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!

WIP Wednesday

     I have so much going on at once that I am overwhelmed.  I always wait till the last minute for Christmas and that's where I feel I am at.   And so much to do for others before Christmas. But somehow it will get done or I will change my mind of what I am doing. 

     The first big project I am working on is this scrap quilt.  It is for my neighbors 75th birthday. I love Mrs Sarah or MaMa as my kids call her.  She treats my boys as if they are hers.  She invites them every Sunday to dinner.  She has a wonderful family and I cod never find any better neighbors!!!

     The next project I am working on is a pattern called Bejeweled that I adapted to fit the block size I had.  I am at least half way done and I llllllove it!!! I think this will go to my nephews family at Christmas!!!

     I am also working on cloths as always!  Look at this cute thanksgiving outfit!  Tomorrow I am finishing up ruffle pants!!!

     Then please don't laugh at me but I have been cutting out 2 other quilts. One is for one of my friends daughters, a rain boot quilt and the other is a crown royal quilt that has a special story I will tell you about later!!

Another scrap project

     I made a pair of ruffle pants the other week out of this material. I was is a quilt mood last week and since it was on top of the pile I started sewing and cutting.   I first cut two 2 inch strips out of the leftovers and then sewed each set together.  I then cut 3.5 inch squares out of that. I laid them out till they made a rectangle. I tried to make a "L" pattern. I sewed the strips together and measured the size I would need to cut for the center.  I then sewed the outside strips to the center.  I used the same material for the back and the binding. I quilted it using a rectangle maze pattern.  Not to happy with the binding but I decided not to redo it. 

     I gave it to my friend Jennifer who I share doing my business with.  They just moved into a new house and I have a goal of making something for her each holiday.  Her house burnt down a few years ago and I want to replenish her stock of holiday items!!! 

     Here is a photo of the pants! They are too cute!

Heart Touching

     Last night my heart was touched in so many ways.  I love to make for others.  It feels so good to give.  I never expect anything in return.  I do out of my heart. Last night was the first time I was given back too and I still don't know how to handle it.   My friend Cindy's family surprised me at work with a hand made grill.  It is beautiful with a big heart and pink breast cancer ribbons. I can not describe how they made me feel.  I never give to get back.  I give to show love to others. If they only know how much more this pushes me to give on. To make another persons day better. 

     Thank you to the Warren Family!

WIP Wednesday

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     Oh my how many projects am I working on? It's getting to be the holidays and I am going in so many directions. I have so many projects going and so many planned.  But I am on a roll with sewing. It just hasn't been on what I need to sew on!

     I have been working on this Gemstone quilt for the last few weeks. I laid it to the side about a week ago and my goal is to have it done by November 15. I need to get Christmas on a roll!!

     The thing I have really been working on is this weeks new love!  I discovered String Quilting.  And I am doing Wonky string Quilt at that! I love Bonnie from quiltville and her tutorials!  I am using Wax paper because that is all I had.  I have done like 15, six inch squares and I am on a roll. I am quickly using up my scrap bin! 

     I actually cut all my square out of my scrap bin into 2, 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2, 4, 5 and 6 inch squares. These will all be used later in my quilting life!  Then I have been keeping all my strips and little pieces for something.  Now I am working on that something, strip quilting.  I actually see the squares and pieces I cut as free quilts.  I have decided that next year I will make at least 1 project a month out of my scraps so be in the look out!! 

     The last thing I have been working in is outfits! Lots and lots of outfits!