In the midst of Chaos

Making Cookies

Well we are MOVING in just one week from today.  Thanks to my mom, I have a few boxes packed.  She came over to help me get started.  And that, my friends, is exactly what she did.  And I baked cookies.  Sigh... I'm soooo NOT motivated to pack.  This home has been my longest running yet, 7 years.  Before the age of 21, I had moved 13 times.  I think?  Give or take a few ins and outs at my grandparents house during a transition.  Honestly, I am looking forward to our new place, but will miss our townhome too.  Mostly because our one and only child was born here.  Literally.  Yep, I took a leap of faith and had a homebirth (another story for another time).  Its really the only attachment I have to this place, other than it being our first place together.  I am however very excited to dwell in a SFR (single family residence).  No more shared walls.  Can I get a Hallelujah!?! Or coin laundry.  Thank the LORD!  Although, we can't buy just yet, I am looking forward to painting walls and entertaining extended family.

As procrastinating to pack has been motivating me in other areas, I whipped up this sweet little wall hanging for my niece who turned 10 on September 11.  Thankfully, she was born on that tragic morning because we all needed a bit of sunshine that day.  God knows just how to bring the good news!  Obviously, it being, late September, I procrastinate A LOT.

Also, I've taken on an insane project of stripping and refinishing this lovely set of Lane end tables for our 'new to us' 1976 all-original home.  My husband has a masters in furniture design, although not currently practicing his talents, is coaching me through this.  Mutually we love to collect mid-century modern items.

We picked these up in Montana last summer, as well as the matching coffee table, for a grand total of $25!!!  I love thrifting:)  (please forgive me, but I do tend to share how much something cost...hope that doesn't bug)

Just for kicks, we are going with the 70s theme of the home.  So far, its been really fun to plan.  Vintage sheets for curtains and pillows, yellow front door, the Lane furniture.  I could go on...  I love orange and yellow, and just about any fall colors.  Thats why we chose October 1st to be our wedding day.  We wanted to ring in the fall with a fun celebration.  Its bitter sweet, celebrating our anniversary this year, we will be unloading a truck, but at least its a fresh new start.  We'll just have to take a rain check, thats all:)  Grama be ware!

Well thats about all I have time to share with you today.  Off to pack...Yippy!  

Ta ta for now!

I'm Alive :: Favorites

Modern Amish's favorites on Flickr.

I know, I've been a bit flaky. Honestly after our vacation/holiday, we came home and hit the ground running. I've been filling in at my old job 12 hours a week, and so my whole routine is in array. I still have one more week to go too. We also went house hunting. We've out grown our townhome and really need to be in a family friendly neighborhood. So we found a rental home that is perfect for my gift of hospitality. I've always wanted to host a holiday and this year I finally get my chance...Yeah me!

Needless to say, I've been a little busy. Why just today, I went to work, picked up Jack, rushed him to a hair cutter, barely keeping him awake with candy. Then he had a late nap and went grocery shopping on an empty stomach and made dinner at like 8 pm. Phew, I'm pooped! Unfortunately my brain wont stop running. So I decided to self medicate by visiting flickr for a little eye candy and to get my mind off life. I think it worked:/ Here are a few treats.
Man I miss sewing, and my Farmer's Quilt blocks. At this point I'm not sure I'll get any in before the move. I've got to pack for my new dwelling quarters...Eeek...I'm so excited!

Vacation :: Hex

 My homemade cherry pie Yummy!

Surprised was I when my darling husband decided to extend our vacation for another 5 days.  We left the beautiful 'Big Sky Country' and landed in Wyoming for one night and visited my husband's cousin for a few hours.  Check out this amazing ranch:

Now we're in Colorado for 4 days to see my sister + her new baby
(sweet new baby skin, YES please!)  Here I am with the little one: 

I'm so spoiled by my man... I love him so much!  This has been an EPIC vacation.  So full of wonderful memories.  Although we were sad to leave MT, we've never been to WY, and CO together.

I finished The Help in the first week of vacation and  I loved it!  I laughed and almost cried.  I'm not easy to tears when reading, but then again I think Twilight got me at one point.  I''m such a softy.  Now I'm looking forward to a sister night at the movies, possibly this weekend.

My hexagons are coming right along.  I've gotten half way through my little bundle I purchased for my trip.  You can see my progress on the sidebar on the left.  

Well, I'm off to enjoy more sister and baby loves!

Lindsay

Montuky Bliss

Hi from North West Montana!  I am truly enjoying myself.  Thought I'd check in and share a bit about our trip so far.

My little farmer.  Had to get at least one good shot in his overalls.  It was a plus that my friends have baby goats.  He loves to feed them.

 My boys at the NW Montana Fair. 

Below are just a few of the amazing blue ribbon quilts I saw in the expo building.

This first quilt I only took a detail shot of because I was so amazed to see that the star is hand embroidered/crocheted.  Beautiful work! 

 A double wedding ring with diamonds.  Oh how I love this quilt. 

 

  Pinwheels and I think Irish Chain??? mix in reproduction prints.  My Favorite!

Sampler quilt with reproduction prints.  Also a favorite.  

If you are ever in the Flathead Valley area near Kalispell, you must stop in at Glacier Quilts.  I always score in this quilt shop.  They have a wide variety, and organize their store by color not by collection/designers.  Not a fan of the color organization, but luckly they have a section just for me of reprductions.  Lots of reprocdutions!  Last summer I bought a fat quarter bundle that I'm still using.  Here is my staff from this summer:

Guess my eyes were drawn towards blue.  Must have something to do with the aqua colored lakes around here.

Well, we are nearing the end of our vacation in Kalispell, MT.  Sad, I know.  I'm so not looking forward to post-vacation blues.  More to come... so check back soon.

XO,

Lindsay

Whip It :: Quilt

A few posts ago, I mentioned I was working on a quilt for one of Jack's little friends.  Well, I can finally share it with you: 

This quilt isn't my usual style, but the boys sure do love those motorcycles so, I couldn't resist making it.  You may remember this one I made for Jack...well there were a few Ooos and Ahhs.  I couldn't resist getting this more vintage looking collection for his friend.  

The name?  'Whip' is a motocross term for a trick where the rider swings the back tire sideways in mid air off a jump (and hopefully landing, not crashing).  The bottom left photo on the quilt would be a good example:)  I know...motorcycles are Dangerous, but when Daddy is into something, son is likely to follow.  I'm preparing myself now, and so is my girlfriend:)  We will be celebrating Jack's friend, Jett's birthday later this month while on vacation in Montana.  Thankfully I finished in time.  Here is the back:

I chose to practice my free motion quilting skills with this quilt since the recipient is a child who can care less about the quilting.  I used a few scrap quilts to practice the meandering design before hand and found I was awful at meandering.  I couldn't come up with any other design that I liked though.  So, I used a so called 'water soluable' pencil on the top of the quilt to help guide me:

In RED!  Don't know how well you can see it, but in person, its pretty red.  After washing the first time, I was so bummed that the stitching absorbed the red and did NOT disolve.  So, I'm trying my best to get it out one last time.  I'm sure it'll all come out after a few washes, but I really want it to look good when given.  I used the same pencil on Jack's quilt and it came out just fine, so heres hoping.

Quilt Stats:

40" x 58"

Top: a New Zealand import called Motocross Panel in Royal Blue and the Motocross Icons in Ocean Blue.  The inner border is Alexander Henry Heath in Black.

Backing:  Harmony Rose Texture in Dark Grey by Christine Adolph, Xtreme Sports Motocross by South Sea Imports scraps from Jack's Quilt,  a strip of Skull & Cross bones fabric from JoAnns.

Binding: Little Hot Rod - Checked Flag Wave - Black/White also known as: Hit the Gas Racing Checks Black by Dan Morris for Robert Kaufman Fabrics

Here is my little helper playing with his blocks and cars.  Isn't he sweet?

By the way, my Simply Mae Shop is closed for our trip.  It will reOpen on September 1, 2011. 

Ta ta for now,

Lindsay

Hexed

YEAH,  I'm in!!!  Yep, another Quilt Along:)  You may think I'm crazy, but I joined the Hexagon Charm Quilt Piece Along.  Through the blogging world I met Cindy at Live A Colorful Life blog and she led me to Melanie's blog Texas Freckles, isn't that the cutest name?  Anyway she, Melanie, started this QAL over a year ago.  She has easy tips and a video on piecing a hexagon quilt.  These have always intimidated, but also intrigued me.  This is a great project for travel and beach and well, just about anywhere.  I'm so excited!  On Thursday we are leaving for our annual 2 week vacation to Montana.  So I put together this hexagon sewing kit:

Needles, thread, clippers, and 1 1/2" English paper piecing pack from Sew Deerly Loved on Etsy.  I've modified the paper piecing a little for easier pinning.  There's only one thing missing, something to keep them in.  Hmm, I'll have to use a baggie for now.

These are the delicious 4" reproduction fabric squares I ordered from Hoosier Quilter on Etsy.  She has so many bundles like this, it was really hard to choose only one. But I think 50 should cover me for our two week trip, just around the corner.

This too is a 'go at your own pace' group.  I know, what your thinking, I'll fit right in;)  I've chosen to do a 50" by 60" throw size quilt, so I'll need to complete 540 hexagons.  YIKES!!!  Thanks to Melanie, who did the math, I've got this fun little chart to fill in as I go:

See, one down, 539 more to go.  And you may have already noticed...I added a Hexie Progress Bar to the left column of my blog.  Aren't hexagons cute?  I love my first one.

One other thing, I'm really looking forward to on vacation, other than the boating, hanging with 4 of my favorite families, and horseback riding, is this book:

I couldn't wait, I already read the first two chapters and I can already tell, its gonna be a good one. 

And so, I'm off to pack for a very long road trip.  Please forgive the gap between my last post and this one.  I do intend to keep in touch during vacation.  There are some great antique shops, quilt shops and the fair will be on while I'm there, so definitely good stuff I can share with you!

XO,

Lindsay

Pillow + Fabrics

As promised:

Here is my second pillow for my couch.  It is also 20" x 20" simple patchwork with two boarders.  I used DS Quilts Hope Valley to match this quilt.   Now both my hubby and I have quilts with matching pillows on the couch.  His + Her.

Oh and...I got some new fabrics today for stashing.  Only one really has an assignment right now.  I just loved the others so much I couldn't let the go out of print before I got some.

My new basics from top to bottom:

Fashion for Home Heath in Black + Grey by Alexander Henry
Harmony Rose Textured Wash in Green + Dark Grey by Christine Adolph
Kona Cotton Ash from Robert Kaufman Fabrics

The Dark Grey wash is assigned as a backing for a very special quilt being made for Jack's little friend's birthday.

By the way, I have to share my excitement for our vacation, now booked, to Flathead Valley, Montana!  We will be leaving in August for 2 weeks with 3 other families from our church.  Sure to be pure fun!  Then I leave for 5 days to go see a new baby in the family for the very first time.  He/She isn't quite here yet...any day now.  But I'm so excited to go and smell fresh baby skin.  Yummy!  So for the next couple weeks I'm planning and sewing my brains out.  I'm hoping to have a new top done and a quilt to share.  I'm also trying to decide on a fun hand sewing project to keep me busy on the road.  Possibly hexagons!?  Inspired by this and that.  Not sure yet, but I think I'm gonna go for it.  If you have any Hexagon tips please send them my way.

xo,
Lindsay