December 20, 2010

Birthdays, Sewing & Christmas Lights

What a busy weekend! Saturday was my grandmother's and sister-in-law's birthday. Friday night was our monthly Family Game Night / Birthday party celebration. Pizza, salad, presents, cake & ice cream! YUM! Oh and some Farkle too! Fun fun dice game.

Saturday morning, Mom came over bright and early so we could sew a bit. I finished up a few pillowcases to give to the other "Golden Girls" at my grandmother's nursing home.

On Saturday night, we (me, my Mamie, Mom & the kids) went to look at Christmas lights in a "fancy" part of town. This is a tradition that my mom and I have done with my grandmother every year on her birthday since my grandfather passed away 24 years ago. Poor Emma was in this position before we ever got there so she got in a good nap before all the fun started.

Malek has learned to say LIGHTS so that's all we heard all night was "Lights! Mamie! Lights! Nana! Emma! Lights!" You get the picture. We all had a great time seeing them thru his eyes this year.


Then on Sunday, Mother came back over so she could finish up the quilt she is making for one of her sisters for Christmas. I've got a matching giant pillow on my project list for her too! I did some straight line quilting on it and Mom learned how to do mitered corners on the binding! I am very proud of her - she did an excellent job!
Malek decided he needed to model with the quilt in this shot!
Well, back to the sewing machine......

December 17, 2010

Crafty Goodness

Been burning the midnight oil again......


Coasters a coworker commissioned me to do - 6 sets of 6!!

Christmas pillowcase for Mr. Malek

String pillow for my Mamie who's 85th birthday is tomorrow!!


And a couple of mug rugs. Purple & Green for Em's teachers and the Hello Kitty one is for my sister-in-law who's birthday is also tomorrow. Funny how my grandmother can never remember hers. Said it's because she's always trying to forget her own. Well, no one will be forgotten at tonight's monthly Family Game Night / Birthday Celebration.

Have a great weekend! The Countdown to Christmas is on!




December 13, 2010

Hello....anyone there?

Slipping into a funk due to all the projects I've left to finish before Christmas....man I hope to be back in regular rhythm soon!

December 08, 2010

Little Susie Sunshine

So, this is what I've been working on lately. MY FIRST "QUILTING" GIG!! I quilted this cute little baby quilt for Sydney. She also sent the yellow ruffle that I attached that I think just made the whole quilt!
I quilted 1/4" on either side of each diagonal seam.

Thanks again Sydney for being my first official customer! It reminds me of a sunflower - doesn't it??

Now...back to that looooonnnnng list of Christmas projects I've still left to do before the 25th....

November 12, 2010

And the Pillow Goes To........

#8 - Emily said...
Congrats on your big post and awesome giveaway! I love those string blocks. After making a very small string quilt, I wasn't sure I'd have the stamina to make more. They are so pretty, but so tedious!! If I were lucky enough to win, I would choose the 16x16 square in grays and yellows. I love that color combo! Thanks again for the chance to win!

Pop on over to Emily's blog. She's a new momma to the cutest little baby boy named Reid and quite the crafty momma too. So go over and show her some love.

Congrats Emily!! - I'll get to working on your pillow cover this weekend! Please send me an email (purpleheartorijennals@yahoo.com) and let me know where to mail it to.

Thanks to all who entered! I'm so excited for all the homemade goodness that I'll be giving as presents this year. Sometimes I think that homemade says cheap, but the gifts that I'm creating this year are very special to me and I hope will be to those who receive them!

Thanks to you all for following my blog and everyday craziness!
Jenn

November 11, 2010

Remember....

Thanks to all who have served, Papa & Grandad, or are currently serving our country.

Also a very Happy Birthday to my good friend Julie!!

November 09, 2010

Who's ready for a Giveaway?!?!?!

Happy 100th post Purpleheart Ori"Jenn"als!!! Well it's actually 102nd - but who's actually counting, am I right? A celebration is cause for a giveaway. I've been beating my brain trying to come up with some clever giveaway like other blogs do and I'm just at a loss. So what I've come up with is something I do best. My Sting Block Pillow Cover.
Said winner will be able to select the color & cover size of their choice to fit either a 12"x16" rectangular or 16"x16" square pillow form. Giveaway is for cover only. Sorry pillow not included.
So... who wants to WIN?!?! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. That's it! Easy Peesy Lemon Squeezy! And speaking of lemons!! I just love LEMON fabric. As you can see by my sample Sting Block Pillows below.

So leave me a comment telling me which size you'd like and what color you'd pick. I can do a monochromatic color scheme or two tone like the pink/yellow one. It's up to you! Or you can select a total scrappy - all color style. You pick! It's all about you today baby!! Contest closes at midnight on Thursday the 11th. Winner will be announced on Friday the 12th!

In other news....finished up the crayon rolls for my two cousins' boys for Christmas. Aren't these cute? And each only takes about 20-30 minutes. On the cowboy ones (for the 3 Amigos) I added their first initial to the outside so each could tell them apart when they were all rolled up. Each measures about 14" x 9" and includes 10-1" crayon pockets and 2-1 1/2" pockets for pencils, pens, rulers or scissors. Each also has an elastic band button closure.
I'll be taking special orders in my etsy shop for these - so stock up for Christmas! These make great little stocking stuffers or birthday gifts!
WOW! What a day! The ol' sewing machine has really been humming lately!


November 01, 2010

Aarrrgggh Matey!


It's Monday

Some of us don't want to get out of bed this morning.....

October 28, 2010

Uncle Bud turns 44 & Making Our Christmas List

Happy Birthday Robert aka Uncle Bud!!

Monday my big brother turned 44! So last night we gathered for a little dinner and gift givin'. Of course I had to make him one of my ultra-cool steering wheel covers - ala skulls of course. Seems to double as a French beret too!



When we got home, the Toys R' Us Christmas Big Book had come in the mail. Immediately, the kids had it down on the footstool looking through all of it's greatness trying to choose everything they wanted for Santa to bring them this year.
Malek was REALLY into it.
Emma asking him which bike was his favorite. Little did I know that he was a little TOO into it. Too into it so much that he didn't let his daddy put a new diaper on him before they started looking through it!
Hope everyone has a safe & Happy Halloween this weekend.
Stay tuned until next week - Post #100 is a-comin' and so will a giveaway!!

October 26, 2010

#3 of 28...29...30...I lose count

FINISHED!!! WOO HOO!!


And how cute is it?? I call it - Pink Lemonade!
This is one of many that I'm making for the ladies that my grandmother shares a lunch table with at her nursing home. This one in particular is for her roommate Miss Lavern. I'm sure she is going to love it!

Love late night sewing.....

OH!! Stay tuned in the days/weeks to come - I'm about to hit my 100th post!! And that my friends is call for a celebration! Time for a giveaway! Check back and let's see what that's all about.



October 25, 2010

Pumpkins

Took the kids to the pumpkin patch this weekend....again. There were many more pumpkins this time around. Was all fun and games til it started to downpour! It was a fun experience anyway.

And then we carved our pumpkins....
Oh and here's a teaser regarding Malek's Halloween costume!





October 22, 2010

#2 Christmas Project Done - Check!

Notice the time on the clock.... that's not daytime either!

Christmas project #2 done! Yeah! I just get a RUSH after I watch Project Runway and HAVE to sew - no matter the time....obviously. hehe



October 18, 2010

OMG!! First Ever Tutorial!!

I'm please to present to you my First Ever Tutorial!! Tell me whatcha think! I hope you all like it and make up tons of them. Think about it! Just about every adult you know has a car. No matter where you live, whether it's hot or cold, every steering wheel could use one of these! Jazzes it up a bit don't ya think?

So without further ado..Purpleheart Ori"Jenn"als presents:

The String Block Steering Wheel Cover Tutorial

You'll need this 1/4 circle template too. If it doesn't allow you to click on it to enlarge, just leave me a comment and I'll email it to you. Blogger is giving me all kinds of fits today!



It takes a couple of seconds to post cuz it's CHUCK full of step by step photos! So just bear with me.

October 13, 2010

State Fair of Texas

We went to the State Fair on Monday and boy did we have a great time. Nana even got to come along with us. This was Malek's first time and Emma's 3rd. She hasn't been since she was about 2 so it was like going for the first time all over again for her too.
giant tractors.....

baby giraffes.....

baby donkeys (or as Emma used to call them - Honkeys)

baby camels and big camels - check out those lashes!!

and baby piggies!!

And here's Malek trying to decide whether to share the kibble with this goat. Yes - my son ate goat kibble.

First and last ride Malek rode.....

This is his new "CHEESE" face.

Assuming the "CHEESE" face with his Nana.

3 Generations....

running thru the water....


The Original Big Tex Head.

And poor Emma after we made her schuck corn all day....no posing - really. This is what she looked like by the end of the day.

And that's why I only have 2 quilt pics. Kids were DONE by this point.


But at least I got a picture of this cute baseball quilt. I must have been channeling the Rangers!! Congrats to my Arlington, Texas Rangers on winning the ALDS!!! Bring on them Yankees!!
At least the night ended happily!

Halloween's a-comin'! What are you dressing up as?
Here's a little hint for what I'll be whipping up for my two - ARRRRGGGGHHH!
Also - Happy Birthday Momma!!! Can't wait to celebrate on Friday!!