Sunshine's Stitchin'

What's going on

2010-09-04T15:48:00.010-04:00

I am finally able to post again, and wanted to show what has been going on.

I got to pick up my quilt last Saturday, but we had one of the nephews, so I didn't get to play with it. I finally got to put the binding on yesterday. This is still my favorite quilt that I have made. I love the colors, pattern, and now the quilting. It was quilted entirely freehand, with feathers in the center, following the nine patches at the border. It then has leaves in the setting triangles and the cream part of the border. The black part of the border was done with echo quilting. I can't get a picture that does it justice. The backing I had bought almost two years ago at a local shop, because I had to have it and she said she couldn't get it anymore. When I was piecing this quilt, it hit me that I had this and knew nothing else would fit as well.

I also got my Bee's Garden Thread Roll Stitched and Finished. This is the first finishing work of this kind that I have done, and it wasn't bad. From start to finish this was done all by hand. I did modify it to also work as a needlekeep by adding a piece of wool felt. Now I just need to stitch a fob to go on a pair of scissors, and I will be ready to stitch anywhere I go.

Thanks for letting me share.

Design Wall Monday 8/23/10

2010-08-23T10:24:00.004-04:00

I have Fall Frolic laid out on the floor today ready to start sewing the rows together. The picture is sideways, but it shows it better that way.

I also have a request. I picked up these fabrics, but have no idea what to do with them. They are outside my norm, and I just don't know. The line is Belle Fleur by Avlyn. The 5 pieces on the left are yard cuts, the 4 on the right are half yards. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Head over to Judy's and see what everyone is working on.

My quilt is being quilted..Woo Hoo

2010-08-20T12:42:00.003-04:00

My Blooming 9 patch is being quilted now and my quilter has posted some pictures on her blog. I can't wait to see this baby and get to show it off to the girls I stitch with. My hands have been itching to stitch the binding on before I ever got it dropped off at Judy's place.

Goneaway Quilting

Design Wall 8-16-10

2010-08-16T17:53:00.003-04:00

On my design floor today is the start of Fall Frolic from the book 40 Fabulous Quick-Cut Quilts by Evelyn Sloppy. I am making it with Gobble Gobble by Sandy Gervais and am using a layer cake and jelly roll.

I have enjoyed looking at all the post over at Judy's, but I still can't make comments since I am on a borrowed computer to post and can't use up much of their time. Thank you all for the inspiration.

Also, if you want to see how I finished the blocks that I posted last week, it is on my last post.

Friday Finish

2010-08-13T20:29:00.006-04:00

I have two flimsies to show today. The first is Avignon Picnic from the Moda Bake Shop website.

And this is my finished JRSAQ quilt. I took the advice in the comments on my last Design Wall post and found a dark fabric for the sashing and border. This is the purple solid from the Essence line by Sandy Gervais for Moda. It looks like suede and I love it. Thank you to Charlene S and Kwiltnkats for giving me the push I needed to decide.

WIP Wednesday

2010-08-11T22:02:00.005-04:00

I wanted to show what I have been stitching on recently. This is a thread roll from Wendy KC Designs. Almost ready to start the finishing.

Design Wall 8-9-10

2010-08-09T08:54:00.003-04:00

On the wall today, I have my Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along blocks. I had made three blocks to trade out for ones I didn't like, but decided to keep them all and have a bigger quilt. Now I need to find a border fabric and get it completed.

I wasn't able to post any comments last week on people's design wall post, but I really enjoyed seeing them and look forward to them again today.

Design Wall Monday-8/2/10

2010-08-02T20:53:00.003-04:00

I actually have something on my design wall today. This is the Avignon Picnic quilt from the Moda Bake Shop site.

Now off to catch up on what everyone else is working on.

2010-07-30T11:26:00.005-04:00

Man it has been awhile since I posted. Here are some of the things I have worked on.

I finished Paradigm Lost and I love it. The single block is Block 11 of the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along. The pieces are for my new start, Avignon Picnic from ModaBakeShop by Andrea Harris. And I finally completed Best Buds by The Silver Lining. This picture truly does not show how realistic these roses look.

Latest stuff

2010-07-05T13:43:00.007-04:00

I have been unemployed for a week now, and am finding myself not getting anything done. I have read lots of books but that is about it. This is the first time since I was 16 that I haven't had a job. I thought I would get so much done, but so far haven't felt like it.

Anyway, on to the fun stuff. I finished Block 9 in the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along. The one in the lower right corner. I have 42 blocks made for the next quilt. Now just to sew them together and cut them apart. These are for Paradigm Shift out of the May/June McCall's Quilting.

I stitched the heart to celebrate the 4th and will pass the pattern on to my mom. I have also made some progress on the yellow roses. Only 3 pages left.

Off to catch up on blog reading. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

What I have done while missing

2010-06-21T09:31:00.009-04:00

I do not like being without internet. I was able to finish Fresh Vanilla last week. Please pardon the picture, my camera batteries were dying and I didn't get it spread out. I finished my Hardanger pillow and made my mom a table runner on Saturday. Then on Sunday, I pieced Tuxedo Pals for a future Quilts for Kids donation. Off to catch up on blog reading.

Design Wall Monday 6/7

2010-06-07T12:38:00.005-04:00

Something new on the design wall this time. I got the rows made for Fresh Vanilla and just need to get those together and add borders.

This looks familiar..

2010-06-03T11:13:00.007-04:00

I finally found a computer that would work with my camera and had internet access. Yeah!! I hope everyone had a great weekend.

I got the center of my Blooming 9 patch together on Saturday, cut the borders on Sunday, prayed like crazy Monday and did my first mitered borders. I will have to see if I can find some help to get better pictures.

The mitered corners aren't perfect, but I can definitely live with them.

I also got my Fresh Vanilla quilt and the sashing for a scrappy 9 patch cut out on Sunday. Very productive weekend, just a few things left on the list.

Finishes and Progress

2010-05-27T13:51:00.005-04:00

The plan was to post this Monday, but things happen. Plus I was enjoying the Bloggers Quilt Festival any time I could get online.

Finishes first: I got the Hardanger piece finished and just need to make it into the pillow it wants to become.

I also got Time For God completed. For such an easy one, this seemed to take forever. It became my work and club piece and I had to do more reverse stitching on this than I think I have ever done.

Progess: I got the last 9 rows together on Saturday. Of course, these were the rows in the middle of the quilt and were huge. I had hoped to start joining the rows on Sunday, but decided to watch the Nascar Hall of Fame Ceremony instead. Hopefully the 3 day weekend coming up will see most, if not all, the rows joined.

For my girls that are going on a stitch retreat this weekend, have fun and wish I was going with you. Bring back cards for all the shops you stop at so I can go on a virtual tour when you get back.

Bloggers Quilt Festival

2010-05-21T09:43:00.004-04:00

Thank you Amy for hosting this and letting us play along.

This is my first quilt. I was 17 and saw it on the cover of an old quilt magazine as a wall hanging. Saw it, wanted it, and went bumbling toward it. I had only made simple clothes up to this point, and had no clue what I was doing. I got my mom and a lady from church to help me figure out the yardage I would need to take it from wallhanging to queen size quilt.

I knew nothing about strip piecing, pretty much all I had going for me was I could sew a straight seam. Every piece was cut in pairs and pieced individually. Man, I could do this quilt so much faster now. The alternate squares are needle turn applique. Haven't done applique since, but I want to now.

Once I got it pieced, I started hand quilting it and realized I hated hand quilting. I got 8 blocks done and put it to the side to start piecing the blocks for my next quilt. My mom took it from me and finished the hand quilting and binding and gave it back to me as part of my Christmas. LOVE you mom.

This quilt is why I tell people they can do anything they want. If you want to try a new craft, find something you love, even if it isn't the simplest thing you can find, and you will be more likely to follow through and complete it.

Design Wall Monday 5/17

2010-05-17T09:22:00.003-04:00

This is a little over half of this quilt laid out, 16 of 29 rows. I realized that I didn't need to lay out the whole thing and that helped with the space issue. The first 13 rows can be made twice and be the bottom portion. I got 20 rows made this weekend, so only 9 more to go and I can start joining the rows.

Now I am off to catch up on blog reading since I had no internet this weekend. Google says I only have 180 post to read.

Design Wall Monday

2010-05-10T11:00:00.006-04:00

OK, I really have nothing on my design wall this week, but here is my box of blocks so I can take it somewhere with enough room to lay this quilt out.

I still need to cut out the setting and corner triangles, but this box now holds over 2200 pieces. I can't wait to start seeing this come together.

I have also been working on my Hardanger pillow. Finally got all the prelim stitching finished and cut and wove the first corner. I cut the second corner last night and will start weaving it this afternoon.

Design wall Monday 5/03

2010-05-03T09:41:00.004-04:00

I don't have much to show this morning. I went to the Quilt and Fiber Art Emporium in Hickory, NC on Saturday and didn't get much sewing done.

I got the next round of 9-patches almost finished, just need to add the third row. This round has 48 9-patches in it.

I also got the fifth block in the JRSQA done. After taking this picture, I need to use something other than the blue.

Design wall Monday

2010-04-26T09:15:00.005-04:00

I got 3 more rounds of 9 patches done this weekend. This only leaves me with 2 rounds or 104 more to do. I didn't lay out the entire thing because I am running out of room. I started with only 1 square instead of 3 in the middle. Will have to move furniture to lay out the whole thing to stack rows.

Head over to Judy's to see what everyone has been up to. www.patchworktimes.com

Design wall Monday

2010-04-18T21:44:00.006-04:00

This is on my design wall/floor. Not what I had planned to be working on, but I saw this fabric and couldn't get it out of my head. I LOVE roses and the border fabric is awesome. I am using a free pattern from Fabri-Quilt called Floral Vignettes. I have seen this type of quilt and really liked them, so I put the two together.

The fabric is laid out in order from right to left and the plan is for the cream/tan to blend into the border. I hope the next blend from red to cream plays well.

JRQA Block 4 and stitching

2010-04-17T18:39:00.009-04:00

I got block 4 of the Jelly Roll Quilt Along done last night.

I am working on two stitching projects. The one I am taking to work and to club is Time for God by Lizzie Kate. My stay at home project, because it had to be moved to 20 inch Qsnaps is a Hardanger pillow.

I started cutting my next quilt and it is not the Fresh Vanilla that I said it would be. I saw some fabric that I had to have and that quilt is now cut out except for the setting triangles and border. Will show it the next time I post.

New Wave Quilt

2010-04-11T20:14:00.004-04:00

I finished my New Wave Quilt today. The directions are on http://www.ohfransson.com/ I had been looking for something outside my norm in both pattern and fabrics. I paired this pattern with fabrics from the Hope Valley line. The fabrics have grown on me and I accomplished my goal of stepping outside my comfort zone.

I plan to start cutting for Fresh Vanilla out of the Summer 09 Quilts and More magazine. This one will be different for me also, khaki and cream, but I fell in love with the simple elegance of the quilt.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T17:59:00.006-04:00

Hope everyone has a Happy Easter.

I got to sew the last two days, and got my whirlygig finished today. I truly hope the borders are straight and has no ruffles, because I spent the most time on them that I have ever taken. Actually measured and cut the border to size. I have always sewn it on and cut off the excess.

I also got my 3rd block for the Jelly Roll Quilt Along made.

Have a good weekend

I've been bad

2010-03-22T20:09:00.007-04:00

I had a little cash set aside, and instead of putting it toward the car repairs, I bought fabric.

From The Old Country Store, I got Nature's Notebook and Eva. It will be the border and binding for my Charmed Whirlygig quilt and the borders and binding for Lemon Blush by Me and My Sister Designs in Eva. I had an issue with my computer when I went to order and called the next day to verify if it had gone through. I spoke to Rachel and she was really nice. I put the order through again, and got the automated confirmation email and a personal email from Rachel. Great customer service, shipped same day, and their standard price for Moda is $7.40.

I got these from The Quilted Castle. Roses de Noel fat quarters and border fabric, Rouenneries, and Mill House Inn. I got the Roses de Noel for the Cactus Wreath by Cozy Quilt Designs.

I had a great day

2010-03-20T16:01:00.005-04:00

After getting up this morning and getting all the non fun, I wish, non-essential things out of the way (clean house, laundry, dishes) I got the binding put on my quilt. To me this thing is huge and I am slow at hand stitching the binding. But she is done and I am thrilled.

I used a green batik for the binding that I picked up in a grab bag at a Quilt show in Mooresville last year. 2 gallon size Ziploc bags for $5 as full as you could stuff it and get it to zip. It matches the green cornerstones better that anything else I have found.

Hope everyone else had a great day also.

National Quilting Day

2010-03-19T21:00:00.006-04:00

Several good things have happened this week.

I was finally able to pick my quilt up from the quilter (that not having a car gets in the way of so many things). This is the first quilt that I have had custom quilted, and I love it. I will be working on the binding tomorrow and hope to get it completed. This is the second quilt I made. I started it around 15 years ago and packed it up after getting all the blocks pieced. I did not quilt or sew till last April and finished the top on April 25.

We put a rose in the center of each block and then she did the rest of the quilting by hand. We had discussed the wavy cross hatch, the sashing, and the cornerstones when I took the quilt in. We didn't discuss the small pieced border, and I LOVE what she did by bringing the leaves from the sashing out for the border. I will try to get better pictures tomorrow. You can see the pictures she took here-

http://sodypopsart.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/still-working-on-it/

The second good thing that happened this week...I got my car back. It had been in the shop for almost 4 weeks and it was killing me. The radiator, head gasket, timing chain, and oil pump were replaced. She sounds better than she has in years.

Hope everyone is able to enjoy National Quilting Day tomorrow. Can't wait to see what everybody works on.

Bluebell is finished

2010-03-13T14:32:00.004-05:00

I got to put the beads on this piece Thursday night. She is stitched on 32 ct Purple Horizon Lugana.

Last night, I finally finished my Sweetheart Tree fob. The stitching has been done for a while, OK, a really long while. I need to finish these things as soon as the stitching is done, or I put it off for too long.

I am still working on laying out the Whirlygig quilt. I think I have it, and then I notice two that don't need to be side by side.

Weekend progress

2010-03-06T17:48:00.003-05:00

I actually got to sew today. I made 33 whirlygig blocks and they are ready to be laid out in rows. I also got the binding made for the quilt that I can pick up from my quilter whenever I can get there. My car is back in the shop, and boy do I miss it.

Jelly Roll Sampler Quiltalong

2010-03-03T11:01:00.003-05:00

I joined this on Moose on the Porch Quilts. http://moosequilts.blogspot.com/

I grabbed the directions yesterday and made the block last night. I am using a Harvest Home Jelly roll and hope I like the finished product. The colors are a little darker than I normally use.

This is the first time I have used Flickr and I am not sure how to actually make it work, but here's a try.

I have the blues...

2010-02-28T20:35:00.003-05:00

and no, it isn't my mood. Everything I am working on right now is blues.

I got the first Quilts for Kids quilted and bound this weekend. I did the binding completely by machine for the first time, and while it is faster, I will have to get much better before I do it on a quilt I really love.

I am working on the Bluebell Fairy by Mirabilia for my cross stitch project.

I started cutting a new quilt project and the fabric is Nature's Notebook. I am doing the charmed whirlygigs by Quilting on Turtle Hill. http://turtlehillquilter.blogspot.com/

Hope everyone had a good weekend also.

Been a while

2010-02-21T20:39:00.004-05:00

Been too long since I was here. I hadn't been doing much because I wanted to do another piece for Quilts for Kids, but I didn't have any suitable fabric. I got with my mom and we went to Mary Jo's in Gastonia yesterday and we both picked up enough to do a few more each. I got it cut out last night and pieced today. I had found what I wanted in the new catalog from Keepsake Quilting, but was able to find it at Mary Jo's so I didn't have to order and then wait for it to come. Anyway, it is Caterwauling by RJR fabrics.

Now to get them both quilted. I have decided to do straight line quilting on my machine.

Quilts for kids

2010-02-06T14:18:00.005-05:00

I first saw this on Amy's blog. http://skattebo-shattebo.blogspot.com/ After I requested my kit, I started seeing the Downy commercials on TV.

I requested my kit on Jan. 31 and it was delivered on Feb. 3. I finally got to sew today and the top is finished. She was correct that this is a fast to piece project.

I want to try to get to my local shop sometime this week and pick up some fabric to make another one. I have no kid type prints in my stash. I am also trying to decide if I want to quilt this on their long arm. At one time, she had a panto with indy cars and it would fit perfectly with this fabric.

If you want to help with this cause, go to http://www.quiltsforkids.org/patterns/request

Snow days are great....

2010-02-01T21:01:00.006-05:00

except the shoveling. We finally finished our driveway today.

I started this quilt on Friday night and finished the borders tonight. Didn't get it laid out smooth. The second picture is what I will use to bind it.

Now to decide what to cut into next.

Been a while...

2010-01-30T10:08:00.008-05:00

I lost my mojo there for a while. The week of my birthday, I just didn't feel like doing anything. Stitched just a little, but didn't sew a single seam. Thankfully, I did miss it, and it seems to be back.

I finished Winter Peace on 1/19, This too shall pass 1/23, Cabin Fever quilt top 1/23, and Just Nan's Flake this morning.

I plan to start cutting out "Luv Bug" from the June 09 Quilter's World magazine. I am doing it different than shown. I am doing the X's & O's in red and white and then the border in black. I'm also not doing the bugs.
Enjoying the snow that came in last night. Seems to be about 8 inches. I will be happy as long as we keep power.

Hope everyone has been having a good year.

Chilly is finished

2010-01-12T19:01:00.009-05:00

I finished Chilly on the 10th. I didn't have much more to do from the last picture.

I also got 9 more log cabin blocks and 7 9-patch blocks finished also. I only have 9 more of the log cabin blocks to finish the wall hanging.

I am on a snowman kick right now and my next cross stitch piece will be Winter Peace by Sisters & Best Friends.

Happy stitching and sewing and wishes of warmth.

Crazy week

2010-01-09T19:13:00.005-05:00

It has been a crazy week. My husband and I both work for the same company. Money has been tight at the company for a while but it is starting to affect us. We got paid over a week late and that is after having to have a water pump put in my husband's truck and a distributor in my car. Not fun times and will result in a poor birthday later in the month for me. At least we both are healthy.

Anyway, on to better things. I went back to work on two quilts that I had put to the side to do the Red & White Snowball Challenge. One is the Cabin Fever wallhanging out of the book "Frosted Memories" by Sherri Falls of This & That. The other one is the 9 patch a day that I found on http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/ . I am not doing this one as the 1 a day as it was intended, I am doing them as my leader/enders like on http://quiltville.blogspot.com/ .

I also started a new cross stitch project called Chilly by Stitchy Kitty Designs. I fell in love with his hat that says I Love Snow.

If you want to see what the Cabin Fever will look like here is a link to ericas.com that shows it. https://ericas.com/quilting/books/44101b.jpg

Off to catch up on blog reading, hope everyone had a good week.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T19:42:00.012-05:00

Hope everyone had a fun and safe New Years Eve.

My second stitching group had planned to have our Christmas party on 12/19. We cancelled it because of the snow that we got and arranged to have it today. We met and had breakfast and then exchanged gifts. I made each one a table runner and gave them a fob that I posted previously.

The first one is from the Petit Fours pattern on Modabake shop and is made with Wildflowers Serenade II. The second one is also from Wildflowers Serenade II and I just took charm squares and made half-square triangles. The third one is from bright charm squares from Keepsake Quilting.

I also gave some cross stitch charts, 30's fabric, and money for silk threads.

I received really great gifts. An 18 X 24 cutting mat. I currently only have a 12 X 18. A fabric storage box, some templates, pincushion, scissors, mirror, and the Bias Tape Maker. I plan to use it to make binding and received the tip for that also.

My birthday is later this month so I also received birthday gifts. I also had money given to me at the cross stitch shop and I bough a thread pak for a Victoria Sampler Gingerbread House chart.

Great start to a New Year. Now I am off to read blogs.

Last finish of 2009

2009-12-30T21:39:00.003-05:00

I was able to finish my Snowball quilt tonight and I am really happy with it. Thank you Allyson and Nicole for starting this challenge and allowing me to take part.

I intend to keep better track of what I accomplish in 2010. From the notes I kept this year, I cross stitched 29 items. These range in size from the mermaid to the ornaments posted previously. I finished 12 items into scissor fobs, ornaments, or mattress pincushions. And I did 13 sewing items. These ranged from quilts, runners, pillows, and bags.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year.

Progress and goals

2009-12-27T22:46:00.007-05:00

I got to sew on Saturday because I have no car at the moment and couldn't go after Christmas shopping. Hopefully, the car will go in the shop tomorrow to be fixed. I do not handle not having wheels very well.

I got half of the red & white snowball quilt together. I am doing the partial blocks but not in the way the book says to add them. I didn't want to do the long seams on the sides to add the partial blocks, so I am adding them to each row. I have the last five rows ready to have the seams ironed so they can be added to the first half.

My goal is to have this completed by New Year's Day.

I picked up a cross stitch piece that I haven't touched in almost 5 months. I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere on it, so I set it aside. I stitched on it yesterday and today and now feel like it is moving, at least on this page. I am stitching this over one on 25 ct Lugana.

This is what it will look like. The design is by The Silver Lining and is called Best Buds.

Merry Christmas to all

2009-12-24T14:52:00.008-05:00

I wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. May we all have our health and happiness in the New Year.

I got my Red & White snowball quilt layed out this morning. I am going to do the partial blocks on the side, I just didn't get a picture after laying those out. Can't wait to start putting the rows together.

This is the only picture I could get of some visitors we had after the snow stopped. At one point, we had about 7 running around chasing each other and eating everything they could find.

Snow and stitching

2009-12-20T11:21:00.007-05:00

We got some of the snow that was pounding the east coast. We got about 7 inches and it was really pretty since I got to stay in my house and look at it out the windows.

I found these Boyd's Snowbears at a shop that will no longer carry them. Everything Boyd's was on sale for $5. I couldn't decide which one I liked better, so I got both.

I took advantage of the snow and did some stitching. I did the two on the right yesterday. I need to find buttons for the penguin and a bird for the snowman on the bottom.

I plan to sew on my Red & White Snowballs today. Hope everyone is warm and dry.

Dear Santa, I can explain...

2009-12-15T15:33:00.009-05:00

I won't say that I have been a good girl this year. I really tried, but you see, I have added another addiction that I can't seem to control. I was totally addicted to counted cross stitch till this year, and then I found quilting again. If I don't get coal this year, I would love to receive either Fig Tree quilts Cameos pattern and the fabrics to make it as shown, or Fig Tree Rosettes pattern, or a bolt of Moda Bella Basics 9900-98, or a Simple Abundance Jelly Roll.

http://www.fatquartershop.com/store/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Shopper_id=927711271217159277&Store_id=499&page_id=23&Item_ID=31124&Parent_Ids=
http://www.fatquartershop.com/store/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Shopper_id=78161123948187816&Store_id=499&page_id=23&Item_ID=31488&Parent_Ids=

http://www.fatquartershop.com/store/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Shopper_id=78161123948187816&Store_id=499&page_id=23&Item_ID=35685&Parent_Ids=

Thank you Santa for your very helpful elves. They do a great job.

Join the fun at http://www.fatquartershop.blogspot.com/

Stitch Group #1 Christmas party

2009-12-13T13:36:00.016-05:00

We had our Christmas party yesterday and had way too much fun. With this group, we draw names and give that person a handmade gift. Most of the time it is cross stitch, but it can be something that was bought as long as it is handmade. We then give gifts to everybody in the group and we also have someone do table decorations.

We met at 2 pm to go eat at O'Charley's and then went back to the hostess' house to stitch till the 5th member could make it.

I had the table decorations this year and made quilted pillows.

We passed out the group gifts and each person took their turn opening their stack. This is some of what I gave. The fobs are all the same on the front and then personallized with their initials on the back.

This is what I received from everybody.

We also give Sharon, the hostess, a gift every year. She has us in her home every other Thursday and always has some type of snack, mostly homemade desserts. She had mentioned earlier in the year that she wished she had a quilt to hang on a quilt rack that she has in her living room. I spoke to the group and we decided for me to make a quilt and the other girls would split the cost with me. This is my 4th quilt and the 1st one I have given away.

This is Angela's gift from Sharon, her mom.

This is Jessica's gift from Angela.

This is Nancy's from Jessica. The framer didn't get it finished in time, so it is just a printed picture right now.

This is Sharon's gift from me.

This is my gift from Nancy.

Like I said, we had way too much fun and finally left to go home a little after 9 pm. I will post better pictures of the large gifts in another post. Hope everyone is almost ready for Christmas.

Holiday Bingo

2009-12-10T11:17:00.002-05:00

http://the-quilt-shoppe.blogspot.com/

The Quilt Shop is hosting a Holly Jolly Blog Bingo. Signups are open till December 13. Looks like it is going to be fun and the prizes look great.

I have blocks

2009-12-06T21:55:00.007-05:00

I actually made blocks this weekend. I got 54 blocks done and am feeling so much better about my progress. I need to decide if I am doing it like the book or adding borders. I had thought about leaving off the partial blocks along the edges, but I like how it gives the look of stars around the red blocks. If I want to keep with that thought, I need to do the partials on the edge. I already have them all made so it saves me nothing by not doing them. I can't make up my mind. I hope somebody else adds borders so I can see it before having to make my final decision.

I needed an ornament for a get together tomorrow night and had seen one here.

http://the-latebloomer.blogspot.com I decided to see what I could come up with and did that tonight. Hers is cuter, but I used what I had on hand and I think it is OK. Thank you so much for the idea.

Hope everyone had a productive weekend.

Updates and excuses

2009-11-29T21:49:00.011-05:00

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. My husband and I went to both families on Thursday and of course ate too much.

I didn't get anywhere near what I wanted done on the snowball quilt last weekend, but I did get the cream side pieces made.

My excuse for this weekend, I got a call from one of the ladies in town that I help out by doing her backstitching and beading on her cross stitch pieces. She had a piece finished that she needed the beading done on so she could get it framed for a Christmas gift. Almost 16 hours later-

This weekend, I took Friday and did the binding on a quilt that will be given as a Christmas gift.

Just need to add the label and it will be ready to go.

I went shopping with my girls on Saturday to take care of some Christmas shopping. Today, I got the red side pieces completed. My storage box is looking much better. Maybe next weekend, I can start making blocks.

This is my most recent cross stitch finish. This is 26 Stitches by The Drawn Thread. I actually finished this on my Pigeon Forge, TN trip.

Off to catch up on my blog reading.

Swap and update pictures

2009-11-20T10:42:00.010-05:00

I wanted to post pictures of the other fabrics I got in the swap.

From Carol, AZ
http://carolscraftblog.blogspot.com/

From Nan, TX

From Debbie, OK

From Thelma, IL, who already has hers finished http://cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com/

From Lesly, Ontario

http://pickledish.blogspot.com/

This is where my progress stands. I got all 480 HSTs done, strip sets sewn and recut, and the individual squares cut for the side units last weekend.

I hope to get all the side units and several blocks made this weekend. Not sure I will make it, but that is the plan.

I am going to see my quilter tomorrow and plan to drop of this quilt top. This is actually the second quilt I pieced. I started it about 12 years ago and got all the blocks together and then stopped working on it. My mother, who can't stand UFOs, got me started back on it this year and that is when the quilt bug hit really hard. I couldn't get a good picture of the whole thing, but imagine 56 of the blocks in a 7 X 8 setting. This thing measures 88 X 100. What was I thinking?

That's it for now, hope everyone has a productive weekend.

Too much fun

2009-11-08T18:46:00.000-05:00

Got back in town this afternoon from my Cross Stitch retreat and had two packages. Love getting fun stuff in the mail and not bills. I finally found my camera cord so here is a picture of the fabric I mailed out for the swap.

I got a package from Allyson of Fat Cat Quilts- Does the one on the far right look familiar? It made me feel a whole lot better about my choices and I love the other ones she sent also. Thank you for the red, it will definitely make it into the quilt.

I also got a package from Nicole of Sister's Choice Quilts. Love these also and they made it fine Nicole.

We found our way to 5 quilt shops and 4 cross stitch shops. We had our usual outrageous fun; too much food, too little sleep, and too much shopping. I picked up more reds and creams for the challenge and lots of other goodies also.

Hope your weekend was fun also.

Fabric in the mail and other packing...

2009-11-03T22:16:00.000-05:00

I got my swap fabric in the mail on Monday but I can't find my camera cord to post a picture. I went to a quilt show on Saturday and hope I didn't drop it there. Any way, I sent Moda Marble Swirl, Iced Mocha by Buggy Barn-1900A, and Creamery Neutral III by Buggy Barn-1397. Hope everyone likes them.

The other packing I have been doing is for my annual cross stitching retreat with one of my groups. We are leaving early Thursday am for Pigeon Forge, TN. Our driver has the trip planned by what cross stitch stores and quilt stores we can stop at on the way.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

I'm up for the challenge...??

2009-10-26T16:23:00.000-04:00

I have joined the Red & White snowball challenge on FatCat Quilts blog. http://fatcatquilts.typepad.com/fat-cat-quilts/

Because of joining this challenge, I created this blog. Please bear with me as the blog, challenge and swap are all new to me.

In stitches