Modern Irish Chain

Inspired by this post at Cluck Cluck Sew. I got her pattern and then spent a couple of days this week working on it. It goes together so quickly and I just love it!

I think the longest part of the whole process was choosing the 18 fabric prints. I have trouble with that 'random' thing. I used some Amy Butler's Lotus, Sandi Henderson's Farmers Market, Heather Bailey's Fresh Cut, some of the Posh leftovers and a print from Tina Givens. I am debating the small white borders. Yes or No??

I am also working on another baby quilt using Natalia's tutorial. Mine is going to look very much like hers. I don't have any pictures yet but I have my four nine-patches done.

I KNEW that all these babies were on their way. What I don't know is why I've waited until they were born to start the quilts!! Insane! Not all of the mother's knew what they were having so there is a small excuse for my procrastination. Okay, off to sew some more!

***HEY! Come back Monday because I am participating in the;

that is going on over at Sew, Mama Sew!

Praise - My son is finished with high school!! 13 years of homeschooling and two semesters of college courses - FINISHED! Thanks be to God for his leading in that endeavor.

Prayers - For hubby and myself - we have nursery duty at church tomorrow and there are a LOT of little children now! That we would be patient and loving towards all of the children (and that they would be well behaved!).

Two WEEKS??

How could I have gone TWO WEEKS without updating my blog? Sorry. I HAVE been busy though. Unfortunately it has not been at my sewing machine. Well I did sew one purse. An exact replica of the pink and brown purse that I made for my daughter. Other than that, I have been packing, deciding what to pack, what not to pack, throw it out, give it away.

This is a picture of the family room a few days ago. There are three times as many boxes in there now. Most of them are filled with books, some are filled with videos, others are packed with photos.

My sister who lives 6 hours from here decided to come for the weekend and help me pack. She drove over all alone - which is really unlike her and we packed. We worked on the kitchen, the laundry room and my daughter's room. Here is a picture of the entryway when we had done SOME of the kitchen.

There are MANY more boxes now. My sister took some things home with her and she helped me let some other stuff go. There is a trailer in the garage that we are filling with trash and giveaway stuff. It seems there is soooooooo much more to do.

My sewing room. Should I save that until last so that I can sew until the last minute? My son thinks I should pack it up now, along with my computer then I can't do anything BUT pack. Silly boy.

I am off to cut out an apron. I might get to sew sometime today. We shall see.

QUILT SHOW this weekend!! WOO HOOO!!

Praise - that my sister was willing and able to drive over here to help and that she had a safe trip here and back. Prayers - that my daughter would find her groove at school. She doesn't 'love it'.

Time to rein him in and for me to pay the piper

Today was the first day of school for my son. It is so tough to ask him to be inside all day, sitting still and reading books. I am thankful that we homeschool and that he has more freedom than if he was in a classroom but still...the boy likes his outdoors! He started the 11th grade today and on Wednesday he starts college classes at the satellite campus in town. He did start one online college class today. He says it is going to be a long year.

This is what he would rather be doing. Well this is ONE of the things he would rather be doing. This was taken on one of his backpacking trips this month. I don't backpack with the guys but I sure love seeing the photos. Of course if I had been there he would NOT be jumping across this huge canyon to get to the other rock. WHAT is my hubby thinking allowing that sort of thing?


Here is the scenery from the top of their 'day hike'. A day hike is what they do AFTER they hike a long way to get to their camp. They hang out, eat dinner, sit around a campfire, sleep under the stars and then the next day take a 'day hike'. To the top of the tallest point. Their camp was by that lake.


I am feeling bad for my son because he has a full load of school and hunting season starts on Friday. Hubby is making plans for a weekend hunt and my son knows that he really can't swing it. At least he realizes that and I didn't have to point it out.

So, I am on a self inflicted sewing/scrapbooking restriction. No sewing or scrapbooking for me until ALL of the 2007/2008 grades are recorded and entered and reports are printed out. I was lazy and let it go. Ugh. Just knowing that my new sewing machine is up in my sewing room, all alone AND that I have fabric there too. LOTS of fabric. Just knowing that. I got a good portion of the grades entered today. I have some that I have to 'find'. My son was lazy too. He didn't enter all of his grades on the handy dandy grading sheet that I make up for him. Now we have to spend time and find the assignments in question and fill in the sheet. Ugh. I won't do that again this year. Kids are so different. My daughter never had any problem getting her work done, setting priorities, filling in the grading sheet. She doesn't have any desire to jump across huge canyons from rock to rock. I love 'em both. I love that they are different. But man, I sure wish they were the same in some areas.

Okay, back to work for me. I am REALLY hoping to be back at my sewing machine by Wednesday.


Praying tonight that my son would have a great school year. That he will just take it one day at a time. Set his priorities and stay on task. Pray that I would stay on top of my duties and be an encouragement to him (rather than a nag). Praise - I am so very thankful that God has given us the opportunity to homeschool all these years. It has been a wonderful adventure to spend this time with my children.