Has it really been 3 months since my last post?

It is really sad that it has taken me 3 months to get this post up!  It is not that I don't have lots of things going on in my studio.  You might way that my plate is overflowing.  As most of you know in August, school started up and I headed back to the classroom to teach and inspire my students.  While my studio has not been as busy as it was this summer.  I am still trying to find the time to get other projects done.

In August, I finished a Christmas present and sent it off to be quilted.  I don't want to spill anymore about that project until after Christmas.  But I will tell you that every time I see it I smile.  As with most of my projects it has a long and funny story attached to why I ended up making it.

Once that project left my hands in August I went to my first Hands of Friendship Quilt Guild meeting here in Kirksville.  I was inspired by all the amazing and beautiful quilts.  So.......I ripped apart my first quilt down to the single 4 patch blocks.  ( You might remember it from when I posted before finally finishing this 17 yr old quilt.  Guess I was wrong.)  It sat around for about a month and then I was finally brave enough to give it another shot.  It means so much and has taken so long that it really needs to be perfect.  Perfectionism can be a blessing and a curse.  (This is really the last time I will redo it.  I mean it.  I think I would go nuts if I did it again.)   This time I did it Gram's way setting each block within a frame of cream fabric.  By doing this I was able to weed out some of the blocks that weren't really my favorites.  So now most of the colors in the quilts are soft blues, pinks, greens, and purples.  I also have pops of bright colors here and there to liven things up.  This is it as of now, but once I get it hand quilted (in say about.....another 17 years)  I'll post another photo.

Around this same time, I heard about a little boy, 'Iron' Will who had a severe brain tumor.  I went to school with his older sister McKay who was just a year older than I am.  I really wanted to do something for Will and the family that would provide him comfort and a sense of home while he is in the hospital.  For Will, I ended up making a Disappearing Nine Patch with a music theme.  It was a really simple pattern to follow, but has an amazing random appearance when finished.  After I finished the top and had it machine quilted, I had my Mother, who is Will's art teacher, take it to school with her to have all the students at Green City sign their names.  When it came time to deliver it, I wasn't sure whether I wanted to deliver it or just have my mother do it since I really don't know Will that well.  I finally decided that I made it and I would go take it myself.  It was amazing to see Will and strength that he has after all that he has been through.  Not only is Will amazing, but so is his family that is always there by his side.  They may not realize it, but Will gets his strength from them.  If you want to know more about will and his journey you can visit his page on Facebook.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Prayers-for-Will/245449408830846

So I think this pretty much covers all of the projects I've completed this fall.  Off to a Quilt Guild meeting tonight and then I really need to get to work on some more Christmas presents otherwise my family may need to have Christmas in July!