My First Quilt

I started quilting in the summer of 1999, the quilting bug bit me good.  At that time I was VERY into rubberstamping.  I have a dear sister friend, Ms. Sarah Kate, who at the time was interested in my hobby.  So, one afternoon, she and her two littles, at the time, came on over and we set to stamping!  It was fun on overdrive.  When it was time for her to go home and get supper started, she invited me over for a quilting lesson the next week.  Well, I thought I'd never be able to figure it out, but we'd had such a good time that afternoon, what could it hurt?  Hehehe.... little did I know!!!  Seriously, stop and laugh here!  The next week I took my two littles, at the time(the one in the oven, too ;)  ), and headed on over not knowing what to expect.  I was in wonder at her quilts, and at that time she was even selling to a gallery in Chicago.  HOW would I ever learn to DO that?  Weirdest thing happened...she pulled out a piece of paper.  Then she told me I was going to sew the fabric to the paper, and that would make a quilt block? Really?  I had seen my grandmothers and great-grandmothers quilt, and that was NOT how they did it.  But since I knew nothing, and it looked like she did, I decided to trust her. :)  Ever so glad I did.

Paper piecing was a perfect way for a young mom to learn to quilt.  It required no math, even though I thoroughly enjoy that aspect of the process now, when your about brain dead from pregnancy and preschoolers, it's kind of nice to just enjoy the creative process, without too much critical thinking. ;)

She kindly sent me home with patterns and fabric.  Sarah Kate, have I ever said, "Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart."? 

Well, it wasn't long(read *within the next two days) before I was out buying fabric, and I haven't stopped yet!  Hehehehe.....

And, so, within a couple of weeks, I had made my first quilt... and it is entirely paper pieced, borders included. Lol  This quilt has been loved, washed, dried, thrown up on and I don't even want to know what else...  So, the colors are a little faded, and my color choices certainly have changed, but here it is...

And the girl I made it for "then"...

And "now"....

My sweet Bonnie Love!  Who just happened to turn 13 last week.  Oh, how time goes by...

And the Winner is.....

Well I went to random.org, and got the winner!  The winner is 2!  That would be Mary Lou!!!
AND......it's her BiRtHdAy!!!  How ironic is that?!?!   Happy Birthday, Mary Lou, and I hope you're feeling better!  Everybody hop on over to Cheaper Than Therapy Quilting, and tell her congrats, Happy Birthday, and Get Well Soon!  If you're not a follower of her blog, you should be! ;)  She is delightful.

Mary Lou, let me know if you want your name or initials...

For the rest of you, thanks for taking time to comment. ;)  AND....don't worry, we'll do it again, real soon!

Design Wall Monday

Ok, here we are.  It's Monday, and if you need  a good laugh, I've got one for ya. ;)  So, I've been updating you on my Brown Bag Quilt, if you haven't seen it it's here.   Well, the thing needs a back, and since I am determined to use ALL the fabric sent in the swap, and I had already cut it up.... This is what I've got so far...

I actually saved it under "laugh", cause I know that's what you're doing. Hehehe..... me, too. ;)


And I'm working on a pieced bias binding, wondering if all the work is going to be worth it, since the three fabrics all read black....

AND.... praying I have enough of these three to finish out this back!

Hoping this thing is done soon!  I've got to get back to my Stashbuster quilt, and a Farmer's Wife Sampler that I am on the edge of my seat to start! ;)   (not to mention Christmas dresses to make, but that's another post  ;)  )

If you haven't entered the giveaway, yet, you've still got time.  Just go here.  Giveaway time is 7 p.m., CST.  :)

Giveaway.....Yay!

So some of you know I have a little side business.  While monogramming a bag for my sweet Jewel last night, I was thinking of how much I enjoy all of you!  Then I realized it was time to share the love!  So many have been so kind to me, maybe I could "pay it forward." So, here it goes.....

My first Giveaway...

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment on this post.  That's it. I'd be thrilled if you decided to follow, but it's not required. ;)  Just make sure I can contact you.

A winner will be chosen at random on Monday, November 1. 

Oh.... you want to know what you'll win?  Yeah, I can understand that. :)

Winner will win a monogrammed bag, name or initials, and color of your choice, just like this one

This font is Comic Sans, but I've got lots, so we can do something different. ;)   BUT...that's not all... I'll also send you a travel cup to match!

Good Luck!  Remember, only comments left on this post will be entered. :0) 

See you, Monday!

*post script*  Feel free to share the love and link back on your blog!  The more, the merrier!

I love that!!!

All I can tell you is that I love this song.  I heard it first on Tuesday, October 12.  I know cause it was kind of a stinky day. :-/  I know it's been out for a while, but I never heard or never noticed it before, and that day I heard it twice!  Somebody trying to tell me something? ;)  Can't tell you the times I've listened to it since.  Hope it makes you smile...

What Homeschooling Looks Like.....on a good day

I get lots of questions about homeschooling. While it's becoming more popular and socially acceptable, many are still baffled by the whole concept. We home school for many reasons, too many to get into on what is supposed to be a "light-hearted" blog. I will share a verse, though, that completely corresponds to the title of this blog.

"Trust in the Lord and do good;

Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness."

Psalm 37:3

(emphasis mine)

As a homeschooling mom, that's what I'm working toward, hoping and trusting God for. I fail so many times, but He is faithful to take my mistakes and turn them for His good. Really if you've got time today, and your wondering what God has for you, I'd encourage you to read all of Psalm 37. In my Bible, I have written at the top of the chapter "God's job description for me."  Here's a picture of my Psalm 37.

Obviously, by the underlining and markings, this speaks to me. If you let it, it will speak to you, too.

 

Oh, yes! Homeschooling....chased a rabbit there, didn't I?  Well, I do come from a long line of hunters. ;)

 

One thing I love about homeschooling is that I get experience most, if not all, of my children's first.  Especially sweet is the light in their eyes as the decoding of letters and sounds evolves into reading.  Just this morning Little Guy was having his reading lesson, and missed a word, he gets frustrated when he is not successful on the first try sometimes.

 

  This is the face of the child who rubbed his head and said, "I think I've just had too much sugar, this morning." Lol!  Wonder where he's heard that before?!

 

And this is the moment I get to encourage him, that we all make mistakes, and you just gotta keep trying.

He said some more funny things, but I think I'll save those for a later post, as I will need permission to quote from another blog, for you to get the joke. ;)

Hope you have the best day!  I'm off to enjoy my VERY blessed life. :)  Thank You, Jesus!!!



*If you've been following the blog, this week, you are probably thinking, "Boy, this chick is all over the place!"  You would be right.  Welcome to my life.  It's a roller coaster around here, might as well hang on and enjoy the ride. ;))

3 in the Morning....and WHAT am I doing up?

Good Gravy!  It's 3:18, to be exact, and what am I doing?  Laundry.  You know I keep getting these spam emails saying things like, "Adults living with ADD."  Seriously, who told them?  I had laundry in earlier, towels in the dryer, shirts in the wash.  When I went to get the towels... : P... still damp.  So round two, while letting them dry just a little longer, get the kiddos in bed, a little sewing time, sit down to watch a movie, take a little nap, wake and think...and smile, and say, "You know it's 2:30, I should maybe go to bed."  Start to get ready...half way there... Stop! Wait!  You have shirts in the wash.............. You have got to be kidding me.  So, I wait.  Cause I may looooooove to iron my stash, but I will do whatever it takes to keep from ironing those shirts! Hehehehe

Oh, and can I just say, cause I been wanting to express this for a while, and just had no place to do it, so right here and now in this run-on sentence would be the perfect place.  Using an iPhone has just about killed my typing capabilities!  While looking for a computer this summer I asked my brother, "Don't they have a computer that will fill in the blanks for you?"  He laughed and said sadly, no, there was not a computer that would do my typing for me.  I have an app on my phone that I just speak into....it was free. :-/   On the brighter side, I have had two, well..... one highly (*read probably the smartest person I know*) intelligent person and one moderately intelligent person(you can guess which one you are, cause I know you're both reading this. Lol! *it really is getting late, I'm crossing over to the silly side, and I do not want to go there*) call 'me'..., 'jan'...  "tech savvy!"    What a hoot!!!!