Christmas sewing

 I finally got into the mood for some Christmas sewing.  I wanted a table runner for my dining room.  Last Sunday I started flipping through magazines and by this Sunday I had top made.  Here it is all pinned and ready for machine quilting.  I hope to be binding it by the weekend!

 I didn't have a pattern but the idea came from a picture in the Dec 2009 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting.  It's in an article about Renee Plains's Christmas decorating.  I love my stash of magazines. So many ideas - so little time...

 My DH brought home from work this enormous Christmas basket. I don't exactly know where it came from but we've been enjoying the treats.  Usually these gourmet items come in an actual basket which I save thinking I will fill it with something and decorate some little corner of the house. (somehow I never get around to it)  This year I was astounded at the size and sturdiness of this sleigh!  It was begging to be used.  I piled in my favorite Christmas quilt and the kids supplied the Teddy.

The quilt is a pattern of Marcie's of Patchalot Patterns.  It's her free Christmas pattern from 2008 and is still free on her website.  I may have to make another because now I have nothing for the coffee table.
I have no idea where I will store this huge sleigh after Christmas but I really like it!  :0)

Happy Quilting!!

vine panel #5



 I was excited to attach vine panel #5 to the others.  Slowly this quilt is growing.  It makes me wonder how long it took Susan McCord to complete her quilt.

It is so hard to photograph.  I don't have a design wall so for once I thought I would pin it to the drapes and get a straight on picture.   I've printed off panel #6 but I really should applique a block or 2 for my Bird of Paradise quilt before I start another panel.  Thanks so much Janet for making this marvelous pattern available!!  If I try to stay disciplined maybe I can finish both quilts  :0)

I haven't done any handquilting since May.  Now that it's so cold here I am wanting a quilt to snuggle under and work on through the winter months.  I found this neglected top when I moved my sewing room to the basement.  It's basted now and I'll get started on it tonight. 

Happy Quilting!!

couple new things

I haven't posted for awhile.  We went on a family vacation to Hawaii.  It was so very wonderful...  Last night it was cold enough for DH to start making the skating rink in the backyard.  It's really feels like winter now.
I started a couple of new things.

 This little applique I prepped to bring along on our trip.  I always panic thinking I don't have enough handwork to last for the whole trip.  I did work on my Susan McCord vine quilt panel #5 but I brought this along for "just in case".  Well - I didn't finish my vine panel but I did finish this  :0)  It's 7 1/2 inches square.  It's called Whig Rose from Lori Smith's book Fat Quarter Quilting.  Rather than making 5 more blocks like the pattern I plan to use it as a center for a small medallion quilt. 

 This project I started on my sew day with friends last month.  Fall is long gone here where I live but these warm colors continue to make me happy  :0)  I have no idea what the finished project will be - I will continue making blocks until I figure it out.

Thank you to those who helped me in my search for more of the red and white polka dot fabric I'm using in my zigzag quilt.  Thanks especially to Beatrice from France who told me the name of the fabric line and the designer.  With this information I was better able to look for more.   After much searching, I found a store in Lethbridge that still had some and it is on it's way here in the mail.  Yahoo!!  Now I can make my zigzag quilt as big as I want  :0)

Happy Quilting!!

Quiltalong link up

 I sewed my Mountain Trail blocks into a top this afternoon.  I decided on the Zigzag setting for them. I am still making more blocks but I didn't want to miss out on Lori's linkup with all the quilts from this quiltalong.  I will add borders when I've sewed all the blocks I can make onto it.  What a great project this has been - thanks so much Lori!!

 I cut all the scraps my friend gave me of the red polka dot fabric.  There is just enough for one more row of blocks.  I'm so glad.  I'd love to make this quilt bigger.  This is the only piece of selvage with info on it.  I suspect it was from a line that came out last Christmas.  I sure wish I'd bought more...

I enjoyed so very much the sew day with friends I had last Saturday.  I managed to finish the rest of the blocks for Cheddar Posies - the quilt I am making for DD#1.  The pattern is from Quiltmaker May/June 2011. My friends helped me decide on navy blue for the inner and outer borders.

Happy Quilting!!

mountain trails get longer

 It's been a busy week!  The kids have had stomach flu and I have had to move my sewing room from an upstairs bedroom to a corner of the basement family room.  I did manage to get more Mountain Trail blocks made.  I used every little scrap of of the red polka dot fabric that I had.  I have a friend who has a little bit of it left over from one of her projects and she's going to give it to me tomorrow  :0)   I'll make as many blocks as I can!

 It's hard to say if I've had more fun sewing these scrappy little blocks or arranging them in many setting possibilities.

 How will I ever decide???

I'm very partial to this zigzag setting.  Which one do you like?
On Monday Lori wants to link up all the mini quilts made from this quilt along. I suspect I will still be making blocks  :0)
Tomorrow I am taking a whole day off to go to a sew day with friends.  I can't wait! 
Happy Quilting!!

Mountain Trails

 I have had so much fun making these blocks from Lori's latest Quiltalong.   They are so scrappy  :0)  I used a few uglies thinking they couldn't look too bad when the strips finish at 3/4 inch.

 I haven't sewn them together yet.  They are fun to play with as they have so many possibilities. 

 These big pinwheels.

 Set straight.

 I really like this one.  I'll decide on the setting when I'm finished making blocks.

 

 I'm going to make blocks until I run out of the red and white polka dot.  Then I might raid a friend's stash to get some more of it  (you know who you are ;0)  I might get 50 - 60 blocks altogether if I'm lucky.
Thanks so much Lori for another great quiltalong!
Happy Quilting!

 

 

Bird of Paradise blocks

Barb asked to see the finished blocks all together. I thought that was a great idea as I hadn't done it for awhile.
So, now I can see that I don't need anymore big pink things and maybe it could use a little bit more black. This is not the final layout - I will decide that when I have all the blocks appliqued.
I ordered a few pieces of Moda Primitive Muslin to see if one of those would work for my borders. They came today and none were a very good match. I think I could live with this darker one laid out on the left. I would put an hst or dogtooth border between as a first border I think.
I've been busy sketching the next 2 blocks this afternoon :0)
Happy Quilting!!