Choosing fabrics

I chose the fabrics for the wolf quilt based on what I thought my son and his lady would like. His favorite color is green, then blue. She loves wolves .... You can see where I found the wolf fabric so perfect - greens, blues, wolves - tada!

I pulled from my stash first and used the dots in the fabric selvedge to get as close to the greens and blues as possible. I wanted more variety so I started looking at fabrics everywhere I went, LOL. Walmar, Hancocks, thrift stores - everywhere!

I have a great stash. However I favor bright colors. This quilt called for muted colors - not really my thing. I stretched my comfort level to seek out darker colors. I originally wanted to include grays but it didn't stand out enough from the neutrals, so I eliminated them. I assume everyone auditions fabrics endlessly waiting for a bright light to flash and applause so you know you got it right. Right?!

Thankfully as I created units and blocks, I really started loving the forest-y colors. I love how the block can create endless designs with a simple turn. I love the design. It is turning out just as I hoped.

Name this block

Pic courtesy of http://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/jacobs-ladder-quilt.html

I packed up the Christmas decorations and settled into for some winter stitching. I am making a quilt for my oldest son and his lady. I thought I wanted a Jacob's ladder quilt, then I found a modified Jacob's block and decided to go a new direction. However I do not know if this new block has a name even though I have seen it on several websites used in different patterns.

This is the top left corner 4 unit of the Jacob's Ladder. It's two 4 patches and two half square triangles. Lay them out in different ways and you get some really cool patterns.

I am using mid to dark blues and greens with a tan background. The inspiration is some wolf fabric that the kids liked. I wanted something natural to go with it. The blocks will be laid out in something of a radiating diamond design. As though you dropped a pebble in the pond that the wolves drink. The actual wolf fabric will be used as one of the borders. I considered using it as a main fabric in a quilt but really had no idea what pattern to highlight it best.

Here's to a new adventure! :D

Lace up back, instead of a zipper

In the midst of babies and the holidays I managed to stitch up a formal for a sweet young lady. Rather than putting a simple zipper in the back like usual, I decided to modify the pattern and put in a lace up back.

Yes. I am a glutton for punishment.

 It actually went together so much easier than I ever expected. The most difficult task was turning the skinny little strings. I thought it through and left it as one long strap until after it was turned. I did buy a loop turner which helped tremendously.

I sliced 2 inch segments and used some leftover bias tape to organize my loops. I measured what length I needed, then drew lines on the bias tape an inch apart, so I could put each loop within that inch. It took a lot of pinning but felt stable. I did 2 lengths - one for each side of the back dress opening. I even got picky enough that I made sure the seams on the loops all went one direction on one side and the opposite direction on the other.

I stitched the length of the bias tape to secure the loops to the tape. Then I pinned the loop length into the dress to baste. You notice it was turned the wrong way? The basting stitches attach it first to the dress and will be hidden once the dress is completed.

A quick baste on one side, then the other, checking to be sure the loops match up to one another. Turned the length out and topstitched. This makes the loops stitched extra secure as they are sewn three times. Once to the bias tape, then basted into the dress and finally topstitched. The final stitches go right on the very edge of the bias tape or just over, so that the tape is NOT seen. To be sure, I pulled on all the loops. Those babies are secure!

Now if I could just slow down lenough to hide my clumsy handstitching on the lining which finished covering the construction of the 5 layer bodice and princess lacing.

Modesty is very important. I made a simple triangle-ish shape, attached modesty panel to be sure the young lady's back would be properly covered. To firm up the panel, I tucked a short piece of boning at the top, inner edge. When it is flipped over you won't see the stitches securing it, yet the boning holds the modesty panel straight across without sagging.

Modesty panel before turning right side out

I take the most awkward pictures

My camera trashed the color of the finished back of the dress. It is a gorgeous bright blue. Thankfully, you get the idea of the transformation, goofy color and all.

Now to find a way to de-glitter my sewing space

Now how to clean all the glitter up from my sewing space .....

Quilts help make a home

Catarina on January 14th at 3 1/2 months old

Remember that tiny scrap of humanity born too early last September? She is growing like a gorgeous little weed now! Baby Catarina is over 11 pounds now - twice her birth weight at 3 months. Prematurity seems to simply be a time thing for her. She is beautiful and healthy - no lingering issues or problems. We are so blessed. 

I spent a couple of months hovering and watching to see where I could possibly help her parents. It's a lot to have a new baby and having a premature baby seems to amp up the chaos. The flu whipped through our house. We had 2 catastrophic ice storms in our area leaving us without power for almost a week each time. The holidays were squished in there with the ice. Then my mother was hospitalized for a week. When it rains, it pours. I am just now relaxing. And sewing :)

I whipped up a nursing cover and breast pads for Cat's momma. 

Then Christmas dresses for both granddaughters were necessary. 

I sent my 2013 Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mystery quilt Celtic Solstice to be quilted in December and was able to gift it to my youngest daughter for Christmas. She is moving into a new place but she had her quilt nestled on her bed which instantly makes it home. Aren't quilts wonderful that way? 

Early Arrival

She was mad about being born early

The newest grandbaby that was due in November? She is here!
 I would love to say she is here and home but babies that come so early need extra special attention.


My daughters pregnancy seemed straight forward other than a little nausea. Then her blood pressure was creeping up, she started swelling, then wham! It was out of control. She was diagnosed with Pre eclampsia and admitted last Monday for an emergency C-section at 34 weeks gestation.

Baby Catarina is beautiful and healthy. However her early arrival means she has to learn to eat enough to grow properly. Thank goodness for caring NICU nurses.

I was not done sewing of course. Today I finally found an hour to sit down and stitch up some nursing pads for my daughter. It seems impossible to nurse a child without some leakage, so pads are helpful tucked into a bra.

I make nursing pads from scrap batting, flannel and cotton fabric. No pattern is needed. Find a cup or small plate about 3-4 inches across and use it to trace a circle on your fabric. I stack the layers with the cotton right side down, batting, then the flannel right side up and serge around the edges. That's it. Done.

I will use to the very edge of fabric if the selvedge is soft

Machine washable, reusable nursing pads. My youngest daughter has been using hers for 7 months and they are still in great shape. For zero money! My favorite price :)

In between sewing sessions

What do you do in between sewing sessions? I admit I get crazy busy with .... life. My family. My rescue animals. Just life.

I stitched up another alphabet book and several burp cloths on Friday. My oldest daughter is expecting a baby in November and Saturday was the shower. The hostesses requested books signed by the giver, as they know how my daughter loves to read. She majored in English in college. Thankfully I already had the alphabet panel and previous experience, so this was a quick stitch.

Burp cloths are little quilted objects :) 

The burp cloths are another quick project for me. I have made so many now that they seem easy. Which means I will make a big mistake soon being so casual, LOL. Murphy's Law finds us all. I really loved the Betty Boop flannel paired with the dark gray with polka dots. They look stylish due to the 'grown up' colors.

I attended the baby shower, then joined my husband and youngest son as they hauled hay for the rescue horses winter roughage. It is always a long day but today was super long. They had to go 20 miles per  trip rather than the previous 5 miles. Plus they had to do the tractor work at both ends. Add a flat tractor tire and a nail in one of the trailer tires ... Yup, 13 hours of long day.

Thankfully I had chili in the crock pot for supper. And our University of Oklahoma Sooners pulled off the win in a double overtime against Tennessee. Go Sooners!!

The sun set before the work was done.

Surgery break

Summer is wrapping up soon. I'm eager for cooler weather, even though Oklahoma runs warm year round. It's great for outside activities but a drag if you want to snuggle under quilts. Maybe I can turn the AC way down :)

A little blue satin to add straps and cover some cleavage makes a modest difference.

I had knee surgery in August which halted all my sewing. Even my formal dress makeovers which had become almost a full time job. I love seeing the girls in their 'new' modest dresses. However I am exhausted from replacing so many zippers. Why do manufacturers put flimsy zippers in dresses that will be stuffed by excited females? Nobody wants a saggy formal so they seek the smallest size possible. Sighsss ....

We are expecting a new grandbaby this November so I'm planning more burp cloths, nursing covers, maybe a baby quilt. My knee is almost normal. The state fair is a couple of weeks away. Football season is here! I'm excited. Do you have big fall plans?