Today is another anniversary, not quite on par with my wedding but still important to me - my 4th blogging anniversary! When I look back at some of my old posts, I feel like I have come such a long way, in my crafting skills, my photography, and even what crafts I enjoy.



I wish I had something fun to giveaway, like Beki. Instead I'm sharing the quilt I finished over the weekend for a friend's soon-to-arrive baby girl.



If you had told me four years ago when I started this blog that quilting would end up being one of my favorite activities, I probably would have chuckled and rolled my eyes. But now I love picking out the different fabrics, watching how my designs on paper turn into a finished quilt, pulling the quilt out of the dryer for that crinkly goodness.



I'm here in large part because of all the inspiration in the craft blogging community, all the wonderful folks who share tips and techniques. Thank you!

And, as always, thanks to all of my wonderful readers for your kind comments, and stopping by to see what I've been up to. You're all the best!

Labels: me, quilting, sewing

My office building is still closed, a reminder that there is much worse damage out there from Ike than my fallen fence. To stay out of the way we haven't ventured too far from home - less than three miles from my house is (was?) the Kemah Boardwalk, and I've heard the wood of the boardwalk is all gone, the ferris wheel is tipped, and sailboats are washed up on the access roads. It is tempting to go see the damage, but how can you be a tourist to the suffering of others?

Instead we fixed our fence, helped our neighbors when needed, got our shutters down, and tried to put our house back in order after frantically moving things upstairs to avoid potential floodwaters. With that work complete, and work still closed, I moved on to putzing.



I finished a project that was abandoned during our evacuation, chose fabric for two new quilt projects, did a few random neglected chores, and cuddled the kitten - who is now named Addie for no particular reason other than we liked it (Pete thought of it because of how easily she is distracted, like she has ADD).



Now that the repair work is done around our house, if work is still closed tomorrow I think I'll go see if I can help, distributing ice and ready meals or just putting together care packages for our friends that are still without power. It just didn't feel right treating this afternoon like a vacation day when so many are still trying to put things back together.

(Edited to add: Last night would have been Night 28 for my no tech nights. I think the events of the weekend earned me a quiet night with a little TV on Monday!)

Labels: 52 nights, fabric, me, wip

We're back home and all is well. We escaped with just a few sections of our fence down and some leaning trees - all in all, ridiculously lucky. Thanks to everyone who expressed their concern. We don't have power back yet, but my mom does (I'm at her house now, thank goodness for A/C). Thanks again to everyone who checked in on us!

Labels: me

Good morning and happy Monday! It's a lot easier to be chipper on Monday after a good weekend. I am currently trying to keep my spirits up despite yet another big storm, Ike, which looks like it's heading right to Houston!



I fixed the botched Garden Party bag over the weekend, and got one of the birthday gifts done - I had a few other things that I didn't get to because it was much more appealing to cuddle up on the couch with my book. Now it's back to work, back to my to do list, and back to hurricane watching!

Labels: me

Thanks for all the comments on my bunting!

Sorry I've been quiet. We had a great 4th, then a quiet Saturday.

Sunday was one year since we lost my dad. I can't believe it's been a year. Life goes on, even if we don't feel like it should. I miss him.

I'm in class in the city this week, which means early mornings, long days, and a long commute. Thanks for being patient while I'm quiet for a little while!



I hate a post without pictures so I thought I'd share the results of my sister's play-doh party! Wait, I mean fondant. We had so much fun a couple weekends ago learning about fondant, we decided it was like grown-up play-doh.

52 Nights Update - Night 19 - Super productive last night but not on crafting - worked to make room for a piece of furniture my sis is passing on (she's moving back to Virginia, I'm so sad!), went for a run, made dinner, did chores. It was a great night! Now it's way past my bedtime for how early I have to get up! Back soon.

Labels: 52 nights, me, misc

I've been in a little bit of a slump this past week. A few contributing factors, including a broken big toe (ouch), and a distinct lack of after-work-crafting motivation. So nothing's been done this week, despite ambitious plans to work on several different projects.



I know times like these come and go, that I will feel productive again soon, but it's hard to see that from inside a slump.



One advantage of my toe injury is that I don't have to get up at 5am tomorrow to run with my running club, so I'm hoping that will provide a little extra energy to find my crafting mojo.



In the meantime, I have enjoyed gazing at these amazing lillies, a gift from a good friend who came to visit last weekend. I swear you can smell them in my whole house, just delicious!

Labels: me, photography

The fact that I have a blog, a flickr account, a really long blogroll over there on the side, etc, should be evidence enough that I love the internet. But I am sometimes still surprised by the things that can come about from it!



I got an email towards the end of April from Amy in Kansas - she found my blog while searching for Relay for Life information, and sweetly requested a tote for their Survivor Dinner. They have a dinner to honor cancer survivors, and at the end of the evening they raffle off prizes for the survivors, and she wanted one of the prizes to be a tote of mine!



I was so honored to be asked, and so happy she found me. It's very nice to hope something I made is brightening the evening of someone who has battled cancer! Maybe that's why I chose the sunny colors?



52 Nights Update - Night 14 was back on track! I skipped the gym (busted my toe this weekend in my soccer game so no running, etc) but did everything else on my "to do" list. It was a good night!

Labels: 52 nights, bags, me, sewing

A little peek of what I worked on this weekend...



This is not my master bed quilt. Yes, it is June, so I missed my OPAM deadline. I never would have gotten as far as I did without the OPAM motivation, so thanks Tara! Hopefully I'll get back to it soon, though the quilting is still a little daunting and I discovered today I didn't get enough material for the backing. Things don't always go well on the first try!

Even though I didn't make it for May, I'm going to try again in June. For June, my OPAM project is get our office nook in order - "before" picture forthcoming when I have some daylight.

Also, I was super excited to be blog browsing this weekend and see this on whipup...



My tea towel apron, so cool! Thanks, Nicole!

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Labels: me, OPAM, quilting, sewing

The house is still a total disaster because we've moved on to the floors in our main living area, but luckily we have some progress to show for it. Our dining room is done! It only took two months...



It's hard when we only have time to really dedicate on Sundays, and not even every Sunday...



When I look at this room, I dream up plans for the walls, the windows, recovering that couch... Someday, when we finally finish all the other floors! Luckily they should go faster since we learned so much doing the dining room.

Relay for Life Drawing - I can't believe I forgot to pick a winner of the RFL drawing! I am so excited to announce that my cousin Megan won. I can't wait to make a bag for you! And thank you for supporting the American Cancer Society.

52 Nights Update - Night 9 has come and gone! I followed what is becoming my routine - got a little exercise (mowed the lawn), worked on a project, made dinner, did some chores... Of course, I was especially motivated to sew, since my sewing machine is away for a tuneup! The novelty of getting so much done on a work night hasn't worn off! In fact, even on non-Mondays, I'm getting more done, often not getting on the computer or checking Tivo until just before bed, for a much shorter amount of time. After only nine weeks! I'm excited to see how my habits will change after the full 52.

Labels: 52 nights, homework, me

I mentioned yesterday that I got a new car... I can't resist showing off my new baby!



It's a 2008 Nissan Altima, and I think we stumbled into a perfect time to buy a new car because we got an amazing deal on it. I went around for about a week feeling very smug about my negotiating skills!

My favorite feature... This is my whole key, and I get to just leave it in my purse:



Magic Key, as we like to call it... (On my new vegetable ivory key chain from Costa Rica.) And I get to start my car with a button! So cool.



Okay, I'm done showing off. Back to our regularly scheduled craft blogging...

Labels: me

I can't believe it's already April - it's almost time for the church auction! I agreed to donate two bags this year, this one and this one:





After all the zipper totes I've been making, and the pleated bags, it was only natural I'd combine the two! Amazingly enough, there are only a few tweaks I'd make if I did this style again.

Relay for Life Drawing - I reached my goal!! Thanks so much to everyone who contributed. I passed my fundraising goal, and as a team we raised over $11,000 for cancer research and as an event, we raised over $800,000! I'll do the drawing tonight and notify the winner. Thanks again!



52 Nights Update - Night 7 was fantastic! The weather here is amazing, blue skies, sunny, bright so late, and in the 60's in the evening. I got out last night and washed my new car (!!!), went for a run, then cooked peanut chicken with pineapple salsa before working on a very special project... I can't recommend strongly enough stepping away from technology for a night! I love it!

Labels: 52 nights, bags, me, sewing

There is just something so restoring about a good weekend... Relaxing night Friday and morning Saturday, first soccer game of the season, dinner last night with friends...

Today my in-laws came over and while the boys worked on the floor, us girls worked on sewing, it was so much fun! My awesome mother-in-law finished the valance for my kitchen window - I ran out of steam after the three I did almost three years ago and never finished the last one for the window above the sink! How embarrassing - thank goodness Karen came to the rescue! She's actually *excited* to do the valances for my sewing room next weekend, wouldn't that be awesome??

Ooh, I also wanted to show off my new hardware:



Half marathon #4 under my belt this morning... only missed my personal best by 3 minutes, not too bad!!

Labels: me

Those of you that have been reading for a while might remember last year when we found out my dad had cancer. A few months after his diagnosis, we all participated in our local Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society.

I am participating again this year, without my dad. It is going to be a very emotional event for my family, but it's a cause we believe in strongly, since we want to do anything we can to prevent other people from going through what my dad did.

To help raise awareness of this event I'm having a giveaway!



Here's how it will work:
1. For every $5 you donate at my RFL page or via PayPal (email me for details), you will get one entry in the drawing.
2. If you link to this entry on your blog (send me an email to let me know), you will get five entries in the drawing.
3. If someone donates based on your referral, you will get a bonus entry in the drawing.

The winner will receive a zipper tote made just for you! Color suggestions, pocket requests, etc, will be welcome. I will draw the winner on Sunday, April 13, the day after Relay.

Please consider helping - in memory of my dad, and so that others might survive. Email me if you have any questions, and thanks in advance for your support!

Labels: me

Some of you are probably familiar with Chick-fil-A, especially if you like waffle fries! A new location was opening near work, and if you are one of the first 100 through the door, you get a year of free Chick-fil-A (52 coupons for a free combo meal). The catch is that to be in the first 100, you have to get there early. Up to 24 hours early. And camp out. All night. Crazy right?? Well...





Yes, we camped out all night. You sign up when you get there, so there's no risk of anyone cutting or anything - no way I'm staying in a parking lot overnight without a guarantee of free food! We were with a few friends, and had a blast, and now have more free Chick-fil-A than we'll be able to eat... So if you're someone that knows me in real life, chances are you'll get some of the free chicken love!

Labels: me

At least that's what I'm telling myself, as the bright side to how I started my weekend... Let me preface this by saying that I AM OKAY!!! Now on to the results of my Friday night:







I babysat Friday in the city for my nephew, and was almost home (only 1 mile from my house), about midnight. I was sitting completely stopped at a red light when I got hit from behind by a drunk driver doing about 35MPH (his airbags deployed, which the cop says usually happens at speeds 35MPH+ - so he could have been going faster). I was stopped behind an SUV, so the damage to the front is actually the worst.

Anyway, we don't know for sure but we think the car will be totaled. These pics are from the lot where it was towed. I'm really sad, this was the first new car I'd bought myself, it was paid off, and we planned to drive it a lot longer... But we'll figure it out! I'm just glad I made it out of there with only a sore neck!

Oh, and to top off a fantastic weekend, today I have the stomach flu. Oh well, I guess we can't win them all!

Labels: me

So after quite a bit of preparation, I successfully completed the Houston Marathon yesterday, with a time of 4:36. I must be crazy to run for four and a half hours straight!



Peter ran his first half marathon and did fantastic. We are both happy and a little sore today, but I don't hurt nearly as bad as I expected. I can't believe I ran a marathon!

Labels: me

Hi there! Well, it looks like I participated in the opposite of NaBloPoMo, we'll call it NaNOBloPoMo. Sorry about that! I don't really have an excuse... We stay pretty busy in the base case, then we added a lot of extra running, playing volleyball after work two nights a week, and visiting our new nephew. Something had to go, and as much as I love posting here, my blog drew the short stick.

Oh, and for full disclosure, this had a small impact on my free time --



It is addicting. Just... one... more... star!

Then we went away for Thanksgiving and now it's December! Yikes!

So, I'll probably be away for the rest of the year, too, since I've got very ambitious handmade gift goals that I haven't even started, but I will be back with lots of finished things and energy and pictures in the New Year!

So Merry Christmas, everyone, and see you in 2008!

Labels: me

Well, as many of you guessed, we did find a good home for Hitch... ours! Yes, we're keeping him. We are now proud parents to a dog, three cats, and a gerbil. Yikes. But how can you give away a kitty this sweet?





As promised, I managed to photograph my new fabric...







Three Prints Charming choices, five Chocolate Lollipop, and two new Heather Ross prints. All fabrics I've been drooling over. All from eQuilter, I'm always so impressed with their selection and speedy delivery!

I think since I haven't had time to do much real sewing I shop to hold myself over. Kind of a dangerous habit, but this was with birthday money, so it's excused. I do have some hard and fast crafting time "scheduled" over the next few days, so finished projects to come, I promise!!

Labels: me, sewing

It's so nice to have a weekend at home. We started off the day with an early soccer game - I can say with authority that the humidity is back here in Houston. Also, I can demonstrate the downside of playing co-ed soccer - having boys kick you in the shins!


Or, why I don't wear skirts during soccer season...

I barely got home and showered when my best friend from high school stopped by for lunch. I don't keep in touch with too many people from high school, but no matter how long we go without talking, Lauren and I always fall back into one of those easy, forever friendships.



I baked a batch of cookies while we chatted so I could send some home to her family. This is my current favorite cookie recipe, here at Julie's.



Now, when I can tear myself away from the computer (pictures to edit! blogs to check! emails to write!) I'm going to sit myself down at my sewing machine and finally finish that baby quilt.



I think some hand-binding with a good movie is my plan for tonight...

Labels: me, misc

Work has left me very scatterbrained this week, but I decided to just go with it because I have a few random things I wanted to post...

1. We went to the rodeo Tuesday and it was so much fun. I love seeing everyone dressed up (no, I don't own cowboy boots) and seeing all the animals and the rodeo events... And can I just say how neat it is to be able to take pictures in a nearly dark stadium and have them look decent?



(More rodeo pics on my flickr.)

2. I got a new haircut! I love getting my haircut! I'm a little blonder now...



3. I'm trying out a new flower... I still think I like Beki's better, but this one is kind of cute, too!



Okay, I won't make any promises, but hopefully my next post will be a little more cohesive!

Labels: me, photography, sewing

Seeing that headband pic was getting old, I finally got around to finishing my 100 Things list. Find the first 50 here.


(See #92)

51. I read a lot.
52. Mostly fantasy.
53. Some science fiction.
54. Some "real books" when my mom or sister lends one to me.
55. Right now I'm reading A Farewell to Arms.
56. I just finished The Edge Chronicles, Book 2.
57. I love children's books.
58. I LOVE Harry Potter.
59. I type really fast.
60. I like almost all music.
61. Just not rap.
62. I love musicals.
63. I had the Les Mis soundtrack memorized in high school.
64. I know a little French.
65. I tried to learn Russian once.
66. Couldn't even memorize the alphabet.
67. I talk really fast.
68. And I talk a lot.
69. I love shoes.
70. But I don't like to wear high heels.
71. Because I'm tall.
72. 5'11".
73. Since my freshman year in high school.
74. When I wore glasses.
75. And had braces.
76. I was cool.
77. I've never broken a bone.
78. Or had to stay in the hospital.
79. (I hope I didn't jinx myself.)
80. I'm very gullible.
81. So I get teased a lot.
82. I don't mind.
83. I like making people laugh.
84. I like to cook.
85. I eat a lot.
86. I don't have a favorite food.
87. I have a favorite color.
88. Orange.
89. Since I was about four.
90. I love monkeys.
91. And owls.
92. And jellyfish.
93. And otters.
94. I love aquariums.
95. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of my favorite places.
96. I love office supplies.
97. Especially pens.
98. And post-its.
99. I love being organized.
100. I love to make lists!

Thanks for bearing with me! I couldn't handle knowing that list was only half done...

Labels: me

I've always loved reading the "100 Things" lists people post, but I've never done one myself. I have hesitated in the past to make one of my own. Partly (well, mostly) because the things people list on theirs are so interesting, and I can't think of similarly interesting things for my list. Kind of like how I get stuck on the "something unique" part of the personal introductions at many training classes I go to. But the truth is, that's me! Pretty normal! So hopefully you'll still like reading my list...

1. I have a white streak in my hair.
2. That's usually the "something unique" I say at introductions.
3. I can seem very outgoing.
4. Really I feel quite shy.
5. I married my high school sweetheart.
6. We met when I was 16.
7. But we went to different colleges.
8. We got married on the 6th anniversary of our first date.
9. I have a degree in mechanical engineering.
10. I haven't done much mechanical engineering since I graduated.
11. I dream of not having to do any engineering.
12. We have a dog (Westie).
13. And two cats (brother and sister).
14. And a gerbil.
15. We had two gerbils.
16. One disappeared out of the cage. Thanks to #13, probably.
17. No kids.
18. Yet.
19. I have lived in the same city for 16 years.
20. In 7 different residences.
21. I watch Star Trek.
22. And play video games.
23. We have three computers.
24. I can be a know-it-all.
25. And bad about interrupting.
26. But I'm getting better!
27. I cry easily.
28. Even commercials have made me cry.
29. Grey's Anatomy last night made me cry.
30. I watch a lot of TV.
31. Especially reality TV.
32. I love my Tivo.
33. I love to travel.
34. But I have only been out of the country once.
35. Nine years ago.
26. I'm going out of the country in a week!!
27. To Belize!
28. With my whole family.
29. I have one sister.
30. We work for the same company.
31. So does my husband.
32. So did my dad.
33. My parents live 2 miles from me.
34. My in-laws live 7 miles from me.
35. I love living close to my family.
36. I love to try new things.
37. I don't usually stick with it very long before I try the next thing.
38. I love watching football.
39. I didn't use to love football.
40. I played flag football in college.
41. I play soccer.
42. And run.
43. I ran a half marathon in 2005.
44. I'm running another one in January.
45. I think I want to run a marathon in June.
46. Mostly because of where it is.
47. In Alaska.
48. I am telling everyone that, and I'll feel silly if it doesn't happen.
49. But I can't keep things quiet when I'm excited.
50. That makes it hard around Christmas.

I can't believe I made it to 50. Did anyone read the whole list? Am I the only one that likes reading these? I think I'll save the other 50 for another day, that wore me out!

Labels: me

I've found more and more of my time in the evenings occupied by my new obsession with crafts. Handbags, stuffed animals, knit scarves, etched glasses, I want to try it all! I want to have a journal to keep track of all my projects and ideas, so here it is... Maybe someday I'll add "learn Movable Type" to my project list...

Labels: me