Scrappy Sprouts for Chelsa - Festival Quilt

My Blogger's Festival Quilt is the most special quilt I think I have ever made.
And absolutely a favorite.
It was made with the help of so many of you... so thank you. ♥ Here is the story of my Scrappy Sprouts Quilt, and a transcription of the letter that was mailed with it:

To my dear friend:

When I first read your story, my chest and stomach just clenched.  I was sick with anxiety; trying to pray, but angry and scared.  You had just come through so much; how could this be added to it?  I really was angry.  I especially prayed for you while I was in the shower... I wanted to do something to help.  I couldn't really send you money, at least not much.  I couldn't come visit.  I knew though I could make you a quilt.
  One day, while I was praying for you in the shower, this idea came to mind.
  This quilt is my, "God... when I think of Chelsa and what she faced and is facing, I don't know what to say."  This quilt is my prayer for you Chelsa... it says what I can't always.
  These little sprouts are my favorite time in a garden -- they're so cute and new and growing... so much potential in those two little leaves.
  They show my prayer for new life.
  I did not like the helplessness I felt when I thought about those icky words like "incurable."  So I gathered women to my cause, and they joined in sending love and wishes for healing, and in literally covering you.  I got blocks from women in three or four different countries.  They put tiny bits of precious little fabrics in these blocks -- pieces that are hard to find and out of print and hoarded like gold by quilters.  They join my prayer.
  I wanted to make sure the quilt was big enough you could share it with your love.  We don't forget about you on this difficult road Matt.
  And it's a rainbow -- the symbol of God's promise.  And again -- my prayer for you. ♥

_______________________________

Specs for my quilty friends:

• Fits well in the Group or ROYGBIV categories for Bloggers' Quilt Festival
• a mini tutorial for folks who might want to make their own block is here.
• The sashing is the yarn-dyed Essex in flax by Robert Kaufman.

The setting was part by design, and part by necessity.  There were a few variations in the idea of a "scant" quarter-inch (happens when gathering blocks from 40 or so different people), but I think it made for a more dynamic quilt than if the rows had all been straight.  I love the off-set.  I was also quite pleased with a mostly even distribution of color, because I simply told people to make their favorite.

The quilting was done by Lindsay at EileenQuilts.com.  The design is called Xanadu, and looks so organic and swirly.  I love it.

The backing is the Summer Totem from Anna Maria Horner (and I think Steiger likes the back more than the front; he kept telling me, "the back is really nice Mommy.") 

For binding, I chose an Alexander Henry stripe cut on the bias.

And of course, a special label.

A huge thank you to those who blocks.  They are so special, and the quilt was all I was hoping it would be.  

P.S. I'm extending the 20% off on patterns until I get back.  Use code "springmarket"

WIP Wednesday - to market, to market...

I leave for Market tomorrow!

I don't really know what to expect.  I'm really excited and a bit nervous...

I've got about 2 hours for Scarlet's nap; do you think I can finish this?



It's the Bijou Bag from Sew Serendipity.  I just a la patchworked it.

I want it to be my carry-on, but don't think I have time to get it done.  I should just let it go... and fold laundry instead.  Or pack.

Especially since Kelly sent me this adorable bag (that I'll be carrying all around)! (I'll have hubs take pictures of me with it tonight or tomorrow).

Anyway -- just saying hello!  I am not on instagram (don't have a smart phone), but I will take lots of pictures and update when I get back with all the new and exciting lines coming out!

(And P.S. I'm so nervous to leave these little people!  I am rarely away from them, and think I'm having some Mommy separation anxiety!  I think once I get there I'll be great, but driving to the airport could be a little sad!  Yes I'm a sap!)



Anything you especially want to see pictures of?  Leave a comment and I'll do my best to get it up!

Hi!

oh my goodness... it's that time of year! (planting season for those who might be new around here -- the number or hours my hubs worked last month is equal to the number of days in the year if that gives some perspective...)

I didn't get my "just three" post up for the month! Do you all want to keep going with "Just three?"  My linky subscription expired, and they re-charged me, but I wasn't sure if I should ask for a refund, or keep going, or what... I have a few other ideas I want to start.  So hmmm...give me feedback!  If there are people who want to keep going, just let me know.  I kind of liked writing up a short list of goals for the month. :)

Anyway.  Hubs and kiddos are sleeping, and I wanted to say hello before I turn in myself. :)

I turned 34 yesterday.  It was a pretty normal day mostly... though it is the first birthday in five years I haven't been either pregnant or nursing a baby, so I suppose that's a little strange.  I think that realization made me a little sappier and more sentimental than usual (as if I'm not already those things in spades)... I do love those little people...

I'm also leaving for Quilt Market in a week and a day!

I hired Kelly to make me a cool handmade market bag, because sadly, I don't think I will have time.  Poor girl, you should have heard me trying to tell her what I wanted.  It was a bunch of indecisive nonsense that ended in "Just make me something that's pretty big, but not huge and have fun with it!"  I trust her. :)

Hmmm... I'll close these ramblings with a little round-up list:

1 - Need to get binding on this custom order.

2 - This is the Version B quilt top of a pattern I'm working on... I'm calling it "Starcrossed," and it is figured up with two different block sizes and lots of bed sizes... I just wanted to combine two of my favorite quilty motifs -- the sawtooth star and Irish chain.  The smaller stars version is done, and I need to quilt this one.

3 - My children get the priority of happy and sanity.  So I change their clothes at least twice/day so they can play in the mud and hoses.  And laugh a lot.  It's been good for all of us.

Run Steiger Run!

Squirting Big Brother is FUN!

Good thing he's so strong and can take it. ♥

He is the best big brother... seriously...

_____________________

P.S. The sale on patterns is still going on! 20% off with code "SpringMarket"

Holler at me if you're going to Market so I can meet you!

Little Kisses pillow (and coupon code!)

I've got this little pillow in Fat Quarterly's new issue: Modern Traditional.

It went to the lovely Crystal, as part of a swap we arranged.

You saw me working on it back here:

For the design, I re-sized my French Kisses pattern to make a good pillow size.  And though I named it "Little Kisses," that is only a relative term.  The pillow actually fits a 24" pillow form!  But we like big pillows around here, and Crystal said they would too.

Crystal was part of a small group who managed to collect a charm square of every single one of Anna Maria Horner's quilting cottons, and she asked for a pillow to go with that epic quilt she has planned.  Anna's fabrics from all her collections play so well together.

And look pretty on the couch too.

In a little over 2 weeks, I'm going to Portland for Spring Market, and I'm having a pattern sale to earn some spending money!

20% off everything, including templates, in my little pattern shop through May 15.  Use code "SpringMarket" for the discount!

time to bind!

These two quilts came back in the mail from Lindsay at EileenQuilts today!

I'm hoping to get a date with some good TV this weekend. ♥

Scrappy Sprouts.


and Penny Candy.


It's really too bad I'm such a terribly slow binding stitcher, and only have one episode of Once Upon a Time to catch up on...

Union Jack quilt for Ty (finished quilt and free block pattern)

I got the quilt for this little guy done last week, and mailed it Wednesday morning.  It arrived Saturday, just in time for his birthday on Sunday!  *phew!*

Previous posts on this quilt here, and here.
Tutorial for similar quilt here (quilt size is different).
Free Union Jack block pattern in my Craftsy shop here.

This was a custom order for a little guy who is just a few days younger than Steiger.  His mama is British, and wanted a Union Jack theme.  We picked out some fabrics with an Anglophilic flair, and she said she wanted his name, and that flag in there.

I could not find a pattern I liked, so I made one.  I think it really looks great in there too!

I re-sized my Bricks in Bloom quilt so it was a nice twin size, this was (64" x 88").

Rachel posted this picture of the quilt on the bed (by the way - I didn't make the sham), and I was so glad it fit so well!

She says he loved it too. ♥

I free motioned the quilt all over, except in the flag part.

For the backing, it's mostly a cute plaid print. 

Hooray for another quilt finished!

_____________________________

My friend Lindsey just emailed me this picture!  I LOVE the fabrics she used!  (and am happy that the pattern works!) ;)

my Steiger is four.

Today my little man turned four.

Last night, while Daddy tucked him in, he was asking "Will I feel different when I'm 4?"

Steiger, this is a little about you:

I bought you a wii game today.  It is your second one.  Your other one is Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
   This is LEGO Star Wars III The Clone Wars You danced around for five minutes while we loaded the game.  You're jabbering on and on about "you know how I play the wii?  It's Star Wars Clone wars!  It's Clone Wars!  You got me a new wii game!  I haven't had a new wii game in all my life!  I know Star Wars Clone Wars."

You don't hold back your excitement.

Yesterday, Scarlet was whining at me and pulling on my legs while I was getting breakfast ready.  In not my nicest voice, I said, "Stop whining at me!  I can't help you when you're whining at me!"   You were in the living room, walked over to Scarlet, and gave her a big hug.  I was instantly softened, and humbled.  Thank you for loving your sister so much.  You have been this way from when she was brand new, and it is a special answered prayer for me to see.

You go through cycles of testing your boundaries and powers of manipulation.  Getting you to "fold" and put away your clothes the other day was a prime example of that.  You worked to come up with every excuse you could about why you couldn't.  Four time-outs and the collecting of your Bot-Shots and you finally tackled the job.

You're much more enthusiastic about other jobs.  You feed the doggie every night.  You help Scarlet fill up her water.  You and Scarlet empty the silverware (she hands you the items; you put them in the right spot).  You like to use the squirter while washing dishes.  You love helping in the garden.

You give Scarlet, Mom, and Dad lots of hugs during the day.

You love to be tickled and thrown around by Dad.

You like getting Scarlet to say things after you.

When you dance, you shake your booty like a Latin ballroom dancer.  (You just don't want anyone except your family to see).

You still love to go stay at your Grandma and Grandpa's house.

We recently started reading through the The Jesus Storybook Bible Collector's Edition Every night now you ask to read from your Bible Story book.  After we read, you want to snuggle.

You give your sister a kiss night-night, and you both give the cutest pucker-up face... ♥

You love to play Star Wars outside.  We go to "your hill" (which is a little ditch levee) and get those droids! (because we only shoot droids).  Sometimes we're power rangers.

Words is your love language.  You say things like, "Mommy, you're the best Mommy."  and "I love you Daddy" and "Isn't Scarlet such a little sweetheart?" and "Mommy, thank you for making me such good things for dinner" or "Thank you for getting me a birthday present Mommy."  You thrive on praise, and hand it out freely.

We took you bowling a few days ago for your little birthday party.  You told everyone what a great job they were doing.  My heart was beaming.

You wanted to ride in the tractor with Daddy today.  You stayed with him for about 4 hours before I came to get you.  You really looked like his miniature, with your "work shirt" and "jeans" and hat.

You know 23 of your 26 letters - M and W still give you trouble, and I can't remember what else right now; we'll have to check again tomorrow.

You're great with numbers.  I didn't even teach you the digits, and one day you just read them to me.

You want everything quantified... how many minutes, how many bites, how long something takes.  It does make me batty, and I'm hoping it's a stage.

You sleep in your big bed, but occasionally sneak in and lay on the floor next to our bed, or climb up next to Daddy.

We finally got a little table to eat on (since Mommy's sewing set-up takes up where the dining room table used to be), and you love it when we all eat dinner together "as a family."  You actually love it when we do anything all together as a family.

Steiger, I tell you my "secret" every day that you are my favorite little boy in the whole world and I love being your mommy.  You are a JOY. Truly.  Your heart; your love; your spunk.  Four years old, and still, after you're in bed, Daddy and I talk about your antics and quirks and spirit and how blessed we are with you in our lives.  And since you would ask how much I love you - it's bigger than the whole sky.

And you would say you love me the same.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy.