One of the benefits of being a Sower On Assignment (a long-term SOWER assignment that generally involves a specific task or job – as in, we’re here to do the A/C installation), is that we have a fair bit of flexibility. This is especially true right now as we are just ramping-up the project again, and we’re waiting for some key elements before we can really begin in earnest. So Gary can start his day as early as he chooses and he can work until he’s at a good stopping point. It also means that since we are a team, on the days that he doesn’t need my extra set of hands (and my excellent fetching skills) I get to enjoy a couple of “light-duty” days. This week he’s been getting started with the returns and supplies. I won’t go into all the fun we had deciding on the location of the holes (picture Gary in the rooms with the drill and me in crawlspace with the cobwebs…… ), but since most of his work this week has been in closets

he hasn’t needed me quite so much. I mean really, where would he even put me? I was called on today to do a bit of clean-up, since he does make a bit of a mess-

But with a little sweeping, a bit of vacuuming and a good damp cloth,

it wasn’t a very hard job to get things back to normal!
So what have I been doing during my ‘light-duty’ days? Well, in-between times that Gary does need me, I’ve been playing catch-up – with housework, work-work, and laundry. And when I felt like things were at least moderately under control, I pulled out the sewing machine!!! Yippee!
Have you ever visited the Craftsy webpage? It offers video classes on all types of crafts – quilting, knitting, spinning, weaving…whatever! I love that once you’ve purchased a class you get to take it at your own pace and it’s available (in its entirety) forever. I started a Block of the Month class back in January 2012 (which was free – and still available. Just sayin’) and I was anxious to get back to it. I have the blocks made, and I’m machine quilting them using a quilt-as-you-go technique (another Craftsy class, geared to the BOM quilt) and as of today, I have six of the twenty done!

Except for the border fabric, I’ve only used fabric from my ‘stash’, so that’s why it has a somewhat eclectic feel!
I’ll keep plugging away at it -

and see how far I get before my ‘light-duty’ days are gone!
I also might get a bit distracted because I have another quilt I need to get working on. And that would be a baby quilt!  I’m excited to share the wonderful news that Toby and Tammy are expecting a baby in September!  This little one will join 4 very excited siblings who can’t wait to meet their little brother/sister (we can’t either!).
That house is getting pretty full – it’s a good thing we usually bring our own bedroom!

Better get some good rest tonight – I think Gary said something about “back in the crawlspace” for tomorrow. Gulp. Guess the quilting will have to wait!

Last month I did a post about my Christmas sewing. One of my “production” pieces this past Christmas was a little purse that was just the right size for your phone, a wallet and maybe sunglasses. This is the one that I carry all the time.

The grandgirls also discovered that they were just the right size for their Kindle Readers that had also just arrived at Christmas. A couple of folks have asked about the pattern that I used so just in case there are more curious “sewists” out there here you go -
It’s an an Atkinson Design Tag Along Tote (ATK-143). It’s not a new pattern (2008?), but you could probably still get it through your local quilt shop. And I know you can get it through Amazon.

I also found directions (from the Atkinson Designs webpage) for adding an interior pocket, which in hindsight would have been a great addition. Maybe on the next one! Check it out HERE!

Happy Sewing!

Earlier this week I was blessed to connect with three of my quilting buddies from my ‘previous lifetime’.

These ladies saw me through that first night of – “you’ll never believe what Gary says we’re going to do when the kids are out of college” discussion right up to the final prayer circle just days before we set out on this great adventure! And while I can’t say we’ve been in constant contact (though a couple of them are some of my most faithful blog followers!) over these last 8 years, there has never been a time that I didn’t think I could call any one of them and we would be right back in our Monday Night Quilter scenario. They are those kinds of friends – however long it’s been, you just pick right up and GO! And that’s how our rather chaotic speaker phone call was – full of laughter and listening, sharing and caring, and hugs through the phone. It was a wonderful reminder of how dear these friends are to me!
In honor of them – and because they asked about it – today’s post will be full of my Christmas sewing projects. No grand landscapes or travel tales today – it’s all about the fabric!
OK – Here goes!
1st up – Maddie’s Quilt.
Over the years, I’ve made quilts for each of the grand-girls when they moved into twin beds. Maddie was turning 5 this year, so to say I was a little behind schedule is putting it mildly! Get with it, Grams! Since Maddie and Hayley share a room, I wanted it to be similar so I stuck with the same pattern (Yellow Brick Road for you quilt geeks out there!) and just changed up the colors -
Here’s Hayley’s quilt from 2007-

And here’s Maddie’s -

Since the pattern was pretty straightforward, I had a good time practicing on some of my machine quilting skills -

 

 

 

 

I was very pleased that I got it done in time for her birthday – and here she is (almost blending in!)

Since it was so similar to Hayley’s quilt I decided to spruce up the back a bit, using some of the leftover blocks.

And of course, what’s a new quilt without a pillow to match!

 
OK – On to Christmas!
This year it was all about purses! I discovered a sweet little pattern that works great for carrying the bare essentials – like your cell phone and a wallet. Each of the grandgirls asked for one, and so did one of my sisters, so it was a no brainer!

  

 
Turns out it’s also the perfect size for their new Kindles, too!

For the other sister I went BIG -


(please ignore the very lived in look of my bedroom! :/)
I also made some of these gift card holders (or business card or credit card holders) which turned out pretty fun!

 Of course, the two grand-boys needed some homemade goodness, so when I spotted this “Quiet Book” idea on line, I couldn’t resist. They turned out a little bigger than I expected, but all it all I think the boys liked it OK. Now if Mom and Dad can keep them from eating the chalk!

 
Ok, we’re almost through….
Last but not least, I made the Ohio Conrads Christmas stockings!

These were fun to put together and I was delighted to find a little shop in Waco that took care of the embroidery! They seemed to be a big hit out in Columbus, too!

(Noah thought they should be worn – and I’m sure was wondering where the mate was!)
I even had enough leftover stocking fabric (that was already pieced together) to make some simple gift tags/tree ornaments!

So that’s about it for Christmas 2012. While I had the machine out (and pretty much took over the only table in the house!), I also took care of some other long overdue sewing tasks here too.
Like making new covers for some of our favorite pillows -
Before -

After -

Yes, while Gary was out being Mr. Handyman, I managed to keep myself busy!

One more thing – for the quilting girls, mostly – but also to give equal time to all the grandkids – here’s a favorite shot of our little Weston -

and one with his folks-

So that about wraps up the show and tell – both of sewing projects and more importantly, the grands. We’re getting settled here in Edinburg, TX at Camp Loma De Vida, and we’ll be starting work on Monday morning. Hopefully by then the drizzly rain will have stopped and the temperatures will be out of the 40′s!!!! Brrrrrrr….

Family, friends, baby showers, haircuts, banking, more friends and more hugs – that’s what this past weekend was all about! We were back in the old neighborhood for three days, and we managed to cram those days full to overflowing! I wish I could say I whipped my camera out at every opportunity, but I confess I was too busy catching up with friends to get too involved with documenting the activities! But here are a couple -
First of all – my dear Birthday Buddies -

The three of us have gathered during our birthday month (November) for the last umpteen years (we really couldn’t figure out how long it’s been!). Now that I’m on the road, any time I’m in town is a Birthday month for us – so, (not that I really want to hurry it) Happy Birthday to Connie and Bonnie and me – it was such a precious time of sharing and praying with you, dear friends!
And then there was the Baby Shower for my DIL, Abigail.

Again, being on the road has pretty much eliminated my ability to attend any showers for my grandbabies (except for Ellie who was born before we set out). Imagine my delight to be able to share in the celebration of a shower for my newest grandbaby (a boy!) due in early July. And as a bonus, Gary got to spend the afternoon with Josiah. A good afternoon for everyone!
Quick Quilt aside – here’s a close-up of this fun black and white quilt I made for Baby C.

My buddy Lynne made a couple of these for her grandsons, and I loved the idea! I found a little bit of color for the front -

and then lots of color for the back!

I sure hope the little guy likes it!
But along with the blessing of going to the baby shower and getting to see our kids, we also got to spend time with our good friends, Joe and Janet. They housed us and fed us and didn’t mind when we kept taking off to see folks and go places. They are the best! No picture, of course. But here’s one of their backyard –

They have some really beautiful gardens (not to mention a killer veggie garden that is behind that fence!), filled with all kinds of flowers -



But one thing I was reminded of especially this visit was that beautiful yards and gardens like this take a ton of work.
And a ton of mulch!

(That’s Lily heading to the patio, but the pile of mulch in the background is what was still waiting to be spread.)
I sure do love looking at that yard, but I sure am glad I have none of my own!
It really was a Five Star weekend. Besides the shower and the Birthday Buddy Bash, I got to play cards with dear friends, enjoy a Starbucks with a buddy, stop by my old job and enjoy a great lunch (and company) in downtown D-town, have my hair cut by the girl who cut my hair for twenty years before we left town (instead of a random person at Cuts-R-Us), worship at our old church and generally collect hugs. Lots and lots of hugs. Loved, loved, loved it. (Gary had fun too, but let’s face it, the weekend was more fun for me than him. He cheerfully played chauffeur and even managed to get the tires rotated. See, he had fun too!)

We’re back in Egg Harbor City for couple of days. Two more days of work and then Thursday we head to New Hampshire. We’ll be dropping the rig off at our June project – Pilgrim Pines Camp - and then heading to The Cabin for the week between projects.

I can almost smell the wood smoke now…….

Did you have a good Christmas? For the first time in several years, we actually woke up Christmas morning in the home of one of our children. Last year, as I recall, we spent the day in a Walmart parking lot. The year before we were hanging out with SOWER friends while we bided our time waiting for our New Years trip to Columbus (and our official Family Christmas ). So this year, though quiet, was still very special. Cinnamon buns, coffee, a couple of presents, family. All the good stuff!

Oh, and let’s not forget the other members of the Waco Family!
Later in the day friends of Lara’s brought us dinner, and we actually managed to clear off the dining room table. And along with dinner, they also brought their precious almost 3 year old, Henry.

While it wasn’t quite the same as having my own grandchildren clustered around, it did my heart good. (And in the spirit of this new technology age – we’re totally engrossed in an iPad.)

It was a quiet year also in the Christmas Craft department. I was still determined to “use what I had” in the fabric department, so I decided to see if I could make my sisters each a nap size quilt made from my stash.


Except for the fleece backing, I was able to make them both from leftovers. It’s a good thing I have sisters that are willing to help out with reducing the fabric weight in Lizzie!
And while I was pretty focused on getting the grandkids practical things for Christmas (like winter boots and gift cards for diapers), before we left for Waco, I came across some leftover squares from a quilt I made for Hayley several years ago that I thought might work for some cute little girl purses.
And they did!


I’ve been told they were quite a hit!

OK, the natives are getting restless here so I guess I’d better join the “party” in the kitchen!
More up-dates on that front soon!