A dress for Abigail

My niece came over today and wanted me to make a dress for Abigail. There's  a first time for everything.  Hailli picked out the fabric and lace and I made up a quick pattern and this is what I came out with.
I think Abigail likes her new dress!

It was fun to spend some time with Hailli!

New adventures are lots of fun!

Sewing for baby again!

I finished this flannel quilt today.  I used a very light lining.  It's my version of a rail fence pattern.

Sewing for baby!

We have a grand baby due at the end of October.  We do not know if it will be a boy or a girl.  The happy parents are letting it be a surprise.  Prayers are for a healthy baby and we are all trying to think pink.  Seems this clan makes only boys.
I wanted to make a couple of things for the new baby so I pulled out my books and found this one.
I made the sleep sack yesterday and the little booties a couple of weeks ago.

There is a pattern for some cute little reversible pants in this book that I want to make later this week..  The fabric is a truer green than it shows here.  The little frogs on this fabric is so cute.  The lighting was not very good when I took this picture.

Busy weekend making bags!

I pulled out these patterns that I bought at a quilt show in Houston, Texas about 7 years ago and decided to try making these bags.

The purse came out better than I expected.

I think my daughter-in-law will like this diaper bag.

These were fun to make.   I work slowly but I think I am getting a little better at making these.

Hearts from sweet hearts.....both bees are sending blocks

I am participating in 2 online quilting bees.  For my turn I asked for hearts on pink and and red fabric from both groups!  This has been great fun.  I have made many blocks to send out and now it is so much fun to check the mail.  I have been getting them in just about every day for a couple of weeks now!
I think these are some of the most talented ladies and I am so excited to be a member of these wonderful groups.
Check out this photo of the hearts I have gotten so far.  I am still waiting for hearts from about 8 bees..........

Getting organized ! ! !

 I am trying to organize my fabrics. I pulled out a bin of scraps (I have 5 more bins ) and I started cutting.  I used my Accuquilt Go cutter and cut out about 150 tumbling blocks, then some 2  1/2 squares and some small half square bits, then I got out my rotary cutter and cut out some 6 inch,
 5 inch, 4 inch and 2 inch blocks. 

 I took the scraps from all this cutting and used every piece that was at least 1 inch square and  'made' a piece of fabric that is about 26"x20".  I don't know how I will use my 'made' fabric but I plan to add to it once I tackle another bin of scraps.

I am also trying to get my fabric stash in order!  I read about using comic book backer boards so I got some.  My shelf went from this...........

                                                                    ......to this......

neat huh?

I had only ordered one box of the backer boards so I ran out.  I ordered two more boxes and will attempt to get it all in order when I get them! 

I took all of my fat quarters and folded them and have them in a couple of clear plastic bins.  I will show a pic of that next time I post about getting organized!

Thread color

What color thread should I use to quilt my black and white quilt.? Black or white!
Please let me know which one  you would use.

A Black and White quilt!

I started this project last week.  It has been a challenge but fun to do.  Let me know what you think.  I am going to put a fabric with a black and white print for the back.  It is about 43 inches square.

Another Mary Quilt wall hanging

I made this one for Rosa. She does so much for our church.  Always there when you need her!

Heart Blocks from online quilting bees...

I am participating in two online quilting bees.  I wanted lots of blocks for my quilt so when it was my turn in each of the bees, I asked for the same kind of block. This is what I have received so far.  They are beautiful.  I can't wait to get the rest of them.  These ladies are so talented.

Black and white quilt

I have started a quilt in black and white fabric.  I will try to post photos later this week.

Another prayer quilt.

I made another little quilt of Mary.  I gave this one to a special friend. She leads the rosary at church every weekend.  She said she loved it.

Block of the Month Quilt

I bought a block of the month kit on Ebay several years ago.  I finally took the time to put it together.
It was fun to do.

Looking for fabric with flowers

I have been searching the internet looking for fabric with roses on it.  I would like to find a fabric that has roses and other flowers that are large enough to "fussy" cut out.  I have a few nice religious panels that I want to add roses to when I make them into small quilts.  Please leave a comment if you have any ideas.
thanks

This is why I no longer hand quilt

Someone recently asked me if I did any hand quilting.  I told her no.  I can not remember if I every posted this but this is why I can not do hand work.

Several years ago my husband and along with good friends took an adventure vacation.  We did a bare boat rental and rented a 36ft sail boat and spent about 2 weeks sailing in the British Virgin Islands.  It was a trip of a lifetime for me.  We sailed and snorkled everyday.  On day 11 I slipped and fell and hit my right elbow.  The hospital in Tortola was an adventure in itself.  When we returned home I had surgery to fix the elbow.
This is the result of the surgery....3 plates and 17 screws hold the arm together. 

Because of this hardware,  I can hardly do any hand work at all ..sewing makes the hand turn and move up and down and it starts to hurt after a while.  Now everything is done on the machine.  As a result of the surgery, my right hand stays swollen.  I push myself to hold a rotary cutter and manage to cut out my fabric.
It's a challenge but I love to sew so I push forward and ignore the pain.  Often I get so involved in a sewing project that I actually forget I am in pain.  Sewing is great therapy.
I used to hand quilt all my quilts.  I loved the quiet time it gave me to think and pray.  I miss it but I am thankful I can use the machine to do my quilting now.

Another quilt top quilted!

A friend of mine has a daughter going away to college in the Fall. Her grandmother made several quilt tops so she was able to pick the one she wanted.  She brought it to me and I quilted it for her. It is so big.  It's 110" X 90".  It turned out so nice and she loved it.  She said it will look great in her dorm room at school.

I made her a pillow sham and a little lap quilt with some of the pieces.  It was fun to do but I don't think I will be doing anymore big quilts tops after this one.

I was so proud of her.  Seeing my sewing room and quilts inspired her to try sewing.  She made the cutest little pillow with  a variety of little blue scraps.  It came out so nice.  I should have taken a photo of it.

 I hope she continues to do sewing projects!!!!

Here is a photo of Hannah ( on the left ) with her new quilt. 

Art inspired quilt

I am taking part in a mini quilt swap on the 15 minute blog site.  We have to pick a piece of art and make a small 15" x 15" quilt to represent the painting.

Here is what I came up with!

I kinda see starry starry night .....do you!

Not sure if I will use this one for the swap....might have to pick a different painting.

Prayer Quilt

I saw a beautiful quilt Victoria made with a panel of Mary.  I found some panels of Mary and ordered some.  I based my design on the one Victoria from the 15 minutes blog made.  Hers is so pretty so I decided to give it a try.
I made this prayer quilt for a friend who is having colon cancer surgery next week.  I had it blessed at church and gave it to her.  She loved it!
It is only about  15" by 25" and it took me 4 days to make.   I was able to work on it about 45 minutes to an hour everyday.
Here is a photo of the front and the back of it!

FLOWER GARDEN QUILT TOP

I was digging in my sewing room closet looking for a purse pattern and I found this!  I forgot I had it.
I got this a couple of years ago at a thrift store...I can not remember how much it cost but I'm sure it was not very much. It is in great condition.  It measures 85" by 106"  Huge!
Anyway, I would like suggestions on how to finish it.  It is all hand pieced. and scalloped around the edges (a binding nightmare!) 

Here are a few pictures of it.

what can you make with curtain fabric samples?

A couple of years ago I bought a box of curtain fabric samples at a thrift store.   lots of coordinating colors and pretty patterns. 
I recently bought a pattern to make a sling bag so I decided to give it a try!
Here is the pattern I bought.

I used a couple of the samples to make my sling bag.   Here is what I ended up with.

I think it came out really nice.  It took several hours to make.  The next one I make will be quicker now that I understand the pattern directions. Ir was not difficult to make.   I might try to make a couple for gifts.

What do you think of it?

Fun at mamae's house

Alden and Reed spent a day with us last week.  It is fun to have them together. They come up with the funniest things.  Here they are on the recliner together.

The boys had so much fun with these bins.
I just had to share this picture.

Adlen had a birthday party yesterday. All the kids had so much fun in the pool and on the water slide.  He was three on Friday, May 27th. The years go by so fast.   Here is a photo of Alden with his mommy and daddy!

A note of Thanks

Today my car was hit in the parking lot of our local Wal Mart.; A sweet elderly man hit the front of my Murano...not to bad but it will need some fixing..I felt so sorry for him. He hit the accelerater instead of the brake. He hit my vehicle, the front of the store and smashed into a post. He actually traveled about 100 yards before he stopped. We are all so thankful that he did not hit anyone. No one was hurt. The manager told me that the security video showed the accident. I had just stepped out of my car a minute before it happened. I would have been hit! God is good all the time. I called the insurance company and all should be back to normal pretty quick. The rest of the day was great! The man was born in 1928!!!!he has been thinking about stopping driving. I think this convinced him it is time to stop now.

Fun in the sun

We had Alden and Reed together today.  It was a beautiful day and we spent a lot of time outside.
Here are a couple of photos I took!

                                                 Fun in the sand box!

                                            Sitting on Papae's boat.

Sitting on the picnic table!

Family Easter Photo

For Easter Sunday we had a little bar-b-que with the children.  I am amazed at how fast our grandbabies are growing.  I am getting so old...our sons will be 34 and 36 this summer....Where did the years go?  My daughters-in-law are very special to me.   I love having "daughters".  God has truly blessed our family. I am so thankful for all He has given us.

Top row - left to right - Rudy - Adam
Sitting on the swing - left to right - Reed - Laura - Alden - Michelle

I was so happy that they let me take a picture of them all together.  We got some great news that day....We will have another grandbaby in October!
Alden Jack said he wants a baby sister...that would be fun!

I miss my sewing machine!

My Bernina is at the sewing machine hospital.  She was not working right so I brought her in a couple of weeks ago.  I really miss having her here.  I will be picking up my Bernina on Wednesday.  Woo Hoo!  Since the bernina is at the hospital I have been using this machine and although I love my featherweight, I really need my Bernina to do my sewing!  The featherweight does a great straight stitch but sometimes we need that zig zag stitch!!!

I have three black featherweights and two white ones.  Such cute machines.  My girlfriend collects them. She has 16!  I got mine a few years ago.  They all were brought in and serviced and they all work really well.  I thought I would pass them on to my daughters-in-law and great nieces but they don't seem to be interested in sewing.  I guess I will have to part with a couple of them one day.