Where did the time go? How did we get ten years into the millenium? Usually, and last night is no exception, I can't stay up until midnight. Party pooper, I know. Oh well, when I went to bed, it was the New Year on the east coast! Today it is time to start dismantling the Christmas decorations, but I probably won't because GD 2 and 3 spent the night and that task would be better when toddler fingers aren't trying to help. It had been a long time since little girls came and jumped in bed with us wanting breakfast.
I have made a huge goals for myself for 2010. One, I want to make 3 red and white twin sized bed quilts for the beds in my loft. Simple, graphic quilts. I'm still on my red and white kick! Two, continue to finish more UFOs! Perhaps all of them? That is a huge goal. Three, I want to design more, and use my EQ6 more. I am finding I spend too much unproductive time on the computer. I read so many blogs that I really need to cut back. I have found a lot of home decor blogs that have helped take the place of my beloved Country Home magazine. I was a subscriber from the 2nd issue 30 plus years ago. I miss it! But it is all so time consuming, and I really want to sew.
I have found some great things on blogs. On Christmas morning I used the Cinn-bon icing recipe on my own cinnamon rolls. Yum Yum! Fresh cinnamon rolls are a Christmas morning tradition. I find out about sales at places like the Cotton Charm quilt store, and BOMs. I am very behind on Bunny Hills (which is now over), and slightly behind on the Vicksburg one. Since I was let go from my job, last January, it has been a great year. I am happy to be home all the time and I sew a lot more than I did when I had a long commute and a 40 hour a week job. 2010 will bring more of the same I'm sure. Lots more recipes, quilts, inspiration, sales, fabric, dreams, UFOs, and finished quilts. I don't sew anything but quilts, so forgive me if I'm not in swaps or exchanges. I love reading all the blogs, and I hope that the New Year brings you quilts and happiness. May it bring you all the joy of a three year old in a Snow White costume. I know mine will!
I guess if I'm on a roll, I might as well run with it! Sore fingers aside, I started hand quilting another quilt. This was all pinned and ready for machine quilting, but I know that I will never get around to that! I'm not very enthused about fighting all that fabric in my machine. But it is a twin size so it shouldn't take that long - ha ha! At least not as long as a queen size! Hand quilting is all I can seem to manage, I haven't been in my sewing room in forever. Now, I really don't know if I can finish this in March, but I can try. My method is to do all the outline quilting and then go back when I figure out a design to use. This quilt has a lot of sashing also. It's my own design, a combo of piecing and applique. It's Moda Kashmir IV fabric. I had entertained thoughts of making my own patterns, a dream that may never be realized, but this was one of them. I called it Daisy Whirls. I think GD1's bedroom is the right color scheme for this quilt....:)
My project for the Charming Quilt Club was to finish handquilting this top! I finished today, and not a moment too soon, because my thumb is sore!! 
I'm not even going to attempt to bind it for awhile. Maybe next month?
I started with the pinwheel block and built around it with cornerstones and rectangles. Then sashing. The fabric line is still one of my favorites. 
I haven't been upstairs, in a long, long while. But along with one of my 'resolutions' (you know, more hand quilting finishes and 3 red and white quilts for the twin beds) I have been trying to hand quilt when the GD toddlers are sleeping and my emotions are calm. I was pleased with the template for quilting that I found. The batting is maybe too puffy, but can't be helped now. I think I'll like it when it is done. However, since it is an antique reproduction I think it is only a double bed size. Oh well, I can fold it at the bottom and pull it up on cold nights. 
I had a hard time finding a marking pencil in the house. Can you believe that? I didn't want to use a washable or a water washout one one because I have a yellow quilt that the markings left dots here and there on and never washed out. So, I wanted a plain number 2 pencil so it would wash out. Finally, I found one. I'm not a precise quilter. I eyeball a lot, because this is stress relief, not stress inducing as it would be if I was striving for perfection. Type A I am not! Just a plain old Type B here! You will never see my stuff put up for judging! 
This top is made from Moda charm packs, and some poison green. It's 64 by 83 1/2. 
Does it appeal to anyone out there? Email me if it does!
This is a great quilt top I picked up in an antique store for $40.00. It's all solids, the curves are handpieced and the straight seams are machine pieced. The graphic beauty of it appealed to me. I never did anything to it after I brought it home, so it has not been washed or ironed. The size is 69 by 88 1/2.
I guess I should say, that ideally I'd like 40 apiece for these, I hope to get my Etsy store open soon and they will be there if no one desires them before then.
Isn't it darling? Thank you! I have to admit I was a little bummed this season. I didn't decorate full out , I didn't cook my usual over the top meal, but these two things really helped my spirits. I love Christmas and I love playing Santa and buying gifts for everyone, so it was really different to have blog friends sending me things. I love it! and a huge thank you to both of them!
And my poor Bunny Hill BOM. I love it and I must finish it! What if she starts a new one? I have to get this one done. So I'm going to prep those blocks for travel too. I have a lot started and none of them completed! All totaled that's about 15 or more blocks that neeed started and /or finished. Wish me luck!
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