Utah and Another Girly Quilt

Last weekend my wonderful husband let me get away to Utah to see friends and family. It was a short, but sweet trip. Here are some pictures of the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point that Kathleen and I went to. The weather was perfect! The flowers were beautiful! One of the best parts was they had Kettle Korn, mmmmmmm, my favorite.

Kathleen and her family just adopted a sweet Ethiopian baby girl. I went to the baby shower and gave her a quilt I made her using Swanky Layer Cake and a pattern from Moda Bake Shop. I'm still just a beginner quilter, but this pattern was easy to whip up. I attempted to stipple the quilt with my new machine and it did wonderful. I love how it turned out.

I appliqued Sitota's name on the quilt. Sitota is an Ethiopian name meaning Gift of God. She is such a good, sweet, adorable baby.

Like the last quilt I made, I machine stitched on the binding, easy and looks good, I think.

My boys had their pinewood derby race with the Cub Scouts. Tanner's car did quite well, and Spencer...well... he's done better in the past, but they all had fun.

A Quilt for Aria

Here is Aria my brother Chris and his wife Emily's daughter isn't she adorable? I'm excited I will be flying to Utah this weekend to see them and friends. The last time I saw Aria she was just an infant, now she is a 1-1/2 yr. old.

So I have all this girly fabric and what can a mom with four boys do with girly fabric? My first project was a quilt for my niece Aria. Unfortunately this took way longer than I had anticipated. I did a lot of hand quilting along with machine quilting, and with my new sewing machine I was able to finally finish it. In case you are wondering what fabric I used, it's Sultry by Basic Grey, I used the pattern Arcadian Garden which uses a layer cake.

This is actually my first "real" quilt. I made a couple of rag quilts for my boys, but this one took a lot more work. I love the way it turned out, especially after washing it. I love the crinkle look.

You can see that every other square was hand quilted and the others machine quilted.

Finally for the binding, I sewed it on instead of hand stitching it on. I really like it, it's not going anywhere, very strong and way faster.

Now that I've done this quilt, I've started another one, and I can't wait to show you.

My New Friend Juki

I haven't blogged in a while partially because I haven't sewn forever because I've been in need of a new sewing machine. Now I'm so excited, I finally have my first brand new sewing machine, my previous machines were all used and didn't usually have an owner's manual with it, so I would have to figure things out on my own. This machine is computerized so I don't have to fuss with a lot of different things, it's the Juki HZL-E80. So far this machine is so nice. I researched different machines and for what I needed and what I was willing to pay, this was the best buy for me. I found an awesome deal on it too.

I had bought some fat quarters, with Amy Butler fabric, waiting to be used. I had just the project in mind for my first try at this wonderful sewing machine and here is what I made. It's just the size I wanted.

If you want to know where to find the pattern go here. It is a very cute and easy pattern. It only requires two fat quarters for fabric.

My second son Tanner had his ninth birthday and had a friend party too. I dread throwing friend birthday parties, but they always turn out great. We have a rule that guests DO NOT bring gifts. It sounds odd to most, but I think we get a better turn out because of it, we don't want someone not coming because they didn't buy a gift. Plus it takes a load off parents, I think.

Tanner has a book that gives him something to do when he's bored, The Encyclopedia of Immaturity, you know the child that always says he's bored, that's him. So here are a couple of things that keep him busy. His Little Man, and shrunken apple heads, Bob and Sally. Aren't they so cute? (ha ha ha)

Pink Eye Candy

I was searching for a certain picture I remember from a Better Homes and Garden Magazine, and found an amazing blog that caught my eye and I couldn't stop looking at all the inspiring pictures, then I actually found what I was looking for on this eye candy blog: Daisy Pink Cupcake. From delicious foods, gardens and decor, I almost want to eat up every picture .

This is what I was looking for (above). I love the hutch look with the cabinets, I'd love to do this in my kitchen. Below is also the same house with a pink wall. I don't think it would work for my house full of boys, but I love it, maybe for my craft room.

I love clawfoot tubs, especially this one.

Lots of white kitchens, gotta love that!!!


How fun are these chairs. I love all the different fabrics.

I can't wait to go back and check out everything at Daisy Pink Cupcake, these are only a few pictures I saw, just icing on the cake, still more to see.

Handmade by Jessica

Today I'm blogging about a sweet friend Jessica that I've known since my oldest was just a couple months old and she was expecting their first son. We did playgroup together for a few years, then they had to go and move away. But we still keep in touch, in fact we stopped by their place in Idaho this past summer. Jessica has been making the cutest things that you can buy right on her blog, check out what she has. Here are a few of my favorites:

Valentine cards just in time for Valentine's Day. Don't wait, get them Now!!!

A Charm necklace. You can show off your kiddos with a necklace with their birthstones, or pink for girls and blue for boys.

And finally the dinner planner. One Christmas years and years ago I made one for Jessica and my sisters because someone had made one for me. When we went to visit them this last summer Jessica still had it and uses it, amazing. She really keeps on track with knowing what's for dinner. That can be frustrating as the Mom, trying to figure out what to make. Anyways, she has made a new and improved version every Mom needs. Check out this on ABCnews, how you can save money by planing your dinners.

Now go check out Handmade by Jessica!

Drizzled Chocolate Carmel Popcorn

Baked Carmel Popcorn

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

2 cubes butter

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp baking soda

6 quarts popped popcorn

1 cup peanuts or cashews (optional)

Boil sugar, butter, salt and syrup for 5 minutes. Add soda and remove from heat. Mix in nuts and stir into popcorn and bake on cookie sheet for 1 hour at 200 degrees stirring every 15 minutes. Continue to stir while cooling.

Chocolate Drizzle

Slowly heat about 1 cup chocolate chips in microwave on low heat and stir each time you check it until melted enough to drizzle all over popcorn. Be careful not to over heat, it burns easily. Drizzle and let cool. Mmmmm so good!!!

Happy New Year!!!

The Best Christmas Ever

If the snow won't come to us, then we'll just have to go to It. Christmas Eve we found snow to play in.

Before: Heave, Ho!!!

After: Oops!!!

Even though, I didn't get anything off MY Christmas List, (below)...it was a wonderful Christmas. It's all about the kids, and they kept saying all day "this is the best Christmas EVER", that was the only gift I needed.