A little embroidery work

I recently bought an embroidery machine and I have been having a little fun on it. Here are a few things I have made.

This is a little string backpack for a friends grandson for Christmas. She bought him some dinosaurs and needed something to put them in. It turned out so cute!
This will be a fun way for someone to break the news of a new baby to someone in the future :o)
I love this apron and monogram!
You are right - this next thing is not embroidery! But I think it is so cute that I had to share...I did some glass etching. It says 'Cookies for Santa'.
I bought the small plate from Walmart and I designed the etching and cut the vinyl (with my vinyl cutting machine) to be a stencil. Very fun and quick :o)

Janet's quilt

I just finished quilting this quilt for Janet S. She chose Come Dance with Me to be quilted onto it. Really like the way it turned out! Red thread was used front and back.

Anne's quilt

I finally finished this quilt for Anne and her husband. I really like the fabrics....they just say 'FUN!'

I used the Yellow Brick Road pattern and Flamingo Sunset as the quilting pattern.

Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak at the quilt I making for an old roommate of one of my daughters. I love the bright fun colors.


Stay tuned!

Bewitching Little Girls

Here are my cute little witches that the skirts were made for. I am still waiting for a picture from Kelly to post with Lylia in her skirt.
I love this one of Robyn twirling!
Don't you just want to join them in a group hug!!

Robyn giving us her best 'princess smile'!

This one of Amber cracks me up!

Talk about bewitching eyes!
Maddy peeking at something or someone :o)
Time to relax....

I finally got a picture with Lylia in her little skirt.
Don't I have the most bewitching little granddaughters?

Little Witches

I made these little skirts and embroidered the shirts for my 4 littlest granddaughters. I think they turned out sooo cute :o) I used this pattern from Pink Fig. I will make these again! Very easy.

Mary's Daughter

Mary, a returning customer, brought me her daughter's first quilt! It is the Yellow Brick Road pattern. I just love that pattern. It's quick and easy and it never looks the same! You can purchase the pattern here.

I was only able to get one picture because my camera's battery died! I meandered the quilt top.

Thank you Mary for allowing me to quilt your daughter's quilt :o) She really did a very nice job!

Amy's Quilt

Amy, who is a friend of the family, sent me a beautiful quilt. She really did a nice job piecing it and she chose Ribbon Dance for her pantograph. Nice choice!

Here is the front.

Here is a close up of the quilting.

This is the back of her quilt.

Thank you Amy for letting me quilt your quilt top!

Tara and Emily's Quilt for their Mother

This quilt was a while in the making, but I feel it turned out very nicely and they were very pleased :o) (to which one is always happy to hear!) These young women with their mother pulled out clothes and items from their lives to put into this quilt as a mother's day gift to their mom. There was clothing items from their youth, items that reminded them of things they did together as a family and things of their mother's.

Tara came very prepared with everything numbered and a drawn outline of how she wanted it presented on the quilt. Very amazing! I had to change a couple of things because of measurements and one item would have made the quilt too rigid in that area. It was a bit of a challenge to get all of the pieces to fit the way she wanted it, but it worked out just great!

These pictures are of the quilt in progress.

The final product!

Their comments:

I just gave my mom the quilt and to say that she loved it would be an understatement. Thank you so much for working with us throughout this process and making such a beautiful quilt filled with our precious memories. Here's a quick thank you from my mom...

"I am just amazed at this beautiful quilt. I can tell that you put your heart and soul into it and that you are very talented. I will treasure it always and intend to sleep with it nightly! I know it will keep me warm and cozy. Thank you so much for preserving these special memories of my daughters. Sincerely, Barbara

And THANK YOU, Tara and Emily, for allowing me the honor of being part of this wonderful quilt.

Molly's Quilt

I just finished this memory quilt for Molly. It is for her parents wedding anniversary. Her dad designed the t-shirts each Christmas as gifts for each family member. (Note to self....great idea!)

I am excited to hear how her parents like it. So far - she and her siblings really like it :o)

This is what she said to me in an email after she received got it back: "The quilt came on Monday and absolutely took my breath away! I can't explain how perfect it is. I had no idea how it would turn out, but the way you have done it is exactly how I would have chosen it. You are so talented. I've been calling my brother and sisters over to see it and they all have said "Wow!" when I open it up. Then they ask how you knew the exact colors to use. :)" I'm sorry, I shouldn't probably post that, but it I just couldn't help but smile when she told me that. I can't help but be a little nervous when I give a customer back their shirts in a quilt that I have designed.

Anyway - I am so excited for her to give it to her parents. Thank you Molly for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of the celebration!

Sue C's quilt

I finished this quilt earlier this week for Sue C. I really liked the way it turned out. She chose such fun fabric.

New look to my quilting blog!

This blog has been used for and about my family. I now have a new blog for my family so be sure to bookmark it or better yet, become a follower! This blog will now be devoted to my quilting quests. My little business is picking up and I would like to show case those quilts that I have the privilege to work on and the great customers that I get to work with :o)

I just finished a Memorial Quilt for Traci in Florida. This is a quilt in memory of her mother. It was quite interesting to work with the different fabrics and colors that were sent to me.

Here is the quilt in progress. Laying out the blocks and shirts.

Here is the back of the quilt. I wanted her to see the fabrics she sent in larger pieces. I loved pieced backs also.

Here is the finished quilt. Loved how everything came together.
Thank you, Traci, for allowing me to be apart of this wonderful memorial.

A Time to Mourn

I hadn't realized that it had been so long it had been since I had made an entry. I have been putting off this entry. It's difficult to put into words the sadness that I feel.

My dad passed away. He had been battling pancreatic cancer for 15 months. I am happy that he was with us for as long as he was, but it is bittersweet to see him go. I am glad that he is no longer in pain, but am sad to not have him around anymore. Not being able to call or visit him. My dad was to our family as the polar star is to sailors. It never changes it's place; it's immovable and constant. That was my dad.

He was constant, steadfast, immovable and always abounding in good works.

*Constant in his love for his family. Always had a listening ear, offering love and affection whether I was right or wrong. Always there with a hug.

*Steadfast in his dedication to God, church, & family. We always knew he would be there for us.

*Immovable in his morals and principles. A man of integrity.

*Always doing good. Whether it was mowing a lawn for the widowed, helping someone with a car problem, writing the family missionaries weekly, never speaking ill of anyone, supporting his family in their accomplishments, rejoicing in the good times or sorrowing in the hard times, everyone knew that they could call Odell/daddy/grandpa and that he would be there for them no matter what.

I find great comfort in knowing that my dad is in a better place with family and friends. We believe that families are forever. I know that I will see him again and that our separation is temporary. I hope and pray that I can be half the good, kind person that he is. He left quite the legacy.

I will miss you Daddy.
Daddy wrapped in the quilt I made for him and my mother for their anniversary last year. I named it 'Come dance with me' because they loved to dance and I can still hear my dad saying just that to my mother.

Hurts were here!

George and Ginny Hurt were here this weekend. They spent Thursday night with us which was fun. We got to catch up with each other. We had dinner with them and Gadberrys and Sheppards at Habib's. Love that place....such yummy food. I got to quilt a quilt top for her. She made it for her grandson who turned 8 and was baptized today. (their reason to visit Maryland!)

Before and After!

I have finished the outside of the computer armoire that I bought on Craig's List. I just have to organize the inside next. I also bought some paint for the kitchen and laundry room, so I when I get it all painted I will include pictures of that too :o)

I Love Scraps!

I love scraps and scrappy quilts! Bonnie Hunter came and spoke to our quilt guild last year and I really enjoyed her lecture and trunk show of quilts. This is one of her quilts in progress... I started doing the things she suggested and then bought her book 'Scraps & Shirttails'. I wanted to include one of her links to some information that I didn't want to loose and would be able to find quickly.
Here are some of my scraps....
I have these in my sewing room and Gordon asked "What are these?"
Me - "Oh...those??....they are for a quilt sample I am making for my business for a Memorial Quilt. I didn't think you would want me cutting up your shirts!!" I'll post pictures as I make my scrappy quilts!