Why I Haven't Been Blogging

One Word: Christmas. Why is the holiday season so busy? If it was the middle of March I would be wondering...I am so bored, but instead I have been frantically sewing projects, getting Christmas presents for those I have put off way too long, wrapping all the presents, cleaning my house, laundry and making Christmas Candy. I actually got a lot done yesterday, probably not as much as I should have gotten done but enough....I decided this year that I am forgoing putting up the tree. I know, Scrooge, but it takes so much time to put up and then to take it all down. If I were getting visitors it would be different but Nate and I are traveling to the parents and grandparents for Christmas so it will be a lonely Christmas at the Bungalow...no decorations, much to the disapproval of my mother. Oh well, Santa will have to put me on the naughty list...Until next time...

LesleyAnn

Polka Dot Swap and Sewing Cabinet

Well, time sure has flown by these days. I have been busy busy. Working on Christmas presents and some other misc projects. As promised I have a picture of my new sewing machine cabinet. My sis is major jealous and told me that Nate must love me more than her beau does because he won't get her one. I do love it!! Ha! Ha!



I finished my Polka Dot Swap goodies and sent them to California. And guess what!? On Friday I received some goodies in return from Esther. Thank you! I love the bag and the fabrics used. So fun and cute. I hope she likes all her wonderful things, because I sure enjoyed mine. Here are some photos of the things I sent and the things I received. I designed the little bag, lots of things going on in my head sometimes.


Had another sister sew in on Friday. Trying to get all my Christmas projects completed. I hope I make it. Planning on going shopping with my sister on the big BLACK FRIDAY! It's going to be an early one. Until next time.....

LesleyAnn

Luck of the Draw

I have neglected to report on my Stitcher's Angel partner. She has received her things so now I can let everyone know its Carol from Sweden!! Dorky me also forgot to take a picture of the goodies that I sent to her in Sweden. I am so glad that you liked them all. If you want to see what I gave to her please visit her blog (link above).
Swaps are a funny thing and it really is luck of the draw if you will receive anything. I am kinda bummed. My partner who was suppose to send me something from the Stitcher's Angel Swap didn't. I am not asking for pity, just to let others know that if you can't fulfill your obligations that it is pretty disappointing to the person on the other end.
On another note, Nate got a me a wonderful birthday present, A NEW SEWING CABINET!!! He even ordered by himself. It came last week and he finished putting it together this weekend. I LOVE IT!!! Photos to come later... Now I just have to reorganize my sewing room. I have been making my list of all the things I have to get done and my sewing room organization is at the top along with getting my swap goodies done for the Polka Dot and Ric Rack swap due this Saturday so I really have to get going to make the deadline!! I hope my swap partner will enjoy her goodies since she has no blog that I can spy on. It is making it really hard for me to know if I am on the right track. I guess I will just have to wing it. Until next time.....

LesleyAnn

Giveaway Winner!!

Well, here I am 30 and I don't feel much different. Thanks for all the great comments. I enjoyed reading all them. Here is Nate drawing the winner.....


Now to announce the winner.........Sabine!!! You are the winner. If you could email me your address, I will get your goodies into the mail. Enjoy!! It has been a whirlwind around the bungalow lately. This past weekend I went to Minneapolis with our local quilt shop owner to help her pick out fabric for her store. What a fun experience and so interesting!! It was kinda a last minute thing but I sure was glad I was able to go. As a bonus we even had time to visit IKEA!! What fun! Congrats again, Sabine! Until next time.....

LesleyAnn

A Birthday Giveaway

Well it is the eve of my 30th milestone birthday. Am I excited? That's hard to say...What are you suppose to feel as you get older? I don't know. I really don't feel like I am old? I asked Nate...Do you feel old now that you are 30? His response; What are you talking about? Why are you asking? You are wierd. Maybe now that I will be 30; I will suddenly become hip and cool? Ya think? Enough rambling.....It's time for a giveaway, my 1st!! Yeah!! Just leave me a comment on this post about what it was like to turn 30 or if you aren't yet 30 let me know if you are anticipating the big 30 or dreading it. Please leave your comment by November 4th and I will have Nate draw a name out of the hat. Here is what I have so far for the giveaway:


I have included a beach theme cosmetics bag for those of us wishing for a vacation, a Moda charm pack with guess what? 30 charms! Ha!, a wonder wallet for those of us wishing for more money these days and some cupcake erasers and pencils since I can't send my mom's famous filled cupcakes. You should be jeaous because they are yummy just like Hostess only better!! She has made them for my sister and I only on our birthdays since I was in kindergarten for treats. This made me a very popular child back then!!

Here is my little sis at our sister sew in from last Saturday night. Notice her pants. I had matching ones that my gram had made for us to wear at our sister sew in nights. Such fun! Well until next time when I will be a little older.....

LesleyAnn

Nate's Birthday and Fishing

It sure has been busy around the bungalow these days. I have been stitching like a mad woman trying to get my Stitcher's Angel stuff done before I had to take my sewing machine in for her annual oil change and service. We definitely want to keep her in tip-top shape. Can't show anything yet as I haven't sent it yet. It may cost a small fortune though for it to get across the great blue ocean.


Here is Nate on his 30th birthday with his cake that I got him. Even though he won't admit it he was excited about getting a cake. (Don't tell him I said that because he will probably kill me if he knew I put these pictures on my blog.)

I made him take this picture of his presents that he got from me. He really didn't want to, but he did to appease me. Isn't he cute. Deep down I think that he wants to be like my dad and gramps with his overalls..... I think he probably had a good 30th birthday!! Now next week we shall see if he can out do me for my 30th? Yes, I will be turning 30, t00! Been thinking how I can celebrate on my blog...maybe a first giveaway is in order and some goodies. We'll have to see. Stay tuned....

I went on my first fishing trip to the Mississippi and caught this nice crappie. I really couldn't believe that I actually caught something but I did. A total of about 4 nice ones. Nate asked me when him and his dad go fishing will I have to go every time now. My response was no. Fishing is kinda a man thing...I get it but...I don't think that I get it enough to make a serious hobby like my sewing. It was fun to spend time with Nate and his dad but I think I will leave most of the fishing to them and I will take the day to sew.
The other day in the mail arrived a package from Cinderberry Stitches in Australia. I won in her giveaway for a Christmas Gift Bags pattern. I love it. It is so cute. Thank you Natalie!! Can't wait to get started on them! Well, until next time.....

LesleyAnn

Busy Quilting Workshop Weekend

This last Saturday I went with my grandma and sister to a quilting workshop with many quilting sessions where we learned new techniques and we even saw a quilt talk with Kay Capps Cross "The Black and White Lady". I have seen her before but I always enjoy listening to her and gaining inspiration from her quilts. They are gorgeous!

Here is my sister at the make it take it work session. We made little cell phone cases. It was a lot of fun and I even got a few more to make. It was so simple. The pattern was all on the fusible you attach to the fabric. How easy and quick it that?? Love it!

Here are the goodies I got at the workshop. See my cell phone case?


I almost forgot to show all my goodies that I got on my bus trip. Man, do I have my work cut out for me to get all these projects done....where should I start? Well, I did get one thing as a gift for my sister...the yellow tin with Wizard of Oz charms. When my sister and I were little we use to have to watch the Wizard of Oz everyday since it was her favorite movie. I promise..... I looked inside the tin to make sure the there were no flying monkeys :)!! I know how much you hated them!! LOL!

And last but not least...here's my Nate. We celebrated his birthday with my parents on Sunday. He is going to be the BIG 30 on the 9th!!! He got a new fishing pole and reel from my sister and her boyfriend. He will just have to wait to get his present from me!!! Until next time.....

LesleyAnn

More Bus Trip

Well, life has sure been busy since my last post. Lots going and lots to show all of you. First I will take you back to the bus trip...So much fun and the most wonderful part about it was that I didn't have to drive to all 5 states. I also got to see so much more than I would have if I would have been on my own; considering Nate would have been along and there is no way he would have lasted going to 9 shops. He's a wonderful man but there are limits and patience is not his virtue.


This is a photo of the Calico Hutch in Hayward, Minnesota. It was a really cute shop and probably one of the biggest businesses besides the Coop in town. This shop is really not that far from me, so I can visit this one again!

Here is the Country Sampler in Omaha, Nebraska. A beautiful shop with fabrics to die for. I got an apron pattern and some quilt diva fabric with jumbo rick rack. What a stitch!!! Can't wait to make it.

The Calico Hutch fed us this yummy breakfast of skier's french toast with strawberries. Just the right thing to hit the spot on a day of quilt shop hopping......

Quilter's Quarters in Leavensworth, Kansas had some inspiring quilts with fabulous machine quilting. (Wishing I wasn't such a terrible machine quilter!!) Some people get all the talent, while others are just hopeful that a little might rub off on them. I am one of those that wish for the latter....:)

The little lady (in the brown shirt) reminded me so much of my grandma.....It was like traveling with her and made me wish for my grandma. My grandma is the one who taught me to sew and embroider. She is a very special lady and I admire her greatly for all that she does. She is an inspiration to me. I hope that I am able to do 1/2 as many things as she does at her age. I love ya, Gram!!! Hopefully I will not be as negligent in posting as I have been. Until next time....

LesleyAnn

5 State Quilt Bus Trip

Well, I am on my quilting bus trip where we are going to visit 9 different quilt shops in 5 different states. We have just completed day 1 and it has been very exciting to see 3 different quilts shops. I am helping my local quilt shop as the hostess of the bus trip which has been a fun experience.The shops have been outrageously beautiful and the staff at each of the shops have been very helpful. Below are some pictures of the shops we visited today. I forgot to take some pictures at the second shop we stopped at....will try to do better but sometimes picture taking is not a strong suit of mine. Also a fun thing is...we get 2 batik fabric strips at each shop plus a free pattern. How fab is that???

This is Pine Needles in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was a beautiful shop that use to be a wildlife center that sold bird seed. It was huge.

This is a picture of The Quilt Shoppe in Stewartsville, MO. Another great shop with lots of variety in fabrics and other quilt related gift shoppe. Great Staff!! If you have a chance to visit any of these quilt shops, stop. They are well worth the visit.

Well tomorrow is another day with 3 more shops to visit. Will try to update you and take some pictures of the goodies and treasures I am getting. Until next time......

LesleyAnn

Tator Tot Casserole and Glue Gun Incident

Well, the weekend has come and gone without much sewing progress. I had big plans but those were dashed on Friday at 2:30 when I burned my fingers with the glue gun doing a crafty project that I will not show you because it didn't even turn out like I thought it would. Very bad. After I burned two fingers to a crisp I didn't feel like doing much else plus I have never had a burn quite like I got. So I just decided to take a nap. Nate called and wanted me to come stay at the weekend retreat house, (aka his house) so I thought I might as well since I was pretty much feeling worthless. So I spent the weekend there....

Today I spent the day with Nate doing a little farming...making hay. I rode the tractor with him. There is nothing like the smell of cut hay. So while we were making hay we talked about what we were going to have for supper. From pigs in a blanket to tator tot casserole. When I first met Nate he told me one of his favorites was tator tot casserole and in my family we never had this so I was unsure of how to make it. So I consulted with friends and the internet for advice because I sure didn't want to disappoint my new boyfriend that I couldn't make one of his favorite meals. So I decided to punt and use a combination of all the advice and internet recipes to come up with my own version. So today, I decided to make tator tot casserole because he has always told me I make the best. But much to my horror, I found out today that his favorite tator tot casserole is......the high school cafeteria! AHHHH! WHAAAT??? Are you kidding? I have to compete with the school...school food is something we all would like to forget not remember as our favorite...I am depressed...My cooking confidence is marred. Although, in my opinion, today was the best tator tot casserole I have ever made!!! :) Until next time....

4 Glorious Days

Well I am back from 4 glorious days of sewing in DeSoto, Wisconsin. It was great! Lots of laughs, lots of sewing, and lots of inspiration and relaxation was had by all. It is so beautiful along the mighty Mississippi. And the most glorious thing of all...what I accomplished...a lot...which is so uncharacteristic of me at a retreat. But I did. Here are some pictures of where we stayed and what I accomplished.


Here is where we stayed. It is known as the cottage. And it is super nice. There was no roughing it here.


This is a view out the window of the cottage. The mighty Mississippi is so close...


This is the group of ladies I stayed with and the things we accomplished. Can you find me? We actually took this picture from the other house where some other gals stayed since our house only bunked 10 gals and the other house bunked 8. Then with both houses we could have that many more gals.


This is more of a close up of the things I got done or started on. I am caught up with Lynette Anderson's BOM. , finished putting some ric rack on a tea towel, made 3 bags (1 is missing since Nate took it as a raffle for a church dinner), finished the stitching for the Armchair Caddy from the Stitcher's Angel, and started a Halloween Stitchery. Whew.....

Some gals and I took a little road trip during the retreat to some quilt shops. This is what I got. You can see the Halloween stitchery pattern. I love it and it is going to be so cute!! From the funky paisley fabric I am going to make my own bag like the ones I finished at the retreat, since I am going on a stitching bus trip to 5 different states and 9 quilt shops in a couple weeks. I think I better have a bag to keep all my treasures together. Hopefully I will have internet access during the trip so I can post my fun finds. I am really looking forward to that trip too.


Then today when I checked the mail I found this in my mailbox.....My prize from winning the contest on Mid-Ohio Knitter Thank you Vickie...I love it. You are the best!!! I can't wait to make something out of these yummy charms. Well lots to do and so little time...Until next time..


LesleyAnn

Wishing for more stitching hours in a day!!

Well it has been quite awhile since my last post but things have been busy....I have been trying to catch up on some of my numerous stitching projects. One of those being Lynette Anderson's Free BOM; it has been so much fun. I have included some pics of how it is coming along. I just have a little left from the block of Noah and the giraffes. Need to still put the border around the elephants and Noah. Then start this last months of the rainbow. Hopefully I will get this done while I am at my quilting retreat in DeSoto, Wisconsin at A Place to Sew. It is a beautiful place and so relaxing. I can't wait.

Here is kind of an overview of all of the blocks together. So cute! I put everything in a binder. I am getting so organized....so uncharacteristic of me....But it helps to keep everything together since you only get one block at a time.

Look just alittle left. I used a satin stitch to fill in the spots on the giraffes.


Here are my finished blocks. They are just precious. Thank you so much to Lynette for designing such a great stitchery!! Well I better get cutting out some projects for my retreat that is in just a couple days. Until next time...

LesleyAnn

Lists

Sorry my blogging is so erractic, but that has been the way life is around the bungalow these days. That is why lists are so important to me. I love them. Thank you mommy for being an obsessive list maker, since I have gotten to be one too!!! (Just to let you know how obsessive my mother is...she even alphabetizes her veggies in the cupboard; Oh my!) I am not to that stage yet--although, I make lists for everything: groceries and walmart trips (obvious), things to do, chores, list to Nate of what HE needs to do, things I want to do, things to do at work, books I want to read, sewing projects I want to do; well, you get the idea... everything. Nate thinks I am nuts! I probably am. So I am making lists so that over this holiday weekend I can get things done and even maybe some stitching. The reason: Nate is going fishing to Canada--Yeah!! Time for the girly things to come out---staying up way too late watching chick flicks and stitching, reading a good book, going shopping without needing to get something, my new fav..blogging, and maybe even a little housework that has been neglected. This is a good time for all these things. Don't get me wrong, Nate is a great help and I love him dearly but sometimes a girl has to have time for the girly things without the man around. Plus I have to start getting ready for my sewing retreat to Wisconsin....4 days of glorious sewing and relaxing with the girls....I think I better start making a list of the projects I want to do......Until next time...

LesleyAnn

Saturday Trip

Well the little trip Nate and I took on Saturday was lots of fun and I did get a few goodies at the Quilt Shop. The shop was down an Iowa gravel road basically out in the middle of nowhere. And to my surprise it was filled to the brim with fabrics, patterns, and other fun things. Plus it happened to be a Shop Hop day so bonus for me because there was extra special deals and not just for shop hoppers. Yeah for me!!! Take a look at what I got...So much fun can't wait to start in on the pattern, a little sewing kit for floss, scissors, pins, bobbins, etc.


Also I got this picture back from the framers and it will look good in my sewing room. I love that it is old and shows the basic embroidery stitches. It is always interesting what you can find in a box you buy at an auction. This week is another busy week hopefully I will get some stitching in since mission organization has taken over the last week or so. Well until next time....



LesleyAnn

Mission Organization

I am on a mission; this is a mission to get organized. This project started 2 weeks ago and I think I am slowly progressing. Last night while watching the Olympics I sorted all my fabrics. I am really quite proud of myself because I now have tubs and labels, so I can figure out what is exactly in each of those tubs. It took awhile because not only do I have a lot of stuff but I had to greet and re-meet things I haven't seen in awhile. Remember when you were a kid and your mother told you to clean your room. And, it always took you twice as long because you had to play with everything. Same principle applies....enough said...

On another note, I joined in my first swap, Stitchers' Angel, I am so excited and it should be lots of fun. Can't wait to see all the new patterns that will be available. Check it out if you haven't already by visiting Hugs from Helen: Stitchers' Angel swap. Lots of fun to be had by all.... Spending the day with Nate tomorrow on a little getaway. I even have him talked into visiting a quilt shop......I will let you know what goodies and treasures I find....Until next time....

LesleyAnn

Auction Addiction

I love auctions. There I have said it. I love them. They are one of my many weaknesses. Yesterday I attended yet another auction among the hundreds that have become before this last one. I am a collector of many things and auctions help me in this quest. My little bungalow house is filled with all my treasures. One woman's junk is another's treasure...I love that saying...so true. Nate often refers to my treasures as junk, but they are all treasures to me. Just take a look at the cute little pincushion I found....doesn't it look good next to the bear Nate got me for Christmas. What a treasure.. Until the next treasure is found....

Lesley Ann

Here goes Nothing

Well here goes nothing...I am starting to post out in this big blogging world...a little foreign but I think I should get the hang of it. All the cool kids are doing it so I better get on board. My next post will be more interesting and thought provoking as I learn the in and outs of blogging. I guess I may have to get out that digital camera Nate bought me for my birthday when we first started dating and actually use it. Yikes. The options are endless when it comes to blogging. I can just see it now my house is going to become a dump as blogging and sewing are going to get in the way of cleaning!!! Until next time...

Lesley Ann