Justo Lamas Today!

Today I'm taking 32 kids and 3 adults to see Justo Lamas in concert in Hays. I'm excited and nervous.

Pray for us! :)

Easter Tablecloth

I had this nice bit of Easter-y fabric in my to do pile. It's been there for years, destined to be a tablecloth.

Finally done! I didn't make my borders quite big enough, so it doesn't have much to hang over the sides, but it's done and it's cute, so there.

Drew in Kenya

(It's an old picture, but I love it. Anna and Drew-two good friends)

Drew, definitely one of my top ten nephews, is going to Kenya this summer to help with water wells and other projects. He's going to keep us posted on his blog:

Making Christ Famous

And just in case you'd like to help him out:

To Give Online: 1) Go to www.cmfi.org/reach 2) Click on Support Your Intern 3) Follow steps and write in his name (Drew Reese) under "missionary to be supported"

Every little bit helps. :)

Congratulations!

Did you know my sister's a big shot?


She is. So I sent her this card.


What else says "Congratulations" like a bunny with bangs?


Here's to the new Academic Coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences, Kansas State University. :)

Dino Bags

Remember WAY back before Christmas when I found the cute kits at Goodwill, and one of them was for some counted cross stich dinosaurs? Finally finished! Thanks mostly to Dad's surgery and lots of time sitting around in the hospital. :)

Here are the dinos all stitched. The kit came with enough supplies to make two, so Abby and I each did one.


Then I ironed on some fusible fleece (I got some before New Years, because I knew it was something I wanted to play with, and I had the idea for my No Craft Supplies resolution in my head...pre-emptive cheating) to make them more sturdy.


Then I used this tutorial from the purl bee and made a couple of bags. We'll be able to use these every Christmas forever! Makes me happy.

Falling off the wagon, spectacularly

It started out innocently enough. I was finishing a project that had been sitting in my to do pile for years; making an Easter tablecloth from a cute bit of fabric I found. I put the top together, then decided I needed to put some flannel on the back. I didn't have a piece big enough, so I went to Wal-Mart to buy some. That seemed alright. I was finishing a project, I didn't have what was needed.

Then I stopped at Goodwill on the way home and found two giant pieces of flannel. How could I not buy them, after JUST purchasing some new because I didn't have any in my stash? Also there was a neat bit of fabric with Asian writing. I couldn't pass that either. Oh, and another pretty sheet.

That was just the beginning. Then I needed to buy fabric for the graduation quilt for my nephew. I made an earnest attempt to find things at home that I could use, but my fabrics are mostly pink, or with flowers. He didn't want that. So then I had to go to the fabric store again, and I always wanted one of these "Jelly Rolls" of pre-cut strips, and they had one on sale, and I had a bit of Christmas money left, so I got one.
Then I had to go back to Wal-Mart to look for a bit more fabric for the quilt and THEY had jelly rolls on super clearance. This is where things really get out of hand. I bought four. But for the same price as the one I got at the other store! Still...


Sheesh. I'd better get to work.

Baby Blankets Galore!

One of the items on my Winter List was to make three baby blankets. I actually made 7. They should all be in their happy homes now--so look! Aren't they sweet? I love this project. And it's a good thing, because there are lots of babies these days.

Pink and Black for the modern baby girl. :)

Duckies.

Sweet lambs and pink gingham.

Pink poodles! Eiffel Towers!

Camping...I love this one for a little guy.

More poodles, this time with pink plaid.

And little sleepy lambs, with more gingham. I love that flannel gingham.

Whew! That was a lot of babies. I have one extra each, boy and girl, so I should be set for a month, maybe? :)

Spring List!

I noticed with about 6 days left that winter was finally slipping away, and thought I had better check on my list to see how I was doing. I'm actually thinking I prefer having zillions of things on the list, so that I feel better about checking lots of things off.

Here's the Winter tally:

1. Graduation Gift
2. Read 3 books that Dad would approve of.
3. Build a room in the basement with Matthew.(Got started!)
4. Molly G Quilt
5. 1 Scrapbook Project (this is getting desperate)(STILL NOTHING!!)
6. 3 Baby Blankies
7. Trip with MJL
8. Do the 12 week challenge at the YMCA.(They closed the pool for a month for renovations-but I'm marking it off because I still did a pretty good job.)

Also, from the Fall List: Put the binding on the Christmas Quilt! Glad to have that done. :)

Spring 2010:

1. 1 Scrapbook Project. Please. (that's the magic word, right?)
2. Sarah's Birthday gift.
3. Finish Room in the basement with Matthew.
4. Plant Garden.
5. One small landscaping project.
6. Anna jammies!
7. Anna Birthday Dress.
8. Run away with Anna.
9. Make something with Jelly Rolls.
10. Make something for myself.
11. Anna hall pictures.
12. Anna 8x10's for year.
13. Anna and Grammy Rita book.
14. Video Project.

I'm feeling good about these lists. I'm starting to catch up with things, and now I can think about what I'd LIKE to do.

Fairy Tales

A thought for the weekend:

"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales."

-Albert Einstein

I'll see you all on the 22nd, I'm taking Spring Break off. :)

Puzzle Ball

A few years ago Katrina gave me a lovely book.

Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson

I've been wanting to make the puzzle ball forever, and so, for Silas' 3rd birthday, I finally did.

It was a pretty quick and fun gift, I definitely would make it again.

I didn't get any good pictures of him enjoying it, but I think he liked it.

Accidental Frenzy

Remember last year's January Rampage?

It must be something about being inside the house too much (or, after reading those old posts, something about Anna having a cold). One Saturday morning I accidentally started to clean up the craft room. I have no idea how it started.

Somewhere in the middle...

I even brought up the boxes of craft stuff from the basement and sorted them all out too. Anna had a little head cold, so she was happy to sit with me as I sifted through things, or to watch Jungle Book in the same room as I toted things up and down the stairs.

This picture is after hours of sorting fabric. I discovered that working for twelve hours on the floor makes my knees hurt.

All done! I definitely feel more calm and ready to make things.

This is my favorite, all of the little bits of fabric semi folded and sorted by color.

And my feet fit under my table! So exciting.

Rice Bag Bulletin Board

My friend Sarah's sweet Mama sent me a Christmas present this year, a neat rice bag.

I've been playing around with an idea in my head for awhile, and I finally sat down and did it. Super simple. I just cut a piece of foam board (foam core, like super fancy poster board with foam in the middle) to fit, slid it in, and hand stitched the top closed.

Now it's a kitchen-y bulletin board perfect for all of those nice family pictures we get at Christmas time.

I love a 5 minute project.

St.Patrick's Day Winner!

Are you excited?

First we put all of the names in a big green hat...

And then my little leprechaun reached in...(with grimy fingers)...

Congratulations Trinket!!!

Hopefully I'll get it in the mail to you today, lucky Trinket! consider it a gift from Momma M.

Thanks for playing! This is a really nice St. Patrick's Day memory.

I keep Christmas...

In my front yard.

I haven't been able to bring myself to un-decorate our teeny spruce. He's so cheery and bright!

And look how happy he was in the snow.

I don't know if it's ever coming off.

Enter before Sunday at 6:00! Winner announced Monday.

My Daddy

Today my Daddy has surgery. Susan's here, we'll be playing cards and pretending not to worry.

I'll be thinking about this song: From this one place--Sara Groves (if you click that link, you can listen to it, the player's on the right side of the page, it's black. I couldn't figure out how to get it on here.)

I was about to give up and that's no lie
cardinal landed outside my window
threw his head back and sang a song
so beautiful it made me cry

took me back to a childhood tree
full of birds and dreams

from this one place I can't see very far
in this one moment I'm square in the dark
these are the things I will trust in my heart
you can see something else
something else

I don't know what's making me so afraid
tiny cloud over my head
heavy and grey with a hint of dread
I don't like to feel this way

take me back to a window seat
with clouds beneath my feet

from this one place I can't see very far
in this one moment I'm square in the dark
these are the things I will trust in my heart
you can see something else
something else

Only 4 more days to enter...

More Notebooks!

Once I get started making notebooks, there are so many little things to make. Eventually, every nice bit of cardboard I've ever come across will be in one.


Here's a piece of the box from Anna's caterpillar chimes. At least 3 years old. Now it's a notebook!

This is a book that was on the free table at the library. Missing pages and pretty beat up, I didn't feel bad about re-purposing it.

When I cut the paper to fit inside that book, there were some long skinny strips, which make nice paint chip books.


And the other fatter bits were just right to make these two-I thought they'd make a nice anniversary gift, but does any man really want a cute notebook?

A busy, happy morning.

5 days left to enter!

Le chocolatier

When Matthew and I ran away to Colorado Springs, one of the fun things we did was stop at a Safeway and buy flavored creamer for the coffee in the room and fancy cookies. I liked my cookies, and the box they came in, so you know what happened when they were all gone.

The cardboard was a little flimsy, so I cut a nice piece I had saved and zig-zagged them together with red thread. I really like how it turned out. Anna did not think it was a good idea.

And out of one of the sides, a bookmark. I had just a bit of red thread left over from something else, so I made a tassel.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

St. Patrick's Giveaway!

It was on St. Patrick's Day that I sat at the dining room table with my Mom and said with forced cheer: "Well, Cancer doesn't mean what it used to, does it!"

I've waited a few years, but I don't think I'm going to want to celebrate that day any more. It's fine, it's quite a small loss, as holidays go.

But that doesn't mean that I don't want others to celebrate, I think small holidays=big fun.

So... I'm giving away my box of St. Patrick's Day goodies. Hats, mugs, green food dye, a CD, and lots more.

I'll draw a name on March 7, so that I have time to get it in the mail and get it to you by the 17th.

One entry per comment, TWO entries if you also tell me how you have celebrated/will celebrate the day.

Good Luck!