Quilting For A Cause

 One of my personal goals for myself and my family this year was to get involved with some form of community service and/or outreach. I searched for several different things that my children and I could do and we haven't moved on any of them. I believe that in order for me to really commit to something and stick with it, I have to really believe in it. With that being said, I believe in Lazarus Ministries, Inc  located here in Atlanta. It is a ministry dedicated to supporting and bringing about change in the subculture of the homeless in our city.  

My involvement will be to:

 1. Go out with a team twice a month to feed and build relationships with the people 

2. Make a quilt for the purpose of raising money for the support of Lazarus Ministries.

I would love to have the input of you, my readers and followers in the making of this quilt.  

From everything from the pattern, size, colors, fabric, and a name for it.

For your help  and my appreciation, their will be a 

Give Away

My first give away ever.

Please begin submitting your ideas so that I can get started. Can't wait to see what we come up with.

Sharing the love

     I am elated with joy over the fact that Heather from A Passionate Quilter featured The Quilting Dairies on her site for the Liebster Blog Award.

Now it is my duty to pass it along

Drum Roll Please For:

Heidi @ Fabricmutt

Cindy @ Adventures of the Singing Quilt

Deloris @ A Labour Of Love

Amy @ Amy's Crafty Shenanigians

Jen @ A Quilting Jewel

Be sure to pass it along to five of your favorite up and coming bloggers with 200 or fewer followers and leave a comment on their blog.

YFSU4S238Y5E 

One Down, 11 Togo

Well, the Super Hero quilt is done finally. I started on this quilt in February and I am finally done. Now I am on a mission to complete 11 additional quilts by Christmas.  I know, it sounds a little crazy, I think.  Some of them will include mini's. Being that my stash of fabric is almost nonexistent, after a twin quilt is finished I'll use the scraps for a mini.  There are so many different patterns that I can't wait to try. The plan is to make tutorials out of some and give any tips that I can.

Israel would not let me post this without getting him with his quilt.

Stay tuned, soon there will be a posting showing all the patterns I will be taking on.

To my readers and followers, your comments, suggestions, and accountability will be vital to me in accomplishing this mission of 12 Quilts in 2012. I just came up with that and its good!  

Can anyone help me turn that into a badge or something cute?

Venturing Blind

     Among the different quilt designs that I have come across, there is one that I have been dying to make with some scraps. I first saw this design on Quilt Dad's blog and I feel head over hills in love with it. However, that was before I started blogging and I did not save the picture.  So the photo below is the closes to the one I am currently trying to recreate.  

     I titled this post Venturing Blind because I have not found a pattern for it, however it appears simple enough.  I have always been a trail and error type of person.  More times than a few I have put the instructions to the side to try and figure whatever it was out for myself.  Sometimes it worked out well and other times, not so well.  However it is quickly becoming clear that trail and error can be a very expensive practice when it comes to fabric.

So with this particular design I began by making uneven strips from my scraps of the Super Hero quilt.

Then I proceeded to sew them together. Those of you who are pros at quilting or whom are familiar with this design are probably already shaking your head wondering, "why did you do that". I know I know!!  So now I have to take them apart.  Thank God its only five strips.
 

 

To proceed, I will cut matching widths of white fabric to go on both ends of the comic strips.   After the white strips are attached to both ends of the comic strips they all will be sewn together to make the completed quilt top.  Not sure how big it will be yet.  Stay tuned for the finished produce.  

A Few Hours For Me

    I am sure that most of us mothers and wives can testify to the simpler days of singleness.  The time before a husband and children. Your time was yours and yours alone.  I would go out to lunch, window shopping, to a movie or to the park to read a book alone, and it was great. No constant screams of "MOMMY" or "babe, where did you put my (fill in the blank)".  Don't get me wrong, I love being a wife and a mother.  However, we women that hold the titles of wife, mother, teacher, cook, working mom, etc. we still need our time.  For the longest, I think that I told myself that there was no time for me because there were so many things that needed to be done.  We'll this past week I was on the verge of a melt down.  So Sunday, I left the boys at home with daddy and caught the bus and train to Atlantic station ALONE.  I played with the sample makeup at Victoria Secrets, some smell goods from Bath and Body Works, and walked around in H&M and purchased a few assessares.

After visiting 1or 2 other stores I had lunch at Rosa Mexicano Restaurant. I had the Crab Turnovers which were pretty good. The guacamole that came on the side was the best next to my own of course. 

After lunch, I sat on a bench to read and watched kids play on the green.  Then it was time for desert at Cafe nineteen where I saw some friends of mine. My dessert of choice was the chocolate layered cake with more chocolate ice cream like icing than cake, but who complains about chocolate.  I wish I had a picture of it to show you but I got caught up in spending time with myself.
     Although I enjoyed myself, I was tired when I got home. But because of the satisfaction of the time spent, I was more than happy to see my little men and big man to cook dinner for them. It was a lovely day. Its because of that time that I have been a better mother and wife at home.  So, wife, mother, or whatever your title is, take some time for you this week. I know I am and can not wait.

Humble Beginnings

     When the idea of starting "The Quilting Diaries began, I imagined a very nicely put together blog space like some of those that I follow such as Cluck Cluck Sew, Mama Love Quilts, and tons of others.  As you can see I have not achieved that yet. However, I am not dismayed. I am embracing my imperfections as a quilter and blogger with the hope of taking you with me as I journey to greatness:).

 

So here are the square circles that I cut out for Israel's Super Hero quilt using the comic fabric by Camelot Cotton. I did a great job at cutting them. I was so proud. The plan for the middle was to use a solid color. Then I had another idea and things went wrong.

 It seemed that it would be really interesting to use the corners mixed/matched instead of a sold color. Once the quilt started coming together it did not look so interesting to me but a mess.  However, Israel loves it and is just ready for me to be finished.  I will surely post a pic of the final product, that will be the perfect example of my humble beginnings.

Quilting Controversy

 

     Yesterday as I pondered on what my next post would be, a few things popped in my head. The thought of posting a picture of a pile of scraps with a few pictures of some hopeful projects came to mind, as has been done on other blogs. The idea of sharing the kids baptism on Easter was another thought. However, I really wanted to post something somewhat significant as I attempt to build a following. Not that my kids baptism wasn't a very special and significant event, it just wasn't right for my next post for "The Quilting Diaries". The next idea that popped in my head seemed to be a great idea, but it seems that it may cause a little controversy for my new blog.

So what is this great idea? 

     Being that I am an African American women who quilts and my grandmother Ina Bell King is still quilting at 90years of age, "The History of African American Quilting" would be great.  Some may be thinking "that's a great idea," right?  As I began to do a little research by way of Google, I came across Quilting Codes,one of many sites on the topic.  Quilting Codes is a theory that quilts/quilting blocks were used to help slaves in the Underground Railroad.  This is something that I vaguely remembered hearing about, so I began to do some digging.  It turns out that this topic is one surrounded by great controversy. National Geographic even took interest. Some say it is true and others say it is a myth.
   
     As I have become somewhat new to the world of quilting and quilt/sew blogging, I have not seen a lot of African American quilt bloggers.  Even though there are tons of African American quilters, this topic seemed to be a great way to peak the interest of others. I feel as though I am now obligated to follow through with my idea of "The History of African American quilting" without shying away from the controversy.  With that being said, I will be posting "The History of African American Quilting". My hope is that I can write about what I find and my opinion on those findings will  be respected as my opinion.

     If nothing else this will be a great history lesson for the boys and I.

DIY

I have discovered that I am good with my hands. When it comes to fixing things around the house, I'm your girl. J Quilting, of course, is my first love; however, I have fallen in love with refinishing furniture, as well.  For the longest time I wanted to get rid of the 4-seater glass table in our dining room and replace it with, at least, an 8-seater wooded table.  However, we could not afford one.

So last year, I spotted an old table at a neighborhood store for only $100 but it needed some work and I needed $100.

I saved some birthday money and went back to the store and they still had it. I bought it, brought it home, and started working on it.  I’ve never attempted to do anything of this sort in my life.  The plan was to strip off all of the old paint and finish; sand it to the original wood; and re-stain the table. Sorry I did not take any pictures of every step. I will remember next time.

I was so happy when I got to this stage I just wanted to look at it.  I also became a little nervous about moving on to the staining and finishing.

 

I am so proud of the finished product. Once I finish putting all the finishing touches on the dining room, I'll post a pic of what it looks like in the room. 

Resurrection

Sunday past was the day the church celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, as a practicing Anglican in the making, I feel that it is only right that, during the Easter Season, I acknowledge that there are things in my life that I have put to death and buried in my life.  However, there are also some things that need resurrecting. This blog is one of many things that I will be resurrecting this season. So, journey with me and my quilting diaries. 
 

Here is a pic of my latest project. A Super Hero quilt for Israel