A few months ago, I finally gave in and decided that a monthly housecleaning service may be just what the doctor ordered for us....  and I have to say that with the advent of a housecleaning service, I find that life has become far more joyous!

You know how you think about all the household chores that need to be completed on any given day?  And as you ponder the list, you decide you don't want to do any of it and go work in the yard instead?  And nothing on the list gets done. 

So the next day, you ponder your household to-do list....  and decide to finally paint the chair that's been waiting for some love...  and nothing on the list gets done again.

And so on....  and on and on.

Well, let me tell you what happened when we hired our housecleaning service.  They cleaned our house!   All of it...  all at once.  So when I ponder the household to-do list, there is nothing on it and I no longer have to make those passive aggressive yardwork or painting decisions to get around the to-do list.

And the bestest joyous part it that I get to do fun stuff like sew!  And I have a very LONNNNNG list of UFOs (UnFinished Objects) to do.

To celebrate my freedom from the housework mind-freeze and kick off the UFO finishing, I invited a friend over for 4 days of non-stop stitching and, while I won't swear to it, YouTubes of the Midnight Quilter and some quilter's juice created just the atmosphere I needed for my crazy "get 'er done" push on the UFOs that were clogging up my brain.  (Please know that the block border for the My Blue Heaven quilt was not injured in association with the taking of this photograph.)

None of the quilts represented here are truly completed but I am thrilled that so much progress was made on so many quilts - and all due to the mental relief provided by the housecleaning service (doing a happy dance AGAIN). 

The Serendipitous Quilt below started as a gifted block that I received (along with maybe 10 other blocks) from a fellow quilter, Celeste. 

The original block is the part in the upper right portion of the quilt top that is bordered by strips of yellow/light/blue on all four sides with light dusty blue squares in the corners. I dug through my scraps for all blues, lights, and yellows that matched or coordinated and simply started sewing parts and pieces onto the original block until it was large enough for a baby quilt.   I have no idea why I decided to add on in an asymmetrical fashion but I did!  I hope to get it quilted in March (February is pretty full already) and squirrel it away until I feel compelled to gift it or donate it.

I was able to complete some of the many team themed Mug Rugs that I started months ago - I decided it was time to get them finished and off my UFO list.    I will be offering them for sale with funds to my favorite charity, Angelgownsbyjacki.  Iowa State, University of Iowa, and Arizona are currently available.

This is a quilt that a 2017 New Years Day Mystery Quilt that I finally finished.

A mystery quilt is when the designer offers a list of fabric amounts needed and periodically offered sewing directions throughout a pre-determined amount of time - sometimes hours and sometimes months - and you make the quilt without knowing how the final product will look.

I had chosen a fabric from my stash that I felt needed to be used up (the My Little Pony fabric) so I dug until I found coordinating fabrics and away I went.  The final four blocks in the center turned out ok but was not big enough for a quilt so I added on to opposite ends to reach the measurement I wanted.

However, as I used what I had, fabric was very limited at this point so I did the best I could with what I had.  And I did achieve my goal on this one - all the Pony fabric was used up in this quilt...  every last bit !!!  This is another one on the March hopeful for quilting list.

Below is the start of a quilt for a very good friend, and known as a BFF Quilt. 

This quilt drove me completely bonkers BUT turned out simply amazing and just the way the customer wanted.  The king quilt and two king pillow shams are fully pieced and quilted but all three pieces still needs what seems like miles and miles of binding.  The final quilt will be shown after the BFF has received it...  after all, there must be SOME mystery, right?

I also worked on My Blue Heaven by Quiltville and Bonnie Hunter.

  
While I didn't get the additional borders on it to expand it from fits current queen size to a king size quilt, I did get the borders done...  now to attach them and get it quilted in February as its intended recipient has a birthday in March.

I also completed this Meadow Mist 2016-2017 Mystery Quilt, which I just started last week while I was quilting the BFF quilt (shown above). 



Unfortunately it was completed with two errors.  I will repair them before I quilt it...  and its on the April or May quilting list.

Playing with Jacks still needs borders but, for now, it's time under my needle is over. Borders will be another day. 150 blocks with 15 pieces in each block and its a beautiful piece.  It's also from Quiltville and Bonnie Hunter.

I also FINALLY finished this 2012 Block of the Month from 35th Ave Sew and Vac known as Kaleidoscope of Kolor.

I worked on a few other small projects but didn't get them assembled so I will wait to photograph them. 

And I was able to work on my Angelgownbyjacki on my regular schedule!!

And I started a edging project in the yard...  but I will save that for a later post.

Life is good here at the compound, I am on a roll, and I do not intend to slow down any time soon because, frankly, the UFO list is STILL too long !!!  oh, and there IS that yard project that needs finished....

I was recently away from home for a couple weeks for some doctor visits and to see family and friends.  It was a busy two weeks.  I was supposed to be away only one week but found there was just not enough time so I extended it (kudos to Southwest Airlines for fee-free changes).

Moving between various sets of family and friends, I worked on rebuilding a relationship with a high school friend I had lost touch with, attended the AQS quilt show in Des Moines, broke bread many times with different subsets of family and friends, delivered custom dolls clothes, shopped for new space with my BFF and her boyfriend, and spent time working on dresses donated for the Angels.  The time was filled to the brim with laughing, crying, reminiscing, and very special time with the DIL and grands: D and twins M and L. 

I was able to attend three of the grand's football games; L's last game (she ran a touchdown!!) and two for D, including his last game. 

D made a number of fantastic blocks and a very timely sack...  his team was rather amazing...  If I remember correctly, they had one tie and zero losses for the season. 



L's game involved all three kids as M was part of the cheer squad for L's team and D was the waterboy.   I commend mom for teaching the kids the importance of participation and proud of the kids for following through.

The kids shared that their school needed new dodge balls.  We discussed ways to help the school by raising the funds to purchase dodgeballs (can drives, etc)....   I committed to a donation if they reached a certain goal.  I am proudly awaiting their decision on how to go about raising the funds.

During my visit, the kids wanted to watch Titanic.  I was pretty impressed that three kids WANTED to watch it.   We all giggled about how many times Rose said "Jack" and there were guesses thrown around.  I googled it and L guessed it exactly on the nose...  Rose said, yelled, or cried "Jack" 76 times.


They were pretty much transfixed watching Titanic....  at least until dinner was ready. 

While the grands all love animals, including Mom, M is the soft hearted one that wants to adopt or care for every animal that needs love.  Their menagerie currently includes:

Keiki, who probably spends most of her time with L. 

Keiki is shy but like other cats, she watches everything from afar and

she will shower you with love when SHE wants to.

Wrigley is a 5 mo old Vizsla mix. 

I think the best way to describe him is that he is rather like a new born deer trying to stand up on ice. 

Wrigley is THE most lovable, cuddly, Velcro-like animal I have ever met.

Hunter is a loveable and very social male.

He seems to have a facial comment for everything that goes on in the house. 

His favorite place to be is drinking from a dripping faucet or with his momma, the DIL.

They are considering adding a German Shepherd or GS mix to the family when the time is right.  They may need more vacuum cleaners....

As for the Angelbabies, I brought back two suitcases full of donated dresses (wedding dresses can take up a lot of space) (kudos once again to Southwest Airlines) and friend KS is bringing MORE dresses to me in November.  We are still working through all the dresses donated as a result of the KCCI-TV report on us and word of mouth and still trying to catch up.

I was only able to see my son for a couple minutes at a time but that was all the situation allowed.  It was a wonderful time with family and friends and especially the grands.  While my time away was loaded with emotions, some bad, there were, oh, so many good ones.  I  kept my promises and showered everyone with all the love I had. 

I continue to be blessed.

Even though my blood pressure has been pretty unpredictable lately, I have still been able to be productive.  I can sit and do things that are not taxing, like cleaning out drawers and bins/boxes, or doing hand sewing.

In the last 10 days or so:

• I rounded up three large bags/boxes of stuff for donation to a second hand store.
  
• I kept the garbage man in business one more week by filling up our trash barrel to the brim.
  
  
  
  
• I was able to spend three days in the Angelgownsbyjacki studio, working on further preparing donated dresses for storage until their turn to be transformed into AngelGowns. 
  
• I was FINALLY able to get the hubby's quilt off the quilter but I haven't gotten it bound yet.  He choose a quilting in a Celtic knot pattern and I am fairly happy with the results.  It involved some new skills for me so there were a couple battles with the quilting machine that I am not sure I won.  BUT....  its off the quilter and that in itself is a victory!
  
  
  
• I was able to complete four baby/lap quilts.  I haven't decided for sure yet, but these quilts may either be offered for sale to support Angelgownsbyjacki or donated to a program providing quilts to kids.  Two of the quilts in this batch (the red, black and white "transformer" quilts) are similar. Once of the quilts, the last one shown, was received from a long arm quilter who didn't get it finished and was no longer quilting.

I hope to have another productive couple weeks ahead of me as I feel like I am on a roll on my list of UFOs (UnFinishedObjects).  And to be honest, part of my motivation to get some of those old projects completed is so that I can start new ones!!

The fabric equivalent of an ice cream store...

I just LOVE the Quilter's Market in Tucson... its my favorite quilt store EVER.

The way they have the fabrics displayed; I feel like I am in the happiest place on earth! 

They offer sew-ins, BOMs, and all the gorgeous fabric and know-how you could possibly want!


Additionally, they participate in many community service projects, which I love. 
They actively support their local food bank, project Linus, Hospice, and many, many more.

 I truly think I could stay there all day!!

Quilter's Market is also a sponsor of AngelGownsbyjacki and provides us with minkee, ribbons, and serves as a drop off location for donated dresses. 

I truly thank them for their involvement with their community!!

October has a lot of responsibility!!!  Among other things, October is:

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month 

Each and every day, in communities across America, more than 70 new parents will have listened sadly their stillborn baby’s silence; and countless lives will be lost to miscarriage and other causes of infant death.

For the families, the loss of a baby often feels too much to bear.  However, family, friends, and strangers can support them through their grief.

Take a moment to honor the babies, and their families, on October 15th when everyone, in their own time zone, is requested to light a candle at 7pm.  


AngelGownsbyjacki is committed to providing handmade gowns and burial accoutrement to the families of babies who become Too Soon An Angel.  Their items, crafted with love from donated wedding dresses, are supplied to birthing centers and funeral homes who  then provide them to families of Angelbabies, free of charge.  Angelgowns designed especially for Angelbabies between 14 and 32 weeks gestation.  If you are aware of a hospital or mortuary in need of AngelGowns, please click the link HERE.





Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is the reminder to get our annual mammograms so we can take care of our ta-tas.

As always, there is an annual campaign in October to increase awareness of the disease.  Many forget to take the steps to detect the disease in its early stages.   So.... if you haven't already, go get your mammo and

GET FELT UP!!!  
and remind all your friends and family to get felt up, too!



Volunteers are always needed to crochet or knit up a few Knitted Knockers...

Knitted Knockers are special handmade breast prosthesis for women who have undergone mastectomies or other procedures to the breast. Traditional breast prosthetics are usually expensive, heavy, sweaty and uncomfortable. They typically require special bras or camisoles with pockets and can’t be worn for weeks after surgery. Knitted Knockers, on the other hand, are soft, comfortable, beautiful and can be worn inside a regular bra. 

Knitted Knockers offers several free knitting and crochet patterns for “knitted” knockers.  For more information, click HERE.

A new sewing machine!

I (ok, hubby and I) brought home another sewing machine:  The Singer anniversary model!!!  I am anxious to get it out and cleaned up. 

I need to let one of my others go (I offered that concession to hubby) but he didn't seem to care one way or the other. Soooo, well, we will see.

The wheel turns hard and there is a noise when running but I think cleaning and greasing will make a world of difference.  Also, arm support for the top seems not well attached to the cabinet - hopefully, I can fix that too.

In the meantime, I have been working hard on three projects:

• Quilting
• AngelGowns
• Items for craft shows

I have decided that I will work on each thing for one day and move to the next project the next day.   With this process, I am finding some days are more productive than others but I feel like I am touching each of the things I love to do.

 Monday was quilting day.  I worked on a BOM (block of the month). 

I had three months of blocks that I needed to complete to get caught up.  Before we started this project, I added some complimentary fabrics from my stash so I could make additional blocks and end up with a larger quilt than provided in the BOM.


I see a square in the upper left block that need to be turned.  ooopsie!



On Tuesday, I worked on AngelGown items.  I finished several gowns, caps, and a wrap.

The AngelWrap to the left of the water bottle serves as a burial garment for the tiniest of babies. 

The cap in the upper right of the photo is unadorned and the lower right is trimmed and beribboned and ready to go.



 


Today, Wednesday, was a busy day! 

I delivered a box of AngelCaps, embellishments, ribbon, thread, needles, sequins, and pearls to a new "embellisher", Ginger G.  She is new to our little group and I am  positive that they will come back simply A ~ D ~ O ~ R ~ A ~ B ~ L ~ E !!!



In addition to picking up the sewing machine, being available to the pool guy and the guy who took some brush away, and meeting Ginger, I still managed to make four crinolines and ten poodle skirts for my fall craft shows.

The outfits (top, skirt, crinoline, belt, and maybe scarf) will fit 18" dolls, including American Girl dolls.  I made the skirts in pink, gray, and black with poodles in black sparkle, pink, or white.  I will make the tops for these outfits next "craft show" day!!




Making the poodles skirts makes me think of a day long ago that several friends and I all made poodle skirts in pink, burgundy, and purple.  The menfolk dressed as "bad boys" or "nerds" and we all attended a 50's party!  One of the girls was dressed as a "pink lady".  Such wonderful memories!

Pick a lovely old memory...  and savor it again!

Tomorrow is quilting again! Is it too early to say that I really like this rotation thing?



Angel Gowns

I have been searching for a project that touches my heart and can use my skills.  I found another project several years ago that involved big tough motorcycle guys and small children that were victims of abuse but it was not a project that I could DO anything, other than send money.   I needed something I could DO.



A batch of Angel Gowns by Michelle
ready for transport to a hospital.

In March, I read an article about a mother and NICU nurse that accepted donated wedding gowns to make tiny gowns for babies who were not able to go home from the hospital.  This story touched me because my twin brothers, born 2 years after me, did not come home. 

Angel Gowns is the moniker provided by the compassionate woman who donates hours and hours of her time to lovingly make these gowns.  Her website shows the many tiny gowns she makes from a single wedding dress and where she donates them.

After dipping my toe into this project, I felt the glow of the idea and it has not been far from my mind since I read about it.  I expressed interest in participating and 2 friends have already stepped forward to donate their gowns.

So I contacted Michelle, and I can proudly announce that I will be the Arizona ambassador for Angel Gowns.   A little leg work needs to be done, I need to clear a couple things off my plate, but I am anxious to start. 

A few rules that I must keep in mind to be a part of Angel Gowns...
- Angel Gowns MUST remain "not for profit"
- Gowns must have been personally worn by the donator.
- No guarantees can be made regarding deadlines or specific gowns donated to specific places.

I am very excited to be a part of this project. I finally found a cause that I need, and that needs me.

I will need wedding gowns, vacuum bags to store the dresses in until they can be transformed into Angel Gowns, lots and lots of thread, ribbon, etc, and soft velcro and I think I will be ready to go!   I guess I need lots of Joann's coupons !!!

If you, my dear friends, are able to assist, please let me know.
And please watch for more announcements!!