Mikaela is 5 Weeks Old!

Mikaela turned 5 weeks old on February 23rd. We were finally home, but I don't know how we spent the whole week. It seems to have been a blur for me. I did get a few pictures of her in this cute bear sleeper from Kay and the even cuter hearts blanket that Shannon and Pat gave her. It's pretty similar to a minkee fabric and is so soft!

It has satin ribbing on the edge. Isn't this the cutest sleeper?

I love the little bears on the front. They are so cute! She's not nearly as dark as she looks in the picture. I'm still getting the hang of the camera and lighting.

Mikaela is 1 Month Old!

Mikaela turned 1 month old on February 19th. The first month went by so quickly and we were at my parents/brothers house a lot of the time, so it was nice to come home on the 19th and spend time at our house. I got my birthday present, a new TI1 Canon Rebel camera. I started shooting pictures of anything and everything!
Paul was holding Mikaela.


She wasn't so sure about daddy.

She kind of has a pissed off look to her. She's wrapped up in her I love Grandma blanket my mom made for her.

Mikaela is 4 Weeks Old!

Mikaela turned 4 weeks old on February 16th which was the day of mom's funeral. The pictures we took were mostly on Valentine's Day, since it was a day at my Dad's house. Mikaela received this super cute outfit from my mom's cousin Sue and family.

She figured out I was taking pictures all too soon!

My Amazing Mother

My mom, Delia, fought a 6 1/2 year battle with breast cancer with courage and determination. She was a fighter and her motto was "Pray, Fight, Win!" She battled to the very end, especially after the disease came back 4 1/2 years after her remission. It moved into her brain last year at Christmas time and she took radiation treatments and continued to fight the disease. She had so many things left to do and we spent the year doing all the things we enjoyed. We attended 3 quilt retreats together, went on several shop hops, and she came with me to my dr. appoinments and I went to hers. She was my mentor, my teacher, and my best friend. We were so much alike and enjoyed so many of the same things. Mom wanted to see Mikaela, and was able to visit us in the hospital when she was born. She entered the hospital 2 days later. My dad says "She was living for Mikaela and then she knew she could go home." I truly believe she accomplished so many things in the last year and was ready to go home to be with the Lord. She prayed, fought, and now has won a spot in heaven. I know she's watching over us and protecting us.
She went home on Friday, February 11th. The rosary service is tonight and the funeral is tomorrow. When we were making arrangements we had to find a picture. My brother said, where's the picture from your blog, that's the best one of mom. It truly is one of my favorite pictures of us. She had a beautiful smile and was enjoying the day. This was about 8 months before the cancer came back.
Our community has been so supportive and for that we are truly thankful. There was a pie social benefit for mom's medical expenses held on Sunday. The outpouring of community members was such a tribute to all those who loved my mom and our family.
The funeral home website, http://www.rushfuneralhome.com/, has the full obituary and a guestbook for people to sign. The messages mean so much to our family, so feel free to leave a message or come back tomorrow and all the flower pictures will be posted as well.
Thank you to all my blogging friends for their support during this difficult time. It means the world to me to know you guys care so much. Mom was so proud of my quilting group. My mom was an amazing woman and I will miss her, but know that she's in a better place free from the pain.

Mikaela is 3 Weeks Old!

Mikaela was three weeks old when we visited my mom in the hospital for the last time. She spent a lot of time snuggling with my dad. She did lots of sleeping on his chest.


He sure enjoys being grandpa! Mikaela looked so tiny in his arms.


She had this super cute sleeper that my mom loved on her. She told me how cute the hearts were.

She slept with her hands up, even as early as 3 weeks.

More February Groovy Girls Samples

Today I worked on more samples for Groovy Girls. These are the bottle covers. They look really easy and they are, but they take a lot more fabric than they look like they should. I cut out the first one wrong and had to find more fabric to use with it. They turned out pretty cute.



I wrapped the first one I made around a bottle so you could see how it looks. There is a pocket where the zipper is to put in money or a gift card.

Mikaela's New Baby Quilt

Last week Mikaela had to go to the Dr. for a weight check on Wed. It was really cold, so we didn't stay out long, but since we were in town we stopped at Fabric City to say hi to the girls. Tammy was there and got several samples together for me to work on. She also put the information from Mikaela's birth on this baby quilt she had made for her. It's a rag quilt with chenille on it too and it's super cute.

Here's a close up of one of the blocks. I love the quilt and I'm so excited that Tammy gifted it to us. Mikaela will get lots of use out of it.

February Groovy Girls Samples

Zippy Strippy Bags are one of the patterns for Groovy Girls for February. I figured using the new sewing fabric would make them a great bag for sewing supplies. This one is the medium sized bag.

There is also a free pattern on the blog for these tissue holders/little bags, so I made two different sets. These would be great for making for Valentine's gifts for kids or co-workers. They go together pretty quickly.

I quilted both of them with straight lines in an effort to make them as simple as possible, but they would  be great for practicing stippling since the fabric is small and doesn't take long to do. The zippers go in quickly and easily.

I used 3 fat quarters to make the Zippy Strippy, but had plenty left, so I made the small version as well. It went together fairly quickly too. I love how she makes her bags and they are great for beginners.

I took a comparison shot of the small and the medium together to show what they look like for each size. There is also a large size that can be made as well.

I still have a few gifty type samples left to make for Groovy Girls, so hope to get those done tomorrow.

Mikaela is 2 weeks old!

The second week of Mikaela's life it was -20 and we stayed home all week. It was the coldest week of the winter. Her great grandpa Joe and his wife Eva came out to visit.

Mikaela was all about sleeping. She was loving the warmth of the fairy blanket grandma Delia made for her.


These were the only pictures I got taken that week. I was trying to get things settled while I was staying home away from the cold. I didn't want to travel with her when it was so cold.

Let it Snow Batik Table Topper

I've loved the Let it Snow batiks since they first came out. I didn't know what I would make out of them, but just fell in love with the colors and prints. Eldora taught a class on this table topper and I knew it would be so pretty on our kitchen table. I've had the fabric for a couple months, but never got around to actually cutting it out because it looked so difficult. I finally took to cutting it out and making it on Feb. 1. Wow! It was super easy to cut out, super easy to piece and I had the top done in less than 2 hours. I hope to get it quilted yet this month and make another one. I have some of the aqua/brown fabrics in this line that I'll make another one out of if I get time. The table topper pattern is easier than I expected.

January Quilting Accomplishments

Have BABY! - DONE! Mikaela Marie was born 1/19/11 at 5:45PM, 71bs 13oz, 20"


Laminated Travel Tote - DONE! Groovy Girls January Sample

Quilt Aunt Vi's Quilt - DONE! All three quilts for Aunt Vi are done and ready for delivery.


Snowflake Table Topper - Put off until February

In addition I made several quicky projects while waiting for Mikaela to arrive.
I made an extra long pillowcase for my body pillow using some fabric I received as a gift from my friend Darlene.

I made a pillowcase to go with my OBW quilt using the leftover fabric. I love having the finished quilt and pillowcase to match.

I also made a pillowcase out of the leftover fabrics from my sewing theme quilt. I still have some of that fabric left, so I can make a tablerunner or something to match.

I used up 6 flannel fat quarters and made 6 burp clothes. They were pretty easy and made up quickly.

I made a nursing udder cover. I thought it would be hard, but it turned out pretty easy.

I made up the last 2 little wallets. They are so quick to make so I really enjoy doing them.

I made another udder cover for my friend who is having a baby this month. I love the fabric on this one. It's so bright and cheery.

I made a cover for her changing pad.

I finished up the Valentine's table runner which took me one year to complete.

I also made myself a changing pad cover.

We had Mikaela baptized at the church in Milesville where we were married.


January was a wonderful month. I accomplished 35 hours of quilting/sewing. I got lots of sewing done before Mikaela arrived and even finished the table runner binding while I was in labor the morning she was born. She's a wonderful baby and I've gotten a few hours of sewing in for February.