I've Commited to Bust the Stash

My stash has grown to the point where it is just out of control...I still like most of what's there...I cleared out a bunch a few years ago when we moved so I'm happy with what I have, I just have TOO much. So at first I thought I could do it on my own, then I thought "Are you nuts?"...I haven't been able to do it up until now. I read Judy L's blog about stash busting and decided that was the answer. For some reason I had it in my head that if I committed to this I would never be able to buy another piece of fabric and I could only use what I had...WRONG!!!!! That's not it at all. So I'm very happy to report my first week has been a success.

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 2.75yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 2.75yards

OK...now don't laugh...it's not a lot, but it's a start...and I used more than I brought in. YIPPEE!
This is going to be a very good year.

Happy New Year...and a little Christmas too

First my wish to all of you for a very Happy, Healthy, Wonderful 2009! I've been saying good-bye to 2008 and making my plans and lists for 2009...I am looking forward to finishing many projects, and starting new ones. I want to read a lot more this year...I always do great when mom and I are at the beach, but when I'm home reading ends up being the last thing before I close my eyes at night...some nights I only read 2 sentences...I want to do better...I have many books I want to read this year. I'm really going to try to use all of my time more wisely. Let's see how I do...LOL!

We sure had a great Christmas...there nothing like seeing Christmas through the eyes of a 2 year old. Mom had the best time...she and Hampton spent time together reading and doing lots of stickers.

Christmas morning was the best...Santa left a note thanking Hampton for the cookies and the carrots for the reindeer...Santa brought Hampton a tricycle...it's wonderful...look at the long handle on the back...no more bending over to help push the tricycle until he figures out the pedals...now why didn't someone think of that when I had a little one with a trike. LOL!Christmas lasted several days as you'll guess from the next picture...different PJ's for Mamie...this is the day after Christmas...I think he opened gifts for 4 days...it was a riot...he played with each and every present after he opened it and then went back to some several times. He's opening the Dance Cam that Grandy and I gave him...OMG! Technology! This hooks up to the TV and it has a little web cam like camera in it...it also has graphics that show up on the screen of the TV and plays songs...Hampton stands in front of the TV and dances up a storm and he's on the TV...we had tons of fun...they can also hook their IPod up to it and he can dance to some of his favorites. Here are he and Grandy dancing...Grandy sure looks like he's concentrating. LOL! I tried to video this on my digital camera but you all know, I am no techno queen...I never did quite get it right.

Hampton's Nana (my mom) gave him his first computer...she gave Josh his first computer, but he was a whole lot older than Hampton is...so she wanted to give Hampton his. OMG! This was just amazing! This computer is made by Leap Frog and it's hard to believe that at 2 he's clicking a mouse. He loves this.

He'll be giving me lessons real soon. One last picture of my Christmas boy...What a fun, fun Christmas.

The mailman found me in Birmingham...what fun! Christmas gifties from Tammy...

Wonderful table topper.cookie cutters, that cute vintage Christmas box with Valdani perle cotton inside, yummy Trader Joe's dark chocolate and a chocolate ornament for the tree. Look at that primitive candy cane ornament. That red box in the back...here let me give you a close up...Now remember for my birthday, Tammy sent me Trader Joe's Peppermint Joe Joe's...they were beyond belief...well these are the most amazingly wonderful cookies ever...they are the same cookies only they're covered in dark chocolate...yummers! I shared one with mom...you guessed it...to the gym, to the gym to the gym I must go. Also in this amazing Christmas package was this "herd"...you know how I love the herd...well there are 5 in this herd...all have scarves and hats and are they ever cute. These will be out all year long. I just love them. And look at this angel pillow ...she's right near me in my sewing room...Thank you Tammy...you sure did spoil me!

Well I followed my mom's advice...she always says only do what you want to do all year on New Year's Day...so no cleaning, no laundry (I know I have to do that all year, but I don't WANT to)...I sewed some...got my Peace on Earth BOM block from Fat Quarter Shop done...

And I got my Simply Sophisticated BOM done...I sure do like this BOM...the Fat Quarter Shop does a great job...comes on time and always more than enough fabric. So I'm starting the year right...sewed and I'm caught up...with these 2 BOM's anyway...LOL!

Looking forward to a great 2009...

The Herd Has Been Delivered

I couldn't be more excited...Jami got the Herd quilt quilted for me just like she promised...she is amazing...I got the binding on Saturday night and finished stitching it down Sunday morning. We delivered it to the other half of the herd's mom and dad last evening...they LOVED it! It was just so much fun...thanks Buggy Barn for such great patterns.

This is short and sweet...I need to be packing and getting ready to get out the door in the morning...I picked up mom this morning and she's all ready. I'll be almost to Birmingham tomorrow at this time. I'll be back the 30th...Have a wonderful, wonderful holiday everyone! ENJOY!

Christmas Mail Goodness

OMG...I went to the mailbox and there was a key in my box...oh my favorite thing...that means there's a package too big to fit in my regular box...YIPPEE! You know how I LOVE mail. I couldn't wait to get around to the back of the mailbox kiosk to get to the package boxes...key in...open...there it was...a package from Sharon. Well I was so excited I flew home and got right into the box...Sorry I was so excited I didn't take a picture until I had it all opened. Look at all those goodies......a Brighton earring tree...I've looked at those so many times in the Brighton store and never bought one for myself...Sharon was reading my mind. Look at those post it notes in the little basket and the Vera Bradley pad for my purse...OMG...does Sharon ever know me...my lists have lists...a little tin with the longest tape measure I've ever seen...will make measuring those backs and borders so much easier and the sweetest little glass dish with my absolute favorite saying in the bottom..."Live, Love, Laugh"...I have it right next to my sink to put my rings in...thank you so much Sharon...what wonderful treats for me...but wait there's another gift... little pink hats for our new Little Miss...Hampton's baby sister that will be arriving around April 22.
Sharon you thought of everything! Thank you!

The Herd and Hospice Quilt

This is a quick post...just wanted to show you the herd...it's all together and going to the quilter at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. She was so sweet when I called her and told her how life had gotten in the way...she said..."Don't worry, I'll have it done for you." I'll show it to you one more time after it's quilted and the binding's on...before we give it to the "visiting dogs" people for Christmas. This sure was a fun quilt to do...love Buggy Barn patterns.

And here's the Hospice donation quilt...simple pattern, beautiful fabric (MODA...Heritage... Collection for a Cause) and spectacular quilting...makes for a perfect quilt...the fabric and the quilting do all the work.Can't wait to get the binding on...but it has to wait it's turn. Again, a very big THANK YOU to the quilter that donated her time and skills to quilt this for me...a very special person!

WOW! 3 posts in 3 days! I think that's a record for me! Back to binding...one more side to do tonight.

Keeping My Promise

I promised yesterday that I'd be back today with pictures of Hampton's first haircut...Josh and Katie decided that they wanted to take Hampton out to Disney World for his first haircut...there's an old fashioned barber shop on Main Street...The Harmony Barber Shop...they make first haircuts very special...and since Josh and Katie met while they were both working for Disney so it seemed only appropriate that Hampton get that special haircut there and get his very own Pixie Dust...Here's the first cut...they gave Katie a whole strip of Mickey stickers to entertain him...

All done and we're all telling him how cute he is...look in the mirror...His dad and his Mamie taking pictures.Before she could put the Pixie Dust on his head...he had to check it out.He's officially Pixie Dusted...

It was such a fun day...I'm so glad that we got to be part of this big event. Mom was with us too and she just loved it.

I'm going to try and post again tomorrow...I have all the dog blocks done and I'm putting the rows together...and I'm taking it to the quilter on Sunday...so I'll take a pic tomorrow when it's all together. I also will take a picture of the Hospice quilt that came back from a very giving and caring quilter. It is awesome! See you tomorrow!

All I Can Say is.....LIFE!

Now I know I've never been the best at posting regularly...but I've NEVER been this bad...the title says it all...LIFE! I'll give the shortest version possible so as not to bore you to tears. Two weeks ago Wednesday I was up in my sewing room, standing on the steps that go down into the storage area...I thought I was on the bottom step...nope there was one more and down I went with a THUD! Andy and the dogs came running up to find me on the floor with my left foot in an interesting postition. Andy got me up and downstairs to the couch...ice and elevated...I was going to be fine...didn't get much sleep all night and when I tried to get out of bed I couldn't put any weight on it...Andy decided we were going to the Doc in a Box and get it checked...6 x-rays, a blow up cast, and crutches later we left with a very sprained ankle...orders from the doc...stay off of the ankle...3-4 days on the couch. Well, I was good until Sunday and I made my way upstairs one step at a time...I had to do some sewing and I knew that starting Monday I'd get nothing done...Hampton was coming. I pretty much stayed upstairs all day...Andy even brought me lunch so I didn't have to come down. What a sweetie!

Monday, was my birthday and what a fun day it was. Sharon posted that it was my birthday and I got lots of e-mail birthday wishes...thanks Sharon. I also got some wonderful mail goodness for my birthday...look at these goodies from Sharon...The cutest honey pot, a wooden Santa box, thank you notes, birthday tissues and one of her wonderful bags...Love that bag! Thanks Sharon.

Look at these birthday goodies from Tammy...Sorry for the glare on the picture...It is sooooooooooo cute...all wool...and look at this little bag full of goodies...here's what was inside...Coasters, a snowman notepad, a bookmarker and stickers for holiday fun. And also in the package was this box...OMG, if you live near a Trader Joe's, love Oreo's and candy canes...I'm telling you, run, don't walk, and buy yourself some of these YUMMY cookies. I have them hidden in the pantry...I did give one to mom, but I hid them from Josh. Thanks Tammy!

Monday I went and got mom and brought her home to await Hampton's arrival...they got in around 10 and the excitement began. We tried very hard not to get him too wound up, but you know that wasn't easy. We got him to bed so that we could celebrate his birthday on Tuesday...little Hampton is 2! Hampton loves acorns...so when I was in Williams-Sonoma and they had this wonderful cake pan that made acorn cakes I didn't even have to think twice...acorn cakes for Hampton's birthday breakfast.

This is my good friend Carol Ann's daughter Anna holding Hampton so he can blow out the candles. Anna and Carol Ann stopped by to wish Hampton a happy birthday.

Hampton loves Handy Manny from the Disney Playhouse...so we had to go see him at the Disney Studios...

We actually saw the character Handy Manny, but Hampton was a bit overwhelmed...but he sure loved the show and the picture on the side of the building. When we got home Hampton opened his gifts and I'm just going to share this one...opening his Wild Things quilt that I made for him...Where the Wild Things Are was Josh's favorite book when he was 2, so this was a must along with the book. He loved it. One last picture...Hampton with his Handy Manny birthday cake...Josh baked it and Katie did the decorating.It was a wonderfully fun day! This post ended up longer than I planned so I promise I'll be back tomorrow with Hampton's first haircut day...see those curls in the back...they won't be there tomorrow.