Overload...

I just wanted to stop in and say I'm still here. My last post was back in early/mid November and since then my life has gone a bit mad. My sweet, ornery 89 year old granny passed away. I made the 4 hour trip Friday, Nov 18th, praying shed hang on until I got there. I wasn't gone from her side more than an hour and she passed on. I truly believe she waited for me to say my goodbye. I'm at peace and so is she, but I miss her terribly. Besides thanksgiving being the same week, my kids and I lived out of a suitcase and 5 different homes during the 10 days out of state. Other events transpired, but it is something I cannot go into. Also, my DD, H, has some things going on that I cannot go into. Needless to say life has been a bit overwhelming lately and I've had to put my family first. Hopefully I will be able to blog more in the near future. I have taught myself to knit and cannot wait to share photos of what I've done. I still have a ton to do before Christmas and I haven't even touched my machine since the Weds before Halloween. I'm so ashamed. I hope all of you are well! Happy quilting!

Winner: My Memories Suite Giveaway

Thank you to everyone who entered my first giveaway! According to Mr. Random, the winner of the My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software is:

Congrats Kristen! Send me an email so I have your contact info please.

Everyone else can still get the software with a $10 discount by using the code STMMMS18789 !

Giveaway: Scrapbooking Software

I was asked to do a review on My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software. I have been digital scrapbooking for 5 years now. I have tried many different software programs for digital scrapbooking and I have to say this one is very nice.

I was a bit overwhelmed and confused when I first opened My Memories Suite software, but that's expected with any new software. I love how the program starts out with this...

You can make an album and keep it all in one place. You can add, remove, or edit all the pages in the album in one place. It also has a film strip down at the bottom that keeps all your album pages visible. Want to work on a different page? No problem! Just click on another page and there ya go!

Below is the first page I made with My Memories Suite. As I mentioned I was a bit overwhelmed, but it was actually very simple to figure out. 

 There are menus and navigation bars on the right and left sides of the work space. It also pulls in your photos into the program so you can look through and select which ones you want! So easy! You can add single pictures or you can add multiple pictures at once. Same goes for backgrounds, elements, wordart, text, and more. The software comes with a ton of papers, picture layouts, and elements already installed. You can also add your own elements and papers!

MyMemories also has freebies on their website! Which are being added to all the time! You can also purchase kits as well. Here is the 2nd page I did with My Memory Suite:

I was also able to edit my pictures after putting them on the page. The bottom picture of my daughter was in color and I was able to make it black and white as well as brighten it. No need for additional programs to edit it.

You can make dvds, movies, photo books, and calendars. I looked through tutorials and it said greeting cards could be made, too. I could not find this feature. 

Are you ready to win your own copy of My Memory Suite Scapbooking Software? There's 3 ways to enter.

1.) You must be a follower of Another Pie in the Sky.

3.) Follow me on twitter.

2.) Go to My Memories and pick your favorite scrapbooking kit/paper/quick page. It can be free or paid. 

Okay, that's it! You can also purchase the software using my code STMMMS18789  and you will instantly save $10! You can click the banner to the left to use the code or simply copy/paste the code highlighted above.

You have until 7:00 pm Tuesday, November 15th to enter the giveaway. I will draw the winner using Mr. Random and post it on Wednesday, November 16th. Please be sure to leave your email in your comment if you are a no-reply blogger or I cannot contact you if you win!

Disclaimer: I received this software free to try and review, but it does not change my review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and from my own experiences.

Giveaway Coming Soon!

I have been contacted by the people at My Memory Suite to do a review and a giveaway of their digital scrapbooking software! Be sure to check back Saturday to see my review and enter for your chance to win a copy of your own!

I'm visiting again!

I'm guest blogging over at Craizee Corners today! Sha is doing a series on Breast Cancer Awareness and I was honored to be included. Wanna know what I made?? It was my first time making one of these, too! I love it!! Go see and let me know what you think!

I took the plunge

I took the plunge and gave in to try my hand at making hexies. I'm not sure that they are addictive, for me, as everyone says they are. They are fun and I do very much enjoy having something to do with my hands while watching tv. Here's what I've gotten done so far....

Hubby keeps asking me what I'm making. Honestly, I have no clue. As far as I know I'm still seeing if I enjoy it. So, this is where I need your assistance... What should I make? I have 1/2 yard of each blue and white cut into 2.5 inch hexies, but what do I make?

Nifty Blogger Tip

I learned another new thing yesterday (besides the need to clean out my sewing machine). Did you know that in blogger, if the admin has the Blogger bar tuned on in the settings, then readers can Follow the blog that way instead of searching all over for the Followers link in sidebars? Seriously, how cool is that!!  Here's a snapshot of my blog and I have drawn a pretty little circle and arrow to show you where to look.

You can click on the picture to see it bigger if you'd like. Thought I would share this nifty blogger tip so others will know, too. Do you have other tips that readers or admins might not know? Share them with us in the comments. Lets see what else we can all learn today!

I Have Learned My Lesson...

As I hold my head down in shame I show you this picture. It is the lint out of my sewing machine from the past year (pictured next to a dirty quarter). I know, I know... I pulled a big no-no. I kept putting off cleaning out my machine because I was afraid of what I would find and that I wouldn't be able to put my machine back together. 

I did it. I succeeded. I am no longer afraid! My machine runs like new again and I have learned my lesson: Clean out your machine after each project.

Guess Where I'm at Today...

Guess where I'm at today?








That's right! I'm doing my first guest post over at Craizee Corners! It's Kate Spain month over there at Sha's blog and I did a project with Kate Spain's Fandango line. So, go over to Sha's blog and see my project! 

Quilt Top

I don't generally post quilts that aren't finished, but I wanted to share this one. All I've done so far is get the top completed. I have the pieced back up on my design board, but with so many obligations right now it's been sitting there a week.

I call this quilt the book quilt because it looks like books to me. It is also done out of Sherbet Pips, yet again. This is my last quilt ever for a while out of Pips (3 is enough). So, here it is in all it's unfinished glory...

This was actually a very fast quilt top, and I honestly don't know why I don't have a completed quilt yet. My poor 7 year old DD keeps asking for it, so I have to get it finished soon! I'm such a bad mama. :)

Happy Quilting!

A Nice Surprise

While I was away this past weekend, I had a nice surprise come, and it was waiting for me when I returned. Want to know what it was?

That's right! Aurifil!! I got this nice color card and a bunch of samples!  I'm going to be trying out some Aurifil thread myself because I have never (*gasp*) tried any. Oh, and guess what that means for my awesome readers...yep, that's right! I will be having a giveaway soon!

Sneak Peak

I wanted to give all of you a little sneak peak of what I'm working on. It's almost done, too. I'm working on piecing the back as we speak. I'm hoping to have it completed this weekend, but not holding my breathe.

Did you notice it's Sherbet Pips by Aneela Hoey? This is my 3rd quilt with Pips. Why, you ask? While I do love this fabric, it was more so to unify and avoid favoritism between my 3 girls. Each girl has their own quilt made with Pips, but different designs. I love this fabric line for my children. It's so playful and innocent looking. When I started thinking of making quilts for my kids, this was the fabric that instantly come to mind! How could it get any more perfect than that?


Happy Quilting!

A Look into my Sewing Room

I've been in the new house now for a couple months and kept promising that I would show all of you my new space. My sewing room is also my office space (not counting the large tv on another wall).  The previous house consisted of a very large bar (for entertaining purposes) that I had utilized. I have also attempted organization and have labeled the photos accordingly. Hope you enjoy.... click on the photo for larger view.

Entrance

Cutting Table
P.S. the curtains are the same lengths, but I have
to hang them weird...thus the diff lengths.

My Sewing Space

Design Board

Fabric

Storage

So, there you have it! Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. I have plenty of room to put stuff and move around. I can't think of anything I'm missing. What would you like to do differently about your sewing space?

Blog Hop Day 3

Today we finish up our little Friendship blog hop with Sharon from Craizee Corners. Go see her beautiful quilt and tell her Tiffany sent you!

If you missed Day 2, be sure to go see Carolyn from ...Just One More Stitch.

Blog Hop Day 2

It's day 2 of our Friendship blog hop! Today is Carolyn's day from ...Just One More Stitch. Go see her beautiful quilt and tell her Tiffany sent you! 

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see Sha's from Craizee Corner's quilt!

It's a Blog Hop!

I am so happy to finally be able to share with you the quilt I just finished! First, some background. :)

A couple weeks ago, my friend Sharon from Craizee Corners and I were looking through all the many patterns on the FatQuarterShop's website when we came across this one:

Both, Sharon and I, decided that we wanted to do this pattern with Hometown by Sweetwater. Ok, really I think Sha was just trying to get me off my duff to start sewing again. It had been a while since I had sewn, but it worked so kudos to her. Love ya, Sha!

Where was I? Oh yeah...so we decided to do this pattern and Sha also got Carolyn from ...Just One More Stitch to join us! We decided to do each of our quilts in different fabric thus leading to a Mini Blog Hop to show them to you! Without further ado, here's my finished quilt.

This was my 4th quilt ever and I am totally in love with it!  I haven't even washed it yet (gasp!) because it hasn't left my side since it's been completed. I cannot wait for all of you to see what Sharon and Carolyn have made with theirs! Carolyn will be posting her quilt Saturday (tomorrow) on her blog and Sharon will be posting her quilt Sunday on hers. You will not be disappointed, so be sure and check theirs out!

Everybody Makes Mistakes...

Everybody has those days... As I type that I hear Hannah Montana's song Nobody's Perfect (Too much Hannah Montana on my TV). Really, the whole song makes sense.. "I gotta work it! Again and again til I get it right." Before you all think I've run off to crazy town, let me explain.

Remember how in my last post I mentioned I was working on a quilt? Well, I still am. The pattern is called Key to my Heart by Sweet Jane's Quilting and Design. It's a beautiful pattern purchased at the FatQuarterShop.

It's also a very well written pattern! My first thought when I saw this pattern was, "Hey, this is going to be easy!" It should have been and this is where the song from my title comes in. I have learned a valuable lesson while doing this quilt. What is it might you ask? Follow. The. Pattern. Exactly! I'm new to quilting, only made 4 quilts, and am inexperienced following patterns. Needless to say, when the pattern says cut x amount and you should have y amount left over. Don't cut y amount to get x left over. It totally messed up the size of my blocks. Luckily I was able to fix it by trimming down length and width. I feel absolutely stupid after realizing what I have done. Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes and just remember... "Everybody makes mistakes..."

What I've Been Doing

I have been working my fingers to the bone (ok not really) to finish a quilt this week. My friends Sha, Carolyn, and I are doing a mini quilt along and Sha is going to be showing our finished quilts on her blog, Craizee Corner, next week! I've been working with this bundle from FatQuarterShop:

I have to admit, the more I work with the fabric line Hometown by Sweetwater the more I LOVE it. Don't get me wrong, I loved it before I started working with it, but now I'm in love with it (there is a difference). Head on over to the FatQuarterShop and get yourself this bundle before they sell out. You won't regret it!

Be sure to follow my blog and Sha's blog so you can see the finished quilts. Also, Sha is having some seriously awesome happenings on her blog that you should check out!

Happy quilting!

Finally a Finish...

I finally completed another quilt! Originally, the quilt top was made for the Naked Bed Challenge back in the Spring. The quilt is for my oldest daughter to put on her full sized bed. This was my 2nd attempt at machine quilting and by far the largest quilt I have attempted quilting. I am happy with how it turned out, but there was a time when the quilt and I were not on speaking terms. Getting it to go through the small hole on my machine was not the easiest thing to do. So, without further a do...here's the quilt:

Alrighty, ladies and gentleman...please let me know what you think. Have a quilty day!

Life

You know how life can creep up on you and all of a sudden you are in caught in a tailwind and spinning uncontrollably while nothing you normally do is possible? Well, that's how it's been for me lately. Here's a bit of info about what's been going on around here.

We had problems with our landlord and ended up moving at the beginning of this month. Long story short, we had worked it out but because of some issues we decided it was better for our family to go ahead and move instead of staying where we were. Best. Decision. Ever. No, really... We are totally loving the house we are in now. It's so much bigger than what we were in and instead of the walls closing in on us, it now feels as if we can unclench our shoulders and actually breathe.

It's an older house, but full of charm. Each window, door, and opening has crown molding. It has 15 foot ceilings instead of the 7 foot we had before. No nasty brown everywhere. Instead we have over-sized windows, doorways, and hallway. It even has an attic and a basement. Besides the basement being my favorite thing (my girls and I are deathly afraid of storms)... I have my very own sewing room! It is... wait for it..wait for it...legendary (as Barney says on How I Met Your Mother)!

I will post pictures shortly of my new sewing room. I may be able to even dig up old pictures of my sewing area if anyone's interested. :) Off to finish everyday things like cleaning and laundry. Hope to get some sewing done soon! Happy Quilting!

Want to win a Go! Baby?

Do you want to win a Go! Baby? Oh, I do! But you have to go check out this blog here Little Cottage Comforts. She's giving away one with 3 dies of your choice! So...go enter (or don't because that's less competition for me hehe).

Quilt Reveal

I have another quilt to reveal! Yay! I am super excited about this one because 1.) it came together super fast 2.) it was super easy 3.) I hand embroidered my DD's name and  4.) I machine quilted my first quilt! So, without further a due .....

Front

Hand Embroidery

Back

  I used the McKinely Quilt Pattern from OCD - Obsessive Crafting Disorder's blog. It has flowers on their version, but the more I thought about it being for a young child the more I realized it's just something else she'd tear up. I decided to leave that part off. I used Sherbit Pips charm pack with a light grey sashing, light pink accent and binding, and dark grey for backing.

I am ecstatic about the finished result! And feel such a huge accomplishment with the new things I tried. It was the first time I had tried my walking foot and it was so much easier than I thought. Basting was a new experience as well! i used 160 pins on this crib sized quilt!! Hehe

Thanks for stopping by to look! Happy Quilting!

Ah Sookie Sookie...

I love to read when I'm not sewing, cleaning, or doing laundry and I love me some Sookie Stackhouse, and Eric, and Bill... yummy (Eric and Bill). Charlaine Harris just released the 11th Sookie Stackhouse book in the series last week. It was good and I recommend the series, especially since it's way better than the True Blood tv series. Seriously. Go now. Buy it and read it...or start with Book 1 of the series if you haven't read all the others. It's definitely worth your time.

 

Now back to our regularly scheduled sewing or whatever. :)

Letter Learning

My 4 year old has been saying she wants to learn to read. I decided we would start working on her recognizing her letters, but first we needed some flash cards. I had looked around a couple different stores and decided I wanted something a bit more colorful than the stores had to offer. My thinking was that if she has something bright and colorful then maybe she'll stay interested in it. So, I made some for her. I used index cards, scrapbooking paper, chipboard letters, and mod podge. The end result....

Princess #3 is very happy with them and loves playing with them! Took about 2 hours to make, with interruptions, but it was worth it! :)

Naked Bed!!!

I don't have a naked bed, but Princess #1 does. Are you signed up for the Naked Bed Challenge??!!! If not, you need to be!! I finally received all of my fabric, cut it up, and started on my blocks for the NBC. Here's what I've got so far.

I'm following Quilt Story's Tutorial for these blocks to make a full sized quilt. I've managed to get 4 of these done over the last couple of days. I have to say it's been a very trying time for me! I've had to walk away a few times and come back to it. I went with the pink because my daughter's 8 and wanted something girly, but looking at it...wish I would've went gray. Oh well...live and learn, right?!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!! We did a bit of egg hunting and alot of candy eating.  I'll leave you with the following pic from yesterday.

My Slipcovers

It seems I've been working on these slipcovers forever! While they are not without major errors and are not by any means perfect... I am okay with how they turned out. Had to do rigging on some parts and just let it go. LOL However, for my first attempt I am happy with how they turned out.

Here's the before picture of my couch (the love seat matches but I have no pics of it)

And here's the after photos

I used canvas painters drop cloths from Walmart/Lowes to do both of these. I also replaced the ginormous pillows with bed pillows and covered them. I was tired of always finding all the pillows in the floor because they took up too much space on the couch. Best part?! NO more safari!!! LOL

Quilt Reveal

I have finally finished my 1st quilt! Yikes! I'm so excited!!! The quilt is a little larger then queen sized, but not as big as a king. I made it reversible as well. I like to have the darker colors in the fall/winter and brighter in the spring/summer.

 We've actually been using this on our bed for a week or so. Hubby was kind enough to tell me it was "snuggly." From him, that is a HUGE compliment. LOL

Off to finish up another project so I can get started on my quilt for The Naked Bed Challenge.  If you don't know what I'm talking about just click here and Cara Wilson at Cara Quilts and Sarah Fielke at The Last Piece will fill you in on everything you need to know. These two amazing ladies have made an idea into a reality! Seriously...go check it out and add your name to the linky! It's going to be a blast!

Eek!!

I cannot believe it's been almost a month since I've posted! Forgive me as I've been a bit down in the dumps and have been struggling for any bits of motivation I can find. I have however finished a few projects! I've also finished my first quilt and will post it at a later date, but here is what I've been working on since I've been MIA. (Sorry for the bad pics!)

Wrinkly slip cover for my loveseat! lol

Reversible, removable pillow covers.

I've also bought these amazing books!



Hope you all are enjoying Spring! Happy Sewing!