Merry Christmas

May the warmth and love of the season be with all of you and your loved ones today and throughout the year.

Christmas Tree is Finally Up...

This year I have been procrastinating about putting up our Christmas tree. I just haven't been able to get in the right frame of mind to enjoy this special holiday. As I was decorating I was able to get into the spirit a little. Each of the ornaments on this tree have either been given to my children or have been made by them.

I knitted each of these stockings for my kids when they were small. The pattern was in an old McCall's holiday magazine that I can no longer find. I did realize that I should make a runner for the mantle before next year.

This is the oldest ornament on the tree. It was given to my oldest boy for his first Christmas by his grandmother.

This is the newest ornament on the tree. My youngest son made it at school.

I made this tree skirt back in the mid '80's when I first started quilting. I never did finish it but I still used it each year since. I think it is time for a new one. Maybe I will get one done for next year.

Friday Nite Sew-In Results

Last night was the 2nd sew-in for December and I stayed awake for this one! I haven't made many things for Christmas this year so I worked on a UFO that I started in September 2008 for my youngest son's 18th birthday the following February. Two years later I am still working on the hand quilting and am a little over half way finished. It would be nice to finish it and cross it off my list of UFOs.

Friday Nite Sew-In Results

I fully intended to participate in the Sew-In last night but when I sat down to sew I promptly fell asleep. My youngest son has autism and has recently been staying awake all night again so I haven't had much sleep. Maybe next Friday.

Finally Some Sunshine!

We finally have some sunshine after three days when we have received 90+ cm. of snow in my little corner of the world.

I had three snow days from work so to occupy myself I decided to start a new quilt. I found a cute toddler quilt call I Spy A 4 Patch from Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville.

On the first day I cut all of the fabric and on day two I stitched the four patches together.

Then I was able to finish putting it altogether on the third day. The fabric I intend to use on the back has roads and cars printed on it. It reminds me of the car mats that my oldest son used to play with when he was little.

Friday Night Sew-In

Heidi from Handmade by Heidi and her friend Bobbi from Crafty Vegas Mom are hosting 2 Friday Nite Sew-Ins for December. The first one is on the 10th and the second is on the 17th. Hope to work on some of the Christmas sewing. I wonder if baking counts?

Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrap

Okay, I tried folding and refolding but the I Spy quilts just would not fit into the boxes I had hoped to deliver them in so what to do? Make pillowcases that could double as wrapping paper! The girls love penguins and I bought this fabric last year because I thought it was cute. A perfect match.

Friday Nite Sew-In Results

I haven't blogged in almost a month and now 2 posts in 2 days. The reason for this is one, we had to reformat our computer and I had to reload some of the programs I had on it and just didn't take the time to do it and two, I was concentrating on finishing the I Spy quilts (see previous post). For the Sew-In last night I made the labels for the quilts but didn't get them stitched on yet as my fingers are a bit sore from sewing the binding down earlier in the day.

After I finished the labels I decided to continue working on the child's hat that I started knitting last week.

I Spy My Little Eye.....

On two finished quilts! These quilts are for my great nieces as a Christmas gift from their Mom and Dad. The girls share a room and have bunk beds so I thought making the quilts basically the same with a few subtle differences would be nice. I backed each quilt with flannelet to add to the "cozy factor." I plan on adding a label to the back of each of these quilts with their names and the date so they know whose quilt is whose.

Mail Call and A Finish

I love it when I check the mail and there is a parcel instead of bills! I want to say a big thank-you to Erin over at My Patchwork Life for this wonderful prize that I won in her recent giveaway. They are wonderful.

I finished one of the I Spy Quilts that I was asked to make for my great nieces. (See this post.) The top for the second one is sewn and now I can start to sandwich, quilt and bind it. I am hoping to have it finished by the end of November. Lately I find if I set time goals for myself I seem to accomplish more.

Friday Nite Sew-In

Sometimes I can't believe how quickly time goes by. November's Friday Nite Sew-In is happening on the 19th. I really look forward to these Sew-In's because I usually get a lot accomplished. I think this would be a good chance to work on some Christmas gifts. To sign up for this fun evening visit Heidi at Handmade By Heidi.

This is the Year!

I did it! I finally finished this UFO (unfinished fibre object). I plan on displaying it this Christmas. I worked on this last Friday for the Friday Nite Sew-In and each evening since until I finally finished it. It is a good feeling to complete a project that has been sitting around for quite awhile.

I made this tea cozy this morning. I have made several in the past but I made this one slightly different. Sometimes I find the lining shows below the outside so this time I cut the outside 1 1/2 inches longer then the lining. This way when you tuck the lining inside the outside fabric folds inside and gives a neater appearance.

Friday Nite Sew-In Results

I have been working on this afghan for a few years now off and on. Last night I was able to crochet some of the rows together. When it is finished it will have ten stripes. I usually work on it this time of year in hopes to get it finished in time to display it for that Christmas. Maybe this year??

A Quick Project

This past Monday my mother-in-law asked me if I could make a bag for scrabble tiles. The existing bag had worn out and she needed a new one. She gave me the approximate dimensions and I worked on it this morning. I found a very good tutorial for a drawstring pouch. I set to work on it this morning and had it done in less then an hour. This bag can be made in any size just by adjusting the dimensions. This would make wonderful reusable gift bags for birthdays or Christmas.

A Strippie Finish

I finally finished the strippie quilt that I made last month. This quilt top was a challenge to quilt. I wanted to put a flannelet backing on it to make it cozier for the winter. I had loaded the quilt on my frame to free motion quilt it but for some reason the thread kept breaking and I just got frustrated. (See this post.) I finally took it off the frame and ripped out all the quilting I had done. Then I decided to machine quilt it on my domestic sewing machine using a 2" diagonal grid marking it with painter's tape. Each time I sewed a line the back would pucker and I ended up ripping out the stitching to try to fix it. After about four goes at this frustration set in and I gave up on that.

In the end I ripped out that quilting and took the entire quilt top apart to put it back together using a quilt as you go method of "stitch and flip". I decided not to do any addition quilting on it and to leave it as is because of the frustration it caused. I like it as it is and I hope my friend who wants to purchase it likes it as well.

October's Friday Nite Sew-In

October's Friday Nite Sew-In is happening on October 15th. Click on the link if you want to join in. I do look forward to this because it is time I set aside to sew. I am hoping to make some progress on my great nieces quilts.

Friday Nite Sew-In Results

I didn't get a lot done this time around. I made a Quick Strippie quilt top from Mary Quilts with the intend to use it with the free motion quilt along. My best friend was over for a visit yesterday and saw it, she liked it enough that she would like to have it. I decided to quilt it on my frame. I spent last night loading it into the frame and started quilting it. My thread kept breaking so before I got frustrated I walked away to try again later.

Free Motion Quilt A-long

In my adventures in blogland I like to read other quilters blogs. While reading A Patchwork Life I discovered a free motion quilt a-long offered by A Few Scraps. I visited her blog and it is a wonderful teaching on free motion quilting. I took a class about a year ago but I didn't practice so I thought this would be a good chance to take it up again. I am starting a bit late but I did my practice sandwich tonight.

A Mini Finish

Since I was working on the bigger I Spy quilts I decided to make a couple of mini ones at the same time. I made them so they could be a doll blanket or a take along game to keep the kiddies happy.

A Double Flimsy Finish

I have been working on the I Spy quilts for my great nieces and I finished the second top this afternoon. Since the girls share a room and have bunk beds I decided to make them the same pattern with only a few differences. I really like the outside border print. It has tree frogs, butterflies and lots of other creepy crawlies to find. My nieces love to collect all kinds of crawly bugs so I hope they will like these quilts. Next step is to layer, quilt and bind. I am hopeing to back them with flannelet as I think that will make them a little cozier. Their mom asked me to make them for Christmas so I think I am getting a good start on them.

Friday Nite Sew-In

September's Sew-In is set to happen Friday the 17th. What shall I work on? I have quite a few projects to choose from. Will it be the I Spy quilts for my great nieces or the quilt I started for my youngest son's 18th birthday, (he is 19 now) or a crocheted afghan I started two Christmases ago. I have many UFOS around I really need to finished something before I start something new.

Mail Call

I love getting mail that is fun. When I checked my mail box this morning I found this parcel. It was the prize from a giveaway from Heidi of Handmade By Heidi. Thank-you so much for the layer cake and needle case. I am looking forward to using the layer cake in a future project.

Progress!!

Earlier this summer my niece asked me to make twin size quilts for her daughters see this post. After browsing through some of my quilting magazines and books I found a pattern called Tipsy Blocks That Tilt. The quilt maker is Debby Dratovil. It was published in the Fall 2005 issue of Quilt magazine.

After choosing 20 different novelty prints from my stash and a few I purchased for this project I started making the blocks. I am making both quilts at the same time as my intention is to make them the same. I have completed half of the blocks I need.

A Finish!

I put the last stitches in the binding of this lovely little baby quilt about 5 o'clock this morning. My youngest was up most of the night again last night so I took advantage of being awake and finished the quilt. It turned out rather well.

Friday Nite Sew-In Results

For the Friday Nite Sew-In I worked on the baby quilt that I started a few weeks ago. I finally got the machine to work properly so I was able to finish the quilting.

Then I put the binding on it.

Then I pinned the binding to the back side and started hand stitching it down.

Friday Nite Sew-In

This Friday is the Friday Nite Sew-In for August. I am looking forward to making progress on the baby quilt that I have on the frame and maybe getting some of the cutting done for the I Spy quilts for my great nieces.

Fabric Explosion!

I was asked to make two twin size quilts by my niece for my great nieces. She would like them for Christmas gifts. My great nieces are 9 and 7. I thought I Spy quilts would be a good idea so I went through my stash and did a little shopping and these are the fabrics I thought I would use. If I counted correctly there are forty different fabrics spread out here. Now is to decide on a pattern.

I also got the baby quilt I have been working on set up for quilting. I bought this frame awhile ago but haven't used it as much as I should. My problem is the thread keeps breaking and it gets rather frustrating. I can't seem to figure out what I am doing wrong. Any suggestions anyone??

A Flimsy Finish

I have been working on this baby quilt for a little while now and I was able to get the top together yesterday. I saw a tutorial by Eleanor Burns on this pattern and I wanted to try it. I think it turned out well. Next step is to layer and machine quilt it. I am hopeing to get it done soon.

It's Done!

I started this bag on Thursday and I completed it today. I didn't have a pattern for it just a picture, so with some Internet research and some guess work it turned out rather well. I am not sure what I am going to do with it yet but it is nice to have completed a project.

Friday Nite Sew-In

For the Friday Nite Sew-In I decided to work on a bag that I had in mind for over a year now. I saw a picture of it and decided to try to make it. Since I didn't have a pattern and only a vague idea of how to put it together, I did some research on the Internet.

Using some scraps of fabric from my stash I quilted the fabric using a one inch grid pattern using painters tape as a sewing guide.

I was able to complete the front and back and make the handles.

This shows the inside lining of the bag. I was able to accomplish a lot because my youngest son has autism and because of that he doesn't sleep at night sometimes so to keep myself awake I work on my sewing sometimes.