tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47148043254446139212024-02-18T21:53:36.781-05:00crickets studiowhere friends meet, imagine and createcricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-80299954316563431922023-02-21T11:22:00.003-05:002023-02-21T11:26:12.717-05:00Scrappiness IS Happiness!<p>I am a wee bit late posting about this really cool quilt-a-long. Lori Holt wrote a fantastic book about using your scraps to make amazing and fun quilts. <a href="https://amzn.to/41fMQ5F" target="_blank">Scrappiness is Happiness</a> is a must buy - I truly wish to make everything in this book! AND, Lori and the Fat Quarter Shop, along with a few other quilt designers, are doing a QAL (quilt-a-long) so we get to make one of every block. SO COOL!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3kb5NGh" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="826" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7-GXLi6AKmCWwYQuwvydJ9I1LT7bdyCc3VxrNYbxPrLIkZbVKxGdJkW8nc2Qk2XMEPbydu2XqDRDEVkgK6mkNbn1CEsPK8wNyq-befBmBdA02n-P7ohCT-hz_0LhlJ0mOfjeLP5s8ng7jb3jIRT-N2c2ZEdyG44axWjV9lHMa-1w7OX1X-sSMyyU/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.13.19%20AM.png" width="257" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3kb5NGh" target="_blank">Scrappiness is Happiness by Lori Holt</a></div><p>In this <a href="http://cricketsstudio.blogspot.com/2022/06/have-you-met-pat-sloan.html" target="_blank">post</a> I introduced you to my talented friend <a href="https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/">Pat Sloan</a>, who is also sewing along with this QAL. So I started with Pat and her amazing quilting group back on October 2022 making one block a week from this book.</p><p>This is the only QAL I have kept up with! With everything happening in my world right now, I really need the calm of sewing and have been carving out time here and there to make these blocks. And I am SEW glad I have!</p><p>The layout for this QAL is online at the <a href="https://blog.fatquartershop.com/scrappiness-is-happiness-qal-kick-off/" target="_blank">Jolly Jabber</a> blog by Fat Quarter Shop. In the images of my blocks below, you'll see I have already started to add some sashing. Pat runs a lot of QALs and always suggests if we can begin to sew the blocks together AS WE WORK ALONG then it won't be such a daunting process at the end. You reach the last block, and voilà! Your quilt top is nearly assembled. Genius.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVr40aN1V6RglukEJZZd7AemJOkQl3LaYGHkB36jXOOrBfc3-Jtgkf44RhJ_WLaOAuYQmOtJZJbgk_RU78J9CbaweTHB0BcK_wSV9XS0xvEhw9je5m_-HilUtB43M6tyrQC-FBBqemU1mR0dl6Iu5hpMeCROpnzb8LJvQFbjB_d-vfqupv-0Jyr-I/s4032/IMG_9585.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVr40aN1V6RglukEJZZd7AemJOkQl3LaYGHkB36jXOOrBfc3-Jtgkf44RhJ_WLaOAuYQmOtJZJbgk_RU78J9CbaweTHB0BcK_wSV9XS0xvEhw9je5m_-HilUtB43M6tyrQC-FBBqemU1mR0dl6Iu5hpMeCROpnzb8LJvQFbjB_d-vfqupv-0Jyr-I/s320/IMG_9585.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBvhrtUFSM2x0JE8Xs9Zh9763Ow9_4TR2UWAKGjLC67ukVu9sIljsoebSfdGMUFbGA0qeMGPlgo9XrFrK9hlhaQJVwnuKir9RZufgJ1DC15OfazS_jSeh2EqglIB1pRHL4eMWvBBkV9D4uy1bA3bRapatlfdPBrobTsg6H8LmfeFE49CsZvyTg1P0/s3786/IMG_9586.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2566" data-original-width="3786" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBvhrtUFSM2x0JE8Xs9Zh9763Ow9_4TR2UWAKGjLC67ukVu9sIljsoebSfdGMUFbGA0qeMGPlgo9XrFrK9hlhaQJVwnuKir9RZufgJ1DC15OfazS_jSeh2EqglIB1pRHL4eMWvBBkV9D4uy1bA3bRapatlfdPBrobTsg6H8LmfeFE49CsZvyTg1P0/s320/IMG_9586.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEhkfrulzwIzZs1XL0UPs_fne2SfE6VgYZsFkacS4603Sl-VvU0FaNKMF9A83dN70g0QoiD1Iu1aLAaGW9PdDEvmnbZEyV4gN_apoheFMe9Ck_gC_-h9AdtZNinJ5lXRNwmOVtAuRddGhiUdS3IGKQsVqmcgTLv15I67sZ6kO94rl1-DeKBcaDYyO/s3729/IMG_9587.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="3729" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEhkfrulzwIzZs1XL0UPs_fne2SfE6VgYZsFkacS4603Sl-VvU0FaNKMF9A83dN70g0QoiD1Iu1aLAaGW9PdDEvmnbZEyV4gN_apoheFMe9Ck_gC_-h9AdtZNinJ5lXRNwmOVtAuRddGhiUdS3IGKQsVqmcgTLv15I67sZ6kO94rl1-DeKBcaDYyO/s320/IMG_9587.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWdlUayPLowu1oO2PeZ7qOoq2fQrWI5ahdU8XjYWYjXGPLPh2tGQopTikSLaw3rQilKN7vhHwnKrK_u7T7t7Y3WNDHxBoSQ4eetDtcdBkSK68-rHzt39xe3k6YzOEQSEpVV5x49pZIaE4HLl2qVfhTwV9yEuTo-mubSZI-XJdJTYyWMUYA7HfZE3q/s3945/IMG_9588.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2827" data-original-width="3945" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWdlUayPLowu1oO2PeZ7qOoq2fQrWI5ahdU8XjYWYjXGPLPh2tGQopTikSLaw3rQilKN7vhHwnKrK_u7T7t7Y3WNDHxBoSQ4eetDtcdBkSK68-rHzt39xe3k6YzOEQSEpVV5x49pZIaE4HLl2qVfhTwV9yEuTo-mubSZI-XJdJTYyWMUYA7HfZE3q/s320/IMG_9588.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirMBcMxGzykNASn0k7KPOmQABQJIArYwKcY1jSrRZ8wbPO518Q7eCDEqaHnQHz2cjBtittg-WoWmHBMfEfO8LcAGtSMGdIjReDnwLLpnz98thhqxjUfgLSI0Ejv4z6ISbQ9da7cw1RKg4GpK7LO4RM6PV2AC2XgLSF_y5RXrMS8yixvSdTvjzlA6l/s4030/IMG_9590.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2991" data-original-width="4030" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirMBcMxGzykNASn0k7KPOmQABQJIArYwKcY1jSrRZ8wbPO518Q7eCDEqaHnQHz2cjBtittg-WoWmHBMfEfO8LcAGtSMGdIjReDnwLLpnz98thhqxjUfgLSI0Ejv4z6ISbQ9da7cw1RKg4GpK7LO4RM6PV2AC2XgLSF_y5RXrMS8yixvSdTvjzlA6l/s320/IMG_9590.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE-ybQ9dx7xnSIjU9Kvsk-SgxsDGhPTuKz-11lCEdZS14TPyB0QnZB2hKT1WxAL4ttmnh3GF109V0aoqmykNOALKTVy7aSv-u2mMTqKWkTNtEqDFGPxf5jcwe4idozlxSfEmeZ7loOp0K1tND3UnWWuiTRptyiCzHMkGEszAz1AjcdI95zpu8jm05/s4030/IMG_9591.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2265" data-original-width="4030" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE-ybQ9dx7xnSIjU9Kvsk-SgxsDGhPTuKz-11lCEdZS14TPyB0QnZB2hKT1WxAL4ttmnh3GF109V0aoqmykNOALKTVy7aSv-u2mMTqKWkTNtEqDFGPxf5jcwe4idozlxSfEmeZ7loOp0K1tND3UnWWuiTRptyiCzHMkGEszAz1AjcdI95zpu8jm05/s320/IMG_9591.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVUsA86Jn-St0osRSVMdVqi7wxR9vQ10sIGrVh0u9Q05yb9rjZ2OiHgXBjLFy6hDpd9jH_ddKpoUvPt3I02pp2JJO2gbCEyTpxTzvDAz4ut_PZUX_ScK-eT-StZBYMOqs3O5L6gzLIvcQnGEoEhzQE8XQu0m1lz149c4eSTWj6eCbR5CkosSA2RSA/s3792/IMG_9594.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1777" data-original-width="3792" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVUsA86Jn-St0osRSVMdVqi7wxR9vQ10sIGrVh0u9Q05yb9rjZ2OiHgXBjLFy6hDpd9jH_ddKpoUvPt3I02pp2JJO2gbCEyTpxTzvDAz4ut_PZUX_ScK-eT-StZBYMOqs3O5L6gzLIvcQnGEoEhzQE8XQu0m1lz149c4eSTWj6eCbR5CkosSA2RSA/s320/IMG_9594.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gIV9hNJLCwT7xk8oM_ttEJcXUPmXNeu4HsQ6UkhLbjCvw8c_WQmzzT0NM5irupTxr3A_P-PrYbCu0l7ti0oljdf6Q5RNzvLF95cCNjxL9KHZXLxBsUZT8mViIGGGj8UJU29gQcXTYA5lCte8DH8E1vf2jRuNY9DKV8xdGsSKQGrDIUOHu3YBdeEa/s2813/IMG_9595.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2439" data-original-width="2813" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gIV9hNJLCwT7xk8oM_ttEJcXUPmXNeu4HsQ6UkhLbjCvw8c_WQmzzT0NM5irupTxr3A_P-PrYbCu0l7ti0oljdf6Q5RNzvLF95cCNjxL9KHZXLxBsUZT8mViIGGGj8UJU29gQcXTYA5lCte8DH8E1vf2jRuNY9DKV8xdGsSKQGrDIUOHu3YBdeEa/s320/IMG_9595.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>I am using a variety of Lori Holt fabrics by Riley Blake. Most are not available any longer, but any of her lines can be used to achieve a similar look:</p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbmG7JxArhIVyt_wtJScZEQDdoRQMEmUgBC2NIP130ppqRSMDYnM0jDdFpeffUSDtuLQD4RxEo_28rMO_4q2x_SoOnzkveqJqS91yQkuOVNq-5ywYT2dmizKX3eolOEeeDzshtV3oWSuKiF7c7ta8zCpuuiS7y0z0BZ4eBu08aUqdlGVfjnN3RgDz/s1078/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.19.40%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1078" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbmG7JxArhIVyt_wtJScZEQDdoRQMEmUgBC2NIP130ppqRSMDYnM0jDdFpeffUSDtuLQD4RxEo_28rMO_4q2x_SoOnzkveqJqS91yQkuOVNq-5ywYT2dmizKX3eolOEeeDzshtV3oWSuKiF7c7ta8zCpuuiS7y0z0BZ4eBu08aUqdlGVfjnN3RgDz/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.19.40%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3IFSua2" target="_blank">Stitch Fat Quarter Bundle by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpuLP-jEOMyK4hMssHDRr8BJP2DQNJorLxHZLcPSKxv-E-Ozy5RZVKBDD8547fShHWgBPVYpx6BJsAbkKOiyMiATCg-Rjm7ewD5PHiOPtQM_m5ppt21XvP0TcO8BA57i66Ev3HLY-1Ec7YTNjnyK6OpsvsN7IWcK4L3aw5foXadXEFFdnZ9G0uDIm/s1070/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.22.30%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpuLP-jEOMyK4hMssHDRr8BJP2DQNJorLxHZLcPSKxv-E-Ozy5RZVKBDD8547fShHWgBPVYpx6BJsAbkKOiyMiATCg-Rjm7ewD5PHiOPtQM_m5ppt21XvP0TcO8BA57i66Ev3HLY-1Ec7YTNjnyK6OpsvsN7IWcK4L3aw5foXadXEFFdnZ9G0uDIm/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.22.30%20AM.png" width="317" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/41aoqLb" target="_blank">Cook Book Fat Quarter Bundle by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMEYlai33hXznF_cW39mBvQ3T036i-JsMliyHoOaNa0no_4qzezSK1bCQT6XIKel7f5YCBMXRyqDVouwfT3zFlcaAIDjpQR25whZrEABMgwkOAn9j16Nh5xQktXXl8wtBui7lAypxwLwPDQQdsxpoOGsYkI05xjyghpCLIG7uTKt7BJXZUthx-RCE/s1264/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.24.42%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1264" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMEYlai33hXznF_cW39mBvQ3T036i-JsMliyHoOaNa0no_4qzezSK1bCQT6XIKel7f5YCBMXRyqDVouwfT3zFlcaAIDjpQR25whZrEABMgwkOAn9j16Nh5xQktXXl8wtBui7lAypxwLwPDQQdsxpoOGsYkI05xjyghpCLIG7uTKt7BJXZUthx-RCE/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.24.42%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3SfWUYB" target="_blank">Granny Chic Fat Quarter Bundle by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having some of Lori's Bee Backgrounds to use will help your fat quarter bundle go farther. I found these at the <a href="https://refer.fatquartershop.com/8nbbzam6 " target="_blank">Fat Quarter Shop</a>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipIShZ0pQiqQvhHtWeygyGskrl1vyiFQ0-GYInz79h0iiJi82hOrP2tOCHrWzOE16pzC2LCyVPDwCS2Rezpkx35ebItrsJj55BADk4pNPsxpFXe2W9LC-tddPdFPHKZSi9RQv0jJnGRGreuJjiwE5Jgok7xt7do0nKiq42C7PQpfgP1Cyzw3rp0gT/s1076/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.28.09%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="1056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipIShZ0pQiqQvhHtWeygyGskrl1vyiFQ0-GYInz79h0iiJi82hOrP2tOCHrWzOE16pzC2LCyVPDwCS2Rezpkx35ebItrsJj55BADk4pNPsxpFXe2W9LC-tddPdFPHKZSi9RQv0jJnGRGreuJjiwE5Jgok7xt7do0nKiq42C7PQpfgP1Cyzw3rp0gT/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.28.09%20AM.png" width="314" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fatquartershop.com/lori-holt-bee-plaids-backgrounds-fat-quarter-bundle" target="_blank">Bee Plaids Backgrounds Fat Quarter Bundle</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fatquartershop.com/lori-holt-bee-plaids-backgrounds-fat-quarter-bundle" target="_blank">Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqunr0cIqLQMjDS_JXJr3AiNhUv8XuY_InSr7rNiE20Vsv9n1Skkss95dDfJPWzQ80xLH0nbCTwhO3cCdb28F1k-WAk33WXb3nlYl_XkiaJ1zmfUEtDeYu6MV-PiyHxZbo3-_sMFXcwktYYM8HnlDLhBPOXSCJ3O3jsdrAqAA4GdQBSLjPoseJz6L/s1084/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.29.37%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1084" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqunr0cIqLQMjDS_JXJr3AiNhUv8XuY_InSr7rNiE20Vsv9n1Skkss95dDfJPWzQ80xLH0nbCTwhO3cCdb28F1k-WAk33WXb3nlYl_XkiaJ1zmfUEtDeYu6MV-PiyHxZbo3-_sMFXcwktYYM8HnlDLhBPOXSCJ3O3jsdrAqAA4GdQBSLjPoseJz6L/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.29.37%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fatquartershop.com/vintage-kite-bee-backgrounds-fat-quarter-bundle" target="_blank">Vintage Kite Bee Backgrounds Fat Quarter Bundle</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fatquartershop.com/vintage-kite-bee-backgrounds-fat-quarter-bundle" target="_blank">Curated by Fat Quarter Shop</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Or, if you have a stash of scraps, or another fat quarter bundle that you've been waiting for just the perfect project, maybe you've just found it! The beauty about this QAL is that you can start anytime. Lori is also posting <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LoriHolt" target="_blank">YouTube video tutorials</a> on many of the blocks. Lori also has a wonderful you should check out. On <a href="https://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bee in My Bonnet</a>, she always has a QAL going. All of this information will not go away - it's out there waiting for you when you are ready to jump in. How cool is that? (But start now, because it's sew much fun!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, and I am keeping everything for this project together in one of these <a href="https://amzn.to/41iEnic" target="_blank">12x12 ArtBin storage boxes</a>:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSrUd88y48sOy_zDMz5qhafzjIrUyyuadc5nUloCaVA5AdDmujndeukY8RfeHBRxrHuyGrfnz-yEu8Rtkji5rSXPgA0eE4srWv1dKkY-kfa6DOg9aoZpedbtHrdCKpMUA_Q0TW7lIFSnjCVfQTl9SplTDPIy8BD4T5xZ5_WAJL0G7fZBhVjrRsV0g/s3880/IMG_9596.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="3880" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSrUd88y48sOy_zDMz5qhafzjIrUyyuadc5nUloCaVA5AdDmujndeukY8RfeHBRxrHuyGrfnz-yEu8Rtkji5rSXPgA0eE4srWv1dKkY-kfa6DOg9aoZpedbtHrdCKpMUA_Q0TW7lIFSnjCVfQTl9SplTDPIy8BD4T5xZ5_WAJL0G7fZBhVjrRsV0g/s320/IMG_9596.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Will you join me? Tell me in the comments!<div><br /></div><div><i>(Here is a referral link to Fat Quarter Shop for new customers so you and I both receive $10 off your first $50 purchase! <a href="https://refer.fatquartershop.com/8nbbzam6" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> )</i></div>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-84914064626198787632023-02-19T06:00:00.001-05:002023-02-19T06:00:00.180-05:00Planning! or really STICKERS!<p>I would love to think of myself as a "planner". In December and January, so many bloggers and You-tubers were showing their 2023 planners and demonstrating their planner style for the new year. I love to plan to plan, but seriously fail in my efforts to keep it up. By mid-January, I'm like, where is that planner???? 😜</p><p>But I love stickers! Who doesn't love stickers?</p><p>And I found this really cool <a href="https://amzn.to/3xzo1Em" target="_blank">Seashore Sticker Book</a> that I am using in my <a href="https://www.123stitch.com/item/NeedleWorkPress-Book-of-Days-2023-Cross-Stitch-Pattern/NWPBD23" target="_blank">Book of Days</a> calendar (note: NOT a planner LOL). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF467BjdgscKp5oIOCKFrv6UP2xcNYYklTH3U5gSidQqtYOlX_lEWaTs11ttavAs4bH36I0mzeGPUHE9uBibJl0EWtn8prR5MB0UeMvHc8iyUPLaOo5AfH758E75ik5eb-8sJiRnvjjD7cx7XyrrZkiIMyFRsGGB335RY8xJqqkDpn7wkOfFAfGUc/s4032/IMG_9562.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF467BjdgscKp5oIOCKFrv6UP2xcNYYklTH3U5gSidQqtYOlX_lEWaTs11ttavAs4bH36I0mzeGPUHE9uBibJl0EWtn8prR5MB0UeMvHc8iyUPLaOo5AfH758E75ik5eb-8sJiRnvjjD7cx7XyrrZkiIMyFRsGGB335RY8xJqqkDpn7wkOfFAfGUc/s320/IMG_9562.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOylEevOscPAwV3pO88ZcIbJMBy5xOZMIqwgO--W7LTwKNzsjW6Zb2w5ecMwnCJnuLuCHoNjcp_LlN7nXcy2gbk78D0rZEuyi5_d6MOXTbbbHhJuqSoX62xMYChMSmbDJrhlDWMF7qAU6Fs4Rszf0XSvZ8BPYE7VmXMw9iCFvcJYqz7-Q-sc7IZA_/s4032/IMG_9563.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOylEevOscPAwV3pO88ZcIbJMBy5xOZMIqwgO--W7LTwKNzsjW6Zb2w5ecMwnCJnuLuCHoNjcp_LlN7nXcy2gbk78D0rZEuyi5_d6MOXTbbbHhJuqSoX62xMYChMSmbDJrhlDWMF7qAU6Fs4Rszf0XSvZ8BPYE7VmXMw9iCFvcJYqz7-Q-sc7IZA_/s320/IMG_9563.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgaJth-k4UKaTQu4DrSB5m1qnhyUexS0i7BJ9tIMvlAvBS1KsoC2aXfy1aNevh8gGAORrQL7JpTbluUeDyXVMsTWQMmxsrBXQjvB_vYOGil58uoB5w2KrtZT91g8xI78JI8-q0Ydlc7fCuuD2LXnGVqUXH5PuJakl57eZtLhaxXaz1Wb2G-7zdJEO/s4032/IMG_9564.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgaJth-k4UKaTQu4DrSB5m1qnhyUexS0i7BJ9tIMvlAvBS1KsoC2aXfy1aNevh8gGAORrQL7JpTbluUeDyXVMsTWQMmxsrBXQjvB_vYOGil58uoB5w2KrtZT91g8xI78JI8-q0Ydlc7fCuuD2LXnGVqUXH5PuJakl57eZtLhaxXaz1Wb2G-7zdJEO/s320/IMG_9564.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been using my calendar as a sort of scrapbook to recall what has happened crafty-wise and kid-wise. When I have a moment (which are few these days) I'll print a photo sticker or two and add some notes about what I am crafting, and what antics we've been up to recently.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are a couple of months from my 2022 calendar:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwO-HUPqXwTOIMWTTNxyRPG-AiR7NYzQg9G86-CYe2YbSvQi7RWXYlXQzhumRiE8qqO8GTo7OEwGHFdLlygmPYrMLW82A4DVY1R2p6BYQNtCMfbwu4KhcxyHVkldTThmoHtex1q0vduQItUvVCpWyqWMyVL1CZp_wT2cVWYAH0mqQHFf3aZM6oxHZ/s4032/IMG_9565.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwO-HUPqXwTOIMWTTNxyRPG-AiR7NYzQg9G86-CYe2YbSvQi7RWXYlXQzhumRiE8qqO8GTo7OEwGHFdLlygmPYrMLW82A4DVY1R2p6BYQNtCMfbwu4KhcxyHVkldTThmoHtex1q0vduQItUvVCpWyqWMyVL1CZp_wT2cVWYAH0mqQHFf3aZM6oxHZ/s320/IMG_9565.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl6MthH6IGY0NvczaY7ImS0raCUyQfCTBdFdDVa6jtaH-vGLg7dZzsmmg_FC0hEXh4ADTDPbjoWqRbApHPzlsavAN5llrBsDIkMELJD-Wn7dUG6wV4E8gq_hLjnhy69ZdrH7v4eIOirfE2dqLuKzDhfqO6ZMpho18EK-Yr6E6jpwBTD7nuOE8g_OG/s4032/IMG_9566.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl6MthH6IGY0NvczaY7ImS0raCUyQfCTBdFdDVa6jtaH-vGLg7dZzsmmg_FC0hEXh4ADTDPbjoWqRbApHPzlsavAN5llrBsDIkMELJD-Wn7dUG6wV4E8gq_hLjnhy69ZdrH7v4eIOirfE2dqLuKzDhfqO6ZMpho18EK-Yr6E6jpwBTD7nuOE8g_OG/s320/IMG_9566.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I had more time, I was an avid scrapbooker, and I hope to get back to album-making someday (once my life is re-arranged!) Until then, this serves as a creative outlet AND a small record of our happenings. Stickers like in this book can be used in any planner or calendar, or even scrapbook. They are fun and so well-designed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The photo stickers are made using an <a href="https://amzn.to/410netH" target="_blank">HP Sprocket 2x3 Instant Photo Printer</a> (and as of this posting it's on a HUGE sale right now). I like this <a href="https://amzn.to/3IwoQTF" target="_blank">2x3 Sticker Paper</a> and look at this cute <a href="https://amzn.to/3XFqEiv">pink case</a>! It's got to be cute, right?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, I am still a Creative Memories Advisor, and I'd be remiss to not include some of their <a href="https://www.creativememories.com/shop-all/decorative/stickers.html" target="_blank">stickers</a> in this post. Take a look at these beauties:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DCxmxFftaHv8DdCWhpWYyS81IW13SVzVDYlBYg74hQN2sbud2LJYUiOzWfN5TeeihK6VJ77rb8mQlJnJXwveWAlPxuQSFPLEylUjmoBf8ML-5n-CfJqaqiH-JAQo7b5lMGnPqMCj3pKVDD9oUGjJDbOLNZFJKy9NBh_AeuMoDfRDzEwpT732EzCR/s1096/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-18%20at%2011.15.58%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1096" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DCxmxFftaHv8DdCWhpWYyS81IW13SVzVDYlBYg74hQN2sbud2LJYUiOzWfN5TeeihK6VJ77rb8mQlJnJXwveWAlPxuQSFPLEylUjmoBf8ML-5n-CfJqaqiH-JAQo7b5lMGnPqMCj3pKVDD9oUGjJDbOLNZFJKy9NBh_AeuMoDfRDzEwpT732EzCR/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-18%20at%2011.15.58%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.creativememories.com/serenity-stickers.html" target="_blank">Serenity Stickers (3/pk)</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia2KQQFq0RXiby6GF1bpI_jk1X4GBXKjzldk8WMAvP_OjKy51lAgDNYs9BeRcQTRWTIqpUFN7dHtUiSVhst-56YIh5l1kREgeyNdlEIn7pAF6oLzwp7WB9SP_hdaaFos2xHThCmHojxPH7l-VUNUHV3oY_dO9KeN-2uil3st9-n9e6KVjDZH9idrS/s1068/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-18%20at%2011.29.15%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1068" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia2KQQFq0RXiby6GF1bpI_jk1X4GBXKjzldk8WMAvP_OjKy51lAgDNYs9BeRcQTRWTIqpUFN7dHtUiSVhst-56YIh5l1kREgeyNdlEIn7pAF6oLzwp7WB9SP_hdaaFos2xHThCmHojxPH7l-VUNUHV3oY_dO9KeN-2uil3st9-n9e6KVjDZH9idrS/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-18%20at%2011.29.15%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.creativememories.com/snowbound-stickers.html" target="_blank">Snowbound Stickers (3/pk)</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0Oz97GThxsO9RBy7n0chq4xnH5TdeNTacEJceTGN_xmqNwoNMh8b3NKWiE_utBKRnSsd9eSmiq35jgiqyg0LrZRgimghK39tincJGApsEXiUT61N76apPj30TQqICrPBuiqy3BjHRczsUaEa06vBueUodrhEHw4uH5UHOyIG1gX3GTNuGZcYQYL1/s566/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-18%20at%2011.30.35%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="566" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0Oz97GThxsO9RBy7n0chq4xnH5TdeNTacEJceTGN_xmqNwoNMh8b3NKWiE_utBKRnSsd9eSmiq35jgiqyg0LrZRgimghK39tincJGApsEXiUT61N76apPj30TQqICrPBuiqy3BjHRczsUaEa06vBueUodrhEHw4uH5UHOyIG1gX3GTNuGZcYQYL1/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-18%20at%2011.30.35%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.creativememories.com/scrap-happy-2-stickers.html" target="_blank">Scrap Happy 2 Stickers (3/pk)</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And this adhesive <a href="https://love.creativememories.com/adhesive-buffet-february-2023-us/" target="_blank">special</a> is a don't miss. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a limited time, you can </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">purchase limited-edition adhesive products </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">AND have the opportunity to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">earn exclusive Vivid Melodies Heart Sticker Packs </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mauve & Violet Metallic Dot Tip Pens</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">FREE</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">! Click <a href="https://love.creativememories.com/adhesive-buffet-february-2023-us/#adhesive-buffet-header" target="_blank">FREE STUFF</a> and <a href="https://love.creativememories.com/adhesive-buffet-february-2023-us/#adhesives-that-qualify-header" target="_blank">ADHESIVES</a> and <a href="https://love.creativememories.com/adhesive-buffet-february-2023-us/#faqs-header" target="_blank">FAQS</a> for more info.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, enough about my stickers....I just LOVE them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-16788491690748137192023-02-18T08:50:00.005-05:002023-02-18T08:50:45.880-05:00Rolling with the Changes<p>I like to think of myself as a kind person who can be flexible and roll with whatever life brings. Much is in my control, but I feel more is not. The past few months have been a challenge.</p><p>Since I last posted, my amazing daughter has moved to college (bringing her graduation quilt with her) and is thriving in her new environment. She made dean's list for her first semester, is making new friends, and re-discovering that an old friendship can be new again. The word "proud" is not enough to describe the joy I feel watching her growing into this remarkable young lady.</p><p>My son began high school and started a new sport, track. After a spring and summer of breathing therapy, he was finally released to run track, and now I have a distance runner! Rob excels at the 1000m and 1600m, even running in his first invitational meet this season. With each meet, he has set a personal record (PR is the official term) and he has scored points for his team. His school team was runner up in sectionals recently, only missing first place by a half a point! He has made high honor roll in his first two quarters of high school, and is loving all of his classes, including three honors courses. He continues to amaze me every day.</p><p>In September, I learned my spouse was dismissed from his second job. He did not tell me. To date, he didn't replace that needed income. Enough said.</p><p>Jewels is home for the long President's Day weekend now, and boy, do I need her close. I learned on Thursday that once again I trusted the wrong person. Jewels was on the phone with me when I got the news and talked to me until I calmed down to think rationally again. Our lives have been forever changed, and the next several months will be the ultimate struggle. I am once again the sole provider for our family, and the truth is I cannot manage our current lifestyle alone, as meager as it already is. We'll need to move, and change everything about what we do. I've been in this home for 29 years, married nearly 30, and this will displace us in an unimaginable way. I am taking it minute by minute, and that is not an exaggeration. I feel very alone, but know I am not. My children and a few close friends will stand by us until everything is righted and secure.</p><p>Prior to this, I was happily stitching away, and recently completed Flurry by Teresa Kogut. This is a pattern available to her Patreon members (I am not sure if it'll be released to the general public). It is stitched in a palette of my own "from stash" colors on 14 count Sandcastle Jobelan fabric leftover from another project.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRecSewfZyemGyC9xgVd0oXlNNvP3rH5EksghKJcEs6hyMngUStc-O5aDafsHlk2xBcjcfKIfz0Ktio_YLRM_Mol7mSVylLYtFuvdFoijR6VoHgiKu9R18zuKahymz4N5jUECjIRJAiZEuPtQtaMYb2dDsWvvMmktMCnVF985KHLoLl4WOHnZGH_6v/s2048/Flurry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRecSewfZyemGyC9xgVd0oXlNNvP3rH5EksghKJcEs6hyMngUStc-O5aDafsHlk2xBcjcfKIfz0Ktio_YLRM_Mol7mSVylLYtFuvdFoijR6VoHgiKu9R18zuKahymz4N5jUECjIRJAiZEuPtQtaMYb2dDsWvvMmktMCnVF985KHLoLl4WOHnZGH_6v/w300-h381/Flurry.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You'll see a small button cover near the top. I stitched one of the little snowflakes and made a quick button using this <a href="https://amzn.to/4186GQw" target="_blank">Dritz Button Cover Kit</a>. The 14 count fabric was a wee bit thick, so it took a couple of tries, but the end result is so cool. Now to FFO (fully finished object) it. The finished stitch measures 6-1/2" round, so I am in search of the perfect piece. This was a good little stash buster.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mostly stitch in the evenings to try to wind down from the busy day and have been looking for a small metal stand to hold my pattern, scissors and maybe a needle minder. I found this <a href="https://amzn.to/3EhP8HV">Book Stand</a> in light blue and at this price, it's awesome! It also comes in <a href="https://amzn.to/3KiVaeZ">Pink</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3XWjhnb">Gray</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3XFosaW">White</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/3IBBJwY">Black</a>. It folds flat, so really good to travel with. Let me know if you try it, and what color fits your stitchy spot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5OzDvKbeqdiFHIxqjcD1Gl1DVO2XZ9CCiUR0VtLljN_tEC-Sg8PqapvzgXCkvMqiRJMSuWSrh1UUH3g5vjARJnopjP-PbfrdrotYHYa1KNHLNCEUC8khsx4gJs9C-LxGz3wYMfPrick_mAXxUBBSMwW1P5qqlk1-Ga9g0Y7AjKhfPPPfBeEZXeMZ/s1172/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-18%20at%208.47.27%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1172" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5OzDvKbeqdiFHIxqjcD1Gl1DVO2XZ9CCiUR0VtLljN_tEC-Sg8PqapvzgXCkvMqiRJMSuWSrh1UUH3g5vjARJnopjP-PbfrdrotYHYa1KNHLNCEUC8khsx4gJs9C-LxGz3wYMfPrick_mAXxUBBSMwW1P5qqlk1-Ga9g0Y7AjKhfPPPfBeEZXeMZ/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-18%20at%208.47.27%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Yyrteh">Blue Metal Book Stand Holder</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the first times my daughter came home in the fall, we hiked a bit in our local park. Sometimes just walking with your kids, watching them interact and listening to them banter is the best medicine. Aren't they adorable?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZOPENH2amgohZPKofulhSG_EuHj17biIPtRl_Yv84CstnoZd04XRBo72tb3_YT5-jc_Dp3l3GIVnz6tXmg8RBJVcNSYWjHU78peGAuodzED9JG8q4dSUzfPGHPciwoVomVedaGZKgDZSVH5xgjb_uJOq0wjGE4iIzf0olparDMqSKI6iyorSfejQ/s5184/IMG_4283.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZOPENH2amgohZPKofulhSG_EuHj17biIPtRl_Yv84CstnoZd04XRBo72tb3_YT5-jc_Dp3l3GIVnz6tXmg8RBJVcNSYWjHU78peGAuodzED9JG8q4dSUzfPGHPciwoVomVedaGZKgDZSVH5xgjb_uJOq0wjGE4iIzf0olparDMqSKI6iyorSfejQ/s320/IMG_4283.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaW145guMCvKYcbpHvZ0cHdMVTbzeEJU5dC5gAOZXzuTp7SE4n7Hy_pG3xZ-mxTzxKjBtyh38sZO9Glb6peQBFdrWOItAaYE2NuCQMW55GVtqw9e-_LhqFhkJxzmsZlZ7_IA-BLrLvxONb7YNSDCcMOiv00UBaTMB4k1x1Z1J5ssnVND0zp23NJoBz/s5184/IMG_4314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaW145guMCvKYcbpHvZ0cHdMVTbzeEJU5dC5gAOZXzuTp7SE4n7Hy_pG3xZ-mxTzxKjBtyh38sZO9Glb6peQBFdrWOItAaYE2NuCQMW55GVtqw9e-_LhqFhkJxzmsZlZ7_IA-BLrLvxONb7YNSDCcMOiv00UBaTMB4k1x1Z1J5ssnVND0zp23NJoBz/s320/IMG_4314.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My son also plays on a travel soccer team. Here he is in action (#26 in blue) last month. Rob was recently highlighted as their "spotlight player" and was so humble about being featured. He is my quiet boy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIAaHKo4qo4V-kFHDGoQZcq1qzf3SyvGOhivJwZJ2byGHbtdSU-aEkEpYk6LSU-YoHU009vJ3WeWrR4hyLchXha8sgVBWihEvglj92aCrkWhGwP-5WLyXs9sv7ZKNCacxbubwveds_q5mU6Or0cooUKE1UuoNfn5Q_CZX7a0VvrVx6E-z7AezXUvB/s4762/IMG_1743.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3349" data-original-width="4762" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIAaHKo4qo4V-kFHDGoQZcq1qzf3SyvGOhivJwZJ2byGHbtdSU-aEkEpYk6LSU-YoHU009vJ3WeWrR4hyLchXha8sgVBWihEvglj92aCrkWhGwP-5WLyXs9sv7ZKNCacxbubwveds_q5mU6Or0cooUKE1UuoNfn5Q_CZX7a0VvrVx6E-z7AezXUvB/s320/IMG_1743.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXQJ0pB8kQ6QJ-rgROiZme_aiGHChGkuOSzxqsbVPGO5J1HMvwOQvKgXINCU__t46WtZ8xgybJLLBmu67oQtzL1Zd-I2LmuHf3sWNAkpU5q3Q3iCWvBYs32qHEafn57l8b_L-Ugxkmo9dNpVCvKLnyw-VaqNk5zXLOJcGcWI-rSb0w71Me4OwWiCi/s6000/IMG_1765.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXQJ0pB8kQ6QJ-rgROiZme_aiGHChGkuOSzxqsbVPGO5J1HMvwOQvKgXINCU__t46WtZ8xgybJLLBmu67oQtzL1Zd-I2LmuHf3sWNAkpU5q3Q3iCWvBYs32qHEafn57l8b_L-Ugxkmo9dNpVCvKLnyw-VaqNk5zXLOJcGcWI-rSb0w71Me4OwWiCi/s320/IMG_1765.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For my stitching and quilting (and generally everything else), I'll be using my stash because making new investments just isn't possible now. That's okay. Sacrifice is not new to me, and it's my job to take care of my children the best I know how. My priority is to not allow this sudden turn of events to turn their worlds upside-down. I will strive to honor my commitments to them and others, while making the unavoidable and difficult changes that loom ahead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for letting me talk about this. I have been hiding from everyone, putting forth a brave, happy facade and I think because of that, I've not been honest with myself about what needs to be done. The future is very scary, but has to be faced. And face it I will!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-42336567215257965832022-07-08T11:00:00.000-04:002022-07-08T11:00:00.175-04:00Graduation Quilt for my Girl<p>Over a year ago, I started a special project for my daughter. She was set to graduate high school in mid-June 2022, and I was determined to make a quilt for her to take to college.</p><p>Jewels' favorite color is red, and <a href="https://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lori Holt</a> was hosting a <a href="https://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/search?q=red+sampler" target="_blank">Red Sampler Quilt a Long</a> on her blog. The 12" and 6" blocks came straight from a collection of her books (<a href="https://amzn.to/3RpHP5Z" target="_blank">Farm Girl Vintage</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3Rcv3aI" target="_blank">Farm Girl Vintage 2</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3bGErmy" target="_blank">Great Granny Squared</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3NPA5aa" target="_blank">Vintage Christmas</a>, all of which I had. And boy, did I have an abundance of red and white fabrics to use.</p><p>So, I worked on blocks, 50 of them, in secret. While she worked no more than 10 feet away from me on school tasks, I chose fabrics and pieced blocks. One day she caught me. When asked, I simply told her that I was making some red and white blocks and wasn't sure how I would be putting them together (seriously the truth!) I added some patterns that meant something fun for her; a camera as she's majoring in photography, an owl for education and a cow as she has a special affinity for that particular farm animal.</p><p>As I worked, Jewels expressed more and more interest. I finally told her that I was making her graduation quilt. Elated isn't a strong enough word. She was over the moon! Now she can help me pick out fabric and plan the layout. </p><p>Once the layout was done, I quietly completed the top and sent it to the <a href="https://www.missouriquiltco.com/products/machine-quilting-services" target="_blank">longarmer</a> for quilting in January. I added backing and <a href="https://amzn.to/3aeSWxC" target="_blank">Cuddle</a> to the back so she'd have a heavy and snuggly quilt to bring to college. I stopped talking about the quilt, and kept it hidden for a few months.</p><p>Jewels indeed graduated with awards and a perfect 4.0 average in June. That same afternoon, I surprised her with the completed quilt. Even though she knew about it, Jewels was so surprised and excited to see it finished!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WbOXPQYHkdCcnQrRjBUvkndx_UkdcARneeZlG8a5MozwriskiV8-zXqnAS6EvqS43VKzGJ6xqn6r482lpG7b-GcvDdN2Rqe4GBLZYLo_QurmLkzTOcnqxV3NDVS4XDK7qFbK-VCpmzlHVn6aIFmKBAqsEGQIKFiKDN_W0XwB29SJxIktSzoJh1yw/s2048/Grad%20quilt%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WbOXPQYHkdCcnQrRjBUvkndx_UkdcARneeZlG8a5MozwriskiV8-zXqnAS6EvqS43VKzGJ6xqn6r482lpG7b-GcvDdN2Rqe4GBLZYLo_QurmLkzTOcnqxV3NDVS4XDK7qFbK-VCpmzlHVn6aIFmKBAqsEGQIKFiKDN_W0XwB29SJxIktSzoJh1yw/w264-h400/Grad%20quilt%201.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cwip5k594CNI0iag0A9_mSDtzW-ewIOzVzczewZYk66T6yuEwkvg-BBilvbqJGRx22uyOD-7jLK_AodQNbLKmzDGfY9oJU23Yc-obUZ1JW3USrqbXuMvY2e5MK-nIAvZ0z-Tgmnxu3l5La4vtTLXnhfo29cjNe1JLvkupkkrxlkkbQw3lUOR1ZXd/s2048/Grad%20quilt%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cwip5k594CNI0iag0A9_mSDtzW-ewIOzVzczewZYk66T6yuEwkvg-BBilvbqJGRx22uyOD-7jLK_AodQNbLKmzDGfY9oJU23Yc-obUZ1JW3USrqbXuMvY2e5MK-nIAvZ0z-Tgmnxu3l5La4vtTLXnhfo29cjNe1JLvkupkkrxlkkbQw3lUOR1ZXd/s320/Grad%20quilt%202.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmshfpxwIsAFTSeforh_FsNObKhBSnkCbe0YZhRpO8_FCHu5h2TYaIXrGDrPawkJsMSSomBcQqZZLDCVaz9eUHxKcvU0dYPVM4w9foU0bEltMDlAvYcMlpNG_cq_hFAowOD17P9qA-L9dlwwfz8z3JE0yjYr5EaNNKLtBqlLhjkVY90dbiDbxobyUO/s2048/Grad%20quilt%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmshfpxwIsAFTSeforh_FsNObKhBSnkCbe0YZhRpO8_FCHu5h2TYaIXrGDrPawkJsMSSomBcQqZZLDCVaz9eUHxKcvU0dYPVM4w9foU0bEltMDlAvYcMlpNG_cq_hFAowOD17P9qA-L9dlwwfz8z3JE0yjYr5EaNNKLtBqlLhjkVY90dbiDbxobyUO/s320/Grad%20quilt%203.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>This labor of love brings a smile to my face every day. Seeing it on her bed, and wrapped around her helps ease my mind that in a few short weeks she'll be nearly 80 miles away on her own in college. I am hoping this small piece of home will remind her how very much she is loved, no matter where she hangs her hat.</p>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-61795500825252560502022-07-06T11:00:00.003-04:002023-02-18T07:41:39.951-05:00What's for Dinner Wednesday<p>Need a quick and yummy dinner to feed the fam? Especially when we are all so busy with spirts and sun and camps this summer. But it's great for spring, fall and winter too!</p><p>Get yourself some boneless chicken on sale, about 3-4 lbs, although this does work with bone-in chicken too. I buy a large family pack, and sometimes can find it in the specials section of our local stores meat department.</p><p>You'll also need two 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes with green peppers, celery & onions and a bag of wide egg noodles. I only used half the bag for my family of 4, but adjust to fit your family.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQlc9gy-ReebCgX7xdOOAJzByLvbmNR7A1D5WghLhR670mw8RCgngkAyaJhJ4HO8YX4QipPPXfS85DZE5EZUvKvoo2Bse22GrwfxhA0cIfBNcrdSOHHPVc8cjhvKlDFO6fKnz-MbiXsFiGl2fDtQGhvJanZ1bcj0JqAIzfH8qc8JFaKOlBT2zHYKq/s4032/IMG_7520.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQlc9gy-ReebCgX7xdOOAJzByLvbmNR7A1D5WghLhR670mw8RCgngkAyaJhJ4HO8YX4QipPPXfS85DZE5EZUvKvoo2Bse22GrwfxhA0cIfBNcrdSOHHPVc8cjhvKlDFO6fKnz-MbiXsFiGl2fDtQGhvJanZ1bcj0JqAIzfH8qc8JFaKOlBT2zHYKq/s320/IMG_7520.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Line your slow cooker with a <a href="https://amzn.to/3lJQxQY" target="_blank">Reynolds Slow Cooker Liner</a> (super easy clean up). I recently invested in a new slow cooker and just love how easy this <a href="https://amzn.to/3EjS7j0" target="_blank">Hamilton Beach one</a> is to use. Literally set it and forget it! And the warm feature is a winner - hot food when we need it is a plus in my book.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlWsZkEC4wTeAZXn1X95_Um0jp2fSlADsaHHHjanU5VzglCHsd3R0b357YbbBxqpP8NmqqfX3zKXCYOlPpI0Mqhib2JvK2egt8nN1ivux7_c1buVVoYAh5WH1t3W5Xxjy1HA7zMdAZbzvaSw8BZrhAvJwW3jOVZa9ZF4WPonRyG80U6NTP-2hzRcy/s4032/IMG_7522.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlWsZkEC4wTeAZXn1X95_Um0jp2fSlADsaHHHjanU5VzglCHsd3R0b357YbbBxqpP8NmqqfX3zKXCYOlPpI0Mqhib2JvK2egt8nN1ivux7_c1buVVoYAh5WH1t3W5Xxjy1HA7zMdAZbzvaSw8BZrhAvJwW3jOVZa9ZF4WPonRyG80U6NTP-2hzRcy/s320/IMG_7522.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Sometimes I'll add onions if I have them. Pretend I did tonight LOL. Thinly slice an onion and add to the bottom of the slow cooker. Next, lay out your chicken and sprinkle with garlic powder and pepper to taste. Pour the tomatoes even over the chicken and cover the slow cooker. If I am able to set it in the morning before work, I'll let it go 8 hours on low. If I am putting it together at lunch time, I'll cook it 4 hours on high. I do prefer the low setting as it makes the chicken nice and juicy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTv8uJEm6QGGjHEOx6XfMWldxu50eSx3R_hG4v0cZIL8p2RndbLGcK9aXgOi0OC-1myAdftSxx4VqEdYtY4eJpvWVLD87dV2YgqMJRrjh491D-iixoEHelBwedE4aQ9Nc9W6SCfmySA9Ow-4bxbQG2Z9bZeOMo6Xb9Mf4Rz7MhwgZ3BPd--EaQ1zS/s4032/IMG_7521.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTv8uJEm6QGGjHEOx6XfMWldxu50eSx3R_hG4v0cZIL8p2RndbLGcK9aXgOi0OC-1myAdftSxx4VqEdYtY4eJpvWVLD87dV2YgqMJRrjh491D-iixoEHelBwedE4aQ9Nc9W6SCfmySA9Ow-4bxbQG2Z9bZeOMo6Xb9Mf4Rz7MhwgZ3BPd--EaQ1zS/s320/IMG_7521.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Serve over the egg noodles. No veg side needed - this is a hearty meal on it's own. If you want some leafy greens, a garden side salad would be a nice balance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wZn1I6UUGmxkS27EgKilUs5blS8VylVNWmmckFRM4FfROqV2lKMtHX37ZA-O9MO6RclqxPLtcj_0RNItqj6bKo3oMxwmkKxexI_7yIF0fD6oZhvH49am_RJwv5UlSXdm8OSTL2LTvAdRcWvj43gz61p6d2rdysGlce9D0butPWJTgfoAwLOI_RyW/s4032/IMG_7523.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wZn1I6UUGmxkS27EgKilUs5blS8VylVNWmmckFRM4FfROqV2lKMtHX37ZA-O9MO6RclqxPLtcj_0RNItqj6bKo3oMxwmkKxexI_7yIF0fD6oZhvH49am_RJwv5UlSXdm8OSTL2LTvAdRcWvj43gz61p6d2rdysGlce9D0butPWJTgfoAwLOI_RyW/s320/IMG_7523.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>This is also wonderful over white rice if gluten is an issue...I ran out so we used egg noodles instead tonight. (I ate my chicken over gluten-free noodles and it was spectacular!)</p><p>Enjoy!</p>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-89713339419702497782022-07-05T16:20:00.000-04:002022-07-05T16:20:07.289-04:00Found!<p>When my basement studio flooded in January, much of my quilting items (fabric, notions, etc.) were swept to the side out of harm's way only to land in a haphazard jumble of storage bins and boxes. While I am extremely grateful that these items do not appear damaged by the sudden rush a of water caused by the broken heating pipe, thinking about tackling that ominous pile has been daunting.</p><p>I decided yesterday to just open one bin and look inside. </p><p>Did I find the missing Tips & Tricks Quilt along blocks? Nope.</p><p>Did I find that water had snuck its way into the bin and ruined my projects? Nope.</p><p>I did find some bundles wrapped up and labeled "In Progress". Hmmmm...now I was curious. I pulled what I thought was one out and brought it upstairs with me. One seemed like something I could handle.</p><p>It ended up being two projects - yay! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2gzI21YFz36mHGmFBA61iozv1TFsRCTrqmXDXCjw7xSdj8mSkIkg0tFP0rlPn-xYH8EcfChuvqQ0MixusyAX2rvpzJGICSt07iyXepmcgNrfE2XnlTHtS4N5JjJNhWHiv_BAHReXn4Mqmk-ZxZC1DuQME7ZtF5DsNfwKmyxJz-jFT-d9WRj9s7Xe/s4032/IMG_7427.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2gzI21YFz36mHGmFBA61iozv1TFsRCTrqmXDXCjw7xSdj8mSkIkg0tFP0rlPn-xYH8EcfChuvqQ0MixusyAX2rvpzJGICSt07iyXepmcgNrfE2XnlTHtS4N5JjJNhWHiv_BAHReXn4Mqmk-ZxZC1DuQME7ZtF5DsNfwKmyxJz-jFT-d9WRj9s7Xe/s320/IMG_7427.heic" width="320" /></a></div><p>And one looked like Tips & Tricks. Again, nope.</p><p>This one was a flannel log cabin project I was designing. It's was labeled as a tree skirt, but looking at it now, I'm not sure the measurements would make a large enough size. Four 18-1/2 unfinished blocks are completed with many strips cut out for more. Since there was no project start date noted, I am at a loss as to how old this is.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwfAoCvIf-Y-NLJX4LmgCuaezXuhnMXb3wiOuqhrBX2c1OhWZK_2LlM2C2z3FYCOmWPKV2OLOIb1B9s2nWRxcliOOKkT90VQvXRW2rcS-S-eBxSZKBVNLITJ6XDbA1CMOez_v5tr8KM8_04IA712f1bsy320ozEEjxpzG8YKbjbPXLhpUk548--YQ/s3712/IMG_7431.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="3712" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwfAoCvIf-Y-NLJX4LmgCuaezXuhnMXb3wiOuqhrBX2c1OhWZK_2LlM2C2z3FYCOmWPKV2OLOIb1B9s2nWRxcliOOKkT90VQvXRW2rcS-S-eBxSZKBVNLITJ6XDbA1CMOez_v5tr8KM8_04IA712f1bsy320ozEEjxpzG8YKbjbPXLhpUk548--YQ/s320/IMG_7431.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I was really excited for the next bundle. Let me give you the back story first.<div><br /></div><div>When my art studio was open, I was actively making quilts, but teaching decorative painting and scrapbooking classes. I was very new to quilting and didn't feel ready to teach it yet. I worked on my skills by completing JoAnn's blocks of the month. After I had completed one, I sent it out to be quilted (my first one ever sent to a long-armer!) and it came back just in time for my studio's open house. So before I bound it, I hung it over the front counter to add color and texture fully intending to bind it after the event. It stayed right there. Even after my studio closed in 2005. After my second child was born in 2008. And after I went back to work full time in 2011. Life happened and the quilt stayed and was buried under more life, and more life....you get the idea.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fast-forward to 2022 and the great flood! The pipe burst right over where this quilt hung, and as such the quilt took the main brunt of the damage. I pulled it out, let it air-dry and then accessed. And cried. It was ruined. My ambassador friends over at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/QuiltWithPatSloan" target="_blank">Pat Sloan's Facebook group</a> helped with ideas on how to clean it (I ended up taking it to our local dry cleaner who hand-washed it - remember it was not bound all this time.) Now came the repairs. Here are a couple of bad pictures of a little of how the edges looked:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLwRtqdx14HV25EZrow0ToexorH4H7bsa3JxKRBJDRN4z8vOTCkUU8NyqdSch9ZgfzrSnWzG9PWEZF7cqw6lfkHVuQjTzNo5MthyaKzlutB5waNB7zjdazrrHAovYeKDBG4o4HcJZZJ9cVCxodFHmF1Og5oYv0VGMqt91EzRa8LOK2mOZ_llkzBpw/s4032/IMG_7429.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLwRtqdx14HV25EZrow0ToexorH4H7bsa3JxKRBJDRN4z8vOTCkUU8NyqdSch9ZgfzrSnWzG9PWEZF7cqw6lfkHVuQjTzNo5MthyaKzlutB5waNB7zjdazrrHAovYeKDBG4o4HcJZZJ9cVCxodFHmF1Og5oYv0VGMqt91EzRa8LOK2mOZ_llkzBpw/s320/IMG_7429.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAOl568J-aFRHJhWJbU64ankbcB8i-r_rnccBYe3C5IMNB5ibTRGuisbSTulrzUoNPkAKL9q880q_vSIHbiqBLGg6EXIvXiSntG2rh8aFK89n7JChn9EYS3vWrbYUUb6S-EpWpKFawNfH0cnRh_eteomKGeeDLhkNnS7wb0xKuedXDXkxH4Z9zvwq/s4032/IMG_7430.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAOl568J-aFRHJhWJbU64ankbcB8i-r_rnccBYe3C5IMNB5ibTRGuisbSTulrzUoNPkAKL9q880q_vSIHbiqBLGg6EXIvXiSntG2rh8aFK89n7JChn9EYS3vWrbYUUb6S-EpWpKFawNfH0cnRh_eteomKGeeDLhkNnS7wb0xKuedXDXkxH4Z9zvwq/s320/IMG_7430.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's hard to tell but they were very uneven and pretty ugly. And I found a hole too! Clear through the top to the backing. I was able to trim the border 1" all around the even up the edges. I then folded the quilt up, and it's been sitting in my dining room for a month while I tried to find fabric for the binding and to repair the hole.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Guess what the second bundle was?????? YES!!!! All the leftover fabric from this quilt! So now I had binding, and plenty of fabric to make any other repairs (have to figure that part out soon.) But, how old was this quilt, and what would I put on the label? Although I vaguely recall JoAnn's including a label in one of the monthly blocks, it wasn't among the fabrics that I found, and I'd never attached one before it was quilted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, everyone knows Google is the greatest encyclopedia LOL, so I began searching. A little over an hour later I found out that this was the JoAnn's 1998 Classic Quilt. 1998?!?!?! They're calling it "vintage" on eBay! This means that I pieced the top over the year 1998, and knowing me, sent it out for quilting as soon as I'd saved the money, sometime in mid 1999-ish. And if I received it back even by the end of 1999, that means it's been in my basement unfinished for more than 2 decades! After this heart-breaking realization came the epiphany that I am now rescuing it. Did I neglect it, yes. But now I can repair it and shower it with love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What did I learn? Don't let this happen ever again and share my story, so it doesn't happen to any more quilts. Bind your quilts, or ask your guild for help. You spend so much time and your talents creating the quilts not to finish and care for them. If you cannot finish them for any reason, there are guilds and organizations you can donate them to who will finish them and give them to those who will love these beautiful works of art.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stayed tuned for my bound quilt - it's on the sewing machine as I type! It won't be perfect, but it's on it way to being finished - finally!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKIhlgpkUs65aSqrnIWDZTLZSSEvEfRtiYs1EfB1OHxicvYj83R6mVGdjUf4Jjy3FTs27mczaKE8UfRknpfyUi-fq6CWvDhpVdm_E8us_N5Uql8QJfNGy-P72z3nY_DYV-iL_dM376WQ7U1Hte9J0kWC7LqLHAZBdMdGQ4gfJeendZ_xGRhB-0dBy/s892/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-05%20at%204.09.42%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="892" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKIhlgpkUs65aSqrnIWDZTLZSSEvEfRtiYs1EfB1OHxicvYj83R6mVGdjUf4Jjy3FTs27mczaKE8UfRknpfyUi-fq6CWvDhpVdm_E8us_N5Uql8QJfNGy-P72z3nY_DYV-iL_dM376WQ7U1Hte9J0kWC7LqLHAZBdMdGQ4gfJeendZ_xGRhB-0dBy/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-05%20at%204.09.42%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div></div></div>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-54474485198849179792022-06-22T08:36:00.001-04:002022-06-22T08:37:03.686-04:00Graduation, Honors and a Ferry, oh my!<p> Woo hoo, my beautiful, smart daughter has graduated high school! This mom is bursting with an abundance of pride.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFc1Ffhd0nYcVFn1qHAbsqbrPCDg_JL97ZTg4c4FDhMqf_sAk-2EFClxPOMBK24ZuH05y5y5Ac9oVM56NbA1EA88kcH4sH13Cb8rb9YJeoQrA7OohM1cyrePzPE4oIhvI9D13AiJuvNQiqTTOVZWzcPhIHEaU7Vv1Ot_fTPXpmjsl79pTFLRAor9YS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFc1Ffhd0nYcVFn1qHAbsqbrPCDg_JL97ZTg4c4FDhMqf_sAk-2EFClxPOMBK24ZuH05y5y5Ac9oVM56NbA1EA88kcH4sH13Cb8rb9YJeoQrA7OohM1cyrePzPE4oIhvI9D13AiJuvNQiqTTOVZWzcPhIHEaU7Vv1Ot_fTPXpmjsl79pTFLRAor9YS=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And not to be outdone, my son was honored in the same week for achieving high honors for every quarter of his three years of middle school.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-_CqMC5w8_CLZzSpQg8OwO_1UCN26rqlbLY60c5P9t2JkDuwqlJWzKR_oyMy0TB-i1KkLYTHayXIbGoYF46av-KfvURonPdiBvcpGtxBdMK3-2jEaOCqtCk6QLj8iALXytPpYNfWqzz1Cp9ME_Uc0sJ-KZAZl1zBT5j0fy48hOBmgPliuOuVAhG6o" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-_CqMC5w8_CLZzSpQg8OwO_1UCN26rqlbLY60c5P9t2JkDuwqlJWzKR_oyMy0TB-i1KkLYTHayXIbGoYF46av-KfvURonPdiBvcpGtxBdMK3-2jEaOCqtCk6QLj8iALXytPpYNfWqzz1Cp9ME_Uc0sJ-KZAZl1zBT5j0fy48hOBmgPliuOuVAhG6o=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He'll be moving up to 9th grade this week, and after weeks of finals and his first round of Regents exams, he'll be happy when summer recess begins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also spent some time this weekend in Burlington VT at a soccer tournament for my son's travel team. I used the GPS to travel from Albany NY to our hotel, and funny thing, it took us across Lake Champlain over the Charlotte-Essex Ferry 😳 What a fun surprise! After my initial embarrassment that I didn't realize there would be a ferry ride on our trip, we embraced the boat and enjoyed every second on the water. Our fun story even convinced a couple of other soccer families to take the ferry on the trip back home!</div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhp3T8rryXXKfnd5zhTw-fbGVt80yem6Z_EiLiYP9zSSoNbRiUkE7hGIogoImSRHb5CB3AMjMMeaUTteQVOx9SijAQYgQPX9H6j6dl-igZxBYg6rzih3SspvMKYtk-a0RFU72H_5VrcnMAYNFtbQ9Y2vOjJhnC3Imhpo97v5xdKWjsdD1pLXUgfA_f" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhp3T8rryXXKfnd5zhTw-fbGVt80yem6Z_EiLiYP9zSSoNbRiUkE7hGIogoImSRHb5CB3AMjMMeaUTteQVOx9SijAQYgQPX9H6j6dl-igZxBYg6rzih3SspvMKYtk-a0RFU72H_5VrcnMAYNFtbQ9Y2vOjJhnC3Imhpo97v5xdKWjsdD1pLXUgfA_f=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs5xzpxrnca8PDSDPnMvYw9dn204eqfaFb6y-Q99CKezCaWxR7JQzbvL51XHlmJsuMHGZEZ54sLOuItJ_oBsxVfV-uTDFiNMXSOCYIAxfO4MZ5Efw4kGrEbKr-hOkevaaxjxCQwz9jsd7hW8xHaGpaPp2ijH4BKgfyvm6VfxpnfLzjD2usJu62boy7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs5xzpxrnca8PDSDPnMvYw9dn204eqfaFb6y-Q99CKezCaWxR7JQzbvL51XHlmJsuMHGZEZ54sLOuItJ_oBsxVfV-uTDFiNMXSOCYIAxfO4MZ5Efw4kGrEbKr-hOkevaaxjxCQwz9jsd7hW8xHaGpaPp2ijH4BKgfyvm6VfxpnfLzjD2usJu62boy7=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once back home, and in between work commitments, I started a new cross stitch mystery stitch along. I am a member of <a href="https://www.patreon.com/teresakogut/posts" target="_blank">Teresa Kogut's patreon</a>, and she's hosting this fantastic mystery for her tier 4 members. Officially it begins on 6/25/22, but I just couldn't wait. Samplers are my jam, and the colors on this are amazing:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHCBx-z-bYcUqkEiUdVQJOP8fmFaV6DNQIB6BNZM8r8deSDb5dqdXl56nbdtlfdw7_d8q0ymEQyRupFpJ1BTJ1pIeZNPyQ2LbGFS2Ejgcoi4MjeoqfKLlDhDmsZoKfynvxlnA-j7UbPBliCWt1QVgvShZnEGxsfme111AUj_6-6Anb6eG6V4EpEec-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHCBx-z-bYcUqkEiUdVQJOP8fmFaV6DNQIB6BNZM8r8deSDb5dqdXl56nbdtlfdw7_d8q0ymEQyRupFpJ1BTJ1pIeZNPyQ2LbGFS2Ejgcoi4MjeoqfKLlDhDmsZoKfynvxlnA-j7UbPBliCWt1QVgvShZnEGxsfme111AUj_6-6Anb6eG6V4EpEec-=w480-h640" width="480" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am stitching mine on 16 count Aida by LFA Linens in Popover. I purchased mine from <a href="https://thknits.com/?category=Linens%2FAida" target="_blank">Treehouse Fiber Arts</a> and am stitching with the called for colors. I find myself picking it up instead of eating lunch, dinner.....! 😂</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week will also be filled with 8th grade wrapping up and travel soccer tryouts. Also, some college dorm prep for the oldest. Busy busy busy, but it a good busy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What's kept you busy this week?</div></div></div></div><p></p>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-86951594942238958952022-06-09T08:12:00.002-04:002022-06-09T08:23:14.852-04:00Quilt Along Update!<p>It's been literally YEARS since I had to stop working on the <a href="http://cricketsstudio.blogspot.com/p/tips-tricks-quilt-along.html" target="_blank">Tips & Tricks Quilt Along</a>. I just updated the blog page and am currently looking for the 11 months of blocks we made so I can design a setting. I may have to make up the December block which was a free choice to add more red for balance - what do you think? Maybe a log cabin would be a good addition?</p><p>Here are the blocks I am in search of:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_85hPzD0iCEveIMCa7ICUIXf10lGXub-lYzTvFCB7S8TWMyHO1-2q6YVO8qZVdW8Z_i02o2YU-R9cdCYozOQjyaImTAUTQFY754UYOLKKmGNjIUVgxcp28YCTXFe8jey0LJR0_yZvN_s1HXkoLQhBILDqfVAk3CsXEFPz2pauHmwctR7qvoKeI_N/s541/Tips%20&%20Tricks%20All%20Blocks%20Made.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="541" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_85hPzD0iCEveIMCa7ICUIXf10lGXub-lYzTvFCB7S8TWMyHO1-2q6YVO8qZVdW8Z_i02o2YU-R9cdCYozOQjyaImTAUTQFY754UYOLKKmGNjIUVgxcp28YCTXFe8jey0LJR0_yZvN_s1HXkoLQhBILDqfVAk3CsXEFPz2pauHmwctR7qvoKeI_N/s320/Tips%20&%20Tricks%20All%20Blocks%20Made.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>Check out the page <a href="http://cricketsstudio.blogspot.com/p/tips-tricks-quilt-along.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> and stop back for more updates! </p>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-33726950155003022482022-06-08T06:00:00.029-04:002022-06-08T06:00:00.175-04:00 And she's off!<p>Pride. A mom's pride. It's fierce and strong and ever-lasting. My daughter has ventured into the awesome world of photography, like her grandfather, her uncle and me. She has a unique look and I am so excited to watch her growth as she studies in college. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1H70XZ1ulXpuVkcl9NpwV-e6cbfN0uIy0sZ3nFDg3b-gaqIndInhZkwR1_-YTUy_AOi42Y2O7lXIdN9W4a_AS9-GbkYjDv6Kjrzcs0ef1h4rOfz7hO4CKERpxLSJ07jfe7BGjqtqE8BU5mySB2W9lZSqYjWgkWLcIPEdjZp-bIl91N3I-NZk7ipw/s1602/j3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1H70XZ1ulXpuVkcl9NpwV-e6cbfN0uIy0sZ3nFDg3b-gaqIndInhZkwR1_-YTUy_AOi42Y2O7lXIdN9W4a_AS9-GbkYjDv6Kjrzcs0ef1h4rOfz7hO4CKERpxLSJ07jfe7BGjqtqE8BU5mySB2W9lZSqYjWgkWLcIPEdjZp-bIl91N3I-NZk7ipw/s320/j3.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She launched her journey on a blog last month, and it's now live. Please visit her at <b><a href="https://jgrazianophotography.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jewels Graziano Photography</a></b> and maybe subscribe so you can watch the evolution of a fantastic photographer. ❤️</div><br /><p><br /></p>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-16021263878989627542022-06-07T16:26:00.002-04:002022-06-07T16:26:48.172-04:00You in?<p> It's National Chocolate Ice Cream Day! 'Nuf said... 😉</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZviNswk1AAjCOp-E6fUAia8HZRLH9ZASN3AL0kMW5X3xagC4X3Z0vsAHt4DJLCVbmqQWjMepF3UQrvx8RO5mBwwECGDwVrYJ9ExC3Df1FEXG7swJERAAt6HhqALJz7rBJdTuAI2014yMw-qaoiGBfQuHqZtsj2ySQvLEPDpmLNZZ_ZVqBe2ZHKw1/s2048/Natl%20Choc%20Ice%20Cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZviNswk1AAjCOp-E6fUAia8HZRLH9ZASN3AL0kMW5X3xagC4X3Z0vsAHt4DJLCVbmqQWjMepF3UQrvx8RO5mBwwECGDwVrYJ9ExC3Df1FEXG7swJERAAt6HhqALJz7rBJdTuAI2014yMw-qaoiGBfQuHqZtsj2ySQvLEPDpmLNZZ_ZVqBe2ZHKw1/s320/Natl%20Choc%20Ice%20Cream.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-20707560972852675182022-06-06T08:00:00.001-04:002022-06-06T08:00:00.167-04:00Have you met Pat Sloan?<p style="text-align: left;"> Well, I have. </p><p style="text-align: left;">And she is a wealth of information. And fun. And projects. And community.</p><p style="text-align: left;">And the awesome Pat has the very best quilting community in the world. Yup, your read right, the <b>WORLD</b>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">How can you meet Pat and join her? If you like to share your quilting, ask questions and encourage others, visit Pat's Facebook community page at<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/QuiltWithPatSloan" target="_blank"> Quilt with Pat Sloan</a>. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Do you like to meet quilty friends from around the world? Or watch videos about quilting, say 6 days a week? Or even join the fun of a Block Wednesday or book tours? Check <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/PatSloan" target="_blank">Pat's YouTube Channel</a> and subscribe to her videos. They post at 7:15am Monday-Saturday EST in the USA, but the chat begins about 30 minutes prior to that. I've met friends from Australia, New Zealand, around the USA and just up the street! </p><p style="text-align: left;">Here are a few of the projects I've completed with Pat and our community:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUTbikiP_Dr44fCv0jstSL1fQh0eePwyq_lIVsArEIzs6-B4Iu01bxuIxVxrAIo8eCglVZG7OsqA9xdWLDBLBEYKYftctNEfPdnGzheN8govHBMM0peojzYRuYiJIc2Yj45GOP4ASrXF9pa-Art57LwQDeTDojEBMdmbfj--EHBMhe93d7agvucaM/s2048/Main%20Street%20Perks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUTbikiP_Dr44fCv0jstSL1fQh0eePwyq_lIVsArEIzs6-B4Iu01bxuIxVxrAIo8eCglVZG7OsqA9xdWLDBLBEYKYftctNEfPdnGzheN8govHBMM0peojzYRuYiJIc2Yj45GOP4ASrXF9pa-Art57LwQDeTDojEBMdmbfj--EHBMhe93d7agvucaM/s320/Main%20Street%20Perks.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Main Street Perks from Pat's new book Tantalizing Table Toppers</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xCsVPr6W4TpFWKBuk_imDQz5Ged8ChhTnUD_zvu7cEWMwp5Et294TD75cqbbbhz1VjUW9B0Ljy-vQ8ZYDb_dKyQrMGrTrsyKDvPpHF2rx0GSYw5rjaplHwUh5Z-n2NegOMgApxEC8iU4ystKLW4kMTyB88ZDpv_rKJ0wM57D6ZgxPW3fdSPdYZrt/s2048/March%20Hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1522" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xCsVPr6W4TpFWKBuk_imDQz5Ged8ChhTnUD_zvu7cEWMwp5Et294TD75cqbbbhz1VjUW9B0Ljy-vQ8ZYDb_dKyQrMGrTrsyKDvPpHF2rx0GSYw5rjaplHwUh5Z-n2NegOMgApxEC8iU4ystKLW4kMTyB88ZDpv_rKJ0wM57D6ZgxPW3fdSPdYZrt/s320/March%20Hope.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">March Hope Block a Day</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRaB6hTEhcUOF80VOQMrrx64RUlGsqnIdCUAH-zpR6AEZIJgWAJr3JnXT-pwuXG5Ha8zl4L0eBZl29EMshVsVaeyPkiViMwvQpa8EYfgcMhyP6-C60v5MMtkLAIRTnvlvlNN9dX-so3CnMm5wMeY-BDV3zTkPqng_xOa8coCpMQLaB3cbaiKNdu1q/s2048/Old%20School%20BOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1848" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRaB6hTEhcUOF80VOQMrrx64RUlGsqnIdCUAH-zpR6AEZIJgWAJr3JnXT-pwuXG5Ha8zl4L0eBZl29EMshVsVaeyPkiViMwvQpa8EYfgcMhyP6-C60v5MMtkLAIRTnvlvlNN9dX-so3CnMm5wMeY-BDV3zTkPqng_xOa8coCpMQLaB3cbaiKNdu1q/s320/Old%20School%20BOM.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Old School BOM</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DImaAnlm4CVLqdyU_RF_7XULJpYeRtFvUUekjoLHR3WV-YNUdPg1ZgQ00SOQa4FIAsc1ONQvbXWlmOlup98g8MGpgMsOHIxsxVViHcj7TVpDdNXhvyn1odQUaLhBnBKVstXqfy0aaU1XptJpogWgYA9mH6wFffnDS88_b6vMnnbqiGW5qAT_a4Ox/s960/Sweet%20Dreams%20Center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="769" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DImaAnlm4CVLqdyU_RF_7XULJpYeRtFvUUekjoLHR3WV-YNUdPg1ZgQ00SOQa4FIAsc1ONQvbXWlmOlup98g8MGpgMsOHIxsxVViHcj7TVpDdNXhvyn1odQUaLhBnBKVstXqfy0aaU1XptJpogWgYA9mH6wFffnDS88_b6vMnnbqiGW5qAT_a4Ox/s320/Sweet%20Dreams%20Center.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sweet Dreams Block Wednesday (center only)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH7wPPk_WBj2g5KAhGpKsilB-4G5gWIZlopMbuiZJ6DSffRKXW2Ta18mOYV0m1qCuyEnHI-Ea_GLvVgbHi7g9-fYgPVMVz-At8eICER13G81ZcdXvYSrjJx_ZTUiWS0JOw1z3GUG_tMaN7DtksivFBvS4AiMhQV0-PUdnJ3S7PXvymwOBXWahcSPu/s1124/Flapjack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH7wPPk_WBj2g5KAhGpKsilB-4G5gWIZlopMbuiZJ6DSffRKXW2Ta18mOYV0m1qCuyEnHI-Ea_GLvVgbHi7g9-fYgPVMVz-At8eICER13G81ZcdXvYSrjJx_ZTUiWS0JOw1z3GUG_tMaN7DtksivFBvS4AiMhQV0-PUdnJ3S7PXvymwOBXWahcSPu/s320/Flapjack.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Flapjack</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When you join the fun tell Pat that Carrie sent you!</div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-85232368291914319872022-06-05T09:08:00.004-04:002022-06-05T09:08:49.107-04:00Major milestones happening around here!It looks like I have a habit of blogging for a bit, and then dropping off the face of the Earth. Well, if I am being honest, it's not just looking like that, it IS that. Life has been happening all around, and sadly, my blog has taken the hit these past several years.<div><br /></div><div>My beautiful smart daughter is graduating high school in a few short days, and as we were chatting about her final school project, she mentioned she was using Blogspot for her project website. Ding, ding, ding! Blogspot....I know that platform. Oh, wait, I USE that platform. Or I did a long time ago. Was my blog still even out there. YES, it is!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I offered to help her navigate and learn some things about it, but thought first I should re-familiarize myself with the inner workings of design elements and such. Thankfully, not too much has changed. I should be able to look like I know what I am talking about LOL.</div><div><br /></div><div>And helping her will help me deal with the fact that we went from here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLla1yeVlMlUlN23_1gj6GfiOPplz4LTDQ5SGjDgBqUajFR15H20sxHalW4hKsdr8afvql-bBIhjw870dkAAGRIqXLCYDTNEqWk6C5QDRSNGgMzVLKSMShUrvjE0bHrH6Zpqk8oItKYoTSxV4QjzRykO0lKO5xp57ZvP2WKfpsLsn0eOBI3R_R4Yz/s3124/IMG_6626.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3124" data-original-width="2231" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLla1yeVlMlUlN23_1gj6GfiOPplz4LTDQ5SGjDgBqUajFR15H20sxHalW4hKsdr8afvql-bBIhjw870dkAAGRIqXLCYDTNEqWk6C5QDRSNGgMzVLKSMShUrvjE0bHrH6Zpqk8oItKYoTSxV4QjzRykO0lKO5xp57ZvP2WKfpsLsn0eOBI3R_R4Yz/s320/IMG_6626.heic" width="229" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>to here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rw8gamwB4zMCpgwuWkUfZg0xxA6vZJOJCu_jhNEVB5X3Bmpa4_lUMdego1LbDrSUtdUYGCR6pv6KechdMurcQkirIF44k2blg0o3U9_v-s8ZPRzg_qkKEoBTgRCmwVFziPP8vO0YCMbSyS9ZB4Qe240SLohb82Fgmyur4TMRdqkSY8Nd2BSRTsJm/s1603/j2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rw8gamwB4zMCpgwuWkUfZg0xxA6vZJOJCu_jhNEVB5X3Bmpa4_lUMdego1LbDrSUtdUYGCR6pv6KechdMurcQkirIF44k2blg0o3U9_v-s8ZPRzg_qkKEoBTgRCmwVFziPP8vO0YCMbSyS9ZB4Qe240SLohb82Fgmyur4TMRdqkSY8Nd2BSRTsJm/s320/j2.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>in what seems like the blink of an eye.</div><div><br /></div><div>I live a real life, as you all do, so I won't necessarily apologize for not posting since 2019. I cannot promise that I'll be posting regularly again, but I can try. Everyone's lives are very busy in their own personal way and we all have challenges set before us that we need to overcome to move forward. I know you understand. For sanity, I do try to be active in a couple on Facebook groups, and quilts and cross-stitch when I'm not working or being the full-time mom and dad. I love my kids, and my job, and am always chasing the ever-elusive balance of life. </div><div><br /></div><div>Have to run now, my grocery pickup awaits!</div>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-83669260071650876692019-11-07T13:50:00.002-05:002023-02-18T10:14:26.429-05:00What I am cooking tonightTonight is soccer practice and that means I pick one kid up from school and immediately need to turn around and bring the other to soccer practice. In the middle of that have dinner ready to feed one early and the other later....whew! Save me from the dinner woes!<br />
<br />
Tonight's <a href="https://amzn.to/3IwP5dI" target="_blank">instant pot</a> dinner is from the <a href="https://www.savorynothings.com/instant-pot-honey-mustard-pork-chops" target="_blank">foodfanatic</a> blog. I am making the Honey Mustard Pork Chops - sounds yummy!<br />
<br />
I will most likely serve it up with egg noodles (kids love 'em) and green beans.<br />
<br />
I had planned on using my slow cooker and promptly forgot until I was halfway to work this morning. Oops.<br />
<br />
I'll let you know how the pork chops turn out (my first try int he instant pot) and what the kiddos think!<br />
<br />
<span face=""amazon ember", arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.</span>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-8308724364835658422019-11-06T13:30:00.000-05:002019-11-06T13:31:03.949-05:00More Promos and Deals!Have you hopped on over to <a href="https://www.forever.com/ambassador/carrie-graziano">Forever.com</a> yet for their <a href="https://www.forever.com/deals" target="_blank">10 Days of Deals</a>? Today's is another awesome print deal - <a href="https://www.forever.com/deals">50% off all Artisan print jobs</a>!!! Get your page prints and storybooks printed today!<br />
<br />
And they added a special <a href="https://www.forever.com/dealoftheday" target="_blank">Deal of the Day</a> just for today! Perfect to start your Christmas and Hanukkah scrapbooking.<br />
<br />
Now over at <a href="https://www.creativememories.com/user/carrie" target="_blank">Creative Memories</a>, check out FREE SHIPPING on orders $80 or more - this is only between November 4-8 so you still have time!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1a8PvvdDlVWM-hf9I50-npzNgtZOcPnTDuddDSucv8Qx2NzGD6xfHx4tc0wV5N_1J7m3ISaxWFcGh8kZSbHRXAuSjkElspNtWLJukPkAr-5yEWR6UFjDFs4QshdPSpDBibgEGnUmqVo/s1600/CM+Free+Ship.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1a8PvvdDlVWM-hf9I50-npzNgtZOcPnTDuddDSucv8Qx2NzGD6xfHx4tc0wV5N_1J7m3ISaxWFcGh8kZSbHRXAuSjkElspNtWLJukPkAr-5yEWR6UFjDFs4QshdPSpDBibgEGnUmqVo/s320/CM+Free+Ship.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Check out the beautiful <a href="https://www.creativememories.com/whats-new.html" target="_blank">Winterberry collection</a> - it's pretty cool with it's icy blue and purple color scheme.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtaad5LHsxxssbXf3dvRSV2R5Ckl0XLY6mQUX4nK3KMrWD9fi8F9Hr-PNQE_L-Uu2tZZ8fVYxy9mOKHovSVxEyy-Y0SfcHF6D7FhaFWc-ToF6BCuyZQArVZ2n5POBnhbHSvFdiwCU7kc/s1600/CM+Winterberry.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtaad5LHsxxssbXf3dvRSV2R5Ckl0XLY6mQUX4nK3KMrWD9fi8F9Hr-PNQE_L-Uu2tZZ8fVYxy9mOKHovSVxEyy-Y0SfcHF6D7FhaFWc-ToF6BCuyZQArVZ2n5POBnhbHSvFdiwCU7kc/s320/CM+Winterberry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And did I mention the new Border Maker cartridge? The <a href="https://www.creativememories.com/whats-new/crystal-chain-border-maker-cartridge.html" target="_blank">Crystal Chain</a> is my favorite one yet!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvqPvnnw3yPzWG7GI3gEwa1mOEnDoECNJEIY_hUj8z5eD2YsNwZTDSpTxYhnUqCiNMEyug7nvLJJjQEzZUKhwwDfw5h2ezVj78fWr29XnhLWi0k1iUW-r-uiKqfIWTvpmx_MzwSYZwxQ/s1600/CM+Crystal+Chain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvqPvnnw3yPzWG7GI3gEwa1mOEnDoECNJEIY_hUj8z5eD2YsNwZTDSpTxYhnUqCiNMEyug7nvLJJjQEzZUKhwwDfw5h2ezVj78fWr29XnhLWi0k1iUW-r-uiKqfIWTvpmx_MzwSYZwxQ/s320/CM+Crystal+Chain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Don't forget to stock up on <a href="https://www.creativememories.com/shop-all/tools/adhesives.html" target="_blank">adhesives</a> and <a href="https://www.creativememories.com/shop-all/pages-protectors/plain-pages.html" target="_blank">refills</a> while you're browsing my CM site. You don't want to run out!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Enjoy your day and let me know what you are scrapbooking today!</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvqPvnnw3yPzWG7GI3gEwa1mOEnDoECNJEIY_hUj8z5eD2YsNwZTDSpTxYhnUqCiNMEyug7nvLJJjQEzZUKhwwDfw5h2ezVj78fWr29XnhLWi0k1iUW-r-uiKqfIWTvpmx_MzwSYZwxQ/s1600/CM+Crystal+Chain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-41029926362980578492019-11-04T06:00:00.000-05:002019-11-04T06:00:04.789-05:00Yum, and Doing the Hard ThingsUpdate on the chicken dinner from last night - YUM!<br />
<br />
Pretty much followed the <a href="https://diethood.com/instant-pot-chicken-breasts/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_smartloop&utm_content=smartloop&utm_term=26011616" target="_blank">recipe</a> to the letter, used frozen bone-in chicken thighs (cause that's what I had) and increased the cooking time to 15 minutes to accommodate the bones and frozen state of the chicken. Even made the gravy - so easy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7EF-ycmXmC524QrVGRpgFKh1ebjPh8MEW5ibOFbH3cb6sFbk1ekNbZedwMKBdfhXdjanHvYFZaV8XpXl3wURbX6BZo8GdepvYaH_fUqJ2EZutXDWfnWZvunAqqgqA2Ve4BrTsTlaPYE/s1600/IMG_3593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7EF-ycmXmC524QrVGRpgFKh1ebjPh8MEW5ibOFbH3cb6sFbk1ekNbZedwMKBdfhXdjanHvYFZaV8XpXl3wURbX6BZo8GdepvYaH_fUqJ2EZutXDWfnWZvunAqqgqA2Ve4BrTsTlaPYE/s320/IMG_3593.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
This <a href="https://amzn.to/2JLlb6y" target="_blank">instant pot</a> has a timer, soooo, next time I'll do the prep and set the timer to be done after practice or work. This feature so helps with my "finding" time to make dinner. Do you have any instant pot recipes to share?<br />
<br />
Bummer that EVERYONE loved it so there aren't any leftovers. ;)<br />
<br />
What's the hard thing I had to push through? After his soccer game, my son really wanted to go on a play date with a friend with whom we'd lost touch a few years ago.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjG51GPBwY6iJe0y6HuehVPXy12C3R5BC_bv34en-ByjzhD4Pl4ivchAb7lWjPNQg3Y-DyUpDyoucCLTi2WW9-0mj_2y7cPcPsw765nAT5dJCUEDj8k9YDwXjvxarW6z26pxByUHKP2U0/s1600/IMG_7218.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjG51GPBwY6iJe0y6HuehVPXy12C3R5BC_bv34en-ByjzhD4Pl4ivchAb7lWjPNQg3Y-DyUpDyoucCLTi2WW9-0mj_2y7cPcPsw765nAT5dJCUEDj8k9YDwXjvxarW6z26pxByUHKP2U0/s320/IMG_7218.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
With everything negative that's happened in our lives, my cynical thoughts began to cram their way into my brain, and prevent me from allowing a simple play date. I pulled back from all of our relationships due to the problems in my marriage. I am still cleaning up the mess my husband has created, living within it every day and trying my best to shield my children. To allow this play date would be to allow people to once again get close, and thus potentially find out about my situation. And once people find out, they fall into two groups: those who truly wish to help and support (of which there are very few) and the bigger group of those who drop away. The ones who turn away from us in the grocery store, at a softball game or at a school event leaving my poor kids to wonder why. I understand they are uncomfortable and unsure about what to say, but it hurts deep down inside. It feels like a betrayal. But I guess since I am the one that hid first, I brought this reaction onto myself and the kids.<br />
<br />
I allowed the play date. It's the very least I can do for my son. I'll set my fears and angst aside and do what's best for him. I am trying to be a better mom.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.</span>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-67209288145834958432019-11-03T19:38:00.003-05:002019-11-03T19:38:37.716-05:0010 Days of Digital DealsYep, you read that right, <a href="https://www.forever.com/deals" target="_blank">10 days of Digital Deals</a> over at <a href="https://www.forever.com/ambassador/carrie-graziano">Forever.com</a><span id="goog_701412242"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_701412243"></span>. We're already on Day 3 (eek, I missed days 1-2!) but today's is still pretty awesome -<br />
<h4 class="deal-title page-title color-gray-700 font-size-300" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: proxima_nova-semibold, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 15px; text-align: center;">
Save 50% on all FOREVER Design & Print and Artisan printed products!</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.forever.com/artisan">Artisan </a>is the new Storybook Creator, and with it you can create the most beautiful scrapbook pages (and calendars, photo books, invitations, etc) with ease. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj39NzWc7U8gqQTPkeQNXe-d5kj5pSHnU1ChUhBWY5LaKGXw7KGE63lSGb_Ecicxkr8C1-4HkfEjSW55XdUsbD4bCwhCYLq-V7ko8k8pxDF2oHPRq1TlAq5AUlG10jQ-Uc5xPTmUZOKE/s1600/2017+12x12+Page+Print+Book+%2528Copy%2529+-+Page+028.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj39NzWc7U8gqQTPkeQNXe-d5kj5pSHnU1ChUhBWY5LaKGXw7KGE63lSGb_Ecicxkr8C1-4HkfEjSW55XdUsbD4bCwhCYLq-V7ko8k8pxDF2oHPRq1TlAq5AUlG10jQ-Uc5xPTmUZOKE/s320/2017+12x12+Page+Print+Book+%2528Copy%2529+-+Page+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e7JNNzfMY6C-U8kukiQfK0WV563qYtsuc-xz-7YkPU9zwFSZzxktZDtsKQY9psIxNDWQnZ_YJyWP4soOcYH_mgILqGDx6HEiPVQ-YVrTutsOuAYNBMzUbiUgjZaKGnBm7UhsG-NBRgw/s1600/2017+12x12+Page+Print+Book+%2528Copy%2529+-+Page+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e7JNNzfMY6C-U8kukiQfK0WV563qYtsuc-xz-7YkPU9zwFSZzxktZDtsKQY9psIxNDWQnZ_YJyWP4soOcYH_mgILqGDx6HEiPVQ-YVrTutsOuAYNBMzUbiUgjZaKGnBm7UhsG-NBRgw/s320/2017+12x12+Page+Print+Book+%2528Copy%2529+-+Page+029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><i>I made these pages back in 2017 so I'm not exactly sure of the digital artwork used. I'll do better keeping track with more current pages!</i></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Right now Artisan is only Windows PC based unless you run can run Windows on your Mac.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Take a look around <a href="https://www.forever.com/ambassador/carrie-graziano">Forever.com</a> and see what they have to offer - and make sure I am set as your Ambassador so I can answer all of your questions, and help you navigate through all the neat stuff!</div>
cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-75819688943942286172019-11-03T08:00:00.000-05:002019-11-03T08:00:02.636-05:00Finding Time = Easy DinnersAs you can tell my my lack of posts, there hasn't been a ton of extra time in YEARS to fit in crafting. I seem to exist day to day, month to month and year to year, just doing for everyone else. I know I am not alone in this - a mom's job is never done, right?<br />
<br />
There also isn't a lot of extra money to spend on meals not eaten, or fancy appliances to make it all better.<br />
<br />
One time of the day I dread, and truly shouldn't, is dinnertime. Or more honestly, the time leading up to dinnertime. I say I should not dread it as it's one of the very few times my kids and I are together and can swap stories from our day and just be with one another. It's deciding what to make to please all of us that I find so stressful. Add to it our super busy lives, and that I am always out of time, my stress level hits the roof. Recipe (pun totally intended) for disaster!<br />
<br />
A friend recently recommended using one of those new-style pressure cookers to cook an easy, healthy dinner, that the three of us would devour. I found this <a href="https://amzn.to/2qkh9ev" target="_blank">one</a> at an amazing price on Amazon. Saved my pennies and am giving it a try.<br />
<br />
Tonight I am trying this <a href="https://diethood.com/instant-pot-chicken-breasts/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_smartloop&utm_content=smartloop&utm_term=26011616" target="_blank">chicken recipe</a> from the Diethood blog. I like the ease of this recipe and the optional gravy add-on.<br />
<br />
I will keep you updated as to how it turns out and share the reviews. Check back in tomorrow!<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.</span></i><br />
<br />cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-73591620408108586862019-11-01T21:04:00.001-04:002019-11-01T21:04:12.289-04:00Journaling?So I heard something on a podcast the other day that’s got me thinking. I’ve always journaled the good, the bad, and the ugly. I felt that getting it all on paper whether in a scrapbook or journal, was cathartic and helped tell the story. All of it makes up who we are, right? We shouldn’t sugarcoat reality. We need to own it, accept it and push forward, good or bad. <br />
<br />
The podcaster suggested this is not a good idea. She said to only write down your positive thoughts, your affirmations and successes. When you journal, you’re making it real. You’re solidifying your truths. If you immortalize your negativity or bad things that happen in your life, then you’re affirming those ideas and essentially propelling them forward.<br />
<br />
Huh.<br />
<br />
I see her side of this debate. I really do. But isn’t that living your life in a rose-colored bubble? I’m not suggesting we wallow in our grief or sorrow or anger, but we shouldn’t ignore it either. We should identify it, live with it a bit and understand why our feelings. Only then can we let it go to move on.<br />
<br />
Maybe I need to journal about this.<br />
<br />
<br />cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-25762062165108697562019-11-01T07:53:00.003-04:002019-11-01T07:53:29.220-04:00Mom-Guilt - Under Control?Hope you all enjoyed a fun and safe Halloween! Here are my kiddos:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ5UT2K2v-io96Pnn6JW2AkDAAMlf7HGhmmLPXZXj0zhaforG8ElCEhYiJDOXiC-eyDKheWYsOz9alapMZ0ycGNGX7n6AkLYE2D0KQInBfIl0XPHANAyqVgRxu_nL5Ehdbjq5GqDr1i4/s1600/IMG_5519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ5UT2K2v-io96Pnn6JW2AkDAAMlf7HGhmmLPXZXj0zhaforG8ElCEhYiJDOXiC-eyDKheWYsOz9alapMZ0ycGNGX7n6AkLYE2D0KQInBfIl0XPHANAyqVgRxu_nL5Ehdbjq5GqDr1i4/s320/IMG_5519.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpfZVhPPZzfTWKg4gP70JaZYmZ7fOhOeo0mjMc1vuKZ4cW0PQU089lM_HyIqj8mJEPKG0sFgudpLYji6D-NAIsbIeSlpW5NfrZ9eUvN-Lc1XRi9d_HuPORVgjO30rDOudl619lJulNBU/s1600/IMG_5521.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpfZVhPPZzfTWKg4gP70JaZYmZ7fOhOeo0mjMc1vuKZ4cW0PQU089lM_HyIqj8mJEPKG0sFgudpLYji6D-NAIsbIeSlpW5NfrZ9eUvN-Lc1XRi9d_HuPORVgjO30rDOudl619lJulNBU/s320/IMG_5521.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
<br />
Last night my kids decided to split and hang out with friends in different groups. Not really a first for us, but I felt differently about it this time. With me raising them essentially on my own, the fear of choosing which one to go with and which one to abandon (yup, the initial feeling is one of abandonment when I can't be with one of them because of our situation) was HUGE. Every time we're separated at events I feel like I am letting them down by having to choose one of them over the other.<br />
<br />
Not this time.<br />
<br />
My son's best friend's mom took control (something I need more of in my life) and simply told me she'd pick him up, feed him and take him around a local neighborhood. I wasn't invited, nor was I not invited, but she made the decision for let me. My insightful friend must have known my internal struggle and without making me feel small or ignored, let me, and my enormous mom-guilt, off the hook.<br />
<br />
Instead, my daughter and I traveled to her bestie's home and we spent time with teen and adult friends and had a blast. She got to bond with girls that love her and have her best interests at heart, while I was able to get in some much needed adult time with the parents and neighbors. As well as cook and bake for people who appreciate it (another story for another post!)<br />
<br />
"Picasso" and "Sandra Dee" had a cool day, even with record-breaking warm temps, rain and 35-60 mph winds. This mom had a pretty great day too.<br />
<br />
(My son made most of his costume purchasing just the <a href="https://amzn.to/2pn5gEQ" target="_blank">beret</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/2C4Jl86" target="_blank">neck scarf</a>. My daughter's <a href="https://amzn.to/2WzF3z2" target="_blank">50's costume</a> is still available on Amazon in case you want to plan for next year. We just added leggings and sneaks.)<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.</span></i></span>cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-69944174594535903112019-10-31T08:41:00.000-04:002019-10-31T08:41:00.046-04:00Whoa......so life has a funny way of taking a turn, flipping upside-down, and taking it's sweet time to right itself. Am I the only one to feel like this?<br />
<br />
For my few followers, I so didn't abandon you! I am still upside-down and trying like mad to be right again. I am plugging away raising my amazing children now ages 15 and 11 (yikes) and dealing with a crumbling marriage. That story is for another time.<br />
<br />
Am I still crafting? Quilting, not so much dang it, but I did get to digitally scrapbook my family 2020 calendar the other day (to take advantage of the 40% off print sale (promo code TREAT until midnight tonight EST) over at <a href="http://forever.com/">Forever.com</a>, (make sure you have me -Carrie Graziano- as your Ambassador) and I completed about six 12x12 scrapbook pages of my son's new adventure into soccer. That's the most I've been able to get done in months. I have crafted a bit with my son, lastly making his Picasso costume. I'll post those pics soon - trying to find some edit time!<br />
<br />
When I last posted I was working as a full-time CPA in a textbook distribution company. I switched jobs back in late 2014 to spend more time with the kids, and deep down I think I knew my relationship with my husband was on the down turn. I forced family photos (wish I hadn't) and was up-ending everything in my life to try to find happiness. At that time, I couldn't pinpoint my feeling of unease. I couldn't bear to immortalize family memories then; it felt wrong, and I didn't understand it. So I just stopped. I also gained a tremendous amount of weight - which I am happy to be losing and on my way to a healthier version of myself. Again, another story for a future post!<br />
<br />
I am glad to say I am still at the job I took back then, 5 years and counting. I work for a locally owned photo studio doing their accounting, human resources and managing their school/sports division. I get to take some photos, but mostly for my own enjoyment. This is our busiest time, and I am trying to squeeze in a blog post - I am just a little nuts!<br />
<br />
Hoping you'll stick by me while I resurrect my blog and update the links and content. Maybe help me decide what it can be. Looking forward to this adventure!cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-5672555191177501332013-01-30T22:35:00.000-05:002013-01-30T22:35:00.746-05:00More than a year......since I posted. Life happened and time passed. I simply cannot believe how much!<br />
<br />
I was surfing the web after getting the kids to sleep (note, I said "sleep" not "bed".) I came across a blog to which I used to post (back in 2011 - eek!) I then realized, "Hey, I have a blog. Wonder how it's doing?"<br />
<br />
So I checked.<br />
<br />
And I have had 20,000+ hits, even without a post in more than a year,<br />
<br />
Hey, thanks!<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, I am working full time as an accountant again. Recently applied (again) for my CPA license, now that I finally have the needed experience under my belt. Gained a bit of extra pounds, that I hope to shed soon. Not really quilting much, no time. I really hope to get back to it soon. I have been scrapbooking here and there. I so love bring a Creative Memories consultant, and scrapbooking keeps me connected with my family. Especially now that I am not home the 40+ hours a week I spend at the office.<br />
<br />
So, thanks for staying in touch. Thanks for being a loyal follower (all 39 of you!) Drop me a line, or a comment. I do read them when they come thru.<br />
<br />
Lots of hopes for 2013 - maybe I'll add to my loooonnnggg list to keep up with my blog.<br />
<br />
Sounds like a plan to try.<br />
Carriecricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0East Greenbush, NY, USA42.5909135 -73.70178579999998242.544157999999996 -73.78246679999998 42.637669 -73.621104799999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-21633124742679401402012-01-03T22:42:00.001-05:002012-01-03T22:42:06.745-05:00I Heart Faces Weekly Photo Challenge: Silly Holiday Photos<p align="center">Love love this <a href="http://http://www.iheartfaces.com" target="_blank">blog</a> and just had to link up this week.</p> <p align="center">This fun, no contest challenge was too good to pass up. You have to check out some of the <a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/2012/01/silly-holiday-photos/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Iheartfaces+%28I+Heart+Faces+-+Photo+Challenges+%26+Photography+Tips%29" target="_blank">fantastically silly photos</a>. They’ll make your heart smile.</p> <p align="center">So here’s mine…</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWf4pbd0TxUVmHvOXydBROhdegy_i1cwBKEI_t_k-M3bmI0ZirlPe-xpFf2o1HAED0_RStiRomaUokaSY2hNCqHUve1UqkaTR1Mz0FAQmSxUr_4BeaULwvuARfnVKlnTQdFIE1LqjmC0/s1600-h/NOT_eating_the_candy_1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="NOT_eating_the_candy_1" border="0" alt="NOT_eating_the_candy_1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pioAUHjWE-4/TwPKgvdiO1I/AAAAAAAABVg/732PojjuQKs/NOT_eating_the_candy_1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="273" height="410"></a> </p> <p align="center">Just look at those eyes. My little guy is so saying, “Me? <em>Eating</em> the candy? No, not me.” This while popping a green gumdrop in his mouth while the rest of us were making our annual gingerbread house.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOJnHVTAjFsLyMVfkq5SJbJ-8KurUJu06DB-ELEwn2pM5bFPNB2_2dOME6_oIBQzLnkyr2lCONe4JxHs2kseUpqoAXPyAnkOXerrCcSzqUSzbMLJRKz1Dyt9V2kylkT1Cp-pIoE837Xo/s1600-h/NOT_eating_the_candy_2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="NOT_eating_the_candy_2" border="0" alt="NOT_eating_the_candy_2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dknmiaFW1C8/TwPKiC9Q6bI/AAAAAAAABVw/9z6zxL-Xvzk/NOT_eating_the_candy_2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="403" height="403"></a> </p> <p align="center">I believe him, don’t you?</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PNicpb975zI/TwPKiTPbhTI/AAAAAAAABV4/wnxcWMHAxP8/s1600-h/Carrie%252520Signature%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="crickets_studio_signature" border="0" alt="crickets_studio_signature" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LGoD2PAhZA4/TwPKjvJuVkI/AAAAAAAABWA/-uUaHDx34dQ/Carrie%252520Signature_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="106" height="47"></a></p> cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-8906901269196740382012-01-01T23:45:00.001-05:002012-01-01T23:45:41.956-05:00A look at 2011<p align="center">Happy New Year.</p> <p align="center">It’s 2012!</p> <p align="center">“Twenty-twelve” as my daughter likes to say.</p> <p align="center">Here’s a little of what I did last year…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KEuZQh9nR8E/TwE2cFXk7TI/AAAAAAAABU4/9eu9-82xdEI/s1600-h/crickets%252520studio%2525202011%252520mosaic%252520quilts%252520scrapbook%252520digital%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="crickets studio 2011 mosaic quilts scrapbook digital" border="0" alt="crickets studio 2011 mosaic quilts scrapbook digital" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMUumqI_SbxeaEWCiY2e1l-IaXvdq2BIGawaZnade3D9x7Y9fLpoYCIVQtf3SebdvEe02tNpzXJU_5QpU2MNXbSdBATNjmL_Lw5HieffImpEFYh3ogdFIZWgQ7i6Cq899mqjK0b8rcn8/?imgmax=800" width="433" height="433"></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">I so slowed down on all my projects in September due to my new full time job. Hoping 2012 allows more time for playing with my children, quilting, sewing, painting and scrapbooking – oh, and of course, blogging!</p> <p align="center">Out with the old…in with the new!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ELyFHrIzj8A/TwE2dBERwBI/AAAAAAAABVI/Lv652a-7HKs/s1600-h/Carrie%252520Signature%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Carrie Signature" border="0" alt="Carrie Signature" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sx-GHfBeVp0NqEcPb90BUmN_-zJp782UA8wMuPuCMT0UePKdvzSKZFdTPoPAsMdiIDXjaJ__fl_hIuSDdMapPERyw2QldjP4E6aWNTFE0f5nZD-I3j67CGWVIt7vT0iPL4uDL85SwIg/?imgmax=800" width="106" height="47"></a></p> cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-32087832033537815692011-12-24T06:02:00.000-05:002011-12-24T06:02:00.225-05:00Happy and Merry<p align="center">Wishing each and everyone one of you</p> <p align="center">a</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yr9DYEXpc9Q/TvUy1S97nSI/AAAAAAAABTI/0fhaFVpsjNM/s1600-h/Our%252520Christmas%252520Decorations_0001%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Our Christmas Decorations" border="0" alt="Our Christmas Decorations" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtIPJC-DkrCPy7B_V4VEu2X2Br68QRcFnbyBG6LKZdwRl-1iZdEshjIcBb7sYdlxOTqHs2byZBRV0CdIfF-4xu6YEw8HJM8rPL-KPpHVK81tOUCIBTEURCK5-5LGst2LsvsanEo9DWqI/?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240"></a> </p> <p align="center">very</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4xc48a8qqr4/TvUy2P4YyBI/AAAAAAAABTY/of2bF8n5Qdo/s1600-h/Decorating%252520the%252520Christmas%252520Tree%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Decorating the Christmas Tree" border="0" alt="Decorating the Christmas Tree" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LDfTwxtRR04/TvUy3IuQo6I/AAAAAAAABTg/1C96rllKUQM/Decorating%252520the%252520Christmas%252520Tree_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240"></a> </p> <p align="center">happy</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gLjySrO4iLQ/TvUy3SvCKsI/AAAAAAAABTo/vFDVT4S8D2k/s1600-h/Decorating%252520the%252520Christmas%252520Tree_0001%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Decorating the Christmas Tree" border="0" alt="Decorating the Christmas Tree" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRRDYLD_BtAhovYERUjRQJLcCJnJ0sS54lr9mv_9-BziObVWsYB_hc4skuphm9FPlgmxgs0casjF8e6TmBdPX10etJFirzG93uferp2R8h0wbmDKIhUSsSXen1592QPZGkzCWoPwGepo/?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240"></a> </p> <p align="center">and </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AZqpar55q2o/TvUy7M8HhnI/AAAAAAAABT4/29OjGE3V05A/s1600-h/dsc07783%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="dsc07783" border="0" alt="dsc07783" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ficnstdj04j9Ar6XirbqQanIXHRqF2EoBbTBleRl_gmil4L_Vlj7APd0fgZnrXArbkmd1QhQawWrxaki-6qScsEDRyvBCyk1gmbZxhmkfRpgk3ayJXcPObsbQWkOQrrkcRF0VSEo0po/?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240"></a> </p> <p align="center">merry</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rGpXH7C5gqI/TvUy9c1HFlI/AAAAAAAABUI/b7NnluqnonU/s1600-h/Our%252520Christmas%252520Decorations%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Our Christmas Decorations" border="0" alt="Our Christmas Decorations" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5npI9evVVaM/TvUzAAxd-jI/AAAAAAAABUQ/7KiR8f7OQV8/Our%252520Christmas%252520Decorations_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180"></a> </p> <p align="center">holiday</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aNN-eooNUts/TvUzATgi_5I/AAAAAAAABUY/0sZcin2uDkI/s1600-h/Our%252520Christmas%252520Decorations%252520bw%252520tree%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Our Christmas Decorations bw tree" border="0" alt="Our Christmas Decorations bw tree" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HeqvWLjj95k/TvUzAl1LJiI/AAAAAAAABUg/KwJbLgRLAcI/Our%252520Christmas%252520Decorations%252520bw%252520tree_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240"></a> </p> <p align="center">season.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UwPBaT0S_ls/TvUzCcUQgxI/AAAAAAAABUo/xH0fQ9_xD6U/s1600-h/Carrie%252520Signature%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Carrie Signature" border="0" alt="Carrie Signature" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OSs8vqMJryQ/TvUzC_yI2VI/AAAAAAAABUw/FELw6AxHA6c/Carrie%252520Signature_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="106" height="47"></a></p> cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714804325444613921.post-56627282660454261272011-12-08T21:16:00.000-05:002011-12-08T21:19:25.929-05:00Tips & Tricks ~ December 2011<p>Wow – when did it become December? About <em>eight</em> days ago silly (yup, that’s me answering my own question!) </p> <p>It’s time for the last LAST block for our Tips & Tricks sampler. You all have been so fantastic bearing with my tardiness these past few months. I am honored and humbled by all the emails of encouragement I’ve received since going back to work full time in October. Yup, I’m blessed. Super duper.</p> <p>Sew, I pulled out all of my blocks, my big and little ones. We have six 6-1/2” blocks and eleven 12-1/2” blocks. Naturally, my first question was, “what is missing? A color, block pattern, something to fill everything in just right.”</p> <p>zxdcvffdzaqwsdgg, qbkhwerty says my 3-1/2 year old son….he’s “helping” Mommie with this post.</p> <p>What I realized is that all of you are asking that question, too. Each of our quilts are going to be very different, so what I may need to complete my top, you may not need. The December block will fit this perfectly…..</p> <p> </p> <p>Drumroll please…..</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>The December block is…..</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>A Block of YOUR CHOICE! Yay! Yahoo! Yippee!</p> <p>Really, I am not just copping out here. I had this plan, and in order to fill in what your quilt top may need, and to personalize it even more, you get to choose what your last block will be.</p> <p>Here are my blocks:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rhc8cky1xOQ/TuFwJc4o4KI/AAAAAAAABSo/f_RoBNwyNdM/s1600-h/Tips%252520%252526%252520Tricks%252520December%2525202011%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Tips & Tricks December 2011" border="0" alt="Tips & Tricks December 2011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPk4StZE3k4yNCGVo2bOE4oIZXXqNDvfrLIBQdNXj1yafBBfmVJ44B6bP8ZC6L2c7yOBHb4H12M_cbfpOkg0h6b97x3Fz5ghHcj1Fdp_U2sCj8rQG11nB6SBYda78wwCKLN0oS8XFmPs/?imgmax=800" width="337" height="299"></a></p> <p>Right off I see I have only a smidge of red that shows predominately in one block . I need to use this color in this last block. I also see alot of medium blues, muted tones, and a good balance of darks. The light violet in the one block needs to be repeated somewhere, too.Another scrappy looking block would fit here nicely. Maybe one with some ample background.</p> <p>You’d think I’d had already made my December block to show you. Nope. Simply haven’t had time and I don't wish to rush the process. It’ll get done and then I will show you the top layout I’ve been brainstorming. See, I really am working right along with you. None of this “planning ahead” stuff for me!</p> <p>Also, trim your extra HSTs into 2-1/2” units. We’ll be using them in our final quilt top (of course, if you wish to use them in this 12th large block, go ahead!!!) We’ll be using 2-1/2” strips in our setting, too, so pull out some that fit into your color scheme. Don’t have exact measures yet. Just have some handy.</p> <p>Lastly, add a signature to your 6-1/2” siggie block we made a few months ago. Here’s a tip – yay! Using a warm iron with no steam, press the siggie block to the shiny side of freezer paper. Then write on the light part of your block. The freezer paper give the fabric stability so you can write a but easier.</p> <p>Lots to do, lots to do. I’ll get working on my December block – get working on yours! Can’t wait to see {hugs}.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3zJy1upEnAI/TuFwKSZFApI/AAAAAAAABS4/c5ipUvv19iQ/s1600-h/Carrie%252520Signature%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Carrie Signature" border="0" alt="Carrie Signature" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1a2Zo9iah2I/TuFwLFNF9rI/AAAAAAAABTA/k6DkW2pSMIk/Carrie%252520Signature_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="106" height="47"></a></p> cricketshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280638713368276100noreply@blogger.com0