Been busy busy busy

I will just show you some of what I did this weekend in this blog - next one will be the stuff I did last weekend, last week and a little this weekend. Whew! Let's start with Friday. I took the afternoon off (nice to have great bosses) and went to two classes at the Scrapbook Expo here in Tampa. In fact the bosses dropped me off & I left my car at work (about 5 blocks away from the Convention Center). Anyway, the first class was "A Weekend in Key West". Yes, I know, you knew I would take that one. This year we haven't been down to the Keys but I try to go every year, for my birthday or in the winter. I haven't added all the pictures, since I have scrapped most of my pictures, so there is room for those from the next trip and also for some journaling. The class was put on by Scrapbooks 'n Stickers in Naples Floridahttp://www.scrapbooksnstickers.com/ It was a really fun class & I can't wait to take another one from them at the next event. On Sat. they did a pirate one, I couldn't take it, but I have a done of pirate pix, so next time!






Straight from there I went over to Quick Quotes class - this one was a Chunky book. I made it for Nicole & Dave's 10th wedding anniversary, since that is coming upon on 7/4. I still have to add the pix to this one. http://www.shopquickquotes.com/store/index.php/cPath/57_89?osCsid=6563c09fd6e86139e21e9a1f6114a3f3 You can buy a kit here if you like it (I don't get paid by any of these people (in fact, I paid them - a lot for kits to do at home!).

Then I went to the Friday night crop - which was fun - except in the beginning. Nicole had my ticket so even though they let me pick a table, I didn't get to go sit down with our stuff because they didn't get there till the last minute. When they did get there, Nicole had left the tickets at home! We wer able to get in, thank God, and we had a really good time. Here are my 3 girls - no pix of me - as usual. Nicole & Pamela both entered the page layout contest with pages about me, wasn't that nice. Vicki entered two pages, each using the sonograms of her kids - soooo cute! I entered a haunted page, with NOLA cemetary pix! None of us one! Oh well, we still had fun.

On Sat. morning I took another class, this time another Quick Quotes, but a 3D Canvas Wal art - http://www.shopquickquotes.com/store/product_reviews_info.php/products_id/1557/reviews_id/9?osCsid=6563c09fd6e86139e21e9a1f6114a3f3

The kit was grandchildren or children, but Friday night I bought dog quotes. Here is my finished product. Still need to add pix.

Well, that leads me to tonight. This afternoon I worked on my Rowlf the Dog quilt. Just need to add ears! I have several quilts in the hopper and will show them to you next blog. Need to eat and rest up now for work tomorrow. Peace KB

Do you have a place that makes you yearn to be there?

For some reason I do, in fact I have two. Key West and New Orleans. In 2005 Jeff & I flew to NOLA for a weekend birthday trip. It was so damned hot I said I may never return. It was hotter than it had ever been on the many other trips I had made there. That year, in September, while I was in Germany, Katrina but devestation and pain to my beautiful beloved city and I figured, it is gone. It will never be the same again, and thank God I went that June, thank God that I never wanted to return.

Then it happened, this morning was a bright beautiful commercial full of stars (whom I have never encountered on any trip to NOLA) urging me to come back to NOLA. And as I looked at the town I loved, I knew in my heart - I still love you. I can't wait to come back.

Yes NOLA I love you, I know you are not bright and clean like in the commercial, but something deep inside of me calls me back to your streets. Is it because of my spirit guide, Jefferson Davis, who died there in your city on LaFayette Street, does he call me back there. Or have I myself lived there in another, happy, life? Who knows, I just know that from the first day I stepped into your streets I have had a connection with you and I just can't wait to come on back to New Orleans!

My little peace of the world

Tonight I met Bryson for the first time. He is my newest little grandson - he is 2 months old today. This is Bryson wearing a little hat I made him and his sister Kaitlyn - showing off her dimpled chin - just like mine!

I have 9 grandchildren, 7 from my birth children - and Bryson is the first one who's birth I was not present at. His parents were living in AZ at the time. But now they have moved back to Florida and this is one happy Nana.

Also, tonight I was sitting on my screened lanai - I know to some of you it isn't important. But to me it is wonderful. The weather has been beautiful and it is so nice and peaceful out there. We have lots of palm trees in our yard and it is my own peaceful spot. Thank you God for giving it to me. Once again, you have made my heart's desires come true. God is so good people and He does give you the desires of your hearts - you just have to learn to be patient.

Peace everyone - avoir KB

One project finished this weekend.

Made with Baby Genius fabrics and other novelty prints. Added tabs for connectors to hook too and I sewed teethers (cut from a Baby Genius Lion) to each corner. Bryson's mom wanted a small blankie he could have in the car. I found the pattern in a Fons & Porter magazine.

I started this weekend with a big list. But a quilt show on Sat morning, lunch with my daughters, visiting Vicki's new home, a Sunday graduation party, Monday was my husband's birthday and I did get to sew but then we went to both daughter's homes, out to eat and then to a friends house until way past bedtime. But anyway, I finished Bryson's blankie - see above. I will finally get to meet him (my 9th grandchild) tomorrow on his 2 month birthday - I can't wait! Also, I will get to see his sister, Kaitlyn - whom I haven't seen since November. But now they will be back here in our town. Hooray!

Better go, I have a three wall hangings that I am hoping to have at least one of finished for tomorrow. Will share soon - Peace - KB

The Applique Society Quilt Show in Tampa

The Donation quilt - I bought a ticket!








Today I headed over to the Quilt Show and WOW! Did I say WOW! I took 240 pictures and only stopped because the camera was getting hot and the battery getting low. Isn't that a cool quilt with the long dress? And believe it or not, the Tiki Bar quilt I have had the pattern for since the Jax quilt show - now that I have my lanai I can make it and hang it out there! Yipee. I have my Margaritaville sign hanging out there now. You know I LOVE KEY WEST - so this is my own little backyard slice of the Keys.

I haven't figured out how to get the pictures where I want them on this blog, so excuse me.

I am very proud of myself though, at the show I spent no more than the entry fee $5 and $1 for the raffle ticket - Whooo Ooooo - that is a miracle for me!

Busy working on the Rowlf quilt. Got home late tonight and didn't want to figure out what is wrong - now - with the embroidery machine. Since I bought the damned thing at Sears I decided I had better get the extended waranty - no telling how long before it just goes kaput!

Anyway, I have all the squares cut for Rowlf and 4 of the side panels done. Now I have to do the other for. I think for the Baby Gonzo I am going to felt his body. Maybe for theBaby Zoe too. It should be cute! I got a cute Fedora from e-bay for one of the Rowlf's to wear.

My son (who the quilt is for) will be here the end of next week so I need to get going on it. I bought furry Minkee for the head and ears. Oh what a mess, but it is very soft and it is coming out cute.

I did e-mail Smith Street Designs about the problem I was having understanding the directions to Wild!Flowers (which is such a pretty quilt) and got a nice e-mail back from Kathy Connor. I believe she is the designer. www.smithstreetdesigns.com Please check out her stuff.

Well, I had better go. Now that Jordin won American Idol (Yah) I am at a loss, at least there is still Desperate Housewives to ponder on all summer. Do you think Edie will get saved? I do.

OK, see you soon - Peace KB

Too many projects

I have too many projects in the mix - I am kind of overwhelmed - again. My son is coming home on May 31 and I wanted to have his quilt done by then. Also, I have 2 St. Jude's donation quilts that must be done in July. I have signed up for a Dahlia class on 6/6 and 3 classes at the Scrapbook convention on 6/8 & 9 plus crop night. I have several projects to make for my grandson Bryson - who will be here on May 30. I have a McKenna Ryan wall hanging that I am making for me. A couple of kaleidoscope quilts that I am throwing together. I have vowed to do machine embroidery every night, so I am working on a Wild!flower's quilt. Not to mention all the shirts I have sitting there waiting to be embroidered. Oh, and I need to put a sleeve on my daughter's round quilt so she can hang it. I have my felter I want to use more - esp. to make little dogs with their own hair and wool.

Plus I have my full time job and a husband and a house that occasionally demands a little attention. And then there is American Idol and a couple of other shows that I watch. And all my books, books full of ideas and things to do that I haven't done yet but want to sooo badly. And did I mention my 6 dogs. And my 7 kids and my 9 grandkids. Deep breath...plus I even have a small social life and a few great friends who I like to spend time with. And the quilt guild and the up coming quilt shows that I want to go to.

You know - I am just like you!

We are going to Spain in September. Costa Blanca. I have contacted the owner of a quilt store in Alciante (close to the town we are staying in on the Mediterranean, Denia) and I can't wait to see what kind of fabrics and patterns they have, and what else they do. I looked at the pictures they have there, and I think they must be in Florida. www.patch-alacant.com

Additionally, I want to write in my blog more and participate more in at least my newest Yahoo group, take more photos, see more places, make more friends. Read more books, read more web pages, make more money. Holy Canoli - I a need to just go chill with the old man and have some more fun.

Peace - KB

What if you could do what you want to do - all the time!

Does anyone have that luxury? Last night at the Quilt Guild was a woman who makes beautiful quilts, Alice Means. Her quilts were stunning. She is retired and lives in CT and FL. I mean I guess she is retired. I took pixs of her quilts but they are on my computer at home. Anyway, everyone is pieced & quilted beautifully, with all the techniques I want to try but haven't. But she has shown me that I don't have to make the ENTIRE quilt the minute I decide to. I can make some of it - set it aside - come back later when I get another idea to add to it. That is what makes them unique. And her extras, the couching, the hand embroidery, the hand applique, the beading. Wow! If only I had that much time...and now it is worse, because Jeff built me my little lanai outback and we sit there every night watching TV. I don't want him to think I don't appreciate it, so I don't sew. But if I could get to the point where I have some hand work, then I could do that out there.

I did sew one of Bryson's hats this weekend (he is my new grandson). It came out so darned cute! Now I have to cut and sew all the other one & Danny's "diaper bag" for hiking. Oh, and I have to finish Danny's quilt. I did one square, now only a bunch more to go. They are moving back on Memorial Day weekend - so I had better get cracking! No time tonight - Corvette Club meeting. I have participated with Jeff lately, so I had better go tonight. Then on Sat. the club is going to a castle here in Florida, so we will be gone all day doing that. Sunday is Andy, my son's 30th birthday. He is Jeff's boy and Vicki is my girl - they are both 30 this year - the twins. Any way, we are having a party for him. Vicki reminded me it is also Mother's Day! I didn't even think of that. Thankfully, I already sent both Mom's cards!!!

Also, I bought some precut quilt pieces for stack & wack quilts that I am going to sew together & then do something fun with. Also, I want to enter some quilt challenges this year. Holy canoli!

At the retreat I learned a good trick for applique - Do you own a Sizzix (or however you spell it). Then iron on fusible web to the back of your fabrics and run them through your Sizzix or other Diecut machine, then remove the backing when you are ready to place them. Instant cut out appliques!

Well, the smoke is gone from our air. Yesterday it was like we had had a fire in our back yard, but now it has cleared out. I do not remember it EVER being this cool in May for as long as I have lived here. 26 years! Also, there is a tropical storm forming already up off the coast of N. Florida. This is good, because the rain can put out the fires, but it is very early. Usually doesn't happen until 6/1. Oh my.

Another thing I did yesterday was give my daughter almost all of my credit cards. That should curb the shopping at the quilt stores. I sure hope so anyway.

Alright, rattled on enough. Will be posting some "work" soon. Otherwise, take a look over on my Flickr site www.flickr.com/karrelbuck for the quilts from the retreat and some car pix from the show last weekend. Peace KB

St. Jude's Quilt of Dreams

I have a new project - I am creating 2 quilts for the St. Jude's Quilt of Dreams. They don't have to be done until June, but I am excited so I am sure at least one will be done before that. I bought the fabrics yesterday. This is one of them. I am using a strips & curves design to create it. I also have added some other fabrics. Today I was sewing my strips together before work. I think that that part will be done before the weekend and then I will just have to do the applique of the fussy cut designs. A New Twist on Strips n' Curves: Featuring Swirl, Half Clamshell, Free-Form Curves & Srips n' Circles (Paperback)
by Louisa Smith is the book I am drawing my inspiration from. It has a lot of cool stuff, I will need to make one or two of hers.

Just wanted to keep you posted and I will be showing you pix SOON.
Opps I forgot to show you Virginia & Leo's finished wall hanging

Working away

It is the weekend again - HOORAY And I think I even have a little time at home. SOOOO, what have I been up to.

This week has been so busy - as you know Easter was Sunday, Tuesday was the Quilt Guild meeting, Wednesday dinner with Peggy & Vickie at Chili's - my fave, Thursday - dinner with Susan, Dev, Roselle & Jeff (I couldn't leave him home again!) at J. Alexanders (expensive). Tonight we are staying at home. But tomorow I have to take 2 dogs to the Vet, 2 to the groomer and clean the house. Also I have to buy party supplies because Sunday is Hopey's 3rd birthday & my 53rd birthday party!!!! . We are having a Princess/Diva theme!

Somewhere in there I have to finish up Virginia's wall hanging (see pix above) and work on my pillow (below), made with my birthday present to me - a machine felter. Jeff is making me a screened patio (I have only been asking for one for 12 years) I am so excited!!!

OK, better go do some of that sewing I am complaining about not getting too. Oh I forgot, I also have to redo our web site from work!

A new baby in our family

On Friday, March 30, at 7:59 AM (AZ time) my 9th grandchild was born - Bryson Anthony. He weighed 7#s 13 oz and is 20" long. I hear he has so much hair he needs a hair cut (just like his daddy - my son!). We are all very happy and excited to have another boy in the family & Kaitlyn is proud to be a big sister.

I have been so, so busy this week - here is what I have been doing:

Finished Vicki's birthday quilt JUST in time to give it to her for her birthday last Monday! Hooray!

Vicki & Kylie

http://flickr.com/photos/karrelbuck/sets/72157594448573350/

Then I received the pattern & fabric for Bryson's diaper bag in the mail on Monday - so I got to work on that. Finishing Friday night. http://flickr.com/photos/karrelbuck/sets/72157600041292571/

Pamela's due date was Friday, the 30th. Just like his big sister Kaitlyn, Bryson came on his due date. Pamela only had 5½ hours labor - lucky her! So anyway, I had to hurry home that day and finish the bag so I could start working on the quilt I designed for Bryson back in November. I did the quilt top on Sat. morning. Then we had to go to my mother-in-law's for dinner. So this morning, (with a 4 hour break for shopping for stuff to put in the diaper bag), and this afternoon I quilted it. Now, I am finally able to sit down, upload pixs & compose my blog. Oh, here is a picture of the quilt.

http://flickr.com/photos/karrelbuck/sets/72157594406595586/

Now - I am off to watch TV. The rest of this week I have shirts to embroider. Holy canoli! 15 days till my favorite day! (my birthday!)

That's the breaks

This is Sebastian, he is 6. He and his cousin, Gareth - 8, were playing at the playground last Monday and Gareth accidently fell onto Sebastian. You see the result. He is a little trooper though. He didn't get a hard cast until Friday, but he feels a lot better with it. Poor baby, please pray for his fast healing.

Speaking of babies, tomorrow is my BABY's 30th birthday day. I remember when she turned 10 and then 20. Wow, now she is 30. I think that means I am getting old. Oh, no, not that!

I finished her quilt - which you have been seeing glimpses of. I will shoot pictures of it tomorrow and show it to you after I give it too her. It turned out so pretty.

Well, I had better go, I am watching Planet Earth and the 2d one is about to begin. It is so awesome on our big screen HD screen. I am amazed.

OK, stay tuned for tomorrow and see Vicki's 30th birthday quilt!

Peace KB

So much for one blog

Finished! Front, originally uploaded by karrelbuck.

So much has happened since last I wrote. I finally broke down & put the binding on my Cigar Quilt. It is so pretty. I put it on the bench in my office, so I can keep my eye on it! You can check it out more here: http://flickr.com/photos/karrelbuck/sets/72157594412309696/


Also, I am almost finished with the New York Beauty top - that will be done tonight & then it is sandwiching & quilting! Vicki's birthday is Monday - will I have it done by then? http://flickr.com/photos/karrelbuck/sets/72157594448573350/

Also, as you read previously I was machine embroidering. After the disaster Sat. night, Sunday morning I put a little shirt together for Hope. Amazing, I can find a lot of designs with Hope's name in it!
The design I bought online - and to all you digitizers out there, please put a text file with designer information so I can remember who designed it and where I got it. It is from the same folder as the Heron I did for my mother in law. Now I have to do all the other shirts!

Now for the most ironic thing. I am a treasure mapper. If you don't know what that is, just ask me. Well, I did a treasure map back in the first part of 2004. I couldn't find a picture of the Silver Corvette I wanted , so I used one of a blue convertible, even though I did not want that. I got the silver Corvette that summer. This year, we were looking for a silver Corvette convertible and our guy showed us a 2004 Commenrative LeMans edition that we fell in love with and bought. Now realize, I haven't really looked at my treasure map in a while, as I have already attained most of what is on there. Well, I passed it Sat. night and sitting there on the sheet is the exact same car we just bought! Color & all. God is so good!

sometimes it is just better to SCREAM

Today I bought shirts for all my grandkids to embroider. I started with Kaitlyn's, as hers will need to be mailed. It was late in the day when I started. First I couldn't get the software for the embroidery machine to open. Finally, 30 minutes later it opened and Jeff wanted me to go get chicken. So down the street (abt 2 miles) to KFC I go. When I come home - my order is NOT in the bag (gee, & I even thought - You'd better check it!). Back I went. I ate it and then went back in to start embroidering. Then the machine wouldn't work. It just kept beeping at me. 30 min later, all is moving along. Then I decided I want to use 2 strands of thread for the Unicorn's magic horn - one being a metalic. So what happens? I thread booger grows underneath the design, AND the needle broke! So I cut it out and get all the thread out, change the needle (no easy task because I honestly do have Big BONES and I can't wear bracelets or change sewing machine needles. Also, I have to use tweezers just to grab the thread once I get those TINY eyes threaded.) I get a needle caught in my finger, which bleeds like a stuck pig. Off to find a band aid. Then I notice that the shirt may have shifted a little, but when I do the unicorn's horn (1 thread this time), it seems to be in the correct place. So I go on to the baby brother unicorn and it just doesn't look placed right, but I let it run. Except the thread breaks 8 times. Then the needle breaks. So I tell the stupid machine it wins. Thank God I only paid $5 for the shirt (wishing I had started on one of the $1.19 shirts instead). Tomorrow is another day.

Man oh man...

I did attend a Sulky seminar today (www.sulky.com). Very informative - hence my try to embroider with the metalic thread. Better read the book I guess. Happy Saturday to you!

Peace KB

Slightly burnt

You know that smell, that slight burnt smell...
If you were next to me right now - that is what you would be smelling.
I just had my face lasered. I do it about every two weeks now, since just after Christmas. I am hoping to never have to was my eyebrows again. Only when I come back to work, I smell like I was standing a little to close to the fire! Ha!

So I have crossed the border

Wider shot of the border., originally uploaded by karrelbuck.

Last night I sewed all the blocks of Vicki's New York Beauty quilt together and this morning added an op art strip. Now I am piecing the border - but keep tuning in because the border is going to have a little twist to it - it ain't your Mama's border (well, it is Vicki's Mama's border) but you get my drift.

It actually went pretty fast, this one little strip, so I might be able to get it done in a week, or so I hope. Then I will pin up Virginia's quilt to the design wall and see where I am, maybe that won't make those other 2 pages of pieces look so daunting! I have to buy more wing fabric before I can finish it anyway.

I watched a really neat Sewing w/Nancy today, it is an old one, but I had never seen it. There was a guy on there (sorry I forgot his name) and he was making pillows by felting & he was also using Angel fibers. I am going to use the angel fiber to make a second layer of the dragon fly's wings. Also, this Sat. I am going to a Sulky demonstration so maybe I will pick up some good embelishment tips.

Let me tell you this though. I learn a lot from all the quilting shows on TV. It is like going to a class, but a LOT cheaper! You ought to give it a try!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.