Happy Mothers Day

Just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a very happy Mothers Day.

I was thinking about my Mom and Grandmother early this morning.  I don't remember my mother doing a lot of sewing when I was growing up.....and yet I know she could.  I remember when my aunt got married my two sisters were in the wedding.  They couldn't get the dresses in the right size for my sisters.  So mom took an adult version of the dress, deconstructed it, and made a dress for each of my sisters that mirrored what the other attendants were wearing.

I know that Mom really did not have time to sew when I was growing up....she normally had two jobs, helping support her family.   But there is a part of me that also thinks that she was trying to give her children something that she didn't have growing up.

I have just recently started tracing my family history and asked for old photo's.  Mom gave me a copy of a picture of her at age 13.  She had the grand champion bunny from the state fair that year.  Her and several of the other grand champions were having their picture taken by the Des Moines Register for an article.  Mom commented how that dress was her first store bought dress.

My Grandmother could sew or mend just about anything.  I remember as a child wondering how she could run that machine at such a fast pace and have those perfect results.  Think speed demon.....if Grandma was doing it, it was going to be done fast.

So I find it a little odd to now realize that my love of quilting comes to me honestly.  Although my Mom and Grandma didn't quilt, they had the skills to....and luckily those skills got passed down to me along way.

Almost but no cigar

Yesterday I set the goal of quilting Iowa Comfort Quilt #18.  I thought I might get the quilting finished on it.

I got a later start than I had planned.  I had trouble locating the fabric I was going to use on the two side borders.  At 4:30 I ran out of my last wound bobbin and decided it was an omen that I should be done for the day.  I promptly shut down Lennie and closed up the quilt room.  I have about an half an hours worth of quilting to do to finish up the quilt.  I'll get it done this weekend.

Today is open sew Friday, and I didn't get to go last month.  I'll spend most of the morning there.  In the afternoon my Mom and I are hitting up a garage sale that has baby boy clothes.  With this weekend being Mothers Day, I also need to shop after I drop off my mom for her present.

Life is busy, I'm sure glad that I am retired or there would not be enough hours in the day. Make sure to enjoy your day.

Todays goal

You know I have to take it one day at a time, there is just so much that can change my schedule right now.

Today I hope to work on ICQ # 18. It was donated by Diane Larson. Here is a refresher of what it looks like.

Here is a close up of the blocks:

This quilt was just a little too narrow to be a bed quilt.  So I am going to add a brown border to the sides and then get it loaded on the longarm.  If my luck holds I might get it quilted yet today.

Feels good to get back to work.  Hope that I actually get to spend the day as I have it planned.  I did get an hour in the quilt room yesterday afternoon, plugged in my I pod and just tuned the world out.  It was bliss!

Quilts delivered

Yesterday was a day of errands both inside and outside of my home.

I was able to deliver the quilts to the center yesterday morning.  Along with the hygiene products and gently used clothing that was donated thru Iowa Comfort to the center.

Once I can get my IT person to help me (that would be my son that is due to have a baby any day....so it may be a while) I hope to have pages available on my blog.  One page would be dedicated to things that the center could really use....believe me I have learned that the need is much greater than I thought.  I think a dedicated page would make it easier than having to back through posts.  I also plan to have a gallery of finished quilts on one page.

I need to give a special thank you to Dian Wakefield.  Dian has been making all of the labels for the Iowa Comfort quilts.  I spent yesterday afternoon battling with my embroidery machine......it took me 4 hours to make four labels for personal projects of mine. I remember why I hate making labels......the computer and sewing machine keep letting me know what a DUMMY I am.  HATE it when that happens, hate it more when the machines are right.  I am so happy that Dian makes all of those beautiful labels.  I am pretty sure that if I had to make them, I would be missing all of my hair from the frustration of the process. 

Dian's is so much prettier than what I can do anyway.....so THANK YOU Dian for your contribution!

Finished quilts for April

Thought I would show you the finished quilts that will be heading to the center.  I know I only finished 3 this month....but given all that is going on I think that is pretty good.  And thanks again to Wanda Hickey, and our other donor for donating finished quilts.

I know that is the same quilt....but this is a close up of the binding.  We could not find the right green.  So we tried to pick up the pinkish purple out of the paisley fabric.

All three of the quilt tops were donated by Diane Larson.  Thank you so much Diane!
I also want to thank Nancy Hagelberg for donating the time and effort to bind the  green quilt....you helped me out a bunch!

These were from Wanda Hickey.  Thank you again for your generosity.

Last but not least, this quilt was donated by someone who chose to remain anonymous.  I thank them for their generosity anyway.

I also have some clothes and hygiene products to deliver to the center.  Hopefully yet today.

Comfort for my sis

This weekend I dedicated my time to finishing my nephew's quilt.  I had finished quilting it early last week.  I had pushed myself to finish it, the little voice in my head told me that I needed to, although I didn't know why.  Then my week went crazy.

So I spent Saturday and Sunday nights putting the binding on and then stitching binding down.  I found myself thinking of my sis and her grief, and found how grateful I was that I could help her in this small way.

Today I will make a label for Davids quilt and find a box to ship it to her.  I know that for a long while it will be her most precious treasure, for it will always  be a reminder of her gentle giant.

Not a lot

So this week has been very busy away from the house.  I had two family members have surgery this week.  One was an out patient, the other was a very serious surgery that had a real potential for a fatal outcome.  Fortunately both surgeries went well.

While waiting in the waiting room for the out patient surgery, I received a text message that my grand baby, who is not due until June 18, had decided to try to make an early arrival.  The hospital has done a great job slowing contractions down, and taking steps to boost respiratory functions for baby Owen.  My son and daughter in law are hoping that they will get to go home tonight and sleep in their own bed......even if it is only for one night.  We will see how she does after she is off the medicine.

I did get my paper work done for Iowa Comfort and I tried a couple of times to get the quilts delivered.  My schedule and the centers schedule never quite synced up.  I will try again next week.

I'm not exactly sure how much work I will be able to do on Iowa Comfort quilts this month.  It really will depend if I am needed to assist my daughter in law during the days while she is on bed rest. 

I have been in touch with the center and they totally understand, and I know you do also.

So I may go a couple of days without a post, don't worry I'll be back.

binding tails

So tell the truth.  When you do binding are you like me and save the left over binding tail for future use?   I do and of course I never did find  a use for them until now.

When I make the doggy mats for Aheinz 57, I use up all of those binding tails to finish the mats.  I don't care that they don't match....I just sew a bunch together and put a scrappy finish to the mat.

I must have told that story before because look what I got from Jacque Johnson:

Yep a whole AQDG sack full of binding tails.

And check out this from Nancy Hagelberg. Yep more binding tails.

Nancy also gifted me short pieces of batting....you know what you cut off the bottom or sides.  Jacque informed me she has a sack full waiting for me also.

These pieces of batting will just be slid in between the top and bottom layers of the fabric when I am making the doggy mats.  The doggies won't care if it doesn't lay absolutely flat.

Thanks ladies for the donations..... I know the doggies will love their new mats when they get them.

Fabric donation # 2

Yesterday I showed you fabric donated by Peggy in Winterset.

Today I show you fabric from Dallas Center/ Minburn.

Nancy Hagelberg is another one of those strong supporters.  She has donated time, she has pieced quilts and if I'm not careful she will steal a quilt from me to bind without me even knowing it. (not really but you get the picture...she is always willing to assist)

If I remember the story correctly, recently someone in her church was cleaning out their house of things they would no longer be needing.  Her ears perked up when she heard there was fabric....and thought of us.  She sorted through all of the fabric and found some that we could use.  Here is a few shots of what she whisked away for us.

Isn't that some fun fabric?????  We have checks, florals, stripes and paisley fabric.  Oh so much fun!  These fabrics will bring a lot of depth to a scrap quilt in the near future... I just know it!
Thank you Nancy for rescuing these fabrics for our cause!

Fabric donation

Quick note to let you all know that things are hectic again.  I'm writing several posts in advance because I have two surgeries for family members, one on Wednesday and one on Thursday.  I only tell you because my lack of post caused concern early last month.

Now on to the fabric donation.

Penny White has been a supporter of Iowa Comfort since it's early days.  Not only did she piece and bind quilts, she also spread the word of the group.

Penny is moving out of the area this week.....but not before telling quilting buddies in Madison county about us.  One of her quilting friends brought her 4 yards of fabric to pass on to us.

Isn't it pretty!  And oh so soft!  I would like to thank Peggy Freligh from Winterset Iowa for this beautiful fabric.  Not sure exactly how it will be used yet....but it will be used in a comfort quilt.  Thank you again for your donation and support.

I'm going to miss Penny and all of her creative ideas.....but I wish her well in her new home and I'm sure she will find lots of new quilting buddies up in Marion.