Amanda's Christmas Quilt

Today let me show you the Christmas quilt I made for Amanda (twin to Emily in my previous blog post).  In all the excitement of giving it to her, I forgot to take a photo of her holding the quilt (kicking myself over that one!).  

Amanda's tastes are more whimsical and her color preferences are more vintage modern.  

I used another layer cake (pre-cut 10" squares of fabric) and again made a disappearing 9-patch design.

This first pic shows the blocks prior to sashing and cornerstones....

Now with sashings and first border....

Oops...I guess I forgot to take a photo once the final wider red border was added....sorry! :)

I searched again through my stash of fabrics and found the perfect backing piece....

Are you ready for a big ol' belly laugh?!!!!  I know I have a tendency to keep everything.  I know I rarely can get rid of anything....but this is hilarious....even for me!!!!!

The receipt was still pinned to this piece of fabric.  The receipt is dated July 17, 1991 for 6 yards (exactly what I needed to back this quilt), and the price was $1.00/per yard!!!!  

Amanda wasn't even born until 1992!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to quilt it.....

I used a panto design called "Swoosh".  It can be purchased from Urban Elementz.

Quilting is finished....

Close-up....

I use any and every spare minute I can find to work on my projects....even if it means hand-sewing binding in my car (in the cold) while my youngest has basketball practice.  Aren't my fingerless gloves adorable?? LOLOL

Label on the back....

I'm just so glad I was able to get both girl's quilt finished before Christmas actually arrived so they could enjoy them for a few days over the holidays.  By the way, YES I know I have more daughters but my oldest received a quilt on her birthday in 2013 and my youngest asked that I NOT make her a Christmas quilt.  heehee

Until next time!

Emily's Christmas Quilt Recap

I was so busy during the month of December trying to finish gifts, etc., that I got way behind on my blog posts and now need to do some catching up.  Now that I think about it...I think I'm ALWAYS playing catch-up whether it's the holidays or not....must be an age related thing! :) :) :)

Now that Emily and Amanda (my twins) are out of the nest and in their own home, I enjoy making them special gifts.  This year I decided to make each of them a Christmas themed quilt.  Emily is a very traditional girl and likes traditional Christmas colors and designs...red, green, gold, etc.  She browsed through my Christmas fabric choices and made her decision.  Originally I had only intended to make her a sofa/lap sized quilt but then she and her sister both liked the idea of a twin size quilt instead.  They thought they could drape a twin over the sofa if they wanted, but it also leaves the option of covering a future twin guest bed, etc.

I wasn't attempting to make an intricate, extremely time consuming quilt...just something quick, easy and Christmas themed....especially since I needed to make two different quilts!  I decided to use a layer-cake (10" pre-cut collection of fabrics), make a "disappearing 9-patch" block, use sashings and cornerstones to separate the blocks and a border to finish it off.  Easy peasy!

On the design wall...sashings attached, just needing borders.....

Time to quilt it on the long-arm.....

The quilting design I decided to use is called "Snow Winds".  The paper or digital version can be purchased at Urban Elementz.  

The quilting looks so pretty on the quilt.....

Another view...

I wish I could have gotten a better picture, but there wasn't enough room to get the "WHOLE" quilt....

I used a pale yellow/gold fabric with golden Christmas bells on the back of the quilt.  Isn't it cute?  Of course, I also had to include a label in the bottom corner.

Emily was very happy with her Christmas quilt thank goodness!

Now I need to gather photos to share Amanda's quilt in a different blog post!  There's ALWAYS something needing done! :) :)

Happy Sewing!

My Big 50 Birthday

It happened....didn't matter how hard I tried to hang onto 49...December 20th came, along with a bunch of fun and left me a new member of the 50 club!

To begin with...remember all of those birthday blocks I've been making throughout the entire year and mailing to others all over this world?  Well....it was MY turn yesterday.  Unlike the others (who tended to open their envelopes as soon as they arrived in the mail), I actually saved mine to open on my birthday.  I had 14 packages to open yesterday.  There are still a handful left to come, but the bulk of them arrived in time to open on the BIG day!

I had been numbering the packages as they arrived over the past month or so and planned to open them in the exact same order.....

Also, if you remember, the other quilters had requested specific colors for their quilts.  I did something entirely different and requested SCRAPPY!  I told them to make something THEY would like and if they liked it then I knew I would be thrilled with it!  Anyway...I've never met a color I didn't like! :) :)

The first package I opened was from Chris in Australia.....

The second package was from Annette in Wisconsin....

The third package was from Chrissy in Massachusetts...

The fourth package was from Debra in Missouri....

The fifth package was from Jean in Wisconsin...

The sixth package was from Lynne in Virginia...

The seventh package was from Karyl in North Carolina....

The eighth package was from Mabel in New Jersey...

The ninth package was from Virginia in Texas...

The tenth package was from Gael in Australia...

The eleventh package was from Wanda in Texas...

The twelfth package was from Hollie in Texas...

The thirteenth package was from Diane is Florida....

The fourteenth package was from Terri in New York City....

Aren't you just green with envy!!!!!  Oh my goodness....this is going to be one gorgeous quilt!  Once the other packages arrive, I will start playing around with placement and come up with a setting for my quilt top.

BUT....just for the fun of it...I DID go ahead and start laying them out on top of my bed.  The lighting is terrible in the room but it gives you an idea....

Then a little moving around...

Ooooooooooooooooo....this is going to be SO pretty!  I can't wait! :)

Along with all the birthday block packages, I received flowers from friends in Virginia that included lovely black "Over The Hill" balloons. :)  My daughters also gave me flowers.

Dear hubby Ray washed the dishes for me (which happens to be an awesome gift by the way!) and he even thought to stop by the grocery store and pick up a cake! :)

I was able to have three of my four daughters with me to celebrate (it's hard when my oldest daughter and her family live a 12 hours drive away).  Amanda and Emily thought their gift was hilarious!!

Yes...my daughters are all rotten to the core! :) :) :)

So, at the end of the day I can honestly say that turning 50 wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated.  It's certainly better than the alternative!!!!! :) :)  My youngest daughter said...."Well Mom, at least your just Over The Hill and not under it!"  Gotta love my girls!!!!!

Starting Bonnie Hunter's 2013 Mystery

It's that time of year again!!  Bonnie Hunter has designed a new mystery quilt called Celtic Solstice and she is giving the instructions and lessons away FREE to whoever wants to participate!!

Clue #1 was just released this past Friday.  I've been taking my time and enjoying the ride.  I'm not planning to race anyone but I am REALLY hoping that I'm able to keep up with each week's clue along with all the other projects I'm working on and needing to finish (some before Christmas). :)

As of last night...all the pieces for the first clue have been cut out and almost half have been sewn into the needed blocks.

Remaining parts ready to sew....

I do not intend to purchase any new fabric whatsoever to make this King size quilt.  I'm excited to be using a special stash of fabric scraps.  My dear hubby went to an estate auction this past spring and came home with a big surprise for me....boxes (shoe boxes, plastic storage containers, big cardboard boxes, etc., etc.,) of quality quilting fabrics.  The previous owner was obviously a quilter and had lovingly separated the scraps by color families, all sizes from 1" strips, squares, odd shaped scraps, fat quarters, some yardage pieces, some old, some new. I'm sure she had a small fortune invested in this treasure trove of fabrics. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that my hubby didn't spend much at all that day but I feel like I won the fabric lottery! :) :)

Since I'm planning to use the same colors as those suggested by Bonnie Hunter....based on Clue #1's colors and instructions, I pulled out the boxes of blues and the container of oranges.  Unlike many other quilters who are participating, I didn't gather up the fabrics before the first clue was released.  In fact, I plan to pull fabric from the stash AS it's needed. Personally, I think it's more fun to do this way. :) :)

I'm having so much fun pulling out the "new to me" fabric scraps and cutting them up to use in this quilt.  I told my hubby yesterday that I was having a blast playing with his auction finds.  He had a big smile on his face....I think he is proud of himself for this find. :)

Do you want to participate in the mystery?  Just click on this link below:

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/celtic-solstice-mystery.html

Once you click on the link...you will find information and additional links to take you to the introduction and fabric requirements post....and to Clue 1.  By the way, Bonnie Hunter provides detailed, easy to understand instructions, plus video helps which show us how to use certain rulers.  She has provided instructions to make your choice of two different sizes of this mystery quilt.  She even provides multiple ways to do it....your choice of using rulers, or paper-piecing, or templates, and more!  She covers EVERYTHING!!!!!

You will be able to download and save/print all the clues as they are released until the mystery ends.  At that time, the free instructions will disappear from the website and will be included in her next book.

Would you like to see the progress of other quilters who are participating?  Just go to the following link:

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-mystery-monday-link-up-1.html 

Ta Ta for now....I'm headed back to my sewing room. :)

Last set of Birthday Blocks for 2013

It's hard to believe and a bit sad to know that I've completed all the birthday blocks for my 2013 online birthday block swap.

These last two blocks go to Jean in Wisconsin.  Her fabric request was for Christmas themed, red, green and white.  Since Christmas and the month of December has always been my favorite time of year, you would think that I would be prepared for this request.  Nope....not one little bit! LOL  I finally located a few small pieces in my stash...just enough to make two blocks...not enough for mistakes or do-overs. :) :) :)

In the end, I think I am the most pleased with this set of blocks.  After purchasing The Learning Curve Ruler earlier this year and using it so often to make blocks once I owned it...the other participants jokingly say I'm "curve crazy".  Their jokes actually pushed me to get more creative in my blocks.

I'm am beyond THRILLED with this first block I designed...

My quilting buddy Marianne spoke out loud what I was already thinking in my head....wouldn't this block make an awesome quilt in and of itself?  Now you know what one of my projects will be for 2014...to design a quilt using this block. :)  I'm so excited!!!  Can't wait to start!!!!

I'm happy with the second block also....

Are you able to see the curved diamond square in the center?  I love it!!!!  That one small part was my own idea while playing around with the ruler.

Here are the two together.....

Before I ended up with the finished blocks above...there was quite a bit of playing around with the placement of squares.  I wish I had thought to take photos of all the different placements I considered...but I didn't. :(

Here are a couple of the last alternate layouts I considered....after I thought to grab the camera! LOL

You may recall that I am the last birthday girl on the list.  I've already received 5 packages but I'm saving them to open on my birthday.  You will have to wait another month to see them. :)

Happy Sewing!

Sewing Room Make-over!

Okay...so a make-over may be overdoing it.  To be honest...we're talking more of a "cleaning and reorganizing" of my sewing room. Whatever you want to call it...I'M HAPPY!!!!

When my daughter Amanda moved into her own home last year, I took over her old bedroom.  No more sewing on the kitchen table for me!!!!!!!!

Well....the bright mustard yellow walls took a little getting used to...but they have grown on me and I actually like them now.  Go figure! :) :) :)

My sewing furniture consists of whatever has been handed down to me by my children and other family members over the years....but that's okay....free is good!

As you enter my SUNNY sewing room.....

As you can see, I have one of my Featherweights setting on a vintage school desk (matching vintage school desk to the left of the first one...I did home school twin daughters and a younger daughter after all! :) :)

I have this machine already set up to do curved piecing or anything that doesn't require a 1/4" seam allowance.  I plan to set another Featherweight on the desk next to it to have set up for paper-piecing.  I just push my chair to whatever sewing machine I need for each particular project.

As your eyes turn to the right of the room....

More storage/shelving.  I decided to use a shower curtain rod and hang lace curtains over the closet to hide the stacks of batting, pillow forms, additional sewing machines, etc.  I'm really glad I moved the old rocking chair into the room (I rocked my babies in that chair....hope to rock more grand babies in years to come).  It gives me a comfortable place to sit and hand sew while watching TV.

Turning to face the opposite wall....my main sewing and cutting space.....

Prior to moving to NY, I had always had a formal dining room....but NO MORE.  So....I set up one of the dining room tables with all of it's extensions to create this space.  I keep this Featherweight set up to do all my quilt piecing that requires a 1/4" seam allowance.  I can easily push my machine toward one end (or remove it completely)  if I need more cutting space.  I can also set up my Pfaff embroidery machine on the right end of the table whenever I need to use it.

Since the room already had cable run to it...I set up my daughter Kirsten's old tiny television set in one corner.  I can sew to my heart's content and keep up with my shows. :)

Turning to face the last wall....

Now you see my design wall with a "quilt in progress" on it.  I really need to enlarge the size of my design wall.  Do you see my little step stool?  I'm short....only 5 foot even...do I hear you laughing because I must use a step stool to play with my design wall???  heeheeheehee

The next day, I thought of another item to organize....my embroidery software/cds....

Yes...another discarded item from one of my daughters....Emily, to be exact.  When she moved out to live with her sister Amanda...she no longer wanted the two over-the-door music cd holders.  Huuummmmm....perfect for storing my embroidery cds where I can easily see them and use them whenever needed.

Another day goes by and I decide that I MUST have more design space.  I don't want to spend any money purchasing one....soooo.......I rummaged through my stash of fabric and came up with a 2 yard piece of flannel that I don't have any immediate plans for.....taa daa!  Hang it on the wall backwards and we have an instant expanded design wall....

Can you believe I filled that space the very same day!!!!!  :) :) :) :) :) :)

Note to self....must look for additional flannel yardage from my stash....need more design space!!!!

How do you like my humble sewing space completely furnished with odds and ends?

Time to go play in my room. :)

Tula Pink Blocks 11 - 15

It's been awhile since I worked on any new blocks from the Tula Pink's City Sampler 100 Modern Quilt Blocks book.

You should know me well enough by now to know that I am constantly jumping from one UFO to another UFO.  But I must be honest and say that I have impressed myself with how many projects I've actually FINISHED this year!  I'm actually proud of myself!!! :) :) :)

As a reminder...these blocks measure 6 1/2"  at this point.  There are a total of 100 blocks in the book and I'm just making them in the exact same order that they are printed in the book.

So....for your entertainment....here are my completed blocks 11 - 15.......

Block #11.....

Block #12....

Block #13...

Block #14...

Block #15...

Happy Sewing!