Photo Challenge: Days 29-31

Well we made it to the end of the Photo Challenge!

Day 29 - Hope

Gypsy sitting patiently, hoping to taste a sample of Chris' dinner.

Day 30 - Goal

Need to drink more of the wine we have purchased so I can finish this shadow box before our goal of getting into a house.

Day 31 - Self Portrait

We didn't dress up for Halloween this year, so I decided to share a picture of my self from one of my first Halloween's.  Gotta love the green carpet and light blue chairs of my childhood living room.


Be sure to follow along with the other participants of the Our Wired Lives Photo Challenge!

Pinterest Challenge: Patchwork Pillow

It's that time again!!  Pinterest Challenge time with Young House Love, Bower Power, Our Fifth House and The Ugly Duckling House!

I've had such a fun time in the past sharing my canvas states, paint chip art, and chalkboard menu.  This time around I decided to work on a project using the sewing machine Chris gifted me for my birthday.  Combining my recent attempts at pillowcases and quilting,  I landed on a patchwork pillowcase.

I clicked through About.com's sewing pattern section until I found one I liked. Using left over material from the other pillow cases I've sewn, I got to work.

This pattern uses half square triangle units, which I learned in my quilting class were quick to make.  After cutting 5x5 squares, I pinned 2 different material squares together (right side of fabric facing each other) and drew a line down the middle.

Using that line as a guide point, I sewed a straight stitch down each side (1/4 inch out) and then cut the square in half (right down the line).  

Once the units were separated and pressed, I used a 4x4 square ruler to cut off the access leaving me with 12 half square triangle units to go with my 4 corner white blocks.

Sew all of those pieces together and you're left with the front piece of the pillow case. 

I used the same steps to turn it into an envelope pillowcase that you can find here.  The center is a little off, but other than that I'm really lovin' this pillow!

I think it will look great with the rest of our bright pillows once we get our new dark gray sectional!

Have you taken on any fun projects lately?

Photo Challenge: Day 28 - Hard

I didn't realize how hard it was to line up, keep straight and pin baste a quilt.  This is a shot after it was pinned and rolled - ready to start straight line quilting.

Be sure to follow along with the other participants of the Our Wired Lives Photo Challenge!

Photo Challenge: Day 27 - Old

My dad has had this wheelbarrow forever!  I remember how he would use it doing yard work for our home in Pennsylvania.  The wheelbarrow made the trek down to Texas during our move, but with less yard to work (and having a team cut the grass during the summer) it has sat in the corner growing old.

Be sure to follow along with the other participants of the Our Wired Lives Photo Challenge!

Photo Challenge: Days 22-26

Day 22 - Bokeh

I really wanted to try Bokeh with some lights, but I couldn't find any Christmas lights.  Here's a shot with black and white blur.

Day 23 - Dark

Dark clouds rolled in with a storm this week.

Day 24 - Black & White

Couldn't resist using my black and white dog for this prompt.  Love contrast in her fur coloring in this shot.

Day 25 - Bright

Love my bright green "pin cushion" (it's magnetic) and bobbin holder.  I broke it out (and my sewing machine) for the YHL Pinterest Challenge.  Post coming up next week to reveal what I made.

Day 26 - New

My old ear buds have seen some better days, the rubber has pulled off and sound is less than stellar in the right ear.  I ordered a new walking foot for my sewing machine, but wanted the free shipping which meant I needed to add something to the cart.  New Ear Pods it is!

Be sure to follow along with the other participants of the Our Wired Lives Photo Challenge!

I Don't Drink Coffee, But...

...this came home with me after a recent stop to Target, and I'm really excited about it!

Neither Chris nor I are coffee drinkers so we never had a coffee pot in our apartment.  When my parents would come over for breakfast they would always stop for coffee on the way.  As I dream about the future house, I always think about hosting holidays there and how it would be nice to offer family members coffee instead of running out to the nearest Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts.

With a belated wedding gift card from one of our friends (it was riding around in his trunk for nearly a year before he was able to give it to us), we decided to pick up a Keurig during Target's buy one get a gift card deal.  For us, the options of iced tea, hot chocolate and tea were the bigger selling points.  I love me some hot tea or hot chocolate during the winter weather!  If we were regular coffee drinkers, I think a pot would have been the better option but with the few cups of coffee that would be made at our house (for family or friends) I think this will do the trick.  Now to start trying out K cups!

And speaking of recent finds...

After I took the edible picture for the photo challenge, I really wanted to find that knife.  Thankfully, mom located it at Marshall's for $3.99!

What is your favorite cold weather drink?

Photo Challenge: Day 21 - Air

A day late, but here's my photo for Air.  It was a warm weekend here in Dallas so the fans were on to help circulate the air.  It'll be a different story next weekend where the high is only supposed to be in the 60s.

Be sure to follow along with the other participants of the Our Wired Lives Photo Challenge!

Photo Challenge: Day 20 - Nature

Nature shot during my walk with Gypsy.

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Photo Challenge: Days 15-19

Day 15 - Accomplishment

I can't wait to see how the bright pillow cases I sewed pop against our new couch.

Day 16 - Edible

Snack time!  I'm loving mom's cheese knife  - may have to "borrow" it when we move out!

Day 17 - Shadow

The shadow of a speed limit sign.

Day 18 - Corner

Here's a corner near my desk.   We've been picking up items here and there for our future house and while we try to take most of it to our storage shed, there are items that haven't made it yet.  Can't wait to have a space for my sewing machine so I don't always have to take it down and put it back up each time I want to use it.

Day 19 - Noise

Caught in the act!  Gypsy loves to howl if she hears a siren and while watching Ink Master this week she began to howl when an ambulance was heard on screen.


Be sure to follow along with the other participants of the Our Wired Lives Photo Challenge!

Quilt Patchwork Complete

And surprisingly it didn't take as long as I thought!

I left the quilting class with a basic pattern and spent one weekend watching football, cutting, pressing, pinning, and sewing on a repeat cycle.

Of course it's best to do all of your math right the first time.  I miscalculated and had to make a return trip to the store for additional fabric.  For me it was easier to do one repetitive task at a time, so I cut all of the pieces at once.  Then I created all the individual boxes at once.  Then I pressed and sewed and so on. 

Once each 9 block piece was complete I laid them out to make sure I sewed them in the correct pattern.

Some more pinning, sewing and pressing later and I was left with one final piece.  

I took these shots on top of our queen size bed if that helps for reference of how big it is.  I'm guessing it's about twin size (to have some hanging off the sides), but with the amount of work that went into this I'm sure it will be more of a decorative piece than an every day use blanket.

The middle section is pretty busy, but since the fabric came in the original bundle I purchased I wanted to use it to break up the overall pattern.

Now, to combine this with batting, a backing and some binding to complete the quilt.  I've read and watched some great tutorials online and hope to finish this after I pick up some other suggested supplies.

30 Before 30: Aggie Football

Well, after a postponement due to weather I was finally able to see the Texas A&M football team in action!

Taking Friday off, the whole family (mom, dad, Dennis, Chris and I) headed out around noon for our neighboring state.

We made great time and enjoyed the spoils of Dad's Diamond status to check in and get comfortable in our rooms.

Being the good student that he is, Chris took some time to work on his IT homework before we headed down to check out the casino.

As is normally the case for casinos - we were up and down and I'm glad to say that at the end of the weekend we brought back exactly what we took there.  Yay for breaking even.

Some bonus play Friday night.  Sunday was not as good to us.

Saturday was the reason for the weekend, watching the Texas A&M Aggies take on the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech!  Dad's host Rachel (one of the sweetest people ever!) hooked us up with transportation to the game as well as a great tailgating party.

We arrived early enough to watch the teams warming up before the late 8:15 kick off.

The game was off to a great start with the Aggies heading into halftime with a 39-16 lead.  I always love watching the halftime show and seeing the Figthin' Texas Aggie Band form the traditional block T reminded me of all of the games I watched during my college years.

The second half wasn't nearly as great as the first as the previously undefeated Bulldogs came back from behind pulling to within 2 points with 38 seconds left in the game.  Thankfully the Aggie defense thwarted the upset when the 2 point conversion failed and Special Teams recovered the onside kick.

What an exciting game for Chris' first live Aggie football game!  Next time I want him to experience it all during a home game at Kyle Field.  

Were you a sports fan during your college years?

Photo Challenge: Days 13 & 14

Day 13 - Seat

This is what our row looked like into the 4th quarter of the Aggie Football game on Saturday.  It was a close one but the Aggies pulled it out in the last seconds!

Day 14 - Silhouette

This was my attempt while out of town this weekend for the Aggie Football game.  Chris checking out the view from our room.

Be sure to follow along with the other participants of the Our Wired Lives Photo Challenge!