pretty in pink blankey/mat?

have you ever know weeks in advance about an upcoming event and still didn't do anything about it till last minute??  . . well that's how this quilt was born! yesterday it hit me that i needed to put something together for a baby shower i would be attending tomorrow, so i quickly went to my pinterest boards and thought this would be a cute, fun gift! it came together quickly and that was key. i started it yesterday during nap time and finished quilting it tonight (stitch in the ditch style) while my husband and kids watched a redbox and ate popcorn to their hearts content.

i loved the idea of using a bunch of different textured fabrics and i loved even more that i had everything on hand.  . .well minus the binding, which i ran to hobby lobby and got this morning. :) . .i think the satin binding adds perfectly.

the plain pink fabric is supposed to be the minky with the little raised bumps in it - you know the stuff i'm talking about? after i sewed the first two strips together i was ironing over the seam and didn't realize the hot iron caused some of the raised bumps to disappear . . so i couldn't have half minky with a raised surface and half without so i had to iron the whole darn thing and make all it's cuteness disappear! i hate when i do dumb stuff! 

oh well i still think it's cute. since i backed it with flannel (like i did here too) i didn't use batting. so.much.easier! after rounding the corners i don't know if i should call her a blanket or a play mat??

p.s. i really love little children's silhouette print!!

linking up to: tgiff, confessions of a fabric addict, finish it up friday, richard and tanya quilts

the five year quilt

when i was first married i joined a quilting group that was put on by some of the ladies from church. i had a sewing machine and a love of fabric and wanted to learn more. i didn't realize until i showed up how hardcore they all were :) big fancy machines, beautiful printed fabrics, and gorgeous quilts to show and tell about! i was AMAZED!  . . . but more importantly i felt welcomed. here was a circle of very talented and experienced quilters and for the short time we were there they welcomed me into their little flock, encouraged me, and taught me to make a handful of different quilt blocks. it was there i started this quilt.

 a year later we moved to new haven, ct where my husband would get his masters degree . . .i pulled out the pieces and started sewing my little heart out . .nothing fancy . .i just knew i wanted it ALL GREEN :) while in connecticut i finished the top and back and started quilting. 

 after our 2 years were up we moved here to nashville where we currently reside. i found that cute quilt (in all it's greenness) stashed away in the never ending pile of stuff i call a craft room. i pulled it out and realized all i had left to do was bind it!! yay!! so after a  little sewing my 5 year old quilt is finally done! 

something else that i've come to love about quilting is getting to name your quilt. i've come across beautiful quilts all over blog land and no matter if it's an original pattern or someone else's the quilt itself if yours and you get to give it a fitting name!

my name choices were either "green with envy" or "the green machine" . . my 4 yr old thought it should be called "greeny" or grassy" . . she may be on to something!! :)

linking up to: too cute tuesday, handmade tuesdays, we did it wednesday, whatever goes wednesday, wow me wednesday, tgiff, confessions of a fabric addict, finish it up friday, richard and tanya quilts, spotlight saturday, sew darn crafty

deals and squeals wednesday

it's no secret i love me a good bargain . . and if you ask my family they'd tell you it's no secret i love telling them about my great finds :) that's why i'm starting "deals and squeals wednesday"!! it gives me a chance to review my week and share my awesome finds or just share things that made me squeal with delight that week - which is usually my great deals - ha!! 

let's get started shall we?

this last week i had a kohls 30% off coupon that i wanted to use before it expired. i love kohls, you can really find some nice things at great prices (in my opinion). i was able to score a few christmas items that i'm thrilled about (*squeal*squeal*) but it does mean hidding them away for the next 9 months . . if only we had more space :)

original price : $39.99

clearance price: $3.99 

my price: $2.79

 original price: $39.99

clearance price: $7.99

my price: $5.59

 these little gems had me DYING!! are they not hilarious??!!  . .and perfect for the "not so easy to shop for man" (i.e. brother & brother in laws) . .if only my husband was a hunter we'd for sure keep the deer head!

original price: $40.00

clearance price: $4.00

my price: $2.80

just in time for easter

this year i've some how been a week behind with each holiday. i realized last tuesday that easter was on sunday and not the first week in april!! i had one little dress to make and didn't get started till thursday night. it wasn't hard but it's always the easy projects that you end up unpicking because of some dumb thing you overlooked. . . and that's what it was for me :)

 i finished the dress friday and hand stitched the buttons on sat night. i used this pattern for the top of the dress. i'd never done a peasant top/dress and didn't realize how easy they are . .especially since you have an elastic collar! 

 i got my older daughter's dress from kohls clearance last year and wanted little sis to coordinate. the best part was using up my stash - fabric, buttons, elastic, ribbon - all on hand! yay!!

 

couldn't resist this one!! :)

linking up to: 

sew darn crafy 

anything goes quilt n sew
let's get aquainted

back in the saddle

to say this blog has been a little neglected is a HUGE understatement! it seems though, as of late, i've found some time to sneak into the craft room and do what i do best . . make messes . .BIG ones! with lots of friends and family having babies i'm happy to be able to finally post FINISHED products :) 

this little guy was sent to sweet baby rexx . .  the last of my sister's brood. it's all flannel and perfect for snuggling teeny tiny bebes! . .it also means i didn't have to add batting . .love cutting out a step! i was inspired  by this quilt.  . . and though i TOTALLY messed up my measurements (doh) and the whole top looks like one big pucker (really . .don't look too close) . .i still LOVE it! :) 

this girly chevron was actually made first but like all good projects . .sat and sat and sat. it's almost unbelievable to think i finished up two in one week. it really came together fast. i'll probably be making more of these. . . and yes, it's flannel too! now i just need to find her a home :)

linking up to: crazy mom quilts, TGIFF, richard and tanya quilts, confessions of a fabric addict

rainy days

today the kids and i weathered the storm and ventured out to our favorite grocery store publix. why do i love this grocery store so much?? well . . a few reasons:


1) their customer service is seriously off the charts - it rocks! free cookies & free balloons for the kids EVERY time! 
2) they have the cool "car" shopping carts 
3) they have GREAT buy one get one free deals
4) they put out tons of great coupons and let you stack manufacture coupons & competitors coupons on top of their already great sales! luv it!


today we went for the BOGO deals . . . and here's what we came home with:

unlike some of the other awesome coupon gals and blogs out there .. i don't ALWAYS save like 90% off my grocery bill each time . . but if i can come in around the 70-75% off range then i'm pretty happy. 


today's adventure cost me $15.58 and saved me $60.02 equaling a savings of 79%


the funny thing is, the produce (celery, zucchini, & squash) made up almost 1/2 that total . . thus i REALLY need to start my garden!!


~FREE yoplus
~FREE cake mixes
~$0.33 each / 20oz pineapple cans (should have been .20 each but i noticed on the receipt she missed a coupon-Doh!!)
~$0.26 each / shredded & chunk cheese
~$0.71 each / frosting (higher than i wanted but they helped me get the cake mixes for free)
~then add tax and $1 for march of dimes (how can you not donate when you save this much!) and voila . . alotta Bang for your Buck!

back to it

now that' i'm getting the hang of juggling two kids, i've decided "what's the fun in juggling just two things . .why not more?"  . .and then enters the part where i'm biting off more than i can chew  . . but my craft room knows all about that saying! yes the past few months have been spent juggling lots of different things trying to get a handle on life, priorities, things that i NEED to do vs WANT to do, and so on and so forth.


the list goes a little something like this:
* pay less / coupon more
* increase ebay sales
* start a garden
* keep the baby, get rid of the baby bod!


and i might add . . this is in addition to:
* play with, feed, & change kids - didn't want you to think i was neglecting the important. 
(neglecting the important would be forgetting to post on my family blog) hee hee


anywhosers . . since this is an anything and everything blog . .i first wanted to give a shout out to 3 amazingly awesome and wonderful bread recipes. all i can say is TRY THEM TRY THEM TRY THEM!! your life will not be complete until you do!


Naan - found HERE (allrecipies.com)
Lion House Dinner Rolls - found HERE (thesisterscafe.blogspot.com)
Macaroni Grill Rosemary Bread - found HERE (dealstomeals.blogspot.com)


and since every good post needs pictures . .

 the ebay/craft room - ya i know .. did i mention my mother in law in coming to visit?? yikes!

 what's the fun in couponing if you can't take up ALL your kitchen space

and here lies my soon to be garden! that's right . .square foot gardening anyone??