Another WIP Completed

Wow! This month I have finished 3 WIPs. I have a couple of more WIPs to do. One is an antique (maybe vintage) wedding ring quilt top. The other is also an old quilt top made by my husband's grandmother out of old clothes. It has an assortment of fabrics other than cotton. I can show you two of the quilts I finished. The other is a surprise for someone and I must get it in the mail before showing. It is an interesting quilt and not like any I have seen on my blog hopping.

I am always wanting to be more creative in my picture taking but I think I have a lot to learn. This first quilt is "my quilt". My husband went on a school trip to Wyoming--without me. He went shopping at a quilt shop and the wonderful ladies at the quilt shop helped him pick out these fabrics and also the pattern. He bought the material home and said, "Make you a quilt." At the time I was always making quilts for grandbabies. So here is "My Quilt."

My husband capture this quilt blowing in the breeze. I liked the quilt with the sky background.

Sampler Quilt

I have been working on a strip quilt but ran out of thread on the final border. The local quilt shop (30 miles close) was out of the thread and had to reorder. So I decided to finish quilting a quilt I have had for a while. Years ago, I began by hand quilting it, but it was taking too long--since I never would pick it up to quilt. Anyway, I decided to finish it by machine quilting. I really had fun because I quilted much of it free hand. The quilting is not perfect, but it is my quilt and I love it.

My big, big problem is my wavy border. I think since the quilt has been finished for three years and just being sifted from place to place caused some stretching in the border. Hopefully, the strip quilt will be an improvement on the border. I will post it soon.

Back to this quilt--I saw a similar quilt hanging in one of my favorite quilt shops -- Yoder's in Shipshewanna, IN. On one of my trips up there, I bought the pattern and some 30's fabric. I later bought some more 30's fabric in a shop on the coast of Mississippi. That shop is no longer there after Hurricane Katrina washed it away.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

May the Lord richly bless each person reading my blog.

Sunday -- Heirlooms

After spending much time cleaning out the home where I was raised and also, in the same house, my mother was raised, there are lots of wonderful memories. We have found lots of beautiful heirlooms. I found this video by Amy Grant and--at this time--is so beautiful to me. And, yes, my memories and my Savior are more than an heirloom to me.

Sharing

As earlier posted we have been dividing furniture from our childhood home. My grandmother had some beautiful pieces of furniture and I wanted to share some pictures.

The first was her bedroom suite. My sweet niece has it in her bedroom now. I know she will love and cherish it.

This wardrobe was in my grandmother's bedroom. Her furniture came from Germany many years ago. We have always been told (and amazed) my grandfather moved all this furniture in the back of a small pickup truck from Auburn, Alabama to our home in Mississippi which is about four miles from the Mississippi River. My sister now has this wardrobe in her home. They had just finished putting it back together when this picture was taken--thus the reflection of the ladder chair.

It's Snowing

It is snowing in south Mississippi. My son and family in Michigan would laugh. I went outside in the cold and made these pictures. The first is a picture of my outside Christmas tree. Looks small--it is 17 feet tall and brightens up my hill. My sweet husband made it for me. It was a challenge to put up; but when my grandson saw it, he was thrilled and just ran toward it smiling. Well, that made all the effort worth it.

Then we wrapped lights around our columns and banister on our front porch. Looking a little like Christmas around here. Next is the inside.

Sharing

My new furniture--Thought I would share my new piece of furniture--a marble top dresser. Actually, this piece was in my bedroom when I was a child. It belonged to my family and was the dresser that went with the bed my mother was born in. The dresser was given away to a needed family and just in the last few years returned to our family. Since my parents are now living in an assisted living home, I was the blessed recipient of this beautiful piece.


This china cabinet is filled with cut glass and crystal I also received. I had so much fun unpacking and placing it. Every time I look at it, I will be reminded of my dear grandmother and how she loved her cut class and also how many times I dusted it as a child growing up.

Christmas Table Topper

I finally completed my "simple" Christmas table topper. I had trouble quilting it because my machine would not cooperate. My husband helped me level the quilting frame, and the machine worked like a dream.

Taking a picture of my quilts is a challenge. My favorite place to take a picture is my front porch. I like the sunshine.

Oops! Give credit where credit is due -- this quilt was made from two Moda "Crazy Eights" charm pack and idea came from ModaBakeShop. For the white I am using a sheet from IKEA--which is another story. No IKEAs around Mississippi, but I found one in Atlanta. An IKEA store is a pretty amazing place.

Tuesday Pictures

Just sharing pictures of two of my GRANDchildren. . .

Can you tell we live in hunting country?

My Latest Project

This is my latest project. Hope I enjoy my homemade purse. I really added lots of pockets and I think I will love that. This is an interesting bag because it has an removeable tote. That made the construction more time consumming. The verdict is still out on whether I will like this or not. I did learn quite a few things and hopefully if I do this again, it will be easier. The tote measures 12" x 10" x 5".

Thursday

Oh, what a great day. I kept Josie Clare (4 months) and Jase (2) all day. They were so good and I had a wonderful time with them. My friend, Harriette, sent me a list of quotes and this one caught me . . . "Kids are like sponges. They absorb all your strength and leave you limp. Give'em a squeeze, and you get it all back."

I also have a new button on my blog--Company Girl. I have been seeing this on http://www.homesanctuary.com/ blog which I check every update. I knew Rachel Anne was special and today she introduced her neighbor and friend who is Priscilla Shirer. Wow! Priscilla has done Bible Study video series with Beth Moore and Kay Arthur. Rachel Anne will be blogging for Priscilla. How awesome!

Just one more sharing--the Lord showed us favor on something we have been praying about.

Give Away

Jackie at Canton Village Quilt Works is having a great GiveAway and sharing her fortune of Moda fabric. Check her out at http://cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/.

Our Trip

"Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, Thou art very great . . ." Psalm 104:1

Our mission team of 6 returned from Peru on Monday morning after rather difficult plane connections that caused us some stress...but we made it safe and sound.

Our trip is beyond description . . . we traveled over 9,000 miles by plane, bus, motor taxi, beat-up van, new van, train, small taxis, and foot. (How many Americans can you get in a taxi--not as many as Peruvians.) We saw some of the most beautiful sites in the whole world. The mountains were awesome but the people were more than awesome. The Peruvian people are such kind and loving ones.

Our mission team visited the orphanages our small church has funded. Can you imagine entering an orphanage that you have never seen and 29 kids greet you with a hug, kiss, and I love you, Martha. . . with a Spanish accent in English? I have never experienced anything quite so marvelous.

Here is picture of the girls and boys in the girls' orphanage. The boys will have a new building within the next year. The girls' orphanage is named Talitha Koum meaning "Little girl Get Up". The boys' orphanage is named Elim meaning "Oasis".

Puppets . . . remember the puppets I made . . . how much fun! We had Bible School on a basketball court outside the orphanage and invited the neighborhood. On Saturday night we fed hot dogs to more than 200 people. God blessed us every step of the way.

We did get to do some traveling. One of my favorite things to see were the Peruvian women making their crafts. A scarf may take days to complete, and they sell them for just pennies. This is me examining the threads as this lady makes small weaved bracelets. See the awesome view she has as she works. The weather was perfect, too.

Debbie and I were discussing the handmade scarfs.

We then traveled to Machu Pichu. Here is a picture of my husband, Sonny, standing above the ruins.

This is a picture of me as I sit above the miraculous site of the Inca Bridge.

This is just a picture of the clothing of the Peruvian women.

And lastly--our "very reliable guide", Jack. We could not have made it without him.

Our trip was so wonderful. God is a Big God and bestowed blessings every step of the way.

Pillow Case

As I prepare for my trip to Peru someone said I would need to carry my own pillow. So I bought a small travel pillow and made me a pillow case for it--which I am sharing. I like it so much, I think I will make another one for me and one for Sonny. I have a cool tutorial which makes this so easy to make. I will try to create a picture tutorial to share.

Getting Ready for Peru

Well, my parents are settled in an assisted living home. They are three hours away but I had a nice visit yesterday. They looked great. While there I went with Mom to a tie-dying workshop. I am not sure who had more fun--her or me. I thoroughly enjoyed being with all my mother's fellow residents. One delightful man named Ross was incrediable at remembering everyone's name. He called me "Maa-tha".

On Thursday and today I have worked on hand puppets to use on our mission trip to Peru. We plan to conduct a Bible School. This will be a challenge since none of us going speak Spanish. We will have our wonderful and faithful guide and interpreter, Jack.

Here are my puppets. I will let the children make the faces with glue on eyes or using fabric paint. The colors are navy, yellow, lime green, red, and green.

Checking In

Just in case anyone checks my blog--I am very busy these days helping my parents' move to a retirement home. Most of my day is spent at their home.

They will be moving shortly and all of the children and friends hope they will be comfortable. I knew when I first caught sight of the retirement home that I would like it. The house is yellow with white trim and has a front porch with rocking chairs. (They love their porch and rocking chairs. This would be one thing they would have missed.) When entering the home, there is a golden retriever to greet you. Three meals a day prepared by a great chef would be a treat for anyone. Ice cream and coffee are available 24 hours a day. My parents will have their bed made daily, apartment cleaned weekly, and clothes washed and folded weekly. The "positive" list goes on forever. There are some "negatives" like leaving your home and friends, and family. (They have family and friends where they are moving.) My mother has lived in the same house since she was 2 minus 6 years of my early life. They are both being positive and will take a little Mississippi sunshine to their new Louisiana home.

Hopefully in a few weeks I can get back to my quilting. I have so many projects in the works. (My mother can check my blog and hopefully get a glimpse of some completed projects.) Until then, God bless you.

Too Much Fun

I told you I had too much fun checking blogs. One day I will have an original thought--but not today. I did my own sign.

Street Sign Generator

Blogs -- So Much Fun

Oh, how I wish I had time to play in my quilt shack! Each morning I check my favorite blogs to see what these ingenious ladies are doing. Now--I want to do all the crafts.

Look what I found this morning:

Make a designer hospital gown. Check this link, too at Skip to My Lou blog. How neat is that?

Make useful items out of ice cream cartons. Cool!

Look at this precious Memo Board. I am going to work on one of these soon.

Make your own Lick and Stick paper -- homemade stickers.

And then for an inspirational thought for the day, I love checking out Rachel Anne. What an uplifting blog!

I will think on these things as I sit on the lawn mower and cut grass--along with my thoughts and prayers of mission trip to Peru, crafts for children in Peru, parents transition into retirement home, grandkids, son's job hunting, learning a few Spanish words, etc.

Wednesday

Today is a beautiful day outside. Hopefully, it is as cool and nice tomorrow when I cut the yard.

My days in my quilt studio have been far and few between. Lots going on here in the country.

I now have a picture of another tag blanket I made for Josie Clare. Hers has a satin back. Hope the babies will enjoy their tag blankets.

Sew Many Ways

Sew Many Ways blog has a great giveaway. Check out her blog. Every Tuesday she gives you a cool, inexpensive tool tip--http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2009/08/give-away.html