Step 1: Makeover

Step 1: makeover, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Visited Sephora.

Bought new eye shadow (plum!), blush and primer.

Time for a change

Time for a change, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

I'll be honest. Most days, I look about like this. No make-up. No fuss. Cozy clothes.

I stay at home with my 3 and 4 year old. My days aren't exciting, really. I don't go anywhere most days, so I tell myself that there's no reason to make a fuss over the way I look. That comfort is most important.

But the honest truth is that I'm really tired of feeling "un-done". Tired of dressing like a slob. Tired of my hair bothering me, in my face, on my neck... Tired of the automatic pony tail each day.

Time for action! Tomorrow morning, I'm getting my hair CUT. Seriously. Maybe with a new cut, I'll find the motivation to wake up before the kids... to fix it, to put on some make-up... Not for everyone else, but for me. Time to stop overlooking me.

Bento Block

Bento Block Ready to Be Squared Up & Quartered, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

I'm participating in the Bento Box Swap.

This block is ready to square up and quarter.

My boys will be starting preschool this fall and we're going to meet the teacher in a couple of weeks. They'll also have two aides in their classroom. I am thinking of making 3 Bento Box quilts for them for Christmas. I'd better get started. Will need to make 3 sets of blocks... 12 per quilt, at least...

A Change

I'm doing something drastic.

I have an appointment Saturday to cut my hair.  I'm cutting off a LOT.  I haven't had short hair since college.  It's time for a change.  I'm tired of this pony tail business.  Tired of hair on my neck.  Just tired.

Stay tuned.  I'll post some pictures.   Unless it's awful.  Then I'll post pictures with a hat.  :)

Just 3 blocks to go

Just 3 blocks to go, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

These were made in my vintage sheet bee (Bee Vintage).

I'm expecting a couple more blocks, but since I've been waiting since November, I'm not holding my breath.

I've pulled 6 feed sack fabrics from my special stash. Most of this quilt is vintage sheets, but they really blend well with lighter colored feed sacks. I figure I might as well use them, instead of saving them.

For Chris in the Lovely Linen Bee

For Chris in the Lovely Linen Bee, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Aren't these fun?!? In real life, they're more yellow than orange, but my IPhone is really the only camera I use these days.

Something to Ponder

Security is mostly a superstition.
It does not exist in nature,
nor do the children of men 
as a whole experience it.

Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

To keep our faces toward change
and behave like free spirits
in the presence of fate
is strength undefeatable.

by Helen Keller
Let Us Have Faith (1940)

Progress

Yesterday, I took some time for myself and played in the sewing room.  I caught up on all of my bees.  I wasn't really behind, but that vintage sheet block needs to get to its' owner by the end of April.  Parthena's house blocks weren't a rush job (she just handed packets with fabric and directions out on Thursday last week), but they're fun to make and she's my good friend, so I want to make extra blocks for her. :)

I also started sewing together a strip pieced necktie quilt.  All of the neckties are red silk.  It's not for me.  The blocks belong to a friend of mine who is sick.  I kidnapped these blocks from her house when I visited Little Rock last and told her she could have them back in June.  My goal is to have the quilt completed by then.  I know it will mean a lot to her that I finished it for her.

Will post pictures soon.  I don't think it will take me long to get the top pieced.  Will have to do some thinking and figuring before I'm brave enough to cut into the special silk she bought in Cairo, Egypt to become the border.  I don't want to mess it up...

But for now, I am going to take a nap.  Took the boys out for a couple of adventures this morning and I'm pretty tired this afternoon.

Bee Vintage block for Marissa (Shooksplayground)

Bee Vintage block for Marissa (Shooksplayground), originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Wonky House #2 for Parthena in the KC Scrappy Bee

Wonky House #2 for Parthena in the KC Scrappy Bee, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

I promise I've been quilting

Wonky house for Parthena in the KC Scrappy Bee, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

I just haven't been blogging. Here's a wonky house that I made for Parthena this morning.

Last weekend, we had a big birthday party for Wyatt, my mom and step-dad came to visit from Houston and they helped me move my old kitchen table up two flights of stairs to my sewing room. I'm planning on ONLY putting my sewing machine on it. This will give me a LOT of surface area for quilting.

I'm a little swamped in the "sewing for others" category right now. I have a vintage sheet block cut out that needs to be assembled. It has a fair amount of pieces, though, so I need to concentrate when I get started. I also would like to make another house or two for Parthena.

I am putting together a red strip pieced silk necktie quilt for an ailing friend. It's a UFO of hers, but it needs to be finished. I know if she has it to love on, she will get well more quickly. I have until June to finish it. It's laid out and ready to go, but I want to use red thread, so I will probably sit down and piece all the blocks together at once while my machine is threaded with the red.

I am expecting fabric to make a bee block for someone in my linen bee. I'm needing more yellows, though. Must shop.

And my sewing room is a wreck. Half of it is, anyways. Maybe I'll be brave and take a picture tonight.

The hubs is leaving town tomorrow for work, as usual. I'm feeling like I had no time to myself today. *sigh*

I'm organizing our next round of the KC Scrappy Bee. It will start again in June. Several members have decided they're not re-joining, so I'm working on finding some replacements. Choosing carefully.

At this moment, I'm doing some embroidery to make a pouch for the "pretty little pouch swap" on Flickr. I haven't made this type of bag before, so I'm a little nervous about it... We shall see how it turns out. Stay tuned.