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Snapshots of a Birthday

1:40 pm By

It’s a sort-of wordless Wednesday today. As Bob Cratchit said in Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol,” we’ve been making rather merry. I thought I’d share some photo highlights.


barbershop chorus

We partnered with our local school district to put on a benefit concert for the Find a Voice Fund, established in our daughter Elli’s memory. A barbershop chorus came, in their lime green satin shirts and sequined suit coats, and put on a very entertaining show. Much to my relief, the kids actually watched, listened, and enjoyed themselves. That was good since my husband and I both had to disappear occasionally to speak, or share a video, or otherwise play co-hosts. We raised almost $3000 for communication devices for children unable to speak!

 

choir singing happy birthday

One of the high school choirs led “Happy Birthday” in full harmony at the end of the concert. It was a surprise for Little Girl, pulled together at the last minute when the girls in the women’s choir found out that it was Little Girl’s birthday.

 

birthday cake

My mother-in-law outdid herself again with the birthday cake. Little Girl requested Cinderella. It was stunning, almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

 

birthday quilt

I made Big Boy a twin-sized quilt for his bed at about this age, and when I came upon a store closing out their fabrics and realized I could get these adorable fabrics for 80% off, the birthday-quilt-for-Little-Girl project was born. I need to bind the edges and it’s completely done. The look on her face here was accompanied by, “You made this, Mom????” She said exactly the right thing!

What have you been up to lately? Any merry-making in your neck of the woods?

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Filed UnderKids, Sewing, Wordless Wednesday 4 Comments

Some People Are Great Starters…

6:40 pm By

I am a great starter.

I love the excitement, the energy, the optimism of starting something new. I dive in with gusto, make super-human progress for the first few days, and then somewhere in the guts of the project, get bogged down, and lay it aside. That’s when I lose steam. What was supposed to be a short little break becomes months… or even years.

I am not a good finisher.

Take the guest-room quilt project, for example.

Once upon a time, several years ago, we only had two children and lived in a three-bedroom house. The two children shared a room so we could provide a guest room, a real bed, and some privacy for our parents when they visited (which happened often as our oldest was frequently in the hospital).

Somehow I decided (I have no idea how) that I had the time and energy to make a quilt for the guest room. It was color-coordinated with the paint and everything. With all the fervent starting-a-project energy, I cut all the pieces, pieced all the blocks, and began sewing blocks into strips.

Then something happened. I don’t even remember what — it’s been that long. But I put the quilt away… and never got it back out. We had a baby, sold the guest bed, sold the house, moved, had another baby, and through it all, the quilt sat in a bag at the bottom of a craft bin.

Where it sits today. And unfortunately, it will languish there awhile longer.

Why? Because I just dove into a New! Exciting! Quilt! Project! This one has a deadline (this is a key element to my finishing anything. See… I am learning a little as I get older.) — my daughter’s birthday next spring. You have permission to keep me accountable. I cut all the pieces out last Friday, and hope to begin sewing it together tomorrow.

Now that you know this history, it gives me great pleasure to present to you…

Christmas tree with skirt beneat

This Actual! Finished! Christmas Tree Skirt!

It has been in the works for *cough* three years *cough*.

I found all the pieces last week, and with all the enthusiasm of someone with a brand-new project to start, plowed through the last remaining steps. And now it’s done! Tra-la-la-laaaaah!

Christmas tree skirt

What about you? Do you follow through on projects, or are you a great starter like me? What’s the longest it’s taken you to finish something? (Please tell me I’m not alone.)

Filed UnderAt Home, Sewing 6 Comments

Little Dresses for Africa

9:30 am By

This summer I had the blessing of being part of the Kristen’s Do It For Others July project - making dresses for children in orphanages in central Africa.

pillowcase dress with black trim

People across the country donated pillow cases, seam binding, elastic, thread, and money for postage.

closeup of pocket with flower stitching

Others donated their time and sewing skills to make the dresses. I used the pattern provided here, on the Little Dresses for Africa website.

My daughter, my expert on little dresses, pronounced them “very pretty.” I was pleased to hear that, as simple as they are. This project has given me several opportunities to share with our children about how many children need things we take for granted, and how easily we can help meet those needs.

ten pillowcase dresses for Africa

These are two weeks late, but they are done and on their way.

Thank you, Kristen, for giving us the opportunity to bless these little children in such a tangible way!

Filed UnderSewing 2 Comments

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