A Happy Birthday to Me, A GIVEAWAY!

It's my birthday, and you get the presents!!

I am having my first giveaway. I am really excited I have entered many giveaways, won once, and now not one but two lucky people will get to have something from me.

Since I am starting this giveaway on my birthday, I have decided to end it 8 days from now on my daughter Alyssa's birthday, Sept 4th. So you can choose which prize pack you want or become a follower of my blog, and I will automatically enter you in both. So what can you win?

The Mommy Prize Pack

One book of elegant Christmas gift to make

Two "The Quilters Magazines"

Three coordinating fabrics

and just because a spool of thread

–or–

The Little Girl Prize Pack

One Book "Copy Cats Quilts"

One Pattern "Monkey Business"

In addition to giving away two prizes,

Remember I’m going to give you two chances to win.

First just leave me a comment to enter.

I’d like to hear which prize pack you prefer and a favorite birthday memory.

If you would like a second chance to win,

just become a public follower. I know that many of you follow anonymously, but change your view to public, and you get into both drawings.

Fine Print: if you look through the old posts, and tell me when I finished my Christmas quilt, I will add a little hand made goody to either prize pack.

I have come to a realization. I have just enough energy each day to do any 2 of the following:

1. Work 9 hrs a day, plus make the 20 minute commute each direction.

2. Be a mommy to my two girls who miss me terribly.

3. Spend some alone time being creative in the craft room.

4. Blog.

Well, since number 1 is mandatory. And the girls are clamoring for my attention, 3 and 4 on the list have been... well neglected.

But, I am pleased to say I have forced myself to once again

get out my scissors and rotary cutters

and I am have a little bit of fun designing and sewing.

The Be Creative Quilt I started as soon as I got home from

the Long Beach quilt show is coming along nicely.

I am stitching down the first panel, and although I am not usually a brights person, I love the vibrant colors. I chose to put a pink quilt on the line to remind me that one day I hope to have matching bedspreads in the girls rooms. Of course with this new schedule I may need to (gasp) buy them.

I am also entertaining layouts for a quilt depicting my other obsession in life. Football. Not just generic football, but I am a diehard San Diego Chargers fan. I started this quilt last year during the preseason, and got so mad at their dismal performance of the year that I just put it away.

When I brought it back out again this month to celebrate the start of another football season, I was disappointed with the layout I had planned. So although I am trying to keep all of the hard work I have already done on the blocks. I would love some input on the layout.

Also although it is hard to hard to see them at a distance,

the black diamonds are football chalkboard sketches.

Version 1: Get rid of the clutter by just keeping the jerseys and grass squares and still incorporate all the blocks into one quilt. (All of the blue squares will be jerseys)

Version 2: The generic football quilt. I would just have blacks and whites with the football chalkboard fabric. The blue and gold would only come from the subtle colors in the whites although I could buy a blue to replace the solid black.

Version 3: Only show the blocks that have the true Chargers feel and turn them into a stand alone quilt. The biggest flaw in this one is that I do not have nearly enough of these blocks. Plus, even though fusing the applique on is quick, I have been doing a tight zig zag stitch all the way around each jersey number & field number so that it looks really cool taking lots of time. Plus I can't get more football fabric, so it may put the finish closer to a 2010 season instead of this year.

Do you like any of the layouts? Or should I start playing with them again?

Thanks for the help,

Kami

Well, I started back to the daily grind. it was so quiet at my office today I could hardly get any work done. I missed the kids' voices, but I also was tucked away in a corner, and rarely heard other adult voices. The only bright spot in my cubicle is the arrangement of flowers that my mom delivered to me this morning.

Thanks Mom, they really made my day.

A few of the people I knew from working at the company before came by to say hi, others I knew said hello in the hallway. But for the most part my transition to working woman went unnoticed. If it hadn't been for the I.T. guy, I would never have gotten a tour, my payroll handled and figured out how to use the voicemail system. My direct supervisors spent most of the day leaving me to my own devices. Thankfully, I am self motivated or I would have nothing to show for my 9 hours of work.

In short, I wish it was still last Monday when I took the girls to the San Diego Zoo for the day. Hopefully Alyssa first day at preschool will go better tomorrow!

Kami