Our 10 year old ballerina handwrote the entire book of Philippians out of the Bible recently, a project that took 20 pages of wide-ruled paper and a month of writing 5 verses each week day.
Her incentive was this fine prize, which she received with the biggest grin.
Her very own sewing machine. She no longer has to share my 15-year-old Singer that runs with a rumble, not a hum (but, still, it can sew!).
When asked what her favorite verse from Philippians is, she replied that she has two, one of which I taught her as the tiniest tyke: Philippians 2:14, "Do all things without murmuring and disputing." I got such a giggle out of our toddlers trying to pronounce "murmuring and disputing," that I admit I had them say it more often than their arguments or grumbling required.
Two Friday afternoons a month, our ballerina and I drive to the home of an older woman to learn quilting from her. Several other women and their daughters also attend. I love it when mixed-ages of women get together for handicrafting. There is just nothing cozier than that.
She is working on her first quilt, a strip-pieced quilt, using scraps from our teacher's bin. The method is very simple: strips of fabric are sewn together onto a square of muslin, then squared off once the muslin square is covered (ie. the extra fabric hanging over the edge is cut off) .
This gives our 10 year old practice with 1/4" seams and the other bits of sewing without having to worry over precise cutting yet.
(photo views: 1. Sewing, 2. Sewing, 3. Strip Quilting )
Meanwhile, I'm off in a comfy chair on those Fridays, working on the embroidery and quilting of a wee doll-sized quilt for my new nephew, who was born Saturday.
Yes, I am quite slow at finishing this tiny quilt. Soon, Baby, soon, it will be in a box on its way to you along with a few softies for your brother and sisters.
p.s. The Disappearing 9 Patch Tutorial is located here, if you'd like to sew along.
