Finally finished

Okay, I promise this is the last post about Luke's robot quilt. I finally finished sewing on the binding today, washed the quilt, and put it on Luke's bed. I checked back on my blog: I started this on August 11. So glad to be done!



I cut the binding on the bias, which made my brain hurt a little. But I'm glad I did.


I was a little nervous that the red fabric would bleed when I washed it, but it didn't. (Whew!) The quilt came out of the dryer all crinkly and soft.


This is the best part.

Wrap Them in Love quilt

My quilt for Wrap Them in Love is finished and ready to ship! I decided to do some unselfish crafting this year, and I'm starting with this quilt for Wrap Them in Love. I heard about this group on Sew, Mama, Sew. They collect handmade quilts and distribute them to needy children around the world.


This was the basic idea I started out with. I ended up simplifying it. Instead of using 3-inch and 6-inch squares, I used 6-inch and 12-inch squares. It took less time, and I don't think the recipient will mind.


I chose this Riley Blake All Stars fabric because I thought it would be bright and fun for a toddler.


My resident toddler approves.


My quilting gets a "shows improvement."


I used Kona Orange for the binding and Kona Grass for the backing. (Love that green!)
The corners gave me trouble this time. Luckily, the program is called Wrap Them in Love, not Wrap Them in Perfection.

That's one thing checked off the to-do list!

Pinwheel fabric

Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt
My fabric for the Pinwheel quilt-along

P.S. Nat: I used my Christmas gift certificate for this, so thanks!!

Sloppy joe. Slop, sloppy joe.

Do you ever have a hankerin' for sloppy joe and a craving for a Big Mac? Luckily, Food Network Magazine has solved this age-old conundrum.

You have to check out this Sloppy Joe recipe. A friend told me about this today, and I didn't think it could possibly true. Oh, but it is.

Seriously, what were they thinking?!?

Enjoy.

P.S. I should be able to cross an item off my to-do list tonight. Pictures soon!

UPDATE: Okay, so I peeked at this magazine in the check-out line today. The other recipes: a salad made from a KFC chicken dinner (she used the cole slaw and corn and everything), a fish taco made from a Burger King fish sandwich, and tortilla soup made from a Taco Bell burrito. I don't know which is worst!

My new favorite chicken salad recipe

(Did I have an old favorite chicken salad recipe? Hmm.)
I'm having lunch with my co-workers today, and I'm bringing chicken salad. I made this Honey-Chicken Salad, and it is delicious! (What? I had to sneak a sample so I could make sure I wasn't poisoning my friends.) I was afraid it would be too sweet for me, but it definitely isn't. I made it with a rotisserie chicken, which made it even easier.

Date Night

I've been excited about this movie since I first heard about it way back when. My sister reminded me about it yesterday. Still excited. This has to be hilarious, right?



P.S. Some parts here are not for the kiddies.

United State of Pop

Everyone knows I love a good mashup. (Okay, I didn't know what that meant until I saw it in Glee.) This one is pretty awesome.



His 2008 and 2007 versions are also very cool.

To do

I got Luke's robot quilt back from the long-arm quilter today, so there's binding to be made and sewn.


And I need to make a quilt out of this fabric for Sew, Mama, Sew and Wrap Them in Love...by the end of the month. (How is it already the 14th? Oof.)


And I'm making a scarf for Craft Hope and the Red Scarf project (due February 14).


Oh, and did I mention I signed up for Rachel's Pinwheel Sampler Quilt-Along?


I ordered this fabric for the pinwheel quilt. Yum.


Hmm. Maybe I should be sewing instead of blogging...

Orangey goodness: Update

(Note to Leah and Julia: Still not about food.)

I finished up my block for my virtual quilting bee and shipped it back to the UK today.

I started out with this pile of orange fabric...


And made this block.


I hope she likes it! I used the Map of the States tutorial on Oh, Fransson! Check out Elizabeth's quilt made up of these blocks. Gorgeous.

Summer Soiree in January (aka Work Quilt)

Any of my work friends will agree that our offices are freezing. If I pushed around a quilt cart and sold quilts cubicle to cubicle, I'd be a rich woman. (Note to self: Start a quilt cart.) For now, I made one for myself.



This is the finished product from my sneak peek. I used this Snowball Block tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew.


I wanted to do a bias-cut binding, but I was afraid I didn't have enough fabric (I had plenty). But I'm happy with the way this turned out. I'm not sure the fat stripes would've looked good on the bias.


These colors = love.


The fabrics are all from the Summer Soiree line by Paula Prass. I used the Nantucket colorway. I love how the traditional florals mix with the very bold and modern geometrical prints. (Wow, it almost sounds like I know what I'm talking about!)


The backing is the turquoise houndstooth from the same line.


I made this quilt myself, start to finish. It was a challenge, and it's not perfect, but I love it anyway! I think it will bring some cheer (and warmth!) to my grey office. The finished size is 35 x 35 inches. I think it will be a good size for a lap quilt. It's a good size for a toddler too.

24: To watch, or not to watch?

I skipped last season because I was experiencing 24 fatigue. I was gearing up to watch season 8....but, I don't know. Am I ready for Pawpaw Jack? And more Kim (shudder)?



Maybe I just prefer House as Jack Bauer...



I'll tell you what I will be watching for sure: the new season of Survivor. I haven't watched it in a long time, but I'll be tuning in for season 20 (!) for one reason: Boston Rob.

Sneak peek

The reason I have dirty dishes in the sink.

And a basket full of unfolded laundry.

And sore arms.

A few good movies

Sigh. Hard to believe that we go back to reality tomorrow. I predict a hard week. Luke starts a new class at day care, and that's always tough for him. Work is sure to be crazy. And now our heat seems to be out. So I've been savoring these last few days by relaxing and watching some movies.


Up first: Lost in Austen. My friends Marilyn and Leah both recommended this movie, so I had high hopes. I wasn't disappointed. It was originally a British miniseries, but now it's available on Netflix. In this movie, modern day Amanda goes through a portal in her London bathroom and enters the world of Pride and Prejudice. It's a must-watch for Jane Austen fans. Alex Kingston plays an over-the-top looney Mrs. Bennet.

(500) Days of Summer is a quirky story about a failed romance. I really like Zooey Deschanel (not only because she's the real-life sister of Bones), but it seems like she plays the same character in every movie. Entertainment Weekly called this one of the best movies of 2009. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but it was enjoyable.


Finally, I got around to watching Julie & Julia.
I'm sure I'm the last person on the planet to see this. I really liked it too.

Okay, back to my pile of blankets on the couch. Maybe I can squeeze in another movie or two before I go back to work tomorrow.

TV on DVD

We decided to part ways with our cable company. I'd like to say it was an amicable split, but that would be a big fat lie. I'm sure it's hard to imagine how a TV addict like me could survive without cable, but we've worked out a pretty intricate system of Netflix, Hulu, and an HD antenna that gets the local channels.

We're also taking this opportunity to catch up on some TV shows on DVD. Up first: The Big Bang Theory.



I've heard lots of love for this show, so I figured it was time to give it a try. And it is hilarious. It's about a group of ubernerds and the hot girl who lives across the hall from them.

Other shows in the queue: Sons of Anarchy, Big Love (season 3), and United States of Tara. What else should I be watching?