traceyjay quilts

Resolved to sew 2012

2012-01-23T16:23:00.000-08:00

Very Berry Handmade is hosting a giveaway, with a prompt that asks us to tell our 2012 Sewing Resolutions.

And here they are --

Last year, I hadn't sewn hardly a thing that we kept. Thankfully, I managed to turn that around last year, despite being less productive* than I was the year before (go figure huh?)

*this is referring to quilts; I was re-productive in other ways

The bottom two quilts were the only ones in the pile made prior to last year, and I have since added a quilt for myself, two for Scarlet, a big boy quilt for Steiger, and another for Daddy. My next goal is to get a quilt for our bed (the only time I don't love having a King-sized bed). ;)

Which leads me to my next two sewing resolutions...

The quilt top pictured behind/above that stack will go on our bed (only needs borders and backing), and will also be my first pattern. I'm making the cover pattern in Rouenneries Deux, and have all the blocks nearly ready to sew together in rows. I'm calling it "French Kisses." Just because.

Designs have literally been popping in to my head while I nurse Scarlet in the wee hours of the morning. I just need to learn how to use EQ more effectively, or some kind of drawing/diagramming program.

With all these new ideas forming though, I also resolve my "bucket list."

You see those smaller buckets on that shelf...

...and here, above my hutch -->

Yep, those are my bucket projects. They are in various stages of piecing, and though they might not speak to me the same way they did before, I am resolved to finish up one a month. Or at least that's my goal.

I really, really want to finish this one -

and this one:

I am also resolved to start a little garment sewing. I changed my mind a little on my fabric choices for Scarlet's "Baby in the Hood" jacket... these will be even better. I do want to make a practice version so I can see what size I need though...

With all these plans, perhaps at least part of this post should be called Resolved (not) to Sew 2012...

The truth is, I have these two little creatures, one of whom calls me "Mom," and the other one who believes that 9 pm is time for a cat-nap, and not time to go to bed for the night. Scarlet's sleep is dramatically improving, but still, babies don't always keep schedules, and two-year olds don't always want to nap.

I need to remember that.

I think my husband would also like it if I didn't let the laundry pile grow too high. Or I fed him... at least most of the time.
*sigh* Sometimes it's hard to let go of all the projects I want to get done.

But I do need to remember to.

with love,
Tracey

(Oh, and as far as the giveaway goes -- The Sumersault is pretty cute... but so is the rest of it... and as you can see, I don't need new fabric)

WIP Wednesday - 1.18.12

2012-01-18T12:45:00.000-08:00

(side note: still can't believe it's 2012...)

Finished projects (since you last saw me) -

- Rob Peter to Pay Paul quilt (more to come)

- Steiger's big boy quilt (more to come)

On the table -

Since Amanda and I are going to go sew for a day with Anna Maria Horner (yes, you heard that right), she's been on my mind. I've also wanted to make Scarlet the little "baby in the hood" jacket...so I'm going to get started.

Garment sewing scares me, but I might never have a baby girl again, and I simply must take advantage of her cuteness. I'm curious though -- I can't decide which size to make -- the measurements for the 0-3 mo. are a 21" chest, and the 3-6 mo. is a 22" chest. Scarlet is 3 months old and measures 18"... which size should I make her? (Length is the same for both). I'll probably go bigger... I just hope she can wear it now!

- Bee blocks

I need to wrap up making my late bee blocks. This one is for Angela, and almost finished. Melissa wanted paper piecing -- I need to figure that out!

- Adding borders to this, and learning how to write up a pattern

I've decided I'm just going to jump in, and see what happens. This quilt will be on our bed (hooray!), and I hope to publish the pattern. I'm also going to do a quilt along with it I think... It really is so beautiful! I can't wait to get it quilted.

Awaiting Quilting:

- Nicey Jane blocks

- Christmas quilt

Awaiting more cutting/piecing:

- Chubby stars

- Heirloom frames

- French Kisses

- Pure baby quilt (his one year birthday is next week -- I need to move this to the top of the list!)

- Countless others I'm not counting. :)

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 2 (not technically completed this week, but I'm counting them anyway)
New projects - 1

Currently in progress - ??? I'll have to get a total count for next week.

Linking to Lee's!

all I want to do.

2012-01-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

She really is quite charming.
And time consuming.

Last week, at her three month appointment, she was coming in at thirteen pounds. What I'd like to know though is, if I am responsible for all thirteen pounds of her, then why haven't I lost that myself???

I'm also really excited to cut in to this pretty bundle...

I've been a fan of French General since its inaugural line, the first Rouenneries (and Amanda can attest to my "healthy" French General stash)... I'm stalking Fat Quarter Shop for them to post their yardage. This will be my first dabbling in real pattern writing (if I can figure out how to make it work)... I've done the test blocks, and am hoping to get this thing whipped out (which depends entirely on the darling pictured above) and written in to a pattern. I'm also hoping to be able to access some of my pre-children intelligence to get this all explained and diagrammed... you know, because children really do steal our brain power. :)

Happy Tuesday!

Smitten - Blogger's Choice Bundle

2012-01-04T17:57:00.000-08:00

My daughter's name is Scarlet after all, so I had to go with red.

The collections are:

Flower Sugar by Lecien, Etchings by Moda, Northcote Range by Moda, Fleur Rouge by Anna Griffin, Maman by Cloud 9, Urban Cowgirl by Moda, and Children at Play by Michael Miller.

I hope they don't mind my loose interpretation of "solids," but if you hang out here long enough, you'll know I like wovens, so I hope the pin-tuck counts.

If you want to enter this great contest over at Quokka Quilts, sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop, go read this post, and link your entry by January 15. :)

You know, I hope fatquartershop gives all us bundle makers a coupon code... because well, I'm going to want this fabric even if we don't win.

Thank you 2011.

2011-12-31T18:55:00.000-08:00

You made my dreams come true in the form of a sweet little girl.

Scarlet Grace was my best finished project of 2011.

And here are a few more:

I might feel bad about the fact that my WIP/UFO list is far longer than my finished projects list for the year, but that little girl above explains it all. I am not great with sewing during the first trimester, third trimester, and/or before baby is sleeping through the night.

For 2012 --

My goals:
- to publish a pattern (or 2 or 3)
- to tidy up my out of control stash/WIPs by actually completing a good chunk of projects (in other words, I wanna be like Kelly) ;)
- to make a couple King-sized quilts
- to learn to knit (thanks Amanda!)
- to learn to can (again -- thanks to Amanda)
- to start some regular school time with my big boy
- to simplify my house
- to remember that we have one income, and stay within our means
- to continue to delight in my big man, little man, and little girl

Thanks for sticking with me through a slow blogging year! I have no doubt my productivity will pick up with the number of consecutive hours Scarlet sleeps.

I think I can...I think I can...

2011-12-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

10 days left...
The quilt top for Steiger's new big boy bed is complete and ready to be basted, quilted, and bound.

He picked out most of the fabrics, and I'm happy to say this quilt was an all stash quilt. :)

I pulled out my Christmas Bee quilt from last year... debating whether I want to try to finish it, but I think I will... (try that is)

I've decided that because she is too young to know any different, and this is the only Christmas where she will actually be inexpensive, Scarlet's quilt will probably wait... as it still needs borders and the rest.

Scarlet has become my little sewing buddy, as she has learned how to sleep in her swing. ♥ (Steiger never would)

I miss her when she sleeps (and have been known to wake her up at times), so this is nice, because I can still see her.

Off to play with Steiger while Scarlet is still napping!

Merry early Christmas!

pink and red

2011-11-25T17:35:00.000-08:00

A happy (belated) Thanksgiving from our family!

I haven't been sleeping much, but we are doing really well. :) Thank you to those who have been checking on us!

Baby girl turns seven weeks tomorrow (wow). She and I have big plans to hit JoAnn's and get a good deal on batting (hopefully there's some left!)

Lately she's working on her smiling (and Mommy's working on capturing it).

(and you can see how her eating every 2 1/2 hours around the clock is giving her a nice little double chin).

She's oh so snuggly...

and does the cutest little stretches.

(I swear, if anything gets me to have a third baby, it will be these adorable newborn stretches)

I've done a little bit of sewing (it's taken me about a week/block). ;)

This will be for Scarlet's bedding set. (It's Moda's Sophie collection, paired with chenille)

My goal is for Steiger and Scarlet both to get new bed sets for Christmas... hopefully I make it!

And here's our recipe for pink salad (aka "Overnight Cranberry Salad")

1 lb. fresh cranberries
2-3 apples
1/2 lb. miniature marshmallows
1 c. sugar
2 c. freshly whipped cream

Core apples (can peel, but we don't). Chop apples and cranberries well (I pulse them in a food processor). Add marshmallows and sugar (I use less sugar than it calls for). Mix together and let it sit overnight. Next day, fold in the whipped cream... Delicious (and so easy!)

Welcome miss Scarlet Grace

2011-10-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

Scarlet Grace
Born 10.7.11 at 5:27 am
7 lbs, 11 oz. 21 inches

Friday morning, I got to send the mass text message I've been praying to send -- "It's a Girl! It's a VBAC!"

Miss Scarlet Grace was born Friday, October 7 at 5:27 am after a very fast, furious, and completely natural labor and delivery (was in transition before we got in the car, in transition for our 45 minute car ride and showed up at the hospital completely dilated...yay!)

My (incredibly skeptical) OB came in to the delivery room while I was crowning (I also had a midwife, who met us in the hospital parking lot, and kept everyone away to let me labor down a little more until I really was feeling a spontaneous urge to push).

As I was pushing, I told everyone not to tell me what the baby was, because I wanted to find out for myself.

Seeing, and holding my little girl was truly the stuff of dreams come true... my own little miracle. And thus her middle name.

I'll be writing up her whole birth story later, but in the mean time, this is our first family picture -- just a few hours after birth Friday (taken on my mom's iphone because our camera was MIA after the faster than expected onset of labor). I was on a high all that day (and got no sleep).

Some of you have followed my story, and know I had invested heart, soul, and body in to doing what I could to let this birth go differently than things had gone with my son, and it all still feels overwhelmingly blessed.

Steiger loves her.

Big brother meeting her the first time

He calls her "his baby." (And he's the one who "knew" we were having a girl)

Daddy loves her...

But she's definitely Mommy's girl.

Thank you for all your love and support during this pregnancy! I'll get pictures of her with her quilt soon (it rained yesterday)...

In the mean time, we're doing really well.... just the normal new mommy stuff (you know, sore bottom, sore boobies, and no sleep) to navigate. I'll take it! And I've decided pink looks good on me. :)

If you want to read our story from my midwife's perspective -- you can see it here.

an impulse project for baby

2011-09-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

I'm the appointment queen these days...

And because two of my appointments are a block or two away from my local quilt shop, I stopped in and bought a little kit for this blanket.

I had a crush on this Joel Dewberry Heirloom voile, and when I saw it combined with an oh so soft, low-pile creamy colored linen, I bought it.

Basted the next day, quilted it with an all-over meander last night, and got the binding on this morning.

If you'll notice the rice behind my husband is turning golden... almost harvest time, maybe this week...

If you ask my son when this baby's coming, he'll tell you at "harvester time."

On Tuesday, UPS is set to deliver the backing fabric for this quilt... hopefully I'll manage to finish it!

a foodie post... (with raspberry cream cheese coffee cake recipe)

2011-09-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

Not a lot of sewing going on here...

but I did have a few food related somethings to share. :)

We have a lot of tomato plants, with a lot of tomatoes. And my husband loves tomato sauce... (gotta have that lycopene, right?), so I wanted to make some. Trouble is, peeling and seeding is a pain for me; I just hate doing it and it's messy.

With inspiration from my friend Amanda, I washed,

Chopped (skin, seeds and all), added some basil, salt, pepper and onion and simmered.

Threw it in the blender (we have a fancy-pants VitaMix blender my mom gave me; Amanda uses a hand-held immersion blender to make hers), and then in to zip-loc bags and in to the freezer. They smelled delicious, and were so easy.

_______________________

Sunday morning, I made my husband's favorite breakfast -- a raspberry cream cheese coffee cake (we eat this every Christmas morning).

Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

3 oz. cream cheese

4 T. butter

2 c. biscuit mix

1/3 c. milk

1/2 c. raspberry preserves (we use seedless - and you can use a bit less too)

1 c. powdered sugar

1 to 2 T. milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix the cream cheese, butter, and biscuit mix until crumbly. Blend in 1/3 c. milk. Knead on floured surface 8 to 10 strokes. Roll to approx. 8" x 12" rectangle and turn onto a greased baking sheet. Spread with raspberry preserves down the center of dough. Make 2 1/2" cuts at 1" intervals on long sides; fold strips over filling, sealing well.

Bake at 425 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Make glaze with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, and drizzle over warm coffee cake.

Serve and enjoy.

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And lastly, since I haven't had a pumpkin spice latte yet, I decided to make some pumpkin spice caramel corn (again, inspired by Amanda). :)

Recipe here.

Enjoy! 36 1/2 weeks now... (Steiger came at 38, 1 day... we'll see what this baby has in mind, but I'm getting large!)

And baby... if you're a boy...

2011-09-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

...then this will be your quilt.

I made it with sweet little puppy dogs, and colors that I thought were as handsome as you will be. And I threw in lots of contrast... so you'll move your little eyes over all the different pieces.

The fabric is as soft as you'll be.

Even on the back.

Your big brother is getting excited to meet you. Last night he was carrying his teddy bears around, telling me that he was holding his baby brother or sister, and laying them down gently, and setting them next to him to watch Finding Nemo. (Though he is rather convinced you're a girl.)

Truth is baby, we're all exited to meet you.

We're doing all we can to give you a happy entry in to the world.

Even if I can't believe how soon it is going to be.

------------------------

Specs for my bloggy friends -

The colors were inspired by Aneela's puppy dog Pips.

Pattern is a modified Bento -- measurements courtesy of Kelly... (she lists them here)

The border is a gorgeous Slatey blue Cross Weave from Moda.

Quilted in an all over stipple/meander, and bound with some French General wovens.

♥

on Quilt Story today...

2011-09-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Heather and Megan have featured my "if you're a girl" quilt on Quilt Story today. :) (If you're new here... hello). :)

It inspired me to sit down and start quilting the "If you're a boy" quilt.

I have to say something I love about these two quilts -- they are both so "me." Oftentimes I make things based on what I think other people would like (I make a lot of gifts), but these two quilts... I picked what I loved (in gender specific colors of course), and went with it. Actually -- I did that with my "hospital quilt" too...

We hit 34 weeks yesterday, and I am feeling it. I need to take a 34 week picture, like I did with Steiger...

Yesterday my house smelled like Thanksgiving. I baked a turkey and made a big batch of gravy (mmmm....), and had a chicken (for chicken 'n dumplings) in the crock pot. Today I need to finish the chicken 'n dumplings, make turkey soup, and make lasagna. The freezer meal prep begins... (and the husband has been given strict instructions not to touch them until AFTER this baby is born). I think I need to plan a trip to my grandma's swimming pool in there too... and a nap too, of course. ;)

♥

(I have to admit though -- even though I'm still pretty nervous about labor and how everything's going to go, I'm getting pretty excited to hold this sweet babe... and see who it is hanging out in there with me)

big and boring.

2011-08-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

This post serves a purpose no greater than a way to connect with my bloggy friends. I have very little sewing related to share, but figured I might say hello anyway. :)

I knew there was a good reason part of me feared the end of pregnancy.

I'm huge.

Here, I'll show you a picture from camping a week or so ago.

You'll never guess what happened to us while we were camping.

I've whined about this before, but we got attacked by squirrels while we were camping.

THIS IS THE SEVENTH TIME!!!

The car is still being worked on, going through insurance takes longer, but at least it's covered.

It cut our little camping adventure short by a day, which was a big bummer, but thankfully, Jay's parents were there to rescue us, and drive us back down the mountain (they had come up to visit for the day).

*sigh*

(I told you I was huge - and no, Steiger wasn't in to the family picture)

In happy news --

- I got the "If it's a boy" quilt basted, and hope to quilt tonight.

- I have two fabric packages coming in the mail this week -- Secret Garden from Sew Love Fabrics (I pre-ordered it), and some Sophie from Burgundy Buttons. I have been in love with this particular print for quite some time... (and have an entire girly room built around it in my mind).

- I've been swimming almost every day... it feels so good on this belly, and I'm hoping it will keep me in some form of shape for labor. :)

- I've also been napping. Napping is so sweet. :)

- My friend Amanda is coming to sew with me...yes, the Farmer's wife chica.

Anyway, not much substance here, but I miss everyone. :)

♥, Tracey

Miss Molly's Petals quilt

2011-08-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Other than cooking a baby -- this was a big project for me this summer.

My niece Molly was moving in to her big girl bed, and my brother and sister-in-law hired me to make her quilt.

It is a double size, but has a long drop, so the quilt ended up measuring queen size in the end, and was definitely the biggest quilt I've ever done myself.

So big, in fact, it was hard to get a good picture.

The fabrics are all from Riley Blake (Sweet Divinity and Quite Contrary), so I decided to enter it in to the Riley Blake contest... (I wasn't chosen as a finalist, but my friend Amanda was... so vote for her!)

The pattern is Camille's Marmalade.

I resized things a bit so that it would fit her bed perfectly.

And it does.

Because my sister-in-law wanted a scrappy look (rather than using a consistent solid like in the original pattern), each piece had to be carefully planned in conjunction with all the others.

I quilted it at my friend Amanda's house (she has a sit-down long arm) with an all over loopy design.

I am so happy to say that they love it. ♥

WIP Wednesday - folding fabric

2011-08-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

I have a real problem when it comes to getting my laundry off the couch and in to whichever drawer or cabinet it may belong to. Normally, it sits for quite some time until I begrudgingly fold them, and hope that I can beg Jay to put them away for me. It all goes back to my childhood... From the time I was eight years old, I did virtually all the folding for my family, until I left for college. If you know anything about high school boys, you know... that's a lot of clothes.

Anyway.

The kind of folding I've been working on this week isn't that kind.

I have stored my fabric in plastic totes. The trouble with those plastic totes is that, in order to not have to climb in to the closet to get them... I leave them out. Then, digging through all the fabric to find what I'm looking for... well, that wasn't always easy either. So after promising my husband over and over that the fabric all over the house situation could be improved, he went and picked up a new (to me) hutch from my mom's storage shed.

And I've got four totes down, with a couple more to go.

Here it is...

On the top I put my "blenders" -- sorted pretty much by color. The top shelves have the 1/2 yards (or whatever is cut to the WOF), the bottom shelf has my neutrals, solids, and fat quarter size pieces (far right are my French General pieces too).

I'm making "mini bolts" for the bottom shelves.

I started earlier today, after the UPS man brought my comic book boards (yes, I do like French General).

And then we went swimming (because swimming, while pregnant, feels SO good I can't even say)...

So these neutrals are still waiting for me.

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In other news...

32 weeks tomorrow.

Linking to Lee's

Speaking of Lee -- She has entered a beautiful fabric in a contest... You should go vote for her here.

This is her fabric swatch... so cute methinks.

Speaking of contests... I entered my niece's quilt in Riley Blake's "Cruisin'" contest... You can see it here, and vote for me in a couple days, should you be so moved. :)

(I'll do a full post then, but it really turned out cute).

I made a cream pie last week.

and put strawberries on it.

Thank you for all the love on maybe baby boy's quilt (and the belly too). I really need to find me some energy to get that one, and this one all finished! Steiger decided to break his water at 38 weeks... which gives me 6 weeks to go! Eeps!

maybe baby boy's quilt top (and belly thoughts/laughs)

2011-08-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

I got it done! (and I really do have Rapunzel to thank... Mommy's five or more potty trips/night mean Mommy needs a nap when Steiger is napping)

Now I need to get myself to JoAnn's, coupon in hand, and buy more batting. I had 24 yards that are now gone. I *might* have some scraps big enough to finish it though, but I'm pretty sure I used all the baby size ones... (plus I need batting for baby's first quilt)

I'm really glad I cut it up (you can see how it looked before in that link), but I think I'm going to leave the blocks uncut for Steiger's new bed quilt. Thank you again to Kelly for the inspiration and cutting dimensions. :)

I decided to add a small border in a Steely blue Moda Crossweave... just because I thought it was pretty, and I didn't want the girl quilt to be bigger than the boy quilt.

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And now for a few belly thoughts --

It has started again. When I was pregnant with Steiger, I got the comments,

"Oh, you must be due any day now." I started lying to people and saying, "yep," after I saw the horrified faces when I replied that I still had a couple months to go.

I even got congratulated on twins AT A BABY STORE OF ALL PLACES!!!

So far, it's the Grandmas (Great-Grandmas for the babies) who have been making the comments...

My own Grandma - "Well I just don't know how you're going to keep growing for two more months; you are huge already."

The Grandma-in-law (while we were getting pics) - "Just don't let her turn sideways..."

still in my jammies this morning

My favorite comments were from when I was pregnant with Steiger, and I was picking up some Chinese takeout for Jay...

(this must be read with a Chinese accent)

"Oh, you must be ready to have baby very soon."

"No, not until April."

"Oh... twins."

"No, just one."

"Well I think Daddy is a very big man then."

(really, I think I'm just short, and baby has nowhere to go but out -- thankfully though, I don't get baby under my ribs; that doesn't sound comfortable)

---------------------

It felt good to get the quilt top done for (maybe) Baby Boy. I'm doing my best to prepare for baby's arrival, but unlike with Steiger, there is no room to get ready (baby will be with us and then Steiger and baby will share a room until we move), and things like that. The pregnancy has been going quite well (for which I'm grateful)... but making this quilt top was kind of emotional for me. I know it is partially because it is coinciding with the stage in pregnancy where daily life starts to get harder, but I also think it's starting to become more real to me that we're having another baby. I've been increasingly aware that my Steiger is getting bigger, and life for us will be changing, but also that I will be the one having this baby! I vacillate between feeling indifferent, excited, and terrified (tell me that's normal).

I am thankful because I have a wonderful midwife I'm working with this time... someone who understands that preparing to have a baby, especially with a hopeful VBAC, involves more than collecting urine, weighing you, and measuring the tummy. I am grateful she will be on my side when the time comes for baby to come... but I am still pretty nervous about the whole thing. We previous c-section mamas have different things to navigate while preparing for baby's arrival, especially while living in an area where all the local hospitals "ban" babies from coming out of a vagina. Labor involves so many unknowns at this point, including where we will be (hospital isn't the friendliest place with aforementioned ban).

This afternoon I'm off to a prenatal yoga class... because Steiger's difficulty with coming out had to do with his position, this will help me move to get that baby turned the right way. I'm looking forward to everything about it except for the drive (remember, we live out in farm land.).

I'm feeling quite introspective... anyway...and just praying for a healthy baby with, hopefully, a complication free entry in to the world. God willing...

Finally inspired - for a baby boy

2011-08-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

Two nights ago, during potty trip number three or four, while I lay awake waiting for this little one to settle in (I've got a wiggler in there), I was suddenly inspired for how to make the quilt if this baby is a boy (as Daddy strongly believes).

I had an idea a while back, but I wasn't quite settled on it... and Steiger really liked the little trains and helicopters, so I was going to make a quilt for him. My intention was to then make two matching quilts, but then if this baby is a girl, Steiger would have two matching quilts... so I procrastinated.

And I'm glad I did.

I started with the little dogs from Aneela's Pips (I love those little doggies), and added fabric from there in a palette of aqua, steel blue, gray, red, and chocolate brown.

Kelly provided the motivation and measurements, and I got the blocks done last night and today (Steiger has taken a liking to the movie Tangled which I may or may not have taken advantage of this morning)...

I really like them.

Now you just need to talk me in to cutting them up!

That definitely was a productive middle of the night potty break.

Baby #2's first quilt top

2011-07-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

I finished (minus trimming up the sides) baby #2's "Hospital" quilt while we were on vacation this week.

And since it's been so quiet around here, I decided to show you now rather than wait for it to be all the way finished.

This was the stack of fabric I started with:

A bunch of equilateral triangles later (cut at 60 degree angle on 4 1/2" wide strips),
and this is my quilt for baby number two... whether there is a little he or she growing in there.

I'll give you more beach pictures soon, but we sure did enjoy our family time and cool weather.

And we've passed 29 weeks... if this baby comes when Steiger came, that means I've got just under 9 to go...

(For inquiring minds -- 29 weeks with Steiger)

WIP Wednesday - accessorizing

2011-07-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

It's been busy around here!

First off, I finished my niece's big girl bed quilt. It was a chore for sure! I have to give a special thanks to my friend Amanda for all the help letting me use her machine to quilt it.

I won't show the whole thing yet, because my sister-in-law (and brother and nieces) are coming this Friday... and I want her to be a little bit surprised. :)

But I've been working on accessorizing the quilt.

So far, I've got a pillow case (think I'll do another, but with some white fabric and a pretty band), some scallops for bunting (need to crank out a few more), and a little throw pillow.

The pillow cover I made last night.

Steiger really likes the quilt, and tells me to take his picture whenever it's on the ground.

______________________________

I've made some progress on my "Hospital" quilt.

And I still need a design wall.

_______________________________

Finally, I'm working on accessorizing myself a little.

I'm ~~cursing~~ cutting interfacing for this Birdie Sling bag currently.

I just love that Joel Dewberry Damask.

_________________________________________

Report:

Finished: "If it's a girl quilt"

- Niece's big girl quilt

Others in progress -

- Triangle "Hospital" quilt ( more piecing done)

- "If it's a boy" quilt for baby and coordinating one for Steiger (piecing blocks) - nothing new, must prioritize (Steiger carries around the fabric and tells me to make him his quilt often)

- Pickledish (6 of 20 blocks done - hoping to make it King-sized) - stalled

- Chubby Stars (1/5 of the top is done; many of the blocks are made - I'm taking this one with me on vacation to work on!) - still going to take it on vacation!

- French General Schnibbles (needs borders - it's bigger than in that link) - stalled

- Nicey Jane squares (needs backing, quilting, and binding) - might pull this one out this week, but I need to buy batting, so we'll see

- Divas quilt (debating whether to make this any bigger) - stalled

- Breakfast at Tiffany's Rob Peter (already basted!) - will undoubtedly quilt soon

- Christmas quilt (debating a border, and needs backing)

- Boy version of Libby's quilt for Bake Shop - top is pieced!

Linking to Lee's!

Dear baby... if you're a girl...

2011-07-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

...then this will be your quilt.

And if you are a girl, I will love watching you work to hold your head up, and look at those stars...

And I will love seeing you snuggle in all its softness.

And drag it all around the house (your big brother is getting a head start - you might have to fight him off).

I loved making this for you little one... if it is yours

(and if you're a boy, I'm keeping it, because I love it).

Your daddy is sure you're a boy... just as sure as I was about your brother...

We've made it to the final trimester! And even though it's still not really real to me that there will actually be another kiddo in our house, you are showing proof of yourself. :)

(Here's what your brother looked like at week 26)

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Specs for my bloggy friends -

Pattern: Swoon by Thimble Blossoms (love this pattern)

Fabric: Modern Meadow with City Weekend, Farmdale with Hideaway, Katie Jump Rope with DS quilts, and Meadowsweet 2 with Sunkissed.

Binding: DS quilts tile

Quilting (my favorite I've done so far) - a cross hatch at one inch intervals. I didn't plan it, but it makes an almost perfect grid all over the whole quilt -- evenly dividing the blocks and the quadrants... that was a happy, unplanned coincidence.

WIP Wednesday - so sweet...

2011-07-05T10:22:00.001-07:00

... it'll make your teeth hurt. :)

(SHARON - DON'T READ!)

I'm posting this early, because I can never seem to get my act together ON Wednesday to post (at least, not as often as I'd like).

Here we go -

Biggest project right now is my niece Molly's big girl bed quilt. I showed a little preview before, and I apologize for the poor lighting for these (it was too late in the day), but here is the completed quilt top.
I made it for a double bed, and the plan was to have the blocks sit on the bed top, with the white frame on the edge, and border for the drop. Trouble is -- it's a high drop, and I added a couple inches all around to account for shrinkage (I never pre-wash)... this quilt top currently measures 89" x 106" !! I lost my JoAnn's coupon which I need to pick up batting, but I'm got a plan for the backing in place, and a coupon ready for the 10th. This needs to be done by the 15th (and I'll be seeing the midnight Harry Potter, so really, it has to be done on the 14th).

After completing this top, I needed something more size manageable.

I pulled out my "If it's a girl quilt top,"

Pieced the backing, and got the quilting done yesterday and this morning (I was declaring my independence from big quilts)...

Here's a little preview of the quilting... I just need to pick out my binding fabric.

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Others in progress -

- Triangle "Hospital" quilt (piecing)

- "If it's a boy" quilt for baby and coordinating one for Steiger (piecing blocks)

- Pickledish (6 of 20 blocks done - hoping to make it King-sized)

- Chubby Stars (1/5 of the top is done; many of the blocks are made - I'm taking this one with me on vacation to work on!)

- French General Schnibbles (needs borders - it's bigger than in that link)

- Nicey Jane squares (needs backing, quilting, and binding)

- Divas quilt (debating whether to make this any bigger)

- Breakfast at Tiffany's Rob Peter (already basted!)

- Christmas quilt (debating a border, and needs backing)

- Boy version of Libby's quilt for Bake Shop

Linking to Lee's WIP Wednesday (as soon as tomorrow comes). :)

I think I've got enough to keep me busy for a while!

Hi Friends! :)

2011-06-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

A little update, in bullet form, for my friends.

I finished a quilt for my cousin's soon to be born baby boy -- Jax

She loved it, and it goes perfectly with their Red Sox theme.

I made a little bunting to go with it with the other leftover triangles.
My good friend Kelly correctly surmised that I quilted it with vertical lines to give it the pin stripe look of a baseball uniform (and to keep things from getting too complicated). ;)
It is my husband's Spray Season (I capitalized it for good reason - the thing deserves its own capital letters). He leaves by 5 am, and gets home between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. He is working ridiculously hard.
I tend to lose it a little bit during this time of year, along with swearing off all aspects of country living, so I've been taking naps during the babe's nap-time... thus the quiet blog for the last couple weeks.
He'll be done some time in the middle of July; days off only happen if it's windy.
I had the most wonderful appointment with my midwife last week. She specializes in home-births, but because we live so far from the hospital, she will be working as my doula and giving me concurrent care on my VBAC journey. She (TMI) told me I have a great, roomy pelvis, and I've been glowing ever since.
Grandma watched Steiger for that appointment, as well as for my appointment for the two hour glucose test. Not a fun test, and not the best way to test pregnant women for gestational diabetes in my opinion, but since I am declining major surgery, I am picking my battles, and I did the test. I passed (*phew* One less thing to worry about!)
My older brother and sister-in-law and nieces are coming in July. I will get to meet my new niece Libby, and give her her quilt.
My SIL has asked me to make my niece Molly her big girl bed quilt. I'm working on it, and need to finish it up in the next couple weeks!

The fabric is Riley Blake (Sweet Divinity and Quite Contrary), pattern is Thimble Blossoms Marmalade, and it's taking me quite a while because each petal and piece has to be planned in conjunction with all the pieces around it.
But it's cute. :)

I got my Goodie Bag Swap bag from Linda!

She spoiled me... (bag is Anna Maria's Sidewalk Satchel, and the goodies are just fun!)

Here's a link to the bag I sent.
I drank the Kool-Aid and ordered my book.
I got to have a girlie day with Amanda a couple weeks ago, and hope to have a sew date soon. :) She's even cuter and more genuine in person than on her blog... we went to two quilt shops, a shoe store, wandered the farmer's market, a cosmetics salon, and a yummy salad place for lunch... oh! and frozen yogurt. It was a good day. :)
I've got an apricot pie in the oven that I am going to photograph before I post this. I hope it looks (and tastes) as good as E's pies.

Re: the bun in the oven -- I'm at 24 1/2 weeks.

The belly's feeling big, and making me a little nervous for where it'll be in another three months... but the baby's super wiggly, which always makes me happy.

With ♥ from farm country!

-Tracey

P.S. The winner from my giveaway forever ago, is The One & Only... I will email you. :)

All the pretty triangles...

2011-06-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

Steiger wants to live outside.

Other than gardening, that means Mommy doesn't get much done...

So today, we compromised. And I accomplished this:

Yes, that is right... While Steiger rode his four-wheeler,

Mommy got her extension cord, portable table, pretty triangles (from this fabric) and set up shop.

The deal was that when we had sunshine on the table, we moved to the back (where he played with the hose, and the sewing machine did not follow...neither did the camera).

These are in no particular layout whatsoever yet, just sewn together however... but I am going to love this Bringing Baby Home quilt.

In my opinion, gender neutral is difficult to achieve, but by-golly, I think I've done it.

♥

WIP Wednesday - 6.8.11

2011-06-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all the name suggestions! There are some to run by the hubs later! :) (Though I just wish he would agree to Dane Allen already... but maybe it will be a girl!). :)

I had some finishes this week (in part thanks to y'all's encouragement)

If you haven't seen it -- Scroll down or click here to see my niece Libby's diamond quilt. It was my own design, and though it gave me some trouble, I am quite proud of it. :)

I also finished the bag for my Goodie Bag Swap, and got it in the mail!

The pattern is Amy Butler's Cosmo bag from Style Stitches, and holy interfacing batman!! I think each piece is interfaced, but it did turn out nicely.

The outside is a Michael Miller damask and dot, and I lined it with some Riley Blake Sugar and Spice.

I hope my partner is as much of an aqua and red fan as I think she is. :)
And I hope she likes big bags too... this one's almost as big as a two year old.

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Laugh at with me if you'd like, but I started a new project.

Inspired by the Honey Palette in Tula's new Prince Charming...

This little montage, Adrianne's baby mish-mash quilt, and this gorgeous quilt

I pulled some fabric for my "take to the hospital" quilt... plan is to make it perfect whether we have a boy or a girl...

If Steiger goes to bed at a decent time, I'll have a shot of progress for this one soon!

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I need to finish a quilt for my older niece and cousin's baby by the end of this month... so I hope to have plenty to show you soon! :)

Oh! I almost forgot -- I'll get the giveaway winner posted ASAP (probably tonight), and I got a hair-cut today.

22 weeks here...

Linking up with Lee!

It's a...

2011-06-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

Baby!

There were times I doubted our resolve, but we made it through our ultrasound on Friday without peeking between the legs.

And I'm thrilled with a healthy baby... really and truly.

Jay is sure there's a boy in there, and that is what I think too, but I was completely wrong with Steiger, so I don't trust myself. This baby is measuring right on schedule (Steiger was about a week ahead), so that makes me think maybe there's a chance it's a girl. During our sonogram, he or she kept playing peek-a-boo with us, and had two hands covering the face most of the time. The tech had to work hard for those shots. :)

You know, it's funny... when I was pregnant with Steiger, I really wanted to find out. My priorities though have shifted now. After the ordeal that was my son's entry in to the world, the infertility struggles of those close to me, the softness and humility that comes from actually being a mom, I really don't care what gender this babe is. (Besides, I'm having too much fun planning my "If it's a boy" and "If it's a girl" quilts!)

My prayers now are that the baby is healthy and strong, and that he or she meets us without surgery or complication. If we do need medical intervention, I just want it to be because it is truly necessary, and not because of convenience, an arbitrary ban/policy, or poor medical care. I'm doing what I can on my end to take care of those things; I suppose I have to trust God with the rest... If you're the praying kind, I covet all your prayers to that end. ♥

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I just noticed the follower number is precariously close to reaching a new milestone, and I feel like celebrating the end of school, and a healthy so far pregnancy...

Let's see... I'll give away a half yard each of the dots in the DS Quilts collection. They're really cute, and appropriate beings that one is more "boy" and one is more "girly."

To enter:

- Leave a comment with a boy name suggestion (we're good for girl names, but really stuck with boy names; how do you follow a name like Steiger?)

- Followers get an extra entry. I think I'll close this on Wednesday.

Now I need to get back to work on finishing up my Goodie Bag Swap ... it's going well so far, but needs to be mailed soon!

(Amy Butler's Cosmo bag from Style Stitches)

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* I had a request that I let you know which ones I like... well let's just say that if you and I were naming this baby we'd be great! Jay and I only agreed on Steiger when he was born. We didn't even agree on the middle name, but Jay gave me my way and allowed his first name as Steiger's middle name. If I was naming the next one, he'd be "Dane Allen" ... but Jay doesn't like the name Dane. I really want to have a name before labor, because whatever happens, it's bound to be intense and really emotional... I can see that cute husband of mine giving me the name I like because he is either so dang proud of me, or wants to give me some relief (or a mixture of both). I plan to go over these suggestions with him after Steiger goes to bed, so keep 'em coming! :)

* The problem of finding a boys' name is compounded by our last name of "Jacobsen." It eliminates all the "son" names, and some of the "en" names.

* I've also been a teacher for 6-ish years; I've met a lot of students, and some names are inextricably tied to those pupils of mine... for better or worse. ;)