Work Anniversary

Today I start my 8th year at the City of McKinney.  Some days I am the city water nazi, other days I am the recycling nerd or simply the green girl.  I believe the purpose of life is to be useful and to make a difference.  Hopefully most days -- I have made a difference! 

#savetheplanet

Earth Day Texas

The City of McKinney had a booth at this year's Earth Day Texas event at Fair Park on April 24th, 25th, and 26th.    We had several thousand people visit us.  Here I am with some of the volunteers on Saturday morning.  We had our spinner wheel game giving away a variety of eco-friendly products for saving water and energy.  

Earth Day Texas (formerly, Earth Day Dallas) is an annual, outdoor festival seeking to elevate environmental awareness and influence the way Texans think, live and work. The family-friendly and free-admission event allows leaders in the corporate, academic and non-profit worlds to unite and show Texans how green lifestyle choices can lower their cost of living, improve their health, and help save the environment.

Wall of Mini Quilts

Someone asked what I do with all of the mini quilts I get from swaps.  Well... I hang them on my wall in my sewing room like little works of art.  I treasure each one I receive and consider the maker a new friend!  Here's my current, growing collection-- makes me happy just looking at it!

Ampersand Wedding Pillows

It's the season for Ampersand Wedding Pillows... Here are two I have made this week.  These are available in my Etsy shop.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/MCSQRD

7th annual Texas Trash Off

My biggest event of the year was Saturday.  Look at all these fabulous volunteers.  It was a gorgeous day in McKinney.  

Glasses Zipper pouch

So my optometrist friend celebrated her one year anniversary.  I stopped by the party on my way home from work.  She sent home some cookies for our daughter.  Aren't these eye glasses cookies adorable!  The cookies match daughters glasses and the zipper pouch gift I gave her.  Total cuteness!!! 

I saw this fabric months back and immediately thought of her because she has a lot of "eyewear" art at her office.  I got lucky and found an "eye" charm for the zipper pull too!  The fabric is from Michael Millers Urbanista collection, called 20/20 Glasses.   

Pixel Fox Quilt

Hére Is the mini Quilt I made for @miaquilts in the Rainbow Mini Swap on Instagram.

This was several weeks in the making.  I converted a cross stitch pattern to get the design.  It's an 18x18 pattern, 324 two inch squares and finished off at approx 24x24.  There are many little surprised in it, including owls, cats and tributes to her MSU Spartans and of course Texas.   I am pleased with how it turned out and my partner Maria in Michigan really seemed to like it.  

Rose Rosette Conference

Incredible turnout for Rose Rosette Management Conference at TAMU Dallas this morning.  Nearly 500 people from municipalities, landscape and horticulture industry here today. 

Rose Rosette Disease is affecting all roses in North Texas. Here is an article from the Dallas Morning News.  and another article at HGTV

 This is what Rose Rosette Disease looks like.

You can read more about it at the Collin County Rose Society website or watch this video on You Tube of the presentations.  

Departure is around the corner...

It's been a hectic ten days since my last post.  Our exchange student is headed back to Spain in a few days.  We tried to take her to a few more places before her departure.

The Fort Worth Stockyards...

She rode a longhorn.

We went to the Fort Worth Water Gardens.

The Stadium where Dallas Cowboys play...  Close up of the Margret Hunt Hill bridge in Dallas

The Continental Avenue Bridge along the Trinity River Corridor provides a great view of downtown Dallas and a closeup of the new Margaret a Hunt Hill Bridge.  

The whole day was fast and furious but I am glad we got to take her a few more places. 

My First Sew Together Bag

Great patterns & teachers make a world of difference in a sewing class.  Spent the Saturday, the day after my birthday at Stitched With Love (one of our LQS) making this "Sew Together Bag" (pattern by Sew Demented).  

Teacher was Sara H who's president of McKinney Modern Quilt Guild.  Bag has 4 zippers & 4 pockets and what seems like miles of binding.  This was a big step for me because normally I don't follow patterns. 

Here is a picture of the back of the bag....

Here is a close up front, the side ends and the inside with all the pockets and zippers.  

Some of these fabrics probably look familiar, I have been hoarding some of these fabrics for a while, so happy they will live forever in this bag!  The bag was not overly complicated but had many many steps.  Sometime when I have 8+ hours of spare time - I will make another one.  Thankful I finished before leaving the building.   Feeling accomplished, now I am inspired to make more complicated bags in 2015.  Thanks for stopping by!  

Traveling Handmade

Headed to a class at Stitched With Love...

This is the trunk of my car.  Love traveling handmade with my Janome machine and three bags of stuff...  These are all bags I have received in swaps... from left to right... McKMQG swap, second from my friend Jane in Australia through the sweep pouch swap in 2014 and lastly from my Quiltcon buddy Ruthie.  I think I need a couple more larger bags... will add that to my to do list for 2015.  Hope you are having a great day!

Collin County Justice Center

Had a full day at the Collin County Justice Center today with Leadership McKinney.  We spent the day learning about the Sheriff's Department's role, touring the jail, Homeland Security Command Center and even meeting with Judge Roach from the 296th District court and observing a trial.  

The top picture is all of the class in one of the jail pods.    It was an amazing day....

Happy 2015

Happy New Year from The Fipps.

On the Go Pillows

Here are several of the On The Go Pillows I made for a customer in Connecticut.  Two are pink & purple princess and one Star Wars.

The fronts had large monogram letters and the backs had pocket and full name.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mizzou Bag Set

I've really enjoyed making the zipper bags out of plastic canvas, here is my latest one made with black mesh for my sister in law.  My SIL is a Mizzou fan, so I used Mizzou fabric for the accent.

It's hard to tell in the picture because mesh does not photograph well.  There is a tiger charm on the mesh bag -- you can barely see a silhouette if you look close.

Thanks for stopping by.

High School Fan Zipper Pouches

Here are four zipper pouches I made for a customer and her friends in Boulder, Colorado.  These are for Moms of football players so I embroidered the Mom's name and the son's football jersey number.  I thought it was a cool idea.

Custom Pouches like these are available in any color combination with a variety of sport charms in my Etsy Store.  

Christmas Sweet Pouch Swap Sent

Here is what I sent my partner Barbra in California for the Christmas Sweet Pouch Swap.

Barbra likes pastels so I went with a pink, hot pink and green color scheme.  I sent a snowman ornament that I made in the hoop, a mesh bag with monogram applique and one of my zipper pouches.  My thought was that the mesh bag would come in handy for Christmas gift wrapping; like storing tape, scissors and gift tags.   Hope you are having a great holiday season... I am doing a lot of sewing keeping up with orders in my Etsy store.  

Christmas Sweet Pouch Swap Received

If you sew and swap, you can make friends all over the world...  Came home to a beautiful swap package from a new crafty friend in California. Everything is lovely.  She totally hit the nail on the head by using tree themed fabric (since I am a Tree Hugger). Love the pouch and goodies.   Thank you Barbra!  This was for the 4th round of Sweet Pouch Swap hosted by Ros in Australia #sweetpouchswap 

 

McKMQG Ornament Exchange

Here is the ornament I made for the McKinney Modern Quilt Guild ornament exchange.  This was a fun little project made in the hoop.  The pattern is my Embroidery Garden.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

Hope your day was terrific. 

#mckinneytexas 

Sewing Room Island

Thanksgiving break has been productive already.  This is what I spent the day putting together yesterday.  An island in the sewing room. I had to take a picture because this won't last long once I really start working.  The counter & storage space is approachable from all four sides (that is if there is not something on the floor). 

I have had this idea ever since I saw it on a blog years ago.  I wish Ihad room to make a giant island with multiple 3x3 cube units but I do not have the space.  I was lucky to get this in the room-- room is only 10x10.  This was made with three 3x2 cube units (I have room for fourth unit but wasn't sure I wanted cube shelves so I left it open in the back for now.  The top is 24x48 plywood I covered with batting and then uphostered with fabric.  

The triple drawer units I have had for years, once upon a time they held the overflow of napkin rings and flatware (early 2000's) then they held stamp sets and now they are in here.  I have twelve so this is a good home for some.  I always struggle with a good place to put hoops for the emroidery machines so the side panel of the cube units works well, i just used 3m command hooks.  The right side of the top has an ironing pad, I don't have enough room for a full size ironing board so this works since most of the pieces I iron are small anyway.   I am so thrilled about this project getting done.  

Sewing room progress 5 months in the making. #sewingroom #sewingstudio #craftroom 

Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Swap

I am in a happy swap mood.  Last week I also joined the Schnitzel & Boo Mini Quilt Swp for Round 3 and volunteered to be a group moderator.  I am so excited.  Follow us on Instagram!

Here's my group icon.  I have 40 girls from all over the US and different parts of Europe.  

  

Sweet Pouch Swap #4

I am so excited to be part of the Sweet Pouch Swap hosted by Roz in Austrialia for the 4th time.  I already got my partner assignment and we've been corresponding and getting to know each other.

This time around my partner is in California so it will be easier to send extra stuff in the package, sending to Europe & Australia is always such a challenge because I always want to include bulky items.  I can't wait to start sewing.  #sweetpouchswap

Water4Otter comes to McKinney!

All in a days work....  Spent the morning at Sonntag Elem with the North Texas Municipal Water District WATERIQ Water4Otter team. This is a new program focused on teaching grade school kids about saving water at home.   The lake in our area is less that 47% full so the entire region is focused on water conservation.  

The Water4Otter program is really cute and focuses on saving water in your bathroom, kitchen and outside with your sprinkler system.  Otis the Otter is the star of the show.  This program is part of a pilot program being tested at 30 schools in the North Texas area.  The program is funded by the NTMWN and the Texas Water Development Board.

My job has perks, here I am with daughter and Otis the Otter.  Visit www.water4otter.org for more information about the program.  

Hope you are having a great day!  #mckinneytexas #water4otter #savewater @NTMWD #greenmckinney

UPS Zipper Pouch

Here is a UPS themed zipper pouch I made for one of my husband's co-workers that was retiring.  His nickname and route name is LWOD and he celebrated 35 years at the company.  

I was thrilled to find the right shade of brown solid fabric along with the UPS digital logo.   I hope I get more requests to make these from other UPSers.