More technology to play with!!

Posted on February 6, 2009 by owenjulesmommy

At work today our IT specialist (Scott L) was in for his monthly visit and I needed him the help me configure my iPhone to send work emails.  So we got to chatting about the iPone (he has a iTouch) and he told me about this really great product from Nike called Nike+iPod:

ma365You get a senor for your shoe (you don’t need special Nike shoes – although they do sell them) and a special insert for your iPod Nano or iTouch (it doesn’t work with my iPhone which REALLY stinks!!).  And it will track all your workouts online, you can set goals, compete in challenges, create a cool widget for your blog (which I’ve added to my sidebar!).  So needless to say I ran right out to Best Buy tonight and got one – the best $30 exercise investment I’ve ever made!!  I even treated myself to a new pair of New Balance walking shoes, they were on sale.  THANK YOU SCOTT!!!

I only walk and my goal for February is 15 miles – I went 1.25 mile tonight so wish me luck!!

On another technology note, Peter changed a setting on my blog so you can now post comments.  I mentioned to him that it was strange that I had not gotten one comment since I moved my blog and that worried me.  But he fixed it so feel free to comment away now – I like hearing from everybody, nice to know my posts aren’t going off into cyberspace!

On a craft related note, I did mail off my completed Valentine’s Day Tea Towel today – I’ll post the finished product when the lucky reciepent gets it.  This weekend I have to finish three tablerunners and a bookmark – should keep me out of trouble!!

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More tea towel tatting

Posted on February 5, 2009 by owenjulesmommy

Yesterday I finished all 19 inches of the tatted edge for my tea towel – SHEW!  I was beginning to worry that I would never get it finished.  But now it’s done and safely attached to the towel – here is a sneak peak:

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The edging is done in DMC Cebelia 30 white.  I don’t know the name of the pattern but I believe the designer is Etha Schuette.  The link at the bottom of my print out is no longer working.  This is motif #5 for my challenge.

While I was laying out the pieces on my tea towel last night, I thought it need alittle something more so I’m going to make up two more small hearts.  Here is the first one:

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This little guy is also done in DMC Cebelia 30 white and measures 2″ wide x 1.5″ high.   I have no designer information on this one at all.  So if anybody knows who did this design please let me know, I’d like to give them the proper credit.  This is motif #6 for my challenge.  I’m thinking with some beads it would make a GREAT valentine’s day post card!!  I’ll have to give that some thought – I’m sure I could squeeze that in between now and next Saturday!

I’ll be wrapping up the work on my tea towel tonight so I can get it mailed off by Friday.  I’ll post finished photos of it when I know the receipent has received it.

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Valentine Tatting

Posted on February 3, 2009 by owenjulesmommy

On Friday I was at AC Moore and I found these great metal gift card cases – they are shallow but sturdy.  I thought they would make great gift boxes for tatting!  The first one I picked up was birthday themed and while I was waiting in the check out lane I found this great valentine’s day one:

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When I saw the box I was amazed at how much it looked like the Heart’s Desire pattern from Susan Fuller.  Even Julianna commented that it looked just like tatting when I showed it to her.  I just finished this heart for my tea towel swap – I’ve had the pattern for awhile but I was scared to try it.  Why I don’t know because it was easy – I didn’t make one mistake that I had to pick out and it came out lovely.  It’s done in white DMC Cebelia 30 – which is quickly becoming one of my favorite threads (wish I could find it in colors other than white and ecru).  This is motif #3 for my challenge.  I think I need to hit AC Moore and grab some more of these beauties!

I also finished a valentine’s bookmark this weekend.  It is by Lenore English and again, it is easier than it looks.  Just have to remember to leave the 12″ of each thread at the beginning to finish the split rings at the end.  Turning the corner on the bottom was a tiny bit difficult but I followed the pattern and kept the picture close!  I used two shades of pink in DMC Pearl Cotton 8.  I like to use the size 8 for bookmarks – I think they make them a good weight for a bookmark.  This lovely is on the way to it’s owner – I sure hope they like it.  This is motif #4 for my challenge.

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I’ve got so many things on my plate right now (all my doing mind you).  Last night I worked on one of the three Valentine’s Day Teacher Luncheon tablerunners I need to have finished by next Wednesday (2/11).  And then I working on tatting the edging for my tea towel while I watched some TV.  I’m only about half way done the edging and it needs to be in the mail on Friday – YIKES!!  And I have another block to do for my crazy quilt round robbin to finish and mail by 2/15.  It’s going to be a busy few weeks, pray that I can meet all the deadlines!

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Julianna’s 7th Birthday

Posted on February 3, 2009 by owenjulesmommy

What a crazy week it was last week and the weekend was just as busy!  Both Owen and Julianna were sick last week, different reasons but they are both on the mend now.

And this weekend was Julianna’s 7th birthday.  I don’t know how she got so old so fast.  She is my angel and I can’t imagine my life without her.  I pray that she and I have the great relationship that my mother and I have when she is older.  Her birthday theme was Hello Kitty which was very easy.  I’m going to preface this photo with the fact that cake decorating is not my thing and the star tip is my friend!!  One day, when the kids are grown and gone, maybe I’ll go to Johnson and Wales and take a “real” cake decorating class.  But for now, this is the best I can do.  Julianna loved it so that is all that really matters!

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This cake was for the friend bowling party on Saturday and on Sunday we had the family party at our house – she only got cupcakes for that party!

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We had fun but I’m glad I don’t have another party to plan until June!

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iPhone

Posted on January 24, 2009 by owenjulesmommy

Now this is technology for you, I’m posting this from my new iPhone! Now I can blog while driving down the road – just kidding!

I can’t figure out how to upload a photo, but I am getting this keyboard down!

I’ll post some tatting tomorrow, between two sick children and my new toy, I didn’t get much done today!

Here is a picture of the other man in my life, Tanyon. Isn’t he a cutie?

tanyon

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Teeny Tiny Square Quilt and "Pay it Forward" Giveaway WINNER!!

Posted on January 23, 2009 by owenjulesmommy

It has been a CRAZY week and I’ve been doing a lot of tatting, but not much of anything else (unless you count helping Owen with his Mexico projects!).  I did finish two more motifs for my tea towel swap and now I’m working on the trim – I’m very pleased with how the pieces are coming together and I can’t wait to mail it off!

I am participating in a teeny tiny square quilt swap and I received my amazing mini a few weeks ago.  My quilt came from Donna in Calhoun, Ga.  The idea behind the swap was that all your pieces of the quilt could not measure more than 1″ x 1″ finished – Peter thought it sounded more like torture than fun!  Here is Donna’s quilt to me:
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Isn’t this just great?!?  This little guy measures 9″ x 12″ and I’m going to hang it right over my sewing table.  My mini for the swap is almost done, but mine measures 15″ x 20″, the pieces are all still under 1″ finished, but I think I might have to remove the outer border – I’ll have to look at the rules again before I quilt it this weekend!!

OK, for the moment you have all been waiting for….  The drawing for the winner of my “Pay It Forward” Giveaway!  I used an online random number generator to get the number – lucky number 13!!!

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Congratulations Bonnie!!!  I’ll email you to get your mailing address.  I had fun doing the giveaway and thank you very much for all your nice comments on my blog!!

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Motif #2 – 25 Motif Challenge

Posted on January 21, 2009 by owenjulesmommy

Here is my second motif for the 25 motif challenge.  It is Jon’s Hearts Entwined/Crowning Hearts pattern.  I just love every one of Jon’s patterns!  The written directions are very straight forward and the charts are wonderful (I prefer to use just charts).  Thank you for another great pattern Jon!  It’s Heather’s Hand Dyed Thread, size 30, Cotton Candy – I just love this thread too (who got me addicted to HDT’s???)

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This is one of the motifs that I’m going to be using for my valentine’s tea towel swap I’m doing.  I have another one nearly done so I’ll post that one soon.

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Paying It Forward

Posted on January 15, 2009 by owenjulesmommy

Today I was completely shocked when Sherry let me know that I won one of her hand crafted ceramic shuttles.  I could not believe my luck and I absolutely can’t wait to receive it!!

That got me thinking that I should pay her generosity forward – sorry I don’t hand craft one of a kind shuttles but I have been told that I make a mean purse!

I made this purse tonight it’s my smaller version of the Lazy Girl Designs Miranda Bag.  I measures approximately 8 1/2″ high, 12″ wide and 3″ deep.  It has wooden handles, magnetic snap closure, 6 interior pockets and firm bottom to prevent sagging.  I’m even going to include a matching key fob.  I made this bag for me, but I have enough fabric and materials to make another one just like it.

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Here is what the inside looks like:

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If you’d like this bag (or even pick your own fabrics if you don’t like these – I have a fairly large selection of fabrics at home – what quilter doesn’t) just post a comment on this post and I’ll draw the lucky winner next Friday (1/23).

And thank you again Sherry – I can’t wait to get my new shuttle!

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Silk Ribbon Embroidery

Posted on January 15, 2009 by owenjulesmommy

So I figured I’d try my hand at something new yesterday (I’m still looking for that craft addiction 12-step program!) – silk ribbon embroidery.  I’ve had the silk ribbon for about six months now!  I’m working on Pam’s block for the crazy quilt round robbin so I figured I jump in with both feet!  Here’s my little topiary for her block.

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I didn’t have a pattern for this, it just grew into what I think looks like a topiary.  You can see the tatting that I attached to the right and I did the rick rack with beads on the top too.  I’m having so much fun with this round robbin – I’ve never touched crazy quilting before this and I’m having a blast learning new things!

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Tatting Motif #1

Posted on January 14, 2009 by owenjulesmommy

Here is my first tatting motif for the 25 Motif Challenge.  My work is no where near the work represented in this blog, but I won’t get better if I don’t challenge myself – RIGHT??

I did this pattern called “Black Magic” from my very favorite tatting book by Mary Konior “Tatting with Visual Patterns”.   It’s DMC Pearl Cotton size 12 – Ecru.  It is going to be attached to a crazy quilt block that I’m doing as part of a round robbin.  The size is perfect for the block and I’m excited to attach it tonight.
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Now if I can only figure out how to take better pictures of my tatting, I’d be all set!!

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