bloggers quilt festival: ellie's quilt

Greetings!  It's been a LONG time since I participated in the Blogger's Quilt Festival (hosted by Amy's Creative Side), but I decided this was a new day of the week, and it would be fitting to get back into the swing of things . . . so here goes!

I went back to 2012 for today's offering. It was the year my dear little dolly, Ellie was born. My firstborn's second born.  Her firstborn, Everett, was born to heaven the previous year. I'd made a sweet little owl quilt for him . . . but for Ellie, I couldn't bring myself to make her quilt until she'd made her entrance. It was very emotional for all of us.

Once she was born -- January 10, 2012 -- I hopped to it! 

I pieced the patchwork hearts with scraps of fabric from her mama's wedding quilt and scraps from other quilts I'd done.

The center patch in the center 9-patch was a fussy cut owl from Everett's quilt. ♥

I backed it with pieces from coordinating fabrics we used for curtains, bedding, and pillows for her nursery.

I hand quilted it with hand drawn hearts in all of the sashing . . . 

And a couple of special little love notes, too . . .

I'm pretty sure she liked it.

Precious girl!  Hard to believe she'll be seven in less than four months!

Ah well . . . that's my offering (and bonus trip down memory lane)! Please be sure to head back over to the Blogger's Quilt Festival and check out the rest of the participants!

:)

stitchers in the wild . . .

The week finally settled down (personally) a bit. Of course, with September here, things at the Camp are in full swing! We had three different groups scheduled over the weekend! The first was a big senior adult group that hadn't been up here in many years.  They invited us to eat with them, so we spent time with that group. The next group was an overnight children's event -- this group frequents the camp, so no hand-holding required.  The third group was . . .

Gals from my Stitcher's Etc. group!! (Doing the obligatory group shot with the Camp MACOBA sign--we're missing a few of our ladies...this was an impromptu stop on our way to check out the cabin.) With one exception, it was the first time any of this group had been to the camp, as well. We had a great time.

We spent the afternoon stitching and talking, while husbands (and one son) fished or talked football. I worked on my pumpkin mug rug while sitting on the pavilion's porch swing . . . 

Gosh, the weather couldn't have been more perfect! I finished the hand quilting, so today's task is to put the binding together and stitch it down.  That'll make for some nice afternoon slow stitching.

My Stitcher's girls can quilt *and* cook!  Todd did a fish fry for us (with hot dogs thrown in for those who don't care for fish) and we feasted!

That's all the angles -- it was a fun group.

I did give tours of the turtle sanctuary, Nook and RV . . .

We found a newborn baby turtle in the sanctuary (the females were very prolific this summer)! Isn't he cute as anything??

And...our group's leader made reservations for our first ever rustic quilter's retreat! That'll be a first for the camp, too!

Linking up with Kathy's Quilts for slow stitching Sunday. Make today a blessing for someone else!

:)

multifarious mug rugs . . .

This week has been a bit topsy turvy with a lot of personal stuff I won't go into (you're welcome). But I *did* manage to stitch up two more little acorn mug rugs . . .

I think I learned lessons from the first one and I was most pleased with the construction process the second go'round. These two still need to be quilted, and I'll get to that this weekend (the good Lord willing).

I got my hexie pumpkin mug rug sandwiched and started hand quilting on it . . .

I still have a ways to go, but again, there's this weekend.

Evey had a terrific birthday and enjoyed all of her presents . . .

She's so precious!! She really enjoyed her "Ella" topper. After she opened her gift and thanked me, Ellie sidled over to me and whispered, "Will you make me a special topper?" Bless her heart! Of course I will! :)

I decided that I needed something on which to display our sample mug rugs at next week's guild meeting. I got a blank canvas frame and a cheap price-reduced, flannel backed tablecloth.

Cut and stretched the tablecloth, flannel side up, over the canvas frame and stapled to the back.

It makes the perfect table top display!  I'll do another one (because I've got more mug rugs to display), but I think this will fit the bill perfectly. Yes?  And makes a great personal small quilt design board, to boot!

I got a little happy in the mail . . . but it deserves a post of its own, so I'll just give you a little sneak peek . . . 

Ooooh!  English paper pieces!!  What could it be?!  Hahaha!

The autumn season has finally made it's way to my office space . . .

Up until yesterday, I still had red, white and blue up and about. I celebrated with a pumpkin spice latte. A venti, even. Whoa!

I'm going to let Leia do my goodbyes today . . . 

I love how she drapes herself over the steps. I think she knows precisely what a step hazard she is! Leia the neck-breaker. Linking her up to sarah did it! and Feline Friday! And on that note . . .

Enjoy the week's end!

:)