Too Much Working, Not Enough Fun

Since I so proudly proclaimed that Prom Season was half over, I got my May schedule and wept.  I still have 4 weeks before I get a Saturday off.  And, I'm soooooo looking forward to it.  At least the 9 o'clock shift ends this next week.  Of course, I'm on that shift twice...but at least it's ending.

These are, apparently, the best cupcakes I've ever made.  It's a dark chocolate cake mix with chopped nutter butters mixed in, peanut butter frosting with a dollup of fudge frosting and a nutter butter on top.  I call them Escape From the Nut House.

Pinterest update:  I tried making my own chalk board paint.  Several times, with not a whole lot of success.  Rich made a little tray with green paint but the color wasn't even.  Then I bought a bigger tray and used black but too much grout powder and it turned out like gravel.  So, Rich finally forked out the big bucks and bought some at the store.  I know, I'm just as shocked as you.  The plan is to use this as a menu board.  I'm going to attach a big bow and a clothes pin so that I can write dinner instructions for when the kids have to finish dinner while I'm working.  It should be done just in time for it not to matter any more.

My sweet baby Sierra was having a rough go of things last week.  I won't go into details but it was one of those times that really made me wonder why the hell I thought I'd be okay as a parent.  So, what's a crazy, worried mom to do but start a quilt for her daughter.  I'd been saving Alice In Wonderland fabrics for the last couple of years to make this for her.  It's the original artwork, not the Disney version.  I think I was going to do a Take 5 and then changed it to Turning Twenty and then didn't quite have the right amount of fabric for either...  I should have taken a close up.  I've got Alice, the white rabbit, tea pots, clocks and card guys all over this thing.  There's enough to do an outer border but not enough to do an inner border.  I really think it needs something more so, hopefully I can find Alice fabric somewhere.  Sierra is doing much better, so I don't feel the rush to get it done anymore.  Gotta say though, super quick and easy pattern.  I cut and sewed the whole thing in one day.

Then the other day I got a package in the mail.  My friend Donna went to Paducah and saw a book and 3 kits for pin cushions from Primitive Gatherings and thought of me.  It's so awesome!  First of all, that I have friends that think of me when I'm not in their face, and second the kits and book are soooo cute!  Naturally, I couldn't wait to do something.

I'm using wool on cotton.  The instructions suggested that I use steam to apply the wool.  I put water in my iron for the first time, and wouldn't you know, it spit brown water all over my project!!!!  Grrr.  I might work on this some next week.  I've got a crazy idea to frame it when I'm done and I spot clean it.

While I was waiting for a trip to the fabric store, I started yet another project.  I made one a few years ago for Sweet Annies' and loved it.  So, I used up the kit I've been saving since then.  It's going to be a wedding gift.

You take a layer cake and sew a charm square in the middle.  Don't finish the edge or worry too much about placement, just sew it down.  Then, cut it in four pieces.  Mix them all up and sew them back together.  It's a raw edge applique.  And don't freak out because your squares don't match up.  You did that on purpose!

I finally got to the fabric store and bought creams for the setting triangles for the trees.  And, I started piecing it together.  This is about half the middle strip.  There will be applique branches up and down the sides and then another layer of trees on each side.  This may be difficult for me to part with when I'm done.  We shall see.

Prom Season Is Half Over

Prom season is killing me.  It's half over and this was the hardest week to get through for me.  Honestly, this week was terrible.  I'm thankful for my job, I like my job, and I like the people I work with.  But, 60 hrs a week is too much time to spend with people.  I don't think I could handle Rich that much and we've been happily married for 20 years.  UGH.

Any who, I have been trying to stay creative despite the long hours.  On Easter, I made a new purse.  I bought this kit at Sweet Annie's a few years ago.  I was so impressed with her purchase of such bright fabric.  Love it!  I also have a kaleidoscope quilt kit waiting for me with the same collection.  It's going to be fabulous.  Someday.

Then I decided to do this teacup that I've wanted to get to for awhile.  I wish I'd used a different background to show the white of the cup better.  And those flowers were SO difficult.  The pattern was supposed to be enlarged 200% and I only did 150% because I wanted it to be life size.  Teeny, tiny leaves and petals.  It sucked.  And, quite honestly, doesn't look that great.  I had Bethany write the words and then I stitched over it.  That part, I like.  It's my new cubicle art.

Then, today I got some time to finish my trees.  I like the way they turned out.  It took most the day to make 18.  Well, make the blocks and do my taxes.  I still haven't cleaned the bathroom or kitchen.  Or, finished the laundry.  But, I am almost caught up on Cupcake Wars.  That's also important.

No matter how hard I tried to make these blocks random looking, I did the old "well s**t" about 6 times.  For example, these two side corners turned out to be the same fabric on both sides of the tree.  They weren't supposed to be.  And, in a few blocks I managed to put some identical half square triangles together.  Dang it!

I may need to purchase some fabric before I go any further.  I don't have any long strips of fabric to use for the applique part of the quilt.  It may be mid-May before I get to that.  Something to look forward to, I suppose.  And, with that I will say ado, my friends. 

Remember, friends don't let friends try to reserve tuxedos at the last minute.  For God's sake people, plan ahead!

Well, That Was Random

Well, I survived my first week of Prom Season.  It almost killed me but, here I am.  Wasting my one and only day off sewing and blogging.  Earlier I was watching NCIS in my pjs (at around 11am) when Rich came into our room with a drill.  I sneezed and said "See, I'm so allergic to manual labor that I sneeze when I'm even in the same room with tools."  He agreed with that little gem a little too eagerly for his own health... It worked, I started feeling guilty, took a shower and went upstairs to sew.  In my defense, I did do some laundry and they're also expecting me to prepare dinner.
 

Any who, over the last couple of weeks, I finished the last of the rows of Bee In My Bonnet's Row Along.  I messed up the tulips, they're supposed to be 'dancing' with one up, one down but I didn't follow directions very well.  I know, you're shocked.  So, no dancing tulips on the great quilt of randomness.


I decided I would start with spring and end with winter and throw the homey stuff though out to try to make sense of the whole thing.  I started sewing the rows together from the bottom up.  Mainly because the bottom was more in my way while sewing than the top was.  Then, I had to stop and go back several days later and forgot that little detail and started sewing my mittens to spring.  My life almost fell apart.  Unsewing sucks. 

And, I lost my favorite seam ripper.  Isn't that just the way?!  As soon as I had declared my love for it, it vanished.  Ugh.

Here's a look at the quilt before borders.  I think the black on thimbles is fine.  I was afraid it would be too much black.

Then, with borders.  The outer border is supposed to be a pieced 6" border but by the time I got to it, there was no way I wanted to take that much more time on the quilt!  Not to mention, I didn't have enough of the orange gingham to do it.  I went with the old rule that how ever much is left of the fabric is how large your borders should be:)  I apparently, had quite a bit less than the designer lady.

The gingham reminds me of my Aunt Azaya.  When I was in high school, I lived with her for awhile.  And, the room that was mine was covered in green gingham.  I didn't appreciate it when I was a snotty teenager.  But, I love it now and I want to use it for everything!  Every time I do, I think of Azaya.  Actually, she was Nancy back then but that is a whole different story.



Last but not least, I finished Sew Tweets.  It's quilted and bound and ready for my quilt guild's President's challenge in May.  Me likey, me likey a lot.

I've also been working on my state flower embroidery quilt blocks.  I'm past the half way point but I don't have pictures because it stays at work, far away from my camera.  I keep coming up with different ideas about how to finish that quilt.  I'm really curious what it's going to end up like.

Then, I tried to start a new applique project but my scanner is apparently broken and I have to enlarge the pattern 200%.  Considering the snow outside, I think I'll wait to get that done another day.

Oh, and I think I figured out why no one is able to leave a comment.  I had it set up as a pop-up.  If you are running a pop-up blocker, it probably won't work.  So, I changed that and have gotten my first spam.  See if you can comment now.  Don't forget, I speak fluent smart-ass.  Just don't be a meany:)

Sleep In Your Bed Retreat

I tried to get caught up, really I did.  We had a sleep in your own bed retreat again.  It was, once again, lots of fun.  However, I kept screwing up.  I cut the pieces before I left in the morning so that I wouldn't have to take my whole stash with me.  First, I sewed the star point onto the wrong side.  Then I had one of my baskets cut wrong.  I also have my spools cut but those pieces are wrong, too.  Grrr.  I'm thinking I may change the color of my spools, now that I have to re-do them anyway.  Currently, they're black/ rainbow polka dots.  I think it might be better if I use the red gingham I used for all the butterfly bodies.  Then, I've got houses to build and after I fix whatever I screw up with those, the last row is tulips.  I think it's a really cute quilt but I feel weird about the variety of items on it.  I've got everything from butterflies, to fall leaves, to mittens, spools and houses.  Is it the seasons, or homey stuff or is it just random stuff?  I don't get it.  And, that bothers me...

What I do get, is that my Chocolate Bunny table topper is super cute!  I got the pattern from the Pattern Basket.  Love it! My original plan was to cut a bite out of one bunny's ear and the other's butt.  Then we could sit around the table and say, "My butt hurts."  "What?".  That's my favorite Easter joke.

I'm having serious issues getting these stupid pictures to follow instructions.  The cupcakes are a skinny recipe that sucks.  It's cake batter with Sprite Zero.  The frosting is Cool Whip and fat free pudding.  In theory it should have been good.  I did have some people say they liked them but I don't believe them.  Now the Whoopie Pies were good.  I've never had one or even seen one in person.  So, I didn't know what size they were supposed to be.  First I used the large scoop but it made them the size of hamburgers.  Rich said I should offer a quarter to anyone who could finish it in one sitting.  Then, I used the little scoop and they were really little.  Finally, I found the medium scoop.  And, they were jjuuuuust right.  But, I was out of batter.  So, next time I'll know.  The frosting was awesome.  It was supposed to be cream cheese mint but I was out of mint.  So, I used orange.  So good!  I had extra and put it in the fridge for another project.  Then Hunter came home and thought it was mashed potatoes.  Yep.  He came into my room last night with the bowl and a spoon, concerned that he'd ruined his potatoes because they were so runny.... At least I've got the recipe for another day.

I changed my comment settings to see if more people can comment.  I've gotten 3 spam comments so far, I guess it works...

Apparently, This is What Progress Looks Like

I'm several weeks behind, but this is my latest row-along.  Mittens.  They turned out really cute.  I'm three rows behind.  I've got twinkle stars, houses and baskets to catch up on.  If I've been paying attention, and that is never a given, I think there should only be one or two more rows to do.  I hope to catch up during my retreat this weekend.

I finally finished your quilt show ribbons.  They're going to look fabulous hanging from your quilts in June!  Personally, I want to win second place because I love all the red ones.  Maybe I could win one of each?

Best of Show and Mayor's Choice...  gonna be great.  Ignore the bad lighting.  My house is old and my sewing room walls are bright yellow.  The background color is the same in both of these photos, just different ends of the room.  Weird, right?  The actual color is somewhere between the two.

You can't tell yet, but these are tree parts.  I'm making 18 tree blocks.  This is the center of the leaves.

 This is the leaves on the right side?  Maybe?

This is the pile of half square triangles that I have left over.  I may have made a few too many.  Good thing I tortured myself into making the whole package!  I'm thinking I can get another project done out of Edyta's book.  We watched one of her videos in TAS last week and it was quite motivating.  I'd love a table topper.





Did I mention that I made my triangles too large?  Yeah.  I could have sworn I had the papers for 2.5", apparently I had 3".  This little pile is a very small portion of my trimmings.  Yep.  Having to trim EVERY SINGLE ONE of these babies.  Didn't make me want to cry when I figured that out, at all.

If I Kept Everything I Made, I'd Be On an Episode of Hoarders

For my Secret Pal at guild, I made a couple heart shaped pot holders.  I got a free pattern at Hancock's a few weeks ago.  I think I'm okay posting this because I'm pretty sure she doesn't follow my blog.

And, because I feel like I need to make towels for every occasion, I made these for her also.  I wish I didn't buy red towels, everything I wanted to do, would have looked better on white.  And, I had pink rick rack I wanted to use.

I found this yarn a while back and fell in love with it.  Not really a traditional color for a baby blanket but if was REALLY soft and cuddly.  Purple has just been my thing lately.  I bought all that was left of the yarn and it wasn't quite enough so this turned out smaller than I really had intended but I think it will work for a car seat or stroller blanket when the baby gets a little bigger.  One of the girls at work is having a grand baby so, I made it for her.  The same grandma that got the gingham block blanket from a previous post.  Her 2 daughters are due a few days apart from each other.

Then my supervisor's daughter is also due that same week.  Grand babies galore and in the middle of Prom Season, too.  I made this quilt a few years ago but it was too feminine for a friend's baby boy.  It's been sitting around just waiting for the right baby to come along.  I just loved the colors on this.  It's so cheerful!  Again with the purple...the backer is also a really sweet lavender polka dot.  Everything but the backer was out of my stash.  It's all about the stash this year, too.

Then, Rich's co-worker is getting married.  I've been making photo album covers for years and years.  They've changed from time to time.  First, they were all hot glue, ruffles and ribbon with a photo slot in the front.  Then, I started leaving off the photo because that was a total pain in the ass and attaching embellishments.  Then, I was cross stitching names on the front.  All the while, hot gluing everything to the album itself.  And, burning myself repeatedly.

My most recent design is a quilted, removable cover.  I appliqued their monogram in her wedding colors.  It's a black and white wedding.  I made my first ribbon milliner's roses.  I just used polyester satin ribbon.  Don't know if I want to start collecting silk ribbon.  That could be another big investment.... The same reason that I avoid wools.

Check out those gorgeous roses!  I may attach those to everything from now on! 

I also finished my Floral Fantasy quilt for the quilt show but I'm not sure if I should post it or keep a secret for the quilt show in June.   Hmmm....I'm not a very good secret keeper.

My Gift to the World Shall be Diabetes

On Super Bowl Sunday, my company had a bake sale to raise money for one of the girls that works with us.  She's receiving cancer treatments and her husband went into the hospital with gall stones at the same time.  They were able to raise a bunch of money for the cause, which was really exciting.

I made Orange Crush cupcakes that I found on Pinterest.  And then, packaged them in a 9oz plastic cup that I also found on Pinterest.  These were really, really delicious.

I also tried to make Mt Dew cupcakes.  Yes, Pinterest.  Now, these were delicious but the rim of all of them burned.  I think it was the liners I used.  They were lined with metallic shiny stuff and I think that made the difference.  The cake itself was super moist and yummy.  The frosting was not good.  Surprisingly, butter and Mt. Dew are not besties.  So, I didn't sell them because I didn't think they rated a price tag.

And I tried to do a fancy swirl thing with the frosting that didn't work out really well either....

One of my supervisor's last day was this week.  She's been with the company for 12ish years.  She's got a really good sense of humor so I went with my best communication skill.  Sarcasm.  The cake itself was really good.  I used a french vanilla cake mix, added some rum extract, and a box of pistacio pudding times 2 because it was a big cake.  Then, I soaked the baked cake with a butter rum sauce that was on the back of the extract box.  Do you ever eat Butter Rum Lifesavers.  Yeah, the sauce tasted just like that.  Then I covered it in cream cheese frosting.  Not gonna lie, it's good.  Apparently, we've got a bunch of health nuts in the office because I brought 1/2 of it home today.