"Garden Flowers" Appliques

 I did it! The flower appliques are on.
I used Wonder Under to fuse the appliques to the quilt.
I'm also going to stitch around the edge of each flower and center.

 The flowers really add to the overall look of the quilt.
Again, I LOVE the colors! 

Now, for the trim. :)

If you're just tuning in, I'm making this quilt for my dear friend, Tawnya.
She is an amazing writer. Her blog is: Drawn to the Flame. You should go check it out!

January Project: Garden Flowers Quilt

Alright. As part of my "Balance, Exactness, Focus" Mantra for 2013, I'm going to finish up some projects I started last year. I want to finish what I start and I want my mind to be less cluttered (as well as my fabric bins!)

In addition to at least half a dozen other smaller things, I have three quilts I've been working on. Yes, THREE!! A "garden flowers" quilt for my friend, Tawnya, a pinwheel quilt for "someone" (it's a surprise!), and a T-shirt quilt for Gabe.

Here's a sneak peek of the "Garden Flowers" quilt.
I LOVE the colors!!  

(By the way, my phone doesn't have a flash on it... so not the best picture.) 

This is such a fun quilt. I offered to help my friend, Tawnya, make it... oh, I think it was LAST February! Yeah, I have a problem not finishing stuff. I'm sure Tawnya is regretting the day she handed it over to me. Sorry!!! However, in my defense: we moved 6 months ago, I'm currently without a sewing table/space to sew, and I'm actually more than halfway finished.

Anyway, I've made a lot of progress in the last week! I'm kicking myself for not finishing it before we moved, but at first I was a bit intimidated by it. I'm not the most experienced quilter, really. I think I told you that, right? It's been a really good experience for me, though, and so far, I think it's looking great! There was a great little spiritual analogy that came to me while making this quilt. I need to put it down into words so I can share it with you, but today I'm trying my best to focus on the quilt.

I've made a goal to finish it by January 26th! :) 

Balance, Exactness, Focus

Please: open mouth, remove foot, insert spoon.

Yes, it's Thursday and I should be posting about "Threads and Things"... Here's an old chair of mine that I recovered and painted last week. I think it turned out great. Thanks for the inspiration, Sharon. :) I fudged and bought a $3.00 can of spray paint... oops! It had to be done!! I'll add it to my list.

BEFORE

AFTER

This post is for all of those people who don't really know me. Or people who do and they don't listen or get it. I don't want your sympathy, but I do want people to stop saying things like:

• "I wish I had your problem!"
• "What's your secret? It's not fair!"
• "You're so LUCKY; you're just 'naturally' skinny"
• "But you don't LOOK sick!!"

STOP. Please. It bothers me MORE than I can say. I've heard more, but these are the ones I hear the most. You'd be surprised how many people say these types of things to me. Friends. Family Members. Strangers. Do you want to know my "secret" for being so thin? I don't feel lucky at all and I would never wish my "problem" on anyone. Assume nothing. You never know why people are the way they are.

I remember back when I was 18 and I used to ride my bike to work 12 miles round trip, 5 days a week. I remember going for bike rides or walks when I was at Snow College for hours and hours and not feeling tired at all. I remember going to Slick Rock in Moab with my brother, Brady.  I was very active.

Then, right before I turned 19, I got really sick and to make a long story short, (Too late!) I had some serious kidney problems that changed my life forever. Now, I'm not on dialysis or on a waiting list for a transplant or anything. The major problems cleared up in about six months. But I have never been the same since. I have been SO blessed to be able to have four children (something I was told by my doctor might not happen).

Most days I'm fine, but I get worn out quite easily and can't do all the things I used to do. It's hard for me to see other people doing things. I feel left behind. I feel lazy. I feel guilty. I feel old. 

I have a lot of health problems. Some of them, I'm not even sure what they are yet, but this week I've been blindsided by another kidney infection. It's been a year since my last one and it's so hard not to get discouraged. But I feel so blessed to be alive and to have such a wonderful family. I seriously do NOT deserve my husband. He has been so kind and patient with me this week. Too kind.

My friend, Shauntae, had a link on her blog called: The Spoon Theory. It's about living with chronic illness. I read this about a year ago and it made me cry. PLEASE don't jump to conclusions: I DO NOT HAVE LUPUS like this woman, but her analogy is so true to my life. It's a bit long, but it's worth reading to help you understand what it's like for people with chronic illness.

It's so hard for me to slow down and realize I simply cannot do everything I want to. But I know God has a plan for each of us and we need the FAITH to hold on.

2 Nephi 31: 20 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

How to dye silk with Kool-Aid and Kaia's "New Dress"

Hi friends... busy day. How's your week going? I can't believe it's already Thursday. Just a quick post about a fun craft I HAVE to try. Oh, this is right up my alley!

How to dye silk with Kool-Aid! Yep. I've never done this and I did not make it up, but it sounds awesome!!

Here's a link for some white silk scarves I've been looking at (but NOT buying, right?) Maybe I can talk Zeke into getting some for my birthday -- that wouldn't be the same as ME buying it. Anyway, let me know if any of you try/or have tried it. It looks fun.

I've also been working on a dress for Kaia. She bought this dress with her own money (at the thrift store) and she LOVES it. Only problem: it's a little too short. It's got a weird asymmetrical hem and well, I think we could add to the length or something so she can wear it for a few more months at least. For the picture, Kaia said she didn't want to smile because, "that's how you're supposed to show clothes". Okay.

My girls and I have been enjoying New Dress A Day and it has most definitely inspired us on this one! You should really check out this blog. Everyday after school Zoe and Kaia will ask me, "What did Marisa make today?" They are so impressed with her creations. Me too. Thanks, Marisa! :)

P.S. I have had several blog friends tell me that my comments on their blogs are showing up in their SPAM. Not sure why, but I just wanted all of you to know. Go check your SPAM, I hope you find a comment from me.:)

"Word of the Year" Pillows...

Yesterday's bang-cutting fiasco turned out alright... I'll post pictures later. Maybe. :) This morning I have to go in for my annual OBGYN checkup, YUCKY times 1,000!!!!! I haven't been too worried about it and although this makes no sense, that MAKES me worry about it. I'm trying to convince myself otherwise, but I just feel good this year. It's been more than a whole year and I've been FINE. (Freaked-out, insecure, neurotic, and emotional -- no really, I'm fine!)

Anyhoo.... Thursday: Threads and Things...

I made a pillow for my friend's birthday last week. She has chosen "LOVE" for her word of the year. I forgot to get a picture of her at Book Club... Camille's blog is "Behind the Quiet". She is a lot of fun and I think she chose a really great word to focus on. Happy Birthday, Camille, I hope you like the pillow!

Sewing on the beads:

 

All finished (it's about a 9x9 inch square):

  Close-up of the beads:

 I had fun making this pillow. I got some red beads (LOVE just looks RED to me) and I used an extra silver napkin for the pillow. :)

I'm hoping to make other pillows for my friends (and maybe myself) to help remind them of their word they are focusing on this year.
 Kaia made her own pillow, It says: "Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, just like you!"
I love this girl. She LOVES to make stuff.

 She also made a pillow for Beck. It says: "I love GREEN!" That was his request.

"Crafting" and Paisley Cinnamon

According to my new BLOG SCHEDULE, today is:

"Thursday Threads and Things".  

I really love sewing and crafts and making all sorts of stuff...

but I wasn't really sure what I would post for you today.
I'm actually working on two projects right now (yeah, I'm like that),
but they are going to be gifts and I don't want to ruin the surprise!

As far as "crafting" goes, this is what I came up with:

I've been meticulously and mercifully molding measured smiles from this:

 Carefully coercing and creating compromises with this one who thinks she should start wearing make-up:

 Artfully administering admonition, advice, and affection when this one always seems to have a "misunderstanding" with one of her siblings and her "feelers" are hurt: 

Deviously designing devices and other delightful doings to hold this one's attention in order to keep him from destroying my entire house: 

(Thanks for the giant puppy, Grandma Patty!)

So I HAVE been busy "crafting": 

molding, creating, artfully administering, and designing CHILDREN.

It's a BIG project, but I know it will be worth it. 

Although I'm not very good at it most days...I'm learning a lot as I go.

And some days I would MUCH rather be sewing, crocheting, painting a wall, making a wreath or ANYTHING other than trying to be a good parent. 

It's hard work!

Okay, I'll stop holding out on you. Really. 

Here is a good friend of mine, Sharon, who KNOWS HOW TO CRAFT -- when it comes to raising children AND the real kind of crafting that I merely attempt to... well, attempt.

Her blog is called:

Paisley Cinnamon

I am absolutely amazed at the stuff she comes up with.  She is SO creative. 

You should see her house!

She's one of those people that really has an eye for color and design and 

she's not afraid to try things. 

She gets an idea and then makes it happen.

Go explore her blogs and get inspired!

She's also starting an Etsy shop -- there's a link on her blog.

I definitely have LOTS of ideas from her blogs and I hope to come up with a creation of my own for next Thursday. Happy Crafting!