Bad Bad Blogger!

I've been a bad, bad blogger.  

I know I've been MIA for longer than I care to admit.

Honestly, I'd hit a wall.  I had a to-the-death struggle with the fabric from this post:

 (Snot and Novelty Fabric).  

Remember this stuff?  

Well, I dug it back out, pinned the ever-loving crap out of it.

And got a not-to-ugly baby quilt out of it.  Actually, I think that it'll be really fun for a baby to play with.  My sister-in-law is expecting their first and they're not finding out what they're having.  

I couldn't ever do that.  I'd for sure go completely insane.  

They're doing red, white, and black for the nursery to match those eye development toys that you can find.  

Let me tell you, baby fabric doesn't come in red, white, or black!!

So, while I actually did do some sewing I couldn't share it until after the shower.  So, here is my quilt of death.  

I just hope the baby doesn't smother on it.  This thing is sooo hairy!!  I ended up just putting the fabric right-sides together and sewing it like a pillow, flipping it right-side out at the end, and putting a finishing edge on it.  Instead of quilting it (yeah right, like that was going to happen with this hairy thing) I just tacked it at every corner.  It was so heavy I felt like batting would be over kill and only needed if they someday moved to the Arctic. 

With several attempts at this monstrosity I ended up with several extra squares that I didn't need. (read: I had to cut off TONS of mistakes and this left scraps out the wazoo)

So I found this really cute fabric basket pattern: here

Of course, I have no CLUE what-so-ever when it comes to visualizing things from measurements.  I need photos that have objects in them so I can see things to scale!  

Any way, I made this little bugger as a little toy box or maybe hamper.  

Nope.

It's a wipe holder.

Way smaller than I planned.

But it's still pretty cute.

But this little book is the thing I'm most excited by.

It's made out of two 13x13" quilt squares, folded in half with cereal box bags inside for the crinkle sound!  

And miraculously it actually works!

(did I mention this would be a really long, rambling post?! Serves me right for being gone so long!)

This little lady had her very first day of Kindergarten today. 

She was more than a little nervous about that bus.  She looks so small with that huge backpack on!

But when the bus came she got on like a trooper.  Never looked back!  Good thing because this Mommy was crying like a baby.

Good luck baby girl!  That school won't know what hit them!

And now, in other news...(said with my most impressive news caster voice)

All of you prayer warriors out there.  Keep my little man Jackson in your thoughts.  We just found out that his little kidney is failing.  No clue yet as to why but we meet with the awesome Drs. at Children's Mercy in KC next week to find out what's next.  Not good news when they call and tell you that urology is going to refer you over to nephrology.  His new dr. deals mostly with transplants and pediatric dialysis.  

Not the words every mom dreams of hearing.     

But he's such a brave little guy.  We're just thankful that they've caught whatever it is at such an early age.  He wasn't having any problems that we knew of and was actually having a sono for a follow up of something completely unrelated and a REALLY AWESOME dr. saw something he thought was a little off at the very edge of the picture...

I woke up this morning to see this by the back door.

Maybe God reads my Blog

So, maybe God reads my blog?

OK, no I'm not delusional but maybe just maybe he got tired of my whining.

He's answered my call for inspiration. 

In the form of email.

Yes, I know, God doesn't have email. 

(I think...well...the Bible doesn't address such things)

But I know he works through the hands of our adoption agency.

And they definitely have email.

And they sent me this:

This is Charles Oliver.  He's 10 mos in this photo.  We have to edit out dear Foster Mom for her privacy.  It seems cruel to edit out the woman who's loving your son while your so far away, but rules are rules!

Now, if that's not inspiration (and a lot of happy crying) I don't know what is!!!

It seems that I will have to adjust my sewing to accommodating a WALKING toddler instead of the baby we were expecting.  

Maybe some big boy bedding instead of the crib bumper I just finished...

In DESPERATE need of inspiration!

So, we've had depressing news followed by more depressing news on the adoption front.

Blah Blah Blah Longer Wait Blah Blah

So, I've been away, licking my wounds and self medicating with chocolate.

But, I'm done.

I'll do what every red blooded American mom has done since June Cleaver and suck it up like a good Stepford Wife and drink alone in the bathroom.

OK. So, maybe I can't hold my liquor and the last time I drunk sewed (is that even a phrase?) it was very scary and I almost committed a little more of myself to my quilt than I planned. 

So, I'll just get really really fat while I stuff myself with chocolate until it all feels better.  

Yes, that's a much better plan.

I'm good at removing chocolate stains.  Much better than blood stains.

But ANYWHOOOO 

Back from that long winding train of thought.

I needed something to connect me to my baby waiting half way around the world.  Something to break the funk. 

So Enter the original "Mommy Craft" :

Korean Pojagi

by: Cathy McMurray

You may remember when I posted about another Korean sewing project here.  I think this style would be BEAUTIFUL with this carrier!

My most recent inspiration came from this lovely woman:

This translates into patchwork to wear like a scarf, or decorate with like a curtain, or even skirts and because there are no raw edges nothing needs lined!

And of course because I speak the language of quilts, here is some eye candy in the "style" of Korean Pojagi.  

by 2.hippos

by: boodilly

by: Movinghands

I think this style can translate beautifully with other more "western" modern quilting ideas!  

I can definitely say I'm feeling less "funky!"

It also might have something to do with bathing.

Just sayin'...

Carnies and fire!

For all of my USA followers, I hope you all had a very lovely 4th of July!  

Here's what the 4th looks like in our hometown!  

  .

Not bad for a town of 5,000!  We take our 4th of July seriously around here!

And of course there was pool time at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Here's my little guy!  

"I'm not feared of water no more"

 And my little mermaid.

And you can't have the 4th of July without the carnival!  

What's a good sweaty holiday without a few carnies?

So, how was your 4th?

For all of my USA followers, I hope you all had a very lovely 4th of July!  

Here's what the 4th looks like in our hometown!  

  .

Not bad for a town of 5,000!  We take our 4th of July seriously around here!

And of course there was pool time at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Here's my little guy!  

"I'm not feared of water no more"

 And my little mermaid.

And you can't have the 4th of July without the carnival!  

What's a good sweaty holiday without a few carnies?

So, how was your 4th?

101 Tutorials from Everything Etsy

I'm really in love with this blog and now they've compiled a little list.

Ok.  So it's not little AT ALL.

It's their 101 tutorials for Summer list.

Some serious cuteness happening here!

Just click above on the picture to go straight to their list!

This list has got everything from clothing, to bags, to kitchen goodies, and yes even a table runner or two.

This one has to be one of my faves and yes, it's a watermelon table runner. yummy.   

And then there's this ADORABLE skirt that is based on one of my most fave mini-quilts (remember when I blogged about it here)

That one is definitely going on my list!


Both projects are found on Everything Etsy's list.

So, for Tutorial Tuesday head on over to get 101 tutorials!!  

Can't beat it!

I can still sew...really, I can!!

It's been WAY to long since I've posted a Ta-Da moment on here.

I'm really quite embarrassed at how long it took to finish such a simple baby quilt.

I may have had the quilting equivalent to writers block.

We've received some disheartening news in regards to getting dear Charlie out of Korea.  It's technical, involves a lot of acronyms and is all together way to vague to actually be construed as news.    

Maybe a more accurate description is anti-news.

We know that while we are completely done with things on the US side the Korean government isn't being so accommodating.  Long story short is that they only issue so many EPs or Emigration Permits for babies to leave the country for adoption each year.  They're not processing ANY at all for this month (no explanation for this) and the general thought is that they'll more than likely be out very soon.     

So, Charlie will more than likely not make it home this year.  We'll miss his 1st birthday and so much more.

Ok.  Done with that pity party.  

On with the show.  

Grace had her final Tball game.  Is it just me or are the medals they give out at those things bigger than Olympic medals?  I mean, sure I'm proud that she didn't make any dust angels this time or break down in hysterics because she didn't get the ball first.  

But a medal nearly as big as her face?  What's to strive for next?  She's already won a ginormous medal in a sport they don't keep score for!

Life's been happening here as it usually tends to do.

I embarked on a baking journey.

My dad is gaga for lemon meringue pie.

I'm pretty proud of this bad boy.  Done completely from scratch and by HAND.  Yup.  I now have a ginormous right arm from whipping that bad boy.  And for those inquiring minds who are asking themselves "why on earth wouldn't she just use a mixer?"  I'll let you know my mixer is a turn-coat.  It took one look at actually being dusted off and being asked to work for a change and completely caught fire.  Not joking.  There was smoke. 

And what's a good quilt blog post without a random picture of a snake?

This little (big) guy was found in our flower garden steps from our front door.  I'm sure God knew what he was doing when he came up with the whole snake thing but I'll be honest and tell you that the only reason he's been allowed to live is that Lee informed me that this guy is probably the reason we've never seen any mice around our place.  The only thing I hate worse than snakes are mice.  

And because apparently I'm such an animal lover, we also hit the zoo.  I know.  We've crammed a lot of living into this past week.  

We hit the Omaha Zoo with my sis who's currently living in exile in Nebraska.  If you've never been to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha you should really make the trip.  It's HUGE.  We are officially stocking them.  I'd move in if I could.

We even dragged Grandpa along.  Can't you tell he's being tortured here?

I think my sister's youngest was a bit overstimulated by it all.

And my Jackson found long lost family members.

Seriously.  If that kid could have figured out a way to climb in I'm sure he'd have been happy to finally be with his own kind.

The gorilla didn't seem as impressed with my Dad and niece.

You know he's just making snarky comments under his breath here.

Cousin time is the best time!  

You'd never know that the one on the right (my daughter) is 5 and the one on the left (my niece) is just barely 4.  Her mom is over 6 foot so we'll see how tall she ends up!  

And just because I can!

Don't you think those colors would be fabulous in a quilt?  

Batiks anyone?