"Country Life" Wall Quilt

"Country Life" Wall Quilt

7/15/13:  I made this whole thing up for my little sister's 16th birthday.  The images were printed off the computer and appliqued onto the fabric.  My sister is the kind of girl who loves anything John Deer/camoflauge/country/farm animal related.  So, the backing will be camo, the outside borders will be denim and different colors of the "bandanna" fabric (to give it a brighter, fresh spin on it).  A lot of improvisation has gone into this project....and I'll probably end up changing something at the last minute.     It's always fun and rewarding when something that you've designed yourself comes out satisfactory.  Let me know what y'all think! 

*UPDATE 8/3/13*  The wall quilt is finally done, and just in time, too, for my little sister's birthday.  At first, I wanted to go with a plaid or checkered binding, but felt like camo was better suited for this since my sister loves camo so much.  It's different and a little unexpected which made it the obvious choice.  :)  

I couldn't be more proud of it and more excited to see my sister's face when she sees it.  Here are some pics from the "quilt photoshoot" I did.  Enjoy!  

Borders and backing

Star Block (incomplete)

Boots/Hat and Rooster block

                                               

Pig and Rooster block

Blocks pieced, assembled, and sewn

Borders sewn.  Next steps: quilt and binding

                                   

stitching on outside border.

The Finished Product

Star block 

  

From Within the Sewing Room

Thought I'd post some pics of my dog's experience in "the danger zone" (aka the sewing / craft room).  Pippin, my Bichon Frise, thoroughly enjoys cuddling up on a blanket on the floor and watching me work.   What he is about to discover, though, is whenever I'm nearing the end of a project - such as the Bible Verse quilt - the degree of excitement and productivity rises and the fabric remnants start flying.  Here are a few such scenes.  : )

Pippin looks all innocent-like.  I believe the bombing of beige backing had awoken him from a nap.  Sorry, Pippin. 

 He chooses to ignore it but keeps a watchful eye - or two - open. 

Incoming!!  

Perhaps next time he should build a bunker.  

(No animals were harmed in the making of this post)

Remember When

Remember When ~ A Conversation with God.  

Perhaps I should start this post with a preface.  I wrote this poem one night/early morning when sleep wasn't coming easily.  In fact, I was annoyingly and incurably anxious for some reason.  I suppose I can blame it on the evening workout -- probably wasn't the brightest idea ever in human history--but I began to feel like I needed to have a conversation with God.  Or, maybe, He was trying to get through to me.  You see, much has happened in my family recently, which has made me wonder "where is God in all this?"  This question led to another question: God, remember when you said you loved me?  I believe this poem was His response.

Enjoy!

Remember when I began, You knit my body together?

When, on Heaven's hearth, You lit my heart to burn for you forever.

You gave me breath and purposed my life according to Your design.

Every detail of my being was so intricately refined.

Remember when You saved me at the fragile age of four?

I bowed my head, closed my eyes, and bent my knees to the floor.

I became Your little princess and You became my King.

You held me up, clutched my hands, said "I give you             everything."

Remember in those later days, I bid childhood goodbye;

older then and in the world, taunted by a rooster's cry.

The worldly sins and sorrows scratched the walls of my heart;

tested my strength and courage to stand -- alone and far apart.

Remember when You held me, because I couldn't stand anymore?

You dried my eyes, collected my tears and reminded me of before.

"I remember when you began.  I knit your body together.

When, on Heaven's hearth, I lit your heart to shine My love forever.

I remember when I saved you at the fragile age of four.

You bowed your head, closed your eyes, your little knees touched the floor.

You are still My little princess and I, forever your King,

will hold you close, wipe your tears and be your Everything."

~By: Ashley Rivers

10/9/2012

Fall is in the air....well, not quite.

 To my fellow Floridians, can ya feel it?  No...me neither.  Yet, despite Florida's infamously humid tropical climate, I can't help but get excited about the eventual cooler weather (I didn't say cold...cool is all we can hope for).  So, in admittedly uncontrollable impatience of this upcoming season, here is a wall-hanging quilt to bring on the spirit of Fall.  It's in mid-creation; all that is left to do is the backing, quilting, and binding.  Makes you crave some pumpkin pie and apple cider, am I right?

     

   I apologize for the annoying blurry-ness of this photo.  IPhones are not the most suitable cameras. Windows Picture Gallery was used in editing to make the colors pop out a little better.


*Pattern by:
     Jensen, Lynette.  "The Thimbleberries Guide for Weekend Quilters."       Emmaus, PA: Rodale Home and Garden Books.  1999. Print. 

Just 'cause

Just thought I'd post this little snapshot I took.  This bit of needlepoint is for another small project.  Admittedly, I did a little "photo-shopping" to bring out the colors and added the flower for effect.  Kinda cute, though, right?

Rivers Family Bible Verse Quilt -- Complete!!

"A Mother's Pendant"

And there it is!  The Rivers Family Bible Verse Quilt, begun in Spring of 2011, is finally finished.    

Thank you to my family who helped hang it up.  Thank you to my mom for helping choose colors -- especially the navy blue binding that absolutely, without question made this creation come together.  And most of all, thank you, God, for giving me this gift -- a mind for art, hands to create, and patience to see it through.  "Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.  In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.  Now, my God, I give thanks, and praise your glorious name."  (1st Chronicles 29:12-13).  

....and my friend, Pippin, is also happy to see me out of the sewing room. :0)

In honor of those fallen on September 11, 2001:  

May we never forget.