Jake & Lacey's Quilt Designs

I've let the grandchildren design their own quilts on my design wall and here is their latest! We stretched this one out a bit as what they can put up on the design wall in 45 minutes can give me a week's worth of work!!

 This is Jake's quilt! As he stated to his Mom, "It has a pattern to it". That was important to him. He was six at the time of this designing. It was neat how if he did not have enough of one fabric for his rows, he was okay with substituting something similar.

I found this great border fabric that I had been saving for a long time and it was just the right amount for the borders and the back.

 Lacey is not as concerned about order as she is having fun. She did choose all her fabrics also - she is five. She did notice how the flower in the vase turned out matching near the center.

 Here is her back - other fabrics I had on hand and her border was leftover bindings that worked with her quilt colors.

I did a freehand swirl on hers.

Swirls from the front!

Another Flower Garden block finished!!

I love the colors of this quilt!! Imagine that!! This is from Kaffe Fassett's book, Quilts from Italy. There are at least two in the book I want to make. For this one, however, I am making it a smaller size so it can be a wallhanging in our family room. It just looks like spring to me!

Happy Quilting and stitch when you can!

Chelsea Quilt Top

And now it is a quilt top. . .waiting to be quilted and placed on the wall for viewing! Btw, this quilt pattern is from Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in the Sun book.

 And now what I really did last week! Played with these sweet babies!

 Fed the birds at the park. . .

 had a picnic in the in the backyard . . .

and tried to stay warm at the park!

Working with Wool & The Pumpkin Patch

I've finished a couple more of my wool blocks. Only two left and then the inside blocks and beautiful red border to do. This could be a year long project instead of just Summer Blocks of the Month. However, I'm still hooked on wool.

And here we are at the Pumpkin Patch at Poppell Farms. Jake was so cute gathering the pumpkins.

And now he's taking a break and posing for some pictures!

Jake, Wool, New Applique and Nursery

 I had been saving my thread cones for Jake to play with. He was entertained for quite some time, building a little tower. Who needs real toys??

 Still working with my wool applique. It is so relaxing and enjoyable!

I kitted up another quilt this past week. My Evening Blooms from the Country Inn.

 Now I have all nine blocks ready to stitch. I took pictures as I went to help remember the order of the pieces since each block has a similar layout with the leaves.

 And now, a little pink and aqua going on around here getting ready for another grandchild.

 Love these colors and aqua has always been one of my favorites.

Hopefully I'll get the quilt top quilted this week, a pillow made and the nursery will almost be complete.

What I've Been Up To Lately

 For several months I've been working on this little Precious Moments cross stitch for our grandson. I finished it the night before he arrived this weekend - I live by deadlines - LOL! Seriously, I had made one for our son 30+ years ago and then my daughter wanted one for Jake. Once while cleaning out my cross stitch booklets, this one moved to a new home. I downloaded a revised book, still 20 years old, and I did not realize they had changed the graph to a much more complex (but nicer) design until I had already begun. I should have used linen since there were SO MANY half and quarter stitches but alas, it was too late once I got into it. My eyes are surely not what they were 30 years ago either but I kept plugging along. Well, it was worth it and with my bright OTT light and many late hours, Jake will have a new picture in his room, showing who loves him best of all.

 And here he is at Nana's house this week where we are playing and having loads of fun!

 He decided his chair had little cup holders on the sides - he loves to drink water and it slides great on the hardwood floors.

 And while he was napping one day, I actually sewed two of my Farmer's Wife blocks. The one on the left had to be taken apart and I'm thinking now I didn't get those triangles centered properly. It looks sort of wonky in the photo. I guess I can't focus on keeping children and quilting at the same time. Hmm, may have to do it again...or maybe not. The Farmer's Wives blocks were probably not all perfect either.

And now since I have a hand stitching project with wool to sew from Primitive Gatherings, I'm trying to reorganize my threads. They were in several locations so I'm trying to get them all together. This little   plastic container just might do the trick.
Happy Stitching when you can!

Class, String Quilt Update & Jake

 I recently took a class with Terry Atkinson who makes all those wonderful fun and easy patterns, like the Yellow Brick Road and the pattern I used for my Dr. Seuss quilt. However, it was testing a pattern that she will be publishing this spring so I cannot share the quilt top.......yet!! But, above you can see the fabrics I chose for the quilt, laying on top of my background piece. All I can say is, it is a very unusual quilt and so fun to make. Sweet Home Quilt Company sponsored the Retreat at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, GA, and we were treated so well. Great place to sew, a large room, delicious food and nice clean rooms to sleep in after sewing all day. Thanks, Melisa!!

 Here is an update on my mother-in-law's string quilt. I managed to take it completely apart so the blocks would lay flat, resized the blocks, added a few that I had made with her fabrics and put them back together. I had a few leftover small blocks which will become part of the back art. I think I may still add a piano keys border to make it just a little larger and use up more strings.

 Here is a close-up! You probably recognize many of these fabrics from the past 15 years of quilting.

 And here is Jake on his first picnic with his mom. Isn't he adorable!! He was having such a good time and there was a Girl Scout get together so he was entertained, too.

And now he's walking around and playing ball. My, my, how these babies do grow so quickly!!

This will take you away from quilting!

Mom is celebrating her birthday here in GA!
Now this sweet face will take you away from quilting, won't it?? We are ready for the sunshine now!

Jake and Nana

What can I say? Jake has won Nana's heart! Our precious grandson, almost six weeks old.

And of course, his mother being from Georgia, got him dressed in the proper attire for his one month photo. As you've probably guessed, Jake is the recipient of the Dr. Seuss quilt I made in the fall.