Am I Crazy?!

Well...that's question is up for debate.

Let me share with you what adventure my family is about to embark on.

We are getting ready to move to London, England and work with a church that is already established in the Bromley area, and then plant new churches later on down the road.   For those who know the term, we are missionaries.

And part of this is hitting the road to raise support and asking people to pray with you and for you.

So, on June 28th, we are heading from South Florida over to Colorado/Oklahoma/Missouri/Ohio/ then Pennsylvania....and more stops along the way.  We'll be gone probably until the end of October or maybe November.

We will be living in a camper that has 2 bedrooms and a kitchen and bathroom, all the necessities.

And we will be taking our 3 wonderful boys.  This will be an adventure to say the least!

Ok, so....I am excited and nervous and excited and anxious and excited.

There are so many things that I don't want to forget.  So many things that I don't know about.  So many things I have questions about.  But we're just going to learn as we go.

Starting with, what are we going to pull this camper with?! God provided this trailer that is in great shape, never been used before, for FREE! I couldn't believe it when it happened.
Now, we are trusting and believing that He will provide us something to pull it with.
And I can't wait to share with you all when He does.

One of the things I've been thinking about it sewing.  It's going to be a long time without the sewing machine.  My husband says he's bringing it for me, but I don't think I'm going to bring it.  You know, then you have to take your cutting board, supplies, fabric, etc.  It's never ending.

So instead, I'm going to just bring a few things for hand stitching.  I'm going to bring embroidery projects and I want to finish up my bright circles on dark grey.



I'm also thinking about this:



By Rachel at Stitched in Color 


And maybe this?


By Rachel at Stitched in Color


or this?


by JennyMakesStuff


I have most of these fabrics that I want to use. (Verona - Riley Blake)


So...what's your verdict?! Lol...am I crazy?

What other great projects do you like to take on the road with you?

Blogger's Quilt Festival

This will be my first entry ever into the Blogger's Quilt Festival.   I have a feeling there is no way that I will ever win a prize, but who cares? It's a great chance for us all to get together and show off our work.


So my entry for Spring 2012 will be my new quilt Texas Crossings.  It's a new take on the plus quilt that is so popular.  And I love the quilting I was able to do on it.

Scrappy and Happy

You know when you're done cutting and you have that little piece left over that is so small you don't know what you're going to do with it?

Well, I have the perfect block for you.  All you need is a 1.5" square.  Yep, that small.

Little Miss Shabby posted a tutorial for these two blocks a while ago.  I saw them and knew that I had to make a quilt like that.

I've been collecting little pieces as I go.  I just trim it down to 1.5 x 1.5 and then throw it in a baggie with the others.

I take these out whenever  I want to sew something mindless.  You know what I mean? Just something I don't have to figure out as I go.

Soon, all those scraps turn into these!



So far, I've only sat down to do this twice, and I almost have enough to make a full quilt.  Maybe just one more go round, so maybe in a few more months this one will be ready to go. 

The thing I love about it is how all those scraps come together to make something so unique.

Scrappy quilts are becoming my favorite!

So, what do you think? Does it play tricks on your eyes?

Drawstrings and Zippers

So, you've never made a zipper pouch or a drawstring bag (like me)? Well, now is your chance.

Danny over at Mommy for Reals is gathering these to make camp for foster teens a lasting memory.  She is looking to collect 24 drawstring bags and 40 zipper pouches.  These will be given to the children for their toiletries and will be something for them to call their very own.

If you want to take a look at the tutorials for these projects, they are here:

Drawstring bag          Mummas time to create

 Zipper Pouch               See Kate Sew             Skip to My Lou

Take a look then head on over to her blog and let her know what you can do to help out!

And don't forget to sign up for one block for our Quilting for Kids project for Jenny.

Thanks!

I know, I know...

....Another memory quilt.  It was commissioned by a lady that I clean house for.

(Before I forget, we need 20 more blocks for our Quilting for Kids project...click here...it's really easy this time!!!!!)

She had all these shirts from her "hay days."  She traveled the world and got a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt wherever she went and there was a Hard Rock.

So, here it is!  All put together.




What's really cool about this quilt is the back.



She asked if I could use her old denim shirts that she used to wear around that time.  You remember when everyone was wearing denim shirts?

Anyway, most of these are shirts, but the most interesting thing is that there is a pair of old jeans cut in there.

These were from her early years.  These jeans went to Woodstock!

She had fish patches sewn onto the butt, a few mushrooms and a goofy.  Along the seam on the side of the pants she had little star studs.  They were so tiny....she told me, "Don't laugh! I used to fit in these!"

As I was quilting it, I placed a piece of washi tape wherever there was a star stud or patch on the back that I didn't want to go over.

It worked pretty well!

I can't wait to give it to her and know she'll love it.

New Quliting for Kids Project!

Hello All Quilters!

I will not be able to make a new quilt for a while, because I will be on the road with my family for about 4 months. (More on that later.)

But, I have a great project for us to work on.  I met Jenny through do.Good stitches on Flickr.  Our group, the Grace circle, makes quilt for children who are in foster care, just like Quilting for Kids.

She has written a little backstory on why she needs this quilt.  I think you will find it is very moving and goes right along with what our group has been focused on.

My family is on the way to becoming a foster family. We are two home inspections away from finishing our home study for licensing. My main reason we are on this path are the friends I made who lived in the neighborhood foster home. Being a foster kid is hard. Moved from place to place with little control on where you are going. In most cases, they have little that actually belongs to them and no real choice on their belongings. In some cases, these children travel with their most cherished belongings in trash bags and most cases they don't have a choice what to bring. Depending on the case, the children have nothing either due to neglect, chemical saturation, or home situation. I want every child who comes to my home to have a quilt for keeps. Something warm, tangible, and solid in a isolated, confusing time in a kid's life.

Isnt' that GREAT?! She is a hero in my eyes. 


So, will you help out? 


She has chosen a simple box in box pattern, inspired by this quilt from FilmintheFridge on Flickr.

The blocks will need to be 12.5" unfinished.



 Prints or solids are fine, she just wants to make sure that it remains as gender-neutral as it can.

She has included these two pictures of fabric for inspiration.
 


If you would like to help out, please head on over to the Flickr Group  and sign up! 

Then spread the word.  You can grab our Quilting for Kids Button in the right side of my blog!

Stained Quilt Top

Narcoleptic in a Cupboard has a great qal that's already be done, but I joined in super late and started and finished my quilt in about two weeks.   I added an extra row on the bottom, so now it's 44.5 x 66.5.  Weird size, I know, but I hate making something that a grown up can't at least curl up under on the couch.

(Bad inside pics.)

The hardest part? Cutting the pieces. 

Easiest part? Piecing, believe it or not.

Most time consuming?  All of it!  But it's worth it.



Only thing I would recommend is start with fabric you really love.  Because I didn't really LOVE this fabric, and I still don't.  I just think it's okay.  (It's Lark Dreamer by Amy Butler, by the way.)

 Now, how to quilt it?


Linking up:

Crazy Mom Quilts

Esther's Blog


 

Great Weekend!

I finished up all three of the memory quilts for my Aunt and her grown children.

As I say, "They may not be soothing to the eye, but they will be to the soul." 

I'm glad I could make them.


I also finished 3 dog bed covers for a friend and sorted my pieces for my Stained quilt. (Should have done that when I cut, but I didn't read the directions!)

My son was baptized at the beach this weekend along with 10 others from our church.  He decided to do this because he wanted to let everyone know that he has asked Jesus into His heart and he wants to show everyone that he wants to live his life the way Jesus showed us is best.  (Now I know that there will be some times when he makes bad choices in life, but this will forever be the best choice he will ever make.)



My husband and father-in-law baptized him.  My son was so excited.  It was a great weekend!

And here's thing 3 at the beach, soaking in the site of the beautiful ocean!

Winner!

Here we are! May 3rd...and the winner is.....

  Karrie S who said... 

Congratulations. I love your idea for the giveaway. I love fabric and I love journals. My bday is May 3rd, so if I win I'll consider it a bday present ;)


WOW!  Congratulations and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

Thank you all for entering and for the kind words!

WIP Wednesday

First off, I am having a giveaway.  If you'd like a chance to enter, see this post.  I'm giving away a journal and three fat quarters.
 

Here's what going on this week: I have two of three of these memory quilts quilted and waiting for binding. As soon as I'm off the computer, I'm off to baste the third. Then bind them all, then ship them all! Yay! Maybe they'll be out of here by tomorrow!
 

Next on the list is to start piecing my Stained Quilt. I am using a FQBundle Lark Dreamer by Amy Butler. I love the colors. But not all the prints, but I think I'll like it more when it's all pieced.


Then I'm torn. I have a few things on the list. But two quilts need to be quilted. My Swoon from so long ago and my Bejeweled (which you can buy the pattern for here.)

So now, should I be disciplined and finish them off? Or go on to the other quilt tops that I am in love with?! We'll see! I'm off to baste. See what others are up to today...

April Sewing

Wow! April was a good month for me.

 I had and am STILL having my first giveaway...so go here if you'd like to enter.

And I got a lot of stuff done!



The first is our Quilting for Kids Asterisk Quilt you can read about here.

The second is my Sparkle Punch Quilt for my friend who had a miscarriage.  Read here.

The third is my Texas Crossings Quilt I made for my mother in law's birthday.  You can read more here.

The last is 1 of 3 memory quilts that I made for my cousins and Aunt who lost their father and husband last year.  You can read the full post here.

Thanks for stopping by and make sure you check out Lily's Fresh Sewing Day out!