The von Quilt, Take 2

So I can finally show this quilt now since it has made its way to the rightful owners.

And since I have some time to blog about it.

Isn't this quilt the BOMB?

I love it! It's mostly AMH fabrics with a bear print from Spoonflower thrown in and a print with a bird... I think it's Humming Birds in Lime by Paula Young.

Anyways, super cute, no?

Those owners would be the von Ercks, hence the name of the quilt.

I'm pretty funny, I know.

The 'she' of the twosome also happens to be my cousin... I recently visited her new home in West Virginia after driving back from my sister's wedding in Virginia.

It was pretty awesome.

The house, not the drive.

That totally sucked.

Because I love my cousin so much I hand stitched her a sweet little label for the back of their quilt.

The 'vE' is kind of their thing.

I like it a lot.

I did a small section of piecing for the back, using fabrics from the front, and framed them in a solid orange.

The binding was a nifty orange polka dot that I machine stitched.

The quilt is huge (92" x 104") but I still basted it with the best method... pin basting.

Basting is my least favorite part of quilting.

I hate it.

But I'm always so happy afterwards when I've finished quilting and there's almost no bunching or overlapping or that kind of annoying stuff.

The quilt is so huge that even my supertall hubby with the wingspan of Godzilla couldn't hold it all himself.

The fact that he was sick of me trying to figure out my camera in the rain probably had something to do with his lack of willingness to hold it up as well.

Eh, whatever.

I realize this pics are slightly out of order... anyways, here's the details.

94" x 104"

Disappearing 9 Patch pattern

Machine stitched 1/4" from either side of vertical seams

Machine stitched binding

Pieced back

Warm and White batting

Hand stitched/pieced label

If you have any questions about the measurements/dimensions for this size quilt, just give me a shout and I'll get them together for you.

I know I actually wrote it down this time.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

I know I said I'd post the winner yesterday, but listen to this.

When the hubby got home from work last night he asked if I wanted to go out for a couple drinks. Drinks, people.

Alone.

I said, "Hell to to the yeah I want to go!"

(thanks Carin for getting that stuck in my head by the way. no, really. thanks. i love it. and I say it way too much. i almost bug myself. almost.)

So then we left (there was a babysitter involved, don't worry), had some drinks, and when we got back home I totally forgot about posting the winner.

Bummer for you guys, but it was fun for me :)

So, without further ado:

And the winner is...... drumroll please..... BROOKE!!

Brooke said,

"Your work is beautiful and inspiring. I'm impressed you can do all of that while being a great wife and mother. Have a good day."

Well, thanks, Brooke. And have a good day to you to, winner!

Brooke, please contact me at willowbeanmama@gmail.com to let me know what group of fabrics you'd like to have made into pillow covers!

Thanks to everyone who participated, that was fun!

It makes me want to do another giveaway....

:)

Hurry, Hurry!!

Hurry, time is running out to enter the giveaway! I will close the drawing tonight... get yourself entered by leaving a comment here so you have a fighting chance!

Weird Moods, 100th post, a Giveaway and Random Ramblings...

I’m gonna go ahead and tell you right now, before you even get started, that I’m in a weird mood. It’s late, it’s been a long day, it was my very last day at work, I’m overly excited about going to the State vs. Notre Dame football game tomorrow, and my hands are shaking from lack of …something. I’m not sure what that something is exactly, but nevertheless my hands are very shaky. Just thought you should know all that before you continue reading. You’ve been warned. Oh, and if you happen to stick with me and make it to the end, there’s a giveaway down there. Good luck…

Well, this is it. This is my 100^th post.

For some reason I have been putting this post off for a while -this 100^th post- like it meant anything different than the 99 before it.

I’m not sure why. It honestly bugs me a little. Do I think I’m special or something?

Maybe I was just busy and I’m making a huge deal and tons of excuses for not writing.

Nope. That’s a lie. That’s totally not it. I was scared. I really was.

I think I wanted this post to be something super and spectacular- an out-of-this-world celebration of…. what? I think that’s the question I’m really asking myself. What am I doing in this little spot of Infinite Internet?

I just talk.

I just talk in the hopes that maybe somebody will read what I have to say and feel something… anything. Maybe understand what it’s like to only have conversations with a two-year-old for the entire day. Maybe feel the pissed-offness of a bad day with me… everybody has them, right? And as sad and selfish as it is, it feels good to know someone’s in the Bad Day boat with you- even if it’s just for a second, like you’re not the only one who sucks for the day. I like to think that somebody out there can share in the awesome feeling that comes when you watch your own child grow and learn and just be… without feeling like the weird mom who talks about her kids just a little too much. You know, the one who gets eye rolls and awkward silences at the end of every brag session.

I really like this picture.

I like to share the things that I make. I also like having a little outlet. It’s nice. I can just sit and type whatever comes into my mind without having to censor it or worry about anybody else’s feelings but my own. It’s great, because that doesn’t happen all the time for me. I was never a blogger. I thought they were all kind of weird, to be honest. I’ve changed my mind. It’s fantastic.

New dress on its way to Florida.

I know that I’m not the best writer, I don’t claim to be. I know that I’m not the best mom on the planet. I don’t claim that either. Believe you me, there’s plenty of times when I’ve ignored my screaming child to do something for myself first- in a totally normal and self-preserving type of way. And that’s ok. Some of you may think that’s totally wrong. I don’t care. Really, I don’t. Actually, I think you should try it.

Go ahead.

I’ll wait here.

I’m not the best wife in the world… who is? But I try, I really do try.

Sometimes I get it right.

Sometimes.

I’m not the best seamstress, quilter, blogger, blah blah blah. The list goes on and on. The point is I’m happy. I like where I’m at. I like what I’m doing. And it’s ok with me to not be the best. And it’s ok with me that it’s ok with me to not be the best. Get it? Does that make sense? It’s perfectly clear to me, I just want to make sure you’re following.

New dress, Fall colors.

All I’m saying is that I’m just a normal girl/mom/wife/maker of things/occasional blogger that gets her kicks out of writing the happenings of life on a digital page for everyone to see. Who knows? This whole blog thing might come in handy one day.

I'll show you the rest later, this is just a fun sneak peek.

Hand stitched label on back of quilt.

I’m not exactly sure where this post was headed. Like I said, I’m in a weird mood. Since there’s absolutely no rhyme or reason to anything going on here, I feel compelled to tell you a few things that crossed my mind today:

1 1. According to me, Fall has begun. Summer ended a couple weeks ago, but just today Fall started. Don’t ask me how I know, I just know.

2. 2. I don’t like Wal-mart and it bugs me that they usually have the best prices so I feel like I have to do the money-saving thing and go there.

3 3. I like super hot showers. Usually I feel guilty if I take one- the whole global warming thing really gets me- but today I decided that I would make a point to not feel guilty the next time I take one and just enjoy it.

4 4. I really, really love my hubby. Like, really. I know I don’t tell him enough, but I really, REALLY do. He must love me back, because he’s still here and I’m sure that’s no easy task…

5. I thought about dyeing my hair dark for a second- just a second- and then I remembered when I did that my first year of college and quickly kicked that thought to the curb.

6 6. I don’t think the stuff at Anthropologie should cost so much money.

7 7. My kid is really fricken hilarious… like all the time.

8. 8. I wish she listened to me.

9 9. Toenails are stupid.

Her face in this picture totally cracks me up.

Totally random, I know. I just went with it. I think I’m done. I think this is a good time to do the giveaway don’t you? Good. Here you go. I will make- not one, but TWO –coordinating, pieced 16” pillow covers for the lucky winner in one of these fabric groups:

Group A:

Group B:

Group C:

Why these? I dunno. I like ‘em. How’s that?

All you have to do to enter the drawing is become a follower of my bloggy-blog (if you’re not one already) at the top right hand side of the page and then leave a comment on this post. That’s it. I will announce the winner on Monday. Sound good? Mmmk. Good Luck! Oh, and if you win, and you REALLY don't like any of these color combos and I feel like being reasonable, I will make the pillow covers in whatever colors your heart desires. I guess.

Well, Hello!

The wind blew a branch into our power line which, in turn, knocked out our power and everyone else along the however many blocks in our neighborhood.

For TWO days.

I know that sounds whiny, but I don't care.

I had to entertain a two-year-old by myself for TWO WHOLE DAYS without electricity.

And basically no food.

I had a cooler stocked full of ice with all the 'cold-stuff-that-actually-has-to-stay-cold' items.

I couldn't open the freezer because I wanted everything in there to stay nice and... frozen.

It was exhausting.

But, we did have some fun.

We tried to have a picnic in our backyard. It was so windy we kept getting nailed with extremely large branches.

Every time one would crack and fall to the ground, we'd look at each other with this 'whoa' look on our face.

Then, a really REALLY big one fell and we immediately picked up our stuff and ran to the front yard.

No words, just an understanding that we might get crushed if we didn't move pronto.

No power for 2 days = no sewing for 2 days = I'm 2 days behind in orders.

So, I really should get back to sewing.

I've got to finish up this monster in the next 2 days...

... wish me luck.

We've had a lot of fun with the quilt top.

It's been great for little mini-photo shoots where we just goof around.

Oh, and those totally cute Bear Feet in Aqua size 9 in excellent used condition?

Ebay.

Guess how much?

You're going to be mad at me.

$17

Total... total.

I love a good ebay victory.

The seller must have been pissed because I was the only bidder.

And she set the min bid at $15 with $2 shipping.

... that's exactly what I paid.

I love it when she's got the sleepy eyes because she just woke up and she's perfectly fine with cuddling and snuggling and just being still for a few minutes.

LOVE it.

I also made this skirt out of some scraps from the monster quilt.

I got this really awesome book from Barnes&Noble the other day.

-OH MY GOSH- I have to tell you about the stupid lady at the bookstore.

But, it will have to be tomorrow when I can really, I mean really get into it.

This woman was ridiculous.

Anyways... this book has awesome patterns included and lots of good tips.

I haven't made anything from the patterns yet, but I did use the info on gathered ruffles to make up my own skirt pattern... kinda.

I added a bunch of pom-pom trim and ribbon.

I had to go back to the store 2 times to get enough pom-pom crap and then another time to get more ribbon.

That's a heckuva lot of trips for one little skirt.

I do love it.

I love it so much I made matching leggings.

I'm still on the fence on whether or not I'm going to put this one in the Etsy shop.

I want Willow to have it, but I also don't want her to wear it.

Which is weird, because I'm not like that at ALL with her clothes.

We'll see... I'm probably just mad about all the frickin' runs to the store for more and more and more supplies to finish the damn thing.

Oh- and those Olive Green Bear Feet Mary Janes, size 9 you see there with the scalloped trim...

$20.

Not kidding.

My plan was to make this a very short post with barely any words and lots of pictures.

That obviously didn't work out and now I REALLY have to get back to sewing to make up for the 2 lost days to the darkness.

Let there be light.

Dresses and Twirling

I made 2 new dresses for the shop the other day.

Willow was my beautiful model.

She twirled and twirled and twirled until she fell over.

It was awesome.

She laughed so hard when she fell.

Then she tried to get up and couldn't because her head was still making the movement of going in circles.

So then I started laughing.

Which made her laugh even harder.

We both ended up lying in the grass in the front yard laughing hysterically.

Like I said, it was awesome.

She is very hard to keep within the frame... so I had to resort to some 'still life' shots.

Oh yeah, something really cool happened with this dress.

Click here and then look in the top right hand corner...

See anything familiar?

Pretty cool, huh.

I was (still am) pumped!

I'm also still trying to figure out the best way to photograph these dresses.

It was really hard to show how cute the back was without it being on a little body...

Here's another one.

It's just a little bit different.

I left the bottom of the sleeves without elastic... so there's no puff going on.

And the sash that shows on the front of the dress is green and the part that ties in the back is red.

I thought breaking up the red in front and the greens in back looked a little better than just one fabric for the whole thing.

"Ta-da!"

She's such a cute little model :)

AND......don't forget to stay tuned for a giveaway!!