I Hope Snow Never Loses its Magic

I grew up in Texas.  Snow was discussed like a fabled story.  It would happen maybe once a year and it cause all kinds of responses.  Joy, wonder, fun and the best one, "School may be cancelled".  I look back when this fabled story happened to me as a child.  Growing up, I seem to remember the feeling that the world stopped and enjoyed this little gift, unless you were driving.  Then you said a little prayer and hope that no one would crash into you or you into them.

Now I live in New Mexico, where snow isn't a fabled story, it is just a part of life.  It happens all the time. The weathermen discusses it like any other day.  The mountains fill themselves with this white, fluffy stuff and that's it.  It's a fact, not fiction.  A couple of days ago I was walking to my car and it was snowing.  The 2nd time this year.  I fear it will lose it's charm.  The world here doesn't stop and enjoy this gift.  It just keeps going, I hope I continue to remember how magical snow is.  To enjoy making snowmen and having snowball fights, or my personal favorite, curl up in blankets with a knitting project, a good movie and watching the snow; watch the kids and animals play and enjoy it.  I hope it never loses its magic.

"Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom.

Let all that I am praise the Lord."

Psalm 103:22  NLT 

Kina is also rather enjoying getting the chance to cuddle with Mommy and Daddy!

Something is Coming . . . .

I had an idea pop in my head and the beginning of it all is coming!  I am excited about it, I just hope it turns out as cool as my head thinks it will!  Everyone have a good week!

i heart new mexico fall

The orange and red leaves against the bright blue new mexican sky is just amazing.  Plus it's actually cool.  I heart fall.

I could sit here and explain for the month's of not being here but eh.  I did make my blog pretty though yesterday and today.  We've been busy with buying a house (YEAH) and working.  Also watching the world series and being highly involved in church, which is pretty normal if you know us.  :)

But don't fret, I have been crafting.  Not anything to show yet so stay tuned!

But before I go I have to congratulate my good friend Kelsey.  She is preggars and I am so beyond excited for her and her family.  Congrats!!!!

It's Finally Finished!!!!!

It only took two months but my completely hand made quilt is finally done and has gone to the dog.  This quilt had a lot of firsts: hand piecing, hand sewing a pattern that was not already in the fabric, and french binding.  It was an enjoyable project to do and I can't wait to start another quilt.  Maybe when my new machine comes on FRIDAY!!!!!!  

So for the count this is the 4th quilt I have made and I can't wait to start another one.

In other news, I am so excited about my etsy shop.  I bought some yarn and have started on some products.  I'm not going to post any until the shop is up but I am sure that everyone is going to love it!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!  and a Happy Monday to you!

Wishing and Hoping and Thinking and Praying

So, I've talked about it before.  An Etsy shop.  It's a never ending thought that seems to keep coming back. My husband and I went to Durango area this past weekend for a mini trip.  The one thing I noticed was that there were no yarn stores.  I have in the past bought yarn while on vacation.  It's quite fun to go through the stash or make something that I made and remember where I bought it.  Hubby came up with this idea that I could make stuff and see if someone would sell it up there.  Again, I was scared about the idea.  Knitting is a form of expression to me.  One that I have a hard time sharing with others.  It has become such a large part of who I am.  And I have a hard time letting things go.  Most of the projects that I make lounge around my house not being used.

So maybe its time to share my passion with others.  Plus, my amazing friend Kelsey keeps encouraging me.  So I have put the word out on Ravelry, I may have to contact certain designers in personally and see if others will help.

Here are some bullet points for my store that I want to incorporate.

Name: Mariposa & Faith
The name requires tons and tons of explanation.  It has a lot of meaning behind it.  That may require it's own post!

Products: For now I am hoping to have knitting and sewn projects up for sale.  I have thought about mixing the two and will have to let you know.

One very important part to make a core part of the business: I love making things to donate.  The church I go to here has a program where once a year a bunch of people get together and make chemo caps.  I have enjoyed making them and sending them along to keep heads warm for kids and adults.  I want to be able to continue that and maybe my customers will help me.  I have thought about making part of the proceeds towards buying products to make them AND/OR give them the option of 'buying' a cap or other project.  They would pay for the yarn and time, then I will donate that product.  I have also toyed with the idea of giving the buyer the option of deciding where the project will go or just send them to the place that I have been donating them.


SO I need feedback!  What cha think???

Just because

It's too cute to not share!

Project of the Week!

So I was doing laundry.  Realized that a certain blanket needed to be washed of the cat hair that whit leaves behind and remembered the awesome time I had making it so I thought I would share it's story.  Which got me to thinking, but first . . .

May I introduce you to "The Holiday" quilt.  During my love sick days (and by that I mean the days when I wished for love to come aka PRE Husband) I fell in love with a certain movie called "The Holiday".  I became pretty darn obsessed with the movie.  I fell in love with the soundtrack (also by Hans Zimmer) so much that I walked down the aisle at my wedding to the song "Maestro". I also watched it like a million times and fell in love with the house in England.  I absolutely loved the characters in the movie.  The things that Cameron and Kate characters did were in my opinion so real.  So I went to my local fabric shop and bought fabrics that I thought spoke "The Holiday".  The backing was a left over from my grandmother that had recently passed away which just happened to work perfectly.  I think she was intending it to be a skirt but I think it's a better use for me.  :)  This was my second quilt that I had made.  My intention was to use the quilt as a sampler quilt.  Each square would have it's own hand stitch idea.  I have since stitched almost 3 full squares . .. .  I might have to pick it up again.  SO basically it's  work in progress that may take a long time but I don't mind!  

So I am thinking that it might be an awesome idea to have a project of the week.  Something that I'm working on will be featured once a week.  We shall see if I can keep up with this!

In other news

I gots a pedicure today!  I have been wanting one badly and finally got one!  

Have a wonderful Monday!

Two weeks later!

Well Hello there!

I'm sorry for the long away time but we've been busy.  My hubby and I made it through our first year of marriage (YEA!) and went on a trip to Lubbock.  It was nice to get to see friends and remember our journey that we went through there together.   It was a short trip but we got to hit most of our favorite eateries and returned back home too soon.

About two weeks later, we hit our 1 year in ABQ anniversary.  We didn't do anything special but I will say it has been fun getting to live in this new place.  It has definitely been an adventure.

I am itching to sew some more stuff but as you can see below, the sewing machine is in pieces.  I think I figured out the problem but ended up breaking it (well actually my hubby broke it but he says it can be fixed).  So for now I am waiting for the day when mine might be fixed or wait until July.  We'll just leave it at that; a little suspense never hurt anyone.

I have also started my choir class at my church.  It has been an adventure but I am loving teaching the kids music and about God.  I think there are still some kinks to work out but hey it's my very first class post school.  I think I'm doing pretty darn good.

So here are some more pics just for fun!

The Kiddo's enjoying a nap.  Well Whit enjoys them.  Kina has learned that if Mom sits on the couch after 8am, she is probably not going to church, so I should be really annoying and then I get to go to the dog park.  This happened on monday, tuesday (no dog park), wednesday, and friday.  Today the show started again but, ahem, mommy was strong and said no!

Pretty Huh?  It was a nice surprise to find.

Hope everyone is having a good Monday!  I love mondays!  They're my saturdays!

I promise I will write Tomorrow!

I want to post.  But don't want to spend a large amount of time on the post so here are some pics to tie you over till tomorrow.

We're getting closer.  Kina occasionally thinks that Whitacre is another dog at the dog park.  She tries to sniff his butt and whit meows in protest.

Speaking of Dog park, this is the bliss that usually happens after.  I LOVE IT.  I get so much done when she's out.

Patio Lights.  Enough said.

Till tomorrow!

I mean come on, it's a dog blanket right?

She is such a good poser!  

Anyways, I made a quilt for the dog.  It's relatively small but an exciting project to have.  HOWEVER,  Last weekend I googled searched quilt blogs and found some amazing blogs to follow for inspiration.  P.S. I quilt and Lazy Gal Quilting are a delight to read and I love them for completely different reasons. P.S. I Quilt has wonderful inspiration.  She happens to be a big fan of Moda.  I am sad that I haven't figured out how to order online, but there are several shops I may have to venture to and buy some (and I hear my husband grumbling).  I love Lazy Gal quilting because her quilts are not perfect.  Each blanket has it quirks and her personality all over it.  As a person who feels that measuring and measuring before cutting is a serious waste of time, its refreshing to find to see her quilts and just do what you want!  But in any case, her quilts look awesome and I love the pics of her cats and her reviews of her favorite shows!  

So after looking through my new blogs, I was pretty inspired to say the least.  So I cut and hand pieced the quilt, partially because my sewing machine is on the fritz and I just don't want to try to mess with it and partially because I just wanted to see if I could hand piece something.  Then I hand pieced the whole quilt together.  And then I started the hand quilting process.  I think I was rather ambitious.

I drew small swirls and then hand quilted with two different color thread.  I haven't even finished the first square on the front (Wait for the pic, its coming!) and I am dreading finishing it.  But I think that if I get up the courage to do it, it will be a durable quilt to last for Kina.  SO here is the photo's I promised!

The Front

The Back.

They are very pink and kind of off but I like it all the same!

So help my brain not become extremely frustrated, I had offered to make an item that I had shown on here before.  It was really exciting to make this for her so here is a sneak peak, or the whole thing!

Yea for Headbands!  I saw these two colors at Walmart and just had to get both!  The colors are a little darker than they show in the pic but I love them!

Speaking of Walmart guess what I found!

A Jellyroll that looks absolutely fabulous.  I've been wanting to buy a jellyroll just to see what I could come up with.  I think I may make another bible cover for another bible that I read from time to time.

Brainstorming Corner   

I love to knit and I am loving working with fabric.  I should combine these two crafts right?  YES!  I should.  I have thought about knitting some squares and making a blanket.  I have also thought about making two sided placemats.  One side is knitted, the other side is fabric.  I am excited about the brainstorming that coming out and I am kind of excited to see how it all turns it out.  Maybe if I feel like they are awesome I may toy with the idea of an etsy shop.  Maybe . . . . . .

So to say the least I have a lot of projects in process or in brainstorming process.  Stay tuned to see what turns up here.

Random last statement

I looked up what Kina's name means . . . . .  One place says it is Hawaiian for China, while another is hebrew or Hawaiian for Judged.  I think I would prefer it to be China, but that seems like a weird name for a dog.  But it's better than the one we had settled on before we got her.  Zimmer.  :)  Yep, David was totally in for naming our second animal after the Movie music composer, Hans Zimmer. (cue the laughs from people who know my obsession with Hans.)

New Project!

Sorry, I just could not resist!

Someone's getting a homemade blanket!!!!!  And it has to have pink cause Mom likes pink and Kina is a girl!  I think she likes it.

HACKED . . . . by the New Family Member!

Hi!  My Name is Kina.  I am a mut (possibly heeler and possibly shiba inu) and 1 year old.  I was surrendered on May 1 because my owner got sick and could not take care of me anymore.  I was a little sad that I was given up but I was taken to a no kill shelter in Rio Rancho called Watermelon Mountain Ranch and they took really good care of me.  On Friday, Momma and Daddy came to find a new member for Dad to go on walks with and picked me!  I was a little nervous that day but I had good reason, they took me to the VET!  Who likes that???  But anyways, I have been in my new home for a couple of days and I have gotten comfortable and I am a very happy dog.  I have had lots of walks already!!!

Whit, my new brother is not happy that I am here but I'm not chasing him around and he has not been hiding, which according to mom is a good thing.  I think mom would love to find us sitting together some day, we shall see!

Momma thinks I am a really good fit for the family and a huge blessing, so I guess thats good.  But I am a super happy camper that I found a wonderful home!  Especially since the patio door is left open a lot!

Umm Isn't it May 1? Just wondering . . .

This morning heading to church was super windy with a side of snow.  YES, I said snow!!!  My hubby came to the conclusion that the snow was coming from the mountain, not actually snowing above us.  So that gave us some relief.  But sometime later in the afternoon, this appeared.

But no worries.  It didn't stick, and the sun is out for now.  But I'm sure it's still super cold.  I am sitting underneath my new quilt, which is quite warm (YEA!) and enjoying sunday afternoon.  Netflix has been one of the best things I have ever done.  Especially since we got a WII for a wedding present.  

We cut the cable some time ago and I really don't miss it.  The only channels I'm really missing are bravo, lifetime (ONLY for Project runway), and USA.  But I think you can find most of the shows on HULU.  And when I want to watch a movie or watch an entire series without commercials I turn to Netflix.  They have recently uploaded the movie, "Easy A," which I am kind of obsessed with.  I love the main character, Olive (Played by Emma Stone).  I kind of just enjoy the fact that she, to a point does not care what people think of her, which I admire.  I also her parents and their weird quirks.  Yesterday alone I watched it 4 times.  I might be a little obsessed . . . . but just a tiny bit.  :)  And I just started it.  :)

On the crafting side, I have two project in progress at the moment.

Bible Cover!!!!  I put it together yesterday and started the quilting.  I haven't finished it, but I am still quite proud that I did it.  I used my machine, with lots of patience, to sew the main part together.  After conversing with my wonderful friend Kelsey, I think I have diagnosed the problem with my machine.  It will require a trip to JoAnn's, but who dreads that???  

The other project is Knitting.

From Knitty, "Omelet"

I am excited that this pattern showed up.  I bought this yarn years ago to make this, but the yarn I felt was too small for the project so I bought something else.  I bought two skeins of this tiny pink yarn and it has been sitting in my stash for some time.  Every time I would go through my stash to see what I had and what I could make, I looked at this yarn with disdain.  I mean it's tiny, and there's a lot of it, and only a small quantity of project require it.  So, to say the least it was rather an eyesore in my stash, but no more.  I only hope that it all gets used!!!

So for now the sun is out, I wonder what the mountain looks like, probably very white!

Here is a pic of what Whitacre has been doing all day

Three blankets in a papasan chair makes for a very happy kitty.

A Lazy OCDer

Hmm  . . . . . . an interesting title but I think it completely describes me.  Quilting, as I dive in every time is a time consuming project.  Lot's of steps are involved in putting it all together: picking fabric; washing; ironing; cutting; sewing back together; more sewing; then my favorite part is the hand sewing.  But many of those steps require some perfection.  I do not consider myself a perfectionist and I find some poetry in not caring if it is perfect.  I still love what I have made and those imperfections make the quilt that much more interesting to look at.  In knitting, there is a tale that you always have one imperfection so that the bad spirits can get out.  Well, my quilt has many places for the bad spirits to get out.

Everyone Enjoy your Day!  It's a rather cold one here, but in Texas it's nice and warm and stormy.  Please don't rub it in, I'm jealous!  

BHA HA HA HAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Yep, I did it!

It was an interesting adventure to say the least.  The tension on my sewing machine has been acting up.  At first I didn't know what was going on, but when I looked at the manual (DUH!)  I figured it out.  I may need to find someone to look at it though since it's pretty much at 9, which is the highest, which I'm sure should not be.  I got into a fabric shopping spree and want to make some more things but I have to be patient with the machine . . . . . . or learn to hand sew . . . . . . . . .

The funniest part about the entire experience was Whitacre. Every time it was on the floor, he was on it.  As you can tell from the photos.  And he is still there.  I guess he likes it.  Not very manly though, but he's never really been able to be manly.

However, the blanket is awesome.  I got inspired by this pattern but once I cut and sew the pieces together I was not going to sew them all together so I improvised and it turned out good.  Oh and here is the back.

:)

Other than that life is pretty good right now.  I'm sure more projects will show up here soon!

The Knitter that Occasionally Quilts

Good Morning to all,


Yep, you saw right, quilting.  My dear friend Shannah, taught me to quilt in college and I have made two quilts and I am ready for another one . . . . I think.  My hubby finally got his christmas bonus, so he let me use some of that to buy some fabric.  I bought some to make some placemats for our new table and some fabric for a quilt.  I have dived into the placemats first.  Here are some pics of them.

Here is a pic of the two that I have finished for now.  I embroidered around the pink and green "Flowers or leaves".  However, I tried machine quilting this time.  But,  it's been a journey.  I bought the cheapest sewing machine they had at walmart at some point and I don't feel the need to spend the money to buy a nicer one since I only get the urge to do this every so often.  I am also very limited in my knowledge of sewing period so instead of using the foot pedal to sew I used the knob on the side.  Hand cranking each stitch gives me the control that I love and the look that I love but it takes a little longer and it hurts my back and shoulders if I do it for two long.  But hey they look pretty!

The first mat I stitched color on the front and white on the back and then I got a wild idea.

For the second one I decided use white on the front and color on the back and I think it turned out really good.

YEA!  I have two or four more to make.  Depends on how much stuff I have.  Now for the quilt.

This is what I bought to make the quilt but I am brainstorming what I want to do with it.  Thankfully, my quilting friend posted on her blog yesterday about her husband's quilt and another blog that helped her.  So I went over to it and was excited.  Lots of wonderful quilting ideas to help me on my way to being a better quilter.  I think I might try to make a quilt out of this pattern.  Now this pattern requires a few more  fabrics but don't worry.  I have been remnant shopping.

If I get brave enough to start the quilt I will let you know.  But for now I will continue to work on the placemats.  I think my idea is to have one a little different than the other.  I am a little nervous but I think I want to try this.  I always seem to have a problem with the edges of my quilt so maybe this will help.  :)

Thats it for now.  Everyone enjoy their weekend.  My hubby and I are helping a new friend with lighting a high school play.  Which is reminding me of my high schools days.