Monday, September 15, 2014

AROUND THE WORLD BLOG HOP


Well I am sure that most of you have seen some of the posts on the Around the World Blog Hop.  It's a wonderful opportunity to see and be inspired by so many different creative women and I have enjoyed every minute of it.  Kathy at Empty Nest but Full Heart has nominated me, so let me start by telling you a little bit about her.  She and I are definite "kindred spirits".  We share a love of our God, our grandchildren, and quilting.  Actually, for me, quilting is still kind of new.  Kathy on the other hand is a seasoned pro and her quilts have left me awestruck and inspired.  She has been helpful and encouraging to me as I have started on this journey of quilting, and I appreciate her more then I can express.  She can check her out HERE...and you will be happy you did!

ONE OF KATHY'S MOST RECENT WORKS OF ART!


Now on to the questions I am suppose to answer..

l.  What are you working on?  I have 3 quilts at the quilters right now all of which of course will still need to bound when I get them back.  I also in the last couple of weeks made some jammies for my 3 year old grandson Sam, and also appliqued him a little t-shirt to wear to his upcoming tractor party. But just a couple of days ago I got started on another Christmas quilt.  This one starts with sewing together 4 strips of fabric from a jelly roll, and then cutting those strips into 8 and half by 8 and half in squares. I have got this much done.  The next step will be to double snowball all the corners with white and red and then put these blocks together to make the pattern.  I am very excited to see it come together.  I LOVE the fabric.  It is called 25th and Pine by Moda fabrics.  I intend to make a matching tree skirt next.  Let me show you the fabric (if you aren't familiar with it) though I will warn you in advance that these pictures are not very good.


40 SQUARES

A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE FABRIC

160 WHITE SQUARES ALL READY TO GO



READY FOR THIS STEP
Smaller red squares will go on after the white, and then I can begin putting the blocks together.  I am anxious to see this taking shape.  I decided to post quick pictures of the other quilts I have in process, but apologize to those of you who have seen recent photos of these.  I am also posting the pictures of the jamiies, and the appliqued shirt.



SORRY THIS IS BOTH BLURRY AND POOR LIGHTING BUT YOU AT LEAST GET THE IDEA OF THE DESIGN  THIS ONE IS A GIFT FOR A WEDDING IN OCT WE WILL BE ATTENDING.

HERE IS A BETTER LOOK AT ONE OF THE SQUARES.  YOU CAN SEE THE COLORS MORE ACCURATELY, AND THE DIFFERENT AND CUTE FABRICS


And this next quilt is another one where I have no idea what to call it as I not only made up the design, but also one of the two blocks I used in it.  This was NOT my original plan but just the way it kind of worked out after things were not going well for what I HAD planned, lol. The fabrics are all Civil War Fabrics, so I call it my Civil War Quilt.  I do like the way it came out and the backing is a soft, comfy, tweedish looking flannel.


And the third one I just dropped off at the quilters is my Christmas quilt.  Or one of them anyway.  It is a pattern I have used before, but I machine embroidered 9 of the 10 by 10 squares in it with Christmas fairies.  I have had mixed feelings about this quilt, but the quilting lady has convinced me that I will LOVE it after it is quilted.  They (there were 3 of them there) all LOVED LOVED it already, but I just don't know.  It's not what I had pictured, but it has grown on me.  Hubby loved it too.  Let me just say this.  Even with my GOOD camera, it looks WAY better in person.  The embroidery did not photograph well.  Anyway, here it is...

I DO LOVE THE FABRICS IN THIS QUILT

CLOSE UP ON THE CENTER DESIGN

CLOSE UP ON ONE OF THE FAIRIES
And I just recently finished an appliqued design for my soon to be 3 year old grandson Sam who is in LOVE with tractors to wear for his "tractor themed" birthday party this week-end.



And I whipped him up a pair of jammie bottoms to wear as well so he can sleep in his new t-shirt after the party.

And I also made him another pair as part of his present.  Here's a quick pic of them...

HE WILL LOVE THE FABRIC I KNOW.


2.  How does my work differ from others in it's genre?  Well honestly I don't think my work is all that different from most.  I am a beginner quilter like I said, but then maybe, who knows, someday I might create a real master piece.  A gal can dream can't she? lol Other than that I do a lot of baby items. Probably because my 4 children are busy having babies of their own and I am "grandma" to 11.  I have done more blankets, burp cloths, bibs, and onesies then you could probably imagine.  Let me show you just a couple of them

SOME OF THE BIBS

SOME OF THE BURP CLOTHS

A ONESIE

THIS IS JUST A SELF BINDING BLANKET, BUT I DID QUILT AND APPLIQUE THE CENTER PORTION OF THIS ONE FOR KIND OF A DIFFERENT LOOK

A LITTLE OUTFIT I MADE FOR MY GRAND DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY,  SHE IS MY VALENTINE'S DAY BABY!

A PILLOW FOR A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE USING THE EMBROIDERY DESIGN
I HAVE LOTS OF FUN MAKING NEW CHRISTMAS JAMMIES FOR ALL OF MY GRANDS EVERY YEAR



3.  Why do I write/create what I do?  I guess I would say because it brings me joy. I feel it makes me feel productive and busy in this season of my life, and I think both of those things are important.  I do love gifting and blessing others with my work, which sometimes can be a bit overwhelming as there are soo many I want to give to, but somehow it gets done.  I also sew because I find it very therapeutic.  It has occupied my hands and my heart this last year while dealing with the death of my precious mother, and allows me to focus on others, and how I can bring them joy if even in a simple way.

4.  How does my creative process work?  Well honestly I have never given this much thought.  I guess I just SEE things I like (in MANY places), PICTURE in my mind how I could do it in my own way, and go from there.  Unfortunately, sometimes what I am seeing in my head, fails to transfer to my project, and I have to begin again, or redo somehow, or in rare cases put it in the closet for a while, but honestly I usually finish what I have started as that's the way I was raised, lol.  My mom wouldn't buy me new fabric till I had finished what I started.  Now days of course I have a stash like everyone else.  I feel very blessed and fortunate to be able to spend my time sewing away.  My hope might be that I might pass this love onto one of my grand daughters (my only daughter is NOT interested, lol) but if that is not to be the case, then I hope to leave behind some quilts at least that might be cherished and remembered.

Now I am suppose to nominate some other wonderfully talented women to do their posts on the Around the World Blog Hop.  I am going to bend the rules a bit here and say that Kathy has already done her post, and the other gals I follow (or the ones I feel I know anyway, lol) are not quite as obsessed into it as we are, but I have seen some of their work when they are busy creating, and I know you'd enjoy it too.  So anyone reading this who is interested PLEASE jump on board.  I want to encourage the following women especially to give this a whirl.

One of the is Kris from Simplify.  Kris is a wonderfully creative, BUSY BUSY gal who not only creates numerous different sewing and crocheting projects, but also gardens and cooks up a storm.


The next one is Kim from Camp and Cottage living.  Kim has created MANY different and interesting projects and her style and unique sense of decorating shines through.

And then there is another Kim from My field of Dreams...Kim is wonderfully creative and designs her own patterns for hook rugs.  She also does stitchery and gardening, and is a total delight to read.

I know you would enjoy all of these wonderfully talented creative women, and I hope you can HOP over to their blogs next week to see their posts.

9 comments:

  1. I love looking at your work, Debbie. You're so full of talent.

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  2. Debbie, I see all your quilts as works of art! Each one is unique...and yet they're all beautiful!

    I enjoyed reading this post. I think that you are creating wonderful memories and expressions of love.

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  3. Hi Debbie, I love seeing all of your work. You have done so much work it is amazing looking at it all in one place. I can't wait to see your quilts when they get back from the quilter.
    That little outfit is so incredible. I love red and white.
    Also Sam's tractor clothes are so cute.
    You have been so busy, but with it being hot, I guess that is the best way to beat the heat wave.
    Have a great week.

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  4. Great Post Debbie, I think you are as talented as Kathy but haven't been at it as long. I know all the gals you nominated and think they were wonderful choices. Love your work my friend. Blessings to you today. Tomorrow I start a new Beth Moore study of 1&2 Thess. Can't wait.
    Hugs,
    Noreen

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  5. Debbie
    I NEVER TIRE OF SEEING ALL OF YOUR SEWING PROJECTS!
    I do feel put to shame about how little I get accomplished next to you though.
    Your Christmas quilt looks easy enough to try myself. I will follow your progress and then try my own!

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  6. I am in awe of you quilters. Your work looks lovely and the t shirt for your grandson's birthday should be a bit hit. You are blessed with 11 grandchildren to sew for!

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  7. Oh my goodness, you are a busy lady! I love the 'Joy to the World' quilt especially, and yet all of them are beautiful. I finally got my sewing machine serviced so I can start on a flannel baby blanket. I feel like a real underachiever after reading your blog. LOL Nice work, Debbie!

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  8. I just love looking at all your work Debbie. I can't believe how much you get done and how nice it all is. Love the jammies and the onsie with the little train. Love how you use your talents for those that you love, you are an inspiration.

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  9. Ev-er-y time I see the stuff that you do, I am very honestly just wowed. I can't imagine having that kind of gift. I can't do a thing sewing wise beyond a straight seam, and I even have trouble with those at times because all I have to do is look at a machine of any kind and it breaks. Your stuff is just wonderful.

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!