Merry Christmas!

It's been pretty crazy around here the last week but all the preparations are pretty well done now - on to the good part... relax, enjoy and celebrate!
This is the last gift I put together - its a heart garland for my newest little neice. I'm not sure how well it turned out but its done! I'm not sure what my sister will do with it but she did want me to make it.
I have put a few stitches into this quilt in the last couple weeks - quilting these simple fans is SO FUN! I'm leaving the border unquilted for now. I might attempt feathers if I can get them to fit if not I'm thinking about a cable pattern. I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas!
Happy Quilting!!

me neither

Over the weekend I had a birthday - a big number I wasn't looking forward to. So, my husband and sister planned a birthday party for me. I hadn't had one in years - December is always such a busy month. It was a really wonderful party and my friends and family spoiled me terribly. This was a very fun little card from a friend. Inside it says "me neither" Can you relate?







This is cute too - I set it near my sewing machine - do you suppose it will remind me to check my bobbin more often so I don't run out?









These were more lovely gifts. My friends and family know me well ... :0)
There were gift certificates too - for my favorite Quilting store - those will be fun to spend in the New Year.











Happy Quilting!!

Christmas ornament with gun

I'm so happy to have this little quilt finished. It's Marcie's free Christmas pattern from last year. Do you suppose I have time yet to make her great little pattern for this year? :0)
This next picture is the backing fabric I bought for my 9-patch quilt. I went to my LQS to buy backing fabric and to my delight - there was a sign on the door " Customer Appreciation Sale" All fabrics 30% off some even 40% off. Oh Happy Day! I usually shop for backing at the clearance table but not this time! I really like this beautiful red print.

Ok - so here is the ornament I referred to in the title. It's a chili pepper cowboy! My husband picked this Christmas tree ornament out - I guess he felt he needed something masculine along with all the pretty angels and snowflakes... Anyway my son just LOVES it and if anyone comes over he immediately ushers them over to see this amazing ornament. I find it rather amazing too but not in a good way.

Oh well - its a good lesson in compromise - I think... :0)

Happy Quilting!!

Sinter Klaas

I made this little snowman wallhanging for my sister as a Sinter Klaas gift. It's a Terry Morberg pattern - cute, easy and fun!

We celebrated Sinter Klaas on the weekend. We put our shoes out at night and in the morning they have small gifts in them. We woke up to find small gifts in our shoes and enormous drifts of snow in the backyard. The kids ate some chocolate from their shoes and went and played outside for over an hour before breakfast. Ahhh - it was so nice and quiet :0)

Happy Quilting!!

something to show for myself

This quilt top is hot off the ironing board :0) It's my first leader and ender quilt. It turned out very different than I thought when I started sewing my bright little squares together - but I am delighted with it.
I started cutting little 2" squares from all the fabrics I was using as I worked on other projects. Then they slowly became 9 patches. That is what makes this quilt so special to me now. There's little bits from the Christmas stockings I made last Dec, there's bits from both crib quilts I made this year, bits from the quilts I haven't finished yet... you get the idea. :0) Just looking at this quilt I can remember all the projects I made and all the enjoyment I had quilting this past year.
I want to get this basted to hand quilt over Christmas - I always want handwork and there is little time at Christmas to do prep work. In my mind I imagine elaborate feathers quilted in a wide border around the sides :0) as if! I do NOT know how to to that.

My parents were here visiting last week which is why I didn't get anything posted. My Mom bought me these beautiful roses which I am enjoying very much as the snow falls outside.

Happy Quilting!!

last BOM block

I finally chose a block and got it made - here it is. I think I like the other one better :0) so I'll make up instructions for that block for my guild.
Here are all 16 blocks together. I plan to set them with a fairly simple alternate block because I want this to be a big quilt for my guest room bed. I wish it was done now - my parents are coming to visit next week so I will have to go out and buy a blanket to use in the meantime.

Thanks for the ideas about my applique block! I will get to finishing it soon.

Happy Quilting!

choosing a BOM block

For the past 14 months my guild has been working on a BOM. Each month a different member chooses a block pattern and gives out instructions. I have all 14 blocks made and for the final block it is my turn to choose. Actually I'm going to choose 2 because I want 16 blocks for my quilt but I only have to supply instructions for 1.
So here is the one I have decided on so far. The name given this block in the book I found it in is Foxy Grandpa :0) That ought to get a smile or 2 on guild night. It is so hard to choose - there are so many interesting blocks I want to try and a never ending supply of inspiration. Then I've been looking at setting options and an alternate block to increase the size...

I've been working on this wreath a bit too. I finally got the two-headed flower to where I am happy with it. The seed pod or whatever that is on the bottom right definitely has to go but I still don't know what to put in it's place. The inspiration block has a flower bud shape I haven't used yet but maybe it won't look balanced until I put on another blue flower. What do you think? I'd be very grateful for some suggestions.

Happy Quilting!!

some Christmas sewing

There never is enough time to do all the Christmas sewing that I want to do - so I've started already :0) I pulled out this ufo that I just love - I never got to quilting it last year and I am determined to finish it so I can use it when I decorate for Christmas this year.
The first thing I did was add a couple borders - now its ready to pin baste and quilt. The pattern is last years free Christmas pattern from Marcie over at http://patchalotmore.blogspot.com/
I also made a gift this week - another cute little Christmas pattern from Terry Morberg but I will have to wait to post about it.
Happy Quilting!

some progress

This is my newest applique project. It is a wreath inspired by a horseshoe shaped block I saw a picture of on Janet's blog a while back. After "visiting" the picture several times I knew I wanted to make something using the happy flower shapes.
I have spent some time arranging and rearranging the second half of this wreath - and yes the seam ripper has been used. Finally I have a plan! :0) I still don't know yet what I'm going to do in the center - obviously I can't fit it all in - some of it will though I think.

Here is the original block taken from a book of antique Baltimore Album quilts. Thanks Janet for letting me post your picture here! It is such a happy arrangement of flowers, leaves and buds - I find it quite irresistible. :0)

I'd be making faster progress on the wreath if I wasn't making these blocks at the same time. Just this little bit of applique is a bit of a distraction. I am enjoying the process and there is no rush!

A friend of mine went to Houston and she has posted a few lovely antique quilts and some others on her blog here.

Happy Quilting!!

crib quilt

I finished the crib quilt for my sister's baby. No sign of the wee one yet but she's due any day now. I washed it up so it would be soft and a bit crinkly.
My littlest daughter is 21 months old now - she "helped" with a prop for a second picture. :0)
I was away in Vancouver last weekend (my other sister had her 3rd son) And while it looks like winter here, in Vancouver there are still flowers blooming.

I don't know what kind of flower it is and I'm pondering how I would applique it - the petals are interesting.

Happy Quilting!

doll quilt

Carrie over at A Passion for Applique posted about an old quilt made with double knits. It reminded me of this little doll quilt that my Grandma made for me when I was very small around 1972-3.
It is made from double knits, corduroy and velvet on a muslin foundation. It's not quilted and the backing is blue corduroy brought around to the front for binding. The green velvet centers are left over from matching dresses she sewed for my cousin and I. The other fabrics are scraps - some from her clothes that I remember. There is even a couple "poverty patches" in it - strips pieced to be the right length to use. It has been well used :0)

This is what I have been doing with my leader/ender 9 patches. I'm still a bit amazed that I bought grey fabric to set them with. I don't have any grey in my stash at all. But I wanted the 9 patches to shine and this warm grey lets them do that. I plan to handquilt baptist fans all over it. I think the grey print gives it an old look.

And... since I finished piecing the crib quilt I needed a new piecing project to work on. These blocks are from the book Remembering Adelia by Kathleen Tracy. I don't know how many I'll make or how I will set them but meanwhile I'm having fun!

Happy Quilting!!

gift ready to give

Just in time for Canadian Thanksgiving (this weekend) I have this little table topper ready to give to my sister-in -law.
I had so much fun quilting this. I quilted a big target in the center, outline quilted the applique and added berries and leaves in the open areas. I had trouble choosing a fabric for binding and in the end I went with a brown print.

Here is a little close up of the quilting. I learned so much as I hand quilted my last couple projects that I think I might be ready to baste and start on my 4 block applique quilt I posted about here. I also need to get a new applique project started. I've so many ideas its hard to pick just one :0)

Happy Quilting!

ready to quilt

This little crib quilt sure went together fast. I'm going to very cowardly machine quilt this in the ditch. :0) I'm trying to figure out how to piece the backing today. And this came in the mail yesterday! I did a little dance of glee when I opened it and saw the pages and pages of fabulous antique quilts in it.

Now I have so many new project ideas I hardly know where to start!

Happy Quilting!!

fall finish

I'm pleased to have this little hanging ready to put up for fall.
I quilted it by machine. I was happy with the "in the ditch" stitching. I am less happy with the free motion quilting. I realize that I won't get any better at it if I don't practice... To me it looks a bit like a tangle of vines - which could be very appropriate for a pumpkin.
Happy quilting!!

some thoughts about history

I'm all ready to quilt this little hanging now. It was a bit of a rush job - the proportions are a bit off I think and there shouldn't be a red goose so close to the red leaf but...oh well :0)



These are the first 6 blocks for my sister's baby quilt. I think its safe to post it - I don't think she's ever looked at my blog. She wanted the soft green and the soft turquoise - I added the brown and white for some contrast. They are big blocks - only 3 more to make. It doesn't look much like a baby quilt to me but her taste is different from mine (more modern). I hope she likes it! The pattern is from American Patchwork and Quilting Dec 05 issue.

I've been thinking a lot about the Civil War Bride quilt - and enjoying the wonderful blocks people are making and posting on the blog. I broke down and ordered the Treasury of American Quilts so I could look more closely at the original. I have never ordered anything over the internet before - that could be a slippery slope lol. I also really like this Reconciliation quilt made by Lucinda Ward Honstain in 1867. Here it is pictured in the March/April 2009 Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting magazine. So... I'm thinking a bit about stitching a quilt about my own personal history. Not that I've lived through any major historical events in any personal way but... I think I think it would be more meaningful to me and perhaps to my kids. There are a few problems - I don't think my red minivan would look that great appliqued on a quilt block. I think the horses, camels and elephants add so much interest to these 2 old quilts. So I have some more thinking to do. Thanks for reading my ramblings and if you have some thoughts please share them!
Happy Quilting!!

fall

Our family spent the weekend at DH's parents' farm this past weekend. I always bring handwork when we go there. I got this little quilt basted together to quilt by hand. I probably should have machine quilted the centre - all those seams to push the needle through... Anyway I made good progress.


And... in between making blocks for my sister's baby quilt I have been working on this fun little project. I guess I could just put a border on it and call it done but I think I want to add some geese flying south.

Happy Quilting!!

basket of flowers

I'm happy to have this basket of flowers block finished. (it still gets a little bit of embroidery yet) It was a fun challenge but I stressed a bit too much over fabric selection.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it from here. I had thought maybe a border of small pieced churn dash blocks. Someone from my guild suggested just framing it as is and not quilting it. I think I'll have to ponder it for awhile.

Now I have no applique or handquilting projects on the go - I need to have some portable handwork project on the go at all times! I'll have to get something together later today :0) There are a few people working on The Civil War Bride quilt - they have a blog together here http://thecivilwarbridequilt.blogspot.com/ I love the variety in the blocks and its tempting to join them but it is a LARGE project!
Happy Quilting!!

September already!

Here is the August block from the BOM that I am doing with my guild. Only 3 more to go.
I have only one more basket block to make and I will have all the blocks ready to piece together for the pink and brown quilt. I'm excited to put them together but... my sister's baby is due Nov 1st so I will work on that next. I have a pattern, I have fabric, and the blocks should be fast and easy - I'll post about it soon.



My kids have been back in school for a whole week already! It's hard to believe that fall is right around the corner. I want to make a fall wallhanging for my front entryway. I've done some drawing but when I'll find time to make it I don't know. So many quilts to make... so little time.
Happy Quilting!!!

finally a finish!

I've been working on the handquilting of this little table topper for a while. I would love to do a whole quilt of this block in these colors one day... I had long admired New York Beauty blocks and had to give it a try. Here is the back. It's practically reversible lol! Maybe not...anyway my hanquilting is slowly improving.

I'm going to use it on the cedar chest that was my grandmother's - she kept her quilts in it.

Now I have the exciting challenge of making another baby quilt. It's for my sister - her baby is due Nov 1 so I better get busy! The colors are a bit out of my comfort zone and although I've picked fabric I still need a pattern. Something quick and easy I think. :0)

Happy Quilting!!

camping

I've been real busy the last few weeks. I've had company and then we went camping. I didn't even have time to get together some stitching to take along and I always take stitching along. I haven't sewn anything in a whole week! I did make a thread catcher about a month ago that I haven't posted about yet. I knew I needed to make one when at my guild's last sew day I was throwing my thread bits and scraps in my neighbor's thread catcher when she wasn't looking. :0) I got together with a friend and she made one too. Hers is the cute red and white one on the right. I made the pink/flowery one - its not as pretty but the thread bits and scraps won't care too much. :0)

Happy Quilting!!!

silly girls

Here are the next 2 blocks I made for my guild challenge quilt. In a couple months it will be my turn to choose a 12 inch block for everyone to make.

















This next picture is of the lilies blooming in my backyard. 14 years ago, before we were married, my husband gave me a box with 2 lily bulbs in it. The name on the box was Silly Girls. I think he was trying to be funny and sentimental at the same time :0) Every year without fail they brighten the garden in July. We have moved twice in that time and with each move I dig up a clump and bring them with me.



















Happy quilting!!!

outdoor show

I have been working away on all the same projects I have posted about before so I'll post some pictures from an outdoor quilt show I went to the same weekend as the Little House party. It was a gorgeous day - a bit breezy and the quilts were wonderful. The show was out at Lorraine Stagness's farm in the country. The view across the prairie is wonderful from there!
I love these circles - I could study this quilt for a long time.

This one I just thought was so pretty.

These next 2 were made as mystery quilts - there was about 7-8 of them - all different - hanging on a clothes line with the prairie as the background.I hope next post to have something of my own share.

Happy Quilting!