2011 has been a very good year!

I'm very thankful to everyone who supported me this year.  January 1st 2012 will be four years that I've made quilts for others and what a wonderful time it's been.  I feel so blessed and so thankful to have made new friends and the quilts that keep them and their children warm. 

A very happy and blessed new year to you all.  Thank you for your kindness, love, and support in 2011!

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas I have a bouncing baby boy!  He's a little drooly as you can see. Eight months old now and really, really sweet.  How did we ever live without him??!!  I can't help but notice Grandma and Grandpa sent more gifts to him than to anyone else in the family.    Ahem.

I loved making this quilt for a dear friend.  She had a baby girl and like all good mommies do... they get a quilt to match the baby!  :)   It's super warm, backed with chenille and flannel as batting.  

This really has been the Year of the Shabby Chic Quilt.  I have yet to tally up the grand total of 2011 quilts but I'm sure the Shabby Chic will rule.

My newest babies... we have been entertaining 5 teeny caterpillars for about a month now.  They have all successfully grown into chrysalides and now THREE are butterflies!  We actually watched #3 hatch this afternoon.  It was completely amazing.  Sadly part of the chrysalis was on his face and he was unable to break free.  The little bugger fell to the ground and hasn't been the same since.  We're praying he comes around soon.

It was fascinating to watch the whole process of slimy slithery caterpillars turn into these beautiful butterflies.  Even watching the struggle as one neared its "finish line" was quite an allegory for our messy life.  I used to think when I became a mother, I would inherit all these remarkable "instincts" that we hear about. 

Nothing comes easy.  Instincts can work against me.  And boy is there ever struggle, even though I thought I would kind of have it figured out by now. 

But we also have joy.  A reason for hope.  At the end of the day we have a God who loves us so much that he reversed the "butterfly process".  He left his beautiful life in heaven to come down among the dirt here.  He did this to set us free and give us our freedom from the sin that entangles us and covers our eyes. 

I pray you have a blessed Christmas.  Full of light and hope and lots of love.

Disappearing Nine Patch a la Hipstamatic

First things first... I MUST finish this quilt soon.  It's a tshirt quilt for my sister-in-law.  She was so dear to give me a serger (still in the box!).  In return I would make her a quilt.  Yeah, sorry Sis.  The top is done but the back is not even close.  Looking at the tiny baby at the top lets me know that it has been quite a while since he is definitely not that teeny any more.

Look out, 2012... I'm coming atchya with a sorority t-shirt quilt and tons of carnations. 

Check out that focusing in the picture!  Can you say NEW CAMERA?!  Thanks, hubs.  Happy Birthday to me!  It's been a journey figuring it out but the macro setting is my first priority. 

Anyway, the quilt was a disappearing nine-patch for a friend of my mom.  She is Chinese and expecting a boy.  So mama requested that Chinese Kids Michael Miller fabric with other blues and greens.

I've never done a disappearing nine-patch before but it was fun!  It took a bit to get used to.  My advice would be to use as much color variety in each 9-patch block as you can before you cut it.  I made the mistake of making a bunch of green blocks and then blue blocks thinking it wouldn't make a difference.  It did.  The colors were clumped together and I had to make new blocks with more variety.

Just before I received my new birthday camera I decided to pay for my first app on the iPhone.  (I totally did not expect a new camera so this was my present to myself.)   I LOVE the hipstamatic app.  I love, love, love these pictures.  It makes my children more beautiful and my life seem so much happier.  HAHAHAHA!

See below... you wouldn't know the girls were totally annoyed with me at the annual Christmas Tree Festival.  They are happy and retro and oh so hip. 

In loving memory

In loving memory...

The holiday season is so sad for so many people.  Including me.  I lost my cousin two years ago, just before Thanksgiving.  I know others hurt this time of year. 

 I didn't personally know this family but I hurt with them.  This quilt was made with many prayers and tears too.

 Made from seven of his dress shirts and simply quilted to give his parents warmth and comfort.
I'm very honored to have been a part of this Christmas gift.  May God bless you this time of year.  Peace to you. 

And lots of hugs.