Author: jennifer

Houndstooth Pillows

Quilting and Sewing


This little project is now complete.


I made a pillow.  I liked it so much that I made a second pillow.


Because the sun can’t seem to find its way out from behind the clouds, I added sunshine of my own.  I bound the pillows in a solid orange that reminds me of Sunny Delight.


I’m glad I did it.  It frames the houndstooth with a punch of bright color and is the perfect finish.


After piecing the fronts, I lined them with a piece of white cotton duck cloth and “quilted” them very lightly.  I then added solid white backs of the same cotton duck, with zippers in them.


I’m super pleased with how they turned out.  They’re bold, bright and fun to look at.  The scale of the houndstooth print was an experiment that worked out perfectly.


Tedious as the pattern is to piece, I love these pillows so much that I’m considering a quilt in different colors.


Until then, the pillows make me smile, and that’s a good thing on cloudy days!

Hoping your day is sunny, Jennifer pillows shared here , here and

8 comments

I Loved Being a Mother this Weekend

Musings on Life and Beauty

On Friday my husband flew to California for a few days.  He had a conference to attend near his hometown, so he went to spend a few days with his parents.

I wondered how it would go, if I would keep it together or feel stretched thin.


Friday night we did this .  Saturday morning I left the oldest two in charge while I went to a conference to hear Julie B. Beck speak.  It was awesome, and it did all kinds of wonderful things for my heart.  I guess you could say that while I was there all these previous thoughts, impressions and ideas sort of solidified inside me, and when I walked out of that building I was a stronger, better person.  I came home so happy.

Saturday afternoon was spent cleaning the house.  I particularly enjoyed mopping all my wood floors.  Have you noticed how cleaning makes you feel so good about yourself?  One soccer practice was tended to and the children generally played and had a great time.  Hurrah for unscheduled Saturday afternoons!

We had an ultra-casual dinner and watched BYU cream Gonzaga in the men’s NCAA tournament.  I grew up in a sports-loving home but we rarely turn on the tv in ours.  My ten year old son wasn’t sure what to think of his mother as she cheered on the Cougars and thoroughly enjoyed the Jimmer show (who doesn’t?).


Sunday morning came all too early, but we made it out the door and to church with 8 minutes to spare.  In general the children were cooperative, but at one point I did have to carry out my two youngest, one in each arm.  Interestingly, the only person I had to confiscate something from was the 13 year old.  Go figure.

With my husband out of town I relaxed a bit and put a frozen lasagna in the oven.  And then I did something I haven’t done enough of lately:  I called my brother in Spokane, my parents in Denver, and my brother in Mississippi.  I don’t talk to them enough, but it was sure nice to talk to them all today.  I paid a price for my self-indulgence, however.  All sorts of messy imaginative play went on while I was in my office enjoying a quiet conversation.  I have my work cut out for me tomorrow!

We ate dinner together and it all went just fine until my baby tossed her plate like a frisbee.  Splattered lasagna all over my freshly mopped floor.  More work for tomorrow.  Oh well, at least it was clean last night, right?

We had a great scripture study.  I think we all learned some things, pondered life, and felt the Holy Ghost.   I feel good about it.   A solemn family prayer as we sincerely prayed for people we know who are really suffering right now, and for others we don’t know but whose suffering breaks our hearts, particularly the people of Japan.

And then they’re to bed.  I’m tired.  The house is trashed.  But honestly, I loved being a mother this weekend.   I loved being around my children.  I loved serving them.  I loved cleaning my house.  And I love the little people that un-cleaned it for me.

Speaking of little people, one of my little people is turning 5 on Tuesday, and I’d better get to work on that celebration!

It’s going to be a busy week, and the weeks will get increasingly busier until school is out for the summer.  I know I’ll have hard weeks, and I’m sure I’ll have moments when the messes and chaos really get to me, so I want to remember this weekend.  I want to remember that I loved being a mother this weekend.  Even with lasagna on the floor and random stuff strewn everywhere.  It is a privilege to be where I am.

Life is good.  And it will be even better when my husband comes back.  We’ve had a lot of fun the past few days, but I sure miss him!

Hopeful Homemaker

One comment ,

A Year of Habits, no. 11

Helpfulness of Habit



Another week is gone and although I could come up with a half dozen little things to say about this area or that, there is really just one thing that stands out to me.

Last year’s One Step goal was motivated by a burning desire to find my stride, to figure out how to be a good mother for 8 young children.  This year’s focus on habits is a continuation of that goal.   As I said in this post , my heart wants to fly, to soar like an eagle.  I want so much to reach new heights and find great joy in what I’m doing.  I want to feel like I can handle the day to day demands of my particular circumstances.

On Friday night I took twelve children to the BYU v. Utah women’s gymnastics meet.

By myself.

Yes, just me and twelve children.

I let my oldest four invite a friend.  Kids started coming around 4:30. They played, I fed everyone dinner, piled them into the Space Shuttle, and off we went.

My husband wondered if I would end up calling him because I’d lost one.

We went anyway.

And guess what?

It turned out wonderfully.  I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  The children were great and had a lot of fun taking trips to the concessions stand and to the uppermost bleachers while I camped out with the little ones, providing a sort of “headquarters” where everyone could check in and sit to watch the meet.  I felt calm and relaxed.  I enjoyed watching the meet.  I enjoyed sitting with my youngest three, entertaining and holding them.

When the meet was over I ran into some friends.  We said hello and as we talked I told them, “I’m here alone with twelve children, and right now I can only find seven of them.  What do you think of that?”  They laughed as if I was crazy, which I am.

It worked out.  I felt directed to head to a different area of the Marriott Center and there they all were.  We enjoyed a pleasant walk in the cool evening air on our way back to the van, then headed home.  By the time I delivered all the friends to their homes and got my own crowd home and in bed it was well after 11 pm.  A long night, to be sure.  But a great night.

Why is this the most relevant experience of my week?  Because it means I’m growing.  It means that my abilities are being magnified.    It’s happening at a time when my oldest two really need me to loosen up and do more of this.  Just a few weeks ago I would not have considered an outing like that, especially without another adult.  The mere thought would have brought stress.  I haven’t yet learned to enjoy having all eight of my children in public places, especially loud places with large groups of people.  It’s not that they’re bad; I just stress about their behavior and about possibly losing one.  I also find the noise and chaos to be terribly overstimulating.   Twelve children?  That would have been out of the question.

But I did it.  I enjoyed it.  I would do it again.  Did I have the Lord’s help?  Absolutely.  I need His help every day.

And so my heart has been rejoicing in the knowledge that slowly but surely I’m getting better at this.  My house is still messy.  I’m still behind on laundry.  But I’m handling it better.  I feel less overwhelmed by it and more grateful for the privilege of doing it.

I know it’s nothing magical.   I didn’t suddenly gain new abilities.  I’m aware that in ten minutes I might feel maxed out by just one of them (like last night when my three year old threw the tantrum of the year while in the bathtub – it was NOT pretty).  Still, for one evening I was equal to the task.  Not just equal to surviving the task, but capable of making the experience a lot of fun for everyone.  It’s like catching a glimpse of the clearing through the trees.  I’m grateful beyond words for the feeling that I just might get the hang of this one day.

I think I’m growing up.

And I love the looks of that clearing!

Gratefully, Jennifer

2 comments
1 … 317 318 319 320 321 … 524