My Best Friend

Life is a wonderful opportunity to explore and cling to what makes you happy.  His love is constant and steady, nothing I've ever known before.  I love you Scott Matthew, my Lord of the Bears, forever and always.  

-Little Mama Hen aka WarWoman (grown up version of Bosslady ha!)

 

Learning Embroidery

In my shop at LittleMamaHenCo

 A couple of weeks ago was our Spring Break vacation here in Florida.  My husband and I are not beach goers; so, we packed up the kids and headed to the mountains!  I usually bring cross-stitching with me while we are traveling, but this time I decided to try my hand at embroidering.

It all started when I was browsing instagram and found Fabric and Ink .  She has the most darling creations ever!  I then went on youtube and looked up some "how-to" videos on embroidery.  I immediately fell in love with the French Knot! 

Embroidery is a great travel craft!  It's not the same as quilting, but it makes me happy to see all those tiny knots form into creations. 

Today being Sunday means that we will be heading to the Homeschool Resource Center to try and finish-up painting the backdrops for my daughter's school play coming up in May.  Her homeschool Drama Group is presenting Beauty and the Beast Jr.  I can't wait!

The Florida rain hasn't started yet.  Even my kids are starting to 'whine' about missing the Thunder and storms.  So until then, I'll sit at my bay window and listen to Thunderstorms on youtube while binding my latest baby quilt.

Happy Sunday,
-April @ Little Mama Hen

Florida Spring

MaoMao will be 7 years old this April.  SEVEN!  The kids were so little when we first found him.  He was so tiny too.  He was lost and dirty and found our kitchen window to meow beneath.  It took us about an hour to catch him.  He so much wanted to be caught, but he was scared. Trusting that someone else wouldn't throw him away was hard for him to accept.  Finally, with some help from a box of Yoohoo (we were out of milk) and my two littles 'meowing' at him like they were his brother and sister, he came out of the bushes just long enough for me to sweep him up in my arms.  

He is intelligent and sweet and does not love anyone but his family.  He's funny and playful... lazy and naughty ... and he very much considers himself an equal in this family.  I never knew I was a cat person, until he crawled up into heart.  

I've been so busy lately, but I did have time to make 50 little coin purses for a friend.  She's using them for her daughter and son's cheer squad.  They were surprisingly easy to make!  There are LOTS of tutorials out there if you type in "triangle coin purse".  I always watch several "how-to" videos and then adjust them to make it work for me.  One thing that I learned is that you can adjust the size easily.  The videos that I watched were making large, triangle purses, but I just needed a little one.  These cute ones start out with 3.5" x 7" fabric pieces.  

Well, it's Spring in Florida...not officially, but it's hot and pollen is flying around everywhere.  We did have a cool spell awhile back and we made sure we went to my Mama's for a nice campfire.  We made smores and sat around in the cool weather.  It was beautiful.

When most people think of Florida, they think of Beaches and sunshine.  However, there is much of Florida that is grass, palmetto bushes, and wildlife.  To encourage people to get out in nature, our county created a "hiking spree".  After you hike at least 8 trails, you earn a medallion or patch.  The photo above is Blackwater Creek in Central Florida.  The photo below is the same trail.  It's beautiful.  My favorite places to hike are in Northern Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina; however, Florida is where my family has been for at least 6 generations.  Hikes like Blackwater Creek bring back wonderful childhood memories.

Well, the sun is up now and our homeschool day will begin soon.  I just might be able to get in a little sewing before the kids start breakfast.  I have several quilts that I'm working on at the same time...I never seem to be able to work on just one project.  -April@LittleMamaHen

Florida December

The holidays are always busy with delightful scurrying around; however, my soul requires quiet to restore and refocus.  Sometimes those moments are few and I must search for them.  MaoMao on the other hand is always napping and restoring his energies...especially at Christmas time when he needs all his strength for redecorating the Christmas tree on a daily basis.  

A very sweet friend of mine lost her sweet Mama recently.  Her Mama was a quilter and loved fabric.  My friend brought me a tin case full of Chocolate Moda fabric by 3 Sisters.  After drying my eyes, thinking about her sweet family, I sat down and tried to think of what I could do.  I have this idea formulating somewhere in the creative side of my brain...I will make a quilt in her Mama's honor and donate it.  I have a pretty good idea how I want to donate it, but that'll be another story for another day...

 I started thinking what pattern should I use.  My favorite is the Dresden, but I wanted to do something a little different.  After much Pinteresting, I decided on a Double Irish Chain with a Star.  I couldn't find a pattern for it.  I've made a Double Irish chain before, but I put Dresden plates instead of a star.  The star was a bit more challenging, but after much sketching and multiplying and measuring, I found a nice fit.  My son came in while I was working and while he liked my sketching, his eyes got big and he scratched his head at my math and measuring skills.  lol

So here I am, this wonderfully, rainy Saturday morning...watching the sky and getting ready to do a little Irish quilting...
-April @ Little Mama Hen

Riley Blake's - A Little Sweetness from the Rockies

I finished another toddler quilt.  I'm really not sure where I found the time, except that quilting makes me happy and feel accomplished.

 I really love this fabric line.  It's very girly and yet very bold.

 I bought the fabric when we were on our way to the Rocky Mountains.  We had stopped over in a small town called Hamilton in Missouri...ever hear of it?  It's where Missouri Star Quilt Company is.  I learned to quilt and not be afraid of quilting from Jenny Doan. 

I really miss the Rockies, but we made so many good memories!  I can't wait to go back.  Well, motherhood calls and I need to go cook something and clean something and love on two little sweeties. 

Have a great weekend - April @Little Mama Hen

Grits and a Phone Purse

It all started with an ole grits bag.  My sister, Peaches, had visited Helen, GA and she brought me back some wine and grits.  The wine was so delicious and the grits were so tasty.  Neither one lasted very long. ha!  Well, when I got down to the end of my grits bag, I thought, hmmm this is fabric, I wonder what I could make with it.

It was a small piece of fabric just big enough to make a zipper pouch for my phone...then I added a strap and I had my very own crossbody phone purse. The back of the purse is the nutritional information of the grits.  lol.  I didn't really think much about it until people started commenting on my 'phone purse'.  I guess it's pretty unique to wear a grits bag.  :) It's actually very convenient to have.  I use to carry my phone in my back pocket, but after 'butt' calling people I knew I needed to think of something else.  It's just big enough for my keys, phone, and wallet.  Since it's a crossbody, I don't leave my handbag in the grocery cart...another story.

Of course, one thing leads to another and I've designed several small 'phone purses'.  :)  So much FUN!

Well, a storm is brewing on the horizon and I'm hoping for some wind, rain, lightning, and of course thunder.  Happy Weekend. -April@Little Mama Hen

Out to the Rockies!!

The Rockies are an amazing place to visit!  You know what else is amazing? A husband that will plan your route, so that you drive straight through Hamilton, MO.

If you're not aware, then Missouri Star Quilt Company is there.  I started quilting about 6-7 years ago and I learned a lot from watching Jenny Doan's tutorials.  She loves to tell little stories while she's videoing and she encourages you to have fun quilting and not worry about being perfect.  Well, I found inspiration and confidence in that line of thinking and I've enjoyed making/sewing oh so many things.  And you can't go to a fabric shop without picking up a little something. ;)

I started quilting as soon as we got home!

Look at the Dresdens!!  my favorite!

 They started out in an ole brick building and now they have over 12 fabric shops.  It was SO MUCH FUN!  I sent my Husband and kids out on their own, because I needed to soak in all the beauty!  Lucky for them there is a couple cafes, ice cream shops, and they even have a shop called Mansland that offers comfy chairs and a game of pool while the men and kids wait for their women. ha!  :)

The building they started in.

 While we were away, in addition to having someone check on MaoMao, we set the camera up in the kitchen, just so I could see him.  My oh my I love that silly, darn cat.  :)

Well, Lord of the Bears, aka my husband, will be home soon and I want to get dinner started and I think I hear my two sweet ones fussing at each other...off to make sure they are being 'nice and kind'. ;) -April @Little Mama Hen.

Swedish Grandmother - Final

Margreta's and Mira's Swedish Granmother Quilts...  They are complete and ready for their new homes.  It's been a short six months preparing these two quilts for Margreta and Mira.  Their Swedish Grandmother passed away back in 1962 and left behind 62 dresden petals.

I went shopping with Margreta at a local fabric shop and she picked out the extra fabric needed to complete the quilts.  I attached the petals to cream and white squares and dogeared the corners, lightly quilted them in echo stitching as to give them a very 'antique' look.   They are so pretty and I will miss working on them; however, I'm so very pleased to have brought them to completion.

Swedish Grandmother must have been a pretty amazing person.  Stories have been passed down about her; sweet memories of games, dress styles, and of course Christmas time.  When her daughters were older, Swedish Grandmother would give them 5 cents to go to the park and swim.  The girls could either use the 5 cents on ice cream or a street car ride home.  It was a long walk to Lake Superior, but the girls usually chose the Ice Cream cone.  I can just see them, 'water wings' in hand, trotting off for a day of fun.  

I will miss these quilts and I'm so happy and honored to be apart of their story.  I hope that they will warm many hearts and help keep sweet memories of Swedish Grandmother living for generations to come.  Life is so full of beautiful surprises that keep us looking for hope and love...

Always quilting,

Little Mama Hen

Swedish Grandmother - part 1

Swedish Grandmother - Part 2

Swedish Grandmother - part 3

Swedish Grandmother - Part 4

Tennessee Bound

Have I mentioned that I homeschool?  Best decision ever.  One of the perks of homeschooling is that time off is flexible and school can be taken with you.  My eldest, Ladybug, made sure all of her work was done, before we headed to Tennessee.  My youngest, Mountain Goat, was not so focused.  But to be fair, he did get sick a week before and was a little behind on his work.  We packed up and headed to Happy Valley, Mountain Goat's Math work included!

We were hoping to see a little snow, and we did...a little.  But who cares when you're in a gorgeous cabin with a mountain view.  We ate, laughed, hiked, and sat around the camp fire all...week...long!  It passed way to quick.

I wanted to finish up my Swedish Grandma Quilt Project before Christmas, so I packed her up and she came along.  It was really a sweet way to finish her up, surrounded by laughter, games, and joy.  Now she's ready to be packed up with her twin and given to two very sweet sisters.  I will miss working on them, but I'm so happy to have brought them to completion.

I'm usually the photographer in our family.  However, my daughter has been taking photos since we gave her one some seven years ago.  So cute to see a 4 year old's perspective...feet, legs, and a few butt shots, what do you expect, that was her eye level.  lol  She's in middle school now and took an online photography class and whoa...she's amazing!!  Of course, she always amazes me.  She's so sweet and quiet with this HUGE personality and talent just bursting from within her.  You only get to fully enjoy my little Ladybug and all her glory if you're patient and quiet.  It's like waiting for the sun to rise, just sit quietly and with time she'll shine so bright and strong...so full of hope and adventure.

My husband is also a pretty amazing photographer.  He denies any form of accomplishment in art, but boy is he wrong.  He's so full of amazing artistic talent; it amazes me that he doesn't see it...he doesn't seem to grasp how talented he is.  He catches moments and makes them so lovely.

My Mountain Goat, hasn't displayed a fascination, with photography like his sister; however, being the only extrovert in the family, he pretty much runs the roost.  ;)

Until Later,

Little Mama Hen.