QuiltFest in Pigeon Forge, TN

This Sewing Fairy will be trekking up to Pigeon Forge TN next week!!!

QUILT FEST

Monday, March 7-11th, Mon-Fri.

Not only do I get to attend quilting classes but I'm reconnecting with an old High School friend I haven't seen in 40 years!!!!  Due to Facebook, Gina and I reconnected and found out we share a passion for sewing/Quilting!!

SEW, when she mentioned her planned trip to Quilt Fest in March, I signed up ASAP.  I even got #1 Hubby to agree to come along as my chauffeur.  He will entertain himself by fishing in the Pigeon River behind our Hotel while I'm taking 4 different classes during the week. Of course, I have plenty of free time built into my itinerary...time to shop, attend some shows, and sight see....AS WELL AS CHAT WITH AN OLD FRIEND!!

Take a Look See, 

here is my new Diet Plan which should work well for the hills of Tennesse!  I would normally forget about dieting on vacation but since #1 Hubby's Diabetes numbers didn't come back with a good report today, I guess it means we will be eating responsibly next week.  I don't intend to be a widow if I can help it and I sure don't want to see #1 having to begin taking insulin shots.  He has done so well the past 8 yrs and has avoided taking shots.  Both of us need to lose weight...YUCK!..food is such a vice for me!

OH LOOK!!  ANOTHER DIET PLAN!!

I am having Camera troubles and in fact, it may have died!  I'm thinking that Grandson Scott may have taken one too many "say cheese" pics.  I had just taken pics of my kitchen vintage linen finds at an antique store over the weekend.  I love tea towels from the 50's and embroidered napkins, aprons, etc..and I was so ecstatic when I found some genuine articles.  Some were not the real deal but I liked them anyway and that's all that matters to me.  If I like an item and the price is right, I buy it regardless of the authenticity. 

I probably will not post until I get back from Quiltfest!!  I'm hoping my camera issues can be resloved so I can bring back a plethora of Quilt Fest Pictures!

It's time to take a break and spend quality time with #1 Hubby and an old friend.  People and relationships are the most important thing in our lives.  Last week brought home the importance of relationships and telling those you love they are important to you before it's too late.  

Please pray for a blogging friend from *Count it All Joy*, who lost a newborn Grandchild this past week due to a tragic cord issue one week past her daughter's due date.  My DIL lost her elderly Grandfather (complications of West Nile Virus, if you can believe that!)and another dear dear friend is losing her battle with a brain tumor.

Therefore, I'm taking this next week to reconnect, meditate, quilt, and enjoy some early Spring time in the Smokey Mountains.

Blessings

Gmama Jane

Sewing Mends the Soul

Where have I been???  

Sewing & Quilting in my "GMama Cave"!

Here are some projects I'm working on..you may recognize the hand quilt.  This will belong to my Grandson's teacher from LAST YEAR!!  Ryan and I laughed this afternoon when I told him it was looking like he would have grandchildren before I got this quilt to his 2nd grade teacher!  

It's a little moment, but I love when Ryan and I have those times we laugh at something together... especially if it's one of my many *mistakes* that turns into a *STORY*.  Heaven only knows that is the reason behind this blog! 

I love it even more when I learn from a teacher or friend that Ryan talks about his Grandmama at school... even if it is at the expense of my dignity!!! I remember back when I was teaching and how I loved to hear the stories children would tell about their Grandparents.  I couldn't wait to be one of those Grandparents who made memories in the lives of their Grandchildren.

My next project is the BOM I'm stitching for my local quilt shop, Patches & Stitches.  Remember how I was not cool with my color choices?  Well, I rearranged my "theme" fabric and bought some black & gold documentary fabric and I'm liking it much better.  The pictures don't do the colors justice especially the rich black & gold.

I wish I took better pictures but alas it is what it is!  I will not be getting a new camera anytime soon since my next purchase will be a new sewing machine.

HOWEVER...I was so excited!  Talk about COINCIDENCE...which by the way I DON"T believe in because I think it's God just being ANONYMOUS! 

WHY???

I was invited to be a Guest Reader by a former colleague to read to her class.  Not just anything mind you...but "Pink and SAY" one of my favorite books by author Patricia Pollaco. 

The book is a true story from the CIVIL WAR about an injured White boy being rescued by an African American boy after a major Battle. A REAL tear -jerker so be warned! I HIGHLY recommend this book from age 4th grade and up if you want to leave an impression on your children or Grandchildren about the scourge of prejudice.  

SO...

How appropriate is it that I be piecing together a Civil War quilt??... wanted to stop, but the Quilt wouldn't let me...or should I say, Pink & Say, wouldn't let me!  I'll be reading in a 4th Grade Class on Thursday Morning as part of Black History Month AND their study of the Civil War.

One other small sewing project is a Mug Rug made from a UFO Block I found in the bottom of a drawer filled with bits and pieces of old quilting projects.  Do you have any of those??  Well, now I can make a lot of those solitary blocks into Mug Rugs and have an instant gift!  Voila!

Check out my little yo-yo's in the corner!  Their real purpose??? To hide a badly mitered corner!

NEXT...

Mug Rug given to daughter for a BFF Valentine gift! 

MY Valentine gift to a special friend, Marlene, from Stitching at the Lake.  Check her out, she is such a Jewel, lovely quilter/seamstress, and all around wise lady!  If I knew how, I would make a link up to her blog but I haven't learned that little trick as of yet?  Any quick tutorial advice out there?

OR...Did I send this Mug Rug to Marlene??  Someone PLEASE help me...I'm certifiable! Good Grief, I can't remember SQUAT.  All you young chickies out there, don't laugh, because old age happens to the Best of us when we least expect it!

ANYWAY, 

that's what I've been up to for the past week.  What have you been up to??

I'm thinking I will have  Give-Away the first week of March since March 6th is my Birthday!   I like to reverse the Birthday tradition this year and give gifts!  I'm thinking it will be a pretty apron for Spring!  Don't you just love a pretty apron?  I'm participating in an apron swap so I'll just make TWO and give one away HERE at Grandmamas Stories!

Blessings

Gmama Jane

Strength

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

to all my friends & family

I want to share some powerful words I read on Sunday that I think will not only 

ENCOURAGE you 

but

put the WIND back in you SAILS

Strength

from God's Word - in Isaiah from The Message (modern Bible Translation)

God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
... And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind. 

 

Spread your wings and soar like an eagle on this Valentine's Day 2011 

 

Blessings

Gmama Jane

Procrastination

 

Why do I procrastinate??  

I mean, really...what pleasure do I derive from putting things off to the very last minute and then rushing around like a chicken with it's head cut off?  Oh yes, AND... I'm almost always late..not more than 10-15 minutes mind you...but late never the less...LATE!

  Dr. Phil remarked on his show that people who procrastinate or are habitually late, receive some sort of reward for their behavior.  I don't know what my reward is even though I've tried very hard to figure it out.  I have some hunches but that is for later.

Like my MUG RUG??  This is the one I entered in the Mug Rug contest on Sew We Quilt @Stash Manicure with the wonderful Madame Samm.  When do you think I completed this entry?  The cut off date was Feb. 4th mind you.  Yep, Feb. 3rd and then I couldn't get my camera to work so I could take a picture and send in.  Good Grief!  SEW...the EVENING of FEB. 4th my entry was emailed through cyber space just in the nick of time.

I love a Black and Pink color combo and especially Black Toille!  I think it is so "girly" and elegant.  Each mug rug was supposed to reflect who WE were as a person yet for some reason I couldn't help from making it to reflect the blog moderator, Madame Samm!  Perhaps it is because she has been so gracious in giving me a blog make-over or so kind to others on the blog that I had her on my mind.  Whatever the reason, this is what I came up with.  I think this mug rug may just wing it's way towards the Canadian Tundra to a very special person...what do you think, ladies??

Coffee, Tea, or Thee

Now, for Procrastination project #2

Here is some Civil War Reproduction/Documentary fabric for my BOM sponsored by my local quilt shop, Patches and Stitches.

This is the BOM Quilt displayed at the Patches and Stitches...however, I'm going with a totally different color scheme in that I'm using Documentary fabrics.    I saw some samples and thought they were so different from anything I had done...new color scheme (very muted blue grays and browns), different blocks, totally DIFFERENT. 

However................

The first TWO blocks are due this Saturday and when do you think I will have mine done??  yep, I'll probably be stitching it as I drive...no, I promise, I won't do that.  But, I can bet it will not be finished before Friday night!  I STARTED cutting it out last night thinking I could knock out  the entire block  by bedtime.  NOT!!  NCIS was on last night and I LOVE that show.  I'm thinking I got distracted by that AWESOME episode ( yes, we have DVR but I was sucked into the story line and couldn't leave it) I have trouble, like I always do, when I start a new project.  

Do you have Beginner's Block??  

I can't explain it, but I have difficulty getting something started.  I will work all around getting started but actually taking the first stitch seems to be something I PROCRASTINATE upon.  Especially if I have just completed another project, I have a REAL problem with getting started on a NEW Project.  Is this something only I deal with??  It keeps me from creating more quilts/projects.  I would love some constructive criticism or advice as to how to FIX this little foible in my personality???

SEW..for now, I'm hoping to finish Block #1 Tonight and show you tomorrow.  That will put me on a deadline which seems to motivate me somehow.  Then I HAVE to cut out and finish Block #2 by Friday morning (Hopefully). I work best under pressure and a given deadline.  Free time *discombobulates*

# 1 on My To Do List for TODAY 

I must get my Valentine Mug Rug mailed to My very good Blogging friend, Marlene, *wink* *wink*

I WILL be back TOMORROW...it's all about Accountability you know whether it's Daily Bible reading, paying bills, sending encouraging notes, calling a sick or sad friend, fixing a leak, sewing on a button or losing weight...it's all so much easier if you have a friend to lift you up, hold your hand, tell you, "You can do it!", and holding you (Holding ME) ACCOUNTABLE!

Remember old fashioned Valentines like this one?  It's called "Vintage" now but it looks like the ones I used to get from my parents.

Blessings

Gmama Jane

Seasons, Butterflies and Lizards

Today's post is born from a heavy heart...a burden for my child shouldering the weight of the world as she raises a special needs child...a child with a life long handicap that has been determined to be the most expensive handicap a child can have.  A handicap that causes many marriages to fail, and families to split apart under the stress.

God created the seasons of the year but I like to think there are seasons of the HEART as well.  I am going through a season of feeling powerless...having to step back and watch the people I love most in this world bear burdens I would gladly bear myself.  A season of  wanting to step in and take control when life is out of control...wanting to take the pain away or at least kiss it and make it better.  It worked when our children were little but now we can only sit back and watch our grown children bear the burdens heaped upon them and want once again "to kiss it and make it all better".

If only a kiss would make it all better, I would fill their world with butterfly kisses, raspberry kisses, big sloppy kisses, kisses upon kisses

IF ONLY................................................

My precious Grandson James got new braces today.  Forrest Gump kind of braces...the kind of braces that SHOUT to the world I HAVE A HANDICAPPED CHILD/GRANDCHILD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

His mother, Mary Ellen, and my oldest daughter, simply wasn't prepared for the Institutional Look of these new braces.  In the past, James' braces have been tempered with cool shoes, cool colors, blinking lights in the soles of the shoes, and even stickers.  No amount of stickers are going to make these puppies look cool. 

The reason for the braces however, is to correct the right foot from turning in at a severe angle.  Every option has been tried and nothing has worked.  James even has to wear some sort of "cables" at night when he sleeps???!!

These new braces involve a metal ring around the waist covered in leather and a flexible pole going down the side of his leg.  I will have to post pictures so you can see how "lovely" they are.  HOWEVER, we know in our head  the Braces are necessary to reach James' goal of *Independent Walking"!!  Our hearts just haven't caught up as yet.

Today this smile was replaced with tears and fear of the unknown...on the part of ALL of us!  Will the Braces work?  Will his foot alignment be corrected?  How long will he wear them?  What happens if they DON'T work??  These are all questions we have no answers for...at least not on this day...maybe 3 months...6 months...1 yr.  down the road, we'll have some answers.  Will MORE Therapy be the answer???

  My prayers are for my daughter to have the physical and emotional strength to WALK this journey with James.  I'm thankful for Josh and his support as her husband and father to James.  I would not want her to walk this path as a single Mom!!

It's these days of NOT KNOWING how everything is going to turn out, having to walk in Faith,  having to Keep On Keeping On even when the spirit is down, finding strength when the soul is weary and having to sit on the sidelines cheering from the bleachers.  I want to comfort but don't have the words.  I want to offer wisdom but feel ignorant in the face of such overwhelming obstacles.

I am reminded that my daughter is still the same child who at age 3 picked up a lizard and when I told her to put it down because she might get bit, put her little spunky hands on her hips and with finger pointed, told me "Now you just go back to your Cross Stichin and I"LL handle this lizard.

If Only this was just a Lizard, sweetheart........................................................................................

My Prayer, Dear Lord, is that while in a cocoon of love, the best medical attention available, physical,speech, & occupational therapy, and good teachers, you will allow James to grow, strengthen, and prepare for the miracle of becoming a Butterfly.  Help us through these dark days when all we have is our Faith in YOU.

AMEN

Grandmama

A Love Story

Happy 38th Anniversary

A LOVE STORY

January 27th 1973 

I married my college sweetheart, best friend, the person who makes me laugh, father of my 3 children, PaPaw to our 5 Grandchildren and all around Great Guy!

 

Future Weather Forecaster

I know, it's a little belated but last week was one of those weeks where I had to "Get the Ox out of the Ditch".  That is an old Biblical reference for those not familiar, which means there are times when you "just gotta do what you gotta do".

The Love Story

We were sophomores in college who planned to get married in May of 1973 once school was out for the summer.  But as young love goes, we went apartment hunting with our best friends to be, found an adjacent VACANT apartment and thought, "Wouldn't it be great to live here and not have to wait till May to get married?"  To the heart palpitations of our parents, we made the rash and immature decision to get married at our Campus Christian Center with ONE WEEK to prepare and a $300 budget!!  That was 38 years ago and as CRAZY a decision as it was, God in His infinite wisdom AND sense of humor has kept us together through thick and thin, better and for worse, Richer and for Poorer(mostly poorer) sickness and in health, and till Death Do Us Part!!

Birthday Dinner Party 2009

How did we meet, you ask???  

WE can thank the old fashioned PAY PHONE!!  Both of us were on campus of MARSHALL UNIVERSITY (the University featured in the Football Movie, WE ARE MARSHALL) for freshman orientation.  Mr. H. aka...#1 Husband, Mr. Football, Mr. Haney from Green Acres, walked over to a group of us girls one evening asking to borrow a DIME to call his girlfriend back in Alabama!  A DIME???  PAY PHONE???  Boy, does that date us or what???

Let me tell you, Mr. Football was one Cutie Patootie!  In todays' vernacular, he would have been described as a "hottie", " "hunk", etc...I started digging furiously in my purse for a dime so I could be the one to give him the coveted DIME!!  All the time, thinking to myself, "That Alabama Girlfriend is going to be long gone if I have anything to do with it".  I WON!  I gave him the dime, found out he was on the football team and right then and there set my sights on Mr. Football and never looked back.

WELL...THAT was 39 1/2 yrs., 3 children, 5 Grandchildren, a 600 mile move back to Alabama, and lots of laughter, tears, and Love later!!

BTW...

Have any of you seen or heard of the 2006 Movie, WE ARE MARSHALL???

Believe it or not, the movie is about MY HUSBAND and his 1971 Young Thundering Herd football team!  IN Nov. 1970, a plane crash into the side of a West Virginia Mountain on a rainy foggy night, killed all 75 passengers...all 75 members of the Marshall University Football team, boosters, Coaches, Pilot, & Flight attendants.  The decision to continue the football program and the recruiting all over the nation to replenish and ENTIRE football team with 17/18 yr. old young men is the heart of the story.  The movie stars Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, & January Jones.  It is a GREAT and TRUE story that makes a Great Family Movie Night!! 
#1 Husband and I are in many of the crowd scenes although you can't see us.  Only the two of us can see where we are but it was sooooo much fun being part of the movie production, filming, and subsequent Premier Night!!

Well...That is our Love Story, for better or for worse but mostly BETTER!!

We're still in love in 2011 and hope we have many more years together!

What is YOUR LOVE STORY???

Blessings

Gmama Jane

UFO #1

January Projects
UFO #1

Teacher Quilt for Grandson's 2nd Grade Teacher 

P.S  Ryan is in 3rd Grade!

Mrs. Appel...your quilt is on it's way and should be completed By Valentine's Day!

I may be just a "little" behind but since Mrs. Appel is a friend, she has been very patient.  Last year, I was a Guest Reader for Ryan's 2nd grade class.  I read a book about a little girl's Grandmother moving from her home to a retirement community.  To ease her Grandmother's loneliness, the Granddaughter and Mother made a quilt from the Grandmother's & other family member's old clothes.  The discussion with the children was priceless when they began to tell stories of being homesick or stories about their own Grandparents.  Their little hearts are so tender and empathetic at the age of 8-9 yrs. old.

Each child's hand-print was traced and cut out along with the Teacher's and Principal's hand-prints.

The Frog print handprint belongs to my Grandson due to his obsession with frogs.

Since these pictures, I have now finished the zigzag stitch around each handprint (which was only my second attempt by machine to do applique.)  I used Heat n Bond and the Zig Zag stitch.  I did OK but was scared to death every stitch of the way.  By Block 19 I had the process down.

I like the way the sunlight came through my sewing room window when I took the picture below.

MUG RUG  (Belated Christmas Gift)

MUG RUG  made from Moda's "Maison something something"...my mind has drawn a blank and I don't want to walk upstairs to look it up.  I Love these colors!!

I plan on making a set of placemats with this fabric line to keep for myself!

Below is a picture of the Block of the Month Quilt I joined sponsored by a local Quilt Store.  We could choose to go a different color direction so I chose these Civil War Document fabrics...a First for me!

I do not claim any photographic abilities...that gene went to my middle daughter..so forgive the quality of my pictures, especially when trying to show you the beautiful Civil War fabric I just bought from "The Fat Quarter Shop"

I love to see my UPS man drive up my driveway when I am expecting fabric orders!!

I'm going to use this CWar fabric in making the blocks of the above quilt and then I'll figure out my sashing and binding when I put the finished blocks up on "ye Ol design Wall"

WITH THAT SAID...

Considering that I begin Weight Watchers next week, I thought I would share a chuckle with you! 

I feel this way when I see the Hot Sign lit up at the Krispy Kreme Store and my car involuntarily makes a turn and goes right into that KK Drive-Thru

Blessings

Gmama jane

HOPE

HOPE

 Indulge me today while I tell you about my Sweet Baby James

and the Blessing he has been to our entire family

Meet James Patrick  age 3

Born 2 months premature

 Diagnosis:

Cerebral Palsy

Prognosis:

HOPE...FUL

MY WORD for 2011 had to find me...I couldn't settle on a word and in the meantime I pondered for days about the WORD I would choose that best represented my sentiments for 2011.  I  began to ponder on my favorite verse from Jeremiah 29:11 NIV which says:

"For I know the Plans I have for you",

declares the Lord.

"Plans to prosper you, and Not to Harm YOU,

Plans to Give YOU a HOPE and a FUTURE."

THEN...

Having gone through spinal surgery, spinal rhizotomy, with James back in June at St. Louis Children's Hospital

combined with the HOPES & Dreams I have for all FIVE of my Grandchildren...

18 months First time sitting upright independently!!  He's hanging on to that bucket for dear life!

 HOPE FOUND ME.

Perhaps some or even just ONE fo you have or know of a young child with Cerebral Palsy.  I encourage you to GOOGLE this surgery and St. Louis Children's Hospital, Dr. Parks. (if I knew how to make a link, I would do it right here, but I don't, so bear with me).  It offers life changing HOPE for children with CP.  MY daughter was not told of this surgery by any of the many medical doctors treating James.  She happened upon a story on NBC about SDR surgery and Dr. Parks at SLCH.  Well, immediately she began almost a year long process of research, decisions, Dr. visits, and a consultation in St. Louis to determine IF James was even a candidate for SDR surgery.  In March of 2010, Dr. Parks, gave his medical opinion that James was an excellent candidate and surgery was scheduled for June 10, 2010.  

Children from all over the world come to St. Louis to have SDR surgery and we met so many wonderful parents of children with all different medical diagnosis and prognosis.  The Ronald McDonald ROOM INSIDE the hospital was like a home away from home with computers, large eat in kitchen, living room with huge couches, recliners, Big screen TV, free laundry room and fully stocked bathrooms.  I now make sure I put my change in those little collection boxes in every McDonald's restaurant because not only did we use the RMcDRoom but my daughter & James also stayed 3 weeks in a RMcD House in Birmingham for a Post Surgery Physical Therapy Camp back in August. I can't say enough WONDERFUL things about them!!

The Journey to Independent Walking will be Long.  But with surgery and intensive therapy, Dr. Parks believes that James will either walk independently at best or with canes at the worst.  Our HOPE for James is a VERTICAL LIFE!!

Here are some pictures of James and why he INSPIRES HOPE...HOPE not only will he walk but HOPE James will be a successful adult with Faith, Empathy, Courage, Determination, Perseverance, and Sense of Humor.  You will see these characteristics displayed in the following pictures:

 Water Therapy has made a HUGE Improvement

Learning to Feed Himself is messy business just like for any child

James is a PUPPY for Halloween!  He insisted it was PUPPY not DOG

Cousin Scott is trying to "help" James with his new walker

Auntie LaLa (aka.Anna Laura, my youngest daughter) ADORES James and likes to have him spend the night with her whenever his Mommie will let him!

James all dressed up for his first day of Pre-School, T-Th

School has brought a HUGE helping of HOPE in social skills!

Doesn't he just look like the cutest little man you've ever seen?!

A Special Bike made exclusively for James.  He was on a Year long waiting list and it came at just the right time.  God is So Good!!  Look at that smile!!

HOPE

James was so excited to meet another person in a wheelchair like him!  This was one of the ParaOlympic Athletes and he was so sweet to James

 James is "propped"  up by Frosty on Christmas Day

Gran Sarah reading to Scott & James.  My sister is like another Grandmother!

 

Christmas 2007-James' 1st Christmas BEFORE we knew about the CP diagnosis.

Great Grandmother, "MaMaw" and all her "Greats"  I LOVE this picture and we are lucky to still be making this picture every year

Christmas 2010-James 3 yrs. old

The Vintage ABC Quilt I made before James was born.  I've got to make him a Big Boy Quilt ASAP.

I need to have made all 5 Grandchildren a quilt before I make a second.  I have 2 more to go.

HOPE

2011

Blessings

Gmama Jane