Funky Friday

My dreams become really bizarre when I haven't slept decently for two days. Woo! My daughters have had nasty cold/allergy illnesses in which they cry half the night. When they each take different times to wake up, that means I'm awake most of the night. The poor things; I hope they sleep better tonight for their own sakes. They look so miserable with runny noses and red eyes.

The weather has been warmer for the last two days, which is a good thing as I haven't turned on the heat yet. I should have earlier in the week, but DH and a friend are seeing who can go longer without turning on the heat. We have had a fire in the fireplace every day for a week or so, but today it's 66 in the house when we woke up.

Yesterday, when I was waiting for the assistant to fall asleep for naptime, I finished a new skirt from Indygo Junction, the Great Fit Gored Skirt. I added a waistband, pocket, and 4 inches in length, and I like it! The skirt was made with fabric DH bought me for Mother's Day. I'm going to make a different pattern out of the same fabric for my older sister and maybe my younger - at least I have 5 or so yards of it left. (DH bought the rest of the bolt.) I'm also going to scrounge in the short lengths of fabric for some pieces I can seam together to make the Amy Butler hat pattern I have.

I'm going to make a Coca-Cola quilt for my dad to have something to hand quilt this winter. When it's cold, my sewing room is 49 F or later - so cold my fingers won't work - so I'm trying to get a few projects to stages where I can mostly work on them downstairs, where the heat actually warms the house!

Happy All Hallows Eve!

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
Katie Z. (with a fairy & baby cat next to me!)

Stash Report Week #43

OUT this week: 6 1/4 yards
OUT YTD: 161 yards

IN this week: 0 yards
IN YTD: 138 1/4 yards

TOTAL YTD: 22 3/4 yards OUT!!!

I finished the CR pillow cases for 5 yards out. Then I finished these bags for another 1 1/4 yards out.

This week, I have one main goal. I had offered DH a deal: when he drained the water heater, I would make him a carrying bag for our picnic blanket and a tool bag for his bike. He drained the water heater, even if it then proceeded to die on us, and he fixed the leaky toilet this week, saving me from another call to the plumber! I'm going to take the small scrap top I just finished, fold it in half, and make a long bag for the T-shirt quilt that we use as our outdoors blanket.

Then I will work on a new skirt for myself. It's getting cold outside, and I can never find long skirts in the stores for reasonable prices. When we visited Omaha this summer, I picked up a new skirt pattern at a quilt shop and want to try it out!

I love Sunday.

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

KU Bags complete!

I finished my KU bags today: a tote bag with an inner and outer pocket, a small purse (for the assistant, who loves purses), and a lunch bag-type gift bag. I think they turned out fabulously, and I used 3/4 yard KU fabric and 1/2 yard matching red.

You can see my assistant's kitchen in the background. It takes up as much space in the sewing room as the sewing machine table! She doesn't approve of me cleaning her kitchen, so it is in a nearly-perpetual state of disarray. That's okay. I'm not allowed to cook in it either!

We have been awake since 4 a.m. (except for a nap from 5:30-7 a.m.) because Screamer (DD#2) woke up at 4 and refused nursing or a dark room as incentives to sleep. A mighty storm blew through around then, so that may be partly to blame. She actually laughed a good part of the time, so I can't complain.

So, Monday was a new water heater. Guess what today is? A leaky toilet! We are doing our part to support the economy! Fortunately, it's not leaking so severely that I have to turn off the water to the toilet. Things could be much worse.

It is a good day today!

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Tuesday Thoughts

It's raining... not pouring... but I'm inside and dry!

Yesterday we had to get a new water heater. I hope this one lasts longer than 6 years!

We rode DH's bike to work today. The newest repair has not met his approval yet, and since I pull the 2 girls in a trailer behind me, we need to be safe. DH's bike is almost too high for me, but soon we'll get my bike functioning again. Either way, it's twice as fast as walking while pulling a wagon!

The pillow cases are complete but not really picture worthy. I'm glad they're done.

The assistant is sporting a new KU purse, but nobody in this house even likes KU! I'm a Cornhusker by birth, and DH is an A&M fan by birth. But... the assistant's godmother loves KU, and she's getting some new KU goodies next time we see her. I have the gift bag finished and will make a tote bag for her this week.

I have a dilemma... my scrap quilt is too blue and black in one corner while the rest is brights. I don't want to frog it to replace it, but am toying with either applique or bias tape of a different color to break it up. Pictures will follow.

Did you know the socks replicate in DH's office and on his side of the bed? I promise, that must be the answer for the number of socks I washed today! At least most of them have mates. I've never liked the unfinished feeling of having unmated socks atop the dryer.

It's a good day!

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Stash Report Week #42

Well, my week wasn't as... naughty... as Judy's, but I bet she had fun being naughty!

This week my giveaways completed, and I sent something to a blogger just because. That was 3 yards out.

Then, my pushing buttons from last week resulted in some hand-dyedish Robert Kaufman (3 1/2 yards) and some XOXO the Cat fabric (2 1/2 yards) as well as the Blue Sky Hats pattern by Amy Butler. I like it. I ordered from Hancock's of Paducah and was a little disappointed. Maybe I was just in a bad mood that day because everyone else seems to love them. (Shrug.) That was 6 yards in.

Then... then... then! I finished my newest quilt for a grand 22 yards out! Do you see what it's made of? That's right... Crown Royal bags. Not that I drank any of it... I don't really like alcohol. Next week I will finish the pillow shams and throw out any extra, and that will yield 5 more yards out. I solemnly swear never to make another quilt like this again, no matter how much money I make from it.

Now I may buy fabric again this week. Peggy Toole just found some snowflake fabric I would love, and she asked how many yards I want to buy. I don't know! She has a whole bolt. How much would you buy?

OUT this week: 25 yards
OUT this year: 154 3/4 yards

IN this week: 6 yards
IN this year: 138 1/4 yards

YTD: 16 1/2 yards out!

On the non-quilty side of my life, I was able to repair my bike all by my little self. DH thinks I didn't, but as long as I can ride it! I have been cleaning our yard to prepare for winter, and sent a truck-bed full of stuff to donate to a thrift store.

Ryan's Star

Because I have nothing current to post about, I thought I would show you a picture of one of my favorite quilts. It has a little bit of a melancholy story, fitting for the wet and cold weather outside today!

It's named "Ryan's Star" after a friend of my brother. He had to fly through a storm on the way home from a trip with friends; he and his dad died. He wanted to be an Air Force pilot but never had the chance, so I made a quilt full of stars in remembrance of his dreams.

My brother graduated from high school almost 2 years ago, and I hand quilted this all through the winter to finish it in time.

All the stars are from my selection of star fabrics. I think the color wash turned out well, with the one bright blue star in the middle so that the stars don't blend together too much.

I'm going to try to sneak in a nap now while the girls are both down.

from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.

Stash Report Week #41

Stash report first:
In this week: 6 yards
In YTD: 132 1/4 yards

Out this week: 0 yards
Out YTD: 134 3/4

TOTAL YTD: 2 1/2 OUT!

I have a top complete (pictures will follow later). I purchased the backing and batting this week, and will soon have to cut the last of the companion fabric to make pillow shams. Then I can auction this thing and be done with it! Can you tell I don't like it?

I would like to stay in the "OUT" range for fabric this year, bit I have a fabric shipment arriving this week for my MsIL aprons, and I don't think I will have any finishes this week. DH is going to be out of town or gone 5 of 7 days.

Next on the docket at the Ugh quilt are: a KU gift bag, tote, and purse for the assistant's godmother, and that's 1 1/4 yard so far. My giveaway ends Wednesday, and that will be at least another 1 1/2 yards out. I think after that will be my scrap quilt. I am tired of odd sewn-together bits linger in my desk.

And the adventure of the week is: I took a ride on my bike with DH and the girls. This was only the 2nd time I've ever ridden the bike, and halfway up the hill to get back to our house the ENTIRE pedal shaft came off! What????? I'm just glad I didn't fall down with my 7-month-old on the back!

Stash Report Week #40

The aprons are finally complete. That's 15 3/4 yards out. While my camera is apparently broken irreparably, I have borrowed DH's and hope to keep it unbroken!

There are aprons for my mom, sisters, & SIL in the first picture. The other picture (taken in my bathroom!) is the 2 aprons for myself, the 2 aprons for my daughters (on the outside), and for my new niece! The pictures are hurriedly taken because the assistant wanted to help and open the shower curtain.

I also went to the shop hop this weekend. I think I counted 28 7/8 yards in from that. Some of the fabric I will be using for a second place drawing in my giveaway if I receive 100 comments.

The first picture shows, on the right, fabrics I purchased for my BIL's quilt (if he likes the fabric). I don't usually work in those colors, so please let me know what you think. Do they "go"? I am going to use a pattern from Bonnie Hunter's new book - I received it in the mail before I went shop hopping and was thrilled to find a pattern I love. I know she uses scraps, but I just don't have enough scraps to make a full quilt of lights and darks.

On the left are mostly fabrics I purchased for myself, although the white is for a baby quilt and the black is for my dad's quilt. I really like the snowflake fabrics and the green-on-white dragonfly fabric. It just made me smile when I saw it.Then there are all these fat quarters. I bought some of them because the assistant needed something to carry around in the stores. I made it to six stores, and she came with me to five. Whew! I collect snowflake, star, and turquoise fabrics for myself, and most of these fit one of those descriptions.
That would make my totals for the year:
OUT This week: 15 3/4 yds
OUT YTD: 134 3/4 yds

IN this week: 28 7/8 yds
IN YTD: 126 1/4 yds

YTD: 8 1/2 yards OUT!

I don't feel guilty about my purchases because I'm still ahead, and I don't really have a huge stash. I could probably fit all of my cotton fabrics in 3 or 4 large plastic containers. I tried to buy only what I really loved for myself, and the few freebies I got are just fun to add in. Maybe I will win a prize, and then wouldn't that be fun to share with you! I also received a free pattern and bought another. Maybe later this week I will snap a photo and show you. The assistant is crying out of exhaustion (She says she doesn't want to wear a diaper; she wants to wear panties. I can't let that happen since she isn't even remotely toilet-trained.) so it is time to go to bed!

Aprons Completed!

I now have 9 beautiful aprons finished. 7 are above my sewing table, telling me to give them away earlier than Christmas (who wants to wait to give away fabulous homemade and totally beautiful things?). I am wearing one, and the last I laid across the rocker downstairs last night when I was getting ready for bed. Not a single one is identical, and I am happy with how all but one turned out. As soon as I have a camera, I will post a picture.

I am also excited that work is over for the week! I am ready to shop the hop this weekend (if I get to go!). I can replace all this fabric that has left my stash - 15 and 5/8 yards!!!

The girls are sleeping, so I was able to finish some volunteer work this afternoon. Tomorrow I will be able to finish it off, and then I will be good to go. Whew.

Now the only problem is to decide what to make for dinner. I've cooked every day this week, so I would love to say to myself, "Self, you've earned a break. Eat out!" but then I worry about spending all the food money before the end of the month. Then I say, "Self, if you didn't let DH convince you to eat out so much, you wouldn't worry about the money." And now I say, "Self. Really. Should you be talking to yourself like this? Isn't it unhealthy?"