Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Almost the End...

of my holiday sewing/quilting gifts. whew. I have 3 more little things to make. What, you say...Christmas has already been? huh. Well, that's okay, as my boys and their families aren't coming until this Saturday. Yeah, officially it'll be 2010, but it's still our Christmas, 2009. This will be the first time all of my grandchildren will be together here at my house. Praying for the weather to hold...i.e. no snow, as they all have about an hour to drive.

Conlan's quilt is done...and all soft and crinkly after being laundered. I had fun making this and he will love the fireman motif. The pattern is the disappearing nine-patch, which I think is so easy and versatile.

Here's the pieced back...

I quilted it with red thread...just an all-over stippling.



I think I should get everything done today and then I can grocery shop (lasagna is on Saturday's menu...yummy) & clean.


Here's another fabric basket I made last weekend. This one is a bit larger...about 6 1/2 x 10 inches. The blocks are from the big box of scraps Cathy sent ...and the green lining is fabric from Jane ...too dang cute, hey??? 

Tutorial is here.

 I'll need to get all the links to my 2009 finishes on my sidebar. Soon. I am very proud of and happy with what I have accomplished this year...am set to make/meet some new challenges with my sewing/quilting in the coming year. Wait til you see what all I have on my 2010 list and it's not even the first of the year, yet! YIKES! {grin}

I am off work until next Monday...YAY!

Okay, time to get moving.

Later!

Friday, December 25, 2009

A Blessed Christmas to all...

The words
"...when you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the face of God..."


I cannot even...fathom...what that must have been like.



Saturday, December 19, 2009

Gifts in the Mail...

I love getting packages...especially those I haven't paid for.  Ya know...gifts!  Here's what I got yesterday from my BFF Janer. 


Did you take a good look at that box?  See the hook & eye?  It does nothing...is just there.  This box is so obviously handmade and so very primitive, it is amazing!  And, best of all, it's my color!  As you can see, it is for 'stuff'...wonder what I'll end up putting in there.  Also got fabric that I have a use for this weekend (YAY!) and a k.d. Lang cd.  I love her voice.  The voice range, the way she holds her notes...amazing. 

Thank you, Janer!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Haven't shown you these...

Here's me beautiful Mum
with her Iced Mocha quilt. 
(My sisters posed her & took the photo.)


A simple holiday table runner for my Aunt Bev.
Measures ~12 x 40 inches.


The back of same table runner...
Merry Chrismas printed all over it.


Julie's quilt top all pieced. 
Sad to say, she won't be getting it until January,
as it isn't yet basted/quilted/finished.
Mostly cuz I'm not sure how to quilt it...
and I don't want to rush it.
The backing/binding will be the same fabric as the border.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Checking My List...

and getting things crossed off!
Here are a few that I can show you.


This is is Devin's quilt.
It measures about 51x61 inches...
all washed & dried, now.



wow...look at the difference in the blue dye lots.
I hope Devin doesn't care.



Made a few of these fabric baskets...
some with handles and some without.

This one is made with fabric from the
authentic collection (thanks, Bren!).

Soooo cute and super easy!

Saw them on Erin's blog, Why Not Sew?


The tutorial is here.
I quilted mine.

I think that's all I've got for now.
Are you still working on your list?

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Sick of Snow and Just Plain Sick.

So.  We had snow this week...over a foot of it!  That is a lot of snow!!  State offices actually closed down on Wednesday...a first in forever, I think.  Didn't take any photos...sick of snow already. 

I took full advantage of being home and worked on projects on my christmas gift to-do list...made some good progress!  No photos until after they've been received.   

Then, sickness struck.  ugh.  Better today.

But, the biggest thing (to me, anyway) is that my computer is having problems and is very slow and it takes forever to load up anything.  I've not been on here, much.  I am in the process of getting it taken care of.

I'll be back soon.  

Sunday, December 6, 2009

I've Been Workin'...

on my projects all weekend, but I don't seem to have a lot to show for it. 

Here's a peek at Conlan's quilt.  I am 2/3 done with the top.  That is actually a bright red...it is showing more orangey on my monitor. 




I am ready to quilt this little mat. 


Hope you're getting something done!

Friday, December 4, 2009

I have my work...

cut out for me.
(hahahaha...I crack me up sometimes!)


Weekend projects...still working on Christmas gifts. 
I hope to have some good things to show you by Sunday night! 

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Keeping Busy...

I've been keeping busy these last 3 days...
(click on photos to enlarge)

Two small table mats started & finished. 
Will show better photos after washing them
(ya know, to show you the crinkles).



One 18" Christmas table mat started & finished. 
Christmas gift for Claire.
Check out that quilting! 
It's all irregularly spaced vertical & horizontal lines.
(It's not been washed, so no crinkles.)



And last, but certainly not least, Julie's quilt top is all pieced.

That's all for now.
I'm on my way to Claire's for Thanksgiving supper...yummy!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Missing Allegra.

I am not sinking into the depths of despair, but I do have large moments of time that I could so easily be there.  I miss my little collie girl so very much.  To look at me, or to talk with me, one would think I was doing just fine.  Yet, several times during the days & nights, my eyes fill with tears, I cry silently...or break down completely & sob.  

I wrote down my thoughts.

Without You
My breaths are filled with sadness.
My pillows are tear-soaked.
The house seems so much larger.
The days so much more quiet.
There is a huge hole in my heart.
An emptiness that cannot be filled.
It's as if part of me went with you. 
Because...
I feel no nudges from your petite collie nose.
I see no expectant looks or wagging tail.
I hear no welcome home bark, no story of your day.
I have no tiny feet to trim, no beautiful long coat to groom.
I miss your warm body across my feet as I awaken.
The sun no longer shines just for you.


Oh, how I miss you, my baby girl, my Princess, my woo-woo girl.  

My Allegra.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Sunday Sewin'...


I finished Devin's quilt top...YAY!  It didn't work out the way I had planned...remember that flames fabric I was going to do the borders with?  Well, I sewed the side borders on.  Oh. My. Gosh.  I really did not like it...left it on for a few days, thinking I just needed to get used to it...but, no.  I ripped the borders off & bought more navy blue Kona solid to use, instead.  Course, it's a different dye lot...but I think once it's quilted and washed, it won't be too noticeable.  Nothing I can do about it, anyway.  I do like the look of this quilt and the blocks were super easy to make.  Sorry, I'm feeling too lazy to hang it so that you are able to see all of it...will do that once it's finished.  {You know I will.}

I need to work on some small Christmas gift projects today.  I have so much to do that I (almost) don't know what to do next.  I'm kind of restless today, too.  So, I'll do laundry & sew, wash dishes & sew, read a bit & sew...you know.  That's way better than wandering around aimlessly, which is what I've been doing thus far this morning.
  

Have a good day!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

BEWARE...BRIGHT Colors!

I have over half the blocks done...YAY!  This is not the final layout...I just laid them all on the floor to see what they looked like together.  I still need to trim them all to a uniform size.  I'm debating about the size...16 blocks & adding additional borders of yellow & orange to the already planned border of the flames fabric...or adding another row of 4 to make 20 blocks and then having just the one border with the flames fabric.  Time will tell, I guess.



Saturday, November 14, 2009

Congratulations...& 4 Blocks Done.

Paul (youngest son) and his fiance, Rachel, dropped by.
They've set a wedding date!  Finally!
Been together for 5 years...
It's official now...she has a gorgeous ring!
New Year's Eve civil ceremony.
Congratulations!!!

We had a really  nice visit.  I sent stuff home with them...
a dresser I needed to get rid of, plus a few other (small) items.

ohyeah, and guess what they would love for a wedding gift from me?  Yup...a quilty gift...a double-sized lap quilt for snuggling on the sofa while watching tv.  Made of primitive colors.  hmmmm...wonder where I can get me some of that fabric?  {grin}   

(Paul is Kaylynn's daddy...she is so much like him.) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Needless to say, I didn't get very far with my sewing.
I did get 4 blocks done...and am happy with how it's going to work out. 
(Holy Schmoly, are those bright or what?)
They will be sashed with blue to make 12 inch blocks and 
will be bordered by the hot wheels flames fabric.
This quilt be will for Devin...
Rachel (of Paul & Rachel) is his Mom.

Not Much Done...Yet.

I've been up for 6 hours...
and this is all I have to show for it!

Time to get busy sewing!

Saturday Tidbits...

As I was doing my daily blog reading (click on the 'quilter blogs' button on my sidebar), I happened upon a photo and thought to myself, "hmmmm, that looks like Debbie's work"...so, I went back to the top and started reading...guess what???  It IS Debbie's work!  Debbie of Woolensails is famous, ya know.  And, so dang talented!  She does awesome punch needle work.  Go check out the blog I was reading here


I put together a quilt top and backing last night.  All ironed and ready to baste.  Probably won't quilt it, yet...my to-do list for this weekend is long & heavy on the sewing.  I think I'll let a few flimsies stack up.  


My priority today is to cut & piece quilts for my 2 grandsons. 


Just so ya know, there'll be things mentioned here in the next 5 weeks that I won't be able to show you.  I will once they're all received, though.  Promise.


I need to make some small (but awesome & quick) quilty gifts for Christmas giving.  Any ideas?


Joyce (sister in Alaska) sent fat quarters...

she did a pretty good job selecting fabric, don't you think?


That's all for now...have a great weekend!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

BOM 10

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


That's all for today!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

For Dolls and Kitties...

Alyssa's doll quilt ~26 inches - front...
back...Ashley's doll quilt ~ 24 inches - front...back...Kitty blanket #1 - front...yes, those are dogs...back...Kitty blanket #2 - front...back...


All those crinkles.
All that softness.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Baking with Kaylynn...and other photos.

Yes, she is actually rolling out that cookie dough.


Yes, that is a collie...and dog bones.

Yes, she is actually frosting those cookies and
putting the sprinkles on them.

Yes, I actually let her lick the frosting off the spatula.

No, Tag did not actually help...though he wanted to.

Kaylynn enjoyed eating the fruits of her labor.

Kaylynn gathered a leafy bouquet for me.
(the sun is in her eyes...hence the scowl)

Tag & Kaylynn sitting in a pile of leaves.
A wonderful day!



I found a new quilt shop.
I am in big trouble!!!
Primitives, flannels, homespuns, 1930's repros...
{sigh}...
am either going to have to get another job,
or quit paying bills!
I want to buy yardage from every single bolt in the store!!!
The most delicious blacks, browns, golds, greens, reds, etc.
Never before have I seen so many
truly gorgeous primitive fabrics in one place.



Here's what I did buy...
1/2 yard pieces of this collection
(wildrose by brannock/patek)
were only $2.50 each.
I think I'll save these for my Bee Addicted 3 swap...
my turn for blocks is April.
The colors are totally scrumptious on these pieces!I may have to get more...
I mean, really...
gorgeous prints?
$2.50 for 1/2 yard?
Moda?
How could anyone resist?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaylynn came yesterday & stayed overnight.
Here she is, modelling the vest me Mum
(that would be Kaylynn's great-gram!) made.
Darling, don't you think?

And, of course, Tag had to get in on the photo shoot.
He adores Kaylynn.
She plays with him a lot!
He is in 7th heaven when the grandkids come.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Another Giveaway Win!

HOLY SCHMOLY!!!
Cathy of Quilting on Turtle Hill was in a cleaning out mood
& I was the lucky winner!





The box arrived today.



Full of fabric scraps that are mostly Moda designer fabrics!

There were strips & stripes, odd-sized squares & geometrics, charm packs & hearts, yardage & fat quarters, florals...

all luscious...

all for me...

there seemed to be no end!!!





I love it all!!!






Thank you so much, Cathy!


Cannot wait to start using these wonderful fabric 'scraps'.