New Quilt for Conner

I have been working  nights on a new quilt for Conner.  He has moved into his own room with new "Cars" sheets.  I found the fabric for his new quilt and curtains for his window.  

The very first quilt I made was for him.  I had not had a quilting class or spent time studying quilt books.  It was soooo bad.  I did learn a lot though! After my community ed class taught by Amy.  I became addicted to quilting as my stress reliever!

My first attempt at quilting!

Conner with my first quilt.  April 2009

Kansas City Star Block #3

Block #3 of the Vintage Kansas City Star BOM is entitled, "Necktie."  It was published in the Kansas City Star Newspaper on April 27, 1929.

Today I received an awesome book in the mail  from a blogging friend whom I have very much enjoyed reading her posts.  How perfect to go with the BOM I am working on! 

I have learned to value life experiences that blogging friends share from the past.

Delightful Dilemmia

We know it won't last...but we are enjoying this unusual weather!  It was 82 deg. this afternoon.  The past few days it has been in the upper 70's with sunshine.  The ice is off both of our ponds and the ice on most of the lakes is dark and slushy.   Usually we are still under many inches of snow and have been known to have snowstorms the first day of spring!

Delightful Dilemma--Lost 45 lbs. Spring clothes don't fit!

Saturday night I finished Block 1 of the Vintage Kansas City Star Block of the Month.  This one is "Nosegays."  There were 34 pieces in this block!  WooHoo...Not once did I have to rip!


The second block was much easier...I see from the pic that I need to check my pressing on the right corner.  It is called "Fair and Square."



This is the first time I have tired a BOM from an online fabric store. I have found there is a lot of left over fabric.  The fabric is all Kansas Troubles by Moda.

FNSI Results

1st: I finished quilting Hawke's John Deere quilt.  This is the first time I have pieced the backing.  I only had one yard of the backing fabric so I pieced two strips to line up for the ducks and teddy bears.  Then I made a few more green and orange blocks.  It is also the first time I have sewed the binding by machine.

After the John Deere Quilt came the table topper I'm making for one of the para-educator's in my classroom for her April 1st.  She is an awesome gal who works one on one with one of my students with Down's Syndrome.  This student  is non verbal and very low functioning.  They recently moved into  a cabin in the woods.  I thought the Northern Botanical fabric be great in her home.  I used it to practice my FMQ.  This binding I sewed by hand.

Since Michigan State was still playing..(Big Ten School) I pulled out the quilt for Travis & Becky's "if I'm a boy."  I finished hand sewing the binding.  The "If I'm a girl" and "If I'm a boy" quilts are ready when he/she decides to arrive!

Tonight the Badgers, Indiana and Ohio State all play.  I just may have a Saturday Night Sew In also!

Friday Night at My House!

Tonight's the night!  I plan on spending the night in front of my sewing machine with projects to finish!  

While DH is watching NCAA basketball.  I will look up from sewing to watch the scores.  The problem is he keeps channel surfing between games so I never know for sure which teams are playing!

Go Badgers!!                                          BIG TEN ALL THE WAY!

Saturday Give Away...

I am cleaning and trying to do some organizing today.  I have three books to give away.  Two are Jennifer Chiaverini books.  The Third is titled, "Patchwork Christmas."  The story of how a retired teacher leaves a patchwork quilt to two of her former students.  It is a great "feel good" story.

All three are to give away.  Let me know which one you would like to have.  That way  I am able to share with three friends!

I  "value the gift of friendship".. Even those  I only know through blogging!

Finally a Finish!

 

Last fall before our special friend, Nancy, lost her two and half year battle with cancer at 56 years old,  I promised I would make quilts for her grandbabies when they arrived.   She had been unresponsive for a few days when her DS and DIL told her they were expecting a baby  in the spring.  She opened her eyes, sat up and smiled at them before she lie back down with her eyes closed.  It was one of her last responses.  

The baby is due the first week of April. This will be the  if "it" is a girl quilt. I just finished hand sewing the binding.  I also stitched the binding to the "boy" quilt so only  hand sewing  is left.  Hopefully, I will finish that tomorrow night.  (While watching the Wisconsin Badger's play basketball!)

Life has been extremely challenging the past two and a half months.  I am so thankful I have my quilting to take my mind off of things for a while at night.  I turn on my music, sew, think, and pray.

Until next time--"value"  the special people in your lives!

Changing a "ME" day to a Grandma Day...

As the weather forecast became a Winter Storm Warning, all the kids and teachers were thinking "Snow Day."   I didn't want to count on it because Mother Nature has tricked us before.  However, this time it did arrive with 16 inches of very heavy wet snow.  I had planned on a "ME" day...thinking of all the projects I could work on.  That all changed with a phone call....My "ME" day became a Grandma day...The roads were so terrible that DIL-1 asked if we could have Kasey and Cole with us so they didn't have to make the usual 35-40 minute ride to day care.  It took DIL-1 almost 90 minutes to drive to work. 

DH used the tractor and loader to move the snow out of the yard.  He pushed a few piles close enough near the house for us to play on  in the afternoon when it stopped snowing.

They had great fun climbing up and rolling down the hills. 

DH spent the entire day opening up neighbors and friends drive ways with his pickup and plow. 

Kasey summed it all up with her "thumbs up" before we finally came in.  So my "ME" day became a very special and blessed Grandma day.

After DIL-1 came for the kids, I did pull out the baby girl quilt I had sandwiched the night before.  I quilted it and only have the binding to finish.  Next I started quilting the baby boy quilt.  I just finished it except for the binding.