We're So Proud

Hello All

This past weekend we had a party for this guy in the picture. This is my second son Zac.The party was for two reasons. He graduated from High School and he is going into the Navy.
Now the fact that he graduated is huge. This boy blew off high school and I mean BIG time. He ditched more than attended sometimes, he failed a lot of classes. He went to 4 schools in 4 years. Then he decided to join the Navy.He got qualified for the job he wanted, the only problem was that he had graduate on time or he would lose the job they promised. So he did the normal 7 credits needed as a senior, plus 7 more he needed to fulfill requirements. He took online classes, got work credit and worked almost full time most of the year. And he DID it!
We are so proud of him.
Zac leaves for boot camp June 28th. This will be hard. He has always been a child with a mind of his own and no problem telling you. He is the only one of the 5 that we planned.He is also a hard worker when he wants and he is the one who helps his mama with everything. My oldest has left the nest but he lives in Denver , 4 hours away, so I get to see him about once a month and he calls us all the time. However the Navy is a little different isn't it?
We are hoping to go to Disneyland this Thanksgiving depending on Zac's schooling in the Navy. Cuz we can't go without one of the kids can we?
So I need to keep myself busy until he goes so I won't think about it

Later,
Lauri

Rose Colored Glasses

Hello All



Well here it is. I finally got it done. For obvious reasons I have named this block "Rose Colored Glasses" I have to say I am REALLY happy how this turned out. This block fought me for days until I wrestled it to the floor. Then I had so many ideas I couldn't put it down. I almost resented having to put it away for the drive to Denver this past weekend. (Which is a completely off topic subject. Let's just say " Isn't family fun?) This of course is the Knight in Shining Armor and the required long stem red rose.
This is my the focal point with my theme fabric. You can also see the castle wall to scale to find your true love
This is my favorite part. Obviously as you can see by the amount of hardware around her neck, that the woman in this 'bodice ripper' is well off on her own. I even made her 3 dimensional.
The swan is here because Swans mate for life, I guess the wife is on the other side of the moat taking care of the baby swans (swanlings? what do you call swan babies?)


This is one of the first button trails I have done. I have everything in there from a fairy button to a dragon charm to a knight charm to a cameo

And last but not least the dragon to slay and the sunset to ride off onto. Even though I did cut off the top off the sunset.

I hope whoever is in my group has fun working on my blocks. But I bet by the end of the 5th block Ann will be cursing me for the postage. I think this block alone weighs a pound by itself!

Well now I have to go work on Siw's Lion King block for the Fairy Tale RR and to get ready for our party this weekend

Later,
Lauri

CYOT Progress

Hello All

Here's what the block looks like after most of the embroidery is done.All that is left now is the beading and so far I have been doing that for 2 days,
The pink seam in the bottom right corner, next to the bodice, is one that came to me one night as I was trying to go to sleep. I often put myself to sleep thinking of new combinations. I really like how it turned out.
Tomorrow I will try again to get some clear pictures of the beaded finished product
Don't forget you can double click on the picture to enlarge it

Later,
Lauri

Create Your Own Theme RR

Hello All

This is what I have been working on lately. This is the obviously when I was piecing it. I like to take photos of the work as I go because you get a better idea of what the block actually looks like. Does that make sense? It gives a different perspective.

The theme of my block is hard to describe. The fabric itself is called " Romance Novel Covers'
I am planning more of a satire. This block will have all the love cliches. The Knight in Shining Armor . If you look closely you can see the bodice that is required in a bodice ripper. There is also the sunset to ride off into, a dragon to slay and castle walls to scale
I have been working quite a bit on this one and it is almost ready to send on to Janet. Good thing she lives in town as I am already late on this.

I will post progress pics later today

So if you are in the silver group, take a good look and get those ideas flowing!

Later,
Lauri

See Jo, I did it!

Hello All

I have been tagged by Jo to do the MEME thing. I am supposed to tell you 7 things you didn't know about me. She didn't think we would do it. I think I am pretty boring so I had a hard time coming up with things. So here goes.............

1. I had a twin that died in utero at about 3 months. They broke Mom's water and 21 hours later still no baby. That is when they discovered the twin . My husband says this is why I sometimes have dual personalities LOL

2. I met my husband at a Confirmation retreat. It was that awful 18 days between our birthdays, so I was 14 and he was 13. We dated in high school and have now been married almost 23 years

3. I'm only 5 ft tall, but I am taller than my mom, grandmother and aunt all were. My hubby is 6ft 5 BTW

4. I have 3 tattoos. A butterfly up by my collar bone, a Tinkerbell on my right calf, and 2 intertwined dragons for my husband and I with 5 little dragons around it for our kids, on my left calf

5. All 7 of us are Disneyland freaks. We all have recurring dreams of going there and sigh wistfully every time we see it on tv or think about it. We are hoping to make our 3rd trip there this year between Thanksgiving and Christmas ( the ONLY time to go)

6. I cry about things on TV or in books, all the time. ( I married my husband because he was the only one in my life who didn't and doesn't make fun of me for it)
I cry whenever I see an adult cry in real life, but when I SHOULD cry like at my mom's funeral I can't

7. I was so quiet that in High School, that the one time , I said something to the boy in school who was just as quiet, that entire cafeteria went dead quiet, you literally could hear a pin drop, it was just like something that happens in movies or commercials. ( Remember the E.F. Hutton ones?)
Now we had never, ever talked to each other before or since. We were so embarrassed that I don't think I talked for another month and I still don't think he has.

So how was that?

Now I have to try and tag 5 who haven't been tagged. I can only think of Janet. I am having cold remedy medicine induced amnesia, so go ahead and consider yourself tagged. Your IT!

Later,
Lauri

Unicorn Purse and Anabelle Lee

Catching Up

Hello All

I am finally getting around to replying to some comments left on this blog.

First of all I want to thank everyone who read my blog. It amazes me that someone would take time out of their day to have a look at what I have been doing. I have had over 350 visitors in the last two weeks. WOW!. Thank you.

I really do appreciate the comments. I do reply to them when I can. However some have left comments and no return email so I can't respond to you. I will attempt to rectify that now

First off Jo has nominated me for the Thinking Blogger Award. This is sort of a MEME where you post five blogs that make you think about things. Not just ones you enjoy, which believe me I have dozens , so here goes:

First off naturally be Jo's. I just love her blog but I can't nominate her back.

1. Caity's Princess and the Pea

2. Mindy's Bits and Pieces of Mindy's Kingdom . Gotta love the cows

3. Ati's Ati on the Crazy Road

4. Ree's Confession's of A Pioneer Woman She's a riot, be sure to read about vomit gross out stories

and last but not least my friend Janet she has really great memories of growing up.

Now I realize that only 2 of these are CQ related but the others are just hilarious.

Now for the comments.

Flora- You wanted to know about the Gueniver block. The knights were first done in a backstitch to outline them. Then they were filled in with, either satin stitch, chain or stem stitch.

I believe that I got the flowers beads at Wal Mart but most likely Hobby Lobby. They did still carry them a few months ago.

I also drive my husband crazy sometimes and I have finally realized that I do have a quirky sense of humor. I just thought that the Romance Cover fabric was too fun to pass up.

I have gotten a few new dyes but have had no time to play with them, I will let you know how it turns out.Since I am obsessive and always have to try " that thing over there I don't have yet" I am sure I will give the site you recommended a try.

I want to thank everyone who gave me input on my fabric dilemma. I have decided to go with the "Bodice Rippers" as Susan called them. I agree with Jo, that the colors will lend themselves well to a block and will be easy to coordinate. Now if you are in my group, then be prepared to do something very "Out There". I think Janet's will have the LOVE STINKS thing going on.

Lastly, thanks for all the support on the Great Dachshund Debacle as Janet calls it. I fully realize that it is not appropriate to take a puppy everywhere. But some people in retail are just too rude for words. I know what I am talking about, I have worked retail for almost 15 years and I know how hard it can be. Believe me the customer is NOT always right. Some people should not be allowed to mingle with the general public. On the hand I detest being treated like crud in a store and I do not hesitate to tell them and complain to the management.

Enough of that.

I still have my doggies and sometimes they are much better company than a lot of people.

If I have forgetten anyone let me know . LOL

Later,
LAuri

Beware

Hello All


I wanted to share a picture of my vicious dog, Gunther. A 3.7 lb , 11 week old dachshund. Believe it or not, this little guy got us kicked out of a fabric store. Then, he was 7 weeks old. I have a bag that looks just like a purse and he was in it. I am NOT the kind of woman who carries her precious little poopsie woopsie around all the time. However, a puppy is like newborn baby and I can't leave him in his crate for hours at a time.
Long story short, we got kicked out because she said if they let him in , in a bag, then they had to let Great Danes too.
Moral: Don't shop at Hi Fashion Fabrics in Grand Junction, Colorado. They are witches in there, even before the Great Dachshund Debacle

How could you resist this face huh?

Later,
Lauri