Tidbit Tuesday #18

Wow....eighteen weeks of tidbits already! Yikes, how time flies!

Today I bring you a tool that I use almost on a daily basis. It's a tool that when I first saw it, there was no way I was going to spend money on it because there was no way it worked as good as it said it did.

Boy was I wrong! Yep. Wrong wrong wrong!

If you have pets, you NEED this tool. If you don't have pets but have lint all over your ironing board from fabric, you NEED this tool.

What is it you ask?

This!

My poor ironing board always has kitty hair on it because my kitties love to lay up there! It's soft and up off the ground and right next to a window so they can look out. They are always up there sleeping. I think I even hear them grumble when I put them down so I can iron...LOL!

Because of this, my board always had kitty hair on it. This drove me nuts and I went through lint rollers like you wouldn't believe. I thought that there HAD to be a cheaper way to keep this clear.

I remembered the commercials for this item and what it promised and thought, well, five bucks isn't so bad to at least try it.

Oh. Emm. Gee!!! Magic I tell you!! Magic!! A few sweeps and it's completely cleared of kitty hair and all fabric danglies! (Danglies = fabric lint or strings) It is supposed to be that when it's full, you throw it away and get a new one. However, I've found that if you carefully pull out one of the rollers and vacuum it out, you can get a few more uses out of it.

Another great use for it is using it on your cutting mat after you have finished. Some fabric sheds a lot and this tool is great to pick it up!

From this....

To this....in seconds...

So...with this tool..I guess I can keep this wee one, huh?

At least she's modest...hee hee ;)

Much Love!!!

We're Done!

Happy Sunday everyone!! 

Today is show and tell day for our quilt along quilts! Woo Hoo!! 

Not sure what I'm talking about? I've been doing a quilt along using charm packs. It's not too late to complete one of your own as the instructions will always be here on my blog. Click HERE for all of the steps. :)

If you haven't finished yet, don't worry. Plenty of time to do that. I just hope that you will put it in the Flickr Pool when you're done so I can see it and feature them here too :)

As promised.....here is mine. All finished. Including being washed, because to me, a quilt isn't complete until it comes out of the dryer all warm and smooshed up! :D 

And....kitteh approved...LOL!

Speaking of kittehs.....this one sure likes to help out too. Testing all the fabrics I use to make sure they are soft enough! She also helps test them when they are done! 

Here she is "helping" me with the project I was working on today...

Now it's your turn!!! Lemme see em!! :D 

I hope everyone had fun with this quilt along! I also hope we have 100% completion before year end.. hee hee :) 

Thanks so much to all of you who participated! I had a lot of fun sewing right along with you and I will definitely do another quilt along in the future! 

Much Love!!!

Remembering...Nine Years Later

 

It's been nine years. The memory isn't as fresh, but it's still there. 

Every time I see a low flying plane. I remember. 

Every time I happen to glance at the clock and see that the time says 9:11. I remember.

Every time I see a reference to dialing 911. I remember. 

Every time they talk about war. I remember. 

I remember watching the planes hit. 

I remember watching people jump out, hundreds of stories high.

I remember crying for those people. Tears still fall today when I remember what I saw.

I remember the devastation afterward. 

 

I remember our country coming together to heal, which still continues today. 

I hope all of us will always take pause to remember those that fell, those that fought, and those that suffered the loss of loved ones.

It seems fitting that it's raining today. A symbol of all the tears shed over the years perhaps.....

Never forget....

Much Love!!!

Tidbit Tuesday #17

Puckering. I don't like it. I'm sure you don't either. 

No, I'm not talking about kissing.... ;) 

I mean the puckering you get sometimes when you are quilting. After all that hard work you put into your quilt, you hate to see puckers. Well, I know I do. 

So I did some researching and came across an informative video. In all honesty, I've never ever adjusted the pressure when sewing OR quilting so this was a good tip even for me! :D 

Have a looskie. She makes some really good points. 

And...

She shows some really neat machines too!  I love my own high tech machine, but there is something about those older machines that capture my interest as well. Especially the featherweights. Someday I'd like to own one of those beauties! 

Here she rolls....

**Even though she shows you how to adjust the pressure on older machines, you get the general idea of the concept. If you are not sure where to adjust your own pressure settings, just refer to your owners manual. Don't have one? Check the manufacturers website for one online. :)

I can definitely see this coming in handy with straight line quilting! 

Oh, and by the way, thank you all so much for the birthday wishes!! I had a really great day today!! :D 

Much Love!!!

Labor Day 2010

Thirty four years ago my mom went into labour with me. Ironically enough, it was Labor Day then too (09-06-76)! I wasn't born till the day after (yes tomorrow is my birfday :) !!) but my mom and I always laughed about it! So....happy Labor Day!! Hope you all had a safe weekend!! 

Just a few things to show you. :) 

My DSQ9 (Doll Quilt Swap #9) is done! I put the finishing touches on it tonight and it will be in the mail tomorrow! I hope my partner likes it! 

Here is "Little Star-lits"...

A better view of the quilting...

 Then a shot of the label.....with the name covered of course. :D

 Now I just have some cuteness for you to see.... Odyssey sleeping on my ironing board....

Odyssey still sleeping....she's out like a light!

And still sleeping....

 Isn't she the cutest?

 She finally got sick of me taking her picture and sat up.... still half sleeping...

 Then she yelled at me.....

 Twice!! LOL!!

Nah...she was only yawning...but I thought it was funny just the same!! :)

Hope you enjoyed the slideshow!

Much Love!!!

Jar Of What...?

Anyone who knows me or has read my blog for some time, knows that music is a must have in my world. A day doesn't go by with out it and what I play always depends on the mood I am in, or the mood I want to be in. You know what I mean? When you're all frumpy and just need something to cheer you up? Music can do that for me. 

However, there is always a song (or ten) that gets you down. It makes you think of something you really don't want to think about. Maybe it's because of something that happened in the past or maybe something recent. Even though it makes you sad, you still like the song. Perhaps for the artist, maybe the melody. Lot's of different reasons. 

A song that released in July of this year is one of those songs for me. It's really kind of a depressing song, but Christina Perri has such a unique voice that it's stuck with me. 

Have a listen and see what I mean...

Christina Perri --- Jar of Hearts

See? Good song though, right? Right. 

Let me tell you something else. 

This song no longer depresses me in the least. It actually makes me laugh? Every time! You're probably thinking what kind of nut case I am, huh? LOL! 

Seriously....it makes me laugh because a few weeks ago I was in the car with my kids and this song came on. During the chorus when these words played..."collecting a jar of hearts.." my 9 year old son pipes up and asks, "Did she just say 'jar of FARTS'??!!"...and then he just broke up laughing!! I nearly had to pull over from laughing so hard! 

So, listen to it again, only replace the words. I dare you not to giggle from now on. :D 

Kids are the best for making us laugh, hm?

Much Love!!!

Speechless...

It's not very often I find my self in this predicament.

Today I received a piece of mail that left me awestruck and speechless. 

You would be too if you unrolled this precious piece of art...

 

**photo courtesy of Tweedledeedesigns on Flickr**

After about 15 minutes of tracing my fingers over the top, trying to see each piece that was put in just the right place, my daughter told me to look at the back....

**photo courtesy of Tweedledeedesigns on Flickr**

I couldn't believe that this quilt was actually mine. So much that I went and rechecked the address on the mailing tube to make sure it was addressed to me. 

 

You are probably wondering WHY I have this beautiful quilt. This is a result of participating in the Doll Quilt Swap #9 (DQS9) on Flickr.  I can say, hands down, that I am *THE* luckiest person in that swap of over 200 people. Don't argue with me, because I am. So there! :D

Per the note included, Angela said that the story behind the quilt was on her blog. Of course I went to check it out! Please take a moment and click HERE to read her story.  I feel like I have bits and pieces of Angela's life right in my hands. 

I still don't know what to say because I am so touched that she would share this quilt with me, a complete stranger, with it being so personal. It has definitely moved me to tears, more than once. Happy tears, sad tears...mostly happy. :) 

Angela...to you I give many many many thank yous for such a beautiful quilt, and a beautiful story. Even though the road wasn't always smooth and easy going, every last step was worth the miracle you hold in your arms every day. Thank you for sharing that with me. I will truly cherish this quilt forever!

Much Love!!!