Whirl Of A Week

     This has been a most eventful week.  Or should I say the later end of it!  I worked last weekend, had a day off only to work 3 nights in a row.  Stayed up to get a haircut and help a friend Thursday only to be drug into the doctor Friday with a hurt son.  Thank goodness for my sister Joy.  She is always there to rescue me when needed! She hooked us up with a good surgeon and Waylon had surgery on Saturday morning.  Wonder if that was enough for one week?
     I think I missed Wades first performance last night.  Had to choose between sleep, him and my nephews party.  I slept first went to the party for a while and came home to finish a quilt.  I really needed the sleep and time away!  But he preformed with the Jazz band before the Orchestra played at the high school.  Hope he had some familiar support!!
     My nephew is 30 today.  it seems like yesterday he has 10 and driving me nuts.  Even though I remember him more as the follower.  He was always the one with the tender heart.  When they all picked at me and he sensed that I was getting upset, he would stop!  So here is my shout out to Happy Birthday Brad Lail!  I am proud of you and can't wait till you finish school!!!!  Oh and for you to give someone a ring(hint, hint)!!!!
     The party was back to the 80's party so please ignore the crazy outfits!  The one with the 3 guys is all 3 of my nephews(Casey, Brad and Josh). My niece Zoie as the Blues brothers! My sister Joy, just guess with her hair! And me and my nephew Brad!!
     Did not get much more then my quilt completed this week and an oops block for the My favorite block challenge.  This week I have high hopes with making some girls cloths and a bunch of blocks for a block swap.  Long weekend of work next weekend, so I dont think I will get much done the following week with another challenge up.  Stay tuned to life as I know it!!

AnnieYoung Project Quilt Challenge

I bought this set of batiks at my local quilt shop on sale. I washed it at the beginning of Project quilt knowing I would use it for a challenge!
As soon as I saw Annie Youngs work I thought of batiks. I have never done an art impression themed project so I this was going to be a new path for me. I could not decide what project to do so I called my ever faithful sister and. of course she told me what she liked best! The painting called "Chasm of Truth," under Truth between friends. With a saying that is so true! "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.". A saying that I can really gear toward one of my friends and her life right now. I think that Annie hit it on the head when she chose that comment.
So back to the quilt, trying to make it easy as I could knowing that I worked 4, 12 hour night shifts in a week(for tjose that don't know the entire quilt has to be done in just 1 week), started my patternless quilt(which I don't ever think I have really used a pattern completely)! Fabric conserver me figured a dimensional cut length and width that would not waste any fabric and then I decided to off cut several pieces so that the sewing lines were not totally straight. I randomly sewed the fabric strips in groups and then cut them again. I laid these strips out so that I could try to see a shading like the painting, light to dark and vise versa. I then just sewed up 3 panels and sewed them together.
This is the first time I ever used the use the backing as your binding method. Don't know if I like it. Not sure if its from the fact that I did not use any in the quilt, that I feel that it does not 100% match or if I really don't like the method. I used another piece of tiger stripe batik that had all the reds and purples out of the quilt. Again, bought at the fabric store on sale.
I then quilted it with 3 different color threads. Another new thing for me. The 3 shades to match area. I might try this method again. Decision made though in this process was that I need to only buy the mega spools when quilting. The smaller ones, even though there is a better thread selection don't go far. Maybe when they open the Joann's here in my area in a few months will have more big ones!
I have tried to use each one of the challenges to make a full sized quilt, something I could use as a finished gift during the year. My other goal was to only use fabric from my stash in this project. Not to buy any new fabric. I was guilty of only buying thread. Thread is an item that I don't have as big of a stash of. But I think I need to stock up on during a big quality thread sale!
Not knowing that I would need the stress relief this week, I actually stressed about getting this quilt done. Actually not having anyone in mind to give this too. I was just doing it as a challenge. Then I began to think of how the quilt/painting and it's saying was reflective of one of my friends lives, I decided it would be for her. The joy and no stress returned. Then it was found that my son would need an emergent type of surgery. The day I had planned on finishing most of it had went to taking to the doctor and specialist and my finishing day I was supposed to help with my nephews party, but ended up taking my son to surgery. But with Gods will I finished it!!!
Now to a week off and to working on cloths and English paper piecing!!!
The pictures below are of my staring fabric and my finished quilt. New tradition. Take them on the playground of the school my church is using on Sundays!!

Stress

If you are raising kids, I know you are stressing about something. In the last week, all I feel like I have done is deal with kids and their problems. And when you finally get to where you think they understand, they do the same thing again. I feel like the cycle never ends. Maybe one day they will learn a lesson. I hope I haven't had a stroke or a heart attack by then.

One of the best things out of this is the reminder that my kids go to a good school. My sons have both been blessed with a wonderful principal, Janie Langley. Some may not like her, but for the reason they don't like her, I love her. She is stern and to the point. If she doesn't agree with you she will tell you. But what I like most is what she says, she does. It's hard to find people anymore that don't care if they are politically correct or not only that they do the right thing. And for that I think Macedonia Middle School is one of the best places you can send your kids.

One of the best things I did in the last week was to ride with Wade to Lexington to try out for All State Jazz Band. I think that Wade learned a lot even though he did not make it. It also allowed me to spend time with Wade. I know now that he has his license now and I will see him less. I just hope he doesn't forget where he came from and what we taught him.

We also opened a checking account for him. He got his 1st check this week. It really made me feel like he was taking a step into adulthood. He is getting so old.

And onto my items of the week. Last week Waylon wanted to learn to sew, so he could make is Grandpa an apron. We spent a quality hour and a half together. Time I will never forget! He actually was patient and helped with every step. It turned out great and I think his PaPa loves it!!! Great gift for a 66h birthday.

I finished challenge 2 of project quilt and made my sister Nancy a black and white Pinwheel quilt. I actually love how it turned out. I just wish I did not have to rush threw it. But as one of my mentors say: the little imperfections in a handmade item, gives it character!!

And last I posted a picture of the paper piecing quilt I am making. These are the hexagon stars sewn into a triangle so far. It's going to take a long time to make this since every piece is hand stitched. I think I might actually keep this for myself!

Jury Duty

Spent the week at Jury Duty. I really don't know if I believe jury duty for civil trials is worth it or not anymore. And for Criminal trials, hmmm. What it all comes down to is that they both choose the people with the least education and in the lowest paying jobs. It kinda hurt my feelings that civil judgements against people and our insurance companies are waged this way. I feel that the lawyers know that they will get a better judgement if they have those serving on a jury that are in need of money and will have sympathy. I left jury duty with the belief that I am not sure of the jury process in America. It actually scared me.
On a better note, there were 3 positives of Jury Duty. The first was the fact that I met some truly wonderful people. I was stuck in a room and in the hall with these great people and they made a otherwise wasted time wonderful! The second positive thing was the fact that we were provided nourishments by a wonderful staff member of Berkeley County Government. Getting that Diet Pepsi at my moment of aggravation made my entire day better. It also madero feel like my tax dollars went to good work!!!! But I did get a good laugh from one of my fellow jurors. He said "Hey now we all can say we participated in Americas Food Stamp Program". This led me to other thoughts!!!
And finally the other good this was that for all the time spent in the hall I finished one more of my hand sewn hexagons!!! On a goal of 2 a week!

On to other news, Wade went to his first job interview this week. Got a job and started it!!! Proud of my new bus boy!!!

Below there is a picture of Waylon. After watching several episodes of Duck Dynasty Waylon was ready to help cook a fried Turkey. Needless to say I had a laugh!!

And my favorite thing of the week was going to a baptism of a dear girl Lauren Litchfield. She has been with me for 2 years at church camp and I am sooo proud of her!!! My quilt from last week was given to her with hopes that each day she wraps herself in it that she will remember the step she took last night!!!

I guess my last event of the week was that I finished fasting for church. I was actually very successful in this and the baptism really made me reflect on my life and where I came from! I feel like this is the year I can make a difference. 2013 is the year of Christ!!!
I have not finished much this week. I sewed up a dress and started a new quilt for Project Quilt. I also started a new quilt along. I will do 2 blocks a week for the next 10 weeks. I will try to post each week. I set a goal that I would finish 2 stars a week we are at 3. When I get to 5 I will start sewing them together. This is the project I am most excited about!!!

New Year With A Lot of Changes In Store

It's been a while since I posted. Had a very busy last part of the year. I really kicked in my sewing business and made so many dresses I could not keep count. And wreaths... Oh my, for a while I thought they were coming out of everywhere. But it's the best of my 2 joys, making things and making others happy!!!

I love to give back to others what was once given to me. The talent God gave me to craft and sew has now allowed me to help others. Thus my business began. "Fostering Others".

So if you are going to a shower, need a dress or cute pair of pants, or a wreath or any other handmade item, let me know. I will enjoy creating you something!

Now to what's new. I have been experimenting with Free Motion quilting since before Christmas. I finally took a class last week and I am on a roll!! For those of you who don't know what that is. It's all the sewing on a quilt top that's not in strait lines. It is really stress relieving!!

And last week I started on a new challenge called Project Quilt. I think it will help me this year to finish presents and quilts for Christmas. And on top of that, it will help me learn new skills in my favorite new hobby of quilting! I finished an entire quilt in a week that I am just putting back till I need it!!

This weekend I also used up the last of my oranges and tangelos from the holidays and made Orange Marmalade. The only bad thing is my boys want to dig in and it said to let it sit for 2 weeks. So the wait begins. I might share how it turned out then!!!

During the weekend I started my newest project. Called paper piecing. This is how they hand made quilts years ago without a machine. I have finished my first star and actually I am hoping to finish an entire blanket with it. I think this may be my first blanket that I ever keep for myself!!!!

I will try to post an update this week and say a little prayer today. Wade goes for his first job interview!

My Oldest Sister

My oldest sister as I call her, is not my real sister, but for the last 22 years, she has adopted me as hers and treated me like blood since day one. She puts me in my place and tells me when I am wrong. She has helped to foster me into the women I am now. She has inspired me.
Joy had her kids young like me. Worked to take care of her family and then worked hard to return to school and become a nurse. When I went back to nursing school, I told myself, if Joy could do it with 3 boys, I could do it with 2. She has led me in many direction and not even known it!

A year ago, Joy, a woman in her 40s was inducted as a chief in the navy. Not a small fight for her, but well deserved! She literally had to step threw Hell to get there, but with her belief that no one could get her down, she made it!
I guess another reason I am so proud of her, is I came from a big military family and thought that one say I would join the Coast Guard but didn't. I would love for our military roots to carry on.
So back to the reason for my post, when Joy went to become chief, one of the things she had to do was to cover this book so that all these things could be written in it. I was so excited when she asked me to do it, and took such pride in doing it!
This week she returned to my house with the same projects to do for 2 of her friends. She was so excited that these 2 friends had come along so Ugarit and she wanted to be part of it. The joy that Joy always gets in helping others. She always thinks 1st of everyone else and second of herself. The one thing I aspire to do.

So I spent 2 nights sewing up book sleeves all just to see the smile on her face, not for money, but to repay her for just being Joy!! I could never thank her enough for what she has done in my life!

Here is the first one I made her and a set of all! I love the black one, made of the old uniform top. I left it where the flap is still flapping!

Regrets

I started this blog as an outlet of how helping others fostered me and hopefully someone else. Today I read a blog that was written by a friends wife. It really made me think about what I do daily and if I will have any regrets tomorrow.

I think we all have done things that we later regret. I know I have done many things in my life that I wish that I had not. But we can not change those things. We must go on and take the lesson we have learned from each mistake. The hardest thing is to go back and apologize to try and right our wrong. It's something that as I have gotten older I strive to do.

When I was younger I was hurt in many ways by an adult who I should trust. For along time I held anger against her, but one year through church camp I learned to forgive her. I even learned that I really should love this person. That maybe one day she will grow in Gods love from my love. I actually recently sent her a blanket called "A Blanket of Love". It was a little piece of every project that I knitted or crocheted for the last 4 years. It might have been ugly to most, but it was beautiful to me. I felt comfort under it as I worked on it. I felt the love I had put into each piece of my work. So I decide it needed to go to someone who needed love. So I mailed it to my real mother. As an adult it actually made me feel that I really forgave her. It felt good! I regret I hadn't done this sooner.

So a Sunday later I went to church and a service really hit me. For 2 years now I have had some anger in my heart. A man assaulted my kids at a church gathering. I have not been able to see this man or his family for the last 2 years without having some type of anger. The sad thing is I could not walk into my families church without that feeling. I had promised myself that my kids would never be touched as i had. So the anger was more then just what he had done to my kids, but how he had broken my promise. So the service I went to was about forgiveness. All of the topics I was struggling with in my heart that I did not realize were brought up. Then he played a video of a couple in our church and of the utter forgiveness that a wife gave. It was during this service that I finally forgave. I have spent the last few weeks regretting my anger. B

But back to my friend, she really needs some prayers. She is an inspiration and her blog this morning like that church service that has inspired me really has me thinking. We each need to try and think before we do and not regret. We never know what will happen tomorrow.

Sorry for the long blog and rattling on, but this is one of my ways to get my feelings out and hopefully to help someone else in the process.