Time to Decide

Well as it seems to happen every year I am behind on my scheduled sewing projects.  I find it a bit hard to make space to feed the family, bake Christmas goodies and sew all on the same table.  I have been making fudge and neglecting the sewing.  I had intended to have Christmas pj's sewn for all of us, but it just isn't going to happen.  I don't like to have unfinished projects but at some point I have to tell myself that I am still human. " My magic wand is out of batteries" as my mother in law would say.  I was also going to have crayon rolls for the 3 kids and only 1 is done, well mostly, I still have to sew a button on it, I can hope I remember to do that.  Of course I also need a few shirts for myself and haven't done that either.  We bought another trailer to attach to this one, so eventually I will have a sewing room again.  Its small but it is better than the table, at least I don't have to worry about spilled juice on fabric.  But getting them mated together has been a project, with the temps down below zero and my hubby and my dad sick, things have been put on hold.  I am also cooking Christmas dinner for the family, which of course its wonderful to be near again but it will be quite the crowd.  I hate to use anything store bought, i always make my own pies and crust and rolls and breakfast foods etc... but I have also come down with this cold and am feeling like store bought might be the way to go.  I have to make the decision to keep my sanity.  Right?  But I should be Superwoman or something, I want to be, its my need for perfection.  I have also cleaned house 2 times today to be followed right behind by 2 crazy boys who make it seem as I have done nothing.  So I am not going to pick up things until the last minute before dinner, otherwise it will be a constant battle.  Anyhow I don't mean to be a scrooge, its not my intention but I need to write down how I am feeling and let it go.  I am very excited to get to spend Christmas with my family all together, its been a long time.  I think mostly I need sleep, so I guess that is what I will do next. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my readers!

Sewing from the Kitchen Table

Well it seems that the kitchen table is not just for meals anymore.  I have claimed one end for my sewing.  I just couldn't go anymore without the stress relief that sewing gives me.  Although it isn't ideal or my huge sewing room I used to have it functions.  I have actually been able to turn out quite a few projects recently and its been great.  I have started to accept what I have and work with it.  I know that many others have only known a kitchen table or small desk for a sewing space and get by just fine, so there is no reason I can't do the same. Mostly I have worked on Christmas gifts and decorations, a YaYa's Apron, Ali Foster Purse, crayon rolls, candy cane curtains etc.... I love Christmas!   I tried to make the YaYa's apron reversible, but that didn't quite turn out as planned lol Sivje's pattern is perfect though and I can't wait to try more.  The Round Satchel Bag sewing pattern by Ali Foster is fabulous and great to whip up.

I am featured on Guide to Art Schools 50 Best Sewing Blogs

Wow!  Really I could believe it when I opened up my email this morning.  I am featured on Guide to Art Schools 50 Best Sewing Blogs.  Just amazing and exciting, really its fabulous and made my day.  Thank you for sharing my blog in your 50 best sewing blogs.  It is wonderful to know that little ole me can make a difference and that I inspired other readers.  I know its been ages since I have posted, it has been totally crazy around here.  I keep thinking I will get set up for sewing again, but other things have taken priority.  Like unpacking boxes, hunting for meat so we have something to feed the family and dealing with all the paperwork and chaos that goes along with a medical retirement from the Air Force for my husband.  I have seen so many things recently that I am dying to make but am not sure when I will find the time.  My fabulous mom has let me set up a sewing room in her house since I don't have room, but alas its not "set up".  Its just boxes and fabric strewn about.  I even need to make curtains for the house but haven't found a moment for that either.  I just keep telling myself that it will get easier and less chaotic, but really life is chaos and I just need to get a better grip and hang on for the ride.  Maybe I need to take a lesson from a bull rider on getting a better "grip" lol.  I hope that I can still maintain some of my readers though this transitional time for me.  I promise I will be back up and running just as soon as I can.  Thanks again to Guide to Art Schools for choosing my blog and a big thanks to Sewing Mamas for the inspiration to become what I have today!

Retirement and Moving: A Long Process

My husbands medical retirement is final! Yay! It was a beautiful ceremony and we had a fun dinner with friends after the ceremony.  I flew out to Dover to attend the ceremony and load the rest of our items and make the long drive back to Montana.  I am so glad I don't have to do that drive again, it was long and exhausting.

We are in the process of moving out of my parents and into our own little "home" just down the road.  2 bedrooms for the 5 of us, but its just temporary and its affordable.  I am sitting amidst mass amounts of boxes and stuff, wondering where I will ever put it all.  For the time being I am going to keep my sewing studio at my parents, although not ideal it gives me plenty of space for my sewing and projects.  I wanted to hug all my fabric when it came out of the trailer, I have missed it;-)

I am not sure that I will be adding items to my etsy shop any time soon, but I am still certainly available for anything you need, just send me an email coveredbydesign at hotmail.com insert the @ in place of the words.  I just don't like spammers being able to locate emails so easily:-)

I have lots I want to do for Christmas projects!  Lots of decorating and gifts.  Now to find the time to do all of it.  I also need to find time to hunt and fill the freezer with Venison.  We have been out for a while now and I miss it!

On another note I bought a new horse.  She is a 20 yr old purebred arabian mare, Nites Amore (Mora).  She is a great horse and will be fun for the kids and I, plus she is a great companion to Gopher, he missed having another horse and was thrilled when I unloaded her off the trailer!

I would post some pics of all the events but my camera isn't here and I can't yet find the pics of the ceremony;-(  So I  will have to make a post with pics later on!

Thank you readers for hanging with me though all this chaos in my life!

ETA: Found some pics of our new horse.

Sweetheart Shopper and Hold a Little Less Wallet

I decided I needed a new purse set for fall. Using some of the gorgeous Tina Givens Fairy Tip Toe Fabric I got at Buttercuppity Fabric, I made the new set.  I used Keykalou's Sweetheart Shopper pattern for the purse and Sandra's Hold a Little Less Wallet Pattern.  The purse was perfect for carrying on my shoulder and the wallet holds just what I need without being bulky.  I just love it!

Progression of Life

We got the dates and orders for my husbands Air Force retirement.  He will be medically retired at the end of October and will finally be able to join us in Montana permanently!  The end of this month the mobile home we will be staying in will be available, then I fly out  the next week for the retirement ceremony and to make the cross country drive with the hubby.  I will certainly be glad that we are going to be a family again soon, its been a long separation.  Things will be busy for a bit. 

I can't believe that I already need to be thinking about halloween costumes!  I think that the kids are going to be Narnia characters including the white witch, reepicheep and prince caspian.  So somewhere in the midst of craziness I need to make the costumes.  I am looking forward to Halloween though!  And what should I be for halloween? Well there is still time to decide.

Then onto Christmas, I am determined not to wait until the last minute to sew Christmas presents this year!  It is going to be such a wonderful Christmas because we are finally home.  I have so many ideas and wishes for Christmas, the question is how to find time for it all.  I am thinking that I am going to make several lap quilts to sell so I can afford some presents this year so anyone interested let me know now so I can get started.

Have a great Monday!

DIY Dish Season Two

Art Smocks

Not a very exciting post for many of you but its exciting for me because I found time to sew.  I made a couple of art smocks for my oldest kiddos for school.  Unfortunately they did not want to model and now the smocks are at school so all I got was the sofa modeling them.  I am happy to be finding time every now and then to do some sewing.  I am going to be working on recovering a sofa soon then have some fall clothing to sew.  We are also hoping to know soon when my husband will be able to join us in MT permanently.  Its so hard being apart.  That's all for now, have a great week!

Going to the County Fair

So tonight at 8 pm is the deadline for sewing entries at the Beaverhead County fair.  I finally decided to enter a crocheted rug and a mixer cover.  Nothing like the last minute, but that seems to be how I work.  I whipped up the cover this afternoon and I love how it turned out.  The rug in my opinion could either be good or bad, I love it but then I also see my flaws. 

Chaos

Well I know this is mostly a sewing blog but I figure everyone could use an update on life and such.  The kids and I are now in MT, they start school in 2 days.  Wow that is crazy!  We have been apart from my husband for almost 2 months now and its really taking a toll on us.  He is currently going through more hearings for the medical retirement for the air force.  We are looking at mid Oct. before he can join us.  Our house is under contract, so that is a plus and we have a place to live lined up. I am thrilled to be with family and back in MT.  I love looking at the beautiful sunsets out the back porch.  I finally was able to do a little sewing, just a crayon roll, but at least it was something.  We have lots to keep us busy, 3 ducklings we have raised from itty bitty babies, a kitten, 3 bum calves and of course our doggies.  I am looking forward to having an end to the Chaos in our lives and at least being back together again. I hope once things settle down and we get moved in and kids are in school I can start sewing and fabric designing again.  Well enough for the moment.

Christine

Couch to 5k a bust....and back to Sewing

Well I tried, but I don't feel like I am making progress.  I think maybe a couch to just exercise is more my speed, which I have been doing, but the running isn't happening.  I thought maybe doing it with all my great sewing mamas would be inspiration but I have been so busy I haven't had much of a chance to follow anyone else's progress.  I do feel like I have been able to get out and get moving more so it isn't a total bust.  Best of luck to all you other mamas!

On another note, I am trying to get set up to do some of the farmers markets with my sewing.  I am excited to get sewing again and really look forward to trying out the farmers market.  The kids start school next week and then maybe I will have some time to get some things up and posted. 


Thanks to everyone who has stuck with my blog during my down time.  I promise I will be back soon!

Day 2 Couch to 5K

Well I did my jogging/walking intervals between trips to the weed pile, pulling weeds and grass, pulling old raspberry canes and other yard work.  It seems to go faster this way but I am hot and exhausted. I think its going to be hard to stick with it.  Although I am not as worried about "running" I certainly want to get some form of exercise. But maybe with the incentive of looking better for my reunion with my hubby when he is finally able to join us in Montana I can stick with it.

Couch to 5K Day 1

I have joined Jolene from NthnButMoonshine's couch to 5k challenge. I need to try something so here is my chance and surrounded by friends. I am hoping this will give me the motivation I need to feel and look better. I am not a runner and never have been even in my skinny days. But I am going to use this to at least get outside and make an effort. Today is my first day and I will post an update of how it goes. Thanks Jolene for such a fun challenge.
www.nthnbutmoonshine.blogspot.com/2010/07/couch-2-5k-challenge.html

Day one completed. I did the reps between walking and jogging while putting up electric fencing, which has also been accomplished.  Blehh I am tired now.

The big move!

Well as my husband is going to be medically retired from the Air Force soon we will be moving back to Montana. The madness of trying to sell our house, pack, move etc... has begun and my sewing has hit a dead stop. Quite frankly I am not sure when I will be back sewing. Our life is headed into uncharted waters and its all of scary and more. If you have a moment be thinking of us.

Blogger Comment Troubles Hopefully Solved with Discus

I am so sorry everyone. I was not aware that everyone was having trouble posting comments. I went through everything and my settings were good but it didn't fix the problem. So I am going to try discus comments and see how that goes. Please comment and let me know what you think. If you have trouble please please email me at coveredbydesign@hotmail.com so I can try something else. Hang in there readers!

What do you do when you get bucked off a horse?

You get right back on. That is how I was brought up.  So after not being satisfied with my last quilt I had to give it a try again and I think that you will agree I succeeded. I am proud that I didn't give up!  My mom is my inspiration and is who shows me anything is possible. I am so proud of my mom. She recently finished her masters degree and graduated with distinction!  During her time at school she has had to live in AZ while my dad stays and takes care of the ranch in MT.  Quite the long distance relationship.  But she did it!  This quilt is a late mothersday/graduation gift for her.  She just got it today so I am finally able to post pics.  The main fabric is tonya whelan, handpicked by Ari at Buttercuppity Fabric for me. The backing fabric is one I have had in my stash curing for a while.  So bright and fun! I did free motion quilting with different designs throughout.  I made the binding as well, I really prefer to make my own I think.  She loves it!  She deserves it!  Love you mom!
Images are clickable.  Please excuse basement lighting, I was working hard to get this out to her and didn't have time to wait for sunshine.

Sis Boom Apron inspires Rocky and Bullwinkle Pie Baking

Some time back I won a giveaway that Nancy had on her blog http://darkhorsefarmdesigns.blogspot.com/. It is a wonderful Ms Willy with pink stripe Sis Boom apron and is absolutely beautiful.  Quite the sexy flare. Thank you so much Nancy for such a wonderful giveway, everyone needs one of these aprons!  So I took a break from packing and other craziness and was inspired to do some baking. I made some strawberry rhubarb pie filling a few days ago and needed to get the pies made.  Using our family recipe for crust I went to work.  They took on a Rocky and Bullwinkle theme thanks to cute Ikea cookie cutters.  Seriously cookie cutters are not just for cookies.  I do all my biscuits and baked goods with cookie cutters.  The kids love it and who says biscuits have to be round?  Anyhow back to the subject at hand, pies, I love em!  I made one pie with just strawberry rhubarb, one strawberry rhubarb cheesecake pie and one cherry cheesecake pie.  Yummy.  Fresh out of the oven I fixed up a slice for my hubby and I.  Who, I might add, I caught with my strawberry rhubarb pie!  Maybe he married me just for that, or because he likes me barefoot in the kitchen with my sexy apron;-)  I served the pie with homemade strawberry rhubarb cheesecake icecream, in case you are wondering we love strawberry rhubarb around here, I also love my KitchenAid icecream attachment.  I get the strawberries and rhubarb from our local Fifer Orchards.  Alright, now that you are drooling, here are some pics.  The self shots are just that, so you'll have to survive my poor self portraits. Click the photos to see a bigger image.