Elvis the dog...

Here is a little commissioned pet quilt of a sweet dog named Elvis...He has gone on to doggie heaven and he is a gift for his owner, Mike....It is so strange when I do these, because there is always a point where it just isn't working and I want to throw it all away and say, "I cant do it, sorry"...then I walk away for a while, come back and start adding more shadows and highlights and it starts to work. This was the most extreme example...I actually fished poor little Elvis, the quilt out of the garbage twice. I got him as close to the real thing as I could and I think it is ok...What do you think... I haven't been around much due to some kind of nasty virus....Andrew and I both have spent a lot of quality time in bed with fevers...My sister Julie, (bless her heart) is a pinhead just like my daughter Lisa....here is a quote that made me laugh despite the fact that it hurt like crazy to laugh...."I would worry you had the swine flu, but you haven't eaten any pork"...so then I asked her how you got the bird flu...she said from eating chicken! Ok, Jessica Simpson...so now I give her updates on my "pork flu"....I have a ton to do today after being in bed for a week! Better get busy!

It is Finito!

I won't write too much, cause I have to get two little trolls in bed, but I got the big quilt done and even two pillowcases...And I like it again, I really like it! The kids do too, as you can see...Little Miss YaYa also had to have her picture in her apron..me holding it didn't do it justice...tonight they were playing so good and I went in the bedroom and there they were, in the toy box with toys everywhere..It looked like fun!

A lesson in Humility and new aprons.....

First of all, the humility part....Let's say you are a quilter and you think a pretty good one...Along comes this huge behemoth quilt that taunts you every day, laughing behind your back, snickering while you try to ignore it....The rule for this quilt is "if it can go wrong it is going too..." Finally I accepted that "it is what it is" and finished the thing. All I have to do is the binding and it is done. It is really pretty but boy is it a technical nightmare. If you came to my house, and you are any kind of a quilter...I would not show you this quilt...I have learned a lesson...Never try to put a quilt that is too big for the frame on a quilter...by too big, I mean it stretched all the way from end to end leaving nor room to do things like change bobbins....lesson learned..yep, humility...I was sure I could do it. In the "mommy and me swap Liv and I got the cutest aprons...I mentioned them a while back. I tried to pin down Miss Olivia to get a picture of us in them, but she is now a socialite and every moment is with her friends and of course, I wouldn't want to embarrass her!!!!So you get a picture of me holding Liv's and a picture of Cooper and Andrew and I...I am trying to get Coop out of the picture but he insisted...The aprons are the cutest things and totally reversible...They are a diamond shape with ribbon ties...so cute and I love the colors! She also sent liv a fairy necklace which she has never taken off, this adorable fairy cookbook and this cute card...I am always complaining about my curly hair so it is all just perfect! A big thank you to Cindy B from http://barker-family.blogspot.com

another quiltie.....

Julie and Steve and the baby left on Monday to go to Oregon...I have been pretty down the last few days..Trying to stay busy, but when I feel like this, I don't want to do too much..I still have been exercising a lot though..doing my two to three miles on the treadmill every day..Plus, we got a Wii fit for mothers day and I have been playing with that...my fit age is 33 and who can complain about that? I have lost twelve pounds since April...I can either diet and lose weight, or I can exercise and lose weight..I think I like to eat food too much to diet. Andrew eats once an hour all day long so it would be hard to limit myself, too much food wise...It is the stuff like getting dressed and combing my hair that are hard...I know things take time, especially the different stages of grieving so I guess it isn't going to hurt if I don't comb my hair...I did make another quiltie...I had a lop eared bunny that looked just like this when I was a kid..I kind of miss all the bunnies on Whidbey Island....

Art quilties....

What is a quiltie? It is a six" x 8" mini quilt with stuff on it....I was asked to join a new group for art quilts by Sanna http://sannasartmind.blogspot.com ...we are still looking for a few more people if anyone wants to give it a go...You pick a theme for people to work with and you swap with one person a month...It is an easy size to work with and at the end, you have these gorgeous fabric pieces to put together in a book or frame or whatever you choose. I am in the midst of a funk and that quilt (you know the one) is staring at me and I am choosing to ignore it...I decided to make little quilties...Just needed a change I guess...They are both radically different as you can see...The first one is my roller alien chick...Yep, that was a theme....aliens, circus, monsters etc.....the second one was vintage with purple on it somewhere. I just try to see how much stuff I can fit on one and move it around till' it looks right. I may make another tomorrow....

A good time to blog....

Julie and Steve took the kids to a park to play and I am enjoying some quiet time...I almost dont know what to do with myself! I have Julie's big quilt on the quilter and it is a nightmare! I go down and work on it for a while and then I get mad and quit. I decided to come blog instead...the problem is that it is too big for the quilter and it makes it hard to change bobbins or do anything...the quilt goes edge to edge to both sides of the frame. It is driving me nuts. I will say right now on the record that it is a hot mess....it will not be entering any quilt shows in the future...There are wrinkles and puckers and all kinds of wonkus things happening. The good news? Julie loves it! She keeps coming down and telling me how great it looks. I just smile thru gritted teeth. I learned a good trick from a really experienced quilter when I just started...she said" if it bunches up, just quilt the heck out of it." AMEN to that one. In fact, after it is off the quilter, I am going to put it under the regular sewing machine and do just that along the sides...So far I have used six full bobbins and it still isnt nearly done! The other day, I met a blogger friend when she brought over our aprons from the mommy and me apron swap! They are just adorable...I am hoping to get a picture of us in them tomorrow....I am posting a picture of a MOM" banner I made her to include with her aprons...I also sent her some chocolates and a little cookbook.....back to the quilt from hell....

Aprons for mommy and me swap done....

I used a halter pattern by Heather Bailey for the mommy, and for the six year old girl, I made my own pattern..I think they turned out pretty cute and I thought the colors would be nice for springtime...My models are Miss Olivia and my sister, Julie...She was feeling all shy, but I think she is adorable! The exciting thing is that I am meeting my partner here tomorrow to swap packages! I have never met another blogger before....It is actually my partners sister, but they both live in Utah too.. she is being an an Apron Angel and doing the aprons for my swap partner as her husband just had surgery and all didn't go as planned...I hope her package cheers her up!

two blog friends having giveaways!

Jean the quilting granny is having one for Mothers Day is having one for two pieces of silver jewelry that I am shamelessly promoting because first and formost, we are friends, and secondly, I would love to win one of these lovelies! you can find her at http://quiltingranny.blogspot.com go enter too and tell her Melinda sent you....
Also Jenna Louise at http://quiltcrazygaljennalouise.blogspot.com is having a giveaway to celebrate her blogaversary..She is a great fiber artist and quilter and has a pretty piece of art to give to some lucky person.

Wallhanging done.....

I purchased this as a kit three years ago at Sew Expo in Puyallup Washington....I finished it and gave it to Julie for her kitchen...It matches so great with all her Autumn colors up there. It felt good to finally get it done! Oh yeah, the quilt is straight, the photographer is crooked!