My April UFO

This month my UFO was actually started from scratch. I have always tried to keep several baby quilts on hand for surprise gifts, but my cupboard has been bare lately! The April challenge gave me the incentive to make another "quilt as you go" baby quilt, this time for our newest great-nephew. We will be seeing him for the first time in April and now I have his gift ready to share.

His parents LOVE baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals, so this is his carry around blanket for many years to come, I hope.

The only trouble I have now, is my baby quilt cupboard is still bare!

Catching up time

I have been very busy preparing for Easter and its celebration.  Plus I finished another photo quilt, began the hand quilting on my April UFO for the monthly challenge and read three books! We have had 4 great days with our grandchildren who gave me many opportunities for taking photographs!

We went to the farm - finally- where our friends keep their 4-H projects. Emma had a blast there.

 Wayne is thrilled now - he got his firepit set up and functioning. Hotdogs were the entree for supper tonight!

Now we are focusing on our trip to Missouri for the Sprick sibling reunion, a 50th high school reunion, and time with both of our families. It has been a year since I saw my parents so I am really looking forward to visiting in person instead of our weekly phone chats. When we get home, I hope to put in a straw bale garden - hopefully the book will come before we leave for Missouri!

Snow Day?

Yes, we had an unexpected snow day today - schools were cancelled after starting with a 2 hour delay. Although we only had about 2 inches, it was slick during the rush hour for buses, so....

I may not go to school everyday anymore, but I still get excited about snow days. I was able to go out and get some pictures of our daffodils in snow, and some trees have already started to bud.

This week I was able to work on some paper projects, since my March quilt is done. I have made Easter houses for my grandchildren and the other four special kids in our lives. I am so glad I decided to get my Cricut machine, even if I did not plan to do scrapbooks! I have been making cards and now have found some wonderful 3D items, such as the houses here.

Photography is for another day in my week. I still try to take a picture every day, but do not always succeed. These are some recent ones that were just for fun.

I had to leave this banner up until we really got some snow!

This was a bouquet J and K had at Eli's birthday party.

March challenge is completed!

I have been very lucky that the first 3 quilting UFOs picked were pretty easy to complete. I am afraid that the more labor intense ones will not be drawn until November and December - then I will be in trouble! It is drying in the dryer now, so photos will be later.

And here we are:

March UFO challenge - Jeans rag quilt

Since I have had to "chop" every pair of jeans for husband, daughter and one son over the past 38 years, I accumulated quite a collection of denim material. Now we have something to show for it!

My UFO challenge for 2013

I found a quilter's challenge online this year. The plan is to complete 13 UFOs (unfinished objects) in 2013. I easily found 13 unfinished quilting projects, numbered them and got ready to go. Here is January's completed  quilt! I bought the pattern at our Sprick reunion in Minnesota, back in 2007. Each section holds a 4x6 photo and they can easily be changed out as the grandchildren grow.

For February I was able to complete this top that my mother had quilted last year. It only needed the binding. Somehow I never moved it to the top of the pile though. Now it will be ready for next Christmas.