New Brother!

So, my neighbor took her car into the shop for routine oil change 

and came home with a brand new car. 

After chatting with her and ooo-ing and ahh-ing over the beautiful new ride, 

I went back to my sewing....

On my new Brother.

Then I busted up laughing!!

I did the same thing!!!

I took my old Bernina into the sewing machine shop to fix a repeat problem...

And came out with a brand new machine!!!!

A gorgeous new Brother!

I'm in love all over again.

Happy Stitching!

I am!!

Another Great Novel

I found this book at the library recently and was immediately drawn to it because I love all of Shannon Hale's books.  She is an amazingly talented author and can really tell a great story.  The Actor and The Housewife is her newest book out and she did not disappoint!
It is the story of Becky Jack, Mormon housewife and mother of four, happens to run into Felix Callahan, Hollywood's hottest hunk and favorite actor.  This chance meeting turns into an unusual friendship.  A necessary friendship that helps each of them through some of life's toughest challenges.
Don't be turned off by the "Mormon housewife" idea.  It's not too churchy.  It's really no different than reading a story about a Catholic or Baptist or any other religious background and hearing about how someone reacts to situations based on their beliefs.  I find that reading books with a bit of different religious ideas is quite interesting.
Anyway, I caught myself laughing out loud several times and then at other times I was crying a puddle into my pillow.  (My husband kept looking at me like I was crazy.)  I like a good story that gives me an emotional ride and then leaves me feeling cozy and warm.
Yes, I would recommend this book.  Go find it!

And By the Way...

Here's what I've been working on lately...

Another animal block to add to my new collection.  This one is a Blue Jay.  I think it's kinda sweet.  It's been waiting a week or so because I didn't have any gray floss to stitch the legs... but now they're done.

These are the Barn Door blocks that I made and sent to my partner Linda.

For the Block Swap Adventure, I made this Four Patch Star for my partner, Laurrie.  She wanted spring colors and I really like how it turned out.  I had a bit of separation anxiety with it and kept it an extra day or two just to look at it...  :)  I hope she likes it as much as I did.

This is the block Laurrie sent me.  I asked for sailboats and she delivered. 

 Isn't is great!!  I love it too!

And, finally, this is our new puppy, Ru.  She is a goldendoodle and wow, I was not prepared for what she brought.  It's like having another toddler...

She is so cute and fluffy (she almost blends into the carpet).  We're really liking her.

Wherein I learned a valuable lesson in value.

We are all trying to save a buck these days right? When have you gone too far in being frugal?  I learned a thing -- or two -- about this lately.

Here's my story:

I started sewing some quilt squares using some old white fabric that came from my grandmother's stash after she passed.  I don't know how old it is, where is came from or what it was meant for.  I decided to use it because I had it and it didn't cost me a dime so... why not.  Well, after I sewed about half the strips together, I thought I'd iron them.  (I don't know why I stopped sewing and started ironing in the middle but it turned out to be a good idea.)

After ironing, I noticed something weird... The white strip had shrunk!!  I had lost 1/4 inch in length on that side!!  Holy Crap!

Good thing I only had to rip apart half of those darn buggers.  I'll get back to that project later...  Have to let the frustration settle some.

Next lesson:

I thought I use some cheap thread to baste hexagons because... why not.  I had it and the basting is on the back and doesn't matter how it's done right, so why not save some pennies on thread.

Well... When I pressed those little hexies... my iron melted that cheap thread and now I have a perfect black hexagon shape tattooed on my iron.  I did some scrubbing to get most of it off.  (I need a new iron anyway.) The good thing, I guess, is that the melted thread sort of glued the hexagon down so I didn't have to re-baste it.  It survived ok.

I guess we all get to learn our lessons ourselves, huh.

Do you have an experience like this too?

What's your excuse for not blogging?

This is what I woke up to this morning:

How am I supposed to keep up with all of my bloggy friends???

Aaaarrrrrgggg!

So, I did what my Dad taught me -- Be resourceful and make it work!

I got out some tools and scraps of wood... 

...And Whaa Laa!

A new brace for the keyboard drawer.

 It's more sturdy now than it was before.

 And in a matter of minutes... I'm back on line.

(ummm, no comments about my mess. ok)

What's Wrong With Olfa?

Have you ever had that feeling that things just aren't going well.

You feel kinda sluggish...

Rough around the edges...

In a jagged fog?

My poor rotary cutter has been feeling rough for sometime.

I finally gave it a little TLC and got a new blade for it.

I didn't think my old blade was all that bad until I used the new one...

OH!  It was like the windows had opened and let in a beautiful breeze...

Like taking a huge, deep breath after being in a smoky room...

It cut so smooth and easily.

I'm like a new woman...

or the same woman with a new blade.

Outta my way!  I've got fabric to cut!!

Pity Party

Well, call it a pity party or just a splurge... Whatever.

I spent countless hours entering dozens of Sew-Mama-Sew give-aways (there were hundreds) in December and, oh the goodies that were out there to be had!  I can't tell you of the visions of sugar plums that danced in my head - or the chickens I counted before they were hatched.

My luck has apparently completely ran out because I didn't win a single thing.  I'm sure I'm the only person in all of quilt blogging world that walked away empty handed.

So, what does a girl in my pitiful situation do?  Throw pity party and go buy myself some gifts!

I made up for it in our local JoAnn's at their New Year's sale and bought some good stuff!

I feel much better.  :)

And, yes, I will still continue to enter those silly give-aways with the glimmer of hope that my luck will change.