Wednesday, April 7, 2010

The crib quilt...finished!!

We were in Indiana over Easter weekend visiting my brother Tom, and his wife Liz, and our nieces Jessica and Jodi. We go every other year usually for Easter.

 I had sewn all 130 squares of the crib quilt together before we left and we had planned to get some progress done on both quilts. But we ended up finishing the Avery's crib quilt. The crib quilt is the smaller version of the 100 good wishes quilt. We had a lot of material left over, and so we decided to make a smaller version that we could pack and take to China to receive Avery with. Not everyone's fabric is in this quilt, and we repeated a lot of the fabric but it has  the same idea as the big quilt.

 Gary, and Liz, and another cousin of ours, Lisa Scofield (Mark's wife), and myself all got together and tied the quilt. We didn't really know what we were doing but figured it out and got it all tied. Lisa, who does quilting all the time actually took the quilt home with her overnight and put the binding on the quilt for us. She did it over night!! The quilt is so gorgeous!! Thank you to Lisa, and Liz for their help!!

Liz and I actually got the top sheet of the big quilt all sewn together on Easter Sunday before Gary and I had to leave. I had a lot of the squares already sewn together, but sections had to be put together, so Liz, who is a fantastic seamstress, did that for me. There are 132 squares in her big quilt. So we made a lot progress while in Indiana.

More than I can tell you all right now, also!!  BUt we are so happy and pleased with both of the quilts!! We plan on tying the big one soon, and having a bunch of people help with that!!

Can't wait to see Avery wrapped up in both!!
Thank you to everyone who sent fabric for her quilt!!




Enjoy your day!!
~Allison  :)

Sunday, March 14, 2010

The smaller quilt...

I cut out 130 squares today for the smaller quilt that we can take with us to China when we go get Avery. It doesn't have everyone's fabric in it, but it still looks really cute!!

Enjoy!
~Alli  :)

Monday, March 8, 2010

the L side bottom corner...

All four corners of the quilt have ladybug material. Also the middle of the quilt is lady bugs, and surrounded by material that Gary and I put in.

It was a lot of work this far, so I'm hoping for some help when we go to tie the quilt. May have to have a quilt tying party-FUN!!


Enjoy!!
~Allison

the third new set...

Some of these you saw in an earlier post in a different spot, but there was bunching going on that bothered me, so I had to fix some of the squares and then put them in a different spot...

the second group of last weekend...

the second grouping...

The latest quilt squares attached over the weekend...

I got the rest of the squares attached in sections over the weekend. There are 2 spaces left which we think might be filled, just waiting. Then all we have to do is attach them all together, and get the backing, and the filler. I'm going to put something on the back of her quilt, just need to get it straight in my head what I want to do...

Here's the first group...

Sunday, February 28, 2010

the next 8...24 total today...

Here's the next 8 and I was planning to do another 24...we'll see...I'm tired.

Progress on the quilt squares sewing...

I've been at it again this weekend...
Here are the first 8 squares of today and the second picture is the next 8 squares. 16 done so far today and I have plans to do another 24...

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

We have more wishes and fabric...

We do have over 130 squares of fabric in her quilt right now. There are more pages to come but we don't have them because we received fabric without the pages, or I'm waiting on the poem, quote, wish to finish their page.

But it is exciting to finally update the quilt blog and look at all the pages again!


Love,
~Alli  :)

Wish #94 about Aunt Jennie
























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This is Allison's Aunt Jennie.

Aunt Jennie is Cindy's Mom. I grew up going out and about with her all the time. They lived at the other end of our road, and I loved doing errands with Aunt Jennie. She worked at the salebarn where my dad worked, and actually my Grandma Scofield worked there too!! I would go with her to serve the food to all the buyers and workers at the Empire salebarn. We would go a couple times a week to get groceries and do errands. I spent a lot of time at Aunt jennie's house. We would go all the time to baker Boy and get donuts and hot chocolate. I loved spending time with Aunt Jennie. She was a great lady, and was always behind whatever you were doing, very supportive!

So I put this fabric with the coffee mugs on it to remind me of all the time we went out for hot chocolate and donuts. I will tell stories to Avery of those times, and make a point to get donuts or whatever with my daughter on a regular basis to have talks, and make memories!!

Love, Allison

Wish #93 from the Starling Family






















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This wish is from one of Gary's highschool friends. Robin (Castleman) is one of Gary's good friends from school. They were in the musicals together, and swing choir, and hung out together all the time. We got to see Robin and her family last Summer at their 20 year class reunion. Robin is one of nicest people you will ever meet!!

Thank you for being part of Avery's quilt!!

Wish #92 from the Janz family
























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Here is the second wish and fabric from the Janz's.
Thank you again for being part of her quilt!!

Wish #91 from the Janz Family























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Kristin is a highschool friend that has moved back to this area and we have picked up our friendship again. It is so great to have a friend the same age, and someone who understands a lot of what we've been through. Kristin and her husband have a 3 year old little boy, Jacob. A cutie that will win you over in a second!! Kristin has been super helpful with the special needs list and medical stuff, she is a pediatric RN. I am excited to have an old friend back in my life, and can't wait for her family to meet our Avery when she gets here!

This is the first of 2 wishes and squares they sent!
Thank you for being a part of Avery's quilt!

Wish #90 from Mommy & Daddy























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We have put many wishes and fabric into Avery's quilt but I think we should have. We will be the foundation of her world, her family. It all starts with us, and she is our center. So our little ladybug, our little Avery Lin, you are coming to us very soon and I can see you now, you are our destiny!!

Love & Hugs to our little Love Bug!!!

Love, Mommy & Daddy

Wish #89 from Mommy






















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This is my wish for Avery. One of my most favorite quotes is this one. I truly believe in being the change. In going your own way because you feel it's right, and in fighting against people who you feel are wrong, and not be a carbon copy of people, be your unique self!! I will pass this on to Avery as she grows up. I think she will need a strong sense of self and we will be there to help nurture that everyday as she grows into the wonderful girl that is her!!

Mommy can't wait for you to get here!! We are here and waiting and I know you are close!! Just waiting to see your face!!

Love you to the moon and back a thousand times over,
~Mommy  (MA MA)

Wish #88 from the Brown's...























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Here is the second page! Thanks again for being a part of the quilt!! We can't wait for you all to meet her!

Wish #87 from the Brown's...






















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There are 2 pages and 4 squares of fabric from the Brown's. This is the first page. They are Gary's relation, but Allison is connected to them also due to the fact she has taught Lexie and Pamela for years, and Pamela is one of Alli's assistants also. They are a great family and we appreciate all the support they have given us over the years with the studio, the companies, the adoption. They are always encouraging us, and Jill is a great listener!! It is so nice to have such great people a part of our family, and also our "dance" family!!

Thank you so much for being a part of Avery's quilt!!

Wish #86 from Heather Remington






















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This is Heather's second wish and fabric for Avery's quilt. Heather is always leaving encouraging comments on the blogs and on our facebook pages. We appreciate all the positive comments and support you give us Heather!!

Thank you so much!!

Wish #85 from the Raudenbush Family























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These people are our blogger friends! We met through our blog sites. They are also in the process of adopting a daughter from China. Their LID date is very close to ours, and they have received their referral just a month ago. They also switched to special needs as we are starting to do now. Kelly has been a great friend to have to share the frustrations of a China adoption. We will leave eachother comments on eachother's sites and have both sent fabric and wishes for eachother's child's quilts. She has been a wealth of information on the switch to special needs, and had also given encouragement to us when we needed it. We wish them happiness in going to get their daughter Lydia in China. We can't wait to hear and see the pictures from your journey.

Thank you so much for being a part of the quilt!!

Wish #84 from Greg Gibbs

























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Greg is Alli's cousin. Greg is Paul & Cindy's son. I used to babysit Greg when he was little, and was around him a lot, and so was Gary as he grew up. He just got married this last Summer, doesn't seem like he 's old enough to be married. Greg is a Watertown Police officer.

Thank you so much Greg for being a part of Avery's quilt, we can't wait for you to meet her!

Wish #83 from Christa, Kara & Lucas
























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This square contains 3 different wishes and material. Christa is a friend of ours who has adopted from Ethiopia. As we are in our wait for Avery, Christa's family started and completed their journey to Ethiopia to get Lucas. Christa and I bonded over the waiting on our adoptions and shared the frustrations of the wait and it is so nice to have a friend that I can share all the ups and downs with. Lucas is their son from Ethiopia, a bright and energetic little boy. Kara is her daughter and a very special person in Gary and my lives. Kara is one of our dancers and one of my assistants, and one of the nicest, and most positive people I have ever met, she is my right hand in classes sometimes, I appreciate her so much. We are very lucky to have these people and this family in our lives.

Thank you so much for being a part of Avery's quilt!!

Wish #81 from Christine & Ashley Scofield
























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This wish is from Christine & Ashley Scofield. Ashley is a cousin on Allison's side. The quilt square is so nice and the wish of, "bee happy" is a great one!! Thank you so much for being a part of Avery's quilt, we appreciate it so much!!

Thank you!

Wish #80 about Great Grandpa Leland
























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This is a square I put together for Avery to tell her about my Grandpa Scofield. I grew up with seeing my Grandfather everyday at the farm. My Grandpa & Grandma Scofield were very big parts of me and my brothers lives. I remember he always wore bib overalls, and always had a handkerchief (that's why I picked this fabric), and walked with a cane. I remember him calling after the cows to bring them in for the evening milking, and he called me Bridget, just like my Dad did growing up. He was very hard working, and a great man.

Thank you Grandpa for all the memories growing up. I will show Avery the picture of you on the back porch-the one I love...very often!

Love, Allison

Monday, February 22, 2010

My last bit of progress for the weekend...

The last 12 for the weekend. We have 84 squares all connected for her quilt so far. Well, really the first 48 are connected together. The next 24 are all connected together, and the last 12 here are all connected together.

The last 36 I haven't sewn together in one group yet. I've decided to hold off on putting the big strips together, until we have all the squares.

But it's exciting to have so much progress about the adoption and on her quilt, and it's just really nice to have some joy in this arena again!!

~Alli

Some more progress...

The next 24 all connected...

The first 48 all connected...

Here we are the first 48 all connected. My corners aren't all good but there's so much going on with all the patterns that I don't think you'll really notice. PLus, it adds charm and personality just like all the squares are their own personality...

The next 24...

Again more progress, I think it's starting to look really cool!! This is the next 24 squares...

The next set of squares...

Been working on the quilt a lot this week. I am anxious to get to the part where we can actually quilt it. Here's the first 24 all together...

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The quilt has been started!!!

Mom and I got all the squares out earlier this week, and put them on the nursery floor, and got them ironed and and as close to being a long the same measurements as I could get. When you have over 100 people sending squares there's always interpretations of the measurements. But I say it will add charm to the quilt. I am not a quilter, but I do understand the basics of sewing and I'm pretty sure I can figure this out and with some help we should be able to do this...

Today I actually put them in some sort of design. I made to paper template on the computer, and sat on the floor of the nursery and tried to put them in some sort of random design. I like what I have now, the quilt looks brighter now. The colors are dispersed more...
Then tonight I did try to sew my first 4 squares together. Had to take it apart twice to make sure my seam was going to be even and straight but I did get it!!



Love to all
~Alli :)