9 Years!

This week is my blogiversary, and I've blabbing on here since 2008 - 9 years!  Hard to believe it's been so long.  I love blogging, even though I've been letting my blog languish for a while.  I love meeting so many people all over the world and all the friends I've made through blogging.  I also love visiting others' blogs to see what they're up to and for eye candy and inspiration.  And I especially love all of you that visit my blog and I love all your comments too.  Thank you!  It means a lot to me.

This was a gift from my Tacoma MQG secret pal, Melissa, back in November.  I'm beyond thrilled with this!  Melissa used the Geometric Sewing Machine pattern from Quiet Play with some yummy Essex linen in the Pouch with a View pattern by Three Owls Handmade.   Roxanne did the wonderful embroidery of my Instagram name.  A huge Thank You to both of them!

This is the flip side of the pouch, with some wonderful fabric in there, and Melissa's cute label.  (Sorry for the glare off the plastic see-thru window)  I'm already using this to take the Block of the Month blocks to the MQG meetings, and it works like a charm.  

I don't think I ever showed you the zip pouch I made for my secret pal.

I used my favorite Open Wide Pouch by Noodlehead for this.  I love how wide the pouch really does open, so you can find all your stuff.  I hope she's enjoying it!

And then I made some snack bags for my granddaughters for their lunch or dance snacks.  I learned about and acquired some PUL fabric while on retreat in California, (I got mine at Joann's) and I thought it was a neat idea.  I just kind of made up my own simple pattern for the bags.  

1 large and 1 small for each girl

The end of January, DH and I went to Las Vegas for his company's Professional Development event, so the wives get to play.  I had a lot of fun, although I didn't really do a lot.  And no, I never win any money.  I don't play the machines much, because I hate losing money.  I'd rather have it to spend on fabric!

I did enjoy seeing the Statue of Liberty at the Hershey's store at New York New York.  This is made completely out of red vines licorice!  And it's about 7 foot tall!

Sunday about 1 pm

We had a snow storm on Super Bowl Sunday.  We didn't think much of it when it started, but it turned into a major event!

The is out the kitchen window, at about 1 pm.  I love the little snow caps the hydrangea gets!

Here's the gargoyle Monday morning.  Hard to see, isn't he? *grin*

And here's my poor hydrangea on Monday morning.

This is out the quilt studio window Sunday night.  That's DH's car.  He had to leave at 4 am Monday morning for a business trip.  He made it!  He actually made it to the airport but then had to wait for the pilots to get there!  Now, he's enjoying the 80 degree weather in Texas.

And this is Monday morning.  Those tracks are from DH trying to get to his car.  We ended up getting about a foot or more of snow.  We've never seen so much snow in 10 years here!  As a matter of fact, that snow was so wet and heavy that our RV cover completely collapsed!  We don't have an RV, we just inherited the cover.  So now we'll have to find some other place to store the lawn mower, etc. - after we dig it out!

Since we don't own a snow shovel, and I don't have snow boots, I'm still house-bound.  Our neighborhood doesn't get plowed, and the street is very treacherous.  I don't need to go anywhere, fortunately, so I'm happy at home.  It's starting to rain today, but the snow isn't disappearing very fast.  I was hoping to get out tomorrow, but I'm not sure that's going to happen either.  It will be an adventure getting the garbage cans out today for pickup tomorrow!

Since I got sick in November, I'm having trouble getting back to normal or getting motivated to sew, other than the odd block here and there.  My quilt studio is pretty much a messy disaster.  So, while trying to put some of the piles of fabric away, and realizing that my shelves were too full to get said fabric in there, I decided that I'd go through my stash and get rid of some fabric that I'm not interested in any more.  So, this is half the fabric that I have in bookcases, all nicely folded and sorted.

And this is the other half.  I wrap my fabric around my 6" by 24" ruler, and it fits very nicely.  The bookcases are Billy from IKEA.  I've got regular quilting cottons, some flannels and some odds and ends in here.  This is not all of my fabric - just the stuff that is 1/2 yard or more.  The smaller cuts and scraps are in bins and some armoires  in the room.  I haven't touched that stuff yet, but I will get to it.  I have too much fabric.  I know!  What a shocking statement!  But I have so much that I can't find what I want or even get to it.  I have stuff stacked all over the room and it's driving me crazy.  So, that is my mission this year.  And it may take me all year to get it done!

 I've gotten rid of about 4 bags (or more?  I lost count) of fabric.  Most of it will be donated to the Comfort Quilts stash for the local guild.  Or some of it I might donate to the guild "store" at the quilt show or sell there myself.  When I'm done with the fabric, I need to go through my books and magazines!  It's been 10 years since we moved into this house, and it's time to pretend that we're moving again, and go through all of the closets, drawers etc. all over the house.  Fun times!  Not.  *grin*  Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it!

I've actually gotten some sewing done the last few days. (Yay for snow days!)  I'll be sure to share with you when there's something to show.

Happy quilting!