Repurposing Crib Bumper Pad Cover

I am cleaning closets again today.  I just finished the girl's closet.  This is the window in their closet, their closet could almost be a small room!  I found Haley's crib bumper pad cover that I made her crumpled up under a pile of old clothes.  I am sure you can tell it was crumpled. lol  But I had this idea, I think it turned out to be good one, to make it into a valance for their closet. I really didn't want to throw it out or give it away because I had made it.  I love it.  I just need to iron it, but that will have to wait until all the closets are cleaned out.  I have already cleared out 4 bags of clothes to give to the Salvation Army and our neighbor!  I can't believe how much I have just been putting away to go through for another day.

My sweet baby Haley!  In her crib when everything was still brand new.

Unfinished Projects Finished

I mentioned last time that we are moving.  I am in the process of cleaning out closets and rooms.  I am diligently working on my sewing area.  I go through a drawer and find lost fabric and start a new project.  This is how I am cleaning my fabric up.  I am using it!  In my drawer today I found one unfinished quilt top and 2 quilt squares.  So I sewed them up and made 2 quick pillows for my 2 year old. I can't wait for him to wake up from his nap so I can give them to him.  I also finished another quilt last night.  I found a pile of squares and quilt blocks a few weeks ago and made them into the quilt they were supposed to be.  This will be a very special gift so I can't post pictures yet.  But it turned out amazing!  I am having so much fun!  So here are my pillows I made during nap time today!

Side one of the little pillow.  

Side two!  I love that I found these squares because they match his quilted wall hanging in him room perfectly.

This was a quilt I was never very happy with because I didn't like the green.  I think it is great as a pillow case.  Now it is more useful too.  I may need a longer pillow for it.  

All Boy Quilt

We have amazing neighbors here.  We love our house, but our neighbors make living here so much fun.  The kids have so many friends in all the houses around us.  Living here at this time in our life with 4 little ones will always be special to me.  

One of our neighbors in particular has become very close to our family.  It will be so hard to say goodbye when we move.  Which I don't think I have mentioned yet on my blog.  My husband is being medically retired from the army and we are moving this summer back to Arizona.  It has all been very sudden.  I am still trying to understand everything that is going on.

So for my therapy I am making quilts again.  It really helps me to remain calm when I am stressed.  It is also my way of cleaning my sewing room.  I don't think that makes sense, but my thought is, if I make more quilts I will have less fabric to move. :)  Sounds like a great plan to me.  Plus I don't like cleaning my sewing area because I always get distracted by new fabric and then find myself in a new project with a bigger mess around me.  I really need help in the organization department! lol

So I have distracted thoughts today!  Back to this amazing All Boy quilt I made!  I made this for a very special boy that I help get on the bus every morning for our great friends and neighbors.  I wanted to make him a quilt that he would love to sit and look at, enjoy, and was super soft and cozy.  I knew he loved colors, super heros, cars, and balls.  I had so much fun making this quilt for him.  

My kids asked me how I would even know if he liked this quilt because he can't talk.  I said he shows emotion and I would know.  I wish I had the camera so I could have taken a picture of his bright smile when he saw the quilt.  He loved it!  He beamed with happiness and it was such an amazing feeling for me to watch. He was so excited over all the colors and started pointing out all the little details I hoped he would notice!  He took the quilt to the floor and laid it on his lap and started petting it and pointing to himself with a big smile.  This moment was a blessing to me as much as it was to him.  This is why I love to quilt.  He can snuggle in this quilt and feel safe, warm and loved and I have these feelings in my heart knowing this.

I used flannel for the border and throughout the quilt.  So there are textures to the quilt on the top.  The back is also super soft snuggly flannel.

Making our Christmas Gifts

I can finally publish this!  I forgot I hadn't!  These are the gifts my daughter created for her Oma, Abuelita, and Great Grandma for Christmas.  She drew her picture, chose the fabric, traced it onto the applique sheet, cut it out, and placed it onto the background fabric.  I then ironed it onto the background fabric and did the sewing and quilting.  She was so proud of her gifts and they were all from her.  She even signed the back.  I am so proud of my little sewer.  She inspires me!

Her drawing.  This one is for her Great Grandma.

All ironed on and ready for me to sew.

I love her color choices.

Her drawing. This one is for her Oma.

All ready for me to sew.

Her drawing of an angel.  This is for her Abuelita.

Finished!

She drew the eyes, nose and mouth.

Finishing touch was signing the back!

Finished for Great Grandma!

I love her owl!  She drew this all by herself too!  And she is 6. :)  

Teaching My Kids To Sew While it Snows

I know this isn't a great picture, but I only had my phone handy.  

It has been a cold January here and we have had a few snow days that canceled school.  On these canceled school days I try to get creative with the kids so we don't all go crazy.  I thought why not try hand sewing.  They will all sit still nicely on the couch and sew little pictures onto fabric.  To my surprise it worked and my son wanted to stay up all night until he finished his.  My little Haley who is 4 became frustrated with the project and didn't last very long.  I think this is a great idea for 6 and up.  I was proud of her for trying though.  I let them each pick out a stencil design and I stenciled it onto the fabric with a marker that disappears with water.  Brian let Haley pick out his design.  He really can be sweet.  I used 3 threads of colored floss and larger needles.  They got the hang of it real quick.

I am very proud of them and their first hand stitching project. 

Earlier that day we played!

Jacob's first time in the snow or at least realizing it is snow.  He was ok with it as long as it didn't touch him.

Had to add this one.  He got a bath in the sink because of a very bad diaper rash. He still looks little to me. :)

Applique Art

I went to my local quilt shop to pick up my quilt I had quilted.  (How many times can you use the word quilt in a single sentence! lol) It turned out amazing.  I will take pictures tomorrow!  But I was inspired while I was there.  They had these amazing hand appliquéd wall hangings for sale.  I would love to be able to make art like this with my fabric.  This is something I actually dream of doing.  I hope I will be able to, just right now is not that time.  I will keep putting my dreams in my heart and journal and prayers until I have the time to focus on them.  But one day I will make art like this!

  

Jesus Storybook Bible Reading Plan

This month we are going to be reading out of our Jesus Storybook Bible.  I found this great reading plan using our favorite bible.  Here is our reading plan.

I also loved this same site for great ideas for the family to celebrate this advent season.  I will keep these ideas in mind for next year.