Twin Quilts!

Quilt One

Quilting on Quilt One

This is a first for me--quilts for twins!  I finished them last week and got them shipped yesterday.  Yippee!!

Quilt Two

Quilting on Quilt Two

I'm sure you've figured out that these are scrappy creations.  Sometimes when I want to sew without thinking, I pull out my 2 1/2" squares and make 9 patch blocks.  I have several extremely exacting methods for making these (tongue in cheek, of course!): 

1.  Put together really strange color / fabric combos.
2.  Sew together fabrics that I have enough squares to make a block out of.
3.  Blindly sew the fabrics on the top of the pile.


The recipient twins are a year old and I want them to be able to easily identify their own quilt, so I gave the quilts very different bindings.

Hooray for finishes!!  Lots of Gold Stars today.  :)

Praising God Today!
pam

Linked to Whoop Whoop Friday!  and Crazy Mom Quilts.

Organizing my Efforts

I've been sorting through my collection of projects, fabric, and assorted bits and pieces of crafty endeavors. 

I seem to spend a lot of time starting things.  I'm not quite so gifted in the finishing department.  Starting new projects and trying out new techniques and color combinations is very exciting to me.  That's good.  Since that's an exciting part of my creativity, I want to keep it.

But I also enjoy seeing projects through to completion.  This is a deeper joy.  This is an area that I need to further develop this year.

Bonnie Hunter has been talking on recent Quilt Cams about Finishing.  She is choosing Finish as her word for the year.  She suggests that people stop working on so many projects at once and devote their energy to seeing one at a time through to completion.  Bonnie recommends having one project that you are piecing, one that your are quilting / finishing, one that is being pieced as a Leaders / Enders project, and one that you are hand piecing and carrying with you for all those odd little moments that come up in the course of life.

I like this plan.  I'm trying to corral my efforts to line up with her ideas (in my own quirky way, of course!).  In addition to her project designations, I also have one quilt that I am hand quilting. 

As I sorted my projects, I figured out another way to help myself keep moving forward with my projects.  I chose a project and designated it as being "On Deck".  I put all the parts for that project together in a box along with a list of what needs to be done.  This is very helpful to me because I tend to lose steam when I do complete a quilt or project, because I can't seem to decide what to do next.  Now that decision is already made and I can look forward to the On Deck project!  Plus my mind is now thinking about the On Deck project and puzzling through the creative questions involved with putting that top together. 

The list helps me to clue in to where I was headed with this
project and what still needs to be done.

How do you keep your projects moving along?  Please share your tips with us!

Praising God today!!

many blessings,
pam

New Directions

I've been doing lots of thinking about the New Year.  Evaluating the activities of my life.  Figuring out what works and what doesn't.  I love January for all the hope and newness of it--January is bursting with possibilities!  I'm working on setting goals.  My husband and I have been setting goals each January for many years.  We find this habit to be very beneficial. 

While mulling around on the goal thing (goal-setting requires lots of mulling-around time for me!), I decided to reclaim a buried machine in my laundry room.  I've been doing some finishing work with bindings for the quilt ministry, so my electric machine is set up with the walking foot.  Switching feet and settings and thread when I need to piece something is certainly a do-able task, but really not necessary when I am blessed to have another machine!  Duh!

I should have taken a picture of the buried treasure when I started this little New Year's endeavor.  Here is the machine uncovered.  Hooray!

Singer 201.  Love this machine!!

Pulling back to give you a better view of the laundry / sewing / mudroom / animal supply room / milking supply room / canning closet / if you can't find a spot for it, put it in here-room....

Our laundry room gets a LOT of action!

And now to look at the adjoining dining space to see some of the offending clutter that was removed during the process:

Table full of stuff to be relocated.  More on the floor. 

I'm enjoying my 2-machine set up!  Hooray! 

Here is my other girl.  I love these old machines!  I sprung for some Aurifil quilting thread to use on this one and am in awe at the beautiful stitches.  :)

Sweet color, but don't be fooled--she's a workhorse!

So what are you doing with January and this whole new year that spreads before us? 
Are you changing directions with anything?  Or maybe just tweaking what you are already doing?
Will you learn a new skill?  Or change a habit?

Praising God each and every day!

many blessings,

pam

Slow Stitching

I enjoyed Kathy's post this past Sunday and was inspired to get out some of my own Slow Stitching. I've been hand sewing these blocks for a while.  It's easy work, but does require that you sit down and relax and stitch.  Sometimes I forget how nice simple sewing is.  Thanks for reminding me Kathy!

playing with the setting and a white-based
background fabric

After stitching a while, I played with the setting.  My daughter got excited and thinks this should be a quilt for a baby girl.  Which led to the question--"Who is expecting a baby girl?"  She didn't know, but says there's always someone at church having a baby.  Good point.

I had kind of thought this might grow larger than a baby quilt.  Time will tell.  I'll keep stitching these as the spirit moves me.  When I grow tired, I'll likely call it big enough!  I sew a lot without a definite plan in mind.

maybe gray?

Hope you are enjoying the sweet rhythm of this day.

many blessings,
pam


Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
                 Lamentations 3:22-23

Linked to Kathy's Slow Stitching.

Itty Bitty

First 2 stars.
These finish to 2 inches!!

I'm sewing up stars per the mystery directions at Temecula Quilts.
I knew the cutting sizes seemed small, but chose to take the path of denial even though I was cutting little 1" squares!

I've never worked this small before.  It's not easy, but strangely fun.  It makes no sense from a practical standpoint, but I have to giggle at these tiny blocks.  This is a serious stretch to my sewing skills, but I think I can still make these girls go together.

2 inch Stars next to 6 inch 9-patch block!

Hope you are having a fabulous day!

blessings,
pam


May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
                 Psalm 19:14

Friday Fun!

Scrappy String Quilt
I  love the little hands holding the quilt!
And if you look closely, you'll notice our sock collection
which is quite handy because you never really know when
when your feet will get cold and you might want a sock!

Hooray!!  I have a finish!  A finished top, at least (celebrate every victory, I say!)  Remember my post about playing first?  Well, guess what?  When you sew a little every day, you actually get things done!  Funny how those things go together!!

This quilt is made entirely from my stash.  I found a box with the scrappy string blocks with the purple centers and decided to play with sashings and cornerstones.  The outer purple border was chosen because I had enough of it (I know you were hoping to hear of my genius and creativity, but no...sometimes a fabric makes the cut simply based on yardage on hand!)

I am actually thinking of having this machine quilted by a friend with a longarm!  GASP!  This is a major step towards creative happiness for me.  You see I've always felt that I had to complete all of my quilts for them to be mine.  I love finishing my own quilts, but this is so freeing to dump my rigid rules and allow myself the freedom to choose to send my top for quilting. 

Wednesday Night Quilt Ministry
Sarah C. is standing near the center--in the white shirt

I am so blessed to get to sew and fellowship with dear friends every week!!  I took these pictures at our weekly quilt ministry gathering.  Sarah calls it our Sweat Shop!  There is so much going on in this room every week.  I think of it as organized chaos. 

Another view of our  precious group. 
God is so good to us!

Sewing with friends has blessed my life beyond measure.  I am so thankful that I get to be a part of this quilt ministry. 

***********

Last night I saw a Christmas sewing project that made my heart skip a beat.  It's actually a mystery type thing, I think.  I'm new to this way of playing.  Anyway, I got all jazzed up (I finished that top, so of course I should start another project to keep the solar system equilibrium in order!) and cut nearly all the pieces and will be ready to sew when they post the first step. 

This is even more fun because I pulled all the fabric right out of my stash.  I'm not against buying fabric (oh no, not me!), but I get a special thrill from using what I already have. 

So tell us what fun thing you are doing today!!

may your day be blessed beyond measure!
pam


This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
              Psalm 118:24
Linked to Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday!
Also linked to Crazy Mom Quilts!

Play First!

Morning Play Time
Right on the table--complete with Salt & Pepper
and a Green Smoothie for breakfast!

I "remembered" something a couple weeks ago.  A very important something.  Something that I need to not forget again. 

Any idea what I'm talking about?

How to play. 

Crazy, huh?  Yeah, well forgetting to play will make you (and most likely those around you) a little crazy.  Can I get an Amen?  (family all nodding in unison)

Here's how it goes with me. 
I'm the first-born, overachieving, driven, type A kind of person.  (makes you want to run right over, doesn't it?!)  It's easy for folks like me to get so caught up in crossing things off the (never-ending) list, that we miss playing and having fun altogether.  (guilty as charged)

For over a year I have been driven by some hateful little demon (you've seen the pictures of the devil sitting on a person's shoulder?) that told me this lie:  "if you just work a little harder for a little longer, you'll get all this stuff done and have time to play and do the stuff you really want to do."  I believed it.  IT'S A LIE!

Working without taking time to rest and play will drain your very soul.  Crossing things off the list will become empty.  Sorrow and mean-spiritedness will take up residence in your heart.  Don't take this path!  It's no fun.  If you are on this path called WorkWorkWork, turn back!  You really can turn around.

How did I see the light?  I awoke one morning and felt like crying about all that "needed" to be done.  And I felt like crying the night before, too, because I really wanted to work on a quilt, but was completely out of energy.  That was my cycle.  I thought that stitching at end of the day was my reward for hard work.  But I never got to the end of what I thought had to be done to get my "reward"....and if I did, I was simply too tired to claim the prize.  Sad, huh?

So what's the answer? 
Play First!

Moving forward with a UFO.
Some of the colors aren't reading right in this picture,
but I need to  find a better answer for outer border cornerstones.
Trying not to get uptight about it--
Progress is better than Perfection!

I do set a timer so that I don't Play All Day (family still needs to be fed, don't-cha know?!)  The timer helps me relax and fully enjoy the time that I have.

Some interesting discoveries with the Play First plan:
1.  My whole day is brighter.
2.  I still get lots of things done on The List!
3.  My positive, creative energy is contagious to the rest of the household as they begin their day. 
4.  Most days I'm able to claim the Reward at the end of the day and sew some more!! 
5.  I'm excited to get out of bed (and don't feel like crying!)  Hooray!

Please refer me to this post if I return to my cranky, driven, workaholic self.  (I tend to be a slow learner and am often required to repeat the lessons of life.)

many blessings,
pam


May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.         1Thessalonians 5:23-24

Twins!!

A dear friend of mine had twin boys last week!!  They are both strong and healthy, each weighing in at over 6 pounds!!  This sweet family is adjusting from having 2 children to having 4!  They don't really need another person hanging around while they go through this transitional time, so I'm going to busy myself making quilts for them instead.

Times like this make me glad for one of my odd habits. 
I like to piece blocks without a quilt in mind.  I just sew the blocks to play with the fabric and the block design, knowing that I will pull them out at a later time and grow them into a quilt.  I tend to get bored working straight through on one quilt from start to finish, so I work in this piecemeal method instead.

Here is my collection of solids with some scrappy blocks that I pieced in 2010.  I don't typically remember when I piece blocks, but I clearly remember sewing these blocks while living with my mother-in-law after our house flooded.  Making these blocks was one of my methods for stress relief.

Playing with the blocks.  Auditioning some different fabrics.  This is one of my favorite parts of quilt making.  I love playing with blocks and assorted layouts. 

Switching gears to grey.  This has potential I think.  Normally I prefer brighter solids to bring blocks together, but I think this grey makes the scrappy blocks sparkle.

And here it is with smaller blocks in the corners.

Now onto my  next dilemma....what to do for the second quilt.  I  don't have a lot of these blocks left.  I could do a simple design like this.

OR....Here is another quilt start in my bag of tricks!  Very different from the other.  It's a lot larger.  I could cut it down though.

Here's another view that shows the coin strips better.  It's all scrappy without much rhyme or reason other than having green as the primary coin color.

Any suggestions??

blessings,
pam

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

Interesting Project Up for Grabs!

The last thing I need is another project, so I'm hoping one of you will claim this beauty!
I love how the maker alternated colored prints with rows of white.

And Look!  You even get to finish putting the setting blocks around the edges.  I might be tempted to just square it off and use the center...maybe use the star points for something else.  I better quit thinking up ideas before I give in to the temptation and place a bid!

You can find all the details about this unfinished treasure on ebay.

What would you do with this quilt top if it showed up under your Christmas tree? 
Hmmmm.......Would you finish it?  Use it?  Stash it away?  Pin it to the wall?  Make your dog a cushion out of it?  (I hope not, BUT it would make some cute pillows!)  Run screaming from the room?  Take it apart and use the little scrap patches? 

blessings,
pam