples and drooled a lot! We also stopped at the western store there, where I found two cheap pairs of jeans/dress pants that fit perfectly.
We made it back to my brothers about 6:30 and he fed us supper and we looked through their wedding pictures. I left his house about 7:30 and made it home at 9. I was completely exhausted, but Paul was asleep, so I just went to bed too.
Last night after a long day at work, I washed all my fabric and weighted it. I brought home 16 pounds of fabric! My stack was probably 2 feet high of just the quilting fabrics. I spent time rearranging my sewing studio and getting ready to sew for tonight. I also worked on taking out the quilting on the baby size YBR. Tonight I have to stop and get batting and then I need to make the tubes for the class I have tomorrow night. It's going to be a fun one, as the weaving makes a bag this time.
I'm still not adjusted to the time change since we gained an hour coming home, so I am still trying to get into the swing of things. I'll try to better at posting, so it doesn't get so long next time!

Purple YBR Baby Quilt

Well I guess I have been incognito for a while. Friday night I went to a Sewing Slumber Party. I got my b/w quilt pin basted and spray basted this YBR quilt. It was just some left over purple fat quarters I had that didn't match anything so I thought I could practice FMQ . The blue really does have purple in it, but reads blue in the quilt. I free motion quilted it and had a lot of trouble with tension, thread shedding, and uneven stippling. I did start stippling about 11, so that might have had something to do with it. I am in the process of taking it all out, because it is too loose. I'll just practice more!

I love the swirly fabric on the borders and it is on the back too. Sat. I worked 9-3 and then went home with my mom. We went to the hall and the church and measured and decided what flowers, decorations, and such we would need. I also embroidered a little thing to put on the back of the tablerunners. We came back to Rapid Sun. night as she had to work this week while the boss was in Houston. We stopped at my brother and sister in laws and picked up some books on wedding planning. My brother gave me all kinds of advice and things to know and showed me the new stuff they got for their wedding. He was like a little kid at Christmas. Monday I woke up feeling crappy, so I stayed home and slept all day. I wanted to sew, but used what little energy I did have to work on my term paper. I got it done and ready to proof yesterday.

Tues. night we went to Scheel's and Paul bought the rifle he really wanted so he could use it for hunting next weekend. Last night I went with my mom to look for wedding stuff. We mostly just looked, but it was still fun. I am so looking forward to going to Sioux Falls tomorrow to look for my dress. It's going to be a great fun weekend.

Anniversary Supper

Tuesday Paul and I celebrated 3 years of dating. We go out to eat quite often, but we never go anywhere fancy. We went to a place about 20 miles from home called The Fireside Inn. You eat by the fireplace and they have the best prime rib! It's outrageously expensive for our area, so we don't go there except maybe once or twice a year. They start with ham and bean or spicy clam bisque soup, then spinach salad with mushrooms and a special dressing or a house salad, dinner rolls, and then the meal prime rib with choice of potato. We never look at the menu, that's what we always have. Well my friend just happened to be our waitress and wouldn't you know they are out of prime rib! I thought Paul was going to die! He ended up having the New York strip and I had Filet Mignon, but still it just wasn't the same. We were both disappointed, but they did give us each a free dessert. Paul took me there on our 2nd date and it was the first time I was there. It is just an awesome restaurant. It's one of those only on special occasions, type of places.
Last night I had really good intentions of working on my term paper that is due next week. Well wouldn't you know we ended up going to wal-mart and supper, so it was 8 when we got home. I was too tired to concentrate on writing a paper! I'm hoping tonight that once I pack my stuff I can get a good start on it.
Tomorrow night is the Sewing Slumber Party at the Sewing Center. I'm planning to work on my b/w quilt and get it basted and hopefully baste the purple quilt too and then probably quilt one or both of them, depending on how long it takes me. We will have supper and snacks there and quilt from 6-midnight! Should be lots of fun, but I'm not looking forward to working at the store the next morning. After work I'm going to my parents for the weekend. Should be lots of fun, but a lot going on too.

Living room to Kitchen

This summer we spent fixing up the house. Paul put in granite/absolute black granite/and pink marble tile in the kitchen, laminate hardwood in the room downstairs (my sewing room), and hardwood in the living room, and tile in the entry way to the house. I'm including some pictures so you can see his work. We also got a new table and chair set for the kitchen, new couch, and new chair which you can see in the picture. This is where the hardwood meets the kitchen tile.

Hardwood Floor

This is the beautiful hardwood in the living room.

Kitchen Tile

This is the kitchen tile and it meets up with the other side of the dining room where there is the same tile square.

Entryway tile

This is the entry tile he got done a couple weekends ago. We are replacing the door and screen pretty soon too. We got them this weekend, but it has to be stained first. It will be in before winter though. Paul did a great job of framing it out and then putting in the tile with the pattern.

Stairs

These are the new oak steps that Paul put in to the basement this weekend. He did an awesome job and redoing them. He still has to stain them, but that will be when we aren't going to walk on them. Paul will do the ones upstairs too, but that will be another weekend.

Western Purse

Here' the other side of the purse with a nice fussy cut horse pocket. I'm definately digging this new purse. I think I'm done for a while until I get another wim, or maybe when I get the Miranda bag pattern.

New Western Purse

Last weekend I decided I needed a new purse, so I put some more alterations into the pattern I had already made a couple times and came up with this one. I'm in love with it as it is so way cute and totally me. I used three fat quarters and a 1/4 yard of black fabric to make it. I know Kristie will be coming to find me now!

Fat 8th Quilt

I finally got my pictures downloaded to webshots of the projects I worked on last week. This is the Fat 8th wall hanging I made. It is using the four blocks I got back for an exchange I did on Carol Doak's site. We had to send a half yard, cut up into 4 pieces to the host, then we were put in a group of five and I had to make one of Carol's blocks for each of them. Tiffany, Sherry, Monica, and Mary made my blocks. The fabric I sent was the same as the border and backing. I really love this fabric.

Sew Crazy

This is my crazy week. Monday I sewed like crazy to get the wall hanging I was working on completed It is from the blocks I got in the Fat 8th swap. I got it quilted and bound! Then I packed my stuff for Loopy Ladies. Last night I went to Loopy Ladies serger club. We learned how to do blind hems. I even hemmed my pants to wear today! I got home relatively early, but my computer through a hissy fit, so I just went to bed. Tonight is the big Kick Off party for the 25th Anniversary of the Sewing Center. My mom works there and I work occasionally when they need help. Tonight they are demonstrating all the different feet for sewing machines. I made some of the samples, so I'm excited to see how they are used. Tomorrow night is the big intro of My Label Software by Bernina. The Bernina and Janome reps will both be there tonight, so I'm hoping to learn from them. I can't wait to find out more about the My Label software as I enjoy making garments and it would be great if they would fit me better. We'll see how it goes. I'm off to the land of sewing supplies.

Four ... Getting to Know Each Other

Here are the Fours.....
Job's I've Had:
1. Speech Communication/English/Spanish Teacher
2. Prior Learning Evaluator
3. Lead Sales Associate at Mt. Rushmore
4. Speech publication assistant for state 4-H office

Movies I (do) Could Watch Over & Over
1. Save the Last Dance
2. Ladder 49
3. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
4. Meet the Fockers

TV Shows I Watch:
1. Private Practice
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Men in Trees
4. Bachelor

Places I've Lived:
1. Milesville, SD
2. Brookings, SD
3. Buffalo, SD
4. Keystone, SD

Favorite Foods:
1. Medium Rare Steak
2. Kettle cooked potato chips
3. Sour cream raisin pie
4. Manicotti

Favorite Colors:
1. Purple
2. Pink
3. Blue
4. Lavendar

Places I'd Love to Be Now:
1. With college friends
2. Sewing room
3. Asleep in my bed
4. Rodeo

Names I like but would not use for my children:
1. Mychael
2. Miaken
3. Dawson
4. Maren

I'm tagging:
Jen
Cindy
Michelle
Maureen
Jill

Office 6

Then there's my computer and all the office supply junk I need to do my job. I have several table toppers I keep changing that go under my phone. This is a fall one. Well there you have it... a tour of my work space. Mind you these quilts are always changing. I have winter ones, spring ones, and change them frequently.

Office 5

This is my my other shelf of stuff. Everything I need for work is online, so I really have nothing to put on these shelves, so I like to decorate. Pictures of Paul and I, calendars, postcards from online friends, my diploma from SDSU (Go Jacks!) , and the birthday calendar for Philip.

Office 4

These are some pictures of friends and family, plus a few of my willow tree statues. I have a large collection at home, but these are from my friends at work, and the couple Paul got me for my birthday last year. Notice the little square in the right hand corner. It is a little wood puzzle Paul's mom gave me that says I love sewing! All the crocheted doilies are from my grandma.

Office 3

This is the quilt I made a couple weeks ago and an irish chain table runner. I also love old barns, so my mom got me the calendar for Christmas.

Office 2

This is my space, I have a woven star table runner on the filing cabinet next to my desk and then the mission statement quilt. Yes the walls are purple and yellow in the pictures. We also have green and light yellow. Our room used to be the graphic designers conference room.

Office 1

Since Jen gave us a few pictures of her office, I thought I would share how I decorate my little cubicle. I share an office with three other people, but there are four offices spaces in our little room. This is a wall hanging that I made last year in a class my mom taught. It is a lot of applique.

October BOM

This is the October Block for the BOM.

September BOM

This is September's Block of the Month for Carol Doak's group. It is 6" square and really easy to make. I think I am going to enjoy using scraps from my B/W quilt.

Lots done!

I seriously feel like I got a lot done on my quilting this week. The other night I wanted to start something, but nothing big, so I went to my UFO pile, which is small in comparison to most, but none the less, still a pile. I took out the Fat 8th swap blocks I received from the Carol Doak group. I think I got them back around the 4th of July and just put them to the side since I was working on other things. Well, I had four blocks that were very different, but one fabric in common. I put a sashing between them, a border around them, had Paul help me take all the paper out, and got it basted all Tues night! It is ready to quilt and I don't have the perfect thread, so I'm waiting till I go to the Sewing Center tomorrow night for Sit and Sew to get just the right one. Last night we ran errands and then I was bushed.
Tonight I offered to make the Sausage Lasagna out of the new Taste of Home magazine. Paul thought that sounded bad, so I told him he had to cook then! He made regular lasagna, which was really good and hit the spot. While he was cooking I took the patterns for the Carol Doak Block of the Month and started working on them. I had zilch intentions of starting it, but she came out with the same pattern in a 6" version, so I decided sometimes I just need a small, can be done in a night project. I am making the out of the black/white scraps I have, so I won't have to buy more fabric. I got the BOM's done for Sept. and Oct. tonight!
Tomorrow night is Sit and Sew. I am going to put the mitered corner on my b/w quilt, pick out thread for the wall hanging, and get advice as to which purple fabrics I should use for my yellow brick road quilts and start cutting if I have time. I know I have way more than I need, but I need advice on all three, so better safe than sorry.

Black White Quilt

Tonight I had the energy to put the second to last border on my black/white quilt. It is the same as the center pieces. The last border is a b/w with squiggles. It has to have mitered corners to look right and so mom is going to help me put those on Friday night at sit and sew. The b/w is accented with a bright pink and I absolutely love it! Even Paul likes it. I am making it queen sized because we want to get a queen bed when we get married and I want it to fit so we'll use it and not just let it hang on the rack. I've been working on this since March when Kay Capps Cross did a workshop on B/W quilts and how color adds texture. This pattern is called Autumnal Texture. The bottom picture shows the brightness of the pink better!

Busy Weekend

It sure was a busy weekend and I didn't really get anything accomplished on my quilting projects. Sat. I had to work from 9-2:30 and then mom and I went to the two fabric stores in town. I picked up samples of the fabrics I want to use to make the bridesmaids dresses. I also picked up fabric for the table runners we are making for the tables at the reception. We got a good start on that project. When I got home we went to supper and the crazy store. We were gone till almost 9:30! Sunday I slept in, the Paul cooked breakfast for me and I went to church. When I got home I cleaned the bathroom, bedroom, and finished up the laundry. I also washed all my purple fabrics I got yesterday. I made two types of bread, an herb one and a sesame and parmesan one. While they were rising, I laid down to watch the race and ended up sleeping for two hours. I guess I needed it. Then I cooked the breads and made a chicken dish and potatos. It was a pretty fancy supper, but I wanted to try some new recipes. Then I did my homework for my class. I got the two quizzes done and I was too tired to sew, so I watched Desperate Housewives instead! Guess it's time for lunch. Glad to hear everyone else got some sewing/quilting in this weekend.

Many Thanks Maureen!

I just want to say a huge thanks to Maureen for the Easy Skillet Chili Mac recipe. I try new recipes all the time. Some Paul likes (he goes back for seconds), some he can't stand (but eats and then has a snack later), and some he really loves (and goes back for 3rds). Maureen's recipe that she shared on Sunday was so easy and I didn't have to go to the store to get anything. I had everything on hand that was needed. That's my kind of recipe. Plus, it was so easy I was able to quickly make it after work and we were done with supper and could enjoy the evening. Thanks again for the wonderful recipe Maureen.
I was so tired last night that after supper I took a hot relaxing bath and then laid down and watched TV all night! I couldn't even bring myself to work on my black and white quilt. I did make a plan though. I need help on the mitered corners of the last borders, so I want to get the 3rd border put on in the next week and then I can go to sit and sew on Fri. night and put the last border on. At the end of the month we are having a Sewing Slumber party, so I should have it all ready to quilt and bind by then. Guess we'll have to see if I can get it all done. I know I'm keeping some of you in suspence of actually seeing the quilt top, but I don't have room to take a picture of it yet. Maybe this weekend. Tonight I'm going with my mom to Spearfish to a Taste of Home show. It's about a 45 min. drive, so it'll be late when we get home. It should be fun and hopefully I'll learn to make some simple dishes.

Black & White Quilt

Tonight I got busy and put the second border on my black/white quilt. It was the pink border that will accent the whole thing. Then I took it up and tried it on the bed. It's at a double size now and I want to make it a queen. I have two more borders to add, so that shouldn't be too bad, but I'm tired tonight, so thought I better quit or I would cut the borders wrong. I've been working on this quilt since March, so I am ready for it to be done. My goal is to have it done by the end of Oct. so I can focus on the wedding stuff. Guess it's time for me to go relax.

The Rings

Everyone I haven't been able to see since we got engaged has been asking what my ring looks like. I tried to take pictures of it on my hand, but it kind of shines the wrong way and the picture doesn't turn out, so I decided to look them up online. The one one the left is my ring, the bottom part being my wedding band that will go on later. We also ordered Paul's ring and picked it up Sat. His is the one on the right. They were both hand made by people his mom works with, so they are the best quality and were personally made for us.

Busy Day

I guess the moon must be right or something, but we had a crazy day. I was up early to go to work and was moving all day. After work mom and I went and looked at patterns, fabric, and colors for the wedding. Then we went to four dress shops and found nothing I liked. I may be making my dress after all. We'll see what happens after I go to Sioux Falls shopping. Paul was going to finish putting in the tile in the entry today. When I got home, I was surprised to find the work trailer in front of the house. And the furniture in front of the garage! To my surprise, they had gone to the tent sale at the furniture store and bought a new couch, chair, kitchen table and four chairs! They were really cheap and good quality and we were badly in need of a new set. They look so good with our new floor. Tonight we went to Paul's grandparents house to show them my ring and Paul's wedding band. We had a nice visit, but I am tired and ready for bed.

Core Values - Gift for Bob

I had this little piece left over from my mission statement quilt. I had made it and then didn't like it with the other three big pieces, so I decided to do them each individually which worked great. I didn't want to just throw this away, so I made a little table topper from it. I gave it to my friend Sandy at work to give to her boss. He liked the one I had made and thought it was neat, so I thought he would like this. He really, truly appreciated it which makes me want to give when people truly appreciate my quilting. I just used my scraps and it was nothing fancy, but he sure liked it and has shown it to a lot of people.

Jim and Adele Hardanger CO Reception Gift

This is the hardanger piece I have been working on for the last several months. It was originally a baby pattern, but I changed it a bit and made it work. It was actually pretty easy and I really enjoyed making it. The only part I didn't enjoy was trying to buy a frame for it. I couldn't find a square one and I had to put something behind it, so I used what I could find. They like it. It's the second hardanger piece I have made and I didn't cut any of the threads!!! I was so excited to get it done on time too.

Mission Statement

This is the Mission Statement Quilt I designed and made for our visit this week. I embroidered it all on mom's machine using software to design it and then put it in the quilt. Everyone who has seen it thinks it's really awesome and I do as well. It turned out better than I expected.

Photos

I made a serious attempt last night at putting pictures of my recent projects on my blog. I have them downloaded on my computer at home and spent time putting them in the right albums and organizing. I thought I would be all talented and put them all in to webshots so you could see them all. Well, after 276 wedding pictures took over an hour to load, I got tired and quit. Wouldn't you know the quilt pictures got moved and weren't in that album any more, so they will have to wait for tonight. Last night I used part of a piece I screwed up earlier and made a little mini table topper out of the core values for NAU and put some decorative stitching around it and gave it to my friend Sandy's boss this morning. He was really appreciative of the gift and it made me feel good to give it to someone who would appreciate the work I put into making it. More pictures to come, but I did put a picture from CO of Paul and I on my blog as well as the link to webshots for pictures from the wedding. Enjoy!

Paul and Moneik

This is a picture of Paul and I at my brothers wedding reception in CO. It kind of shows my ring, but not very good as a close up. We had a great time and really enjoyed our mini-vacation.

I Got A 'You Make Me Smile Award!'

I've made some wonderful friends because of blogging. Their names are Jen and Michelle. They awarded the "Make Me Smile" award to me. Thank you Jen and Michelle!! I like to read their new entries, and to think I just happened upon their blogs accidentally. I really enjoy blogging with both of these ladies and learning more about them. I met Jen through a couple Yahoo groups and our blog sites. We share a love of quilting and I enjoy following her new quilting adventures. She has such a great personality and introduced me to Michelle. Blogging about my quilting and family helps me stay motivated and keeps me quilting! They both tagged me for a MeMe. I have to use the letters of my name to share something about me........so here goes:
M - Majestic

O - Original

N - Neighborly

E - Enthusiastic

I - Imaginary

K - Kindhearted

Now the rules of this MeMe are that I have to tag 6 other people to participate and these people also receive the "You Make Me Smile Award"........so here are my 6:

Jen, Cindy, Maureen, Kristie, Jill, Michelle
You are all awesome bloggers and I enjoy hearing about your lives and quilting.

Mini-Vacation to CO

Well we are back from our mini-vacation. We got in about 8:30 Sunday night and visited a little bit and went to bed. We had a great time. Paul, my mom, and I left Rapid City about 3:30 Friday afternoon. We stopped in Chadron, Alliance, and Sterling before reaching Joes, CO about 10:30 that night. Jim, Addie, and my dad came the other direction and were about 20 min. behind us. They hit a deer about a mile from where were staying. We stayed at this little house near Addie's parents and Sat. went up to her parents and visited. Then we went to the hall and decorated and prepared the food and had a very nice reception. After the reception we went to Addie's parents for supper and then the young people, Jim, Addie, her sister Carla and husband Chris, and Paul and I went to the local bar. My parents and hers stayed home with Carla and Chris's daughter. We had a nice visit and enjoyed being out together. Sunday morning we had breakfast with them and then dad, mom, Paul and I came back to Rapid together. We spent a couple hours in Sidney at the Cabela's there. It was a lot of fun and we each got some new stuff. Paul and I worked on our wish list for there too. We had a really bad waitress at the Pizza Hut and it ended up taking over 1 1/2 for our meal, when it wasn't busy. She spilled marinara on both my parents and it took for ever since she didn't put in our order until after we got our breadsticks. We weren't pleased at all. Last night we spent putting stuff away, sorting laundry, changing the sheets, and boring stuff like that. I'm hoping to get to sew at least for a little while tonight. I sure miss my machine and need to get busy sewing something. Guess it's time for lunch. Thanks Jen for keeping up on us, so we don't fall behind writing. I'll try to find my camera cord tonight and download the pictures from this weekend.

Mission Accomplished

I finally got a lot accomplished this week. Tues. night I worked like a mad woman on my mission statement quilt. It turned out pretty cool. My camera is packed for CO, so I haven't taken a picture of it yet, but I will when I get a chance. There has been a big push at work for everyone to have our mission statement posted in our cubicles because the HLC is coming next week for our accreditation visit. I didn't just want to have a boring old piece of paper on the wall, so when I was home on vacation, I used my mom's embroidery machine/computer software and designed and embroidered the mission statement and core values onto fabric and then made them into a quilt this week. It is the perfect size for my desk area too and turned out pretty cool if I do say so myself.
Last night I talked my FIANCE (I love the new word) into going to Hobby Lobby with me. He's pretty good at picking colors and helping with framing. We picked out a frame, matboard, and hangers for the hardanger picture I made for my brother and his wife for their wedding reception this weekend. I got it all framed and ready to go, just need to wrap it. Today at lunch I did my homework for my principles of selling class. It was actually 2 pretty easy quizzes, so not too much, but I didn't want to have to worry about them this weekend. Paul and I are going with my mom to CO tomorrow for the reception on Sat. My dad is riding down with Jim and Addie and then will come back with us. It's a good 8 hour trip, so I don't think we'll find any fabric/quilt shops open as far as I can tell from my research. I'm sure we'll be stopping at Cabelas though!

Catching up on quilting

I'm really slacking in the quilting department. I need to get busy. I have a embroidered quilt I am making for our accreditation visit next week and it is only a top right now. I guess if I wouldn't have spent so much time on the phone last night I would have actually got it basted. I need to get it done tonight or tomorrow night since I have Sew and Sews on Thurs. and we are leaving for CO on Fri. I am so busy working on articulations and evaluations at work that I can hardly keep my head above water. It sure is a busy week.

Wedding Planning 101

Well we just might pass wedding planning 101! We have talked to the priest, set the date, rented the hall, and told our family. We still have a lot of family to tell, but that will come with time. I called my friends and asked them to be bridesmaids. I'm so excited that they will both come as it is a long distance for both of them. I am swamped with quilting ideas I want to do for the wedding, so I think it is going to be a lot of winter quilting in my future. I am taking the suggestion I got from Jen and Maureen to make quilts for my bridesmaids. I already have a lot of purple fat quarters to make yellow brick road quilts for them. I'm also going to make a banner for the back for the church sacristy and we are going to make tablerunners for the decorations on the tables at the reception. Anyone have other suggestions of quilted things I might make? Mom and I are making the bridesmaid dresses and mine if I don't find one I like. It's late and I've been working on a quilt top all night, so I need to go to bed.

It's Official! I'm Engaged!

Last night Paul and I got engaged! We have been talking about getting married for a while now, but he wanted to ask my dad first. Last night we came home and while I was working on an embroidery project he asked my dad. Then he came to the sewing room and asked me. I had no clue he had the ring or that he was going to ask me, but I was really excited. We went and talked to the priest and have a preliminary time frame of early June for the wedding. I'm so excited and giddy. Today we are on our way to Highmore, another 2 1/2 hours from my parents to a 80th b-day open house for my great aunt, so I'll get to share my news with the family soon. My brother and his wife haven't found out yet, but I'll see them today and let them know. I just couldn't wait to tell the world and you guys about my engagement.

Woven Table Topper Class

Tonight I'm off to a class at the Sewing Center! It is for a woven tabletopper class. I am so excited for it since I had most of the tubes done and only had to finish 9 more. It is small and mom says it can be done in a couple hours. I'm sure looking forward to being with others who are sewing. My sewing studio is overwhelmingly full with the computer boxes and old computer. There is hardly room to move, so I've had a hard time getting motivated. Tonight is the night. I haven't seen my mom in almost 2 weeks either so it will be great to catch up. I updated my profile and my blog, so hopefully it's a lot more user friendly now. I've been reading everyones blogs and they are great. Let's keep up the friendship!

Quilting Motivation

I'm attempting to get my quilting motivation back. I think I lost it when I was getting ready for the wedding. I am working on a mission statement quilt for our accreditation visit at the end of the month and also taking a class tomorrow night on a woven table topper. It will be the same fabrics as my woven star table runner. I'm excited to see if I can get it done in one night. Once this month is over then I can concentrate on my sewing. I'm trying to keep up with everyone on their blogs. So please keep writing.

Monday, September 10, 2007 - Moving

I guess most of you probably have missed me for the last week, but when I got home from the wedding everyone was moving and I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I spent most of the week thinking and finally decided to move over to blogger since I already have a blog set up there. My new address is http://moneik.blogspot.com/
I wrote about the wedding over there and added lots of pictures because it was easier. I'll slowly move my other posts over as well. After the wedding I found out that my good friend at work Karen's dad passed away and the funeral was Tues. about 3 1/2 hours from where I live, so I talked to my mom and she met me half way and we went to the funeral. Turns out that Karen's husband and I have the same great-aunt! It's such a small world! I spent most of Wed. and Thurs. playing catch up at work and trying to get caught up at home. Friday night we moved all the furniture out of the living room. Sat. morning bright and early Paul and I put in hardwood floor. We got about half done and I had to go to Hill City as I had tickets for a Judy Neimeyer trunk show with my mom. Paul's mom helped him finish the floor. They got done about 11 when I got home! I was really disappointed with the trunk show or at least the presenter. I expected her to be a real professional and she wasn't. She was terrible at presenting, read from a powerpoint for most of the night and was really monotonous. Sun. morning mom and I met for church and then I picked my aunt up and we went to Hill City to the Outdoor Quilt Show. They had to move all the quilts inside because it started raining. It was the first year in like 10 that it rained. We went through the vendors and I found a lot of fat quarters for a yellow brick road I am going to make this winter. When i got home I took a nap and then we finished moving all the furniture back into the living room. Paul has to finish up with the tile in the entry way, but he was too tired to do it this weekend. Tonight we were exhausted and Paul went to bed early. I worked on a wall hanging I am making and got some fabrics together for another class I want to take this week. This weekend we are going to my parents and then riding along to my great-aunts 80th birthday party. Should be a good time! Hope you will all follow me over to blogspot and if you move let me know as I have all my RSS feeds that I read everyday. Don't want to miss anyone.
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Monday, September 10, 2007 - Moving

I guess most of you probably have missed me for the last week, but when I got home from the wedding everyone was moving and I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I spent most of the week thinking and finally decided to move over to blogger since I already have a blog set up there. My new address is http://moneik.blogspot.com/
I wrote about the wedding over there and added lots of pictures because it was easier. I'll slowly move my other posts over as well. After the wedding I found out that my good friend at work Karen's dad passed away and the funeral was Tues. about 3 1/2 hours from where I live, so I talked to my mom and she met me half way and we went to the funeral. Turns out that Karen's husband and I have the same great-aunt! It's such a small world! I spent most of Wed. and Thurs. playing catch up at work and trying to get caught up at home. Friday night we moved all the furniture out of the living room. Sat. morning bright and early Paul and I put in hardwood floor. We got about half done and I had to go to Hill City as I had tickets for a Judy Neimeyer trunk show with my mom. Paul's mom helped him finish the floor. They got done about 11 when I got home! I was really disappointed with the trunk show or at least the presenter. I expected her to be a real professional and she wasn't. She was terrible at presenting, read from a powerpoint for most of the night and was really monotonous. Sun. morning mom and I met for church and then I picked my aunt up and we went to Hill City to the Outdoor Quilt Show. They had to move all the quilts inside because it started raining. It was the first year in like 10 that it rained. We went through the vendors and I found a lot of fat quarters for a yellow brick road I am going to make this winter. When i got home I took a nap and then we finished moving all the furniture back into the living room. Paul has to finish up with the tile in the entry way, but he was too tired to do it this weekend. Tonight we were exhausted and Paul went to bed early. I worked on a wall hanging I am making and got some fabrics together for another class I want to take this week. This weekend we are going to my parents and then riding along to my great-aunts 80th birthday party. Should be a good time! Hope you will all follow me over to blogspot and if you move let me know as I have all my RSS feeds that I read everyday. Don't want to miss anyone.
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