BubbaChic

May 24, 2013

We began our journey of heading home to England yesterday. 2 very excited children were plucked out of school early and driven straight to the airport.

And that's when the fun started.

Our very first plane sprung an oil leak and needed work before we were able to fly, this then had a knock-on effect and made us miss our flight from Chicago to England.

After much confusion and a two hour wait to speak with a United Rep we were told we were being put on a flight, 24 hours later...to Dulles, to then catch a flight to London.

It's already been a long day and we have another long day to come!

Teachers Quilts 2013

This is one project I undertake each year, that I take my sweet time over. I never want to feel rushed and so early in the New Year, having gotten to know my kiddies teachers over the last 4-5 months I start looking at fabric.

I try and get as involved as I can in the classroom and this combined with my own children's input gives me an idea of what I need to make, the fabrics to pick, how the quilt should feel.

Maddy's 3rd grade teacher was easy this year. I knew early on that I had to make a football quilt from her beloved University and the hardest part was hunting down a pattern I actually liked.

The fabrics were purchased far before I found the pattern, but it all worked out!

The quilt went together quickly and easily. Joshy's teacher...not so much.

I really felt like I knew her - she is a sweet sweet lady, with an obvious afinity for her students, but there was something that was throwing me off and confusing me - she is about to get married and I felt like I needed to do something more wedding related - like a Wedding Ring Quilt.

But, the problem was...that is really not my style and my lack of commitment and stalling, starting it ultimately showed me that I needed to go with my heart and not with what I ought to do.

So I started putting together a completely different quilt using whimsical fabrics, in bright cheerful colors and a pattern I have used a few times before.

In fact - this was the pattern that I used in the very first Teacher's quilt I made five years ago for Maddy's teacher. This time though, instead of embroidering each childs hand around the border - I decided to trace each hand onto fabric (co-ordinating fabrics) and embroider the childs name within the hand.

and now I really like it....

I got some advice from The Tulsa Modern Quilt Guild with how to quilt it...they suggested I echo quilt around each hand on the border and I LOVE IT! To me it looks like each little hand is now waving! :o)

So, they are done...washed, folded and ready to be gifted - hopefully they will feel the love that has gone into each one.

 

 

 

 

Previous Teacher's Quilts::

2012: Here and Here

2011: All Three Here

2010: Not blogged! But did snap this picture:

2009: Here and Here

A weekend review

It was a busy weekend.

Soccer games, parties, meeting up with friends to name but a few.

I made pies for Saturday night - bakewells and banoffee pies. They seemed to go down well.

 

After soccer on Saturday, we headed straight to a Birthday party, arriving 15 minutes late. I was surprised that the car park at the party looked so empty. A quick phone call revealed that we were in fact 1 day early.

15 minutes late but one day early - classic!

I still have yet to top my own Mother's birthday party faux-pas and the fact that as a child, I was delivered to a Birthday party one MONTH early! I always thought it was one week, but after speaking to Mum on Sunday - she confirmed that it was actually a whole month early. When I asked her why on earth would somebody send invites out that early - she told me it was a summer birthday and the Mum had sent invites out before school broke up...funny!

 

Other happenings this weekend - Frodo's Army invaded the stairs....troubling times ahead.

and a little white fluffy thing pounced on me and went to sleep at any available opportunity. This particular time, he got as close as he could to my face...its a good job I love him.

 

A week in pictures

Kitties getting out in the spring weather::

Fruit kebabs::

Rudi chillin::

Marvelous Me week for Josh::

and then the Spring temperatures changes on Tuesday::

 

Only in Oklahoma...

Fabric Two

I have been playing with my design for the Bernina Fabric Design Contest and come up with this new layout (which I think is my favourite)

If you like it, you could re-pin it on pinterest! :o)

That would mean a vote my way!

I have another design (I think you can add up to ten) a completely differerent and more whimsical design depicting cat - different breeds, in cat-poses. But it needs some more work...hopefully sometime this week I will get it finished!

 

My view

 

I'm constantly followed whilst at home by at least one cat. That number goes up exponentially if I go anywhere near the kitchen.

The other area the cats seem to favour is my sewing area - usually on the cutting table, sprawled out when I am trying to measure and cut fabric.

They also like to 'oversee' me when I am at my sewing machine.

I came across that ecard last week and it did make me chuckle - because whilst I love them unconditionally, there is a little sliver of truth in it!

 

Bernina Fabric Design Contest

You see this little picture below? The ones with ostriches and feathers? well I designed it for a competition. The Bernina fabric design competition.

and if you clicked through to Pinterest and re-pinned it for me...I would love you forever!

 

A re-pin is akin to a vote and votes make me grin.

So if you like it and want to make me grin...go vote!

 

Lego Ninjago T-shirts Tutorial

I have been emailed about the Lego Ninjago Shirts I made for Joshy's Birthday this year, and so I have uploaded the template I designed and used::

 

Print off the Lego Ninjago Applique design  select to print 'actual size' to get the proportions right.

Cut Mask from Yellow cotton - it will be much easier to work with if you fuse Steam-A-Seam on the back. As you can see I ran out, so ended up pinning it.

Use yellow thread and your zigzag stitch to edge all around the mask

I set my machine to a 3.5 width and 0.8 length.

 

 

Repeat with black for the eyes - using black thread and black bobbin thread if possible.

 

 

I (feeling extra lazy) used my white bobbin thread until it ran out - which meant that on some of the black fabric, the white bobbin thread was visible (my machine needs a service!)

 

 

and so to rectify that problem, I used black sharpie (permanent marker) on the visible white areas!

 

 

Add the white pupils in exactly the same manner et voila! Matching shirts!

 

 

and even one for Mama!

 

Quilty Catch Up

Its that time of year again, that I start making quilts for my kids teachers as an end of year gift.

One teacher (Maddy's) was very easy to fabric shop for - she is a huge OU fan. The pattern is the Tossed Nine-Patch by Eleanor Burns Lap sized 56" x 72"

Maddy has the job of collecting all of her classmates names in their handwriting, that will be embroidered along the black border of the quilt.

I am a little more stuck in what to make for Joshy's teacher. I have found some amazing designs like this one and this one.

I have officially left the online Quilting Bee I have been a part of for the last 10 months and the following 3 blocks are my last ones for them.

The Nuts and Bolts Quilt Block

 

 

The Three Dudes Quilt Block

 

all of these quilt blocks will make up part of baby quilts, that are going to the Linux Project.

The following blocks are all Block of the Month blocks for my local quilt stores::

Feb Block for the Quilt Sampler: (very rushed and wonky!)

 

March Block for the Quilt Sampler:

 

and March Block for Sewflakes:

 

and all the blocks together so far - half way through the quilt!

Its nice to be all caught up!

 

Spring Chick Garlands

Spring is here finally! Its always a bittersweet time in Oklahoma - good because of the beautiful sights of buds on trees and warm spring days, but bad because of allergy-season hitting full-force and the threat of severe weather here in tornado alley.

Now it is time to take down my easter decor, I wanted to replace it with spring-looking items and whip up a spring garland. I knew immediately that the garland needed to comprise of those cute spring chicks. I remember loving these as a child.

turned into this!

How cute is that!!

I wrapped florist wire around their legs and pushed it into the foam wreath.

And with some chicks left over, I made up another..

Once again using florist wire to secure them to the branches::

 

 

 

all finished in an afternoonunder the watchful gaze of Miss Kimmie!

 

 

 

The Lego Ninjago Party

Our run of Birthdays (along with their parties) is over for another year. Joshy's Ninjago-themed party included Ninjago training (aka laser tag) and go-karting.

Invites were once again made by Pixel Parade on Etsy.

 

I made shirts for each of the children, so we could easily keep track of them when they were in the laser tag area.

Josh opted to be a green ninja - but of course on the actual day of the party I was so busy keeping track of 15 little ones that I didn't manage to get any good group shots!

But believe me when I say, they looked super cute!

I also sewed up myself a shirt at the last minute which the Boy appreciated! The kids all called me 'Cole' which I eventually found out is the name of the black ninjago!

The cake - was a variation on last years lego man cake. Made in exactly the same way - only clothed as a ninjago this year! I didn't get a shot of the finished cake (see reason above) but I snapped this shot before I attempted to finish the hands.

I ended up dipping the hands in chocolate and securing them to the body with a lump of cake (which I also dipped in chocolate) Josh kept telling me the hands had to be black and was insistent that they be correct!

The cake seemed to be a hit!

(Mid cake cutting)

I ordered bottlecap necklaces as party favours for all the kids, from a wonderful lady on Etsy. I was concerned that I had left it too late to order them in time for the party (with just a week to spare) but I contacted her and she had them in the mail on the same day. The quality was fantastic and they were excellent value at $17.99 for 12 - and they all come with 24" chains too.

all in all, it seemed to be a success! (but I am glad to be done for another year!)

 

7 Years Ago Today...

I got up to go to the bathroom at 2am and my water broke...

By 4am I was in the swing of regular contractions..(and consulted my birthing-bible - Ina Mays guide to childbirth)

At 6am we called the midwife to give her the heads-up...

At 6.30am Mr B went back to sleep...

At 9am sweet friends collected Maddy to take her on a playdate for the morning and I started walking around the living room, stopping every 2 minutes to breathe through the waves..

At 9.05am the Midwife called to see how I was doing - I assured her I thought I was still in the early stages of labor and not to worry about me for another few hours...she ignored me and showed up on my doorstep at 9.30am

At 9.40 she checked me and confirmed I was 9cm and Baby Josh would be making an appearance any moment. She also let me know it was ok to get into the birthing tub in our bedroom.

At 9.55 I met my boy (the photo above is the first time I laid eyes on him)

At 10.15, cup of tea in hand I watch as my Midwife checked, weighed and cleaned up the new member of our family..

At 10.45 I got to dress him for the first time - in an outfit I bought months before and had been dreaming about the day when he would finally wear it. Those last weeks of pregnancy seem so looong!

At 10.55 after much fumbling, he was a snug as a bug in a rug..

and was finally in my arms. Whilst people came and went, Josh and I snuggled. His newborn smell brought back memories of Maddy as a baby.

Just after Midday...Maddy arrived home and saw her brother for the first time..

Although weary at first, she soon got excited about dressing him and playing with his tiny fingers. And through it all, Josh slept, looking more perfect that I ever imagined. Reminding me of the miracle of life and birth.

On 13th March 2006, our little family became complete.

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy x

In the last month...

After a few months of planning and a solid week of running around - Jason's 40th Birthday party went without a hitch (well apart from being told to be a little less noisy by the restaurant manager!)

The Birthday boy was suitable spoiled and spent the whole of the next day in bed nursing a nice headache! A job well done!

Through it all, I knew I didn't feel 100% I thought it was the remnants of a sinus infection I was recovering from. However, when the (unusually placed) head pain became unbearable after two days of ploughing-through. I knew that I needed another little trip to the doctors.

It was then, after a thorough check over,  that I got my diagnosis....shingles....again...for the fourth time in recent years.

 

My body was screaming at me to slow down and I wasn't listening. I haven't been listening for years. Ever since both of my children have been in school, I have taken on every volunteer project I have been offered. I cant remember the last time I said no to a task requested by people outside of my family. In the past few years, I have felt compelled to say yes to everything because my children are both at school now and i'm still at home....and I feel guilty for that, hugely guilty.

I'm not yet allowed to work because of visa restrictions and it looks like it will continue to be that way for the next 3 years. But instead of embracing this new era of my life - I have felt guilty of it and subsequently loaded myself with volunteering. So much volunteering that my own family often has to take a backseat...ironic huh?!

So, over the last few weeks I have officially bowed out of all of my volunteering jobs' My CASA case was closed a month ago and I have asked for a little time off. I spent three days in bed, getting up only to feed and hug on my children (Mr B was away) and try and give this body of mine time to rest and heal.

It has been three weeks since I got the shingles diagnosis and while most of the symptoms have disappeared, I am still very aware that I am walking a thin line. That stress, self-imposed busyness and the inabilityto say no could once again land me in herpes-zoster town....and it aint a pretty place to be.

So, this is a new start for me - a start that focuses on my little family and its needs and not how lazy I look to the outside world. I feel like I have been given this gift of being available for my family and each time I accept another task outside of my family, I disregard that gift.

So, for right now...if you need me, chances are - I will be at home. Planning Maddy and Joshy's new bedrooms for their birthdays...or trying out new recipes for that man of mine. And counting my blessings a lot....the blessing of being available to my little family.

 

The photos are pics I dug out last week, when my sweet girl turned 9 and I was getting all clucky again!

Over the last month:

We've had a rather large cookie order...

enjoyed the company of a surprise guest::

Gotten ready for someones special birthday..

partied like its 1999 for said Birthday..

and gotten much enjoyment out of 40th birthday present...

and that just covers one of the three birthdays we have already celebrated. As ever, I am behind...!

How do I get me one of those....?

The words I whispered to my best friend Amy, when Jason walked in the pub..

90 seconds later he asked me out..

and I got me a keeper..

Happy Valentines Day Mr B

You are loved more than words can say..