My journey begins with a frog!

Riley's baby quilt

My denim journey started 11 years ago when my friend Mandi in Australia had a baby boy.  A group of us who all knew her decided to make a baby quilt to celebrate!  The theme was "What little boys are made of" and they all sent me fabric they picked out to match that theme.  We have puppy dog tails, frogs, baseball, Australian wildlife and many more boy things represented.

To center this eclectic mix of fabrics, I cut up a pair of my sons ripped jeans (still keeping with the boy theme here!) to make a center panel.  Using my favorite coffee mug, I designed a rather rotund frog body, added some frog eyes, and attached one of the back pockets complete with frog feet holding on tight!  All the time I was making him, it just made me smile.

The quilt was a big hit when Mandi received it!!!  Everyone loved it as much as I enjoyed making it!!!  I just talked to Mandi a few days ago and they still have it tucked away in a special place!!!

Since then, if a quilt was needed to celebrate an event or comfort someone in a time of crisis, I've created lots of things popping out of pockets.  Stay tuned for pictures of these...but I still love and continue to make frogs.

Here's one of my latest frogs...he's been made into a pillow.   Over the past 11 years he's evolved a bit....feet are more webbed, he's got back legs with knobby knees....and he's got flowers or bugs to accompany him.

It's a great way to recycle old jeans into something useful.  When the old denim is quilted it seems to emphasize it's softness and becomes so huggable and cozy!!!  Makes the pillows and quilts so nice...

...and this frog still makes me smile.  :)

I love denim!  There's nothing so comforting than slipping into your favorite pair of jeans to relax or have fun with family and friends.  The places you've been, the people you've shared precious moments with , the games you've played...your jeans have seen it all!!!  They could tell so many stories!!!

As your jeans collect these stories, the denim fabric becomes so soft, faded, and ever so comfortable.  At the point you can't wear them anymore, that fabric is like gold to me!!!  I love taking an old pair of jeans and make something new out of them.  Something new to comfort and enjoy.  A pillow to hug, a quilt to cuddle under, a pot holder to protect you, baby bibs to make you smile....it's my joy to keep this lovely denim alive to collect even  more precious stories!