Today I ... Lived A Memory

When I was in Elementary and Middle School I spent time in the summers at CAMP!

Specifically Cedar Lake Camp and 4-H Camp

There were Arts and Crafts activities at both camps, and that is where I learned

to weave Potholders on a small loom.

Recently, I purchased a loom and I have been happily weaving Potholders 

every since ...

This set I made for my daughter, for her kitchen, in her

band new home.

And, I have been enjoying every minute of it. I enjoy weaving the Potholders 

and remembering sweet times and summer fun

when I was growing up.

Today I ... Am Glad I Am a Maker

Even though it is the middle of May, it is still a bit chilly. We have had a lot of rain 

this year. Which is one of the reasons why I don't have very good pictures 

recently. Most days are cloudy and overcast even if it isn't raining but, mostly 

it is raining. 

I have finished the quilt top that I posted about HERE. It is my version of the Anna Maria Horner, Feather Bed pattern. My version finishes at 72 x 72 inches square.

Today I am glad that I am a quilt maker because when it is rainy outside, I'm usually happily sewing inside. And, when it is chilly I have plenty of quilts to keep me warm.

Today I ... Reflect

Today I am reflecting on family.

Our Family has grown 

In 2003, my sister and I made Family Signature quilts with the help of our Grandma Dorothy and our Aunt Joyce

Since that time I have had the honor, pleasure, and blessing to add many new blocks (representing new family members) to my Family Signature Quilt

In February of this year ... this little fellow turned 1 year old

My Great-Nephew

And, the adoption of this beautiful girl was finalized

My Nephew, his beautiful bride, and my Great-Niece

This past weekend we celebrated our family and it was wonderful

My Brother, my Great-Nephew, my Sister, and me

Quilts are a very big part of our lives, especially mine. I love quilts and making quilts. I especially love making quilts for my family

Did I mention that my sister is a Maker too?

She crocheted this beautiful afghan for our Great-Niece

#wearefamily

Today I ... Wonder Why

Wondering why I can't sleep ...

I slept very little last night. Only managing to dose on and off. I don't have any thing on my mind.

I'm not hungry. I don't need to potty. I didn't have a bad dream.

I'm not ill ...

It was just one of those nights where sleep was elusive, so here I sit at 4:30 

in the morning wondering why.

Around 3:00 this morning I considered getting up and putting the binding on the quilt in this picture.

The only thing stopping me is that my daughter is sound asleep and the whirl of my sewing machine at 3:00 a.m. would definitely wake her up.

Just because I can't sleep doesn't mean I have to wake everyone else in the house up to join me.

So here I sit ...

WIDE AWAKE!

Today I ... Am SO Pleased!!!

Potholder #1

I am so pleased with my potholders!

It has been potholder weaving mania here since I received the Potholder Loom and Loops I ordered from Harrisville Designs, Inc.

I can't get enough of it ...

Potholder #2

Potholder #3

The kit I ordered comes with a pattern booklet, so I wove this potholder per one of their pattern designs. 

Potholder #4

Making these potholders has been so much fun. And, it has brought back many great memories of arts and crafts of my childhood.

I just ordered more loops ... Yeah!!!!

**please excuse the horrible pictures - it has been gloomy and rainy

Today I ... Ordered A Potholder Loom

Today I ordered a potholder loom and the loops to make potholders. I order these items from Harrisville Designs, Inc.   When I was a little girl I made several potholders on such a loom. I can't remember now if it was in 4-H or at Cedar Lake Summer Camp where I was first introduced to weaving potholders but earlier this week - I saw a post on Denyse Schmidt's Instagram @dsquilts that brought back all of those wonderful memories. Gracious Denyse Schmidt let me know where she purchased her potholder loom. SO ... Today I ... ordered my very own potholder loom. I'm excited to get my loom and work my first potholder. Expect posts and pictures ...

Today She ... Bought Her First Home

And just like that ... my baby girl is a HOMEOWNER!!!!

Her sweet realtor,  Her (a.k.a. Homeowner ), and me  (really proud mom)

Today I ... Cast a Spell ... Wingardium Leviosa

While at this month's modern quilt guild meeting I adopted this quilt project. One of the members was offering it up for adoption.  We began our Finish Challenge, we are gathering our WIP's, making our lists and challenging ourselves to help each other finish up those long languishing projects started  long ago.

My Jezebel is lending moral support ... sort of ...

This pattern is called - Feather Bed by Anna Maria Horner 

Today ... Actually Yesterday ... We Celebrated

Easter Day 2019

I enjoy crocheting small items, bears, coin purses, and Easter Baskets. Since 2014 I have been crocheting an Easter Basket each year for my daughter.

This year's Easter Basket was Daisies on Pink

Each year I enjoy sitting down with my colored pencils and designing that years Easter Basket. I don't have a pattern and normally just figure out how to crochet the design elements for the Baskets as I go. I watch tutorials on You-Tube, check out crochet motifs on crocheting blogs such as

Attic24

One of my favorites!

2018 Easter Basket

Last year I purchased a Disney Princesses crochet kit on Amazon in order to crochet this cute little mermaid for my daughter's Easter Basket.

Crocheting these Easter Baskets has become a sweet tradition.

Today I ... Finished 3 Quilts

My Red and White Quilt Collection is growing ...

Tribute Star Quilt 60 x 60

The pattern for this quilt is by Denyse Schmidt @dschmidt 

Locally I am fortunate enough to have two machine quilters who do amazing work.

This quilt was quilted by Sharon, I love the intersecting circles.

The sun was going down so the lighting for these quilts is not the best but I'm learning.

This is my Wonky Improv quilt

I love the look of this quilt but improv quilt making is hard for me.

I enjoy patterns!  HA!!!

This quilt was machine quilted by Sharon as well.

Last but not least ... my L-O-V-E quilt

This quilt is also improv

The idea for this quilt actually came from a quilt I saw online years ago. I'm not sure if I saw it on Pinterest or some other site

Wherever I saw it, it stuck with me and I finally made the quilt.

I believe it is 86 x 95 inches

Sharon machine quilted this one with a Baptist Fan motif and I L-O-V-E it!!!!

Today I ... Made Red and White Binding

It was just one of those weekends ... I was busy with chores which didn't leave a lot of time for my sewing room

Or ... my quilting projects

There was laundry, grocery shopping, meal prepping, and cleaning

Cleaning however included some tidying up in my sewing room. I had a stack ... pile ... of fabric trimmed from quilts that have been quilted and are ready for binding.

It was a BIG pile ... and getting BIGGER ... 

So, I spent some time sorting, cutting, folding, and pressing that BIG pile into beautiful quilt binding.

A few weeks back I purchased some Red binding because sometimes store bought binding looks best on a quilt (my Rework quilt) but usually I prefer making my own binding. There is something satisfying about making my own binding. It's just part of the process and I enjoy it.

I have 3 Red / White quilts I've made recently that are ready for binding, and now I have the binding to do that! Not really how I envisioned my weekend sewing time

but I'm very pleased all the same.