Breast Cancer Rag Quilt

I have told you in an earlier post about making a rag quilt for my daughter to raffle off for Making Strides for cancer. I have now finished it all but the clipping and washing it. I want to share with you some pictures of the progress. Below you will see four pictures. I cut all my squares six inches by six inches. You can see some of the beautiful pinks I used. This is not all of them. I then cut my batting into 4.5 x 4.5" squares and placed them between the backing square and the top square. Some of my backing is white flannel, but I ran out of that and used various pink squares. I was blessed by donations from Leslie Lackey, Gene Black, and Nancy Asplund. Gene donated pink fabric, but also, donated my new favorite batting Warm and Natural 100% cotton. Also, I won the pink ribbons that are appliqued onto light pink squares on each corner from Bonni Feltz. Thanks to each of you who contributed to this quilt.

After cutting all the squares and layering them with batting in the center, I sewed an "X" on each square. That is all the quilting this type of quilt gets. If you look closely at the lower pictures, you will see the "X" in some of the squares. Once I did that, I laid the squares on my bed and decided on the arrangement that I wanted to use. Now, I can tell you this, that is the hardest part for me. My DH designed it and helped me figure out how to put the breast cancer ribbon (or something that was similar) in the center of the quilt using the darker pink squares. Once I decided on the arrangement, I started sewing. I did my best to put lighter to darker from inside to out of the squares except for the ribbon. When I got to the last couple of rows, I did it differently. I have pictures below that show the finished product, at least as much as I could get into the picture, except for the clipping and washing. I will post another picture when that is finished.

I pray that someone will either want to purchase this for a good price and then the money will be donated to my daughter's Ocala Moms group who is walking in the Making Strides walk in Ocala, Florida. Let me know what you think!

Blessings to you,

Teresa

Can you see the ribbon?

Five More Days!

It is almost time for the Leafs me happy blog hop! Make sure you get in on all the fun!

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Blessings to you!
Teresa

Happy Saturday!

Good morning! I pray you all had a restful night. I know I did, except when I turned over I would wake up because my back twinged. Oh well. Not going to stop the sewing at this house today.

DH and I went to one of my brother's home last night for a surprise get together for our oldest brother. He turned seventy on the 12th of this month, but had just had surgery on his throat. His wife wanted to surprise him with all of us getting together. We decided it was best to do a potluck instead of going out to eat. We sang happy birthday to him as we sat down to feast. We had so much fun! Usually we aren't able to get together but at Christmas for dinner, but we have begun to try and get together more often. None of us are getting younger, and we have already lost our parents. None of us are in the best of health either, so we are trying to do what we can to enjoy spending time together. The food was delicious! I made my brother's second favorite cake: pineapple upside down. It was so good. All of them are diabetic, and this definitely was not diabetic friendly, but was so good. They all liked it, and my stewed squash I make from my MIL's recipe. I am so happy they all like it. Now I have another dish to carry to eat.

Also, on the family front, we lost one of our two baby goats this week. She was looking not just right for several days, but she didn't come up for the afternoon feeding time, so DH went to search and found her under the barn. He couldn't get to her, but she called out to him very weak sounding. The next morning, she was in the hall of the barn and had passed away. We were so sad. After losing our favorite dog two months ago, then losing Flo, it has been hard on us both. 

On the sewing front, I am in the process of making a rag quilt out of different shades and patterns of pink. Some has the breast cancer ribbon on it, some does not. My daughter is moderator for a mom site and they are walking in the Making Strides against Cancer walk. I am making this for her to raise money to donate. I hope it will help her get some money. I have had fabric and batting donated for this quilt. I hope it turns out pretty. 

I also made my first ten minute table runner yesterday. Let me just say this; I will definitely be making more of these! What do you think? You can go to YouTube and type in Ten Minute table runner and see several videos on how to make these. Also, I saved a link at http://www.rgadesignquilts.com/store/images/Twelve%20Minute%20Gift%20Bag.pdf

Go to the above site for instructions for the one below.

Well, I am getting off here for now. I need to get busy sewing!

Sew, have a blessed day!!
Teresa

Happy Dance!

Good morning!  I pray you all are having a blessed day in the beautiful world we live in. Trials and war, rumors of war, meanness, everything going on all over the world is happening around us, but in Christ we can have peace. I still have my headache, but going to the doctor this morning, so pray I get some answers. Nine days is way to long especially when I have so much to do!


 I am doing the happy dance even at 4:30 AM. LOL My friend Gene Black, a fellow blogger, and I met in town yesterday to do some trading of items on our way to our respective doctor's appointments. It has been several years since I've seen Gene. We went to high school together, church together and were great friends. I am thankful we still are after thirty plus years. He and I talked on the phone Sunday about the breast cancer rag quilt I am making for my daughter to raffle to raise money for the Making Strides walk she is participating in. We talked about batting versus flannel on the inside, and that I didn't have either one. He said he has some batting he would gladly give me for the quilt. It wound up being Warm and Natural batting! I am so excited! I've never worked with this type batting, but I've heard it is wonderful, so I am looking forward to using it. He included a few other items in the box that I found when I got back home from the doctor. He had include four or five different pink fabrics for me to use, an awesomely cute mug rug he made with an embroidered bird and music notes on it. I LOVE IT!!! He also included an item that we had previously discussed he was going to give me. Thangles! Yep, those wonderful papers that you can make half square triangles just by sewing on the lines beside the diagonal line and cut them, remove the paper and tada! half square triangles- two for the sewing of one. These things come in strips and you place your fabric cut a designated width and length pin it onto the paper, and sew, cut, press, and take off the paper. So, now you see one reason why I am doing the happy dance!

The second reason I am doing the happy dance is I am meeting so many awesome friends on some Facebook groups I a member of. I only scan through my news feed any more because I focus on the groups I have been blessed to become a part of. We are people, women and men, who love to be creative whether it is quilting, crocheting, knitting, sewing garments, curtains, etc. I LOVE being a part of a community of fellow lovers of crafting from all over the world. I have told you about a few of the groups I am a member of. I have been added to two more, and have felt so welcome in them all. I have made new FB "Friends" from these groups. We are learning about each other and many of us have a lot in common which I love. One thing I have found out about quilters is that we love to help in anyway we can. We don't have any problems with donating items to help one another accomplish a goal. We don't mind making donation quilts for people in need whether babies, young children, teenagers or adults. Quilters, I've found, are some of the more generous people one can ever encounter. Let's give applause for all the quilters in the world. Quilting has long been a way for people to keep cover on the beds throughout time. I remember sleeping under many quilts at my grandparents house especially in the winter time due to not having heat except the fireplace in the main room. I couldn't even turn over because they were so heavy, but come morning time I would be so toasty, I wouldn't want to get up and out in the cold. I have such fond memories of quilts, but I was never taught how to make one. That is until I determined myself in 2010 that it was time I learned to make quilts. I fell in love! To get on to my point, (sorry about getting sidetracked) at least two of the new friends I've made since Sunday have read my blog and found out that Gene Black is searching for Angels to help send donation quilts for the Ogden House here in Guntersville, AL for Christmas and want to help!  Last year, still being green on quilting, I did not participate. I told Gene that I would do my best to help out this year. So, one way I am helping is getting quilts donated for his cause, and I will do my best to make some kind of quilt for a teenager for Christmas. Pray that I will find the time. LOL

When I told Gene, yesterday, that these ladies had offered to get him a quilt, he was very excited. I sure hope they keep their word to me. One of these blessings lives in California, so she will ship it to me. The other blessing lives close to Guntersville, and told me that her quilt group loves to do donation quilts. So, she may be able to get me more than one. If you would like to be a blessing to a teenager, then by all means contact me and I will either give you Gene's information or I can get it to him. He needs them to be no smaller than 45" x 60", but would like for them to be a little larger since these are teens. My quilting group members also make donation quilts for Wrap Them in Love, but ours are usually 40 x 60. So, I can see where a teen would like to have one a little larger. Gene shared pictures on his blog of the donations last year when he delivered them. He said it was such a blessing to him to be able to do this for the home. So, if you would like to help, by either donating fabric to me to make a quilt, or making one to send to the home, please let me know. You will receive an awesome blessing for participating if you do. Thank you from my heart and from Gene's heart in advance.

Other news:
1. I delivered the cape to my niece that I finished for her yesterday and she loved it! She has already posted pictures on facebook of it. I hope it does the job for her. I've never made a cape before, much less a lined one, but it wasn't too bad. Who knows, I might make myself one some day.
2. I have been researching patterns for mug rugs for Christmas presents. I am getting excited to think that I can use a lot of my scraps to make these cute little bigger than coasters and give them as gifts. I am going to explore making a crazy quilt one to see how it turns out. I found an awesome tutorial on one of  sewing emails I get of a half dresden plate appliqued onto a piece of fabric. I so want to try making one of those, too. Maybe a log cabin pattern for one, etc. I will definitely try my hand at making them really soon. I also want to make some ten-minute table runners that I was introduced to recently. No quilting required! I will find these links and post them on here for you.

Samelia's Mum: Semi Dresden - Mug Rug {Quick Tutorial}
PLEASANT HOME: Scrappy Tree Mug Rugs!
Wonderfully awkward: Guest blogger! Hexie Mug Rug Tutorial
PLEASANT HOME: Scrappy Tree Mug Rugs!
Stitching by Starlight: Tutorial - Offset Log Cabin Mug Rug

Ten Minute Table Runner Links
www.sewwequilt.com/.../comfort-and-joy-with-deonn-and-he
www.rgadesignquilts.com/.../Twelve%20Minute%20Gift%20B..
www.youtube.com/watch?v

I pray these links work for you. If not, just go to google and type in free mug rug patterns, and ten minute table runner and see all the links you can find!

Let me know what you think! Have a blessed day and will talk to you tomorrow or Thursday.

Blessings,
Teresa

Happy Sunday!

Followers, I am so sorry that I haven't blogged this week. Last Sunday, I woke up with a terrible headache that has not gone away as of today. One week with a headache like I've never had before. On Wednesday, I had another nerve block in my C6-7 area. Praying this works and prevents me from having surgery. So, I really have not had a lot to say this week.

Projects in Progress:

I am still working on making hexagons. Not sure, yet, what I am going to do with them, I am enjoying making them. I have some from Christmas fabric, some floral, some solids, etc. Love making these. It is so relaxing!

I started cutting out my breast cancer awareness blocks for a rag quilt I am making for my daughter. She is walking in a Making Strides for Cancer walk on November 3rd. I am making it to donate where maybe she can raise more money, or if needed/wanted, she can give it to her MIL who is a breast cancer survivor. A new facebook friend donated two aprons made from pink ribbon fabric for her to raffle off. She also sent me the rest of the fabric. I was so excited. Last night I actually felt like cutting some blocks out of one of the fabrics. I sure hope it looks good enough that someone will want it.

I am still working on the quilting of a baby quilt and a donation quilt. The baby quilt is for a friend of my son's. Hopefully I will get it done before the baby grows up. LOL I am quilting an already made donation quilt from my quilting group called Bama Belles. It won't take me too long once I get these pressing projects out of the way. I also have to decide which fabric I am going to use in the sew in we are having October 23, 2012. I need 6.5" squares, a background fabric, and a dark fabric for a shadow. I may use the black we have has a challenge fabric for the shadow part. Still mulling this over in my brain. A friend of mine, Gene Black, has a project going that he is requesting angels for. He donates quilts that are at least 45" x 60" and possibly bigger to a home in Guntersville, AL. These are teenagers that for some reason are not able to live at home. He was able to give them 16 quilts last year, and they were so appreciative. He is asking for volunteers again this year. I am going to do my best to make a gender neutral quilt to donate. If any one wants to help out and donate a quilt, please contact me or Gene Black at geneblack@gmail.com. I will post a link to his blog post about this project.

http://blog.geneblack.com/2012/09/calling-all-angels.html

Please, if you will, check this out and let one of us know if you would like to help out.

Finishes:

I finished my niece's cape she wants to wear in the upcoming convention of costume play (AWA). I sure hope it is what she wants. Thankful to have this project finished.

That is all I can think of that I have finished at the moment. I am going into my sewing room and cut out more blocks and cut out the flannel I have to see if I have enough for the backing on this quilt. Keep your fingers crossed.

Have a blessed Sunday. Be a witness for Him; be a blessing to someone that you meet today. Love you all.

God Bless,
Teresa

dots on dots blog hop

September 13th

Quilt Taffy
Pink Pincushion

Lily Patch Quilts

Freemotion by the River

Mrs. Pickles

Julie at the Crafty Quilter

Rose Creations

Feathered Nest Studio

Bee in My Bonnet

Bama Belles Day!!!

I am getting excited even though I don't feel the greatest. Today is the day my quilting group meets, and I am going! I didn't get to go last time because I was puppy sitting. I've had a bad headache for several days and really don't feel the best this morning, but I need this time. I love the fellowship we ladies have together. We pin quilts to ready them for quilting, some of us sew on the machine, some of us do hand work, some of us help pin and some of us just visit. I am going to help pin quilts, and work on getting my niece's cape lining cut out and maybe sewn. I hope I can get it sewn, then I can drop it off at her house and have that marked off my to do list. She is active in cosplay and AWA, and will be dressing up like Hermione in Harry Potter. She needed a cape and is just learning to sew. I wound up helping her cut it out and sewing it myself. I know, that is helping her, but it was just easier. I did help show her how to use her machine. I will be using my Brother to finish it up. At first, we were just putting the lining into the hood, but she decided she wanted it throughout. They is what I will be doing today. She has part of it cut out. I need to do the front and side cutting out and then I can start sewing. This will be my first time lining something, so wish me good luck and say prayers! LOL I know I can do it, it is just doing it.

I finished my first apron last night that I was making for a swap on Stitches From the Heart. I sure hope the lady likes it. It is by no way perfect. But I will be making more. :o) I also quilted the first seam down the middle of the donation quilt I brought home from BB the last time I was there. It shouldn't take too long to quilt it. It will be stitch in the ditch. The binding is ready to sew on, too. So I will get this done within the next few days. Then I need to finish the baby quilt I have started quilting. Then on to other things.

I want to make a quilt or at least a wrap for breast cancer awareness for my daughter. She has organized a group from her Ocalamom.com moms to walk in their Making Strides walk-a-thon in November. She has recruited her MIL to walk, too. Her MIL is a breast cancer survivor. A friend from FB sent me two aprons made out of pink ribbon fabric to donate for her to raise money. I want to make a quilt to help her, too. All suggestions will be appreciated it. I have a time limit, so it can't be too involved.

Well, I need to get ready to eat breakfast and get prepared for Bama Belles. It is the greatest quilting group ever!

Blessings,
Teresa

Sunday Prayer Requests

Good day followers! I pray you are having a blessed day. It is beautiful here in Alabama. Just wish I felt like getting out and enjoying the awesome weather. The temperature is not bad, and the humidity is low. The sun is shining. What more could you ask for in the weather? God has really blessed us. 

Now I have a couple of prayer requests for the day:
1. A long time friend of ours lost his wife this morning to Alzheimer's. He is younger than us. I'm not sure how old she was. I know she has had it for several years. I was not aware that she had gotten so bad. Please remember him and his family in your prayers. His name is Allen Lish.

2. Mr. Blevins, the husband of Linda who is the administrator for Quilts and Things, is back in the hospital. He had surgery not too long back, and was doing good, but has taken a turn for the worse. Please remember them both in your prayers. 

3. My aunt, Nora Harris, was put into the hospital Saturday morning with pancreatitis. She is in her 80s, and really needs your prayers. 

4. Last but not least, please remember me in your prayers. I woke up during the night with a bad headache and I still have it. It is the worst one I've had in a great while. Tomorrow is another dentist visit. I broke a tooth last week and have to get it fixed or something. Then Wednesday is my next nerve block for my neck. I would appreciate all your prayers. 

I pray you have a blessed day. Love you family while you have them, and let them know you love them. Do not allow any regrets for what you have done for your loved ones.

May God Bless,
Teresa

Giveaway at Initially PMS!

Hi! I was led by Denise at Count It All Joy blog to Initially PMS blog. I love it! She is having a giveaway when she gets to 500 page views. She is now at 458. By the way, PMS is not her disposition it is her initials. LOL I was wondering myself. Take time and check out her blog. She only has 10 followers, so make sure you follow her blog and tell her I sent you.

http://initiallypms.blogspot.com/

This is the URL to her blog. She has an awesome Rehab room as she calls it, but it is her sewing room. It is huge! I hope you go visit her and check her postings. You won't be disappointed. She, like me, is new to blogging, so if you will, give us your support and a shout out!

Thanks,
Teresa

Friday's Frenzy

I am here this morning. Yesterday, not so much. I am not doing fantastic health wise, so I haven't  been sewing or blogging as much as I would like. Yesterday, I did sew some hexies. Haven't tried to sew any together, yet, but I'm getting close to trying it to see how they turn out. I have one project with them that I would like to try and that is to put hexies together to make a Christmas tree to applique onto a large piece of muslin. What do you think? Will it work?

The following list shows projects I am presently working on:
1. baby quilt; needs finishing
2. donation quilt to be quilted
3. wall hanging needs to be finished
4. Continue Christmas quilt/s
5. Apron for swap on Stitches from the Heart on Facebook
6. Christmas gifts I plan to make

So, you can see why I feel like I am in a frenzy. I have a dentist appointment on Monday for a tooth that broke yesterday, another nerve block for my neck on Wednesday, yearly checkup on the 17th. Ugh! So tired of doctor's appointments.

One light in that midst is a Bama Belles group on Tuesday. I missed the last one. Seems like I only get to go once a month instead of twice. I have some things to get done there on Tuesday. I really enjoy getting together with the ladies. I learn so much from them.

My daughter is walking with a group she has organized at her local breast cancer walk on November 3rd. I am going to post a link to where people can make a donation to the breast cancer for her. 

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=47370&pg=personal&px=30006894

If you can, please take a moment and make a donation for research into cures for breast cancer. I would greatly appreciate it. If you do, please let me know that you did. You may get a gift in your mail. Just sayin'. :D 

May God bless you and give you peace.

Teresa

Wednesday's Work in Progress

Hello, this beautiful Wednesday morning. Yes, it is beautiful for several reasons. One, God is Good! Two, the SUN is shining! I almost forgot what it looked like, since it has been raining for almost forever. LOL Three, I am alive, DH is alive, and for the most part, we are well. This is just a quick update for now. I have a doctor's appointment in about two hours, so I must get ready and get on the road. 

Update on prayer request for Liam Lyon, the baby I wrote about on Sunday and asked that you all pray for him. He got his wings on Monday. He had fought so hard ever since he came into this world and was so tired, that God just took him on home to be with Him. Continue to keep his  family in your thoughts and prayers.


New Blog Hop 
Quilting gallery has a new blog hop that started on September 3rd and runs into December. Check it out 


http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/autumn-block-party/

One never knows what nice things you will find on these blog hops.

WIP

I am still working slowly on my hexies. I see so many beautiful patterns where these are used on Facebook groups I belong to. I don't know if I will ever get there or not. LOL I will keep plugging along. 

I started making my first apron for a lady in Arkansas whose name I was given in an apron swap on a fb group I am in. I am designing it as I go. Sure hope she likes it. Keep your fingers crossed. A picture will eventually be uploaded for you all to see. It is a secret right now, though. 

Still working on quilting a baby panel for a friend's baby. 

Still working on a Christmas quilt for me. May wind up being a wall hanging. 

Well, it has been good, short and sweet, but I have to go shower and get dressed and get on the road again. 

Love and blessings to you all,
Teresa

Happy Sunday!

Today is Sunday, the Lord's Day. I pray everyone is doing well, but I know not all are. I have a few prayer requests and would like to ask if anyone else has any.

Liam Lyon is a baby that I follow on Facebook. He was born with a condition where half of his heart did not work. He has had a transplant, but has been through so many problems. He is now in the hospital in Cincinnati after being transferred recently from Oklahoma. He stays swollen all the time and is suffering from some type of fungal infection at the moment. He seems to be a precious little boy not much older than one year old. He has an older sister named Cheyanne. I love seeing this baby's smiles and hearing about his good days. He has many more bad days, though and his parents and aunts, grandparents, etc. continually ask for your prayers. Please remember him in your prayers.

Jerold  is my brother. He just had throat surgery for the third or fourth time last week. He is a man of God, but has had pre cancerous growths come in his throat. This time, he had something growing on his vocal chords. It will be a week or more before we hear the results. Please pray for him as he goes through this. 

Facebook friends: I have at least three facebook friends of recent whose husband's have dementia/Alzheimer's. I know one of them is not doing well at all. Please remember the men, plus their caregivers. Another FB friend has a son who was injured severely this past week by running into a tree on his mountain bike. He had to have major surgery. Please remember him, too.

Me: I had an epidural put in my cervical 6-7 area on Wednesday trying to prevent surgery. Well, I've had one day where I wasn't hurting. That was Friday. I felt so good even when I went to bed. Over the past two days, the pain is returning, and I am not feeling well. Please remember me when you pray.

Are there any prayer requests out there in blogger land? I would appreciate it if you post any that you may have.

Please remember the above in your prayers, and let me know of any you have. The Bible tells us where two or three are gathered in His name, believing, He will be in the midst. This is a paraphrase, but I think you understand.

Have a blessed day.