Map Time Rag Quilt...

Another Christmas present review... this soft, snugly blanket was made for our nephew. He turned a year old a few days before Christmas, which was what this present was originally meant for :) but I hadn't had the chance to make it! 

So, he received his intended Christmas present for his birthday...and I used the much need couple days in between to make the quilt...which he in turn received for Christmas!

Thankful to my wonderful husband who took care of snipping all the edges of the rag quilt for me while I wrapped presents on Christmas Eve!

Finished quilts have been few in number around here lately, so I don't think I remembered to measure the finished size...but I did do a little different pattern than a regular rag quilt so there would be a nice size map in the middle! (All the flannel is from JoAnn's.)

Have you completed any quilts lately?

Amanda
"But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works." ~ Psalm 73:28

Amber's blanket...

This week the Bloggers' Quilt Festival is being held over at Amy's Creative Side. There are already over 425 entries...with new ones being added continually! Its a treasure trove of inspiration and beauty. Be sure to check it out!

In my recent post, The Joy of Nice Weather..., I showed the flannel quilts I made for my girls. I was not aware of the Bloggers' Quilt Festival till two days after the post...so I want to reshow the Flannel Rag Quilt I made for my youngest daughter, Amber.

I shared the story behind this quilt...but for the new visitors from the Festival, I'd like to share the story again, then I'll add a little bit about what I gained through making this quilt...



This pretty pink and purple one is Amber's. I made it for her just after she was born. This one has a story to it...do you want to hear it? Oh Good!

First, when I found out I was pregnant again, I knew I wanted to make a rag quilt for the new baby, but I was going to wait till I knew if it was going to be a girl or a boy. July 2010 was when I had my sonogram to find out...but the baby didn't cooperate! So, things happened that I did not need any other sonograms, and it was getting closer to November...

So, in September or October, we picked out a neutral palette of material and bought what was needed. However, it was actually a little on the boyish side, and I never got around to making the quilt. Then, I had the baby, a darling little girl - Amber! The week after I had her, I went to the ER with severe side pain. They didn't find anything wrong,

gave me pain pills and sent me home...

It was Black Friday...Jo-Ann's was having the best sale EVER on flannel, which is what the blankets are made out of. I told my loving husband that if I didn't hurt so much I would have him stop...but he knows me well!!!

He stopped and we got the fabrics to make the darling blanket, then went home... and then I slept most of the day. On Monday, I went to the chiropractor and he adjusted me as best as he could for only being a week after a C-section...

and I've been fine ever since.

He said a rib was probably just out of place from the C-section.

This quilt started me into sewing on a more regular basis...I've always enjoyed crafts, but didn't do much with the sewing machine regularly. The snipping of the frays was finished, by my husband (isn't he great!), on Christmas day...and the sewing machine has been out and used ever since. I'm loving the use of fabric and showing the projects on this blog...which I started in March.

Here are a few more pictures of the blanket with Amber...

Quilt Stats:

           Finished size...44" x 38"

           Material... corrdinating flannels from Jo-Ann's 

           Batting... felt by the yard

Today's verse is part of the parable used to show that being saved is done by God's grace, not through the law. (See the left side bar for more explaination of salvation through grace.)

No man also seweth a piece

of new cloth on an old garment:

else the new piece that filled it up

 taketh away from the old,

and the rent is made worse.

Mark 2:21

I've enjoyed seeing the various quilts...

Are you enjoying the show too?

Thanks for stopping...hope to 'see' you again soon!

Amanda

The Joy of Nice Weather...

Today was another beautiful day. The children had time to play outside at school and planted seeds with the Pastor's wife (she teaches the younger grades) to watch them grow. So, at dinner, Liz told Chad that she made dirt :) ! They are so adorable...

This was Amber on the back porch while I took towels off the clothes line.

Here is a picture of her last week on another beautiful day...only slightly cooler, so she needed a hat!

Also, last week, on that beautiful day, I took some other photos I said I would post...so here are a few pics that I took...

This is the Mother's Day table center piece that I said I would finish showing you on Monday...sorry it took till late Wednesday night to get it posted!
Next are two rag quilts I've made for Liz and Amber...

This bright and cheery one is Liz's and was the first 'quilt' I ever made...its an easy rag quilt. I made it for Liz while I was pregnant for her, so it is 3 years old.

This pretty ink and purple one is Amber's. I made it for her just after she was born. This one has a story to it...do you want to hear it? Oh Good!

First, when I found out I was pregnant again, I knew I wanted to make a quilt for the new baby, but I was going to wait till I knew if it was going to be a girl or a boy. July '10 was when I had my sonogram to find out...but the baby didn't cooperate! So, things happened that I did not need any other sonograms, and it was getting closer to November...

In September or October, we picked out a neutral palette of material and bought what was needed. However, it was actually a little on the boyish side, and I never got around to making the quilt. Then, I had the baby, a darling little girl - Amber! The week after I had her, I went to the ER with severe side pain. They didn't find anything wrong, gave me pain pills and sent me home...

It was Black Friday...Jo-Ann's was having the best sale EVER on flannel, which is what the blankets are made out of. I told my loving husband that if I didn't hurt so much I would have him stop...He knows me well!!!

He stopped and we got the fabrics to make the darling blanket, then went home... and I slept most of the day. On Monday, I went to the chiropractor and he adjusted me as best as he could for only being a week after a C-section...and I've been fine ever since. He said a rib was probably just out of place from the C-section.

Now to more sewing pictures...

This is a small coupon 'pocket' that I helped a young friend make for her mom for Mother's Day. And this is another table center piece I made for a special lady at church for Mother's Day...

That's what I worked on over the weekend...and since Sunday I haven't had a chance to sew. Tomorrow, I plan to sew...

But you never know...

Whoso keepeth the commandment

shall feel no evil thing:

and a wise man's heart discerneth

both time and judgement.

Ecclesiastes 8:5

We need to have a schedule...but be sure it is flexible to allow God work as He needs to in and through our lives. Have a wonderfully productive day!

Amanda