a finish and a start

I did decide to go with the corn and beans block for this scrap quilt. Here it is just laid out but I have sewn a few blocks. I like how it is developing but the name... I'm not sure I want to call it my Corn and Beans quilt. Is there another name for this block? Then I finally finished handquilting this wallhanging. It was difficult to finish because my hands have been quite swollen lately. It still needs a hanging sleeve yet but I can't wait to hang it up so I'll get to it soon.

I decided to quilt designs in the blocks instead of straight lines. I had never quilted designs before and I really liked it. It was easy to mark using templates and soap. I have another small UFO all ready to baste so I can keep on hand quilting :0)

Happy Quilting!!

ufo that needs attention

I thought I would post another UFO - maybe by showing it I will get back to working on it. I don't think I have worked on this quilt in well over a year. I made all the blocks I thought I wanted, set them on point and then made the mistake of laying it out on my bed. Once I saw it on my bed I thought maybe I should make it into a queensize quilt. However,that's a lot more blocks to make and so it has sat on my shelf. I still really like it but maybe its time to just put a border on it, quilt it and move on. What do you think?

This next quilt is the one that we sleep under every night. I made it about 6 years ago. I think I must like red, blue and tan quilts :0) Twelve years ago, my husband built this bed - in the living room of our 1 bedroom apartment with tools he bought with our wedding money. There was dust everywhere! Recently I've been thinking about painting it ... in my spare time. LOL

a little gift

I finished this little gift yesterday and gave it to a friend today. It is a free pattern from http://www.patchalotpatterns.com/

Marcie is kind to offer these free patterns - this is the 3rd free one I have made.

I haven't made any more progress on my scrap quilt - I did see an antique quilt on Bonnie's blog http://quiltville.blogspot.com in the Corn and Beans pattern that I have been considering for a few days. What I really need to get working on is a crib quilt for the baby my brother and his wife are expecting. I'm so excited for them - it will be their 1st. Their little son is due to arrive next month so I better get to work on it! I really like making crib quilts - they are an easy size and its sweet to think about the little one who will sleep under it :0)

half square triangles

After a very busy Christmas I was ready to sit down and do some sewing again. Last year for Christmas my mom gave me a packet of Thangles papers for making 2 inch half square triangles. I have used half square triangle paper before which is great for making lots the same but the thangles papers make only 6 at a time - perfect I think for a scrap quilt!

My last scrap quilt was pieced mostly with flying geese which I enjoyed making very much. This time I will use lots of half square triangles made with the Thangles papers.

So over the weekend I made a small stack of them - now I get to play around with them until I decide on a design to use. I can tell its going to be hard to decide... :0)

Happy 2009!!

and Happy Quilting!!

last gift finished

I was happy to get this table runner quilted and ready for giving away. It was a very cold and snowy weekend - perfect for sewing. I hope the recipient likes it. If she doesn't - it doesn't look too bad on my table :0) Seriously though, I am a few years away from being able to use a table runner. The kids spill stuff and splatter paint... I really had NO IDEA how messy kids would make my world - or how marvelous. :0)I used Press n'seal for the quilting in the center panel and again it worked just great! This time I traced the design from the pieced border - lifted the Press n'seal - stuck it down in the middle and quilted. It's so easy.
I hope to get one more Christmas stocking made yet ... yikes its the 16th already!
Happy Quilting!

candy canes

I finished this little wallhanging just in time to enjoy it this Christmas. It hangs on the wall opposite the front door. My son was quite excited about this one when he heard that it was supposed to hold candy canes. I think he thought he would be allowed to eat one whenever he liked - sadly for him ... I think not.

I especially like the snowman fabric I found for the border. I tried something new with the quilting of it. I wanted to very carefully stiple around the snowmen in the border - I'm not very good at free motion quilting so I bought some Press'n Seal - stuck it to the fabric and drew the path to follow on with a marker. The Press'n Seal worked great but my free motion quilting still needs LOTS of practice.

Happy Quilting!

Christmas Tree Skirt

We got out our Christmas decorations this weekend and put up our Christmas tree. It looks a little funny this year as all the ornaments are placed up higher than the reach of our youngest daughter. She is 10 months old now and into everything! The Christmas tree with all its sparkly lights and ornaments is just too hard to resist. I love to take out my quilted Christmas tree skirt and I thought I would share it with you. I did make one change to the pattern (from Country Quilts). I like Christmas decorations that are about Christ (after all it is His birthday we are celebrating) so I made a panel with baby Jesus wrapped up in ... a quilt ... to replace the Santa panel. It's my favorite :0)

Happy Quilting!!