New Family member!

     

     My son brought home a new dog.  A  black lab.  He got it from a lady at work.  It was only 3 1/2 weeks old when he brought her home.  She had quit nursing off her mother and he volunteered our family to take on the challenge.   I was at work and he asked his dad.  I was so shocked when I heard his dad said yes.  And when I woke up, a puppy was here.  So a trip to the hardware store to get shots, food and goats milk was in order.   I don't always think that kids know how much they put on their parents at time!

     So far on my nights off she has not been sleeping all night and wakes up whining.  And I mean a loud whine.  Loud  enough to wake everyone but Wade up.  The person the dog belongs to!!  So up we go to tend to her.  I can say even Waylon gets up to help. And when Wade is at work and school, she is dear old Moma and Daddies dog.  Left up to us to train.   

     Wade has been good though, he takes her with him everywhere she can go.  He has even taken her to all our family functions.  I think she has taken more rides then any other do.  Well maybe. Not caught up to Maggie yet!

     Frankie keeps saying she is an outside dog, but Wade says she will not be.  Let's see what happens. We have had her for 3 weeks now and she has grown so much and learned so quickly.  She is a very smart dog.  Knows what's in the fridge.  Is like a spider and will climb onto furniture.  Remember she is like tiny still.  

     The boys struggled on names for her for a few.  The 2 that came in first were Daisy Duke, to match Maggie Flash from Dukes of Hazard and Santee,  for the Santee Swamp they hunt in.  Wade decided on Santee. Perfect for her Black coat to match a black swamp.

     

     She reminds me of Maggie in ways.  When Maggie was a puppy, we always found her cuddled up to the remote.  Don't know why, but we have photos of both of them like that. And they both perch themselves on the end of the couch.  We call it Maggie's thrown, but now Santee has adopted the same spot. And for now Maggie is sharing.  

     Maggie has been mothering the puppy so. She follows her and cleans her.  When Maggie wakes she goes hunting for her, as when she comes in from outside.  Learning for them to eat out of the same dish and share chew toys has been a challenge, but I think Maggie will adapt well. 

     So I guess you will be hearing stories of a new dog in the Truesdale world from time to time!  This will be a busy work week so I don't think much sewing will be done.  Cleaning I hope,  that's what I need the real motivation to do!

The End of A Very Busy Holidays

     This has been a very busy year.  I have learned many lessons.  This year I took on more then I could chew in the crafting business.  I feel like I sewed so much for others that I could not do for myself.  From outfits to items and quilts.   I made the 3 memory quilts from the previous post and another for a friend in high schools mother.  These are very time consuming but give me such joy!  I have learned a new method of quilting and used material that I have never used before.  I have sewn up new objects as gifts.  I have decided that next year I will work on Christmas all year.  I will not have to wait to the last minute to do for myself. 

     Here is the quilt I made for my friend Melissa's mom.  It has a Rayon Scarf, flannel baby blanket and 2 t-shirts in it. I boardered it out in a paisley brown fabric.   I used a cream Damask fabric to bind it and a red flowered backing.  The fabrics I used blended with the colors in the shirts.  I was really surprised how the Rayon scarf held to the stabilizer.  I just wonder how it will hold up in future. 

     

    I have really learned this holiday, that even though making for other makes me happy that I must take care of my own first.  A change for next year.  A way for me to remember the reason for the season.  Her is to a difference in 2014!!

Cherished Memories Carry On After Death

     A seven years ago my husbands cousin died.   He has a very close family and my kids actually called him their uncle.  His mother kept my boys when they were babies.  My sons still stop by just to eat with her.  Herbie, was the towns dentist and my dentist even before marriage.  He was also the same age as my mother in law and they grew up like best friends. And Karen his wife taught both of my boys in 1st grade.  He loved High school sports and that's the memory that I think thousands have of him.  He use to sit on the edge of the stage in the gym at Macedonia High School and cheer the foxes on.  His love was for all sports.  He could be seen cheering the Volleyball, Softball, basketball, baseball and football team on.  He had 3 kids who were all bright and well rounded  in sports.   I worked at the High School for a period and Katie (his daughter) was one of the students there. Katie had her daddy so involved in school projects at times that I don't think he had time for himself. And during ball season he was the dad who was always there.  His family was his life.  He was the kind of man that I believe any woman would love to marry.  He loved Karen in an amazing way.  He ate lunch each weekday with his mother and family.   Our community and family lost a great man when he passed.  

   Last year, Karen asked me to make quilts for her kids.  At that time I did not feel comfortable enough to do this.  Earlier this year, she asked again.  I knew that I needed to do this for her.   Her family has done so much for mine that I needed to give back.  I spent hours and days cutting apart his cloths.  Then planning and cutting.  I learned that T-shirts were not the best material for quilts, but I could make them work, holes and all!!!   The shirts were anywhere from his high school jerseys to some from when I was in high school to those of his kids high school years.  Shirts that spanned at least 30 years.  I seperated them by sports and then size.  I then placed iron on stabilizer on each.  One of my favorites is his coaching jersey that I sewed shut and left the buttons on.  I used his jeans and khaki's to make the boarders and some collared shirts as the corner squares. Every part of the top was out of his clothes.  I backed it with University of South Carolina fabric and binded it with the same.  I quilted it with a thread that went from red to burgundy.  The colors of his high school and college teams.  Katie's was quilted with a swirl and the boys with curves. On the back,  I placed a pocket with a saying from Karen on it.  The pocket was actually a part of his khaki pants and can be buttoned,  I left the pocket open where you can put your hand inside of it. This was my favorite part.  They are not perfect but I tried my best. 

     I enjoyed every moment of making these.  I loved to quilt and most of all, love the comfort that each quilt gives a person.  I am excited to know that these quilts will bring Happiness to Tyler, Katie and Jared for years.  

     I took these photos in the area that Herbie parked at his dentist office.  I don't know why I chose there, but I know he has seen them and his spirit is in them. 

     

My First Every Give Away!!!!

     My English teacher in High School would love that I write this blog!!! I started it as a way of letting my feelings out and showing others what I have done!  No better therapy!!!!!! A little over a year later I am still at it!  68 posts so far!!! And I am hoping today brings me to 4000 views!!!

     I love being crafty I love to make things and I love to sew!!! For as long as I could remember I have been going back and forth between crafts.  Right now I am on a sewing and quilting binge!!!   I have a little business with my friend on Facebook called Lowcountry Stitches and Embroidery.  Look it up!!!

     Soon I will start on a marathon quilting project for 2 months.  The project is called Priject Quilt.  It starts in January at the Persimon dreams blog.  Believe me if you are a quilter there is no better motivation!!! Go there today and see what she has planned!!! You will love it!!! http://www.persimondreams.com/blog

And thanks Sew Mama Sew for the oppertunity!!!  If you haven't seen their page go here today!!!!   http://www.sewmamasew.com

     I hope you begin to follow me and don't find my blog boring!!!! Oh, almost forgot the give away!!! Comment below your favorite craft or sewing project.  Become a follower of my blog and you will get an extra entry. Comment below when you do.  You will win this 40 piece Moda Jelly Roll that I will ship to youin the US!!!!  Enter by Friday Dec 13!!!

My First Try At Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

     I have been following Bonnie Hunters blog Quiltville for a while know.  I have only attempted a small Quilt around the World and Sring quilt.  I have never done a quilt with lots of pieces but I am going to attempt the Mystery Quilt this year.  None of the local stores have the tri rec ruler so I have not done the first step.  But I am also using this excuse to buy a accu go cutter since My friend Bea Lee used one to do her 1st step in no time.   So I wonder what I am buying myself for Christmas????   Actually really excited.  But I also don't have much time to do very much on this quilt till after Christmas so look out Amazon Christmas Week!!! I keep telling myself I won't order till then.  

     On to clue 2 of the mystery quilt.  I worked 12 hour shifts 4 days of this weekend.  That does not allow for much sewing time:(.  But on Saturday evening I managed to cut some strips and on Sunday evening I cut some squares.  Monday I did not have much time to sew because I had to go to work early, but Tuesday it was on.  I sewed up just enough blocks to get my fix on and back to my Christmas Memory quilts.  So here is mine so far!!!!

     I mark all my blocks and I did do the second line on my blocks to make these tiny little blocks.  I don't think I have worked with any pieces this tiny before!!! I have my mason jar slowly filling up.  This process did not take much extra time at all!!   So excited to see what I will make of this!! You know I am on a scrapping journey that I hope never ends!!!!

     My fabric is mostly out of my stash.  In theme with the name I used the Irish knot and St. Patricks day fabric.  I did not have very much fabric with the base of white in my stash, so there is a lot of the same pieces.   After I finished putting it together I realized a lot of my fabric I bought in a destash group on Facebook from the same person.  The rest I mostly bought from Tonya at Hillbilly Handiwors Quilt shop.   Hope you like my color choices!  I tried to stay very close to Bonnie's!!!  I look forward to finishing out this quilt!

The holiday season is full of items and outfits not quilts

     

     At this time of year , customers and family always want outfits.  I could sew 24 hours a day and never keep up with demand.  I work a full time and a part time job and try to keep up with demand.  This is the only time of year that I feel I do not fully enjoy sewing.  It's only because I don't have time to make all the gifts I want for others.  Every year I say I am going to start earlier but time just slips away.  I am always making and giving and selling and really wish there was extra time to play, But there is not.  I have so much to do before Christmas that I am actually worried about time. I have 4 memory quilts left to make and countless outfits.  I keep asking where is the time.  Her is a sampling of all the stiuff I have been busy with.   All of this helping others have a happy holiday season!!!

Rainy Days Quilt

     Here in South Carolina we get lots of Rainy Days.  I saw this umbrella and rain boots material and just had to buy it!!! It rained for a good bit of November so it fit the time I was sewing with it!

     Novembers Project Quilt Challenge was just the time to use it!  The challenge was to use colors out of Kim's daughters name. Her name is Mercedi.  The colors of her name that I chose were Red, Electriv Blue, diamond White and Cyan.  

     I chose a pattern that I came across on a blog that is linked here. It is called Simple Stripes:

http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2011/06/simple-stripes-quilt-tutorial.html?m=1

It was a really good tutorial and an easy quilt to sew. The entire top can be done in a day.  I actually am going to to make at least one more of these quilts to sell!  The fabric collection is called Simon and Kabuki by Quilting Treasures.  I added the Zebra.  Did I say I really loved it!!  

     

      I was going to use the zebra back but I temporarily misplaced it.  Instead I used a black and white Aztec looking design.  But I did have enough to do the binding in zebra. 

     If your interested in buying this quilt please let me know!! 

2014 Goals

     This year I am going to do "A Year of Lovely Finishes" challenge.  Every time I think of something I add it to my list and my goal is to  try to complete it all in 2014.  Looking at this list I have one thing to finish every 2 weeks of the year.  I think I might be very busy!  Even though I said I was not going to rush myself and I was going to do other things this year I want to do as much of this as I can!! Wish me luck in the mostly quilt world!!!

1- Scrappy Quilt around the world

2- string quilt

3- crab quilt

4- Rainbow quilt

5- Jean scrap quilt

6- Cindy's moms quilt

7- I spy quilt boy

8- I spy quilt girl

9- Christmas I spy quilt

10- Christmas Tree quilt

11- Cival War Quilt

12- Batik Quilt

13- 2 inch strip quilt

14- breast cancer quilt

15- Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt

16- feed sack quilt

17- rainboot quilt

18- design a block for Persimon Dreams Blog

19- Floor Pillow

20- 37 sunflower blocks

21- Autism quilt for Michael

22- Crown royal Quilt

23- Herbie pocket quilt

24- Karen quilt

25- Herbie Scrap quilt

26- Project Quilt all weeks

27- Bejeweled Quilt

28- Project Quilt bonus challenge. 

29- Project Quilt Monthly Challanges

30- Finish 20 more Ahhhh's

     If you want to participate, come look here  http://fiberofallsorts.blogspot.com/p/2014-lovely-year-of-finishes.html?m=1

I am doing this and Project quilt this year.  I might Squeeze in a thing or 2 more,  but I think this will keep me pretty booked!!

     This month I will do at least 3 things.  I need to finish my sunflower blocks and due 2 quilts for project Quilt.  I am kinda hoping that at least 1 of my planned projects will match the theme of project quilt this month, that way I can knock something off my list!!!

     Come join me this weekend in the begining of Project Quilt!! It posts at noon Sunday.  I work every night till Thursday so I will have 3 days to finish, wish me luck!!  Oh and check Project Quilt out!! Kim at Persimon Dreams hosts it every year in January with the guidance of her mother in law.  I finish so many projects with this challenge.  Go check it out!!!

http://www.persimondreams.com/project-quilting/what-is-project-quilting

You Can't Find Good Neighbors Anymore

  

      Today we celebrate my neighbors 75th Birthday. Mrs Sarah Wadford has been our neighbor for a few years.  Her and her children have become family to us.  My boys call her Ma Ma.  She treats them as if they are her grands. They impose themselves on holidays and think they belong at her house for Sunday Dinners.  I could never ask for a better neighbor.  Not to mention the rest of her family.  My boys really do think sometimes they are Wadford's!!  And I don't mind.  My neighbors have taught them so many morals!!    

     

     

     Here is a picture of her and her cake that her daughter Amne made!  Anne is one of the most genuine people I know and I not only have her as a neighbor, but also as a coworker!!

     And here is her daughter in law Julie.  She is truly my kids second Mom!!!  Anne did such a good job on this cake!!!

     Here Mrs Sarah is opening up her quilt!! Love the gift of giving!!!

 And a photo of the backing.  I had a goal  of buying nothing for my scrappy quilts.  I want to try to do 6 in 2014.  Clean out all my old and leftover fabric!!

     I have been saving all of my scrap fabric for about 2 years.   All the leftovers from my dresses and outfits and quilts.  I just kept putting them in a bin.  When the bin filled up,  I cut blocks out in sizes between 2 inches and 6 inches.  I saved the strings and a the odd shaped scraps to make this. 

     I saw a tutorial on Bonnie Hunters Quiltville blog on string quilts and I knew older people know the value of scraps.  So I knew that this would be perfect for Mrs Sarah.  So I cut 6 1/2 inch squares out of wax and parchment paper.  It's just what I had and built off of that. For the last month I sewed a few blocks a day when I had time.  I used my 1/4 inch foot.  Then I did a marathon finish this week.  80 blocks in the quilt with at least 10 different fabrics in each. I did not use any plan in sewing them colorwise. I squared all the blocks off and made 6 inch squares.  I pulled the paper off the back.  Be careful when you do this, they tend to try and come apart.  I sewed them together using a 1/2 inch foot.  That way all the looser sides were secured.

 

 

    I used a diamond pattern in the center that went out to make a larger diamond image. I made it 8 blocks wide and 10 tall.  When I sewed all the blocks together I gave my son and husband a choice of colored boarders and they chose the yellow.  The boarders are 3 1/2 inches finished.  I decided that since Mrs Sarah use to work in the cafeterias at the St Stephen schools and their colors or yellow and blue I would use blue thread to free motion quilt it.  I FMQ the quilt in a diamond patterns in a continuous diamond starting in the center. 

     I backed it in some fabric I bought for cheap in bulk from another quilter.  I binded it in a bunch of scrappy binding that was made of leftovers. I machine sewed the binding down.  I put a cute limbed pattern on the binding.  I hand sewed down a label on the back. This is a new thing I am doing.  I am using a lettering thing on my machine to write a small note 

     I will do a few things different when I do it again, but I am excited to get started on my next scrap quilt!  I used the old tractor as a back drop! Think I might also find some new objects to use as photo props!!!

Mug Rug Swap

     I took part in a mug rug swap in a group on Facebook.  This was for a winter or Christmas mug rug.  My swap partner chose winter.  Winter theme and I was yet to pull out my Christmas winter fabric.  So I actually went to the store and bought fabric.  Do you know how hard it was to choose something in the store?  I was trying to stay nondenominational.  And when I found fabric I liked I could not find stuff to go with it. So after walking aisles of fabric I made a choice to go a conservative route. I sewed three 2 inch strips together and then realized I could not flip them. So I sewed 2 groups together and took one off the end.  I made three rows and sewed a block of snow fabric on the end.  They ended up to be 8x12.  I know a little big.  I used the darker blue on the back.  I free motion quilted it with multicolored blue thread.  Put the snow as the binding and hand sewed it on.  They turned out pretty cute!!! I mailed it off to a lady in Michigan that I have never met or spoke to.  I hope she likes it!!!

The Couple I Am Most Thankful For!!

   

 Saturday Night we celebrated my parents 50th Anniversary.  They have not always been my parents, but 23 years ago with nowhere to go they took me in.  We have had our ups and downs over the years but love has shown threw!!   

   

 

No parents are perfect we all do and learn.  I can tell you we have not been perfect, but the lessons that we take and teach from it are what make the difference.  I can not tell you how much their lessons of life meant to me. 

     

For their 50th anniversary we went on a dinner cruise.  It was pretty enjoyable.  We cruised the charleston harbor with some nice views!  Food was alright but the family was wonderful!!!

     Here are some family pictures!

This is Fort Simter as the one below.  The place where the Civil War started. 

Here are my parents with my sister Daphne and us.  And another below of them!

Daddy is trying to photo bomb this photo and break a move!!!

Here is a picture of my Uncle Bill.  

A picture of my Moma and her best buddy Rosie!!!

And a photo of Moma and daddy dancing to Elvis!!!

The last photo is of me with my new boots!!! These are the 1st pair I have seen and really wanted in a long time!