two started projects are truly not enough

The last week I did not really sew a stitch. I did not have the time nor neither was I really in the mood. It didn't stop me from started several more projects and having a few little ones just waiting to get fixed. But my biggest fixing project is in the works and my laptop is mailed of to repairs. Just because of two little keys not functioning. Perfect timing. Right on the last days before my original warrenty is running out. Now I switch between the old slow desktop PC to get my college work done and printed and Leland's notebook to be able to upload pictures.

- Luckily you don't get to see the stove top -

 Inbetween we did a fixing up job on the house and got a new stove. This old one here is I bet as old as the house. 20 years and counting. Already sparking. Burning everything in the oven in the back and from the bottom and not getting the front baked and it's plainly a mess. It's sitting in the garage now. Until we figure out what to do with it.

After having the new stove sitting in the middle of the kitchen it was still necessary to remove several pieces from the kitchen built-in to get the new one in. That did take some time.

While the previous installer's did a master's job on the 220 plug there is gaping hole in the kitchen wall. Of course curious Antonio has to stick his nose inside and if possible sneak all of himselfl inside if I did not catch him in the last second on his back paw. I had no intention on making a bigger hole just to get the kitten back out.

I let Leland use his carpentry skills to cut and saw and whatever else he had to do to make a dusty mess and to get the new stove fitting in PERFECTLY. We still have an old kitchen, but it is already looking up.

The saw dust and mess is gone again and the kitchen will be open for cooking and baking again as soon as I figure out all these buttons.

more as one excuse

The kids went back to school this morning, but it seemd they had a much easier time getting up earlier again as me. I had a real hard time staying awake after dropping the kids off at school and it was just too cold in the house, so snuggling back under the covers just happened to be the best option. A little while later the cats and the puppy joined me in the living room and while Leland and I watched the last episodes off Torchwood from BBC, I got started with cutting the fabric for my first project of the year and even sewed the first strips together until I ran out of white fabric. With the football game going on the telly screen there was no way that I spent all evening on the couch with Leland. Soccer you might get me to watch, football is still a lost cause. Nevertheless I started on the second project of the year, cutting the fabric and piecing it as far as possible until it came to the one missing fabric. Obviously with two started projects needing fabric, does this not allow a trip to the fabric store? 

Now I just need to choose the one color and fabric that just makes these fabrics pop.

times two

There is already a long list of I-would-love-to-do-projects for this year. One does include this jellyroll and was all ready to go until I noticed that it is not enough fabric and unfortunately that store is not just around the corner. So today all of us made a trip to stroll through Ikea and I added one of the shortest stops ever to

JoAnn to get a second jellyroll and resisted to look for more. Now I just need to find some energy to get started with this project or one of the many others.

happy new year

from us to you.

 

Have a great year 2011 !

 

the last project of the year - probably

Bella is modeling my last night's done sewing project. One I wanted to make since a little while, but I really had to sneak this one in. I wanted to make this simple apron for myself. I usually do not wear any apron, but there so many beautiful aprons and the simplicity of this one just caught my eye.

Do you see the purple background - that was our main activity the last two or three, four, five, ... including Christmas eve - PAINTING. I sewed the apron while the second layer of the pruple was drying and before we started painting the trim and the doorframes of Chiara's room white. Bella's room is already green now and Soren is happy in his blue room. Right now her carpet is drying before we can move everything back in her room and perhabs can get rid of some of the chaos in the house here that exists in our hallway filled with furniture and toys moved out of the way and by now moved all over the house.

Owl Lover Calendar - free

In 2011 I actually should be all set with calendars right from the start for a change. Even I already have ideas for a calendar a la me for the following year, but that is still in the planning stage, I found an adorable FREE PRINTABLE Owl Lover calender option. You can customize it with choosing with artwork from 30 artist and download your own version. Now I just need to get that file to my printer and can add it to my stack of calendars.

Be aware it's adorable.

the day after

Bella and Chiara can bicker and fight with each other all day long like typical sisters, but still there are times they just don't want to be without each other. But as soon as they get crafty they are unseparately. Last night they picked up one of Chiara's crafts sets from Christmas and started painting all the walls for the wooded horse-stable set. And first thing this morning they got back to it. 

Of course, Soren sees paints he wants to paint, too. So he got busy painting Santas. One got really green in his face, perhabs a sign of too many cookies the day before. One Santa, two Santas got painted by my happy little artist with the paintbrush. I just doubt our kitten was so happy about being painted in red by Soren  and the necessary bath followed.


Happy Holidays

Plans alays change ... als fr the FSI - (no typos - just life)

Last Friday morning I was busy sewing on two of my secret little Christmas projects. I had big plans for sewing all evening, but these did definitely interrupted with picking up a little fellow, we named Antonio.

There was simply no chance to get any sewing done that evening. More playing, hugging, snuggling and making friends. By now the little cutiepie als called 'vicious monster' on occasions is sharing and participating in almost every activity in the house. Right now he is either sitting on Soren's lap or climbing on the table between my notebook or on the sewing machine.

By the ay did yu ever nticed h many ''s and ''s are used in the Englisg language?

That was supposed to say:

By the way did you ever notice how many 'o's and 'w's are used in the English language. Those two keys stopped working yesterday n my keyboard and oh my - it is rough just typing  - I learned that there is a virtual keyboard on the computer.

For all the teachers as gift and for a few special people I made 'Spa Pillows'. There a filled with spelt and can be used as cold and warm therapeutic pillow for all kinds of different aches.

And another picture of the little daredevil of the house who just has to be everywhere in the front row, even if that means climbing up on my pants or jumping onto my shirt to reach his goal.

a little bit of xmas deco - just finished

He is the cutest and most precious mas decoration we have, the puppy we the santa hat comes only second .

Jacquie from Tallgrass Prairie Studio always has great idea and projects and these little xmas mini quilts are one of them. I fell in love with her idea and just had to try it out almost right away. Chiara is all excited about them and already plans on more for every season especially Halloween - sure if she helps. And I bet she can do it. This is such an easy project with fusible interfacing backed fabric.

I lined them up on a rough string with small colored clothes pins and they already found their place right above our kitchen table. The picture looks kind of plain but from my view here it fits just right. And most of all I enjoyed making them and that's what counts most.