Fish Quilt for a Fish Room

I am finally working on the quilt for one of my children's room. I painted the room a few years ago (may be 3 years ago). But I still did not make the quilt to go on the bed.

The room turned out quite nice, and I want to coordinate the quilt with room. I painted several fishes on the wall. It was so much fun. The problem was to stop painting (LOL).
I made the window valances. I put the border. All coordinated (I am sure you noticed :-) ) For the valances, I used the border that came with the fabric that I am using for the quilt. It really added something special to it.

So, here is the panel for the quilt. As you could guess: it is fish!!! I just loved this fabric.


Here are the blocks. All cut out, and the blocks are all put together.

So, time to try them on the bed.... Unfortunately, the blocks are too big for the bed. Well, time to unsew. It is going to be a lot of work. I will keep you posted.


What do you think?

P.S If you like Digital Scrapbooking, visit my other Blog. I think you will really like it: Creative Busy Hands Digital Freebies List

Special Sweater/Coat

Every year, I try to make a "special" coat/sweater for my kids. This year, I chose to make this one from Simplicity. Simple, and yet I will be able to add my touches :-)
You might ask: why special? And why to make. I add a few features to their coat. I have too many requirements. Very unlikely I will be able to buy a sweater/coat with all my requirements. Here is why.

First, I want it to have a double layer in the front part. The reason is, the bus stop area is quite windy and cold in the morning. I want their chest to be protected. Don't get me wrong, I am in California, Bay Area. So even during the winter, a "official winter" coat is too much, especially for my kids :-)

Second, I want a hood, just in case their ears are getting cold. One of my kids use the hood all the time, the other, ... very rarely :-)

Third, I want a pocket where they can fit their hands, just in case their hands get cold. Both hands need to fit in the same pocket. Not sure why, but I want :-)

After all these requirements, here are the coats:



The hood turns out very nice. They can even protect their neck!


And, last, but not least, I want their coat to be easily identified (ok... chances are NOBODY in the school will have a coat like that. But hey, what is an embroidery machine for :-) So, the pockets are embroidered with their initials.



What do you think? Is it warm enough :-)

P.S. If you like Digital Scrapbooking, check the other blog I just launched:
Creative Busy Hands Digital Scrapbook Freebies Search
Long name.... but simple results :-)

Just Enchanted!!!!

I made these layout with a kit called Enchanted.


This kit is just wonderful. Once I saw the pages, elements and alphas, I just could not stop working on the layouts (and it was quite late!).

It just made be think that I was traveling in a world of magic, fairies. Check it out: it is just wonderful!

What do you think?

P.S. If you like Digital Scrapbooking, check the other blog I just launched:
Creative Busy Hands Digital Scrapbook Freebies Search
Long name.... but simple results :-)

Christmas Layout

I love Christmas!!! I just made this layout.


I used the kit from Scrapbooks Gone Digital. What a lovely kit!

What do you think?

P.S. If you like Digital Scrapbooking, check the other blog I just launched:
Creative Busy Hands Digital Scrapbook Freebies Search
Long name.... but simple results :-)

Digital Scrapbook Search Engine

Yehh.... I could finally post the first results of the search engine that I am developing. I am still developing the software, but I was able to publish "rough" results. I know there are other search engines for this kind of stuff out there. But I thought I could do better :-)

Anyway, if you have time, and you love digital scrapbook, check it out. The blog is:

digifreebieslist.blogspot.com

Let me know what you think.

Halloween Layout - Costume

Here is my latest Halloween Layout.

I used the kit available at SGD store.

My child chose to be a Tucan for this Halloween. He was SO CUTE!!!! He wanted shiny, so I modified some of the pattern in order to handle fabric (the pattern asked for the foam sheets). I also modify the head: much stiffer than what was supposed to be, in order to really stand on his head, without any effort.

What do you think?

Blissful Layout

This is my latest layout. I used the kit called Blissful Blossom. This kit will be available tomorrow at Raspberry Road Designs. I tried to find a picture representing a big hug. I also used a quote written by Victor Hugo: "Life's greatest happiness is to be convinced we are loved."



It is so true. If you think nobody loves you, life gets very hard. However, if you know that someone loves you, you can keep going, even with all possible thorns that can show up in your path.

Regarding the kit, lots of freebies, and add ons will be offered with it. This kit is just wonderful, and was created for a great cause: check in Susan's blog for more specifics. Please, go there and check it out.

I just need to whine

I've had rough computer days lately... I was VERY frustrated. Here is what happened....
Friday, Oct 31
Yes, Halloween... I wanted to make a great layout for Raspberry Road Designs. I decided to do one last layout. Up to now, no problems...

I just "needed" to use one particular picture. I thought it was perfect for the kit I was going to use (the Harvest Moon Kit). I do not have the picture in a file, so I needed to scan it. Here is where the problems started...

I use Ubuntu. In particular, on Friday I was using (see the tense of the verb...) Ubuntu Hardy for AMD64. I worked the whole day, trying to make the scanner to work... No avail.

After searching the whole day on the web, and trying trillion of things, I gave up when I saw that there was a new Ubuntu release (named Intrepid). I thought that I could change to this release, and, as a decision, move from the 64 installation (just too many problems still) to the i386. I was very optimistic... downloaded, burned the DVD, and wait for the next day.

Of course, during all my trials, I made a new layout using a picture that was great (however, not as great as the one that I still could not scan using my Linux machine...) Here is the layout.

Nov 1, 2008

I woke up very optimistic. Pop the DVD and started the installation. This was probably 9-10 am. Well, lots of files were missing in one of the directories. I thought that maybe I missed something. Started over..., and over, and over. Time to research. Tried several things, and nothing worked. Well, I only gave up at 2am (that is on Sunday morning :-( ).

In the meantime (around 1am), I made the decision that I would try a little more, but I would also download the previous Ubuntu version (Hardy) for the i386. I went to sleep VERY FRUSTRATED....

Nov 2, 2008

I love Ubuntu, and Linux. So, I burned the DVD for Hardy, and while it was burning, I decided to report the problems that I run into. This is the way to get things right in Ubuntu. I wrote a long message, explaining all the problems, and the things I did, and the things I thought are broken in Intrepid. I mean, I wrote a lot.... (while the DVD was burning). The DVD was done, and I was about to finish my message and send to the Ubuntu forums, when.... THE LIGHT WENT OUT!!!! Yes, you heard it right: the light went out.

It was around 9:30 am. The lights were out the whole day!!! Someone hit a light post (the person had only very minor scratches... at least one good news) and the whole community was without light the whole day. The light came back at 10:30pm (yes PM).

Interesting enough, I think that it was a good day, as it makes you put lots of things in perspective, and move out from the computer :-)

It was amazed how many people went out to walk, bike, etc... Kids everywhere. It was very nice to see. I really encourage my children to play outside.

Today

Installed Hardy. Everything was going ok... until I had to print. Yes, I had to do a lot of looking to get my printer to work.

Now, my next challenge is: will the scanner work? (not sure :-) ) What do I have to do to get gimp 2.6 working again? But now, I am not frustrated anymore as I know I can get at least gimp to work, and I have LIGHT :-)

I just needed to write all my whining down :-)

Thanks for listening. Have a great day!!!