Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Joshua's Angels

 
This is Joshua and my son Ty (with the hat).
 
Joshua is 5 years old and has Cystic Fibrosis.
 
The son of Mark and Nicole. Very loving and devoted parents, amazing people and friends of mine.
 
Me, Mark, and Nicole
 
"Joshua's Angels" was created in 2008 as the team name for the Great Strides walk in Manchester NH, to find a cure Cystic Fibrosis. I joined the team in 2011 after learning all about Joshua from his Gramma, Fran, whom which I work with.
 
Fran and me
This past weekend, Joshua spent time in the hospital fighting a bacterial infection.  He is home now, still on medicine for the infection but feeling better.
 
 Time seemed to stand still this weekend. It affected me in an unexpected way.  I felt helpless.  All I could offer were my thoughts for him to get better.  I kept checking facebook for his mom's posts and pictures, and word that he would be coming home.
 
And then I had an idea... The Great Strides walk is May 18th. If I can make and sell some quilts between now and then, I will donate all profits to the walk and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I have never sold a quilt. Heck I haven't even finished one for my family to keep yet. (Although my youngest son's top is almost complete.) I have only completed 4 quilts ever! All gifts.  I have had many people suggest I sell them but always felt that I should make my kids quilts first at least.  Maybe someday I thought.  Maybe that someday is now.  Maybe this is how I can make a difference.  I called my husband and told him the idea and he was all for it.  We all know support from our loved ones is important.  Now all I had to do was work out the details.  And ask Joshua's mom if it was ok that I use his picture in this post. :)
 
The helpless feeling went away. I was excited. I am excited. I can do something I love, share it with others and donate money I earn to help find a cure for Joshua and so many others fighting CF.

Now...to make a few quilts and find a few buyers. That is a challenge I am up for!



Linking up (even though I don't have a quilt started for this little project of mine, I thought sharing the idea would be ok)


IMG_6373

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Around the Block

I can finally post about this lovely quilt! We had a baby shower at my work for our co-worker and her husband and beautiful baby girl on Monday. It took me only four days to make this quilt. I am so excited to share it with you so enough words...lets get to the pictures. Warning: There are a lot of them!
 
Day 1:
 
 
I am sorry for not so great picture. It's a cell phone pic.
 
I cut and pieced the top in one day. A first for me. It was a super easy pattern. I found it here via pinterest.
 
Day 2:
 
 
I usually spray baste. But this time I ran out of spray adhesive about a 1/4 of the way through. So then I pulled out my safety pins. Ran out of those too. So I packed up my daughter and we ran out to the dollar store. Why? I am not sure. I guess because it was close. I will never make that mistake again. The pins kept on bending on me. Shrug. Oh well...I got through it.
 
 
Day 3:
Quilting
I had seen a couple of quilts with a big target looking quilted pattern on them and thought this would be perfect for this quilt. So I gave it a try. I didn't measure, just eyeballed it.
 
 
 
 
Two more cell phone pics, sorry.
But I really love the way it came out.
 
 
Day 4:
Binding
In a lovely Kona solid, I wish I knew which color. Sorry. It is the same solid on the top of the quilt.
 
 
 
Had to wait a few days for some sun to take some pictures outside.
 
 
 
 
 
I really, really love this quilt. Part of me didn't want to even give it away, but a beautiful little girl, born 6 or so weeks early will love it. And hopefully have it for a long time. It measures approximately 51 inches x 51 inches. Only thing missing is a label. I will hand embroider one and then add it to the quilt.
 
Hope you like it! The baby's Mom and Dad do!
 
I'm linking up today too!
 
 
IMG_6373
 
and
 
Fresh Poppy Design
 
 
 


 

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Scrappy Trip Around the World

Look what I made...


I finally have done something for me! Yup, this one is for me. I had these fabrics handy and decided to try one of these blocks that everyone keeps posting about. I am planning on making a block from scraps of each of the quilts I have made (that number is still very small, 4 completed).  I don't even know how big I am going to make it.  Just going to see where it takes me. I am so excited!!!
 
The corners aren't perfect, so don't look too carefully.  And I just realized the block is upside down...sorry little birds.
 
Still can't post about my project. The new parents haven't received it yet.