Tag Archives: Sister

Trying A Hand at Hand Quilting

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Even though Handwork doesn’t appeal to me, I do find it quite fascinating. Especially when I see an entire quilt hand quilted. 

When I’ve said I want to try hand quilting on a small project someday, it’s been w/a wall hanging in mind. But then I came across a little flimsy of mini charms w/Halloween prints I pieced awhile back and thought it would be the perfect “first time” hand-quilting project and make a cute little pillow!

I also had a trial spider web block that I decided not to include in my Halloween Spider Web quilt, that would work for hand-quilting AND make an adorable pillow too!

Me and my sis watched this Hand Quilting video by Crafty Gemini, then set to work.  

Sis did this one.  img_1136

And I did this one.IMG_1135

Before long, I needed two thimbles.IMG_1080

About 3 weeks later, they became the cute little pillow covers they were destined to be!

We both decided we like hand quilting and will do it again!

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A Thread for Life

Broken Things

If grace was a kingdom, I’ve stopped at the gate
Thinking I don’t deserve to pass through
after all of the mistakes I’ve made

But I heard a whisper, As Heaven bent down
Said, “Child, don’t you know that the first
will be last and the last get a crown?”

Now I’m just a beggar in the presence of a King
I wish I could bring You so much more
But if it’s true You use broken things
Then here I am Lord, I am all Yours

The pages of history they tell me it’s true
That it’s never the perfect;
it’s always the ones with the scars that You use
It’s the rebels and the prodigals;
it’s the humble and the weak
The misfit heroes You chose
Tell me there’s hope for sinners like me

Grace is a kingdom With gates open wide
There’s seat at the table just waiting for you
So, come on inside  – Matthew West

 

In Between Times

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Hi y’all! Long time, no post! Oh how I’ve missed you! So let me fill you in on what I’ve been doing.

I finished my Cats Galore commission. I used a full loft batting and stitched in the ditch and around the cats which made it nice and puffy. My customer is very satisfied and looking forward to giving it to her mother-in-law for her birthday! I’m looking forward to hearing how she receives it!

I’ve also made a few bags.  The first being this snap-ruler bag. Pictured here w/a nifty coffee mug!


 The snap-ruler bag is a project from Kids Camp. Kids Camp is week long day camp, hosted by the Quilters Anonymous chapter of the Arizona Quilters Guild, where kids, 10+ years come for 3 hrs a day and learn how to sew and make various projects while doing so.

I first volunteered 2 summers ago for an afternoon.  Last year I volunteered for 2 full days.  This summer will be our 4th annual Kids Camp and I’m excited to say, I’ll be volunteering for the entire week!

The 2nd bag I made is this canvas work tote   A while back I found several, brand-new panels of this grey IKEA canvas fabric at Goodwill. I’m sure I didn’t pay more than $2/panel for it because I only  go on 50% off Saturdays. I’m glad I finally found a project for some of it!


I also made this gorgeous Mondo bag. I love this pattern! I used lovely Japanese fabric given to me by a good friend stationed in Okinawa. Thanks Izola! I also made two more snap-ruler bags out of the same Japanese fabrics and gave one to to my sis.

And speaking of my sis…she’s still stitchin‘!  She had put quilting on the back burner for a few months but recently got back in the saddle and made this gorgeous jellyroll race quilt!  Way to go Sis!
I saved the best for last!  I made this blue beauty for David’s birthday, which was May 1st. I named it My Baby’s Blues.

Oh I almost forgot! I’ve worn my hair super-short for many, many years. Back in October I decided I was going to start growing it out. I’m sure some of you know what a long, grueling process growing your hair out can be. Alls I can say is Thank God for extensions!! I got my hair braided to get me through the ugly, awkward stages! What do you think?



Until next time, Happy Quilting and God Bless!

A Thread for Life
Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding – Prov 3:13

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She’s Still Stitchin’

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Two months ago tomorrow, I insisted my sis come to quilting.  You can read about it in the Bitten post. Kinda long story short, she was instantly hooked! I’m proud and happy to say she’s still stitching strong!  


She gets frustrated at times, especially when she’s rushing to get something finished, but she’s been very productive. She’s already completed 3 patchwork quilts, several pillows and a couple “jellyroll” tops.  I often have to remind her to slow down. What’s the rush? But we all know how it is when you want to see a project complete.  

I maybe should sometimes take my own advice about not rushing. Well, not rushing so much as just not having so many projects going at once.  I know this is the norm for many of us quilters but what’s not normal is the other craziness going on in my brain. Like me thinking that since I didn’t start quilting until I was 40 that I have at least 15 years of quilting to make up for, because I would’ve loved quilting when I was 25yrs old if someone would’ve just introduced it to me !! Crazy huh? LOL! Anyway having multiple projects you want/need to finish is definitely more stressful than having just one. All I can say is, I NEVER get bored! 

And speaking of projects, I finished one last night! I did different FMQ in each block. I also used Jera’s Quick Binding method.


And, I finally decided what I want to do w/the One Block Wonder I put together many moons ago and hated. You can read about it here and here.  It’s going to be a large lap quilt for my mom instead. Her b-day is on November 3rd so I’ve got several weeks to complete it. I’ve already taken the too wide borders off and reduced the overall size of the quilt a bit. The orange will still be the 1st border and I’ll add a 2nd wider border of the brown floral. The back will be pieced w/the plain aqua and white/light aqua floral AND the extra strips I removed from the quilt top will serve as binding.





















I’ve got a few other quilt deadlines too!  The Summer Star Mini and Bento Box are due on November 6 for a charity we are working on in QA. They’ve yet to be basted and quilted.

These Double Option Stars Blocks are for a quilt I’m making as a Christmas gift for my little sis. Three down, 39 more to go.

I’d like to have Diamonds and Purples completed in time for Christmas as well. Waiting to be basted and quilted too.

In addition I have several small quilted gifts I’m working on. I’ve got a lot to accomplish so I better get sewing.

Until next time, Happy Quilting and God Bless!

A Thread for Life
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,  and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Isa 61:1-3

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