Pretty in Pink

A new bundle of joy has arrived in my cousin's household. This was finished and mailed just in time to be ready for her arrival. This is another great flower design from Sublime Stitching. I just love the little tropical edge it gives this sweet swaddling blanket. Welcome, Baby Jemma! Congratulations to the new parents and the new grandparents!

Snuggle Puppy

We've had lots of new additions recently, and all girls! Girls are great, but so easy to sew for. I've been itching to try some of the patterns from my new embroidery book, Sublime Stitching. I bought it especially for some of the adorable little-boy patterns.

(That means, "Welcome, Andrew!")

Quilt Away

I finished my quilt a couple of weeks ago, but I couldn't show it to you because it was a gift. Well, it's been officially gifted, and now I can share some pictures. Maybe you've guessed that it was made with much love and prayers for my niece, Violet.

This quilt sort of took on a mind of it's own. It started out as a way to showcase some embroidery. I love to embroider, but had not quilted in ages. Well...I found this quilt pattern in Denyse Schmidt's book, aptly named, Quilts. She has some great, contemporary quilt patterns that are very reminiscent of the simplicity of amish quilts, but with a modern flair. This pattern is called, Hop, Skip & A Jump. It uses rows of slightly wacky rectangles.

I fell in love with it, and decided to use it. I chose to use many different fabrics to give it a coordinating-but-scrappy look; feminine, but not too babyish, I hope. After I pieced the quilt top, I did the embroiery work. The first verse of Jesus Loves Me is spread across the quilt. I used white thread on white pieces so as not to distract from the overall appearance of the design.

All that was left was to do the quilting and binding. My free-quilting practice didn't go so well, so I opted for something a little simpler: vertical, slightly wacky lines the length of the quilt. Also, because of the simplicity of the piecing, I didn't want to over-do the quilting. In the end, I was really happy with the look that I got. After I took these pictures, I went ahead and washed it to give it an oh-so-slightly-puckery look; just enough to look soft and cozy. I pray that every time Violet looks at her quilt, she will remember how much we love her- and even more, how much she is loved by Christ.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

A Prayer for Reagan Rose

"The Lord bless you and keep you;











the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Numbers 7:24-27

Swaddled Up

Another family from work, and back-door neighbor, recently had their first baby- a sweet little girl. It has become my custom to give first-born babies a present of this swaddling blanket. I think swaddling is the greatest secret of a happy baby, and I'm a self-proclaimed swaddling expert. I could swaddle a baby in a napkin, if necessary. But first-timers usually need something a little more fool-proof. It seemed too plain, as it was, so I added a little something.


I drew the basic vining design freehand, estimating where I might want to place the flowers. That way, I could embroider the vine first, coming back to add the color where it seemed best. I'd never done anything like it before, and it was so much fun!



I hope sweet little Baby M is enjoying it, and sleeping soundly!

Tools Can be Beautiful

Every kitchen needs a good stash of floursack towels. I grew up on them. Of course, those were made from actual floursacks that my grandmother bought flour in. I was lucky enough to inherit a few of those myself, but sadly they are starting to show evidence of constant usage. (I still have one set of Sunbonnet Sue that I haven't had the heart to use) I decided it was time to replenish my stash with some new floursack towels.






I embellished them with designs from Sweet and Simple Embroidery. I find hand needlework to be so soothing and relaxing. And it's very convenient for me to be able pick it up for short periods of time and then put it down. After a week, or so, of that...voila! My new, beautiful kitchen tools!