It's a Baby Quilt

I am so excited! I have been working on a quilt this past week and I have just finished the top. I love baby quilts because the are small enough that they can be completed in a short amount of time. Now I am considering piecing the back also and embroidering the baby's name Rylee in one of the center squares on the front. I designed this quilt on EQ5 (a handy dandy computer program just for that).
  The best part about this is that, I didn't have to buy one piece of material for it. It is all scrap pieces left over from other quilts that I have made in the past. My husband challenged me to only make quilts out of the fabric that I have. So I accepted the challenge and decided that this was the best way to do things. It saves me money and it was the way my Grandma would have done it. Well, she would have used old clothes too. And I do have some of those that I will cut up later to make a truly scrappy quilt. Mostly old jeans.
  Any way just had to share! Hope you all like it as much as I do!
 Blessings to All ~ S
  The Quilted YaYa

YaY!

   I finished all of the mending that I had to do except for one skirt. I will finish that one this week. Then I can work on my new quilt top without guilt. Not that I don't already have projects sitting in the wings. I have five squares of a sunbonnet sue quilt finished, and seven more to go. I have a beautiful cross stitch started for my daughter. This one will take  a while since it is very intricate. I have a quilt top mended and ready to put in the hoop to be hand quilted. The top was one of a handful of tops made many years ago and found in my sweet Husband's Grandmothers belongings. And also several pieces cut out for a baby quilt that I need to finish by June. I also have several hats that I have crocheted to be either sold or given out to people. At least they are all finished except the giving away part.
   It can all be overwhelming to have so many projects started. Some will get finished, others will sit in boxes or bags as UFO's (UnFinished Objects). Sometimes I just lose interest and sometimes I lose my thought train. Where I wanted to go with the quilt.
   For now it is time to get back at the sewing machine and tackle the things that have to be done. Then I can get creative again. Blessings to All ~ S
                          The Quilted YaYa

Work, Work, Work!

     Have you ever noticed that when there is something to be done and the something you have to do is not your favorite thing, it seems like work! It may not be hard, it's just not something you want to do or like to do.
    For instance... I told someone that I love very much that I would alter some clothes for them. I don't mind taking up a hem or two, or mending a seam, but these clothes all had tapered ends. That means cutting them off so that you don't end up with puckered material at the top of the hem. To roll it up would mean too much material and a heavy seam. I finally went down to my sewing area yesterday and worked on the ones that were really simple. That left just four items that I may have to fight with. Why do I dread doing this? It's a labor of love right? It feels like major work!
    The biggest problem that I have is when something like this is in front of me... I will avoid the sewing area all together. I have had a box of patches that I cut out for a quilt top ready for over a month now and knowing that I had these alterations to do I have avoided the sewing area all together. I have a hard time justifying the quilt work when the other sewing needs to be done. I'd just rather be quilting. Maybe it's the creating thing that I like the most. I don't seem to mind doing simple patterns and making clothes. But I'm not a great seamstress, so the pattern needs to be really simple.
      Well, I guess I've put off going down again. Sitting here writing on the blog instead of facing what needs to be done. I'm off to sew up some clothes and get them out of the way so that I can work on my new quilt top guilt free.
    Blessing to you all ~ S
    The Quilted YaYa

Touching Lives

   Earlier this week a lady that I don't even know passed away. She was a very young 36 year old with young children and a husband. She touched my life and she didn't even know me.
   The way that she touched my life is through my sweet neighbors. This sweet Christian woman threw her stone in the lake of life and started a ripple effect that will probably go on for many generations to come. I heard my neighbors speak of her so often that I felt like I knew her. The encouragement that she gave to them was passed on to us and others around us. I have watched them grieve this week and their loss has broke my heart. I find myself crying for them and for this young Mama's children and husband. Her legacy of Love for Christ, family and friends will stay with us all in a very tangible way.
     If you don't think that what you do for one person will make a difference, think again. What you do will forever touch a life. Good or bad, positive or negative. Be careful how you react to things. Yes, I know that it is easier said than done. But I think I will try even harder now to be more positive and more encouraging. When I am gone I hope that I have made an impact on others for Christ as this young Wife and Mama has done.
   Blessings to all~ The Quilted YaYa

Goodbye - Hello

   Good bye to 2010. So many things happened in 2010. Good things, sad things, joyful things. Our family has been busier than we've ever been. God has shown me so much, shaped me and molded me more to His will. Some of it has hurt as He has smoothed out some of the rough edges. He has shown me how He has worked and is working in the lives of my beautiful children. He has given me encouragement through beautiful and precious friends and my wonderful church family.  He has opened doors to areas of my life and shown me some things that I didn't know about my family and myself.
   Things that I was thankful for in 2010...

• God is in control. 
• God's word is so full of surprises.
• Kelly made it through cosmetology school.
•  I have been blessed with a wonderful family. 
• My Church family. 
• We had food on the table and in the pantry.
• Clean clothes
• Homeschooling
• Snow on Christmas day! First time ever since I've been in Alabama
• All of our bills were paid on time. 
• Dear friends that help me with algebra, trig, and science.
• Our health.
• Salvation
• Love

   These are just a few of the things. There is so much more, but then this post would be way too long. So with that said this is what I pray for 2011.
    That my family and I will have a hunger and thirst for our Saviour. That our hearts will be open and teachable. That He will give us the wisdom and strength that we need for each day. That He will bless my sweet Husband as he leads our family. I pray that our family will shine with His light and that we will bless others as He has blessed us. I pray also that He will place His hand on each of my children and that they will stay strong and pure for Him. In the name of our Saviour Jesus, Amen