Quilt Block Holder

One of the greatest things about the quilt group is sharing ideas! Tori brought this to class and we all wanted to make one! It is a simple holder for blocks being worked on. It  holds them out straight so you don't have to keep ironing them as you want to see them all laied out together.

So we figured out a pattern and we spent a day make our own. Here is some pictures of some completed in class. Most didn't decorate theirs on the front, but it serves the same purpose.

No Ordinary Man

Hope you enjoy this one. I love to listen to it over and over....

Quilt As You Go

With the Quilting Group starting up again for the new 2010 year, Teri came up with a great new project that several are doing. We will post their pictures as we have them completed. This is the one that Teri did so everyone could see a completed project. it is a quilt as you go project. As you sew the strips together, you sew through the batting and the back. Some great color choices have been selected - can't wait to see some finished projects!

Cathy's Rag Quilt

Last fall Cathy and I were at a Family Camp where all of your children were content and happy playing in the beautiful hill country while several of us Mom's got to take some time to sew. Cathy has been collecting this material for some time and we finally had a few hours to put it together. I left the brown boarder at home, but we got the center part done that week. Cathy even did most of the sewing on this project!!!! She wasn't looking forward to it, but ended up feeling extremely accomplished!

His Hands

Just wanted to share another of my favorite song/videos with you...

Touch of the Masters Hand

ust found this and wanted to share it. It is one of my favorites! The first is in story form the second is in song. Let me know what one you like best.

'I Spy'

I have shown pictures of 'I Spy' quilts that my sister, mom and I have done int the past. I like putting picture of things we have all done to inspire other to make quilts of their own. That is what happened with this on! :) We got a new member for our quilt group when she came over to learn how to do the 'I Spy' with the folded corners. A fun technique but it takes a lot of time.

Below is a quilt this quilter completed using sashing between each of the pictures.

Hobby Lobby Transfer

I started working for Hobby Lobby, the Tomball location, November 2009. I have loved working there and have been able to associate with some way cool people! I love working in the fabric department to see and hear all the great projects people are doing.

In February, life took an unexpected turn and I found myself heading to Utah. My managers at Hobby Lobby contacted the store in South Jordan to see if I could transfer to their store. I was fortunate that the transfer did happen and I have once again found myself working with some great people at Hobby Lobby. I am only working part time because of my other responsibilities here but I am greatly enjoying the experience.

I had pictures myself at 50 (which I turned this month) playing with grandchildren every day and quilting, instead I found it is a season of working in 'the real world'. I have surprised myself - finding I am enjoying the work experience.

I am grateful for good employment in a time when unemployment is so high.

Family Week - Artistic Expression

One of the sessions during family week was Art Therapy. Alison and 4 family members were there with her. They gave us clay and asked us to each do 3 sculptures to represent:

1. Our loved ones eating disorder
2. Our loved ones true self
3. Our loved ones higher power

I didn't know if anything to do!!!! So I just started playing around with the clay and something did develop.

I will share mine (pictured above), but haven't asked permission from the others to share their sculptures yet. They all did a great job!

The red box is the eating disorder, representing how it is confining and restricting. The red stained my hand, just like the eating disorder tries to leave its mark wherever it can.

The bulb with a bud starting to grow is the untapped treasures inside Alison that has always been there, at times going dormant, but waiting to thrive again.

The ladder is the higher power, representing the way is possible for our return to God. The steps on the ladder are all different colors representing the many experiences that help us in the climb we all make in life. Notice one of the steps in red, like the eating disorder. Even or maybe especially, the hard times in our lives brings us the greatest growth in our quest.

Eating disorder

My youngest daughter has been struggling with anorexia (eating disorder) since she was 11 years old. She was fist hospitalized for a month with a dangerously low weight at 12.

She is now 17 and we have finally found a place that we feel like is giving her the help she needs.

It has taken a drastic move on our part! The treatment center we have put her in, Center for Change, is located in Orem, Utah. I couldn't imagine sending her here by herself and wanted to be a part of her recovery. I also wanted to be here where there is substantial help after she is done with the program before taking her back to Houston.

So another daughter and I moved to Orem, Utah. We signed a lease on an apartment and started work.

Though we have had some stumbling blocks with the insurance, I have felt great confidence in being here and have had A LOT of support from family and friends!

Our family has been learning a lot about this condition and will share some of that with you. I think this is an issue that many face but few talk about it and feel very alone. For those, I want to say there is hope!

I encourage you to look at the Center for Change website and find out a little more about eating disorders. Another one I really feel like has good information is Rader Programs.