Monthly Summary Report - April

April also was not a productive month for actually sewing, but I got a lot of quilty-related shopping done. I went to several shops in Ohio and last week went to Paducah for the quilt show. I'm hoping May will bring several finishes and lots of sewing time.

Here is a summary of what happened in April:

• Spent only 2-1/2 hours sewing (must improve in this area for May)
• Went to Fabric Shack in Ohio (along with two other quilt shops)
• Went to Paducah with a bunch of friends!!!
• Continued walking for 1/2 hour during work breaks

My goals for May are:

• Sew more!!!
• Quilt Rock/Spinning Around the Block (2 finishes in 1 shot)
• Finish the last three Rambling' Rose BOM blocks
• Finish piecing Bricks & Stepping Stones and quilt
• Start log cabins for Golden Memories
• Continue exercising 3-5 times a week
• Drink more water
• Continue taking photos for genealogy websites

Bricks & Stepping Stones

Tonight I started Bricks & Stepping Stones which is a pattern by Bonnie Hunter at the Quiltville website. I'm making the bricks in pink and stepping stones in cream and brown. I cut out about 36 bricks and hope to start cutting out the steps tomorrow.

Yesterday I also started cutting pieces for one of the three Rambling Rose blocks that I have left to make. Slowly but surely I'm hoping to use up some stash and get some of these projects in the finish column.

Also tonight we found out DH will be going back to 3rd shift since there are about 50 people being laid off where he works. He doesn't have enough senority to stay on 1st so we'll have to figure out a new routine in the near future.

Vacation is Over :0(

Wow did the last few days go fast!!! Tuesday we went to the Brewers game for our 13th wedding Anniversary. They squeaked it out after going extra innings. I didn't sleep very well that night in anticipation of meeting some of my online friends for the first time.

The airport transportation came at 3:30 a.m. to pick me up. Whizzed through security, boarded the plane and then sat on the runway for 1-1/2 hours b/c the tower computers were down! Ugh! Didn't they realize I needed to get to Paducah so I could meet my friends and buy fabric!?!?! LOL I eventually got to Nashville and met Peg for the first time. We zoomed up to Paducah to meet Shirley, Tammy, Kathy and Maria at Hancock's of Paducah where I found a "couple" things. There we stopped at DQ for something cool to eat and get re-energized. Then it was off to Eleanor's tent sale where I got a "couple" more things. After we went into town, hit a couple vendor booths, ate and then went back to Shirley's. I crashed early since I had gotten up so early.

Thursday we checked out the quilt show and more vendors. I did much better on spending that day. My biggest find was the Witches' Brew pattern. I have had my eye on it since I saw it in Keepsake Quilting, but was holding off. One vendor was selling the face and hand which she did with colored pencils. If I would have had to do the face, it NEVER would have looked this good so I snatched it up. We went back to Shirley's for supper. Her husband grilled chicken which was yummy. Although she needs to work on a better dessert (jk). After we hung out in her sewing room and talked.

Friday was a hang out at The Barn and relax day. Late morning we met up with Shirley in Paducah to eat and checked out a couple more vendors and then it was back to Nashville. We drove around for a little bit, ate some supper and then hit (or tried) the sack.

Saturday was back to the airport and back to reality. It was great meeting my online buddies. We had an absolute blast! The host & hostess were absolutely phenomenal!!! ;0)

So here is the damage for the week:

• Fabric Added This Week - 24 yards


• Fabric Added as of Apr. '08 - 47 yards


• Fabric Used This Week - 0 yards


• Fabric Used Year to Date - 2-1/2 yards

ONE More Day!!!

I'm officially on vacation!!! Tomorrow DH and I are celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary at the Brewers game and then Wednesday I'm flying off to the quilt show. I'm already excited, I could hardly sleep LAST night!

Tomorrow I have to remember to confirm the time I'm getting picked up by the airport transportation...the original time given was 2:45 A.M. Although it probably won't make much of a difference b/c I won't be able to sleep anyway.

I'm meeting my friend Peg at Nashville and then we're heading to Paducah to meet up with some other friends. It'll be a long day but the excitement of meeting up with friends and shopping for fabric will keep me going.

Sunday Stash Report

The good news is that I didn't add to my stash this week. The bad news is that I haven't even stepped foot into the sewing room either. I will definitely be adding to my total this coming week since I'll be in Paducah. I will definitely have to get busy when I get back!!!

Only two more days before I'm heading to Paducah!!!

Stashbusting Report:

• Fabric Added This Week - 0 yards
• Fabric Added as of Apr. '08 - 23 yards
• Fabric Used This Week - 0 yards
• Fabric Used Year to Date - 2-1/2 yards

Zack's 1st Birthday Party!!!

Yesterday was Zack's 1st Birthday Party. His birthday is really the 22nd, but since that's during the week, the party was a little early. Really, he didn't mind. A bunch of friends and family came to celebrate his special day. He had a blast eat birthday cake and after he got to open some really cool gifts.

The cake was made by SIL's friend and neighbor. It sure was delicious!!! Step-sister Stephanie had prom but before she left she read a letter she had written for Zack and made the entire group cry.



Zack's cake!









Zack - patiently waiting while everyone sings "Happy Birthday"!










Zack gets the green light to sink his teeth (all 7 of them) into the cake.








The first bite!







Yummy!










This is delicious!!! Why is everyone staring at me and taking pictures of me eating?

Sunday Stash Report

I got a late start this morning...still recovering from all that driving yesterday. After I finally dragged my butt outta bed, I've gotten quite a bit done.

My goal this week is to work at least 1/2 hour each day to declutter the house and also work at least 15 minutes each day in the sewing room. I've got to get back into the sewing groove. If nothing else Paducah will get me re-motivated to get back in there and make some progress. Speaking of Paducah, there is just over a week before I leave. I can't wait! My suitcase is packed except for the everyday things. I have to make it through 6 more days of work!!!

Also coming up on Saturday is my nephew's 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY. Gosh, it's hard to believe he's going to be ONE already! Plus we have our 13th wedding anniversary coming up too. How time flies.

Stashbusting Report:

• Fabric Added This Week - 23 yards
• Fabric Added as of Apr. '08 - 23 yards
• Fabric Used This Week - 0 yards
• Fabric Used Year to Date - 2-1/2 yards

Rain, Sleet & Snow..

that sums up our trip to Ohio for the World of Outlaws races this weekend. They did race on Friday night. The track was really dry (which is funny considering how much rain they'd gotten that morning) so the heat races were boring, but the feature was really good. Today's races were cancelled by 11:30 so we high-tailed it home through rain, sleet and a little bit of snow. Thankfully by the time we got home it was just cold.

Also during the trip, I managed to visit three quilt stores...the main one being one of my favorite online stores...Fabric Shack. We needed to past the time somehow since races are at night! So my stash increased a little this week. I am hoping this coming week to get back in the sewing room and get going on some projects, along with working on the LA again. Since I love making lists, I've added a list to my blog of quilt shops I've visited.

Lately I've been distracted with working on my family tree stuff so I haven't gotten in the sewing room too much, but I need to make room for my new purchases this week and my future purchases in Paducah, so I gotta get busy in the sewing room!!!

Sheets Shuts Out the Giants

Ben Sheets shut out the Giants to get his second career shutout and 14th career complete game pitched. We also saw Bernie Brewer go down the slide thanks to two (Kapler and Braun) home runs! It was a blast to be at!!! It was also Prince Fielder bobblehead day so everyone got a bobblehead.

On the quilting front, I loaded Rock Around the Block onto the quilting frame. That's all the further I got. I probably won't get any sewing done this week either. When I get a chance to sew, I will be working on getting that top quilted!

Stashbusting Report:

• Fabric Added This Week - 0 yards
• Fabric Added as of Apr. '08 - 0 yards
• Fabric Used This Week - 0 yards
• Fabric Used Year to Date - 2-1/2 yards