Archive for December, 2009

Block of the Month Teaser

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

I hope every one is having a nice holiday season. It has been hectic around here with family coming and going – and they all come and go with extra dogs! It is a joy to have them all home just the same.

Amidst all the chaos, I have been working on this new FREE Block-of-the-Month quilt, Starry Night.  Attached is a preview of the pattern for it. This is an EQ6 file and not the completed quilt. I am working on the last blocks now ( ran out of a blue and bought some more – now have to wash it – yes, I am a fabric washer!) and will have it all together just in time! In January, the fabric requirements for the whole quilt will be ready as well as the center applique block. Offering it with the first pieced block will allow you  plenty of time to complete it as you piece the rest of the quilt. I’m thinking I like this border option but may change it when I actually get to working on it. The quilt measures 48″ x 60″.  Its been a lot of fun to create it and I have included some easy piecing techniques that I think you will like.

starry night BOM quilt

crazy-patch purses!

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

I needed quick Christmas gifts and came up with this! I think they’ve turned out so well, I may have to keep making them after the holidays are over. The back of the bag and the front pocket are crazy-patch piecing. Then I used my machine embroidery stitches and a bit of hand-sewn beads and baubles to embellish.  A cell phone and glasses will fit nicely in the front – perfect for festivals, quilt shows and shopping trips where you don’t want to haul around a shoulder-breaking handbag.

crazy patch bags 008crazy patch bags 009

Finally Finished!

Friday, December 11th, 2009

My braided hearts quilt is finally finished! Well, the hearts are  not exactly braided but woven strips of fabric,  like a basket.  I embellished with  bits of lace and beads to add some romance.  Check out better pictures of it in my gallery. This technique will be offered as a class at Sew-n-Save in February too!

braided hearts1

This second picture was a proto-type of the block – done with just two colors instead of the neutrals in the finished quilt. The white background is a little hard to photograph but I think you get the idea.

Braided hearts 004

TessellatingTrees Class

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

Saturday’s class was fun but rushed. Between the snow falling and  not enough tables (we were trying a new venue), we persevered! Some of us even made it to the quilting processes before deciding it really was time to pack it  up and slog home through the slush before it got too hard to slog through! Luckily, every one made it home safely and the snow never really did amount to much – just threatened too.

‘Tis the Season?

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Ok – Who has gotten their holiday quilts out yet? Its about that time! I am slowly bringing them out – but I hesitate to decorate too much – mainly because I’ve got to pack it all away again later.  Hence the first quilt out is always the most useful – the one I can snuggle under while watching TV. This quilt  was made from several Flying Geese Quilt Guild Christmas block exchanges over the years.

xmas-quilt-on-chair

The second quilt was also a block exchange from a mini-group. It is versatile enough to stay out til February or March. Love the embellishing on the snowmen!

snowmen