Intown Sweet Divinity Give-Away

A couple of weeks ago  Intown Quilters in Atlanta had a give-away on their blog.

They wanted to know who your favorite designer was.

Of course my favorite designer at the moment is Kim McLean the maker of all the wonderful applique' patterns I have been doing.

I entered and was lucky enough to win this beautiful 

fat quarter pack by Riley Blake.

Thanks Sara!

Christmas Quilt Show

I decided to enter the virtual quilt show of Christmas quilts that SewCalGal is hosting. 

I started looking for Christmas quilts that I had made and realized I really haven't done all that many.

 This quilt is called 3-D Rail Fence and I did it when I was a member of Strip Club.  
It's a very simple quilt.  One where the fabric makes the quilt.  
The reds are much redder and the blacks blacker than they appear in the photo.

The  next little quilt is from an old book -  Scrap Quilting Made Easy.  

Sometime you find the best things in old out of print books.

It's called Scrap Bag Snail's Trail and is only 23x23.

The next one is not really a quilt it's a table topper made of wool.

It's called Seven Santa's from the pattern  All Through the Night.

I really enjoy appliqueing with wool nothing to turn under.

That's my entry for the Quilt Show.  You should check out SewCalGal's blog and go on the virtual quilt show. There are lot's of quilts to inspire you and get you in the  Christmas spirit.

Quilt for A Friend

A Friend gave me this fabric several years ago to use as I choose.
I decided to make her a quilt with it.
These are her colors and she had already cut some of the 2.5" strips.  She is a weaver not a quilter and I don't know what she had planned to do with the fabric but I guess she changed her mind.
The strips have been hanging in my sewing room all these years,  Everyday I would look at them and think of my friend.  I finally found a pattern that looks like weaving.  Now all I have to do is make the label.
I don't usually put labels on my quilts - VBG - but this one has to have one.
I hope she likes it.

Lollypop Trees

I have been working away on my Lollypop Trees and have managed to finish six blocks.
I like the way they are turning out although sometime I think I spend too much time stressing over not having the exact fabric.

I am using the freezer paper on top method without marking on the fabric. 
I like this method but I wish I could figure out a way to see the fabrics on the block before I sew them down.
I think it would help make my fabric choices easier.
I am always surprised when I peel off the paper.


I have other things I need to do  before Christmas....so I guess I will have to slow down on this one for a while.
In January I make so many plans for the coming year and when November rolls around I find I haven't followed through on too many of them.
I wonder if anyone else is like that or is it just me or do I really think I can accomplish so much.

Lolly Pop Trees Started

This is my latest project.
 It's designed by Kim McLean and called
Lollypop Trees. 

I think it is just beautiful.  

I have completed two of the blocks so far.  

The pieces are quite large and so it goes rather quickly.  

I think the hardest part of this quilt is picking the right fabrics. 

                                                                                                                                                                            

Almost all the fabrics in this quilt are by Kaffe Fassett.  

I really like his fabrics they are so bright and colorful.

I think this is going to be a fun quilt.

A Little Knitting, A Little Spinning, A Little Quilting

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted on my Blog..Life you know gets in the way sometime.

I have been doing a few things  with my time.

First, I knit a little hat  for Lillian.  This is a free pattern from The Knitting Siren.  It's called the Papallona Earflap Hat.

She lives way up in freezing Virginia so I can use some of my washable wool which is too warm for the South.

                                                                                                                                                                            One day  I finished spinning some yarn.
I have soooo much fiber I need to spin.














Then I finally finished my ninth Florabunda Block.  Only three more to go.  Each block has a sawtooth border.  Not looking forward to that.

Hearts and Flowers finally finished!

I finally put the last border on my Hearts and Flowers quilt.  This has been a rather fast journey.  I started this quilt on August the 28th and completed the top yesterday October the 8th.
The quilting will be another story since I don't seem to get that done too quickly.  I think the piecing is my favorite part.
I am debating with myself now-- trying to decide-- if I should take the border on the right off and turn  it around.
I didn't notice  how different it looks until I saw it in the picture.

I now need to get busy on some of my other projects...things I hoped to have finished by Christmas but are not looking so good since I became involved in all this applique'.

Hearts and Flowers Progress

I have been steadily working on my Hearts and Flowers quilt and am just about to reach the finish.  I have enjoyed this quilt and have not been able to work on any others since I started it.
My next decision is weather to use the fabric shown in the book for the last border or to choose a darker one.
I need to make up my mind because I am ready to finish this one so I can start the next one Lollypop Trees.

Margaret Bunny

I knit this little bunny for Lillian while she was here for a visit this past week.  Not the easiest thing I have knit.....I know Lillian is going to have fun with those ears.

It is a free pattern by Joanne Jongsma.  If you are interested in the pattern just type Margaret by Joanne Jongsma in your search engine and it will come up.
I couldn't get the link to work.

Hearts and Flowers Border One

I finally got the first border on my Hearts and Flowers quilt.  Lots of inside points  on this one.  I worry about them fraying so I think I over stitch them..  There must be an easier way.

Kim McLean's Hearts & Flowers

I finished the center of my Hearts and Flowers quilt. I think the hardest thing about this block was squaring it up after I finished...it's 25.5 inches square.
I am still not sure if it is exactly right but it will have to do.

"Lillian"

Don't you just wish  you could stop time and keep them babies forever?

Florabunda Block Eight!

Finished Block eight this weekend..four more and then we get to see what Erin does with the center and borders.
Erin of One Piece at A Time  is now doing videos on how she does applique' very informative.

And She's Off!

OK,  I just couldn't stop myself.  I started another applique' project.I have joined the group of quilters addicted to Kim McLean patterns.
This all started when I found the blog Glorious Applique.  The pictures just draw you in.
I also have a friend who does a lot of Kim's quilts so I can see how beautiful they are in person.
I decided to start with the Hearts and Flowers quilt in Quilt Romance by Kaffe Fassett. 
Since I didn't have any Kaffe fabrics  I ordered the fabric pack and started a stash. My fabric pack from Glorious Color came this week.

Trouble is all the fabrics aren't in the pack and I don't have a clue how to substitute or cut them up or use them to get a good effect. 

To be continued.

Rick Rack Nines - It's Really Big

Rick Rack Nines is from Leaders & Enders a Bonnie Hunter book.
She said this was a big quilt and she is right.
It has 290 nine patch blocks along with 20 half blocks all made from 2,670 - 2 inch squares.
I used just about every 2 inch square I could come up with on this one.
The alternate block fabric has little blue flowers on it but it doesn't show up in this picture.

What I need to learn is to read all the directions before I start a quilt.

I still have the borders to do but I'm taking a rest from this one.

Another Giveaway!

Pat over at Silver Thimble Talk is having a giveaway.
You should check it out but remember I' am going to win.

My other Hobbies

I finished another rug and also finished spinning the red yarn on the right of the picture.
There is also some wonderful fiber in the picture I have yet to spin.  It's from the Gale's Art  Etsy site.  She has beautiful fibers if you happen to be into spinning.

Keeping Up!

Block seven of Florabunda is complete.  Just in time block eight is supposed to be out this week.

Somebody Stop Me!

OK, I have finally decided I need help.  My friends already tell me I get way too many packages from Amazon.  I think Amazon has my credit card number on speed dial. 

I just love books and can't seem to control myself.  My latest purchase came today.

All of these books are wonderful and I have already found several things I want to make.

If only there were more hours in the day!

I haven't been able to post in a while because my old computer finally just gave up and died.

I bought a new one yesterday.  

I decided to get a new iMac and am so glad I did.  

I really like it.

There are lots of things I have to learn.   

It's very different from  PC.

Out of the Box & One More Finish!

My Snowball quilt is all quilted and bound.  I quilted it with a feather pantograph. 

Now  I need to just stop joining all these challenges

and sew alongs because I have so many UFO's I need to get to work on.

Speaking of UFO's  I bought another kit which will probably become a UFO. 

I have really been trying to get a little more color in my quilts and this should just about to do it.

I stopped at Intown Quilters Saturday and this quilt almost blinded me when I walked in the door.

The pattern is "A Piece of Cake" and is really simple looking but the fabric is outrageous.  I love it!

I also signed up for a BOM they are starting in February. 

It's all batiks.  Looks like a lot of fun and I love applique'.