Two too cute

I know, this title is used way too much but these are pretty cute.  They are hair bow holders I made for Arely and Zana. I think their Momma will like them too. She will have to decide which one goes to whom. I just wanted to share. Tomorrow I will post the picture of the quilt and pillow I made for Luca. Tootles.

Here is my Blueberry Muffin

This is Allen in his little cocoon I knitted for him.

 In the words of his momma..he is so stinkin' cute. I am glad he likes it but he is a tall fellow, I should have made it a few inches longer so he could wear it for awhile.  He is adorable.

A little knit for a blueberry muffin

As you can see from a previous post, we have a new baby grandson.  Every year about this time I start thinking yarn, so naturally a snuggly cocoon for Allen seemed in order.

I had a pattern for the hat for a little girl...a cupcake so I made it in blue and taupe just right for a little boy...a blueberry muffin.  I just couldn't wait to see him in it so I decided to let my little doll do a photo shoot. Yes, I know she is a girl but I don't own a boy doll. She looks cute just the same. 

I don't knit very often so I have never refined my tension, but it is improving. I have a few more things I would like to knit this year, so we will see.  If not then maybe next year and the next grand baby too.

I didn't like crickets until....

My sister called one day and whet my appetite for a cricket...yes I did say cricket, however it is pronounced cricut:). Really I had to have one, several hours on the internet later I did find one, purchased it, waited impatiently for its arrival, and finally made my first projects the first day.Read instructions? Sure, sure, as I go along. So here are my projects...by the way I must be a fish because I am hooked on cricut!

Grand baby #9!!! His name is Allen, isn't he a living doll!?!  He was very difficult to get into this world but so worth the wait! I am a very proud Granny.

Run for a Reason

Richard and I had decided a few months ago to walk the half marathon for St Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis TN. Our son and his fiance' will be running the full marathon. We began going out to our military park and walking everyday. at least 4 times per week, slowly, steadily, working our way up to that 13 mile mark. His gall bladder threw a ringer in that plan. He had to have surgery, but in the mean time the half marathon filled up. We could not register and now probably couldn't walk anyway. Soooooo I decided to sign up for the 5K, now mind you we won't be running that either but it is doable at this point. We are accustom to walking that distance.

If you are so inclined I ask that you go to the  web page and make a donation...no matter how small or large, to help with the research at this hospital. A friend's young son, Luca, is a patient  battling liver cancer. So go ahead and participate with us in the fight against childhood disease, check out the team page and GO TEAM LUCA!!! Here is the link again....and you know  what?  Thank you we really appreciate your support.

https://waystohelp.stjude.org/sjVPortal/public/displayUserPage.do?programName=heroes&eventId=166948&userId=658434

The "Thimble"

This is my new thimble. It doesn't look like your typical thimble but it is a thimble none the less.

I remembered seeing them in a sewing catalog years ago when a friend jogged my memory of their existence.  Like so many things I set out to find one. I, however could not..but I have a resource better than google.  TLTKE.....The list that knows everything... Dear Jane. Yes the members of this list can find a tiny little thimble in a cyber haystack.

As I hand piece I use the thimble on my left thumb. The needle pokes through the fabric and rests in the 'well' of the heart, as I load several stitches on the needle. This works perfectly for me because I am forever pushing the needle through and sticking my thumb.  I described the way the thimble fits on your finger or thumb as a wheel weight on car wheels or like mud under your nail.

The photo isn't very clear but I think from the series you can get a good idea. I haven't tried it for hand quilting yet but since I haven't mastered the rocking motion of hand quilting I question whether it would work for me.   That will have to wait until I have a practice piece or a top ready to hand quilt.



These little treasures that we find along the way add excitement and comfort to our journey. It doesn't look like much but it is a piece of sewing jewelry I can wear at those special times when I am able to slow down and use my hands to create without the hum of a machine but perhaps the hum of my favorite hymn and a prayer......The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. Duet 2:7

SuperStars

Zana and Arely came to visit for the Fourth of July. I was able to finish their star pillows before they arrived. Both the girls really liked their pillows. They were perfect for sitting, laying down and stacking. I have several more to make and I look forward to doing so because I think all the grand babies will enjoy them. Arely asked me.."Granny why do you make things for me?' Of course I said' "Because I love you so much." to which she replied,"o, thank you."

The time we spend with the children is so swiftly passing. When they arrive it is a flurry of activity to get them in from the car with all their belongings .  They play and eat, swim and run, and then settle down for the night and gently fall asleep in their little beds, to wake in the morning and do it all again. But very quickly it is time for them to pack up again and go home, the visit is over. We kiss and hug, hope and pray . We hope the little ones will remember the hugs and fun until they come back. Maybe the star pillows will help.

USM Golden Eagles

Southern Mississippi to the top...to the top!
My son is 30!! Yes, my son is 30.  He is a graduate of USM where he was not only a cheerleader but also the mascot..Seymour. We have enjoyed many Saturdays at  "The Rock".

This is my first T shirt quilt. It was a lot of work,  one reason it is heavy! and BIG!  Oh that is two reasons:)

I made my first quilt for him before he started to college, and now I have made the first t shirt quilt for him as well.  There are a lot of firsts in our lives. I have often wondered...do we fear the firsts more or the lasts?  I am thinking about these things because did I mention, my son is 30?  I wonder what I will write when my baby is 30.

I worked really hard to finish this top for his surprise birthday party. I remembered back 30 years how hard I worked to get him here on his Dad's birthday. ( We were two hours late)
I was able to finish the top and then take it home after the party to quilt and bind.  It has taken me several weeks to do this..did I mention it is heavy and BIG? Now I am ready to give it to him for keeps. It is stressful to take someone's mementos and get a rotary cutter near them, I didn't want to make a mistake with the shirts he saved. I think it would have been a mistake to save them any longer. They are once again usable and I think although this is my first t shirt quilt I believe now the souvenirs of cheering will last.

Birthday Surprises

Happy birthday to me!!! My daughter and her husband sent a beautiful outfit complete with necklace for my birthday. After a little switching around it all arrived on or before my birthday and I was able to wear it to dinner that evening. She wanted me to feel pretty:) Aren't they sweet?  

Three of the kids are close by and we kept missing each other running here and there so I had to wait until today to get my gift from them. Worth it! I now have a Kindle. I have wanted one since they first were available.  I quickly downloaded King James Version of the Holy Bible, which I thought was great!!! I recommend everyone read this one,  (Amazon it even said...)by God.  I also downloaded  Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte.  I am becoming quite the techie with all these up to date children, and  I am well dressed too!! No pocket protector for me. 

It was a fun birthday even though none of the kids listened to me, I clearly said..."Do not buy me anything...spend the money on yourselves."   Naughty children....Thank you!

This Weather!

I know every one is talking about the weather. Of course we are, we are all in shock at the pictures we see, the videos, the devastation. It is all so frightening. I am writing this post as we are under a tornado watch. For the most part I am calm, but then so is my weather. 

Not very many years ago I would have been a complete lunatic. Which brings me to why I am writing this post. I have been in complete fear , debilitating, paralyzing fear. I was ridiculed for my fears because to others they were unfounded but to me  it was a matter of life and death. The focus of these fears was tornadoes, thunder, lightning, and wind. I didn't want my boys to watch the cartoon, "Thunder Cats" becasue they kept saying that word!  If it was raining in Texas I was afraid because it was headed our way. Yes I realize I was out of control but isn't that the basis for fear...the loss of control? I cried, prayed, sweated, vomited, and watched. I was afraid for my life but more than  that,  I was in peril and desperate to save my children, the sad irony is they are now all hyper aware of the weather; the very thing I was trying to protect them from.

I was redeemed, delivered, saved, from this crushing fear when I realized as a child I was sent to the basement during times of upheaval in the household. It was the safe place for the children in my family. If we stayed in the basement we would be spared most of the "storms" that raged upstairs.  After this realization, I began to prepare a safe place for my children. We lived in a mobile home but thankfully, my husband was building a house for us.  I took clean clothes, toys, water and snacks to the house when the weather channel predictions were ominous. If it was possible, I would take the kids  to the "big house" to play before the storm actually arrived.  If not possible I kept a diligent watch all night, many nights.

I write all this to hopefully help someone who is afraid. Plan, even of some one says it isn't necessary. Make arrangements to protect the ones you love and you will begin to feel safer.  The storms that have decimated areas this past month are frightening, take precautions, and pray.  I recall one time a preacher saying to me, " I know who was praying that storm away from us last night."  Yes, I had been awake all night praying for the safety of my community. 

Right now I am praying for the safety of my children, they are scattered all over the country.  And in the aftermath of these recent storms the people who made light of my fears respect the weather.  I am praying for your safety as well. God bless all those in the path of these storms.  I pray the Lord will keep you from fear and give you His Peace.

This is a variation of the pillow case dress.  I decided to do it differently this time. I like to try new variations on old themes.  I really like it but have to admit I love the little pillowcase dress as well. 

The pillow is the first of many. As some of you know, we are expecting our 9th grandchild.  When I make something I generally make one for each of them, so I have at least 8 more to make.  This one is for Zana. It matches her third quilt I am working on. 

The bloomers are the feminine version, I used robot fabric for the fellas.

Zana's 2nd Quilt

 I finished a second quilt for little Zana.  It is hard to believe we have not see her yet.  We just cannot seem to co-ordinate with everyone. I love the braided border on little panel quilts. I think it makes them special. I hope she will enjoy it too.  Maybe she will remember Granny because I also  have a braid.

Spider!!!

This reminds me of a line in a Dwight Yoakam song...Once there was this spider in my bed....
I made this pin using an old metal zipper. I thought it was very cute, for a spider. I think I will make a few more. 
I have been busy making little things that I will share soon, but I haven't been able to work on my quilts.  I need take along projects even though I am not going anywhere(metaphorically and physically). Doesn't  make much sense.  It is a long journey down the stairs to the sewing room. I have to pass so many markers on the way....the bathroom that needs cleaning, dishwasher to load and unload, that sticky kitchen floor, laundry to fold, and the biggest time consumer...the computer.  All these distractions make the distance to the sewing room a decathlon.  If I can just do this, this, and this, theeeeeennnnn, I can sew. AHHHH.  Instead I have little projects sitting by the sofa ready to be stitched, glued, stuffed or read until I have the stamina to wade through the obstacles to the winner's (sewing) circle and still have time for the victory dance.

Cultural Cross Roads Quilt Show

Here is the certificate for my winning entry! I was very pleased to receive second place. There were so many lovely small quilts and I am honored to have participated. If you are interested in viewing their site the address is: www.msculturalcrossroads.org

Gone with the Wind

 Here is the finished project.  Unfortunately I had problems.  I believe in an earlier post I explained the "me" factor in everything I do.  I pieced my background, machine quilted it and then formed the tree using the twisted branches technique.  I cut strips of batik in to tiny little pieces with a rotary cutter and placed them on my branches. I then placed a black tulle layer over the entire wall hanging and stippled the leaves in place.  It looked marvelous.   After choosing the black for the binding, I sewed it in place, blocked the quilt and let it dry overnight. I was on target to finish before the deadline for a local quilt show today.  All night I thought of what I might do different if I had a little more time.

This morning I awoke unpinned the quilt and decided to press the binding once more before attaching a label and trotting off to the show.  Here is the me factor....I touched the tulle with the hot iron and it melted!!!! Just the corner but enough to be a disaster. A tornado couldn't have caused more damage to my tree, and my beautiful project was gone with the wind.  I was heart sick. At 7AM this little wall hanging was a beauty, at 8AM I was near tears and by 9AM I was ready to throw it away.  I wanted to add some beads and my husband kept saying no..it would distract from the tree. So I rounded the corners re-bound the quilt...did I mention I was out of the binding fabric so I had to make do with the pieces I had. (I should have added the beads.)   As you can see the binding and not the wind, fell this tree,  I have never been very good with binding and this is a display of my inadequacy.  I am still heart sick but I am taking it to the show.  I will make another, I will learn a lesson, and with God as my witness I will never touch tulle with an iron again.

Twisted Branches

I have been thinking about making one of these beautiful wall hangings for over a year.  I first saw twisted branches at the MQA meeting and I thought it was lovely. I decided to get started because I may finish it in time for a local quilt show.
I pieced the background and quilted it and then placed the tree. After I finish sewing the tree in place I will add leaves and perhaps some beads. We will have to see where the wind blows me.


Trees have always played a part in my life.  An odd comment perhaps, but there are people who live in cities and neighborhoods where trees are few.  I have always lived in the woods.  My family spends our time under the canopy of towering oak trees. We picnic, play games, read, swim, live in the dappled sunlight.   The swing hangs beneath the branches, where a breeze stirs each time we sit with a glass of tea.  Here in the south the shade of a familiar tree is like a hug from a friend.  We are refreshed and ready to begin anew.

On cool nights we cook our dinner over a campfire, enjoying the night sounds. The rustling leaves sooth and the breeze lulls us to sleep.

When I was a girl in school,  I remember this phrase in Literature but I do not recall to whom I should attribute these words, "Trees are monuments of peace".  The phrase expressed my feelings quite well. 

February Quilts

 Today I have two wonderful quilts to chat about.  First the brown, red, and cream top was a gift from my nephew.  He found it at a yard sale and thought of me.  Isn't he too sweet. I would like to figure out the age of the top as it is simply stunning in my opinion.

It is sewn beautifully and is very clean.  there are a few tiny spots that look like rust but I think they are just age spots. All seams are secure...just lovely.  I am really proud of the top and it will be a treasure to me.

I do not know whether I should try to make it into a quilt because I feel a connection to the piecer and think I should leave her work as she did.  The second picture shows it on display in my home.

 The second quilt is also very lovely.  I spoke of it in an earlier blog.  "Union Blue" was made for the LQS to be displayed with the Washington's Legacy fabric line.  I finished the binding and now I will have to give it up for a while.

I hope all the kits to make this quilt sell quickly so I can have it back on my rack where it belongs.  

The quilt was quick and easy to make even though I have rudimentary skills.

Happy February!!

January flew past without a word....We maybe she said a few things but I was too busy to listen. We had a full house in the beginning of January and now it has settled down. I made my way down stairs pretending to go to the laundry room but I spent most of the day in my sewing room. It was great fun. I have been working away on a quilt for LQS to put on display to sell the kits. The kits are wonderful. I do not usually make quilts according to kits but sometimes it is pleasant to just get down to business and sew. I quilted it and now it is ready to bind.

Once I reached the binding stage on the "Union Blue" quilt I did a 'stack-n- slash' baby quilt for my next grand baby. She is due to arrive this month and I did not even have a quilt for the little sweetie, so I thought I better get with it. I always make a play quilt and a Sunday Go-to-Meeting for the new babies. This is her monkey quilt to play and spit upon.

I will have to find more time to do the "laundry" because another grand baby was announced this week...#9. Tonight when I am supposed to be sleeping I will be planning, cutting, sewing, quilting, and binding all in my warm bed with my soft pillow for my head and, yes, clean sheets.