a year ago today...

We were in London vacationing with my brother, Hector!

Then we headed to Barcelona to spend a week in his new city.

 

 

I don't know about you, but travel to me is less of a luxury than it is a NECESSITY. I first studied abroad when I was 12 years old when I spent a month in Spain as an exchange student; it changed the trajectory of my life, I am convinced! Travel has taught me more than any class or course ever has. Through travel, I've had the opportunity to know people and their stories which, as a result, forever changed my own; I have learned how very tiny I am, and my "problems" are, in retrospect to the rest of the world; more than anything though, travel has given me perspective and GRATITUDE. Gratitude for the experiences I have, for the people who open their arms and hearts to me, for the way all of it forever changes me.

And that, my friends, is a post that has nothing to do with crafty madness. :)

craft for Boston

The tragedies in Boston are beyond words but, thankfully, we really don't even need those to pray for the ones affected. Besides prayer though, there's also a way that we who aren't personally affected can help those who were!

 

source

The Boston Modern Quilt Guild has put out a call for quilt blocks to be sent to them, which they will make quilts out of and present to families/loved ones who were impacted by the events. From their blog:

We are asking the modern quilt community to support our efforts by sending us blocks for these quilts. Additionally, we will accept donations of fabric to be used for binding, sashing, and quilt backs. We would like to have the quilts ready to deliver to those in need as soon as possible, so we ask that you send your blocks to us within a month, by May 24^th, 2013.

Blocks sent to the Boston Modern Quilt Guild should be blue, yellow, gray, and white. All blocks should be 12½” tall x the width of your choice. That could mean 12½” x 7”, 12½” x 12½”, or anything wider, more narrow, or in between. Please machine piece your blocks in any style you would like. Please use only “quilt shop quality” 100% cotton or cotton/linen fabrics. Both print and solid fabrics are welcome. Our preference is white or light gray 100% cotton thread, but any coordinating thread of good quality will do.

Greenleaf Goods put together some great inspiration pictures of fabrics you could use for your blocks-





Isn't this a GREAT idea?!?! We all know how comforting a quilt can be- whether it's one that's been passed down through your family, was a gift from a loved one or one you've made yourself. The thought of all of these sweet families in Boston having quilts that they can cover themselves in while they rest and remember fills my heart with such emotion.

Mail all completed quilt blocks to:
Quilts for Boston
P. O. Box 79225
Belmont, MA 02479

Another opportunity to show your love for Boston is being hosted by the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild.


From their blog:

“To Boston With Love” is a collaborative effort of makers to bring peace and love from far and wide. What we’re planning is a public exhibition of flags strung into banners that will be displayed in Boston – hopefully by early June 2013. Details are still being ironed out, and given the mayhem it may be a couple of weeks before we finalize the exact location and date. In the meantime we need to get going on flag making!

 And a few details, also from their blog:

 

DESIGN GUIDELINES:
Theme: Love, Hearts, Peace (Need some inspiration? Check out this post full of tutorial links!)
Style: Modern
Colors: Uplifting bright colors – see the recommended colour palette below

FABRIC REQUIREMENTS:
Option 1: two pieces 6 1/2″ X 8 1/4″
Option 2: one long piece 6 1/2″ x 16″ (see step 1 for design direction)
Both Options: 16″ x 1 1/2″ long strip for the binding /tie (Please do not use bias binding as it is stretchy)



 

There are a lot more details on their blog, including a tutorial on how to make a flag; click here for that information. Click here for deadline and shipping information. 

 

I am so happy that these two opportunities are available to show the people of Boston that we care; if you're going to make a quilt block and/or flag, please share the link to your picture below- either from your blog on via Flickr. I'd love to see what you've made. :)

 

hold on

I've been away from this place, both in writing and mentally. Thoughts of creating are not on my mind and my sewing table is piled full of left overs from the day. I don't really want to talk or think.

But I will think today- I'll write this short post as I should be doing so many other things because sharing is good. My mom is sick. She's been sick for three years but this last episode sent her to the ER a week ago today and she's still in the hospital, and probably will be for a few more weeks.

It's so bizarre, when the strongest person you've ever known is in a hospital bed. It was bizarre the first time it happened three years ago when we thought we might lose her and though I've grown to handle it better emotionally over the years, the sadness doesn't go away.

My mom, who raised me and my sister on her own; who is always the one that everyone in the family has turned to; the strong woman who was a nurse for 30 years. Talking to Heather a couple of nights ago as we were standing outside of her hospital room, I said "I would pay any amount of money to see my mom be a nurse again." My mom, taking care of her patients and loving them and comforting them and being the best kind of nurse there ever is- one who cares for both the physical and psychological. I know it's selfish, but I'd give anything to see her walk down the hallways of her hospital one more time in her uniform. To be able to know that she's at her strongest.

I'm blessed that my mom is here. I have been blessed beyond measure to call her mine for the past 32 years. And I want to soak all of her in. I want to focus on today and loving her and talking to her and learning from her. It's a good lesson on not worrying, on giving thanks for the day. Because I know one day I'll look back at this and think that I'd give anything to be sitting next to my mom in her hospital bed just one more time. So today I will. And I will give thanks.

My mom has reminded me many times that just because God doesn't answer our prayers the way we want Him to doesn't mean that He's still not God and that He's not good and perfect. Today I pray I never forget that.

little fingers and little toes

My friend Annie and her husband Louie, who may or may not be my 5th cousin, had a little baby girl this month!!! And she is adorable. :)

Kate Elizabeth McCutie-Pants

When Annie told me she was expecting, I immediately knew that I wanted to make this new little person a quilt! I love every single line that Aneela Hoey has designed; they are all so sweet and charming and I knew they'd make a great baby cuddling accessory.

screenshot of Aneela Hoey's blog, comfortstitching

I chose to use Aneela's Sherbet Pips line because while there's plenty of pink in it, it's not super crazy girly- I don't think. And since this sweet baby's parents are in construction- one in the field and one in the office- I didn't want to totally girl it up with pink bows and sequins. :)

I so love the way Kate's quilt turned out!!!

I also added a bit of hand sewing on it to commemorate such a big day in this family's life.

I quilted on either side of each seam, using my walking foot as a guide. I love being able to SEE quilting on a quilt, don't you? I thought I was done after that but decided I wasn't and went back in and stitched in the ditch on every seam too; this is going to be a very much used quilt so I wanted to make sure that it was super reinforced!

I think I love the back of the quilt as much as I love the front. :)

I think pretty little Kate likes her new quilt too!

Oh my goodness, don't you just want to squeeze her?!?!

Have a great weekend, friends!

#OHcraft sew-in update, yo!

Hi, friends! There have been such great responses to the 1st annual #OHcraft sew-in in November; so many fun people have signed up, I know we're going to have a great time! :)

I wanted to put out a quick reminder to the virtual world that due to the size of the conference center at Hueston Woods, this sew-in is limited to 60 people so we can have plenty of room for all of our crafty needs! So, if you haven't registered for the sew-in yet and are thinking about it, I'd highly recommend that you click here and register as soon as possible. I'd hate for folks who want to come not be able to because we're all full.

Oh, and if you're wondering what you might see or do at our super amazing sew-in, here's just a few of the festivities!

• A weekend in the fall at a really pretty state park in Ohio- hello, beautiful trees and hiking trails!
• Opportunities to make new crafty friends from all over the country
• Swaps! All the swaps you could ever dream of!
• Sewing for 48 hours straight! If you so desire. :)
• Lots of yummy food and free time on Saturday night to check out local shops and eateries
• Alli and Lola of PhD Stitchery leading the Harlem Shake. It's gonna happen people. :)

source, yo.

Feel free to email me at meandelna@gmail.com with any questions or leave them in the comment box. We hope to see y'all in November at the first annual #OHcraft sew-in!!! :)