Linda's T-shirt Quilt

This fall I've been busy working on a commissioned quilt for a cousin's wife. It's t-shirts from all her travels and time in school. She gave me a brown/tan/black pillow as inspiration. I just loved the fabric from the Java line and used the remainder of the bolt. The quilt is King size, so it was big and heavy.

I planned it for the most part on EQ6, but it's not real user friendly with using different sized blocks randomly, so I just did measurements overall to get to the size I wanted and then did a lot of hand calculating. With the size of the t-shirts and the 52 I had to work with, I had to use no sashing between the blocks, just rows, which actually worked out pretty good.

I was pleased with how it turned out.

I made this custom label for it as well. I used a red backing as there are red dots in the sashing and I didn't want to piece the backing, so I used an extra wide back.


The biggest problem I had was skipped stitches and bad tension for a row before I figured out all my problems. I used a Hobbs 80/20 batting which really helped when I was rolling it as it wasn't so big under the harp of the machine. I'll definitely do that again.

Mikaela is 49 Weeks Old!

Mikaela turned 49 Weeks Old on December 28th. We spent the Fri. before Christmas checking out Storybook Island and all the lights on the children's displays. It was cold, but we were bundled up. It was fun doing this as a family.


I always enjoy the nativity.

Christmas eve we opened a couple presents.

Mikaela was ready for the pictures to be over.

She did good opening presents though.

She loves the laughing doll.

Christmas morning Santa brought her a rocking horse that makes noises.

She wore her new PJ's and played with her doll.

She's really starting to like stuffed animals/dolls.

She's riding her new toy Grandma got her.

She was Santa's helper after lunch and handed out presents.

She's already graduated from the rockers to wheels. She loves to push it around.

Grandpa Joe and Eva came over for lunch.

A four generation picture with a squirrel of a little girl.

Merry Christmas!

Mikaela is 48 Weeks Old!

Mikaela turned 48 weeks old on the 21st of December. She's growing into such a little girl. She's walking by herself now and standing up without holding things.

Daddy was playing with her and she loved it!

She got to stay with Grandma while mommy and daddy went to daddy's work party. She loves spending time with Grandma.

Taking off!

Our family

Her new Christmas outfit. She's got long bangs now and they need to be cut. She loves her Little People dog.





The little things like Baby Orajel make her smile.

A Few Christmas Gifts!

Luckily I had just enough time last week to throw these together. They were quilted and I just put the binding on and hand sewed it down last week at work. This one went to my secret santa at work, Becky.

This one was given to our daycare grandma Shirley. She's our daycare ladies mom, but helps out during most days with the kids, so I wanted to do something for her.


I've been swamped with a lot of homework, including a 15 page paper that had to be turned in last night, so I got very little done, other than that! I did finish the t-shirt quilt and hope to get pictures tonight before I post about it. It will be heading to Avon on Friday. I even did a cool label for it.
I've finished the quilting on my quilty friends gifts, but need to do binding and I'll have to wait and show them after they open them, since at least 3 out of 4 read my blog. I'll keep them in suspense!
I'm not doing many other gifts, just a few PJ bottoms, so I can get back to sewing fun stuff soon... well when I talk fun, it's samples for my classes, but hey they are fun quilts, so I'm game!

Mikaela is 47 Weeks Old!

Mikaela is cuter than ever in her Christmas dress, so I took a few pictures, trying to get one to use on our Christmas card, because I was determined to send out Christmas pictures/letters.









We tried to get a family picture as well, which took some work, since it was too cold to do it outside.





Mikaela and Grandma

Mikaela playing the other morning.

She wasn't so sure about going to see Santa either, but she looked cute. Her picture with Santa was a crying/screaming one!

Thanks to Emilee and Rosalie, she has a super cute Christmas dress.





She even sits up in the chair Grandpa Jim made for Grandma Elaine's doll, which is now mine. Mi

Mikaela is 46 Weeks Old

Mikaela turned 46 Weeks Old on December 7th.  We had breakfast with our friend Rich and grandma.

Mikaela wasn't so sure about seeing Rich, since it's been a while and she's in the scared of people stage.

She wanted to get to the camera from Daddy's lap.

She loves to bounce in her Jenny Jump Up.



She doesn't like being on the other side of the gate from mommy.