On a rolllllll......

Would you believe a second finish in as many days? I am so thrilled and I really am feeling great with these tiny successes. On this previous post I mentioned trying to focus on that doll blanket and get it finished for PGD#1.
























With this little quilt, I put alot of stitches into it. First with the daisy stitching floral trim at the skirt bottom and then outlining different areas on the bodice, waist and sleeves to try to show more orange. I also ripped out the red flower and did an orange spiderwed rose with a tiny satin ribbon. Nice match with the intended binding. Orange is my PGD#1's most favorite color. Quite an unusual color for a child to prefer and she's loved it for over 2 years now.

I used a polyester for the satin backing and just did a medium size stipple in the background of the quilt. Had to use a ball point needle so I wouldn't tear any of the backing fabric or get any puckers. That just wouldn't do! I am happy it turned out so well. With my back and shoulder problem, sometimes the pain is difficult to try to do some things, but I persevered.
The satin double fold ribbon wasn't too bad to use as the binding, but the way I did it was a very backwards system if looked at by any professional standards! LOL I pinned the binding on and created mitered corners onto both sides of each corner. Then removed it from the quilt top, sewed the darts to make the miters and then pressed the "dart" open so no seams could be seen and to off set the weight difference. Promptly re-pinned it back onto the quilt to connect the ends and make a a circular of binding. Then, drumroll maestro, reattached the binding via pins then finally stitched inplace with 2 rows of stitching, making sure to catch both sides at once. The front is perfect and the back isn't too bad.
For the "piece de resistance"- Crystals attached in a pleasing manner according to this artist's discretion. Who said angels don't wear jewels? In my world they do. Hehe.
And this picture shows some of the details.



I know PGD#1 will be wrapping her babies in it tomorrow when she comes and will be dragging it all over, she is such a wonderful little Mommy. It will be loved. The other 2 dollie quilts she carries around with her babies are well travelled so far. One was made by my Mom and the other by me. This one is a combo of both of our efforts. Just thinking that with this one being so white, I might suggest she leave it on the babie's bed at home or here. We'll see how that is accepted. But she will have the final say about it's use.

Well I'm off to enjoy a Christmas Concert this evening. Several family members, brother, sister, nieces and nephews will be in. I do enjoy concerts, but especially this time of year.

Happy Stitching,
Jane

Small family gatherings

My Thanksgiving Holiday was wonderful. All my children and grandchildren came home except for PGS#1 for the holiday. A wonderful feast which I know I contributed the least amount ever in my life. Only had to make 4 pies and some of the condiments like cranberry sauce, pickles and stuff. All other dishes were provided by my daughter and my son and his wife. The menu was wonderful. Ham stuffed with collards(thanks M), Deep fried turkey(thanks S), roasted turkey(S), parsnips and carrots(M), squash(S&DH), green bean casserole(M), stuffing(S), mashed potatoes(DH), gravy(S&DH), celery with cream cheese(T) were the items at the table. Besdies all that comraderie and family fellowship.
With so many entries, I only took one tablespoon of each and felt totally satisfied and blessed. We have so much to be grateful for and feel wonderfully blessed with living in this country so with a umble heart I wish the people throughout the world to have enough. Enough food to elimuinate starvation and disease. Enough liberty to enjoy their family fellowship, religious beliefs, and political freedoms. Enough peace without feeling threatened by bullies to provide for their family. Enough joy to be able to look forward to the next day. As well as Enough love to know that they matter in this world. Namaste.

As for my UFOs I am currently stitching an alphabet sampler I mentioned in this previous post. Working it with DMC Linen thread L223, DMC Metallic-Jewel Effects E316(5288), and I still have to decide what the third color will be yet. I'll audition it more after completing these 2 other colors first. Using an Aida 14 count white cloth. While traveling to RI to visit with Mom and a couple of brothers this past weekend, it was the perfect transportable project. It was a Quick trip, but it was nice to reconnect with them. This was the last year that my eldest brother will be hosting it. He's offering the "torch" onto a younger sister to host since she has been wanting/offering to have it.
As for the angel doll blanket, I now have to quilt it and bind it. The embroidery part is finished, and I found some hot-fix crystals that will be perfect for it that I'll probably adhere in the waist band area after it's done.

Happy Stitching,
Jane

Getting Ready....and in a quandary

Some days the pain and discomfort I am in are just too much. I know I'll be living with this for the rest of my life and I just need to push on. AND that is exactly what I've been doing.

This is a picture of my D9P all together and showed it to my daughter, since it will be in her house and for her #1 son. The size now is 46" by 46". Checking with her preferences for what border colors she prefers in which ever order. She'd like it a little longer, could I do it. Yes, so back to do more D9P rows to make it so. Darn, I'll need to iron more fabric, sometimes I think that's the worst task, moving things around to make room for the ironing board! I'm not sure which border treatment though. Any recommendations?
Since I'm getting ready to go away on a retreat shortly, perhaps I'll bring that project to work on.

The project #5 for the UFO challenge through my Mom's guild still needs to get a pieced backing for the long lines table runner. I'll probably do that too while away. I don't think it will take too long, whenever I make up my mind of exactly what to do. It still is percolating in brain(pib).

While I was waiting to check with daughter, I did start a little doll blanket for PG#1. I'm using soiree charm pack pictured above and I got my pattern from the Moda Bake Shop. The top is pieced, now all I need to complete is to piece the back. Boy, that seems like my current trend. Need to break that record!

A-shopping I JUST went, got to love the internet. I just bought some minkee fabrics for the D9P backing and for another baby blanket I am taking to my retreat. The last one is from Thimble Blossoms called "Baby Mine", proceeds of that went to Quilt for a cause with Juvenile Diabetes. (A great-nephew of mine has had this since age 2. What a doll he is. Both he and his Mom are so good about doing all things necessary for this challenge. WHen discovered his Blood sugar was around 700. Yikes!) Anyways, ordered 2 yards of minkee in 2 different colors for the backings of both quilts. With S&H it comes to $53.00. Not bad and it's a legit buy from the no-buy challenge I'm participating with this year through the stashbuster group I belong too.

Blessings
Jane