Ready for the Next Step??

Okay. Now... If you really are following this, you've got a bunch strips sewn together in 5-strip sets.

Now, it's time to cut those up. You want to cut them into 1 1/2" strips. Use your rotary cutter and line it up and get to work. When you're done, you'll hopefully have (around) 250 of these strips.

A Pressing Issue....

Okay. Pressing seams is of HUGE importance. You should always press as you go. If you're doing a simple pattern, you always want to press your seams to the dark side. However, for this little thing we're doing, we're just going to press them all in the same directions. Press both sides of your strips. Back first, to get the seams headed in the same direction, then the front to really smooth it all out.

How I Do That Thing I Do

Okay. I've been thinking I should put up a few "how to" blog entries to show you what goes on around here. So.... I've spent this week preparing a few glimpses into the fine art of quiltmaking.

First step: Choose your fabric. I'm pretty picky about my fabrics -- it comes from having a Momma who was a stellar seamstress. I think if you're going to put this much time into making something, you should make it last for generations to come. If you need a lesson in choosing fabric, call me -- it's really a hands-on activity.

Once I get my fabric, I wash it, dry it and iron it. I only use 100% cotton, and it needs to be pre-shrunk before I start working with it. Some people wait and wash their fabrics after making their quilts to get a "puckered" look. You can do it either way.

Now.... The fun part. I could spend a week just showing you how to use a rotary cutter, but instead I'm going to send you to this YouTube link. You can find instructions for just about anything on YouTube. I'm pretty sure how to build the Space Shuttle is somewhere on there.

For this project, I used a 1 1/2" strips. I have a rather substantial collection of Christmas fabrics that have been acquired over time. Now... I will say that there are a few that I purchased early on that really aren't the quality I like to use. But for the most part, it's a collection of great fabric.

I can't tell you how many strips to cut because that depends on how many blocks you want to make. I will tell you that my quilt is going to have 50 blocks in it. I'm designing this as I go, so it's not an exact science. You're just going to have to enjoy the ride.

If you're using new fabric, I would suggest you cut at least 125 strips. Now.... You all know I can't do math, but as near as I can figure, that's what I'd go with.

My goal for this was to have as little repetition as possible. I'm really trying to make sure each block that I make is made up of 25 different squares. Hang with me here.

Once you have 125 strips of fabric cut, you can stitch them together like this. Use a 1/4" seam allowance. On my project, I tried to keep from repeating the same pattern of strips.

I also used a LOT of scraps from my scrap bucket. So some of my strips looked like this when sewn together.

I know this is clear as mud. It's going to be like that for a couple of days. Hopefully the picture will clear up soon.

Ooops.

Fell in love with this the second I put it on my dining room table. Until then, I was okay with it being a gift. Now.... I'm going to have to visit my friend a LOT during Christmas.

The Back:

Dude.... It doesn't get any cuter than that.

Re-Boot

After all that's gone on the last few weeks, I need a re-boot. So....

Giving up the Big Five -- Again.

1. No caffeine
2. No sugar
3. No alcohol
4. Nothing from a restaurant with a drive-up window
5. Nothing obviously unhealthy from a restaurant (i.e. pizza).
6. Peanut butter after 10:00 a.m.

Okay. I've changed it to the Big Six.

Anyone want to join me??

They're Hitched!!!

The girls and I went out to West Texas last weekend for Micah Hensley's wedding. Before we could party, though, we stopped in at Aunt Carla's for a sleepover.

And some windmill pix.

Kaitlyn, being of the huggy sort, had to hug Micah about a million times. And have her picture made with her.

This is what happens when your 8-year-old is your photographer. She needs to grow about 2 feet, or I'm destined to have 6 chins for forever.

A

It was good to see the Jarretts. And the McMeans. And Mrs. Lewis. I have pictures of all of them, but they're a bit blurry. And, to be honest, Mrs. Lewis' picture just isn't that flattering of either one of us. I have a very strict policy against posting pictures of myself that I don't like.

Granny Nelva with the "Begats."

It sure was good to see Sky. He and Bonnie are in Nashville these days. I think he misses Home. As always, he was very entertaining!

I love this picture of three strong, beautiful women!

Uncle Bill Willard played football at Rice "back in the day," so I snapped this one of girls sharing their Rice Owl spirit with him!

Carla and her girls... They're pretty much grown up!! Sarey's off to college this fall. Wow.

Kaitlyn the red-nosed cutie.

With Paw-Paw.

Smitten.

I am completely, totally, absolutely smitten.

Head over heels in love.

The PMS Witch Needs a Name.

Most of the time, like three weeks out of the month, I'm one of those "giving" people. I cook, I make gifts, I buy little gifts. You know the drill.

But the other week of the month, the Witch moves into my body, and I morph into someone else entirely. That Witch is so strong she needs a name.

I'm thinking Helga.

I've been awake since about 5:30 -- see? She disturbs more than my character. Right now she's disturbing my sleep. It wouldn't be such a big deal if I didn't have to drive the 7 hours to the Motherland this afternoon.

But no.... I can't sleep. Helga and I are warring.

Here's the deal.

We haven't seen Amber and the kids since Christmas. Christmas!!! Do you have any idea how long that is?? Our kids absolutely LOVE spending time with their kids. And they got to do that yesterday. They ate it up. More about that in another post.

But as fate would have it, the only weekend Amber's been able to get down here is the very weekend I'm headed to Lubbock for Micah's wedding. Why our schedules couldn't have worked better, I have no idea. Next weekend would have been so much better!

But they're here this weekend.

So the kids had only a very limited time to play yesterday afternoon.

To further complicate matters, Biggsy needs to take the new WaveRunner down to the Creek this week to air it out and see what's what.

The kids and I aren't going to be there.

But the rest of the Biggses are.

AND here is where Helga comes in.

Do you have any idea the jealousy that has taken over my body? That is coursing through every cell?? On so many different levels?

This is like building a house, only to have someone else Christen your toilet. Your one chance to pee in a virgin pot.

It's like the time in Jr. High when I saved up my own money to buy this little pair of pink tennies. They were really dorky, in hindsight. But at the time, I LOVED them. When I went to put them on for the FIRST TIME, they had this black stuff all over them. A'Lise had worn them out to the burn barrel to throw away the trash and had gotten soot all over them. Before I had ever worn them!!! Dude, I was pissed.

AND YES. I know this is absolutely irrational.

I need to go up there this weekend. We haven't been up there since Christmas!! (Are you seeing a trend here??) I've got things that need to be taken care of, and I can't wait to see everyone.

But at the same time, I want to be at the Creek. I want to have fun on my new ride. I want to be the one who gets to share it for the first time. I want to see the joy on Kodie & Kamy's faces. I want to try to throw Amber off the back end.

Do I think they should just sit on the pier and look at it? Heck, no. Helga hasn't completely won out. They should ride and enjoy and have a great time. But it doesn't stop me from being jealous. I love those kids so much -- and just wish I could have a part of it all.

I desperately need Creek Pix of the kids to add to my gallery. But I'm not going to be there to get them.

My OCD has taken over.

Would someone just clone me already? Or develop some kind of quick transport device??

Best Buds

Stephanie and Fielder came to visit this weekend. Wow! What fun! Jake sure was glad to see his Ol' Buddy again!

Dreams Do Come True...

I've wanted one of THESE for at least half my life. Since I first saw one on a Double Mint commercial or something like that. Very few things have had the staying power to remain at the top of my wish list.

I can't tell you how many times I've asked for one. Christmas lists. Birthday lists. The lists go on and on and on.

For the last two years, with our being so very close to the Creek, my wishing has become incessant. Hinting no longer was a part of it. I out-and-out told anyone and everyone who would listen that I wanted a Jet-ski. WaveRunner. Sea-Doo. Not picky.

I've wanted that independence that the girls and I would get -- the ability to run up and down the Creek without taking the big boat out. I can't take that boat out by myself. I just can't. Except maybe to drive it down to the launch whenever we leave. It makes me nervous.

After listening to me talking incessantly about this dream, Biggsy finally said we could start seriously looking a couple of weeks ago. We looked and we looked.

He looked more than I did.

A lot more.

We saw a lot of skis. Most hadn't been cared for in the same manner we wanted. Some were rusty. Others had mildew or cuts on the seats. Superficial stuff we could handle. But not that rust on the impellers or whatever.

Yesterday Biggsy went to look at a ski up by Tomball. And he came home with it. Only 20 hours. No mildew. No rust. And PRETTY!!! While PRETTY wasn't at the top of his list, it was definitely at the top of mine.

I love it that he takes care of me like that.

I won't get to use it until next weekend, but I can wait.

The anticipation may kill me, but I'll make it.

If ever there was a Honey that ROCKS, he's mine!!

My Girl

Abbie has been wanting to learn to sew. Today we made a couple of pillowcases for a couple of friends. Abs did pretty good. I'm not sure she enjoyed the vocabulary lesson on all the sewing machine parts. And I'm certain the seam ripper is not going to be her favorite tool. But she was a good sport about all that and worked hard to make her stitches straight!



Doesn't this look too cute when we roll it up and finish it off with a hair pretty??