Some things I have been working on...

This is the beginning of the quilt for the nursing home that the Phi Theta Kappa group is collecting for a service project. I found some jelly rolls on "huge sale" at Joanne's and realized I could make a quilt and it would be meaningful with the fabric I bought.. Maybe someone will love it.. I finally finished it today.. I am taking it tomorrow.

 I threw it over Shot when I took it out of the dryer so I could get a good picture of it... Notice how excited he gets about my projects..

 This is the back of the quilt.. I went outside and placed it in a "seductive quilt display"... It is not as effective as what I have seen on other blogs,,, but my quilts are kinda like me,,, they just sort of "splay" rather than pose!!!

 It folds well,,,, I just love the binding. There are some awesome fabrics in the jelly roll I used.. All batiks.. The binding was also on sale for like 75% off... It washed well and dried well. I used warm and natural white for batting.

 Oh yeah, you know I bought an embroidery machine on the last blog... That is another reason the quilt is just now being completed! I went to "class" last Saturday and this is my embroidered applique... My niece told me it looks just like me..

 I embroidered my initials on my bag I made.. Nothing fancy, I just have to practice! I also made the tag for the quilt and stitched it on the back when I was finished with the quilt.



How do you all get it all done? With work, classes, practice, learning how to use my machines and having to go and look for more fabric each week,,, AND still trying to complete projects and begin new ones....there is never enough time... Do you have any suggestions? I do love it though... Just not enough time...

and who is that that keeps needing clean clothes, and food, and room to walk across the floor.... oh PA-LEASE!!!!! I let him pose in my pictures... Geesh!!!!

God even cares about sewing machines

Monday was a holiday. What better time to go shopping than on a holiday, right?

So, they were having a sale,,, and I honestly could not understand everything that has gone on all week at work... But, you want to know how the Lord is using that machine to keep me working in His kingdom?

I have been eligible to retire from the state of Mississippi for a couple of years now,, As long as I am able to continue to "make a difference" I  was going to continue to work... I have been really upset lately and today I just wanted to come home and sew on my new machines and make stuff for people and participate in all the Blogs and challenges and make comments on everyone's Blog so I can win prizes,,, but then I remembered "The machine".... God knew that today was going to happen and that I would have enough and I could retire, go home, ride out my excess days and never go back... but I can't do that,,, I just bought this wonderful embroidery machine...so I need to work...

I have always believed that God does not remove us until we are through with what He wants us to do.. and when we are removed or when it is time to go,, we will go in peace,,, not in mass confusion...

There is more work to be done for the Kingdom.. This is a God inspired machine. I cannot wait to see what He has in store for me and my new machine...

Now I have to find a place to put it and get the stand all together... and did I forget the thread... oh my...

to be continued...

First Day Back in the New Year!

The first day back at work is always the same... My schedule is off, I have been oversleeping, can't sleep the night before, and I come dragging in exactly on time (or a little after) and everyone is SO EXCITED TO BE THERE!!!!!

The students have been planning, hoping, dreaming, and scheming about coming to "live" on the Scooba campus of East MS Community College... Some are returning freshman, a little more eager than they were in the fall with more assurance in their faces....The 2nd semester sophomores, signing up for those last classes that lead up to graduation...and then there are those students that suddenly realize that all the fun they had the last 2 semesters have caught up with them and they are desperately trying to figure out how to hang in there or find an alternative to what can be done...

Tears, laughter, interspersed with terse moments when time holds them in limbo and the lines seem to never move!!!! and tears of rejections that may or may not have been of their own making... finding the right "piece of the puzzle" to give them what they need... 

So much more important than finding the "perfect piece" of material for a quilt, or the perfect pattern for the vintage cloth...very similar to solving puzzles, problems, whatever.... I love the finished product... I love a finished quilt, I love graduation, I love the ends of the semesters, I love it when my students do well.

I do so love my students,, my job, my life. I have 2 puppy dog quilts I need to finish,,, my husband fixed a frozen pizza for dinner. I am so, sew, seaux, sough, pseu- tired...

Happy 2011

My daughter in law has posted another wonderful recipe on Moda Bake Shop. I really can't think of how to link that right now, but it is the coffee thing,, she is "sew creative". She is over at The Tulip Patch , I think I linked that correctly,, anyway, I am really proud of her. Just go check out her stuff. I am just her cheerleader. Besides being an extremely creative young lady, she is a wonderful mother to my 3 grandsons, and the lady of my son's dreams.

2011 will bring many opportunities and gifts for life.. Enjoy the ride,, beginning today.