Our Morning

There is nothing quite like an early morning walk in the mountains.

Especially when there are signs of fall staring to peek out through all the green.

We spent the evening at my husband's parents cabin up Cedar mountain.  It was a fun family night with movies, games, smores, hikes, and lots of laughs  (And a few tears when little monkey #5 didn't want to go to sleep until 2 am, but that goes with the territory, right :)

Before heading back down the mountain we drove up to the city lookout.  Isn't it just beautiful. Man I love this place!!

And I had to laugh when I looked down at the sign marking the lookout.  Apparently my city loves quilting as much as I do :)

I do a lot of Laundry!!!

So a few weeks ago my Sister-In-Law, Charlotte, posted on her blog that she had been using a homemade laundry detergent that she found in this post for about a year now.  I read through to find that it  is super inexpensive to make, cleans well,  and basically Charlotte loves it.  And then I got busy and forgot all about it.   But last week when Charlotte visited Cedar City I once again remembered and took advantage of having some insider knowledge, as did my other Sister-in-law's and Barbara.  Yup, it was a laundry soap making party!!!

I have been using the soap for week and have come to the same conclusion!!  I love it!!!!  So now . . . I am passing it on to all of you quilty friends in case you could use a little laundry savings as well :)  You can read it below or on Char's post, or on the Original post :)  You take your pick :)  


 Here is what you will need :

(Most of this can be found in the detergent aisle, with the exception of the Baking Soda and the Zote Soap)

1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax

1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Super Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer)

1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean

2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap (I found this at our local Latino market. If you can't find it, you can use an equal amount of Fels Naptha, but those bars are smaller, so be sure you get 28 ounces, not just two bars)

1 (4 lb) Boxes of Baking Soda (Arm & Hammer)

1 (55 ox) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener (optional--but it smells nice, makes the detergent look pretty, softens the fabric, AND provides a bottle for you to store your soap in so that you don't have to have a giant bucket of soap cluttering up your laundry room)

We were doing a double batch here :)

Grate the bar soap-- A food processor will save you a whole lot of time here ;)  If you want smaller bits of soap, you can do it by hand, using the smaller holes on the grater but your wrist might be a little sore :)

It's looks like pink shredded gum from the 80's :)  But don't confuse it with gum, that would be nasty :)

 Next, get a five-gallon bucket, and start mixing everything together. Charlotte recommended us to have a layer approach to this--i.e. dump about 1/4th of each ingredient into the bucket, then stir them all together (I use a wooden spoon). Then repeat three more times. This will totally save your arms ;)

Then just use a measuring cup to pour your soap into your bottle and the remainder store in your bucket, I just put the lid on and set it in the garage :)

Now you're done! To use the soap, just put in 1-2 Tablespoons in with each load of laundry. You'll think you need more, but really you don't.  I marked my lid at the 2 TBSP so that it is easy to see.  Charlotte says and I have found as well that when washing the water doesn't have the suds that you're used to. That's okay, your clothes will still get clean. 

So there you have it :)  Homemade Laundry detergent.  To make one batch it cost $31.00, and at 2 TBSP a load and about 2 1/2 gallons of soap, I figure it will last about 1 1/2 to 2 years :)  It actually makes me smile to throw a load in the wash now, just a little triumph of savings each time ;)

So that's it for today.    Yup, a little off topic from our normal quilting  but hopefully still helpful ;)  Have a Happy Quilting Weekend, and maybe fill it with a little laundry as well :)

Backings and Bindings

So you remember the three quilts from last week that I have waiting to be quilted??    The bottom is my queen size Starburst Quilt, the middle is my Star Surround from the Quilt-a-Long and the top is my Star Value Bee Quilt.

Well, I am one step closer to quilting :)  I started making a backing for my Star Surround quilt and realized why not get the other backings done as well.  Backings are not one of my favorite parts of making a quilt so doing them in an "assembly fashion" just seemed to make it get done faster :)  After they were done, I thought, I just love when I finish quilting and can bind it right then and there and see it all done!!!  So while I was in the mass production mood, I just went ahead and whipped together the bindings as well ;)  (which I actually really enjoy making, little random but true :)

So now, I am all set and ready to go.  I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see these all grouped together and waiting to go on the long-arm.  I am taking a quilt off the frame today and then Barbara is loading her Star Surround so she can get done in time for the parade. Which means I might not get mine done by the parade, but I am not complaining, I am just grateful there is a long arm available for my use :)  

Big Changes for A Little Lady

So this weekend had some big changes in our house.  The crib came down.  Now, lest you think, well of course it came down, that's totally normal.  Well, this is the first time in the last 10 years that the crib has not been occupied.  Our wee ones have stairstepped their way, each new one kicking the old occupant out when they arrived.  And now, there is no new occupant.  I am officially out of crib stage.  (Ya, there was some weeping that went a long with this weekend, good weeping, but weeping none the less.)

So now, my little baby girl  has moved onto being a little lady sleeping in a big girl bed!!!

And yes, that old deka cover is not the final bedding.  I have some wonderful plans for this adorable Sweet Things bundle from Fat Quarter Shop.  It is going to be so cute!!  And I might even attempt to paint the bed frame white.  Well see if I venture out of my comfort zone there ;)

But as you can see, she doesn't mind the old cover one bit.  She is just happy to be a big girl now :)

I did get super excited (and stopped getting all sentimental crying) when I discovered there was a new wall in her room that needed to be decorated now that the crib was gone.  Out came my Read With Me quilt to go on her wall.  It looks so cute and I am so happy to finally have the perfect place for it :)

Oh, and speaking of this quilt, Craftsy did a wonderful little post for International Literacy Day and included this quilt in it.  I was so excited!!!  You can see the article here ;)

Alright, I am off for some long arm fun this morning :)  Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

One More Week until the Star Surround Parade!!!

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness.  You all are the greatest!!!  Can I just say that I am utterly blown away by how many of you are Quilting-A-Long with me and finishing your amazing Star Surround Projects.  As of this morning there are 74 linked projects, that are all absolutely amazing, and there is still a whole week to go!!!!   Which means, if you are still finishing yours up, don't stress, 7 days is lots and lots of time for whipping together a few more seams ;)

I am just so excited.  This is going to be such a wonderful conclusion to what has been an absolutely wonderful Quilt-A-Long.  I have had so much fun quilting with you all!!  So remember,  if you have your Star Surround project top done, be sure to link it up to the Grand Prize Linky.  And then don't stop there, move right on to the quilting.  I am hoping to make this the biggest Parade ever!!  So email me those quilty goodness pictures and lets make a fantastic finish to a wonderful experience :)

Yes, I need to quilt mine still as well, but I have one other quilt that needs to go on the frame first :)  It might be a late night weekend quilt for me :)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Tetris from a While Back

So this poor quilt sort of got forgotten.  Forgotten to be quilted for almost a year and then forgotten to be posted for about 2 months.   Do you remember the Tetris Quilt-A-Long that finished clear back in Sept of 2012 (like as in a year ago)??  Well my top got set into a pile of to be quilted, and sadly stayed there for a long time.  That is until my MIL's new long arm came.  This was the first quilt top to be loaded and it was great for trying out all kinds of stitches.

We pretty much did a different stitch in every tetris piece.  So ya, you can find a whole lot of quilting variety in this one.  Pebbling, Loops, Feathers, these little Loopy Daisies.

Straight lines, Zig-zags, Basic Meanduring, Interlocking Squares, and these Interlocking Circles

Yup, it has a little bit of everything.  And the fun thing is that when I say WE, I really meant WE.  All of my Sister's In Law, my Mother In Law,  my Nieces, even my sons took a turn quilting up a space.  This is one of my cute little nieces squares.  She had so much fun!!

Once it was all quilted it came off the rollers and my wonderful MIL bound it.  All in all, a great finish that was the absolute perfect quilt top to try out the new long arm.  Now it is a happy little quilt that the kids love to wrap up in while watching movies because they helped with it.  It is so fun to watch them try and find their little space of quilting, love it!!

Have a Happy Quilting Weekend!!

Linking up to Sarah's and Amanda's :)

Crochet Halter Dress, Too Cute!!!

My Sister-in-Law and my Niece are visiting Cedar City this week and we have been having some great times.  This SIL happens to have been mentioned here a few times before as she is the crocheting extraordinaire.  So, I wasn't to surprised when my niece came upstairs this morning (she got to sleep over, so fun!!!) wearing this adorable crocheted Halter Dress.  Isn't is just so stinking adorable!!!

My SIL tested this pattern for fellow crocheter Pontepretties , which can subsequently be found in Pontepretties etsy shop :)  (just in case you are a fan of crocheting as well as quilting :)    I love the little ruffle at the bottom of the skirt.  So cute!!!  Now I just need to figure out how to make a patchwork one, tee hee hee ;)

And I have to finish with this adorable picture of my niece wearing the dress and posing for the etsy listing in my SIL shop. (Yes, in case you love the dress but don't crochet, like me, my SIL sells these dresses here and here)  Isn't she just the cutest!!  What a doll!!!

  

Have a Happy Quilting (and maybe a bit of crocheting) Day!!!

The List

So once again, it has been a little while since I have done a Work in Progress Wednesday so I thought I would check in once again with the list.  But first, here is what is on the top of my Work In Progress Pile.

First priority, My Road 15 quilt.  I cut this out almost 3 weeks ago and then it had to be set aside for some other projects, but it is once again at the top of the list.  I have done a little piecing but there is a long way to go.  But I am so excited to see this one come together.  I think it just might be my all time favorite design :)

Next on the list, do you remember this quilt I showed for Bloggers Quilt Festival, well, the Alumni Director at my University and I are good friends and after some chit chat I am making a second one for Homecoming next month.  (And I plan to finally write the pattern with this second one, I decided to wait on it as I think I can incorporate some strip piecing to save time and wanted to try it out with this one :)

This is how far I have gotten on this project.  Yup, I bought the fabric :)    I have to say, I am a little weary of doing that applique all over again, but I am hoping that since I already have the templates cut out it will go a little faster.  And question???  Would you like a tutorial on how to do layered appliques??  I figure I could take some pictures along the way if it is something you are interested in.

Once those two quilts are done, my plan is to focus on quilting up these finished tops.  I can't believe I never got my Starbust Quilt top pieced from the Spring Quilt-A-Long.  Lame me.  I would just be over the moon if I could get all three of these quilted by the end of the month.  That is the goal, well see :)

So that is the top of the priority list.  Here is the rest of the rundown :)

Designing Stage

• Circle Meets Square Quilt 
• Hexie BCB
• Twists and Turns

Piecing Stage

• Jessi and Me Quilt - Starting back up again on Wed Afternoons :)
• Alumni Quilt
• Block of the Month - Lucky Stars (So far behind, I don't know if I will ever get caught up)
• Road 15 Quilt

Quilting Stage

• Solids Quilt for Free Motion
• Star Value Bee Quilt 
• Star Surround Quilt-A-Long
• Starburst Quilt-A-Long 

Completed Stage  

• The Way The Crow Flies
• SC - Secret
• ASOQ - Secret
• All Star Baby Quilt
• T-Shirt Memories Quilt

Linking up to Lee's 

Beds for Pups

So it was a super fun, but busy weekend as my family and I went with my siblings and parents for a little camping trip.  We had a great time, even though we did get a little soggy from all the rain.  So, I was away from my computer and sewing machine all weekend.  I have spent the last hour or so, catching up on emails and checking out all of the Star Surround QAL links!!

You can imagine my huge surprise to get back and see that there were already 60 entries into the Star Surround QAL!!!  And there is still 12 days left to finish the tops and link up.   Seriously, pop on over and check them out, they are stunning!!   I can't wait to see how many finishes there will be, this is my best QAL turnout so far and that makes me so very happy!! You all are amazing!!!

There was a tiny bit of sewing done before we left on the camping trip and that was to close up all the trim stuffed dog beds that the scouts made last Wednesday.  Aren't they just so fun!!  My MIL helped with finishing them up and now we just need to go deliver them :)  It's nice not to have any waste, just makes me smile :)

Alright, I have a mountain of clothes that smells like campfire so I best get going on that ;)  Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Finishing Up the Month

With the month quickly coming to an end I had a few projects that needed to be finished and go in the mail.  So I have been a little crazy in the sewing room this week.  And with school in full swing and only 1 kidlet home in the afternoon who still takes a good 2 1/2 hour nap, it is a whole lot easier to get in my sewing room and get some serious chain stitching going :)

My first finishes are my Bee Blocks, Yippee for getting them done with 2 days to spare :)

Joelle in my Beejeebers group asked for a wonky work block.  She gave us a list of words to choose from and I jumped on happy.  It just made me smile the whole time I was putting it together ;)

And Jodi from the Bees Knees asked for some Scrappy Summer Squares a la Allison at Cluck Cluck Sew.  Didn't she send the cutest fabrics to put these together.  They really do scream summer ;)

My next two finishes are some more of those secret projects so I can't show them yet, but in the near future, I promise :)  I thought it would be fun to show you the quilting though.  I have been on the Long Arm the last 2 days.  Each time I play on it I get a little more comfortable.  The first quilt, I decided to use my all over echoed paisley design.  It is one I am very comfortable with so a great one for practicing on a new machine.

And the second quilt I got a little more out of my comfort zone.  This quilt sort of a incorporates my love for piecing, so I decided I wanted to quilt it with some of my most loved Free Motion designs.  Those would be swirls, pebbles, and paisleys.  So I grabbed some paper and pen and started sketching.  This was a rough draft for the concept I was after.  Pretty fun huh :)

And this is how it came out on the quilt.  Sorry, it is a little hard to see, crazy background fabric :)  But I am pretty excited with how it went from concept to quilt.  It isn't perfect by any means, but it really, really, makes me smile :)

And now, I am off to the post office.  Whoo Hoo, what a weight off!!  Have a Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Linking up to Amanda's and Sarah's :)

T-Shirt Quilt Kit Winners

Thank you for the sweet, sweet comments on my T-Shirt Memory quilt.  It has quickly become a favorite around the house :)  And now, I need to pick 2 winners for the T-Shirt Quilt Kit :)

Thank you again to June Tailor for providing 2 lucky readers with these fantastic Kits!!  

And the winners are . . .  

 and 

Who happen to be . . . 

Congrats A.J. Dub. and Mom C.    A.J. sounds like she can sure use this quilt kit.  That is a lot of T-shirt projects to put together ;)   Mom C. just happens to be my wonderful MIL, and I know she will use it.  She has been entering giveaways on my blog since I first started it and she finally won one.  Yippee!!!

Have fun ladies ;)  And a Happy Quilting Evening to ya all!!!

Going, Going, Almost Gone :)

So I know I have said it before, but I am just over the moon excited with how many of you all are quilting along with me for the Star Surround QAL :)  I get so excited each time I get an email with someones new linky!!  It is just so fantastic to see everyone's projects coming together and they are all just stunning!!

So I know a lot of you wanted to quilt-a-long but didn't have time right now.  So, I wanted to throw this little shout out for yall.   There are still a few of the Star Surround QAL kits available but they are going fast.  The solid kits at Christa Quilts have been marked down an extra 20% so they won't be around much longer.  So if you wanted one but were waiting to have more time pop on over and check them out :)

  

And if you wanted to do a scrappy version, there are still 3 of the custom bundles available at The Intrepid Thread, but like the solids, they are almost gone.  So, if you want one to set aside for the future, pop on over and check them out :)

  

Alright, gotta get the kids out the door for school then I am off for some long arm fun this morning ;)  Have a Happy Quilting Day!!

Just Keep Trimming :)

So . . . Can you tell what I have been doing lately??

Nothing quite like a lovely pile of trimmings :)  And these trimmings won't be sitting around long.  Tomorrow night the scouts in my son's troop will be taking all of my bags of trimmings and super small scraps and  using them to stuff animal beds for our local animal shelter :)  Should be fun!!

Now I am off to make the covers for those animal beds so they actually have something to stuff :)