A Quilt for my Nephew

My youngest sister, Elizabeth had her second baby on December 1; and even though they announced that they were expecting a baby boy, I neglected to start my quilt project until the week before Thanksgiving. It came together quickly (and by that I mean my husband managed the boys and the house for a few weekends in a row!) and I was able to ship it to them by the time he was 7 weeks old. I would have shipped it earlier, but his older sister Adley's birthday is at the end of the month and I wanted to ship her gift with it... AND they were moving and I didn't want it to get lost in the shuffle. So, now that they are in their new house and Adley turns 4 in a few days it is ready to send! Well, okay, I shipped it a few days ago and they have it now... which means I can show you!

The quilt I made for Adley was based on a woodland theme and I used a deer patterned fabric because her dad is a hunter. I had intended to use some similar fabrics for her new baby brother, Grayson. Shopping online was really overwhelming and I just couldn't narrow down the color scheme I wanted to use. So I headed to JoAnn Fabrics, which just reopened and is a beautiful store just south of San Francisco. After going up and down the aisles I came up with the perfect mix. At least I hoped it was perfect when I paid for it. It's always hard to tell what it will turn out like when you are holding 10 pounds of fabric bolts. 

Sorry for the fuzzy pic -- my son took it for me.

 Orange and navy blue are actually one of my favorite color combinations -- ever since I dressed William in a plaid orange and navy dress shirt with orange pants when he was 11 months old! I had intended to sew him a quilt with this color combo years ago but haven't gotten around to it. Maybe when he leaves for college!  Anyway, when I saw the navy and orange together I couldn't let it go. And then I found the leaf pattern which included gray and yellow and it grew from there.

This pattern is called Blooming Fields by Dana Willard; it was a free pattern found online.  It's 42" x 50" which seemed bigger than most of my previous quilts; that was fine until it was time to quilt it on my regular sewing machine. I managed it just fine but there were a few frustrating moments. I also purchased batting that was too thin, so I doubled it up to make it thicker/softer. I've never done that before and technically don't know if it's allowed... will have to see how it holds up. I liked the thickness much better. 

I hope the colors suit this new little guy and his new room. Grayson Ryan, I look forward to watching you grow -- even if it's from a distance. We love you so much!

My youngest sister, Elizabeth had her second baby on December 1; and even though they announced that they were expecting a baby boy, I neglected to start my quilt project until the week before Thanksgiving. It came together quickly (and by that I mean my husband managed the boys and the house for a few weekends in a row!) and I was able to ship it to them by the time he was 7 weeks old. I would have shipped it earlier, but his older sister Adley's birthday is at the end of the month and I wanted to ship her gift with it... AND they were moving and I didn't want it to get lost in the shuffle. So, now that they are in their new house and Adley turns 4 in a few days it is ready to send! Well, okay, I shipped it a few days ago and they have it now... which means I can show you!

The quilt I made for Adley was based on a woodland theme and I used a deer patterned fabric because her dad is a hunter. I had intended to use some similar fabrics for her new baby brother, Grayson. Shopping online was really overwhelming and I just couldn't narrow down the color scheme I wanted to use. So I headed to JoAnn Fabrics, which just reopened and is a beautiful store just south of San Francisco. After going up and down the aisles I came up with the perfect mix. At least I hoped it was perfect when I paid for it. It's always hard to tell what it will turn out like when you are holding 10 pounds of fabric bolts. 

Sorry for the fuzzy pic -- my son took it for me.

 Orange and navy blue are actually one of my favorite color combinations -- ever since I dressed William in a plaid orange and navy dress shirt with orange pants when he was 11 months old! I had intended to sew him a quilt with this color combo years ago but haven't gotten around to it. Maybe when he leaves for college!  Anyway, when I saw the navy and orange together I couldn't let it go. And then I found the leaf pattern which included gray and yellow and it grew from there.

This pattern is called Blooming Fields by Dana Willard; it was a free pattern found online.  It's 42" x 50" which seemed bigger than most of my previous quilts; that was fine until it was time to quilt it on my regular sewing machine. I managed it just fine but there were a few frustrating moments. I also purchased batting that was too thin, so I doubled it up to make it thicker/softer. I've never done that before and technically don't know if it's allowed... will have to see how it holds up. I liked the thickness much better. 

I hope the colors suit this new little guy and his new room. Grayson Ryan, I look forward to watching you grow -- even if it's from a distance. We love you so much!

2020 Goals and Intentions

What do I want this next year to look like for me? for my family?

If I learned anything from 2019 it's that goals take time, focus and hard work. I was very focused for a short time on my diet and overall health. I lost weight but then gained it back when my focus shifted. I was very focused for a short time on scripture reading . . . two or three days at a time before I lost focus for weeks. I also know that I get tired when I add too many hard things to my daily life. And by "hard" I just mean out of my normal. It isn't hard to host people for dinner but it's out of my normal which makes it special, but also work to it do more than once in a while. Playdates are great but I tend to overbook and then feel exhausted from running around. See what I mean?

I learned a lot about my anxiety in 2019. I know what triggers it and I know how to step into the moment and breathe and think through it. I still hate the feeling of anxiety bearing down on me, but I'm learning to deal.

I want 2020 to have balance of all the good things -- healthy eating, moderate and regular exercise, time in the Bible, focus on my marriage, time to myself, time with my community, focus on my kids eating better meals, focus on my kids education and friendships, wisdom in financial issues, more self-confidence, etc. I want so many things to be more intentional. Which as I write this, I'm thinking this means I need to have more energy to plan, give, and process.

But for now:

I find January a good time to focus on health -- because I spent the last two months ignoring it and I desperately want to get back on a healthier track. My plan? I'm going back to my Shaklee Life Shakes for breakfast for the month and setting a new "rule" that I don't eat passed 7 p.m. Late night snacking as become a habit for me once again and I need to break it. There are many other things I could add, but we're taking it slow.

I'm also going to take every opportunity to feed my boys what Chris and I eat for dinner. Typically, I would make them their own meals of food they don't complain about but I'm finding that this list is getting smaller and smaller. I need to broaden what they eat and increase the produce they consume. I need to take control of what I put in front of them and they can be in control of what they put in their bodies. Baby steps. But I will celebrate small victories here.

I'm also going to try to fit in time to read two chapters of my Bible each day. My plan, which I have yet to try is read in my room while Chris has breakfast with the boys... which could work out well since I'm having a shake in the morning and not really a sit down meal.

We recently had a sermon in church about using our time wisely as it's a gift from God; and I was motivated once again to be focused. Focused on the Lord, my family, and our community. Spend my energy and time on things that matter.

What about your? What are you focusing on this month? This year?

Happy 2020!

What do I want this next year to look like for me? for my family?

If I learned anything from 2019 it's that goals take time, focus and hard work. I was very focused for a short time on my diet and overall health. I lost weight but then gained it back when my focus shifted. I was very focused for a short time on scripture reading . . . two or three days at a time before I lost focus for weeks. I also know that I get tired when I add too many hard things to my daily life. And by "hard" I just mean out of my normal. It isn't hard to host people for dinner but it's out of my normal which makes it special, but also work to it do more than once in a while. Playdates are great but I tend to overbook and then feel exhausted from running around. See what I mean?

I learned a lot about my anxiety in 2019. I know what triggers it and I know how to step into the moment and breathe and think through it. I still hate the feeling of anxiety bearing down on me, but I'm learning to deal.

I want 2020 to have balance of all the good things -- healthy eating, moderate and regular exercise, time in the Bible, focus on my marriage, time to myself, time with my community, focus on my kids eating better meals, focus on my kids education and friendships, wisdom in financial issues, more self-confidence, etc. I want so many things to be more intentional. Which as I write this, I'm thinking this means I need to have more energy to plan, give, and process.

But for now:

I find January a good time to focus on health -- because I spent the last two months ignoring it and I desperately want to get back on a healthier track. My plan? I'm going back to my Shaklee Life Shakes for breakfast for the month and setting a new "rule" that I don't eat passed 7 p.m. Late night snacking as become a habit for me once again and I need to break it. There are many other things I could add, but we're taking it slow.

I'm also going to take every opportunity to feed my boys what Chris and I eat for dinner. Typically, I would make them their own meals of food they don't complain about but I'm finding that this list is getting smaller and smaller. I need to broaden what they eat and increase the produce they consume. I need to take control of what I put in front of them and they can be in control of what they put in their bodies. Baby steps. But I will celebrate small victories here.

I'm also going to try to fit in time to read two chapters of my Bible each day. My plan, which I have yet to try is read in my room while Chris has breakfast with the boys... which could work out well since I'm having a shake in the morning and not really a sit down meal.

We recently had a sermon in church about using our time wisely as it's a gift from God; and I was motivated once again to be focused. Focused on the Lord, my family, and our community. Spend my energy and time on things that matter.

What about your? What are you focusing on this month? This year?

Happy 2020!