So, last week we drove down to CT and we had such a great time. We stayed two nights at the MGM Grand Hotel, right there connected to the casino. Every single thing about the entire place was amazing. We had a suite on the 18th floor that was just absolutely beautiful!

A waterfall behind the check-in counter.

A water fountain in the lobby of the hotel.

Our bedroom area.

Our view.

The living area of our suite.

Living room.

Bathroom.

Jacuzzi tub.

We had dinner reservations both nights that we were there and the food was so good. Neither one of us had ever been to such a nice place or had food that tasted so great.

So, that’s what we were up to last week. And this week I’m sick, like I mentioned and don’t feel up to doing anything except sleeping and trying to get better.

I’ll post another update soon, that will hopefully be more positive, when I’m feeling better and motivated to get back to work on my baby bibs. I’m also thinking of a new quilt that I want to start soon. I’ll tell you more about that in my next post.

More another day.

Love Jessica Always

It seems like a really great thing and something that I want to be a part of. A way to find (”meet”) other quilters and bloggers and a way to get more people to my blog and Etsy shop.

The quilt I’ve decided to “enter” doesn’t really have a story that I can tell yet. I chose it, though, because it is the one baby/lap quilt that I’ve made so far that I am the most proud of.

Being a disabled quilter, in a wheelchair (I have Muscular Dystrophy), I am physically incapable of cutting fabric with a rotary cutter. I just simply don’t have a way to do it or enough strength to put the amount of pressure on it that it requires. Because of that fact, I have to have someone cut my fabric for me. Or do it myself by hand, with scissors. As all quilters know, using a rotary cutter makes cutting fabric much easier, faster, allows you to cut multiple layers at one time, cut a very straight, even line and have a nice, smooth edge after. Cutting by scissors is kind of difficult, takes a long time and doesn’t guarantee a clean, straight cut.

When I got the idea for this quilt, I decided I didn’t want to wait around for someone to cut my fabric for me. I was in a quilting mood and didn’t want it to pass me by. So far I don’t follow any patterns. My quilts have always started with an idea in my head, stemming from a fabric color and I draw the pattern or design out on paper with markers that I think will best showcase the fabrics. With this quilt, I had purchased some pre-cut, white squares with pink, purple and yellow polka dots off of eBay. It just so happened that I had some pink, purple and yellow fabric in my fabric collection that matched the polka dots perfectly. One day, while sitting in my bedroom watching TV, I cut more solid white squares and all the pink, purple and yellow strips. It was a lot of work and took me a while, but I did it myself and that was all that mattered to me. Some people don’t consider a quilt a quilt unless it’s “quilted” or has binding as a border. I know this quilt is kind of simple and plain compared to some more talented, experienced quilters work, but I like it. I don’t know how to do actual “quilting” and don’t have the machine for that.  I use ties with embroidering floss at each corner instead. I do love the quilted look and hope to learn how to do that some time in the near future.

Growing up disabled, I never liked having to depend on others for things. I have always prided myself on being independent and I try to do whatever I can with the least amount of help possible. I do realize though, that there are some things I just can’t do. But if I can, I will.

I love quilting and making things. I make baby and lap sized quilts, mainly because I can’t physically handle sewing anything larger than that. But I also love the thought of making things for babies.

Making quilts makes me realize that there is something in this world that I can do, and be good at. Just because you are disabled doesn’t mean you should let that keep you from doing what you love, even if it means you have to have a little help now and then. Just do what you can, try your best and be proud. While making this quilt, I was disappointed in my cutting job, was worried that the strips weren’t even, that it would make the sewing difficult and the corners not match up. I wanted to give up a couple of times, but I did the best I could and sewed very carefully and it came out fine! It’s now one of my favorites.

One day I hope that whoever either buys this quilt from me, or whoever I give or donate it to, will appreciate all the work and dedication that was put into this quilt and be grateful that it’s theirs. I’m sure they will create their very own story for it.

(Although, as other quilters probably know, it is difficult to choose one favorite out of all the quilts you’ve made. I fall in love with all of my quilts. Please check out my Etsy shop for more beautiful quilts and thank you for stopping by!)

Also I need to ask for some advise again, and I need it as soon as possible. I have been making new pot holders the past few days to sell at the aforementioned craft show next weekend, and don’t know which way I want them. When I first began making pot holders, I just tied a knot in the middle with embroidering floss instead of “quilting” them. I tried quilting a stitch around the inside of one the other day and like the way it looks. Now I’m not sure if I want to make all the new ones like that from now on, or like the ones I was making before. I sold all but three of the old version at my yard/craft sale last month, so I kind of know some people liked them the way they were, but they haven’t been selling in my etsy shop, so I don’t know if I should change them.

This is where you come in… Do you like the old one or the new one better? Please let me know.

Old One

New One (Please pay no attention to the bad stitching job, it was my very first time doing such a thing)

My messy desk, as it is today.

All of the thread and zippers that I've been wanting to sell.

My pile of almost finished pot holders.

My pile of completely unfinished pot holders.

A stack of my finished quilts. I've sold one since this photo was taken.

My cat, Gracie, being naughty on my desk. My desk isn't usually such a big mess, like it was that day!

Gracie's brother, Little Man, being naughty like his sister, on my desk and getting into my crafts. (I think his mouth is open in this photo!)

My desk, covered in finished and unfinished crafts, a few months ago.

My fabric stash, in my storage cabinet, after organizing it all.

Maybe I’ll take newer photos soon.

I hope you enjoy these for now.