The Row by Row 2017 theme this year was "On the Go!"  I got a little daring and collected patterns that had appliqué in them. I don't know why.  I learned a hard lesson. It should have seemed obvious. I stink at appliqué.  I am really embarrassed by this quilt. I feel like whenever anyone sees it I have to assure them that I am a good quilter.



The colors of this quilt are a little more vibrant than what you can see here. The photos are a bit of a wash.



All the pattern rows that have appliqué are unfinished. At some point I knew I was not going to win. So, my focus switched from trying to complete each row to just trying to finish the quilt with a general idea of what each pattern was about.



The pieced bird pattern is also unfinished. It was meant to have the words about being on the go stitched onto it and the birds should have legs. I just don't have that kind of time.



The train row and cat row are also unfinished. So you see, this is really sad. But I really am just satisfied to be done.





This donkey row killed me! It was so hard and I couldn't even come close to making it look good! I think the donkey is a little disturbing.  I hope the little girl who receives this quit isn't freaked out by it.



I like the backing. The backing and the quilting are the only redeemable features of this quilt.

I know it's my fault that this thing is ugly, but I don't mind in a way.  I view these Row by Row's as just a learning tool. They are designed to be made fast. So that is what I am trying to learn; to make an aesthetically pleasing quilt quickly. 

Christmas Stitchery

For Christmas this year I had lovely plans to make some wonderful stitcheries. I diligently scoured the internet and found several merry designs. I printed them all. I was so excited! The first one I stitched was a beautiful tree. It had doves, pears, and zen-looking ornaments. It tuned out great! Damon saw it and suggested that I make a Christmas quilt out of it...So I guess it's mine. Unfortunately, this special block took a lot of my time to make. Plus, the natural hutsle and bustle of the Christmas season only allowed me to make one other stitchery in time for Christmas. 



And this is it! I do love it. I think this little thing is gorgeous.



I decided I wanted to give it to a sweet friend that lives right next door to me. This friend is good and always kind. I really look up to her and was glad for the opportunity to make a simple, festive little card for her.

This is Halloween!

Isn't Halloween the best holiday?? I love it so much. It's when spooky fun comes to life! The temperature of the air, amazing Fall colors, the appealing, delicious, fun food, the not-too-frightful sounds, cute little ghosts, goblins, witches, skeletons, bats, spiders, pumpkins-- everything, everything! All the things about this time of year speak so loudly to my little beating heart. 

This year I wanted make some stitcheries for a few friends. 



Each pattern is a little different-- sweet, darling things! 


This spidey web one is my favorite! Which means, I gave it to one of my favorite friends. It makes me so happy every time I lay my eyes on it.

This witchy one I gave to my friend that loves witches. 

I was only able to make four stitcheries this time. If I were faster I could have made one for everyone! Sadly, this year, I was only four stitcheries fast. But then, maybe everyone doses't want one of these things. But--- I do. I want all of them! I want all of the Halloween stuff. Every day, all the time. I want it. :)

 It's been a while since I've completed a quilt. And, whew, this one was a stinker! It is the 2016 Row by Row experience quilt. Home Sweet Home was the theme. I did the quilting myself, and maybe I shouldn't be quilting my own quilts. Ever. It took way too long, and  I'm not good at it. I don't even feel good about posting close ups because I'm not satisfied with the outcome. But, at any rate, here it is. 


  Rows came from shops in California, Idaho, and Utah.  

  Another pieced backing. It's what I love!

The quilt's name is "Life's Journey". 

We went to the Panguitch Quilt Walk this summer and the only picture I took was of this quilt with a cow on it.  
Totally solo pic worthy.

I really love this fabric and would die to have some. But, I don't know who designed it or who the manufacturer is. In addition to that, I can't seem to find any in the shops. Bummer for me.

The mystery fabric will sadly remain a mystery.

Valentine Pillow

A few year's ago, before Bradley was born, I made Valentine pillows for my 3 older children.  They looked a lot like this one. Same idea.

Well, Bradley decided that he really needed one. It was really all he could talk about for the longest time. What could I do? I couldn't disappoint the child. So I made him one too.  It ended up, though, that I was at my Sister's for Valentine's helping while their youngest was in the hospital. I didn't get to see his reaction when he first laid eyes on it. But Bradley called me on the phone to say how much he liked the pillow.  I got a kick out of him telling me that he thought the little boy on the pillow was him :)

In case you where wondering, the pillow says, "You suit me to a tee!"

I'm very happy to introduce my Thanksgiving stitchery! These are my girls. I stitched them for over a year. This means that they are sweet and I adore them.


I made this thing with the idea of selling the pattern on Craftsy.com.  I don't draw. That is why it's nice that websites like Fiverr.com are out there. I was able to find and commission someone to make these sweet maidens for me. I told the artist what I wanted and sent samples of the girls to give him an idea of what I had in mind. I love what he did. I payed him for his awesome work and bought the commercials rights. So now I can sale them as my own. 





It was about 7 years ago when I first read the quote "Thankfully Live within Your Harvest". I immediately fell in love with it. I was in a quilt shoppe, that is no longer in business, in Provo, Utah. They had the cutest Thanksgiving quilt with these little words lovingly hand stitched into it.  I wanted to use the quote in my own festive turkey quilt but never got around to making it.  Ergo, a teeny, tiny stitchery with these darling ladies on it.





I am extremely pleased with how it turned out. Plus, it was a lot of fun to make.

Today's quilt is one I made for my dear sweet friend Jenielle. I feel connected to Jenielle in so many special ways. I met Jenielle while I was a nanny. She was a nanny too. But her family also lived in NY. She was such a dear friend to me. One of my favorites. She was one of those friends that I wish I could take with me wherever I go. She is someone that you can find happiness and fun with whenever she is around. 



Jenielle lost her sister, Danielle, and her father to cancer within just one year of each other. I cannot imagine. 



I told her I wanted to make this quilt for her hoping it might help in some way. Not that it could. 



I had a lot of help with this quit. Jenielle's sweet nieces and sister helped me with photos, names and a poem that one of her nieces wrote and I desperately wanted on the quilt.

 Her Father, Monk Bailey, was the branch president of the singles branch that I attended. Damon was his first counselor. Monk was an amazing man. He was a loving and caring person. He had a good sense of humor. He was a very passionate man. He made a huge impact on my life and many others. I'm lucky that I was able to know him.

Here is the poem….it's beautiful!

A year to mark your start at birth.

Until the year you leave this earth.

Our existence fills but one short day before our lives are swept away.

A dash separates 2 numbers here and the difference is a life so dear.

The years with in that simple mark are remembered now with heavy hearts.

But we are gathered here today not to morn your life away.

But to celebrate the days that come and went in many ways.

And now that your mortal journey's through, I’m glad I spent some days with you.

We love and miss you here tonight but we know it will turn out all right.

Because our Savior conquered death we know we’ll share our days again.

We do not stand here and for you weep-- there is not death, but only sleep.

By Madison Houghton

I love the little hexagons.

Jenielle and her mom, Kristine.

"You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known-and even that is an understatement." -F. Scott Fitzgerald

This dresden plate is not placed right. I did not do this. My friend that quilted this quilt had removed all the dresdens and put them back on and for some reason, unbeknownst to me, she put it like this.



I really like the quilting on this quilt. And think Mary did an excellent job.


And the whole time I was trying to take photos of this quilt Ian was photo bombing me.

This was a special quilt for me to make. I truly love this family. I'm grateful that they were such a wonderful part of my life.

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