Recalibrating

The Living Water Quilt has been mailed!!  Through the years I've nagged others (gently, of course!) to label their quilts, so I couldn't allow this one to leave without doing the same.  When so much has transpired during the making of a quilt, the labeling task becomes even more challenging.  I'm wordy by nature and tend to complicate my endeavors.  Which means that labeling required much mental energy to say what needed to be said without writing a book.

I'm relieved to have the quilt done and shipped.  When the fundraiser concluded, I went from being exhilarated, to numb, to lost.  I tend to forget about that last stage.  Lostness (I think I'm making up a word...sorry about that) at the completion of a big project or reaching of a goal is a common occurrence for me.  I guess it's not something one can really plan for....You just have to walk (or wander) through the cloud of lostness when it arrives.

I think I have emerged from this particular cloud.  It's interesting to note how God timed all of this.  The fundraiser went from January to March which is a relatively slow time on our little farm.  And here we are at April and our piece of the world has come alive with green and growth and the many wonders (and much work!) of Spring.


Project 40
More strips have arrived along with one completed lap blanket!  (Thanks Kathy and Carol E.)

This lovely lap blanket was sent by Kathy!

Close-up so you can see this great stitch pattern

Completed lap blanket from donated strips. 
Thanks again, Strippers!

Farmy Stuff

Pastures are greening up!  The cows and sheep are enjoying the grass.  I notice that NONE of them are pining for the dry hay of winter.

Can I do the same?  Move forward into this season without looking back and longing for the past?

Lord, please help me to be content with this day, this season, this weather, this work, this life.

This is the day that the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
                          Psalm 118:24


Quilty Stuff

My latest creation:  A quilt top with bunny ears,
an arm, and a glove sticking out the top!

Pieced backing for the Amish Bullseye.
Held by my multi-tasking son!

Clipped to the table for pin basting. 
I gave up basting on the floor with one of my pregnancies. 
(It's not pretty when a preggo quilter can't
get up off the floor!)

Quilting the outer round of each block to get the pins out.

The Amish bullseye quilt is pin basted.  I'm quilting some basic lines attempting to get the majority of the pins out before this quilt gets put aside for the summer.  I prefer thread basting over pins, but am trying to eliminate the need for both of them.  I'll go back and quilt lots more after the pins are gone.

Quilting from back. 

May your day be blessed,
pam

Clean Water and a Give-Away!

The Living Water Quilt
(previously known as Dad's Quilt)

The Living Water Quilt drawing is rapidly approaching!  Easter, March 31, is the big day!!

I've not mentioned it in a while because I really don't like asking for money.  Of course the money isn't for me, but I would much prefer to just give the money myself and not ask for your help. 
Admittedly our house is a bit cluttered and dirty at the moment, but even so, I haven't noticed any big piles of money lying around!  So here I am, asking....

First, I want to share some more about how all this started.

Has a book ever insisted that you read it?

That's what happened to me with the book "7" by Jen Hatmaker.  I was Christmas shopping at Lifeway, wandering the aisles, minding my own business.  This pushy book JUMPED into my basket.  I kept trying to reshelve it, knowing that I had plenty of reading material at home and that I was shopping for others, not myself. 

The book was determined. 

I  finally realized that I was supposed to read this book (I'm slow like that) and begrudgingly purchased it. 

As soon as I started reading, I knew the truth.  God was behind all this.  He wanted to stretch my  heart and my thinking.  He was using this book to make me a little uncomfortable with my own comfort.  Please know that Jen Hatmaker does not make you feel guilty in this book at all.  Her writing is fun and engaging.  But, that being said, God may step in and convict your heart of great sufferings in the world.  He may even want you to offer to help.  You'll most likely feel completely inadequate for the job.  I did.  I still do.  But God can take our humble, feeble attempts and use them for great good. 

Jen talks a little about the sufferings in Africa and some of the choices her family's church is making....like not paving the church parking lot and sending the money to help others instead.  Seven made the little wheels in my head start spinning. 

About the same time, my husband and I completed an Experiencing God class.  One segment of the class really touched me.  The question was something like,
"What is dear to you that you can put on the altar for God...for Him to use as He pleases?"
On the way home I knew the answer.  My quilting and handwork and crafty stuff.  I quietly told God that He could use my hobbies and love of stitching for anything that He chose...to please just let me know.

Days later, Project 40 developed.

THEN, As I finished the last hand stitches on Dad's Quilt, I sensed God's desire for this quilt to be used for a greater good--to raise awareness and funds to build a well and provide clean water for a community in Africa.

My Dad in 2011 having fun with grandchildren

A few other interesting tidbits that God has woven into this quilt story:

1. I would never have taken on this big of a hand quilting project except for a dear loved one.  I especially wanted to finish it this way for my Dad because he was a carpenter and did beautiful woodworking.  He would sand his special projects by hand until they felt soft and silky to the touch. 

2. The timing of finishing this quilt and the surprising twist that my Dad could not use a quilt this big.  And get this....when I was about 3/4 done with the quilting on this project, he told me that he didn't really care if it was hand quilted.  He suggested that I just send it to someone with one "of those big machines"! (he's lucky I didn't kill him right then!)

3. My Dad seems to have no memory of this king-size quilt project at all.  I wrestled long and hard about giving away his quilt, thinking it was like saying he would never possibly come home.  Mercifully, God gave me sweet clarity on this, too.  First, please know that my Dad has other quilts at the nursing home with him....It's not as if there he is deficient in Vitamin Q. 
And now that I know that the hand quilting part is not an issue with him, if he should be discharged, I will zip together a king-size quilt top so fast that my machine will start to sizzle with sparks of lightning!!  Then I will promptly drive it to a long-arm quilter!  :)



Oh my....I've been babbling on and on.  Grab some chocolate and a cup of tea if you're growing weary, I'm almost done!

So here is my plea.  Please donate $10 (or more) to Blood Water Mission and join this effort.  Together with God's help, mighty things can be accomplished!  We can share our resources with others and provide clean water to those in need. 

Each $10 donation puts your name in the drawing for the Living Water Quilt (previously known as Dad's Quilt).  Each $25 donation = 3 entries in the drawing. 

Please make your donation today!


One last thing.  I would like to give my copy of Seven to one of you.  Please leave a comment if you would like to be in that drawing. 


many blessings,
pam


May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us--
yes, establish the work of our hands.
                            Psalm 90: 17


fine print:  I have an affiliate account with Amazon, so if you make a purchase after clicking one of the Amazon links, I'll make a tiny commission. 

Romancing the Needle

I started making (or at least trying to make) quilts around 1993.  The message from the local guild was all about machine quilting...Machine piecing was a given. 

I remember members not being especially impressed with people that hand quilted; all the cool people were mastering machine quilting.

Hand stitching is a slow process.  I  think of it as "slow for my soul". 

Hand stitching offers no speed, no glory for lightning fast completions, and very few adrenaline rushes. 

But with mastery of the needle, one gains much more than speed;
deep satisfaction, peace, and joy come to mind.

My world may be spinning off its axis, but with just a few quiet  needle-fulls of stitches, peace will enter my heart again.  This never ceases to amaze me!

If hand stitching intrigues you, please make an effort to try it.  Then practice it again and again.  I think we prefer to skip the practicing but it's a necessary part of learning something new. As your skills increase, you will relax and reap the sweet soul food from your time spent stitching.

I'm thankful to have a machine and it is the perfect answer to many projects. 
But now my hands get some of the projects, too.  Those tend to be my favorites...the ones I get to know the best.


many blessings,
pam

Quilting the Long Jump

I've been following Audrey at Quilty Folk and have been itching to hand quilt again. 
(which proves that you really can get over the emotional trauma of hand quilting a king size quilt!!)

I pulled out a bulls-eye top where I played with solids.  Decided it needs a border.  I like this evergreen color.

Or maybe it needs a small inner border to break it up.

When I climbed the stairs for another picture, I caught these quilt fairies practicing for the quilting long jump competition!

I hope you are having a fabulous day!


blessings,
pam

Living Water Quilt Raffle

Ok Friends,
I just set things up to raffle this quilt for Blood Water Missions.
ALL proceeds will go to Blood Water Missions. 
I will pay to ship the quilt to the winner.

My dream is for this quilt to raise enough money to build a well in Africa. 

How can you help?  I'm so glad you asked!
1.  Go here and donate money!  Your name will go in the hat once for each $10 that you donate to this ministry. 
Please send me an email after you donate and I'll add you to the drawing.
livingwaterquilt@gmail.com

2.  Mail a check with your donation. 
Please make check payable to Blood Water Mission.
Then mail to me at:  Pam Stahl, P.O. Box 1875, Mt. Juliet TN 37121.

3.  Help spread the news!! Please share the story of this quilt and send this link to all your friends. 
http://www.crowdrise.com/livingwaterquiltraffle

4.  Add Living Water Quilt fundraiser widget to your blog. 
Grab this html:  <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.crowdrise.com/widgets/project/LivingWaterQuiltRaffle/pamstahl/"></script>

Many blessings to you,
pam

UPDATE:  You can read LOTS more of the story behind the quilt here!!

DONE!!

THE Quilt is officially done! 

It measures 102" x 102".  I took this picture leaning off the top of the staircase. 
King size with wool blend batting.  Hand quilted over an eternity.  I think I started this quilt in 2006 (but don't hold me to that...I'm really not sure!)

A bit closer.  Just standing on a chair to get this picture.  The big print setting blocks were inspired by some Kaffe Fassett quilts.

Without a flash trying to show quilting detail. 
Washed and dried it this morning while holding my breath.  I tend to get a little nervous when a big project goes in for a dunk.  Batting pulled up just a bit giving some definition to the quilting. 

This quilt was made for my Dad to fit his king size bed and satisfy his long-standing love for the color orange.  After much prayer and soul-searching I know that this quilt is no longer for Dad.  It is destined for another mission.

My heart has been breaking lately for communities around the world that do not have access to clean drinking water.  It's hard for my brain to even wrap around this concept having lived my entire life with clean running water available in my home.  I've never even had to walk outside to get it!  There are places where people walk miles each day with jugs to get water for their family.  Guess what?--many times the water that they are gathering isn't even clean. 

So with all that in mind, this quilt will be raffled in an attempt to raise money for a well in Africa.  I'm working on the details of that and will share them soon.  If you would like to stay abreast of this project please sign up for the email notification in the sidebar.

I'd like to give this quilt a catchy name.  Any ideas??  Please share them.

Many blessings to You.
pam


"Love your neighbor as yourself."  Luke 10: 27

The King Size Hurdle!

Major excitement this morning as I finished hand quilting a king size quilt!  I have to admit that I'm a little stunned.  This is the first (and hopefully last) king size mammoth that I have tackled.  Personally, I'm voting for smaller beds!

Since it is so nice and sunny, I took the quilt outside for some pictures. 

In other news....My oldest son went to his first dance.  He cleaned up nice!

And here's a picture of him with The Crazies invading! 

Blessings,
pam

Plodding Along

I keep plodding along with Dad's Quilt.  I wonder if I will ever stop calling it that?

I've gotten into a groove with this quilt....hand quilting on it for just a while each morning before I begin my Bible study and farm chores.  It's such a good way for me to settle my emotions as I start the day...so peaceful and meditative.

Fan quilting from back--sorry it doesn't show up very well.

I've finished all of the center fan quilting.

The last bit of fan quilting

Chose a very simple pattern for quilting the border.

Easy-Peasy Border Quilting

The border is moving along pretty fast, so I'm starting to think about the binding.

Auditioning binding fabrics. 
Really like the one on the right which is also the
setting fabric on the outside edge of the blocks.

I would like to use the same fabric for all the binding, but don't have any large pieces of brown fabric.  I could (and may) go shopping for a brown binding fabric.  But in the spirit of frugal quilting I would really like to use what I have.  I'll most likely piece some of my brown prints and just go with it.  Sometimes the binding fabric makes a big difference in a quilt, but in this case I don't think it's much of a design element. 

Some other bits of brown print fabric from my stash.

What do you think?  Any strong opinions?

Blessings,
pam