It only took 40 years to finish!

It's amazing to think that these 3 little pieces of linen

that started this whole quilt

were in a box with my embroidery floss for over 40 years.

My Oma Luise was here in California visiting us

and taught me to embroider on them.

To find out more about the story of this quilt

you can read about it here and here.

For now let me just say

that I am soooooo happy it is done

in time for my Mom to take it to Germany

with her next week!

The 3 embroideries represent

my cousins, Maika, Norma and Sonny :)

I hope my aunt feels all the love

that went into this

and the fact that my Oma (her mother)

actually stitched a part of this makes it so much more special!

You may be wondering why my German aunt

is called Tia Helene?????

well that's because my hunky Cuban hubby called her that

when we visited them 16 years ago in Germany

and she loved it and it stuck :)

Latin men.....they have a way about them!

Pretty much anything said in spanish

sounds romantic!!!

SQUIRREL !

Has anyone seen the movie "Up"?

I crack up when the dogs are talking and then suddenly

mid sentence they say "squirrel"!

It's like they can't keep their focus on what they were doing

because a squirrel runs by.

That's how I feel with sewing and stitching.

I'll be working on a project and then I'll stumble across

something beautiful that catches my attention

and before you know it I'm spending hours

on the internet trying to find the pattern

or the shop that carries the pattern I need

to make whatever beautiful thing I've just seen.

And the whole time

 I have other projects to finish!

Case in point -

I found these 3 awesome blogs:

Miss T - Stitching World

Tillymint's Desk

Steekjes & Kruisjes

Talk about eye candy!

Between reading the blogs

and trying to find the patterns

I spent HOURS online!

Why are there SO many fantastic stitchery

and cross stitch designers in Europe?

I finally found the french cross stitch magazine

that I wanted, but they went out of business

and all the back issues were purchased

by a Japanese company.

It would cost 24.00 per issue to get them

and I want them all......all 71 issues! Ha :)

So in the meantime I was happy

to find some great free patterns

in the "freebies" section at Steekjes & Kruisjes blog.

Her blog is written in Dutch and English.

I had to make this cute little bird with the cherries!

You can find the free pattern HERE.

But just like the dogs in the movie....

I am currently working on a flag pattern

and was distracted :) 

The next photo shows how my mind actually works :)

I really need to learn to finish one project

before starting a new one!

There has got to be a 12 step program

of some kind to help me....... 

Hello Agent P

I finished making the 4 Perry the Platypus (Agent P)

for my 4 grandsons just in time for Easter :)

Other than searing my flesh (repeatedly) with the hot glue gun,

this was a fun little project :)

*ouch*

According to the pattern directions

the entire project is glued together

but I want these little guys to last longer than a day

so I used wool felt and stitched them together instead.

I only used the glue gun

 to attach the pipe cleaners

and glue the hats on.

If you are planning on making a Perry of your own

I would suggest that you attatch the eyes and beaks

before you assemble the body.

It's so much easier to work with that way.

I can never understand why patterns

have you add the details after stuffing.

I also added heavy duty interfacing

to the tail to help Perry stand up.

I ended up tacking the tale to the body

with a few stitches as well

or the poor guy just kept falling over.

In case you missed it yesterday

the link to the free pattern is HERE.

Looks like I'll be making one more of these....

turns out the hubby wants one too :)

Garden Steps Block #3.....done!

I was super excited yesterday when I saw

that the pattern for block #3

was available over at Clover & Violet!

I should actually be working on the hand quilting

of my Aunt's quilt.......

but

I just couldn't wait to get started on this :)

I used a back stitch for the wording,

split stitch for the flower petals

and a chain stitch around the center of the flower.

I made the flower petals a bit shorter

than the original pattern to leave room for the wording.

I realize that one of the things I love most

about my new obsession (quilting) is that no

two quilts are ever the same.

Even when you use the same pattern.

Everyone adds their own "flavor"

and that's what makes them all so wonderful!

And no matter what your skill level

or what you think your abilities are,

you can create a work of art that is uniquely you!

I remember when I used to scrapbook all the time,

so many women would complain about their handwriting.

Their own handwriting is exactly why those

scrapbooks will be cherished by the next generations.

I'd rather see my grandmother's own handwriting than

some computer generated "perfect" font any day!

It's the "uniqueness" that make quilts so beautiful :)

Felt madness!!!

I feel like I haven't been very productive

 in the sewing department lately,

but I've been playing with felt.

Does anyone remember felt boards from Sunday school?

We bought them a few years back

 for our children's ministry

but we never got around to cutting them all out.

My sweet friend Marcia started the project

but she has had crazy pain in her hands and couldn't continue.

I finally got around to bringing this home and once I started

I was addicted!

I spent every free moment of the past 2 weeks

cutting out thousands of tiny shapes.

All those animal legs were not my favorite part....just sayin :)

Now all 12 boards are complete along with all the backgrounds.

Can I get an AMEN?????

I actually have a bruise on my finger from my

precision scissors...ha!

Apparently I didn't get enough of playing with felt.

For Easter I wanted to give the boys something fun

for their Easter baskets.

With all our dietary restrictions

there isn't a lot of sweets the boys can have.

I came across this free pattern at Disney.com

and you can find it HERE.

This is Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb!

I'll be making 4 of these today :)

Luckily I have wool felt in all the right colors

so I didn't have to spend anything extra to make these!

The best way I have found to cut out felt patterns

is a technique I learned over at WeeFolkArt.com.

They have tons of free patterns and tips on working with felt!

You use packing tape

 to hold the pattern pieces to the felt.

No need for pins

and there is no distortion of the tiny pieces!

So clever!

Man I love the Internet!

Have a blessed Easter everyone!!!

Garden Steps Block #2...done!

Just wanted to share block #2

of the Garden Steps quilt along :)

Just finished it this morning.

Thanks so much to Jennie and Clara

for this totally fun quilt along!

It's not too late to join in the fun!

It's Sandwich Time!

My mom gave me a copy of her flight itinerary yesterday

and I had the immediate sinking feeling in my stomach

when I realized that I only have 17 days to get this quilt done!

I've asked her to take it with her to Germany

and give it to her sister for me.

What was I thinking?????

So now I've got this little quilt sandwiched

and ready to go :)

Good thing it's only a lap quilt! 

I also finished up the pajama shirts

for my 4 grandsons.

They are already wearing the pants.

Anyone else dislike making button holes

or is it just me?

Oh well...another project done :)