Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Last finish of 2009

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.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Progress and goals

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.


Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas to all

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.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Snow and stitching

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.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Dear Santa, I can explain...

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/

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Stitch Group #1 Christmas party

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.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Holiday Bingo


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.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

I have blocks

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.