More on my Scrappy Selvage Quilt

I've been working on my scrappy selvage quilt all week

 

and

 

here are 6 squares of memories.

 

 

 

Earl couldn't see my vision when I first started

 

and thought something along the line of

 

"what the hell is she doing now?!?"

 

BUT

 

when I laid it out for him today

 

he actually liked it!

 

He'd say, "what's this piece from?"

 

and I'd tell him from Mallory's bag or Lexie's blanket

 

and he was pretty amazed that I could remember what I'd made

 

from all the different fabrics.

 

Now I have to finish up a few other projects

 

and then I'm going to sew this baby up.

 

I can't wait!!!

Selvages and Patchwork

I'm making a quilt, hopefully, for myself using selvages and scraps of fabric.

It's been fun putting these squares together.

I can be kind of creative and remember the things I made for people out of the scraps.

 

 

 

These squares are approx. 28 inches square

 

 so......

 

 I have lots more scrapping and sewing to do. 

 

This project is a work in progress,

a fun, stress free project

that I hope will turn into a beautiful quilt!

Those Wonderful Woman From Whom I Came

My Grandma, Lucile Thompson Wescott, was a simple woman. Grandma gave me so many wonderful memories. She taught me to crochet and along with my mom, taught me to sew. Grandma did the plastic canvas work and she used to make those ever so popular grapes in the 1970's and clackers for us kids. On holidays Grandma usually felt like she wasn't giving us enough, but in reality I always loved what she gave me and treasure those wonderful homemade gifts. The simplicity of Grandma is something that I have come to appreciate very much.

Her Mom, my Granny, was Mildred Bluethman Thompson. Granny was a strong yet loving lady. She made me a pink and white patchwork quilt when I was little. When I went to visit her in Kansas City she taught me how to tie white clover heads together and make necklaces. Granny did quilting and embroidery work. I was blessed to have had my Granny until I was 20 years old or so.

On the other side of the family there is my Nana, Virginia Russell Ruth Shawver. My Nana is still alive at 88 years of age. Nana did a lot of crafty things. She crocheted, sewed and did a variety of other crafts. Her second husband would make some of the most beautiful Southwestern furnisher and then Nana would do paintings on them. I wish I had a picture to show you. It is some of the most beautiful furnisher I have ever seen! She always had a cluttered, but very neat house. (I have the clutter, but somehow lost the neat part!) Nana also gave me some wonderful memories and I enjoy getting letters from her now with a recipe or joke stuck in side the envelope too.

These are the women from whom I came. They were the inspiration in my life and definitely where my love of crafts came from. Thanks for all of the wonderful memories ladies!! I couldn't have asked for better roots.

Our Belated Family Christmas Dinner

With moving and the weather we just had all 8 of the kids and their families over for a Christmas dinner on Saturday. It was so nice! There were just a few presents, mainly for the little kids, but that didn't even seem to matter to anyone. Earl had a great time talking to my boys. This is Jesse and Jeremy. I made the boys favorite Broccoli Soup with garlic bread from when they were little and Earl made the younger kids favorite Chicken Noodle Soup. Then we had all kinds of other things to eat too, but the soups were the big hit.

My two oldest granddaughters, Sabrina and Vivianna, are growing into beautiful young girls and my DIL looks so cute with her little baby belly. She is due May 31st with a boy!!! Vivianna had gotten an iPod for Christmas so I spent some time with her uploading songs. It was fun spending the time with her. I learned that she likes Demi Lavota and The Jonas Brothers.

When I was moving I found the boys old sports cards. Chad was so excited and couldn't wait to go through them. He gave Ezie a couple, but he wanted to take them home and really go through all of them. I also had found and washed the boys stuffed animals from when they were little. I couldn't believe how excited they were to see there old stuffed friends. Jeremy gave his first Teddy Bear to his son Austin, Jesse took his Smurf Bunny to give to Jesse, Jr. when he is born in May or June, and Daniel took some of his for Jordan and T.J. It was fun seeing the smile on the boys faces and talking about the memories they had.

The twins and Jace had a great time in the pac-n-play. The twins didn't want to stay off the stairs so this was the answer and they didn't seem to mind. Mallory felt so pretty in her new dress that I got the night before at Wal-Mart for $4.00.

This is Daniel.

I had found this blanket that my sister, Cathy, had made for Jesse when he was born. Cathy was only 12 or so and she embroidered all of the Sesame Street characters on the blocks and stitched the quilt together. Jesse was really excited to see it and took it home for his new son.
Here is a picture of my daughter Lexie and me. I don't know where that extra chin came from on me?? Damn!
All in all it was a wonderful night. My DIL Jenn is due next Tuesday with their first baby and she is so cute (and uncomfortable) being pregnant. My new grandson Austin got passed around and enjoyed by all. The little kids all had fun playing and the older kids all had fun going through their memories I had stored away for them. I'm so glad I kept some of their things from when they were little. It made a great night for all! I'm so lucky to have such a great family!!!

Things That Make Me Remember

Today would have been my Grandpa's birthday. He died about 6 years ago and I don't think a day has gone by that I haven't thought of him. My Grandpa always had plants, lots of plants, indoors and out. I don't know the official name of this plant, but Grandpa had one that we called a Christmas Cactus and one was a Easter Cactus, thats when they bloomed for him. Mine is in sad shape. I had it outside and I think a bike or scooter handle squashed it a little bit. Still, about 3-4 weeks after bringing it in the house for the winter it bloomed reminding me of Grandpa.

This is my favorite piece of furniture that I have. My Grandpa made it when he was young out of little strips of wood. He shaped it and glued all these pieces together to make this wonderful little stand. It has a piece of wood on the top that comes off and there is a little storage place on the inside. I'm not sure why he gave it to me, but all of my older kids have already claimed it when I die. No pressure there! I am glad that they all love it as much as I do.

Thanks Grandpa for being such a wonderful man and giving all of us such wonderful memories!