Elliot's Quilt

This is the quilt I made for my youngest son Elliot.  It is a row by row.  This is the first time I have tried this type of quilt.  I went fabric shopping (fun fun) and grabbed all the "boyish" fabric I could find.  Then I had to buy a big tub.  In my quilt group we exchanged tubs.  My row by row theme was Elliot.  They could create any row with my fabric that fitted my theme.  Each of these rows was made by a different friend in my quilt group. It was fun exchanging and then having to wait a month to see what the ladies came up with.  The backing is once again flannel.  Grey flannel to match the sashing on the front. I actually ended up with 8 rows, but it sure ended up being a busy quilt.  I have the other 4 rows still stashed for the next twin boys quilt I make.  Being the youngest and having to wait the longest for the completed quilt was pure torture on him.  He practically started sewing it himself.  Maybe another future quilter?  A mom can only hope :D

Olivia's Quilt

This is a quilt I made for my youngest daughter Olivia.  It's bright, fun and girly.  We picked out the fabric together a couple of years ago just waiting for the perfect pattern to cross our paths.  We were soooo excited when we found this pattern with the ladies from my quilt group.  I think we may have a future quilter on our hands.  The backing is also flannel to keep her warn and snuggle.  It's perfect for her.  She carts it everywhere.  I'm so glad she loves it.  It makes all the hours of sewing worth while just to see her with it.  We've also made a matching pillow case.  The inner boarder is called a braided boarder and probable took the longest of everything to complete.  it was my first time making this kind of boarder.  I looks great and helps the center blocks stand out better.

Jeffrey's Quilt

This is a quilt I finished for my oldest son Jeffrey.  It's made from a pattern in QuickQuilts called "Saddle Tramp" We altered the layout of the original pattern to be something Jeffrey would like more.  Also the original pattern's outer boarder didn't quite fit the new layout.  We used all the excess scraps we cut off of the strip blocks to finish the quilt.  With big pieces of these cut off fabric scraps left, the outer boarder was much easier than it appears to be. I let him pick out the main colors on front and back.  The front rust color we thought would be great.  He also chose a solid brown flannel for the back.  I think it's perfect.  He's always cold and it is now a great snuggler.

It's been too long!

   It's been over a year since I've posted.  I can't believe it.  Time sure flies when you are having fun and have 4 kids.  I have finished one major quilting accomplishment and started several more.

   This year I started with the resolution of finishing old quilts I've started. I have decided to finish an old quilt and reward my self with a new quilt. This has been working out great so far. I have finished 2 old quilts and have completed 2 new quilts. I am currently working on my 3rd of each! I seem to be running low on quilting time as summer is in full swing with kids, friends and fun. 

I helped out in 3 classrooms (had a blast and made some great friends)  I even was asked to help with wedding decorations for a friend.  That was very fun.  We made a little over 100 jars of jam for guests.  Also made wedding ceremony programs, ect.  It was a very beautiful wedding. 

   Uncle Ivan and Aunt Kim came to stay for a very fun couple of days.  Andrew had a blast talking with Uncle Ivan about his Turner T-40  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/T-40/  I spend as much or more time talking with Aunt Kim about quilting.  It was so fun sharing some of the new gadgets I've acquired. 


Many days I have about 5 mins to quilt.  I dash to my machine and get a stitch in or two.  I have decided tht with 4 kids home, 3 will be homeschooled this next school year, I will take what I can get.  No complaining.  I have wonderful kids.

Mr. Mike's Bag

    Mr. Mike is the bus driver for my kiddos.  They love him.  Well apparently my oldest (Savannah) took a bag order from him 2 years ago & just now started relaying the message.  Can you believe it!?  I finally sent Jeffrey with a note getting his phone number (next logical step I thought).  We talked last Friday April 8th.  He has a daughter in 5th grade who loves Marvel comics.  Any kind he says.

    I went to Jo-Ann fabrics on Sat.  They had Spider man fabric (only a yard & half left).  So that's how the bag began.  Savannah saw the fabric when we got home and decided that she now needs a Spider man bag.  Both of my boys also decided they needed something Spider man.

    I finished the bag Monday (yesterday) during the day & delivered it that same day.  Don't ask about the date on my camera.  It has a mind of it's own sometimes.  Mr Mike liked it a lot.  I apologized for the 2 year turn-a-round time.  He just chuckled.  He said it was no problem & was already trying to think of another bag he could order...Yeah! 

Tiffany's Baby Gift

Tiffany is my youngest sister.  She is expecting her first baby this month.  YEAH!  For her baby show at the end of March I went all out.  I made her a baby sling from the web site www.slingmemommy.com  and a diaper bag from the market bag collection as well as a quilt.  The quilt is a crib size quilt and paper pieced.  I like paper piecing because of the crisp lines and points on the corners.  But to me it takes twice as long.  It might be just me, but it seems almost as if the piecing process is completely backwards.  I actually have to think!  ouch. 

Tiffany and I had a fun sister morning.  We got together half way early and meet at Jo-Ann fabrics bright and early.  I did let her help me select the fabric.  Tiffany did not want to know what she is having, and wanted more modern nursery colors for this choice.  She wanted to get away from the yellows and mint greens.  So she went with her two favorite colors....green and brown.  These are not colors that I would have chosen, but I wanted Tiffany to truly loved the quilt. 

She saw the fabric when we purchased it.... I texted her pictures of the diaper bag when it was complete.  I also texted her a picture of the sling (with my oldest modeling it...yikes!)  But the quilt was a total surprise.  I finished it with about 5 mins to spare before the shower.  Olivia and I waited with anticipation for her to open the gift.  Tiffany's face was priceless.  She did what I was hoping should would do....she absolutely loves her baby quilt.  What can be better than that?  All of the finger pricking and seem ripping...totally worth it. 

AWANAS TOTES

We have joined the wonderful world of AWANAS.  My youngest three enjoy it a lot.  (My oldest is in a teen group as she is to old for AWANAS).  They are all Gun-ho on everything they are learning which is great.  My doing my best to be organized (harder than it looks I can assure you that) I wanted them to have all the tools they needed for this new adventure.  We bought the books and the Bibles. Then I realized I was having to carry 6 different books to church just for them on Weds.  Not to mention all the other stuff us moms have to carry. 

So what did I do?  I made AWANAS totes for my youngest two.  They love them!  I let them pick out their designs and fabric.  I then measured their Bible and AWANA book and wall-la.  They turned out great.  The other girls love the sparkly pink.

 

 

Do I dare embroider their vests next.  Would it be weird to be able to tell whose is whose with out 30mins or arguing that the closest non-lost vest that week is theirs...hmmm sounds like another posting to come.