Brain Rehabilitation Unit

My Dad spent some time in a brain rehabilitation unit learning to live all over again after he reacted really badly to a pain management regimen, prescribed by doctors, while in the hospital after a fall.  You see, he has Glioblastoma and your brain doesn't react to medicine the same way that yours or mine might.  

He has been out of the brain rehabilitation unit for 18 months and I wanted to give back to the patients.

Last weekend I took my girls and my Dad up to the unit and we walked around with one of his nurses to distribute 5 lap size quilts that I had made.  I loved watching the joy on my girls' faces and my Dad's.  I didn't take any photos to preserve the privacy of the patients.

I can't wait to deliver a second round of quilts with the 3 of them.

Memory Quilt Finished

I finished up the memory quilt and gave it to my cousin to deliver to her friend.  I believe the family received the quilt this weekend.

It was a yucky raining day so inside photos had to suffice :)

I am linking up with Fabric Tuesday, Show and Tell Tuesday , Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop?, Needle and Thread Thursday and Finish it Friday.

Pips for my Peanut

My oldest is turning 9 in October and this was supposed to be her 5th birthday present.  This was definitely one of my oldest WIPs (I have one more that is older that will be finished before summer!!).  I struggled with this quilt because there are directional prints that are upside down that shouldn't be upside down, like girls on swings, kids on scooters and puppies.  And because these blocks bothered me, I didn't finish.  

This quilt wasn't about me...it was a quilt that my peanut was promised and that she loved.  I remember laying in bed with her and seeing this fabric and her begging me for a quilt made out of it.  

I finally got around to finishing the quilt and then wanted to use up some wool batting that I had...and then I had problems.  My basting spray did not hold very well with this wool batting and there are some serious(!!) puckers on the back of the quilt.  The good thing is my 8 year old really doesn't care and is so excited to have her quilt.

I finished it just in time for her to break her arm on the first bike ride of the season.  So she is cooped up for a while and is enjoying the snuggles with her new quilt.

The fabric is Sherbet Pips by Aneela Hoey.

I am linking up with Fabric Tuesday, Show and Tell Tuesday , Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop?, Needle and Thread Thursday and Finish it Friday.

Scrappy Pips

I finished a Sherbet Pips quilt this week and once the binding is attached I will post.  In the meantime, here is a scrappy baby quilt using the trimmings from my backing and some white on white dots I had on hand. Sometimes a simple patchwork is the best.  I have pieced some leftover batting together as well for this quilt.

I was able to find some yardage on Etsy and ordered some pink and white dots from this line for the backing. I also have a stripe of four patches for the backing.   I have the perfect pale pink thread for the quilting. Happy Friday!

And I am so sorry for the crumby photos.  Weather in the Northeast has been gloomy, cloudy and rainy all week.

Memory Quilt

Little Stella passed away in September 2013 just shy of her 3rd birthday from Gaucher's Disease.

I made a quilt for her when she was in the hospital and offered to make her parents a memory quilt.

Her Mom gave me a bag of pillowcases that Stella had used and I bravely cut into them in February.  I finished the quilt last night and am basting and quilting tomorrow.

Stella's Mommy and Daddy announced they were having a baby this past Christmas only to discover a few weeks later that sweet Luca has anencephaly.  You can read more about their story here and keep them in your prayers. I cut some strips from the pillowcases to make a baby quilt for Luca as well...to wrap him in his sister's love.

Charity Knitting

Another blanket is on the needles for the end of the year baby donation drive.  My sister claimed the last one I finished for my new niece or nephew.

I'm using up yarn that I have which feels really good, plus I'm making a blanket for someone who may not have enough for their baby.

Knitting Finish

Back before I was a quilter, I was a knitter...and a basic knitter at that.  I have recently started to knit some more complicated projects as they are a perfect take along project with how small and portable knitting can be.

I  also using up yarn in my house for projects.  Every Christmas my daughters' school collects baby items for the Lullaby League.  Last year I knitted up three quick and easy blankets that used up 9 skeins of yarn and donated them.

I finished my first baby blanket for the 2015 donation cycle using white yarn and a variegated baby yarn.  

For those of you that knit dishcloths you will recognize this pattern.  I knitted the blanket on size 11 circular needles (for the space) and went till the blanket was 160 stitches wide.