Happy Father's Day

My dad was my hero.  He taught us right from wrong, honesty, and integrity.  He taught us to always do the right thing even when the right thing wasn't easy.  When searching for a husband of my own, I wanted someone just like my dad.  He loved our mother and devoted himself to his family.  He was father to six children and was our father, not our friend.  He would discipline us and then tell us he loved us.  He was not afraid to show affection and showed to all he loved.  I am so proud to be his daughter. 

In 1995 he was diagnosed with esaphageal cancer.  Twenty five days later he died.  He was only 67 years old.  My mother was devastated.  He was her life.  They were married when she was only 16 years old, and were married for over 44 years.  A few years later she died of a broken heart at the young age of 65.  She's happy now.

Her and dad were proud of all of their children and taught us what a good marriage is.  I miss them both and think of them every single day.  Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

My Latest Quilt in Progess

I bought some charm packs from The Connecting Thread right after Christmas on clearance.  They were a real bargain.  I thought I would sew the squares together to form a large lap quilt.  I took several of the squares and cut them into fourths.  I then took strips of white Kona cotton and added it to all four sides of these to make them into five inch sqares. 

Now, I have always considered myself relatively good at math.  (My DH may disagree, when it comes to balancing the checkbook.)  But somehow, I really screwed up my math this time.  Each block I had constructed was about a half inch too big.  Each strip I had cut was two inches wide and should have been one and three quarters inches.  So I had to trim each and everyone one of these blocks that ended up five and a half inches down to five inches.  At least, I didn't make them too small!  Other than this little hiccup, I really like how this quilt is turning out.

My New Camera Bag

I got a new camera a couple of months ago.  One of those dslr cameras.  It's not top of the line but it does great as far as I'm concerned.  I also got a macro lens to go with it.  But what I didn't get was a camera bag.  You really need a camera bag if you get a camera.  I just didn't want to spend a lot of money on one.  They can cost close to $100.  More than I wanted to spend.  So the best solution, make one.

I quilted the fabric and then made the bag.  I put a divider in it to keep the extra lens and camera seperate.  Then I made extra thick quilted padding to insert just to give the camera extra protection.  I had the perfect button to add for decoration.  The best part is, I didn't have to buy anything.  Everything was in my stash.

My Blogger's Quilt Festival Quilt

Thanks again, Amy, for bringing all of us quilters together to share our passion.  I love seeing what all the other quilters have been up to this past year and visit all the other blogs.
I decided to add this fun quilt to the festival this year!

I call it "Around the Neighborhood".   It was made from blocks from a swap I was in.  I asked for wonky houses with a white background and bright, happy fabrics.   Boy, did they come through for me!  After I put the blocks together, I found the perfect fabric for the backing. 

Now, I'm not too good with machine quilting, and I didn't want to take a chance with ruining it, so I hand quilted it with wavy, wonky quilting lines.  And I think it was the perfect solution.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Now, I'm off to look at all these other amazing quilts on here! 

                    Happy Quilting, Sandy

Amy, the Nurse Practioner

Our beautiful daughter, Amy, graduated from nurse practioner school on April 30th.

Look at that beautiful smile!

This girl is amazing.  She became an RN about seven years ago and has been working in the ER since.  She loves her job and was recently named nurse of the year in the ER department and is up for nurse of the year for the whole hospital.  We couldn't be more proud.  A few years after she graduated she decided to go back to school to get her bachelor's in nursing.  That was quite an accomplishment in itself.  Amy realized she wanted more, so about two years ago she started school to be a nurse practioner.  I guess she didn't have enough to keep her busy, because in the middle of all this she had another baby.  That makes four kids!  Wow!  She is amazing!  She has been working nights on the weekends, going to school and doing clinicals.  Add raising four kids to the mix and I just don't know how she has done it.  She is so determined.  So if I sound like I'm bragging, that's because I am!



Hand or Machine Quilted - Right or Wrong

I've been doing a lot of blog reading lately.  So many different opinions about quilting.  None right or wrong, just different.  Let it be known that I was quilting when quilting wasn't cool.  I love everything about it.  I consider myself a traditional quilter.  Most of my quilts are hand quilted.  I just think it brings more authenticity to the quilt.  Doesn't mean I don't admire the machine quilters and their quilts.  I have done some machine quilting myself.  But when I want the quilt to seem "special", or if I'm afraid I'll mess it up otherwise, I always hand quilt it.  And I am not your ordinary hand quilter.  I don't use a frame; I don't use a hoop and I don't use a thimble.  I baste my quilts on the floor with needle and thread.  I will usually thread five or six needles and go to town, basting about every six inches vertically and horizontally.  The basting is tight enough that the layers do not shift.  Then I  quilt it in my lap.  Doesn't matter what size the quilt is.  I have hand quilted anywhere from baby size to king size, all in my lap.  I've had many quilters tell me I wasn't doing it right.  But I think the finished product speaks for itself.  The largest quilt I ever made was my king size grandmother's flower garden quilt that covers my bed.  I made this one "wrong", too.  No paper piecing, I just hand stitched each hexie to within 1/4 inch of the end of the piece leaving enough of an opening so that the Y could open to accommodate the next interlocking hexie.  Every part of that quilt was completely hand sewn.  And I'm sure a lot of quilters would say I broke every rule in the quilting bible.  But I think it turned out amazing.  And apparently so did the quilters who grade quilts for the state fair, because it won a blue ribbon. 

I guess my point in all this rambling is to say, there is no right or wrong to quilting.  Whatever works for you. 

So if you get a chance, wander over to my flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/15989528@N06/  and take a look at some of the quilts I've made.  You will see a variety of them.  Some hand sewn and others machine sewn.  But each and everyone of them made me happy.

Happy Easter