Challenges

A challenge beginning September 1st, 2011.
http://homemakerschallenge.com/

Surprise Visit!

Yesterday our family had a nice little surprise, well to the kids it was a surprise.  Grandma and Grandpa drove the RV up to our house yesterday for us to use for this upcoming weekend.  Every year our church has what is know as our "Annual Family Camper Conference" where we spend the weekend up at the church camp.  This year I wasn't planning on going.  I mean really, what sane mother would stay in a 10 person tent with 6 kids when daddy would only be there at night?  Exactly.  So, grandparents came to the rescue!  They are letting us use their RV for the weekend, my kind of camping.  :)

Which brings me to my next point, I will be without internet for the weekend.  So, I won't be checking blogs, emails, flickr, etsy, pinterest, facebook, for 3 days!  I know, the world will stop revolving!  With this mini vacation also marks the end of summer.  Once we get back we'll be starting school.  Eek!  Also, Ben and I have decided that for the first week of school to go on a media fast.  No movies, internet and the like.  I did ask if I would be able to use the computer at night once the kids are in bed since I do have commitments that need to be kept, and he agreed.  Phew.

This week has also been busy for me in cleaning, quilting and preparing to school.  I will post all my quilting updates on Wednesday with the WIP post, but I will let you know that I am excited to tell you all of what I finished this week.  :)  My house is looking pretty clean, more organization is needed, then again, when isn't it?

Oh, I also will be starting the Homemakers 31 Days to Clean Challenge on the 1st as well so be prepared to see posts on that.  I will also be linking up weekly to a homeschooling link about MFW.  My sidebar has a button link on that.  I think that's it for now.  I'll see you all on Wednesday!

Oh, one more thing!  Don't forget that once I get up to 50 followers I'll be coordinating a giveaway with Fat Quarter Shop, my SPONSOR!

WIP #2

Well, this week has been busy.  I was able to finally finish Mariah's quilt that I had been working on for over a year.

I sent out my charms for the Color Wheel Swap:

as well as my package for ALFALC.  They should reach their respective places by the end of the week.  I have also almost finished my Cups And Saucers swap package as well.  I have the border and binding to put on, once it's mailed I will post pictures.  Here is a peek of part of it:

I haven't done much with the Zig Zag quilt or my Lone Star, I hope to work on them more this week.  I also have to cut out my fabric for the Across the Sea Quiltalong.
Finished: 1 quilt, and 2 packages
To complete: Cups and Saucers Swap
                     Cut fabric for Across The Sea QAL
Goal:  Complete at least 2 of the baby quilts sitting in the WIP pile and my A Zig A Zag QAL, Lone Star Quilt also.
Phew, I think I'm tired reading the list.  We'll see how I do on it.

Don't forget that once I reach 50 followers, we'll have a giveaway!

Mariah's Quilt & A New Sponsor!

This week has been rather busy for me.  I finally, after over a year, finished my first official quilt.  I had planned on finishing it for Mariah's 10th birthday, last October, but just never did.  I was pregnant at the time, followed by giving birth a few months later as well as a move.  It feels great to have it finally finished.  Mariah hasn't unwrapped herself from it yet.  :)  Here are some pictures of it:  BTW, the front and the back are identical.  I think I was crazy when I concocted this quilt.

Also, as the title of this post states, I have a sponsor!  My first one ever.  I love to purchase fabric, and I've discovered this wonderful online shop, which makes it so easy!  I plan on having a giveaway with them sometime in September.  In order to do that, I'd love to see my blog reach a milestone.  Right now, I have 7 followers with google and 15 with networked blogs.  I'd like to see the number reach 50.  If you follow with networked blogs and have a google account, might you also follow with that in order to better calculate the total?  Once I reach 50, I'll set up the giveaway.  It'll be something awesome from www.fatquartershop.com, I promise!  So spread the word!
Thanks, Lisa

WIP Wednesday #1

I've seen a few of my fellow bloggers use this day as a way to keep track of their projects and thought it may work for me as well.  So, I have many projects that I'm in the process of finishing.
For the Cups and Saucers Swap, I have started the project but will wait to post pictures of it until I'm further along.  Here are the fabrics:

For the 3x6 Bee, Color Wheel Charm Swap and ALFALC I just received my fabrics in the mail yesterday and I have an idea as to what the block I want to do for the 3x6, but I'll just give a picture of the fabric for all of these:

For the A Zig A Zag QAL, I have all of my half blocks sewn up.  Read my 'oops' post to find out what a fun event that was!

For the Lone Star QAL, I have half of my star sewn together and it's coming along nicely.  I decided to do a modified version of the A Zig A Zag QAL and make a table runner to correspond with this wall hanging I'm creating with the Lone Star:

I have also picked out the fabrics for the Across the Sea QAL that is starting up.  They were bought for another project that I hadn't done and thought this would be a fun way to use them as well as learn a new block:

I also sent out my charms for the Rainbow Charm Swap, but forgot to take a picture of those.  :/
So, Working on: 7 projects, though not all require sewing!
       Finished: 1, no sewing required.
       Goal: To cut charms and mail, sort out FQs for ALFALC swap and mail, work on Cups and Saucers Swap.
We'll see how it goes.  Until next Wednesday,
Lisa

Oops!

I am working a modified version of the zig zag quilt for the "A Zig A Zag QAL", and was so excited to have the half blocks finished!

Then I noticed that I sewed all those lovely green triangles on the wrong side of my 'zigs'!!!  Oh, the horror of becoming better friends with my seam ripper.  Ugh.  Thankfully, I had a helper:

She pulled out all the threads that were left after my seam ripper dealt with my mess.
Now, sewing them properly

I have my half blocks correctly sewn.  Phew

I have been sitting here today just enjoying the kids.  It feels good to be caught up on laundry, dishes and general house cleaning. I praise God for the 31 Day challenge and it's related facebook groups that have kept me accountable and encouraged.  Because I'm not playing catch up with the laundry, I am actually able to wash the bed sheets without worrying if I'll get all the clothing done before Sunday.  :)  Later today I'll work on some of my quilting projects, but for now I am relaxing with the kids.

Home Educating Family Publishing

Home Educating Family Publishing

It's been awhile!

As you can see, I've been a bit lack in posting!  I've been busy.  I finished up the 31 Days to Clean challenge and have been trying hard to maintain the house.  Some days it's easier than others.  :/  I also discovered flickr.  It's my new obsession.  I love to quilt, though I am still fairly new at it.  I have joined a few groups and participated in my first QAL, which is what kept me from blogging.  I am now a part of a Rainbow Swap with Ellison Lane Quilts and am waiting for a response on a Color Wheel Charm Swap.  I am also a part of a few others and it's exciting to see the talent in the quilting world and how much I have to learn.  School will be starting up soon for my house which means that I am enjoying my quilting hobby until then when I will have to cut back on my involvement.  I am also hoping to teach some basic skills to my kids this year as Naomi has expressed some interest in sewing this summer.  Who knows, maybe her interest will reignite Mariah's, light up Thomas' and well, have a chain reaction.  Time will tell.  
Oh, here's a picture of my finished quilt from the QAL: