Wow! Am I Behind!

Just checked my blog and can't believe I haven't posted since the beginning of 2020!  

2020 was a tough year for all of us.  With the pandemic 2020 and 2021 were a dumpster fire for many!

My mom died just before the pandemic began.  I relished being home and working through my grief.

I enjoyed the beginning of the pandemic.  I was someplace beautiful.  I could get outside.  I enjoyed not having to go anywhere.  I worked through my fabric stash finishing up projects, making masks and seeing what I could create without having to order from the fabric store.  My daughter showed up with baby in tow since they already had tickets to Orlando for a business trip that got cancelled.  I finally had to send her home since she was pregnant and the midwife had to have a certain number of prenatal visits before she could legally deliver the new baby.

Over the summer it became apparent that my dad did not need to live alone in a house anymore.  He was great for a 90 year old, but small things were becoming a concern.  y husband took a hiatus from work and we moved in with dad in September of 2020.  We had a wonderful fall with him.  My dad and I always got along famously and truly enjoyed each other's company.  We were isolated, but I was so grateful that he was not alone.  My brother lived next door, but was out in public, so we weren't comfortable with too much exposure as Covid was burning through our area.  In January, Dad began a sudden and steep decline.  He passed away in early May.  It was the hardest 4 months of my life and my husband's life.  Yet, I was still deeply grateful that I could fulfill my wish and never have one of my parent's go to a nursing home.  We could not have cared for him without help from my sister and paid caregivers who stayed overnight so we could sleep.

After the darkness comes joy.  My daughter proposed that we live together.  My response was that would be great except no part of me wanted to live in Phoenix, Arizona!  I was there for a month in August of 2020 for birth of baby number 2.  The short version of the story is that we ended up buying property together in Spartanburg, South Carolina!  We have 11 acres, 2 houses, a barn, chicken coop with chickens and an artist cottage my son in law uses for his office as he works mostly remote.  Two of my grandchildren are just a quick walk through the garden away and I see them every day.

I miss my parents and extended family, but life moves on.  I am blessed beyond measure for our current living arrangements.

2019 Sewing in Review

     Somehow I failed to keep up blogging as I made projects in 2019.  So here is my year of sewing in review.

I began with a purse for a dear friend who only uses Dogwood Blossom purses!  That is because I make them especially allergy free for her!  I was anxious to get to a quilt for my daughter in law, but my friend has waited long enough for a new purse!

Next came one of my favorite quilts of all time.  A gift for
my daughter in law's birthday.  I did blog posts about this quilt.  But some excitement for me came when I tagged the pattern designer, fabric designer and fabric company in my Instagram post.  Later Riley Blake reposted my photo on their instagram!  How exciting is that!

There was a special graduate in my life who worked very hard and overcame a lot of obstacles to get his degree.  So he needed a very special quilt.  Karen Combs had visited our quilt guild and I loved her 3-D effect designs.  Long and hard thinking went into deciding how to applique Blaze, the University of Alabama at Birmingham mascot.  I really should do a blog post on that. 

The back was inspired by a wall in a restaurant!  When I saw the wall, I thought,"What a great quilt that would be." so I snapped a picture.  I wonder what it means when the ladies in your quilt guild rave about the back of your quilt more than the front?

Having drug a commander bin full of denim jeans across more
than one state, I decided I really needed to get something done with it!  So I spend a few weeks tearing up jeans and putting the fabric back together as something else.

There were 2 of these quilts ordered by a grandfather to be for his twin granddaughters being born in the summer.  It was interesting to find a man who had looked and knew exactly what quilt he wanted.  He purchased the kits and I made them for him in time for the shower.

The pattern from the kits for the twins has always been a favorite of mine, so with another special baby coming, I slightly altered the pattern and made this one.

In April, I was contacted by someone who had spent time studying in India and wondered if the fabrics from her old clothes could be made into a quilt.  We discussed many things and got to know each other online in order to come up with a design that would be all she wanted.  We had to add some additional fabrics.  She wanted elephants, peacocks, Hindi writing, and the Taj Mahal.  Quite a bit for a wall hanging.  I consulted with my artist sister, who only said, "That is a lot of unconnected themes for one piece."  Well in the end, my customer was thrilled with the final product.

This was reproduced from a photo of her at the Taj Mahal.  After making Blaze, the UAB dragon, I felt I could do almost anything applique wise.  This included shading with crayons and fancy quilting in the sky.

The last 5%, getting a great photo.  Fail in that department.  This quilt was a commision for a baby girl named Arizona.  Her parents no longer live there, but decided on that as her name.  The mountain is Picacho Peak and her parents climbed it many times just south of where they had lived.  It is very distinctive and the parents recognized it right off.  There are desert animals quilted around the cacti in the bottom.

 It met with baby approval!

Mom used it each month as the baby's monthly photo.

Since we move every year, we often look for a furnished place so that we will not have to move furniture.  The last 2 places we have lived have not had that as an option.  After dragging my 20 year old sofa to Georgia, I knew it desperately needed an update.  No time for something there.  BUT then we needed to furnish a place in Florida when we moved there in July.  I really don't want to buy a sofa until we have quit moving around so much and I can decorate a place to my total satisfaction.  So, some great unbleached canvas was found in Georgia at the great place called Fabric Barn.  They are a clearing house for fabric.com and other fabric stores.  It was only $3 per yard!  So I decided it was time to redo my 1990's plaid sofa.  Also the cording was purchased for $3 for the whole roll!  I still have tons left.  Here's my before and after.

I began quilting because I found 80 year old quilt tops my great grandmothers had made.  That began my quilting, then later piecing, and now my passion.  One of the quilts is well loved by my niece, but the fabrics have started to wear out.  She shipped it to me and after much thinking, I found not only a way to repair it, but I also found fabrics left from the great grandmothers that were authentic 30's fabrics.

With Christmas coming up,my fancy photographer sister in law wanted some Christmas quilts and baby dresses for her photoshoot dreams to come true.  So to finish this long post, here are pictures from Christmas and this completes my year of sewing review!

Happy Sewing in 2020!

Deanna

My First Christmas

This was the first Christmas in my life to not be with my parents in Alabama on Christmas Day.  I have always dreaded this day, but it was a pleasant day for me.

We did celebrate Christmas with my parents.  Two years ago, with a new baby, one of the grandkids suggested we get together  before Christmas.  Several have to fly.  The flights would be cheaper and the airport less crowded.  So it worked out very well.

This year another grandkid took up the banner and got everyone to come together for the weekend of the 14th.

I had planned to fly in from Florida on the 11th.  But, mom ended up in the hospital again and dad needed me.  So I drove up on the 4th.  Medical things were taken care of.  

The grandkids and great grandbaby began arriving and our typical family Christmas happened, just 11 days early.  Mom still wasn't well, but enjoyed the distraction of company.

Then after the weekend, several were still around the family compound.  Two trips to Urgent Care for ear infection for one and sinus infection for another was followed by 5 cases of stomach virus - one of those cases being me!  I was managing well being the family hostess in my mom's place, taking care of her and helping my dad, doing overnight baby duty so parents could sleep all night next door, until the virus.  22 hours in the bed still left me with a tender stomach.

Since my husband's contract stated specifically that he had to be in Florida for Christmas Eve, I had decided several weeks ago that I would come back to Florida as he missed all the family hoopla.  That became iffy as my mom made slow progress.  We were able to hire some very caring people to help mom and dad.  I left for the 12 hour drive on Monday.  Traffic was busy and serious rain hit me after I crossed the Florida state line.  I was physically and emotionally exhausted when I returned.

My husband and I had decided in advance that we would not exchange gifts as there is nothing in the world we need or really desire to add to our collection we haul across the country.

For my first Christmas Day EVER not in Alabama with my parents, we rode bikes to the beach, walked on the beach, laid on towels, rode our bikes back in the rain getting soaked, then decided to go ahead and get in the pool.  The sky turned clear, blue and sunny by the time we changed.  After a light lunch we headed off to our "friends like family" from Illinois who now live 30 minutes south of us.  I am used to lots of noise and activity on Christmas Day.  But I've had that already.  

My Christmas Day was perfect.

Back to Denim

     As I look over my Etsy shop sales, I see that my denim creations have been better sellers than custom quilts, even though the quilts are more fun for me.  So after my big push to finish Sweet Dreams for Danielle, I have pulled out my bin of recycled denim jeans.  In the beginning I bought jeans at thrift stores, but now I have  a reputation and people bring me their pre-loved jeans.
     My most favorited item in my Etsy shop is denim throw pillows which are half bleached.  So weeks ago I had cut and bleached some denim, but didn't do anything with them.  Over the last 2 days I have made 8 pillow covers.  That is the easy part!  Now I will need to find pillow inserts for each and photograph.  That is the last 10% that is essential, but difficult for me.
     We are having rain for the next week, and company, and a trip to Ridgecrest, North Carolina.  So it might be a while before I get them photographed and listed.
     In case you want to take a peek, my Etsy shop is linked here:   TheDogwoodBlossom

Sweet Dreams Danielle

  

     My daughter in law, Danielle, is dear to me.  My son chose her, and she adores him. She is the mother of my first beloved granddaughter, and she is the most kind and patient mother I have ever seen.

     My fondest memories of Danielle came from an extended stay they had with us in Holland, Michigan.  I think that was the time I saw her most relaxed and at peace with herself.  During that time, she would just sing out when her heart was happy, no self-consciousness, just joy.  I have always been intimidated to sing out loud.  Danielle has a sweet and lovely voice.  My skills are more like the proverbial “can’t carry a tune in a bucket.”  But from her I learned to just sing it out when I feel it.  I have stopped being embarrassed by my lack of skill, just show the joy inside.

     It was thrill to me when she took up quilting.  It is fun to have that in common.  In Holland my quilting area was in the basement.  She and I had tables set up where we could sew at the same time.  We continue to enjoy showing each other our latest creations and discussing our plans.

     From Danielle I learned to count the actual time spent on a quilt.  Before I just knew I worked a week on that one, 3 weeks on that one, etc.  But she counts the actual hours.  That’s discipline.  Danielle is probably the most disciplined person I know.  If I am going to make quilts to sell, I need to know how much time I spent.  So, I have lately begun to follow her lead and log my time.  That is how I know her quilt took 78 hours not counting the times I lay awake at night thinking about it.  She is worth every minute and more.

     Danielle causes me to reflect on myself.  I would often see something in her that would cause me to see myself.  I saw our similarities.  It took me a long time to see our differences and part of that came from her pointing them out to me.

     Here is the metaphor I have for the two of us.  I am a bubbling stream.  I’m not deep, you can see the bottom and know what is there.  There are a few nooks and crannies that hide little creatures, but it is mostly transparent.  I’m mostly cheerful.  I take things at face value.  There are storms that cause me to swell and churn, leaving some rocks moved and banks eroded, but when they are over, I’m pretty much the same.

     Danielle is a deep ocean.  Our life experiences have been very different. I have the luxury of being shallow and transparent.  She does not have that luxury.  She has many layers that have different temperature zones, light zones and different creatures abiding in each.  On sunny days she is a beautiful azure.  Then there are gray stormy days when she is clouded over, waves are tossed, and things from the deep surface. 

     If you met Danielle, you would know right away she is beautiful.  It would not take long before you would perceive that she is extremely intelligent.  But as I have known her for 10 years, the word that comes to my mind to describe her is overcomer.  She has grown and developed in so many ways over the past 10 years.  She has looked into the depth of her soul in ways few people are brave enough to do and allowed herself to be transformed.  Monsters from the deep threaten to pull her under, but she fights for the light.  She fights to overcome; to overcome evil with good; overcome hate with love; overcome cruelty with kindness and gentleness; overcome chaos with shalom.

     She has been willing to share with me some of these battles so that I can understand her more intimately.  It only causes me to love her more deeply.

     So as I spent the hours on a quilt to wrap her in love, acceptance and shalom, I have prayed for her.  Another experience we have had together was being able to attend Ray Vander Laan Bible classes.  From those we heard about the world being plunged into chaos and God’s spirit moving to bring shalom.  The call of Christians is to bring shalom to a chaotic world.  So, I have prayed continually for God’s shalom for her.  The Hebrew expresses much more than peace as in absence of war.  It expresses peace, wholeness, wellness, prosperity in mind, soul and body.

     So, Danielle, here on your birthday I want you to know I am constantly amazed at what I have seen God do in your life.  Constantly amazed at the changes you have allowed and incorporated.  Constantly amazed at your discipline.  Constantly amazed at your transformation.  And constantly amazed that it continues day after day after day.

     Shalom my dear daughter of the heart.

Sweet Dreams - Finishing Up

     My favorite pieced quilt of all time!  I love this quilt.  The piecing is very precise thanks to Deb Tucker's V block ruler, Quilt in a Day triangle ruler and extreme starching.  I love the colors and fabrics, Hand Picked by Riley Blake.  I love the design.  This is the most complicated piecing I have done and I am so pleased with how it turned out.

     As best as I can tell, it took 59 hours to starch the fabric , cut out, and piece the top together.  It took 14 hours to make the quilt sandwich and quilt it.   It took 4 hours to make the binding, bind it and make the label.  Speaking of the binding, I decided to use continuous bias binding as binding on the bias is supposed to wear longer.  I have used other tutorials in the past on how to cut the continuous binding but the one from makeit-loveit. com explained it more clearly than I have seen it before.  How to Make Continuous Strip Bias Binding  .
     I frequently neglect the last 5%, taking good pictures of my finished product as they are out the door as soon as they are finished.  This one had a trip to Stone Mountain Park in Georgia for her photo shoot.

Sweet Dreams - Quilting

     Ahhh, quilting.  You finish your quilt top and feel victory, then realize you gotta quilt this puppy!  There was a 2 week trip, so the top had to be left on its own for that time.  Since the beginning, I have considered how to quilt it.

     Serious over the top free motion quilting seems to be all the rage right now.  While it sometimes looks awesome, sometimes it seems to take away from the piecing.  There is also the debate about the comparison between the cuddle factor of intensely quilted quilts versus less densely quilted.  Many seem to side with a less densely quilted quilt being more cuddly.  I also read recently that less densely quilted quilts are warmer because there is more space for air to be trapped.

     This quilt has a lovely and soft pink Minky cuddle fabric on the back because my daughter in law LOVES Minky.  She also lives where it is very cold in the winter and as she has a February birthday, this will wrap her in warmth from the very beginning.  But Minky is heavy.  Therefore, I did not want to do a walking foot quilting going back and forth from top to bottom or side to side over and over again.   I love the fresh and clean look Rita from Red Pepper Quilts has with her quilts that mostly have straight line quilting with the walking foot.  Red Pepper Quilts   I want the piecing to shine, but it is hard to wrestle a quilt this size and weight by myself.

     I had asked a long arm quilter what she would recommend.  She took one look at the photo and said an all over pattern.  My fear was that would still leave me having to move the quilt great distances in my pursuit of a continuous overall design.  You see, I am still not that proficient.

     Stroke of luck, I found in my supplies 3 inch stencils.  They would fit perfectly in the white squares and the print square centered in them.  Then I could free motion stitching in the ditch around the 4 pointed stars.  Loved that idea.  I left on my trip, came back ready to get started.

     First morning, out of bed, I began by laying out the batting on the floor and had my dear sweet man crawling on the floor with me to use spray adhesive to attach the top to the batting.   Then I laid out the Minky.  I was displeased with the feel of the finishing chemicals on it.  Also it had some pretty intense wrinkles from how it was placed on the bolt.  SO, change of plans.  I put the Minky in the wash, sent hubby to work and he would help me finish when he came home for lunch.

     I just like to "get 'er done", but since I had the delay, I thought I probably should practice my stencils.  Oh boy, what a disaster!  One side was fine, but when I began to sew the second half, sewing blind by going backwards, the sides were definitely not symmetrical.  3 different designs and none very good.  Also I had trouble with the pink chalk markings being hard to see.  So I practiced sewing straight lines free motion style.  I could do that.  Change of plans, straightish (as Angela Walters says) diamond shapes.  I marked my diamonds with frixion gel pens.  Later I threw the quilt in the dryer so the heat would remove the markings.

     13 hours later I emerged from my sewing room with the quilt quilted to suit me!