Friday Finish - 03/17/17 (A Little Early)

First I know it is not Friday just yet, but I am so very happy to have this all finished and gifted that I just couldn't wait until Friday. Plus I've been teasing it for so long, I know several of you have been waiting to see the final results. It was a little late for Christmas, but I got it too her before her birthday...Mecca's Courtyard Tiles quilt....tada!!!!

So before I start the big picture fest, let me tell you a little about this quilt. The pattern is Courtyard Tiles by My Quilt Infatuation. I bought the pattern last May during May is for Makers and when my sister-in-law saw it she asked if I would make it for her. I said yes. And then we had to choose fabric, and I had to modify the pattern because she wanted a king sized quilt. I started working on it in July or August, hoping to have it finished by Christmas, but only had the top done then. So she received a photo of the top at Christmas. But now it is quilted and matching shams are done.

This puppy is big, it was 108 x 108 before washing and I forgot to measure it when I took it out of the dryer. The fabric line is Bread 'n Butter by American Jane for Moda and the colors are just so pretty. I did do some calculations on this baby, the top has 1296 pieces in it and matching shams have 270, with the backing and binding it comes to 1580 pieces. Lots and lots of pieces, but each one sewn with love. I couldn't get a great picture of it all spread out, so here are some of my favorites in smaller sections.

I made matching shams, but I don't really like them. I was smart enough to make them, quilt them and wash them before piecing them. But I wasn't smart enough to realize the pattern wouldn't match the way I did it. Mecca doesn't mind, but it is one of those things I see. I am working hard on giving myself a break on things like this, so as long as Mecca is happy, I'm happy.

It is hard to see the quilting but it is just an all over meander in a white thread. Sharla and I took it out Sunday to photograph and deliver, but when we got to Mecca and Tom's house no one was home. So we decided to tease them a little and took a picture of it on a little bridge Tom built in the front yard.

This is by far the largest quilt I've ever done and it stretched my machine and me to the max, but it was so worth it. The pattern is really well written and I will make another one of these in the future for sure, just maybe not king sized. It is far from perfect, but it is just so pretty that I can ignore the flaws.

I used a red polka dot for the back and red diamond grid fabric for the binding, both of which look really great. I even remembered to label it.

We found this great gazebo just down the road from us. It is outside of a small church and was a perfect spot to photograph the quilt.  I'm sure we will use it again in the future. Someday I would love to have a gazebo like this one. Going through the photos I realized I didn't get a picture of the whole gazebo, but here is one of the bottom part.

I'm so happy this one is done, and I'm so happy that Mecca loves it. Now it is time for me to get working on more projects. My list is slowing getting done. This is the second quilt on my 2017 Finish-A-Long Quarter 1 list, and I hope to get at least one more done before the quarter is done. I'm making lots of progress on tops, but not as much as finished quilts, but I happy with where I stand.

I will be linking up with Can I Get A Whoop Whoop @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts, Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation, Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts and Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Fort Worth Fabric Studio.

Sunday Stash - 03/12/17

I would have lots to report this week, but since I've not gifted the quilt/shams and I've not photographed them or blogged about them, I will wait until next week to report them. But let me say that my numbers are looking good. With the fabric for the binding and shams I used a little over 8 yards.

I did try and deliver the quilt and shams today, but alas no one was home.  So just to taunt my sister-in-law just a little, here is a picture of the quilt at her house. I will blog about it on Friday, because I hope to have it delivered by then.

I did also made progress on my City Streets quilt. If I get to spend some time on it this week, I think I can finish the flimsy. And I am also designing a word quilt using the Spell It With Fabric alpha that Moda put out a couple of years ago. I've picked my phrase, and the even the fabric for the letters, but I'm struggling to decide on the background fabric. If I get the background picked out, I will start it as soon as I finish City Streets.

Since I'm not counting anything this week, my numbers remain the same as last week.

Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 68 5/8 yards
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 10 1/2 yards
Net Fabric for 2017: 58 1/8 yards used

I'm going to link up with Judy at Patchwork Times - Sunday Stash. And I hope you have a wonderful week...and that you get lots accomplished.

Layouts for January

I did more quilting than scrapping this month, but I did get some layouts done.  The kits I used are mostly older kits, but they are ones I really love.  My first layout is probably my most favorite for the month.  I created it for the Recipe Challenge on Trixie Scraps Designs blog.  I love the kit and it is call Triumphant Value Bundle because the colors are just fun to use.  And they matched the photos so well.  The photos were taken at Christmas and we had some fun with a present Callie received.  Yes that is Sheldon in the photos, the present was a life sized cutout of him.

Next up is a layout I did using Best Year Ever by Trixie Scraps as well. This kit is great because of the great flowers in it and ya'll know I love me some flowers.  But it also has wonderful papers in great fall colors. The photo is also from Christmas of the kids...yes they are still kids to me even if two of them are now engaged and we've gone from three to five.

Next is another layout using Best Year Ever, and I created this one for the mix it up challenge at GingerScraps.  I really am drawn to the colors in this kit.  The photo is an old one of Callie and Cole, it is hard to believe how much they have grown, but the boy in this picture is the bearded boy in the picture above...ok so maybe not a boy above.

And lastly is a layout I made using King of the Pride Value Bundle.  It is a wild kit and perfect to scrap the newest wild thing in my life...Hollywood.  The bright oranges really look wonderful and I love the alpha in the kit, good for so many things.  Hollywood is getting so big, but he is still all puppy, chewing, jumping, etc.  But we love the little...oops big stinker.

All of these kits are available at Trixie Scraps Shop and would be wonderful additions to your stash.

November/December Layouts

Ok I was on track at the beginning of November, but something went terribly wrong and the rest of November and December have gone way off track.  I had such wonderful plans, and very few of them came to fruition. But hopefully I will get more on track for 2014.  So let me end the year right by showing you layouts I made for the last two months.

To begin with I have one using Autumn Spice by North Meets South Studios.  I love the colors of this kit, they are really beautiful.  For my layout I used a photo of Callie and MawMaw.  They might have been very different but they shared a very special love.

Next up is one using A Life That's Good Value Bundle.  The flowers in this kit are awesome and ya'll know I love flowers on a layout.  The photo is from several years ago, and is of a motley crew.  But a crew that I am blessed to a part.  Even when I'm down these guys make me smile.

Now for a layout that was really fun.  Not because the photo is great, it was taken in my garage, but because of what the photo represents.  Sharla and I got a long arm quilting machine and I took a photo of the box as we waited patiently for the floors to be redone so we could get it put together.  Ok we weren't very patient.  The kit I used is After 10 Years Value Bundle and November Templatetopia.  I love templates, they make scrapping so easy and this kit is not my normal colors, but I love working with it because it makes everything look great, even a photo of a box.

My last November layout used Blue Jean Boy Value Bundle which is an awesome kit for doing boy layouts. Great colors and elements make it very easy to put together a page quickly that looks great.  I used an old photo of Cole for this one.

Now for my December layouts. First is one I did for the Recipe Challenge on the Trixie Scraps Blog and I used A Life That's Good Value Bundle again.  As I said earlier this is a great kit that is just plain fun to use. The photo is of Tom and Mecca, after all these years they are still happy together.

Next is one I did for a font challenge.  I used Triumphant Value Bundle which is a great kit because it can be used for so many different types of pages.  For this one I featured Cooper, the precious baby that went to the Rainbow Bridge in November.  I miss him every day!

Next I got to used some photos from Christmas Day of Tom's family.  The family is growing and growing. We now have Jessica (engaged to Trey) and Beau (engaged to Callie).  And I will say this, they made me laugh all day.  They are crazy but I love them!!!!  I used Picture A Family Value Bundle which is perfect for family pictures.  A great mix of colors and elements!!!!

And my last layout for December uses Spunky Monkey Value Bundle which is just a fun kit.  I didn't use any of the cute monkey elements, but they are simply wonderful.  The layout is of Hollywood, my nephews puppy.  He is a lab mix and way to big to be a lap dog, but he just refuses to believe that.  In this picture he is sitting on me.  Crazy boy!!!!

Well that is it for now.  Make sure you head over to Trixie Scraps Store and pick up these wonderful kits. They will make scrapping your pages easy and fun!!!!  I promise that things will be different in 2014 and I will blog more.  I hope to add lots of posts about quilts I complete as well.

I hope each of you has a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

December is almost over

I can't believe that December is almost over. It has been such a hectic month. I started it off in good shape, but between Sharla going into the hospital and me getting a cold, it has gone down hill fast. But I want to make sure I show you some goodies from Trixie Scraps Designs. First up I used the December Templatetopia and Sweetened With Gratitude Bundle for this layout. I love the templatetopia bundle because it is such a great deal!!!! The photos are of Callie, Cole and Trey, it is so hard to believe they are all grown.

Next I used Presents Everywhere for this layout. I love bright colors of these pieces and it was so much fun to use. I used a photo of Callie posing by her presents last year. Such a cheeky girl!!!!

Next up and the last for today is a layout I made using Winter Carolers. Now I love all of Trixie's kits, but this one is simply wonderful. I love the everything about it!!! I think it is my new all time favorite. The photo is Tom, Mecca, Callie and Cole on Christmas morning a couple of years ago. Don't they look cute in their matching pjs.

That is it for now. I will be back tomorrow or the next day with a great new collab from North Meets South Studios (perfect for the new year!!!). And don't forget to head over to Trixie Scraps Design Store and pick up these goodies soon!!!!

After 10 Years

Happy Monday all, I hope you had an excellent weekend. It turned cool here, so I'm so happy. But today I'm here to tell you about a new collection from Trixie Scraps Designs called After 10 Years. It is her GAB collection this month and it is simply beautiful. The colors are orange, black and cream, and instead of doing a Halloween kit, she went in a different direction and it is perfect. My first layout is Callie and Beau, and I loved this photo. When I saw the word art for the kit, I knew it would be perfect for this photo. I have to say I used something from almost every piece in the collection, because I couldn't resist.

Now my second layout features a couple that has been together a little longer than the first one, but my biggest wish for Callie and Beau is that they are as happy together for as long as Tom and Mecca have been. On this layout I cheated just a little and used the pre-made clusters. The layout came together in absolutely no time. They are a great way to make fast layouts.

Ok all the pieces are on sale this week, so make sure you head over and check out After 10 Years soon!!!!!

Be Mine

Ok, it is official, I'm old, yes I know that is hard to believe, but I am. I am also tired of ERs and hospitals. I have spent way too much time in them since last October. Last night being another trip, this time with my dog Tucker. His blood sugar got so low he couldn't walk. I had to leave him overnight and pick him up early this morning. So very little sleep and an early morning makes me feel about 102. But that is not what I came to talk with you about today. I'm going to show you layouts I made with a new kit by Shell Belle Scraps called Be Mine. It is a Valentine's kit but with a new cool color scheme. I love the mix of pink, brown and gray, very modern looking and it is packed with great elements.

My first layout is of my loves, Tucker, Cooper and Zoey. I love the papers in the kit and just had to show them to ya'll. I also love the elements they are so versatile. The photos were taken at different points last year, because they refuse to sit together at the same time for me.

My second layout is Tom and Mecca, with one photo from their wedding day and one more recent. It is so hard to believe that they have been married over 25 years, again it just shows I'm old!!! I loved playing with the flowers in the kit to create the cluster, but then I do love to cluster.

Now head over to Stuff to Scrap and pick up Be Mine, it will be a great addition to your stash.

Glisten, Old World and Templates

Ok, I'm behind again, well with my blogging. Luckily I'm caught up on my layouts. Today I'm going to show you layouts I made with kits by JennCK Designs as well as some of her templates. The first kit is called Glisten and I love the mix of blue and brown. I also used Modern Style Templates Vol. 10. I love love love her templates. The photo is one I took in 2010 during one of the many snow storms. Ok so there weren't that many, but to this Texas girl it sure seemed like it.

My second layout is Sharla and Tucker last winter on a snow day, they were snuggled up together most of the day. I used Paper Inspired Templates Vol. 10 on this layout.

Next are two layout I made using her Old World kit and Modern Style Templates Vol. 11 and Paper Inspired Templates Vol. 11. This kit is so cool, it is an old fashioned Christmas kit and since I'm old, it fits me perfectly. The first layout is Tom and Callie on Christmas Day 2006, she loves her daddy!!!

My second layout is Tom and Mecca opening presents a couple of years ago. I love the fun templates in the Paper Inspired pack.

Ok that is it for now, but if you love Jenn's stuff as much as I do then you will definitely want to check out her retirement sale. You can find all the info on it at her blog and the ad below is linked to it.

Isn't She Lovely + Freebie

Happy Monday all, it is a very happy day for me, my sister is home from the hospital and I was told that mom is coming home tomorrow. But that is not why I'm writing today. I am here to show you a layout I made with a new kit by Digi-designs by Nicole called Isn’t She Lovely. Plus I made a freebie for you with the kit. Also I realized I hadn't shown you layouts made with a couple of her other kits, so I'm going to show them to you as well. First up is my Isn’t She Lovely layout, which features the cutie Ariella. I love the colors in this kit and it is packed with great elements.

I created this freebie for you using the kit. I love the fabric roses and just had to use them. The image is linked so simply click on it to download. And as always I love when you leave comments.

I also created two layouts using Template Two-Pagers: Volume 1 and Family Picnic. I don't normally do two page layouts but these templates really made it easy.

I also created a layout with her Be Thankful kit. I did this layout for the template challenge at the Stuff to Scrap forum. This is a great kit for all kinds of layouts.

Ok make sure you head over to the Stuff to Scrap Store and pick up Isn’t She Lovely, Be Thankful, and Template Two-Pagers: Volume 1.

Sweet November and a Freebie

Happy Tuesday all, I am so behind it is not even funny. Today I am here to show you a layout I made with a new kit by Scraps by Andrea called Sweet November. But when I was looking through my posts I realized I forgot to post about her last kit called Autumn Splendor and I had a freebie for that kit. So I'm going to show you both today.

My Sweet November layout was created for the quote challenge at Stuff to Scrap. I love the quote and it made me think of Tom and Mecca so I used photos of them. I love the colors in this kit, and all the wonderful elements. Andrea did this kit as a collab with Scrappin' Serenity, so you should check it out as well.

Now for the layout I forgot to post before is from her kit called Autumn Splendor and it is a beautiful kit. I did a layout with pictures of Callie and Mecca, now those are two peas in a pod. I love the flowers in this kit.

I created a freebie from this kit and the preview below is linked, so simply click on it and download. I hope you find a good use for it and as always feel free to leave a comment.

Now that you've gotten the freebie, head over to Stuff to Scrap and pick up both Autumn Splendor and Sweet November you will love both of them.

Lots of Kits

Happy Saturday all, I'm going to show you lots of layouts today and all of them are done with kits by JennCK Designs. I was lucky enough to be invited to be on her team last month, and she has been really creating some great stuff. Now what I am going to show you is a mix of new kits and some re-releasing kits. She has opened new stores at Ginger Scraps, and is a guest this month at Gotta Pixel, so she is one busy lady. I love her stuff because she does lots of flowers and ya'll know me...nothing makes me happier than flowers.

First up I'm going to do the kits she is re-releasing. Fall In Love is a beautiful fall kit that is packed with goodies. I used the matching Fall In Love Templates for this layout of Tom and Mecca. The combination of green, red and tan is one of my favorites.

The next kit she is re-releasing is Delicious and it's matching Delicious Templates, which I used for this layout of Callie and Cole. They are the apples of my eye and I love the bright colors with the black and white photos, and those little apples are too cute!!!!

The last re-release is Indian Summer and Indian Summer Template. I love this kit the flower are TOTALLY awesome, and the colors just are yummy. I coveted this kit for a long time!!!! I used it in a layout with Sharla, Mom and Aunt Jean, and that blue background paper is just so pretty to me. Yes it is a solid paper, but I still love it.

Ok now on to some of her new stuff. First up is an exclusive she has at Gotta Pixel right now called Pride and Joy and if you buy the kit before 11/15 you will get the Pride and Joy Add-on for free. I used both in a layout I did of my little Zoey. I love the rich colors in this kit, and it will go with so many things.

Next is a great Halloween kit called Midnight and it is available in all of her store and if you purchase before 10/31 you will also get the Midnight Add-on for free (ain't that cool!!!). For this one I dug my photos of my little Sweet Pea Tucker. I need to get the costume out again and get some more pictures, because he is too cute in it.

And last but not least are two layouts I made with her Gotta Get It releases at Gotta Pixel (they are on sale for $1.00 per pack for the next week). The kit is called Breathe Easy and it is broken down into Breathe Easy Papers and Breathe Easy Elements and she has two template packs as well. For this first layout of Ms. Angela in a dance pose I used the Paper Inspired Templates Vol. 3 which are awesome.

And on my last layout for today I used the Breathe Easy pieces again along with Modern Style Templates Vol. 3. The photo is my Daddy, Grandmother and Uncle Clinton, three people I truly miss. And as the song says, "If heaven weren't so far away I would pack up the kids and go for the day.".

Ok that is it for today, but as you can see she has lots of great kits out there both new and old, and each of then names are linked. So if you want to see more on them just click on the names and it will take you to where you can see the kit (and buy it!!!).

This Wonderful Life

Happy Tuesday all, I hope you're enjoying July...me not so much it is very hot here. But that means I spend more time inside scrapping, so that is good. Today I'm going to show you layouts I made with a new kit by Scrappin' Serenity called This Wonderful Life. This Wonderful Life is the perfect kit for scrapping those everyday moments in life. The colors in the kit are perfect for girly or boy layouts! This is a kit that will keep you coming back to it to scrap with!

My first layout is Callie and Cole just being "Kids". Ok maybe they are a little old to be called kids, but they will always be kids to me. I really love the flowers in this kit, they are perfect for clustering.

My second layout is Tom, Mecca, Callie and Cole. I love that this kit has color on color papers along with some great prints. That makes it easy to come up with lots of great layouts.

So make sure you head over to Stuff to Scrap and pick up This Wonderful Life soon, because it is on sale right now!!!!

Happy Saturday

Ok if this works I will be able to get caught up on showing ya'll lots of layouts. I'm trying to use the slideshow feature of photobucket. I've loaded all of the layouts I've been doing for Trixie Scraps (since I got the idea from her blog). I think there are about 30 layouts in the mix. It is so much easier than loading one layout at a time. If it works, then I'll try and do more of my challenge layouts this way and maybe I'll get caught up again (hehehe). We can only hope.



All the products for the layouts in the slide show are created by Trixie Scraps and can be found in her store.

Lucky You and a Freebie

Happy Thursday all, today I'm going to show you layouts I made with a new kit by Scraps by Andrea. This kit is called Lucky You and it has a matching Cardstock and well. This is a fun kit that can be used for lots of different things, like your St. Patty's photos and then so much more. I love the color combination, green which is a given but there is yellow and orange too, which really work well together.

My first layout is of Tom and Mecca. I think he knows he a lucky guy, and I know the rest of the world knows he is. As you can see the colors all work great together and Andrea has put lots of great elements in, so you can do so many different types of layouts.

My second layout is Cooper enjoying a spring day. He loves this time of year, and it is a challenge to get him to come in at night. He loves being outside and barking at anyone or anything that comes into his world. I love the little leprechaun and hat elements and just had to use them.

My freebie is the frame cluster from Cooper's layout. I thought it was fun and could be used to make a fun layout. Just click on the preview and download, and as always feel free to leave a comment if you want.

Make sure you head over to Stuff to Scrap and pick up Lucky You and Lucky You Cardstock you will count yourself lucky to have them in your stash.