Discombrugleated

My baby doesn't need me anymore. He's so unlike his older brother in many ways but in this way, they are WAY different. When he turned a year old, I lamented how different he already was from his brother. ( http://mamacitalujan.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-baby-is-1.html) My baby weaned himself at 16 months by one day shaking his head and refusing to nurse. He never nursed again. I was not prepared. I mourned. It was awful for me. He sucks his fingers. And has a favorite blanket. And sleeps in his own bed. His older brother had me... and my bed. And was forced to wean at 2 1/2 years old and it was awful for both of us. We mourned. We cried. We went through it together. I didn't know what I was wishing for when I wished for this: http://mamacitalujan.blogspot.com/2007/11/1-year-ago-now.html.

Okay, enough lamenting. Here is my baby, 4 1/2 years old, still not needing his mommy. He's in preschool now, 3 days a week and he loves it! He's such a character, check him out on his first day of school:
He could NOT stop laughing! We're talking belly laugh here people!

And what's really funny, is he was cracking himself up! I was trying to get a good picture here and the more I wanted him to "smile nicely for moma" he did this:Until I finally went to sport mode and got this out of him:

While the smile is what I wanted, looking back at these pictures, the crack up ones are my boy! They are HIM! And oh, how I lovew him and really don't want him to change... at all.

So, why the Discombrugleated post title? That is how I feel. I'm in an weird space mentally and emotionally. While he's not in school full time, he'd like to be. He's never ready to leave when I pick him up, looks forward to going to school each morning and is sad when it's not a school day.

When I was canning up a storm, I welcomed the break to get things done. Well, I'm done canning for the year.

My parents are in South America and I miss them terribly.

I don't have a quilt going. I want my sewing room so I can have a place that is "my space."

I miss having my baby around bugging me.

The chickens are fine. The garden is done and the chickens are enjoying gleaning it.

I miss my parents.

Fall is here and I want to get quilting. I need to get quilting!

Thankfully, Bible Study has begun and that is helping a great deal with me centering in on Jesus.

I'm fine. Really, I am. I just feel a little out of sorts and need to work the bugs out.

Sewing for Babyshower Gifts!

One of my long-time friends is expecting her first baby this June. I really wanted to make her something and after thinking and thinking, I decided on this for her...

Nursing Cover with pocket:

Burper with fringe (with batting in the middle):
Burper without fringe: I had a lot of fun making these!

Walking Foot Adventure

Having been frugal, I have to say it did not improve once I took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.... that being said, here is my adventure in trying to find the best deal on a walking foot for "my" sewing machine. (It's actually my Mom's.)

I've gotten along without a walking foot making smaller quilts with no binding but have been told by many that it won't be so hard if I just got a walking foot... so, with the recent quilt I just completed, I really needed one to do the binding.

A certain store carried a "Universal" walking foot that should work on most sewing machines for $14.99. I already knew that others have paid $70-$100 on their walking foot so I was bound and determined NOT to pay that price.

"Universal" foot bought and hmmmmm, the screw that I had was too short and needed about 1/8" longer to catch the threads to hold the foot in place. After calling my Dad, I set out for the hardware store to buy a longer screw.

With original screw and machine in tow, young son and I headed out. With assistance from salesman, I purchased two screws for a whopping .29, thanking the salesman and bragging about how much money he just saved me!!! Having now spent $15.29 for my walking foot, young son and I went out to the car to put it all together to make sure it worked...

Hmmmm, walking foot does not reach sewing plate area - not by a long shot. Hmmmm. Still, bound and determined NOT to pay bucho bucks, we set off to next town over to the Viking Sewing Machine Shop. With touch feely 3 year old hands on thousand dollar machines, I did hope this stop would not take long.

After trying several walking feet, I was told, "NO GO!" They would need to order me one because my machine was just too old. I asked if he had a longer shank for the machine so it would make the walking foot I had longer... No. I asked for any other options... none.

Defeated, I limped back to rig with young son in tow. I barely made it to the car before I burst into tears... even though I had a crisp one hundred dollar bill in my wallet, I did NOT want to spend it on a walking foot.

Young son consoles mommy and begs her not to be sad and that he'll buy me lunch if I stop crying.

We meet up with my mom and I whine and lament to her so she says similar thing as young son... "I'll buy you lunch." So, eat we did!

Phone call from Machine Shop - they can order my a walking foot for $105 and it will take 10 days before it's here. Not what I wanted to hear.

Phone call to Viking Machine Shop in big city 30 miles away... yes, they know what I'm talking about... yes, they know the universal walking foot won't work... yes, they understand I don't want to spend bucko bucks.... yes, they have the walking foot I need in stock -last one in stock, actually... yes, they'll hold it for me on the off chance that someone comes in between phone call and drive to big city.... yes, that will be $99.99 plus tax.

Drive to big city with young son and mother in tow.

Meet Ed the Tech. He showed me how to put it on, told me about which needles I should NEVER use on my machine, and taught me that my "C" foot is also a screwdriver that fits all Viking screws. Hmmm. Good to know! Also learned he lives in a small town near me and gave me his card for any "future needs!"

Moral of the story? Sometimes you just have to suck it up and pay bucko bucks because Swiss things just cost a lot.

Couch Quilt!

Fall Couch Quilt by Country Treasures is complete! I have to say, I am in love!!!
I used an assortment of fabric for this one, mainly Benatrex fabric. Pieces from the "12 Days of Christmas," "Love Is," Tried & True," and one really awesome Batik fabric in gold!

Here is a view of the back, top and binding:

Back quilting detail: the quilting pattern is Chantilly Lace and was done by my cousin in Colorado on his long arm! He used Sulky Autumn thread and it is everything I wanted.

Top detail - isn't it just gorgeous?!?!

Here I am, posing with my new quilt.

Sewing and Quilting!

I know pictures are needed but until I actually move them from the camera to my computer, here is what I have been doing!
~ Making pillow cases! I love it! I can start to finish a case in 30 minutes. There are days I just need to start and finish something and be able to look at it the next day, next week, next month... unlike supper which I never see again (HOPEFULLY!)
~ Quilting! I will have pictures soon of my first larger than twin quilt! It has turned out wonderfully and after the binding is on, I will take and post pictures. Promise.

I have also finished two more tops and am ready to ship them off to my cousin to quilt them in Colorado. Those are more twin size and are for my two younger sons.

What's next on the sewing table? quilts, hair wraps and coffee cozy cuffs are up and coming... as well as possibly some pot holders.

Thanks to Toy Story 3, I have hours of unlimited time to sit at the machine as Jav can't watch it enough... he needs it for his birthday, for sure because my free weekly codes from Redbox don't come often enough!!!

Early Christmas Present!!!

I am one happy gal! My girlfriend and I exchanged gifts last night and she gave me the most perfect gift! You see, she is the one who started me on this passion.

The inscription is perfect, too, showing our true friendship,
" Joy ~ Now you have an answer to ALL your questions! Merry Christmas, A."

I got home a little late last night and as quickly as I could without be overly rude to DH, i climbed in to bed with warm rice pillow and carafe of tea and read the first two chapters through!

Can't wait to read more and then put it to the test on my machine!

There are several things for quilting I want/need that are on my Christmas list... I've bought myself a couple of them already to help DH out but I'm hoping the most exciting one I get from him is a quilting retreat/workshop in McCall at Quaker Hill in March! I'll let him combine it with my birthday present for ONCE. I'm that nice of a gal.

My machine is humming along with Christmas gifts! I have 9/14 completed! WHOO HOO!

Quilt is Quilted!

Our first granddaughter is due in December, perhaps on her Nana's birthday; which would be the 20th or her Grandma's; which is the 19th! Our son, Reggie, is the new Daddy and we're all getting excited for Marlee's arrival.

We had a church shower for them this past Saturday and here are pictures of the quilt that I made. It's the first one that I actually quilted and it was so rewarding to finish it! Thanks to a good friend, I was able to get it done before their shower... YAY!

Quilt Top:

Quilt after it the three layers were basted... until I learned I had done it wrong and my good friend assisted me in making it easier to do!


Reggie and Porscha opening quilt - I think it was a surprise!

Here I am holding my completed quilt. It is folded in half...

I have fabric purchased for next one but I will wait until after Christmas to begin it. Until Christmas I have a few other projects I am working on... rice pillows to be exact.

Next on my list is to complete our December calendar. That is another thing I learned from "Unplug the Christmas Machine." I try and get all the activities and things we're doing the whole month so that there's not the big build-up to Christmas and then it's over in one day. It worked real well last year and I'm hopeful it will do the trick this year, too!

It's such a relief to be done shopping so I can focus and my family and minstering to others this month.

Fall Life

School started and fall has arrived in all its glory of gorgeous leaves, crisp cool weather and harvest! This means canning and prepping for winter!

One of the things I've wanted to learn how to do for years is sew. This past June my friend took the challenge and has been working with me ever since! I am even enrolled in a beginners quilting class!

Here is the first (and only so far) quilt I have done. It is tied, not quilted...

Front of the rail fence quilt:

Back of quilt. I used a real nice big fleece to make it cozy warm:

Back and Front to see colors...

I made this for Sky's 13th birthday. I am very pleased with my first attempt but am truly looking forward to all the cool things I will learn in my class. I learned many things NOT to do with this one and that's okay! She loves it and so do I.

Other projects I'm working on: aprons, class quilt and several dream quilts are in the making! Add canning, apple butter plans and life with kids and you can see why I haven't been on here much!

Enjoy fall - I know I am!