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Well, here is take two. I think this block is much more successful than the last. The only thing is that I don’t like the small lines on the sides…I should have made a thicker line. I do, however, think the fabric choices worked better this time. I repeated some of the fabrics to give the block a more cohesive look. I also pieced some of the strips for more effect. I don’t think I’ll be able to stop with this free form sewing, and since it is for charity…I’ll just have to sew more of these. Maybe, I’ll even do a couple for the other color groups. I have until April to ship these. If you want to know what fabrics I used….there are a lot in there. I have Garden Party, Nest, Farmer’s Market, Bell Bottoms, and a small sampling of a fat quarter from Jo-Ann Craft. I really wish I had purchased more Garden Party and Nest fabrics…I might have to remedy that 
I started my first Project Improv block. I’m in the blue/green group. I wanted to do something a little different. I’m a bigger fan of lime greens rather than green greens. I’m just not sure that I like the fabric combinations… I might have went overboard. I may redo this one. Use some of the same fabrics, but less of them. I don’t know. I like it, but it has to be able to go with other blocks from the blue/green group and fit into a quilt. HMMM….it is fun, but not everyone likes that many patterns together in one space, and I’m not sure that it is reading as blue/green. The yellow is coming across strongly. Maybe, I just shouldn’t be putting together improv blocks when I have the flu and am on medication It is for charity and I want it to be some of my best work…not just so so. I think this block will find another home in another project. Other than the fabrics used, I think the construction went rather well. I didn’t really think at all…just cut rectangles and started sewing them together log cabin style. It has that cool off set look…I do know that I like that.
I thought I would take today to show you the last of the vacation pictures. I wish I had some craftiness to show you guys, but I’m dealing with a case of the flu. So, all I’ve been doing is lying on the couch. After I got halfway done with my craft room clean-up, I starting getting the aches. Then, the sinus problems. Then, everything else just came on quickly. I promise soon you’ll have some more crafts to look at.
The last three days of our vacation were spent at Universal. We stayed in the Hard Rock Hotel. It is a short walk to the parks. The room was very nice. The kids were excited to see their fave Nick characters. Sid told me,”See, I told you there was a real Dora!”. At the Islands of Adventure, there are a ton of super heroes, so my son was in heaven. It was a really nice time. It was good to have three days there. We were able to take our time. The kids liked the Dr. Seuss part of Islands of Adventure best. My hubby and I really enjoyed the Blues Brothers show at Universal Studios, the Mummy ride, and the Simpsons ride. The Simpsons ride is new. They put it in where the Back to the Future ride was, and it is so much fun.
Universal Studios has a new roller coaster going up and it is supposed to open this Spring. Islands of Adventure has a new Harry Potter part of the park opening in 2010. That sounds really exciting.
The cold snap hit as we started the Universal parks. It was cold in FL just as it was in the rest of the country. By Thursday, we were freezing. The good thing is…there were no lines! This works well with kids that don’t want to stand in lines anyway. We also were able to use our room keys as express passes, so we were able to skip the lines that did exist.
I just wanted to say that I know there are many of you going through a tough economic time right now. And, I’m sorry for what you are going through. I know you wonder how my family could afford this vacation, and that may have prompted the ugly comment from the other day. I felt I needed to let you in on our secret. My husband was deployed to Afghanistan last year. We saved up during his deployment so that we could take this vacation. During a deployment, he makes extra money. That is simply how we did it. This was his second time deploying. He was in Iraq before that. I think we earned a vacation through what our family went through during this time. He means so much to us, and if not for his work for our freedom…we wouldn’t have been able to go. I’m praying for all of you out there that are struggling, and my family has tightened our belts, too. We are all feeling the difficult times.
So, on with the pictures:
Yeppers, that’s right…I’ve got a big ‘ole mess going on in my craft room/office. I haven’t been happy with how we laid out the furniture since we moved it, but it was put on the back burner. I had lots of boxes to unpack and put away in the rest of the house. I kept my sewing area clean and tidy until right before we went on vacation. I knew I needed to gain super speed so that I had posts ready before we left. I left the craft area in a super mess. It isn’t even usable at the moment.
I’ve been working on rearranging the furniture as I tidy up. Why not? I had to do a lot of cleaning and putting away anyway, so I might as well rearrange for the best flow to the room. Maybe when I get the room functional, I’ll be able to think about decorating it a little. Although, the fabrics and patterns add a nice color to the area.
I probably shouldn’t be moving big furniture when my hubby isn’t home, but if I keep waiting…it’ll never get done! I haven’t even been able to get any crafts going to show you guys because of this mess. Hopefully, I’ll get this cleaned up today and get started on making some things you’ll actually want to look at. Just know, that if your craft room is a mess…you are not alone. I finally decided that my biggest mess maker is that when I start thinking of my next projects, I pull patterns and fabric. Then, I don’t put them back in a timely manner. I’ve gotta work on that. I need to get some storage bins for my current and upcoming projects so that they are kept tidy. I also need a few curtain rods…not for curtains, but to hold fabrics that I’m thinking about using or finished projects. We’ll see how all of this unfolds in the next few weeks. If any of you out there could stop by to clean, that would be helpful also
Oh, and I didn’t take any pictures of the walk-in closet in this room. You would be horrified…it isn’t “walk-in” anymore. No, it is not all craft stuff…my hubby has a good bit of his things in there, but I really should take care of my part of the tornado aftermath.
Let the World know that you are a Wondermommy!
Here’s your new link button! It is matching the new theme of the blog and company. All you have to do is save the above image to your computer, use it on your blog, and make it a link back to http://wondermommy.wordpress.com . Use it as many times and wherever you would like. I will appreciate it greatly! I want to get as many new people over as possible because in the next couple of months we have a lot of great things coming.
You can also grab the button by using the following photobucket links…just copy and paste the code:
Direct link: http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj81/wondermommyadventures/linkbutton.jpg
HTML: <a href=”http://wondermommy.wordpress.com” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj81/wondermommyadventures/linkbutton.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”Wondermommy”></a>
Now, for the good part of this post. I’m announcing our next two sew-a-longs!!! That’s right, it has been awhile, so I thought that I owed you two
Our first sew-a-long will begin on February 8. We will be making the Farbenmix Rachel dress. You loved it so much that I’ve decided that is what we will all be sewing. This pattern will make a fantastic Easter dress, so pick out your spring fabrics, and pick up your pattern. Don’t be alarmed that it is in German. We accomplished this before with Mika. I don’t speak any German, but I was able to make Sid’s birthday dress, so I think I can lead you through it.
Here’s your graphic for that:
or
You can just save them to your computer, place them on your blog, and link back to: http://wondermommy.wordpress.com .
or you can use the links below from photobucket:
HTML small: <a href=”http://wondermommy.wordpress.com” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj81/wondermommyadventures/rachelsmall.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”Photobucket”></a>
HTML large: <a href=”http://wondermommy.wordpress.com” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj81/wondermommyadventures/rachelsmall.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”Photobucket”></a>
Now, as soon as we finish our Rachel dress sew-a-long…we will be sewing a pattern by me. It will be a doll, and if all goes well…that will be our next project. Hopefully, that will be the last week of February. It depends on how long it takes us to get through the Rachel pattern.
Now, for our next item of business. I’ve been asked several times when I will have patterns coming. The answer is Soon! I’m planning a big Spring launch, if everything falls into place. I can’t promise you a specific date yet because of all that is involved, but they are coming! This is very exciting for me, and I hope it is for you also. You’ll be getting the patterns that I’ve heard for so long that so many of you want Now is the time to request things for me to design.
There is so much going on here, and I’m bubbling with excitement. This year really is going to mark a big change for Wondermommy, Inc.. I’m branching out and spreading my wings and with the help of some mentors I’m meeting my challenges head on. It is scary that I might fail, but I have to try because that would be an even bigger failure. I just thank all of you for the support you have shown and the loyalty that you have given. I think of all of you as friends and I can’t wait to share these next steps with you.
Now, all of you go out there…tell the world you are a Wondermommy and let them know about the coming Sew-a-long!
