Boot Scootin' Annie: The Shifty Eyed Ragdoll

Dare Quilt Done!

2010-03-05T11:54:00.001-08:00

Dare Quilt Done!
Originally uploaded by Scootin' Annie

I finished my quiltie for DQS8!!! I had my machine for a couple of days now and..I...LOVE...it.
* 10 inches of harp space!!
* needle up/down
* Auto fix
* The presser foot lifts a tad when I stop (this is nice for chain piecing and turning corners)
* It's quiet
* no skipped stitches
* It doesn't SNATCH my thread and try to make a nest every time I start sewing
* I can load a bobbin from the threaded needle
* Low bobbin indicator!!
* And the WOW, an automatic thread cutter, for which I exclaimed, "I love my machine!" every time I use it.
The Viking Sapphire had nearly all the features of the Pfaff, except the walking foot, but there was more, and I was able to get a better deal.

Scrappy Trees

2010-02-26T10:08:00.001-08:00

Scrappy Trees
Originally uploaded by Scootin' Annie
I created this for Kelli of Tethered Threads 2. I actually goofed. BIG TIME!!!! It was a humongous bee etiquette no no. I misplaced the fabric Kelli sent to me. I let her know, and she has been more than understanding. Fortunately, she was going for a scrappy look with a few guidelines: the trunks needed to be a plain brown, and the trees need to lean towards lime green.
I made two others, not pictured. They were my favorites, and I thought I might let them surprise Kelli.

Flickr

2010-02-26T10:01:00.001-08:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

So... I'm Crying... Again.

2009-09-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

I sure do miss my boy. I just watched his video for the umpteenth time. I cry every time I see it. That little guy has such passion and determination. He'll be home next week, finally. I can't wait!

Nathan at the Lake Perris BMX Track

Did you hear the crowd, not just me? Everyone was standing. It was the most exciting race of the evening. Little Squirt, on his 12" Wal-Mart wheels going head to head against a 20" racing bike. You can see how much more my little guy had to peddle. He's 3. It's going to be one crazy ride after another raising this guy.

2009-09-28T23:36:00.000-07:00

It has been too long since I've been able to get out and run alone. Well, the dog came, but there were no children, no hefty stroller, no raisins; just me, the dog, and some tunes. I don't listen to music when I have the chitlins, they tend to panic if I don't answer them. Not hysterically, their "Mommy. Mommy! Mommy!! MOMMY!!!!"'s get said/whined faster and louder as no answer is heard. I love to hear what they have to say, but gee whiz, a girl needs to breath. For some reason I feel as though I go slower when I do not have the stroller to push. Dixie, the dog, denied this theory. She was running two-by-two as opposed to her usual trot. Also, for a breed that is supposed to be high energy and difficult to control, she is hard to move when she lays down. She has figured out the troughs though. I still have to scoop water to her mouth for her, but atleast she puts her feet up on the edge by herself. When I have the stroller, I can carry her bowl so she was waiting for it when we stopped. Any who, it was nice. I need to progress to more than two times a week now. I am waiting for the weather to cool a bit more. I can't let the kiddos or the dog overheat right?

I have been a Stitching

2009-09-24T13:23:00.000-07:00

In the past couple of days. I stitched up two dog beds, some little trees and houses for Becca, a couple of potholders, another baby blanket, and a pillow to help support the Baby Grill while she learns to sit.

You can't really see her pillow, its blending, but I had to show a shot of her silliness. She is such a good baby.

We have a Jungle!

2009-09-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

I plan to sew today, but it looks like I will need to cut the grass first. Now, there are three very capable Marines living in this house and they just aren't able to get to it. I don't mind mowing, but I have the darnedest time starting the thing. My boobs keep getting in the way. It's not that they are big, and nursing has not graced me with much this time around, I just don't have the muscle required to yank the pull start. I have gotten it started before, but had to deal with a sore shoulder for a few days, and the neighbors just watch my struggle. Being a marine wife I need to be able to do this by myself. My father in law was a truck driver so my husband is accustomed to seeing his mom cut the grass, but he has got to know a push mower is very different from a riding mower. I am grateful that the mower we have is self propelled.
In other news, I have a small grove of appliqued trees and little homes for Becca of our quilting bee. I don't want to post pictures, because I am not sure the applique is appropriate for her hood and some of the seams may have too much bulk. She probably wouldn't be able to use them, but I will send them off anyhow. I am so addicted though and can't stop myself from making more. Hee Hee.

Owl Bib

2009-09-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

In my search for greens I got a hold of a combo to die for. And here is where my imagination brought me:

This was a sewing experiment. I machine appliqued. I pebble quilted. I used vinyl I had saved from some packaging. And I machine binded. *Eeek!* Wait for it....this is too cute...

I am making two. One for my Baby Grill and one for a friend. He'll probably think its lame, but he and his fiance are into the green and brown combo, which happens to turn on happy thoughts for me as well.

Clearance Isle Wonky House

2009-09-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

Here is the actual block I will be sending a quilt bee member:

It looks like I went to the "hardware store" and shopped the clearance isle for paints, and when I was out, so was the store. So I finished the project with a different set of clearance paints. The colors mesh well, but imagine what the neighbors will think! I used to live down the street from a house that looked like it was painted by the Easter Bunny. It didn't just have different pastel colored layers of siding, but some was pinked, some scalloped, and some latticed. I giggled about the poor husband that had to deal with living there every time I passed by.

Here is another block I created:

I plan to send some trees to line the streets of her neighborhood, but I need to root around for some green first.

I DID IT!!!

2009-09-09T05:33:00.000-07:00

I've pieced together my first home. Now I just need to move in. But first I have challenged my self to a walk; two kids, one stroller, and an 8 month weimaraner. It's going to be crazy! Till next time.

Wonky House Project

2009-09-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

So I joined a virtual quilt be. Our first month we will be creating wonky houses. I am silly with excitement. So silly, that I have drafted a plan on the computer.

Time with the Little Man

2009-08-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

I enjoy my one-on-one with each of my kids. Today, while Squirt and Baby Grill were napping, I enjoyed my Little Man. He is talking so well. He carefully selects each word every time he forms a sentence. I still need to look around him in order to fully understand what he is trying to say, but it is nice to have him without his big brother to parrot. Little Man can be the sweetest; he is my helper, he puts away dishes, puts the clothes in the washer or dryer, and loves to cook. He gives lots of hugs, kisses, and has The Best funny faces. He'll say "Thanks" when someone gives him something and "'Cuse Me" with his little burps. He is a pleasure, until you tell the boy no, then it is time for a scream fest. I stand my ground, but give him other options, he'll turn them down, scream, he'll repeatedly smack himself in the face, scream, "Don't...Caulk...to me....Wike....That.....Mommy." "I'm not talking." "NOOOOO" And scream some more. I ignore him until he starts pulling on my arm or leg. Now he wants the other option."Not while your screaming at me, use your words." "Pweeeease." I get it, he's two, but Golly Day!... does he need to be an indescisive teenage drama queen?
This afternoon, while he was being sweet, I let him take pictures with my camera. Here is Tall Monkey and Monkey Monkey, Skinny Monkey is "hiening," hiding. I need to catch him hold these guys and get their picture. He hugs all three high up on his chest when he carries them and he makes sure their heads are at the same level.

"Look...at...meee!" He sees himself on the camera screen and takes a picture of his "Shoe-ies", his feet.
A short while later, the monkeys are flying. Monkey Monkey takes a flight path the leads him out the "Winnow," window.
I am then lectured by my sister-in-law, through my niece (who I am on the phone with), about not having screens on our second floor windows. "Those babies can fall out and get killed." "My boys are not stupid, they know we are up high and that they can fall and get hurt if they are not careful. At least they are not given a false sense of security from a window screen that can just pop out as the lean against it." Quiet time over, I'm a bad parent. And now for the naptime scream battle.

Infant Carseats are a Mess.

2009-08-06T18:09:00.000-07:00

I know the infant carrier carseat keeps my baby more secure, but I wish it were designed better. Whenever my little girl explodes I have to take it completely apart, and the nasty seat belt must pass through parts of the cover and seat that are clean. The boy's carseats don't do this. After putting Little Girl's seat back together this morning and then having to take it apart again this afternoon, I took to my sewing maching for answers. I grabbed a lap pad, which is waterproof, an ugly fleece blanket, and a fat quarter I didn't use on the Pirate Princess Quilt. In combining these I was able to create an absorbant pad to keep under her bottom. I also made a black one for Little Man. Since he is determined to no longer wear his diaper, but still making a few mistakes, I thought he could use one too.

With the rest of the Fat Quarter, I added a bit of purple here and there for her. She doesn't seem to be growing as quickly as the boys did, so she'll get to use this for a while.

Funky Baby Quilt

2009-07-25T17:31:00.000-07:00

I've been considering the quilts I make practice. I know I am not very good at this so I am not ready to go on a therapeutic fabulous fabric run. I have been working with fabrics I find on sale at Joann's. I also have to make due with an inexpensive Brother Sewing Machine my husband bought for me a several years ago. I buy polyester blankets from Wal-Mart for $5 to use as batting. After a few washes it is as soft and flexible as my son's Warm & Natural filled quilt.
My sister had some extra fabric to give me when we visited her in Vegas. I didn't know what I would use it for, but I brought it home anyway. The night I came home, a Thursday, my husband told me of a baby shower we had been invited to. Realizing we only had money for his fuel for work, I had to make do with what I had on hand.
Here is the result of my three day frenzy:

Here, I carefully stacked my 8" squares and used a rotary cutter to cut through the layers. I was then able to put together 8 blocks at time using chain piecing. This quilt came together so quickly. I am impressing myself with the improvement I see in my free motion skills.

I had a couple extra blocks and used them to make quilted pillows.

As I was taking pictures, Mr. Funny Face jumped in to share his talents.

Ruffles for My Girl

2009-07-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

I found some of the boys' onsies and refashioned it for my little girl using this tutorial. I used a t-shirt that was too short for my taste to make the ruffles. I'll have to make her a head band to match.

Pirate Princess Quilt

2009-06-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

My purple and black Pirate Princess quilt
Okay, so these are far from baby colors, but since I am not a pastel person I had to pass along my favor for rich colors. This quilt, I made for an expecting friend. Actually she was in the hospital recovering from a c-section when I finished this. Wow, I am a procrastinator.
This was my first attempt at free motion quilting. I had to walk away for a bit. I scared myself. Halfway through I found my groove. I definitely impressed myself with this one. I can't wait to try again.

Baby's Quilt

2009-03-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

So I finally took my first quilt top and turned it into a completed quilt. I figure, since I don't know whether I am having a boy or a girl, the colors were neutral enough. I am not a real fan of pastels and right now I am really attracted to browns and greens.

First Quilt

2009-03-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

My husband had a baby shower to attend while I was visiting my mom's. I was in the process of making a quilt for the baby I was expecting, but stopped to put this together for my husband to give. This is my first completed quilt. I used a quilt my sister made for my oldest and copied her technique. I chalked some flower shapes on the back and sewed those for the quilting. It is not the proper way I am sure, but I needed to get it done and sent in the mail.

Using the scraps I made some burp cloths. The girl told my husband it was one of the sweetest things she received. She could tell a lot of time went into them and she uses the burp clothes quite frequently.