Jan and Jen's Mini Quilt Blog Hop

Have you seen all the adorable Quilter's Laundry Day Mini Quilts popping up the last few days?  They are all part of Jen (A Dream and A Stitch) and Jan's (Color, Creating and Quilting) Mini Quilt Along.  Jen designed a super cute pattern that looked too fun to resist.  Plus, I need some mini's to decorate my bare sewing room walls, so, I signed up!

I've been more consistent with sewing regularly than I have been with blogging, the pattern seemed simple enough to put together, and I had a relatively clear calendar.  So, back on Feb. 10, I didn't anticipate any difficulty getting done in time for today's big reveal!  As it usually does, life had other plans!   My 11 year old daughter has cystic fibrosis, and lengthy hospital stays are not an uncommon occurrence for us.  On Feb. 20, we learned that it was time for another one.  She was admitted on Feb 23, and just came home Thursday.  I stayed at the hospital with her for all except two nights when I came home to spend time with our older daughter, and judge forensics meets for her team.

This was our home away form home for two weeks.
My Candy Hearts Quilt (now know as The Sister Quilt) gave it a cozy feel.

Now, I don't like to give up on things I've committed to , so, I made this mini quilt a hospital project!  The night before we left for the hospital, I printed and read through the pattern (you can get it here) and pulled my fabrics.  The first time I came home, I did all my cutting. I also made the 4 1/2 block that would become the little quilt hanging on the line.  Then, I packed up my machine, an assortment of notions and my cut pieces and took it all along.

I've had hand sewing projects along on several previous visits, but this was the first time I've taken my machine  The rolling case that Santa gave us for Christmas made it easy to get the machine to Emily's room, and it held ALL my sewing stuff, too!

My cutting session at home was a bit rushed.  This resulted in discovering that I was short a piece or two, and that I had mis-cut one or two others.  I neglected to bring extra fabric, so, I had to get a bit creative.  I also had to text my daughter pictures of the fabrics I needed more of so she could bring them when she and her Dad came to visit.  But, by the end of the first week, I had my mini pieced and was quite happy with it.

At that point, I decided to send my sewing machine home.  I knew I wanted to do some embroidery, and decided that I'd have a go at hand quilting, too.  It's been YEARS since I've hand quilted anything. It turned out to be the perfect choice for this mini quilt, and for a hospital pastime. Working with the needle and thread calmed my anxieties and gave me something to look forward to each day.

Several afternoons, Emily and I sat together in the couch under the window, usually with a coffee for me and a frappuccino or smoothie for her.  I stitched while she read to me from the novel she was assigned for homework. Sometimes, she worked on her cross-stitch project.  It was a cozy time, and took some of the "sting" out of being there.

Pretty proud of those shingles!

On Friday, I did the last little bit of quilting, and bound my sweet mini.  The quilting angels were with me...I joined the binding ends together correctly on the FIRST TRY and without needing to look up directions!  Whoo hoo!

Jen named her pattern Quilter's Laundry Day.  But, I'm calling my mini "Home is Where the Heart Is."  Whenever I look at it, I will think about the days spent with my sweet girl in the hospital, and be reminded that where ever we are, as long as we're together, it's home.

There were almost 30 quilters who joined in on Jen and Jan's quilt along.  You can find all of the cute minis at the links below.  If you visit Jan or Jen, and leave a comment, you will be entered to win a great prize!

Thanks, Janice and Jen for organizing this fun QAL and blog hop.  It's been a lot of fun, and it turned out to be just what I needed!

Friday, March 10
Jen Rosin  A Dream and a Stitch
Kate Heads at Smiles From Kate
Jennifer Fulton at Inquiring Quilter
Karen Thurn at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels and Eats
Melva Nolan at Melva Loves Scraps
Vicki at Vicki's Crafts & Quilting
Diann at Little Penguin Quilts
Jayne at Twiggy & Opal
Susan Arnold at Quilt Fabrication
Leanne Milsom at Lizzie the Quilter
Sandra Walker at Mmm! Quilts!

Saturday March 11

Janice Holton at Color Creating & Quilting

Sola at Alice Samuels Quilt Co

Jennifer Strauser at Dizzy Quilter

Amy Gerlich at Amy Scrap Spot

Sharon Denney Parcel at Yellow Cat Quilt Designs

Steffi at Steffi's Hobbys

Tami at Sew Much for Free Time

Suzy Webster at Adventurous Applique & Quilting

Tish Stemple at Tish's Adventures in Wonderland

Susan Gordon at Sevenoaks Street Quilts

Anne Boundy at Said With Love

Barbara Wootie at The Flashing Scissors
Jan Welander at Making Scraps