Welcoming 2016 {and saying Goodbye to 2015}

Wow. I say that at the end of every year and the beginning of each new one.
But it's so true and expresses exactly what I'm feeling. Wow.
2015 was a whirlwind. A totally crazy hectic whirlwind.

::I actually designed and came out with my first ever PDF patterns for my Etsy shop, The Modern Prairie Girl!!!  This was a HUGE step for me. One that required a lot of crazy hours and mulling pattern pieces over at even crazier hours. There was a lot of frustrating computer moments, but the Lord brought me through (like He always does!) and four patterns later, I'm still alive and so is our computer. I'm so thankful for my family and friends who were so supportive and excited and interested in what I was working on.

::I had great days. Best days. Surprise days. Down days. Crying days. Too much chocolate & coke days. Overwhelming days. Happy days. But the Lord was forever faithful and patient with a very impatient and sometimes very faithless me.

::I have the most amazing and uplifting family & friends possible. Period!

::I had a birthday.

::I had sale after sale in my Etsy shop. And was overwhelmed by the kind ladies who purchased each and every time.

::My sewing book, Modern Prairie Sewing, went out of print, but continues to be selling online and in stores. (Please pick up a copy when you can!)

::I kissed goodbye to my sister, Apphia. She's living happily in Texas.

::I helped my sister, Achaia, prepare to move down to Texas.

::Our brother, Joe, lived with us for short time. It was fun.

The traffic and confusion continues right into this New Year, but I'm okay with that!
What would LIFE be without that?!

Thankful and excited for 2016!
xo from here,
Abi

Review of the Reflections Quilt!

This review of my PDF Reflections Quilt pattern made my Friday!

Go check out Trisha's review!! 

Thank you so much, Trisha & Pattern Revolution!

Your Reflections quilt is stunning, Trisha. 

x Abi

Reflections Quilt - a PDF Pattern

Folks!  I'm so very very very excited!!!! 

Introducing my first PDF pattern:

The Reflections Quilt! 

This pattern includes options for sizes twin, full/queen and king.  

The block style is super straightforward 

and really easy to layout and sew together.  

Step by step instructions are written out along with 

some explanatory photos. 

 I couldn't help by share my favorite ways 

of how to sew your quilt together too. 

Binding instructions also shown. 

This pattern is available in my Etsy, the Modern Prairie Girl, 

and can be downloaded right away upon purchase! 

Yay!

happy sewing! xo Abi

Special thanks to my Pastor Gene for his amazing help in figuring out the dimensions for my Reflections Quilt pattern and for delivering sermons every Sunday that speak to my heart. 

Modern Prairie Sewing ... where to buy!

     Write up from The Good Cook about Modern Prairie Sewing: 

"Embrace your inner farm girl with beautiful and relaxed looks to sew for your home and wardrobe. With page after page of cheery and bright projects that come together as quick and easy as can be, Abigail A. Long's Modern Prairie Sewing is a fantastic book to reach for when you want to treat someone you love to a pretty handmade gift. Even even those who've never sewn before can expect picture-perfect results, since the toughest part about making these 20 projects is deciding what to sew first. Choose from flowing skirts, a jaunty tote with a flower on the front, a cute and comfy dress, scarves, an obi belt, a blouse, an apron, a quilt, pretty pouches for sewing supplies or credit cards, and so much more."

Other places that are selling Modern Prairie Sewing? Check out the links below!!! 

• Walmart
• QPB
• Search Press
• The Quilting Cupboard
• One Spirit
• Create For Less
• Books A Million
• Sears

xoAbi

My Grandma Quilt

 My great-grandma Kingery had made a stack of hexagon patches in the 1970s. 

Grandma had made the patches using leftover fabrics from the clothes and quilts 

that she'd made for her ever-growing family.

Nanny brought them down the last time she came. We laid them out on the counter and we girls took turns picking out our favorite patches. 

We all agreed that having little quilts with a little bit of Grandma's work would be more 

enjoyable than trying to piece one big quilt that only one sister could use and love on. 

For our quilt top backgrounds, we used a vintage white flat sheet. 

A few of us found vintage sheets on Etsy and used them for our quilt backs.

I hand quilted around each hexagon patch with Perle cotton thread.

I love how my Grandma quilt turned out! 

Working on it made me think of past stories I've heard of Grandma. 

The way she'd make her melt-in-your-mouth biscuits, the way she'd call up the stairs to let my Paps and his little family that he'd brought back for visits know that breakfast was on the table, the way she always wore her hair in a bun, the way she loved her children, the way that she worked hard. 

Yep. I love my Grandma quilt!

xo Abi

There's Beauty in Bedmaking.

Some chores aren't the most exciting. Like sweeping or vaccuming - I take that time to sing. 

Or dusting - I take that time to dance. Call me crazy, but it automatically makes the chore 

more fun. And who doesn't like that?!

Thankfully, I can say that there's not many house chores (chores period) that I can't 

stand doing. Making beds is something that I actually enjoy doing and love pulling out some 

different combinations every time.

I must say that this one is probably one of my favorites. I made the bed up for my brother, Joe, when he recently came home for a visit. The bottom quilt is one that I made when I was about 15. 

I pulled out a bunch of leftover and favored pieces and whipped it up. It was the beginning of our 

marie-madeline studio Happy Scrappy Quilt. I hand quilted it too. 

The polka dot comforter was giving to my sisters and me by a super sweet lady from our grandparents church. Seeing it makes me think of how thoughtful she was.... The comforter has remained a special blankie that we now can't seem to part with.

A vintage quilt from my Nanny and Paps. 

And a cozy channel bedspread from my Mom. 

Lots of things that make me happy. 

What do you pull out to make your bedmaking something other than a dreaded chore? 

xx Abi