Yes I am still alive!

Sorry, but I some how ran out of time for... well blogging and honestly reading a lot of blogs (sorry guys!)  I have accomplished a TON since the last time I posted... lets see friends are getting married, I got married, and my free time vanished! go figure... Well now that I am back hopefully I can keep with it this time... I have a lot of crafts to post about!  A lot of them were for my wedding, you know me craft crazed it was mostly hand made which makes it all the more special!  On a side note my mom has started a cute little business called Nanny Blooms so go over and check her out!!!! She is selling the most darling flower felt and button pins and hair clips.  She was inspired by my wedding bouquets, go check her out she will tell you all about it!!!

Hopefully Ill be back soon!!

~Can

YUM-O!!!!

ok this was just to GOOD to not post!!!! I made this delicious meal for my beau!

Broccoli, baked potato with butter cheese bacon and sour cream, and chicken fried steak with perfect gravy!!!! I have tried to make gravy soooo many times and failed misserably!! He of coarse still eats it because thats what nice people do I gues.. I didnt eat it haha! A friend of mine has showed me a couple of times how to do it now and this last time it must have stuck! I got it! perfection! Perfect flavor, perfect thickness and runniness!!!! I was so proud of myself I just had to share!

~candace~

and so it begins

I know I had mentioned a while back I would share with you my experiences sewing through my Dear Jane BOM. Well Ive started a second blog, all about me and my mother working on our blocks. Hopefully this will help me to be able to keep up with this blog better, we shall see! Its definatly been inspiring to me so far... and Ive only just begun ;)

~candace

uber cute! super easy!

see what I mean?! yeah it took me less then an hour to do this!!! Ive got fabric to make two more! I actually finished the second one but measured wrong so Im gonna cut it up the sides and fix it :) I love easy fun project and this is definatly motivating me to get started on all those quilts I bet my dad I could finish!

~candace~

ladies and gentlemen place your bets!

so I was at my weekly sit and sew with some of favorite quilting friends on wednesday. this week we met up at my moms house. after all the ladies had left and my dad got home from his dinner out (he didnt want to be in a house full of women sewing) he asked me how many unfinished quilts I had.... I said "well I have {insert long pause here} a lot?" and grinned. he asked how many is a lot? I said " well... I dont really know I guess Ive only finished one completely but I have a few that are close." he then challenged me! yes we are in a competition! he said he would make me a quilting rack that will hold 5 quilts but the only stipulation is I have to be finished with at least 5 quilts to hang on it by the time he is done building it.... can this be done?! I mean really?? Im gonna have to get my sew on! He's making it out of wood which I know I could do in a day so Im gonna have to give him some really intricate design so it will take him a little time ;)

on a side note I have finished other projects I make my sisters christmas gifts every year and he knows this he just likes to give me a hard time... and my mom has gotten more done lately then I have. but in my defense she has the summer off!

~ candace

thoughts about Dear Jane...

I know I have yet to start.. I signed up for this BOM back in December (it was my birthday present to myself) and have been receiving my blocks since january. My mom signed up aswell! (her birthday is the day aftermine) Neither one of us has started but we are talking about escaping for a week to really knuckle down and get some done. Anywho, I dont know if any of you have been to www.dearjane.com but I stumbled across it today and well Ive read everything there is to read on this site. Im really excited because I think this will help me exponentially once I finally get started. It gives a lot of suggestions like keep a journal! I keep a regular journal anyways so a quilting journal will just be that much more fun! Ive also been thinking about doing two at once... so I can do the normal colored dear jane and then a fun funky one as a side project as I go! I know crazy thought right? but I figured as Im doing one already how much harder could it be to do two? PLUS I could practice with the funky colors so that my normal one will look that much better right!? I know I know Im nuts.. Im gonna give it more thought and mroe then likely start out doing two and give up on one ;) we will see Ill keep you posted!

~candace

ok ok ok ok I know its been a LONG time....

I apologize... life has just been crazy! (Im dating a new boy) and I seem to have no time for my projects... so here is a post to get y'all up to date!

In December we did a stocking block swap!!! the pattern was by the Crazy Old Ladies!!

dont you just love the colors I used?! when I get all my swapped blocks sewn together I will post it!!

Do you remember those french roses I showed you from my first block swap? well I took them and removed a layer of the flower.. and took the leaves away layered yellow and sagey green 30s fabrics and made a baby quilt!

I used a super soft red corduroy for the backing and the binding! The nursery colors were a pale yellow, sage green and of coarse bright red. All lady bugs and dragon flies!! This is the first quilt I have actually finished start to finish, binding and all!!!

in February I did a valentines block swap with my mom at Happiness Is... Quilting!

this one was my favorite I love polka dots!!!!

and I love the swirls in this one I think the fabrics go beautifully together!

the red in this one was scraps of red corduroy that I was obsessed with for a while! it was soooo soft (you will see it in the leaves in my french roses post)

currently I am working on getting all my block swap blocks sewn together.. I have 3 so far to do! Finally getting around to quilting my turning 20 quilt. Also my best friend got married last month and instead of using a guest book her guests signed fabric squares and Im making a quilt out of them!!! Isnt that idea greatness?! sadly I can not take credit for it she came to me and asked what I thought and if I would do this for her. It is my goal to have it finished by the end of summer (end of august) wish me luck!

I know I told you I would be taking you along with me on my Dear Jane journey... and I will... when I start! My mom and I are planning an escape week to go to their lake house and work on it together! Im hoping once we get started we will keep each other motivated to keep going! Ill keep you posted! and I promise it wont be so long before I post again!

~candace

funk be gone!

Someone told me to switch projects.. put my machine away and do something different... so here is what I did.

I had this old stool that I had taken from my parents house and I painted it! It was so much fun I really enjoy painting I usually end up covered in it but its fun! I immediatly called my mom and told her I was going to take the rest of the stools from the garage so I can have a set.

candace

IN A FUNK...

Do you ever have those days where you just cant find anything that inspires you... I have been in that FUNK for about a month now! I dont know what my deal is... My mom is cranking out projects left and right and here I am... I seriously sat and just stared at my machine for an hour the other day... yeah I have projects laid out to work on and believe you me I have a ton to do and choose from but I just couldnt get inspired. I am working on a quilt for my sister she turns 21 this month and I can not get it finished.. so it just sits there... Does anyone else have this problem?! How do you get out of it?! HELP!

~candace

Dear Jane....

Thats right! I have signed up for a 2 year Dear Jane BOM! To say Im excited is an understatement. My mom is going to be taking this journey with me... I got my first two months last week so I am going to start on it this week! My goal is two blocks and yes I will post them when Ive completed them.. I know I havent been on much lately and I apologize for that.. life has just been a little bit crazy as of late! I figure if I post about my Dear Jane adventures it will help keep me motivated to get this thing done and doing the Dear Jane will motivate me to blog! Im sure you will want to know all about my accomplishments and meltdowns :)

~ Candace

Shout out to my mom!

my mom started a blog today! shed been thinking about doing it for a while to share her ideas that she uses in her preschool class. I of coarse told her about my blog and what a great idea it would be for her to have one and the rest is history! Yall go and check it out! http://mrsnanettesnuggets.blogspot.com

sorry nothing to post on my progress on anything today.. :( I have picutres I just have yet to get it all on my computer to share with you. but soon very soon

Guess what!!! Guess what!!!!

I just had to share with you how EXCITED I am!!!!! I won a fat quarter bundle in Folklore from the fat quarter shop!!!! Yeah I got the email last night on my phone and started jumping up and down on my bed! IM SO EXCITED!!!! Thank you Santa! and thank you jolly jabbering elves! ok *deep breathes* I couldnt wait to share with you guys and you know I was WAY to excited to sleep! This just goes to show you, keep your childhood wonders alive because there really is a Santa! Merry Christmas!

~candace

Christmas Trees!

Everyone has been sharing their beautiful Christmas trees, so I thought Id share mine! I love to decorate the tree it is probably my favorite part about getting ready for Christmas. I dont have one at my apartment becuase well.. trees are expensive so Im waiting to get one on sale at an after christmas special (I really want an aluminum tree) so I decorated with my parents again this year at there house.

we put the tree up every year in the formal sitting room... ya know with all the antique furniture and the piano. When I tell my friends about the formal sitting room they dont seem to understand what it is... *shrugs* when you have beautiful things you want to put them in a special room.

my next tree is at work! its just a small one but I decorate it every year with things I find around the store.

I usually just use those mini sharpie highlighters because they have the little rings on the ends.. but we were sold out of all colors except yellow this year.. no fun.. so I used giant rings! notice anything familiar??? yep at the top is one of those cute little pincushions from the modabakeshop

I made a bunch of these little cuties and before I closed them up after stuffing I added a ribbon so people could hang them on their trees (in case they arent big sewers like the rest of us) now if you do this I dont recommend using the walnut shells.. Id go with something lighter.

and last but not least!!!!!

me!

Merry Christmas everyone!

~candace

Dear Santa...

Im not sure everyone thinks I have been a good girl this year..... but I honestly think Ive had more good days then bad :) I would love anything in this folklore fabric

basically I think it is stunning!

have you guys made out your letter to santa? well why not?! are friends at Jolly Jabber seem to be in cahoots with him.. I wonder how they do it?

~candace

success!

My first Wonky Block!!!!

many more to follow :)

~candace

all you have to do is plan!

so I told y'all about my worries of all the incomplete projects I have on my plate.  Well with a little patient thought I have come up with a plan that has soothed my woes.  Last night I spent my time folding and organizing all my fabric. This evening I have been busy at the cutting board. That's right all the fabric for my time limited projects has been cut! And what will tomorrow hold?! That's right folks tomorrow evening I've got a hot date with my sewing machine.  I am looking forward to it!

what are your plans?

-candace

I am starting to feel...

overwhelmed!!! I'm sure we have all been there! I know I was getting everything finished for the craft fair I participated in not to long ago!  I've been resting (and cleaning up the mess) since then... however there is always another procrastinated project to take care of.. I know I know I do this to myself but I have SO much to do!! I've got to get some stocking blocks ready for a block swap at my favorite local quilt shop... I have yet to even get started... I have baby blanket to give make and give to one of my dear friends for their first child! Did I mention I've designed well.. Just part of the pattern but the part I've added is applique (which terrifies me) but I know it will be loved so I'm really excited!! I also have some home made christmas gifts to finish up.. I started them months ago but got distracted by this project or that. You know how it goes.. Basically I thought I was done with the stress.  I soon turned the corner and realized I've only piled up more.  I'm sorry for the complaining I know I've done this to myself but I also know that in the end it will all be well worth it!

-candace

WANTED!

dear quilting friends (especially those of you who went to market in houston) I'm on the hunt for a quilt pattern that was made up entirely of basket blocks. My neighborhood quilt shop shared their pictures and my mom fell in love with this quilt.  However nobody could remember who had made it when we asked.. I understand with all the beautiful things they saw.  So if anyone has any clue about what I'm talking about please please let me know who it was designed by.  Her birthday and christmas are coming up and this pattern would be the best gift! Even if its not ready to sell yet (we give I owe you coupons when needed) thank you for helping me by racking your brains.. So far good ol google has been fruitless.

-candace

I know I know.... Ive been away to long

I went on vacation and Im having a hard time getting back in to the swing of things... please tell me Im not the only one with that problem... But I have a treat for you for my first blog back! Canton Village Quilt Works is have a FABULOUS giveaway!!! sersiouly!! go on now check it out! I promise to be back soon :)


~candace

Coasters!!!

Alright Sweet P this ones for you!!!
(p.s. she is having the most fabulous give away!)

I am making coaster out of yo-yos and bottle caps!

Its simple you take your yo-yo maker I use the green one its a little bigger then a 50cent peice and put your fabric on, Im using a charm pack to match my turning twenty quilt since these will be used in my living room. When you pop the yo-yo maker off the fabric you put the bottle cap in before you tighten it and sew it closed.. so you have a hard little fabric covered bottle cap basically. When you have enough to make the coaster size of your choice you just stitch them together at the sides. its that easy and super cute!

~candace