Patience

As Stephanie relishes in the cool crisp feeling of Utah fall air, the renewal of her energy excites us all! She is near her children, her parents, her siblings, her Mr. Nielson, her mountains all at the same time! Oh the patience required for endurance and how gracefully she has endured. I know we all need patience as we watch and wait for the progress of her recovery to continue but today isn't about patience but joy! She is home!



Thank you for your patience as I have failed to keep you updated on the progress of this project. I have been so excited about the quilts it has been hard for me to find time and energy to blog. I hope you like the quilts as much as I do...remember I am very much an amateur but I think the mismatched lines add character (at least that is what I am telling myself).

First, remember the cloud print from Laura Strickland found here http://quilt4nie.blogspot.com/2008/10/jumping-for-joy.html, so many of the fabrics came packaged with ties and ribbons I didn't realize the clouds were a bag, here is the contents:
Sorry Laura and Thank You!

...The organization...I started by including a square from each of you for each quilt, then I focused on each quilt individually laying the squares out very randomly...

...Claire's quilt prepared to sew...

...Claire's top done except the border...

...Claire's yellow border and flowered backing...

...Jane's top ready to sew...my sewing machine gets lots of interest and attention, after I had sewn all the squares into rows at 2:00 am, I realized a helpful hand had moved the needle, I've had to sew a second seam with an appropriate seam allowance so it has taken much longer but looks beautiful still...

...Jane's pink border and butterfly backing...

...Oliver's top prepared to sew...

...a special square in honor of Ollie's Halloween with his dad, my girl's have trick or treat bags out of the same print...

...Oliver's border and striped backing...

...Gigs quilt ready to sew...

...Gigs border (I think it looks like turtle shells) and striped backing...

...what do you think?

Simply...

...adorable, eclectic, inspiring, cute, colorful...i can't think of the right word. I wanted to post a picture of the incredible, colorful fan wall Nie made at Christian's parents house (the quilts remind me of it) but I don't know the exact month she posted it. My hubby had a rough evening and is waiting for me to snuggle him to sleep so words are all I can give. I have finished cutting squares for now and tonight I laid out 8 containers on my table (yes, I added a quilt for Lucy and her baby, I hope you don't mind Allyson). I went through your packages one at a time and chose at least one square from each of you to put in the quilts. I was a little nervous about how it would all turn out and I must say, they are...simply...magnificent! Thank you for sending your love! I am having so much fun experiencing the progression of this project. I have to go back through and select several more squares to complete each quilt, I wanted to make sure to include something from each of you to begin. I promise to share pictures of the first quilt laid out and ready to sew soon. I am certain the Nielsons are going to love our gift to them!

Final Squares

I've been waiting to post the last pictures of the squares hoping I would have them all. If you have sent squares and they haven't appeared on the blog please let me know they are on the way. Also, I probably won't be posting for a couple of weeks. I have many squares to cut and will be sorting them into quilts. When I get to the point of laying out the quilts I will post pictures again. I am so excited to see how they turn out. Here are the final squares:

Thank you Kristin Griffeth from Bedford Texas and her mom Barbara Malmberg from N. Richland Hills Texas!

Thank you Vanessa Ponce from Austin Texas!

Thank you to my talented friend Jill Skousen from New York, New York! (A Utah girl at heart on an amazing journey...)

Thank you Megumi Larson from Roaring Branch Pennsylvania! Megumi brought these fabrics from Japan when she married her husband.

Thank you again to Carolyn Kunz from Milford New Hampshire for sending another package to include this adorable print!

Happy Halloween...the costumes were a hit, the pumpkins carved, the party is over, now on to these quilts!

The Concert

Here are the pictures I promised, sorry to be slow, it has been a week of ear infections, strep throat, fevers, and a wonderful halloween. I know you've all seen the adorable and hilarious videos on cjane but I thought I would share these anyway...

The opening performer was from "The Gibbons." He was also the guitarist for the night. He is obviously very talented.

Dear Chup, Although I know you'll never read this I have to write it. My husband served an LDS mission in Argentina and knew much more about the origin of your nickname than the lady who answered your question. I really wanted the free tshirt you were giving away but I thought he would kill me if I raised my hand. What do you know? After she sits down, "I could've done better than that." Great. No tshirt for me. La Chup poop.

The beautiful and talented Mindy Gledhill.

This girl was extremely talented, she played several instruments, sang back up, and performed the Somewhere Over the Rainbow song (what is the title?) like I've never heard before including Martina McBride live. She has toured with Donny Osmond and her family has their own show in Branson MO.

This guy was the pianist and played guitar too, by day he is a teacher. He also performed the funniest song I've heard in my life.

The beautiful Nielson girls with Mindy...

...they looked so small and cute...

...their mom will be so proud when she sees this...

...I know many people cried through this but I was so proud of them and they were so adorable I couldn't quit smiling (with just a few tears). They are so sweet, charming, and brave!

Cjane building up to her oncore performance...

...infront of a 1,000 people...

...I really couldn't believe it...

...but so glad she did, we laughed so hard.

Here we are on our way home. Bryce HATES doing this and I must say, we are terrible at it, how does Nie do it so gracefully? She must be much more beautiful than we can even imagine because we always look so ridiculous. At least we are happy right?