April 6

We are starting to feel okay again and I feel like posting a few happy things to share with you. 

I recently decided that a nice, therapeutic thing for me to do was to go sew a quilt. When I was home for Christmas I had asked my stepmom for a few of my Dad's shirts to make a memory quilt for her. I only got five so was concerned about repetition, but adding photos printed on fabric proved to be a winning solve. I measured the average span of useable fabric within the body of each shirt and ended up getting 12 7.25" squares from each. I SWEAR by the printable fabric sheets from Dritz called Printed Treasures. They do a fantastic job staying vibrant in the washer and dryer.Sometimes you can find them very cheap on ebay.

After I cut all my squares I started tossing them up on the 'design board' (two sliding closet doors wrapped in flannel).

I like to look at the photo on the computer screen before I proceed...I always end up seeing something that I didn't see in person (like the two blue blocks on the left right next to each other). 

I took step by step photos but on an 8GB sd card that locks up this old computer of mine so I'll do my best to describe what I did. I was concerned about marrying the knit fabrics from the tshirts to the woven fabric of the photos, and I didn't want thick seam allowances that you would get with joining two layers of knit, so what I did was this: I bought two running lengths of 36" wide muslin. Washed and dried to pre-shrink it. Then just laid each square down and overlapped each other by 1/4". Used 1/2" wide Stitch Witchery around each edge and pressed it down. I set up the squares on the two lengths of muslin just like you see them laid out on the two doors above (except for the slight overlaying I did). Then I'd take the whole 36" wide piece to the sewing machine and ran up and down and side to side each column. (that took a while because I used like a serger stitch.) 

I hadn't realized HOW therapeutic it would really be for me...between pressing my dad's shirts and being reminded of his smell, and going through the photos and remembering all the happy times our family shared in the past...well, let's just say there is a LOT of feeling in this quilt. 

So as you can see, after I placed, pressed and sewed down all the squares on each half, I then pinned the two together and sewed into one right down the center.  

I decided to back it with the better quality fleece that they sell at JoAnn's. Between that, the muslin layer and the knit shirts layer, no batting was required. I did the old-fashioned way of holding all the layers together--I just tied a knot with embroidery thread at each corner.

I've already washed and dried it and sat cuddled up watching tv with it last night. I love the weight and all the happy memories that come from looking down at it. All the kids, grandkids and GREAT grandkids are here, as well as Dad's oldest couple friends and his beloved mother. 

I hope MaryAnn will feel comfort from it. She and my dad were very close for 35+ years. I know she still grieves terribly, having lost my dad plus her only daughter within 6 months of each other,  but hopefully; looking at all the photos and remembering their time together will help her remember how very lucky she was. Many people never get that at all. 

Madison (more accurately; her mom) recently decided that as beautiful as it was, the long LONG hair was just too much to keep up with while working full time, so she now sports a cute little sassy bob.

It had to be cut that short due to a minimum 10inch requirement when donating to Locks of Love. We think she's still adorable and she seems very happy with it as well. 

I was asked to go take pictures of her Easter party at daycare yesterday. 

Everyone managed to find a few eggs on the playground ;-)

One of my favorite bloggers Nanette posted a sweet childhood photo of herself yesterday which prompted me to scan mine.

Of course our mother made the dresses. OH I used to pine for store bought dresses. I guess just because I didn't get them, even though my mother could make anything as beautiful. I'd go to the department store and try them on and put them on layaway. At 9 years old! Get a load of my gloves..even the little basket is the perfect accessory. Makes me sad how much things have changed, but I guess the good news is that kids these days have no idea what they're missing. 

I hope you are enjoying beautiful Spring weather, love, and sunshine wherever you may be. :-)

Happy Easter.

Comments

[Mary Jo Hollinger]

I am using your tutorial on making my own
roman shades.
Your instructions and pics are great.
I would like to know what spacing you would
use for the rings on a shade that is
72" long.
Thank you.
MJ

[toko baju]

This is a great posting I have read. I like your article. Thank you

[nanette]

The easter photos are memory making. Good for you. I'm glad you are starting to feel more like yourself. Doing something like the memory quilt has to help. Nice job.

[georgiapeachez]

Aww, such a sweet post. I love how you solved the quilt conundrum with the images. Perfection. I totally agree that kids these days don't know what they are missing. It's just a bit of sad nostalgia. I have to tell myself too, they just don't know any better. My daughter says every year, "so what are we doing for spring break!" I remember when I was a kid and spring break was just that, a break from school. You played outside and just enjoyed it.
xo, suzy

[sherri]

The quilt is wonderful...what a treasure! Happy Easter and wishing you a wonderful spring!

[cynthia]

What a beautiful memory quilt!