A Mini-Vacation and a Long Break Ahead...

Tag and I went on a mini-vacation...we house sat for my friend, Claire (former landlady, current friend and Tag's vet).  We stayed at their house from Friday late afternoon through this morning.  It's always fun to have a bit of time out in the country. 

This is Tag's friend, Blue.  He is a Portuguese Water Dog...and quite the goofy boy.  Tag was not quite in the mood for Blue's exuberance; though, for the most part, he calmly put up with his antics. 

What really fascinated Tag was the fish tank.  He kept going into the room where the tank was and would stand there looking...and looking.  Sometimes, he would bark at the fish...just a quiet 'woof'.  ~grin~  I am disappointed that I did not get a good photo to show you...but sometimes the orange fish came down to the bottom of the tank to look back at Tag...as if to say, "hello, there!".   But, here is one that did turn out...the brown boy watching the fish.

We had a good time while there and I thoroughly enjoyed the quietness of being outside of the city/apartment environment.  

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I am about to go on a long break.  Not from this blog and not from sewing in general.  But, from the business that I have been wanting to get started for a long while...that of developing a line of doll clothes.  What will I be doing instead?  I have several commission-type projects that I need to work on.  Some that I have been putting off and some that are fairly new.  Plus, at least two quilt tops that really need to be sandwiched/basted/quilted in the near future!  Too much going on in the next several months to tackle everything.  So, I think this is the best way to do this.

And, I need to finish my Snow Days quilt.  I am at a good place with it...all the embroidery stitching is done and the center blocks need to be pieced.  Sharon, who did the Snow Days BOM with me, chose to purchase the fabrics along with the pattern.  Which, of course, means that each month she received fabrics along with specific block patterns.  I purchased my own fabrics, so I need to do some serious color planning...to decide which fabrics will be used for what sections of the center blocks.  

So.  That being said, here is a little commission-type project I finished the other day.  Three earbud cases (first shown here) for Cyndi...

and I have more to make.

I am happy that my sewing business is busy right now...it's the perfect time of the year for me to be busy.  The gray and gloomy days of winter are gone and the warmer weather is here...I am full of excitement and energy for getting these projects worked up and checked off my list.

Have a great week!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Snow Days Revisited...Again...Seriously!

You will be happy to know that I am working on my Snow Days quilt.  Again.  Seriously!    

For those of you who have not been reading my blog for the past 4 years...here is a quick recap.

Sharon - of MoosecraftUSA blogging fame - and I started a BOM in February of 2011.  Snow Days.  She actually did the BOM thing...where she received a box of fabric from the host shop each month.  I received the pattern for my birthday and bought my own fabrics.  

Here is the pattern cover...

And, here are the fabrics I purchased...

To continue.  I finished stitching all 14 blocks within 11 months.  woohoo!  And, then I did nothing for a year.  In 2013, I pieced all of the fabric blocks that go around the border of the quilt...those that attach to the stitched blocks I had completed.  Since then, I have done very little with it.  So.  Here we are in 2015...I must be able to work on this in only the odd-numbered years.  (huh?)  

Today, I cut stitched blocks to size and sewed them to pieced blocks.  I have four more to go, but I am done for today.

Here are the blocks that are now ready for the next step.  (Ignore the measurements written on the paper tags...those are the sizes I needed to cut the stitched block.)  Without further adieu...

 

There is more stitching to do on some of the blocks.  Extensions of the tree branches.  That will keep me busy in the evenings for awhile.  And, I need to piece all of those center blocks!  I will get this done!  

Hope you're having a pleasant and productive weekend!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

As If...

Yes, as if I don't have enough on my to-do list...

While looking through my stash for fabrics for (yet another set of) napkins, I came across these fabrics.  The kit was put together by my lqs for a BOM last year.  Along the way, I decided to not do the BOM...just too much going on at the time.  Most of them are Normandy Court and Fossil Fern, both  by Benartex...very pretty, aren't they? 

I did use a few pieces for napkins (I'll show that set later) and then started obsessing about wondering what I should do with these lovely pieces.  With the help of my friend, Erin of Why Not Sew?, (thank you!) I decided a 16 patch would be perfect.   

Even though I have a quilt top all set to sew together and another one to start right after the first of the year, and even though I am not quite done with Christmas gift-making, and I do have a few commissioned pieces to start on right after the first of the year...and especially even though I really need to concentrate on making doll clothes...I may have to take a bit of time when I wouldn't otherwise be sewing to work on the 16 patch.

Obsessed, I know. 

And crazy.

For sure.



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Sunkissed, Birthday & Snow Days...

The weekend is about over...darn.  I had plenty of time to get a few things done today that I really wanted to, though, so it's all good.

I got the Sunkissed fabric cut for the sample quilt for my lqs (Saving Thyme).

I prepped fabric and traced a pattern for a huge project.  Did I tell you about this?  Sharon of MoosecraftUSA & I are embarking on a project.  Together but separately...each will have our own finished product.  But, across the miles, we will be here for each other as we work our way through this project...and try to not become overwhelmed by the immense amount of hours it will take to complete it.  (Me Mum predicts that it will take 194,000 hours to complete it. Sharon did the math and it comes out to be 12 years...24/7.  ha!)

It all started when Sharon mentioned 2 BOM's that she was starting this year.  Applique/quilting projects.  I looked at the patterns she was doing (they're so cool!) and looked further and saw one that I was completely taken with.  If you're a regular reader of my blog, this will sound familiar to you.  That's cuz I wrote about it here.  Sharon and I emailed back and forth about this quilt and we were both so excited...she finally could no longer resist and joined the BOM for that, too!  YAY!  So, my plan was to cheer her on with it.  But, surprise, surprise, she decided to send a pattern of my own to me.  Happy Birthday to me from Sharon!  Thank you so much!  (ohyeah, more about my birthday in a bit.)  So.  We are in this together.  I think she just really wanted someone to feel the pain with her.  This pattern calls for 16 skeins of floss...of the same color...2 strands used for the stitchery.  Look at how gorgeous this variegated floss is...

The pattern calls for over 40 different fabrics, but I opted to cut that number down to 26.  I went to the lqs close by my work (Stitcher's Crossing) and Julie gave me outstanding customer service with help in selecting fabrics.  In fact, she ran around with a skein of the floss and chose fabrics...all I had to do was stand there and decide which ones I could not live without.  There are several batiks...soooo gorgeous!  Lots of textures.  And, of course, all more gorgeous than they show here.

I tend to watch a lot of tv in the evenings...especially now with American Idol on and Dancing With the Stars due to start soon (March 21).  If I have some handwork to do...it's all a good thing.  Keeps me from thinking about smoking and eating.  This project will definitely keep my hands busy!

So.  My first block of stitchery is ready to go.  YAY!  The stitching is all done in backstitch, so it won't be at all difficult.  The challenge is the detail in the stitchery blocks.  

That being said, it is going to be one gorgeous quilt when finished.  Since Sharon's BOM is 14 months long...and I'm not going to rush to get done before her...we should have these ready to cuddle up with for the winter of 2012-2013.  Course, it's always possible that after all of our work, we will opt to hang them on our walls!! 

(you'll have to click to enlarge to see this and even then you may not be able to see it very well.  I would like to point out that this block has the least amount of detail of all of them!)

 

 Wish us luck!

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Yup, I had a birthday this past week.  I think I forgot to mention it.  No big number/milestone...this year.  It was a quiet birthday...nothing special going on.  All of my coworkers brought food...can you say sugar overload?  I received many phone calls & emails,  2 virtual floral bouquets, several happy birthday wishes on Facebook and some very nice gifts.  Thank you all very much!

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I have been thinking about doing a giveaway.  The only reason that I'm not announcing it right here & now is that I haven't made up my mind what to give away.  Any suggestions?

Have a great work week!

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Just a Bit of Time...

is all it took to make this pillowcase.

I've had a queen-sized pillow for over 10 years and never had a pillowcase that was big enough for it.  I don't use that particular pillow on my bed, so I don't think about it much...just when I pull it out to use when I'm lounging in my big easy chair.  The other day when I got it out, I wondered why I had never made a pillowcase for it.  

So...now I have.  

 

The tutorial can be found here.  The fabric is from my stash...something I had for last year's BOM that I did not complete.    

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Upcoming Projects...

I need more to do.  

Actually, I had a gaping hole in my time

(yeah, right...ha!)

because I quit the simple sampler quiltalong.

No particular reason. 

Yesterday, the Small Quilt Talk yahoo! group

I belong to was just buzzing.

There is a challenge AND a quiltalong starting right now.

The challenge is from Kathy Tracy...a star block doll quilt.

Here's the fabric I chose for my stars...

The fat quarters are Luna Notte by 3 Sisters for Moda...

coming to quilt shops near you this month or next.

I'll have to pick up a bit of yardage once it arrives...

for the sashing and backing and binding.  

And, there is a quilt along starting...

the 1800's Vintage Quilt on the Moda Bake Shop here.

This is the fabric I'll be using for that.

I'll be adding in some odds and ends that I have

left over from the Pioneer Sampler BOM.

I bought the fat quarters that are shown...

the 3 on the right side I had in my stash.

Lots of nice reproduction fabrics

I can use for more doll quilts. 

So.

I'm thinking that will keep me busy for a bit.

What do you think?

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Something New and Something Else...

First of all, the something else.  I think I mentioned in a different blog post that I had sent the pillow covers I made for my nephew, Tony, to Alaska (where sister Joyce lives and where Tony is stationed) so that Joyce could pick up the pillow forms and give them to him and his fiance as a wedding gift from me.  {geez, take a breath, would you?}

 Well, Joyce got the pillow forms and I wanted to show you how they looked.  I think they look so much different now...as pillows, rather than just flat pieces.  Ya know?!

I see more pillow covers in my future!

(the fabrics used for these pillow covers are taken from the fabrics I talk about below.) 

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As for the something new...just cuz I have nothing else to do (but, actually, I needed a purpose for these fabrics!), I joined Amy's (of Amy's Creative Side aka Park City Girl) Simple Sampler Quilt Along! 

This will be a great way to use the fabrics...and belonging to a quilt along will keep me on track.  Oh, the fabrics?  I had originally purchased them to use in my lqs's BOM for this year, but dropped out.  Remember these? I think they will work out just great!  I don't have a photo, but I have a few more pieces that I had gotten online that aren't in this original batch.  So, I think I have the makings of an awesome quilt! 

Have a good night!

Show & Tell...

I took 1 lap quilt, 2 snuggle quilts (the ones for Joyce's grandkids), 1 doll, 1 doll quilt, 1 tote bag and my placemats from Sylvie in France to work today.  I had told everyone what all I got done on my time off and they all wanted to see.  So.  I obliged.  Wanted some praise and adoration positive feedback...and got it!  Everyone was so nice.  You should know that there are a ton of people who walk through the medical records department, and I hang my quilts where they can be seen the moment anyone walks through the door.  It was nice to hear all the comments.  I may even get a few commissions out of today.  That would be sweet!

Here is Janer's quilt...all done...all soft and crinkly.

Then, on my way home, I stopped at the quilt shop to show off my stuff to the owner...who is the one who convinced me (soft sell) to do the BOM last year.  She was amazed at the quilts...and the quilting!  Proud of me, she was.  That made me feel very, very good...as she must see tons of quilts!

So.  It's Friday.  YAY!  The grandkids are coming tomorrow for an overnight.  In the meantime, I have things to do.

Have a great evening!

What's Goin' On...

I've got some projects going on.

4 major ones...a few minor ones.

I think.

Could be wrong.

In any case...

I got the backing together for last year's BOM.

This quilt will be going to Janer.

Not sure if you all knew that or not.

That corner there, with the red blocks...

that's a signature square.

On the back.

I started putting my Charmed Whirlygig top together.

Bit by bit, it'll get done.

Borders to add once the rows are together.

Backing is a large floral...gonna be very exciting!

I have all of the blocks cut out for Paul & Rachel's quilt.

I am very anxious to get started,

but really need to finish those other things first.

And, I got the backing all sewn together for the quilt top Kelley sent me.

With the backing fabric she sent me.

More than enough.

Will use the rest of these 3 for a scrappy binding.

Maybe.

I also have a large rug hooking order that I've been working on.

Almost done.

So, that's what I've been up to.

How about you?

Fabric Galore!!

I said last night that I had lots of fabric to show you.

Feast your eyes!

Remember this photo I showed you of the sample quilt
of this year's BOM I am doing?  

Not sure who took the photo and printed it out, 

but her ink was apparently running low...

the alternate blocks are light yellow.

After much thought, I decided that if I was going to 
put as much work as I will be putting into this, 

I wanted it to be something for me.  

The colors of the sample quilt are pretty,

but just not my colors.  Ya know?  

So.  The owner of my LQS & I put together
a wonderful collection of fabrics for MY quilt.

I am so excited! 

Here are the fabrics that will be used in the blocks.

(there's another green one that I didn't photograph... 

it's the same fabric as the border on Julie's quilt.)

Here are the fabrics for the alternate blocks, borders and binding.  

Don't you just love that bias stripe?  I sure do!
It's for a small inner border and the binding.
(the background of this big floral is actually a dark brown, 
like the dark floral in the photo above.  Looks purple on my monitor.)

My good friend, Jane (from here), sent me a box of fabric.

Here are the photos.  Holy Schmoly...

I kept taking out piece after piece after piece!

It is all wonderful!  
Thank you, Jane!

I finally started picking up fabric for my son's quilt.

Paul & Rachel got married in December
and asked me to make them a double wide lap quilt.

Here are 3 pieces of the au.then.tic. fabric collection...
6 more are on the way to me.
I'm going to need at least 10 more fabrics...
which means that I get to go to the PRIM quilt shop
to select some wonderful blacks, reds, & purples.
Cannot wait!

This is going to be a fun quilt to do.

Last, but certainly not least, here is the fabric for my doll quilt swap (DQS8).

It's a MoMo Wonderland charm pack and 2 pieces of yardage.

I know exactly what I'm going to do 

and I think (hope) my partner will be very happy!

That's it for now!

BOM - Pioneer Sampler Quilt 2009

The top is pieced...YAY!

I used only 9 of the 12 blocks we received.

I totally messed one up...not once, but twice.

That made 11 blocks finished.

One I don't like much.

The other is a signature block.

They will go on the back.

This looks so much richer in person.

Started a new BOM today...Pieced Applique.

Here's a (really bad) photo.

I'll try to get a better one. 

This was taken by someone else whose

printer was apparently running out of ink.

The quilt is pretty, but definitely not my colors.

 I think it looks nice and fresh, though.

Reds, yellows, soft greens & aquas, black & white.

It'll be challenging, but I think a lot of fun.

BOM 10

This is the latest BOM...one more month to go.

That's all for today!

Small Projects.

Hanging out...
reading, watching a movie,
& working on small projects today.

Here's the September Pioneer Sampler quilt BOM block.

Here are the wonky stars I made for
Brioni of my Bee Addicted 3 block swap.
They were fun.

Cannot wait to see what we'll get this next month!

Rag, Leaves, Mini, VIP...

First of all, cuz I know you're all wondering, Allegra is doing fine. Same, in fact. Though, she does seem to be eating better...could be the prednisone is working...or it could be the fact that I have found the correct size of meatballs to feed to her. No, not meatballs like with spaghetti, but small pieces of canned food rolled into a ball. Much easier for her to eat.

Second, I had a crappy a** week. Worried about Allegra, then my car broke. Thank goodness it was just the battery, but I still had to go without my car for 3 days...and rely on others to take me to work and back. What a pain. For them, as well, I am sure. So, when I went out to get the mail and found a large package waiting for me, I was amazed. Who was sending me something??? I knew it wasn't my quilt from the doll quilt swap...the box was too big. And, heavy. Well...I tell you...I cried my eyes out when I opened the box. Sharon, a friend from a wonderful group called An American Primitive Gathering, sent me this kit to make my very own rag quilt! How totally awesome is that! Thank you so very much, Sharon. You are so very generous! This was exactly what I needed on that day. (the colors are much richer...cannot get a good color for some reason)
Sharon also sent along a magazine, "American Patchwork & Quilting". In it was this quilt pattern. Isn't it lovely??

I walked into my LQS yesterday to pick up my next BOM kit and saw bolts of these luscious leaves...had to buy some fat quarters to use for the leaves of the aforementioned quilt!
Third, here is the mini quilt I received from my partner in the Doll Quilt Swap 7! Anna saw that I, too, was a Christian, so she wanted to make something with a verse. This is what she did. Isn't it just the perfect mini for me? Totally AWESOME!!!

Anna wrote, "When I found this verse I just thought of how we always focus on our flaws & not the beauty in us. So I made the quilt kind of wonky & with some wrinkles as a reminder that no matter how many flaws we may focus on, we are God's amazing creations."

I absolutely love it! My first doll quilt swap was so much fun...the next one doesn't start until the New Year. Thankfully, I have a ton of things to get done by then...so the time will go fast.
I am working on a very important project...hoping to get it done this weekend. Here's a sneak peek:
Hope you all have a great weekend!