I have a problem . . .

I'm MESSY!

But the first step is to admit it, right?

Now, I don't mean messy like leave the bed unmade (which I do . . . A LOT!), but I mean messy like I don't like to throw things away in case I need them in the future. Seriously, I found pieces of batting less than an inch square. BATTING!!

Now this is a problem because S is a CLEAN FREAK! It stresses him out to live in clutter . . . and seeing him stressed out means I'm stressed out. So, before Alison was born, I decided to de-clutter. This still isn't done, but I'm close!

This week, I decided to work on the guest room/craft room. And, boy, do I have a situation.

The good news is this pile is gone.

The bad news is this pile is still in progress!

(PS: the cat, correctly named Ralph, gets stressed out by piles. So I've had additional cleaning today!)

My process is to pull EVERYTHING out into another room (in this case, the dining room) and then go through making piles and lists.

Here are my lists (on the door).

Here are my pile markers (for my book problem only, they had to be done separately!)

I have everything separated out, 5 bags of trash and 3 bags of charity/Half Price Books. Now I'm just working on finding room for everything. As this is a guest room first and foremost, there is limited space. So, I'm culling ruthlessly (yes, I have cried. No, I haven't gone back through the trash . . . yet!). So, until I knock a few projects out and get some more space, no more starting projects (A HUGE difficulty! I'm a starter, not a finisher!) and no more buying random fabric! Please keep me honest!!!!

I know this isn't a flattering picture of me, but if I can't be real here, where can I be real? So this is what I'm working on . . . should be done in a few days. I have a trip to the Container Store on schedule for this week. Hopefully it will get done without too many more tears!

See ya on the other side!

Finally! A Finish!

So, here is a finish for you!

I made this sweet quilt for Mr. Alex (a new baby of a VERY good friend of ours!) Man! It seem like a baby boom around here!

I got the pattern from Moda Bake Shop . . . courtesy of V and Co! I love both of these sites! So much inspiration! :)

Mr. Alex's parents decided he would be a surprise, so I needed a gender-neutral quilt for him . . . and this one was PERFECT!!! (pre-approved by Mama, of course!)

The front is exactly like the pattern; the fabric is Make Life by Sweetwater, but the back is a fabric from Ikea! Super fun animals!!!! Instead of doing a straight quilting, I "Machine Tie" quilted it, by quilting polka-dots all over it (the red dots you see in the above picture). I got the idea from my SIL, who did it on the quilt she made for A. It keeps the quilt soft and floppy, and is REALLY fast and easy!

I love this family & I'm so happy for them!

Now, a little sneak-peak of my next project. The Dallas Modern Quilt Guild is having an Earth Day Challenge, and our pieces are due May 12.

I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew!!!

See Ya!

Worst Sister-In-Law EVER!

That's ME!!! :(

I feel awful! My last post was about the quilts that were given to A . . . and I forgot about the one given to her by her Aunt Beth!

It's AWESOME! The reason I forgot it (reason, not excuse. There are NO EXCUSES for this!) is that it is not kept with the others. All of her blankets/quilts are kept in her room, except this one because we work on our tummy time with it EVERY day! So it's hidden in the living room until we need it.

Sorry Aunt Beth . . . We LOVE our quilt!

See ya!

A's Quilts

So . . . I'm still working on showing you my own finishes, so I'll show you some of the lovely quilts that have been given to little A.

As many of you know, I learned to quilt from my grandmother, and I love to quilt because I love quilts (so, not the process, but the finished product!). To me, they mean home and comfort . . . and I hope A feels the same way. Since I do make quilts, I understand all the love and hard work that goes into making them, and I truly love and appreciate ALL the handmade gifts given to A. We received 3 handmade quilts, 4 crocheted/knitted blankets, and 2 sewn receiving blankets (along with a TON of fuzzy blankets from stores). Since this is primarily a quilt blog, I'll show you those, but we love and use ALL of them. Little A will NEVER be cold!!! :)

This one is the most special to me . . . it was made by my grandmother.

I'm tearing up right now writing this . . . but it means the world to me that A has her own quilt from NannyPud. It will always be loved and used!

This sweet one was made by the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild officers for her! It has Beatrix Potter prints, which we love! (We have all the baby books and have been telling A all about Peter Rabbit!)

This bright, happy one was made by a sweet lady at our church. I was shocked during the shower they threw me to open up this amazing quilt.

Again, it means SO MUCH to us that people love her enough to spend so much time and love before they met her. I hope as she grows up, she will remember and appreciate all the amazing people who love her, like we do.

See ya!

WOW!

It has been 3 months since I last posted! CRAZY!!!

It has been a very busy 3 months! S was promoted, so I am now able to stay at home with little A!

Speaking of . . . on February 9, at 3:31PM, Alison Grace Lamb was born!

She was 6 lbs, 5 oz and 19.25 inches! She is healthy, happy, and growing like a weed!

Last week, at her 2 month check up, she was 11 lbs, 14 oz and 22 inches. It's amazing how much she has changed in the past 2 months. She LOVES to be outside with Daddy, and she's talking up a storm (just like Mommy!!!)

We have been settling into a routine, and (knock on wood) we have one pretty much established. She's pretty structured with her sleeping/hissy fits, but she's a VERY happy baby and it is SO MUCH FUN to be home with her (she just won't let me take a picture of a smile!!!)!

Tonight is the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild Meeting (at Bernina of Dallas) and Alison is SUPER excited to meet all the lovely ladies (and sweet babies)!

I do have a few sewing finishes to show you, but I will wait a few days before I do. I don't want to overwhelm you with pictures!

See ya!

Pay it Forward!

Well, I've let something SLIP throught THE CRACKS!!!!! Big-Time! I know, you're so disappointed in me!

So, back in October 2009 (yes, 14 months ago!) I decided to play the Pay it Forward Game with Beth. Last week, I received my gift from her . . . but I have YET to do gifts for others!

I actually didn't have anyone sign up, so let's try this again!

Rules:

1)You must have a blog! (Sorry, I don't make the rules)!

2)You must comment on this post stating that you want to play (please leave a way for me to contact you, either through your blog or by email)

*This is for the first 3 commenters.

3)If you are one of the 3 lucky ones . . . I will make you a little something and send it to you! I believe I techincally have a year to do this, but since I am so far behind, I will try and get it out REALLY soon!

4)You will put up something on your blog with these rules, and send a little handmade something to the first 3 commenters on your post in the next year. Then they will do the same and the cycle continues!

It's like those crazy chain letters from high school (send this to 14 people or you will never be loved!), but I think getting crafty things in the mail will be WAY better, don't you?!?!

Please help me out!!!!

Here is what Beth sent me, a GORGEOUS bag (I've already started to carry it everywhere!)! Included were some cute oragami wreaths, some Best Press (yea!) and AWESOME candy (which I promptly scarfed down. Hey, I'm pregnant . . . I have an excuse!)

I LOVE them!!! :)

I hope you want to play!

See ya!

PS - there is a button, but I don't know how to do buttons yet, so you can grab it off of Beth's post! Just don't ask me how to do it! :)

Happy New Year!

I know, I know. It has been a long (long, long, long, long) time since I last posted anything! I was totally unprepared for pregnancy!

We have been blessed to have a relatively easy pregnancy, compared to what some of my friends have gone through, but there is a LOT that no one tells you about!

Just to get you caught up, we are still due February 7, and we are having a little girl, Alison Grace! Now, I have been doing a lot of crafting for her (well, a lot for me anyway), but I'm still better at starting things than at finishing things, so there's not much to show for it yet. Over the next few weeks, though, I hope to show you some of the amazing things others have made for us and the wonderful nursery that S has put together! I'm sure things will fall into place in the next 5 weeks (ack!) Right?

Anyway, I do have 2 New Year's Resolutions . . . to eat healthier and to be more organized. (I think these two things are going to come with the territory this year, so they should be easy to keep, right?) Maybe the blog will help me be organized with my crafty stuff!

See ya soon!

PS: I got a new present for Christmas . . . expect my pictures to be MUCH better this year!