It Only Took Seven Years...Julie's Quilt

 
Imagine if you will, a sweet four-year-old beauty with curly hair and sweet face...a pile of fabric scraps in every color and pattern...sun shining through the windows...and a sweet voice asking, "how does that look Mommy?"...this is my precious memory of my oldest daughter designing her very first quilt.  I searched and searched for photos I thought I had taken of that day, but I am convinced after a few hours of looking that the "photos" I took were in my mind and heart.

I remember that day like it was yesterday.  I can hear her voice and see her face as she played with the fabric scraps and put them "just so" on the carpet.  She chose to do a four-patch quilt, so she put together four small squares to see how she liked them.  She worked and worked with it.  It was so wonderful to watch her to see which fabrics she would place side-by-side. 

We didn't buy any new fabrics, but rather used the scraps we had on hand at the time.  Some of the fabrics had been used to make Julie other things like doll blankets, so there was some sentimental value to it as well. 

Once I sewed together the four patch blocks, then she and I spent another afternoon sitting on the floor together while she put them in the "right" order.  I know you may be surprised, but she did this entirely on her own.  Yes, she asked a few questions and I made a few suggestions about colors right next to each other, etc. but made sure she knew that the position of the squares was ultimately up to her. 

I think she did a beautiful job, yes? 

Fast forward at least two years...the top of the quilt was sewn, but the border still needed to be added.  Julie chose that beautiful floral pattern and one strip of white muslin.  It took me another several months to find the time to add the borders.  (Heatherbee was 1 year old when Julie designed her quilt and by this time was nearly three I think). 

Once the borders were added, I had to have it quilted, but at the time, I just couldn't justify the cost.  So, Julie's quilt top was carefully folded up and placed in a bin with other unfinished projects.  (Does anyone else have those??)  I confess it sat there for at least another few years until I was able to get it to my local quilt shop, Sulphur Grove.  By the time Julie's 10th birthday came around, which was last year, I was able to give it to her...but it didn't have the binding added yet!

On her birthday, when she saw her quilt, she drew in her breath and then giggled with delight!  It was the best!  She wrapped herself up in it right then and there even though it was 95 degrees in the shade.  I loved seeing her eyes light up when she saw that quilt and knew that it was the one she and I had worked on together.  Her design...my stitches...and wonderful memories.  (yes, I cried when she opened her quilt!)

I wanted the entire quilt to be "by Julie", so she then had the fun task of choosing a fabric for the binding.  She opted for this spunky black background fabric with white polka dots. 

Isn't it just perfect?  I think it really makes the whole quilt 'pop'. 

I said seven years, right?  Well, by Julie's 11th birthday, the binding was completed and the quilt made it's way onto her bed.  Finally!  From start to finish, it was seven years in the making (give or take a few months).  I am so glad she can now enjoy it and snuggle under it knowing it was something she and Mommy did together.  As a mom, I am hoping she will want to take it with her someday, but if not, I'll cherish having it here at home too.

I have three more quilts in process now.  One quilt is Heather's - she designed hers using scraps from my sewing bin too!  She liked the nine-patch and added denim in between hers, but now can't seem to decide on a backing fabric.  She's not my decisive one, but when she does finally decide, it was be the backing she has "always wanted". 

The other two quilts will be created from scraps of fabric from my girl's clothing.  I've been working on those two for the last five years, adding fabric squares to my stash whenever they grow out of something.  More on those later...probably much later I'm afraid.  (smile)

Have you worked on a project with your daughter that you've truly enjoyed?  I'd love to hear about it!

All my best to you today!  I hope you and yours are blessed on the Lord's Day today!

Office Closet Organized, Scrap Quilt, and More...

It's been a good week for accomplishing some unfinished tasks.  Not all of these were on my Master List, but that's ok!  It still feels good to make some progress, regardless of what gets done.

Office Closet Organized!

I did get the office closet organized and it is so much easier now to go in there and find what I need.  The girls like it too because they can see their art supplies at a glance.  Keep in mind that this wasn't a fancy re-do.  I simply used what I had on hand to make sense of this closet.  It was free to do since I didn't purchase any organizational stuff to make it happen.

I have a bookshelf in the closet that works well for the art bin and paper, but I needed more shelves.  So, I took a look in the attic and found two white crates that work well now as "shelves".  The crates house the crayons, colored pencils, markers, and extra writing utensils like pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.

The orange basket matches absolutely  nothing, but it is perfect for keeping all of our stationary, cardstock, and thank you notes in one place.  This shelf of the closet has the printer paper, stencils, paint, and rubber stamp collection.

We have small closets in our home, so I have my hanging clothes in the office closet.  I organized them by color in an effort to find what I want quickly.  It seems to be working out well so far and I like how the colors look when I open the doors.

I had to share this beautiful sign with you!  Julie, our oldest daughter, made this for me several years ago and it is posted right above the office closet door.  I love seeing it every day.

Heather's Scrap Quilt

I know I mentioned my daughter's quilt when I posted about the Master List.  I so wanted to get it done before her birthday (beginning of June), but it just didn't happen.  I had some time this week to work on it and this is what is finished so far.

We both agreed that it needs borders to make it larger, so we are going fabric shopping this weekend to see what might look nice.  Heather designed her scrap quilt using the fabrics I had on hand.  This quilt is just like her - vibrant, colorful, and beautiful.  I can't wait to see how it turns out when it's completed.  I'll keep you updated!

Julie's T-shirt Pillow

I also finished a t-shirt pillow for Julie.  She had painted this picture on a t-shirt a few summers ago during one of the summer reading programs at our library.  It's so cute, but doesn't fit her anymore, so I simply sewed around the open edges of the t-shirt, stuffed it, and closed the opening by hand.  She is happy with it and I am glad to have it off my sewing table!

In addition, I was able to mend a tank top that had been sitting on my sewing table for several months, make three pair of shorts from jeans that had seen better days, and complete a table runner that has been sitting on my sewing table for nearly 8 months.  I ran out of fabric for the back and had set it aside.  Now it adorns the top of my nightstand and I love it.  Yes, I got a little crazy with the purples!

So, that's been my week as far as accomplishing some unfinished tasks.  I am feeling pretty good about it...until I look at the Master List again! 

All my best to you today,