My Pride & Joy...

Isn't she beautiful?

This is my big, beautiful African Violet!

I used to have several

3-4 years ago

but when we moved to our current home...

they didn't take to kindly to the move...

needless to say...

she is the sole survivor!

I'd say she is at least as big as

a dinner plate....

and she has a big, beautiful bouquet

of pink flowers!

I just wanted to share her with you!

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I haven't been reading this week...

so I have got lots of sewing done...

I finished the embroidery on one of my

quilting projects...remember this one?

Each block contains an angel for each season...

I know this is a really bad picture...

but I have to check my stash to see if

(however many years ago it was that I started this thing)

I bought fabric to back it.

If not, I will have to buy some then quilt it,

then that's one more project done!!!

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Unfortunately...

you really crafty people need to please quit

adding all of these wonderful,

tempting new ideas that I really my try! 

Somehow my list seems to be getting longer...

not shorter!

                                                                          

Paintin' the Town...so to speak!

What a day!  I so hate shopping but to day was worth it!  Sandy and I (you know her from Sunflowerz Crochet & Sandy Sewz!) hit the town today checking out the local quilt and yarn shops!  We visited two quilt shops and two yarn shops and still have a list for our next girls day out!  It had been soooo long since I had been in a quilt shop it was like putting an alcoholic in a bar!  I was in shock!  The fabrics today are absolutely beautiful!  It almost makes me want to learn to sew! 

We saw so many cute samples of projects...quilts, totes and soooo much more!  Here is one sample of a tote we just have to make!  We each bought fabric and fixins' to make one! 

Isn't it cute? I don't have a picture of the

fabric I chose for this one because I

left it at Sandy's so she could make

it for me!

Here is another pattern we found and I could kick myself

for not taking a picture of their store sample...

Here is the fabric I chose for this tote,

the pictures do not show the insensity of the

fabric choices...

The squares will be these vibrant colors with the

lining and handles the green fabric.

And these are just some cute

fat quarters I picked up

for a project for the future!

So needless to say....

Miss Sandy is going to be busy!

(Have I said how much I luvvv her?!)

Look how cute they bagged our purchases! 

So... I must say, it was well worth the pain

I had to endure!

So stay tuned for the finished products!

                                                                              

How Many Years Later...

Just a quick little entry....

Remember the blue Hawaiian quilt block?

You know, the one I started....maybe 8 yrs ago or so?!

Yea...it was that long ago!

I finished the applique tonight

and had to tell someone!

Soooo...

I think what I may do is go through the list

of my UFP's and start to

complete them! 

(We will see how long that lasts!)

Hmmm...which one next?

Stay tuned...

 

                                                                     

Another Busy Weekend...

I must stop doing everything on Sundays as I could use the extra day to rest up

 before going back to work on Monday!

Got the house all cleaned on Sat so I could play

(or work, depending how you look at it!)

on Sunday!  I got a wild hair and decided I wanted to paint things!

My last, loney bar stool died so I found an old pair in the garage

that were way too light in color so I painted

them a dark brown to match the home decor...

before & and after

Then I found a small wicker table a friend gave me years ago

and decided it needed a little pick me up too!

before and after...

I know it doesn't seem like much to you but imagine

what seemed like

150 degrees outside...

100% humidity...

no breeze...

How stupid were we?!!  But it was well worth it! 

I think...

I also finished my book! 

The Aloha Quilt

I practically read the whole thing this weekend!  I could not put it down!

I think of all the books in her series... this was my favorite!

If you didn't read any of her books, at least read this one, you will enjoy it!

I almost forgot...Saturday when out shopping, my sister-in-law Sandy

(you may know her from Sandy Sewz & Sunflowerz Crochet)

asked if I could stop by her house as she had made me something...

I just luv her new sewing gig, because I usually benefit from it!

When I got there, she presented me with the cutest tote! 

I absolutely luvvvvv it!

Check it out...

She saw that I had admired one on another blog and she made me one herself!

Isn't it beautiful?!!

Thanks again Sandy!!

Well...I should put a wee bit of time into my Hawaiian block, as I am

still inspired from my book!  I only started it about 7 or 8 yrs ago!

It may actually get completely stitched this year!

I almost forgot...I also set up my Esty account! 

My husband has been telling me to do this for a couple of years now

so I finally did!  If you get a chance to check it out...

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sunnybinaz

I only have one item for now as I ran out of time...

I hope to get more items listed this weekend so stop by and check me out!

 

                                                                                          

FEELING INSPIRED....

I have been inspired to put down the yarn...

and pick up the needle!

I am reading The Aloha Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini.

I absolutely luuuuvvvv her Elm Creek Quilts series!

The setting for the book is Hawaii which has a wonderful quilting history.

After reading the acknowledgment section, it seems she did quite a bit of

research on the  history and quilting technique

of Hawaii.

Years ago, when I was in my quilting phase...

I had bought lots of fabric and

cut out patterns for Hawaiian

blocks.  I had only gotten one completed and a second one

basted before that phase was over!

This is the 1st one...

This is the current one...

So...I put away the yarn for awhile and will try my hand

at my quilting again!

Not having my air conditioner, it is pretty warm when

working on my afghan. 

So... we will see how long it last!

Other than quilting & reading...

not much else planned for the weekend.

School starts next week so back to school shopping

I suppose!  Nothing like taking teenage boy

shopping for clothes! 

 Almost as fun as taking a husband!!!

Have a great weekend!

What A Day...

What a day!  It's amazing what you can get done when you are up early

and don't sleep all day!

It was actually nice and cool this morning so I sat out back on the porch and read for at least and hour!  It was great!  After a bit... Mr. B joined me...

Then the cat came out and joined us...

And Pauli the dog was already relaxin'...

So after the relaxin'...the work began!

I got three loads of laundry done...

ironed laundry...

cleaned out the inside of both cars...

paid bills...

read some more...

made some cards...

I also made a bracelet....

I finally have my scrapbook pages of the new baby...Kael

Didn't they turn out cute?!!! I haven't scrapped in so long

I forgot how much I luv it!

Finally...I worked on my knitting project too!

Like I said at the beginning...whew!

Ususally my Sundays are pretty lazy...

Not today! 

Time to put the computer to bed and get some crocheting done!

Last but not least....

Happy Weekend...

Happy Weekend All... Had a great day today!  I acutally was up early and had the garage cleaned by midmorning. It's amazing what you can get done when you don't sleep all day!  While cleaning the garage, I came across my yearbooks from both jr high and high school.  So you can tell what I did this afternoon!  Looked back thru all of them reading notes and looking at all the pics...it brought back a lot of great memories!

I managed to finish a book, Knit Fast, Die Young, A Knitting Mystery by Mary Kruger.  I have been reading these crazy little mysteries lately! This was the 2nd in her series.

I am also reading Sweater Quest by Adrienne Martini. She is a knitter who decides to take on the Holy Grail of sweaters...the Mary Tudor!  This was designed by reclusive designer Alice Starmore who's designs are called Fair Isle. Being new to knitting, I had no idea what this meant. 

She writes about the "year" it took her to knit this sweater!  It also gives you background history of the creator of this style and how she was inspired to create these patterns. If you crocheters are interested in trying the style yourself, I found that they have a book for crocheters too!  I may get it just to give me something to aspire to in 20 more years! So far, I luv the book!

I also had a chance to make a cute pincushion!  When I go to quilt & craft shows, I tend to pick up little kits and this was one I had on hand. I am totally a kit person...I know... how

 lazy is that!  I am more likely to complete a project if everything is included!

What do you think...

Cute huh?!!!

Other than knitting some on my little scarf project and adding to my crochet project...

that's about all I did today...

Looking forward to the best pizza ever and a movie with the hubby!

So...till tomorrow ladies!

I almost forgot...thanks Pammy Sue and Doris for you great pattern suggestions for my future project. As of yet...I haven't made a decision. It will be a little while before I am ready to start it but when I pick a pattern & yarn, I will be sure to let everyone know!  If anyone else has any suggestions for an easy pattern with Kelly Green yarn...