Waiting--

No new pictures because The Jude blanket is waiting for, well , JUDE! I can't put his name and date on it until we know his stats so we're just waiting for him to arrive. He's late. His poor mommy.
In the meantime, the fall season for my community theatre will open Septmber 10 so I'm immersed in costuming for "Forbidden Broadway". Lots of costume changes and some really weird stuff but I have a lovely assistant! Right now I'm trying to figure how to cover/color an oversized foam sea shell bra...

Jude's Blanket Part 2

Jude's sleepy bear is appliqued on and his features are embroidered. His nose is a scrap of black velour; heat fused on and then tacked down all around with a whip stitch.

Jude's blanket

I'll begin by introducing the pattern: I bought it at a fabric store in California back in the early eighties. I was in the Navy, had recently moved out of the barracks to share a house with a bunch of other squids, and was seriously missing my sewing machine. I had it; I just rarely used it. When one of the gals I worked with was expecting I thought it was a great excuse to sew something besides uniform patches. I found a fabric store somewhere around Oakland. I made up the blanket pretty much as pictured, maybe different colors, and it was a hit at the bridal shower. I got a few requests for some and then the blanket kind of morphed into my 'signature' baby blanket. I made them off and on as I moved around and friends had babies. Then I was making them for my own babies (except Jacie) and lastly my nieces and nephews. After so many I was tired of the bear so I put it away (I thought) for good. Now Jude is going to be arriving soon. Jude will be the first child of the first child of some good friends of ours. Our two families have only known each other for about 6-7 years but we've grown close. So, a first grandbaby, I thought, needs a special blanket. The sleepy bear. I dug out the pattern but I just couldn't do the same ol' thing. I wanted to play with patchwork so I made some pinwheel blocks to be the bear's ''quilt". The colors are based on the baby's bedding in his nursery. Here's how he's coming along:

I used to applique his head and such with a satin stitch but I'm going to change things a little this time; first by lightly padding him and then using a machine blanket stitch. Update later!

Stop the World...

Summer is supposed to be a time of relaxation and lazy days, isn't it? Can't prove it by me! Jacie and I made it through another week of camp, came home, slept for 5 hours, re-packed and headed off to Ohio for a lovely wedding. I thought maybe I could really get some stuff made for the Etsy shop but there was cleaning and laundry and yard work and a visit to Kal-El and relatives visiting and auditions--- whew! And in the middle of it all--- my father-in-law suffered a minor heart attack on July 30th and had triple bypass surgery on August 2. My husband, B, was with him for that and he's doing well. He's walking and eating and plans are being made for him to spend some time in rehab. About the only thing I did get some decent work done on was a baby blanket for a little guy due this month. More on that later. Auditions: It's been over three years since I've been on the other side of the curtain and it's bugging me so I just had to audition for an upcoming musical. Without a lot of drama I'll just say I didn't get a part. But I was already costuming it, so I will be involved. I'll just be "in my own little corner in my costuming chair" again. It's okay. I'm good there.

In the 'WooHoo' department, Number Two (Corey Joseph), took part in a competition at culinary school today and I'm happy to say he and his teammate took first place! Very proud mama here!

Now we're getting Number 3, Philip, ready for his week away. Our church rents a house on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a week for the teenagers to fellowship and study the Word. I want to try to get lesson plans done while he's away so we can start school before the end of the month. And thus goes my summer. Another one without getting much sewing done but many happy (and a couple pthhhhbbbb) memories! Maybe we'll wait on school this year... just this once...
P.S. Happy 22nd Birthday, Corey Joseph!