So....I SEW

I wrote in a blog entry sometime last week that I had closed down my sewing room and turned it back into a guest room. I was sure Donovan would make his appearance and I wanted to be sure to welcome those who wanted to visit.

Well....Donovan is taking his sweet time and my nervous energy got the best of me. So back to a sewing room , and I made this cute Spring coat for Miss Clare.

Clare's Mommy LOVES coats and I was sure our little miss would follow in her Mommy's footsteps.

Isn't the lining the cutest???? My student's helped me to pick it out and it made me smile as I happily sewed and sewed.

Then we waited for Donovan some more, SEW back to my fabric stash I went.

This is a party frock for our sweet girl. I found blog tutorials for all the cute accents like this flower.....

....and this ruffle too.

I thought maybe our bitty Clare might wear this for her birthday....or even better yet, for Donovan's BIRTH day!!!

It can't be that much longer. We are all SEW excited!!!!

Showered with blessings.....

Last year at this time my students surprised me with a "Grandmother Shower". It was the most fun.

In my Wednesday class one of my sweet students has been waiting for her first grandchild. In fact her DIL and my Meghan were due together. The students approached me about doing a surprise shower for Karen, and I thought it was a GREAT IDEA!!!!

What I didn't know was that the class was showering ME TOO!!!! They certainly surprised me....and again our sweet baby to come and I were blessed with the sweetest gifts and memories!!!!

The past weeks have been full of the kindest gifts for me to bring to Meghan. There have been stuffed animals, gifts of crochet and knitted gifts too. All have been deeply appreciated and much loved!

Here are but a few of the goodies I have been blessed with. There are Grandmother Brag Books ( I will put to good use), and gift certificates for Shutterfly to make a photo document of the joy that will soon be here.

All of the notes and well wishes....how much I love my students who are really more like family.

This sweet nightlight was made by one of my newest students named Nancy. The detail is incredible...even to bitty blocks with Donovan James initials on them.

The joyous news is that Karen's bitty granddaughter is here!!! Karen leaves this week to fly to the Midwest to hold Ellie in her arms.

.....and my sweet Momma to be is still patiently waiting for her "cozy muffin in the oven" to make an appearance. It can't be that much longer!!! I can't wait to share the news!!!

Busy Hands, Busy Mind...

I am so grateful that my Mom has been such a mentor for me as I have learned to knit. She encourages me, takes out my mistakes ( there are plenty) and adds her touch to my work to make it look wonderful.

It has also brought me a calmness...something I have really needed as we await Donovan's birth. There is something SOOOO soothing about the clacking of needles, and the challenges keep my mind centered.

The above sweater and hat are to welcome Donovan into the world. I am not sure that he understands that his Mommy is VERY ready to let us all have a turn to carry him around!

This sweet sweater is for our bitty girl Clare. It is hard to imagine that she is almost a year old.

She took four steps toward me yesterday with the biggest grin on her face. She is more adorable than ever and I know she will look plenty cute in her Spring sweater.

Of course Clare needed a matching hat too...this cute beret should be the perfect touch.

And speaking of touches, isn't that the cutest hanger? Part of the Shabby Chic collection at Michaels. I think ALL of Clare's sweaters will need a cute hanger don't you???

My sewing room is closed for now and finally tidied up. I am sure there will be plenty of visitors after Donovan is born, so the sewing room has gone back to being a "guest room".

I did cut out the yummy fabrics you see ( Anna Griffin's newest line) and this will be my first project when life settles down again.

The pattern came from a cute shop in Pismo Beach...a place we hope to visit again in the Spring.

But for now I am keeping my hands and my mind busy.....and thinking about the sweet boy who is taking his time to meet those who love him.

I have a pattern and yarn in my "Oma Bag" to keep me busy at the hospital. I will share the joyous news as soon as I can!!!

We're Waiting!!!!

We have been spending the past few days relaxing at the beach.....and someone is VERY ready to meet her baby boy!!!!

I know you can't read yet Donovan....but your Mommy ( and your Oma) have a message for you. XXX

It's Back!!!!

My MOJO that is!!!!

I finished 48 blocks, put them all together and will pin this weekend. I think it will make the perfect "park quilt" for our bitty Clare, who is now taking a few steps.

Then I made this quilt top for a certain baby boy who should be born ANY DAY NOW!!!! I am going to back it in a delicious orange minkie which is his Daddy's favorite color. I can't wait to see Donovan playing on his new quilt.

The pattern is from Moda Bakeshop ( with a few tweaks I added). Did you all know that MBS is having a wonderful progressive dinner for all of us quilters???

I know I have a HUGE appetite for anything Moda!!!!

When searching for my MOJO I didn't need to go any farther than my classroom.

Helen is the daughter of one of my Wednesday night regulars. Elaine, who is the most AMAZING Mom, found this kit for her daughter to learn the process of quilting . Brilliant!!!! Her smile tells it all.....quilting is FUN!!!!

My students Fernando and Eliza show me that friendships are what make quilting such joy.

Nancy and Kim work at a neighboring quilt shop....but always bring their smiles and creativity to share with me.

I love that there isn't a competition, but rather a meeting of like minded people who just share the joy.

My students are my extended family. So many of them have been making gifts for our bitty baby. How sweet is this knitted blankie.

How much do I love KIM and all of my students!!!!

SEW from my youngest student to my oldest, it was easy to find the joy of quilting !!!!

....and speaking of students, I spent some time last week in Meghan's classroom. It was her last week ( for awhile) and the kids all shared the most lovely "baby gifts" for her.

This little one wrote the sweetest essay, filled with love and rainbows.

I guess I didn't have to go far to find the joy I was looking for. It is always there, but maybe I was a bit tooooo preoccupied with a baby that is coming soonest.

Now I need to get back to my sewing room and start on some thing that will be SEW much fun!!!!

Help me please.....

Some people begin the New Year with GREAT enthusiasm....and I am usually one of THOSE people. My Mom is ALWAYS one of those people!!!

This year for me NOT so much.....at least where my sewing machine is concerned. I think I have lost my MOJO!!!!

Not that I haven't sewn at all....in fact I made this diaper bag for Meghan ( complete with changing pad and vinyl lined "Yuk" bag for those things you don't want to just put in your diaper bag) .

If you are interested, the AWESOME pattern is free by going to the Mingled Yarn blog, and I can tell you ( I have made it twice) that it goes together like a charm.

What seems to be missing right now is my quilting mojo. I taught a 12 hr class this weekend and was SOOOO excited to be able to begin this quilt with my students. But I have a confession....I just wasn't feeling it.

I guess I have BABY on the mind, but maybe also a bit of an overwhelm at how many patterns and how much fabric I have in my stash. Sometimes tooooo much is not a good thing.

SEW....I am trying something new. I bought this very cute journal and pen at Michaels. They have a new "Shabby Chic" line and I love it very much.

I started the journal on an optimistic note...a place to document all finished quilts. Then I have divided the rest of the journal into monthly goals with only ONE start and a place to finish ONE quilt that is already completed.

I am hoping that taking small bites will increase my appetite for quilting once again. I wish this worked for my FOOD appetite....which sadly never seems to lose its mojo. I will keep you posted on how things go.

My word is.....

Kelly ( Charming Girl's Leader) asked us to select a "word to live by" for the New Year. I thought about it a LOT.

I finally decided on Gratitude and will spend this year working on a "Gratitude Attitude".

I will work hard to be grateful for ALL moments....the incredible and the mundane. This little bundle of joy has taught me much. To savor each moment, because they are all so fleeting.

One moment you are in awe of a tiny newborn and the next.....

.....she is already this very wonderful personality!!! She gives kisses and the dearest hugs.

I have discovered the beauty of being a Grandmother. It is all about "being in the moment" and then enjoying each moment.

It is about Gratitude!!!! Thank you Kelly for this chance to reflect on what is most relevant. Your club has been WAY more than about quilting. It has touched my heart so much and I am VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU!!!!