Hi, all!
Wow, did last week fly by for you? Mine was a blur of child care - fixing lunches, monitoring homework, giving baths, driving EVERYWHERE - I put over 100 miles a day on my car! - followed up by a whirlwind trip to the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah!
There was a lot of sleeping in the car after school...
(Emmy, not me - the screaming kept waking me up!)
...a lost tooth necessitating a visit from the tooth fairy
(who needed to be re-educated on the current value of teeth...)
...and new pictures of Nathanael to be admired! When Emmy saw this one, she said, "Aw, 'Thanael - he cute!"
When I got home Saturday afternoon late I wasn't sure which end was up - but I knew where I wanted to be - in my studio!! I managed to do just enough to get the happy endorphin level up before the girls arrived back for the week Sunday afternoon - but oh, do I miss my studio time!!
Well, now that I've made that intricately crafted excuse for whatever I didn't get done last week, let's look at last week's to-do list...
1. Start repairs on the antique crazy quilt.
Started! As you can see in this pictures, I am hand-stitching bridal illusion (really fine tulle) over the damaged blocks, then trimming it close to my stitching with my tiny curved-blade scissors. I've got cream tulle for the light pieces and black tulle for the dark ones. As my friend isn't planning to use this as a working quilt - it will be a photography prop - this will protect the damaged spots without changing the antique integrity of the quilt top.
2. Cut out 400 signature blocks.
I'm close - yesterday I think I got up to 375 - so I'm going to call this one a win!!
3. Write a tutorial for the pennant quilt.
It's started - and that's a good thing! It will take another day of sitting for a couple of hours to finish it off, so maybe tomorrow or Wednesday I can finish it.
4. Work on a quilting design for the black stained glass quilt.
In progress! I think I know what I want to do in general - an inklingo/zentangle type of design in the negative space, sort of like the picture below. What I'm still trying to work out is what to do immediately around the blocks. Any ideas would be welcome! You can see the quilt here.
5. Keep up with any quilt ministry needs that arise.
Done! We gave away three quilts this week...
This quilt went to a woman living in Louisiana, just diagnosed with leukemia...
And this one went to another woman in Louisiana dealing with cancer.
This quilt went to a gentleman who worked in our local school system for many years. He has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and has returned to Arkansas to live with his extended family and receive treatment there.
We had a blast at Paducah - I got to see my friend Shannon of Fabrics N Quilts!
Don't forget that she's done a complete makeover on her shop's website and there are blog hops going on to promote the new site! I'll be sharing about it this Friday, but there are other blogs that are already hosting giveaways - check out the list below and enter all the giveaways!
Quilt Shop Gal: http://quiltshopgal.com/
Quilting Gallery: http://quiltinggallery.com/blog-posts/
Mary Mack Made Mine: http://teachpany.blogspot.com/
Weekend of 5/1:
Confessions of a Fabric Addict: http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/
Life in the Scrapatch: http://scrapatches.blogspot.com/
I also got to take a class with the fabulous Judi Madsen of Green Fairy Quilts fame!
I've always admired her quilting style and mad skills, and it was fun to get a little hands-on time learning how she does it. I'll never be that good, but at least now I can aspire!
And after spending a medium-sized bucket of money, I received one of these bags for my trouble...
We took some of our budget money for this year and purchased a BlockRockit mid-arm quilting machine for use at the church! If you've never seen one of these little gems, check one out somewhere - it's small but mighty!! We have to wait a little while to get ours, but in about a month she'll be ready to go!
OK, so much for last week. Here's what I think I might be able to get done this week...
1. Finalize a design for the stained glass quilt and start quilting.
2. Keep working on the antique quilt repair.
3. Sew the label on Nathanael's quilt before Friday night.
4. Write Friday's blogpost promoting Shannon's new site.
5. Keep up with any quilt ministry needs that arise.
But wait - there's more! Emmy tells me I almost forgot the giveaway winner!! I asked Little Miss Random to choose a winner...
And she chose number 133! (aren't you proud of me - I finally figured out how to get a picture of the Random Number Generator in my blogpost!!) Number 133 is Barb N...
...who wanted to know how we roll our toilet paper - over, or under! I tell you, inquiring minds want to know! Congratulations, Barb! I'll be emailing you and Christina so you can hook up and get your copy of the pattern!
By the way, I absolutely loved reading the random questions you guys came up with! I think my favorite, though, was the person who asked, "Fabric, or chocolate?" Totally unfair!!!
So now that all the business is taken care of, inquiring minds also want to know - - - what are YOU working on this week?
Hugs!
Sarah
Oh, and here's your "awwww" moment for Monday...
 |
| Nathanael holding his new mom's hand! Love those little sneakers!! |
AWWW indeed - it's amazing how much you accomplish!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of that machine you mention - it is purchased for the church sewing group not you at home if I understood you right - you all well get a lot of quilts done (more than you already do if that is the case) Nathaniel looks very happy and I'm sure the family all look forward to meeting him and getting to know him.
ReplyDeleteWas awesome to see you! {but our visits are never long enough-we need to retreat!}
ReplyDeleteLove all the sweet pics of the littles. They always make me smile :)
I really love that last picture.
ReplyDeleteWill you do a post on your new BlockRockit? How cool for your church!
Praying for safe travel home for your family.
ReplyDeleteAww indeed - with all the little ones'. I am still drooling over the BlockRockit - wish they made an 8 foot table. Funny how they are now coming out with the smaller 'home hobby' machine but still pairing them up with queen/king frames. Most homes don't have studio size rooms.
ReplyDeleteYou always seem to get so much done! Share your secret, please. The last photo certainly brought tears of happy to my eyes.
ReplyDelete"Thanel" sure is cute! She right about that! But I didn't know Emmy had speech, how is that? Isn't she the one who is deaf?
ReplyDeleteWhen will your daughter and son-in-law be home with your grandson?
It's always hard to revert back to the childcare mode once you've become an empty nester. Never the less, good memories are being made! And hey...atleast you had an inpspiring weekend too!
ReplyDeleteThere were a lot of Awwwww moments in your post Sarah. That last one brought tears to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteHow cool about your church group buying a BlockRocket!
I choose fabric.
ReplyDeleteLove the little hand in the bigger hand. I remember my younger son's hand in mine... so small, I could get his whole inside mine. And now it's the reverse. I can't hardly get my hand around his. (He just ran, swam and biked a half Iron Man... and finished 70.3 miles total! And he's retired Air Force. Very proud...)
I've got the machine set up and the bobbins wound... I just need to figure out some extra lighting, or not, and I'll be quilting on the Good Night Irene this week.
Hugs
I'm amazed that you were able to get anything accomplished with having both girls all week. Yeah to you. And for the official answer....Over...always!
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Random Generator, for drawing my number - great fun! Glad you liked Judi's class. I'm scheduled with a class from her this week in SLC and looking forward to it and some other great classes as well. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteHi, I subscribed to Shannons web blog, bst, Mary
ReplyDelete