'S All About Mini Quilts

So, you may be wondering, what's the S for?


It was the letter I was assigned in the "Alphabet Mania" Swap Til You Drop mini-quilt swap this month and, in this case, it stands for
scissors...spool...sewing supplies...sewing machine...

alphabet paper scraps and stickers.


And I sent it all to Andrea (quiltedoma). Andrea also participates in "itty bitty book pages swaps" so I thought it would be fun to send the scraps and stickers, too.

Andrea is currently working on an intriguing "C" quilt for me. Hmmm, any ideas? When it arrives, I'll share it with you. She is an amazing quilter so I know it's gonna be good!

* * * * * * * * * * *

Next, please meet Miss Gnomlette!


I used a paper pieced quilt block pattern by Sonja (Artisania), another brilliant quilter!

I have been in awe of Sonja's paper piecing in our Sew Connected 2 quilting bee group and was super excited when she recently started Artisania Patterns Quilt Gallery. It is where her patterns are posted and links to tutorials can be found...and you can also see photos of quilt blocks and mini quilts that have been made using the patterns.

Sonja is so fun and encouraging too...she even wrote about my little gnomlette on her blog. How sweet is that! (Thanks, Sonja!)

Marilyn

Roses, Beautiful Roses

"The roses had the look of flowers that are looked at."
~ [T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), American poet.] ~


I saw these roses late last week and just had to photograph them...aren't the colors beautiful!


And more roses from Karla (Karla's Cottage)...


Karla has a giveaway on her blog every month and drew my name from all of the comments made in April. She sent me a lovely charm with a handpainted rose (by Karla) on it. I've been wearing it on a chain and just love the dainty sweetness of it! Thank you, Karla!

Marilyn

Tiny Dancer (Living Your Dreams)

I think it's safe to say that, in the lives of our four adult children, there are places they can all point to and say they've realized some of their earliest dreams. Friday night, we again had the pleasure of watching Second Daughter do what she loves--d a n c e !


Like so many young girls, she started dance lessons when she was six years old. And like many of her friends, she continued dance lessons all the way through her senior year of high school. Then she went away to college and there was a dance studio in town and, well, why not, it would be a good stress release and exercise. Before too long, dance student also became dance teacher.


She continued her college studies, graduated with a degree in textile & apparel management...and, you guessed it, she's still d a n c i n g ! She teaches dance at two studios, coaches a high school dance team, instructs aerobics at a local gym and works at a dance apparel store. That's right, five jobs to pay the bills...but also the satisfaction of doing what she loves!

Oh, and there's also the dance classes she takes to keep the teaching fresh. That's where we get to share in the love...dance lessons = dance recitals...it was our 21st year Friday night:) Who would have ever guessed!

D R E A M . . .


Marilyn

Weekend Pleasures

Really, where does the time go? Not the "where does the time go?" and a shake of the head when you see how much someone's child has grown...but the "how-did-I-JUST-post-last-Wednesday-and-now-it's-this-Wednesday-where-does-the-time-go?"!

Answers? Anyone? And don't give me that "the older you get...blah, blah, blah".

Anyway, weekend pleasures (last weekend, not this coming up weekend, yet)...

Actually, I could stop with this picture of Grandpa (Rick) holding Cole--it just doesn't get any better!

Hi, cutie!
The weather in Kansas City last weekend was gorgeous--perfect spring days--so nice to be out and about!

I did manage to do some sewing. These blocks are for Tine in the Sew Connected 2 quilting bee group.

I loved working with her fabrics. The colors were so inspiring.


While I was sewing Tine's blocks, I got to thinking about the blocks I've received so far. I hadn't laid them out altogether yet and was anxious to see what it would look like.


I love it already! Everyone is making such beautiful blocks with my fabric...more to come...yippee!

Marilyn

Procrastination; Uncertainty...sometimes it works!

I've cut back the pampas grass in the front yard this spring but I've been slow at getting to it in the backyard.


Then just about the time I decided it was time to get at it, these flowers started blooming. I thought the pampas grass made a nice background and gave the flowers a different look this year, so I've left it alone for now.


Plus, the procrastination has given me more time in the craft room!


My last two trips to quilt shops, I've surprised myself by buying some novelty print fat quarters. I usually stay away from novelties because I don't really know what to do with them--and I didn't have plans for these, but I thought they were fun.


Then one night while I was browsing Flickr, I came across some great quilted placemats and I immediately thought of my recently purchased fat quarters! Of course...placemats!


(18½" x 12½")


(18½" x 12½")

OR, since they are basically a mini quilt, they could also be hung on a wall for a bit of whimsy:)

They were a lot of fun to sew and I think I'll probably be making more of them.

(I've listed both mini-quilts/placemats in my Etsy shop.)

Marilyn

Happy Mother's Day

This is one of the cards I got for Mother's Day...lol!


I had the most lovely day and hope that you did too!

Marilyn

The Very Best Kind of Mail!

Look what I received today!

(17" x 22")

A darling little quilt from Jessica for Doll Quilt Swap 6. I love the fun color combination--orange and aqua and purple!


And those sweet babies in the larger doll's arms--could it be any more perfect to arrive the day before Mother's Day. Don't you love their embroidered faces?


Jessica also sent some really nice extra goodies...a lovely decorated jar filled with lavender and painted clothes pins (perfect for hanging doll quilts), two packages of crocheted applique's, teddy bear buttons and some of the fabric she used in her quilt.

Thank you for everything, Jessica...I love it all!

Marilyn

Mini Moopy

Sometime recently, I ran across this pattern for a Mini Moopy. I think they're so cute and wanted to make one for Cole.


I think he likes it, don't you?

There is a Mini Moopy Flickr group of course :-) and it's really fun to see so many different looks depending on the fabric choices and added details, etc.

Happy sewing!

Marilyn

He's Here!

Our first grandchild!
A boy, Cole, born Tuesday, 5 May 2009 at 9:45pm
8 lbs. 4 oz. ~ 20.5 inches long
SWEET and ADORABLE!!!

Marilyn

Swap Til You Drop ~ April

I received the most beautiful mini quilt from Sandi in Wisconsin on Saturday! We were swap partners for April's Swap Til You Drop "Spring Flowers" mini's.

(10.5" x 15")
I LOVE it! Sandi did some incredible paper piecing for this one...even into the border, so cool!!!


The fabric she used on the back is really pretty. Rick likes it a lot too--I may have to look for some to do something with for church.


And look at all of the extra goodies she sent..three pieces of great fabric, a really fun keychain and one of my favorite candies, Neccos, which I've finished off already:)


This is what I sent to Sandi...I wish the photo was better but I took it at night and we all know how those usually turn out! Anyway, Sandi loves it and I'm very happy about that:)

(16" x 16")
When I finished Sandi's mini quilt, I had leftover pieces of fabric and some small half square triangles that I played around with and turned into this quilted notepad. I made the notepad part with graph paper thinking she could also use it to sketch quilt patterns, in addition to making other notes.


This was such a fun swap, so much fun that I'm already signed up for the May swap. The theme for that one is "Alphabet Mania" and my assigned letter is "S". I've got some ideas...let's see what happens!

Marilyn

May Day Smiles

At craft day last week, Shawn and Bethany worked on May Day Baskets for Bethany's teachers. This is where I wish I had taken some pictures--the baskets were adorable, all bright and cheery.


However, I can share with you this picture of some of the flowers. Bethany is quite the little crafter and is very generous with her creations on craft days and I was delighted to receive a bouquet of her sweet flowers! They're such a lovely addition to my craft room and they make me S*M*I*L*E!!!

Do you remember May Day baskets when you were growing up? What a fun tradition. My favorite memories of May Day baskets are from the days when my daughters were little and would hang a basket on our doorknob, ring the doorbell and then quickly hide so I wouldn't know it was from them! Aawwhhh, I'm *s*m*i*l*i*n*g* again :-)

Wishing you a Happy May Day!