Happy Birthday Grace

My granddaughter Grace turned 8 on February 26th.  She is growing up and changing so fast.  It seems to go faster then it did with my own two kids.

Grace's "I Am" Quilt

I finally finished the pink quilt I started last January and gave it to Grace.  I spent a lot of time on this quilt.  Each row is made up of 4" blocks with a few spacers added in to make the rows come out even.  No, I didn't think to take a picture of the whole quilt.  But the pictures with Grace in them will always mean more to me anyway.

Reading the label.

Under Construction

It is so nice to have finished something that hopefully will bring her a lot of  joy.

Happy Friday!

Julie

Allison's Third Birthday

Our sweet little Allison turned three on the 10th. She had been given a doll like an American Girl doll for Christmas so it was time for her to get some doll clothes of her own.

I used several of the fabrics Allison and Grace had gifted me for Christmas which worked out great.

It bugs me that the patterns often have the closures
on the back.  I wish I had thought of that before I
finished making the blue shirt and dress.  I would
have made them a little different so that the Velcro
and snaps looked like they belonged on the front.
And to Allison they do belong on the front.  I
certainly won't tell her any different.

All dressed.

Birthday Postcard From Grandma

Happy birthday to Allison. Now on to Grace's birthday on the 26th. I better hurry up and get finished with her presents.

Happy sewing,

Julie

Gifts

For Christmas I made my daughter Jen and daughter-in-law Victoria casserole carriers and potholders.  By now I should be used to the dark pictures my camera takes but alas, I'm not.  It probably has more to do with the lighting in my house and not the camera.  Anyway, here are the gifts I made.

Victoria's casserole carrier with two potholders.

Lining fabric.

Jen's casserole carrier with two potholders

Lining fabric.

The potholders were made using patterns from Lori Holt's book Farm Girl Vintage.  I didn't use her potholder directions though.  They were too large for my liking.  Basically the same just not as wide of a border.  The carriers are a conglomeration of a couple of free patterns I found searching the web.   Both sets turned out great.  And I certainly had fun making them.  One of Jen's potholders was supposed to be a sheep but it required some hand stitching and by the time I did that it was no longer fit to be a gift.  Some day I'll learn.

Happy sewing,

Julie

There weren't many posts written on my blog last year.  So I'll try to do a little catch up while I seem to be on a roll.  This is three posts just this month.  Wowza.  Anyway, one of the things I never blogged about was being a winner.

The second week of December was another Sew Mama Sew give away week.  It's where bloggers write a post about whatever they want but in the post they offer to give something away (often fabric) if you'll follow their blog on one of the many different ways you can sign up to follow.  Or you might just have to answer a simple question.  It's a good way to get new people to visit your blog.  I participate as one who visits the blogs not the blogger.  That may be one of the reasons I still only have 30 followers (and some of them are duplicates) and not hundreds of followers that many bloggers have.  Anyway - in December I was one of the lucky winners and I never posted about it.

This is the fat 8th bundle I received from Jayne at Twiggy and Opal.

Very pretty fabrics and a zipper pouch too!

The different patterns of fabric.

I was quite surprised that is was such a large bundle of fabrics.  It was a generous prize/gift and I appreciate it.  Now comes the decision on what to do with it.  These fabrics are not necessarily in my usual group of fabrics.  However, I've been looking to do something a little more current and this may be a good reason to figure something out.  Thanks again Jayne.

Happy sewing,

Julie

Another busy weekend.  Saturday we had a birthday lunch at the "manor" with mom.  She is 85 years old now.  Most of the family attended. There was too much food as always.  Mom has said that she never gets Mexican food anymore.  So we had a Mexican food potluck.  She appreciated that.

Sunday I spent working on my mystery quilt.  I switched the yellow for teal and love the way it is turning out.

close up

I'm pretty sure this one will be yet another one I want to keep for myself.  I have quite a bit left to sew to get the blocks together.  And since it's laying on my living room floor I may have some motivation to get it done.  I haven't decided yet if I'll put any borders on it. 

Happy sewing,

Julie

A New Year

How did it already get to be January 6th.  The last few days have just flown by and I have so much to get done.  Isn't that the way it always goes.

The holidays around my house were very busy.  We always have one place or another to run off to.  I'm not sure I would change a thing about it though.  I sure wasn't wanting to change anything this time.  There was just too much upset in 2015 to want to throw something different into the Christmas holiday.  And a great Christmas it turned out to be.

My grandgirls Grace and Allison and DIL Victoria like to buy me fabric for my stash. Nothing wrong with that. This time Victoria took some pictures of the girls picking out the fabric.

 

Allison was working hard to get those bolts up on the table.  It appeared that Grace was being a terrific supervisor.  It's great fun to have them show me which fabrics they picked out.  And this year was even better since I got the pictures that show the story to go with the fabric.  Several of the fabrics made it into my mystery quilt.  I'll have pictures of it another day.

I had so much trouble trying to post these pictures that some of the people that read it via bloglovin might not get the whole post.  I had to keep correcting and updating it.  Oh, well.  I'm leaving it, as is.
Hoping for a productive rest of the week.

Happy sewing,

Juliw  (I even spelled my own name wrong and didn't even notice it. Yet another update.)  Julie

Clue #3 for the Bonnie Hunter mystery is in the done pile.  Okay, I do still need to cut the extra pieces she wanted us to cut.  Those include the black squares and neutral rectangles from clues 2 and 3.  I'll get them done.  I'm just waiting to see what the next clue is first.  If I have to cut from either the blacks or neutrals I'll just cut the extras at the same time.  And I've been busy making things that I really don't have time for.  Oh, that would be the mystery that I don't have time for.  The other things are Christmas presents.  And I'll post pictures of them later.

In the mean time here are pictures of clues #2 and #3.  I changed out the yellow fabrics for teals.  I ended up with quite a few of those after finding out my granddaughter Grace's favorite color had changed from pink to teal.

Clue #2

Clue #3

I love the way red and teal look together so I'm really looking forward to seeing if I made a good choice.  Some people around blog land have been posting pictures of how they think these pieces may fit together.  I just like to wait until Bonnie shows the actual layout.

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On December 3rd I posted about my sister-in-law Lisa that was diagnosed with cervical cancer in March of this year.  Unfortunately, Lisa lost her battle against the cancer yesterday, December 16th.  She leaves behind three daughters - ages 24, 12, and 10.  Please keep those three girls in your prayers. They have had to do an awful lot of growing up in the last several months. And will do a lot more growing up together in the years to come. Pray that the oldest has the strength and patience to see that her younger sisters grow up to each be a wonderful woman like their mother was.

Julie

Bonnie Hunter thank you for your yearly mystery quilts.  I really needed this one.   Once again, I'll go off in a slightly different color direction but for the first clue I'm using the constant gray and neutrals called for.

Clue #1

 Here is a picture of my constant gray.  And of a few of the neutrals I included.  I used more than 50 different neutrals.  It seems I've been amassing neutrals and didn't even know it.  Many of them came from the grab bags at Whittle's Fabrics.  It's hard for me not to get excited about getting 10 fat quarters of fabric for $12.00.  Also included are many of the neutrals that have gone into previous quilts. Now comes the long wait until the next clue comes out.  In the mean time, I'll keep working on all of the Christmas projects I've been putting off.

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On another note - it's been two months since I last posted.  I wish I could say that things are going well, but they are just going.  In my last post my mom was coming home from rehab after having a stroke.  Unfortunately she was only home for a couple of weeks. She ended up back in the hospital with symptoms of mini strokes and from there went to rehab and a long term care facility.  She did talk to me the other day about the facility being a nice one.  But that she hadn't wanted to be moved there.  Well, Mom, we didn't want that either.  Life sometimes takes some really crappy turns and this year has been full of them.  They included baby Billy passing away, my DIL's mother passed away, mom's stroke, finding out SIL has terminal cancer, financial issues, questioning my faith, and issues that I wouldn't share with anyone but my mom.  This year went to hell in a hand basket months ago.

 I would say that I'm ready for this year to end and get on to the new one.  But the new year will be full of life struggles too.  Mom is steadily going down hill and needs to have many prayers that she will regain some of her strength.  My lovely, sister-in-law Lisa was diagnosed with cervical cancer this year.  Hospice has been called in to help with her needs as her cancer progresses as she is no longer able to take chemo or radiation treatments.  I pray everyday for her and her three daughters.
So am I looking forward to the new year?  NO!!!  But I do know that each day is a gift.  Each day is a chance to make memories with people we love.

As for the morning glory quilt mom was making when she had her stroke.  Well, that's at my house now.  Wish me luck on quilting and binding it in a timely manner.

Julie

These blocks make me smile. And even though I have already posted this picture I felt like it was worth another view.  I did turn and crop it though to give it a different look.  There has been almost no sewing going on at my house.  And what little (three 6" blocks) sewing I have done I haven't bothered to take a picture of.

Four weeks ago today my sister Cathy was headed to the ER with our mom.  She just wasn't quite acting like herself.  A little slow to talk to you and her movements were slower.  Nothing extreme.  Just not the same.

In the ER her blood pressure was taken and it was 440 / 70.  Yes, that is not a typo.  I didn't even know your bp could go that high without it killing you.  Later on that evening she was admitted to the intensive care unit where she stayed for several days. We were told that she was critical and someone should be with her.  On the following Monday she had a scan that showed she had had a stroke in the middle of her brain in the small blood vessels. We were told that was a good thing.  That type of stroke doesn't do as much damage to your motor skills and ability to speak.  To make this four week story somewhat condensed - mom spent several more days in the hospital before moving to the rehab center.

Today she is headed home.  She isn't 100% but none of us expect that.  We just hope that she is able to live like she did before.  That will take some time but that's what she has is more time.

What I want, is for my mother to be able to finish the "morning glory" quilt she was working on a few weeks ago.  It is still taped to the dining room table where she was starting to pin the layers when all this happened.  I want my quilting buddy to still be able to enjoy the thrill you get when you're finally finished with a project.  I want to continue to enjoy a conversation with my mom.  Again, all with time.

Just a note - if your family member or friend isn't quite acting right and you just can't figure out what's wrong.  Take them to the doctor.  Mom didn't want to go.  As a matter of fact, she was quite put out that she was being made to go.  I'm so glad she did.

As I typed this I am thinking about how mom will feel reading it.  Hopefully, okay.  This blog is a journal of sorts.  Someday I may forget what quilt she was working on and I'll just need to read this to remember is was her morning glory quilt.  I am also using this as way to say that not all strokes present the same.  They don't all have the signs you hear about.  Mom could tell you what day it was, who the president is, and she could smile and stick out her tongue.  What she didn't do was answer as quickly.  She had trouble getting in the car.  And was slow doing things.  She was just a little off what was normal for her.  Hopefully, this will help someone else know what to pay attention to.

Have a blessed day.

Julie

My, my, my.  I'm sure not doing very well at writing blog posts this summer.  Who knows why?  I've been sewing.  Just not making very much progress.

I see Lori Holt's posts every Friday about her Farm Girl sew-along and it just makes me want to play with some light and bright fabrics.  Truth be told, just about every light and bright project I've started I haven't finished.  White backgrounds just haven't been my thing.  But in this case I just couldn't help it.  So I bought the book Farm Girl Vintage and even though I'm not actually working on her sew-along I did start playing with some of the blocks.

The first block I made was this tractor.  With her great directions it went together in no time at all.  Since the tractor needed something to harvest I decided to make some sunflower blocks.

Looking good so far.  But they need some stems.  So I used Lori's "crops" block for a stem.

Lori gives directions to make a 12" or a 6" block.  So far I've been working with the 12" size.  But looking at how that "sunflower" towers over the tractor I think I'll start playing with the 6" size and see if that will work better.  These have been super fun to make and I can't wait to get back to it.

Along with these blocks I've also been working on a back for Grace's "I Am" quilt.  Since she changed her favorite color from pink to teal I decided to make the back of it teal.

This is one of the two oversize blocks I plan to put on the back.  This block measures 36" x 36".

The background is a pink floral and I hope will tie it together with the front.

So I have been sewing.  I just haven't been blogging about it.

Have a great day.

Julie

In my last post I showed a picture of my new Brother sewing machine and talked about how I was going to get it out of the box and do some sewing with it.  Pshaw.  That really didn't happen.  Not very much sewing anyway.  We had Sit and Sew on Saturday so I took my new machine with me and had planned to get it set up for piecing.  But the only thing I sewed on it was a bee keeper suit.  Yep, I sewed the helmet netting (which really isn't netting but some kind of metal mesh) onto the suit and that was the extent of my sewing over the weekend.  The rest of my sewing time I spent cutting fabric for a border.  It's going to be a pieced border so there was quite a bit of cutting.  But as anyone who has read my blog knows - I create as I sew.  And what I figured out after cutting lots and lots of 2" x 6 1/2" strips was that the border I planned wasn't going to fit the way I had envisioned.  So a new plan is forming and that new plan is going to take some additional fabric.

And look what came in the mail today.

These won't all go in my current project but most of them will.  There are some Marcus and Jo Morton along with others.  And I can't wait to get them home and washed.  Most of these are 1/2 yard cuts but there are two or three that have a yard or more.  Pretty.

These fat quarters were a "Brown Bag" special.  The offer was 10 Civil War background fat quarters for $12.00.  What a great deal.  And I'm very happy with the surprise fabrics they sent.  These will work their way into several different quilts, I'm sure.

All of the fabrics came from Whittle's Fabrics.  So far I've been very pleased with everything I've ordered from them.

Time to get back to my real job.

Happy sewing,

Julie

Something is sitting across from my desk that makes me want to be home sewing.  My new sewing machine was delivered today!

Finally, an extra machine that I can take for Sit and Sew. This will be so much easier to pack and carry than my Janome.

It is a small machine but appears to have all the features I don't want to do without.  Things like an auto threader and a top loading visible bobbin.  As long as I can sew a quarter inch with it I should be a happy girl.

I'll admit - the second picture was taken close up so that the damage to the box showed.  YES, UPS it really is a sewing machine in the box.  NO, you shouldn't throw it around.  Hopefully, when I plug it in it all runs smoothly.  I'm sure it will.  But it sure would be another thing on this Monday that has me wishing it was Tuesday.

My morning started with me getting about four miles out of town and remembering that I needed something at home.  So back I went.  Then when I got to work my co-worker came in and told me I had a flat tire.  Really?!  She very nicely called AAA who was right down the street.  A little air and I was off to Walmart.  At Walmart I was told I needed a new tire.  Lucky for me, I bought the road hazard.  Unlucky for me, the paperwork wasn't in the glove box and they were having trouble finding the purchase in their computer.  Another employee who was a little more computer savvy found the December transaction and I didn't have to pay for the new tire.  Just another charge for road hazard for the tire.  2 1/2 hours later and I was back at work.  Yes, 2 1/2 and mine was the second car in line for service.  Monday, Monday go away.

On a brighter note - it's a short week for the holiday so there will be a three day weekend to get lots of sewing done.  

Hope every one else is having a great Monday.

Julie

It's Back

My basket quilt finally came back to me.  Actually, I kind of thought Quiltmaker would have it until after they are done with the block of the month which will be February or March of next year.  I realized after mailing it to Quiltmaker that I had never taken a picture of the finished quilt.  Guess I was in to much of a hurry to send it off.  Today my co-worker and I took a couple of pictures here at the office so they aren't great but they do show the colors of the quilt well.  Can you see where the red bled in the top middle block.  I have looked very carefully at every picture and video I've seen of it on the "Quilty Pleasures" blog and have yet been able to tell that the block bled red in not one but two places.  Quiltmaker must have done some careful editing or used photoshop like they said they could and would.  Whew!

"My Mother's Baskets" aka "Quilty Baskets"

This quilt was designed for my mom.  She has collected glass and pottery baskets for many years so I thought of her basket collection when I was trying to come up with a quilt pattern to make for her. She has also always said her favorite color is green.  Therefore, all of the very green fabrics in the quilt.  I didn't find out until I made the sample quilt for Quiltmaker "Hip Hopscotch" that her favorite color is actually teal.  Apparently, teal green the same teal green that my granddaughter Grace said she likes.  I'll need to get some of that for my stash.  Mom seems to be quite happy with her very GREEN basket quilt though.  Or, at least she will be, when I finally give it to her. 

If you are making the block of the month along with Quiltmaker I sure would like to hear from you. 

Happy stitching,

Julie

So happy that the three day weekend has finally begun. I plan to spend much of it at my sewing machine.  This morning I started on some flying geese blocks. They measure 3 1/2 x 2.

And when I get tired of making those blocks I can play with some of the other fabric I recently got.

The two stacks on the right are some of what I'm making the flying geese blocks from.  The stack on the left is for the back of the "I Am " quilt.
Needless to say , there is a lot of quilty fun in my future.  And some fence building too.  We'll try to get that done between rain showers.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day.

Julie

Today I have spent some time at Sew Mama Sew where they are doing their big blog hop give aways.  I have spent hours doing this every time and have yet to win anything from this particular blog hop.  There's always a first time, I guess.

Often times the bloggers will ask you to answer a question in order to be signed up for their giveaway.  One of the most often asked questions is - what do you like best about the blogs that you read every day.  For me, it comes down to how often they post and the pictures of their projects.  Well, that being said.  I'm falling down (way down) on the job, as far as my own blog goes.  Since I started working on a project that I would like to possibly have published I've quit having much to blog about.   

But I do still have some of the quilts I've finished in the last several years that I haven't ever shown on here.  At least I don't remember showing them before. (Please, don't correct me if I did. Just smile and nod like it's all new to you.)

So without further ado, here is my quilt I called "Pretty Pieces".

Pretty Pieces made in 2010 Queen Size

Close up of quilting.

The back and binding.

This is one of the quilts I made for myself.  It can usually be found hanging over the back of the rocking chair in my living room.  Don't look for matching white seams in this one.  They might be a little hard to find.  This quilt is made from a Kim Diehl pattern. Just to be clear, the seams that don't match have nothing to do with the pattern and everything to do with the maker.

When I was making this quilt some of the fabrics I chose were a little non traditional.  One of the yellows in here gave my mom fits.  And no, she won't be happy I said that.  And will probably feign ignorance of ever making any comment about it.  But she said - "Oh, you don't want to use that one you'll ruin the quilt."  I wish I had a close up of that particular fabric.  It may be one reason why I really don't worry about too many of the scraps that make it into my quilts.  They usually all fit in there somewhere.  And if they stand out a little then so be it.  I must have meant for that to be like that.

Have a great weekend. I intend to!

Happy Mother's Day  (Mom, I love you!!!)

Julie

Still Sewing

Yep, I'm still actively sewing.  I just don't have much of my activity to share.  I decided to finally start working on another project that I may try to have published and that makes for a project I can't post pictures of.  At least any pictures that show any progress. 

This is what I have made for my cornerstones.  I spent quite a bit of one morning figuring out what size to cut the center square and corner pieces to come up with these blocks that will finish at 1 1/2".  Then I spent the rest of the morning sewing a few of them together.  And there you have part of my latest project in a nutshell.

The last time I posted was to show the projects I made my grandgirls for  Easter gifts.  This time I thought I'd post pics the girls enjoying the egg hunt.

Grace

 

 

Allison

 

 

It was a great Easter day.  Time spent with family is time well spent.
 

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On another note. I know that quite a few of you have been praying for our "Mighty" Billy.  I'm sorry to say that Billy passed away on April 21st.  He was seven weeks old.  The family is asking that donations be made to the March of Dimes.  Thank you for all the prayers for Billy.  Please keep his family in your prayers now.


Have a blessed day.

Julie

 

Easter Gifts

My grandgirls enjoy playing with their dolls so much that I decided to actually make the dolls some Easter gifts.

Grace has her new doll Beverly which goes everywhere with her.  Or at least when Grace is going somewhere with Grandma.  Last night Beverly took a trip with us to McAlister's Deli.  She seemed to be having a good time.  It's kind of hard to tell.  I think that Beverly will enjoy her new sleeping bag and matching pillow.

Doll Size Sleeping Bag and Pillow

Allison also likes to take her dolls with her.  We've taken her dolls to the zoo and to ball games.  So of course her dolls need a sleeping bag and pillow for all their trips too.

Doll Size Sleeping Bag and Pillow

These were super fun to make and very easy.  Years ago when my kids were little I made them kid size sleeping bags just like this.  They used those bags so much they were all but worn out.  Maybe the next ones I make will be granddaughter size?  The pillow pattern came from Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts.  She has a great tutorial.  I did change the widths I cut the pillowcase pieces and if I make them again I'll probably change them a little more. 

Hope my little dolls are happy with their Easter gifts.

Have a great Easter. 
HE IS RISEN

Julie

ABC Baby Quilt

When I was making the ABC blocks from Temecula Quilt Company I didn't have any ideas about what I was going to do with them.  I was making them to have fun.  Well now that I have a new great nephew Billy I know where one set of the blocks is going to go.

Front View

Close Up of Front

Back View

The borders added just the right amount to make it large enough for a crib quilt.  I had a little help deciding how to put the back together.  My original thought was to use some of the solid blue Kona fabric to increase the size of the piece of fabric I was using.  But the ladies at "Sit and Sew" on Saturday  convinced me to use the scraps from the front.  I'm glad I did.  Now the back will be as bright as the front.  After making the back there isn't enough of the checked fabric to cut even one more 2 1/2" square.  The few narrow pieces that are left will find eventually find themselves in another scrappy quilt some time in the future, I'm sure.

I mentioned baby Billy a couple of weeks ago.  He was born very premature on March 4th.  I'm happy to say that Billy is now three weeks old.  He is gaining a little weight and is up to 1lb 11ozs.  He has his good days and bad days.  We just keep praying that the good will out number the bad.  Billy and his family need all the prayers they can get.  So please add them to your list.

Have a wonderful rest of your day.

Julie