Fabric Basket Bag Thing-y

Ok, so you all know about the Breast Cancer Awareness Auction and Dinner coming up on October 4, right?  IF, by chance, you don't - you must be new!  Thank you for stopping by!!   This is the event that I made my quilt (See it here!  or  See It Finished Here!!)

Well, I also made a Rice Heat Therapy Bag out of the same material (See post about that here!) to donate to the dinner/auction.  I have a couple things that I purchased that I'm donating, too.  I was trying to figure out what to put it in, or to display it in.....  I came across a tutorial from Pink Penguin (see it here) and thought it was perfect!!

I didn't make it the same size she did, but I pretty much followed her directions.  My squares around the top are 4" x 4".  The middle/bottom canvas piece was 30 1/2" x 21" (or something like that - - I did this late last night and I was tired!!)

For the lining, since I didn't have any interfacing, I used warm n natural quilt batting.  The bag ended up being a little 'floppier' than I had planned, but it turned out pretty well.   The tutorial was very easy to follow and I'm happy with the results.

That cute little tag says:  handmade by suz '11   


Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a GREAT weekend!  Mr. Inspiring and I are finishing up a HUGE remodel project - - I haven't really posted much about it because the project started like 2 years ago and we he finally got that last splurge of energy to get it DONE!!  (drywalling 3 bedrooms and a long hallway!!).  Today we are painting and priming and then tomorrow - time for the floors!!  I'll be doing the 'Paperbag Flooring' treatment!!  I WILL post pictures - - IF it turns out!! hahaha

Hugs ~~ Suz
I'm joining these great parties!!

My First Quilt - DONE!!

I know I've probably posted the progress of my quilt more often than most people. 

When I was 18 or 19, after visiting my ex-husband's (he was just my boyfriend then) grandma and seeing quilts in process of being quilted, I decided that I wanted to make a quilt and have her hand quilt it.  (She was one of those church ladies that you could 'hire' to hand quilt your quilt for you.)  She never made quilt tops, that I know of, but she quilted a bunch for other people.    Well......  THAT never happened....  I didn't have anyone to teach me how (I bought a pattern and fabric and - using scissors - cut out each individual piece, one at a time.....  what the heck was a rotary cutter???  I didn't know!!  I don't remember, but I'm pretty sure I didn't even get 1 block done......) and then after we got married, the kids started entering our lives, and with kids comes more things that take up spare time.......... 

Next month, I will turn *ahmm* 45......  (really???  THAT just CAN'T be possible!  Didn't I just tell you the other day that I'm only 24???  *wink* *wink*)....   Anyway - - I'll be 45, so I guess that it's been 26, 27 years or so that I've had the desire to make a quilt. 

Had I not started my blog and had I not started blog-stalking all of you wonderful quilters out there, I don't know if I EVER would have tried to make a quilt.   You guys gave me the courage to try.  And my MIL has been one of my cheerleaders!!  She told me that I could hand quilt it......  and she was right!!!  And all of the tutorials online for every step of the way also have helped me!!

And I am so impressed with myself that I started it and finished it, not only in the same YEAR, but in the same SEASON!!!  You crazy quilters out there that get MULTIPLE quilts finished in a year truly amaze me!!

OK OK - - here she is......

The front...... 

The back.....

Close up of the back (above) and then the front again (below)

A little better shot of the washed-up crinkly goodness...

My label........

I made my binding out of left over pieces of fabric from the blocks.  I think my favorite binding is the 'scrappy' binding.  This quilt turned out so well - - I'm so proud of myself.............  (And I want to thank you guys for:  A: urging me on and supporting me  and   B:  allowing me to tell you that I'm very proud of myself.   Seriously, if I were to go up and tell someone at work that I'm proud of myself, or tell one of my friends.......  wouldn't they think I was boastful, or at least weird??  but I can tell you guys and you relate!!!   I {heart} my blogging buddies!!)

When I finished it, I washed it.  It was AMAZING to pull it out of the dryer.......  So warm and cozy and soo crinkly - - just the way I wanted it to turn out.........  BEAUTIFUL!!!  yep - - I said the "B" word!!!  (I don't think I told any of you......   I don't like Pink......  so I purposely made the quilt Pink so I wouldn't get so attached to it.......  it didn't work......  I like Pink now.........  I'm such a goober!!)

I took it over to Sandy's house Sunday night after I washed it.  I REALLY wanted to sleep with it Sunday night but I figured that if I did that - - it wouldn't end up as the first item for the raffle.....  It wouldn't be in the raffle at all...........  It would be staying at my house...........

When I gave it to Sandy and she read the label, she got all teary-eyed.......  She lost a sister to Breast Cancer..............    Sandy's hubby is my boss.  Monday he started asking questions like "what's it take to make a quilt like that?"  "How much would you charge to make one?"  I told him that it would depend on the pattern, the size, and the cost of the fabric...........   Then he asked me if I thought I could make one for Sandy for her birthday........  Her birthday is Friday.  Yep -- like THIS Friday...   September 16!!!  I told him NO!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for accompanying me on the journey of my first quilt.  And please understand.....  I will be posting about this quilt at least one more time.  Probably on October 5....  I'll have to let you know how many raffle tickets were sold ($1 each or 6 for $5....  any takers???  :-)  )  and I'll have to post a picture of the winner with the quilt......   Every story has a happy ending, and I want to make sure you guys get the whole story!!  (I just hope that the person that wins the quilt appreciates what it was made for and understands that it was made with love and that they cherish it for many years.....  you know??)

10.12.11 update........

Ok, I need to apologize for not posting on the 5th as I anticipated.  Let me explain to you the details, and then maybe you'll understand...

When I first approached the committee and told them that I was doing this quilt, they drafted up the raffle tickets and asked me what I thought.  First prize went something like: 

1st Prize: Pink Breast Cancer Quilt - Hand Made and Donated With Love by (me).....

They asked me what I thought, and I asked Sandy to not have my name listed on the ticket.  We live in a small town and Mr. Inspiring is a police officer.  He and I are the only one's in town with our last name.  I didn't want the ticket sales to be affected because of that.  (people have strong opinions about police officers, good and bad, based on true or untrue events and/or comments either involving or not involving themselves personally........ and small towns are bad for gossip and people knowing what you're doing even if you've never done it ever.......)  Anyway, I didn't want my name on the tickets, and asked them to please remove my name from them. 

Fast forward to last week's dinner.  Door prizes were given away.  The silent auction winners were announced.  The live auction was announced.  Everything they gave out every prize and donation was announced along with the name of the person or group that donated it.  The very last item was 'the quilt'.

Announcer said:  Ok, now it's time to pull the ticket to see who the winner of the pink quilt is.

ticket pulled.......

Oh, and the winner is Ryan (last name)......   Ok, thanks for joining us and we hope to see you next year!!

They didn't announce who made and/or donated the quilt.  They didn't tell about all the different fabrics that were used that support breast cancer awareness.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zip.  Zilch..

And the GUY that won the quilt was the announcer's son.  He wasn't there.  He's not married.  I don't believe that he would even know the thought and blood (I stuck my fingers alot) and sweat (worked on this in August!!) and love and time that went into the quilt. 

I know in my heart that I gave the quilt for the right reasons.  It meant something to me.  It's not like I wanted them to sing my praises or tell me over and over how wonderful I am.  NO that's not what I wanted.

But..........  a public acknowledgement and thank you would have been, well, nice.  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT........  that's all.  I know that it meant something to Sandy.  I KNOW she appreciated it.   The only thing I can think of is that maybe, by me not wanting my name on the tickets, that maybe they thought I didn't want my name associated with it at all. 

Thank goodness I made a label for it.....

I cried.  The next day when a couple of people at work asked me about it, I cried......  I was.... disappointed......  Am I silly??

Thanks for listening..... 

Suz 

Have a happy day!!

Hugs ~~ Suz  

I'm linking up at these great parties:



Progress! Progress! Progress!

I'm just too stinkin excited!!  I have finished my quilt top!!  FINISHED!  I've never said that about a quilt top before!!  Here are some pictures!!

Ok - - so this is the picture BEFORE I put on the border.  I was just *tickled pink* at this point!  Yes, the pun was very intended!!

I worked on this ALL.FLIPPIN.DAY yesterday.  Yesterday morning, I had 25 of the 9-patch blocks.  At 5 pm I had this!! 

I went and had dinner with Mr. Inspiring.  He's a police officer and had to work at our local community picnic.  We ate dinner at the picnic.  (chicken n dumplins, kettle beef, dressing, green beans, fried chicken, fruit salad and home made dessert!!) 

When we got home, Mr. Inspiring helped me decide which fabric to use for the border.  (He kinda knows about things like - - his mom has quilted for years!!)  We decided on the dark pink of the little squares and WOW - - I {heart} this quilt!!

Here are the pictures!

(Whew!!  Made it through inspection!!)

I started working on the back - - I didn't have enough of the fabric that I want to use for the back, so I'm piecing it.  I worked on it too late last night, and some of my corners aren't matched up like they should be so - - I'll be working on redoing that this afternoon.....  Then, I'll be ready to make my sandwich and get to quilting it.  I decided I'd try to hand quilt it - - I've got 8 weeks to get it done.... so I should be able to make a pretty good go at it.  If I get in a bind, I'll call my MIL and pathetically ask for help!!

Have a great Sunday, everyone!!!

Hugs ~~ Suz

I'm linking up with these parties:

Breast Cancer Quilt - In Process!!

Every year in October, a group of ladies gets together and has a Breast Cancer Awareness Dinner and Auction.  A couple of years ago I donated my first rag quilt. You can read that post HERE!!  I really enjoyed doing the rag quilt as you don't have to be as precise as a traditional quilt, and it goes together quickly!

So this year I decided to make a traditional quilt for the Breast Cancer Awareness Auction.  I really like the Disappearing 9 Patch.  I found a great tute here, and I thought that looked easy enough for a first quilt.

I made my 9 patch blocks out of 4" x 4" squares of fabric.  Since this is for the breast cancer dinner, I decided to make it pink.  Imagine that, right??

I have 25 blocks made.  Here are pictures of some of the blocks.

Since this is for the Breast Cancer event, I also threw in some fabric I have that supports the awareness as well.

I laid all 25 blocks out in a 5 x 5 pattern.  I really like it like that, so I'm thinking I'm not going to make them disappear.  Instead, I'm going to put a white border around each block, and perhaps a dark pink square at each intersection.  I have 8 1/2 weeks to get this done.  So if I don't post much through the next few weeks, blame it on the pink!!

Here are the last pictures I took before sitting down to write this post.  It's of my helper/inspector.........  I wonder what he's thinking..............

He looks pretty content - - I believe he approves!!

I'll keep you posted on this project. 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Hugs ~~ Suz

I'm linking up to these parties:

I Believe In Miracles

Spring is surely around the corner, even though Mother Nature seems to be trying to give us an extended winter this year.  With Spring, the world becomes alive again.  Beautiful flowers.......  singing birds......  fresh air............  All wonderful signs of renewal and rebirth.................  and hope.

Spring is also a time that many communities hold their annual Relay for Life events......... This event celebrates life and birthdays, and honors loved ones that have lost their battles with cancer.  In January, I posted about cancer and all the loved ones in my life that have been affected by this disease.  The list, unfortunately, is too long.

And I didn't even tell my sister-in-law's story.  She has lost her mother and two sisters to breast cancer.  My niece, Abby, and her cousins have formed a team and they participate in the annual Susan G. Komen walk in St. Louis.  They have formed a very tight sisterhood through their experiences. 

This weekend Abby is having a surprise birthday party for her mom.  I had several ideas for a gift for Les, but nothing I was over the moon about, until I saw Audrey Hepburn's quote that is being used in this year's Pink fight against cancer.  And then I knew what I wanted to do.

I had this frame, but never had used it for my original idea, so I used it tonight.   The decorative paint around it had a lot of gold and brown tones so I decided to paint it -- I wanted something lighter.  After I taped off the glass and the outside edges with blue painter's tape, I painted a layer of pink metallic acrylic paint.  After it dried, I dry brushed white over it.  After that had dried, I gave it a good coat of Mod Podge. 

While everything was drying, I printed out the quote I used. After the Mod Podge dried I removed the tape, cleaned the glass, and inserted my quote.  Here's the finished product.

I don't know how well you can read the whole quote, so here it is:

I believe in Manicures.
I believe in Overdressing.
I believe in Primping at leisure
and wearing Lipstick.
I believe in Pink.  I believe that
Laughing is the best calorie burner.
I believe in Kissing; kissing a lot.
I believe in BEING STRONG
when everything seems to be going wrong.
I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls.
I believe that tomorrow is another day, and
I Believe in Miracles.
                                  Audry Hepburn

Thanks for checking out my project!

Have a great weekend!

Hugs ~~ Suz

I'm posting at these Linky Parties!!

Cancer.Sucks.

I KNOW that Cancer Sucks.  I've lost enough important people in my life to one form or another of this horrible disease.   While it comes in different forms, the bottom line - Cancer.Sucks.Completely.

In highschool, my BFF's mom passed away right before Christmas, our senior year.  I don't know what 'kind' she had, just that it was in her liver and intestines and kidneys and, well, everywhere.  I didn't get to tell her goodbye or tell her how much I loved her. 

Within 2 weeks, my boyfriend (who is now my exhusband)'s grandpa passed away.  Bone Cancer.

Five years later his grandma passed away.  Started out as Breast Cancer - I guess they didn't catch it in time or didn't get it all with the mastectomy they performed.  Ended up with bone cancer that they found when she fell and broke her hip.

Four years later, my Aunt Doris passed away.  Cancer in her liver.  Five months later, my mom's BFF passed away from 2 inoperable brain tumors (only knew about them for 6 weeks).

Six years later, my brother Dave found out he had Multiple Myeloma (Cancer of mature stem cells).  I believe when they found it, he was stage 4.  He was 47 or 48 when they found it.  They only gave him 6 months.  He tried some experimental treatments and lived 4 1/2 years.  He passed 2/2/04

Two and a half months after Dave passed, when my Daddy was 75, he found out he had Multiple Myeloma.  Very Very Early stages.  The doctor told him he would die from old age before he would die from the cancer.  He passed away 4 years ago today at the age of 77.  He didn't die from cancer, he died from complications with pnemonia and from being in the hospital for a long time and not getting out of bed (his bones were weak and he had a tumor in his spine that grew and cut off the nerves so he lost his ability to walk.  My daddy loved me very much.  A week or so before he passed, I had a very good visit with him.  Oh, how I wish I could go back to that day.  A couple of days later, he coded.  The very last thing he ever said to me, when I asked him how he was feeling, was "like shit".  I miss him. so. much.

A year and a half later, my father-in-law passed.  Cancer.  He had battled a few different kinds.  It was so hard to go through that again so soon after daddy.  I miss my father-in-law, too.  I loved his sense of humor and miss that.  My hubby's sense of humor is close, and that's a good thing.

Two months later, hubby's grandma passed..... cancer again.  She put up a great fight!  What an inspiration.

So right now, I don't know of any family member that has cancer (KNOCK ON WOOD)!! 

Please don't wait until you find out that you or a family member has cancer to let them know how much you care.  Let them know EVERYDAY because you just don't know.....  

Thanks for letting me share.......  Hugs ~~ Suz