Rose and Lyn has moved!

It's official, Rose and Lyn has moved to a new site! You can find all the old posts, plus new content here.

I'd love it if you're a follower here if you'd go over and follow me there too.  That would actually make me ecstatic!  Thanks for visiting!

July do. Good stitches

Where did the week go! Holy cow.
Last month for the do. Good Stitches "Inspire" group, our assignment was three citrus sail blocks.








I love how they turned out & I really want to make these again...I'm just not sure when I'll get the time right now!

Do you want to join the group? Go here for more details.

Winner winner...

Chicken dinner!
Winner of the Coffee Time apron is... Ann from Menomonee Falls. Congratulations Ann! Your apron is on your way.

I've been working on some projects over the weekend, pictures & more to come soon!

Giveaway Time!

Welcome My Milwaukee Mommy readers!!

It's time for a giveaway!  I will giveaway a half apron to one person chosen randomly that signs up for my company's mobile coupon program & emails me the phone number they registered with (for verification purposes only).  We've got a contest here at my office & the person that can get the most people signed up for our mobile deal site will get an extra day off... not that I don't like work or anything ;-)

So... if you're interested in finding out about deals in the Milwaukee area (we have over 300 businesses!) & you'd want to enter the giveaway... you can either:

1.Go Here OR 2. text mobideals to 46246

Then...register:
Enter your cell phone number, Certify user is over 13 years old, and provide email address if you want to receive Deal Of The Week (all DOW offers are 50% or more off!) and coupon updates via email.

Make sure that you email me the phone # you registered with, so I can get credit for you & you get registered for the giveaway!!  My email address is roseandlyn (at) gmail (dot) com.



Some places that have offers right now:
~FREE BEER at McBobs (hell yeah!)
~$5 off at the Original Pancake House- Brookfield (YUM!)
~BOGO Nachos at Moe's Southwest Grill- Pewaukee
~$50 Off cleaning with Molly Maid
~$45 for 2 players at Silver Spring Golf Course
~$20 off massage at Elements in Elm Grove (sign me up!)
~BOGO Ballons at Bartz's in Wauwatosa (Party time)

AND SOOO MUCH MORE!



Thanks to all that help me out! Hope you find deal you like!  And a big thank you to Betsy at My Milwaukee Mommy!  You're awesome!  PS.  The giveaway ends on Friday, 7/29 at midnight!  Good luck!

We've Been...

Busy.  I know it's been awhile.  I'm sorry.  Here's what we've been up to:

Hiking...

Finding plants that look like muppets...

Going to my brother's wedding:

Moving up the ranks to wolf:

Geo- Caching

Going to Girl Scout Camp (Twice!!):

Playing at the park:



Not to mention, lots of sewing, swimming & more!

Stay tuned... I'll be posting my very first giveaway tomorrow morning!  It's up now!  I've got lots more planned for Rose and Lyn, includng a new blog page soon.

April "Inspire" do. Good Stitches Blocks

I'm back! We've moved, and things are crazy... but I had to make sure that I set aside time to complete my 2 blocks for the "Inspire" do. Good Stitches quilt for April! I couldn't screw up my first month in the group for heaven's sakes!

Holly from Bijou Lovely put together a wonderful tutorial for a herringbone quilt block.

If it were not for my poor ruler-reading skillz, I would have gotten the blocks done perfectly on the first go-around. But, alas, I thought my 6.5" ruler was only a 6" ruler, and proceeded to add on the extra half inch. But, hey, now I get an extra herringbone block for myself! Maya has already claimed it for her room- she wants it framed. Sweet girl.

Speaking of sweet girl, Miss Maya wanted very badly to sew with her mommy today.  So, I set up a card table next to the desk. 

By the way- did Mother Nature miss the memo that it's April now?  I mean, we're a good 1/3 of the way through Spring, and it is snowing here.  And not just a little snow:







In fact, we had a Winter Weather Advisory today!  I think that should be absolutely outlawed.  It is most certainly ridiculous.  Also ridiculous is my dog, Bonesy's snoring right now!  Holy crow!!

Weekly WIP & Craziness

Things are going to be a little crazy here... We're moving this weekend (yes, this weekend!).  I don't think I really expected it to all work out, so it snuck up on me I guess.  Yes, I was being a little pessimistic.



We just confirmed that the truck would be available today, and we still need to find a stove and refridgerator.  Oh, and did I mention its oil heating?  I've never had oil heating, and it's just a little crazy.

Additional craziness... I was accepted as a hostess for the Singer Sew Very Easy House Party!  My peeps and I get to test drive a new Singer Confidence Stylist machine, and we'll be making a fun project (or two).  The party's going down early May & I'm sew very excited (sorry, couldn't help myself there)!

Oh, and before I forget... have you checked out Modern Relief Japan yet??

Here's how it works:

• Every Monday, (April 4th -May 16th, 2011) a new group of quilts will be featured on ModernRelief.com
• To enter for a chance to win one of the quilts featured, you will click on the PayPal button that will be located on the top right column of the Modern Relief blog. This will bring you to the Modern Relief PayPal account.
• Donations are unlimited, so please feel free to give till your heart's content.
• Every $10.00 donation gives you one chance to win any of the quilts featured during the raffle period (April 4th - May 16th, 2011)
• Multiple wins by a single person will be allowed, so you do have the chance to win more than one quilt
• Winners of the quilt raffle will be chosen by a random number generator after May 16th, 2011, and the list of winners will be posted here. We will also contact the winners at the email address listed on the PayPal account.
• All donations received will be donated to Mercy Corps

Pretty simple eh?  Check out the quilts- they're amazing! 

Now... here's my quick Weekly WIP.

Completed:




Most of my future sister in-law's shower present. 

WIP:
Packing (UGH!)
Bottled Rainbow Quilt
Americana Quilt Top
Hexies

Need to finish in the next month, but haven't yet started:
OK... so I had to add a category, since I'm in a serious holding pattern with the move.  YIKES!
Modern Relief Japan Quilt
do. Good Stitches blocks
Mug Rug Swap

No new projects.

Weekly WIP 3/27/11

Ok, so I know I skipped a week.  I suck, and I'm sorry.  Will you forgive me?

We're moving in less than two weeks now (at least as long as nothing falls through!), and things are going to be crazy... but in the very very old farmhouse we are moving into, I will have my own sewing room.  I'm not sure how long it'll take before I get it set up.  I'm also not sure about our internet connection there yet.  I may be checking emails at McDonald's for a while.  :-/

So... in line with keeping things short and sweet, here's what's been accomplished & whats pending over the last couple of weeks:

I completed:

• Tommy's Pinewood Derby Car 

• Mending Tommy's Jeans
• Part one of future SIL's shower present 

WIP's include:

• Americana Quilt top- haven't touched it since before Thanksgiving...still
• Hexies. Still.
• The Bottled Rainbow quilt.  I've got all of my rectangles cut & pieced.  I just need to start placing the ticker tapes. 

• Remaining 3 parts of SIL's shower present.  Waiting for fabrics to finish pre-washing.
• Caylin's terrarium science project... Terrariums have been made... experiments in progress.

New projects:

• Quilt for the Modern Relief raffle to help citizens of Japan.  I've already finished designing it, but since I haven't started cutting, I don't thing I can considering WIP.
• Mug Rug for the Sew Happy Geek Mug Rug Swap.  Still time to sign up!

Until next time!

Weekly WIP 3/13/11

To give myself a reason to step back and take a blogging breath weekly, per my New Years Resolutions, I'm instating a weekly WIP.  Each week, I'll give a run-down of my works-in-progress, as well as completed projects & new projects.  I'll include any and all crafty bits as well as things like baking and other projects going on. 

So for this week, I completed:

• Caylin's skirt (Picture to come)
• The Zinger Cake
• Mending of Maya's Skirt & Mike's Hat

WIP's include:

• Americana Quilt top- haven't touched it since before Thanksgiving
• Hexies.  I haven't decided what I'm making with them yet.  I just started randomly basting hexies, and now I've put together a few individual flowers.  Possibly a pillow to come?  Maybe just coasters.  I haven't decided yet.
• Tommy's Pinewood Derby Car- due Tuesday (crap!!)
• Oh- apparently more mending, says my hubs (thanks!)

New projects:

• The Bottled Rainbow quilt- currently waiting for my husband to finish his ironing so I can iron & cut my solids (pick up the pace love!)
• Fabrics are on their way for my future sister-in-law's shower gift.

Sorry for the lack of pictures...  I can't believe how late it is already!  It's always an adjustment with Daylight Savings Time!

The Color Wheel Pillow (take 2)

I'd like to formally introduce you to the Color Wheel Pillow

This bad-boy was made by taking 4 10" squares, cutting each square into 3 slices, and piecing together like a spider web quilt block, with each section the same width. 

In the inside of the wheel, I quilted 1/8" around each seam.  On the background (Kona Charcoal), I did a meandering stitch. 

The backing is Robert Kaufman Metro Circles (white on pewter).  For the closure, I put in 5 button holes with large yellow & green buttons. 

Here are the two of them together.  I made the wheel on the 2nd one a bit smaller- it was hard to tell that it was a wheel on the first pillow.  I also made the outer & middle strips thinner, and the inner larger, it made them seem more proportionate.

I love it & I hope you do to!

I'm entering this into the Blogger's Pillow Party for the month of March.  Make sure you check out the other very very awesome pillows, and maybe even enter your own.  Prize for this month are Sherbert Pips Fabric!! Wish me luck!

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes...

Changes to the blog... The old colors & header were just not feeling right anymore.  The name was fun at the time I picked it, but I think the reference was a bit out there for many people, so I've changed it to something that has meaning for me.  I do hope you like the new look!

Have you seen the Bottled Rainbow Quilt Along yet that Rachel at Stitched in Color is hosting?  It should be a great project, and will go great with this:

It's my first color wheel pillow!  This pillow includes some designer fabrics (Just looking, I see Taylor Made, Hop Scotch, Sanctuary, Farmdale, Amy Butler, Heather Ross, Innocent Crush, Mod), some fabrics that I just had on had, and some fabrics recycled from old kids clothes (My indigo slice is really just 3 different shades of denim). 

I've got a 2nd pillow in the works now, refining the technique.  I still haven't figured out how to piece 12 slices accurately enough to make all of the points match up perfectly.  Any tips or techniques out there for that??

Oh... see that there on the arm of the couch?  That's a little armrest pin cushion, with storage pockets, a place for my hand sewing needles & a scrap bag from this tutorial.  I did opt to put the scrap bad on the opposite side of the organizer (on purpose even!), out of personal preference.  Also, I used dried beans instead of rice, hoping for a little extra weight.

See the little scrap hanging out of the bag?  That's some of Ty Pennington's new fabric.  I used it in this bag for my sister:

I used the home decorator weight, which is so soft.  I really love how this turned out!  I'm looking forward to making more of these!

Holy Oversaturation Batman!

Holy cow!  I was checking my flickr account on another computer and discovered how horribly oversaturated those purse pictures are!  How embarassing!  I've fixed them (hopefully) in flickr, but just to keep it real, I'm leaving them up down below. 

My son is home sick today (I'll spare you from the gory details).  Let's just say, its not pretty, and the washer & dryer have been working overtime today.  Coming soon:  Color wheel pillow & Cleaning your machine- important stuff!!

Visiting Parisville

I finished my Parisville purse over a week ago.  I've since been testing it out, carrying it around all over.. figuring out what I liked and what I didn't.  I followed the pattern from One Yard Wonders for the Flouncy Bag designed by Nina Perkins.  I love the shape of this purse!  And the Parisville Fabric from Tula Pink is just perfect for this kind of pretty, feminine bag.  I did make some changes to it including:

• Used the main fabric for the inside of the strap, instead of ribbon
• Changed the inside of the bag to include a zippered pocket, cell phone pocket, open top pocket & card pockets, instead of using ribbon loops
• Added a covered button in coordinating fabric
• Added a magnetic closure

I think it could use some interfacing around the top band to stabalize it a bit, but at this point I'm done changing it.  I would really have to take it apart to put that in, and I'm just not in a deconstucting mood!  I'd rather spend my time creating.  :-)

Also finished is the Noodlehead Gathered clutch that inspired my pillow!  Also made in Tula Pink's Parisville line, I'll be using this as a matching wallet, instead of my ugly brown one.  I didn't make any changes to it, but I think I should've put in a little zipper pocket on the back for my change.  Now I need to make a change purse!

So glad to have these completed!!

On another note, have you heard about Snowmaggedon?  We had over 10" of snow last night during our blizzard (We were some of the lucky ones!  Other places had 18"+!), and while that's really not that much for around here, it was the blowing & drifting that was horrible!  It led to lots of snow drifts, abandoned cars, and closed highways (I can't remember a time that one of the highways around here was closed due to snow!)  The biggest snow drift we had was in the backyard- and was about 5' high... pretty big, but still small change compared to some others we heard about.  So, stay warm, get snuggly & enjoy some hot cocoa!!

Finished! Gathered Pillow

I finally got around to making my pillow for the Bloggers Pillow Party!  This pillow was inspired by the Gathered Clutch Tutorial by Anna at Noodlehead.  I've been wanting to make one of these for the longest time, but I've had other projects that have just been bossy as all heck and pushed this one out of the way.  So, I've decided to use the technique here to make a pillow instead! 

The main fabric I purchased at Joanne's in the remnants section.  I have no idea what the name of it is, or who designed it(sorry!).  The middle fabric is Monarch from the Del Hi fabric collection by Valori Wells for Free Spirit.  What a mouth-full!  It measures about 15"x16", although it was supposed to be 16" square- I'll blame the measuring mistake on this horrible virus I've been fighting.  That works, right?

Want to join in the fun, and maybe win some prizes (this month's prize is a 1/2 yard stack of Innocent Crush fabrics)?  Go here to participate.

PS.  I will get a post of the purse up soon.  I've just been horribly sick & had to get this pillow posted by this month's contest deadline!!

Finished apron & shout out to Grandma.

I finally finished this Heather Bailey apron pattern that I won from Don't Call Me Betsy last month!  I love how it turned out. 

The fabric is Blue Darjeeling Tea Garden, by Dena Designs for Free Spirit Fabrics.  The large print on it is perfect for a bigger girl like me.  I do have to admit, I was a little worried about it fitting me- it's been a while since a "large" fit me, but it was just right.  Actually, when I finished sewing it was too large in the chest, and the sides of the halter kinda flapped around.  How in the world did that happen?  Luckily once I washed it, the apron shrunk to the perfect size, so no more awkward side-boob pockets.

Now, I'm not an expert sewist (sew-er?  Because otherwise it looks like sewer, and ew... gross) mind you, in fact, I'm pretty much a beginner.  But there were just a couple little things I'd do differently next time.  The patter calls for the halter to be sewed, then the halter straps to be inserted (same process for the waistband).  I think it would look better if the straps were sewn to the main pieces, then the main pieces sewn.  I could be wrong, it could be impossible to turn right-side out that way, but it was awkward for me to do it this way.  Other than that, the patter was super easy to read, and turned out beautifully!!  Love-it!

Now, a little shout-out to my Grandma, who passed away almost 6 years ago now.  Grandma had many sewing boxes.  Most of them are beautiful, delicate, floral covered baskets, exactly what you would expect a grandma to have.  But, she also had this beast (my current box is behind it):

She was a very well-off woman.  Really, she could've bought the sewing box of her dreams  But I love that

she had this, and kept and used it.  The top is cracked, and the main part of the box is a very groovy avocado green.  I found this at my mom's house when I was in desperate need for some brown thread.  I looked in (no kidding) 5 other sewing boxes before finally finding this one.  At the very bottom of the box, still in the packaging, was this:

It's a horrible photo, but it is the perfect shade of brown to match the coat zipper that I was fixing!  At the time it felt very much like she bought it just for me and left it there waiting.  I just about cried when I found it.  In addition, was the perfect thread to match the apron above, and these:



How cool is that?!?  Also in the box were some crazy Christmas applique cut-out fabrics.  It just so happened that I mentioned some of these would be perfect for an ugly Christmas sweater party within an hour of finding them.  So, I want to say thank you to my grandma.  It may be silly, but finding the threads and appliques all when needed just seems to be a little sign from her that maybe, just maybe I'm on the right path here.  It kinda feels like Mary Poppins magic carpet bag, that just happens to have everything that I need in it.  I will be hanging on to this for a very, very long time.

Pillow Party!

Have you seen this yet?  I nearly squealed when I saw it (except it wasn't a squeal appropriate location that I was reading in).  Stitched in Color is hosting a Blogger's Pillow Party!  I've been dying to make some cutesy pillows, and experiment with some designs, and this will give me the perfect opportunity for both, hopefully without driving my hubs crazy.  And I've been building my stash.  The projects I've been working on as of late have mostly been fabrics that are not quite my style.  Don't get me wrong.  They're all beautiful.  But.... I really am liking more and more the contemporary styles.  Speaking of, I ordered some of this...

Melody Miller, Ruby Star Rising Viewfinders

and this....

Michael Miller, Bicycles

and this...

Tammis Keefe Tribute

Not to mention a few others.  Which reminds me- I won a Heather Bailey apron pattern around Christmas-time from Don't Call Me Betsy. 

It arrived while I was working furiously on several projects (ok, Christmas presents!) and now I've had some time to breathe and think and start planning for it.  I ordered fabrics for that too, but I'm not going to show them yet, I have to give you a reason to come back!  I'll be working on that as soon as they come in.  Yippee!

PS... Is anyone actually out there?  I'd like to host a giveaway.  Take a vote at the left and tell me what you're interested in winning!