When I come over to Grandma's to work on T-shirt quilts, Harper is my little companion. She is at the age (7 months) now that she loves to sit and play with toys on her own. She is so proud of how well she sits up.
We are currently making 2 large quilts for a brother and sister who have fun shirts from all over the world. We are not nearly as efficient at making quilts with a 7 month old around, but that's what Daddy and Papa are here for!
Abbey Lane Quilts has a fantastic giveaway going on right now, and I wouldn't be a fellow sewing enthusiast if I didn't share!! Abbey Lane Quilts is publishing a book of 12 fun & fabulous pillow patterns called: A TOUCH OF WHIMSEY.
Check out their blog post here with the details about the book, as well as the giveaway & the 5 entry opportunities!! http://www.abbeylanequilts.blogspot.com/
If you're reading my piddly little blog, then I'm SURE you love Cluck Cluck Sew's fabulous fabulous blog! My friend sent me the link to one of Cluck Cluck's fun giveaways today, and I thought I'd share the love!
Go to Cluck Cluck's "South of the Border" post, and post a response to be entered in the giveaway!
In other news, today I'm picking up 2 of the 3 quilts that are due on Easter (less than a week for me to mail them!!). I can't wait to see how they turned out...
Mom & I are also working on my sister-in-law's high school graduation gift - what else, a T-shirt quilt! Ha!
Its almost 80 degrees here in Knoxville! I soaked up some sun while pulling weeds in the yard for most of the day.
Mom & I are working on quilt #2 of 3 for our Easter deadline tonight. We finished #1 & started #2 last night. It'll be some tough cramming, but I know that we can do it! I've been praying that the Lord would give me the strength & the time that I can't manufacture on my own!!! He is faithful!!
I got on here to share some photos of recent quilts that we've done since last Fall... Here goes:
My house currently holds at least 13 sets of T-shirts! I cannot believe how quickly our trickle of orders has turned into a river of demand!
Jan (my mom) & I have already completed 5 quilts since 2011 began, and we're booked solid through the Summer at least. Not a week goes by that we don't have a phone call or email about making a T-shirt quilt! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
A lot has happened since I blogged last (oops)... I (Julie) have since changed jobs. I was a commercial insurance advocate for 5 years on the dot, and was asked to interview at my church for an admin position. I started working as the admin assistant in the Children's ministry to the children's pastor & asst children's pastor on Jan 3rd. It is a perfect fit, and it has been such a great change of pace. The insurance world was very stressful & exhausting. Children's Ministry is busy, but it has so many FUN elements that I find myself energized by what I do. What an unexpected surprise! I had no idea that I was interested in working in ministry, but it is such a joy to work with amazing people of faith, and I am learning so much! The job is so much more than administrative work, and I love that!
This job change has allowed for more flexibility. Including FRIDAYS off!! Woo hoo! I love getting to work on Vinyl Art & T-shirt quilts on Fridays.
Mom & I are working on 3 quilts that are due by Easter for a customer in New Jersey. She has 3 children who will be home for Easter, and she can't wait to surprise them with the quilts in their Easter baskets!! We are working overtime to get those quilts to her in time! Please pray for us to be efficient with our time!
We have 3 or 4 graduation quilts in line as well, and then about 8-10 quilts that have no deadlines (thank goodness!). WHEW! What an honor to be trusted with well-loved memories & experiences that belong to people all over the country.
Thank you SO much for supporting us on our journey! The Lord has given us Fishtail Designs to really take something that we enjoy & use it to help pay down debt and be productive with our time.
It's already nearly the end of July - where is the time going???
We finally posted photos of the completed "Phish" T-shirt quilt. This quilt is fabulous & HUGE!!! I have put more photos on my facebook page & our website, but here's a sneak peek:
The hubby & I just got back from our only beach vacation of the year, where we celebrated my grandmother's 80th birthday with her entire group of 7 kids & over a dozen grandkids. I worked my hiney off to create a Shutterfly photobook with photos of her over the years with my Grandpa who passed away 13 years ago. And the majority of the family submitted their favorite photos & personal letters to Grandma. I also contacted her nieces & nephews, with whom she has always kept close contact. 2 of them showed up to the beach weekend as a surprise for her, which was my favorite part of the weekend. She chastized me for planning so many surprises for an 80 year old woman. I told her that I know how strong she is & that I knew she could handle it :)
I am so proud of the photo book, and so thankful for the contribution from my family! Here's a link to the photo book:
Now that I'm back home, I'm working on vinyl orders non-stop. I don't know how these vinyl orders have kept rolling in, except that the Lord is taking care of me! I've had 10-12 orders in the past couple of days and several more on the way - Thank you Lord!!
Mom & I are finishing a t-shirt quilt this week (crossing fingers...) for a friend's daughter. It is made with her high school, college, camps, etc. shirts. We love the story about a couple of the T-shirts that her mom told us. Apparently Natalie was a HUGE Chipper Jones (of the Atlanta Braves) fan back in her elementary/middle-school years, and one of her teachers even called her "Mrs. Jones." So there are a couple of Chipper's shirts on the quilt to commemorate her celebrity crush.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to pass along a blog giveaway that is absolutely worth checking out!!! Here's the link to Abbey Lane's Quilts' blog. Enjoy! :)
