Around the World Blog Hop

Hi Ya'll!

Can you believe it?!  I am still here just plugging away;)  Two kiddos, one in school and baby girl at home presents very little free time to blog.  That's ok though, with time, right?  When Pam over at Mama Sparks World invited me to do this blog hop I jumped right in because hey it will get me back on here to talk to ya'll about what I have been up to in quilting!   Bet you didn't think I was doing much of that quilting thing lately?  I am, but in spurts and not every day.  I am on kiddo schedule not mama schedule lol

I am very happy to be back so lets get started!!

Who am I ?

I am a SAHM, military wife to two kiddos.   My hubby, Josh works very hard so that I can stay home with my monkeys! My son, Ayden is 6 yrs old and has started 1st grade last week.  He is doing awesome already!  He loves to read and is darn good at it!!  My daughter, Jade is 6 months old and always smiling.  She may get it from her mama.  It can be contagious you know;)  Such precious, precious times to be had with my kids.  They are worth more to me than anything in the world and I am so blessed and thankful for them in my life.

here we are with my MIL (mommy) Teri while she was visiting from WI last month

Obviously I love to quilt!  I started quilting shortly after my son was born and haven't stopped since!  Before that, I never had the urge to sew one single stitch.  I had my Grandma's sewing machine at one time and gave it away.  What???!!!  Who knew I would be quilting away to my hearts content today?  Wish I had kept it now, but there's nothing I can do to change the fact that it's gone.

Recently I have started crocheting and have really taken a liking to it!  I like to cook, although the hubby I think enjoys cooking more!  I do love to bake though and I try to eat healthy as much as possible.  If you follow me on InstaGram, you will notice that I post pics of smoothies or salads from time to time too.  I can't help it!  Maybe it will inspire someone else to choose a healthy snack/meal too.  Ok off my soap box lol

granny squares crochet project

What is this mama working on?  (besides sleep, eating and changing diapers)

the first and foremost is my APQ Quilt Along quilt probably since Jade was born.  Yup.  So about 6 months now give or take.  I love the color scheme and the simplicity of the cutting.  I dislike the many,many pieces and the time it has taken to make progress on this one.  Comes with the kid territory though as I have mentioned.  I was working on the sashing yesterday and thought wow I am so ready to put all of this together!  This quilt will be for Jade when she is a little older and she is in a twin size bed.  I am ahead of the game on that note.

Secondly, I have all my stars from Elizabeth's Paper Piecing Lucky Stars BOM last year that need borders and then all sewn together into a top.  Every once in awhile I think of what color/pattern of fabric I would like to add to those stars.

I participated in my first swap a couple months ago!  So MUCH stinking fun folks!!  It was the strawberry swap and it was headed up by @frampuna over on IG and you can see her and a collaboration of strawberry swap goodness on Flickr here.   This is what I sent my partner:

This is what I received:

So the next question really has me thinking:  How does my work differ from others?

I tend to follow along with a pattern.  I like structure.  I like cuteness to be a part of my quilt blocks!  Perhaps then my personal touch on quilts is truly what fabrics I choose and how I use the pattern to my liking.  Specifically,  I  add embroidery stitches or recently I had to tweak a pattern to make it work for a table runner.  That was a huge shrinking of size and somewhat out of my comfort zone.  I used a paper piecing pattern for the center too.  It all worked out though!

Here it is:

 Do ya'll think my work stands out from others?  In what way?

Why do I create?

My passion is fulfilled. I truly love it!   You get the question, "Who made that?"  I can reply with, "I did!"  No greater feeling than that.   It's a release to be free from the daily mundane activities.  Let loose and stitch to my hearts content!

There is also the idea of being able to gift something I MADE to others that they can treasure for a very long time.  If I have all the fabric on hand and other sewing notions it can be a low cost gift too;)

 I may be able to inspire others to quilt i.e. most importantly my Jade!

I hope that you were able to learn more about me through this post and if you have any other fun questions (not too personal hehe) leave me a comment.

I am passing the torch onto another blogger whom was nominated by me to do a blog post about herself on Sept. 29th!  So go check her out and see what she's all about............

thebusybeequiltshop.blogspot.com Jamie has become a great friend of mine in the last year or so!  We have a lot in common especially quilting.  Her blog is fun to read and she keeps it real!  I love it!  Go see what she's sewing these days!

In closing, I would like to say thank you sincerely to my friend Pam at Mama Sparks World!!  We met in person for the first time in 2012 and then we got together again in 2013 and had a great time at some local quilt shops here and ate delicious food!  I miss you friend!  

Enjoy your day!

Sara

Disappearing Act

Hi y'all!  
Oh my goodness so much has happened since our baby girl Jade has joined our family!  I couldn't even begin to go into all the details.   I will say that it has been hectic, fun, life changing, endearing,  filled with giggles, hugs and kisses.  Jade is a very good baby!  She started sleeping through the night at 3 months old.  The girl smiles ALL the time and has the most heart melting giggle.  Mornings are her time to shine!  Ayden is the definition of a fantastic big brother.  He helps when not even asked.  Simply put, he truly adores her;) 

With 2 kids things have gotten a bit more interesting.   Time for blogging is in the back seat.  Instagram is in the drivers seat.  The easy access and ease of usage has drawn me in indefinitely.   I can get an answer to a question quickly and learn about others lives quickly through their pics.  I ♡ it!  If you look at my sidebar---> you will see my IG feed.  My IG username is living4himjoshayden if you care to join me over there.   I'm going to try to blog more.  It is, in my opinion, not user friendly when it comes to adding pics from IG to blogger.  So I am giving this app on my phone a try for the time being.  I can type away while nursing Jade.  Kill two birds with one stone.

Time for some sewing lingo!  As most of you know, an APQ magazine QAL started up ages ago or maybe at the beginning of the year; )  12 blocks have been completed thus far.  My color palette is peach, yellow, pink with touches of blue and black and white low volume prints.  I like how easy these are to piece together and then to complete the whole block.   I am looking foward to creating the peach blocks next and then sewing my borders.  Don't know who the recipient will be quite yet.  It finishes at twin size so I am leaning toward this one going to Jade;) 

A few pieces of clothing have been added to Jade's wardrobe as well. 
A skirt from
 danamadeit.com 
Dress
 sewmuchado.com 
Strawberry skirt
 crazylittleprojects.com 
This little girl is pushing her mama into new sewing territory.   Loving it! 

Summer has been treating us well.  Adventures in swimming, Ayden learning to ride his bike without training wheels,  reading, math, picking fruit at local farms, cooking and so on has kept us on our toes. 

I have missed y'all.   Seriously missed talking to y'all through emails and sharing my life with you!  I know there are some that are not on IG so I have felt the need to be reconnected with those individuals specifically.   I am going to try my darndest to make it work otherwise you can always bug me in an email or sneak up on me on IG ha!

Hugs!!

Sara

Stitches and New Potholders

 I picked this Daisy Chain Sampler up about a month or so ago and haven't put it down since! 

 It was thrilling to pick out a variety of perle cotton threads to go with each and every letter.

 Through the process, I have picked up lots of new stitches to include the short and long stitch, lazy daisy, chain, french knots, stem, fly, blanket and satin stitch.  I have added them to my bag of tricks when it comes to embroidery.  So this girl knows more than the simple back stitch now!

 A sampler has taught me to slow down and enjoy each letter.  No rushing allowed.

 Satin stitches are by far the most time consuming,but when they are all done they look mighty pretty!

 Color was what I had in mind with this as I knew that if I stuck to two or three colors I would drive myself batty.  I have the personality that I if I start something, I have to finish it.  Soon!

 With each thread and needle passing through the cotton, I was able to keep my mind off of pending tasks.  Our baby girl is one of the top three;)

 Playing favorites here....

 a cluster of lazy daisies brightened my day.  Does it do it for you?

 Tiny violets crawling up a vine gracefully.

Pink and yellow.  Tickles my soul!


I may have to go pick out some more yummy, new colors of perle cotton;)

First I have to go find myself a frame for this and get it hung up in Jade's room!!!!




On Sunday, I had to make some potholders.  Just because.  You see my old ones are pretty well loved. 



I found a pattern in one of my older 2012 APQ magazines.  It actually reminded very much of the economy blocks that are popping up everywhere these days.  Square in a square block.



Fabrics are Ruby by Bonnie and Camille Roskelley and Alexander Henry and little bits of Kona Red

I decided to simply do without the binding for once and just top stitch the turned edges.  All in all I am very happy with them and they really brighten my kitchen up.

**40 weeks tomorrow or full term to be exact....I have an OB appointment Wed in the afternoon.  Maybe she will choose a date sooner!**

Hugs,

Sara

Per Hubby's Request

I was packing an overnight bag the other day  and nonchalantly telling hubby what I was bringing in it for Jade.

I showed him one of the receiving blankets I had made and blogged about in recent months.  Suddenly, he chimed in with "doesn't she have a smaller blanket that is softer as well?"  Huh...didn't think of that hon!  As quilters, you know what happened next;)  The wheels were 'a turning.  Before you know it I was upstairs, in my sewing room Sunday, creating a soft blanket for our girl!



With some "pear" minkee dot and leftover Magenta Cuddle minkee, I pieced the back.  The front is a butterfly print in flannel with a ruffle trim sewn on by moi!  I used Aurifil in Blossom Pink for the top stitching around the entire blanket.



Little girl will be embraced in the softest blankie ever!!!!

*OH and it's been hubby approved! *

XXXX HUGS! XXXX

Sara

Zipper Pouch Dilemma

 



I wanted to make a zipper pouch with this tutorial by Jeni B for Ayden's teacher assistant.  The problem was I finished it and now I don't want to part with it:(

I used up some scraps from the heart mini and had to only make a few more HSTs.  Then I bordered it in Kona Purple and backed it in a Joel Dewberry print.  I am not a huge fan of purple,but it has grown on me significantly.  So it seems;)

Hmmmm.....what to do, what to do??!  Has this happened to you ever?  You loved the end result so much, you didn't want to gift it?  Sounds terrible I know.

Hugs!

Sara

Quilty Friend

Have you ever met another blogger and instantly became friends in different area codes?  That person that you share so many common interests with and email one another back and forth.  Week after week?  I hope you do because I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on that kind of friendship.

A very special friend that I made in the last year or bit more blogs over at Busy Bee Quilts.  Her name is Jamie.  We click very well.  So much fun!  Of course we each have our own lives, our own ups and downs and our own kids and hubbies to live with from day to day, month to month etc.  During this season of each of our lives, I am thinking there was a virtual {HUG} needed if you will.

As ya'll know, I am having a baby--soon!  8 days to go until the big day (give or take)!!!!  I may have mentioned this once or twice;)  Well......Jamie was VERY kind, sweet and generous to me!

We both share a love of Tasha Horsley prints, fabric; what have you.    Aren't these illustrations "cheek pinching" adorable??!!!  To say I LOVE them is an understatement. Cannot wait to show them off in Jade's room!!!!!!  Jamie placed them in white frames too.  I had told her in an email that I was going to add pops of white to Jade's room. Sneaky girl!



She also sent me some handmade goodies to include a bib backed in chenille and DARLING booties with strawberries on them.  Jade's toesies will be thankful!  We had also discussed that Jamie loves Land O Lakes hot chocolate...well we don't have one here either.  She orders hers online and she sent me some!  See why she is a SPECIAL lady????? lol;)  Love her!   Thank you Jamie!!!!!

Now I already knew that she was sending me something in the mail.  Weeks prior to that though, I had wanted to make something for her because of  other reasons.  She needed one of those virtual {HUGS} and I was going to bless her in a way I knew I could!

I wanted this heart wall hanging to be perfect for Jamie.  I visited IG often to get others opinions on the layout and in the end I am very happy with this mini.  I was a little leery about the orange,but I think it suits it well.

There are three  Kate Spain fabric lines in there,  to include, Terrain, Fandango and Central Park.  The binding is a Kaffe Fassett dot in purple.  I added 2 tones of purple perle cotton around the outside of the block.

The backing consists of an Art Gallery print and Kona Purple.

For quilting I did straight lines 1/4" on each side, of each row of squares/HSTs.

Jamie was very happy with this heart and I am too!!!!

Treasure your friendships!!!

Sara