New Header for a New Year

Hi everyone!  Wow, can you believe it's a new year?  Time just seems to get away from me.  I know I keep having to apologize for not posting.  I really do have intentions to post and then when I get to the computer, I forget or something comes up that I have to do.  One of the things that I have been wanting to do is to learn how to edit my pics.  I've seen so many blogs that have nice collages, etc and I don't have any software to edit my pics.  I have a Macbook and with iPhoto, there really wasn't anything to do this with.  So tonight I checked out Picassa to edit and was playing around a bit to figure it out.  I made a collage of some WIP blocks and while it isn't the best, I thought I'd try it out.  What photo editing software do you all use?  

Also, I see so many graphics on sidebars and wonder where you all get them.  I would love to make my blog enjoyable and also use it as a journal/notebook of my projects.  Maybe have a WIP list on the side, some pics of my completed projects.  So any tips you all can give me will be appreciated.  

We went home to TN for Christmas this year.  It was a nice visit, even if the drive is so long.  It takes around 15 hours to get there.  The boys had a good Christmas and loved being with their Grandparents.  Doug surprised me with an Accuquilt Go Cutter!  Now I get to play around with it.  We've only been back home since Sunday, so I've had to deal with laundry, but I did play around with the circle die cutter  and tried it out on wool.  It cuts the wool pretty good.  I just wish they would have circles in between 1" and 2", as I would prefer those sizes for penny rugs.  I will have to work on taking pics and posting in a few day.  I'm paying for the trip and over doing things with a fibromyalgia flare up right now.  Maybe I'll work on my list of things to do in 2011.  

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Dreaming of Houston Festival

Oh, how I wish I could be in Houston for the Quilt Festival.  I was lucky enough to attend about 5 or 6 years ago and it was wonderful!  So I've been surfing blogs to see any glimpse pics of Market and now Festival.  Now I'm anxious for shops to start receiving the new things.  I've called a couple of my LQS's today to see if they have the new book by Blackbird Designs.   They have a new book out called Garden Club.  The Country Sampler has some pics of a few of the projects in the book and I want it now!!  Yes, I'm always impatient when it comes to the Blackbird Gals.  Also, Congratulations to Barb and Alma, for winning the Best Booth Award this year.  They do some amazing things!

I have had my follow up appt from my appendectomy and got the green light to do normal things again.  However, Brett was out of school one day sick.  Then I came down with a bad stomach bug.  I was feeling a bit better, but tonight, it feels like I'm trying to take a back set of it.  Either way, while I've had to take it easy, I've been working on Doug's Cardigan Sweater.  Today, I completed the back of the sweater and am really pleased with myself to get this far.  Now tomorrow, I'll CO for the front.

I can't believe it is November!  Time is going by so fast now, it's scary.  Here is what Thomas and I walked to school the other morning to.

You should have heard all of the noise as we walked out the door.  All of these birds were in a couple of trees, as we were half way to school, they all took off.  It made me think of the movie 'The Birds'.  Pretty cool to see though.

Tummy Ache and Hospital

Hi Gang,

It's been an interesting weekend.  I had a tummy ache on Friday and Saturday, so I laid around in bed.  At midnight Saturday night, I couldn't get comfortable at all.  From about 12:30 am Sunday morning til about 5:30 am, I was in constant pain and woke Doug up.  We ended up going to the emergency room and I wound up in surgery for an appendectomy.  I just got home today, as they kept me overnight, due to already having an infection from it.  It hadn't burst yet, but they said within another 24 hours, it would have.  So I'll be resting up this week.  I'm not aloud to lift anything or bend, squat, etc.  I have to take it easy and do a little walking each day.  I just took a pain pill, so think I'll drift off to la la land for a bit.

Happy Quilting

More Stash

After we left Germany, we took a detour to TN to visit family for a couple of weeks.  Of course, I had to hit the shops there.  I had to go to Double Cross (cross stitching shop), but found out that they have sold the shop.  Not to worry though, the new owner has put the cross stitching in her Antique Shop, 3 Sisters.  So I can go look at cross stitch and check out some wonderful antiques at the same time.  The owner was working on a needle punch project by Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle & Thread.  So I had to buy it, as well as another one that I have had my eye on.  She was working on the Boo-tiful Bouquet and it was gorgeous!  The Feather Your Nest pattern has caught my eye for awhile, so I thought I'd get it.  Now I haven't done much in the way of punch needle, but when you check out Brenda's designs it will make you want to learn.

Another one of my favorites is Stacy Nash.  I love her primitive and simple style.  She has lots of cross stitch patterns to make necessaries, and pin cushions.  I found a few more of hers that I didn't have.

My Mom and I took a day to shop together.  I took her to the cross stitch shop, as I knew she would love to check out the antiques.  Then we hit a couple of yarn shops.  I was showing her the newest Namaste Bag and she surprised me with buying it for me.  Gotta love those Mom's.  This is the Monroe.  I also bought a skein of yummy Malabrigo Sock Yarn.

I also bought some quilt books and charm packs in TN.  Then we left for Kansas and I added more quilt books and charm packs, and other things.  Here in Wichita, I have a nice cross stitch shop.  It's been a long time since I've lived in an area with a cross stitch shop around.  So this is exciting for me.  Heart's Desire is a wonderful shop and the ladies are really nice there.  Their walls are covered in stitched models and that makes you want to buy more.  I added more to my stitching stash there.

There are 4 quilt shops in Wichita, as well, as one in Derby.  Derby is just 15 minutes down the road.  So I have loads of quilt shops now.  After being in Germany for 4 years and not having any quilt shops around, this is wonderful!!!!  Not so much good for the ole' budget, but Doug knew that I would go a little crazy when we moved back to the States.

As you can see, I have lots to do now.  Not that I didn't have a thing to work with before.  But it's so much fun shopping in person again.

Kansas Shop Hop

Hi Everyone!  I've been MIA for a bit now with the move, but we are in Kansas and in the house.  We spent a month in billeting (on base) and after about 3 weeks to a month in the house, we finally got our final shipment on Tuesday.  That shipment was the things we had in storage from California.  There wasn't much that we couldn't do without in that shipment, except for my washer/dryer and the microwave.  I forgot what it was like to have to go to a laundromat, so I was getting very excited for this shipment to arrive.  Doug says that I've got to be the only woman to get excited over a washer and dryer.  LOL

We've got the boxes unpacked, but my sewing room still needs to be worked on.  I say sewing room, but it's in the unfinished basement.  There is lots of room though.  I still need to pull the sewing machine out and get it set up,  plus put a design wall up.

We got here in plenty of time for me to do the Central Kansas Quilt Shop Hop.  I took all 3 days to go to all 10 quilt shops.  After putting over 400 miles on my car and putting my Droid 2 to good use, I made it to all 10 shops.  I, also, found a couple of yarn shops along the way too.

Here is my stash for that 3 day weekend spree.  I was on the lookout for more Schnibbles patterns by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. plus Maggie Bonanomi's latest book Comfort Zone.  I picked up some layer cakes and some fabrics to go with the charm packs that I had bought before.  Those will go to make some Schnibbles patterns.  I also lucked up at one of the shops.  They had just received Jo Morton's latest fabric line, Annandale,  a couple of days before the Shop Hop.  They didn't have any bundles, so I just picked out fat quarters from what they had cut up already.  I love this line!   Can't wait to get back to my sewing room and start cutting into these fabrics.

I meant to post before now, but have been dealing with more fibromyalgia flare ups since our move here.    I have a dr's appt set up for next week to see if I need to change my meds.  I'm hoping we can get it figured out why I'm having more flare ups now and having more pain in general.  After doing the shop hop for 3 days, I was down all of last week.  There is a Yarn Shop Hop coming up at the end of the month, and I'm trying to decide if I want to tackle it or not, after seeing how the quilt shop hop took it out of me.

I have more things to share of my shopping experiences since being back in the States, but I'll save that for another post.  It's good to be back in the blogging world again.

Transition time

Hi everyone,  I know it's been awhile since I've blogged.   Blogging has been put on the back burner since we are moving.  We are in transition now and have left Germany.  Right now we are visiting family in TN, where it is very hot and humid!  Eek!  We've been here a week already and I'm still jet lagged.  Getting things done and the house cleaned, then turned back over to housing....the flight back to the States and having to sit at the airport for 4 hours after our flight waiting on our pets.  Then the drive from Atlanta to TN, has worn me out!  We leave on Sunday for the drive to Kansas, so not sure how long after that it will be before we have internet, or a house.  I'm sure I'll go into withdrawals with not internet, but hopefully, things will go smoothly and quickly.

I'm so ready to get back to my projects and can't wait for my sewing machine and stash to arrive.  It feels like it has been so long since I've done anything crafty and it's calling to me now.  I have done a little shopping here in TN.  Got some quilt books and some Moda charm packs.  I will have to take a pic of my new stash and post soon.  I've been looking for some more of the Schnibbles patterns here, but haven't had much luck...Maybe in Kansas.  I'll be back to blogging once we are settled.  Hope you all will join in with me again then.

We're off to Kansas!

I know I have been a bad blogger lately.  With a move coming up and time not slowing down, I've been otherwise, occupied.  We finally found out this morning where we are going to be moving to.  We will be moving to McConnell AFB, Kansas.  It is near Wichita, Kansas.  I haven't found out much about the base or the area yet, so if anyone lives near there, let me know.  I'm hoping for some quilting, stitching, rug hooking and knitting shops in the area.  You know, I don't need much, just those important places.  LOL  Like I don't have a shop with all of my stash, already.  But you know, it's nice to have shops to go to for inspiration.

School has only 7 more weeks to go here.   My oldest, Brett, has a band concert tomorrow night.  We just got the dog and cat fixed, and the dog has to go back to get his stitches out.  I just found out that my youngest, Thomas, needs another shot (haven't told him this yet).  He's a trooper though, with shots.  It seems like life is catching up to me at the moment without the move in the midst.

I'm, anxiously, awaiting for new things to come out at market.  I just saw Blackbird Designs new book, Country Inn,  for pre-order.  I have to have it and I've been waiting to see pics.  I can't wait to see what all of the other designers have coming out for us.  Like I need new projects.  Since I will be getting things ready for packing/moving, I'll have to live through you all for awhile.  I have the new Schnibbles book coming to me and can't wait for it to arrive.  I just got in some charm sets for some projects from the book.  Not sure I'll get to work on them before moving, but it's fun to dream about them.

I'm off to see if I can find out anything about Kansas, until next time, Happy Stitching, Quilting, Rug Hooking, and Knitting!