A post I debated writing...

This is a post I was not going to write.  I didn't want to write an "I did this" post, but I was so touched by what happened I have to write a "God did this" post.  That's part of why I write a blog in the first place.

I have previously posted about Bama Bound Quilts.  I wanted to do something to help their tremendous effort to bring comfort in the form of a handmade quilt to children who lost everything in the tornados in Alabama.  I chose this quilt:

 I loved the colors and it was a good neutral size...it would have worked for any age child from birth to 18.  I made the required tote and bought a stuffed animal like the charity required.

 But then I noticed the quilts were going to Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, where the founder of the charity lives.  I think that's great, but I felt really guilty mailing a quilt to another county when I knew people in my own home county had lost their lives, homes, and loved ones.  I took the quilt to my sister and asked if she would find someone who could find a good recipient. 

 My sister took the quilt to a lady at her church who happens to be a teacher in the worst hit little town.  I think about 30 people died and it is a very small town.  The woman chose a girl whose family had lost everything.

 

I got a call from my sister that the girl had especially missed a quilt she had slept with every night of her life.  It was something her grandmother had made that had been lost in the tornado.  She was so happy to have another quilt.  I know it will not replace her grandmother's quilt, but I hope when she looks at it she will remember her grandmother's quilt.

I look back at all the people who did something small.  Michelle who organized the Bama Bound Quilts page and charity (ok, that might not be so small!).  I made the quilt.  My sister knew just who could help us find a recipient, and finally the lady who made the exact right choice for the quilt's new owner.  I look at this and know that only God can orchestrate people who don't even all know each other to do something that turned out so perfectly.  How much He loves that little girl!  She was missing her security blanket and He showed her so lovingly that her true security was with her the whole time...a heavenly Father who cares about the little things that aren't so little to you.  I'm so thankful I got a glimpse into how God works once again...it never fails to amaze me!!

Sewing for babies.

If you read the title and thought I was going to teach babies how to sew (like those "for dummies" books), congratulations, you're as weird as I am.

Everybody I know went and decided to get preggers all at once, so I am scrambling to think of things I can make that are not as time consuming (or costly) as a quilt for each lil' bundle of joy.

Sensory tag blankets.  My oldest helped me with these.  We made 3.  I'm sure most of you could figure this out but if not there is a tutorial for this on the trusty moda bake shop.

I made one ribbon-less variety out of minky and leftover blocks to...

This quilt.  I made string blocks.  I hated them...so busy!  I decided to use some white and make them into HSTs.  It's kind of like a Roman Stripe except the stripes are perpendicular to the center line, not parallel.  Tutorial in the works...

Finally, as a mom I know every baby can never have too many...

BIBS (TUTORIAL HERE)!  Above is a cute print by Alexander Henry called Edgy Veggie.  It makes me squeal with cute overload.

some Riley Blake car fabric...

some Michael Miller fabric.

Can you tell most people are expecting BOYS?  One of those boys will be my new nephew!  Hopefully they will reveal a name soon because if they don't he will be stuck with NewBabyCousin forever...or Scooby...either way, it's not good.

I am ornery: Why I would suck at making custom quilts.

This week I got a request I have received a couple of times before, and it never gets any easier. "Will you make a quilt for me??? I will pay you."

This request never fails to make my stomach churn with panic. I'm not mad at the people asking...let's be clear about that. It's nice that someone thinks you do a nice job.  I know there are tons of quilters who delight in and even seek out commissions. Why does it make me feel so nervous? I have compiled a list of reasons why I would suck at making quilts for money.

1) It's a sweat shop. I hand stitch my binding. I set my seams. I trim every.single.half-square-triangle. Add up all those time consuming things. Subract your materials. Divide by your commission. Ouch, right??

2) Some people do not care enough. My friend Ryan recently brought a handmade quilt to a church picnic. She bought it at a consignment store for $8. That means the owner parted with it for $5 profit. If I could meet the person who made that quilt, I'd give them a hug for that. 

3)Some people care too much If I were a painter, I'd be the person who turned around and walked away (probably cursing in French) when you asked me to paint something to match your couch. I'm not saying I don't care about what you like. I'm saying if your artistic vision is so strong you feel the need to tell me how to do a quilt right down to the pattern and fabric, maybe you should take up quilting. I would be happy to show you how....I mean that!

4)I am completely overwhelmed. I have three kids at home and it's summer. Whoever coined the whole "lazy days of summer" was obviously not a stay at home mom. It was probably a child...or a teacher (like my sister who gets very smug each June). Right now I need to make 2 baby quilts, 2 houndstooth quilts, 2 moda bakeshop quilts (which I always give to my kids), and a Great Pumpkin Halloween quilt (fingers crossed it will be before Halloween!).  These are things I have taken on voluntarily mostly for my family.  I love doing things for my family.  I know those quilts will not end up being priced at $8 in a consignment store. 

5)It's ok to be selfish sometimes.  I say that to convince myself.  I don't actually believe it.  This is what I do for fun.  This is what I do for me.  Some people get a mani pedi.  I piece blocks.   I don't want it to turn into an obligation.  I can get a little fierce guarding my "me thing."

So, guys...have you had any experiences making quilts for people.  How did it turn out?  If you don't do it, how do you kindly let people know?  My inquiring mind is dying to know!

Feedsacks in Modern prints...who knew?

I promised to show y'all my fabric haul from Mississippi.  A lot of things I can't show just yet.  I bought so many things to make bibs and tag blankets for all the baby boys being born and I stuck everything into the washer to pre-wash before taking a picture.  You guys will have to wait for the finished product, but I am so giddy about the cute boy fabric we found!  I found the above stack at one of my mother-in-law's local shops for 2.99 a yard.  It is from Glenna Haley's Rise N Shine for Maywood Fabric Studios.  I like it but the price hadn't been right until 2.99/yard. I'm cheap!

This fabric looked so very familiar.  Then I remembered this:

This is from Denyse Schmidt's Picnic & Fairgrounds for Joann.  Dang, that's close. 

I then looked at the ginghams from both lines.  Very close in look, not as close in scale.

2 designers having the same 2 prints in their respective lines.  Hmmm.  I started googling and found that other people had noticed the same things and started a a Flickr group to spot the modern prints inspired by feedsacks.  It was there I learned that my 2 favorite designers, Sandy Klop and Denyse Schmidt, use this common practice of taking inspiration from old feedsacks.  So long, innocence!  I felt a little crushed.  I don't really understand why some things are labeled reproductions and some things are not.  I think it's a little funny that many people who think 30s repros are yucky would flock to the designer's take on the same prints (and vice versa!).  Obviously I must have a deep seated love for old feedsack designs because that's what I have been drawn to both consciously and inadvertently.  I guess I should be appreciative that these designers are making feedsack prints affordable and easy to find.

Finish: That 70's Quilt

 So longtime bloggie friends will remember this pile of goodness straight out of the 1970's courtesy of my friend/fellow quilter, Vicki.  She organizes our church craft night.   One month was teaching her specialty, applique.  She brought her 80's and 90's stash but left her 70's stash at home because it was "so ugly".  I might have drooled or pleaded...whatever the case, she went home to get her ugly stash.  I was in love.  These are the types of fabrics I remember from my childhood. 

In fact, this fabric from Vicki's stash was on the quilt my mom made when she was pregnant with me.  Vicki gave me whatever I wanted.  I felt a little guilty taking half of everything.  Vicki's sister Alisa told me to just take it all.  I exercised serious restraint. 

  The fabrics were all very dark and close in value, so I wanted to break that up with some fresh white. 

 I added in a couple of modern-day pieces and one 30's reproduction that blended well.

 I kept the quilting very minimal...I just eyeballed diagonal lines through every other white square.  Since the squares are ony 2.5" finished, I didn't mark beyond the first line or two...I just found it unneccessary.

 I love this quilt.  It has already served our family well.

 I found this little cherry block applique at my favorite thrift store for a dime.  I applied it to the backing with a machine kind of off kilter.  Unfortunately, the quilting lines intersected it.  Oh well- stronger label, I guess!

 I found the backing for 50 cents a yard at the same thrift store.  I found food stains from where these were used as tablecloths.  Dear heavens, I HOPE it was a food stain!  Luckily it came out with Biz.  This is a poly/cotton blend.  Normally I am a cotton snob but I think some of the prints on the front are poly/cotton, too.  It's my quilt and I'll use poly blends if I want to!

The binding is a Japanese themed fabric (yeah, I wasn't seeing that either) I got on mega clearance from the LQS.  I think it went to $2 a yard.

This quilt has been to a fireworks show and was bound up while driving through 4 states.  It is now living a more tame life on my oldest son's bed.

De-Stash Sale/Swap

I'm ready to destash a little bit.  I need the space and they money wouldn't hurt, either!  I am willing to swap for American Jane fabrics since that's probably what I'll spend any profits on anyway!

I have 2 of these vintage elephant pillow panels they measure about 15"x16" each side.  I have one more I am holding onto...you know, in case I have a girl grandbaby in 20 years.

Here is the back of the panel.

Included with each panel is a set of coordinates from DS Quilts.  I bought these to make a quilt  with the elephant for a future niece who became a nephew.  Each Elephant kit will include 1 elephant front &back and 1/3 yard of each of these 4 prints.  Total cost per kit: $22 shipped(the elephant alone is selling on etsy for that much)

17 10" squares (layer cake pieces) of Momo's Just Wingin' it plus a hunk of  Momo Wonderland (probably close to a fat quarter) green/blue dots.  $14 shipped

1930s prints...aunt grace & aunt grace ties one on, and Aunt Sukey's Choice (Judy Rothermel for in the beginning fabrics):  about 1.5 yards for the prints in the 2 piles on the left, just shy of 1/2yard each on the cats and the small green print, 1/2 yard on the black/white flower print.
2.5 yards estimated, $12 shipped
Many of these prints can be seen in this quilt of mine:

 Vintage Rose fabric: this is 36"x37".  It's a course weave.  I think it might be a feed sack??  It has some small stains but a lot of great fabric still.  $5 shipped

If you are interested, just email me at marylane_brown at yahoo.com

If you have any questions about specific pieces, I will be glad to measure/answer.
I will consider splitting things up depending on interest.
I will adjust shipping if you buy more than 1 thing.
The only thing pre-washed is the elephant panel and the vintage rose fabric.
I will negotiate. 
I have three small kids so I can't guarantee to ship immediately, but I will guaranteee that your stuff will be shipped within 1 week of me receiving payment.
Prices listed are for US shipping only (first class mail).

Thanks for looking y'all...have a great weekend!

Finish: Simple Baby Quilt

 Just a checkerboard quilt of 5" squares for a new baby coming soon.

Backed in 1 yard of my favorite backing-  American Jane multi stripes.  Simple, soft, and sweet...just like the baby who will be getting this.

You know you hopped on the crazy train when...

You simply THINK about making a small baby quilt with your little stash of your favorite fabrics and all of a sudden...

 you find yourself online scouring for discontinued prints... pre-loading your hancock's-of-paducah cart with the next line that's not even available until October... finding your own blog several times in the process because you have talked about this fabric just that much.

 Your palms are sweaty...

 though you haven't used the last bundle you bought quite yet. 

 And you keep wondering if you should call the quilt shop 3 hours away that carries said fabrics

and telling them to set aside a tub with your name on it for quilt festival in October.

I love American Jane so dang much!!!  What fabric makes you feel a little outta control???

Team Brown

Update: Michelle DID know something about this machine! It was made by Eldridge which became National which became what we know as Janome. I guess that means it's a pretty great machine! It is called Montgomery Ward Supreme Reversible Rotary and is from the 40s. If you love reading about vintage sewing machines, go visit Michelle at her blog@
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I have mentioned my sister's mother-in-law(also a quilter) in my blog before.  She recently lost almost everything in the recent tornados in north Alabama.  My sister and her husband were visiting an estate sale purchasing furniture when they happened upon this beautiful sewing machine.

It was marked $75 but they gave it to them for free because of her situation.  I love how bad things bring out the generosity in others.

My sister wanted me to look at the machine and see if it worked so her mother-in-law can quilt and have something to help her get her mind off things.  She is currently living with her children in turns as they are looking for her a house.  Putting myself in her shoes, I really wanted to get this machine working for her and my husband felt the same way.  It felt good to work with my husband, especially on something that would make someone's life better. 

We plugged it in and discovered a huge short...about 4" of the cord was just a hunk of exposed copper wiring resting next to varnished wood.  Fire hazard!  My husband is a computer engineer but he still knows electricity like an electrical engineer.  He worked and worked and fixed the power cord making it safe to use.  He was so diligent and I was so proud of not just his abilities but also his kindness toward my brother-in-law's mom. 

After the machine was running and properly threaded (which was a doozy!), the feed dogs were running but the fabric was not pulling through.  I figured out the machine was stuck between reverse and forward...so we just shifted into gear and it worked!

I don't know about you, but I love seeing what other people kept with their machines.  It seems so personal.  This person had some silver scissors marked "Italy", various threads, broken needles, and razor type blades (maybe part of a cutter for thick fabrics).   I do know from the woman at the estate sale that this machine was owned by a man.  He used it for upholstery.  I guess that explains the cutters and razor blades.

Here is the knee pedal which was the culprit with the exposed wire.

The instruction manual...I have no idea how old this machine was, but I'm guessing 40s.  Maybe my friend Michelle knows.  She is the patron saint of vintage sewing machines.  She is handy and her husband has learned how to fix machines.  I am trying to convince mine to do the same.

Here are the stitches once fixed.  I am hoping this is good enough for Mrs. C to piece the rest of the 9 double wedding rings she wants to do for her grandchildren.  I think she has 3 remaining.  She has received yards and yards of fabric from quilters in her area (some know her, some do not).  Once again, the generosity of others in hard times is amazing.

Next repair project: my mother's serger.  I hope a new needle is all it needs, because it was a challenge just to thread this thing!