Day 4 of the Hugs and Kisses Blog Hop

Take a minute to check out these blogs.  I'm hoping to find some time today myself!

Wednesday February 13th

The 4 R's

Em's Scrapbag

Kris Loves Fabric

Kathy Quilts

Cherry Blossoms Quilting Studio

The Distracted Domestic 

Selina Quilts

Terry's Quilting Time

Rosemary B @ that other blog

as sweet as peaches

 Karma Willow Designs

Margaret's Hope Chest needs quilts

http://margaretshopechest.blogspot.com/2013/02/first-prison-quilt-giving-coming-up.html


This is one of the charities I personally support because they help kids of men in prison.  The kids didn't do anything that deserves punishment but because of poor choices their dads make, they do suffer.  If a quilt can help them know they are loved, I'm all about making and sending.

They need (what else) BOY quilts.  Every charity I work with is always asking for boy quilts.  Seems most of us like to make girly quilts.  I find myself having to really think about how to make a quilt for a boy, especially the older ones.  Good thing I have two boys in my house, an 8 year old and a 15 year old so I can ask their opinions :)

Maybe you can help out too.

Hopping Day 2

Tuesday February 12th

Just Let Me Quilt

Quilt Monster in my Closet

Nati's Little Things

Kwilty Pleasures

Cherry's Prairie Primitives

Pig Tales and Quilts

the tilted quilt

Sew Much 2 Luv

Sew Incredibly Crazy

Freemotion by the River

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Hugs and Kisses Blog hop is nicely on it's way through the week.  Hope you find some time to exercise as you HOP through these blogs today!  Looks like my little guy is feeling better and I'm going back to work today.  Yay for him, boo for me :)

For a favorite teacher

My husband's favorite high school teacher fell at home and shattered his shoulder.  He had to have a total replacement and can't use his hands or arms for a few more weeks.  My husband asked if I could make a quilt with a world map on it so he can dream of all of the places he wants to go once he is healed.  After a couple of weeks of thinking (that's the hard part!) and planning, this is what I came up with.  I wanted to use my chisel die from the Studio fabric cutter and found this block pattern.  Can you tell there are two different light blues?  Nope?  Good.  I used what I had in the stash and made due.  There are also two different greens.  The only thing I bought for this was the map panel.  I had one, but it still had Russia as one country and labeled USSR.  Things have changed just a little bit :)

Hope he likes it!  It is HUGE for me.  Twin size is about twice the normal size of quilts I make.  I need a bigger quilting machine :)

Do you need a hug?

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/blogs/blog/2013/02/08/friday-freebie-a-hug-and-a-kiss-x-and-o-quilt-pattern/

The Hugs and Kisses blog hop is underway!  Here's a free pattern I found that looks simple to make and would make a great hug for a hurting child.  If you make quilts and don't know where to donate them, call your local school.  Kids are going through so much that isn't talked about and the counselors or school nurse would know of that special child needing a warm hug.  I teach at a high school so have the inside scoop on these kids.  Some of them are fighting battles that leave permanent scars and I have found they all appreciate a warm, handmade quilt.

Check out the participants of today's blog hop here.

Monday February 11th

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts

Sowing Stitches

The Fuzzy Hat Quilter

Quilts and Dogs

Ninis Patchwork

Mrs. Pickles Garden

Patchouli Moon Studio

Life in the Scrapatch

Meadowbrook 

Hugs and Kisses Blog Hop

http://www.sewwequilt.com/2013/02/hugs-and-kisses-being-dished-up-on.html

That's right, the blog hop starts on Monday and goes through Friday next week.  My day is Thursday, Valentine's Day!

I'm working on my project inbetween other things like embroidering hats for my son's robotics team and making a quilt for my husband's favorite teacher.  There is always more thing to get done in the day than time to get them done.

I hope you have a few minutes or hours to pop on over to all of the blogs in the hop.  Some will be offering prizes!

Dusted off the machine

I need to make room to quilt a quilt for my husband's favorite teacher from high school.  This is the closest person he has to a father and he gave my husband much guidance through high school when my husband's life was pretty crazy.  My husband lived on the streets during 11th-12th grade and wasn't sure where his next meal would come from.  Mr. Edwards was a major reason my husband kept going back to school every day.  Imagine having to wear the same stinky clothes every day and not being able to shower.  High school kids aren't exactly the nicest and most understanding people in the world.

Well, last week Mr. Edwards fell and hurt his shoulder.  He had to have a complete shoulder replacement and can't use his hands.  He will be in rehab for another 4 weeks so having a bright, cheery quilt will hopefully make him feel better.  His daughter said he had so many visitors they were asking everyone to please stay away for a little bit, he was just too overwhelmed.  He has impacted many lives.

Gotta get busy on his quilt later today.  This little quilt has been patiently waiting on the frame for about 3 weeks while I played with my embroidery machine.  Now that my first 'order' of hats is done (15 for the RoboVikes) I can get back to quilting.  It was fun to quilt this while the embroidery machine did its thing.  Now if only I had a robotic quilting machine, I could really multi task. Dinner might even get cooked!

Growing

 2012

2013

Winter Ball 2013

 When did he get so big?  I made my son's boutonniere.

 I made her wrist corsage myself and saved about $40!  Crazy what they charge for these things.

I'll have to find the picture from last year to show how much my son has grown.

Hats for Sale

SO, my son's robotics team is going to buy these from me for $15 each.  I have a guarantee of 15 hats.  Next up, Vanden Music hats.  Hopefully they will sell too :)