Some catching up...

Wow! I have been pretty BUSY over the past week. Not only did I get sick (YUCK!) and had to miss quite a bit of work but I have a few DEADLINES coming up REALLY FAST! As in, 2 days for a quilt, my Modernista Swap's deadline is the 29th, plus a special project's deadline is fast approaching! UGH! Where has the time went? Or the better question to ask myself....WHY DO YOU PROCRASTINATE????
   I really can't help waiting until the LAST minute to do something. (I'm mainly talking about the quilt) I don't know why, maybe it's the excitement of "Are you gonna make it?" "Can you REALLY do this, Kelie?" Well, I don't know if I'm going to make this one or not, but I'm definately gonna try!
   But anywho, I figured I'd let y'all see a little of what I've been up to. (Sorry for the IG pics but my camera is broke, not sure what's wrong with it either! YIKES!!!)

I finally got all the blocks finished for this quilt. I absolutely LOVE this line by Tula Pink! She's amazing!!!

I've got all the blocks sewn into rows and all the rows have at least 1 row attached to it, now I just have to stitch 3 more seams and the top is DONE! The back? Well, I haven't even started it yet, and honestly HAVE NO CLUE what I'm gonna do for it. I'm thinking scrappy! I have to go buy some more fabric (oh darn! :) ) to finish it, but I'm good with that! :) Then of course the whole basting, quilting and binding left. 2 days.....think I can do it? I sware I have the saying from The Little Engine That Could in my head "I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can" Then I think, "I better I better I better!" This is my first comissioned quilt and I don't want to screw things up!

Onto other projects....

I made this fun little star for my partner...which she said she likes it, I hope so. I still need to bind it though. My husband saw this and now of course wants an entire quilt made "JUST LIKE THIS" LOL, I doubt it! :)

I made my first fabric basket for my partner! I love the way this turned out too!!!

One of the potholders I made for her....

Here is another potholder, view of the front.

And the back view.
I think I've got this swap licked...other than binding that mini and I believe I may make her one more basket, and then it'll be on its way!!! I really hope she likes it and from the comments I've gotten from her on Flikr she does!

Here is my baby concentrating so hard!!! He's stitching up his first little project! I think it's suppost to be a sun?!?!? I love it!

Have I ever told you how much I love Fall in the mountains? Well if I haven't, let me just tell ya, I L-O-V-E it!!!!! It's so gorgeous!!! We went to the park the other day for some long over due family photos, I'm so excited to get them back because I know they are going to be FANTASTIC!!!!

The kids had a blast with the photographer. He was really amazing! I would highly suggest him and his sister to ANYONE who asks!!! In the pic above they are getting ready to throw some leaves at him, and from what he showed me, it's going to be an amazing photo!!!
Well, I'm off to bed, gotta work in a few hours!!!
~Hope y'all are having a great day!!!~

My first book review

I believe I have promised you guys a book review, right? One that I'm EXTREMELY nervous to write, mainly because I don't want to do it the wrong way. But, I figure the main thing about a review is giving your opinion of the item being reviewed. Right?
 I sure hope so, cuz that's how I'm going to be doing this. I have read this book literally from cover to cover over the past few days, figured why not, I was so sick I could barely get out of my bed. I tried to make good use of my time!

The book I'm going to be reviewing is Pretty in Patchwork Holidays by John Adams of Quilt Dad. He is an amazing quilter!!! And yes just like the cover says, there is really A LOT of projects in here!!!
Let me just give a littler bit of a DISCLAIMER here before I begin: I purchased this book with my own money, I am NOT being paid in ANY FORM OR FASHION to write this review, therefore I have NO OBLIGATION to say ANYTHING good nor bad about this book, Everything written here is directly from ME! It's my thoughts and opinions of this book. Period. No one else's!!

So, I will begin at where else? The beginning!!! John starts off with a chapter on "The Basics", here he gives us all a brief explanation of, well, the basics of quilting in general. He even goes into some embroidery!!! The only thing that I found I didn't like about this book was this chapter. The main reason I didn't like it is because while it is "beginner friendly" it's not too "beginner friendly". If you are planning to make a quilt from this book, you need to have a basic knowledge of quilting. He really explains everything quite well except for the binding part. To me, binding is EXTREMELY important. It's what finishes a quilt. He doesn't explain it too well. But again, this is MY OPINION!

This book has A LOT of great projects in it! This pillow case called "Read Between the Lines" is just adorable!!! And it even has the "how-to" on how to do EVERY letter in the alphabet, so you can personalize it HOWEVER you want! I think it's a great idea! It is for sure on my "To-Do" list!
From pillows to quilts to ornaments and table runners this book really does have something in it for just about any quilter out there! And the best thing is, there are variations in this book for every project so you don't HAVE to make the project Holiday at all!!! Pretty cool, huh?

Ahhh, the Modern Maples quilt!! I've seen SOOOO MANY of these around, especially on IG. This is my favorite quilt in this book. And you can really make it any size you want, just have to do your own calculations to make bigger than a 59"x70" quilt (which to me is a generous throw size). So, if any of y'all had been wondering where to get this pattern, now ya know! It's in this book!!!! I love it!!!

These are a great idea for a gift bag! Especially for handmade items. I'm sure you could tweak those measurements around and make them as big or small as you need them for ANY gift! Plus like the book says, they are a gift all in itself! John gives us the pattern to make either bag, but really your imagination could take over and you could do whatever you wanted with the front of it!

I think this project is my favorite! This table runner is just adorable! I am almost positive I'll be making this as my first project out of this book! I wish I could start on it right now, but, my to-do list is already big enough for the time being! I just love it though!
And for your last sneak peak into the book I'll show you an ADORABLE wall hanging!

I know the glare of my light makes it hard to see but it's got some embroidery on there! "Home Sqaush Home" cute huh?
So in my opinion there is a TON of really cute projects in here and I really can't wait to make EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! I know that won't be any time soon, but hey, a girl can dream right? I could make little mug rugs for the adults and softies for the kids. Or I could just make really cute little ornaments for EVERYONE? The possibilities are endless with this book! Yes, it does say "Holidays" in the title but if your one of those "bah hum bug" peoples and the holidays isn't really your style, this really does have TONS of options for you! I'm very glad with my purchase. I have a lot of ideas boiling in my head and projects on my "hope to get done" list from this book! I didn't want to spoil the book and give you too many previews. But if I had to say "yes go buy this book" or "no don't buy it" I would say "BUY IT!"
And right now, you can find it here for a GREAT price! So yes, go ahead! My opinion is this book was very well thought out and put together, and has a lot of inspiring projects for anyone! Not just beginners! So if you are reading this Mr. John Adams, I hope you are happy with this post, because I really do LOVE your book! You worked with some amazingly talented people to put this together and I can really tell that you put your heart into making this the best book you possibly could! Thank you!



Alright, so what do you think of my first review? Please leave me a comment and let me know. Did I do good or bad? What would you change, or not change? You won't hurt my feelings, I promise!!! Constructive criticism is better than none!!! I hope you guys really do enjoy the book!!!!

~Hope y'all are having a great day!!~

About my career choice.....

This is an extremely long post...just be warned!

I received an e-mail the other day that was really touching. Even though it was just a few sentences, it meant A LOT TO ME!!! (Thanks Jo!) Well, that e-mail got me thinking....I have not really shared anything about my career with you guys! So let me start with a little background and a warning...this will be a wordy post, but I feel like I should write it in order for y’all to get a glimpse of me and what I do.

          As the name of my blog implies, I’m a nurse, a LPN to be exact. I’ve been a LPN for around a year now. I’ve been in the medical field for around 5 years.

        After I had my daughter and she was probably about months old, I went looking for a job. I couldn’t find one anywhere, I mean NO WHERE! I probably filled out 100 applications, if not more within a few weeks time with no result. So, I started thinking about my options. I needed to find a job that had a little security and one that I could do. My mom is a RN so I’ve always kind of wanted to be a nurse anyways. There was no way at that point in time I could go back to school. I had a friend that was a CNA and who had told me that places around here are ALWAYS hiring CNA’s. CNA is a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (aka certified butt wiper). I started calling around to find out about classes. I knew some nursing homes held classes for free and some even PAID YOU to take the class. Well, no luck in getting paid to take it, but I did find one for FREE!

      So, after around a month of classes and clinicals I became a CNA. I loved my job, I loved the one on one with the residents, I LOVED IT! But I HATED the pay! I was litterally working myself to death, just to support my family. I was tired of it! I then decided to apply for a nursing program. The one I applied to is a year long program, I thought, I can do a year!  I remember the day I found out I got accepted into the program, I was at work (of course) coming in off my lunch break when I got the call. I was so happy I started crying. FINALLY an opportunity to change my life for the better, and an opportunity to start an actual CAREER! (Something back then I never thought I would have). So Jan 3rd of 2011 I started class. Monday through Friday from 8-3. Working every weekend, from Friday night at 10 pm til Saturday at 2 pm. Saturday night from 10pm until Sunday at 2 pm. And start back over Monday morning at 8 am.  Don’t get me wrong, I WAS DEAD! I never saw my kids except to tell them I love them, goodnight, or take them to school. Other than that my butt was in locked in my room studying.

      It’s a 2 year program CRAMMED into a year.  Its rough. You have to be dedicated. And I WAS! I honestly don’t know how I did it! But, on Dec 11th of 2011 there was my name being called, I had done it! (and with pretty good grades at that) I made it through the year. But that didn’t mean anything. I still had to take the NCLEX exam. Have I ever told you I have the worst luck ever? Well, really I do. THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING AND THE OPERATORS OF THE NCLEX EXAM LOST ME! Yes, they lost my files! So everyone from my class was taking the exam, and I still hadn’t recieved my authorization to test. For a week I was on the phone EVERY DAY with the dean of nursing at my school and the people who set up your testing. FINALLY they got everything worked out and I got my test date. I WAS NERVOUS AS HELL!

           I had to drive an hour and a half away to take the test. With this test you can have a minimum of 87 questions and a maximum of 206. The computer just shuts off when you are done. You have no idea if you passed or failed for 48 hours (or more in some cases)! Most likely if it cuts off at 87 you passed, anywhere between there and 206 you failed. So after question 87 my computer didn’t shut off. I thought shit, I failed. Nope, I got the “luck of the draw” and had to take the WHOLE THING! Honestly, I didn’t know but maybe 10 questions on the whole flippin test! I reckon I’m a good guesser! Cuz I PASSED!

       Once my license was issued, I started my career as a nurse. I work a lot! I am still at the same nursing home I worked at all through school. I give pills and I chart. I give pills and I chart. I give pills and I chart. Not so glorious after all huh? I miss the one on one of being a CNA. But then, when I have a patient’s family come and tell me how much they appreciate what I do for their family member, and to see the smile on my resident’s face...it makes it all worth it. It’s a very stressful job, I get cussed, hit, and talked down to on a daily basis. A lot of family’s aren’t so nice. I take care of a minimum of 35 residents and a max of 44 a night. I’m just ME! I am ran ragged! But, they say it takes a “special person” to do what I do. I work with the elderly. Some of them, don’t even know they are in this world. Some of them know they are but just don’t care. Some of them have no respect for anyone. And then there are the ones that make my job worth coming to everyday....they smile every time they see me. I get told “I love you so much” a million times a night, I also get told that if it weren’t for me, they have no clue how they could survive.

          Being a nurse is hard work. Yes it’s not as physical as being a CNA, my job is mental.  But the rewards are well worth it. To look at a patient and KNOW without a doubt in your mind, “I saved their life” is a FANTASTIC feeling. I’m not settled yet though, I’m going to go back to school and get my degree as a RN. I want to be a trauma nurse. I can do it.

            Now before I finish this post, I have a request. If you have a loved one in a nursing home or hospital, please please please please please have respect for their nurse. Know that they do EVERYTHING in their power to make your family member as happy and comfortable as they possibly can. Our hands are tied. If the doctor hasn’t ordered something, there is nothing we can do about it. We would love to give your family everything in the world that they ask for, but sometimes it just isn’t possible. Know that if a person is a nurse, they do care. If they didn’t, trust me, they wouldn’t be in this line of work! You have to care to be a nurse!

 

Sorry for the long post, but I felt the need to write it!

Time for some changes

So, guys, I've been thinking. Yes, I know this can be very dangerous for me to do, but sometimes I just can't help it! I've been thinking about this blog and where I am going with it. As of right now, I've been nowhere, just random tidbits here and there. Showing you projects I've created and doing A LOT OF RAMBLING! LOL!
   I'm thinking I want this blog to actually have a purpose of some sort. Of course it will continue to be a place for me to show you my creations and talk to you guys. But I want to DO SOMETHING with it. Ya know? Sew, with that being said, I'm not looking to try and make a fortune blogging, or even make any money blogging. I just want this blog to mean SOMETHING! Does that make sense?
    I'm not 100% sure where I'm going to go...but I think I know which direction I'm going to start heading in. Sew, with that being said I believe as a NEW quilter and a NEW blogger I can hopefully reach out to some of the other NEW QUILTERS and NEW BLOGGERS. Maybe my opinion won't matter, but then again JUST maybe it will?!?!?
     I'm going to start giving y'all some "reviews" of sort of some of the products/books that I already own. No one will be paying me to say any of the things I say, nor am I getting free products. The stuff I'm planning on reviewing is things I have PURCHASED!
   The first item on my agenda to review is a book I recently bought. I'm not ready to give you a full review yet, but it's coming, that I can promise!
    The book I'm going to be reviewing for you guys is:

Pretty In Patchwork by John Adams of Quilt Dad. He is an amazing quilter! I was so excited when I finally recieved this book! (It took like 2 weeks to get here!)
I am in the process of reading this book from COVER TO COVER! And will hopefully be able to post my review by the middle of the week!
Please leave me some comments!!!! Let me know if you think I'm heading in the right direction with this or not. If not, I'll take all the suggestions I can get!
Also, if anyone is interested in doing a  guest spot on here, I'd LOVE TO HAVE YOU! Doesn't matter the topic! Spread the word! I'm looking for guest bloggers to come and talk to my readers about ANYTHING they'd like!
~Hope y'all are having a great day!!~

Crossing Something Off the List

I can mark something off my 100 day Hustle list!!! YAY! I finished my 241 tote! Pattern is by Anna of Noodle Head.

I used up my FQ's I bought from Julie of The Intrepid Thread. I don't know how many of y'all remember, but she sponsored a giveaway on my blog a while back, and I loved the bundle she made for it so much I HAD TO BUY IT! I'm really glad I found such a good use for them!
I used a QAYG (quilt as you go) method for the first time! It is a bit more time consuming, but hey, I like the end results! The print fabric I used are from the line Lily Belle by Bari J for Art Gallery! I love the feel of their fabrics! The solids I'm honestly not sure, I KNOW they aren't Kona. I use Kona on a daily basis, and I'm thinking these are some of Art Gallery's solids line.

I'm SEW HAPPY with the way this turned out!

I love the way this fussy cutting of the flower really paid off on this side!
If you are interested in making a bag like this you can purchase the pattern from Anna here. You can also find all of her other patterns here.  This is my first ever "pattern" that I have EVER followed! I found it EXTREMELY easy to follow! Sew, I know if I can make this, so can you!!!
I also made me a pretty little pouch with my left overs!

I used the QAYG method here as well.

I did inted on it being wonky. I love the way it turned out too!!!

I love the color of that blue! Don't you?
And if you are wondering...I did take these pics with A REAL CAMERA!!! Edited them and all! Aren't ya proud of me?
I know I am!
Sew, now that I got that one done, it's time to get back to sewing and cross something else off my Hustle List.
On a side note...I hope everyone traveling to Sewing Summit this weekend has a  GREAT TIME and a SAFE TRIP!!!!
~Hope y'all are having a great day!~

And the winner is...

Well, I'm sure some of you are wondering....Who won that giveaway? I did my first go round with
random.org and it's a good thing I didn't have a lot of entries or I would've never figured out the winner!
I don't know how to insert the pic of what number it generated.
But it was lucky # 31!!!!
Congrats goes to Karen who said
Karen said...

Thanks for the great giveaway! I've been a follower for a little while now and really like seeing what you come up with. Before the end of the year I hope to finish a WiP I started in high school that has obviously been sitting around way too long. :) Here's hoping!

I'm sure you can finish that WIP before the end of the year! I have faith in you!!!
Please email me your address so I can get it to Becca ASAP!!!! If I haven't heard from you within 48 hours I will have to redraw!

Thank you to all who entered!!!
Be sure to keep your eyes open over the next couple weeks, I've got some exciting (well at least for me) things/finishes to share with you!!!
Here is a sneak peak of something I working on...

 

I'm excited about this one!!!

~Hope y'all are having a great day!!!~

 

 

 

Only ONE day left to enter....

EDITED TO ADD: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

Only one more day left to enter my giveaway! Click here to enter!!! You have a chance at winning these 4 Fat Quarters from the amazing Becca of Sew Me A Song, her shop is FANTASTIC so if you haven't already you should really go check her out!

There is still time to sign up for the Kona Neutral "Brick" swap!! Click here for all the details!


I've been working a little on my Modernista Swap. I've made one potholder so far...it's my first one ever! I think it turned out pretty good. And I've already had a "thumbs up" from my secret partner! YAY!!!

I think I did pretty well!
~Hope y'all are having a great day!!~

Kona Neutral Swap

So, I had a blast doing my Kona Rainbow Swap! It went very well! Only a few slight "gliches", ya live and ya learn right? Well the wonderful peeps who were in my swap want ANOTHER ONE!Sew, without further adu, I introduce to you

 No rainbows this time though! We are going for Neutrals!!!!!! And instead of doing the 5" charms we are going to be doing 5"x 10" "bricks".  This one is going to be a bit different from the last. Instead of you being assigned a specific color group and then picking the color and posting it, I will be posting the pics of the different colors I have chosen and on your entry form you will be giving me your top 3 choices. I'll show you some of the colors I have picked out!

Butter

Charcoal

Cream

Earth

Ivory

Iron Grey

Parchment

Taupe

Steel

Oyster

I will have 26 spots open, (I'm taking 2). The max number of spots one person can take will be 2 that way more people can join us! The more the merrier, right? So that will be a total of 28 spots. Each person will need to buy 2 yards of their assigned color (if you are worried you may make a mistake in your cutting you can always buy a little extra that way you have room for error).
I am hoping for a VERY quick turn around, which means that, if you can't get it in the mail by the mail date please, don't join this round (not trying to be rude, I just don't want to have to wait weeks on one or 2 people to send theirs to me!)
All rules and further details will be posted on the flikr group page!!!! So click here to find out how to join me!!!!!

P.S. If you all are wondering about my giveaway click here to find out how to enter!
~Hope y'all are having a great day!!!~