Biggest fan

My little man getting dirty at the county fair.

Saturday night's alright for racing

Tonight we're racing on Osceola. Andy started the first heat in last place but got first in the consolation heat. This is the 3rd night in a row of 4 races. Hopefully he'll decide 3 is enough! 

He was kind enough to provide a little shade for the fam tonight. What a sweetie...

welcome to my cabin(s)



here are the 2 mini log cabins ready for binding



my new favorite clips - perfect for binding

one with brownish center squares

red center squares



love

 I really want to enter one or both of these in the county fair.  I finished them just in time for the fair entry deadline, which is tomorrow.  Am I crazy?  I'm 33 years old.  Do I really need to enter the county fair?  Yet, at the same time, this would be a great way to show my 7 year old little man how entering projects in the fair works, how you get ribbons, why you get ribbons, etc..  They are FAR from perfect.... my husband even pointed out some imperfections.  (don't hate...  in his defense, I asked him to be honest and point out what looked wrong).

I guess I'll decide tomorrow by 8pm if they are headed to the Saunders County Fair or not!

mini log cabin that i love

I cut the fabric out for these last weekend and made the first few stitches.  Now all I have left is the binding.... I made 2 of these mini log cabins at once, which has been lots of fun.  I can't wait to show off the results!  Here are some sneak peeks:

Mini Log Cabin Pattern is from Common Threads in Syracuse

I got very familiar with my iron pressing these babies out!

a day in the life

In between quilting and pressing my teeny tiny log cabin blocks on Sunday, I also played farm wife.  Hubby is baling 3 1/2 miles away, which means lots of equipment trips, which means I follow behind to give him a ride back to the farm.  At this this tractor has a/c so my little farmer man can ride along and have some Daddy time.

NEW FAVORITE GADGET!!!!

Goodbye straight pins!

Maybe I'm the only quilter that HATES pinning.  HATE IT!  I work quickly and maybe not so carefully, so anytime I have something pinned, there will be blood.  UNTIL NOW!  Check out these little handy clips.  They aren't the bendy hair clips I've seen some use.  These are more like a mini close pin.  They've got a ridiculous grip and are flat on the bottom so the slide along beautifully!!!  These are officially my new favorite gadget.  I picked mine up at Calico House in Lincoln NE. 

his hobby

My husband's hobby... Figure 8 Racing.  I think this is why I get to sew so much!  Next weekend we have four races... Thursday in Crete, Friday in Wahoo, Saturday in Osceola and Sunday in Aurora.  I'm tired just thinking about it! 

#73 car and it's biggest fan - Jackson

Baby GO! Giveaway...

Baby GO! Giveaway...

I heart Craigslist



Husqvarna Mega Quilter on King Size Grace Frame

 I found a KILLER deal on Craigslist!  Yep, this baby was used ONCE and now it is mine!!!!  Actually, I share it with my sister-in-law and fellow quilter.  My husband was kind enough to drive to Iowa to pick it up.  That included taking it entirely apart and then reassembling when we got it back to our home.  I am so overwhelmed by it, but I (we) will figure it out!!!  I currently have an obsession with mini quilts, but Jami, my quilting sister-in-law, has 4 quilt tops ready in waiting to give this bad boy a try.  I'm guessing we won't dust it off until fall, but, until then, here it is.  My (our) beautiful mid-arm quilter.  I can't wait.  I hope I (we) can tackle this!!!

some of my faves

There are times (practically every night of my life during the week) where I just sit and ponder what I want to make next.  Usually this takes place around 9:30 at night.  This is when the demands of my life as a working mom and wife are over and I have a minute or two to myself.  So I sit on my killer new electric reclining leather loveseat (my husband's pick, which i secretly love and publicly claim to be ridiculous), tv on in the background with some Bravo or A&E dvr'd show playing mindlessly.  I reach down to my secret stash of books.  I always keep four or five of them next my spot on the killer ridiculous love seat.  Then I start to dream.  Do you do that?  I look at this book and that book.  I think of my stash of fabrics and plan my next project.  When will I get to this project?  Maybe never!  Because I already have a queen size bed in the basement next to my sewing area with planned projects all layed out.  But it doesn't matter.  I still thumb through one or two books every night.  Sometimes a new one will make it into the rotation.  Sometimes a top fave will make it to the bed in the basement and get paired with some awesome fabric. 

Here are some of my faves in my current rotation....

 It is no coincidence that this is being posted at 9:33pm on a Tuesday night!  Such is my life!

Want it, Need it, Quilt!: Baby GO! Giveaway

Want it, Need it, Quilt!: Baby GO! Giveaway: "One lucky blogger will receive a Baby GO! and three dies of their choice. You have three chances to enter in the draw: 1. Become a foll..."

Little Quilts

My new favorite... Little Quilts

These are quilt blocks that I made into small "Little Quilts".  I am an INSTANT GRATIFICATION kind of person.  When time for sewing is short, especially in the summer, I need some small projects that I can complete in one sitting.   These are called Union Star Squares.  I love how they turned out!

You've got to be kidding....

C'mon.  This is at 6:00 at night.  No relief in sight.  My flowers are dying, the garden is wilting and I am melting.  And of course, mid-July, it's baling season.  We raise about 30 cow/calf pairs so we bale brome and alfalfa every summer.  Baling always means triple digit temps and triple the work.  Mow, rake, bale. Repeat.  I feel so bad for my hubby.....  In a 19-something Heston swather that was invented before a/c.  Poor guy.  I'm ready for fall...

Happy Quilting: Another Celebration Giveaway!!

Happy Quilting: Another Celebration Giveaway!!: "The Happy Quilting 1 Year Blogiversary Celebration continues on!!! And today I have something in store that you make you all want to celebr..."

Modern VERSES Old Fashioned

After my road trip to Aurora, visiting the shops in Aurora, York and Seward, I am having a major dilema.  I love reproductions, tiny quilts and old fashioned projects.  However the artsy side of me also loves the modern, wonky patterns and bright colored fabrics.  I purchased a little bit of both today, but more reproductions by Jo Morton.  I've been searching and searching for the small quilt patterns.  Today I had the lightbulb moment - they are called doll quilts.  I am certainly NOT into dolls, but I do love their quilts.  .......more projects to add to the pile!