Oh Christmas Tree! The crafting has begun!

The Christmas gifts are beginning! I spent the morning paper piecing these blocks together.


I was going to make the holiday door hanger from YCMT, but all that embroidery didn't appeal to me at all. I am the kind of guy that likes to 'git 'er done! So with a few hours of free time this morning, I finished these lovely blocks. Leighanna helped me pick out the colors for these. I am hoping that everyone that receives them will like them!

Here is a completed one. This one goes to Leighanna's teacher.

Leighanna picked these colors out specifically for her!

Here is the one from You Can Make This dot com.

Do you want to know the coolest thing about this? It didn't cost me a dime! The pattern is a free download and I had all the supplies to make these on hand. The original directions called for beaded trim, and although it does look really nice, I had this ball trim on hand, so I used it instead.

I am going to do a little Black Friday shopping and I will stop by Joanns to check the price on that trim, if they have it. I really to like the way the bells look.

My Stash

Finally, I have *ahem* most of my stash neatly folded and put away in color order.

Geez, that took me FOREVER!


After looking at all this fabric, you would have thought that I have been sewing for years.

Sadly, only three.


Anyway, here are a few photos.





Isn't it pretty?
I still have about 3 totes to go through. Mostly corduroy, fleece, and chenile.
All of my short cuts of 1/2 yard or less, still are waiting for me to fold them, but for now, I am happy!
My wife used to sew alot.
When she had a project to do, she would look at the pattern, see how much fabric it took, and go to the fabric store to get it. If a project took 7/8 of a yard, then that is what she got!

Ummmmm, when I go to the fabric store, needing only a 1/2 yard of fabric, I come out with much more.
Wonder why?.....

Let's see....


First, I have to muster up enough courage to walk in by myself.


Second, I have to endure the stares of the "Cranky Quilt Ladies" who happen to be cutting fabric today.


Third, I have to search endlessly for the perfect shade of "pink" that my Picky Princess wants.


So, to sum it all up.

Man walks in fabric store with list (I only need a half a yard of fabric)....

Ladies look at him as if to say, "Hey, the sports store is two doors down!"...

Finds the perfect "pink" to match... along with a couple of more options in case my idea of "perfect" doesn't pan out...

Walks up to cutting counter....gets number (Lord, I forgot that important step once.... NEVER AGAIN!)....

Lays the fabric down on the counter...
Cranky Quilt Lady asks how much do you need?....
I shamelessly blurt out 3 yards of each please!

Uhmmmm...... What just happened here? I only needed 1/2 yard of each!

I feel so like Ralphie telling Santa he only wanted a football for Christmas, when what he really wanted was "An official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time" Only I can't climb back up the slide and and tell Miss Cranky what I really only needed.

So... relutantly I pay the bill.... Go home and hide the stuff so that my "only buy what you need" wife doesn't see it.

Well... now it is all out in the open... my very own mini fabric store. AHHHHH!

If I only need a half a yard, I will cut it!
I don't have to deal with the Cranky Quilters looking at me over their little half reading glasses.

This should stay like this for a little while.....
Until I hit the fabric stores again, looking for the perfect shade of "aqua".
Must remember these words.... "Only a half a yard please!"






Has this ever happened to you? If it has leave me a comment, I would love to know if it is only a "guy thing"!

It's freezing here!

Well since the weather has been so cold, I decided to add a little snow to my blog for a little while. I have never done this before, but Eureka! I figured it out!
Off to finish organizing my sewing space. I need to start my projects by early next week!

Sort of!

I have my lists made. Well... sort of....

Fabric is getting organized. Well... sort of.....

I have plenty of time to get this done. Well... sort of.....

I have lots of backing and encouragement from others...... ABSOLUTELY!


Stay tuned for lots of pictures of things that I have in the works!
You are also welcome to leave me a comment or two on how I am doing, or if you would be happy to receive these handmade items as a gift!
Stay tuned!

I made the "50" list!

Wow! I cannot believe that I was chosen to participate in the You Can Make This challenge.

Check out their blog!.

I have purchased several patterns from them, and love the detailed pictures and drawings!

Even I can figure them out!

We are going to be on a tight budget this Christmas and this challenge is just what the doctor ordered.

We are going to Disney in February, and I have challenged our family to make this a "cash only" vacation. I do not want to worry about paying for this trip in the months ahead.

I knew that this was going to be a challenge, with Christmas approaching so soon.

My family is usually much more thrilled to get a home made item from us anyway. I usually run out of time, and wimp out and purchase a gift at the last minute.

So... turn on the Christmas music and ready my machines! I have lots of gifts to mark off of my list!

I think I mentioned that I am an avid blog reader.

I must have about 30 blogs that I check on daily. Of course in mostly lurker mode.

Jen at Fabric Bliss is having a "Make it Work" challenge. I am always up for a challenge.

She has some great fabrics. I have purchased some from her, and her service is outstanding. And.. she just makes me laugh!

So all of my sewing buddies out there, (you know who you are) get over there and enter!

If you don't want to enter, at least check out her awesome fabric!

So...... "Holla 'atcha Boy!"....... "Make it work!"..... "Carry on!".... "Don't be a Hot Mess!"..... Later Trannies! No, I don't normally talk like that! I am just referencing some of my favorite catch phrases from Project Runway!

I'm out! Auf Wiedersehen! Smooch!.. Smooch!

Pins and Needles

(From my own personal stash! Aren't they kinda cool?)

We are on pins and needles today! Disney is slated to announce a new promotion for the first half of 2009. Well, since we are going to Disney in February, this would be GREAT!

We might be able to afford to stay in a Deluxe resort, or just bank the extra cash for more stuff while we are there! As if we need more stuff!

We are SOOOOO in a need of a Disney fix!

Why Heavenleigh Blessings?

Look how little I am!

The hunt for a blog name. I could go simple. "The Jordan Family". Funny. "This Dad Sews...Sew what?". But I thought about it, and since Leighanna is our world, I knew that I wanted to use her name in some way.

So I thought about it, and the name "Heavenleigh Blessings" came to mind. I kind of like it.

I truly feel blessed. I have a beautiful daughter, a beautiful wife, a house, a job, and lots more than I could ever wish for!

We have always thought that Leighanna was a gift from God. We thank and praise Him everyday for her!

Leighanna's name came to us about a week before she was born. Our original name for her was Andrew Lee. Funny.

She came out a girl, so we knew that the quick name that we thought of a week before she was born was going to be it. (The hospital recommended it on one of our last visits with our birth mother.)

Angie's grandmother's name was Roseanna. We loved and missed her so much. She would be over the moon excited to have met Leighanna. She prayed constantly that the many fertility treatments that we went through would take. We are so sorry that she didn't get to hold her in her arms. We know that she is with us though.

Anyway, Leighanna's name is a combination of her name and mine and Angie's middle name. Lee. Oh, and Angie's fathers middle name is Lee also. There are many Lees in my family too.

We took Grandma's name and melded it with Lee. We knew that we wanted it to be a little different, so we spelled it Leigh. Leighanna's middle name is Rose.

If you are still with me through all of that mindless dribble, "Yay!" for you!

Anyway, you can see kinda where the name of my Blog came from!

So this is Blogland?

I have decided after reading and following several blogs to give my try at it.

I have become obsessed with checking several blogs and checking out what all my "friends" are doing today. Although I have yet to meet some of my internet friends, I feel as though they are my family. Lots more to follow, once I figure this new thing out! :)