Happy New Year

I really can't believe we are heading into 2009 in a matter of hours. This year seems to have FLOWN by. I remember complaining as a kid that New Years Eve didn't come soon enough. Now I wish it would slow down just a little. My dad always tells me "wait until you get to be my age." YIKES. New Years Eve is always that time for reflection and sappiness for me. I am so incredibly blessed and some times I just take it for granted. The big thing for me this year has been marriage and finally understanding Grandma's comment of it's a lot of give and take. I'm pleased to say I've been married for 17 years and have gone through some seriously rough rough patches. I think that give and take kicked in and we were able to work through it. To me that's a pretty big feat considering how easy it is to get a divorce these days. I'm so glad that I'm married to my best friend.

OK, enough seriousness. My friend Christine came over yesterday to play with the quilting machine. I kept teasing her and calling her a show off. It's amazing to me how some people just step up to those machines and the stitching is so natural. I feel like I struggle with quilting. It could be that I'm my own worst critic, I don't know. Christine did great. She's so excited to come over now and try her hand at some baby quilts.

On the embroidery machine front, it has now gone back to the manufacturer (Babylock). I'm very sad that I got the machine that was made on a Friday or Monday. I have been working like a fool though on the loaner that they sent home with me. There are so many people out there who digitize and make very cool designs. It's been hard trying to contain myself and not spend every red cent I've made in the last 2 weeks on new designs.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve. The plan is to just hang out at home tonight with some friends and play Wii games. Very exciting, don't you think?

Until next year....

We Have a Baby

Christmas was WONDERFUL this year. Grace named the puppy Buddy. Buddy is doing great!!! We are working on housebreaking this week. Thankfully it's warm today. Buddy does great with the cats. They aren't too sure about him yet. I think he moves too fast for them.

Grace and I made a trip to a quilt shop today. We went to Quilter's Station in Lee's Summit. The shop is fun with lots and lots to look at.

Have a great day!

Merry Christmas

This little guy is going to making an appearance at our house. He doesn't have a name yet. Poor thing has led a rough life already and I'm such a sap. Those eyes just suck you right in and you can do anything but go AWWWHH!!!!! I will be sure to share the picture of the first hug when he's introduced to his new owner. I can only imagine the squealing.

I'm on vacation next week, so I really hope to have quilty content again. I have a Dresden Plate top on the frame waiting on me. My hope is to get going on that Friday morning early. Then load another. I'm also hoping to get some quilt tops made. Oh the plans I have.

The new embroidery machine is in the shop already. I'm hoping I didn't get a lemon but am thinking now that I did. The techs can't seem to figure out it's issue. I will be picking up their floor model this afternoon so that I can finish some bags for Brandi. After all the anticipation, I'm really sad that the machine isn't working the way it's supposed to.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas. Be sure to remember the real meaning of the day and enjoy everyone you get to spend the day with.

WHY????????????

I love looking at all the blogs with people's cats sitting so nicely on their sewing tables in baskets. Or peacefully curled up and snoozing the day away. So I must ask why I have the most psychotic cat under the sun? Did his mom drop in on his head? Carry him too tightly by the neck as a small kitten? I have to figure it out.

I know you are looking at the picture thinking Oh he's so cute, he can't be psychotic.

This morning, while getting ready for work, I had to spend extra time trying to keep the crazy cat out of the Christmas tree. First was the drinking of the water, which is meant to keep the tree alive. I felt like I was living a "Christmas Vacation" moment. After I got him out of the water, then I had to fight to keep him from taking the ornaments from the bottom of the tree. I swear it looks like we have a very small child in the house because the ornaments just keep going higher and higher up the tree.

When I sew, psycho kitty thinks its very fun to get up on the table next to me and either eat the thread on the sewing machine as the spool spins. Pulling the pins off the magnetic pin holder is another favorite. The worst part is he takes the pins and then jumps off the table and runs away. Do you know how bad you want to scream when you step on the pin that he dropped? GRRRR.

Thankfully psycho kitty has now found more fun in harassing my husband when he's downstairs riding his bike on the bike trainer. The cat tries to run between his feet as he's peddling. Or the tail flips close enough to get caught in the chain as it's going around.

Sad part, psycho kitty is on kitty Prozac and that doesn't seem to be helping either. Everyone always says how cute he is. My response, which is bad, You want him? I'd be happy to let you take him home. Bad I know, but there are days I would happily pack him up and share the wealth.

Again I have to ask, what is wrong with this cat????

Embroidery and Stuff

I got a few things done this weekend. Below are 2 blankets that I embroidered. I decided that these will be GREAT gifts for the teachers at preschool.



I have a baby shower to go to on Saturday. Burp clothes were on order for the occasion. You can never have enough burp clothes.

I can hardly wait to resolve the thread issues I'm having with the machine. Once that's taken care of, look out. I'm off to the races and plan to start working on quilts and quilt blocks.

Today was spent taking Grace to the eye doctor for a recheck. Glasses need to be changed. After that we went to the dentist for the first time. She did GREAT. I figured why not traumatize all in one day rather than spreading it out.

We went to see Santa yesterday. That was pretty funny because she would NOT sit on his lap no matter how much he coaxed. I'm happy to know my child can be polite given situations she's not feeling comfortable in. She told Santa nicely that she would "prefer" to stand next to him for her picture. Thanks a lot though. Grace told Santa that she wants a REAL PUPPY for Christmas.

Have a great week!

Big Investment

Look what came to live at my house yesterday. I finally made the leap and plan to get a business going the beginning of the year. I purchased a Babylock BMP8 Embroidery Professional. There will be a definite learning curve. Tonight I tried to make lace snowflakes and well they are blue and green. Guess I didn't get the colors set correctly. Oh well they will look pretty on my tree.

I have so many cute kids designs. My hope is to incorporate some of those into quilts.

I suspect I will have some pictures to share by the end of the weekend.

Have a great night!

Finally...

Little bit of quilty content. I worked on this quilt for a lady that I work with. She pieced the top and I quilted it for her and then put the binding on. It's very bright and LOUD. The t-shirts are from her daughter's events.

The good news, I'm motivated now to get back and start piecing and quilting. Hopefully I will find the time I need.

Have a great week!!