Well, I am posting from my phone tonight -- for the very first time!  I really don't care for it, but it will have to do as my #2 son is busy doibg his homework on my laptop.

I can't get my pictures to load. I suppose I will have to figure that out another day.

Today was another busy day that somehow left me feeling like I got very little accomplished. Yeah, I worked out and did some laundry and went to tennis practice but thats about and it took up sooooooo much time. Its really becoming frustrating as im not finding the time to work on my crafts. I think I need to make some changes as to when I do my chores and when I do what I want to do.

Well, tomorrow I have a tennis match in the morning and I am seldom productive after a match but I guess I will see how I feel tomorroW.

Right now, I am going to head to bed and crochet a bit and with a little luck I might actually be able to sew something one of these day!

Time Management

Back-post Double-crochet Granny Square
Throw for my neice

So, today I learned that I am definitely going to need to learn to prioritize and manage my time a bit better. 

I did manage to get quite a bit done today just not any of the fun stuff ;)  I did manage to walk my boys to and from school (took 16,000+ steps today), a little bit of weight training, cleaned my bedroom and a portion of my bathroom, 2 loads of laundry, swept the downstairs, blog and... began investigating Etsy.

I have become very interested in opening an Esty shop.  But, I really want to take my time and figure out what and how to do it before I jump right in. I really enjoy crocheting and sewing and I'm hoping that I can make something of it. 

Tonight, when I make my list for tomorrow, I am going to try and do a better job of managing my tasks and time... or at least that's the plan.

The picture above is of my Nieces' Christmas present or at least part of it.  I really love the colors and the softness of the yarn.  It really turned out to be quite a cute, cuddly little throw.  Below are pictures of the right and wrong sides as well.

The right side: love the ribbed stitches

 

The wrong side: still looks pretty

 

 

Well, I am going to head to bed. I am pretty tired from today and my bed is calling my name... oh yeah, I need to crochet a bit before I fall asleep, too.

 

Until tomorrow...

Back at it again...

Back-post Granny Square:
for my niece
 

So, it's been a while since I've blogged and yeah things have changed a bit for me and mine. 

Last summer, I took my boys on vacation for six weeks to my mother's house in Indiana.  Over that period of time my Mom taught me how to crochet.  Well, my Grandma taught me the basics when I was very little and I wanted my Mom to teach me more. 

Mom was making a Granny Square blanket for her newest Grandchild and I insisted that she teach me.  She gave my a quick tutorial and I figured easy peasy... I was wrong.  After lots and lots of squares that never grew in size and stayed incredibly tight and left me incredibly frustrated, I insisted that she sit down beside me and we both crochet a block together at the same time.  I quickly figured out the problem was a couple of left out stitches and then I was off making a baby blanket for a new cousin all on my own. 

The cool thing I taught myself was how to read a crocheting pattern.  Because Mom was following a pattern I was able to break down the "code" and figure out what all those little letters meant (and eventually take it a step further to symbols).  Oh yeah, another really cool thing is that all of my boys tried their hand at crocheting.  Things 1 an 3 gave up, but 2 and 4 kept at it and made some really "interesting" things. 

So, since July I have made 2 baby blankets, a blanket for my niece, 3 Granny-square throws, 3 scarves, 4 tablet holders/protectors and a couple of doilies.  Right now, I am currently working on another scarf, another doily and have 2 more throws started.  I guess I became a little obsessed ;)

I still want to quilt and sew and make some bags while I'm sewing, but I kind of burned out my sewing machine.  I have a couple of great friends who have lent me theirs over the last year or two, but it's just so easy to sit with everyone and crochet rather than be holed up in my office.

Well, for now, here's my plan:   In the mornings I will be working out, cleaning a room of my house and then sewing/crafting.  In the afternoons, I need to workout again, clean a little of the common areas and help my kids with their homework (possibly crochet).  In the evenings I hope to crochet, blog and crochet some more before bed. 

Last week wasn't a bad start.  My kids and hubs helped me get the house all cleaned up so I have a head start going into this week :)

The picture I posted above is a square from her blanket I made while on a trip to Milwaukee, WI for my Grandmother-in-laws funeral.  I will post pics of the finished product tomorrow.

Until then... nighty, night :)

Brown and Blue Baby Boy Quilt backed in flannel

Quick baby gift for one of Hubby's employees.

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Lots to do!

I didn't really get a whole lot accomplished this weekend.  Just managed to finish a piece of embroidery.

So, this week I get to play catch-up!

Have three small quilts to quilt and bind, one to bind, a doll blanket to baste, back and bind and a twin-size quilt to quilt and bind.  I should get all of the quilting done on the small things tomorrow.

I should...

But, here's the kicker... I really need to clean my house and do my laundry.  Maybe if I can get all my cleaning done before noon I can get to the sewing... or maybe I should just wait to clean until the kids get home.  I'm not sure... I guess I will see how I feel in the morning.

Had a tennis match today and won it with my bestie, Angie.  A couple of years ago we had a saying, "I don't play tennis, I erode the human soul."  That's what we did today.  We today kicked butt and had fun doing it.

Well, I am heading to the shower and then off to bed... until next time (hopefully posting pics of completed quilts)...

<3

Missing In Action

Sorry, I have been MIA the last two weeks. 

In my last post I was definitely PMS'ing and besides the "normal" things that go along with it, the muscles in my calves cramped like there was no tomorrow.  So, for the first part of the week I was out of commission and got absolutely nothing accomplished.  The second half I ended up with a urinary tract infection which was just painful.  I think I ended up drinking my weight in Cranberry juice and it eventually took care of the problem.

All of that led in to the weekend in which my Mother-in-law wanted to take the kids for the weekend allowing my husband and I to celebrate our 14-year wedding anniversary kid-free.  Yippee!  We ended up having a very nice weekend eating out at several of our favorite restaurants. 

Sunday, we were brought back to reality and had to pick up our kids.  We spend that evening with my Mother-in-law getting home in time to get the kids in bed by their normal bed times. 

That puts us into this week and, for most of the week, we have had really gray weather.  It rained Monday and Tuesday.  Wednesday it was sunny, but Thursday and Friday have been mostly cloudy with the sun peeking out here and there.  I know I shouldn't blame it on the weather, but this week has been a struggle to find any motivation.  I have managed to get the small/doll quilt embroidered but that's about it. 

I don't have tennis tomorrow and would really like to get some of my smaller quilts quilted.  I am not sure about the twin-sized quilt and trying to push in through the sewing machine I have been using.  It might work better if I had the right kind of sewing table as well. I guess it's time to do some research and see if there is anything out there that fits the description of what I need or want.

Next week will be better and I hope to be posting some pics of completed quilts!

Until next time

<3

I hate gray days...

Twin-size Blue and Red "Flock of Geese"-- not quilted yet

Blue, Green and Yellow Baby boy Quilt top

Fabric Inspiration -- I think it needs a little more blue

Today is a blah, gray day and I can't seem to find any motivation.  I've read a bit, watched Eat, Pray, Love (which I didn't think I'd like, but I did) and ran to McDonald's for lunch.

Now, I'm sitting here waiting for my kids to get out of school with an extra 45 minutes.  I am really struggling right now, emotionally.  I've got to be PMS'ing.

I'm pissed at myself because I lost 12 lbs at the beginning of the year and I have gained 9 back. Yet, I'm not working out and eating McDonald's... What in the world am I doing?  So, now, I need to add diet and exercise to my ever-growing to do lists.  I think I am going to to the 17 day diet again and start turbo zone again.  And I am definitely going to get the husband on board with the plan.  It's so much easier when we are on the same page.

I have been pretty busy this week and have managed to get six tops finished.  5 of them are backed and waiting to be quilted.  The sixth is waiting on some embroidery and then I will finish that one up. 

I have also been a bit more successful with putting aside my "work" when the kids get home.  But, I am thinking that I neex to take one day a week to clean house.  Maybe Monday because that's my laundry day.  We'll see.

I am very excited to almost have this first round of quilts done.  I have plenty more to start designing -- and that's my FAVORITE part :)

So, until the next time...

<3

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