It's Me...

This blog post is going to be more of a pictorial update of the past week than a word-filled one. I guess I have more time to snap pics than to compose. So, c'mon along while I fill you in on the happenings in and around Chez Goodneedle... and beyond!

Our oldest granddaughter represented North Carolina in the Southern Zone Championships in Orlando last week. 

We drove down to watch her compete; personally, she did incredibly well!  The thing that we're the most proud of is her sportsman-like character; she's such a great teammate and cheerleader for others, both in and out of the pool. 

What to do between events (back in the hotel room) and in the car to and fro? Hand finish bindings!

One of the sights from Orlando, near our parking deck. This INSANE ride (450' tower!) spins riders out and around as it ascends and descends; the number of similar attractions were mind-blowing. Thanks, but no thanks; not for me! 

Back home again: blueberries are abundant on the backyard bushes, we've enjoyed yummy, fruit-laden pancakes twice this week already. 

The Marathon Runner was quilted this week...

...under the watchful eye of my constant sewing room companion. 

Fruit Salad Quaker is fully stitched and awaiting assembly into a pinkeep. 

I tried this recipe for French Bread which is a winner; hands-down. I'll be making this again (and often)! 

Our youngest granddaughter came to spend the night before school begins again. We made this cute zipper pouch together yesterday afternoon. She loves to sew... and bake... and visit. 😊

 Dahlias are blooming like crazy right now!

This brings me back to the beginning... and the title of this post: "It's Me"~ do you remember the song: 

… It's me!
It's me oh, Lord, I'm standing in the need
I'm standin' in the need of prayer...

Right now I am asking for prayer for friends who are ill, friends who are hurting, friends who are facing health issues and uncertain futures as a result of recent diagnoses. Thank you, God knows their needs and your prayers on their behalf are deeply appreciated! 

Life is Good!

It Takes Time

For Easter this past spring we gave our granddaughters both a "Learn to Embroider" kit. I'd seen the ads for them, they were so cute; all packaged in a darling box with the instructions, floss, a hoop, a needle and two projects: one to learn the basic stitches and a floral design. I told the girls that we'd make time and I'd help them get started. Well, time flies, as we all know, and it hasn't happened. Our youngest stopped by this past week with her kit in hand and asked if this would be a good time to work on her embroidery, she's very eager. We didn't get very far. "It takes time", I told her. 

    Today I attended a memorial service for a church member. Her granddaughter got up and spoke about the times that she spent with her Nana; not the big holidays or special trips, but the ordinary times, those everyday moments that they'd shared, those are the ones that will live on in her heart forever. That made me think. We don't need elaborate plans but simply shared time. Even if Lynnleigh doesn't take to hand embroidery or "slow stitching" as I call  it, that's not as important as simply spending time together. This might not be a lifetime skill that is being passed on as much as it's cultivating a lifetime relationship; that takes time. She's coming back this next week to spend a few days, I'm already looking forward to the ordinary, every day tasks that we can do here together; we'll be making memories as well as doing some slow stitching while sitting together at the kitchen table. I'll see to that.

This "slow stitching" took a little longer than I had planned when I called it my July project, but it's completed now. Like everything that's worthwhile, it takes time (just plain, old, ordinary time) and I'm okay with that.  

        Life is Good!

Those New, Young Designers

You've encountered them every time you visit your local quilt shop, surf the quilting websites or open a quilt magazine: those new, young designers are everywhere. Their designs are prolific; in books, patterns, and by the yard. Is it just me or do they seem to get younger and younger? I had two in the house a few weeks ago. Working out of a box of precut scraps they pondered, placed and replaced. They stepped back and took stock, they gave each other advice; and then, finally, they were pleased with their layouts. They were each designing doll quilts and, at 4 and 6 years old, were quite serious about getting them "just right".

Lynnleigh with her design.

Lucy Ann with an extra-long quilt layout for her "taller" dolls. 

The girls "helped" Nana, after they completed their work by taking each and every square off the wall and piling them on small tables so that I could assemble them later. It's a good thing I took those photos above! 😀

Somewhere along the line Lucy Ann's layout changed from 8 squares across to 9; Nana adjusted the sizes to fit.

After they were sewn together I loaded them both, end to end, on a single piece of batting and backing and did a quick meander quilting pattern. Each was later bound with each girl's favorite color binding. Their babies will now be safe, warm and cozy under these new, designer, quilts; in fact, one can even be used as a table runner! 😉 I wanted these to be finished as soon as possible, demonstrating to them that their work has value and significance. My hope is that they will remember laying these out and be proud of their creative efforts; that they will be continue to be inspired and express themselves in original and artistic ways. 

When you next encounter those new, young designers, think of this: they likely started just this way!

Life is Good!

Sewing Small

I made two itty-bitty dresses, one for each of my granddaughters' baby dolls; these are Valentine's Day surprises. The dresses have matching diapers and a bib. The project might small but the love is BIG! Nana hopes the little Mommies will enjoy dressing up and playing with their babies for years to come.

Life is Good!

All DRESSED Up!

You might remember a few weeks ago my daughter-in-law was creating a onesie dress for little Lynnleigh. Well, making these dresses is not altogether different from eating potato chips... you can't stop at just one!

The model here is quite eager to show off her Mama's handiwork.
She is ten months old today, and yes... she is walking!

 On the recommendation of a friend I bought this book.  It is filled with easy-peasy (and CUTE) dresses for little girls and even for those little-bit-bigger girls. I can already tell this book will be referred to, and used, often over the next few years! What girl of any age wouldn't want to wear a dress with a hem like the one below? Isn't it fun?

Life is Good!

Ready And Waiting

As soon as the weather cooperates Lucy Ann will have a warm weather wardrobe ready and waiting; you'd never know if you looked out the window today that it is, already, OFFICIALLY Spring; it's sleeting!  Our daughter brought some bright and cheerful fabrics with her during her recent visit and spent naptime and an hour or so after the kiddos were in bed for the night in the sewing room working on some cute little sundresses for Miss Lucy Ann. I had to smile at the way my daughter approaches her projects; instead of a paper pattern she consulted a downloaded PDF pattern filed on her I-pad which sat beside the machine as she constructed this dress, very efficient!  Her favorite mini-model was more than happy to try on her pretty new dress the minute she woke up the next day.

Please forgive the lack of focus on this photo, I simply couldn't resist posting it due to "the pose"!

The back is as cute as the front, don't you just love the gathered shoulder straps?

Because there's never a dull moment, the next day our little model fell from a bed and suffered a small laceration above her eye; a trip to the pediatric emergency department had her put back together as good as new in no time but, naturally, it put her Mommy far behind schedule with her sewing projects.  They left right after lunchtime yesterday to return to the Capital City; since our daughter had the second dress already 90% completed I told her to go ahead and leave it and I would finish it for her. I took a quick glance at the instructions on her tablet before she left and was ready to go... or so I thought! An hour or so later, after doubting my memory and my retention rate I ended up purchasing the very same PDF pattern and printed out my copy on paper so that I could look at it (I'm rationalizing this action with the thought that I have another granddaughter who'll want one of these before too long)! There's more than one way to consult a pattern! Right? Groan.

I got it finished... it's ready and waiting!
Life is Good!

Twelve Days?

Has it really been twelve days since I last posted? TWELVE? Yep. Thanks to those of you who checked on me to make sure all was well, it is! I will be posting again, hopefully much more regularly, and visiting other blogs again now that I have found some breathing space. Thanks for your patience with my absence. I want to show you the latest addition to my Nana necklace, Mr. Goodneedle added the "Lynnleigh" charm and pearl for Valentine's Day. Awww.
Life is GRAND.

 

Lucy Ann is thrilled to have a girl-baby cousin! Of course she loves her big brother and "Geggie" but she was  one happy little girl to spend girl time with Lynnleigh (and Mommy) during a recent visit!

She did some "sewing" by placing cones of embroidery thread up on top of Nana's machine, it didn't matter one bit to her that everything was turned off. She delighted in choosing thread colors from
my boxes and lining them up.  (This looks promising for the future!)

This was my favorite photo from her "sewing" session; how could you deny these blue eyes anything?

Lucy Ann enjoyed working with a pile of pre-cut novelty squares. She would carefully choose one and then slip it smoothly underneath the machine bed! Okay, we're going to have to work on the mechanics of  the machine sewing process before we ever turn it on! Ha!!
Here she's inspecting a rub-on hand tattoo;
yeah, Nana's cool that way!

Life is Good! 

Sunday's LOVE Potpourri

I know, I know... I left you all at sea in my last post. I will return to the Hawaiian Islands and give you a wrap up of the highlights of our trip last month in the coming days. However, in the meantime, life has been consumed by the here and now and the calendar page has turned to February already; the month of love. Let me share with you today a few random and unrelated LOVES that I have experienced over the past few weeks. Of course, you've been introduced to the latest love of my life, Lynnleigh, our newest grand baby and second granddaughter. This photograph was sent to me by my daughter, it is Lucy Ann(2) holding her new baby cousin. Look at their hands. Okay, I may be a bit biased, these are my own granddaughters; but, isn't it just the sweetest picture? I think so, I LOVE it.

Another new LOVE of mine: A Christmas gift from a dear friend, my very first quilt teacher! It is a book, a daily devotional guide: Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. I have added a link here so that you can read a bit about the book and even preview a few pages, check it out. It is a book that has really struck a chord with me and I highly recommend it.

Granny Smith Apple Slaw, have you ever eaten a slaw made from apples instead of cabbage? I hadn't until a few weeks ago and it was fabulous. I have researched a recipe and found this one, I believe it's pretty close to the one I had, served alongside a barbecued chicken breast; I hope you give it a try, you may just LOVE it too.

In between a few days helping my daughter in law out with child care as she gradually returns to full strength and good health I have managed to return to the sewing machine and knocked a few things off my "to do" list; gotta LOVE that!

The daffodils are completely and totally confused around these parts. Our weather fluctuates between balmy and spring-like to frigid. I have some daffs budded out and holding, but our neighbor's yard is full of flash-frozen blossoms! Although I find, what I believe to be an all-too-soon emergence sad, I LOVE the reassurance and comfort that goes along with the knowledge that God is in control, His timing is perfect and that He keeps his promises... season after season.

Life is Good!