A Few More Projects by Dad and Me

The first project is another HeartStrings project.  I cut the strips, join the blocks, quilt, and bind.  Dad makes all the blocks.  Today he is sewing Christmas blocks.  I have tons and want to have several quilts for my beds during December, so he is making me string blocks by the dozens and dozens.  The giraffe and zebra are on towels for the new granddaughter, and the little birds are for Zoe who now has her own room back after sharing it with Henry for the first 8 months of his life.  Her room is not pink, but we thought these pillows could go with her for a long time!  The embroidered designs are from OESD Nursery Applique Pack No. 12303H.
Every day is an adventure.  Today while Dad, my FIL, is sewing and watching westerns, I have been doing my spring cleaning and moving all the furniture, etc.  The house never looks dirty or messy except of the constant need to dust, but I know that the nooks and crannies grow dust and spiderwebs even if I can't see them.  I will be tired by the end of the day, but now I can rest on my laurels for a month or so.  lol

Father's Day Weekend

Well, I did do some sewing, but mostly we were out and about.  Kevin ran Grandma's Marathon and Dad got to watch his first race.  Don't know which one actually enjoyed it more.  Both had sore legs afterwards, but we all use the hot tub and did a little relaxing which seemed to help both of them.

We also did some special tourist type things.  I found a 50's style ice cream parlor for the ice cream loving guys and then we went to Split Rock Lighthouse.  Kevin talked the tour guide into sounding the fog horns.  It was a little boy's dream trip.  lol 

The guys mowed the yard today and then had a few hours of fun in the wood shop where they are making a dresser/changing  table for our new granddaughter.  While they did that I put together the blocks for the two small lap-size quilts for two other grandsons (blocks were sewn by my FIL using the same HeartStrings pattern he has used to make the Quilts of Valor and other charity blocks.  He says he is just helping out, but  I know that he is enjoying it because he talks about the designs and layouts. 

The late afternoon called for a trip to the boat for a picnic of Jimmy John's, fishing, and reading.  As we ended the day, everyone had a piece of apple pie made by my FIL and ice cream.  Who would not think it a perfect way to spend the weekend celebrating fatherhood?  (Would have loved having the kids and grandkids with us, but they had other plans.)

What I Have Been Doing

I made a trip to Rapid City with my FIL to take care of some of his business.  It is about a 9 hour drive each way.  We went on Sunday and came back on Wednesday.  My body had not even adjusted before we turned around, so it has been a bit of a long week.  Even so, I did get into one quilt shop out in Rapid and spent money on some software and a couple of charm packs. (All of this is going to be used for two pre-planned projects.)  Last night and part of today I put things into my new linen press and really did the deep cleaning of my studio.  Cobwebs are something I really hate, so I vacuumed the corners, etc, and dusted all the surfaces.  Everyone is impressed with the cleanliness, but there were a few wisecracks about how long it would last. (If I were the only one contributing to the mess it would stay fairly clean, but since my FIL is also sewing, there seems to be 4x the mess, and I really don't think it is him!)
Over the weekend, I am going to try and complete a needle-turned block for my fat quarter sampler quilt.  No promises because I am also going to be out there cheering on my husband as he runs the Grandma's Marathon.

Linen Press

I requested that my husband, a woodworker, build me a linen press to store my quilting projects as I work on them.  Therefore, I was able to give him the measurements that I wanted, as well.  It is 48x54x20.  It is made of oak and is beautiful.  I plan to admire it for a couple of days and then it will become a workhorse.  It is so wonderful to be the queen of my domain.  Besides, now the grandma is going to be able to put all those projects away when the grandbabies come to visit. 

NO---This is not the same quilt as yesterday!

When I went to work I found there were about 12 more red-centered blocks and many others that will be used for other HeartStrings quilts finished by guild members and turned in for me to magically make into quilts.  I brought them home and added the the red-centers to the ones that my FIL made today.  Now we we have another Quilt of Valor ready to pieces.
So far today I have pieced together one QOV, one HeartStrings baby-size quilt, and two other kid-size quilts that have been hanging on my design wall waiting for some seams.  I have every intention of putting together 3 other QOV today and maybe even one of the smaller baseball quilts that my FIL is making using the strings pattern.  (Those are for his great-grandsons.)
In the next few weeks I think I will have quite a bit of car and waiting room time for binding so I want to get the quilts quilted and attach the binding so there will always be something to occupy my hands.

One More Set of Blocks

Well, as I have said several times recently, keeping busy helps to take the stress level down.  This is yet another Quilt of Valor set of blocks made by my FIL this week.  He is going to finish the last 8 blocks on another started by my quilt guild.  Then he is going to do a couple of baseball quilts in the same style for his great-grandsons.  In his free time he is also doing some redwork for a few more fun table runners.  Even I am not that prolific.  lol

I have been playing with some of my FIL's machine embroidery.  Made this table runner as a thank you for someone who is taking care of some personal things for us.  I did not have any pattern, so I came up with this version om my own.  It measures about 18x18.  I had the binding cut before I really started playing.  If I did it again I would use bias binding.  Setting the corners took some time and then I realized that all I needed to do was use a little math sense.  Not a perfect pattern, but it was fun to play for a little while.

Another Set of Blocks: More therapy and prayers

Dad, my FIL, just finished another set of blocks.  This one is made with flowered prints.  Some of which are definitely weeds by themselves, but they do look pretty good together.   I will put it together this week after finishing a couple other small sewing projects. This one will probably be going to a women's shelter, but I am gathering at the moment.  Those decisions are down the road. 
He asked for a set of strips for the Quilt of Valor next, so I am guessing that will be started some time today.  We make a good sewing team, especially when we are being held captive waiting for lab results.  As I say whenever I am making all comfort quilts, "Each stitch is a prayer."  This time I am thinking that each stitch is two or more prayers for us in the form of answers, patience, and faith, plus we are both adding lots of prayers for the people who will eventually be receiving the quilts.

Another Finish

My FIL made the embroidered blocks for his new great-granddaughter's quilt and then we used the leftovers from the quilt I made for her.  I love to collaborate with him.  Everyone should be so lucky as to have a FIL like I have.

Humongous Cold, etc

Guess it is a good thing I felt like I had accomplished a lot this past week because I have been down and out with a cold since waking up on Thursday.  Friday I even managed a fever of 101 so maybe I had some added bonus.  Feeling better now, but still have a strong desire to both sleep and breathe at the same time.  Hope tomorrow I feel better because I know that my voice bugs me so it must really grate on everyone else.

Another Finish

This is a quilt-as-you-go that I had put away hoping that it would finish itself or disappear.  Basically, Jamie is lucky I did not wrap it with a bow to be found when I am ready to leave this world.  lol 

I liked the idea of the quilt, but the original version called for the backing to come to the front.  The backing is a batik, and it was a PROBLEM for me.  I do not know what was wrong, but the sewing machine needle did not seem to pierce all the layers in places.  That meant way more hand sewing than I wanted, so I took it apart and sewed the opposite way.  I did not have any problem.  WHY?  I do not have a clue.  The pattern for this was from Fun & Done! Quilting, but I have misplaced the name.  Since I have an HQ16, I don't really think I would make many of these quilt-as-you-go patterns, but I do have another that I will try, some day.