Spring is almost here...

My entry into Sugar Bee Craft’s Celebrating Spring competition, sponsored by Appliances Online and Beko Fridge Freezers

At least the grass thinks so. With the mild winter, the flowers are blooming and the clovers are sprouting. Ashlee has had fun playing outside in the warmth...though the wind hasn't been very nice. Here is one of my favorite pictures I took of Ashlee while playing outside.

And being that I do digital scrapbooking, I did a layout with it.

So I made a purse...

from "Deploy that Fabric" by Jen Eskridge. Jamie got me the book for Christmas and I finally decided to try one of the projects. I had some leftover uniforms from his quilt so I found a small bag that I could use on our upcoming trip. It didn't take me too long...it was more of a stop and go since Little Bit is up...and a few seams had to be ripped out but that wasn't too bad. I used what I had here so it was tweaked a little. Instead of a magnetic clasp, I used velco from one of Jamie's uniforms and the lining is leftover bandana from when I redid the front room. The strap is the section of his buttons on the shirt, just put two sections together to make it long enough. Overall, I think it turned out pretty good, not the best by a long shot but I did kinda rush it some. But it will work for what I want it for.

Ok, could not find a pic online of hers so here is one I took from the book:

And sorry this isn't the best picture....but you get the idea:

Finally started Jamie's quilt

I had most of the squares cut out, just needed the desert which he couldn't find so I had to go with fabric from the store. :( Not the right kind, but he was ok with it. So I laid it all out and he decided to take out one row and add some other T-Shirts. I got all the squares sown into their rows and 2 of the 6 rows sown together. I am going to get the last square embroided with his Army stats on it. For the back, I am thinking a tan color and sewing on some of his old patches that are not on the quilt top.

Here is a rough draft of what it will look like:

Sewing front

On the sewing front, I got the 2nd Jelly Roll Race quilt top ready, sewn the 1st top sandwich, cut out the binding for it and am ready to sew it on. I do have the backing and batting ready for the 2nd top, just need to put it together.

I am almost done cutting all the pieces for Jamie's quilt. I still need alittle bit more interfacing for the T-Shirts and I think I need one more BDU square...have to lay out the pieces and see which it was I needed. Then once I finish the quilts for Ashlee's teachers, I can finally start the BIG quilt for Jamie. Thankfully he has decided he doesn't want binding so I won't have to worry about that, phew! But we have to figure out what type of backing he wants. I think he is wanting flannel or fleece, but he hasn't decided yet.

Other news: I got a Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tablet! Love it! We also got a Wi-Fi thingy from AT&T so I can use it while we travel. We are planning on driving out to Reno next month. I am not making a 100% decision until my 6 week check up Tuesday. I am feeling great, with very little soreness, just get swollen after a long day. So I think I will be fine to make the long trip. I hope to do some fabric shopping while he is in the conference. ;) After the conference, we are going to take our time coming back so I can see the country, never been past Missouri. :( Ashlee will be in West TN the first week we are gone since it is her spring break and Mom will bring her back and stay with her the next week; we should be home by that Wednesday. I am excited and nervous...Excited since I know it will be fun to spend time with Jamie and see the sights but nervous to leave Ashlee for that long. Will she remember me? Will she miss me? Yes I have those doubts. Anywho....

Break time is over and I need to get to ironing so I can sew the binding on, hopefully today.

UPDATE: Finished the first quilt.

Front: Ashlee hit it about the time I took the picture so sorry...

Back:

Mom's quilt

Saturday, Ashlee and I went to the LQS to look for some fabric for Mom's quilt. I got some ivory broadcloth. Never used it before but it was wide enough I wouldn't have to piece it and cheaper. Ashlee ended up taking a 3 hour nap on Saturday so I spent that time laying out the blocks for the quilt. After several texts to Stacy, I finally got the blocks the way I wanted them. Then I got them lined up and pinned. It was hard to sew this big of quilt, biggest item to date at about 60"x75" but I got it done. I finished up the binding today while Ashlee played then slept. After the wash, I noticed some of the backing had pulled away from the binding so while Jamie gave Ashlee her bath, I tried to fix them. It is in the wash again, I hope it is fixed since Mom is coming up this weekend!

Here is the front and back before the 2nd wash:

Scarf one is done...

So I made a scarf for Ashlee's teacher, I have one more to make. This is the tutorial I used and once I got the tension set (between 4 and 5) and the right stitch length (about 15) then it went faster. But man it was annoying up until then with the breaking of the thread or getting caught in the bobbin area.

Strip cut out (about 11" wide by 100" long)

Started the "shirring"

Finished

Close up (kinda)

Update...

Well my surgery went well. I had a hysterectomy due to a large fibroid sticking straight out and into my back. The surgery was the 18th. The first day was the roughest and has gotten better each day. I am still tender and get tired pretty quickly but I am healing nicely. I have been released to drive and do as I feel like it. I go for another check up on Feb 28th and if all is still nice, then he will fully release me! So yay!

Before the surgery, I found the perfect fabric Jelly Roll for Ashlee's MDO teachers AND I found it on sale! Yay!!! So once I could get upstairs and sit at the sewing machine, I started the first Jelly Roll Race Quilt. It took me several days since I couldn't sit long at the machine. But here is a time line of pictures. I still have to figure out what color backing and binding but the first quilt top is done! I just love these colors.

First step, mix up the strips

Second step, grab strips out and sew them together to make one BIG strip. Don't pay attention to color pattern, just grab and sew.

Third step, fold ends togther and sew up a seam. Cut the fold and finish seam...repeat 5 times (32 total lines)

Quilt and bind! ENJOY!