Basin Street is the street where....

...all the crazies come out to play! OK, the first part is a lyric from a song, the second is just my interpretation.

My first evening in New Orleans was spent eating an excellent oil-free seafood dinner and walking through the French Quarter. I saw some things that I think I am too young to see...and I didn't want to embarrass my colleagues by taking too many photos.

I only snapped the view from my window...

...which includes my first glimpse of the mighty Mississippi. In the foreground you can just make out the roof of Harrah's Casino....




...which is massive. We walked through today on our way to the conference and saw a sea of video slot machines.

During our sojourn through the French Quarter, we glimpsed Jackson Square...




...and watched the art of cigar rolling.







Finally, we strolled down the famous Bourbon Street. It was a strange mix of historic residences, rundown buildings, flamboyant gay bars (Napoleon's Itch was my favorite), and strange strip joints.




But by far the best part, the true heart of NOLA...the music...




-- Post From My iPad

"Sugary Timbers"

Jaxon has adopted the pirate tongue. Unfortunately he only gets "Argh" correct. The rest comes out to a close approximation -- including "Sugary Timbers" instead of "Shiver me timbers." Close enough.

I wanted to use a different quote from this week but I thought it might be offensive without some background. We were driving around town and kept noticing signs for a hog roast at the local Catholic church. Charlie read one out loud. Jaxon, always full of questions, asked "Why is that Catholic jerk having a hog roast?"

And today he called my friend John "Jina." Long I. Nice.

Anyway, we were driving around town because we were looking for a parking spot -- this weekend is our town's summer festival. The Washboard Festival promotes the only working washboard factory in the United States. And it's right here in Logan, Ohio. Lucky us! To celebrate, the town is decorated in laundry.


Yes, people, this is where I live. We did discover something we didn't know about the town -- Logan used to have a theatre. A group is trying to get it renovated -- it's apparently been shuttered since the 70s. Step one is to get the building bought by someone who would like to renovate. In the meantime, they were letting people walk through. A little spooky, but it has a lot of potential. Jaxon was enjoying the full stage and orchestra pit.


And that was our pre-Father's Day celebration because I am leaving tomorrow for a conference in New Orleans. I've never been so feel free to send me lots of suggestions for places to go, things to see, and, of course, food to eat! I've made a travel bag, but I haven't had a chance to take any snaps. I do, however, have something crafty.

Last time I teased you with part one of this makeover....



Michelle spied the Liberty of London fabric. Good eye! Target marked off all their Liberty clothing 75%. I got a dress and summery shirt, both super cute and about $12 together. I came across a second dress that I knew would be too big, but for $7.50 I couldn't say no.
This is what it was supposed to look like:


Here's the reality:


The top is too big, it makes me look "puffy," and it's about two inches too short. So I took in the top and lopped off the bottom. Leaving me with this:


The skirt is new, too, and made by mom. I *wanted* to wear it with my red heels, but that lasted for about two seconds with this bum ankle...

"I can't go to sleep until Daddy gives me the clap."

Yes, Jaxon calls high fives "claps." And last night he couldn't sleep until he got a high five. Or "the clap."

Lovely.

All my work projects are coming to a head, and I had one of those days yesterday...


My ankle is still swollen so I am still slogging around in the flattest shoes I can find. I was getting Jaxon situated in the car and I slid on some gravel. I skinned up my knee and now it is nicely black and blue (Jaxon's reaction: "Mommy, WHY would you fall down?" Yes, I choose the silliest times to fall down.) Then as we were making our way into the house, one of the eyelets on my dress caught on a drawer pull and ripped.

*sigh*

I had scheduled to stay home today and have used the day to do only things that appealed. So it has made up for yesterday.

This week I have found a little time to work on last month's Bee blocks...


And I made a super quick purse from some surprising fabric...


I'll share more on this soon!

"My eyes aren't made of see!"

The title: Jaxon's response to my suggestion he watch where he's going.

And apparently my hands aren't made of sew, because my mojo is waning. Maybe it's because we are rapidly approaching the end of the quarter AND I have two project deadlines looming. Regardless I don't have a lot to show....

...just this update to my May giveaway. This is what I included in the totes...




...and I made two blocks for the Quilt Around the World, this one for Mel...




..and this one for Terrie.

Otherwise it has been work, work, work. I even had to mark all my Reader blogs as read because I was overwhelmed by all the unread posts. But we did take a break to celebrate the old lady's thirteenth birthday with some ice cream. Happy Birthday Miss Belle LaRue!




-- Post From My iPad

Your results, but first a message from our sponsor

You'll get your giveaway results -- but first you must read my post! BWA HA HA HA!

I've decided to sell custom iPad sleeve in my Etsy shop. I'm thinking about phasing out the baby stuff (the diapers and wipes cases for sure), and this iPad cover has been one of the most popular things I've ever made. The idea of custom appeals to me -- that way I don't have to keep a lot of stock in my shop!

I made a Half-Life sleeve for a friend at work, and I wanted to get a shot of both of them together. Unfortunately I don't have two iPads, so I attempted to take the photos at work after I delivered the sleeve. Lighting in our building is HIDEOUS.

The funeral parlor look...

...or the dirty radiator look.

Neither really appeals. *sigh*

But I have fabric to cheer me up! I won a Sew, Mama, Sew! gift certificate a few weeks back, and when I saw the anniversary discount code I jumped on some deals. After I applied the gift certificate, I spent $1.50 on...

Not pictured: this cute pattern!
And a close up of the doggies so you can see them in all their glory!


OK, you've suffered enough! The winners of the giveaway are...

SMS Giveaway:


Which corresponds to:


Appreciation Giveaway:


Which corresponds to:



I'll be emailing you both! Thanks to everyone for entering!

"Mothers are all slightly insane."

(Quote from J.D. Salinger)

Looking for the SMS Giveaway post? Look here. But you should read this post first, it's pretty okay. Are you a regular reader and want to win something? Look here.

My insanity was rewarded this Mother's Day with some lovely gifts including....

...an adorable apron from SIL Chris...


...and a bouquet from SIL Kathleen.

I don't usually have fresh flowers in the house because the cat becomes OBSESSED, so I have been keeping these in the sewing room with the door closed. It makes me happy whenever I walk into the room!
Charlie got me the entire set of video game quilt patterns from Carolina Patchworks...


...and Jaxon (via daddy) got me this sweet print by Jellybeans.


I had a gift card left from my birthday and I decided to buy a little giftie for myself, only I couldn't decide so I ended up with two new pairs of shoes...


...unfortunately my ankle isn't quite well enough to tempt the fates with heels, so these are living in the boxes for now. And I will obviously wear the matching pair once I am able!

But it hasn't been all generous gifts-to-Beth around here. I completed Courtney's block for Quilt Around the World, inspired by a tree in her inspiration fabric.


Happy Holidays!

SMS Giveaway Day

Thanks for entering, the giveaway is now closed!

Welcome SMS guests to my giveaway post!

I am giving away a reversible tote, made of Amy Butler home dec fabric, containing a few surprises of the fabric/sewing variety.

Here you see both reversible sides of the tote in question. I'm tricky like that. Or I just made two.
Rules? Leave a comment with a way to contact you. No Reply Commenters who don't leave an email address will be disqualified.

Oh, and if you have been here before and left a comment on any non-giveaway post during the last six months, enter this one, too!

Appreciation Day

Thanks for entering, the giveaway is now closed!

Monday is SMS Giveaway Day, and I am doing a giveaway here, open to anyone. But I also wanted to thank those of you who take the time out of your day to regularly visit my blog. I hit 200 posts in April but haven't had a chance to celebrate.

I am giving away an identical gift to my SMS giveaway -- a reversible tote, made of Amy Butler home dec fabric, containing a few surprises of the fabric/sewing variety. BUT, this giveaway is only open to those of you who have commented on a non-giveaway post in the last six months. Yes, you can enter both giveaways, you just can't WIN both. Details, details.


So, this one is only for my regular bloggy friends!! Good luck!

Am I always behind??

I have recovered from what became a horrible cough and sinus infection AND my sprained ankle...but missing three days of work means I am playing catch up, and the way things are going I am not going to get caught up before the end of the quarter.

Awhile ago I started the next round of the Old Red Barn Co Quilt Along. I haven't participated since the first one, and this time it's hexagons which I haven't done before.

I diligently followed along the first week, and came up with this:


Uh oh. Those six triangle should make a hexagon. Apparently not all 60 degree triangles are created equally.

So it took me a bit, but I got a new ruler, cut the triangles down so they were truly 60 degrees, and added a strip of fabric to the bottoms so the triangles are the right height.


And now I am only three weeks behind!

But to cheer me up, this came in the mail!


Isn't it GORGEOUS?!?! This was the pay it forward from Lynz!! I had admired this pillow when she posted it with no idea it would show up at my house! Thanks, Lynz!!

And I'll post again soon to share our Mother's Day, but I will preview that post by showing you these Dahlia brooches I made.


I started with this tutorial, but instead of gluing all the petals I hand sewed them. I think it was much faster than waiting for all that glue to dry!

"Your arm is dead, it needs a nap."

I think I'll start using quotes from Jaxon as my title. The above was said today while he was pretending to be the doctor. Not The Doctor, just a doctor. Speaking of The Doctor, I am officially addicted. I have two episodes of Flash Forward and two episodes of Fringe to catch up on, but I keep watching Doctor Who on Netflix.

Anywho....thanks for the well wishes. My ankle is healing well, I'm barely hobbling at all, but I've developed a horrible keep-you-up-all-night cough.

Despite this, I made a great big delivery to the post office yesterday. I sent off the invitations to a baby shower I'm hosting and a blanket for a good friend to give to a good friend...

Don't worry, it didn't snow this week -- this is an old picture!

...as well as my April blocks for the Quilting Sisters Bee.


I also sent out my very last Hoop Up embroidery for Jessica's "under the sea" theme...


Although I was a bit under the gun there at the end, I really enjoyed this swap. I'm looking forward to seeing all my Ed Emberley–inspired embroideries on the sewing room wall.

But there's always another beginning, and I've joined the Quilts Around the World Christmas edition. Each member selects a block or theme and the other members add a block until you have a quilt. I sent this one out yesterday:


My theme is Whimsical North Pole. Members can choose to make this block, or another inspired by the North Pole.

So it looks like I can make good progress when I have to stay off my feet! Gotta go call my mom -- it's her birthday!

"Bring up the gimp."

Thursday night was our undergraduate awards banquet, and as I walked to my car I stepped in a low spot and turned my ankle. I felt something pop and promptly sat on the curb for a couple of minutes. Realizing that at 9:00 at night there was probably no one coming by to save me, I hobbled to the car and drove myself forty minutes to our house. It's my left foot -- not great when you have to work the clutch!

I got up early Friday so I could get it x-rayed on my way into work. Diagnosis: I *might* have broken the tip of my fibula. It's apparently hard to tell. Either way, I'm supposed to treat it like a sprain and stay of my feet.

To add insult to (literal) injury:

• Charlie has a cold (and generally is allergic to housework) so the house looks like a bomb went off -- of course, besides a runny nose, Jaxon feels fine.
  
• I have a sore throat, cough, and laryngitis, so I sound lovely.
  
• I still had to go to work for our faculty meeting on Friday.
  

But I did come home in the early afternoon Friday and spent the rest of the day like this:


Finishing my second-to-last Hoop Up! and watching Dr. Who on Netflix.
I was able to finish Corinne's embroidery last night, and started my last one this morning. Looks like I might be on time!


I also tried to get a better photo of Jennie's circles, but life wasn't cooperating....


If you're looking for me I'm camped out on the couch!

Final Stretch

We're now in the last few days of the Hoop Up swap -- and I have two left to go (and my April Bee block, and my hexagons, and my new Bee...).

I spent a little longer on this one than I intended (it's 15" square!!) but it was so much fun. Jennie asked for various size circles in one color. I went with green.


I tried out some new stitches, but I never want to take the time to look them up so I just made them up as I went.


Things have been pretty crazy at work, and Charlie has a cold that I am getting (always at the most inconvenient times!!). And to top it all off, the other morning Jaxon came into the bathroom while I was showering and said he made a mess in the sewing room. Uh oh.

He decided he wanted to "make art" and found his paints (on a shelf I thought was too high for him). This is what I found:


Don't worry, it washed right off.