My first attempt at paper piecing

I have always wanted to try paper piecing but I never found a block I really liked...so.....I Googled "free paper piecing blocks" and found a neat site with some interesting blocks.

My first attempt is not so great. The geese are suppose to be in a circle.  I cut up the pattern and pieces and sewed them together...not so smart.

 

Then I tried the piecing by tracing the pattern onto some newspaper.  I was not sure how to go about it but I think I did ok. At least the geese are going in a circle.

this was fun and I hope to try some more paper piecing patterns

what do you think of them? 

Sun Bonnet Sue quilts

My mom made a SunBonnet Sue quilt in the 1930's. She told  me she made it when she was expecting her first baby.  She lost that baby and 2 more.  Full term babies that died at birth.  All girls.  She said she packed the quilt away and when I came along (C Section baby) in 1952 she was finally able to wrap her baby girl in it.  I have loved that quilt forever.  I copied the Sue and made several versions of the quilt using my mom's pattern. I need to take a picture of mom's quilt and post it.  It is made out of feed sack fabrics and all hand made.
These were made for a couple of my girl friends.  I sold a few made like these and I gave several away at baby showers.  I need to make one for me!

Living with Rheumotoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a royal pain to live with.  I am working with my doctor to try to find the right meds.  Humira, a shot you take every other week, did not work as we hoped it would.  I am now on Simponi.  It is a once a month injection.  It seems to be working better than the Humira did.  I have only had 3 shots so we will see what the next few months bring. I thank God everyday that I have a great insurance company helping me.

God gives us gifts everyday.  My gift is this condition and I am thankful for it.  I do believe it is making me a better person.  I refuse to ask why...He knows why and I just have to do what I have to do to make it through each day.

Even though I have RA I refuse to just sit and moan about pain.  Some mornings when I get up, I can barely walk because my knees hurt so bad.  I make myself walk around the house and after a while they start to feel better.  It is a strange condition.  On some days I am almost pain free and on some days I have so much pain that I can hardly walk. I try not to cry and feel sorry for myself.   Sometimes I do cry but I shake it off and keep going.  Keeping busy helps me so much.   I love taking care of my 2 year old grandbabies.   When they are around it seems the pain is almost gone. I guess I am too busy to think about it!  I love them so much and I need to have them with me as often as possible.  Sewing also takes my mind off the pain.  My hands are swollen all the time.  I can not even slip on a size 10 ring!  I am unable to make a tight fist.  But!!!! I keep on with my sewing projects.  I am able to hold the rotary cutter tight enough to cut my fabric.  I also can use my machine to quilt the tops I make.  I have made about a dozen quilts in the past 12 months.  I allow my self time in my sewing room an hour at a time.  I keep praying I will wake up and the pain will be gone.  One day that will happen.  It would be so easy to just sit and be sorry for myself but I am not going to do that.  If you know anyone with RA please be patient with them.  It may seem they are not hurting but believe me they are.
Today is a good day, hardly any pain at all.  Thank you Lord!  My hands are swollen but that's normal for me.
I pray all of you have a wonderful weekend. 

I made two blocks from the scraps from the blocks I made for Marlene...

I saved the triangles I cut off while making the double ohio star blocks for Marlene.  I decided to use them to make a block of my own.  I did not have a pattern or a block in mind when I started.  I just sewed them into little squares.  Trimed them to 2 and 1/2 squares and put them up on my planning board.  This is what I came out with...neat huh?  I am going to save the scraps from all future Online Bee Blocks I make and use them to complete a quilt for ME!!!Let me know what you think!

check this out...they are about 9 inches square!

Double Ohio Star blocks for The Bee Balm Quilting Bee

I finished these blocks for Marlene today! The pattern is Double Ohio Star!
My points are not perfect but I really enjoyed doing this block
I love this pattern and hope to make a quilt with this pattern one day!
I hope she likes them. I will be mailing them to New Zealand tomorow!!!

Two lap quilts with local sports themes.

I found this great pattern in an old quilting magazine several years ago.  I pulled it out this week to make a couple of small lap quilts.  I did one with the

LSU (Louisiana State University) theme and one with the Saints theme.

Here are photos of both of them.  They are both about 42 inches square.

I donated the LSU quilt to an organization that raises money for scholarships for local students.  They will put in the silent auction at their next function.

The LSU quilt is complete but the Saints  quilt needs to be quilted!