Jamie Dress Sew Along Complete

I just wanted to share a couple of pictures from our trip to Big Sky country last week.
College Boy taking some pictures;

Hubby and I walked up this road so that College Boy could take some pictures of us for a photography assignment. It was such a gorgeous day.

I really did not even think of flowers when I asked hubby to go to the grocery store for me before coming home from work the other day. He will only buy flowers at this one particular grocery store (and never at WM). A warm room and some sunshine and they were all opening up.


So here is what I'm all excited about;

I finished the dress!!! Now remember this is for College Girl to HOPEfully wear on Easter Sunday. I asked her numerous times for various measurements, I read and read and Reread the comments by others in the sew along and then finally I just bit the bullet and prayed a LOT while I sewed. I packaged it up and sent it off via Priority Mail this afternoon. College Girl might get it tomorrow but surely by Monday and then we will know if it fits.

I would do a few things differently sewing with this pattern again but overall the instructions were good and there are lots of great pictures. Putting in the zipper with a glue stick was a great idea. A side zipper at that. I had never done one of those before. I wasn't thrilled with how wide the stitching was on the zipper opening or how it is done around the bottom of the zipper. I would do that differently next time. For the hem the instructions just say to stitch around the bottom of the skirt. Well I think it is such a nice dress and deserved a nicer job on the hem. I just hate that hand stitching and knew it would never look as good as something my mother or mother-in-law would have done. Hmmmmm, I KNEW there was this technique for doing a blind hem stitch on the machine but I could NEVER figure out the whole fabric folding thing. Well I got out my Bernina manual that has failed me miserably in any other situation and tried it on some scrap fabric. It was easy and I LOVED the results! On to the real hem!
On some sections you can't even see the stitches because the thread is such a great match. I was soooo happy with that! Looks nice and it was quick. I will definitely use that technique again and again.

Here is the finished dress, in what sunlight I could get from our front window.
The dark fabric you see at the neckline is the lining of the back as that rides higher than the front neckline.
Fabric is Poppy in Aqua by Laura Gunn for Michael Miller.

Won't you pray along with me that it will fit College Girl? I'd really appreciate that.

Praise - College Boy earned a super grade on a recent test and has handed in his application to go on in the film program.

Prayers - for College Girl and some decisions/situations that she has before her. For wisdom and knowledge and discretion.

Flimsies done before Christmas

I really thought I would have this quilt done before the 26th but that didn't happen.

This is going to be for the gal at church that has been diagnosed with bone cancer. I'm going to back it with white minkee (she is always cold). I hope it brightens her days some. College girl chose the Moda Verna layer cake from my stock of fabric, thinking that this friend would like some color to enjoy during our long winter. Gotta love when there is someone here to help with decisions like that!

This one was finished on Christmas Eve and quickly wrapped up. I am giving this to College Boy's girlfriend (and family friend) who just graduated from Wheaton College. This was her combination graduation/Christmas gift. Fabric is Moda Origins. Backing this one with brown minkee.


Both quilt tops were made using the Easy Bake pattern by Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew. Great pattern, goes together quickly, clear directions. Thanks, Allison!

Praise - that doctors were able to give our friend from church a diagnosis - multiple myeloma. A drug company has offered to give her the drugs for the first part of her treatment - HUGE praise!

Prayers - for the treatments our friend will now undergo, for her immune system, for her strength, for her spiritual well being.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

I think I forgot how to blog. It has been THAT long that I have forgotten how to add a button or a code. I'm not sure if this means I should give it up altogether or blog more often to keep my skills somewhat sharp.

Here is my entry for Amy's Quilt Festival, found at;

http://amyscreativeside.com/2010/10/29/bloggers-quilt-festival-fall-2010/

I named this quilt Nicey Jane Goes to College. This was College Girl's junior year quilt. She asked me to make this one full sized. That was a LOT of fabric to deal with and lots of weight to move around for the stippling done in the center portion. The borders were done with straight lines which then intersected at the corners in a grid pattern.

By the time I got the quilt finished, washed and dried I wanted to get a picture and pack it up and send it off with hubby in the morning. The light was AWFUL for taking pictures by the time hubby got home to hold it up for me. So much yellower in the photo. Soooooooooooooooo, it is what it is.

I'm going to visit College Girl this weekend and see her first apartment! I'll see if I can get better pictures of the quilt 'in action'.

The pattern used was Yellow Brick Road by Atkinson Design.

Praise - that I live in a country where we can enjoy the FREEDOM to vote!

Prayers - for my two children that are away at college as well as our other friends who are also away at school. For their protection, health, stamina and most importantly for their witness to those around them.

Bridal Shower Gift

We have a wedding to attend in July. We've known the groom and his family for quite a few years. We met the bride very briefly at a wedding two summers ago. College girl and I could not attend the shower unfortunately. I made this on Thursday, got it in the mail the same day and hopefully it arrived in time for the Sunday afternoon shower.



Fabric is Ava Rose by Tanya Whelan. Pattern is from Retro Aprons by Cindy Taylor Oates. It goes together so nicely. It is my 'go to' quick gift apron of choice.

Rainy day here. I need to go to town but I was hoping to avoid the rain. I've already done my work for the day. Could press seams on the blocks I made on Friday. Could bake cookies. Could work on VBS stuff. I love rainy days (but not when I need to go to town).

Praise - for RAIN! I love when God waters our part of the earth for us. Everything looks so fresh and green.

Prayers - for my part in VBS. That my attitude would be glorifying to God and that I would think of each child there as His child.

Friday Night Sew-in

Got a late start. This is what I am working on;

Pattern is A Piece of Cake by Thimble Blossoms, fabric is Moda's Cotton Blossom in the MOM colorway.

I matched up my fabric squares, cut them into strips and I am sewing them together now.

Praise - College girl's first full day at her new job training went much better than last night did.

Prayers - continued prayers for College girl - new job, new people, new roommates, same GOD! It is so awesome that He never changes!