Quilting again!

Here are a few of the quilts that I have finished the last while.  I have loved trying different patterns and colors.  I have had so much fun, learning so much with each one.  This first picture is of the backing.  I have done a pieced backing to most of my quilts.  It is a fun way to use up leftover fabric and to add some more character to the quilt.  This quilt I did use every last inch, I had 2 tiny pieces, less that an inch wide, left over from this piecing.  

This quilt began with a 2.5" charm pack, tiny squares that are on the backing, in a checkerboard kind of thing.  I wasn't sure how to use them so I ordered a jelly roll of the same fabric.  I just love jelly rolls!  They are so fun to work with.  It is a roll of about 40 different fabrics, in some coordinating line, that is cut into 2.5" strips and rolled up all cute.  It is nice to have them already cut, colors thought out, and then I can create something so fun like this with.  It was so fun!

You can see a little bit of the quilting that I did on this, it is called concentric circles, kind of like a bulls-eye.  Beginning with a small circle in the middle and rippling out with more circles from there.  I really like trying this and I think that it worked out really well to accentuate the pattern of the quilt.

This quilt I began right when I first started quilting.  I cut and sewed all of the squares and then as I wasn't sure how to place them I put it on hold.  I try to work on the projects that I am most excited about and come back and finish when I gain more inspiration for it.  So this one went in stages.  I am glad that I finally got this put together!  I am really happy with it.  I love the size of it and plan to make a number more of these kind of lap sizes.  It is perfect for cuddling up with the kids on the couch, or wrapping around them when they are cold in the morning.  That is it's usual use, getting out of their beds and feeling cold, I wrap them in quilts to sit them at the table for breakfast and scripture study.  It is fun and this quilt is perfect for that.

For this quilting I did free-hand, kind of spiraling, squares.  It was so fast and easy.  I was going to quilt in the sashing between the squares but decided to keep it simple, and I am sure glad that I did.  Easy and ended up really soft and cozy.

Here is the next project started.  I have been so excited to make a pinwheel, or whirly-gig quilt, so after having all of my scraps cut into squares I couldn't wait to make these blocks.  They are so amazing for scraps as they are each a separate unit of color, and they don't even tough colors with their neighbors.  This is just a preview, I have more done now, and am working on some tiny baby ones for a border, they are cute but trickier, we'll see how it goes.

This is a quilt that I started a little while ago and decided that I should gt done.  I have the top now done and putting borders on it.  I am sure that there are going to be people who need quilts, with all of this tragedy around us.  So I am working on finishing these up for something of that purpose.

This is just such a beautiful sight, I am so glad to have a picture of it!  I had a friend of mine working on a quilt with me and together we took all of my scraps and cut them into squares.  This makes me so happy as now they are ready to be turned into something amazing.  I love the rainbow of colors!  It just makes me happy to look at it!  I have big plans for these, some are underway.

This picture that I took is of one idea, it is a small square and since taking this I have seen a scrap quilt be finished like this.  It sure comes together in the end, with borders to pull out the colors that you want to stand out and seeing a bigger area, then just this little square, it all works out beautifully.  I am just learning about making scrap quilts and we'll see what this idea, or these squares, blossom into.  I just love the whole process of creating things, each step from planning, thinking, arranging, measuring, calculating, cutting, more arranging, connecting, beautifying, finishing.  I am loving every second that I spend quilting.

 Here is one more project that I had fun working on and now having around our house.  This was from a group of ladies around here that do a pinterest group.  They get together once a month (I think) and pick some things that they have been wanting to do from pinterest, and they do them.  It is a fun night to get together and craft, accomplish something that they have been planning, or looking at, and have some fun together.  I went on the night that we made these, the Roly-Poly.  My kids just love it.  I think that even since taking these picture I pulled it oped and stuffed it with 3 more bags of polyester fiber fill, it is very round and full!

 I sit on it to read to the kids at night, and the kids favorite thing to do with it is to jump off their toy shelves onto this across the room.  They are crazy to watch flying across the room to land on this huge ball.  I have it all ready to make another, we'll see when that ever happens.

A Very Special Day!

We had a great family milestone in April, we baptized our first child. This feels like our family moving into the next stage.  We are no longer just starting out, we are a young family but we have children now reaching into milestone ages, like 8, that is a big age!  This was such a very special day!  Kyndal being baptized with her cousins and so much of our family around.  It was perfect and so special.  I can't put into words the feelings of this day.  It was just so special, exciting, the spirit so strong, such proud parents.  These moments are the kind that remind us about what it is all really about.  The day was beautiful and couldn't have been any better!

Here is the hairdo that Kyndal decided upon.  She knew that it had to be some sort of a braid that would last through the water and still look cute.  She is not great about getting her hair done but was great and excited about this day.  She loved her braids.

These cousins are all born within 3 months.  So in the time that we waited for Grandpa and Grandma to return from their mission in India, all 3 girls turned 8.  This was so special for them to do and share together! They are so fun, unique and full of personality!

Kyndal has enjoyed the freedom of playing the piano at her own pace.  She takes half a year of lessons and then plays for enjoyment the rest of the year.  I love to see her sitting down and playing because she wants to

Some of the decorations of the supper after the baptism.  These lollipop cookies are so fun and were sure a hit with the kids.

I was excited to come up with something simple and personal to decorate the tables.  We had pictures of all 3 girls at all different ages put into Mason jars and out on the tables.  It was so fun to do and see the girls growing up.  I felt like it was a small tribute to their growth over their 8 years of life.

Marshall always wants to go to Grandpa.  He loves and misses him, now that we have moved home.  He doesn't have a constant companion to play ball with and to ask for treats.  He didn't want to let go of Grandpa this day, see him holding onto his tie.  So funny!

I like this picture, the prep for family picture taking!  You can see the happiness!

Gainor family 2013!

Elliette was insisting on picking through all of these pictures.  She thought it was just so funny.  I have this picture as my Desktop and Marshall says 'nose, nose' every time that he sees it.

Here is the extended Wigg family!  We are missing a few grown-up kids but it is still a significant number of people.  The grand kids are up to 13, 10 girls and 3 boys all 9 and under.  They are a handfull when we all get together, but lots of fun!

Marshall is on the attack!

The girls showing off all of their special baptism day dresses.  So cute!

We seemed to not get too many pictures of other family members there but we are so thankful for the friends and family that joined us this awesome day.  We couldn't have been happier than to share this with our amazing friends and family!  It was all so wonderful!

My crazy, sweet babe is 4!!

I know that I am always amazed at how fast time is passing and I can hardly believe it, this is no exception to that rule!  My Dawsyn is 4!  She is the sweetest empathetic, kind-hearted kid.  If she knows that someone is sad, she wants to make them better.  She has always cared about others feelings and felt them much more deeply then my other girls.  She is also very feisty and funny.  She has no trouble sticking up for herself with her sisters, or pummeling them as needed to assert herself.  She wants to be right in there with all of the things that the big kids do and she is regularly telling me 'I'm big now I can do it.'  

One day when I was feeling sick and was still in bed in the morning Dawsyn came in and told me 'I changed Marshalls bum, it was easy, I'm big enough to do that now.'  I looked over at Marshall, fully dressed, and didn't believe her.  Then I examined more closely and see the new clean diaper barely holding on and run to his room to assess the damage.  All the while she followed me and continued to tell me how big she is, how easy the task was and that she can do it now.  I repeatedly assured her that she cannot do that again, 4 is a little young (in my house) for changing babies diapers.  That kid sure has a mind of her own.

 My 4 year old beauty!  She loves to dress up fancy and loves this India dress best of all!

 She is such a character and loves to make funny faces!

 She has the art of scowling down!  See her also clutching her new toy, from her favorite store, Dollarama.  Here sister must be close trying to possibly look at the toy.

Hooray for Nana and Granddad!!

We sure have the best Nana and Granddad in the world and we re so happy to have them come from across the world to see us.  It was such a great visit, they were able to be here for Dawsyn's birthday and for Kyndal's baptism (pictures on those to follow).

 This is a big thing for Kyndal to let him do.  She hasn't let him do this even as a tiny baby.  She began by giving him a lecture that had parts in it like, "well I see that you haven't dropped my sisters, so I guess that I trust you."  It was so funny!

 Dawsyn has much fewer inhibitions.

 Marshall loved every second of being up high.  He sat there all proud and happy.  He would stay up there as long as Granddad could hold him up.  He would also run up to Granddad's legs and ask "up" every time he held someone else up.

 Here is Elliette showing off the new snake-skin cowboy boots that they brought back from Guatemala.  She loves them, she and Dawsyn both fit them and so there was some fighting for a little while until Dawsyn lost interest.  Elliette one day was searching around as we were trying to leave somewhere and when I asked her what she wanted she was looking for her stylish cowgirl boots.

 My super silly girls!