Blustery Birthday Projects

Well February is here ~

so therefore birthdays are here as well.

I have many fabulous people in my life who have February birthdays.
My father, littlest brother, mother and oldest son.
Here are a couple sewing projects I completed for some of those birthdays.

Dad got the "camper collection": toss pillow, pillow case, dish towel and lap throw.

I found the fabric at a little shop, uncoordinated ~ but I matched them up.

I liked the colors together and it wasn't too north woodsy, but just the right bit of manly.

I decided since he is kind of hot blooded and he doesn't really camp when it is cold out,

that a large throw without any filling would be good, and so I did the back with a soft flannel.

And I "birthed" it as the quilters say, I say I sewed it fronts facing and turned it inside out before quilting it.

I think he liked it.  And I proud that I designed it, created it, and quilted it by myself.

Little brother Tyler on his 24th birthday got a girly pillow! Forgot to take a close up pic and this pic isn't very clear.  But his toss pillow has a sexy blonde out in the woods with a sweater on.  Very funky retro pin up girlish, I loved the fabric and had to have it.  And it might have made him blush a little with his new blonde girlfriend sitting next to him. Aww, that's what sisters are for :)

This quilt I made for my mom.  She said last year how she loved yellows and oranges ~ they are just so cheery.  So when I took a class for the "no brainer" quilt top, and I found these fabrics I decided to make it for her. It was very simple, and I felt very proud the farther I went with it.  It is a throw around 52" x 52" square.  I pieced the front and the back in spring/summer of 2011 and had it long arm quilted Feb. of 2012, I had enough of the back hanging off that I bound it with the original edging, which made things much simpler. I had already used the scraps to make and quilt the toss pillow to match.  Pretty sure she was tickled with it.

Now as for my almost 21 year old son ~ hmmm, yeah I am not quilting anything for him at the moment.

Maybe in a few years, I think cold card cash is what he needs now.

But I will be keeping my eyes our for the right fabric and the right project that will tickle his fancy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to everyone who celebrates it this blustery month!!

Friendship

Friendship comes in many shapes and sizes.

When we are young  we think "our friends" are the most important things in the universe.

 Being liked by many is often a goal in young people.

Then we grow up.

We find that friends are not always there for us when we need them.

Friends are not always nice to us. And sometimes we forget that we have a choice.

 That a friendship is a partnership between two people. A give and take.

"If we find one true good friend in our lifetime, we are lucky"

Someone close to me often says this, and I believe it is true.

Friendship should not be based on quantity but quality.

It doesn't matter  how many friends you have or how full your social calendar is.

It does matter that you have someone whom you can trust, share your

thoughts and dreams, tell your deepest secrets to and they still love you.

I am extremely lucky that my best friend is my husband Jeff.

I am lucky that I found him and get to share my life with him.

He truly loves me for me, is my cheerleader, and my rock. 

 

A father's goal is to love, support, teach and protect.

Now at the age of 41, I do not need my dad to protect me anymore.

 I do still need his love and support and I am still learning things from him.

He is my friend.

I enjoy his conversation, his company, his wit and knowledge. 

Some people are your friend when you are young.

But then you change ~ and they change.

But sometimes if you are lucky, you find them again.

And you both are mature and have common interests.

You are comfortable and enjoy each others company.

Then there is a special friendship with our children.  First we are parents and at the same time we are friends.

And I know with the boys just as in their older siblings who are making their own way in life, that our friendship will grow and change. It will become stronger. 

As they grow up and marry and have children of their own, they begin to understand some of the things that we were teaching them and our friendship grows.

. 

Sometimes you find friendship in unexpected places, like in the outfield in gym class in 7th grade, or at your son's  4H meeting, maybe even online, at a job or even at the local fabric store. You just have to be open to it, be nice and be able to recognize when other people are good people. 

Your heart tells you so, learn to listen to it.

And sadly sometimes that may mean kicking a so called friend to the curb. 

Life is too short ~ pick your friends wisely.

And remember that age, color, religious and political beliefs, straight or gay means nothing, zero, zilch!

These lovely ladies are my newest friends.

We sew and talk. Talk and sew!

And whether you are 25, 41, or 62 ~ friendship is friendship.

I must say that I may not have a ton of friends but I have wonderful friends.

Friends I made in elementary school, middle school and high school.

Friendships I made through places I have worked, friends of friends and of course my family.

So to all my friends, I love you and thanks for choosing me.

The Cat's Meow

Krackerz the Kitty

Old Man Winters Arrival

Well, we were wondering if he was coming or not . . . and here he is.

The girls are not enjoying his arrival. 

My little herb garden is protected just enough from the chilly wind from the west

that I was able to cut rosemary and thyme to put in my roast right after I snapped this picture.

The Spring of 2011 was the start of our first beehives.

Two to be exact. Which they did so very well that we were able to create a third hive.

But, I sort of neglected them this late fall because I was not sure what to do with them.

Needless to say we now have two hives again, probably because I didn't feed them when I should have.

Now they are fed, so let them survive this winter, please!

There is so much to learn in the fascinating world of bees.

News update from the sewing room:

 I have almost completed my Dad's birthday gift.

Excited to post pictures very soon of that project.

And sew it begins. . .

Welcome to my blog.  This is the place I plan to share my love of sewing, gardening, my family and country life. A place to store photos of my projects before and after, and once completed with their story.  Along with ideas that I find along the way. I hope you are inspired to try something new along with me!