Double Throwback Thursday:)

This is my Throwback Thursday post from July that I never posted. Therefore, this is a throwback to July of a throwback to......well you get the idea. Double throwback :) It seems appropriate to post now since I am just getting around to thinking about Christmas sewing.

Back in July:

I haven't been sewing much since it summer. Once the kiddies are out of school, I have no schedule or routine at all. This year, I have been quite consumed to even think about sewing. My plan was to use July for sewing Christmas gifts! Ha! Perhaps at least plugging in the sewing machine would help. Or maybe not sitting for literally days on end at the Honda dealer would help also. The best part? I told them what was wrong with my car and how to fix it. They did not listen to me and finally came up with MY solution. Anyways, it is fixed now. Moving on.......not dwelling on that.

So, since my sew-jo (sewing mojo) is on hiatus for the time being, I though maybe visiting a few finished projects would be fun. These were supposed to be Christmas gifts. However, that whole "sewing in July" thing didn't happen that year either. I didn't start until September. Are you noticing a theme?

My good friend Brownie pointed out that we were running out of time for a Christmas deadline. I was so crushed. Once I was done sobbing over the fact that I was a complete failure we moved our deadline to Valentine's Day, which was actually a really good idea. If we gave the quilts for Christmas, they would have just ended up lost in the piles of presents. This way, they were the spotlight gift.

I let the girls choose their own fabrics for these. I used Crazy Mom's zig zag quilt pattern. Here . Funny, I buy so many patterns and then use a free one! I had fun making the backs of these too.

This next one I made for my husband (Sweet Jane French Window Panes) here. I should have made it larger for him so he stops stealing my quilt. My quilt is pink and he doesn't even care. Really? Maybe he secretly likes pink.....maybe it is just the whole colorblind thing. Maybe it's because he is a a dork. Yes, that must be it. Yes, he reads my blog too. I better start running, I'm going to be in trouble. Perhaps I should mention that he bought me my Bernina as an anniversary gift. Best present ever! Yes, he's a keeper. He bought me my longarm too. The ladies at the quilt shop point and say "that's him". True story. It is so funny.

I'd love to know when you do your Christmas sewing, one of these years I will be organized!

Happy Halloween!

It's that time of year again. My entire neighborhood stocks up on candy, turns every light on in their yard and waits. One of these years, we will have some trick-or-treaters. The problem is you have to drive from house to house. We had a trick-or-treater one time. Really. True story. Of course, it was my cousin's son so I don't know if that really counts. He was a toddler at the time and he is now in his last year of high school.

I'm not a big Halloween fan, the last time I dressed up was fifth grade. My kids have had Halloween taken away three years now. September 11th, a snowstorm, and we had a bad flu year. All cancelled. Pretty crazy.

This year, we were asked to dress like book characters and had a reading day at school on Friday. Keep in mind, we found out about this at the beginning of the month and my daughter LOVES to read. When do we decide what we are doing and start getting a costume together? On Thursday. She decided to be Annabeth from Percy Jackson. Pinterest came to my rescue once again. I found an image on the internet to use but unfortunately, the iron-on printer paper that I bought needed to sit for 24 hours before washing. Thanks for putting the instruction sheet INSIDE the package. That was really helpful. Could we maybe have the instructions of the back of the package (there was plenty of room since it was blank). As a backup, I purchased flocked letter too. Thank goodness. She was quite happy with her shirt and I of course had a Yankees hat. As a bonus, I remembered two minutes before the bus came that my other daughter had a stuffed owl (forgot that in the photo). I feel like a hero now. BTW, just for the record I know nothing about Percy Jackson so this was a challenge!

Ha! I finally remembered to put out the candy corn that I made years back. Somehow, they sit in the bin every year. They look quite happy to be out, don't they? I thing this was a crochet pattern off of Lion Yarn's website. I added faces since I love making Amigurumi. Crocheting isn't very friendly for my thumbs though. I made this table runner from a LQS kit years ago. It is made from nine patch and hourglass blocks. If I remember correctly, the kit came with a project sheet of some sort. Did you ever have one of those projects that you purchase and make immediately? This was one of those projects. It doesn't happen often around here.

I should hopefully be back soon with a finish. For some reason, I just can't seem to finish up the binding on this darn quilt. I also have another on the long arm almost done, that was an adventure. I can't wait to tell you about that!

Are You Ready for Some Football?

Ok, so here is my take on football. I'm on to you men folk, I finally "get" football. How long did you think we would fall for this scam? Football is on television so men have an excuse to be couch potatoes and eat. Pretty brilliant, isn't it? Of course, sometimes the game is to boring too watch. Yes, they have that covered too. Nap time!

So, I have taken up watching the games also. It is a win win from what I can see. Gee, I 'd like to (insert whatever it is you don't want to do but were asked to) but the game is on. Interesting. Men folk are quite smart. Who would have known?

If you need me, I'll be on the couch sewing binding and watching a game or two. Actually, all joking aside, I do love sports. I don't live my life around the games, but I do enjoy them. Besides, it is always nice to have an excuse why you can't do something.

Hopefully I will be posting a finish soon. It is getting close!

Best. Day. Ever!

Did you ever have a product that you love but no matter what you do, it is nowhere to be found? Once upon a time, I had a mint chocolate chip brownie recipe that I loved. However, the chips are now impossible to find. No, not those green chips. These are mint flavored chocolate chips. Apparently, they only sell them seasonally now. Really? Why? I'm guessing they don't sell well enough year round. Of course, seasonally is only good IF a retailer wants to sell them. What happened to the local markets that would carry a product just because you asked. Ahh....the good old days. I miss those days.

Anyways, I was a bit annoyed this morning since I needed to go to the grocery store AGAIN. My family, according to way I see it at least, loves to plot against me. They seem to tell me what we need at the store after I go. Yes, I give them fair warning of my joyous trip. This week was no different. Oh gee, you just went to the store? Well, we need orange juice! If you listen closely, you can hear them snickering. I'm pretty sure they have secret meetings and plan to do this. I will find their playbook someday and sabotage it *evil laugh*

Where was I? Oh yes, the trip to the store. Ok, so I was scuffing around the store and grumbling with my "I don't want to be here face" on. Luckily, someone else that didn't want to be there either pushed their cart in front of mine causing me to stop abruptly. Grrrr.....Wait a second. What is this? All of a sudden there are rainbows, unicorns and chirping birds. No? A little to far fetched you say? But wait, in front of me is a display of these "seasonal" chips. Why what is this? Mint chocolate chips? Two. Bags. Left. Yes, I took both of them. Ha! Only took ten years to find them! Seriously. I'm not exaggerating. I would never do that. It isn't like my middle name is sarcasm or anything. Ha!

After I arrived home with my treasure and tossed the rest of the groceries into the fridge and cabinets, I searched for my recipe. It was missing. Oh. The company that had the recipe no longer makes the chips either. No product = no recipe. Luckily, Hershey had a recipe. Score! So, I grabbed the rest of the ingredients I needed out of the cabinet. What? The flour expired? I need to go back to the store because I, of all people didn't get what I needed at the store? Oh. Oops. This must be in their playbook. It certainly isn't my fault. Right? How incredibly clever of them. Evil geniuses.

Sigh. Back to the store I went. I skipped the whole way home. There is nothing like a brownie made from scratch. Delicious! Yes, I politely shared the brownies with rest of the family. I hope it made their day. It certainly made mine. Ok, not the best photo. I'm still new at this blogging thing so I never thought to take a decent photo. This was a quick iPad picture sent to my husband on his phone. I have to make sure he comes home, right?

I'm off to seach for and hoard a few more bags of those chips. They have to last until next year!

Back to School!

Greetings! Contrary to popular belief I did not fall off a cliff....even though I look and feel like I did. I am still here and my sewing machine is not even plugged in. I think it has been that way since June. It was a quick summer partially because of the numerous snow days in the winter.

Ah.....back to school kiddies. It seems like a great idea sending the kids back to school. Doesn't it? Then reality strikes. I've been stumbling around in a sleep deprived coma for the last week. Is it really necessary for a school bus to pick up kids at 6:30 in the morning? I hardly think so. Mr. Skunk wasn't too pleased either. He was still out from the night before, obviously partying. Perhaps his little skunklets went back to school too. Yes Brownie, I know that baby skunks are called kits not skunklets. I prefer skunklets. We went through a skunk phase here. Everyone and everthing has been sprayed by these guys. Even the guitar teacher, he was a good sport about it. I think.

Ok, so my "photographer" is obviously at school, I don't dare touch her camera since that would be a total disaster.

I'm off to find my sew-jo (sewing mojo). I know it has to be here somewhere, how far could it possibly go? I'm trying not to purchase any new fabric. Boo. However, I did find a loophole, imagine that? I was at the bookstore and needed a new calendar. When what to my wondering eyes did appear? Well, certainly not a miniature sleigh with eight tiny reindeer! We are not ready for that yet! I found a Kate Spain calendar. Big loophole! It is fabric goodness in paper form. Ha. Didn't break the "no fabric buying rule".

Hopefully next time I post there will be some sewing progress to show. Wish me luck!



Still Here!

Hi!

I just wanted to pop in and say hello. Summer is going good far, no sewing of course. Isn't it funny how that happens as soon as school is out? I'm just curious, do you lose your sewing mojo during certain times of the year? I know mine will definitely come back once school starts! Hopefully sooner though. My plate is a bit full right now, mostly with good things though. There are a few not so good things, kinda like those icky veggies on you plate. They make the good foods taste that much better though. Talking about food is making me hungry, time for breakfast!

Toss it on the Floor Tuesday!!!

Welcome to another Toss it on the Floor Tuesday. Ok, so it was ALMOST turned into Toss it out the Window Wednesday..... Why you ask? Well, I revisited an old project. Apparently, there is this thing called a pattern and it has directions. You really need to READ the directions and not make up your own from the pictures. Somehow, I thought that I needed this brown fabric for the inner border. Now keep in mind, this is a quilt kit.

I didn't have enough fabric. Oh goodness, what to do??? Well, I did what any wise quilter would do. I frantically tore apart my fabric closets. Yes, that's closets with an s. Don't ask. There must be another piece of that brown fabric somewhere! Nope. Ok. At this point, my heart is racing and my breathing, well you get the picture. Deep breath. What to do, what to do. I must have something that goes with this. Nothing. I know, an emergency trip to the quilt shop!!! Oh, wait. The school bus will be here in an hour and it is a 45 minute drive each way. Sigh.

Wait. What is this? Well that is interesting. Do you see that striped fabric? I certainly don't need that much for binding. Maybe I could use it for the inner border. I wonder if there is enough.....oh, there is!!! There is!!! This is a miracle! Ok. Another deep breath, press the fabric, grab the directions. How many strips did I need again? Umm........cut the strips for the inner border from the STRIPED fabric? Seriously? It actually says use the STRIPED FABRIC in the directions. Oh. In my defense, the fabric looked brown in the picture. Kinda. Gee, I just got a postcard that I am due for my eye exam.....

Anyways, how about some pictures. Imagine that, my sweet assistant is here to help.

Oh yes, much better. Thanks, but I can still see you.

Sew Fabulous Hive Blog Hop

Welcome to Sewing Time with Brownie! My name is Johanna, it rhymes with banana....too many people pronounce my name differently. It is easier to go by Jo, but there is already a Jo Morton in the quilting world. I can purchase fabric with my "name" on the selvage. Pretty cool, huh?

You may not have met my friend Brownie yet. Brownie is my daughter's stuffed seal that hangs out with me during the day and sews. When my daughter started preschool, she thought of any and every excuse why she couldn't go. One day, she said she couldn't go because Brownie would miss her and be bored. I let Brownie hang out with me and sew that day. I had no idea that it would turn into a regular thing. I certainly did not know that we would have to "report in" about our adventures to my daughter. It was actually quite motivating; we would be in big trouble if we had nothing to show for the day! Brownie doesn't hang around with me as much lately, she's getting a little older. She still pops in from time to time though.

You'll have to excuse Brownie. She heard that we would have visitors today and sometimes she can be a little shy. What's that Brownie? No, they know you are not a brownie. No, they don't want to eat you. My daughter has a sock monkey that teases Brownie all the time and tries to eat her. "Yum, brownies!"

Brownie's picture is the profile too. She is sporting her pin cup party hat. Those little Dixie cups come in handy for pins and of course, for M&Ms too. I've learned not to mix up the cups though. Yikes!

Would you like to see a few of the quilts I've made? Of course you do!

One thing that I've learned about blogging so far, besides the fact that I am not a photographer (but my oldest daughter is, thanks J), is to write down ideas for posts as they pop into your head. I have a few posts/ideas saved as drafts in Blogger. If I don't get my ideas logged, they end up lost somewhere in my head. It reminds me of going to the grocery store without a list, you know how that goes!

My favorite thing that I've learned with quilting is to press seams open instead of to one side. I love how flat it lays.

Some fun things you may or may not WANT to know about:

I love cutting up fresh veggies. It clears my mind and as a bonus, it's healthy.

I'm a weather geek. I absolutely love blizzards and of course thundersnow :)

I actually have a favorite book, and I am not a reader. I loved Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Book Store.

I'm not a big movie fan, does Rudolph count? I am a huge Rudolph fan. Is it Hermie or Herbie? Don't get me going on that!

I'd love to know what type of music you listen to while you sew. Perhaps you listen to audio books? I actually enjoy rap and hip hop, especially old school. Anyone that know me thinks this is quite hysterical since my personality doesn't match this at all! They have even quizzed me about songs and artists just to make sure!

Thanks for stopping by! We hope to see you again! Please visit the other bloggers in my hive!

 

Week 1 - June 15th

Tessa@ www.halfsquarequilts.wordpress.com

Sandra@ http://musingsofamenopausalmelon.blogpot.ca/

Jinger@ trialsofanewbiequilter.blogspot.com

Kelly@  blog.quiltingitout.com