The Youngest Artists of the Family

  It was going to be just another sewing day but three of my smaller grandchildren came to spend the day and as always they wanted to "do art".  I love those days!  I find them to be the most fun, most inspirational and most satisfying while being a great brain development exercise for the little ones. 

As usual I had a sack of scraps hanging off of my cutting table from various projects I have been working on.  I figured I would put the little ones to work and continue my own work.  But soon their work looked more tempting to me than my own.  I was on the floor with them helping them cut out shapes from my scraps while they glued them in place. 

Pearson, who is five and just ready to start kindergarten this year, drew this adorable rabbit with his ears coming out of the sides of his head and such a fat, fat rabbit probably because he has been in someones carrot garden.

And seven year old, Reese drew an owl.  After it was finished she looked at it with and said, "Is this a skinny bird or a fat owl?" Well, it didn't matter.  It is just plain cute! 

Reese also, drew this cute little puppy for her three year old sister.  

We decided these fun creations had to BE something.  Reese excitedly, said, "CAR PILLOWS!" 
And so they are!  Cute little pillows only 11" x 14" just the size for tucking into the side of the car seat for the kids while on long trips.  Big pillows are too bulky but these little mini-pillows are perfect....and fun!

So now, the children are the artists for the car pillows and I am just the seamstress, the pattern writer and gopher for these upcoming and very special new entrepreneurs.  HOO knows,  maybe they will start a little college fund!   Patterns are available through  my craftsy store:

From Guilt to Quilts

It is just so easy to rush down to a store, pick out something cute and wrap it up for a gift for the baby shower, or for Christmas, or for whatever upcoming occassion  but I have to admit feeling just a bit guilty for not making cute things for my grandchildren while so many of my family and friends were making quilts and blankets and cute things for My grandchildren. 

At the baby showers, I would have a gift and it would be something...well...nice enough but not special...Not an heirloom for the child. And then a large flat box wrapped nicely with a bow....SNAP...out flips this beautiful handmade quilt and the guests look at me expectantly....but no, it was my sister, or my mother, or my mother-in-law.  And then there is my....little offering! 


Most of us from my generation have special quilts we remember from our childhood.The quilt we wanted to be under on cold nights; the one we wanted when were sick or just sick at heart.  I could not understand why the quilt was under the chenille bedspread instead of on top of the bed so I would turn the bedspread down to show the quilt but by the time I returned the bedspread was back.

So...here goes...finally, I'm going to start working for the my grandbabies. 

Well, not all are babies anymore but all love to have something special that is just for them. Now that they are actually older the quilts can fit their personalities a bit better than when they were babies.




































And did I mention I have twelve grandchildren from 15 years old (sophomore in high school) to 2 months old!

 I have my work cut out for me! 
I am going to be back paddling a bit!

Here are two of my designs: "Paisley & Her New Friends" a 40" x 52" quilt and Emerson & Friends: a 40" x 40" nap pad for the littlest baby.  Both have a 36" applique panel that can be used interchangably.  Make Emerson & Friends into a quilt or make Paisley & Her New Friends into a Nap Pad. 

*Notice  I have designed sides for the nap pad to keep the baby from rolling off a bed.  The sides are made of pool noodles cut to size and inserted into casings sewn into the sides of the nap pad.  The pad is a 1/2" layer of foam so baby has a soft place to lay his head. 

Both designs are available through my craftsy store.