Rippling Stripes

Ahhh... I love that feeling of accomplishment. I have just finished up the  baby afghan I started last week for a friend of mine's baby shower that will take place this next Saturday. This is to be her third little boy and I really struggled with coming up with just the right thing for her. After three other attempts I am satisfied that this is just perfect and that she will love it.

In the Post

There was much excitement today when the postman arrived with a parcel from Australia. All four kiddos crowded around to see what could be in this bundle.

I have really enjoyed doing the Stitcher's Angel swap and the added ellement of doing "secret" e-mails with our partners. It has been so fun getting to know not only the individual I am sending to but also the one who has sent these wonderful treasures. I feel like the luckiest woman in this swap, this bag and journal are fabulous and the colors perfect. I love Fig Tree fabrics....there has never been on that I did not like. My partner has promised another installment in the future at which time I am sure I will learn her identity and I can't wait. I look  forward to the opportunity to give her a personal "Thank You". She has been a gem.

Poochie Obsession

Think I am starting to have a bit of an obsession with Happy Zombie's Poochie tote. I put together another one the other day and love the colors. It will be a gift for someone but my head keeps thinking of others I should make one for. I did change it up a tad by adding batting to it.

Did I mention that I LOVE these fabrics. From the moment they came out last year I knew I just had to have some. I have some tucked away for a quilt that I plan to make after the holidays.

Kitties for Kate

The daughter of my good friend Misty is turning 7 in a few days. She absolutely loves cats and so I think she will love this pillowcase.

For Baby Boy #3

A friend of mine is expecting her 3rd little boy in two months and after several attempts at finding just the right gift to make, I think I have. She put a striped blanket on her gift registery at Target and I took inspiration from it to start this blanket/afghan. Now I am just hopeful to have it done in time for the shower on Sat.

Just a look at a couple things I completed this week. The star burst baby afghan is from a kit I ordered from Mary Maxim and was really quick to crochet.
The tote is a new free tutorial from Happy Zombie. I did add in the stichery on the pocket from May Britt's design for the Stitchers Angel Swap. Love the way it turned out.
In addition to these I was able to finish up half of the kitchen cabinets. Now I just have to get the other half .

Book Worm

Tuesday my friend Jessica handed me the newest Suzanne Collins' book, Catching Fire. I promised myself I would not open it's cover until after I completed a couple of projects. I knew that if it was as good as Hunger Games I would not put the darn book down until I had it finished and such was the case today. As soon as I returned home this morning from step arobics I cracked the cover and the house has fallen apart around me as the kiddos ran amuck. This new book was just a good as the first and I don't think I can hold out for as long as it will take Suzanne Collins to write the third book which is due out sometime in 2010. These are no a type of book I would have origanally have select to read but Jessica had raved about it after reading the first and it was on the list for our book club a few months out. So I broke down and read it last spring and am totally hooked. I am not one for buying books as I only read them once (already know what happens and so the suspense is no longer there) but I am so tempted to purchase these two. I am sure the boys would like them once they are a tad older.
I did manage to complete those projects and will share those later this weekend.

Quick Gifts

Thursday was a pretty productive day. I received an invitation to a baby shower in the post on Wednesday for a shower on friday night. Feeling a slight twinge of panic at the late notice I hunted through my fabric stash. I had made this same outfit for a friend a little over a year ago for her little girl and had just enough fabric remaining to put together another for this shower. I love this pattern as it is so cute and super quick to put together when you need something in a hurray. The new mom to be was very pleased with it. In addition to that Ivy had been invited to a party for a little friend from church and needed a gift. Another quick gift idea is the crayola roll. With the remaning fabric I was able to make a little purse to go with it. What little girl does not like a purse, and it is even better when there is something in it. I might get hooked on this pattern from Bitty Bits and Pieces for Moda Bakeshop. A quick fun project to put together. I do plan to do an applique on the front, just not the one Kim used in her tutorial. When complete it will go along with other items in the Angel Swap. I hope your week left you feeling productive as well. If not, I am still working on repainting my kitchen cabinates and would love some help. Almost half way through with that project. Had I known what a big undertaking it would be I might have waited for my husband to return...it will get done though and he will return to a "new" house. New in that almost all the walls have been repainted, new carpet and tile put in and now the kitchen.

Summertime Mini Quilt

Finally got the top of the quilt done for the Summertime Mini Quilt Swap. Hope to have it quilted on Tuesday and ready for the post on Wednesday. The colors are not a very summery color but the name of the fabric to me was perfect for summer, Dandelion Girl by Joanna Figueroa. This particular line is a couple of years pass but I had a bunch on hand and decided to use some for this swap. I have yet to find a group of fabric by Joanna Figueroa that I do not like. I also find the pinwheel design to have a summery feel to it as well and so I choose that design for the quilt.

New Carpet

After seven years of waiting we have finally been able to put in new carpet in our living room and hallway. What a difference! It's like having a new house. This photo is the best representation of the color however the hallway was not do at this point.