Miles' Yellow Brick Road

There is nothing like the feeling of a completed UFO!! I started this project for Miles' bed several years ago. The pattern is Yellow Brick Road and the fabrics were Civil War Reproduction prints. I reached the quilting stage and decided I hated quilting at my sit down machine, thus the purchase of my frame. It has sat in the corner of my sewing area and I just didn't know what to do with it as it was all basted and half-way quilted. I finally bit the bullet and decided to just get it over with!! As unhappy as I am with the quilting, I do have to admit when looking at it from afar it isn't quite so horrible!! I used Hobbs Tuscany Wool batting and love the feel of it.

Caught Up!

I have finally caught up on baby gifts! This is another minkee dot quilt for a great-niece.

Wallet and Grommet

I decided to give the Wallet and Grommet bag a try. It was really a fun bag to make and pretty easy too! My only wish, now that I'm done is that I would have put the plaid on the top!! I'm just not very good at fabric placement. I'm getting a little better at putting fabrics together...I can do up to 4 now!!! I am trying to decide if I want to consign some but they ended up costing quite a bit to make and I think I would have a hard time recouping the cost of supplies...and for a several hour project I would probably end up getting nothing for my time!!

Runners Galore!

I've been busy sewing runners to consign. With the exception of the Boo one, these are all new patterns I am trying. I like some better than others, but try to remember that different people have different tastes! Hopefully they will all find good homes!!

Up and Coming Quilter!

My 11 year old son has been begging me to teach him how to quilt. I finally gave in (I'm not always the most patient person in the world!) and let him pick a project. He picked two...some good friends recently moved away and he wanted to make them presents for their new rooms. He picked out the material, helped with the cutting and did all the sewing. I think he did an awesome job!

Another Baby Gift Ready To Go!

This is a baby blanket for our nephew's little girl...(blush...they just sent us her 6 month picture). At least it's nice and big and she will hopefully cuddle with if for years to come. The top and bottom are both minkee and I have 2 more to make then no more all minkee quilts! They are wonderful to the feel but a royal pain to make as the fabric is really stretchy and hard to work with. I have 1 more to make for another nephew's daughter and my daughter think she needs one...she's 7 so it will have to be bigger! I'm trying to convince her to let me use flannel for one side!

Dry Spell Ended (I hope!)

It's been forever since I have completed anything quilting related! I started this Very Hungary Caterpiller quilt early in the year and got so busy with life..and job...and house improvements...and graduation!!! Well, the baby is now 6 months old but hopefully she will be a little toddler curled up with her blanket reading a book! I think part of the problem in getting it finished was that I used minkee on the back and was terrified as to how it would quilt up...silly me...it worked wonderfully! My daughter picked out the fabric as it was for the teacher she had for kindergarten's baby. When they were in kindergarten someone brought in 2 cocoons and they watched each day anticipating them turning into butterflies...and they did! I used a pantograph called Angel's Wings.

Time flies....

Time flies when you are having fun...or working like a crazy woman! My first-born graduated a few days ago and we did a little remodel that turned into a not-so-little remodel. At least my New Years Mystery quilt has a home! I also took a part-time job back in December that ended up being a little bigger bite to chew than I expected. But, it was a challenge and as insane as it ended up being to complete by the deadline, I can sit back with great satisfaction and see what I succeeded in doing! Plus...they want to keep me on to do some more little projects and that's not such a bad thing!

Maybe now that all the craziness is done (at least for the moment) I can get back to what I love and quilt!

First Panto on Voyager!

Before Christmas I offered to make a quilt for a raffle to raise money for one of the groups my son belongs to. I had the squares done, just to put it together. I finally finished it and delivered it today! The pattern was from Springs Creative called Running 8ths Quilt. It was supposed to be made from a special type of fabric that has running 8ths on the bolt. Well, I made a few alterations and it worked out well using the school colors. I was really nervous about using a pantograph on my Hinty/Voyager setup for the first time, but I guess that was silly...it worked really well (except I wish my arms were a little bit longer for reaching across to the front of the machine!!!).

Winter is insane this year! We have tons of snow and it's only mid January! Plus the cold has been so unbearable! The outside thermometer said 32 BELOW ZERO yesterday morning when I got up! Today is the first time in quite a few days that we have actually been above zero even during the day and it's a whopping 5 degrees! Mary is in my flower garden and stand up to the top of my leg.I am waiting for my dvd to finish my mystery quilt. I got a little behind...life and 4 kids!! I have almost finished another top...possibly a donation to one of the organizations my kids belong to...we'll see how it turns out! Other than that I haven't taken too much time to quilt. Instead I've been trying to get my home in order. Graduation this spring is coming fast! I'm thinking the more I get done now the less stressful it will be later...I hope!

2009 Already??

Wow...It's been a bit since I've taken the time to write! We did have a wonderful Christmas and was able to enjoy time with each and every member of both sides of the family....a rarity as nieces and nephews grow up and begin families of their own. Faith, Family and Friends...that is what makes life special! I hope you have some of each in your lives!

I had a lot of projects going before Christmas and didn't do such a good job of getting them all finished! The boys each received unbound wildlife themed runners for their dressers. I have one completed and pictured. They were my first attempt at straight lines on my frame...not such an easy undertaking I discovered...can't draw a straight line so why did I think I could sew one!! I have also added a picture of my New Years Mystery Quilt project by Longarm University. What fun! It is still a work in progress but is loaded on my frame and has a couple feathers on it now! That was part of the mystery...learning to do feathers! I was excited but very, very nervous! It took me quite awhile to make the first stitch! Hopefully they will get better with time and practice but I am just happy I made a first attempt!

Wishing you a very Blessed 2009!