...Wee bit of Irish...

...Wee bit of Irish... is a repost from St. Patrick's Day last year  and my entry for Jenny'sAlphabe-Thursdays "I" post~March 2010! But I am pushing the envelope a Wee bit...for this week's "W" post, since it does have "Wee" in it :o)

...I've never reposted before, but this week has been crazy busy at work (coming home later), number of drawing orders to complete and also my hubby and I had spent a wonderful time this past weekend and this upcoming weekend with our daughter Girly~Whirly and her boyfriend.  Hope you all don't mind. Next week may also have to be a repost of some of our son's music. Thanks for your visit and comments!

One more thing...I may not have a wee bit of Irish blood in me, but through my hubby, sister-in-law...I happily claim to be linked to their beautiful heritage.

Here it is~ (With a wee bit of changes)... 

A Wee bit of Irish...

...through family, friends and experiences in my neck of the woods...

My hubby is mainly of Portuguese ancestry...but they do have Some Spanish, maybe a Fraction of French...and somewhere along the family lines... there is a wee bit of Irish.

When he was a little boy (and after getting spankings or reprimanded...which he says happened often... and that he deserved every bit of it...well...except for the times that he says he got in the way of his brother getting a lickin', so ended up getting a lickin' too :o)... he would look at some old baby photos and "know" for certain that he had to be adopted!

He had light reddish/blondish hair and was very, very fair, compared to his older brother with dark curly hair, so he thought he was an adopted child that got all the spankings.

(Too funny to think about, especially, since you take one look at him and he looks like his dad and you can definitely see he is related through and through!)

 ~Check out this late 1970's family photo ~

(does anyone else remember wearing shirts with big collars?)

(My Mr. B is in the top middle)

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My sweet sister-in-law has quite a lot of Irish in her blood. My brother and SIL named their little girl "Brecken", which is Irish for "freckle"... How cute is that!

Here's this little Irish/Filipino/German/Chinese/Spanish sweetie~

(These are recent photos of our niece Beautiful Brecken and nephew Cutie Crew).

          

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This night scene postcard of River Street in Savannah, Georgia has a bit of the green shining through...

We live in a town right on the outskirts of Savannah, Georgia.  Before moving here, I never realized just how celebrated St. Patrick's Day is in Savannah! ...but an example of this... schools in the area and surrounding area are closed on Mar 17th (they gave in to having St. Paddy's day off, since a lot of students end up going to the huge parade...).  

*****Added March 18, 2011 info from my original post on March 19, 2010*****

...Unofficially, this parade was first held in 1818 and the first official parade held in 1856 (A wee bit more interesting parade facts in this 2008 copy of the Savannah Now)... And on the news, leading up to this day, I learned that the elected Grand Marshall is selected through votes behind closed doors.)

There are participants in the parade from across the United States and Ireland. Some local military units were present in the parade this year...last year many units were still in Iraq or Afghanistan.

*****

This taken from ABOUT.COM contributer Sheridan Alexander:

"The St. Patrick's Day celebration in Savannah is the city's largest annual celebration including the second largest St. Patrick's Day Parade and by many accounts the largest St. Patrick's Day street celebration in the United States. Likened by some to Mardi Gras gone Irish, the spirited St. Patrick's Day festivities in Savannah go on for several days, attracting roughly 400,000 Irish and honorary Irish visitors each year in addition to local revelers. The comparison to Mardi Gras ends when it comes to displays of public nudity, however, which in Savannah according to authorities can "get you arrested."

...A humongous crowd on Riverfront Street, after the parade.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Savannah Waterfront Association

The fountains flow with glistening green water.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee

This week is also Spring break for Heartbreaker... so with some good college friends, they'll get a chance to experience some Idyllic Irish Imagery...around Savannah. On Saturday, they arrived to our home and stopped to eat dinner on their way to the condo on Tybee Island.  And then after spending St. Patrick's Day in Savannah on Weds, they came to the house for dinner.  (Night time on Riverfront Street can get too crazy.)

(I love the last photo silhouette of the 8 boys taken on the beach at sunrise).

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I am joining in with Jenny for

ALPHABE-THURSDAY "W".

&

Alicia for 

FRIDAY PHOTO FLASHBACK.

*****Some added, recent photos of our kiddoes :o)*****

Although we would have loved to have Girly~Twirly and her hubby down by us this past week, they had a wonderful, well-deserved vacation in Florida (since he started his first year of residency and she has been a very, very busy dentist). I don't have any of those photos yet, but here is one of the two of them when they were celebrating their 2nd year anniversary in Jan 2011.

*****

And this week is Girly~Whirly and her boyfriend's spring break from dental school (He'll be a dentist this May and Girly~Whirly will be a dentist next May :o).  I will be taking photos while they are here, but for now am sharing this one of the two of them taken in February 2011.

*****

 And our son and some of his college buds didnt make it down to Savannah this year. They had to head back to Lexington after watching the basketball games held in Atlanta...so close!
One of the guys had to get back for a work interview. They had a great time.

(M, Heartbreaker, J, P, W)

I took this photo of a photo on his facebook :o)

...hm...I see a little shaving has not been done :o)

*****

Here's a Wee bit of Celtic/Irish inspired artwork.

(Click on each to see a closer view)

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

~an Old Irish Blessing~

Vinca

These are photos of our son (aka Heartbreaker...if you have read any past posts regarding our son, you will know that it was our older daughter that gave him this name for her blog. He says he is not the "heartbreaker" but rather the heart-breakee...he tends to give his whole heart to those around him...just like his daddy :o)

...our 7 month old ukelele player and 17 years later....as a high school Senior in 2008.

Healthy, strong, a wonderful testimony to the Lord's promise of healing in His Word.

Linking up with

Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday meme of the letter "V" .

& Alicia's Friday Photo Flashback.

& this is a Vinca

These pretty little blooms were significant to us in 2005.

***Added edit on March 11th***

Izzy, Thank you for finding my post and for commenting and letting me know about your dear friend-Dr. Beer-instrumental in extracting the valuable chemicals used in cancer cures!

Please go to Izzy's post to see photos of Dr. Beer and learn more about this amazing gentleman.

Our son was diagnosed in 2005 with Burkitt's-like B-cell lymphoma...one of the fastest growing cancers.

The protocol usually used was for chemotherapy over a period of 2 years. With the type of cancer that was diagnosed, the physicians mentioned an alternative, trial protocol. It meant a shorter time frame, but a more intense dosage and several different types of chemotherapy drugs administered at a time.  One of these chemicals is called Vincristine.

How Vincristine Works: Cancerous tumors are characterized by cell division, which is no longer controlled as it is in normal tissue.   "Normal" cells stop dividing when they come into contact with like cells, a mechanism known as contact inhibition.  Cancerous cells lose this ability.  Cancer cells no longer have the normal checks and balances in place that control and limit cell division.  The process of cell division, whether normal or cancerous cells, is through the cell cycle.  The cell cycle goes from the resting phase, through active growing phases, and then to mitosis (division).

Chemotherapy is most effective at killing cells that are rapidly dividing.  Unfortunately, chemotherapy does not know the difference between the cancerous cells and the normal cells. The "normal" cells will grow back and be healthy but in the meantime, side effects occur.  The "normal" cells most commonly affected by chemotherapy are the blood cells, the cells in the mouth, stomach and bowel, and the hair follicles; resulting in low blood counts, mouth sores, nausea, diarrhea, and/or hair loss.  Different drugs may affect different parts of the body.

Vincristine belongs to a class of chemotherapy drugs called plant alkaloids. Plant alkaloids are made from plants.  The vinca alkaloids are made from the periwinkle plant (catharanthus rosea).  The plant alkaloids are cell-cycle specific.  This means they attack the cells during various phases of division.  

For more info, you can read more from where this info was taken, here.

Or 

How does this drug work?

Vincristine is a type of chemotherapy drug known as a vinca alkaloid. It is thought to work by interfering with cancer cell growth when they are dividing into 2 new cells. This eventually leads to cell death. Because cancer cells divide faster than normal cells, they are more likely than normal cells to be affected by this drug.

(This info from the American Cancer Society.)

These are some photos during 2005. I still intend to post in the future a little more about this time frame...as well as one of Heartbreaker's scholarship essays, where he writes about this challenging time.

2005-during one of his initial stays on the Pediatric floor, playing guitar for one of the Oncologists- Dr. G.  They all became a special part of our family. 

May 2005- on his birthday, Heartbreaker gave Dr. F a mason jar of his hair, complete with labels we made for the jar of hair.

Dr. F had kept asking him when would he lose his hair, cuz it took a while longer for him to start losing his hair than some others on chemo.

He had the birthday party that kept going and going all day! These are some of the nurses and child support team... We have more photos with the residents that came all together to sing to him...and his youth pastors...and his friends...

He had to stay flat, cuz with the chemo that was administered through the spine, he had headaches.

His two sisters were able to come down for Spring Break from college.

The hospital, allowed him to have family and friends to visit any time and even some to stay overnight.

He had to be in Pediatric ICU after a reaction to one of the series of chemo. 

Dr. G, Dr. F, and Dr. V ok'd him to travel to KY for his big sister's (aka theluckiestmrs.) undergrad graduation.  He was not able to sit throughout the ceremony and had to lay down in the First Aid room that was there....but we were all blessed to be together and he gave a big smile for this photo.

Father's day 2005

His high school was so supportive...here he is with his Algebra teacher, on her own time, going over some lessons.

July 2005...some of his Hawaii cousins visiting in Georgia before we all drive down to Disneyworld.

2006 his hair is growing back...filming for the local hospital and Children's Miracle Network.

Big sis and little brother :o)

Girly~Twirly, Heartbreaker, Girly~Whirly

2006 Children's Miracle Network local telethon with Dr. F

2007 Heartbreaker at Disney World for the National Children's Miracle Network telethon.

Heartbreaker was Georgia's CMN Ambassador.

In Washington D.C. for taping with Miss America.

In Disney World, ready to perform for a live audience of 2000 or more.

Photo taken at Disney World for the National CMN telethon.

Heartbreaker grew his hair til it was over 10 inches long to donate to Locks of Love.

The chemotherapy protocol was 5 months of intense medicine, hospital stays, ups and downs, challenges, etc....It took over a year after the last cycle of chemotherapy, before he got his full physical strength and stamina.  

Isaiah 53:5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

But he started his 10th grade year on track with his peers, made the high school varsity soccer team, lacrosse, wrestling, graduated 14 out of 300 in high school, was very involved in school, church, community and cancer awareness events... I say all this to praise and honor the Lord Jesus for his hand upon our son.

We are so thankful and look forward to more amazing and awesome blessings.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

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Here is another recent order shipped out today. Thank you Erika and the other ladies of the First Army Division East Ladies for thinking of this for a farewell gift. & Thank you all for your support and your families' military service.

& I have posted these 3 before, but since I shared the photo of our son when he was 7 months, I  thought I would also post the drawing that I did from it and also the ones of our two girls when they were 7 months.

Girly~Twirly

Girly~Whirly

Heartbreaker

Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments. I will be sure to return your visit.

Cathedral Windows Quilt tutorial

Cathedral Windows Quilt tutorial...

Although this is a quilt tUtorial...

 I am linking up with

Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday meme of the letter 

"U"

...since this is a UFO...not an Unidentified Flying Object

....but a UFO as in UnFinished Object....quilt talk :o)

This tutorial post is one that came about when several asked how I had done my quilt that was shown on this post (Q is for Quilt) 4 weeks ago.

So, thank you to those that have asked and been so patient as I have slowly but surely taken the photos and edited them to share. (It was recommended for me to put "Personalized Sketches" on each, I hope that the words dont bother you as you view them).

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Let me again preface this whole tutorial with...I am a novice quilter and please excuse any terminology that may not be "quilt-correct". And if you have any helpful hints, please do leave a comment. Any help will be welcomed.

So, if you've been by my blog before, I have posted about the Cathedral Windows quilt that I am still working on...

Well...here is the latest photo of it, since I have sewn on two more rows. My hubby suggested I add the additional two rows, so that it would be a 48 inch square size when it was completed.  

(Also have to mention here, that I am making one of these for each of our three children's first babies to be...and that my Handsome hubby is also a part of the process :o) When I sew on this in the car, and he is driving, I hold out the ziplock bag of the 2 inch scrappy squares and he pulls out the square for me to sew on next. :o) So, we can say...to our future grandbabies..."Yes-sir-ree, your Papa (pop, voovoo...not sure what he will be called yet :o)  helped Lola (Lolli, Grammy...not sure what I will be called yet either :o) ...make this quilt for you."

What is so great about making this type of quilt, is that you can add to it...and add...and add...and add! 

Thank you Robyn G. for mentioning previously in a comment that was on my last post that this quilt is what is called a "Progressive quilt".  I love that it can "grow or progress" as much as you would like to add to it.

***My dear friend showed me her Cathedral Window Quilt and explained to me how it was made...this was about 7 or 8 years ago...so some of how I did mine was from what I remembered her showing me...

I realized after taking photos for this that I had been adding an extra step when I had not folded it "correctly"...so I have had double the amount of sewing than what was necessary! But rather than share my mistake and possibly confuse someone, I will just share the following.****


Here are some more helpful points that I did not have on hand until I came across them on google search:
Block: 9.5" squares  (Mine are 8.5 inch squares)
Muslin Fabric:
Crib Size (45"x60"): 9 yards background fabric, cut into 140 squares.
Twin size (60"x96"): 19 yards (cut 308 squares).
Full size (75"x96"): 22 yards (cut 352 squares).
Queen size (80'x100"): 25 yards (cut 396 squares).
King size (100"x100"): 30 yards (cut 484 squares).
For the inner printed fabric: each will be 2.5 inch squares.

Step 1.  Cut your muslin or whatever fabric you choose for your background. I love scrappy quilts and the muslin works to tie them all together. Also, muslin is pretty inexpensive.

I cut mine 8.5 inches.  But they can be cut larger, so that your completed quilt will be made with less squares.

Step 2.  Very important, but it does take time...so I press the 1/4 inch edges in an assembly line fashion...

...continue to press 1/4 inch on all four sides.

Step 3. This step helps to mark the center. Fold square in half and then in half again....and then press.

...open it up and you can see the the center.

Step 4. Fold the corners into the center. (I do not do Step 3. but just bring the corners into the center).

...press all four corners into the center.

This first folded and pressed square should be 5.5 inches by 5.5 inches.

 Step 5. Repeat and press the corners again to the center. (Now your pressed square should be 4 inches by 4 inches).

I like to press as many squares at a time...and if I get tired of doing that, it is alright, cuz, you can always do more later, when you are ready to add on to what you have already completed.

(top row shows 4 squares with the "back" side.

bottom row shows 4 squares with the "top side".)

Step 6. Put two squares together back to back.

(This step can be hand sewn or machine stitched.)

(I had started out hand sewing this step, but then went to sewing this part on the machine).

Step 7. Sew the corner flaps of the two squares...only sew one corner of one to the other.... you can use the crease that you see from ironing as the "line or guide" to sew along.

 Here are 8 squares (or now together in pairs) that I have sewn on the machine... I sew them two by two...again in an assembly line fashion...the threads between them will be cut so that you have 4 separate pairs.

Step 8. Sew more squares to the finished ones, so that you have as long of a "panel" of squares as you feel comfortable working with. 

The top row shows 4 squares sewn side by side and this shows them "top" up.

The second row shows 4 squares sewn and flipped over so you can see the "bottom" view.

Step 9. Here are more squares ready to be sewn together. I just put the pins so that you can see the corners and each square. (When adding squares to be sewn, always be sure that the "bottom" sides of the squares are facing the other "bottom" of the other square.

Step 10. Place your 2 inch square panel...This can be whatever fabric you choose, either all from the same or like I show here...these are "scraps" from all different fabrics.... in the center as shown.

It is helpful to "tack" down the corners first. 

(I don't do this, but I  hand sew them secure as I sew the scrap fabrics in).

Step 11. Fold the muslin surrounding the scrap over the scrap square and sew these down. 

(I do not pin as I sew, but have pinned them to show here. ...but if it helps you to keep it in place, go ahead and pin them.)

 Step 12. Continue sewing each muslin "flap" and your center scrappy square will be secured in a "window". Some quilters slip stitch these "flaps", so their stitches do not go all the way through to the back side.

I sewed it in dark pink so that you could see better.

 I like to sew all the way through the layers, so that you can see the "quilted" stitches.

This is the "back" side.

Here is the "back" side of my quilt. I use an off-white quilting thread.  Use quilting thread, since quilting thread is heavier and stronger.

I use one strand of thread as I hand quilt.

Here is a question for all you experienced quilters: When you hand quilt, do you use one or two strands of thread?

I hope that this tutorial was helpful.

I google searched after putting my post together and found these links that you may be interested in looking at also. I added them here:

This one is another method:

Youtube tutorial for 3D Faux Cathedral Window Quilt Blocks

This quilt would be fun and fast to do:

Cathedral Windows Rag quilt

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This video slideshow shows some of my UFOs...The first one is my first quilt attempt (back in 1992) that was put away and found years later, when I was re-introduced to quilting by the dear friend that shared her Cathedral Window quilt with me.  That little blue and white staggered bar quilt design, I did by following the directions that was in the Family Circle magazine.

I have patterns and fabric for some Hawaiian quilts that I would also like to do, but have those stored away for now...

Thank you again for your stopping by and commenting!

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Here is another recently completed  and shipped art order. Susan, from Permanent Posies, Thank you for thinking of this one in remembrance for your friend's beloved pet.

(Oh...one last thing...if you haven't already done so, please do take a peek at my facebook art page and I would love if you become a "fan" by liking it. I am still, slowly but surely, adding more past orders into albums there.)

Edited ***I will be having a giveaway soon, please come back and check***