Quilts of 2014

This has been a busy year for quilt-making. I have always loved sewing, but between the time I spend with Hailey and Makayla, our endless rental remodeling, and all the other things that happen in the course of life, it's been hard to work these projects in. However, having now started the tradition of making quilts for new grandbabies and 8 year-old grandchildren, I feel compelled to keep it up. I fell a little behind, mostly on Hailey's quilt, but I've managed to finish 5+ quilts this year.

 

The first quilt was for Hannah.

It's a simple pinwheel pattern, and fun to make. 

Since Ava's birthday was around the same time, I used leftover pinwheels for a doll quilt. That's the "+" in the 5+ quilts. I'm taking credit for even tiny quilts this year.

Next up was Nora's quilt, a simple star quilt

with minky backing.

Quilt number three is Koen's, a bright flannel nine patch,

also with minky backing. I like baby quilts that are roughly 40-45" square, big enough to take into toddlerhood. All three of these baby quilts are within that size.

The first 8 year old quilt I got done is Caden's. It's a pattern called "Blueberry Swirl".

It was fairly quick to make, with relatively large blocks, roughly 70" x 90".

It has flannel backing.

I really struggle with boy quilts. It's just harder for me to pick colors and patterns that are a bit more masculine. I've spent too many years focused on girly colors and patterns. I'm going to have to work at that. Maybe we can add a few more grandsons for me to practice on. I really like the way this quilt turned out.

This is the magazine the pattern came from, and I pretty much stuck to similar fabric choices found in the picture.

This same magazine features a quilt made by Erica Jackman. Someday I'm going to try this one, too. I love the interesting fabrics and colors, and I think they could be used for a boy or a girl.

Lastly, I finally finished Hailey's quilt, quilt #5. It's also roughly 70" x 90".

This was the first quilt I started and by far the most time-consuming quilt I made in 2014. Lots of corners to match, and easy to turn a piece the wrong way. I did plenty of unpicking, especially in the beginning as I was learning to piece the flowers correctly.

Hailey is in love with neon green, and I spent a very long time looking for the right shade of intense green backing. The backing on her quilt is celery green, a bright, but soft green, just shy of neon, that doesn't overpower the quilt. I hope.

I'm six months late, but hey, I got it done in 2014!

The pattern is called "Flowers for Nana Girl". The original is lap size, so I added a few rows.

It's been great to have such an eventful year in the family,

full of new babies and growing 8 year-olds

Next year promises to be a little slower. Since no one is turning 8 next year, and we have no known grandbabies in the pipeline, 2015 should be a good year to sew a few quilts ahead. 

Christmas 2014

This year-end has been a busy one. Although Hailey, Makayla, and I got all of the Christmas décor put up, I need Stan's help to retrieve the tree from the depths of the basement. We didn't get it up until the day before Christmas. Seems hardly worth the effort, but I didn't want to play the Grinch. Good thing I had help hanging all the ornaments or it would have been a pretty plain tree.

 

Hailey and Makayla had school Monday and Tuesday. Hailey's teacher thought it would be fun to have all of the kids to find and decorate an old hat and have a hat exchange at school. Because, you know, all families have time and money to decorate hats a few days before Christmas. I provided the old hat, Amy helped Hailey pull it all together.

The idea was to trade hats with your classmates and end up with a new hat. Hailey traded, but became stressed by the thought of giving up her hat and talked her classmate into trading back,

which was probably a good idea since her classmate is not named Hailey.

We had our traditional 23rd party at Great Grandpa's house, complete with the hat game.

Makayla didn't want to play because she a) "never wins" and

 

b) apparently wanted to pose for pictures.



Hailey played several rounds with her second cousins.

She didn't win, but she was a good sport.

Next up was Christmas caroling,

with me trying to read the music from a 2" x 3" book using Stan's glasses. It's okay. Makayla helped me,

 

and Hailey helped mom.

The grandkids serenaded us,

and Santa appeared.

He took requests from everyone

Emily's little girl was pretty funny, telling the big red guy, "Santa, I'm proud of you!"

Even the naughty children got to sit on Santa's lap.

Great Grandpa with all of the great grandchildren in attendance. I think we counted a total of 52 or 53 great grands, so attendance was a little thin this year.

On the 24th, I had dozens and dozens of cookies to bake and freeze for Bishop's fireside on Sunday. My personal elves were very helpful. I'm sure the festive hat helped.

Have you ever wondered what to do with the leftover powdered sugar from rolling your chocolate crinkles?

Hailey has it figured out.

While cookies were baking, elves put together puzzles,

played with the legos,

studied geography,

and colored.

Meanwhile I made chocolate crinkles, snickerdoodles, frosted sugar cookies, lemon bars, and (my personal favorite) La Fuji Mama's nanimo bars.

We ate our traditional Hawaiian Haystacks for Christmas Eve dinner, watched He is the Gift,

and dug into our stocking.

Guess what was in the stocking???

On Christmas morning we had our favorite whole wheat waffles with all the trappings and opened gifts. I guess Hailey likes the accessory set-she's wearing it again. Or still.

Here's my favorite gift: a card from Hailey. I'm glad she's my friend.  And that "Pees"? Not a commentary on my bathroom habits. She was trying to spell "Peace".

Here's what the girls picked out for Amy: a really nice scarf,

and genuine glass figurines. 

 

Hailey, Makayla, and I had been to a number of stores before Christmas, looking for the perfect gift for Amy. Nothing appealed until Hailey spotted this kiosk in the mall. Instantly, she knew what her mom NEEDED.

Makayla picked something immediately, but Hailey spent nearly 2 hours, examining each and every object, until she settled on her favorite.



Makayla picked a nativity set,

Hailey chose the "Mom". It just made me laugh to see Hailey study each and every piece until she decided on THIS one, although by the end Makayla and I were both anxious to do something else. I think the clerk was happy to see us go, too. I bet Amy didn't even realize she needed it.

Christmas day got even better when the Jones family arrived.

We even got to watch Koen open presents. Koen was probably happy just rattling his wrapping paper

and eating all the glitter off of the ribbon,

 

but eventually it got down to paper ripping. After all, how often do babies get free rein to rip things?

 

 Koen is the world's happiest, friendliest, sweetest baby. Even though he had teeth coming in and a wheezy cough/cold/fever, I think I only heard him (briefly) cry once.

 

We all headed over to Kent Joneses for Christmas dinner

 

 and visiting.

We did our traditional bowling trip

In no time at all, the Joneses started homeward. We just didn't have enough time together.

 

Imagine my joy when the next wave arrived.

Yep, line-up-the-toys Brinlee is in the house.

 

 

and she brought her cute little sister, Nora. I think I'm going to be alright.