Friday, April 23, 2010

A Table runner design

Here's another of my designs. This is made from one of Moda's Collections for a Cause. It is for my dining room table, but I took this picture outside. (obviously!)  The checkerboard border made it a little hard to handle on the next border even though my 'checkers' measure perfectly. Who knows why. I'm not a fabulous quilter just a prolific one!

Monday, April 19, 2010

A spring quilt picture....

Here is a pattern I designed from an antique quilt.  Those are my favorites. There seems to be such a charm to quilts that are made without a selection of patterns, fabrics, or internet inspiration. The quilts come from a place inside a person. I changed the method of piecing of this one. It combines piecing and applique and if you can tell by the picture, it is hand quilted to create the illusion of flowers where the circles are the flower centers. It is made from 40s prints which is probably authentic. Or maybe the 30s solids would have been more in keeping with the original, but I really like the prints. I made it small for the interest of time and money, but it would be darling on a twin bed in a cheerful girly room. I hope you enjoy this pic! 

Friday, April 16, 2010

Giveaway on this blog!

If any of you wear jewelry or still work and wear work clothes, check out this necklace! It helps orphans in Africa, and if you order they will pick out a free winner and refund their money! There is a great need in Africa, and if you go to the blog of the 21 year old American that lives there and has personally adopted over a dozen children, you will be amazed. That blog is mentioned on the Life at Home blog. Please check it out. And good luck on the free necklace!!
http://tiffygator.blogspot.com/2010/04/little-giveaway-just-in-time-for.html

Sunday, April 11, 2010

computer woes

I'm going to come back and post soon, but I have been having a lot of computer woes. Internet explorer doesn't work half of the time, things take forever to load, so much so that I just walk away! This is a brand new computer too! sigh.... but never fear! I'm coming back with quilt pics soon!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Cheese House

I thought I'd show one of my designs. I wanted to use cheddar, so I did an off balance log cabin. It's named in honor of the Amish Cheese House near my hometown. Cheddar, log cabin, Cheese House.... get it??  :)    I used 3 yards of cheddar in this lap sized baby, so when and if I get around to making up the pattern, I'll suggest a little more. The blocks were made with fat quarters of Civil War prints which I really like, but somehow I never have exactly what I need so I have to keep purchasing more!  I bet some of you have that problem! I like how this came out, and it was easy to make and cut. This is one of those patterns where you really HAVE to cut all the pieces first so that you can have a selection in each block. I machine quilted this, and it is just about at the limit of what I can do on a machine.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Not done yet!

As I suspected and really did know, a month is not long enough to hand quilt my quilt! Even a twin size. In fact I don't know if two months will be enough! Maybe three months will do it! I have to confess I worked hard for a week or so, then I got sidetracked! I think I'll have to find a simpler project for April's club.  I still will work on my hand quilting though. It is soothing, but it's hard to watch a movie or anything and really pay attention to the size of the stitch and exactly where it is going! So, tv and movies are out. It's a quiet time activity I think. I've been sidetracked with getting a new wardrobe, and birthday presents, and company, and etc etc. Life basically. How do so many of you accomplish so much? I really want to know!  I did get a new camera, which I am not thrilled with, but I will post some more quilt pics soon. Stay tuned!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

CGGQC March project

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....:)

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Feb. project DONE!!!

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?

Because this month has been all about this one blue and white quilt, I'll show you the one that is actually on my bed. It is Moda Paris Flea Market Fabric, my own design and hand quilted too. All the fabric is either lights or mediums, no darks, so it is just a mass of beautiful floral color. The layout is pretty much random but it is a riot of fabric.

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.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Charming Girls Quilt Club

I've decided that I'm going to finish quilting the blue and white quilt this month! I'm working on the sashing quilting so I think this is doable! Wish me luck! Your blogs are all so inspiring. I can do this!  Quilting away! I need to see this done!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Hand quilting

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!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Giveaway

Head on over to this blog   http://katicupcakequiltingco.blogspot.com/  for a giveaway of some fabulous fabric.....


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Thank you all for your wishes and comments. This has been the most terrible two weeks of my life. I'm trying to stay afloat and carry on. Your prayers and thoughts help.

I'm throwing out belongings right and left. I have some that are worth too much to go to Goodwill.
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.

I'd love to find new deserving homes for these! Please spread the word in blogland.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Life

A few days after my last post, 38 years went down the drain. How? I'm not sure. I could use all the prayers you send my way. I don't want this. The grass is never greener on the other side.
Kelly, you don't know it, but your last two insprirational posts have helped! My daughter came to be a support system and helped me change the look of my blog. Life goes on. I might get one of my finishes done this month! I hope! I can't dwell, so I'll be back with more quilting pictures and projects soon. I hope to open my Etsy store and sell off crafting things, wedding supplies, quilt tops and more. I'll keep you posted. Hopefully this weekend I'll get things moving on that. Right now, grief and potty training GD #2 is the order of the day.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Two more wins!

I love Kelly at Cotton Charm! She was the best Santa this year! It was a year in which we all only bought the kids presents and the adults got next to nothing. So I was so thrilled to win a bundle of Moda Glace! Thrilled! I love it so much!



And then I won a kit for this cute cat pattern through Alderwood Quilts (Alderwoodquilts.com) via SewCal Gal. She was one of the sponsors.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!

Saturday, January 2, 2010

My finishes for January...CGQC keeps inspiring!

I'm going to try not to start anything new this month. HA! That's a joke isn't it?  But, I am also going to be on the road for a couple weekends in January. Two nice quilt shows I'm really hoping to attend.  So I'm going upstairs to do a lot of prep, and I'm going to catch up on my Vicksburg blocks. I'm three behind and they are the applique ones. I can do them watching the munchkins or in the car if I get them ready to go.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!

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy 2010!

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!