Free Pieced Christmas Baskets

I always wonder if my friends who aren't familiar with quilting or folk art think that I don't know how to make seams match or points be pointy. I have always LOVED folk art, and when I was introduced to the free-piecing technique a few years ago, I was smitten completely. Inspired by Gwen Marston's baskets, I decided to make a Christmas version. It's got to be one of my favs for Christmas. As you can see it's just in the basting stages. I'll post more upon it's completion.

Missing, but still in action~

After a very busy sabatical, is that an oxymoron~ where I learned how to make jams, pickles and hot sauces (including canning them), I am now back to sewing and quilting. Actually I have been doing lots of projects, but all the pics are currently located on a computer existing on life support. I'll try an revive my old friend long enough to transfer them this week.
For now the above will have to do. It's the result of a image posted on Pinterest, a new found inspiration factory. The quilting doesn't show up very well, but the background is filled with swirls. I enjoyed making it so much that I did another and still another is awaiting quilting... and my mother said I had attention problems. Truthfully I can become quite fixated when something simple and quick works well :)

Some of you might be wondering where I have been. I mean certainly willy Wonka is over, shouldn't she be sewing by now? Sadly in the late night hours of April 27th tornadoes ripped thru the deep south killing hundreds. My small town of Cartersville was hit by 2 of those beasts, an F-4 and an F-5. We suffered no loss of life but 400 homes were damages and 50 were totally destroyed, a church that has stood since 1880 has nothing left but 1 stain glass window unbroken laying on its side and it's front steps and I can't count the number of trees. Our church was untouched and so very early the next morning we began a relief effort that has become more than we could imagine.

Working every day all day we have organized food and water crews to go door to door, crews of people with everything from chain saws to cranes to pull trees and debris away from peoples homes or what once was their home. We also opened up our newly completed family building (which when planned someone came up with the idea to build it so it could be used as a shelter and a disaster relief station... that was 2 years ago.

The work is hard, and the stories are heartbreaking, but our small community has really pulled together for these hurting families. Different churches, different denominations- people who don't trust church at all, banning together to make a difference. I don't know when I'll get back to sewing, but would appreciate your prayers and thoughts for our community.

It's Raining...not men but babies!

So behind, but a storm of babies won't wait. Olivia Grace, this quilts new owner was born a few weeks ago and will be dedicated this Sunday. In our world, that means that our Pastor literally introduces the baby to all the people attending in that service~ one by one. So far his record holds that no baby has cried. Anyway, the quilt was fun to make, designed it myself and might do it differently next time, but heavily quilted it's gonna be soooooo soft.

Buried in Chocolate

So I have been MIA at least for a couple of weeks. Our local high school was putting on a rather large musical (cast of almost 100 including Oompa Loompas) when they had a problem within the cast. At the last minute, a few days before their first show I was called in to play the role of Violet Beauregarde's mother (the gum chewer). I have done some acting before, but no singing or dancing in a long time. Tomorrow is our last performance, we've been sold out each night. I will miss the students but will be glad to get back to sewing!

Bye Bye Commi Cat

Thank you for all your kind words and prayers for my Commi Cat. Sadly Commi's condition never improved. Pain became a part of his daily exsistence and not being able to enjoy even the simplist pleasures, like wrapping up in a warm quilt~ we decided to end his pain and his life.

He did get to do some of his favorite things this morning; good snacks, snuggling in the "big" bed and when it came time for him to go he went wrapped in a quilt I made that only he appreciated. Good friends are hard to find, but ones who greet you with warmth even on the worst of days, ones who wait patiently until you are done with appointed tasks knowing that cuddling awaits are more precious than any amount of money. I can't see myself ever having such an enthusiastic helper in my love of quilting, but I do have the memories of blocks rearranged, spools of thread chased and quiet naps taken together under the quilts we made.

Project Papoose continues

The babies keep comin' and so must the quilts. This newest top is made from 30s Repro fabrics that my sister gifted me @ Christmas. I'm not so much a collector of reproduction fabrics, but Aunt Gracie and others similar to that line are just so happy looking that I can't resist them. Still deciding on whether this needs a border or not. My natural tendency would be to put a border and then applique "gracie" flowers and vines, but short of telling these mommas to cross their legs and hold off the impending I don't see that happening. As it is the top thus far is approx. 42x42. When border decisions are made simple grid quilting will probably follow.

What's in the water?

Not sure, but within the next 2 months we will have 5 babies born to our church family. We are expecting 3 girls and 1 boy~ the 5th will be a surprise. So far I have 2 complete and am cutting the 3rd. Quilting will have to happen sometime. Needless to say I have been quite busy, in between diapering Commi and working on various cooking and sewing projects. Commi has shown no improvement, despite meds and various treatments. We still have not been able to bring ourselves to the place where we let him go, he has been and continues to be the most loving pet we have ever known.

Tisket-a-Tasket

Thank you for all the prayers for Commi, my beloved paralyzed blue russian cat (I know but what else would you name a soviet feline?). We have gone back to the steriod treatment, and although it will eventually cause damage to his kidneys with prolonged use, his pain is much diminished and I am coming to grips with the care required. His attitude has returned along with a spoiled demandingness that comes with having humans tote and fetch for you for extended periods of time. How we ended up being the home for "special needs" felines (Izzy my female blue russian has only 3 legs), I don't know.

On the quilting front, this past week we were hit with what I refer to as "Snowmegedon" here in Atlanta. 6 inches of snow plus ice will shut this place down. During commi's naps, I was able to finish the borders for this long suffering project. When something turns out less than stellar we term it primitive and feel fine to have the cats and humans alike use and abuse said quilt. Baskets sort of fits in this category. Wanted to free piece the word, but didn't really have a light plaid that would work, so fusable applique won the day. Oh well.

No projects, just sad news

Commi has always been my greatest quilt fan and an expert fabric weight, has become paralyzed. The cause is unknown but a tumor on his spinal cord is suspected. It has happened gradually, until now most of my time is spent diapering, bathing and cradling one of the best friends I have ever had. We're not sure when the time might come to let him go, but until then not much in the way of sewing will be done. At least today the sun is shining and he has found a comfortable position in his basket and he can enjoy a good nap.