Quilting and other fun things

During the holidays, I listened to a few of Jan Karon's The Mitford Years series on tape while I was busy cooking or relaxing and knitting. It was so much fun. I LOVE those books! I have already read them but it was fun to have John McDonough read them to me while I did other things. : )

I found some time to finish this quilt

that I had been working on, on and off (mostly off) for the last couple years. I found the fabric at the home school convention.

It isn't that big, but I did quilt all the states.... That is my excuse for why it took so long! I hung it in our family room where our school area is.

I was SO happy to have it finished that I hung it on the wall the minute I finished the binding. If you look closely you can see that I used tacks. lol

(not too classy but at least it's up!)

Then I noticed that I forgot to quilt around Alaska...Oops! Oh well! : )

I'm excited about doing some more quilting in the upcoming year. Maybe when my year as president of our home school group is over and I have more free time. I bought a darning foot in anticipation of that time...even though I don't have a clue as to how to use it.

I also knitted a black scarf for one of my boys who asked for one. (how sweet is that?!)

The only problem is, I still don't know how to end a scarf and have to get help from a friend every single time and it is a little embarrassing.

Speaking of which, it is actually cold enough in Florida this year to use scarves! We have had 2 of the coldest weeks ever! The highs were in the 40's and the lows were in the high 20's and 30's! Did I mention that I live in Florida! I am surely spoiled because after two weeks of wearing sweaters, coats and scarves, I'm all good and totally ready for summer to start! LOL

(I could never survive up North, I know)

~Becky

A baby, a blessing and a blankee

This is so humbling and it blows me away...

A dear friend who was in the youth group we led (years ago)

is having a baby girl and this little girl is going to be my namesake!

~I don't even know what to think about it! -Hard to process.

I was reminded the other day, that Becky (Rebecca) means 'close to God.' So, that has been my prayer for this little girl, who will make her appearance into the world around Christmastime, that she would always be close to God! : )

I've also been thinking that I need to make 'Little Becky' a QUILT!

(I certainly can't knit her anything yet. LOL! Which by the way, is not the most relaxing hobby yet!)

So, a quilt it will be!

I was so discouraged about how long it took me to make my last one, that I've been a little afraid to start another.... I made Carlos a quilt for Christmas and finished it in August. But it wasn't even the following August! Ahh!

But this one is so cute, I'm going to pluck up my courage and give it a try. The only hard part will be to applique those too-cute chenille flowers on it. I've never tried anything like that before.

It's from a book called Cuddly and Soft and it uses Mink-y Fleece, chenille and flannel fabrics...in other words it will be too soft for words!

And if it goes well, then I may have to make that cute quilted pom pom pillow to go with it and maybe at least one matching bear! (if that doesn't take me until she starts kindergarten! LOL)

Anyone have some color suggestions? I'm not crazy about the pink and yellow color scheme.

~Becky

The Christmas gift of 2006....

is finally finished!!!



~And it will be really useful in July in Florida, don't ya think?! ; )





It's far from perfect.
Here's hoping that our dear friend Carlos just sees lots of stitches made with love!

~Becky

A quilt fight

It's pretty embarrassing how long it is taking me to make this quilt.



The two of us had a falling out a couple months ago and we haven't been on sewing terms ever since. : )

But, I'm happy to say that I have forgiven it for making me rip out a gazillion stitches and we are best buddies once again.
We even watched Idol together the other night.

So, at this rate, I might actually finish it one of these days.

And when I do, I think my family and our favorite bachelor will be in shock.
Because this is the same one that I was talking about last summer. That I was suppose to have done by the New Year's um, before, actually.

Yes, I'm one speedy quilter! ; )
~Becky

Because everyone needs a quilt in the middle of summer

I really enjoy quilting. I love to piece quilts together on the machine and do the quilting by hand. It's just so fun and relaxing.

I made my sister a quilt during all the hurricanes we had three years ago. (but I don't have a photo of it)That was a fun one with some funky fabrics.
Last year for our 15th year anniversary, I made this one for my sweet hubby. You can't see it but there are hearts quilted on the squares. I couldn't find a dark blue chenille so I had to make it in light blue. I guess it was meant to be a throw for someone of my small stature because it really isn't long enough for him, but I promised him a better one for our 20 yr. anniversary. : )



By the way, I don't claim to be good at quilting, I just enjoy it.

I've made about 10 baby quilts for friends and relatives having babies. That was back when mine were babies and I wasn't a full time home school mom yet.

Here is the one I made while pregnant with Joy. This was before I found out she was a girl, or there would of been no end to the pink fabrics I would have used. : ) It has bunnies on it. It has been really loved on over the years which makes it even more special.

This one I made just for fun to match our living room a few years ago. Joy asked if she could have it and so I gladly gave it to her.

I've found that when patterns say that "you can make this over the weekend," they are lying. ; ) Not really, but if somebody or should I say, everybody, can make it in a weekend then I now know that I can make it in a month!

So, I fell for one of those patterns again and made my largest quilt ever made for Carlos as a Christmas gift.

I thought a bachelor would enjoy a homemade quilt as long as it looked masculine, that is.

By Christmas morning I had it pieced and basted together with the batting...
And I gave it to him just like that! Then he had to give it back to me so that I could quilt and bind it. Tacky, I know.

I thought I would have it done for him by New Years. Oh, am I ever an unrealistic quilter. I was planning to quilt it by machine to get it done fast, but my peddle seems to be broken and I've finally just ripped out the machine quilting and I'm quilting it all by hand. Here it is July, and it isn't done yet. He teases me that 'I am going to milk this gift for all it's worth' and give it to him again for the next holiday too. ha ha - Not a bad idea! But, really, he's been very patient about it.

Since it is flannel, it is one mighty warm quilt. I was sweating bullets with it on my lap last night. And ya know, it is going to be bitterly cold here in FL in AUGUST when I finally finish it, so it will really come in handy! ; )
~Becky