Sewing: Baby Blessing Quilt

When my SIL (sister-in-law) was expecting our first niece, she had a special request...to have a baby blessing in place of a baby shower and make little one a quilt with messages of blessing from family and friends. I was asked to assemble the top and quilt it for her. This was the first quilt I made without a pattern and I really don't want to admit how many times I had to put it aside because I just wasn't happy with it. But I am so glad I pushed through and kept with it because I learned about how I create as well trusting my eye for design. So here is the step-by-step process:

At the baby blessing we laid out the fabric with special fabric pens and sample quotes and such. Everyone was invited to add their words of love for baby. (Note: If I do this again, I willl pre-cut the fabric. Some of my issues with assembly came from the varied sizes of the greetings.)

Once I came to terms with the varying sizes of the blocks, I was able to find a layout pattern that I thought would work. Next I found a color pattern that I felt flowed and showed the playfulness of the fabrics while remaining gentle for a little girl's nursery. Mom had requested lattice and I am really happy with this cute white fabric with little circles in it. I felt it was simple, playful and worked well with all of the colors from the fabrics (which mom had chosen).

Next I located a place I could purchase extra fabric in two colors I thought would accent the nursery colors (shades of purple, or so I have been told) to make the borders. Then I had the nerve wracking task of machine quilting which is something I am not comfortable with. I chose a simple stipple design and kept to the lattice. I think it turned out great...and I think Little Lady likes it too!

Goals

I have received some questions about how my goals are different this year and I apologize for not sharing more before. I have struggled to put into words this year's change because, honestly, on paper it looks the same. It is more of a shift in the way I am looking at them and thinking about them. In the past I had been very specific in documentation of each goal and the steps needed to attain them. How else would I know when or even if I ever met them?

For example:  I want to be healthier, so I want the scale to say this specific number. As the months go on, I can measure my success (or lack there of) quite literally. At the end of the year there is no debating as to whether or not I met my goal. However, I have found a whole lot more to being "healthier" than a number on the scale. I can improve my health and never reach the number I want...or I can reach that number and still be quite unhealthy. This year my goal is to have a specific, measurable goal for each month ('cause 30 days is easier than 365) like exercising at least 20 min or drinking 16 glasses of water every day, preparing for a 5k that month or activities with the kids.

Technically, this is the same goal, but the way I'm thinking about it has changed. Money, education, ministries...thinking more of the "spirit" rather than the "letter" of the goal. And while although my husband and I have always planned goals for the family together, this year my personal have overlapped more with the family goals which has involved my husband more in helping me and ultimately us meet them.
 

Sewing: Underground Railroad Quilt

The first square on this quilt was the first quilt square I had ever done. I thought I hated quilting and while I still find it extremely frustrating, I am glad I gave quilting another chance. Now sometimes have to put projects away for months at a time to come to terms with the piece because it is refusing to become what I envision for it, but if I give myself and my project time and a little freedom, I am happy with the final outcome.

 

This quilt is my favorite to date (of the four I have completed :) partially because of the history of the pattern, partially because of the fabrics I used, but mostly because this one is most me (the other three were gifts and therefore more reflective of the receiver).

The pattern is Underground Railroad Sampler by Eleanor Burns and shares the meanings behind the designs that fugitive slaves would have used when fleeing to freedom. I want to do more research on each square (great history lesson for the kiddos) and might share on a future post.

I chose the primary fabrics, Tattoo by Melissa Marie, because I loved the playful movement and, well, I know the artist so nothing more need be said. But as I worked with the stark black and white fabric on a quilt pattern that tells of the struggle of our young country to end slavery...the struggle of people with white skin and people with black skin learning to be a united country...it just seemed so perfect that I chose not to add any other colors.

This was the second machine quilting project I have completed and while although I can find many imperfections, I am excited to say I did it. I can not find a link for the fabric, it may be discontinued, but Melissa Marie has several other lines and I encourage you to explore them.

It now hangs on my wall, all finished! I love the challenge of each square, the contrast and movement, and the conversations it encourages.

Sewing: Duvet Adventure

As I looked for just the right bedding set for our master bedroom, I was discouraged to discover I have very expensive taste! In an attempt to get the look I wanted at a price I could afford, I looked up tutorials on pintucking (remember my tree skirt from 2012?) and kept my eyes open for the perfect fabric.

When I found a beautiful dusty blue fabric in the clearance pile for the curtains of the master suite (to accent the dark brown with cream and blue swirls) I bought up all they had, since I had a coupon and got it for next to nothing. After completing all the curtains, would you believe I had just enough left for a duvet cover and a couple of pillows?

It took me quite a while to get them all marked and sewn and then to get the backing sewn on just right, but now that it is done I absolutely love it!

I still haven't figured out a good way to secure it so the comforter doesn't move around, ties, buttons, velcro...so feel free to share your tips and tricks!

Happy New Year!!!

My goals this year look different then they have in the past. I am usually playing catch up on all I started and didn't finish and that seems to overshadow any larger goals. This year I am focusing on more long term, as in "if I want to be there in 5/10/20 years, where do I need to get this year?" I am excited to see how this change in thought process will play out and change throughout the year. I am also excited that my husband has been a big part of my goal setting this year...more family, less individual.

Have you set goals for this new year? How do you go about it? I would love to hear!