UFO Finished….well, almost

Today I worked on a project that has been in my UFO bin for about FIFTEEN years!!!

It started out as a full size Christmas quilt for my bed. It was in the days where I hadn’t done a lot of machine quilting and had never tried quilting anything as large as this one, so I decided to hand quilt it…..GULP!! I used a “quilt-as-you-go” technique where you put sets of blocks together, baste and quilt them and then put all of the sets together to form the final quilt.

I had made the first two strips, each consisting of three blocks. Life then got in the way, and I lost interest in the project. It was relegated to the top shelf of my bedroom closet….in my mind, it didn’t even qualify for placement in my studio. I had even thought several times about throwing it away.

Last year, I made a list of my UFO’s and suddenly remembered this one so I added it to the list. This was how it looked at that time……

As I looked at it, I decided to turn it into a lap quilt of three rows of 2 blocks each. I have thought about this project over the last few days and kept trying to come up with a grand plan for doing this, but finally decided to just START the project and let it take me where it would.

It has taken several “finagles” to make the design work, but I am pleased with the overall results. There is still some quilting to be done on it (by machine) and a bit of hand quilting to be taken out, but that can happen later when I am looking for a quick project to fill a few hours.

Technically, it is not a wonderful quilt, but I am REALLY looking forward to pulling it out next December and wrapping up in it!!!

Keeping Amber Warm

This year it was a rush to finish a queen size quilt to be given to my Son’s girlfriend….Amber. It was VERY exciting that they announced their engagement just a few hours before she opened the gift!!!!

Here she is opening the bag…..can you see her behind all of the paper???

Her first words were….”OHH it’s teal!!”

Here is the finished quilt……

I had intended to do a lot of fancy quilting on this, but ran out of time and ended up just quilting it with lots of straight lines (using the walking foot). In the end, I kind of like this simplicity!!

If you remember several months ago, I posted about the backing to this quilt. I originally tried using 10 inch squares of miscellaneous fabrics, but it really looked BAD!!! So, I decided to dig thru scraps and other fabrics and re-make the back. One of my friends saw this side first and thought that it was the actual quilt…..it is kind of fun!!!

The binding used scrap strips that I had cut earlier this year, so I managed to make the entire quilt WITHOUT having to buy any fabrics!!!!!

It was fun to think about Amber while I was making this quilt and I am thrilled that she was excited to receive it!!

Post Christmas

Well it is 8:30 on Christmas evening and here I sit reflecting on a glorious two days of fun. Come and reminisce with me…..

Christmas Eve began with an announcement that our son Brian was ENGAGED to lovely Amber!!!!

We are SO excited for them!!!!

Our first full family photo!!!!

Christmas always begins with the “Kids in the Santa Hat” photos

“Santa Marley” got into the act as well

Hubby, Michael, with one of the MANY books that he received….we are honestly going to have to build more bookshelves!!

Me, holding up a piece of stained glass art that will go in the window in front of my sewing machine….great inspiration!!

Son, Brian, enjoys the day.

Daughter, Jenny, LOVES what Santa left in her stocking

Now that the day is over, I am ready to get the decorating down and try to find some sewing time between now and January 4th. At that point, the sewing will have to take a back seat to Income Tax Time!!!!

I hope that your day was merry and bright and filled with fun!!!!

Bedtime Bears on Christmas Eve

This post is about a quilt that I made in 1992 for my daughter, Jenny. She was never into Dolls, but she LOVED her Teddy Bears, so I decided to make her this quilt for Christmas.

I found wonderful patterns, many that reminded me of Jenny’s pursuits.Then there was one pattern called “Lonesome Bear” and I felt that he couldn’t be on the front with all of the other bears, so I decided to piece the back and include poor little lonesome bear. The idea behind the back was that he walked all around the edge of the quilt and then curled up in the window and fell asleep….

This quilt has been much loved over the years and has survived thru two disasters….the first being a black pen breaking on top of it (note the black spots) and the second being a can of pink hair spray leaking on the front. Jenny was horrified when these things happened, but I think that they just give the quilt more character!!!

As with many of us, I had planned too much for the holiday season and was running low on time to get it finished. The reason I remember this quilt at Christmas was because of a poem that I wrote to read when I showed the quilt at my guild Christmas Party……

Twas the night before Christmas and all thru the house, not a creature was stirring….except for Mama Mouse.

The stockings were appliqued, quilted and hung with care, in anticipation of the goodies that would soon be there.

The presents were wrapped before Turkey day and now law under the tree in much disarray.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of “Baby Crimp and Curl” and “Super Mario” danced in their heads.

Many hours ago, Dad had gone to bed, while Mama went searching for needle and thread.

And now she sat sewing binding on the sides of a quilt made for Jenny who was then only five.

The idea was born in September with much love and care and……”Yes Dot, your right. It must have a bear”

Or two or three or maybe eight plus five or whatever it takes to make the quilt alive.

That special brown print was bought from Melissa’s store and Dot and Dale sent bear patterns galore.

The patterns were enlarged to make the size just right and that polar bear block wouldn’t go together without a fight.

The Ballerina must have a Tu-Tu of net. Now the blocks are together, the top is finished and yet….

It still needs a border to set it off right. What about Bear’s Paws…..so I sew with all of my might.

The back of quilt must be special too. It needs a lonesome bear and more Bear’s Paws…at least a few.

But now it’s Christmas Eve and time is a slippin. Oh not another mistake…I dont have time for more rippin.

At last now it’s finished, the final stitch has been taken. Once it is all wrapped up, then the kids I can waken.

And so I exclaimed as I wrapped the present tight. “Merry Christmas my Jenny and may it keep you warm many nights.

I hope that you have finished all of your Christmas projects and that you can dream tonight of the many new quilts to come!!!!!

A New Celebration

In the midst of all of the planning and hurrying toward Christmas, we got to celebrate our daughter Jenny’s graduation from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Education (Exercise and Sport Science). It was a wonderful ceremony, with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates talking to the graduates about the importance of service….of the need to look for what you can DO rather than what can be done FOR you. I think this is a great sentiment in today’s environment!!!!

We are very proud of both of our children and their accomplishments in this world and look forward to seeing their futures unfold.

Oh, and one more thing……anyone got a job that needs filling?????