You might remember that last week I told you I didn’t think I would have any time in the sewing room between company, the garage sale, and Rick’s surgery. Well…if you believed that, you are in for a surprise.
Kelli came one day before the sale and offered to help get things together and priced. I had some stuff that was upstairs that I could use some help bringing down. I’m doing well, but a combo of carrying a box and going down steps still isn’t a good look for me. Kelli offered her skills and did that for me. After that was done the next task was to go out in the garage and price things. UGH. We had a heat index of 110, and the garage is not air-conditioned.
Kelli asked me if we really wanted to do that. I said no. Then I asked her to help me pull some fabric for Anders’ preschool quilt. She was game. We took the backing fabric that I had picked out and started pulling fabrics. It was a fabric toss. Toss the fabric on the quilt; if it blended nicely, it stayed. If not, we put it back.
We had a pretty stack. It was actually bigger than this…but you get the idea.
If you remember, we were going to do it in this style…simple blocks and Anders’ name.
Kelli ironed fabric. I cut blocks.
Then Kelli started sewing blocks together.
My job was to start working on the letters. I used this book for the letters. We went with all-capital letters.
Kelli had carried my big machine down and put it on the kitchen table. It was too hot in my sewing room, too.
At one point she took a bathroom break. I got the A and the D sewn then. Then she was busy ironing her strips. I did the E. Then in between sewing her long rows together, I’d hand her a couple of pieces to sew together. Before we knew it, we had the letters all sewn.
Georgia loved the big chain of pieces.
So we put her to work cutting the pieces apart.
About three hours later, we had this…
After I looked at it, I wondered if we should have put a background fabric above and below his name to set it off a little more. Then we talked that maybe it’s okay. We can tell Anders his letters are hiding in the camouflage.
Kelli and I (and Georgia) finished the quilt top, from picking the fabric to me holding it in the picture, in 3 hours. Of course, there were bathroom breaks and breaks to help the kids. Whew…that’s a huge load off me. Can you tell I was worrying about getting it done?
But…credit must be given where credit is due. Rick made supper while we were doing all of the sewing. Had we had to make supper, the top would have never been completed.
YAHOO!! What a great team effort!!
I was sure last week I wouldn’t have a bit of sewing to share…but look. I did!! I’m so happy to have his quilt top made. Now I just need to get the current project off the longarm so I can put Anders’ quilt on.
I have made so many of these charm square quilts and they always turn out precious. Anders is going to love this. It just turned out perfect. I see Karl sitting in the background so he must’ve done something too, probably entertaining the children. It’s really nice when everybody participates and gets a project done. I have a big favor to ask Jo. Can I have Kelly come live with me for a while?
Great team effort on this day! It does take a village :-) My sewing room gets too warm in summer as well even though my home is single level. It’s in the afternoon when the sun is full on that wall. I have a small fan I run which takes care of it. We spend too much time between 90-110 in July/Aug to leave my sewing room.
Happy Tuesday Jo!
Yay!!! Great team effort!!! Rick has turned out to be just who you could wish for and God has surely blessed you and him! ❤️ I love Anders’ quilt!
Love Anders” quilt, he will love it too! What a gem Kelly is for coming to help like that! And Kudos to Rick for taking over supper duty, he is a keeper for sure! What a good feeling it must be to have the quilt done in time before school starts, what a great Grandma!
Anders will love that quilt—it turned out great!
To Jo and followers, Aldi had a stand alone AC ($150-160) that’s three feet high and maybe 10” on all sides. It was meant to be emergency help. When we had to replace the whole house AC in Louisiana Swamp summer we vented it through one window. It kept two bedrooms and a bath COLD. It comes with window vents that pop in and out of the window frame like a screen. Then we used it to cool a one car garage for the kids to watch movies. Something to consider.
Those AC units really are efficient and versatile. A friend used hers for the days we were working in her 3 car garage she was using for her home business. Neither of us does well in heat and there were no complaints even on days the temp was triple digits.
It’s truly wonderful how well you and Kelli work on projects together. Anders will love his quilt, I’m sure. Hedy can’t have Kelli if I get to her first.
Anxious to hear how well you did on garage sale.
Anders is going to love his new quilt! It’s very ‘big boyish’ and your idea of telling him his name is hidden in the camouflage is a good one. Isn’t it wonderful when you get some unexpected help when you most need it? Kelly really helped in a big way and Rick’s cooking? I was wishing I was there, too! Kathleen’s idea about the smaller coolers is an excellent one. You could really use that in your quilt room – the new ones are very energy efficient. Not sure how you could cool your garage when you have family over – they’ll want to play darts and/or pool out there for sure!
What a load off your mind to have that top done! Putting Georgia to work was a big help. Kelli just steps right up and gets it done. I am looking forward to seeing it finished. The countdown to school starting is on.
I think you should start “rent Kelli for a day!” A boost from an experienced helper is wonderful. Anders quilt is so cute and he will love it – especially because Grandma made it special for him with help from Aunt Kelli and cousin Georgia.
I think Anders quilt turned out wonderful! My grandson loves camouflage! Hugs,
what great fun and sweet memories made!
Anders quilt is adorable and he is going to enjoy using it at school. It was a family affair