Stitched With Prayers

My most recent quilt was made quickly for a classmate of mine from high school.  He was diagnosed with a rare appendix cancer.  As I made quick work of this quilt, I spent much time praying for him and his family.  I pray that he will find comfort during treatments and healing.

I used Gyleen Fitzgerald’s pineapple block ruler.
It uses 1.5" strips and a 2.5" square to make these 8.5" unfinished pineapple blocks.  


I then used the "Fun and Done" quilt as you go method for finishing off the quilt designed by Prairie Sky  Quilting.


I highly recommend both techniques.  Although it is easier to do the "Fun and Done" quilt as you go method in the smaller block that the ruler is designed for.

Challenge to use Orange, Purple and Blue

I was able to join a small group of quilters who participate in several quilt/art challenges each year.

This was my first challenge with the group.

When I found out what this challenge was, I immediately knew this would not be easy.  You would know that orange is my most challenging color to use - my orange section in my stash only consists of 4 or 5 fabrics.  

For this challenge, I turned to a pattern that I've been wanting to try, Ricky Tims' Caveman Quilting, the Chantelle Tulip flower.  My roots are in traditional quilting - so free cutting curves and making things uneven was a step out for me.  Though the picture doesn't show it, I quilted the center of the quilt with orange thread and the borders with purple thread - thus challenging me to be bolder in my thread selection.  This measures about 14x22".

I've decided I need quilts for my front door for each season (at least to start).  This quilt has replaced my snowflake quilt and will remain on my front door for the spring.

Seasonal Quilts?

I hung my Christmas Wreath quilt on our front door at the beginning of December.  It felt so nice to approach the house and see my quilt each time.  I've become inspired to make - seasonal quilts to there is always a quilt on my front door.  Secretly, I'd like monthly quilts, but I'm starting somewhere.

We've had a lot of snow days this January.  So I put aside my other projects and decided it was time to start my Winter Door Hanging.

I've been keeping a December issue of Quiltmaker Magazine from 2003.  I've used several of the patterns in this magazine, but I've always wanted to do the snowflake quilt.  So my Winter quilt, is one of the snowflakes from this magazine.  My children were home from school due to ice/snow storm for two days straight.  At the end of the 2nd day, I had this finished quilt.

There has to be something good about all these snow days from school, right?

Finally Finished it!

When my children moved into twin-sized beds, I decided they needed quilts made by me.

My son's quilt was finished in October 2009, see archives or key word - jungle quilt.

Now, I've finally finished my daughter's quilt.  She loves yellow and wanted a yellow quilt.  I found a pattern by Evelyn Sloppy from her book "Log Cabin Fever".  I've adapted it to make it a twin sized quilt instead of a lap quilt.  My daughter is quit happy with the quilt.

It feels good to know that they now have quilts made by me on their beds.  Now onto new projects!

Embellishing my Emma's Trees

I kept looking at my Emma's Trees.  I knew I wanted to embellish them some.  I asked my daughter to play with an embellishment pattern.  She got me started and here is how they've ended up.

I'm keeping the blue one for our family because it incorporates buttons that were on my children's clothing.  The other two trees have been delivered to my neighbors.

Stay tuned, it's turning out to be a crafty Christmas after all.

I've been gone to long...

Well, I guess I have been gone much, much to long.  Sorry about that.  I am enjoying the sewing studio.

A fellow quilter, Miriam, designed this tree pattern to honor her daughter, Emma.  Here is her story:

MIRIAM'S STORY OF EMMA'S TREE 

You are right to feel there is a story to Emma's Tree. My (Miriam's) daughter Emma was diagnosed with Breast Cancer when she was 8 months pregnant with her second baby. She had a C-section to deliver the baby and the following week had a mastectomy. Unfortunately the treatment didn't cure her and she died, aged 29, when the baby, Kate, was 1 year and 2 months. Anna, her older daughter, was 2 years and 2 months. During the time of her illness I had some difficulty sleeping and used to spend many hours in my sewing room - mainly cutting fabric.  I made some of these trees for all of my 5 children and some for close friends....Now they are all called Emma's trees. This month the girls will be 6 and 7 and they are wonderful girls and doing very well. I feel such a connection with Emma through them. This year I think they will understand how their Mum's tree is being made by my friends in many countries around the world.

Here are my Emma's Trees.  I'm still working on some embellishments for them -- and deciding who will receive my extras.

Baby Girls

We've been waiting for several friends to have their babies.  As is popular right now, no one knew what gender the baby would be.  That makes it a bit difficult to have the quilt ready to go.  It would seem that they may all end up having girls. Here are two raggy quilts for two beautiful baby girls.

It feels good to be back in the quilting groove.  I'm spending as much time as I feel I can....so many projects I want to do and so little time.