the kitchen stool

I forgot to take 'before' pictures,

but the entire stool

looked like the seat - covered in paint and putty

(and falling apart)

I planned on painting it

(of course ;-)

but once I went after it with steel wool,

it became a challenge to not have to paint it.

I probably spent a total of 2-3 hours cleaning it up

and was so pleased 

that I even managed to get the plastic step paint-free!

I had quite a time

figuring out what to cover the seat with.

I decided I should go with something I love,

seeing as the stool

will be hanging around the kitchen all day - every day.

There's no fabric I love more

than California Dreamin'

so I dug out my beloved stash

and pulled my 3 favorites.

The one that looked best with the black step 

won.

The only problem 

was 

dirt.

I didn't want my precious fabric getting dirty,

and let me tell you,

we can get white nasty

fast.

I remembered reading once about making floor cloths

by coating canvas with floor finish.

It just so happens

that I use floor finish

as the topcoat on my furniture....

So

I put several coats on,

and then a few more, for good measure.

And now we have a waterproof

and wipe-able

California Dreamin' kitchen stool!

which also doubles as a piano....

covered in love and prayers

I know she loves Jesus.

I know this,

because I've seen it with my own eyes.

For almost 12 years, our family has served with Connie (and others) in 'apartment ministry'.

And I have watched her love His children.

A few weeks ago, Connie was diagnosed with cancer.

I thought, "I should make her a quilt".

Then I dismissed the thought, because it seemed rather cliche.

Last Thursday,

while the rest of the team was at Timberline Apartments,

Connie got her port.

I thought again, "I should make her a quilt."

Again, I dismissed the notion.

this makes me think of zebra strip gum

A few days later, I just happened to read something that mentioned why people are cold when they undergo chemo.

I started thinking again...

Wednesday afternoon, I did a little research,

trying to determine what size quilt I should make, should I , you know, decide to make one.

And I sat at my computer choking back tears.

I had to get up and do something else, then went back later and researched some more.

My heart just broke for Connie.

I know God has everything in control, and I'm not worried about her,

but I don't want her to have to go through this.

And being that I have this houseful of (germ-y) kids, there isn't a lot I can do for her.

I decided I was definitely making my friend a quilt!

I texted Lynnet and said, now is when one needs a fabric stash...

She sweetly offered to let me have shop her stash. I told her I needed to get the current quilt (!) off the design wall before I could do anything, then I'd see what I might have, so I'd know what I'd still need.

That evening, I messaged a mutual friend to ask when Connie would begin treatment.

I knew I'd want the quilt to have lots of white for Bible verses, 

so I quickly settled on Amanda Jean's zigzag pattern (but made it a bit bigger, and changed up the size of my zags)

I wanted the quilt to be cheery, and you know there is no fabric cheerier to me than California Dreamin',

which, I just happen to have in my meager stash.

I also just happened to have 2 1/2 inch strips of Kona white - already cut.

I pulled out 7 Cali Dreamin fabrics, and grabbed a few more coordinating fabrics

that I 'happened' to order when I found them on clearance when I ordered Matsuri this summer.

I should interject here that the entire time I worked on this quilt, I felt like God was blessing my work,

which confirmed to me that it was right that I should make this quilt.

Wednesday night, after the house was in bed, I cut two 3 1/2 in strips of each print,

and noonish Thursday,

I started sewing.

Oh. I also got a message back from Mary - Connie would begin treatment Tuesday. 

which meant, if I was going to give her the quilt before her first dose of chemo,

I'd need to finish it by Monday afternoon!

Brandon and Tyler were huge helps, fixing meals and doing extra picking up,

so that I could sew.

Tyler asked how long it would take me to hand-quilt the verses.

I looked at him as if he had lost his mind.

I sweetly told him that just wasn't an option.

He said it was too bad. He really liked the pink stitches on Lily's quilt.

So I thought, "Well. Maybe I can do a little hand quilting.... 

I wanted to use a vintage sheet from my collection for the back, but nothing was just right.

(or even close to just right...)

I held a not-at-all-suitable daisy sheet up and asked Tyler what he thought.

He noted that I was asking him for more input than usual.

He suspected maybe it was because I was trying to rush, and maybe even skimp in the rushing.

And that I was only asking because I already knew the answer...

He demanded very lovingly suggested that I should create a back with my 'signature pop'.

 I free motion quilted the verses with the quilt top basted to the batting, but not the back. 

After I added all the colons by hand (french knots) I taped everything to the floor again,

and spray basted the back to the partially quilted front.

Then I used my walking foot and did miles and miles of straight line quilting - in zig zags -

in dark pink, orange, yellow, and pink thread.

I hand-quilted the one row I'd planned to hand quilt,

and liked it so much, I added two more rows of hand-quilting

before adding the binding.

I did finish it on time,

even though sewing the binding on took an inordinately long time.

After finishing, though, I decided not to barge in on her last evening before treatment,

and will get it to her very soon.

I hope that, whether she takes it with her to her treatments or not,

this quilt brings warmth and comfort, 

to both her body and her spirit.

I asked if there were specific things I should be praying,

and the reply was, "Connie asked us to pray for the salvation of her doctors."

Which is perfectly typical Connie.

BOD, Inside Out

I'm not sure if that's a thing or not.

I may have made it up....

But,

In the quilting world

BOM

stands for block of the month,

so I figure BOD

should be block of the day.

Yesterday morning,

worn out from a very long week of going 

and doing

and being around loads of people,

I gave myself permission to chill.

I was just about finished with my coffee

when I read Amanda Jean's Friday post.

I told myself I could click on one link, 

and then I needed to get moving.

(A day off for a momma isn't really a day OFF,

so much as a day of less...)

Well.

That one link I clicked on 

was "Carla @ Creatin' in the Sticks 30 blocks"

Turns out,

the '30 blocks'

was a quilt a long!

30 (super easy) blocks 

in 30 days.

I thought,

I can set up a sewing space!

I can do this!

I'm going to do this!!

I dug around in my tub of vintage sheets

and found one to use for a backing

and then I went to the old house

and pulled 30 fabrics to go with it.

I found a piece of another vintage sheet

to use as my background

(sorta - more on that in a minute)

And the perfect fabric for binding

(California Dreamin' ~squeal~)

I have never been so giddy with a fabric pull before!

Okay;

maybe I have.

But I was pretty happy!

I laid it on the floor to take a picture

then set it on the tv cabinet thing

and every time I passed it,

I smiled.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

I was a little worried about how much background fabric 

I had

(or rather, didn't have)

so I did some basic math,

calculating how many square inches I had

and how many were listed in the fabric requirements.

Turns out I was right.

I didn't have enough.

But I did have enough square inches 

of the background polka dots

to use as the main fabric

if I were doing a 2 fabric quilt,

so I decided I'd make my blocks

inside out.

I cleared a path

and a 3x5 ft space in the library,

and swept the floor.

I brought in our folding camp table

and wiped if off.

I found a chicken work light in the attic

and hung it 

from the hinge of an uninstalled door.

Josiah helped me bring over my machine

and cutting tools,

the daylight lamp,

the little TV tray pressing board,

and my tiny iron.

I excitedly set my fabric stack

next to the newly assigned 'ruler bin'.

I thought about 

how I had planned to sew with leaders and enders

this year

and ran back over to the house to get the box of fabric

I'd set aside for my first L&E project

and set it on the table next the the lamp.

I grabbed a piece of leftover carpet pad

just the right size for standing on while I press and cut

and dropped it on the (sub)floor.

And then 

I cooked dinner.

Real life, People.

After everyone went to bed,

I cut fabric.

And when I got up this morning,

I sewed!

For the first time in over 9 weeks.

😊😊😊

It's not going to be a masterpiece,

but it'll sure be fun!

(I got a little carried away

sewing my leaders/enders

and sewed up all that I'd cut.

So I cut 5 more blocks worth.

And then I sewed those up too)

debut of a quilt

I figure I spent about 15 1/2 lovely hours

and about 1/2 not-so-lovely hour

on my California Dreamin' quilt

Lexi loves it almost as much as I do

you know I can't leave the back alone;

I've got to add a little surprise

I entered this in the Spring Bloggers' Quilt Festival

here, on my 'bragging blog'

Before and After Designs

if you want to see a few more pictures

fun finish

So, as you know,

I finished the twin quilts

and the orange and blue zig-zag top.

All commissioned work.

Which I am very glad for

(very glad indeed!!)

but

(there is always a but with me ;-)

as much as I like being able to sew for sewing machines,

there is additional pressure

and less creative freedom

that comes with such sewing.

Yesterday,

I was feeling the need to create 

just to create.

But this time of year doesn't really afford creating just to create,

so I doubled up my creating with a gift need.

We've never done a gift exchange in conjunction with the Elders' Dinner before,

but this year, 

they added one to the agenda.

The gift is supposed to be a coffee cup

with a gift inside of it

Because I don't always follow the rules exactly

(but I do like to know what the rules are, so I can know how much I want to break them ;-)

my cup is going in my gift,

instead of my gift in my cup.

'cause there is no way I was going to wrinkle this beautiful baby

by shoving it in a coffee cup. 

(I wasn't 100% positive of my choice to use the dark blue for the zipper tab, but after I purchased my cup,

I was like - oh yeah - perfect call :-)

I love when things go together like that.)

And I love that this project was made entirely of scraps!

The smallest scrap was less than 1 ".

I normally wouldn't save such tiny pieces, 

but it was California Dreamin', so you know it was destined for something.

That something turned out to be a tiny set of leaves 

on the stem of a happy daisy.

I sorta want to keep this gift....

linking up with Amanda Jean

p.s.
Amanda posed a question yesterday regarding making gifts for people - I'll answer here.
When I make something for someone, I totally tailor it to their tastes,
leaving my personal tastes and preferences out of the equation.
Since I didn't know who would end up with this particular gift ~ I just made something I would like,
which, I think, is what made this little project extra fun.

p.p.s I used Anna's open wide pouch tutorial when installing the zipper ~ thanks, Anna!

a heart for Hadley

As soon as I pulled Baby M's quilt out of the dryer

in all of it's squishy crinkly glory

(which was right after 242 last Wednesday night)

I had an overwhelming urge to make my sweet Hadley 

her own squishy quilt.

Immediately.

For Valentine's Day. 

Which was utter foolishness.

When I couldn't get to sleep Wednesday night,

I got up and finished the book I was reading.

(which totally deserves its 5 star rating with 4,235 reviews)

But the idea wouldn't leave me alone,

so I grabbed my little graph paper notebook

and sketched a design

and calculated a cutting list.

I started collecting fabric around 9:30 Thursday morning.

Yeah. The day I was attempting to 'make someones' day(s)'

At 10:07
for fun,

I sent a picture of my stack of 54 fabrics to my friend Nancy,

because she just loves pink.

(not! ;-)

there are fabrics in this stack from Kacy's wallet, Any Which Way, Gramma Joyce's Paintbox,  my EPP, and even
Easter Dresses. and of course, a piece of California Dreamin'.  So much love and memories in a little stack of fabric...

I told her my plan

and she told me I was CRAZY :-)

I agreed -

but told her I'd done the math.

Sorta...

I reckoned that if I could make a 42x54 quilt in a week,

I could make a 39" square quilt in 5 days

which would give me time to get it in the mail,

and get it to Hadley by Valentine's.

She figured that sounded reasonable enough,

so she cheered me on :-)
(thank you, sweet friend!)

Even with all of my shopping

- and teaching kids to sew - 

I managed to get the fabric cut,

HSTs made,

batting pieced 

(I used a strip of bamboo that was left over from Mom and Bill's quilt)

the quilt laid out

(Lexi helped a ton!)

and the rows pieced and pressed

by the time we sat down to watch Alphas that night.

I pinned rows while watching,

and after I got Tyler tucked in bed

I sewed the rows together

and added the borders.

You can see that there are no borders, though.

I didn't like how they looked, so first thing Friday morning,

I took them off.

(note to self: don't sew borders on with a 1.8 stitch length!)

Which means that the quilt 

ended up being  36x33 instead of a 39" square.

In between helping the kids with their projects,

all I managed to do by 3 in the afternoon was finish pressing seams

and get the quilt basted

(I used the wall. Easiest basting job ever!)

I admit that I started telling the kids

I had my own (rather ambitious) project I needed to work on,

and this 

was why I was so hesitant to teach them to use the machine...

(The backing. 

Ya'll, it's delightful!

It's a deliciously silky voile by Lecien. 

I'd ordered a yard from QuiltHome once when it was on an excellent sale.

When it arrived, I loved it so much,

I turned around and bought a few more yards.

I think that's the only time I've done that...)

When it was finally my turn to sew,

I discovered something (again)

that I already knew, 

but wasn't quite bold enough to state as fact.

It's a fact.

My Juki will. not. FMQ quilt with Aurifil in the bobbin.

Or any 50 wt thread.

I really wanted pink on the back,

and I only have gray and white in 60 wt,

so I tried the Janome.

If you've been around here long enough, 

you know that she don't FMQ well anymore either.

(Which is so sad - she did the loveliest free motion quilting,

and gave me a confidence I didn't deserve 

back when I started quilting)

 The Janome was worse than the Juki,

so I went back to the Juki

and swapped out my bobbin for white 60 wt

and she played nice again.

I set up my slip and slide,

put on my gloves,

and got busy.

By the time I was able to actually start quilting,

I only had an hour 

before we absolutely positively 

had to start picking up the house for Pop to come home.

I free motioned meandering loops and hearts

like I did on Claire's quilt,

and when that hour was up,

I was pleasantly surprised to discover 

I was over half done!

We left my machine out,

but cleaned up everything else

(except for the huge pile of gray, blue, and now pink fabrics

that I've got to get put away!)

and as soon as we were done,

I got back to quilting.

In less than an hour,

I was done!

We were celebrating Groundhog Day Friday,

since kids had TKD on Tuesday evening

and there was no time to watch the movie then,

so I put up my machine and got busy on dinner

(pizza. I used a double batch of  bagel dog dough as the crusts)

(The kids were shocked that the mail ran on Tuesday,

what with the  big holiday and all ;-)  Tickled me :-)

this was Tyler's zombie groundhog. 

I'd planned to outline the heart with hand stitching,
but since I took off the border,
I didn't have an entire heart to outline,
so that was no longer an option.
So I decided to hand stitch a little secret message instead :-)

Since I've seen the movie over and over,

I didn't mind missing a little bit of it while I made the binding

(oh - I am so thrilled with how perfectly the binding goes with the back!)

and trimmed the quilt.

(Plus - I could still hear the movie...)

I rejoined the fam in the living room for Phil's 'final' groundhog day,

but as soon as the movie was over,

I went to the dining room and sewed the binding on

while kids got ready for bed.

I quickly pressed the binding towards the back on the front side,

then glue-basted about 1/4 of it down on the back

so I could start sewing it

while the menfolk and I watched an episode of Alphas.

Right before we walked out the door to head to NWA for the shower Saturday,

I finished basting the binding

and was able to sew on it for about an hour during the drive.

I picked it up again after the kids were in bed

and we were sitting down to

(another) episode of Alphas.

When Tyler told me he was moving towards bed,

I looked down to see that I only had about 8 inches of binding left!

So I told him to move slow... 

And then I finished it.

In three freakin' days!!!

I was so, so tickled!

Lexi made the burp cloth and bib, Lily made the elephant, and, yep, Josiah made the bear :-)

I started out Thursday morning

not really sure that

I'd be able to pull it off.

I was so unsure, in fact,

that I didn't even tell Tyler

that I was attempting to make Hadley 

a quilt for Valentine's

until I had the top completely made.

Turns out,

I could have put it in the mail on Monday,

but once the kids knew a package was heading to CA,

well, they wanted to make gifts for Hadley, too,

and I'd told them they had 'til Wed morning to finish them...

HadleyBear,

Mimi loves you so, so much!!

And I can't wait til you come see me in April :-)

Maybe next year, we can have a tea party

on your quilt...

p.s. your aunts are uncles are pretty crazy about you, too!!
p.p.s. So is Pops!!
smooches.

linking up with AJ and the finishers