MANSFIELD PARK

No, it's not a Jane Austin movie.  It's a quilt - duh!!  That's the name of the pattern I've been working on and it's designed by Karen Montgomery, published by Timeless Treasures.  I saw it made up several years ago at a quilt show and that is the first time I ever had the desire to make a basket quilt.  I have spent the last several days putting the sashing and corner stars together.  It is in 3 sections right now.

I'm seriously thinking about sandwiching it in 2 pieces so I can comfortably quilt it on my sewing machine (since it's a double bed size).  Even though when I did this once before I swore I would never do that again!  However, that was a long time ago, and I think I've learned a lot since then and it might not be so bad after all.  For one thing, I would like to quilt it myself - after doing some big time practicing - and after I figure out how I want to quilt it.  Any suggestions would be welcome.

I'm winding up my Christmas preparations.  Yesterday I put up a few Christmas decorations, but not a tree.  We won't be here for Christmas, however, I'm not a total scrooge and I love the decorations.  How are your preparations going?

LUCKY WEEK!

This was my lucky week!  First of all, I received a package from Log Cabin Quilter in Florida containing all these darling vintage potholders and other crocheted items!  You can see her blog here.  Can you believe that she remembered from something on my blog that I collected these and got them for me!!  What a sweet lady!  Thank you so much.

This little hanging basket was part of the package.  I will hang it in my kitchen under a cupboard and maybe I can find something to put in it.  Any suggestions?

Then, I was notified that I had won this new magazine!  If you are a blogger, you might have known that  all the contributors of the 100 blocks had drawings that the Quiltmaker magazine would give away to all the winners.  I was very surprised that I won this!  There are a lot of neat new block patterns in this.  Where do these people come up with new designs all the time?

One day in JoAnn's I was looking at their quilting books and I decided to get this book with iron-on transfers for quilt labels.  I think all the books were 40% off.  I wasn't sure if I would like it, but I really do!  I have several quilts that need labels and I really want to do it.  Some of them are quilts by my MIL or owned by her.  I found several that I like and I have decided to embroider them.

Here's the first one I'm doing for the new grandbaby (which we just found out will be delivered on Dec. 7).  I am waiting until he is born to put in his name and date of birth.  I thought this came out really cute. I've got 2 others ready to start work on - one for an antique quilt and one that I made, but never labeled (shame on me).  

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  Even with all the problems, we truly do have so much to be thankful for.

ANOTHER GIFT FINISHED

First, here is my stack of strip blocks.  I think I have enough for another quilt to donate.  It is so easy to make these and I really love the way they turn out.

I sew the strips to an 8 1/2" piece of telephone book paper.  Then I turn it over and cut off the edges sticking out.

It looks a lot better after being trimmed!

This was going to be a Christmas present for DS#3/DIL, but since we decided to just give stocking stuffers, I will say it is a combined birthday present (since one birthday is in November & one in December).  The pillow is about 48" long and I made it for their bed.  It will go with the quilt I made them a couple years ago.  

I put a zipper in back and piping around the pillow.  This is the first time ever that I put piping on a pillow and I didn't really enjoy the experience, but I'm glad I did it.  Before this, the only piping I applied was to some Christmas stockings.  

The pillow fit perfectly - what a relief!  

How is your gift shopping/making going?  I still have a little shopping to do.  Have a wonderful week!

GONE TO TEXAS

Monday night was my quilt guild meeting and we had a special speaker - Betsy Cutchian, author of Gone to Texas.  I was really interested in hearing her because I love reproduction quilts and history.  This is a combination quilting book and story of her great-great grandmother along with some of her journal entries.  She came to Texas from Kentucky in 1852.  None of the quilts that she made have survived, but by using the journal entries, Betsy was able to design quilts that are similar to the ones her GGG might have made.

I love the "Gone to Texas" quilt.  She had the actual quilt with her that she found in a heap on the floor of an antique mall.  She also had the quilt that she made that she copied from the original.  

This is another one that I really like.

Below is the quilt that I'm going to give the new baby.  He is due in one month and we will be going to help take care of Jonah (2 years old) and the family when the new baby is born.  This is the first baby quilt I ever made and I hand quilted it.

This picture shows the backing.

This one is a play quilt for the new baby.  

This shows the back of the play quilt.  I think I'm all finished with baby quilts for a while - at least, I hope so!  I'm wanting to get going on some of my UFOs.

There's a pond not far from our house and we went there when I took pictures for the Teddy Bears' Picnic book.  It's really nice and seems like a little "woods" really close to home.  I found these berries there yesterday when I took my walk.  I don't know what they are, but I thought they were pretty.

Hope you have a nice weekend!  We're supposed to get some cooler weather - finally!

AND THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY IS.....

Quilt Sue from the United Kingdom!  I just sent her an email asking for her mailing address and I will mail her gifts this week.

This is what I made with the same charm pack that I am giving away.  This makes a nice baby quilt or lap quilt size.  I used 2 yards of the polka dot fabric that goes with the Moda "Happy" charm pack.  I had to add one more yard of a contrasting fabric to the back.

Congratulations Sue!

PLAY QUILTS AND STOCKINGS

I have been very busy getting some quilts made for Jonah, Abigail and the new baby (expected Dec. 7).  We will be taking care of Jonah while my DIL is in the hospital and we don't know exactly when we will get the call (obviously).  We're going to be partially packed so when they call, we can leave ASAP.  The neighbors will stay with Jonah until we get there - it's a 6 hour drive.

When Jonah was born I made a regular baby quilt and a play quilt, so I thought I better do the same for the new baby.  However, when we were on our trip, we saw a construction panel at a quilt shop and since Jonah's new bedroom has a construction mural on the wall, I had to get this panel.  This is now finished and it will be good to have something special for the "big brother."  Here is the front.

And here is the back.  One of my other DILs had gotten this map fabric a long time ago, but had never used it, so she gave it to me and I thought it would work well for the backing.

We will be spending Christmas in Florida with another son, DIL & Abigail.  I had bought this panel for a girl's play quilt and Abigail with get this for Christmas or her birthday (Dec. 27).  I don't know if you have ever looked for this type of panel, but it seems like it is easier to find panels for boys than for girls.  I was actually looking for a doll house type that had a view from the side not the top.  I don't know if she will know what these things are or not. 

Another project was stockings for 2 of my DILs.  Last Christmas I kind of made fun of one DIL's Christmas "stocking" because it really wasn't a stocking it was some kind of leather bag that they got in Africa and it was huge!  Her response was:  "Well nobody has made me a real stocking."  Well.....obviously, I had to make her a stocking.  And I was pretty sure Abigail's mother didn't have one either, so I made her one.  I found these kits in Idaho on a "Sale" table (I always seek out the sale section) and each kit had 6 fat quarters in them.   By using muslin for the lining, I was able to get 2 stockings out  of one kit!

I thought I would show how I have been basting quilts.  I have some tables that I set up in the garage and I have been spray basting the quilts.  In the picture I have the quilt top folded back so I can spray the basting stuff on the batting.  I do one half at a time.  However, I just basted a baby/lap quilt with straight pins because Joan at Keeping you in Stitches said she does that.  It sure is more economical than spray basting, because it is free!  

Don't forget to enter my giveaway drawing on my last blog post!  Thanks to all who have entered and left sweet comments!  I will be drawing a winner on Sunday.