Little Quilts and Little Kids

I had a family reunion today. We always have an auction to raise money for the family organization fund. Early this week I realized I had nothing to donate to the auction. I decided to do something with a patriotic theme, so I grabbed my R/W/B scrap basket and started playing.  This little quilt above is what came of my play. Everything but the backing and binding came from scraps. It finishes at 14" square.

Oh, I struggled with the quilting. Sat up late unpicking a couple of nights ago. I ended up using a "Terry Twist" stencil in the striped blocks. I purchased it from Sally Terry at the HMQS last month. I did some chained pumpkin seeds and some arcs and loops in the star blocks. I would like it more if the quilting was more precise, but I still like it. 

DD#2 bought it at the auction. Speaking of whom, tonight I finally got the binding on this little runner that is a very late birthday gift for DD#2. This is an adaptation of one of Lori Smith's Fit to Frame patterns that I had made for myself last year. I still haven't quilted mine, but at least now I will know what works when I get to it.

Are you familiar with the quiltsbycheri blog? I haven't made any of Cheri's little monthly QALs (though I think they are so cute), but this week when she mentioned a little mystery quilt that she would be doing and listed what was needed, I realized I already had most of the 4-patch blocks. So I pulled out my repro scrap basket and cut the rest of what was on the list. You may recall that I don't do mysteries, but I've already seen the finish before doing any stitching, so it isn't a mystery, really. Do you like my rationalization? Cheri posted the finish tonight. It is a cute little Puss In The Corner quilt. It will be a fun to stitch up.

I shouldn't have started even this little quilt. I am now almost a full three months behind on my Ramblin' Rose Meets Jamestown BOM, I need to get the 3 latest Barrister's Sow-Along blocks made, and I am running true to form on the SewCalGal FMQ Challenge--I may be the last one to link up this month, too. That doesn't even take into account all of the projects that are at some state of semi-completion, awaiting finishes. What can I say? I am smitten by minis (thanks Kathie and Dawn) and I couldn't resist.

I usually keep my blog content pretty much about quilty stuff, but I want to share something that I witnessed today that I think is so cute. Let me set the scene. This was at the family reunion. Ben, on the left, is my youngest grandchild, who lives with Dravet's Syndrome. This is a seizure disorder that, among other things, has left him with very little verbal language, so he has been learning some signs. Ben just turned three this month. The other little boy is his second cousin, Gideon, who I think is about one. 

Ben was playing in a water toy when he spotted Gideon sitting on the grass just a few feet away. He went over and sat by Gideon, leaning his head on his shoulder (much to Gideon's consternation). 

 Then he sat back and signed "baby"...

  ... and pointed to Gideon.

 That is when Gideon decided he'd had enough, and he was out of there.

This exact scenario played out again just a few minutes later. : )

That's all for now. Until next time,
Janet O.

p.s. A shout-out to my friend, Mary C., for suggesting the name for my HQ Sweet 16 that finally clicked for me. Henceforth she will be known as Gidget. : )