February Pillow Party

Linking up my entry for the

This isn't what I thought I was going to make when February started but as the deadline to enter drew closer I knew I couldn't get my first idea finished. So I switched gears and made a pillow that I have been wanting to try. Hubby just so happened to clean out his closet the other day and I grabbed two of his t-shirts for future projects.

I took a lot of pictures, trying to get the color to be true and dealing with another overcast day. When I was ready to come put them on the computer I passed the Bliss baby quilt and thought they would go great together.


I'm pretty happy with it and keep playing with the ruffles.

Yesterday I made this mug rug, 'close to mirror image' from the one that I made in January for College Girl. She works in mailing services on campus and when she opened her package one of her co-workers fell in love with the mug rug. She said something along the lines of wishing that I would make one for her. College Girl asked if she was serious and she said, "yes!". She may have given up hope or forgotten about it by now. I hope she will be surprised when the package arrives later this week.


Linking up with AmyLouWho's February Sew & Tell.



Praise - my nephew's friend, Grant, appears to have had a restful night, his fever broke and his heart rate normalized.

Prayers - for a miracle for Grant.

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.

Stash Report 2/7-2/20

This report is for two weeks. Nothing went in or out between the 6th and the 13th so I didn't even bother to post. This week I have the yardage for the Moda Origins Placemats OUT.

0 yards in week ending 2/20
3.66 yards out week ending 2/20
9.75 yards YTD IN
15 yards YTD OUT

5.25 yards TOTAL BUSTED 2011

I am linking up here with my stash report.

College Girl came home on Friday for the long weekend. It is SO wonderful to have her home. This evening, while she is visiting with friends, I am doing some mending for her. No sewing will get done today but I will be back at it after she leaves tomorrow.

Praise - friend from church with bone cancer was feeling well enough to attend church and our potluck today!

Prayers - young lady from church (who happens to be College Boy's girlfriend) is headed to China on Friday. She will be there for 10 months (with a weekend back to be at her brother's wedding in May) to teach music and English, share the Gospel and learn Chinese. Sooo many prayers - for her travels, her health, her witness, her safety.

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.

Happy Valentine's Day

Here is a sampling of the cookies I made last week and mailed off to my college kids.



Taking pictures of cookies at night just isn't a good idea. The flash pictures were even worse. I shall keep practicing. The cookie decorating and the picture taking.

Praise - Hubby and I are celebrating today - it is our BIRTHDAY! 16 years ago on Valentine's Day we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior! HE showed us the very best expression of Love.

Prayers - that we would continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, first and foremost.

Thank you Benjamin Franklin

Most of all for standing out in a thunderstorm and flying a kite. I love me some electricity. Blow dryers, curling irons, heaters, air-conditioners, sewing machines - all of my essentials, powered by electricity.

I don't know how that same guy figured out that a free public library would be a good idea. It doesn't even seem the sort of thing an inventor would come up with. Maybe he wanted to read what others had found out while they were flying kites in thunderstorms. Just look what I got from our little podunk library in the last two weeks;




The Modern Quilt Workshop and Simplify were brought in by my request. I like to help the library stock their shelves. Now I know for sure I am going to get my own copy of Simplify, it is just beautiful and I can see myself making many of the projects. I haven't looked at the other books in depth yet.

These books are just a small sampling of what's available under quilting or sewing. Have you checked your library for these titles? Maybe you could request that they get them. I like to think about all the people who will benefit from just one book. Our podunk library has an online catalog where I can create lists of books I want to read at some point or put books on hold. They just send me an email and let me know when they are ready to be picked up. When I lived in Washington, at one point in time they would even mail the books right to your house!

A book to borrow and the light to read it by brought to you by Benjamin Franklin. What a guy.

Praise - Joanne's progress! Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord!

Prayers - Praying BIG for Joanne's complete healing and restoration!

Fruit of the Spirit

The church I attend had their women's retreat this past weekend and the theme was the Fruit of the Spirit. I decided to surprise the gals with a dessert based on the theme. I got LOTS of help from Cookie Crazie's blog and flickr account as well as Callye from The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle's blog. They both have links to recipes, videos, FAQs and so on.

I was taking most of the pictures at night so the lighting isn't the greatest - story of my life lately. This was a fun project although it took me longer than I expected. I think I underestimated the time it takes to make and tint all the icing the most. Once that was all done the decorating actually went pretty quickly. Considering I decorated 76 cookies! Lots of colors, two different icing consistencies for each color. Hubby was a verrrry smart man on Thursday offering to bring home some dinner.










The ladies loved them. I learned a few things and I know I need more practice.

Praise - for a fun new hobby that I can use to bless others. For the newest baby to join our church family - born Friday. Her name is Daisy!

Prayers - for the young family with the new baby, that they would raise her to love and fear the Lord.