2011 Bits and Pieces

My gifts from Robbie, rooee's confetti, for the Santa Sack Swap2. You can read my comments and see all the of the other amazing gifts sent and received by some fantastic quilters on the Santa Sack Swap2 blog. I love everything I received. Thanks, Robin. And a heartfelt thanks to Carol of Carol's Crafty Creations for sponsoring the wonderful Santa Sack Swap2.

I've been out of blogland and way too far from my sewing machine for a while. The last couple of months of 2011 were .... well, let's just say I'm glad those months are behind me. There were a few great things that happened ...

The magazine is super COOL! I chomping at the bit to try my hand at many, many of the lovely blocks! Read their blog Quilty Pleasures.

 

I won these two wonderful patterns from Lesley of Sew Happy-Me on her Fourth Day of Christmas Giveaway. I stole borrowed the pictures from her blog as the patterns are not yet here - we decided she would ship after Christmas to avoid the lost Christmas mail.

That concludes my windup of 2011. Most folk are busy writing resolutions for the New Year. I elected to skip out! My New Year's resolutions from past years have been kept for somewhere between 24 hours and 6 days - No! I have never made a full week! I do have some "dreams" for 2012 which I will keep to myself for now.

HAPPY QUILTING!

Merry Christmas

My niece's first cross-stitch project gifted to me. I'm told this took her two years - pretty amazing for a now 8 year old. The back has her name and documents this is her 1st Cross-Stitch Project completed in 2011..

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MAY YOUR DAY BE FILLED WITH LOVE, PEACE AND JOY.

No Sew Fun Weekend

Sewing has been almost nonexistent around here. My 9 patches are waiting to be cut to start forming Stepping Stones from Sue Abrey's Pick Four book. The Uber-Quilt-Fest sampler is on hold for me - temporary condition. Instead of being productive I spent a lovely weekend with family and friends enjoying the lingering summer weather in sunny Florida.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Weekend Fun!

Material nicely starched, pressed, cut and waiting to become a quilt. I am using Sue Abrey's "Stepping Stones" pattern from her wonderful book "Pick Four." The cutting took me a long time. I have nerve damage which gives me a lack of feeling in my hands. There is no pain in the cutting process. I tend to overcompensate and grasp items too tightly. This creates slippage as I work with the ruler and rotary cutter. I am learning to work around the issue. I improve the more I cut. So the fabric above became .....

I have 8 lovely 9 patch blocks of the red, cream and green ready to be cut into 4 pieces. I am leaving that for another day! I, also have the green and cream strips sewn into the mid section of 8 more 9 patch blocks and the gold and cream strips joined awaiting becoming the rest of the to be 9 patch blocks. Sue's book is so informative and well written. I love a pattern designer who takes the time to tell you the direction you need to press the seams!

Block 8 - Quilt-Uber-Fest

Designer Cara Wilson of Cara Quilts gave us this lovely block. Mine is not stitched together quite yet. It will be before I leave for work. I am having to get "creative" in fabrics utilized. I am getting down to layer cake squares with larger designs which do not fit the concept of this quilt. And I am out of two squares of the same print....Cara used 3 prints; I made do with 5 to keep going.

This has been a wonderful weekend! Hope you had as much fun as I did.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

The Point is My Points ARE Improving

I had the crazy desire to come back and add this. Block 8 is together and my points are much improved. The true color is better in this photo, also. 

Happy Quilting! Have a wonderful day!

 

Jigsaw Puzzle

Block 8 - Quilt-Uber-Fest

Designer April Rosenthal of 21st Century Charm School. This was my first attempt at a Chevron. I am somewhat pleased with the result - some of the points leave a bit to be desired. I do like the colors, which are much more vibriant than the photo shows. There are a lot of seams, points, small (for me) pieces and jigsaw puzzle arrangement.

April's block is beautiful. Go check it out on her blog.

I am thinking the time has come for me to go  read a book. The Christmas tree skirt I had planned to work on can wait a bit.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Moving Along!

Block 7 - Quilt-Uber-Fest

Designer Scott Hansen of Blue Nickle Studio's block. Scott is also the host of this quilt along. I'm having difficulty realizing I have kept up for 7 full days. I am enjoying myself!

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Brain Teaser

Block 6 - Quilt-Uber-Fest

Designer John Adams of I'm Just a Guy Who Quilts threw me a brain teaser with this block. I'm loving how it turned out - my resulting diamond is "mostly" smooth edged. This is a large block with little (for me!) pieces. I had fun with the challenge and do believe I want to put this one together again - soon. I can see a feature fabric becoming the center square. We will see.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Garden District Houses

Block 5 - Quilt-Uber-Fest

Block designed by Amy Lobsiger of Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts. I love the little houses surrounded by flowers. My roof tops (Geese again!) look like they survived the last major wind storm (ha!).

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Flight On Schedule

Block 3 - Quilt-Uber-Fest

Designed by Karen Linton, no blog. Karen's block can be found here on Scott Hansen's (our host) Blue Nickel Studios blog. There are Flying Geese and half square triangles throughout this block and I am amazed at how well mine are flying!

Below is the face of a somewhat angry kitty cat who is feeling ignored. Poor Kitty.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Rocking On

Block 2 - Quilt-Uber-Fest

Designed by Kaye Prince of Miss Print. My geese are flying straighter today! Yeah Geese!

Block 4 - Quilt-Uber-Fest

Designed by Konda Luckau of Moose on the Porch Quilts. There is a missing piece of mortar due to material shortage. And I had to piece one side of the outer blocks - the cut was 3.5 x 12.5 - ain't happening when one is using scraps from a jelly roll and a layer cake. Get over it and improvise!

Block 3 - To Follow Soon .... I skipped this one this morning. There are GEESE - very pretty GEESE! I decided these would be a better after work project. Speaking of work it might just be time for me to start getting ready. Piecing in PJs is perfectly acceptable. Work, on the other hand, is a different matter.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Barely Airborne

John Adams of Quilt Dad calls his block for the Blogger's Quilt-Uber-Fest being sponsored by Scott Hansen of Blue Nickel Studies "Taking Flight." I have aptly named my rendition "Barely Airborne." Something happened during my translation of the lower right hand section of the block. I'm unsure exactly what I did (or didn't do) but I am using scraps, love the colors and the block will stay what it is. This quilt will be nice and warm.

My Friends Swap 2011 and Santa Sack 2 packages are on their way to Grace and Robbie.

Now I am off to find the other two blocks which have been released for Quilt-Uber-Fest.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Back on Track

FRIENDS Swap 2011

Santa Sack 2 Swap

My gifties are ready for the trip to the post office so they will be on the way to Grace and Robbie tomorrow.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Perfection!

WE GOT A BOX! MAKE THAT TWO BOXES! YEAH!

FRIENDS! are so WONDERFUL!

My FRIENDS swap package arrived from Grace, citymousequilter. Look at those lovely packages. How exciting! Almost (I said almost!) too pretty too unwrap.

This is all from 6 packages. WOW!

The seventh package.

The blueberry fabric is to die for and please do not drool on my lovely purple fabrics and I have been eying paisley fabrics at the quilt shop - now I own a piece! Oh the dancing whales will delight a favorite little nephew this Christmas. Do you see all of those books, magazines, patterns .... I had foundation piecing on my list of things to learn in 2012. Looks like my start will be the Feathered Star.

How sweet is the potholder! The colors are so wonderful!

My gifts are absolutely amazing! Check out those tiny little squares forming the NOEL letters.I LOVE this wall hanging!

Thanks Grace. I consider myself one lucky FRIEND.

She won't let me play with anything! Mean Mama!

THE SECOND PACKAGE

My Santa Swap 2 second set of packages arrived from Robbie, rooee's Confetti in the same mail. These beautifully wrapped packages seem to have suffered no damage - no little torn pieces of paper, untied ribbon or loose tape - during the mailing process. Bummer! Because I canNOT open these until Christmas. Who came up with these rules? I'm driving myself crazy trying to figure out how to get a sneak preview!

Here is the picture of all four lovely presents from Robbie - Still Wrapped!

And I have had two of them for a whole month!

This is Pure Agony!

Thanks, Robbie!

My return gifts to Grace and Robbie will be on their way this coming Monday. My work schedule has been hectic and I got behind. 

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

My Autographed Quilt Book!

Look what Quilt Sue sent me - all the way from the UK! I am the proud owner of an autographed quilt book compliments of the lovely book plate Sue sent to grace the front cover of my "Pick Four." The fabric holding the book came in the same mail and is the "to be" flimsy from the Antique Nine Patch pattern in Sue's book. I am ever so excited! The fabric was ordered from the fab Fat Quarter Shop where you will find amazing savings in their sale section.

How is this for Way Cool! Thanks Sue!

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Blogger' Block of the Month

Sherri of A Quilting Life posted the first block for the Blogger's Block of the Month being hosted by Jackie of Canton Village Quilt Works. The above is my block. I am using fabrics I have on hand. I surprised myself with how easily this block came together and the fact the points line up! Sherri's instructions are outstanding.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Approval Process

What!! Potential Danger Alert!

This is My Bed! I am prepared to FIGHT or RUN! How could mom let this happen?

Maybe - Just Maybe, I can be comfortable here. I think I am liking this!

Finally a Real Flimsy!

Miles from a finish but I do have a quilt top. Now I'm off to my next project.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Psalms 84:11

Row by Row

My First Two Rows!

10 Hours Later - Five Rows - Two to Go!

I have had a productive day. Tomorrow, if the creek don't rise, I will have a flimsy. This one goes to my long arm quilter. My quilting ability is masking tape and a walking foot - okay for baby quilts but definitely not for this one. I cannot even imagine wrestling this very large quilt through my Kenmore.

Here is hoping everyone had a wonderful day!

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Scripture reference: "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it." Psalms 90:17

Almost Flimsy

A wee bit of squaring up and these 15.5 x 15.5 blocks will be ready to transform into a 90 x 105 flimsy. Yeah! The rows are numbered. I spent hours on my design floor getting the "controlled" scrappy.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Scripture Reference "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Psalms 84:11

Dare to Be Square

I finally took a deep breath and started squaring up the 42 stars for My Lucky Stars queen quilt. I will admit I was petrified. Thankfully, all went well. And I can really believe this is going to be a quilt!

See! I got the 6 blocks for the first row and 2 for the second row ready to be stitched together. This quilt is supposed to be scrappy - then why is it taking me so long to decide which fabric to place where on each block? Perhaps I'm not a scrappy gal - just a plain old square! I am super pleased with how well the squaring up went today. 

I also spent time today working on my gifties for my two swap partners. I can't show these just wanted to let my partners know I was working hard!

My scripture for today: "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever." Psalms 119:160

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

Cha Cha says Enough Already - Go to Bed!

 

Hurricane Irene

I heard by e-mail from Robbie, my Santa Sack 2 partner, this morning. She and hubby are safe after Hurricane Irene roared through. She says the county they live in in New York was hit hard. They, their home and their pets weathered the storm; although power was just recently restored. They have been helping supply needed necessities at local shelters. Please join me in keeping Robbie and all others recovering from Irene in our prayers.

Scripture reference “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and out Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4:19-20

Crushed Walnut Shells = Angry Cat!

 

Crushed walnut shells (bird litter) comes in a bag almost the size of, definitely the shape of and most certainly makes the sound of CAT FOOD. Cha Cha and I had some interesting "conversations" about crushed walnut shells today. Twice (not once but twice) she got extra kitty treats because I felt sorry for her. This is the treatment I have received in return.

LOTS OF TAIL ACTION!

ONE SASSY MOUTH!

She has retreated under the bed to sulk. Do not bother to feel sorry for the poor, mistreated kitty cat. She has a bowl of food, as well as water, in the same spot it always sits on the kitchen floor. And, she has "tricked" me into extra kitty treats - TWICE - today.

Robbie's Santa Sack and first two gifties are ready for the postman. Robbie is roughly 168 miles from New York city. I got an e-mail this morning, which said nothing about the weather, so I am hoping all is well. I will check with the post office tomorrow to see if they predict delivery delays. My prayers are with all the people effected by Hurricane Irene. 

Cha Cha has her nose back in the hall. She wants to be positive I know I am the source of her anger.She will be okay!

My scripture reference for today - "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm." Matthew 8:26

Pick Four

Sue Abrey said pick four. First I had to pick one - just one of the lovely quilts in Sue's recently released book - "Pick Four." Definitely a hard process. I love all of Sue's quilts. Here is a picture (back cover of Sue's book) showing the one I am making first - Stepping Stones ....

I spent hours deciding on four fabrics. I had two gift certificates to Shabby Fabrics which I won online - one from Sherri, A Quilting Life, and the other from Jennifer, The Shabby. Thanks again Sherri and Jennifer.

Bittersweet by Nancy Halverson for Benartex Fabrics is my choice. The colors are much richer than my photo shows. I love this fabric line! The two wonderful gift certificates to Shabby Fabrics made it possible for me to purchase the backing at the same time.

Purple makes my drool! The backing is Bittersweet as well. Quilt quality fabric; one designer. Nancy Halverson did the hard part for me! Didn't she do a fantastic job?

Stepping Stones will someday be the quilt I snuggle under in my reading chair. I am a slow quilter/sewer and am currently making gifties for Grace, citymousequilter, and Robbie, rooee's confetti - my swap partners. Besides My Lucky Stars (the queen quilt for my bed) is no where ready for a long arm quilter to work their magic! Wonder if progress would happen if I got off the computer?

Should you want to know more about Sue Abrey, her amazing new book "Pick Four" and maybe win some prizes, join the fun blog tour Sue, Quilt Times is currently sponsoring. The tour is loads of fun! Go investigate.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

  

My scripture reference for today "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

What a MESS!

 How many times to I have to tell Mom she cannot leave my table looking like this! Looks like I will, once again, have to clean up Mom's MESS!!!

Such is the life of a hardworking curious cat!

I (not Cha Cha) have been a busy beaver today. My Santa Sack is completed for Robbie, my swap partner. I, also, have most of her first two Christmas presents ready as well. I would have finished except Cha Cha decided to drive the sewing machine when I took a short break. Her sewing efforts - heavy paw on foot pedal - created some bonding time with the seam ripper for me. My fault! I know to unplug the machine any time I leave the room.

HAPPY QUILTING TO ALL!

My scripture reference for today - "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it." Psalms 90:17