WHAT to do with BIG print fabrics ??? (and some cool doodling!)

Happy weekend Blogland Neighborhood! Hope spring is springing where you are. Unfortunately it's not here at MBIAJ Headquarters. We've had a couple of teaser days, but it seems winter is being a great big bully and keeps pushing spring around.








Anyway, the MBIAJ Design and Doodling Dept has Spring Fever in a big way and have been playing around with some new (and not so new) fabrics with some HUGE flowers on them. So, they are trying to figure out just what to do with HUGE print fabrics. They're really pretty and you just can't cut them up into little pieces , so what do you use them for ..... well you could make curtains ..... nah...... or an apron or tote bag .... maybe ..... or a dress .....(yikes !! DEFINATELY NOT (I'm pretty sure with those big prints and our big caboose, it would look more like a circus tent or a muu muu ... or more accurately a mooooo moooooo....)



.....and here's another pretty print (not as huge as that first one, but still something we'd hate to cut up into little pieces). The Design Dept had fun picking out those companion fabrics and the Doodling Dept is busy doodling up some ideas .... maybe they should consult Moonbeams Boy Evan .....



......he is a "Master Doodler" !!!!! Just LOOK at these doodles !!!! .....












......and these !!!










These doodles cover every square inch of his political science notebook. Obviously he is totally and completely BORED by political science and should NOT pursue it as his college major ..... but how about graphic design!?!?!?!!!

Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

National Quilting Day

Well hello there Blogland Neighborhood .... has it been 2 weeks since our last blabfest? YIKES! Well....



we've been feeling a little glum and not much in the mood for blogging over the past week or so (kind of puts all things in perspective when you watch the news about Japan etc.) And, as usual this weekend the MBIAJ Paperwork Dept has ....



...their usual BORING, TEDIOUS pile of paperwork to get caught up on before Monday rolls around again (oh yes, and that's our latest coping strategy ..Pillsbury chocolate fudge Sweet Moments) .... and today being National Quilting Day the MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept was moping around because they (again) don't have time to play with fabric this weekend .... that is until the mailman brought .....




..... a little fabric and thread gifty gift from blogger pal Linda Lum DeBono (we were the randomly picked winner from her Yo Yo Challenge she hosted a couple of weeks ago). THANKS LINDA !!! This was the perfect pick me up for the MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept (especially since it's National Quilting Day !)



....and speaking of cuter than cute things .... look at this fun pattern we sent for from The Quilted Fish !!! Party crowns and party hats !!! PERFECT for many happy milestone birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and a wedding we have coming up in the next few months !!! (and all of these upcoming events deserve some snazzy headgear to properly commemorate the occasion !)

... and one more important thing .... in the spirit of National Quilting Day here is a way for all of you generous and caring quilters to help the people of Japan in the best way you know how .... and that is to make a comfort quilt. This is being organized by Quilters Newsletter (just click on this link for all of the info). OK gang, lets fire up those sewing machines !!!

Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Yo (yo) Adrian ......

.......can you put some yo yo's on this here championship belt thing ???

Sorry .... couldn't resist .... anyhow, good morning Blogland Neighborhood and welcome to today's topic of: "What can you put a yo yo on?". Well, what can't you put a yo yo on? Well, guess there are some things you wouldn't want to put a yo yo on .... but here are some examples of what you CAN put a yo yo on .....



.....how about a lampshade? (this is a work in progress ... more yo yo's are planned to gussy this plain lampshade up a bit)









...how about Kitty? (her St Patrick's Day tam is an upside down yo yo)






.....then there's our Flower Pot Cozy made with a giant yo yo pulled up around a plastic flower pot and decorated with more yo yo's ....




.......and you can make lots and lots of yo yo's with covered button centers and combine them with some glass beads to make a garland to .......



......hang across a window to brighten up that drab winter scene outside.



For more fun and creative ideas for yo yo embelishing, you should check out Linda Lum Debono's Yo Yo Challenge Flickr page .

Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

FNSI .....and your opinions please !!!!

Well hang onto your hats Blogland Neighborhood because here we are back again ..... 2 blog posts in 2 days !!!! Kitty and the MBIAJ Sewing Dept enjoyed a couple of hours of sewing/crafting last night during this month's Friday Night Sew In and they almost finished a better late than never Valentine project. Now we just need to figure out where to put the flowers ....




...should they go here? ....or






....here?










Thanks gang !! Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Girls Night IN -- Friday Night Sew In that is !!!

TGIF Blogland Neighborhood! Kitty has had a rough work week and ....







......could really use a Girls' Night Out !!!.....but ....















....she didn't save enough pennies in her "Girl's Night Out" jar ..... so she decided to treat herself and the MBIAJ Sewing/Crafting Dept to something just as fun (with fewer consequences ) .....



....the "Friday Night Sew In" !!!





OK .... so there goes Kitty and the gang to spend some quality time with some fabric, scissors, the sewing machine, an "I Love Lucy" rerun or two, and enough chocolate to sink a ship ....

Be back tomorrow with a report on how this all went ...

Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Happy Valentine's Day !!

Happy Valentine's Day Blogland Neighborhood!!! .... and how are we spending this day of hearts and flowers here at MBIAJ Headquarters ?





Well, studying for our CPR recertification test tomorrow .... not very romantic, but it does have to do with hearts !!!



Meanwhile, since we've been busy with studying and haven't had a chance to whip up a new Valentine project YET, the Queen of Hearts herself (aka Kitty) has decided to recycle this one from last year.



OK ... well, it's back to studying for us ... and hopefully we'll be back BEFORE the end of February with THIS year's Valentine project !!!

Happy Valentine's Day and Healthy Hearts to you all !

Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Felt, paper, scissors ..... glue

Happy February Blogland Neighborhood! Well, these holidays keep rolling along don't they? We still have the Christmas tree stand and a stray wreath or two sitting at the bottom of the steps waiting for somebody (anybody) to take them back up to the attic and here it is Valentine's Day / season already! ZOOM ! SWOOSH ! ... and I wonder why my hair looks like I've just come out of a wind tunnel all the time! I can't keep up with the decorating and undecorating and redecorating for the next holiday! Well, anyhow, like the rest of the country (or at least 90% of it) we had yet another winter storm last night . By this afternoon .....





the sun was peeking through the fog and .....




... this mourning dove was sitting in the tree by the kitchen waiting for her significant dover (ha ha .... get it? significant other /dover ) ....OK, never mind. Anyway, speaking of significant others and this month's holiday of Valentine's Day, the MBIAJ Holiday Decorating Dept, who so deftly managed to piddle away the majority of this snow day, finally got themselves organized and dragged out some ....




.....red wool felt and white paper doilies....













...and paper tags, glue, scissors, a couple of teeny tiny pieces of white wool felt, some red Valentine ribbon and a red sharpie marker to ....











....gussy up the glass hurricane candle holders that sit on ....













......the kitchen table. Ta Da .... OK... now the MBIAJ Decorating Dept is exhausted from that monumental effort and they'll have to rest because the next holiday will be "sweeping down the plain" (as they say in "Oklahoma" ... the play, not the state ) faster than you can blink!!!

Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)