Finishes 2012.....

I wanted to review my finishes for 2012. I was a little disappointed with myself on my UFO Challenge list. I stayed at 12 finishes from that list. Now I did keep adding projects as I dug them out but I ran out of steam with them. They are all going back on a new UFO Challenge list for 2013.

One of the things that stands out is how many afghans I crocheted this year which is one of the reasons I think I got less UFOs done. *grins* There are my last two finishes for 2012 at the bottom of this list so I will talk to you more when you get to the bottom.....

I did not forget May. I had no finishes as in April and May I was having major problems with my hand. The pain got so bad that I had to simply rest. Thankfully, the medication I am using is keeping the problem under control.

On December 26th, my friend Sonja and her husband came over for dinner. She brought her yarn and crochet hook and wanted to make some Christmas trees. I also made some stars and created a garland from them.....

I also finished my snowflake afghan yesterday. Yeah! It was quite a job as I wanted to make it larger than the pattern. I ended up adding 3 extra rows. I cannot wait to snuggle under it during the winter season...

Wishing you and your family a happy and safe New Year's eve! May 2013 be a year of creative inspiration!

Heidi

And now for Granny...

My next three great granny blocks are finished...

I am enjoying the scrappy look these are achieving. I have three more to go and can start putting this little quilt together.

According to Lori's great granny block instructions, the blocks are the baby (center), the mama, the granny and the great granny. So to celebrate the granny round this time, here are very old photos of my grandmother and grandfather.

I never knew my grandfather as he died before I was born. I did however know my grandmother very well. She was the sweetest lady and I just loved her. She was an amazing crocheter and I am hoping to do half as well as she did. I think her talent with her hands was passed down through the generations. I loved spending time with her. I think the thing she felt most strongly that she achieved in life was seeing her family thrive...her own daughters with families of their own. She loved being around her grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was a love made us all feel secure and happy with her at the helm.

Heidi

My Great Grannies.....

Meet Florence...my Singer 160. This machine, if you do not already know about it, was designed to celebrate Singer's 160th anniversary this year. It is a computer sewing machine put in a nostalgic model reminiscing back to the original old Singers. Jos spent some time looking for one for me.

I have decided to name her Florence in honor of this lady...

She is my great grandmother and her name was passed on further in two generations to come including my wonderful aunt who was Florence Jane. Her husband was James, the handsome man in the next photo.

These two people in my family passed long before I was born but I am so glad that they gave me their daughter who was to become my grandmother. My grandmother was a very special and magical lady.

When I heard about the Great Granny Along that started this week, I thought it would be fun to participate but in my own special way. I wanted something special to be the first quilt sewn on my new machine Florence.

If you want to see or read more about this quilt along just check out Lori and Jodi's blogs. There is a tutorial on how to make the block on Lori's blog. I really enjoyed this technique.

Perhaps you might have spotted the differences for me with this QAL in the photos? I first wanted to make this quilt in honor of my own two great grannies. I started this yesterday with my laptop sitting on a chair beside me in my studio. My mother was on Skype with me and telling me about my great grandmothers while I sewed. She was able to see me sew the first block on this quilt. That made it much more fun knowing she was watching.

The other difference in my quilt is that I needed to use fabrics that gave an old feel since my great grandmother Florence was born in 1874 and my great grandmother Mary Jane born in 1873. I love seeing that bright look many are using for their Great Granny blocks as it resembles the granny square afghans popular at moment but it would not give the feeling I want for this quilt.

The final difference is that I reduced the size in Lori's instructions from a 12 to a 6 inch block. I am turning this into a doll quilt. You know how addicted I am to making doll quilts. Here are my first three blocks.....

Finally, this is my great grandmother and grandfather Mary Jane and Albert. Mary Jane has to me the very typical grandmother's face. What a shame I never knew any of my great grandparents. My mother is a great grandmother to four and it is wonderful that they all know her and get to spend time with her. It shares a piece of who you are when you can connect generations.

I am trying to connect in my own way through stitching pieces of our family history into this quilt.

Niamh's quilt.....

Two years ago, I made a little Irish Chain doll quilt as part of the challenges from Kathleen Tracy. I put it aside as I could not decide what borders I wanted to use. As part of my UFO challenge to myself this year, this little quilt resurfaced. It was only then that I realized the problem was it should not have borders to give it an antique look.

I had been having trouble with handquilting being very painful. The pain in my finger is much better and I am enjoying my hand quilting once again.

I used muslin for the backing of the quilt so I decided to not sew on a label but simply write the label on the backing.

While talking to my mother about having almost finished the quilt, we were talking about Irish names as I always name my quilts. My doll quilts get a little girl's name. She said use one of the names from the TV show we both loved Ballykissangel. I decided on Niamh (pronounced 'neev') and then started thinking about all the Irish immigrants that took a risk and boarded a ship to America during the Great Potato Famine. I decided on the name "Niamh's Irish Chain: Irish immigrant 1847".

Doll quilt measures 19 inches square.

So my last doll quilt is now stored in my miniature armoire and Niamh's quilt is on my table. I already have an idea for my next doll quilt and will share it after I have worked on the first block.

In the meantime, I think I will start back on a large quilt UFO since my hand is cooperating at the moment. My UFO count is up to 10 finished on the list which I am really happy about.

"Sewing fills my days, not to mention the living room, bedroom and closets." 

~ Author unknown

Georgia's Perseverance

A new blog for me as my old blog AllMyScatteringMoments is full. This is my second change although I will not be deleting my blog so you can always still look back. I also have not deleted my first blog NeedleNecessities.

Back in May, I discovered that Cheri was having a doll QAL once again. I have made another of her designs but have to get it quilted but could not resist this one. When can I ever resist a doll quilt??? *grins*

I jumped in with both feet while I was having a hard time using my right hand. If you remember, I explained that there is a problem with the blood going into my hand. The doctor thought I had Raynaud's disease. I have been through a great deal of testing at the hospital which will continue again in July as it seems there is more on the hand (no pun intended) than the doctor thought. I am seeing a specialist who is having to play Dr. House at the moment. Is this important you ask? Yes as it has everything to do with a little change I made in the name of my quilt.

Here is Georgia's Perseverance. I added the word perseverance as that is exactly what I did while making it. I went right into quilting it as I wanted to prove to myself that my hand is going to be okay even if it means I have to stitch a little slower. And I am so pleased with my latest addition to my doll's armoire!

per·se·ver·ance/ˌpərsəˈvi(ə)rəns/

Noun:

Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Continuance in a state of grace leading finally to a state of glory.

For the moment, I am keeping the quilt out on the dining room table as I thought it colored so nicely with my cherry pinkeep. Since cherry season is among us, I wanted to celebrate it.

Do you celebrate a season with something stitched or quilted?