Button, Button...

Button, button, who's got the button?  Remember that game that we used to play when we were kids?  That memory came back when I was trying to find just the right button for this Wee Speedy 2 baby vest.  The pattern calls for one button in the center, but I can't decide which one to use.  Which is your favorite?  

Scrappy Harmony

Just 15 minutes into Gyleen Fitzgerald's Learn to Quilt with Scraps online class and I've already learned an awesome trick for picking fabrics for scrap quilts.  Gyleen likens choosing fabrics for a quilt to putting together a choir.  Every good choir needs a soloist and a harmonizer, as does a quilt.  My choir fabrics are on the left, the harmonizer is in the center, and the soloist is on the right.  Red, white and blue are pretty safe color choices and not out of my comfort zone at all, but I want to actually use my precut scraps and make another quilt for Lap Robes for Veterans while reviewing this class.  Multitasking scrappy harmony!

To learn more about Gyleen's method of selecting fabrics you find her Learn to Quilt with Scraps: Stash to Treasure class at www.anniescatalog.com

Silent Sunday

Quick Strippie

Oh, how I love Mary's Quick Strippie quilt pattern for donation quilts!  With just three yards of fabric and about an hour, you can have a top cut and sewn and ready to quilt.  I'll be making a lot more of these quilts over the next few weeks to donate to veterans who will be taking Honor Flight trips this summer.

Wee Speedy 2

This little knitted baby vest is certainly named appropriately!  The pattern is called Wee Speedy 2 and it's knit with size 13 needles and bulky yarn, so you can have it all finished in just a couple of hours!

Online Classes At Annie's

You all know that I'm one of Gyleen Fitzgerald's biggest fans, but I just had too many other things going on to join her last Facebook quilt along.  I've participated in the last few and really enjoyed the process and the finished quilts, so I was sorry to miss out, but life gets in the way sometimes.  I was pretty sure that there would be other quilt alongs and maybe I wouldn't be quite so busy the next time.  Little did I know that Gyleen would be contacting me to ask if I would be willing to review one of her online classes from Annie's Craft Store!  It didn't take me long to say yes!  Once purchased, these online classes are yours to watch, pause, and watch again as often as you like.  It's perfect for me right now.  I can quilt along with Gyleen at my own pace and not feel rushed to finish a step by a certain time.  Over the next few weeks, I'll be working through Gyleen's Learn to Quilt with Scraps class and posting about my progress along with my reviews of the class.  Judging by what I have seen so far, I think it's going to be a lot of fun!

A free preview of the class can be viewed at www.anniescatalog.com

Silent Sunday

Warm Weather Blankets

I've been working on some new baby blankets in spring and summer prints for the store.  These bright prints will be perfect for keeping babies warm on chilly evenings.  These prints and more will be available at The Farmer's Daughters in Wellsboro soon.

Silent Sunday

Microwave Bowl Cozies

I've been thinking about making microwave bowl cozies for family members for awhile now, but it's just been something that I have thought about and not done.  A week or so ago the stomach bug made its rounds through the family and my daughter-in-law said that she really could have used them with all of the chicken soup that she was microwaving in shifts for the kids.  That was all it took and I got busy sewing!  Everyone is feeling better now, so I'm going to hold on to them until Easter.  Filled with packets of instant oatmeal, microwave macaroni and cheese, and of course some candy, I think they will make fun Easter baskets!

The Best!!!!

I think it's safe to say that Miss Four likes her new socks!

Pitter Patter Babies Matter

Heaven Sent is a non profit started by my friend, Barb Gaddy.  Their mission is to assist grief recovery by providing Pitter Patter swaddling and keepsake blankets through their Pitter Patter Funeral Home Partnering Program, to bereft mothers who have suffered natural pre-term or infant loss under the age of one year, promoting grief healing and recovery by creating a bond for the surviving mother to her lost child, offering tangible proof that the baby was real and existed, delivering comfort and security that the baby was a precious addition and significant loss to the surviving family, and solidifying the birth space the baby occupies within the family structure, guaranteeing that the baby will never be forgotten.

When I learned about what Barb was doing with Heaven Sent, I had to volunteer to help in some way.  I don't have an embroidery machine, so Barb sent me an embroidered center and I stitched together the blanket and keepsake quilt.  Just a yard of fabric and an hour or so of my time will hopefully bring a little comfort to a grieving mother and father.  If you would like to help or learn more about Heaven Sent visit their website pitterpatterbabiesmatter.org or go to Bejeweled Quilts by Barb.

Silent Sunday

Ok, not so silent this Sunday.  If you look closely, you can see robins under the little tree in the foreground!  Hooray for SPRING!