Under the Big Top

Yesterday I talked about some fabric my friend Lisa gave me. The squares were already cut when she gave the fabric to me, so I decided to make a simple quilt with it.



I decided to name it "Under the Big Top," because I started to think about clowns and the circus as I was making it. I went shopping and found some fabric with animals on it to use for the backing.



Today was spent purchasing flowers for the garden and doing some antique shopping. Tomorrow, the plants will go in the ground and I hope to get some sewing done!

Pin It Now!

I Am A Homemaker

Hello, my name is Cynthia and I am a homemaker. (I feel like an AA member)

As you all know, I joined the working force in November of 2010. The goal was to make a little extra money to pay some bills off and get out of the house more often. I told Big and The Baby, that I wouldn't let it interfere with my family.

Working has not only interfered with my family, but also my home. I think I am more stressed out now than I was before working. Please don't get me wrong, I don't mind what I do and I don't mind the lady I work with. I just mind the time away from my home. It is a funny thing, the money that was supposed to pay off bills hasn't. Yes, it has done some good - I have felt freer about buying fabric! And boy have I.

I will be cutting back on my hours in the next week or two and if that doesn't help me get caught up, I will quit.

Anyway, I have missed blogging and I vow to myself to blog at least 3 or 4 times a week.

I have been busy and have gotten a few things accomplished. My friend Lisa gave me some of her "scraps," I made a child's quilt. I will post a photo of it later. It will be donated to a new half-way house that has opened here in Buckhannon.



I am participating in a Round Robin with 4 other members of my quilt guild. We are starting with squares and I hope our next round will be full quilts. I added the cream and red boarder.



We played an ugly fabric game during the quilt guild's November meeting. We each brought a yard of ugly fabric and then passed it around the table. It was like playing musical chairs with fabric. We would tear the piece we received in half and then pass it along when the music started again. We each ended up with 6 or 7 pieces of fabric, the last being a 4 inch square. Then came the challenge - make something with the "ugly" fabric and only add 2 of your own fabrics. Here it what I came up with. It is not the best thing I have ever made, but I wouldn't consider it ugly either!






Well, I am off to watch the movie, Black Swan. It looks soooo good. Hope you all have a good weekend. I will be back soon!

Pin It Now!

A Finish for March

I had hoped to get this quilt finished in February, but it just didn't happen. I got the binding attached this afternoon and it will be ready to mail tomorrow.

You may remember, I made this quilt is for a long time family friend. She will turn 90 this month. Shortly after her birthday, she will be moving to an assisted living facility. I am hoping this quilt will help keep her warm, both emotionally and physically.



I finished another hexagon flower for my Inchy Hexagon Swap. I really love making these. They are so easy to make while watching television.



I hope you had a great day!

Pin It Now!

Frugal February Results

Well, it is time to let everyone know what my final grocery tally for Mrs. P's Frugal February is. Drum roll please....$331.65. I am really happy with that amount. I usually allow a budget of $400.00 per month, so in that regard, I did well. I tried to stay at $300.00 or less for Mrs. P's challenge. I didn't quite make that goal.

I learned a few things from this challenge. One of the things I learned is to make a weekly menu instead of a two-week menu. I found when I tried to shop for two weeks, I wouldn't buy bread items or fresh fruit or vegetables for the second week. This meant I would end up in the grocery store again and that would spell disaster! So I am going to continue with my once a week menu planning and shopping.

I also noticed, after scouring my bank account, that I only earned $.02 in interest over the month! That kind of pisses me off.

So anyway, here is the menu for this week.

Monday - Pasta Primavera

Tuesday - Szechuan Shrimp

Wednesday - Mac & Cheese, green beans

Thursday - Grilled Salmon, couscous and a vegetable

Friday - Stromboli

Saturday - Pigs in a Blanket

Sunday - Pork Schnitzel, Creamy Corn

I am hoping Mrs. P will make this a regular feature of her wonderful blog. I have enjoyed the challenge. Mrs. P, do your linky thing so we can all see what everyone else did!

Hope you all have a great day - I played hookie from work and am cleaning house!! Then off to sew!


Pin It Now!

Quick Post

I have had a nice and relaxing weekend. So sorry it is over.

I spent a good part of Saturday quilting the scrappy quilt that I am making for a family friend. I am about half finished and hope to have it ready for binding in the next couple of days. My plan is to have it finished and mailed by her 90th birthday, which is mid-March. I will post photos when finished.

Here is a photo of one of the dresses I want to make for The Baby. It will be made out of linen and I think it will flow very nice.



Big and I went to see the new Jennifer Anniston/Adam Sandler movie, "Just Go With It." It was so funny and it was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

My fingers are sore from calculating my final total in Mrs. P's Frugal February challenge! I have planned my menu for next week already. Wow, I can't believe I am so on top of things.

Well, I will heading off to bed soon, so I will sign off. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!


Pin It Now!

Hexi Swap

About a month ago, I decided to join a Hexagon Swap. I received my first Hexi the other day. I was so excited! Sorry it took me so long to post. I love the post card she sent, it cracked me up!



My swap partner requested Cream petals and Red, Taupe or brown Civil War fabrics for the center. I didn't own any Civil War fabric. So, of course, I had to go shopping!



I like the way it turned out. What do you think?


Pin It Now!

Frugal February

I had a lovely and expensive trip to the Dentist today and am in a little pain because of it. I decided to take a pain pill, which is something I usually don't do. This post will be short and sweet. I am sure the pill will begin to hit me pretty soon and I will be more incoherent than normal!

I went to the grocery store today and managed to spend about $52.00. The groceries bought today will last till the 28th of February. My total for the month of Feb. so far is at about $280.00. If I can stay away from the stores, I will beat my goal of $300.00 for the month! I thought I had gone way over budget, so I was happily surprised!

Here is this weeks menu:

Monday - Pasta with homemade spaghetti sauce

Tuesday - Big had eggs and sausage and I had malt-o-meal. We were supposed to have fish, but because of my dentist visit, I needed soft food.

Wednesday - Vegetables with couscous

Thursday - Southwestern Cod and leeks

Friday - Patty Melts, homemade fries

Saturday - Whatever we can dig up (I left my menu in the car and it is snowing, so I don't want to get it.)

Sunday - Beef Tacos (these will be more like fajitas - not ground beef)

I know this doesn't sound too exciting. As I said earlier, I left the menu in the car and I don't want to go and get it! Most of the recipes are new, so I am excited! I will post about the meals as the week goes on.

Pin It Now!