date night

One of the hardest adjustments to full-time work and full-time school is the lack of family time.  While I miss it, it is easy for an adult to justify.  "Just one year," I keep repeating, and I know in my heart it's a good thing.

But my kids miss their mama.

To counter act the time, and to be sure my kids still will still know my name when I finish school, we implemented date night.  Every other week, I take one of my boys out for dinner.  Just me and him.




Last week, I took out my oldest.  He's the quiet one, so I'm actually more concerned about losing touch with him.  He's 11 now, and I know the teen years will be here much too soon.  Gotta start focusing on that relationship now.  Like, yesterday now.

Tonight, my youngest and I are going out.  He's the spunky one.




Those of us in the south are familiar with the term "talk your ears off".  As in, "that boy will talk your ears off".  That's him.  Never met a stranger, never been shy.  Pretty much says anything and everything that's on his mind - whether you want to hear it or not.

Wonder where he get's that from?   ;o)

Enjoy your night!!!

 

oh my ... stars!!

I know - what a terrible play on words.  But, I have stars!!  Well, sort of....  I have fully trimmed, ready-to-sew stars.  I finished them last night, so they are now patiently waiting to be sewn so they can join their lonely mama-star in the finished pile.  (Yes, I still technically only have one star finished.)












These are the first set of the Oh My Stars! quilt along and I can't wait to get started on the next set.  They all look so beautiful.

I've also managed to finish two TwitterB blocks... my last ones, sadly.  I can't believe we've gone through the entire year!   Linda sent a beautiful butterfly fabric, so I played up the aquas and yellows.  She asked for Scrappy Hedgerow Blocks, using Elizabeth Hartman's tutorial. 




Charlene sent some Amy Butler Soul Blossoms and asked for a block using Elizabeth's Mod Mosaic tutorial.   




I was last in the group, so my fabric went out last week.  I asked the girls to make... wait for it... yes, an Elizabeth Hartman block.  Are you seeing a pattern here?  Hmmmm.

The block I chose was the Paintbox Quilt Blocks.  I sent out some solids based on the "Fresh Tints" palate by designseeds.




I also asked them to make siggy blocks to add to the back.  Can't wait to see what the girls do with it.


School is going well. I actually had a stats-free weekend and it was wonderful. I cleaned out my sewing room closet so my father-in-law could start on making some shelves...and he finished them yesterday! I'll have before and after photos to show soon.

On the yarn front, I still haven't finished my beginner's scarf, but I've started another set of gloves and a Honey Cowl.  I'm using Berroco Boboli.... oh, so soft!!!  I can't wait to get this one finished.  Looks like I'll be keeping my pattern of starting a bazillion projects and finishing none.  Just like my quilting.  :)




A local shop is having a yarn sale through Friday, so I'm heading out today to see what I can find. I've never been there before, so it should be fun!

Happy Wednesday... don't forget to link up with Lee!

wip wednesday...two weeks later

Hello!  Remember me???  LOL!  Have I been neglectful or what?  Classes have been kicking my butt and I feel like all I do anymore is eat, sleep, and read.  In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if my kids filed a missing persons report....  *sigh*  I sure do appreciate those of you who are sticking around and your kind words always make me smile.  I really do try to post at least once a week, but last week was a bad, bad week.  Ugh.  But.....I did manage to sew a bit last night and, oh, it felt so good!

So, let's go through the list.... 

In-Progress:  Oh My Stars and Bethlehem Star quilts, scarf for beginning knit class, sewing room makeover.

No progress on either quilt or the makeover.  But I have gotten a few more rows on the scarf.  Next up is the purl stitch.  The middle section uses the stockinette stitch to make a stripe down the middle and it will be in a magenta yarn.  :)







Finishes:  Crochet Scarf and Fingerless Gloves - I'll share these (with pics!) in another post.  :)


New Projects: Crochet class, Quilt class, and more iPad cases

Yes - another class... but this time, I'm teaching!  A few of the girls at work asked me to teach them how to crochet, so I am.  We had our first class this week and I'm happy to say they all excelled on their single crochet stitches.  :)  Next up is double crochet and then we'll start on the cowl we picked out.  I'm really enjoying teaching these ladies.

I'm also teaching a friend and her daughter how to quilt.  Our first class was on Monday and we talked about expectations and looked through fabric designs.  We ended up going with Lemon Squares - I'm sure you're surprised - and we'll get started cutting next time.  We only meet every other week, so it should be a nice, easy pace. 

On the actual sewing front, I've been on a roll with the iPad cases.  I have had five requests since making my Owl case.  I started on three last night and got the zipper ends and velcro flaps done, including top-stitching.  Hoping to get the rest done either tonight or tomorrow.



  





On top of that, my mom dropped off fabric for two more earlier this week.  They're still wrapped up from Karen Gray's because they are for birthday gifts.  Can't be spilling the beans just yet, but I will say they are fabulous! (And don't you love how Karen bundles her fabrics?  So cute!)




I know you've heard it before, but if you haven't checked out Faith's website you should.   Fabulous tutorials for just about anything you can imagine.

Hope you all are doing well - it sounds weird, but I miss you!  Just a couple more months and life will be back to normal.  :)




Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced...hope you'll hop over there and do the same!




Happy Wednesday!