Three Kitchen Fairies

In pain

Last week I had a neck muscle spasm. Thanks to my chiropractor, I got all better after two days without making it to the ER and without pain killer. Still, I dealt with the pain...Today the pain is back. I'm laying on my sofa with the girls playing around me while watching Rachel Ray and talking to you. This condition taught me the real meaning of something been a real "pain in the neck." Why do I get them??

It's cause by stress. These couple of weeks have been such a "pain in the neck," not because of my girls or the Summer vacation, not at all. The reason is that we are in "transition" from selling our house and moving to another. Have you heard about the economic situation on the US? Of course you have...well this is our way to get back on our feet, and regain control of our life. Michigan is one of the states that is suffering the most since the big automotive industry went down. I have to take pictures (to show you) of our streets: beautiful house for sale one after another. Our downtown has beggars now, since supposed to be veterans to college students and other people that has lost everything. That without taking into account that the price of the houses are down by a 20%. So here I'm trying to keep up with the girls and packing at the same time. Juggling the realtor, the new house, the Summer lessons, etc.

I'm trying to put a good face because after all we still have options, we have health, and faith that the God is going to keep us from any major disasters.

Craft-wise your crafts and quilting keep my days happy, and although I may not post very often I'll keep visiting your blogs and your flickr accounts. The only thing I manage to make was a few granny squares. I

I used Lucy's tutorial at Attic 24. Her tutorial was so easy to follow even for me since I didn't know any of the crochetting terms in English.

 

These little squares are keeping me sane, they are addictive and delicious. I take every opportunity to make a few of these and feel at peace. I'll be back when possible. We're moving this week and next weekend. Wish me good luck, please. We really need all your positive thoughts and good wishes. XO

Sunday stash

 

I got some Alexander Henry fabric couple of weeks ago. Clara (fairy #1) and I are in love with this fabric, I guess I'll have to make two summer blouses out of it.

More Sunday Stash here

While I'm sewing. Part 2.

I wish I had more time to sew last week but taking care of these girls really takes most of my time. So far we're enjoying our Summer time, lazy time, playing time, a few lessons, and of course a few fights here and there. Last week my sewing was only two blocks for the Around the world quilting bee.

 

 

The little house is for Nann (aka Tunamarie) we are making 7.5 in by 7.5 in blocks for her. The Wagon wheel or dresden plate is for Lorena.

Since this is such a short post, I decided to add another installment of my list. Remember I said that  I usually introspect while I'm sewing? The first part was "things I miss." This part is "the things I can't live without."

- Mi girls giggles.

- The smell of their little heads (do you smell your kids head? or am I the only one?)

- White Christmas-es.

- Jose by my side.

- Pizza party on Fridays.

- Children's books.

- Fairy tales.

- Fairy doors.

- Starbucks.

- Swearing (not infront of the kids!! I try my best)

- Birthday cake.

- your blogs, my blog.

- Flickr.

- Shel Silverstein poems.

- Love letter and love songs.

- Good night sleep.

- Craftiness and quilts.

- Pencil and paper.

- His divine presence in my life.

- Saying "I love you." I truly learned this one at adulthood.

- ...and of course chocolate.

What about you? Is there something you can live without?

Sunday stash

 

Last week, when I went to get some fat quarter for my giveaway Icame across this beautiful fabric.

It was love at first sight. I was going to get half a yard but clever Clara (fairy #1) said it was smarter to get the whole yard since this kind of fabric is not easy to find. Such a good girl...who makes this fabric?? It only says timeless treasures in the selvage.

More Sunday stash here

and the winner is....

 

Laurie from a yankee quilter.

Her comment:  My fav teacher is my hubby! He's a new high school math teacher after years in accounting. And the good news is that he loves it! Lucky kids :)

I love all your comments, and I will try to personally thank you. I'm also happy to see my bloggy friends stopping by, and getting to know some other lovely bloggers too. So thank you everybody for participating and making my day every time you leave a comment. XX

Another recycling project...

In this economy we just can't have it all anymore. We have to think ahead of time about how we're going to use our resources, get organized, plan ahead, and recycle. Check this out:

 

Recycled Pj's shorts made out of "old" shirts from Mr. Kitchen Fairies. He laughed at me when he saw what I was making. But tell me it's not a good idea... Polo shirts are expensive, and after a year or so of use they look old. On the other hand accidents happen; like a crayon that went into the dryer with some of his shirts, yikes!! Any way not everything was lost :)

I made four pairs of shorts. One is already being worn. The girls are wearing them with tank tops from Target: $3.50 each. a real  good deal.

  

The pattern came from here

 

This books was my Mother's day gift. The pants are the "lounge pants" kids' size XL made into shorts. So far this is my first project from this book; each pair of shorts took me about an hour to make, so very easy.

On a different subject, don't forget my little giveaway. You can sign up until Wednesday, then I'll draw the winner by Thursday. The little basket is already filled up with goodies.

 

Something for the teachers and something for you : giveaway!!

 

We're having a kind of a hard week. Ofelia was sick again and she is recuperating slowly, really slowly. She is sleeping so much that I was preoccupied enough to take her for a third visit to the doctor's office.  "She is just tired from the cold," said the doctor... in the meantime my little girl is missing the last week of school and sleeping couple of naps a day...

Since I haven't being able to go out to buy a little something for the teachers, I decided I'll make something instead with whatever I have available. I used this tutorial and I made some baskets for our lovely teachers.

 

I love how they turned out, the colors are very summer-like. I made three of them, and I still need to make two more: one for another teacher and the last one is a little surprise I'm preparing for you. The ones for the teacher are going to be loaded with chocolate a teacher goodies. I want to prepare the other one with yummy fat quarters, and other crafty goodness; how about some chocolate?

 

Why wait longer?? let's turn this post into a giveaway. Leave me a comment about your favorite teacher, or most memorable school year to enter this giveaway. I'll use the random generator thingy and announce a winner next Thursday (June 18th). So everybody has a whole week to sign up. Deal??

Looking for a Summer project

Looking for a Summer project, originally uploaded by threekitchenfairies.

This week the fairies will be done with school. Then, next week they'll start with their Summer lessons which include swimming, gymnastics, tap dance, and their usual violin lesson. All these means that I'll seat and wait while they take whatever lesson they take each day.
I've been looking at some granny blanket projects, and I love each of them. My plan is to make at least one of this Spring/Summer during those seating sessions.
Every time we come across one of these crochet treasures, Jose wonders were his grandma's granny blankets ended up. He still remembers his grandma making each of the squares at great speed, and he longs for such a family treasure to pass on to the girls.
Let's see, maybe I'll even make more than one...

P.S. I've been trying to attach the link with all the credits for the pictures on the mosaic and it's not working. The mosaic is on my photostream has are all the credits. I'll figure it out. Any suggestions?

Sunday Stash

I've been feeling so disappointed about the fabrics at my local Joann's that I'm kind of giving up on it. We have two Joann's here in town and neither one has fabrics worth buying. I'm thinking that it may be part of the economy problem here in the US, moreover here in Michigan where the automobile industry is collapsing.

So I started looking for fabrics on line and look what I found: some beautiful American Jane Patterns from Moda at the Fat Quarter world.

I feel like making a quilt with them that embraces the beauty of its old fashion illustrations.

I also got this same fabric in pink and couple of fabrics to match. Now those scissor are making me crave that scissors fabric of Moda by Mo Mo...and them I'll want something else like some gigham to go with it; it's like a chain reaction.

 

Got Sunday Stash? then sign up here or on Flickr

I spy

I spy with my little eye a cute baby girl...

 

There she is!! I spy with my little eye a funny little quilted monkey

 

I spy with my little eye  pink,girly stars...

 

I made this quilt for a little baby girl. She was born on Monday, June 1st. The commotion of her mother's pregnancy shook us all to our core. And if you dare to ask me, for me a baby is a gift from the Lord. Sometimes they come when least expected, in so many different circumstances. Old mothers, young mothers, sick mothers, happy mothers, single mothers, even "mothers without a map." Who are we to judge??

The news of her safe arrival filled me with happiness. I made this quilt inspired by Amy. I say inspired because I'm a firm believer that "copying" is just way too difficult. So this is my version of it.

It measures 44 in. by 44 in. It has plenty of room for baby and her mommy to cuddle up. Maybe for some tummy time when she is ready. Then, when she is a bit older she can play her I spy game with the fairies, and find her name and her picture in it. I amuse myself thinking of all the possibilities in this life that just started.

More pictures here