Someone Give Me an Award!!

 I am back with my third 'Finish it up Friday' in a row!!  I am still on summer vacation but it looks as if all good things must come to an end because our homeschool curriculum arrived in the mail yesterday.  School starts on Monday! 

 This quilt top was finished in the spring but I brought it back to Michigan to be long-armed quilted. I loved how it turned out. I added the binding this week and now I believe this will belong to my youngest son Josiah.  He loves cars and all kinds of transportation (like most boys) and the quilt I started for him last year may never get finished.

 I collect all types of transportation fabric.  Every time I see a new print I snag a fat quarter or half yard.  I will have to show you my collection some time.

 I backed this quilt with a light blue voile.  I was concerned that it would cause trouble for the long arm quilter but she said it was fine.  It gives it a very soft feel.  When it isn't 85 degrees here I am sure Josiah will enjoy snuggling under this quilt!

I am linking up to Amanda Jean's Finish it Up Friday!!  Have a great week!!

Finish it Up Friday-Two Weeks in a Row!

 We haven't started homeschooling yet (waiting for our curriculum in the mail) so that means I am still on summer vacation--which means I am allowing myself each afternoon (and evening) to create yummy things!  I have wanted to make a fabric banner or pendant (not exactly sure what to call it)  for a long time and when we decided to give Pearl her own room I finally had my chance.  This would be a perfect project for scraps but I used some charm squares and yardage for the perfect combination of colors. 
 I love how it brightens her room and draws your eyes up for a change.

 Close up on one of the pieces--the coloring is wonky but you get the idea.  I decided to back each piece with a neutral color piece of fabric.  This added the weight and stability you need when hanging things from the ceiling. 

A second finish for the week was this quilt. I had finished the top in the spring but brought it back to Michigan to be quilted.  This week I finished attaching the binding by hand-a luxury I haven't afforded myself for quite some time.  I love the entire 'Kids at Play' fabric line so I particularily love this quilt.  I don't have a use for it right now but I am sure the perfect person will come around! 

I am linking up to Amanda Jean's Finish it Friday!  Who knows, maybe I will back again next week with more surprises!!

I'm Back--at Long Last!!

 Hello from Margaret's Hope Chest!!  My friends, we are back in business here!  Three months ago I left to take care of a very important adoption from China and although it was harder than I ever imagined it would be I have come up on the other side and I can once again tell you that with certainty that whatever doesn't kill you will indeed make you stronger.  And so, here is our family of seven!!

 Our daughter Pearl is a wonderful addition to our family and she is beautiful and smart and full of life!!!  She was also full of sadness and confusion for the first few months home but I can say that God is faithful to orphans and those who choose to give them a home and family and she is doing better every day.  I don't get out of bed without praying for patience and understanding because I need it!

 The rest of the family has adjusted well to her and she has more playmates than she wants most days!

 Believe it or not, I have been able to complete quite a few quilts this summer.  I did not start any new projects because I just did not have the brain power for that but finishing quilt tops takes very little brain power! 
 Earlier in the spring I had made a hundred or more 'plus' blocks.  There was enough to make 3 tops--2 lap-sized and one larger lap-sized.
I straight line quilted them because as I have mentioned before, my machine in Michigan is old and tired and can only muster enough energy to sew in one direction.

 Here's one finished--this one went to the postpartum program at Pine Rest.

 Here is the second: my mom will have to remind me where this one went.

 And here is the third and this I gave to a friend of mine who needs a little bit of quilty hope each day!  I love how God shows me each person to give these quilts to.  I was actually photographing this quilt at the camp that my kids attend in Michigan and I thought I should give this quilt to Kate.  I kid you not, I walk up to the parking lot and there is Kate and her kids.  I gave it to her right then and there.  I knew it was the right thing to do!


I LOVE this backing fabric--it reminds me of my daughter Anne and that feeling you only have as a child-endless summer days.



 Finally, I finished this quilt top which I made over a year ago.  I love the bright colors and the bold backing.  It also awaits someone who needs some HOPE for the future.

 So happy to be back writing about my quilting life and the work of Margaret's Hope Chest!

I am so happy to once again be able to link up to Amanda Jean's Finish It Up Friday post!!!

Quiet for the Summer--But the Work Continues!!!

Hello friends!
I wanted to let you know that this blog will be quiet for the summer.  Our family is headed to China in a WEEK to meet our daughter!!  I promised I would formally introduce her to you as soon as we could so here she is!

She is 2 and half and we can not wait to have a toddler in the house again!  If you are interested in her adoption story or in watching this trip unfold you can visit our family blog.
Of course, I had to make her a quilt:

In the meantime, the work of Margaret's Hope Chest will continue all summer!!
We have two very active programs right now that we still need help with.
1.)  A Mother's Hope--details here.
2.) Prison Ministry Quilts--Kid's quilts of any kind--recommended size 40X60 inches.  Boys are especially needed!

Please consider using a bit of your sewing time this summer to make a quilt for one or both of these programs. 

I appreciate those who quietly and generously help us all year long. We are so blessed.

Have a wonderful summer!!!

23 Quilts to Guatemala

In March and April, twenty-three quilts traveled in various suitcases to Village of Hope in Guatemala. Above you see a picture of the building progress as of a couple of week ago--I would assume they are even closer to opening right now.  These homes will house Guatemalan children who have special needs (I believe that many of the children have AIDS).  They will live with foster parents and live like a family.  I love that.  We collected and sent quilts for their beds where they will sleep (some for the first time) in a clean and SAFE place.  Below are pictures of as many quilts as I have pictures of.  So many people were involved in this project---amazing how God works out even the smallest details so that orphans can have some soft and warm to cover their bodies at night.

'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' Quilt

 If you want to find me this summer I will be....
...in Michigan
......having a picnic
.........on this quilt
..............with my FIVE children.

That's right friends, we are getting very close to traveling to China to pick up our newest daughter.
I will introduce her properly as soon as we get our Travel Approval from the Chinese government.
Until then, I will be dreaming of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'.

Work in Progress Wednesday

It has been awhile since I have shared what I have been working on.  This is a fairly new project--I think I am on Day 10 of making these Cartwheel Blocks.  I saw this free block on 'Freshly Pieced' several months ago (I believe you have to purchase the pattern now).  I downloaded and printed it and added that piece of paper to my "Things to Try" clipboard.  I finally had a window of time to play around with it last week.

 These were my first two blocks.  I was hooked!  Now I should clarify a few things.  I shrunk Lee's pattern down by 60%.  Her block (that is in the pattern) makes an 11 inch block.  After the shrinking, my block is 7 inches.  Also, I am foundation piecing these--I think her may be paper pieced.

 This was the progress as of Sunday....

 and here is the progress as of this morning!  I haven't played around with the placement yet--this is just random.  What do you think?  I love it--but I will not be making any more dark blocks--I think there are enough of those and I have to spread those around.  I have plans to make a total of 63 blocks--so I have about 20 more to go!

I am linking up to WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced!