Dolls and doll quilts!

Going to take you back to December for this post...........It was the week that my mother had surgery so we were in Iowa City staying with my sister. After my mom got out of the hospital, we stayed with her a couple extra days. We enjoyed the time together and my sister made it really enjoyable when she got out some linens and doll clothes that we had all made. That's my sister, Judy, in the photo below and she is holding a baby quilt that our mother, Mary, made for her. My mother really enjoyed doing embroidery and sewing. She is definitely where my sister and I get our creative genes. :-)
Judy brought out doll clothes and stuffed toys that I had made and sent to my niece, Noelle and it was fun to see them. Have you ever made someone something and then forgot that you did?........as in.........remember the cute little mother and baby donkey set that you can see in my sidebar? Well, my sister brought out their twins! That same year that I made them for my son, I had also made a set for my niece! Funny how the mind can forget!

After we returned home to my mother's apartment, she showed me a bunch of doll quilts that she had made. Here she is with one of several that she finished last fall.

Two years ago when my dad was so sick, I cut 3-1/2" squares from lots of 30's prints and solids and gave them to my mom so she could sit and piece while visiting my dad. She didn't have the "heart" to do it right then so she set the blocks aside. My dad passed away a few months later and she forgot all about the blocks. That was until last fall and finally the "heart to quilt" came back and she began piecing the blocks. She decided to make them into doll quilts like these........

And then she gave them away........the yellow one to me because she knows I like yellow. Plus it has chickens on it. She told me my first word was "chicken". To this day, I like chickens and I love yellow, especially a soft, buttery yellow.

The pink one went to Ella, my great niece, my sister's grandaughter, and my mom's great grandaughter.

I wonder if she'll take up sewing, too?
Then there were two quilts for my niece Sue Ellen's dolls. She's my brother's daughter/my mom's grandaughter. Keeping that all straight?Anyway, I bought Sue Ellen the one on the right because it sings "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" like she used to sing when she was little. I bought the other one for her friend, Morgan, because it giggles. The girls love to play together and remind me of my sister and me with our dolls when we were kids. We also had a couple of cats that we dressed up and took for rides in the doll buggy. It was great fun!! I just had to share these quilts today. My mother enjoyed making them, then giving them away. I enjoyed the trip "down Memory Lane". :-)

Have a good day!!

Sandi

Back again!

Morning!! I have given my arm, shoulder and elbow a much needed rest and it really helped. That repetitive strain thing can really get you so it was good to step away from the mouse and the computer and the hand-sewing for awhile!!
So what did I do in the meantime? Well, I shopped for groceries on Friday and thought I could beat the snow that was coming but not so......instead, I drove home in crummy conditions but was glad I went when I did as yesterday, the snow that fell was blowing all over because of the wind. I was glad to not have to go out. I also decided not to do any shoveling til today. It actually felt kind of good to be outside shoveling because it was nice and sunny. However, it wasn't warm and sunny so I can't say it was a real joy to do. However, there was a little bit of JOY in my mailbox on Friday afternoon. In fact, it was ROYAL MAIL from England and I knew right away that it was from my partner in JennyFlower's Mug Swap. And here's what was inside.................

Lovely gifts, right, and I really, really like that mug!! When I took the picture of these gifts I remembered that I hadn't taken a photo of the what I received earlier in the week from Nanette .....more JOY in my mailbox. I was so thrilled to find a package with one of her Valentines in it and that adorable pot holder. It's "Showtime" for that potholder. It will never get used. :-)

I can't wait to show the potholder to my mom because when my sister, Judy, and I were kids, she made each of us these full skirts in turquoise with white polka dots and that was the first thing I thought of when I saw this potholder. Talked to my mom a couple times this weekend. Winter is getting long and she was having a bit of a blue weekend. I had time to run off to the post office with another little package so she'll get it in tomorrow's mail. The USPS has a new Priority box, small and just $4.95 to mail so I tucked in a teeny spring birdhouse, some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and a little covered notepad made from the scraps from my recent giveaway project.

I have been busy with details for our crazy quilt show and the ladies in this picture were directly responsible for getting me started in crazy quilting. I made them in the early 80's and will get to their story in a day or so.

It was good to take a couple days away but oh, so much to do. Need to post my Christmas ornament before February is over so that is next on my list, then an update of the BOM requests. I also realize there is a need for me to better organize my posts with labels and whatever so that you all can find past blocks and other projects. I'll get to that. Just takin' one day at a time. :-) And now I'm takin' myself off to bed. Good night and sleep tight........

Sandi
P.S. Did you watch the Oscars tonight? I thought it was the best in years!! Loved the song and dance numbers and the way they presented the best actor/actress and supporting roles with the past winners was really clever!