Trimming the blocks

As I sewed these little jewels into groups of four I trimmed them to the same size. I felt all of my worry and apprehension fall way just like the little slivers of fabric. They were coming together, my little blocks were becoming neighborhoods.

While I was busy...

sewing, my embroidery machine was too. He is such a talented little brother;)

I began choosing the siggys totally at random and sewing them two by two. I had the opportunity to think about the hands that made each of these blocks for me. A very warm feeling.

What is a Siggy?

A few years ago, I joined some online quilt groups. The first one I joined was Dear Jane in honor of the Jane Stickle quilt. I then joined numerous others I was introduced to through the original. Quickly I began reading the chatter about siggies...I though what the heck, I gave up sigs 20 years ago. Why would would I want to sign up to exchange them?

Live and Learn...siggies are signature blocks swappped all around the globe. Little squares of friendship. I decided to join the fun. Well, just like the old cigs these were addictive but unlike the others, these are very health enriching. I joined a birthday swap along with 120 other quilters and we swapped these little treasures. We received a list from our "swap mommy" then near each of the recipient's birthday we sent them a block. In your birthday month you were scheduled to receive 120 blocks from your invisible friends. Great fun!

I decided to put my blocks together with embroidered blocks that signified each month, ending with a beautiful block entitled "Friendship". Here follows the gathering of these friends into a very warm, cheerful, birthday hug.

Bonus baskets

I belong to a group of quilters online called

"BasketCases". Thus far we have been making basket blocks and I am behind. Can you believe that? last week I began playing catch up and I decided to let my embroidery machine make a few baskets for me while I worked on the others by hand. Here are my embroidered blocks. I purchased the files from embroidery library. They take a while to stitch out but they are beautiful.

Completed Projects

I just took a peek at my Works in Progress list and Yippee!! I had to remove 4 items from the list. I finished Laney's hearts, titled "all My Hearts"...Tyler's quilt from the featherweight....3 Baby quilts for Harlie...and Lauren's USAF thank you quilt. Now mind you I need to add others but I did indeed finish some.

Gator Nation

Gator nation quilt is completed and delivered. I appliqued the center and of course pieced the rest. It is quilted with grid work and football shapes, aka ovals. The quilt turned out fabulous and I think Robby is very happy. I hope he will cuddle up with his little wife under this quilt and enjoy the evenings. Both of them remembering all the reasons they have to give thanks.

Remember the DIL who was a Southern Miss? Here is a link to her new dance studio. RiverPointe Dance Academy.This little sweetie is taking Mommy and Me class, she is a prima ballerina.

Take a look and come in to dance, it is really fun as you can see. You don't even realize you are exercising too!!

riverpointedance.com

Pillow talk

Pillow talk.....I have been making pillows

for the grand babies and yesterday I decide to make these two for my daughter and her husband. They are Saints fans but he is a Florida Gator through and through. Their wedding colors were orange and blue and the groom's cake was, what else? A Gator. He hasn't seen this yet because I am also in the process of making him a gator quilt. I thought these turned out great so I wanted to share.

For the last ten years my husband and I have been attending all Southern Miss home games and watching the others on TV. Our two boys were cheerleaders for 3 or 4 years, one was Seymour the mascot, the other coached the cheerleaders for years, our Daughter in law was a Southern Miss dancer and then the coach for several years, We have another son who is a classical guitarist, another daughter in law and our baby, all graduated from Southern Miss...To the Top! You get the idea.

My husband ,(Brett Farve fan) son,(Saints fan) and son in law (the Gator) (all USM fans) talk about football, watch football, and wait for football constantly, so at the beginning of this NFL season I announced, I think I am going to cheer for the Saints. A few reasons, they are close by and they are black and gold like USM, and their stats remind me of USM. Sounded good. My son declares, Mom you know they are winning. No I didn't ..I don't care if they win ( just like USM) I am now a fan no matter what. Well, WHO DAT! I guess they needed me in their fan base.

Snow! MAN!

The Snowman was born today! He doesn't have a name just yet but he is ready to go play tennis or ride in a rodeo. Richard and Millicent had to run out to play in the snow before it is gone. We realize to our Northern family this is a touch of snow but down here in the south this is a ton of snow. I hope you are all having a good time in your snow. It certainly brings out the kid in us. Where am I? Taking pictures of course, in the warm, dry house.

When the children were little we travelled with Dad's job and we spent time in Denver...no snow. We were in Indiana for 5 years and it barely snowed, I am not kidding. Just a dusting of snow. So they really never had the opportunity to play in the snow as I did growing up in Missouri. One winter day in Mississippi, we received about 1/2 inch of snow fall and they all bundled up, went out with sleds and snowsuits and with in a hour they were playing in the mud. The snow was gone as soon as they touched it. I wished they could have enjoyed the beauty and the wonder of those tiny flakes adding up to mountains of snow. Each time it has snowed here since then one of them would ask, "Mom is this real snow?"

Today they are enjoying the snow with their dad or with their children and they were up with sun because they know the snow will melt and the children will be grown before they know it.

Tyler's Quilt

The last time I blogged, (sounds like something I shouldn't do:) I had posted our newest grand babies birth and her quilt.

This quilt is the first quilt made for our first grand baby,Tyler. He has graduated from high school.
In my defense, I did not quilt when he was born and did not begin until he was 1o years old. I thought about his quilt long before I actually made it, I needed to have a connection to him in the quilt itself. I paper pieced the blocks in bright colors, remembering the first time I saw him, he took my breath away. He and his mommy were so beautiful. The pattern is an abstract multi-faceted star. He certainly is a bright and multi-faceted star. The next connection was the sewing machine itself. I pieced this quilt entirely on my antique Singer Featherweight machine. I had not used the machine for piecing until this quilt or since but it was the perfect choice because our dear sweet Tyler is a wrestler. I do not know if he is still classified as a featherweight but his quilt is. I hope he will always wrap in the quilt and feel the warmth of our love for him.