Stars and Stripes Raffle Quilt Finished

This past Saturday night was the Dinner/Raffle/Auction for the Latham School Fire Benefit and I made a quilt to raffle off. Our school burnt to the ground in December 2010. So we are trying to raise money for the needs of the classrooms, because although the insurance covered the building, the amount for the contents was well short of what it would take to replace the things needed.

It was estimated that we fed 600 people and that the total raised was over $25,000.00. So the past month of speed hand quilting was well worth the effort.

Here is a picture of the raffle quilt. I graphed out the pattern from a picture I saw and then used crochet cotton to do Big Stitch quilting to give it a vintage/primitive look. I tell you what the spool of thread said 5000 yards and when I finished it was showing cardboard through the sides. I was a labor of love and nice to know that one of our friends won the quilt. I hope they like it. Not sure that I would do all that quilting again for one to donate or sell but I did prove to myself that I could do it and be happy with the results.

Life catch up!

I also wanted to update you all on everything else going on in our lives.

We are still searching for a house. Well kinda! We found one we love, a little high for our price range. And now I am having second thoughts. Wondering about the economy and finances and whether or not I want to make that payment. We can afford to make it but what happens in the future if there are more strains on our finances? What if this what if that. Hate to be so indecisive. I often wonder if I should just be happy with what I have. I mean it is paid off, but we are soooooooooooooo cramped on space. Did I mention that we are cramped on space and that we want to change school districts and how we really have no space here. Did I mention that before, LOL.

Just trying to make some final pushes to get a few more things paid off and out of our hair before we make the leap.

Some good news is that I got offered both my positions back at school next year. Although I am not sure I will be taking the cleaning position. It is money needed but I am missing so much of my childrens lives. I only get to see my girl for about 30 minutes in the morning and an hour at night. I am also having issues with the school and their requirements for what they want done in the 3 hours they allot. We are praying about this and I hope that the answer comes in some sort of quilting income.

A small answer came today in the fact that a close friend on the board asked me to make a top for her and in exchange she will quilt the king for me that I am currently working on. Not really income as in dollars in hand, but definatly income in the fact that I don't have to pay for someone to quilt for me. Plus it is another chance to try a new pattern and new fabrics. A girl has to love that!

Well I had better get off here and back to sewing/housework/school cleaning/Mama/wife duties.

Sheila

The Past Five Months

Not sure where to begin. First to apologize for not posting more often, but here is the last five months in a nutshell.

After getting my new job as bus driver for the Latham School District, on December 15 the school burned to the ground. Now for those that are not from this area, Latham is a very small school district with only 60 students K-8th grade. The close knit community pulled together and decided to rebuild. We had been holding classes in two local church buildings until this last Monday when we were able to hold school in 6 temporary classrooms. They are anticipating having a new school built by December 2011. We are holding several fundraisers and I am currently working on a quilt to raffle at a dinner/raffle/auction on March 26th. More to come about that quilt.

On January 27th, my dad called and wasn't feeling well. This is very unusual for him and he even said he was going to the ER. Well glad that he did because when we got there he had a heart attack. He immediately had heart surgery in which they inserted 2 stints for the 2 main blockages. he was released on Saturday at noon and by 4 p.m. he was at a great nephew's basketball game. He is tougher than nails and up until now has never been on any medicine in the past 75 years.

As many of you know and experienced, Missouri was hit on Tuesday, February 1 by a snow storm for the record books. But the snow was not at the top of our list of concerns. While trying to make it to our farm with hay, my brother and nephew had a tractor accident. the tractor lost traction on a steep hill and rolled, pinning my 6 year old nephew underneath. With the strength of God and all the guts of a thousand soldiers, my brother pulled him out and packed him to the closest neighbors. I could go on and list all the miracles that happened that day, but T is the greatest miracle of all. He has a fractured rib and a perforated ear drum and as I write today, is completely back to normal. Praise God!

So to say the least we have had a frightful winter, but we rejoice int he fact that God is always with us to care for us and hold us up when we think we cannot stand!

Have a great day sewing and see you at the machine!

Poof!