Disclaimer: NOT my handiwork!

I'm trying to settle back into a blog routine...both in posting frequency and in feeling out this new space.  I still have plans to post about the field season...but the freedom this space offers means that I can share more details on the actual project along with silly stories of what the techs, graduate student, and I do on a daily basis to get through each day.  That takes some time and thought so I've been slow to make that happen...hopefully next week.  I also have managed to finish up 4 small knitting projects that can be shared once I take the time to weave in some ends, block and then photograph them. 

So instead of my stories or my FOs, let's talk about my mom.  Lately I've been feeling the strong urge to set aside my fear and start sewing. Partly because of all the inspiration I see online, and partly because of the inspiration I get from seeing the amazing things my mom makes her family and friends.  So I wanted to share a couple of her more recent projects so maybe others can also be inspired.  My folks were visiting last week and Mom came bearing gifts for me and for Julian. 

The first was a quilt/wall hanging that I originally unwrapped on Xmas morning that was still unfinished.  Mom had recently got the back finished and she binded it at the house so it is now officially mine!  If memory serves, this was a kit that she had seen in a quilting magazine.  Once she showed it me, it was all over and I had to have it.  The difficulty came when we found out that the kits were sold out.  So she tracked down the pattern and then she and I worked through internet searching to find the required fabric...because I thought the quilt was brilliant as is and didn't want to substitute fabrics (click to embiggin').  Was I wrong?

 

The back gave mom fits because I sketched out a design of what I wanted not knowing if it would be easy or challenging to make it happen.  Apparently it was challenging.  I told her to just do something more simple but she wouldn't give in and she made it happen.  Isn't this quilt awesome?

My second gift was a fall-themed paper-pieced table topper.  I love it and I'm sure you can see why! I have done some paper-piecing in the past and am wondering if maybe I could give this project a go?

As for Julian....he made out pretty well too!  Mom finished up binding his awesome growth chart while on the visit and added a cool little pocket on the back for a marking pen and some pins to track his growth.   Seriously, how cute is this?

And what I am most jealous of...he got a helicopter pillow!  Julian is fascinated by planes and every time he hears one (which is often since they live fairly close to the Seattle airport), all conversation stops and he looks up in awe.  I think he'd feel the same about helicopters!

Have a great weekend everybody!

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Now playing:   Change of Time by Josh Ritter


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