Celebrating my boys Sweet 16!!!

Today my oldest son Wade turned 16. Sweet 16 as they call it. But to tell you the truth, boys this age are not that sweet:(but that's another story)! So we had a nice party at the lake and it poured down rain. And did I say pour!!! But we had so much fun under the picnic shelter.
He got to see the man he was named after for the 1st time in years and spend some special time with family and friends!!!then he just had to be the redneck he is and go muffing.... Oh boy what do I have to look forward to...
I made another brickwork looking table runner. Ot matched his kinda music themed party. This was after the party and after it got a little messy but had to share it with you along with a few other Birthday pictures!!

Happy Birthday Wade!!!! I am soooo proud of you!!!

A Bunch of 1st and a Big Happy Birthday!!!

I follow the Persimon Dreams Blog. As part of Project Quilt she hosts a monthly quilt challenge. In the challenge you complete a project monthly that is part of the theme. This has really made me step out of the box.
This quilt is inspired by my son. He is a talented musician. The Bass is his school/church instrument of choice. Today is also his 16th birthday. We are having him an old fashion music pickin party. There is nothing more exciting or touching fir me then to hear my boys play music. In the theme of this I decided to make him a Bass themed wall hanging.
Here is where the 1st start. This is a Foundation paper pieced project. My 1st ever. Not perfect but I think it looks good!! Decided 1/2 way threw that I might not do anymore. This type of paper piecing may not be my thing. It is my first small quilt wall Hanging. I usually love the gift of a quilt to lay under. This is the 1st quilt I have done a tag/area on my quilt where I have wrote something to commemorate the date. I have wrote a few things on binding but that is it. My younger son liked it so well that I think I will do more messages. This is also the 1st item I have ever hand sewn the binding on. I know what your thinking, but I am always in to much of a hurry. Guess I might try it again. Like doing it to small projects. And my last 1st. I have never done texture or thread painting. I have never sewn objects on my quilt. On this quilt the strings are metallic gold thread. I had to go over it several times to be the thickness I desired. I also did the key hole on it in Metallic Black. I also went over that several times. Next time might try another thread. This was very fine thread and did not show up well. For the Tuning Keys are beads that I pulled out of my stash.
The pattern is really a Cello pattern I found at whimsandfancies.com. Just to try my luck again at not such a big thing, I might try the music note she has free there. Hope to post later today about his Party!!

WIP Wednesday

So I am on vacation from work and life. I have this crazy sinus thing going on, so all is not going as planned. So My plan was to sew and clean. And sewing I have done. But not much cleaning!!! One of my goals was to get my precut pile cleaned out. Over time I have cut out several items and placed them in a pile. I keep saying I am going to get to them but we all know what happens.... I was able to finish 5 skirts that you will see below. These skirts were either upcyled jeans or made out of my leftovers from dresses. I made 4 camo dresses, 3 T-shirt dresses and sewed together some leftover squares for a camo quilt. Oh and one Sunflower wreath(picture of that in a future post)!!! I feel really accomplished in the craft world, but not as much in the house:(. I did make muffins, do laundry and fixed beef stew though. So tomorrow you know what's top priority after the vet!
Goal for the next week is to make a crib set, 3 dresses and 4 more wreaths, ohhh and my project for Project Quilt!!

Rocket Quilt

Another end of the month and day to post my Project Quilt project. And in routine for me I am trying to make them all full size and use fabric I already have. I keep pushing myself and finish at the last moment each month. And have again with this one.  So much that I forgot to post it.  See on the 31st I finished late then worked all night.  I was going to take pictures of it in the morning but the multitude of things happened.  I got off work late, I got some really bad news and then I got some really good news.  My sisters had twins!!!!!  A whirlwind of a day.  They are in NICU now but I am hoping to hold them when I go there Friday.
     Now back to the quilt, I had the top done for a few days, but with work and other things I just can't get to it.  So last minute me spent every minute sewing.  On to explaining the quilt: I have had this rocket fabric for at least a year. When I saw the colors for the Spring Pantone, I went to my fabric collection and this is what I saw first. I pondered all month about what to do and saw this tube quilt tutorial. I played around with this on a table runner and decided that I would use it for this. I then did some math figuring and decided to try to use the line on my 9 1/2 inch square. This worked perfect if I sewed two 3 3/4 inch pieces together then a 7 inch. It made 9 1/2 inch squares. I used 4 different colored fabrics and a white.   It was really easy to put together.  But for some reason when I put the border on te quilt the fabric seemed to stretch and it turned out lumpy.  I decided to quilt it that way anyway due to time. Then as I was FMQ the thread kept acting up.  And I learned I dont do straight lines well FMQ. Will try another way next time. I did a really neat xxxx pattern on the binding. Will try this again. It looks really secure. On the back I took a piece of rocket fabric, cut it in half and placed a piece of the stripe material in the center. I love how it allows for more of the big rockets to show.

This quilt will be given to Mr Johnny Hoffman. He was my husbands neighbor for most of his childhood. He spends a lot of time with my younger son Waylon and is like a grandfather to him. His hobby is rockets and he teaches a lot of youth and young adults the science behind it! So over a year ago when I first saw the rocket fabric I knew I had to get it for him. I think this will be his fathers day present!!

Last Day of School Teacher Gifts

Guess I am being lazy and waiting to bring Waylon's Teacher Appreciation present on the last day. That's because I am just finishing the last one. I made a table runner for each. Waylon is now old enough that he has told me who not to give something to. Funny how kids are like that and just don't appreciate people sometimes. I guess us as adults are like that too. A few of my friends told me that they don't give their teachers anything because they get enough of our tax money. Well I see it as they spend more time with them on most days then we do. They deserve a treat. Who knows what hell my kids put them threw. So each teacher is getting a runner and a jar of Waylon's jam. Hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoy they fact that the year is over and Waylon is out of the 6th grade. On to the wonders of 7th grade. I pray for good teachers and ones that can stand Waylon!!! Lol!
The last table Runner is for Mrs. Kirby the Band Director. She has taught both my boys and I try to always give her an extra treat. She helped both of them find a love for Music!!!
The table runner is random cuts of two 4 inch strips that I sewed to give the unevenness that I surrounded with 1 1/2 inch strips. I have really enjoyed the ability to make items freely with no design and the creation process that goes with it!!
There are also 2 hot pads I made with scraps. Really enjoying the creativity process! Trying to use everything right now!!

Goodbye to Mrs Eva

Mrs Eva has been following along with my son Wade since middle school. Her daughter Demi has been in the same class as Wade since 6th grade. She has been a star volunteer and leader. The roll of volunteering in school has been going away over the years. Mrs Eva has been the diehard volunteer since the day I met her. Last year even after her son graduated she stayed as the president of the Band Booster club. And also was in charge of running of the football concession stand. She has given up hundreds of hours so that the love of music can go on. I wish more people could volunteer I think the world would be a better place!
I was wanting to make her a gift to thank her for all her work and was not sure what. Mrs Eva loves M&M's. On my favorite site Ozark Fabric I found a premade top. It had a M&M playing a Sax and her son Dallas does an amazing job playing the sax!! So decision was easy. I added a few strips of M&M fabric boarder and quilted it with a meandering stippling and there is!!!
I hope you enjoy it Eva!!! You deserve much more than this!!!

Another Milestone Reached

Today my son got his High School letter for Band. Boy has Wade grown up. If you know my son Wade then you know that music is his life. He earned his letter for 2 years in marching band. I am so proud that my boy has found a place where he fits and excelled. I hope that Wade continues with his passion and makes sure this stays a permanent part of his life.
He plays in church on some Sundays and playing with that group I think has helped him to grow not just in music, but in his spiritual life.
Here is a table runner I made for Wades band director Jeff Caplinger. I am so excited to see what he helps Wade to accomplish in the future!
The runner was made with no pattern. Just cut up 2 fat quarters and made some piano keys. I am really enjoying being my own creative person!!