Milestones and Miles

I had posted about this Sparkler quilt a while ago, It finshed up to be a generous twin-sized quilt. It's the result of a R,W & B online fabric swap through White Shanty Quilts, the pattern is available there too. Julia Davis is the person behind White Shanty, she offers the swaps several times a year if you're interested, always color-themed. When this one was offered I knew that I wanted a patriotic quilt to celebrate our daughter's milestone birthday. She was born in July 1976, a bicentennial baby, and she needed a semiquincenntenial quilt to mark the occasion. I backed it with a sweet picnic print; it is a perfect quilt to use as such. 

I'd been working on completing another surprise for her too. She has taken to needlepoint and turns out beautiful ornaments and small items, her finishing techniques are impeccable. She had come to me well over a year ago to see if I could turn one of her needlepoint canvases, cute Christmas reindeer, into a pillow for her, something that she'd never done. I was honest with her and confessed that this is an area of uncharted waters for me as well!

After months of consternation, I took the bull by the horns and worked up my courage. There were many things that worried me: cutting and stitching into the canvas, I was afraid of damaging the needlepoint piece that she had worked so beautifully. Finally, determined, I set to the job at hand armed with the necessary materials and a dozen YouTube videos under my belt. I used a sturdy upholstery fabic and even set a zipper into the lapped back. It was ready in time for her birthday!

I believe that she was pleased; it was a great day!

The following day she and our granddaughter flew to Madison, WI for the TYR Futures Championships Swim Meet at the Soderholm Aquatic Center there on the U of W campus. Mr. Goodneedle and I left out for the same destination, in a car, we turned ours into a roadtrip!  There were many miles to travel and I took three quilts with me to finish by hand stitching the binding in place. There was plenty of time to do that, too. Lucy Ann's schedule each day consisted of swimming prelims in the morning and qualifying for finals in the evening. That meant getting her fed between events and long, afternoon naps to prepare. 

This was on the final day, Lucy Ann (L) came in 2nd overall in the mile! It was truly amazing to watch; and considering that the girl who finished ahead of her, in first, is 20 years old and a collegiate swimmer says a LOT about the determination of our 15 year old granddaughter! We're very proud. Her teammate is pictured here, too, she also placed in the mile event. 

Lucy Ann and her coach. Smiles all around; what a wonderful week! 

I'll share the finished quilts in my next post. 

Thanks for letting this Nana brag a bit. 

Life is Good!

Another Rabbit Hole?

Our daughter has taken up needlepoint, over the past year she has created some beautiful items! She spends a LOT of time waiting at the pool for one and/or at the soccer field with another, she was looking for something to occupy her hands other than her phone. Needlepoint became her choice. This was one needle-art avenue that I had never ventured down. Never say never, right? Earlier this fall while staying at their home she invited me to try my hand at a simple project. This plaid design is a counted project with rows based on my numerical birthdate. I chose the colors from fibers that she hand on hand and, with her expert tutelage, set to work. This is the result. Ta-da! My very own birthday plaid!

She made this for me for Mother's Day this year, Marcia works from painted canvases most of the time. 

Her finishing is as beautiful as her stitches.

These two were for Mason and Lucy Ann, respectively; skiing Santa and swimming Santa.

She has some of her finished ornaments displayed on her mantle.

She made this for Mason for Christmas; it celebrates his great love for the Blue Ridge mountains. It's gorgeous, her choice of fibers and various stitches gives this piece depth and life. I've been a very proud watching her pursue this hobby and excel at it. A friend brought me some canvas the other day and a few counted charts that appear as quilts when stitched up.

She was cleaning out and wanted me to have them. 

Is this a rabbit hole that I want to explore? 

In the meantime I'll leave you with these precious reindeer that our daughter did as one of her first needlepoint projects the Christmas before last. I love this, and her; 🩷 I am so happy that she has a creative outlet that brings her so much joy and satisfaction.

Life is Good!