2011 Christmas Stockings

Just took down my Christmas stockings and thought I would post for my records. I have 11 stockings -- one for each grandchild. The 11th was born on December 27.

Happy Day

We welcomed Samuel Easley Coon into our family today. He was born at 8:20 a.m. this morning weighing 8 lbs. 4 oz. and 19" long. We are so thankful he and mother are doing great. God is so good!

Sharing a Little

Just wanted to post a couple of pictures.

Picture 1 -- Sonny made doll picnic tables for the granddaughters. This is a picture of J and JC playing on the stairs with one of the picnic tables. 

The girls played "Dirty Santa" but the gifts had to be a gift made by the giver. We had a nice variety of gifts. This is the gift I made.

Sonny's Quilt

Last year I started a Layer Cake QuiltAlong and began making two quilts--one for my mother and one for Sonny's mom. Sonny's mom got sick about this time last year and went to her heavenly home in February. I put the quilt on hold and recently decided to finish it for Sonny and he loves it. Right now, my grandson, Jase, is snuggled in the quilt.

I took advantage of the beautiful fall day to take my photos with Jase's help. The quilt measures 60 X 70. I machine quilted it in an overall pattern. On the bottom border I quilted the name of each of our 10 grandchildren. Grandchild #11 will be here in December but name and gender will be a surprise so will add name later.

Thought I would add picture of Jase and Josie Clare dressed in their Halloween costumes.

Latest Quilt

This quilt was a wedding gift for my nephew, David, and his wife, Taylor. I made the top a couple of years ago and wanted to custom quilt it but did not feel comfortable quilting it with a sewing machine. So this was my first custom quilt on my longarm. It was so much fun. The quilt was a mystery quilt from Hugs from Helen. This was to be MY quilt. I would pull it out and just look at it. One day I pulled it out and my heart said this quilt belongs to Taylor and David. I hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making and quilting. (Again, my lighting it poor so camera shot is not best.)

Welcome Fall!

I saw this happy pattern and could not resist. After looking a little on Internet, I realize it is a familiar pattern. Oh, well--I enjoyed learning how to do prairie points. I was pointing out the candy corn to my 4-year old grandson. He studied it a minute and then said, "but that middle one is not candy corn, it's camouflage." Takes a child to see your creations in another light.  My one fall creation, next on my list--finish a WIP and make some Christmas items.

Red and White Completed

My Red and White Quilt from the Red and White 5 inch Square Swap. The beautiful red squares came from all over the world: 37 US States, Canada, Australia, Holland, Scotland, Malaysia, Slovakia, Israel, United Kingdom and Thailand!  I loved this swap and making this quilt. My original idea was to make an Irish Chain but saw this quilt made by Sunshine Yellow and asked permission to use her idea.

The quilt measures 68" by 68" and is quilted by me on my new Gammill longarm. This was my first project on the Gammill and I quilted in an all-over flower pattern.

 

Monday Morning

This is a gloomy Monday morning from my hill, but no one is complaining about rain. I had a wonderful weekend with my friend, Virginia, and family. I am sharing this photo because it makes me smile when I see it. We were celebrating my SIL's birthday. My husband was at the deer camp, so Virginia and I set out on a 3 - 4 - 5 hour trip--oh, we had a good time. First we met at the Bottletree Bakery in Oxford, MS for "The Help" birthday party. Oh, there were some dressed for the part and they looked so cute.  The party was fun. We even had chocolate pie. Then we gathered again for a nice dinner at a local restaurant--hence, the photo below.

 In photo is Shirley, SIL; Marilyn, sister; Virginia, friend; Oby, brother; Richard, Nephew-I-L; Jane, niece; Mary Claire, niece; Marianne, sister; James, BIL; and me.

The invitation said "no gifts" so I took the "happy" below. I have been busy and have not had time in my quilt shack so took time and made these potholders. I had so much fun making these and vowed to spend more time this week in my quilt shack. I have a quilt on the quilting frame and must get it finished and another one waiting the frame. Potholder pattern from Pretty Potholder.

Red and White

Getting ready to quilt my Red and White quilt.

Women of Bible Blocks

Wanted to post a little about each block but I have gotten way behind so think I will post the ones I have completed. These are 6" blocks and a challenge for me.

This is Hannah's Altar Steps

This is Abligail's basket block

This is for Ruth--Farmer's Wife

 Rizpah -- Night Watch

 Michal -- Open Window










Queen of Sheba -- Queen's Delight

Woman of Abel --  Save All Ways











This is Woman of Endor -- Wheel of Fortune

Bathsheba -- Whirlpool

Women of the Bible Sarah

Sarah means "Princess". Sarah was the wife of Abraham and at the age of ninety, she gave birth to Isaac, child of the promise. Her life was not an easy journey. God had promised he would give her a child--but in His time. Sarah, being impatient, took matters into her own hand--as we tend to do. Sarah gave Abraham permission to sleep with Hagar, her Egyptian maid. Ishmael was born. This brought bad relations between Sarah and Hagar. Several years later, the Lord appeared to Abraham and told him Sarah would have a child this time next year. Sarah laughed and the Lord said, "Is anything too difficult for the Lord?"  (Genesis 18:14).Wow!

One last thought from my study of Sarah--"It is heartening to realize that God accomplishes his purposes despite our frailties, our little faith, our entrenched self-reliance."

This 6 " block is called Sarah's Choice.

My Mug Rug

Now I have made a mug rug. I really need some around my house for my coffee cup or tea glass. I saw this pattern and tutorial and wanted to make one. The material is from Farmer's Market. This mug rug is about 8 inches.                

Tutorial is from Freshly Pieced Blog and also Lily's Quilt.

Women of the Bible Eve

Since January I have been in an online Bible Study Women of the Bible. We study one women a week and make a 6" quilt block. I have loved the study but have been very challenged making the small blocks. There are very little instructions and I have struggled through each block and you can tell. I may need to make some blocks over but not yet.

I have had a very busy year and have not kept up with all the blocks, but hopefully I can catch up. I will posting a couple of blocks each day for a while. This will be my journal of my study.

The first block I completed is Eve. Right now, I will confess these are not perfect blocks, but nor were any of the women I have studied. Now that I say not perfect--the Garden of Eden was a perfect place with a perfect companion and a perfect relationship with God.  Perfect--until Eve throught she could have more. Eve means "Life-Giving".

Thought from Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler: Throughout scripture, God's grace is often most beautifully evident within his judgments.

A scripture: From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16

This block is called Garden of Eden.

Oh, this week we are studying Jezebel--cannot wait to study her life and see how she fit in God's plan. 

Layer Cake Quilt Along Quilt

Here are a few photos of one of my Layer Cake Quilt Along Quilts. I began the quilts a few months ago following a layer cake quilt along on Moose on the Porch blog. One quilt was for my mother and one quilt was for my mother-in-law. Both have birthdays close to Mother's Day. Back in October my mother-in-law became ill and was sick for less then four months. In February she went to be with the Lord. I continued with the quilt along and decided to finish the 2nd quilt for my husband--he is happy with that idea. This is a picture of the first quilt. I have completed all the block for the second quilt but have not put it together.

The material is "American Jane" by Moda. My mom's name is Jane and she is a true American Jane.

Using Scraps

Been in my quilt shack for a few days trying to finish blocks for two quilts. I have completed the top for one quilt and will be posting shortly. While taking a break from the quilts, I used the left over fabic to make a potholder. Pictures show front and back view. I found the pattern at Oh, Fransson!.

Monday Morn

Oh, my!!! This video is amazing and so inspirational. It is about a blind quilter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lfaSmDxVZQ&feature=youtu.be


Look what I did this weekend--another monthly wall hanging. This wall hanging is April Showers. Much of the small hanging is paper pieced--lots of little pieces. I think I have done four of these in the last three years. They are fun to do in a short bit of time. One thing--I never seem to make the sleeve on the back large enough for my dowel thus a tight fit and the wall hanging does not hang loosely.

Oh, My!

Well, it has been a while since I have posted on my blog. It has been that long since I have been in my quilt shack studio. My husband and I spent 15 days of March in Peru. We traveled to the jungle--even had a monkey over my head watching me for a while. We love visiting our friends in San Ramon, Peru.

Here are a couple of pictures of me giving my two friends, Nicole and Kira, a doll quilt. Not sure if they knew what it was. I learned to say doll quilt in Spanish.

 Last summer I posted a picture of a table runner I made for Jack's mother. He seemed to like it and asked teasingly for a quilt for his table. So I made him a quilt for his room. Goofy picture of me but this is only picture of the quilt. Just one more comment. The colors for this quilt were inspired by one of Jack's photos -- a photo of a parrot in the jungles of Peru.

Beautiful Day

I was walking past this tree and the sun was shining just right and I captured this photo with my phone. I just love the blue sky. God is so good.

Reflections of Visit in Michigan

Last week Sonny and I traveled to Michigan. We were in lots of beautiful snow and enjoyed visiting with my son and his family.

I could not resist a picture of doll quilts in the snow. Skies were cloudy but that did not stop me. 

Maggie's doll quilt.

Hannah's doll quilt. I am still enjoying my Accuquilt -- notice hearts and flowers.

Maggie's Doll quilt.

Perfect age for doll bed and doll quilt. Each bed has a mattress and a pillow and pillowcase.

 
Gabby and Hannah with their doll beds and doll quilts. Grammy and Granddaddy had so much fun with these gifts.

Not to be left out--Andrew and Jacob (making faces) playing with their
Amish toys.

When we left Michigan we traveled in snow from Michigan to Mississippi. This is a picture of Michigan highway.

Always have loved passing through Effingham, IL and seeing this magnificent cross.

Picture of David, Gabby, Hannah, and Andrew at church.

Oh--cannot leave out a picture of this super mom, Betsy, with Gabby.