Something Awful

Wow! A week already! Today's work in progress is my MOVE. Our house has been rented out for the last year and we are finally moving back in. I am so giddy over this I could die. I really didn't think I'd have any time to post anything today, but here I am :D . Little Sam decided to take a nap as I was preparing to go to the house and begin unpacking so I get a little break now. We are only moving half a mile away so I not pressed for time or anything. As I mentioned in my last post, I finished two quilts this week so I thought I'd share some pics of the second one. When I was growing up my Aunt Joann made each niece and nephew a quilt when we graduated from High School. Well, since I am the only one out of my siblings who sews regularly, I decided to take the torch and carry on the tradition. These quilts are called "Awful Quilts" by my aunt because they are awfully warm and awfully soft and awfully comfy, etc. They are good old fashioned no-nonsense denim quilts made out of jeans scraps and flannel on the back. I still have mine and love it to death. It is super heavy and perfect for camping and picnicking. I will try to get a picture of it once it is unpacked. My nephew, Blake, graduated from high school yesterday so I took on my first ever awful quilt! 8X8 squares of old jeans donated by various family members backed with camo/snowboarding flannel. It went together in a jiff and I did a good old fashioned quilt tying session because I didn't want to vary from tradition. So, here she is!

And here's the man of the hour! Am I really that short or is he just really tall? Congratulations, Blake!

In further news: A wonderful linking party is happening over at Blue Cricket Design today! Check out all the wonderful project ideas and tutorials she has posted and see if you can spot 'yours truly' :D

Hello, All!! Remember how in my last post I said something about not working on any projects this week?? Seriously, I have a problem. I have finished TWO (count 'em) quilts since posting that last little tidbit. In my first ever post I mentioned that quilting and sewing in general is my therapy. Well, I guess I needed some time on the proverbial couch because I got right to work and enjoyed every second. The bad part? I am moving tomorrow and there is So-HO much to do that I really can't even justify posting about this- but I will :D

Here is quilt #1- for my dear friend who just adopted a little baby boy after three failed placements (the birthmommies changed their minds). She has two adopted girls and wanted a boy so badly and one day she randomly got a call saying that there was a birth mother in labor in Vegas and she didn't know what the gender was. Well, my friends were the only ones who had not specified a gender preference so they went immediately to the top of the list! Seriously- are adoptive couples really that picky? We didn't care about color or gender, but I guess some people feel that if they have to adopt, it is their prerogative to pick out that stuff. In my opinion, not only should beggars not be choosers, but whatever child is meant for you will come to you no matter what. Kay, ***steps off soapbox***Now on to the QUILT!

So, I based this quilt entirely on THIS quilt featured on Moda Bake Shop by Sarah B Designs. I loved the pattern and I already had the Kona Coal on hand as well as a bunch of blue scraps. Thus this little beauty was born.

I did my first ever attempt at straight line quilting and was pretty happy with how it turned out for my first try. **Gets back on soapbox**I have decided that the imperfections in quilting are what makes it special (provided there aren't too many !! ) If I wanted something perfect, I could purchase it from a mass producer. I love the imperfections in anything hand made. Mr. Polka Dot Apron made our gorgeous bed as well as our sons' cribs and some other various furniture. He showed me where every ding and dent and mess-up is, and I cherish each one because it is what makes that piece unique. But, I digress...back to the issue at hand! (I really have to get a handle on my rantings...)

The binding (gasp) was not hand sewn but zig-zagged. I am moving folks, and that extra touch of perfection was just not gonna happen. All in all, I love how this turned out and I am actually going to start on one with more of the Kona Coal and some green scraps to make for another friend who has two girls (biological, not adopted) and is expecting her first boy! Ironically, she and the gal I made the other quilt for are thick as thieves so I am happy to provide them with semi-identical quilts for their boys!

I will post more about the second quilt a bit later. I am off to finish packing. Heaven help me, I can't WAIT to get into my house again. Remember how I said it was a long story? I'll try to sum it up. We own a house in Northern Utah. My hubby worked right around the corner from said house reading meters for the power company. They automated the meters and he lost his job and had to transfer within the company to a little (understatement) town called Montpelier, Idaho. We were blessed to find renters within a week of us having to move. Hubby applied for a job closer to our house and got it **cheers** so now that their lease is up we get to move back home!

And in Sam update news, he is going in for surgery on Thursday to have the skin grafted on his little hands. Please, if you are the praying type- say a little prayer for my little guy. I will let y'all know how it goes. Happy sewing, y'all!