WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

A couple months ago I basted a really old UFO and I finally decided to take a break from other newer projects to get this quilted.  Unfortunately, I decided I couldn't do an over all easy quilt job on it, so it's taking me a lot longer to get it quilted.  The pumpkins were easy, but then there is the area around the pumpkins and the area around the apples, etc.  Everything is different!   I also had to order some other colors of quilting thread and it hasn't come yet.  

In the mean time, I made the 2 wristlets for the Christmas challenge (that I blogged about on Saturday) and set up my Featherweight on one side of my sewing table so I didn't have to change the foot and thread on my Janome.  I decided to leave the FW there because it's heavy enough not to get pushed off the table by the quilt I'm working on and because I might want to use it to do some piecing or something.

Also, in the mean time, I finished the hand embroidery for my "Over the River and Through the Woods" quilt designed by Crab-apple Hill.  Now I just need to make the blocks and flying geese.  Maybe I can finish it for next Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What's on your sewing table?

A HANDMADE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

I found out about the "Handmade Christmas Challenge" from reading SewCalGal's blog here.   If you haven't been following her, you should at least check out her blog.  She has lots of quilty/crafty things on it including tutorials, etc.  

Anyway, the challenge (which I joined) is to make one Christmas gift or decoration each month during the year, so that you don't have lots of things to do at the last minute.  Good idea, huh?

I have this book, "Everyday Handmade" by Cassie Barde and Adrienne Smitke, which I have used before and remembered this wristlet purse that I thought was cute.  So, since I have plenty of selvedges, I decided to make one of these for a Christmas gift.  I really like how they turned out.

This one will be given to someone for Christmas and is made with blacks and reds.

I'm going to give this to someone before Christmas, but thought I would show it to you anyway.  It's made with blues, tans and white.

I had to order the swivel clip, or you can purchase them at most craft stores.  I already had one zipper and only had to buy the black one, so these didn't cost much at all.

Here is the link for the January challenge, which ends today, so if you made something this month for Christmas you still have time to enter the challenge.  I'm going to link this post on the "link party" now.

Let me know if you decide to join this.

PROGRESS REPORT

I am almost finished with this medallion for my "Baskets to You" quilt.  Remember all those little baskets that I appliquéd?  All 120 of them?  All I have to do is stitch the corner pieces, which I plan to do tonight and then I can start putting the baskets together.  I feel pretty good about this!

Here are some of the blocks made for my DS#1/DIL's anniversary quilt.  I will need 30 of these 9-patches which are 12" square.  I have 13 done so far.  This one doesn't have a name yet so I'll call it my pinwheel 9-patch.

I have some other projects going on as well, because I need to have some hand work ready at all times, plus I'm working on my GS's graduation quilt, etc etc.

All in due time everything will be revealed!

TWO QUILTS STARTED

I have 2 quilts that I need to make as gifts for this summer.  First is for my DS#1/DIL's 25th anniversary on July 1!!  This is what I have started.  In the 9-patch there will be 4 of a dark blue print and 5 pinwheels.  There will also be a pinwheel for each cornerstone.  Here is what I have on my design wall - and that's all I can fit on it.  I put it up "on point," but I might not make it that way.  

I'm going to need a gazillion pinwheels for this quilt, so I've been making tons of HSTs and will need to get more fabric.  Since I'm not using a pattern, I still have to figure out exactly how much fabric I need to buy.  I have enough of the blues - I have 7 different ones and there will be 30 12" blocks.

Next, I need to make a graduation quilt for my GS, son of the above couple, who is graduating from high school in June.  I decided to make the "Star Gazing" quilt from this book by Bonnie Hunter.

Here's the picture in the book.

I have just started making a few blocks and because I'm making 2 quilts at the same time, I can use them for leaders and enders for each other.  I wasn't sure I would like it, but now that I have a few blocks done, I do!  I will be putting sashing between the blocks like in the picture above.  Can you see the musical triangles?  He plays the piano and organ so I thought I would add that.

I have a plan!  I am going to get one of my oldest UFOs quilted before my next guild meeting on Feb. 10.  It's all basted.  Then, if I can squeeze it in, I also have another wall hanging top that needs to be basted and quilted.  I also have my appliquéd basket quilt that I'm working on finishing up the hand appliqué for the medallion and another hand embroidered project for handwork.  I like having several different things to work on - it's more interesting that way!

Not to mention several other UFOs!  We'll see if I can squeeze a couple of them in to finish up this year.

This is the book I'm currently reading.  I love Marie Bostwick's books!  I checked it out of the library last week and started reading it; then I discovered that it seemed familiar.  I looked on my book shelf and found that I had a copy, but I decided to re-read it anyway and am enjoying it immensely!  It's in the series of "the Cobbled Court" novels and I highly recommend it.

Are you excited to get going on your quilting projects in the new year?  Good luck with them!

MY SECOND FINISH FOR 2014!

Last summer when we were in Oregon visiting our DS and family, my GD (age 21) said she wanted to make a quilt.  I wasn't surprised because she has designed and made one before and loves them.  She also sews a lot of her own clothes.  She didn't know what design she wanted to use, so I showed her Bonnie Hunter's web site, Quiltville.com because there are lots of free patterns on it.  I showed her the Bricks and Stepping Stones pattern, because I had seen it before and liked it - and she liked it as well, so that was the plan.  

First, she needed fabric.  She pulled out several plastic bins full of fabric that she had bought at various places (especially Good Will), most of it more appropriate for clothes.  She went through the fabric I had with me and cut several pieces from there and then we heard about a quilt shop going out of business!  She wanted all of the "bricks" to be different!   Great idea!  We finished the top except for the border and I brought it home with me to quilt.  

I had some other priorities, so I worked on it as I could and then had to take my machine in for service two times.  Finally, it's finished!

Too big to get in the picture - it's a large queen size.

The center was quilted in the ditch the inner black border was quilted with a loopy pattern and the 10" border was quilted with a variety of meandering leaves and ferns.  I used Essential PRO quilting thread that I purchase from Connecting Threads.  I've been very happy with this quilting thread.

Close up of some quilting

After my guild meeting on Monday night where I will take it to show, it will be sent back to Oregon.  Too bad I can't deliver it in person!

MY FIRST FINISH FOR 2014!

I started this doll quilt back in May using pieces of some fabrics that a friend gave me when she moved.  She also gave me the doll bed, so I thought it appropriate to use some of that fabric in the doll quilt.  I finally finished it!  I hand quilted it and that's what took me so long.  Since the bed and quilt are for a special antique doll, I thought it needed hand quilting.  (Note:  I do not enjoy hand quilting very much, so this may be my last hand quilted quilt).  I wish I did enjoy it, because hand quilted quilts are truly special.

Sewing on the binding

Finished at last!

  I wrote a post about this doll here, but want to add some more information.  In that post, I said it had been my mother's doll, which was true, but I'm pretty sure it actually was my mother's sister's doll first.  My Mom was born in 1911 and this particular sister, Cora, was born in 1903.  She died in 1912 from pneumonia, complications from scarlet fever.  My Mom kept the doll in a safe place.  I thought she deserved a special bed of her own and now she has one!

Doll bed with the doll safely tucked in.

Come back soon - I will have another finish!

CHRISTMAS REVEALED

Here we are at the end of 2013!  I need to show a couple items that I gave for Christmas gifts.  This table runner was made for my DIL.  She wanted a whig rose in the middle and then something reproduced from Frank Lloyd Wright's windows on each side (she majored in architecture).  I did my best, but couldn't really reproduce the window exactly due to size limitations.

Close up of the center.  I did do a little more quilting on it after taking this picture.

Some of you have seen this quilt from my "Secret" blog.  I made 2 of these quilts and gave them the name of "The Eagle."  Here is a picture of me with DS#3 (we spent Christmas with him and his family).

A picture of the whole quilt is below.  The quilt is a partial reproduction of the "Lindy" quilt which was made in 1930 to commemorate Charles Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927.  Two of my sons are pilots, so when I first saw this quilt several years ago, I wanted to make it for them.  The alternating blocks have an eagle embroidered on them.  The quilt appears in "Word Play Quilts" by Tonya Ricucci.  I would never been able to piece the words without that book.

BTW, I won the blue ribbon at my September guild meeting for the President's challenge of making a two color quilt.

We spent a week with DS#3 and family.  Here are a few more pictures of the boys.  Jonah got this scooter for Christmas.

Eli's chore is to set the table for supper.

Two sweet boys with their bikes.  Eli received his bike for Christmas.

Here is something that I received for Christmas!  I have been thinking about this quilt for several years and I plan to get started on it.  I hope to join a group for encouragement.  Of course I still have several UFOs that I need to finish.  I need to review my list from January to see how I did and will report in another post.

Happy New Year, everyone!  I will be looking forward to seeing what you plan to work on next year.

A VISIT WITH SANTA - on the third try!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to All.  I hope you are able to be with some family or friends on this day in which we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He came to earth to reconcile the world to God by taking our sins away and giving us eternal life.

As I wait for the sweet little grandsons to wake up, I thought I would tell about our visit to Santa.

The first try was at Busch Gardens.  The line was super long, so we decided it wasn't worth it.

Next was at the mall on Monday.  We arrived there about 4:50 PM and of course the mall was mobbed.  As we walked through stores, Jonah (age 5) was singing "Santa Claus is coming to Town" as shoppers smiled at him.  Some people even sang along.  He's not a bit shy.

When we had been in line a few minutes, it was time for Santa's supper break.  That meant waiting 45 minutes for him to come back as well as waiting for the people ahead of us (at least another 30 minutes).  Again, not worth it.

We went back yesterday morning and there was NO LINE at about 9:30!  Success at last.  Below are the pictures, who were very happy this time.

Eli wouldn't smile until Daddy told him "Don't smile!"

Thanks, quilting friends for visiting today and throughout the year.  I do appreciate all of you!

SANTA'S WORKSHOP HAVING PROBLEMS!

Monday, the first thing I did was baste a table runner for one DIL and a table topper for another DIL.  Plenty of time to get these quilted….that is until my sewing machine started acting up when I was doing free motion quilting.  Uh Oh!!  In November, I took it in to be serviced because of the same problem and hadn't really been doing any FMQing until Monday.  It worked fine for cross hatching and regular sewing including zig-zag.

So, I took it to the repair shop and left it.  No word back yet.  OK.  I'll move on to something else.

Eli's Mommy suggested that I make a small quilt for Eli's giraffe, which he doesn't part with.  He has taken to putting the giraffe to bed in a bread basket and covering him with a washcloth.  So, of course, I said I could make a little quilt for the giraffe.  I happened to have some fabric with giraffes on it and fussy cut them for the quilt.  Of course, I figured the giraffe would need a pillow as well!

But, what about big brother, Jonah?  He has a puppy he is very attached to (in fact, 3 of them - long story).  Maybe he would feel bad if he didn't get something for his puppy.  But, since he is a big boy now (5), I decided to make him a sleeping bag for his puppy - with bigger boy fabric featuring planets and lined with airplanes.  The pillow also has an airplane pillowcase.  These two were right up my alley and I used my Featherweight to make them.

A couple other items I was able to work on -  Some dish towels for the DILs.  The red one will need  my Janome to zig zag around the appliqué…

but I could sew on the rick rack with my Featherweight.

Christmas is coming soon and I need to get some gifts in the mail.   In between the sewing, I'm baking cookies and cleaning (a little).  Today the temp is going up to the 40s, and the ice is melting!  What are you up to - or are you too busy to blog?

SANTA'S WORKSHOP

Winter weather arrived in the Dallas area yesterday and this is the view from my front door this morning.  It has been sleeting for most of the night.  Lots of schools, government agencies and businesses are closed today, so we will be hunkering down and trying to get lots done for Christmas.

View from front door

We usually get one ice storm during winter, but mostly it takes place in January or February.  This is early for us.  The day before yesterday it was 80 degrees!

Bush near front door

Neighborhood view

 Here is another outfit that I made for one of Abby's dolls.  The pants are pink denim that I got from a DIL who is Abby's aunt.  She also sent me the "bling" that I glued on the pants.  I hope it sticks!  The rick rack and fringe balls were garage sale purchases.

Outfit for "Gracie"

The doll outfit is laying on top of a gift quilt that I just finished quilting and can't show yet.  There is another one just like it posted on my "secret" blog.  I just sewed on the binding and will hand sew it to the back while watching TV tonight.

Now, on to a few other projects!

FUN WITH FAMILY

Last spring I bought a "Princess" game when I went to a friend's garage sale (she was a member of my quilters' guild and was moving).  Her daughter assured me that Abby would like the "Princess" game.  Was she ever right!!!  I think we played it every day we were there!  Below is a picture of Abby, my sister, me (the winner) and DS#2

See the crown and jewels on me?

Abby loves to play with her dolls and I'm happy about that.  I participated in that play while we visited. We had several "tea" parties like the one below.  The table cloth is a play quilt I made for her.

It is so cute the way she rocks her babies to sleep in her little rocking chair.  She is a real good little Mama.

I already showed you some of the gifts we are giving her for Christmas, but while there I couldn't help notice that some of her dolls needed more clothes, so I made a couple things yesterday and have plans for more.

Doll nightgown made with vintage baby fabric.

What are you sewing for Christmas?

SOME PROJECTS AND A TRIP

Before leaving on a trip to Florida for Thanksgiving, I was working on a few projects for Christmas.  I'm putting them on this blog because I'm pretty sure these people do NOT read my blog.

The first one is going to be a table runner for one of my DILs.  The picture to the right of the cut out fabric is from one of Jo Morton's books and I'm just making one of the blocks which will be in the middle of the table runner .  On each side, she wants me to make a design that copies one of Frank Lloyd Wright's window (she majored in architecture in college). I'm not sure how I will do that yet, but I'll try it.

Next, are three things I made for Abby's dolls:

Nightgown for Gracie

Red hooded cape for Gracie

Sling to carry dolls on her hip.

My sister came to Pensacola on her way to visit my cousin in southern Florida and yesterday we went to see the Pensacola light house.

In the museum, I found some quilts in one of the bedrooms.

We both actually climbed to the top of the lighthouse!!!  I didn't think I would do it, but we got started and there were places we could stop to catch our breath, so before we knew it we had climbed up all 177 of the steps!!  And were very proud of ourselves!

I hope you have a good weekend!