Labor of Love

Years ago, I was visiting teaching a newly married gal in my ward, who's mother had just made her this awesome quilt pieced together with tee shirts she had collected over the years.  I immediately knew that was something I wanted to do for my kids.  So each kid got a new box in their closet labeled "quilt tee shirts".  Every time we clean out the dresser, we throw a couple more shirts into the box.

My plan was to make Taylor's quilt as a graduation gift, but since he'll be leaving not too long after graduation to serve his mission, he begged me to get it done now.  And NO, we don't have his mission call yet.  We are close to getting it all sent in, but we're not there quite yet.

I found a pattern idea on Pinterest, and used it to cut out my squares in varying sizes.  I used my queen sized futon to lay them all out and move them around until I was happy with the overall look.  Every piece got a numbered label, just in case I got them mixed up.

This is the top all sewn together.  Can I just say I would have LOST my mind about 20 minutes into this project without my serger?  I LOVE that machine more than I can say!  Also not sure how the ugliest shirt in the stack got center stage.  Darn you cub scout day camp.

Here's the back.  I struggled with what to do.... Taylor wanted soft and cozy, but buying flannel sheets in anything other than white was hard to do.  I ended up getting maroon and black flannel and piecing it like this.  Thanks Kate for the suggestion.  If you know you have to have a seam on the back, you might as well make it look good, right?  It was also Kate's idea to quilt it using big stitches and embroidery floss.  I ended up buying the thick silvery floss and it looks awesome!

Here's the front after I added the binding.  How many episodes of Downton Abbey did it take to get me through all the sewing and quilting?  A LOT!

This took me so many hours to complete, but I am so pleased with the results.  And, no, he will not be allowed to take this baby on his mission.  It will stay here and be safely boxed up awaiting his return!  

Odds 'N' Ends

It's been bugging me that I haven't blogged all week.  It's just been one of those weeks.  I've been frantically trying to catch up from everything that fell by the wayside when the kids were on Fall Break.  Two and a half weeks is TOO long.  It feels just right if you are planning some kind of vacay, but when you are stuck at home the whole time, it feels like an eternity! 

I've got projects and things I want to do piling up... and right now we are dog sitting for my mom and dad.  Charlie is staying with us while they visit D.C.  It's going to be an eye-opening experience.  I'm not used to little dogs.  I like everything about them, except two things.  (So far, it's only two...)  First, they run FAST, and it's no fun chasing them around the house when they are determined not to be caught.  Second, they have ear piercing yappy barks.  Everytime this dog barks, I jump out of my skin.  But you can't deny how cute he is.  I mean, he is seriously soooo cute!

One of my projects is to make an I-spy quilt.  Click here to see the inspiration.  Sweet Connie used to be in my ward and still lives nearby, so I took the time to drop my fabrics off in person so I could see her gorgeous quilt in person.  Isn't it awesome?  I really love it framed in white, but I'm terrified to actually do that.  With my kids, I know it would be a dingy mess in no time.  I won't have the time to dedicate to this project for at least a couple weeks, so I have some time to mull it over and make a decision.  But today my quilt squares arrived in the mail - aren't they super cute?

Today I spent the day camped out on the couch, watching some old stuff back logged on the DVR and downloading new Photoshop Elements Actions from this website.  (Thanks, Lindsey, for the heads-up!)The thing I love the most about this blog is that she gives a tutorial with each action so you can learn how to do things without hours and hours of trial and error.  It seriously took me all day and I'm still not done yet.  I still haven't uploaded them into PSE.  Hopefully I will have time for that tomorrow.  I could never justify that much "couch time" normally, but I'm nursing a sore shoulder.  On Monday morning, I noticed some stiffness and soreness in my right shoulder.  I ignored it, continued to exercise and live life in my normal routine, and by Monday night, it was worse.  Tuesday it was even worse when I woke up.  I was careful with it all day yesterday and it's still not any better today.  You don't realize how important certain muscle groups are until you get hurt.  The worst part about it is that I don't even know what I did that caused this.  I have an appointment with a sports medicine doctor in the morning to find out how serious it is, and more importantly if it's going to ruin my plans to do a triathlon on November 6.  As I sit right now, there's no way on earth I can do the swim.  Hopefully he'll have good news for me tomorrow!  Please keep your fingers crossed... I've already shelled out the money for the tri and I want that t-shirt, bad.  And you don't get the shirt until you cross the finish line.  I will be really mad if I have to pull out.  Right now it's time for me to test the power of positive thinking, no?  I mean, yes?