4th times a charm??

Computer issues here today and finally I am able to post the pictures.



I just returned home from the baby shower where the quilt was the only handmade gift and the mother-to-be LOVED it! I know she will cherish it.

FNSI was successful for me this month!

Praise - Thank you God for AUTUMN! It is just GLORIOUS outside today and I love to see and enjoy God's handiwork especially this time of year.

Prayers - For this mother-to-be and all she has ahead of her. Praying for a safe delivery in December, first of all.

Stash Report - week ending 4/3 and something sweet

I was asked to make a cake for a baby shower. The mother likes chocolate and strawberries. I didn't want to make a sheet cake so I looked around online for some ideas and came up with this;


3 layer milk chocolate cake, strawberry jam and sliced strawberries between the layers, chocolate frosting, ganache poured over, chocolate dipped strawberries drizzled with pink candy coating (she had a girl). I didn't even stay for the shower because my back was killing me but the reports back were that the cake was a success.
I instructed a couple of gals on how to cut it so that it served a lot of ladies. Cut a good sized round in the middle of the cake then cut 1" or so slices from the outer ring to serve. When you get to the middle round you can cut that into small wedges. They said the middle was difficult to cut but the outer ring sliced up beautifully.

Here is the quilt I made for the newborn girl using the Aviary charm pack, some pale pink Kona solid and a dusty pink Kona for the binding. The backing is an off white flannel. Yes, the sides look all wonky but it must be because I just pulled it out of the dryer and asked hubby to hold it up for a picture. I didn't take any time to smooth it out and hand press it into shape. It was not like this once I had it on the table and folding it up.

I machine stitched the binding. Time was short and I was tired but I really like it and think I will do that more often, at least on baby quilts.



Stash report is really for two weeks, I never got around to reporting last Sunday.
Fabric out consisted of yardage for the camera strap, my cherry blossoms pillow, the bridal shower apron and this baby quilt. The fabrics that came in consisted of backing and binding for the quilt as well as a FQ of a Sandi Henderson Henna in Springtime. I paid too much for it but it is scarce and I 'needed' it!

2 yards in week ending 4/3
5.5 yards out week ending 4/3
18.625 yards YTD IN
43.875 yards YTD OUT

25.25 yards TOTAL BUSTED 2011

I'm reporting in HERE with my totals.

Next week's report is going to be BAD, verrrry bad. I have fallen off the fabric diet and purchased quite a bit. I think that it is all for projects that I have in mind and want to be working on and everything was on sale! So hard to resist when the conditions are right. I need to get sewing so that I have SOMETHING to show in the OUT column.

Praise - for the sweet baby girl added to our church family - Annalee Rose. Our church has lots of babies right now but most of them are about a year old. Annalee looks soooooo small in comparison.

Prayers - for Annalee's family and her upbringing. That she would come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal saviour.

Just in time

I am such a procrastinator. I work well under the pressure of a deadline but I really don't know why I do it! I have the time. I know about things in plenty of time. Yet I wait.

I just finished this apron for a bridal shower being held tomorrow afternoon.


The bride-to-be likes green. I hope she likes this combination of Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet. I also made a simple potholder to go with it. Maybe she'll try it on at the shower and I can get a better picture because I know this one is pretty bad. Taken at night with flash.

I would have waited until the morning to finish the apron but I really need to start on a cake that I am making for a different shower being held on Sunday.

Just realized that I didn't do my stash report for the week ending 3/27. I'll just add that week and this week together and report on Sunday.

I think I'll go make some quilt binding for that Aviary baby quilt. I might be able to get that finished tomorrow so that I can give that at the shower on Sunday. No worries if it doesn't happen though since I've chipped in on a big group gift.

Praise - for the safe travels of a young family in our church returning from Peru.

Prayers - For College Girl's final quarter of her junior year.

I love me some weekend sewing

I actually made this late yesterday afternoon for College Girl's camera.
I used this tutorial found at Moda Bake Shop. Moda's Bliss charms leftover from the baby quilt that I made recently.

Then I started cutting up some soft pink Kona solid and part of the charms from an Aviary charm pack that I won.
Today I'm doing the sewing. I'm working towards something like this. I don't have enough for a border but that's just fine as it is for the newest little girl born into our church family.

I have no idea why I love weekend sewing when all of my days are pretty much the same, but I do. I did run to town this morning (which is such a time waster in my opinion)to get some Kona solid for a binding and some off white flannel for the backing. I guess my stash report is not going to be very impressive this week.

Break is over, back to the machine.

Praise - Joanne's surgery was a success! She is recovering in ICU now.

Prayers - that Joanne would avoid infection and that her pain would subside. Also for hubby and College Girl, that they would be safe while playing in a volleyball tournament today.

March Pillow Party - in pictures. Lots of them.

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get my entry posted for the

Well seriously I DO have a few more hours, so in my procrastinating mind I am way ahead!

The story of this pillow begins back in October 2009 when I saw THIS tutorial by Alison at Cluck Cluck Sew. I loved the pillow and the tutorial and made one for College Girl to match her sophomore year quilt. But I knew I wanted to do more with that same method. The mug rugs that I made recently were branching out from that pillow, using the free motion quilting to applique the shapes on to the background fabric. I liked giving the pieces some texture with the quilting stitches.

My idea for this month's pillow starting brewing back in January. I knew that I wanted a cherry blossom tree for March. My first rough sketch.

Yeah I sketch in a graph paper spiral notebook. I also draw out quilt blocks, quilt layouts, figure measurements for yardage and even cookie designs.

My refined sketch;

Notice how I can't even commit to an entire page? When I sketch the graph paper means nothing as far as size of the finished project, it is just paper.

I was determined to use what I had on hand for this pillow since I AM trying not to purchase fabric unless absolutely necessary. These are the Kona solids that I had in my stash that would work;

Although in my head a lighter, shimmery, sheer pink would have been lovely.

I didn't trust myself to draw the tree and sloping grass covered ground backwards onto the WonderUnder so I drew it out the way I wanted the end product, made notes on it and then flipped it over and traced around it on the WonderUnder.



I decided to use a pale pale pink Kona solid 'cloud' under all of the petals so that most of the area seen between petals would appear to be pink petals and not sky.


College Girl wanted to help so I set her to work with my Sizzix die cut press to cut out all of the petals. Neither one of us counted how many she made but I used them all. In fact she made one petal backed with WonderUnder and then I decided that was not going to work but late last night I ended up pulling the backing paper off and using that petal as well. I arranged them and rearranged them. I too pictures to see the placement from a different viewpoint. I used a Elmer's Washable School Glue Stick (in Disappearing Purple)to glue each petal down. I pulled up a few of the glued down petals and relocated them. Then I let it all sit overnight. I wanted to see if I would like what I saw in the morning.


I did! So I got to work with the free motion quilting. What I had envisioned for the grass didn't work out so I just started moving the fabric and this is what I came up with.

The tree bark was easy. I had done the trees on my mug rugs and really liked how they turned out so I just went with that same style. I used black thread to make the bark appear darker than just the brown Kona.

Free motion quilting of the flower centers;

I just went from blossom to blossom and cut all the threads when I was finished. MUCH quicker that way.

The finished pillow - Cherry Blossoms.


I left it on the couch after College Girl and I both took pictures of it and when hubby came in from work he said "CUTE PILLOW!".

I'm going to link up with amylouwho's Sew & Tell too.

Praise - for the new baby girl born into our church family!

Prayers - continued prayers for Joanne. She was to have surgery yesterday and her husband has not posted an update yet.

Icing FAIL

I'm just going to count it all as practice. It was either that or break all the cookies and eat them. I wanted to make cookies for my niece who is turning 21 on Wednesday. Well I made them and sent them but they are definitely not what I was hoping for. I just could NOT get the icing to cooperate. Each time I have made cookies now the icing has been different. You'd think I would be getting better at it but that isn't happening yet. Sort of keeping it real here. Just sort of. I'm not showing you the full assortment because I was so unhappy with them.


I would love to be able to do the fancy lace work with the royal icing so I practiced a bit.


I had some sunshine streaming into my sewing room window so I thought I would try a better picture of the Bliss baby quilt.


Praise - Praise, Praise, Praise! My friend from church who was diagnosed with bone cancer heard from her doctor today that they believe she is going to go into remission much sooner than expected!!!!

Prayers - for my friend, that she is much more optimistic now. Prayers for the treatments that she still has to endure.

Daisy's Bliss

We got new snow!! I even went OUTSIDE to take some pictures today. New snow and sunshine, how could I resist?

This to me is TRUE Bliss - snow and a quilt using Moda's Bliss. Have you seen the peeks of Camille & Bonnie's new line? RUBY looks like she would play quite nicely with Bliss.



Quilt was made using Elizabeth Hartman's tutorial that was featured on Sew Mama Sew.

Linking up to Quiltstory for Fabric Tuesday and also Made By You Mondays.


I decided to sew the binding by machine. I used the same method that I used for College Girl's mug rug. Tutorial found here. I actually combine Jennifer's method with Sharon Schamber's binding method (which is my favorite). I'm thinking I will do the machine binding on baby quilts from now on. Not only is it much quicker but I think it will be more durable and hold up to multiple washings and whatever else might get thrown its way.

Praise - for SNOW! For College Girl's safe travel back to school and for College Boy's safe weekend and travels.

Prayers - for the best friend of one of my nephews. Grant is a senior in high school and is now in a coma. Doctors aren't offering up much hope right now. Pray for God's will in this situation. Of course we would love to see Grant's health restored.

On to the next thing

I just packaged up this set of 6 placemats, made for an internet friend in TN. Each mat has a different set of prints on the side, making them each unique. She was impatient and wanted to see a picture of them and she said they are just what she wanted! YEAH!
Basic Grey's Origins for Moda.


I took the pictures above before I washed, dried and ironed them and then realized I had forgotten a picture of the back.

The back of each placemat is this same print.


So I'm thinking about what my next project will be. I am pretty sure I will sandwich and quilt the Bliss baby quilt top that I finished back in the fall. I'm going to give it to that new baby girl at our church. You know, Daisy!

Praise - That College Girl gets to come home for the long weekend and so far has had safe travel. College Boy is playing in the snow at a mountain horse get together and having a great time.

Prayers - For College Girl's travels home and then back again. That College Boy would remain safe this weekend.

Recap for part of July - LOTS of pictures

I just can't seem to get back in the blogging habit. Maybe I will get points for lots of pictures in a post and that will make up for lack of consistent posting. Maybe.

Jodi at Pleasant Home had a drawing for goodies she collected on a trip she took oh wayyyyyy back in June I suppose. I won the drawing and here is what she sent to me.

There is a bottle of Oregon water (dubbed as VIRGIN water that has never been touched by the earth...hmmmm), assorted candies that I DID NOT SHARE!, a cute little sewing kit from the Venetian (in Las Vegas) and a charm pack of Bliss! I have already made something with those (sometime in August) so I will show that to you eventually. Actually it isn't even finished yet but hopefully soon.

This is Alena's quilt, made with Moda's Snippets. I used the tutorial for the Charm Pack Baby Quilt by BubbaChic. The back was white flannel.


I found some Mingle yellow with white dot at the local craft store that I used for the binding. I wasn't sure of it for the longest time but when all was washed and dried I decided that I loved it.


A doe and her fawn crossing the creek;


Christian's Charming Baby Log Cabin quilt. Pattern by Threaded Pear. I decided not to add the borders or the prairie points. I actually made the top for this quite awhile ago but just finished it up in early July to give to the new baby.


I did some loop-de-loop and star quilting on this. Not THRILLED with it as it was my first time but it was 'okay'.


The backing is a very soft navy flannel.


I love a striped binding. Maybe even more than a dotted binding.


Christian's father called after church to tell me that they loved the quilt and had hung it up on the wall over the baby's crib! Oh my. I told him I would've have been thrilled if they threw it on the floor and let the baby lay on it there. I just want the quilts to get used and loved.

Praise - all of our summer travels were safe! So many miles covered by all four of us in a few months. For College Boy's involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ as well as InterVarsity. He is the new bass player for InterVarsity worship!

Prayers - For College Girls travels back from visiting her brother for the weekend. Continued prayers for College Boy, that he connect with some Godly young men that have similar interests (biking, hiking, fishing).

Seems like forever

Since I have posted. I just have to say, I'm so glad that I had my own little Friday Night Sew-In after all. Turns out that the night of the REAL Friday Night Sew-In, I spent over 5 hours in the ER with hubby and his kidney stone! Not fun at all. More so for hubby of course. They almost admitted him for pain control. He was in a bad way. Isn't it amazing how something sooooo small can cause such grief? By the time we got home from the hospital I was exhausted. Praise the Lord, that stone has been passed - over a week later. Hubby was not looking forward to having a procedure to have the stone removed and was able to avoid that appointment altogether.

Monday the 21st through Friday the 25th I was teaching at Vacation Bible School at our church. I had the smallest class, with 6 students, grade 3rd & 4th. PERFECT for me! God knows what He is doing, that is for sure! Some of the other classes had over a dozen kids - you know, the little ones that can be so rambunctious. Needless to say, I think, I was tired each afternoon. Of course I was not sleeping all that well with hubby who was in pain off an on that entire week. The students that I had were sweet and polite and eager to participate and my helper was great! She is a quiet young lady that had been one of my Sunday school students before and is now entering high school. She taught our students the motions for their song and even joined them on stage on Sunday for the presentation to their parents and the congregation.

I think all of this gardening happened the weekend before the kidney stone presented itself but I forgot to get the pictures up so that College Girl could see the improvements to the backyard.

When we bought these little grasses for this area along side the steps, hubby and my son and I laughed that it looked a lot like the stuff we just pulled out and threw away and were calling weeds.


This area did have a hydrangea plant that we finally gave up on. I so love hydrangeas but I just can't get one to grow for me here in north Idaho. So we pulled that out, cleaned out the weeds and planted all of this;


Foxglove - or Digitalis. I find it interesting that this has something to do with the digitalis used for heart conditions (or at least way back they were somehow related). Highly poisonous - sure is pretty though!


Lupine. My hubby could not believe I was buying a Lupine when they grow wild around here. I was really hoping that this one was not going to be purple like the wild ones and it did not disappoint. I LOVE this color!

There is also a Azalea plant, some Vinca groundcover and two other plants that I can't recall the name off.

The blocks that I sewed on my own private Friday Night Sew-In, finally ironed and laid out on the ping pong table. I messed with them some after this picture was taken and they are ready to sew into rows now. Cotton Blossom - Mom Colorway and the pattern is Thimble Blossom's Piece of Cake.


My work suffered the week of VBS so I am trying to catch up this week. I hope to get some sewing in. I'm expecting the backing for the All Star baby quilt tomorrow so I can get that sandwiched. I also need to get the Pinwheel baby quilt cut out. I feel so behind. So many projects I want and need to do. So little time.

Praise - God can move mountains AND teeny little kidney stones!

Prayers - for Mama Spark's friend that is in a crisis situation. God knows.

Sent with Love to Isabella

Started this quilt last Sunday after church and gave it to the new mother on Wednesday evening. I used Moda's Sent With Love charm pack. I love the pop of green.

I don't know what I would do with out the ping pong table for my layouts;


Flannel backing. LOVED this white with red polka dot and the back w/binding looks like a Christmas quilt. Ready to go to the washer and dryer!



All crinkly;



a close-up;


The best picture I could get on Wednesday afternoon;


All ready to wrap;


I used Oh,Fransson!'s tutorial again. It is featured on Sew,Mama,Sew!'s site and is the Charm Squares Baby Quilt. I made the sashings and the borders a teensy bit bigger. The new mother loved it and all the ladies at the shower wanted to see it up close.


Praise - College girl got the program position that she wanted most! She is settling in nicely.

Prayers - VBS coming up next week and I am one of the teachers. That I would get my act together and be ready. For all the kids that might come to VBS.