Redding's Quilt

I like to browse the clearance craft section at Walmart and occasionally run across some delicious, too good to pass up deals. This is what I found the other day...

 

I couldn't have been more thrilled! Redding is absolutely crazy about Thomas the Tank Engine. He can name all the trains and recognize them and tell the different between them even in black and white coloring pages. It's truly crazy. Anyway, this steal was a pack of 7 fat quarters for $5.00-- 3 of the Red print, 2 Blue, and 2 stripes. Now, I'm not in love with the stripes as it reminds me of the kind of fabric used in Jamaican headdresses, but I'm willing to work with it as Redding will really like the bright colors and I think I can still make it look cool. I've settled on doing a basic block quilt, in 7"x7" blocks of fabric, 6 blocks x 6 blocks large. That should give me a finished size of about 40" x 40" with enough fabric left over to crank out a pillow case too hopefully. The prints are large, so I didn't want to take away from them by cutting the blocks too small (I'm also all for finishing this quilt within the next week or so, instead of, well, never). So here's a simple sketch I drew up after playing around a little bit.

I plan on rotating the stripe pieces to make it a bit more interesting, but the prints aren't directional, so there's no need to worry about those. I was able to get everything cut out tonight and will begin piecing tomorrow. I'm not 100% on the backing just yet, but I'm thinking a cozy flannel in black maybe. I think I have enough of this in my stash, so that's part of the appeal :) But it would also offset the bright colors on the front nicely. I'm probably going to go with a "stitch in the ditch" method for quilting in black thread with some accents of free handing around some of the characters within the blocks just to give it a more quilty look. But we'll see. And black 1" binding around the edges probably. I'll keep you posted :)

~ Erin

Why Adventurous Homemaking?

Adventurous:
[ad-ven-cher-uhs]

–adjective

1. inclined or willing to engage in adventures; enjoying adventures.

2. full of risk; requiring courage; hazardous: an adventurous undertaking.
3. characterized by unknown dangers and risks
4. disposed to seek adventure or to cope with the new and unknown

I can think of no better way to describe the requirements of homemaking. It requires everything of me. I must be courageous, able, willing to give everything for my family, unafraid of the exciting journey ahead.

I am so blessed to be a wife, homemaker, teacher, cook, maid (ha!), gardener, crafter, and all the other things that describe my life of adventure. I will endeavor to always follow Jesus in this adventurous life He's given me.

 

 

 

New Clothes!

So, I'm super excited about the new shirts I inherited from my friend Katie and some new shirts I found at the mall. Summer is getting into gear in Sunny Central FL and it is time to make a decision: To wear shorts, or to not wear shorts...

Now, I'm a firm believer in the evils of denim in summertime, but I'm also against seeing my legs in shorts. So, what to do? I have settled this dilemma by hidden option number 3, wear neither. That's right. I'm going to dress like 50's housewife. It's all dresses and skirts this summer. Well, except in my house, where athletic shorts reign. To meet the missing need in my life for cute skirts, I am working on sewing up a couple styles.

The first I made was a simple double-layered, cranberry, knit, knee-length skirt with an elastic waistband. The second is resting on my sewing table waiting for the addition of elastic to the waist. I found the second skirt in the clearance section at Ross and it was much to big with a broken zipper, but it was baby pink with dark brown and black floral pattern and a few white flowers around the bottom. It is a lightweight cotton with a thin lining and it is a twirly skirt! That was the selling point for me. It has triangle panels sewn in to give it the twirlyness and an A-line cut. It came down to my ankles so I shortened it from the waist to just below my knees and zig-zag sewed the invisible zipper closed after removing the zipper part. I'm not sure if I want to fold the waist band twice and run the elastic through the casing or if I want to sew the elastic directly to the inside of the skirt. There's pro's and con's with each, so I'm still up in the air. I'll decide tomorrow when I go to sew it.

Tomorrow will be full of Biscotti making for the mothers in my life and giving the house a final go over before my in-laws come in to town for supper. It will be very nice to see them and for them to get to spend time with Redding.

Alan starts his new job on Monday after being at home in the transition phase for two weeks. Redding has so enjoyed spending time with him during the day and Alan has been wonderful to have at home to keep me company and have around the house. He is truly my best friend. We are looking forward to this change and are excited about the changes and the challenges and interest a new job will present.

I have been very busy with Etsy lately as I have sold 8 Fuzzy Wuzzy Bear Hats and One pom pom hat in the last three wks which has been very fun. I'm so thankful that God is providing me with business and that I can offer a product that buyers like.

Gonna get back to watching Justified with my friends now and catch up on the last two weeks episodes.

Nite!