Some cook, I sew and write: creativity brings joy

I've been busy for the last couple of days and I'm going to show you the results of my labors because I'm so stinking excited to have pieced, backed, quilted, bound, and made a hanging sleeve for one of my quilt tops.  FINALLY! My husband has been giving me a hard time about all these works in progress (WIP), and I finally decided to select one that I could finish the most quickly.  So . . . drumroll please . . .  The Advent calendar!!! In the process, I learned to do a bunch of things in the process so I'm super glad I chose a small project to learn on! First, the quilting: I copied the quilting from Jenny Doane from MSQC  because it looked simple.   It was.  It took a little bit of time, but it was simple and easy. Then the binding: First I cut 2 1/2" strips from leftover fabric I had.  I only needed 4 strips.  In the end, I think I only used 3 strips.  Then I pinned two strips right-sides...

Yesterday's blog post was so lengthy that I didn't want to add one more thing, but that one thing was the last block before catching up to the Minecraft sew along. Enter this freaky dude : My husband plays hardcore, which means that you can be destroyed and the world you create as well in a single stroke of bad luck.  I guess the other way gives you multiple chances and maybe doesn't destroy the world you made?  My kids and my husband have enjoyed this game through the years although my husband is the only one who prefers the chanciness of the hardcore game.  My kids would interact with each others' worlds when they played although they tried not to mess each others' games up. Jim, my husband, tells me that you know when Enderman comes into play because the music (if you can call it that) sounds like nails on a blackboard.  Really pleasant, NOT!  So sinister dude, he is. Today is the day for the squid and it's already up at Seriously I think it needs ...

I have been working hard all week to get these blocks done and catch up to Kelli over at Seriously I think it needs stitches and I've wondered if I would ever get these done.  Have you ever had times that you simply felt overwhelmed and it takes everything you've got just to kick it in gear? Yeah?  That's been my week this past week.  Sometimes it was 10:00 at night before I finally got to it.  I can't say I've gotten an exceptional amount of work done--my yard work still needs to be done for example.  We've had a lot of wind this past winter, and a bunch of trees came down in our wooded area so that is a MESS!  The weather was nice so I kept thinking I should get out there, but I didn't.  New week now, right?  Our lawn mower died at the end of last summer too so we need to buy a new one, but you got it--that hasn't happened either. I've just felt overwhelmed these last few weeks.  I have twin sons, and both have left home for 2-year mi...

I'm still struggling with the scant 1/4" seam.  I think maybe I'm starting to get it, but I don't have it every time.  That makes the pieces not line up exactly, but I'm getting closer I think. Pig: Villager: He kind of reminds me of Bert of Sesame Street fame!  However, I'm out of the fat quarter for skin tone now so I'm wondering if I just need to switch to the next color closest to skin tone or what.  My villager is paler than Kelli's. Speaking of Seriously I think it needs stitches , Kelli has created this pattern : I'm thinking of my missionary son Steven in the California Fresno Mission.  Change the bike color to lime green and eliminate the basket of flowers, and I'd have his bike.  (Sorry, I couldn't find one with him riding it!) Here's a better one with him on the bike although it's still dark at night!  Dark suit, dark night--not much detail to be had!

Tonight I got two more Minecraft character skins finished.  (Aren't you impressed? Kelli at Seriously I think it needs stitches taught me that these are skins.) Skeletor: Alex:  (Who is this character anyway?) I made the modifications to Alex that Kelli noted at Seriously I think it needs stitches.  The pale pink mouth is really pale!  I'd probably step it up a shade next time.

I am including this little parable because I've been thinking about it as it pertains to my children and their experiences as well as my own.  While it isn't gospel, I believe it is wisdom.  I have copied it from Carol Tuttle's book, Remembering Wholeness . ------------------------------------ The following is a parable excerpted from Conversations with god: An Uncommon Dialogue; Book 3 , that helps us understand how we can truly love those we have perceived as our enemies. [God talking]   “You may choose to be any part of God you wish to be,” I said to the Little Soul.   “You are Absolute Divinity, experiencing Itself.   What Aspect of Divinity do you now wish to experience as You?”                   “You mean I have a choice?” asked the Little Soul.   And I answered, “Yes.   You may choose to experience any Aspect of Divinity in, as, and through you...

So this was a fun (and easy) block to make: Hello, Creeper! The cow was also fun to see take shape!

After finally getting all the pieces cut and laid out for the first Minecraft block , I made the Advent calendar. Yesterday, I put Steve together! Meet Steve!

I did it!  I completed another quilt top.  This one is a Christmas Advent wall hanging.  I totally love this idea.  I got the inspiration and direction from Missouri Star Quilt Company at  https://youtu.be/15Cblb8J6i0 . Here is mine: I really like this idea.  This is made with one-seam flying geese and the upper edges of the triangles are open for suggestions for activities.  Missouri Star included a .pdf file for an Advent calendar.  The next picture shows a few of the cards sticking out of the pockets: Up close: I've thought about doing something like this with inexpensive date ideas for newlyweds, activities for what to do when bored, and so on.  I really like the idea of doing a spring-themed one with activities.  When I was homeschooling, I could have put assignments in each pocket and had a strip for each child. It is nice to finish something! Okay, so I still have to get the batting, then put the back on,...

Here's the floating square quilt.  I still need to put a border on this, and then the top will be totally finished.  I wanted to show it now though! And I also ripped off the top of a sheet (that was already torn) and re-hemmed it and put a decorative edging on it because the sheet is perfectly good other than that top.  Sometimes I think my alter-ego was born during the Depression era!  You know, the use it up, make it do, wear it out era.

I just sent my second son off on a 2-year mission for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He will be serving in the Portland, Oregon, area after spending 3 weeks on a crash course at the Missionary Training Center learning how to contact and teach people the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He gets one more week than his twin brother did about 5 months ago!  It was so hard to come into our house after dropping him off at the MTC.  Usually if I went out early in the morning, my son James would meet me at the garage door into the house.  (Actually, if he was home, he would always meet me at the door if he heard the garage door go up.)  Then he would take off for the farm.  I will really miss him.  Watching him walk away from us at the airport felt like I was watching a huge portion of my life leave.  He and his brother are two of the brightest jewels in my life that I could ever hope to have.  At least I have my daughter...

Last week (or maybe the week before that), I cut out a bunch of squares for a Floating Squares crib quilt.  Here is a link for the tutorial:   http://land.missouriquiltco.com/floating-squares/ .    I thought it would look so cute with these charms .  I admit that I may have fallen in love with the charm on the front!  It didn't hurt that the charm pack was on their daily deals list.  Yeah, that list is pretty much my downfall! However, I wanted a colored background so I crossed my fingers and chose some fabric yardage online (I think it was 1 3/4 yards).  It turned out to be a little stronger of a color than I wanted, but I think it still looks good. The cutting turned out to be the longest part of the whole process so far.  Here are the steps: 1.  Separate 30 charm squares.  I took out the reds and oranges because they seemed a little strong for the violet-pink.  These 30 charms (5"x5") will remain in a whole piece. ...