"For my part, I have concluded that the quality which set one man apart from another-the factor which lifts one man to every achievement to which he reasonably aspires while the other is caught in the slough of mediocrity for all the years of his life-is not talent, nor formal education, nor luck, nor intellectual brilliance, but is rather the successful man's greater capacity for self-discipline. All you need to do is this: Beginning this very day, stop doing some one thing you know you should not do." Benjamin N Woodson

This quote was taken for "The Message Go For it" by Elder M. Russell Ballard, New Era, Mar 2004.

This is something I am going to strive to do in 2009. Also, I am going to each day my best to add something I know I should be doing even if only for that day. Things like not eating sugar. Maybe it could be not starting anything new in my sewing room, even if just for a day. Concentrate on finishing up all the things I started over the years and then I was interrupted with a move or life and put it aside. It's great fun to finish projects so I need to concentrate on that. This year my goal for sewing is to be a frugal quilter. Work on finishing projects, work on creating patterns and marketing them in the local quilt shop so I can once again earn money by teaching the patterns. Not spending on fabric unless it is something I need to complete something I am working on.

For knitting I plan on trying to do new things with the socks I knit, try new patterns and new techniques and keep working on it until I can accomplish whatever it is. To this end I will be participating in a couple of knit-alongs via Yahoo groups. That way I can work with others and ask questions if I need to.

I am getting a new nephew soon (any day in fact) and I made him a "Boys will be boys quilt" . My sweet husband Dave is holding the quilt. He also was kind enough to quilt the quilt for me so that we could get the quilt to his sister sooner. I had taken the quilt along with 2 others to Everlasting Stitches in Holt Michigan to be quilted. When on left the quilt on 3 September I was told it would be less than 8 weeks. I called at 8 weeks to see when it would be done and was told she would be getting to it the next week. I was in Holt the Saturday before Thanksgiving and went to the quilt shop. Now in excess of 12 weeks of when I dropped off the quilts and was told that she could do one the following week if I wanted. I brought all the quilts home and have decided to quilt them myself. I do realize that life happens with quilters as with anyone but if you can't make the commitment don't you think she could have called and let me know?? Fortunately it only put me behind in my Christmas presents just a bit because I have a quilting machine that I can use, I feel sorry for those who have to depend on outsiders to finish their quilt! Our family is celebrating Christmas on January 16th because my oldest son is in Germany and won't be returning home until the 15th of January so that gives me lots of time to make Christmas which is good because my husband is unemployed and there is no money for Christmas. We are having a homemade Christmas. It is so good that I have such a stash of fabric with which to work with!

Dave's First Quilting Project!

Dave decided to help me get some quilts finished up this Christmas season. He spent one day getting my grace quilting machine running smoothly and then quilted this quilt that I made up for one of the Sisters I visit teach whose baby is due in January. He is now loading a quilt to quilt for his sister's baby which is also due in January! What a great way to get caught up on my Christmas projects. I guess his being laid off is truly a blessing. At least it will be until our money runs out! It's a scary time to live in Michigan with the highest unemployment in the country. He is a very talented man but that is not relevant at this time.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

http://www.joytoeveryone.com/

Check out the above link for a wonderful Christmas video. It's a beautiful song and it will make your Christmas! Have a great Christmas

Our New Snow Fall December 1st 2008

My children's prayers were answered this morning, "NO SCHOOL" What a beautiful morning to wake up to! Snow covered trees, all a glistening white. Today will be the perfect day for a no school party which my daughter has planned for noon, coco, cookies and lots of games!

I just finished this quilt top. It is from the Marcus Brothers Website for the Love and Harmony Collection. When I started the quilt I was afraid that the pinks were too pink but I think that it turned out great and will end up being the perfect gift for a 2 year old I know. She hasn't gotten a quilt yet from her Aunt Mary Jane but this Christmas she will. I love the cats on this quilt. For the x block, the quilt store didn't carry the stripe fabric so I made my own with scraps of pink I had in my stash. I am going to experiment more with this block, I think its a great block for using up scraps and very easy to use. Following is a link to the free pattern on the Marcus Brothers site.



http://marcusbrothers.com/makeit/projects/love_and_harmony/index.html

We've moved! Yet again the Saylor's are on the move. This time back to Michigan. We are living in a delightful home built in 1910. It has been quite the adventure moving ourselves up here. We couldn't have done it without the help of our Church. We had 12 men show up to load the truck and 8 to unload. What a blessing they were.
The house has a lot of potential and Liz has been having a grand time working on getting the gardens back in shape. Our furniture is perfect for the house but then a lot of it came from my parents and grandparents so what do you expect!

We have been sharing the house this week with mice and flying things in the basement. So far 2 mice have gone to live in the great beyond and I am giving thanks for Tricia's cat Lucy! Dave has put the basement off limits until a professional can see just what exactly it is that drive bombs him when he goes down there.

The kitchen is coming together slowly I hope to have it done this weekend! So much to do and just not enough hours in the day. We are also learning to adjust to life post air conditioning (86 degrees and no air) I bought out Meijers in floor fans and it helps alot. It would really help if the windows weren't painted shut. Dave has gotten a few to open upstairs but hasn't had time to get the downstairs ones open (due to assembling furntiure and chasing furry rodents and flying who knows what they are!

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These are pictures of butterfly blocks that I made for a lotto exchange on the group lovetitchen4charity, a yahoo group. I donated 30 blocks to the group to make up into quilts for Quilts of Kids. Normally you make 3 blocks and one goes in a drawing for some lucky quilter to win the rest are made up for charity. But since I already have more than enough quilts in progress thanks to 20 years of teaching I opted out of the drawing but am looking forward to seeing the finished quilts. The pattern came from Quilters Cache a member of group simplified it for the group.
http://www.quilterscache.com/E/EasyPiecedButterflyBlock.html
I love associating with quilters and seeing all the good that they do each day to brighten the world of those that they come into contact with. It brings a smile in an otherwise hectic life.

The quilt is one that I made for the young women in our ward to give to their advisor Amy Formenti for her new baby Mason. The girls tied the quilt during her shower. She seemed very pleased with the quilt.

We have had a lot of babies born in our ward so far this summer so I have been busy making bibs to give to the new arrivals. They are quick and easy to make with my own bias binding made to match the fabric. I use the Olfa circle cutter to cut a half circle where I want the neck and then just round the edges. Some have pockets and some don't it just depends on how much material I have on hand. A warning though they are very addictive to make.

Mike's prom and 19th birthday pictures

Here's a picture of Mike and his friends heading off to the 2008 Valparaiso Prom. This group of friends are like family in fact they see a whole lot more of Mike than his family does!

This is Mike and his date Caitlin pinning on the flowers!

The next picture is of Louis and Kelly. Louis came down from Michigan to go to Prom with the group. Louis has been a friend of our family since he was just a little guy. He has grown up to be a great young man.

Just the guys!

Mike turned 19 this May. He had a lot of fun with his friends. He even spent time with his family that day (could be cause we had a surprise party for him here at home!

2008 Seminary Final Breakfast

Here are some of the pictures taken at the final seminary breakfast for this year. Sister Beth Thompson and Sister Amy Thomas went all out to make it a very special event indeed. I think the youth really enjoyed the special attention at 6 am!

I made each of the 6 seniors 26" x 26" floor pillows to take with them to college. I used a string method. They seemed to really enjoy them. I hope they will always remember the great times in seminary this year when they see them and that they have someone rooting for them at all times who loves them.

• It was a good year this year we had several students pass off all the scripture mastery:
• 3 who earned the Stake Presidents award
• Won 1st, 2nd and 4th place during the stake seminary fun day.

I am already looking forward to next year!

This quilt was made for Angela Cox. The sister of the Hebron Ward all signed blocks with their favorite scriptures on them. It was presented to her by the Relief Society President. It was such a spiritual experience working on this quilt. She knew that her son would not live much past his birth and we so wanted something that be with her during this very trying time. I am so grateful that I had an opportunity to work with LaJuan Updike and Kelly Dumas getting this quilt put together for her. They used it during Tony's funeral and Angela has stated that it has brought her great comfort.

Here is a picture of a string pieced pillow top. I am in the process of making 5 of these for the students that are seniors in my early morning seminary class. This one is for Cameron Hilker. The tops finish at 26" I think will make a great floor pillow for them as they go off to college

Here's a picture of David with his District in Frankfurt Germany. He is currently serving in Frankfurt and works with an outreach program there. He loves the people of Germany. David is the one in the back on the right. (Big smile on his face!) Having the opportunity to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a great gift these young people have. I am a convert to the church myself and am so grateful for those who took the time to bring me the news that there are still prophets on the earth, they do care about us and they guide and direct our lives.

Happy New Year! 2008

Wow, it's been awhile since I have posted. I had a total knee replacement in October and am just now starting back with sewing and being active. I completed 6 Christmas stockings for gifts this Christmas. I used a Thimbleberries pattern. I am not sure why I always do several instead of just one at a time but they turned out very cute.

I gave 2 to a wonderful family in our ward at church (The Matt Chandler family). When I was laid up after my surgery they took over teaching my seminary class which was 5 days a week at 6 am. Considering she is pregnant the least I could do to thank her was to make stockings for her little ones.



I also had my first UFO finish for 2008 today. I made 2 place mats and a table runner for my mother-in-law. She should have received it for Christmas but now she will receive it for Valentines day. I used a pattern by Nicole Chambers called Simply a Pleasure. It was a very well written pattern and I am looking forward to making it with colors of my own choosing. I have one I am working on that is navy and red. I think the contrasts will be better.


I also finally received some pictures from my son who is serving a mission in Germany. We were able to talk to him at Christmas and I requested some photos so he sent a half dozen. Here is one I think he took of himself! He looks very German to me in the photo. He has been serving for a year in Frankfurt Germany, he is currently in Karlsruhe. He loves it there and says the scenery is out of this world. He loves the Black forest and can't wait to show us after his mission.