too blessed to be stressed . . .

This is a phrase that's entered my mind many times this week, "too blessed to be stressed . . ." It also got me thinking of a couple small positive changes I can make in my life.

Here's some things that made me feel blessed today . . .

Filling up my new magnet board from Livy Lou Designs ~ amazing quality and beautiful little magnets! Such a great way to display business cards and thank-yous in my craft space. I know I have more to add, I just have to start digging around for them . . .

My new notebook, waiting to be filled with all my project ideas so I can stop trying to find back my scraps of paper all over the place . . .Elayna's first knitting project, she LOVES sitting down to knit . . .

Our beautiful sunshine, can it can get any better than this?!

And my project on my cutting table right now, scripture tote bags for a custom order. I'm going to stitch on the Bible verses today, and then I can assemble them.

And this afternoon, my sister and I did a 'kid-swap' so I have cousins playing nicely, while Elayna gets the expertise of her Aunty in scrapbook-making.

Another quilt out of my UFO pile!

This is another quilt top that I pieced a LONG time ago and quilted at the retreat this past weekend. It was supposed to be for my oldest daughter, but we rearranged the bedrooms this year and she now has a double bed. But I just wasn't motivated to keep making these diamond blocks, and it already kind of matches Chantel's quilt, so I finished it off for Alyssa. How is it that my third daughter has four quilts from me now, and my oldest only has two? I better change that before she notices . . . her name quilted in the middle . . .
and both quilts together now. So happy to have them done!

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

a productive weekend of quilting . . .

This past weekend was our annual quilt retreat! I helped with the organizing this year, so my morning was a bit of a slow start with checking everyone in, but once I got some time in with my sewing machine I managed to get two twin size quilt tops quilted! I am so glad that these quilts are off my to-do list as the tops were pieced so long ago, it's embarrassing.

This is the first quilt I finished, and after machine-stitching the binding down yesterday, it is now on Chantel's bed. The backing is mostly a pink non-pill fleece with a little bit of purple pieced in. She had requested a soft backing, and I skipped the batting layer ~ it quilted up so easily! I just did a large free-motion meander for the quilting. The pattern is Lucky Stars from Atkinson Designs. And I'm not sure if you can read it, but I quilted her name into the corner of the quilt (my kids LOVE having their names on their things).

If you want to read about our quilt retreat, it's in a guest blogger post at Quilting Gallery today!

Baby-in-the-Hood Jacket

I bought this Riley Blake Wheels fabric quite some time ago because it was one of those prints that I just HAD to have, but I wasn't sure what to do with it. Then a friend of mine suggested we make these baby-in-the-hood jackets for our little guys, and well, what little guy wouldn't want a jacket covered in cars? I coordinated a couple other fabrics from my stash, and in no time had this little jacket sewn up. The pattern is from Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner.

I'm linking this up to Fabric Tuesday at QuiltStory.

Mom Central Blogger article . . .

This article was a recipient of a Mom Central Canada Blogger Grant.
Thank-you so much for choosing my idea and encouraging me to write this!

How to Combat the Down Days

Hi, I’m a Mom. I have wonderful children whom I love to pieces, a husband who works hard to support us, a beautiful home, a church family, and so many more blessings that I can hardly begin to count . . . so what’s wrong with me? Why do resentful thoughts enter my head? Why do I feel overworked and underappreciated? Didn’t I choose this task as wife and mother? And why does it seem like no one else feels this way- Is it just me?

I’m writing today about those “dark” moments or days. I’m not trying to address post-partum depression, a very real and difficult struggle for many women. I am talking about the majority of moms who wonder why they don't always feel fulfilled in their role as wife and mother.
I am one of these women. Most days are good, some days are bad, and there are random moments in-between that are awful. I’m sure some of those moments can be chalked up to hormones, financial stress, a child being difficult, or a bad experience that day. But there are also those days where the excuse isn’t there and we wonder why.

So what’s the solution? Ever heard the phrase “If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!” or “Happy wife = happy life!”. Well, there’s definitely some truth to these statements. But is it selfish to want something for ourselves? Well, in my opinion, the answer is NO, it’s not selfish. In fact, I think EVERY Mom should have something that is just theirs. As long as you find your balance between being there for your family and yourself, it’s healthy to pursue something that is just for you.

And if you’re not sure where your interests are ~ well, there’s a Mom that pursues everything out there! There’s the groups of crafting Moms ~ sewing, quilting, scrap booking, and home décor. Then there’s the women that can absorb book after book. There’s those that spend their time on the computer pursuing graphic design, photography, or blogging. There’s also the social Moms, who like to go visiting or volunteering. There’s the fitness Moms, the meal planners, the bakers, the crazy couponers, the cleaning perfectionists, the crunchy mama’s, and pretty much anything else in-between.

Online, you'll find a support group or forum for everything from trying to conceive to potty-training, from sharing meal ideas to uploading pictures of our latest crafty endeavour. Moms love to connect and bounce ideas off one another, and to be encouraged by one another. And there’s no shortage of us out there! Networking tools like email, Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter have made it easier than ever.

And you may be suprised by what kind of support groups exist within your own community. All you have to do is gather up some friends, or contact your local health unit or community church. Joining a Mom n' Tots group, finding a local gym that provides babysitting, swapping babysitting with other Moms, or finding a womens Bible study- are all ways that you can connect with other Moms during daytime hours. Getting a 'kid-break' for you, while putting them in an activity that helps develop them socially is a win-win situtation. Or if you have the flexibility of going out in the evenings- you might be able to join a guild in your area, take a night class, or start up a regular girls night or Splurge group with some friends.

And as for those dark days and moments? It’s amazing how less resentful we can be of our kids and spouse when we don’t feel like everything is about them. When we feel fulfilled and blessed, and are in a happier frame of mind, that attitude will spill over into our other daily tasks. And isn’t that what we really want? To be a better Mom, and a more loving spouse? By taking a break and nurturing ourselves once in awhile, we’ll be better equipped to do just that.

Rolling Meadows Quilt . . .

This past Fall, I won some fabric from the Modern Meadow line and the Rolling Meadows quilt pattern from Rebecca at Chasing Cottons. Even as I was entering this giveaway, I thought these fabrics would be perfect for my little sister. And because my sister is also a very talented photographer and keeps us up to date on our family pictures, I was more than happy to spend my time making her a quilt. I adapted the pattern a bit to make it more of a lap size, and added a couple coordinating prints. I stitched in the ditch using some of the decorative stitches on my machine. The backing is a Paisley from Robert Kaufman and it's a super soft minky (I bought it here). I'm looking forward to seeing this at her place when I come to visit!

scripture bags . . .

So after finding a little pair of embroidery scissors, I snipped all the threads and had these ready for our school auction. They both sold (yay!) and I just put in a fabric order to make up a bunch more. I think these might make good birthday gifts for little girls too ~ just throw in a roll of candies, a notebook and a pencil.

THANKS to Stephanie for the link to this tutorial. I also used the gathered idea from this tutorial to create the girl one. For the boy one, I just reworked the measurements so it would be side-lying, to look less like a bag and more like a case. I also just ordered new Bibles and books of praise for my girls so I have plans to make matching ones to their Spring dresses. But those will have to wait until after I finish up a few other projects.

Strite Rite Giveaway!

And the winner is lucky #30 ~ Congrats Katie!!

Stride Rite takes big steps to ensure that your kids little feet are comfortable and fit properly in their shoes. Stride Rite allows your child's feet to grow properly with the right fit, stability and breathability. Every new material and component is rigorously tested. And with 30 to 40 tests per shoe to ensure proper fit and durability, you can trust that nobody knows more about growing feet than Stride Rite.
One of Stride Rite's newest products are these adorable Glitzy Pets Glamorous sneakers in black and neon pink.

Features include:
*New Glitzy Pets fashion outsole with attitude
*Glitzy Pet on each shoe
*Lighted technology that Girls love

Win a pair of Glitzy Pets Glamorous Sneakers!

Here is how to enter:
Visit Strite Rite and tell me another pair of shoes that you would like to have.

Extra entries (leave a comment for each one):
Follow my blog publicly.
"Like" my Facebook page.

(If you are a no-reply blogger, please leave your email address

in your comment so I can contact you).

Must have a US shipping address. Giveaway ends February 23rd at 11:59pm. Winner will be drawn by random.org and announced on this blog as well as emailed. Products reviewed were provided to me free of charge. My opinion is my own and is an honest view of my experience with the product. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.

Good Luck!

A Finish for Wednesday . . .

The first fabric I picked up when I went to my craft room was a chocolate minky that had been given to me by a friend (left over from one of her quilts). It was just enough to back these pillow, and I've now decided that minky makes the perfect pillow backing ~ stretchy (and forgiving), cuddly and soft, and no edges to finish off! So in about 30 minutes I had all three of these pillows on my couch!
And I'm very excited to have put these left over Moda Daydreams fabrics to use. The wallhanging I first made with this fabric was completed almost 2 years ago! I LOVE it when online challenges give me the motivation to get something done for myself! Now to decide which ones to enter into the Sew Mama Sew Pillow Contest . . .

WIP Wednesday . . .

My three quilts blocks are quilted now ~ and wow, is it ever quick and easy to quilt a single block versus a whole quilt! I think there may be more quilted pillows in my future! Now I just have to figure out what to back the pillow covers with, sew them, and get them on my couch. I'm not sure if I should go with just a cotton, or a bit of a heavier weight fabric. I'm going to dig through my fabric boxes today before I make a trip to the fabric store.

Block Party one last time . . .

Here's my final submission for the block party!

I wanted to use up all the scraps I had left over from the other two blocks, and turn them into a block that can be used for a third pillow cover (SO excited to have these all in a row on my couch!!). Again, the fabric is left over from this quilt and it's from the Daydreams line by Moda.

I wanted to try out a diamond shape for the first time, and just kept bordering it with my strips of scraps. The finished block was really determined by what I had left of the prints, and it was fun designing it as it was created.

Now go check out all the other entries and get inspired!

Block Party again . . .

Here's my second submission for the Block Party!
I took a panel block from the Daydreams by Moda line and bordered it with my little scraps left over from this quilt. It was really fun to make, and again I'm also hoping to turn this one into a pillow cover for my living room. I'm entering this one in the "Traditional" category. Now go check out all the other entries and get inspired!

It's a Block Party!

Quilt Story is hosting a Block Party with lots of prizes up for grabs! And it was the perfect push to get a few blocks done up just for me!
This block uses up a bunch of my scraps from this quilt which hangs in the front entry of our home. I had so much fun putting all these beautiful prints into one block. I'm hoping to turn it into a pillow cover for my living room, so I can enjoy it every day. Now go check out all the other entries and get inspired!

inspired . . .

I made this quilt block yesterday . . . something for me . . . just because . . . and it felt good!

WIP Wednesday . . .

There's been a lot of coughing, napping, and trips to walk-in clinics this past week ~ two kids with ear infections, and everyone with head colds. Not fun. But I did get a little bit of time in the sewing room ~ there's an upcoming school fundraising dinner coming up and I wanted to make something for the silent auction. These are scripture totes and I had fun using the letters on my new machine to put the texts on them. I still need to snip all the little threads between the letters to clean them up a little. And my girls are already putting in fabric requests for theirs :)

WIP Wednesday . . .

So I stopped procrastinating and finished quilting this quilt for my sister, I just need to get the binding hand-stitched to the back.

But before I can do that, I need to finish quilting this beauty. This was made by a cousin and it's her first quilt! She was a little hesitant to quilt it, so I offered. It's a lapsize measuring 60" x 80" (is it just me, or do I make lap quilts really small, because this one seems HUGE!). Having the extra room in my new machine is helping immensely though, and I'm really loving the way it's coming out.