Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Yoga - Drama Free 2012 & Thursday Think Tank



Thursday Think Tank
I bet, like me, most of you have a To Do List about a M-I-L-E long.  Am I right?  Lately I've been trying to figure out how to best tackle my to dos...of course thinking about how to attack it isn't making it any shorter let me tell you...  But, one of the things on my list that I really need to start taking more seriously is my goal of practicing prenatal yoga.



While living in Brooklyn I took an awesome prenatal yoga class here.  I really think it helped my 2nd pregnancy go so smoothly not to mention it helped keep my stress levels down.  But here, in Far Far Away, prenatal yoga is nonexistent.  So, I've been meaning to do something about it.  Today my chiropractor suggested that I do some stretching to stave off my sciatic nerve.  In other words...I realized I needed to get off my bum and create my own at home prenatal yoga program.  

How?

HELLO - INTERNET!  There are tons of sites out there giving advice on how to practice yoga at home. You can even sign up for an About.com newsletter that will send prenatal yoga specific emails to guide your practice safely while pregnant.

Of course nothing can replace the support of yoga classmates not to mention the importance of the guidance of a yoga teacher.  But, for those of us without, well, we must make do.  For those of you who are debating whether to consider taking up Yoga I would strongly encourage you to check out a class.  Honestly, it can be life altering.  Keep in mind, however, that there are lots of different types of Yoga. Some style may be more apt to suit your exercise needs and personality better than another.  Take a look into the variety out there before deciding Yoga altogether isn't for you.

Now for you sewers out there be sure to check out yoga positions you can do while seated.  Don't let your sewing get ruined by stiff posture...take a break and do some of these!

I'll be making my Baby Boy Quilt Top this weekend...whew hew!  Can't wait to show you all pictures on Monday...  In the meantime, let me know what you've been doing and add your link below!

- rebecca lynne

Monday, February 27, 2012

A Family Affair - I mean - Finish


Miss O's Quilt
Miss O's Quilt
Ta da!

I know it is amazing...I actually SEWED SOMETHING.  In fact, not only did I sew I actually finished a quilt top!!!  It really has been soooo long.  I'm sure you began to wonder why I even bother keeping this blog anymore, after all, I just haven't made anything in so long.  

[In my defense, I made Chicken Parmigiano with "from scratch" tomato sauce, for Valentine's Day...but with everything that had happened the day before concerning my grandmother I completely forgot to take photos for proof.  Groan.]

I am really happy with how it turned out.  I LOVE the movement that is created by the alternating strip widths - almost as if about to spiral but still with subtle control.  I think it looks very similar to my computerized layout but even better...I love how the green is uneven and lends it a bit of a modern edge.

Computerized Layout
To be fair I cannot take all the credit for my hard work and motivation.  It was really a family affair.  First of all Miss V insisted on sitting next to me and watching as I sewed.  Maybe we have found the next generation of sewer in the family???  She hummed along with the machine as we went.


Then Miss E insisted on helping me take photos of the quilt top...  I even let her stand on a chair, normally a big no no, to hold it up high enough.
Miss O's Quilt with Notes


And you can see in my notes above, top right, that I was allowed to take over the whole table with fabric and machine while the girls and Daddy colored in a huge coloring book on the floor.

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Miss E peeking over the quilt top
Then Miss E exclaimed it was "Daddy's turn" to hold the quilt and they all helped him hold it for Mommy.

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Here are some detail shots...

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Fussy Cut Shot
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Girls Bending Over Pram Closeup
Now I just have to decide on what fabric to back it with.  I intend to fold back the brown dots and gingham to create the binding because I do love the brown framing the overall piece.  I'm leaning towards the green dots as a backing...but I think I'll sleep on it before I decide.  That swirl of salmon pink really does stand out beautifully so perhaps I should go with the pink dot instead.  Hmmm...

Thoughts Anyone?  

Oh, and then I have to figure out how to quilt it...  Hahahahaa...


- rebecca lynne



Saturday, February 25, 2012

Modern Quilt Guild Week of Solid Tutorials Round Up

Flora Palette for Dead Simple QAL

Check out the Modern Quilt Guild's Blog today about finishing off the Week of Solids.  My guest tutorial on how to create a Solid Palette Layout on the Computer from Lily's Quilts has been included!

Go check it out HERE!!!

- rebecca lynne

Drama Free 2012 - Giveaway Winner!!!

So, I was going to pick the winner based on whose story had me laughing out loud the most while I was away at my Grandmother's funeral.  But, honestly, I could not pick!  Plus - that would not take into account all of the wonderful links I received for Thursday Think Tank that week.  Therefore, I turned to the trusty Random.org True Random Number Generator and came up with:


Drum roll...  (come on...you can do it...imagine a drum roll...)


Alright, I'm counting...and who do we come up with...



What makes this so funny is that Sana thought, based on her reading of Kelli's message, that I was in some serious trouble and was in prison!  Sana, what I want to know is exactly what you thought I might have been in prison for!!!  Now that is a story we should blog about...a fictional story...this former prosecutor and current county attorney has not been nor is she going to prison!  Hahahahaa...  (Hmmm, unless Sana knows something I don't?)

Kelli still has to pick her winner so stay tuned and pop on over to Seriously...I think it needs stitches...she said she was going to get to it later this afternoon.  Fingers crossed for you all!

If you don't win this time don't worry - Kelli and I will be doing more Drama Free Giveaways throughout 2012.  If there is something you'd especially like to win do tell us by leaving a comment below.

- rebecca lynne

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Birthday on the Brink - Thursday Think Tank

I just wanted to thank everyone who linked up to Thursday Think Tank last week!  It was so nice to see all those thumbnails and to visit everyone's blogs.  Thank you so much...


Thursday Think Tank

So what is up this week?  Well given recent events I've been thinking a lot about family, drama, life, and priorities.  I've decided, and it comes as a complete shock to me, I am really happy here in Far Far Away. I really believe that when you are on the right path you can feel it and I definitely feel that things are right here.  My largest source of sadness is being so far away from family and friends...but I hope in time that will change as we make new friends and our girls get older.  People keep asking when we are moving "back" but I just don't see that happening, my perspective may change but right now it isn't in the cards.

Regardless of what WILL happen I am deciding on what IS happening today.  With that said - it is time to plan the Mr.'s Birthday Gift.  I want to go budget, but thoughtful, and hopefully surprise the crap out of him!  Hahahhahaaa!  I think I have an idea...but I'd like to do something romantic as well... Any ideas?

I hope you are all creating wonderful things that will inspire me to keep working on this...please link up and inspire me below!!!

- rebecca lynne

Feel free to rattle off anything that has been brewing in your creative heads.  It can be anything, quilting, home improvement, fashion, crafting, DIY gifts, cooking...whatever you have recently thought "hmmm, you know what I should create" is perfectly appropriate for the Think Tank.  Have a blog?  Grab the Thursday Think Tank button displayed on the right.  

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Get on with the gettin' on. Making Baby Month 6!


Enough is enough...I'm ready to put all the ups and downs of the last few weeks behind me and get on with the gettin' on...  Maybe it has been all the awesome comments I have been receiving via our Drama Free 2012 Giveaway (still open so feel free to jump in until the 25th!) or the realization that life isn't about to stop and I'm not going to just submit and take the hits laying down.  Either way, I've finally returned to my love of fabric again.  Sigh, finally!  And where better to start than by cutting fabric for a new quilt?

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Fussy cuts for Girl's Baby Quilt - Nursery Rhyme Maman Organic

I started cutting the fabric for the girl's baby quilt and I totally loved the idea that hit me when it came to
cutting this fabric for this pattern.  I'm sure I will be the only one who notices these little fussy cuts amidst all the other fabrics...but hey, I'll know!

Hope you are all doing well and getting on with the getting on in your life...

- rebecca lynne

Thursday, February 16, 2012

TTT~and a GIVEAWAY!!



Hello everyone!  My name is Kelli, and I blog over @ Seriously..I think it needs stitches.  Today I am honored to be guest posting for the first time ever and guest hosting the Thursday Think Tank for Rebecca Lynne, while she is out of town attending to something very important.


So I hope some of you will link up and share what's been on your mind this week, or what you've been up to. Quilty, crafty or otherwise.  Anything goes in the Think Tank.


What's been on my mind today is this pillowcase that I made HAD to make.  A few weeks ago, I let my son pick out a yard of fabric for a pillow case that I would make him.  He was so excited.  Then he wanted to pick out the border for it.  The fabric was on sale, I had a weak moment, and I let him choose, on his own.  I'm all for letting kids have their own creative license and all that.. but I REALLY REALLY didn't like the two fabrics he chose to put together.  But he had his heart set on them.  The other day he asked me where his fabrics were and described them in detail. I figured it was time to face the fabrics.  


So today, I sat down and sewed it up.  At least pillow cases make for a speedy project.  Something about the fabric colors and little bones.. UGH.  I love dogs and so does my son, but these two fabrics just seem to clash! I feel bad for hating it so, when my son is so in love with it, but it actually makes me cringe. At what point do you say to a 5 yr old.. "that's not such a good combo", or "sleeping on that might make you dizzy and throw up"?  I didn't have the heart to, so I just sewed it up.  
He wanted his finger in the picture. 




I don't know.. something about the color combos.  ACK!  I don't know whether I'm going to have a migrain or chest pain looking at it.  But you know what?  He loves it.  LOVES.  And I love that he loves it.  Because I love him. I guess that's what it all boils down to, right?


He insisted on putting it on his pillow immediately. And I have to admit, it's much cuter with his head on it.  Although I might have to read bedtime stories with my eyes closed sometimes.  Which may be difficult. ;) Maybe it will grow on me.


In the meantime, let's get to the giveaway!  Rebecca and I have been planning a tandem giveaway in honor of our Drama Free 2012 pact that we made at the start of the year.


SO, on each of our blogs today, you can enter to win a Little Apples layer cake by Aneela Hoey.

You can do so many things with a layer cake. There are lots of ideas at the Moda Bake Shop.


And as an added little prize in honor of our drama free year, you can also win a peace, love, quilt coaster from Cafepress.com  :o)
The giveaway will be open until Feb. 25.  To enter, just leave your comments on this post, and you can have more chances than one to enter.


1. The giveaway is open to our fun fantastic followers.  Leave a commment saying you are a follower.


2. You can have an extra entry for linking up to this Thursday Think Tank post.


3.  If you wish to share the giveaway with your friends and blog about it leave a comment stating you did for an extra entry.


4.  And for a fourth chance at winning, let's try and make Rebecca laugh and/or cheer her up, since she is attending to some stressful business right now.  Leave a comment with something funny that has happened to you recently or a reason that you love her blog. :o)


Good luck!  When you're through, head over to my place @ Seriously..I think it needs stitches. and enter over there.  We are each giving away the same prize so you'll have double the chances of winning!! :o)  May you all have a peaceful, happy and healthy, drama free year!


(Don't forget to link up your Thursday Think Tank post!)





Monday, February 13, 2012

In Memoriam - Olinda Maria Felgueroso Davison

In Memoriam
Olinda Maria Felgueroso Davison


We will miss you.

Rebecca Lynne, J, E & V

Monday, February 6, 2012

Testing some ideas out...

New Girl Baby Quilt Tentative Design!

 - rebecca lynne

Thursday, February 2, 2012

I could NOT make this $?!& up. [Thursday Think Tank February 2, 2012]

Well...ready for the latest and greatest MRL drama?

It all started when Miss V woke up Sunday morning unable to breathe.  She was wheezing and had a blue tinge to her face.  Great start for any parent's morning right?  So after speaking with her Pediatrician (Who didn't response to our emergency call at first, I had to call the answering service 2x before I got a call back from a Doctor an hour after I originally called.  Roll eyes.) we wrapped her up and were off to the emergency room.  This is where we found out she had pneumonia.  Awesome.

Fast forward to Discharge from ER.  Followed by the most horrific night of my life as she barely breathed her way through the night.  To the next day where she was admitted to the Pediatric Ward of the Hospital.

Pretty awful right?

Just wait.

As Miss V slowly recuperated in the pediatric wing, with all sorts of awful tubes sticking out of her and the most awful pallor to her face that it made my eyes tear each time I looked at her,  Miss E began showing the same symptoms as her sister.  Yes, seriously.  Didn't you read the title of this post?  Yet again I found myself at the ER.  By this time I was a natural and I was answering their admission questions before they were asked.

Luckily Miss E does not have pneumonia and is a victim of possibly the same virus that may have led to Miss V's pneumonia.  Miss V was discharged yesterday and is back home.  So now both girls are home, highly medicated, slightly whiny, periodically feverish but wreaking havoc as always.

It has been a long week.  But, amidst all this drama I have to thank my amazing in-laws for their patience and help as they extended their stay from last weekend to help us out with all of this sick nonsense.  And, to my mother, who is a diligent telecommuting employee by day in my sewing room and an all hands on deck grandmother during those early morning hours and bedtime.

On that note I would like to share a preview with you of the Girl Baby Quilt Design I am contemplating...  Hopefully I will have a final version of this oversized Log Cabin soon!


And I'd like you to all visit Lucy's Blog to support her Fugly Fabric Party starting February 7th!

Charm About You

AND I wanted to give you the heads up that in celebration of Drama Free 2012 Miss Kelli and I are going to be hosting a giveaway of Anna Hooey's Little Apples Layer Cake!!!  I don't know about your lives but it has been hard keeping the drama out of mine, I think a giveaway is in order.  So stay tuned...



DramaFree



Alright, that's all I've got for this TTT.  Honestly I am just trying to catch up on my sleep after the last few days.  So why don't you tell me what you've been up to?  Don't forget to link up below...

- rebecca lynne