Welcome to Joyfully Tracie!

Hop in my truck and I’ll show you around my place. I have room for all of you. Be sure to stay with me, because I’ll tell you how to enter a giveaway at the end of the ride.

Originally I named my blog Riceford Streams because I grew up on a dairy farm near Riceford Creek. My tagline, Having fun at home, hints that my blog is about the everyday activities that make up our lives.

My creative life also began on my parents’ farm. Much of our time revolved around the input/output of dairy cows and beef cattle. I carried feed pails and hay bales (input) and cleaned out calf huts and cow stalls (output). Frequently I found respite from chores with beautiful fabric at my sewing machine, just like my mom. I also learned a lot about sewing, crocheting, and other handcrafts while participating in our local 4-H club.

Alright, let’s put this truck in motion because I moved away from Riceford a long time ago!

My husband and I have been married for more than 30 years and we have two adult children. I work as a writer, although I took a 15-year break from my career to homeschool our children.

I was so busy during my kids’ high school years that I considered giving up my quilting hobby. However, they did grow up and move on to college and careers. Then my husband and I moved to a home with a large loft that served as my creative space for eight years. Later, I began blogging about my quilting hobby because I want to encourage others to use their hands to create something lasting and beautiful.

A Few Favorite Quilts

During 2016 I intentionally turned to quilting as a break from screen time at work. I have always loved little quilts, so I started with a few small projects. The Mini Swoon pattern by Thimble Blossoms measures 19″ square, and I used fabric from the Chestnut Street line by Fig Tree and Co. Someday I’ll make a large (80″ x 80″) Swoon quilt for my bed in a light color palette.

Besides mini quilts, I love making pillow covers. The pillow pictured below is Maple Charm Mini by Corey Yoder and her Lulu Lane fabric line. I quilted the organic wavy lines with a walking foot on my sewing machine.

Like many quilters, I give many of the quilts I make to my family members. Two recent finishes were gifts for my children. Last fall I made the Lady of the Lake quilt for my daughter.

And this winter I made Simple Diamonds for my son from a luxurious flannel fabric. The quilt is backed with a double-faced fleece, so it is super snuggly.

My Quilting Tips

Recently I adopted two mottos for my quilting hobby.

If you want to make it all, make it small. – Jo Morton, author, fabric designer, and small quilt expert

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. – Mary Tendall and Connie Tesene, Country Threads, Inc.

When I organized my creative space last month, I set aside fabrics to make baby quilts for Jack’s Basket, a nonprofit organization that celebrates children born with Down syndrome. When I’m tempted to start a new project just for fun, I consider my mottos and adapt the pattern to a baby-size quilt, and use fabrics from my Vault of Happiness. Then I’m motivated to finish my little project with the material I have on hand to bless a new baby.

Why Quilts? Winter — I Need to Escape!

The process of making a quilt provides hours of entertainment during the long Minnesota winters. Plus, most of us welcome an extra layer of warmth, even during April. This weekend we endured a historic spring blizzard, and the long winter has me longing for a vacation on a warm sandy beach. How about you? Where would you go for your dream vacation?

Thank you so much for visiting with me! You were great passengers. Before you leave the truck, make sure to pick up any of your belongings. You might need them at the next stop.

Joyfully,

Tracie