Yes, I am a grandma!!

So much has happened since last we spoke!  Charlotte Marie was born (at 28 weeks), We got to go up to see her for 3 days, and my computer was down for 11 days!  I am going to take time today to introduce you to Charlotte.

She is teeny, tiny!  Born Sept. 4, 2lb 2oz., 15 in. long.  That is her daddy's hand!  She is doing well, but will be in the NICU until at least Nov. 25.

I thought that this sign was priceless!

Here is her proud mommy!

She finally opened her eyes!

Her bili numbers went up, so she had to be placed under 'bili' lights.  That facilitated the beautiful eye ware and hat!

That tiny little bottom is to small for this tiny little diaper!!  That is my husbands hand.

And this is her tiny little hat!  Yes, it fits her.  Now that is small.

 

Thank you to all who have been keep her (us) in your prayers!  Please, don't stop....she has a lot of growing to do.  Her mommy is doing pretty good, and her daddy is also recovering nicely from his back surgery.  There is so much more to this story, but suffice to say....all are on the way to full recovery.

 

It feels good to be back.  Have a terrific weekend!!

 

And this is her now!!

 

 

I made her this dress and dolly for her first birthday!  God has blessed us abundantly!  She is normal in very single way.

 

She ended up being in the NICU for a total of 94 days.  She has progressed and grown in every way.  Thank you to all who have lifted her up in your hearts and prayers!

 

Linking to:

Tuesday Archives! at Val's Quilting Studio.

I must take a minute.....

Hi all my wonderful quilty friends!!  I am sitting here on the couch at my son and DIL's house.  I am quickly using their computer to let everyone know, mine is down!  I am hoping that it will be up by the middle of next week.  No promises.

Also....and much more importantly....my grand daughter was born on Wednesday!  She is only 28 weeks old, so it has been a bit of a fright.  Her name is Charlotte Marie, 2lb 2oz, 15 in long.  She is teeny tiny, but holding her own.  I am sorry there isn't a picture, but it is hard to get a good picture through glass and shadows.  I will post a picture as soon as possible.  Thank you all so much for your prayers and love.

Vicki

An end to 'ME'!

Back in June, I announced that this summer was a 'ME' summer!  Well, all good things must come to an end.  It is time to get back to my charity quilt making once again.  I am looking forward to a busy season.  In order to sew my lemons into lemonade, I must have cut projects.  So....I have been having a cutting marathon for the past 4 days!

As some of you know, I have several closets with donated fabric.  In those closets are plastic bins and bags full of bundles waiting to be cut out.  I just grabbed a bin, and decided that it was as good a place to start as any!

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Two tops from the "Another Bit of Schnibbles" book.



I use a lot of patterns cut from quilting magazines.

I even have a UFO that was donated!  I had to square up the HST, and now they are ready to be put into a top.

I usually try to get more then just 6 tops cut at a time, but things are a tad bit hectic around here right now.  These 6 will have to do!

Also, I did manage to get the dust ruffle done for our little princess' crib!  Still have to work on the bumper pad.

Super easy to make.  I deliberately made it smaller then the springs frame.  With the slats so wide and close together, it is hard to really tell what it looks like.

Have you ever gone over to Better Off Thread for Lee's Sew Cute Tuesday?  Well, you should!!  It is a great place for inspiration and seeing what others are up to.

Can anyone have to many totes?

Well, that is really a rhetorical question!  I love them, and found a new pattern the other day at JoAnn for 70c!  I just couldn't pass it up....McCall M6532.

I have come to the conclusion that I'd rather make my own patterns!  This was rather complicated to follow.  I used tote B as my pattern choice.

It always starts with a stack of cut pieces....a LOT of them in this case!

Putting together the front and back was easy.  I have decided that I don't care for iron on Pellon craft weight stabilizer.  I always end up with puckers that show!

I really liked the way they suggest you make the handles. Attaching them was easy.

 Boxing the corners.

Sewing the sides, bottom and boxing the corners was no problem.  In this picture, you can see the zippered outside pocket.



Ironing on the fusible fleece to the zipper flange.

Thank you Cindy from Live A Colorful Life, for telling us all about the Clover Clips!

And she's done!  Lots of inside pockets too.

And finally.....the family portrait!  My daughter snatched up the largest of the pouches before I could blink!  All of those smiling kitties are priceless.

Please, click on over to Can I get a Whoop Whoop with Sarah over at Confessions Of A Fabric Addict!  She is such a great host.  Thank you Sarah!!!  Also, Pippa's Patch forTGIFF!!

Link on over to Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation!  Kelly is the best host EVER!  There is so much inspiration on her site.

I'd love to hear about what your newest summer tool discovery is!  Thank you so much for stopping by.

And so it goes!

Still working on my 2WENTY-THR3E quilt.  Started quilting today!  Stay tuned......

My Tuesday Bee friends and I went on a short field trip today.  Three of the 4 of us had never been to a Hobby Lobby store!  This particular store is in Visalia, CA.  What a fantastic place.  Yes.....fabric was purchased!

Like I need more fabric and more projects to work on.  But look at these bargains!

This is going to be a shopping cart cover for our little Princess!

This is going to be a new tote.  Can one ever have to many totes?

I have no idea what this fantastic sewing notions fabric will be, but I could not pass it up!

Please, join the linky party at Freshly Pieced!!!  Lee's WIP Wednesday is so very inspiring and exciting.  You can click on the button to the right, or the link above.

Let me know what you are working on this week!  I love hearing from all of you.  Comments make me happy!!!

Top's down!!

No, I don't have a convertible....but my 2WENTY-THR3E top is done!!!

 It all started on Tuesday with the marking of the 5 in squares.  Corner to corner.  I am making HST.

 Chain piecing the HST together.  I used 3 charm packs, that's a total of 126 squares.

 Cutting each square in half.  That makes 252 HST total!

 Pressing all those seams open took forever!

 Trimming each square took forever, again!  Each square ended up at 4 inches.

 After sewing each square together to make 14 squares in each row, I once again pressed all the seams open.

 Sewing 18 rows together, making sure to match each intersection.

 Piecing the inside border pieces together.

 Sewing the 6 inch outside border on and.....done!  All is pressed and waiting for the quilting.  I thought I had a big enough piece of batting for this quilt, but....

even with piecing smaller pieces together, this piece just wasn't big enough.  I will purchase batting this week and get to work on the quilting.

I am linking to Sew Cute Tuesday over at Better Off Thread!!  A great place to see what is going on with other quilters, and to share what you are up to.

What do you have planned for this week?  Are you starting a new project, or trying to finish an existing one?  I'd love to hear all about it!!

Going on 23!!

No, I am far from 23, but I am working on my 2WENTY-THR3E by Eric & Julie Comstock of Cosmo Cricket for moda quilt!  My wonderful friend Deborah from Simply Miss Luella gave me a 2TWENTY-THR3E charm pack, and I have finally decided how I want to make my quilt.

I am making HST with Kona bone as the contrast,  arranging them into a chevron pattern.

I will be using the kodachrome in clementine (cameras in orange) for a 1 in. first border.  The flash bulb in pavement (dots in gray) for the 6 in. outside border, and the modern girl in clementine (ovals in orange and pink) for the binding.

I am so excited about this one!  Thanks Deborah!!!

My "ME" summer has gone by way to quickly!  I still have a ton to do and make.  Thankfully, I have retreat coming up next month, and will be taking several of the "ME" quilts with me.  I can't wait!

I went to my friend Miss O's for out weekly 'bee' day yesterday.  I had to take a pic of her thread catcher.  It is a beautiful crystal vase!  Have you ever seen such a fancy thread catcher?  I love it!!

Have you ever seen a neat 'bee' day sewing surface?  So much to work on....so little time!

Linking over to Whoop! Whoop! Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict!

Please, head on over to My Quilt Infatuation's Needle and Thread Thursday linky party, with the wonderful Kelly as the hostess with the mostess!!  While you are there....check out her new (blog) look.  Quite fancy I'd say!!

I am linking over to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.  Lee is such a gracious host.  I appreciate her hosting every week.  I just love seeing what everyone is working on.

Happy sewing!