Circus of Js Finished

It took me one more week to finish Circus of Js, the blanket.

More close up photos posted on The Cloth Side of Me .

In all it took me 27 days from start to finish. The only other thing I did besides eat was make the Circus of Js book. 

Circus of Js

Hello January!
I tell you that big goose egg on the head on Christmas day shook something loose and before it went away I was in fast and furious stream of thought inspiration mode. I love when that happens. 

Well it just so happens the inspiration had a deadline which was Sunday, and I have had my head down and fingers designing, drawing, stitching, painting, cutting and waxing since the eve of the Epiphany. That's actually when it all started.

First, you need one fact of the matter. Here it is. Sometime in February, I am going to be a Great Grandmother. 

Of course, I have known this for quite a long time but I have been on-again-off-again about making a baby blanket. All through the month of December I knew if I was going to make one, I should get started. Then I would think, "no I don't have time." Then shame and guilt about that. And so it goes.

I really wanted to be stitching in the chair but the dread of the cloth explosion that happens in both studios was more than I wanted to deal with.

Anyway, I now realize that I just didn't have the inspiration passion. Therefore, I didn't have the passion to make the blanket. I made Ashley an elephant blanket before she was born, and I'm ready for her to be the keeper of that one now. However, she doesn't think it is boy enough for her soon-to-be, Jordyn.

Somehow, on Tuesday the 5th, I came to realize, I needed to make a new elephant blanket. I had to stew with it a little bit and then I drug out the cloth and sure enough the explosion happened. I had twenty days. The fact that it took me 5 years to make Tim's cloth was irrelevant because I could feel the passion building. 

I couldn't start immediately as I had an appointment early morning on the 6th and so I could only do what I do. In my head. Another explosion. 

Another fact; Josh and Ashley are adding a baby Jordyn to the blended family of Joshua, Jalynn, Jazzlyn, Jaclynn, and Jasyk. 

Here I go. In my head, I started an elephant list. 
For example, 

• Jelly and Jambo the peanut butter spreaders
• Juggle and Jar the milk shakers
• Jibbber and Jabber the chatter bugs
• Jingle and Jangle the bell ringers
• Jupiter the star gazer
• Jogger the memory keeper, etc etc. 

Then while still in my head and unable to get started, I thought about how I made a book for Tim to go with his Tim's Cloth. Bingo! (never mind only 19 days and counting)

I must make a book for soon-to-be baby Jordyn. The first thing that popped into my head was an altered board book. I have a stack of them form years ago. The first one I pulled out was Circus, Circus! Do you believe on the last page was a parade of elephants? Oh gee! The elephant blanket, as well as, the book now has a name. Circus of Js.

I spent Wednesday afternoon designing my elephant and planning the cloth and getting started. The last bit of inspiration came Thursday before rising and shinning and it excited me the most. I realized the elephant trunks that I had designed looked like a "J". It all came together because in my head I could not see where to put the names of each on the cloth. 

I just love when inspiration trickles in like this.

Here is the Circus of Js cloth. Although it was not quiet finished, it was giftable. As soon as I finish the rest of the quilting stitching, I will show and share more. 

 In the meantime, here is the book, Circus of Js.

 Designing.

Before starting in the book, I made a book mock-up and planned the pages mostly to see if I could get what was in my on the book. 

Showing here the original page with my version in progress. I fully intended to paint that ball on his foot. Also, you might notice in the final version below that his red toe nails were painted out.  

I liked some of my mock-up sketches more than the ones that showed up in the book.  

Juju the adventure dreamer and Jetty the wall maker. 

Love this page.

Here they all are. Of course, Josh is the Ring leader and Ashley the spirit maker with Jordyn the magic maker. Josh the brother, Jalynn the helper, Jaz and Jaclynn the sisters and Jasyk the fun maker. 

The end. 

Backyard Birthday Banquet

Backyard Birthday Banquet

Happy 26th Ashley!

Birthday girl requested crab.

So we had a fun finger food first course of:

 Alaskan Snow Crab

Drawn Butter

Corn on the Cob

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

I remembered to get a photo before everyone came back for seconds.

My sweet Kids

♥

Waiting for second course from Grand Pa's kitchen.

Ribs

Smashed Hot Potatoes

French Bread

oops I forgot to get photo

I can't think of anything I love more than being surrounded by our family and in our back yard.

Before birthday cake, we walked over for a tour of the Garden Palace.

Make a wish Ashley!

Creamy Cold Ice Cream Cake

full of birthday wishes

12  ice cream sandwiches

1 quart ice cream of your choice (softened)

Cool whip (thawed)

Chocolate magic shell

Pull off about 18inches of aluminum foil and lay on a dish.

 In the middle of foil, lay first layer of ice cream sandwiches.

Spread a layer of the softened ice cream. 

Lay a second layer of ice cream sandwiches.

Spread a second layer of softened ice cream.

Wrap the foil over it and freeze it long enough for the ice cream to harden.

Remove and add a layer of thawed cool whip.

Wrap the foil over it and freeze long enough for the cool whip to harden.

Remove and add as much Chocolate magic shell as you like.

Wrap the foil over it and refrigerate until party time.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

My family, even the non-sweet eaters, loves this.

I love that I can make it a day or days ahead.

Knowing that Ashley loved lime sherbet, that's what I used.

I have made it with other flavors and you can even use more than one flavor.

You can make it as big or little as you want. 

This one I actually used 11 sandwiches.

It is OK to cut them to make the square or rectangle. 

It would not need to be two layers but that's what make it impressive. 

Looks like I slaved over it. 

Mother's Day Collage

This very cool Mother's day collage is from my sweet grand daughter Ashley.
and looks great on my fridge....don't you think

My day was great.

Hope yours was too. 

♥ Sharon