I just wanted to pop in and share with you guys an awesome event that I am participating in and you have the opportunity to participate in also!  The Tula Pink Sew Along hosted by the lovely Sara over at Sew Sweetness!  I made a quilt for this sew along and you can see the pattern below, Le Petite Salon.  I will be sharing this quilt on October 3rd!  I'm so excited to share it with you guys and be part of this awesome event!  You can find the full details and schedule below, and keep reading to find out how you can participate in order to win some great prizes!  Oh and there are some discount codes down there too, just in case you want to purchase this pattern yourself...or maybe buy some fabric!

A few random bits today...
I recently joined up to the largest time waster of all... Pinterest.  Yes, I know I am late to the game, and I tried not to join the band wagon, but alas I caved.  I am trying really hard to use this website as efficient as possible and mostly signed up to keep track of the tons of bookmarks that were piling up on my computer, and this site is perfect for that.  I also wanted to keep track of great recipes and cooking ideas, especially those that have been tested by others out in blog land and proven delicious!  I'll be sure to share those great ones I run across also!  If you want to follow me on Pinterest, you can find me HERE.

Today I wanted to mention the whole idea/concept of menu planning.  I'm not really talking about week to week menu planning but rather doing it monthly and doing some serious planning in hopes of doing some serious time and energy saving.  Have you heard of or tried this approach?  I am going to write it out this week, gather grocery lists and plan to start with October.  Click on the photo below to read this gal's plan and concept.

Going hand in hand with the above concept is the idea of preparing a ton of meals at once (raw) and then freezing them for future use.  This concept utilizes the Crock Pot and I am really curious to try it out, though I do have some reservations in doing so.  For instance, I know a lot of meats actually need to be browned first before they are thrown in the Crock Pot, so I'm thinking of sticking to the recipes that don't need that step.  Also, am I crazy in saying this, but I thought some vegetables (like potatoes) don't freeze that well?  Or did I dream that?  I am really thinking about trying this, but on a smaller scale, like freezing 5 meals, trying them out and seeing what recipes I like and go from there.  I'm just trying to stop the "What is for dinner?" debate that rages in our house daily.  I'm tired of thinking about it honestly.  Maybe a few days worth of planning can provide for a whole month of meals?  Click on the photo below to visit this gal's website that includes directions and a ton of recipes for this technique.

I lucked up and had one of these babies this weekend (see photo below!)  It had been years since I had one and little known to me our local Dairy Queen just started having them on their menu!  Yeah!  And yes, this Orange Julius was all that and a bag of potato chips!  Yum, I see more in my future!

Make sure to hop over to A Quilter's Table, visit Debbie and see all of the other delicious link ups and recipes!

Last, but not least, time to announce the winner of the Traveling Stash Giveaway!  I had 16 entries, and the winner is...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

6

Timestamp: 2012-09-25 13:20:28 UTC

Number 6 is Kathy!  Kathy blogs over at Qreative Quilts and Quests and the Traveling Stash will now be traveling to her house!  Kathy, look for an email from me in your inbox!  Congratulations!  Thanks to everyone who entered and visited my little blog!

Earlier this year over at Elsie Marley, she hosted KCWC (Kid Clothes Week Challenge) where the basic premise is that you sew for just one hour each day, working on something for your children.  I signed up and participated, but honestly sewing (or doing sewing related things like cutting) didn't result in any finished projects, but it did get me started on this project, which was totally worth it.  I think I finished these pajamas about a month later, but at least they are done!

I stumbled on this great Star Wars fabric at JoAnn's and knew my son would love a pair of pajamas made from them.  I grabbed my Sewing For Boys book, fabric, notions and set off to make them.

The pattern pieces in this book are printed on pull out pages, but are printed on both sides, so you have to transfer them to something else.  I wasn't thrilled about this, but honestly I traced them onto wax paper, and now I kinda love it.  You trace just the size and pieces you need, super simple.  Any changes, just modify the wax paper and write notes.  I had no problems with the pattern pieces or cutting instructions, all of that is pretty straight forward, but in the same sense I honestly have sewn A LOT of clothes before, so this wasn't new to me.

The one major problem I did have was both a problem I made and a problem with the book instructions, the fabric amount.  The book called for 2 yards of fabric for both the top and pants to make the size 4/5.  So I bought 1.5 yards, which I hate to say is what I normally do.  I have found through the years that pattern makers tend to over estimate the amount you need and I have always managed to squeeze the pattern onto much less, so I buy much less.  The problem came in when I realized that you really needed closer to 2.5 yards to make both.  That is where the extra trip to the store came in to play.  I ended up buying the matching blue texture print (another 1.5 yards) to make the pants and contrasting front facings.  Oh well, lesson learned.  I actually like it better this way, and the fabric I found was a perfect match, so what could be better than that?  Next time I will be purchasing 2.5 yards in order to make this size, and honestly that isn't taking into account that this was a directional print.  If you are making these pajamas in a directional print in the 4/5 size, buy 3 yards in order to have enough, you won't be sorry!  Trust me, I was cursing all the way to JoAnn Fabrics.

The pattern is really straight forward and easy, I love the way the shirt was constructed, the facing and piping was really easy to install.  I decided to go with the red piping and red buttons to add the extra "pop!"  I love it!  I didn't have any problems with the construction of either the top or bottom and my only complaint is that the book lacks diagrams or pictures of what to do.  I am a very visual learner, and using just the written instructions is hard for me, but I will admit, if you carefully read through, it does explain everything exactly how you need to make it.  I just think a few extra diagrams would have been helpful, especially on things like the faux fly on the pants, which was an optional detail that I chose to add on.

Overall, I love them and can't wait for my son to wear them this winter.  These are the 4/5 in size and that is the size he wears normally in store bought clothes, so the sizing is spot on.  I finished all the interior seams with my serger for a nice clean finish, and the way that the facing is constructed creates a nice smooth irritation free neckline, which is always nice for little kids.  The elastic waist pants and cuffed hem allow for easy adjust-ability and comfort, which is perfect for pajamas.  I will be making more of these pajamas for both of my boys, and already have bought the fabric!  This is one of those gratifying projects that makes you remember why sewing clothing yourself is such a rewarding process.

Speaking of KCWC (Kids Clothes Week Challenge) the next round is coming up next month, Oct. 8-14, you can pop on over to Elsie Marley to sign up.  I plan to participate again and hopefully start and finish a project this time!

Linking up to Craft Buds, Craft Book Month Challenge.  It isn't too late to enter something made from a craft book yourself!  Also linking up to Manic Monday over at Sew Happy Geek and {Sew} Modern Monday over at Canoe Ridge Creations.

Happy Birthday to Me!  Yes, today is my birthday and I am 32....Oh Lord!  No it isn't that bad, especially since I spent most of this past year confused and telling people I was 32, so I kinda feel like I gained an extra year! HaHa!  In celebration of my birthday, I decided to hold a giveaway for you guys!  Yippee!

I was lucky enough to win a Traveling Stash Box from My Crafty Crap a few weeks ago, and now it is my turn to pass it along to you guys!  If you don't know about the Traveling Stash, Cherise at Sewingly Along does a fantastic job keeping track of all the boxes and giveaways.  Basically it's exactly what the name says - a box of fabric and other goodies that's traveling around the United States.  When you receive it, you can take out anything you would like, as long as you replace what you take out. What a great concept and great fun!

The first two photos here are pictures of what I added to the box!  Fabric yardage, some fat quarters and a bunch of other fun things!  Patterns, a book, a magazine, an assortment of threads including some pearl cotton and a bunch of other goodies!

The next two photos show the fabric and goodies that are carried over from the other travels (a.k.a. things I didn't take and decided to pass along to you guys!)  It was funny to me that I had some of these fabrics in my stash already, like the pink print on the top left!  What are the odds?

As I was packing everything in the box, I apparently added to much from my own stash, so at the last minute I took out the two green prints shown in the photo above, because I was on the fence about keeping them originally and I couldn't fit/pack/shove them in the box!  Sorry, those two prints that are marked above are not part of the giveaway.  But, I promise there are a ton of great things in this box!

Speaking of the box, it is a USPS Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box stuffed to the gills, like really packed people.  Like stand on it and push with all your might to get it closed stuffed, so it is pretty fun to receive this box and pull out all of the goodies!

So what do you have to do to win?  There are a few rules you must follow in order to enter, simple, but you have to follow them!

RULES:
*Be an active blogger. Post about receiving and the giveaway on your blog in a timely manner.
*There is a note in the box that logs where the box has been. Please add your info and place the note back in the box.
*There is a list of Rules and Guidelines in the box. Please read and follow these and return the list to the box.
*You may take anything you like from the box. Just replace every item with comparable quilt shop quality items equal to the amount taken. See guidelines.
*Ship the box to the next person in a reasonable amount of time.
*Due to the amount of postage shipping is only within the USA.

Head over to Sewingly Along to see the full list of guidelines.

Comment here for your chance to win, only one comment per person.  Answer this question for me.  Since it is my birthday and I'll be eating Chocolate Cake (my favorite,) what is your favorite type of cake?

Giveaway is open until Monday, September 24, and I will announce the winner (drawn by random.org) the next day, Tuesday, September 25.  Good Luck!

Whatever could this project be?  All cut up and ready to sew.  Honestly it is about 2/3 sewn together now, but I can't show it to you yet, soon enough though.  Oh I am such a tease...  In case you were wondering, this fabric is Fox Trails by Riley Blake Fabrics and this project just might be for the new little love in my life.

Linking up to Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday, it has been a while since I linked up because honestly my WIP list is so long it is embarrassing and I don't think you guys really want to see the same darn list every single week.  I have decided to link up every now and then with just one work in progress and try to keep things a little bit simpler!  Be sure to visit Freshly Pieced and see what everyone else is working on!  Until next time...

Only two bee blocks this month, one a tad bit easier then the other, but both a little challenging, which is always a good learning experience.  The first, a String X block for "QuiltGenius" in the Quilting newBEEs group.  Overall this block is simple, but I find you have to be pretty precise on the final construction to get those "white" lines to make good points.  Two of my points are good, but the other two, not so much.  I think my problem was that those lines that are supposed to measure a precise 1/2" weren't quite that.  Oh well, hopefully she doesn't mind.  Interested in making this block?  Tutorial can be found HERE.  This finished block measures 14.5" x 14.5."  Oh and those "white" lines aren't white, but rather a nice light mint green, which is an unusual contrast to all those deep reds.   Really a stunning quilt block.

Next up are Pod blocks for "spontaneousthreads" in Always Bee Learning.  Since this group is based on all of us learning a new technique each month, Stephanie really came up with a good technique for all of us to learn.  This technique can be found in the book "Quilting Modern" by Jacquie Gering and Katie Pedersen.  I honestly haven't had much time to really study this book, but after trying this one technique, I really want to go through the book, step by step.  The technique for these blocks is really well described and easy to understand.  The top left hand block is the first one that I made, and you can see that I was able to make one with no problems, first try!  These are a variety of sizes, but the average is around 5" x 10."  Stephanie will have quite an amazing quilt and I can't wait to see what she does with all these blocks!

It looks like I will be making some New York Beauty Blocks in September, I am really looking forward to that!  Tune in later this month to see them!

Oh Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, not technically Fall, but not really the Summer anymore either.  Since most beach days and time spent at the pool are over for most I thought I would share these beach robes that I actually made last year and never got around to sharing on my blog.  These beach robes are from a pattern from Dana over at MADE, and are so fabulous!  You can purchase The Beach Robe pattern HERE.  I sewed up three of them, two for my big boy and one for my niece.  I love them, and honestly think this pattern and use of towels are just genius!  They work great, are easy to sew and the kids love them too.

The pattern uses either regular towels or beach towels, one or two depending on the size of the towel and size you are wanting to make.  I managed to squeeze by the skin of my teeth each of these robes out of one beach towel, each one was the 3T-4T size.  Since I was making the biggest size the pattern offers, I had to make the robes short sleeved in order to make these robes out of one towel, but honestly that works out great since it is so hot outside anyway!  I lined the hood of each robe with either cotton prints or solids and made my own bias tape out of matching colors of cotton.  All of the edges are either covered with bias tape or enclosed in some way, and the only exposed seams I used the serger to make them nice and neat.  The first one I made, the girly flower one took the longest, maybe about a day, on and off, but the two for my son went together so quickly and I finished both in one day.  I absolutely adore this pattern, and plan to make more for my new little guy next year when he is bigger.  My son wore these last year (that is when I took these pictures) and even though he has grown considerably they still fit great this year, and I honestly think he will be able to use them next year too, which is awesome.

The most challenging part of this pattern is the cutting out process and since I bought each of these towels on clearance for less than $8.00 each, I was bound and determined to make the pattern fit onto one towel.  Two of the towels (the monkey print and the blue and green color blocked) are directional prints, but with a LOT of thought, I managed to squeeze all the pattern pieces on the towels.  Two of the towels also featured unusual ends, the flower print featured "Tommy Hilfiger" strips on each end that I was able to make work perfectly for the ties on the robe, and the blue and green color blocked towel had a different type of fabric on the ends that wasn't terry cloth, so I had to avoid using it for the main body, but managed to use it for the ties also, which worked out perfectly for both robes. 

This pattern is a great beginner sewing project, especially if you are new to sewing clothes.  Dana suggests the easy way to add sleeves (great for the beginner) or the harder (or normal way) to add sleeves, which is what I did, but either method works great and creates a very professional finish.  Everyone who has seen these robes can not believe that they are handmade and wanted to know where I purchased them.  Nothing better or more complimentary than that!  I think you can tell from these pictures just how much my little guy enjoyed being "warmed up and dried off" after getting out of those cold pools!

Sad to see the end of Summer, but excited to bring on the colder temperatures and routines of Fall!

I had to share what has been at my table lately!  This little mess!  First rice cereal, below peaches and most recently sweet potatoes (not shown.)  Rice cereal is good, but peaches are the pits! Ha-Ha!  No seriously, he doesn't like peaches.  So far sweet potatoes have been a hit.  Hard to believe that he will be seven months old on Friday!

Linking up an nontraditional post to Tuesday at the Table over at A Quilter's Table!  Head on over and check out everyone's delicious recipes!

...but rather an official "big boy."  First day of Pre-K, as you can see, he was super excited.  In his uniform and awesome new "super power" shoes that he adores.  We were fortunate enough to be chosen in the "lottery" to get a slot into Pre-K, in an Arts and Technology specialized school.  Even though this process was years in the making, I guess I'm still not ready, but what mother is?  I didn't cry, but am a bit sad.  The house is awfully quiet.  When we kissed him goodbye this morning, he had the look of "wait, where are you going?"  I pray that the day goes smoothly and that he isn't too upset.  When we left, he was already making fast friends, which is the ultimate benefit of this whole thing, other kids to play with!  Let's hope we have a happy and productive school year, filled with learning and new friends!

I ended up having a smaller amount of blocks to make in July, but alas was completing them last minute, or should I say mailing them last minute, which seems to be the hardest part for me, getting to the post office.  Does anyone else hate that place, or is it just me?

First up is a block for Debbie (flickrdeb50) in the Modern Blocks Bee.  She chose a rather simple block named Binary and found on pages 22-23.  She stuck with all cool colors and I think this quilt will be simply beautiful.  I can't wait to see how she designs this quilt.

Next up are two partial blocks for Kristina (kristina.withak) in Always Bee Learning.  Her main block for the month was a simple log cabin like variation, but alas my packet was missing two central pieces, so I wasn't able to put the block together for her.  Here it is below in pieces.  She also asked if we were willing to make some more hexagons for her, which is what we did for her turn last year, and I was more than willing to help out.  I love English Paper Piecing!  You can see those Amy Butler hexagons below too.

Last but not least, it is my turn next (August) in the Modern Blocks Bee, and I have chosen to have the group members make Stargazing found on pages 178-179.  I know this block looks really crazy busy, and honestly this one that I made will be the most visually busy.  I sent the group a variety of fat quarters from Swanky by Chez Moi for Moda fabrics to use as the background, and the turquoise stripe is a JoAnn's print by Denyse Schmidt to be used as the stars.  I can't wait to see what each block looks like since all of the backgrounds will be different!.

Now that it is August 1st, I guess the next round is on the way to me now!  Am I the only one totally freaked out that it is already August?  Where is the year going?