Gift Alert: Antonsen Baby Quilt

Let's flash back to warm, sultry summer nights... Let's think: August.

In August I completed the Antonsen Baby Quilt.

2010 was a year of making baby quilts - which is something I normally do not do - since babies, well, poop, throw-up and generally drool over everything. Still... these were desperate times, and I consider these baby quilts a gift of love, more than a gift of necessity for a newborn.

And so the Antonsen Baby Quilt came about. It started with the Class V South Dakota Ag and Rural Leadership program class graduation back in February. Angie Antonsen, another SDARL wife, and I skipped out on afternoon sessions and went shopping in Chamberlain, SD. Who knew we'd find so many great things browsing Main Street? I learned Angie was a quilter... had a unique style... and over coffee learned she and Travis were expecting a child.

But not just any child. A miracle. Here's how the whole conversation came about...

Alaina: So, do you think you and Travis would like to have more children?
Angie: Well... actually...
*long pause*
Angie: Do you remember at the start of SDARL (18 months ago) we announced we were going to have a baby?
Alaina: Ah, yes... vaguely.
Angie: Well, we lost the baby. And we're hesitant to tell anyone we're pregnant now, in case we lose this baby... (Angie and Travis had two little boys already)...

Angie went on to explain that they have had miscarriages before (much to my surprise, and sadness!). With every son born, there had been a miscarriage. Miscarriage, pregnancy to term (Kaleb!); miscarriage, pregnancy to term (Kellen!); miscarriage, miscarriage (Announced at SDARL Class V introduction weekend), and then this pregancy.

Since it was still early, Angie asked me to keep the news quiet until they heard official (March 10). I tentatively asked if I could make Baby Antonsen a quilt - and she said "Sure!"

So on March 10, I sent Angie a quick text message: Thinking of you - any news?! And she replied right back: Yes - all is well - we're going to have a baby!

I only knew the baby was due in August. Having finished up the quilt early, I packed it away neatly and sent it with Eric to a SDARL summer alumni function. Then baby Kolton was born (the third boy!). I wasn't sure Eric had actually delivered my quilt, until I received this thank-you note from Angie and Travis:

Thank ya so much for the beautiful baby quilt, Alaina - you did a great job with it!! I love the pattern...

 My sister-in-law Mandy has also admired the pattern, and has put a request in for one just like it for Baby Burt #2 due in May... We'll see...!

The pattern is so simple, and created by my great friend Linda Louder at Ivy Lane Quilts (Elkton, SD). It's made entirely from a jelly roll, with an addition fabric inside the squares (I chose a soft flannel in neutral colors). The Jelly Roll is Moda's "Who Loves U?".

The back is made from remaining Jelly Roll strips (Jelly Rolls are 2.5-in. wide strips, about 40-42 inches long). This was the ultimate complete randomizer for me - I closed my eyes and grabbed strips to piece. This should make my friend Becky Deutsch very proud.

I'm very happy with how it turned out - and it's fun remembering back to this night when Becky was visiting me and we ended up at Quilts & Vines quilt show (see August post on a recap of that event). Looks like I was a 'smidge sunburned from it. :)

This pattern is a great idea for a new baby coming into anyone's life. Simple to put together, and stunningly classic (especially if you don't know if baby is a girl or a boy). My friend Becky quilted this for me in huge bugs (I think it was maybe 2 rows deep, 2 patterns across repeat).

Gift alert: Susie's Star Sampler

I've been remiss in updating all the great quilt projects I've made lately, so let me get started with this "whopper."

It's a 34-star sampler made for my mother-in-law, Susie. The gift was given in honor of her 65th birthday (Aug. 28), in which all the brothers and sisters, their families, and some aunt and uncles converged at the home place to celebrate.

 Here is Susie getting help from her grandsons, Wyatt and Coleman, with the wrapping paper.

 At this point, the kids have lost interest (since the wrapping paper is off), but Susie just realized what's in the box - a quilt!

 Her oldest son, Eric (my hubby!), helps her unwrap the quilt, but not before Susie admires the personalized patch on the back of the quilt. This patch is important because it keeps track of the of various information pertinent to the quilt. This patch listed the quilt's name (yes, they usually have a name!), whom is it given to (Susie), why it was given (in honor of her birthday), and who made the quilt (yours truly).

As the quilt is opened, you can truly see the joy in Susie's expression. "Look at all those stars!" I can perfectly recall her saying.

 

The quilt was given by "all the kids" and here they are: Nick, Stacy, Susie, Stephanie and Eric.

 Of course, it wouldn't be complete without a shot of the quiltmaker (me on the right!), Susie and Eric.

To get the full perspective of this quilt, I had my friend Becky Deutsch help me display it off of our deck this summer. It's made with reproduction type fabric, which was new to me. Quite a contrast from the hungry caterpillar quilt, huh?

Each star block is very significant to me because it represents a prayer I prayed for Susie throughout the quilt making process. For example, some of the large blocks represent "family" and "health," while smaller blocks are for each of her children, grandchildren, etc. There's even one for her "career." With the quilt came a block-map with descriptions of each prayer and bible verse used during the process.

In all, it took me just over a year from the start of this project to the finish. Of course, I'm marking the start of the project from when I purchased the kit from Homestead Hearth in Mexico, MO. I found the example in America Loves Scrap Quilts Spring 2009 magazine and thought it would be ideal for Susie. I probably made the first fabric cut in August 2009, but put it aside seriously until March 2010, when I was already scheming a wonderful birthday party surprise for Susie.

I just asked Susie how the quilt was holding up now that the weather has turned decidedly more chilly. She reported, "The quilt is wonderful and warm!"

Gift alert: Cowboy purse

Last March, Eric and I took a Spring Break trip to Tecumseh, NE, of all places. Friends of Eric's lived there, and we thought it would be fun to crash with them for a weekend and catch up. I seized the opportunity to use my handy-dandy "Quilts Shoppes of Nebraska" pamphlet and stop at each one we came across. Fun!

While visiting, Anna took me to a quilt store in Pawnee City, NE called "Heavenly Treasures." This little shop was jam-packed with all sorts of fun fabric and sewing supplies, and was in an old church, to boot! While shopping, Anna pointed out this really fun cowboy boot fabric. Having just made a high-dollar purse, I thought it would be fun to use the fabric in my next designs (and make one for Anna, too!).

Later in the day Rob and Anna took us to Schilling Bride Winery, also located in Pawnee City, for some tasty samples. I liked the "Red Hot Red" vino.

Anyways, while we visited, Anna mentioned she liked my Mini-Bow Tucks purse (which I have in MN 2009 Shop Hop Fabric). I thought, "Wouldn't it be fun to make Anna a purse like that using the cowboy boot fabric we found?"

With the idea hatched, I plotted. Because of other projects ahead of this, I finally completed it in August. After showing my Quilt Guild, mom, best friend and anyone else who was near how cute it turned out, I lovingly packaged it up with a short note to Anna and mailed it last week.

(See the cute red button we found? It's leather...)

In case you didn't know, I love to get mail. But what I love more, is surprising people with something fun in their mailbox.

I got the sweetest thank-you note from Anna yesterday. It made my heart plum-tickled. Anna wrote:

"I was so surprised to get your package in the mail, and then I open it and you made me a special purse!! Wow, I love it!" and continued, "It is perfect size! Love all the pockets."

(There are the pockets she's raving about)

But what really got me in the heart strings was how she signed the card, "Keep that Range Man in line!" Ah...she knows us too well.

The Wager - and County Fair results

Mom, Becky, Dad and I congregated in the beef barn yesterday afternoon before heading up the hill to see how the quilt competition went. While waiting for Dad to stop talking, the girls came up with our "wager" for the 2010 competition.

The first wager was, whoever didn't do the best out of the three ladies, would receive 1 yard of fabric from the other two competitors. So, in essence, the LOSER would receive 2 yards of fabric.

The second wager was, whoever did the best - and this was calculated by percentage of quilts entered/placings (not very effective) - would have the ultimate TRUMP card on Show Day. Meaning, whatever they said could trump anyone else's complaint/comment/action. (I basically have this power anyways, but if I won, I'd have impunity from any other negative feedback!). Ha ha!

So, we speed-walked up the hill. The first quilt we saw was Mary Burt's Monster Quilt featuring applique technique - a blue ribbon! Whoo-hoo, mom! Then we found Becky's Quilt of Valor. No ribbon (Sorry Becks, we need to get you entered in a different class). Just below Becky's quilt hung my Buffalo wall-hanging project - which I entered in the Professional Category "Original Technique or Design" - 2nd place! Alright!! Then we spotted Mary Burt's Farmyard kids quilt - no ribbon. Bummer. Just a few quilts down was the Star Sampler I had made - 3rd place! It was hung very nicely, which made me feel better about myself.

I wanted to see what quilts placed ahead of me in the quilt competition. I found out that my Star Sampler quilt was third to the Best-In-Show quilt, pieced by a local quilt store owner in Deer River. I didn't feel bad placing third to that quilt! The second place quilt was a very extensively-pieced sampler of some sort - which was beautiful, too.

In the sewing competition - Mary Burt's clothespin dress was 2nd place. It beat out an identical project! My jacket won a Blue Ribbon (first place), as did my Safari Purse. Yahhoo! The second purse I entered was a "non-qualifier" since I didn't know you couldn't enter more than one project in the same class. Oh well.

Here's how the results stood:

Mom: Blue Ribbon - Monster Quilt; Red Ribbon - Clothespin Dress, No Placing - Barnyard Animals Quilt
Becky: No Placing - Quilt of Valor
Me: Red Ribbon - Buffalo Wall Hanging; White Ribbon - Star Sampler; Blue Ribbon - Swing Jacket; Blue Ribbon - Safari Purse; No Entry - Western Purse

So, Becky's getting two yards of fabric out of the deal. But she's also bringing Dairy Queen, McDonalds and Donuts for the next three days to the fair (as is tradition).

County fair time!

You might be wondering why I would have a quilting post entitled "County fair time!" Well, let me explain. My family grew up going to the county fair. And 2010 marks my family's 22nd consecutive year exhibiting beef cattle at the fair. Let me give you some background...

It began with my dad when he was a 4-Her exhibiting dairy cattle (and I'm sure, chickens, but let's not go there this morning...). As with all 4-Hers, they hit an age when they no longer qualify to compete in 4-H competition (around age 18-19). As was the case with my dad. He disappeared for a while to find a wife and start a family - oh, and go to college and establish a career and all.

Our family moved to the farm in about 1986. One of the first activities my brother and I got involved with in our new location was 4-H. Between us we entered "static" projects in the county fair such as rockets, baking and photography. It wasn't until 1988 that we brought our first beef animal - Jason's 4-H breeding heifer project, Sissy. I brought my first beef project one year later (1989 - I was 8 years old) - Daisy. The rest is history, as they say....

But our quilting entries at the County fair are relatively new. Maybe four years or so in the making, I'm not so sure. Anyways, it was a decision that my mom, Becky and I made to bring a few of our favorite quilt projects to the fair. Having no idea how our quilts would do in such a competition (there are many quilting enthusiasts in Grand Rapids!), we decided to make an annual wager between us.

The first year it was between just mom and I. It went something to the effect of, "Whoever wins a ribbon with their quilt has ultimate privileges on Show Day." Well, wouldn't you know - my mom's quilt won a ribbon? Oh, how my dad enjoyed playing that trump card during Show Day!

The next year, I think I won a ribbon, but that wasn't cause for us to celebrate. It was Becky Deutch's first year entering a quilt into the county fair - her first quilt - and she won 1st place (something both mom and I hadn't done the previous year). We were so tickled with Becky's placing we forgot all about the wager.

Then there was the missing ribbon fiasco. All three of us brought quilts to the competition. Mom and Becky won ribbons, but my original design - a wall-hanging showcasing 20 years of exhibiting cattle made of old 4-H ribbons - didn't earn a ribbon at all. I was devastated, since it was such a cool, unique design. Really something I hadn't seen before. I made it as a surprise for my parents, unveiling it at the fair (it now hangs in their living room). When mom and Becky went to collect the quilts at the end of the fair, they discovered that my quilt was missing it's first place ribbon! My head hung in shame all week for nothing! But it taught me a valuable lesson.

Last year the three of us brought identical quilts - a Mystery Quilt project we foolishly bought in to - and only one of the three was awarded a ribbon.

Anyways - who cares about old ribbons!? We certainly don't, except to somewhat document the past. It was a sweet treat to be able to go with my mom and Becky on Tuesday evening, arms brimming with quilted projects (and sewing ones for the first time, too!) to the Home Activities building. We can enter quilts Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning. Then the build is closed for judging the jams, jellies, baked goods, handwork, quilting and flowers.

The doors (and results) will be released by 11 a.m. today - Thursday - of the fair. This is also the day we bring our cattle to the fair (10 head this year), so it's quite busy. But once all the washing is done and the cows are settled, someone courageously walks up the hill to the Home Activities buildings and giggles with the insider-knowledge of how the quilts did.

Usually my dad beats us all up the hill to see how the competition went. Most times he doesn't even have a clue as to what quilts were entered, let alone their names. If you wait and get the report from him, it goes something like this, "Ah, mom won a ribbon. I don't know which quilt - the blue one." Not helpful, but we can usually piece together the results from his shotty reporting.

So what did we enter this year? Mom entered two big quilts - a Funny Farm large-sized baby quilt and her Monster Quilt (with applique and embroidery technique). She also brought a "Clothespin Dress" to be entered in the sewing competition. Becky brought her Quilt of Valor, which she learned how to put the binding on by hand last week while visiting my house. And I brought two quilts - a large queen size Star Sampler (photos later) and my originally designed Buffalo project. Then I managed to get two purses (Safari and Boots - a new one) entered into the sewing competition, along with my swing jacket.

Now, if only we can decide on our wager for the 2010 County fair...hmm...

One happy baby...

Yesterday, Aug. 15, I was able to give my very first baby quilt. It's to one of my college roommate who is due Sept. 4. I couldn't wait until September to deliver this uber-cute quilt, so I wrapped it up and gave it during the shower. I'm sure the mom, KP, can sympathize with not being able to wait. She and her hubby are very excited for the little "grape" to arrive! (And yes, they are having a baby girl.)

Here I am proudly displaying my work. The yellow is actually "snuggly" (similar to Minkee Mates, but with less stretch). The back is done entirely in the yellow snuggly!

I stumbled across this super cute, super easy pattern back in May during mother's day weekend. I was with my mom and best friend Becky Deutsch. We visited "Quilts Around the Corner" in Hibbing, MN, and fell in love with a pink-and-brown version of this quilt. Knowing several friends were going to have babies in the coming months, I couldn't resist.

The snuggly is cut in quarter-circles and appliqued on top of square blocks which provides excellent stabilization for the snuggly. The blocks are arranged in a winding road pattern. We chose yellow for this project because Becky said, "It promotes eye development."

Here is the mom-to-be, KP, taking the quilt out of the package. They're "ooohing" over the quilt label on the back, which is a photo of Becky, KP and I take in July after a serious heart-to-heart conversation (and dinner of Kabobs).

It's kind of hard to see the quilting from this angle, but it's done in hot pink thread and a "flutterbys" pattern. Cute butterfly patterns. The quilting isn't easy to see, but it gives great texture to the entire project. Becky and I rent time on long-arm machines at Quilt Yourself in Savage, MN. We're saving up to buy our own machine.

All I can say is, this baby is going to really happy having tummy-time on a quilt like this. If she can wrestle it away from her parents who are still "oohing" over the snuggly.

Quilting hiatus

I swear I haven't been on quilting hiatus. It's just that most of my quilting projects lately are gifts - and no one wants to spoil the punch by showing off a gift before it's given. So alas, August has arrived, when I can start giving these wonderful quilt gifts! I've got four surprises all neatly packaged for the lucky recipients to be... and will begin featuring the projects right here on Mama Bear Quilts.

In other news... I've found full-time employment as editor of Tri-State Livestock News. It's a weekly livestock publication based in Spearfish, SD. If you're familiar with South Dakota geography, you will note that this office is approximately 14 miles shy of the SD-WY border. Meanwhile, I reside about 20 miles shy of the SD-MN border. There's about 400-some odd miles in between the two. So I'm set-up with a home office.

Finding the balance between work and play (and family time) can be a challenge, but one I think I'm successfully navigating.

Over the weekend, my best friend Becky Deutsch and I stumbled onto a wonderful quilt-wine venue called "Quilts & Vines." It's not new, but was new to us. The Strawbale Vineyard near Renner, SD, (just north of Sioux Falls) has an entire day devoted to draping quilts over grapevines, barns, anywhere and invites the public to come on out and sample wines while browsing quilts. We, along with the help of winery staff, have re-named the event to a more "male-friendly" term (since there was a high percentage of 50+ year old ladies in attendance) to "Blankets & Booze" - which we felt was sure to draw in males from a tri-state area. It was a toss-up for our favorite vino: Grandpa Pete's Strawberry-Rhubarb or the Wineritas!

Buffalo!

Here's an original piece of work - and a labor of love through the chilly months of February, March and April. Inspired by astounding quilt artist Georgan Ellerbruch, I decided to give it a go and make my own "Attic Window" buffalo wall quilt. Georgan made one using buffalo print fabric with a light background - mine uses stormy gray background (like the approaching of a thunderstorm). She appliqued buffalo and varigated backgrounds to make it unique - then hand quilted it all. Result: breath-taking! So, under her tutelage, she give me a crash course in how to create the look of "attic windows."

First, start with a fabric that you want to feature - then cut it all to pieces. Here are my bufflos pre-cutting (5/8 of a yard). I spent hours looking at this fabric thinking, "Where should I cut? Oh, I just don't know..." until one night, at midnight, I hacked it all up willy nilly. Late-night quilting sessions can be productive!

Then you need a light and dark contrast color to "frame" the window (above: dark brown and gold-ish). In this case, the buffalo print fabric is my window. The light and dark work together to give the image depth. I was trying to make it look like the buffalo were stampeding in through the window. Taking a tip from Georgan, I cut out three separate buffalo scences and sewed them on top of the "window" to get that feel.

Here's a tip - don't eye-ball mitering corners. Use a ruler (with a 60 degree or 30 degree or 45 degree angle). I wish I had a little more "experience" in mitering before I made these, but hey - I learned from it. My hubby helped me chose the best "widths" to get the right feel for the depth.

Once I got all the windows together (I wanted a balance of 6), I took the advisement to add more fabric like a frame. And I love Basic Grey fabric to begin with (and yes, they do scrapbooking papers as well), which is what I chose to border this projet. To me it looks like men's neckties, or a shirt one of our grad students (Kyle) wears occasionally.

Then you quilt! And quilt some more! Don't forget to pick out a fantastic backing for it - this here is what the gals and I call "Buffalo Hide." For quilting I used a combination of free-motion quilting (swirls, rope, edging around buffaloes).

But what really set this quilt apart was going the "extra step" and hand quilting (called utility stitching) brands into various sections.  Above the swirls (on the blue) is the brand "Cross Quarter Circle" - or if you're not from the West (or used to reading brands) you can call it like it do: Cross on the hill!

There are a total of eight brands stitched into the quilt - some which have significant personal meaning. Such as the MK brand - that's for good friends Marian and Melvin Kallas - they fixed me my very first "buffalo steak" for supper one night. :)

So, here it is. The beautiful buffalo quilt - which I call "Tatonka." I gave it to my husband, and he proudly displays it in his office. He's sort of a traveling man - hence the globe, safari hat, all setting on a hide he collected in South Africa. And I just can't help but admire the beautiful filing cabinet he made.

Countdown to Quilt Show!

It's crunch time for quilters around this neck of the woods. Everyone is gearing up for the 2010 Brookings Quilt Show. Now, being a Quilt Show virgin, I have no idea what to expect. I've volunteered to help make decorations back in October, and in the last week or so there are a constant stream of activities. All I know is this: you won't want to miss this show.

Here's what I know:

• The Brookings Area Quilters Guild (BAQG) holds a show every other year. That means the last one was held in 2008. Now that it's 2010, a bevy of new quilts will be on display. Between my girlfriend, Becky, we're bringing 10. Again, I have no idea what I'm getting in to, but what can it hurt?
• There are quilt vendors at the show. These vendors come from quite a ways away to display their best. I'm looking forward to meeting new quilt shop owners and seeing new projects.
• There are TWO challenges that will be represented in quilts: A "South Dakota" challenge, of which quilts will depict something from South Dakota (and be accompanied by an explanation). I've seen pheasants, windmills, buffalos... and more unique ones are sure to follow. Then there's the "Challenge Fabric" which can be used in any quilt. This year's fabric is hand-dyed and green. I can't wait to see what creative twists the guild works that fabric in to.
• We have a guest speaker - and I only know him as Joe the Quilter. He will be speaking at the luncheon (with great door prizes!) and then giving a class. I'm looking forward to meeting him, as the only other male quilters I've met have kind of scared the bejeezus out of me. :)
• We have a display of "Montana Man Quilts" - which is like the name says. Men from across Montana who have made quilts. I can't wait to see what their perspective is on quilting (and fabric).
• We feature a quilter each year - this year it's Sharon. I don't know Sharon really well, but I'm sure she will "wow" us.
• There is a boutique, where you can purchase quilting supplies and magazines. All donations go to charity (I think).
• There's a silent auction, which will feature some high-end quilting stuff. I'm making a purse. Again, proceeds go towards a local charity.
• We'll be selling raffle tickets for the 2010 quilt show. It has hand applique, machine piecing and machine quilting and is queen sized. At $1/ticket, it's quite a deal to become the lucky owner of this beautiful quilt.

So, if you're not busy this weekend, stop on out. You won't want to miss it. Look for me, I'll be wearing a blue apron (which is the uniform of the guild during the quilt show). It only has one quilt block on it, signifying that this is my first quilt show (you'll be able to tell the seasoned quilters from the newbies).

Dick & Jane Purse

Just in time for Easter, I completed this super cute Dick & Jane purse. It incorporates fabric from the Dick & Jane collection (Michael Miller Fabrics, LLC). The patterns is "Amy Lou's" by "Totes by Sandy." I've featured this purse pattern before on this blog, you can see it here.

I made this purse with a specific someone in mind, and was able to give it to her this weekend. My mother-in-law, Susie, and I were browsing in a quilt shop one day. When she found this fabric, her face lit up. I learned that she has a special Dick & Jane book collection. Since I made all of her daughters a purse this winter, I thought she'd enjoy her very own. Using the Dick & Jane fabric just seemed natural, since she's already spotted it and has a special place in her heart for it. The Easter Bunny was good to Susie this weekend, and I'm looking forward to hearing her user-reviews!

I don't know why, but this large, red button just made it all come together.

On the opposite side I used three buttons to make "A, B, C." Want something even more entertaining? How about some new words? The top portion of the purse is gathered, which on word-printed fabric means some of the letters disappear. How do you like "Uk and ne." or "Se Dicknd Jar" Seems like a foreign language, huh? At least it keeps me entertained!

The inside of the purse is made with really white Dick & Jane fabric. I liked how it was taken from the books, but on the outside of the purse, it would have been too easy to get soiled. So, inside it went. The pockets are scrappy orange/blue that just make me think: whimsical.

Love, love, love!

Here is a beautiful, spring-y looking table runner that I'm honored to have displayed in my house. While I can't t take credit for this quilted beauty (featuring fusible applique technique), I can (and WILL) give props to my mom. She whipped it up for me as a birthday present, and while I was opening the gift, asked me, "Do you know what this is?"

And I answered immediately, "Of course, it's a woven heart table runner."

Only a mother would remember her daughter's off-handed comment, while quilt-store binge shopping, that she liked this pattern. I'm amazed that she mentally recorded that comment, left the store, and returned at a later date to scoop up the pattern, supplies, and make this project in secret.

What can I say? I love it! It's even a bit Celtic-ish. And yes, I do have "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?" books displayed prominently in my living room. Just because I look like a grown-up, doesn't mean I have to decorate like one. Stay tuned for a future blog posting when I make my "Brown Bear" quilt (fabric and pattern given to me as a birthday present).

Spring Fling (Swing) Jacket!

Spring fever has officially set in this week, now that the enormous snow bank outside our front walkway has melted. On a recent spring break trip to Tecumseh, NE to visit college friends, I found a stylish trenchcoat that I would be fun to make. Now, it's not quite quilting, but it involves most of the basic tools. So, under the guidance of Master Seamstress Linda Louder, we whipped up this jacket in two days.

The pattern is called "The Sophia Trenchcoat" SDG-99 from Serendipity Studio (available to make at fingertip lengh, or knee-length). I found it at a quilt shop called "Common Threads" in Syracuse, NE. The lady at the quilt store was nice enough to let me try on the in-store sample, and Eric and I both agreed - it was cute. So I bought the pattern on a whim (being a very NOVICE seamstress) and began the hunt for fabric.

We used interior decorator fabric for the outside of the coat, and found it at a steal (like $6.99/yd!). The contrast fabric is a batik that looks like it was made to compliment this coat.

There are big, fun cuffs in contrasting fabric that I can shape if I want to "pop" my collar, or just lay low.

And we opted for contrasting cuffs - it just looks classy and fun at the same time, don't you think?

Yours truly, modeling. I'm smiling at my hubby - who REALLY likes the coat (and says I'm a "cutie bear"). The best part of making a garment like this is it is custom made for your body. One of a kind!

Even how the back gathers is cute! What's best, I feel like a million darn dollars in this garment - and you can't put a dollar figure on that. Happy spring!

Pressing Problems...

I just finished volunteering my time with the Prayer Quilt ministry at my church. I had mixed feelings about going, but I went, and am glad I went. There's something magical about being surrounded by women working on a project. There's a steady hum of the sewing machines. The varied chatter of ladies pinning. And there I was, pressing.

Now let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed the iron I was working with. It was super heavy and gave off lots of steam. I like pressing. I think of my time ironing a time where my mind can wander. Many prayers are said while I press. So, I thought I had the perfect job before me.

That was until I saw the many different ways there were to create seams on these prayer quilt tops! Oh, my goodness! There were seams that were sewn "open," other sewn to one side, and then there were seams that were sewn in one direction and opposite on the other end! Goodness, what do you do with a quilt top like that? I did my best. I can't believe there were quilts being assembled without pressing (perhaps I came from a pressing-nazi camp...the more I think about that, the more I think that's true). So I did my best. And realized that I'm lucky to have been taught the importance of pressing while quilting. It's a small step that makes a huge difference as quilts come together.

Happy pressing!!

Needing a little Sunshine

I'm not sure what the weather is like outside your window, but here in South Dakota it's a drizzly, gloomy mess. And it looks like it will continue throughout the week. So, I'm giving you a post that brightens up my day! It's called "Good Morning, Sunshine!" by Pincherry Road Designs (Linda Van Arkel). Linda is one of my local shop owners (ABCs of Quilting, Grand Rapids, MN).

I just call this "Hungry Catepillar" and it has brought loads of sunshine into our lives already. Can you see how he eats his way through all the food in the border?

While my husband was on Safari, I was able to finish the binding while visiting his family in Nebraska. Words cannot express how special it was to finish the quilt at my sister-in-law Stacy's house and wrap her son, Wyatt, in it. Baby Morgan happily joined her brother playing on brightly colored squares. Wyatt has been reading the book "The Very Hungry Catepillar" illustrated by Eric Carle and told me the entire story when he saw this quilt. What a beautiful way to break-in a new quilt!

When my husband came home from South Africa, he was so happy to see all the bright colors (he picked out the back, isn't that cute?!). We hung it on our quilt rack as soon as we could (replacing my Winter Joy wallhanging). It's been up since mid-February (I LOVE TO READ month).

It was a real family-effort. I purchased the kit just before Christmas and my best-friend Becky help me to "randomize" the interior blocks. She's got a good handle on random - don't you think? I hope this quilt brightens your day, like it does mine!!

Sold!!!

The SDARL fundraising auction on Saturday night went gang-busters, the Safari purse being no exception. In total, the auction raised just under $29,000. I was hoping the purse would bring $25. I can only say that it exceeded my wildest expectation - selling to a Mrs. Ray Epp for just over $300. I've included a few photos of the happy new purse owner. She wasted no time putting the purse into good use.

They didn't even care about the South African wine I put in the purse!

You can see Ray was the one doing the bidding. Pam and I were discussing the details. I thanked her profusely for her generous contribution to SDARL.

And then I celebrated. It's a pretty sweet ride, for a princess (which I totally felt like that night)!

Safari Purse - SDARL Donation

A few weeks ago, my husband traveled to South Africa as part of the South Dakota Ag and Rural Leadership (SDARL) program. He is a member of Class V, which consists of about 30 people, who are committed to agriculture and rural development. Each class gets to go on an international trip - for Class V, that was South Africa.

Unfortunately, it was a class members-only trip. While he was away, I went on my own safari to northern MN, and south-central Nebraska visiting family. It was in Grand Island, NE, (Material Girl) where my mother-in-law and I stumbled upon "Big Cats" fabric that embodied all of what hubby was probably seeing on his safari. I couldn't resist purchasing fabric, envisioning a wall-hanging, and a quilted purse as a donation to the SDARL group.

I could hardly contain my excitement over having found African-type fabric that I practically wrapped my husband in it the moment he got home. Naturally I decided it would be fantastic to donate something back to SDARL and decided a purse would be perfect. My local quilt shop owner, Linda, and I went hog-wild over "Amy Lou's Purse," pattern by "Totes By Sandy" which would showcase this special fabric so well.

It was a super purse pattern, and came together very quickly. I decided to go with a "boxy" bottom, per hubby's recommendation (and that I am going to stash two bottles of South African wine inside to help it stand up, and sell). What I fell in love with was the hand beading I did around the top - I call them "zebra" beads. Paired with a cute giraffe button on either side, I'm not sure I'll be able to give it away.

 
Here is one side of the purse (see, one lion)

And here's the other side (two lions!). What you can't see are the zebras, elephants and giraffes that are along the bottom of the bag.

Here's what the inside of the purse looks like - green safari grass and two sunny horizion pockets! A magnetic snap-closure helps the bag stay shut.

What a lovely purse. I can't wait to donate it to SDARL and meet the lucky lady who will become the new owner. That is, if my husband doesn't buy it back for me. :)