Christmas Quilt 2010

VERY simplified compared to last year's quilt, but a much more pleasant experience.  I bought the fabric after Christmas when it was on clearance and so I didn't even need to worry about spending money or choosing fabric.  I just used bias tape to bind it (I found a bunch  I already had) and that was a new experience, but it was pleasant.  Binding quilts is NOT my favorite part, but I would do bias tape again.

Christmas Quilt Tradition

I got the idea for this tradition from my friend, Amberlyn Wood. I fell in love with the description of her Christmas Quilt Tradition and with my own family heritage of quilting, I felt it was one I couldn't pass up. You can see her past Christmas quilts and the description of her family's tradition here.

As I was discussing my plans for starting this tradition with my sister, Shan'l, the idea kind of evolved into a Christmas Service Quilt. Starting December 1 (in the future, because this year I didn't finish till a week later), I will start by choosing a family member to serve. After I have performed an act of service towards them, I will lay the quilt on their bed. They will get to sleep with it that night, and then the next day they will choose a family member to serve, and thus the quilt will be passed along each day throughout December all the while keeping service at the forefront of our minds.

I will make a new quilt each year until I feel I have plenty. Although each quilt will have it's own theme and color scheme, I wanted the first one to represent the Nativity to remind my children that when we serve other people, we are actually serving Him. I found my focus fabric last year after Christmas, and the design kind of evolved from there. I designed it to represent the journey to the Stable with the white blocks representing stepping stones along the pathway. Starting from the bottom, the first large square is the Wise men following the star, then moving up, the Shepherds and the angels, and finally at the top, we reach the stable where Christ was Born.

I also think this will be a good opportunity for me to actually learn to quilt. I've been mostly successful just winging it, but I've never done it right. I learned something this year about color and contrast, and found that I need to learn how to stretch the quilt properly (despite my efforts, I still must have done something wrong) so to avoid puckering and tucks on the backside. I'm sure there will be more to learn each year, and I look forward to that journey, as well.

As we serve each other within our home, may we develop unity, may our love for each other deepen, may my children feel a sense of belonging, and may our testimony of Jesus Christ and His love for us grow.

Jedi Costume

Here is Ian's new Jedi costume I made yesterday. I made the robe and "tunic" yesterday and Ian is tickled. He had a lot of fun during our photo shoot. I'd like to set up a backdrop and take some more professional photos of him in his costume. Maybe later. I got the pattern idea from here. It was way easy. I finished it all in one day. No pattern, no sewing skills needed. Although, if I were to do it again I'd change a few things. Hopefully this Jedi robe will last a few more years. The last one I made doesn't even hit his knees anymore.

Heritage Quilt

Although we were few in numbers, 30 people participated this year in the Orton Quilt Block swap. I loved the colors that our depression-era-reproduction-print-themed quilt inspired.

Here are some photos from the event:

Rayna with her quilt block contribution

Cousin Kristen, our lovely hostess, provided her beautifully manicured backyard and delicious food for our gathering.

My mother, Wanda, explaining her quilt block. The center square in each of her blocks is an actual quilt block from Grama Clora's collection.

One table of quilt blocks

The other table of quilt blocks, with roses from Kristen's garden

Some of the attendees enjoying each others' company. Cousin Sharise, Aunt Susan, Aunt Peggy, Wyn, Mattie Rae, and Cousin Daunell.

Rayna with her second cousin, Hannah (Kristen's daughter).

Of course we had discussion about next time or IF there will be a next time. Daunell opened the floor to comments on the matter. I raised my hand and emotionally expressed that "I will participate as long as it is offered. The opportunity to have a tangible piece of each of you is priceless to me."

I feel such a love for the Orton women in my life. They are my most favorite people to spend time with and to look up to. I love their strength, their cheery outlook, and the depth of their testimonies and example. Although I don't always feel like I can contribute to a group of women with such caliber, I love to absorb the love they exude and be inspired by the pioneer spirit that runs so deep in their blood...my blood.

Ear Flap Hat

I got my crafty-ness out again for General Conference, and this is a hat I made for Rayna. Jaeda is modeling it, and I am making a pink one like this for her, but it isn't finished yet. I made 2 others previously, but it wasn't till the 3rd try that it worked out like I wanted. I followed the pattern the first time and it was way too big. So I tried again and then the ear flaps weren't in the right place. So 3rd time's a charm. I think it's darling and they work up quickly, so I plan on making one for each of my kids.

My Quilt Block

Quilting is part of my Orton family heritage. A large part, although I didn't realize it until just the last few years. My mother has always bee passionate about sewing, but it's always been for clothing. Never quilting. My Aunt is an avid quilter, and my grandmother was as well. My great aunts quilt, as did my great- grandmother.

A couple of years ago, my Aunt tried to harness our sewing talents at a family reunion by organizing a humanitarian quilt drive. Everyone that wanted to was to make and bring as many baby quilts as they could to the family reunion where we would tie them as a reunion activity. My mother and sisters and I jumped in head first into this project and had such a great time. My mother even had some old quilt squares of my Grandmother's that we got out and tried to use. Mattie Rae even got her own sewing machine and made some beautiful quilts of her own!

The Orton women are my most favorite people in the world. They are wise, inspiring and uplifting to be around. We get together once or twice a year just to enjoy each other. Last fall at our Orton girl cousin get-together, my cousin, Daunell, brought up the idea of doing an Orton Heritage Quilt to help with the winter doldrums. She suggested a quilt block exchange and at the next cousin get together we'd swap blocks and each have an identically unique quilt once we put it together. She assigned a color scheme, size, and number of blocks and left it up to us to find a pattern that would represent us.

I chose a simple pattern because I don't have a lot of quilting experience, and with Braxton's wedding put it off and put it off. The wedding is now over and it's time to focus on the quilt blocks. I've been uneasy about the pattern I chose because it doesn't necessarily represent me, nor is it unique. After some brainstorming, sketching, cutting, and sewing, I came up with this as my sample block.

I have since washed it an ironed it and the edges of the flowers lifted and frayed, just as I hoped they would. I chose to depict flowers to represent that I studied Floral Design in college. I love it and am much happier about this representing me than the plain old generic block that I originally chose. To some it may look simple, but I'm pretty proud of it. The colors we were supposed to use were dark blue, dark red, and soft white. Hopefully the green won't be too distracting. I've got to make 24 more. I've got a lot of circle cutting ahead of me!

Ring Sling

While I was taking it easy during the last trimester of my pregnancy, I came across this thing called a "Ring Sling". I had never seen anything like it before, but I liked the idea of having my baby close to me but still able to have my 2 hands free to help my other 3 kids.  I found a few websites where they gave dimensions of their slings and some basic instructions on how to make one. It didn't look too hard or like it would be too expensive, so I decided I would make one for me.

It was very simple to make and I finished the whole thing in less than an hour. To test the strength of the fabric and seams, I immediately recruited Jaeda to be my model. So, being 8 months pregnant, I hoisted her into the sling in a hip-carry. I cinched up the fabric tight and wa-lah! I was carrying her with no hands. Jaeda loved it. She laid her head down on my chest and I don't know if I've ever seen her be so still before. I think that it's calming to babies to be snuggled so close. But my poor back couldn't handle that for long, so I had to put her down. For the next couple of days she carried around a long scrap of fabric wrapped around her and carried her baby dolls in her own sling.

The next time my sister, Mattie Rae, came over, I showed her my new sling. She wanted to hold Jaeda in it.Jaeda did the same thing. She just laid her head down and held oh, so still. Mattie Rae said it felt like you were getting a big long hug. I need to make one for her with cross bones, pirates, or motorcycles.

Brynlee likes it just as well. I find that if she is fussy, it is easier to carry her in my sling and still get things done, then just to hold her and stress out about all the things I can't do that need to get done. Especially having her be so young, she still needs her head supported, so holding her takes both hands. In the sling I can position her so her head is supported and I have both hands free!

The tail of the sling has a batik fabric that I've made some large pockets with. I can use these as I'd use a diaper bag. The pockets are big enough for diapers and wipes, pacifiers, PBJ sandwiches... But if I'm not using the pockets, I don't love having the tail hang down, so I just wrap it under Brynlee's bum and tuck it in behind me.