Beaks, wings and wheels......

.....are all appliqued to their respective body parts. The next step for the "Just Ducky" quilt is to get them pinned to their background pieces and get them appliqued down. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel on this quilt.



In between applique, I have been working on the Thermis neck warmer. Got it to a point where I was stumped (the point where I had to cast on with a backwards loop method) and looked online to see how to do the next step. What did we ever do without online help?!! It's like having your mom in your back pocket with all her wisdom. LOL!

Anyways, I am going to give that "backwards loop method" a try and see how it looks so that I can get the last half of the neck warmer done....then I am on to the second one that I need to make for Christmas.

Happy quilting and knitting!!!

Just Ducky progress....

All pieces are cut and ready to go.....

I made the half square triangles according to the pattern, but was a little worried about them not coming out square so I skimped on my 1/4" seam, but I didn't need to worry as the pattern allowed for some trimming. I did use my Quilt in a Day half square triangle ruler which I LOVE!!! and it worked out great. There was plenty to trim and they all turned out perfect.

So the pinwheels got made and all the pieced blocks are made and in no time at all. The binding is pieced and pressed and ready for the final step and I even put together some of the pieced border sections, but thought I should wait to see if my sewing and cutting come out as precisely as they should.

Now, I have all the "ducky" pieces pinned.....beaks to heads, wings and wheels to bodies and they are ready for applique. Once I put them together, then I will put the completed pieces onto the background and applique the whole ducky in place. This quilt is going to be Sooooooo cute!!!

Another thing I started this weekend is called a "Thermis neck warmer". I just love the whole idea of it and thought it would make a great Christmas gift for a couple of gals at work. The first one here is made with a hand dyed Araucania yarn. It is the most luscious yarn! ....30% alpaca/45% merino/15% silk/10% donegal. I may have to go buy more so that I can make myself one, too.

Now onto a most exciting event this weekend. My youngest dear daughter, Marisa, got engaged to Scott. No wedding date as of yet...most likely in the Spring of 2011. She has the most beautiful engagement ring and here is the happy couple.

So, as you can see.....as usual....it is going to be very busy around here.

Well, gotta get cracking on those quacking ducks. I will keep you posted on their progress.

"Just Ducky"

The kit for "Just Ducky" came in the mail this week; and "oh!!" this fabric is so soft! (flannel)



If you recall, this was a pattern in this month's Better Homes and Garden, American Patchwork & Quilting. It comes at the most opportune time since a dear friend of my daughter's is having her first baby (a boy!) due on Valentine's Day. So....knowing how busy my life is, I thought I had better get moving on this quilt. Once the fabric was ordered, it came in no time at all. So.....templates are made.



Pieces are traced out for the applique;



and....all applique pieces are now prepped.



Now I just have to get the rest of the blocks cut. So, when I find the time in the next few days or weeks, I can just sit at the machine and start sewing away. I'll keep you posted on my progress. I am hoping to get this one done soon as I am so excited about it. Sure hope working on flannel doesn't give me any problems. Well, I guess I had better get to cutting out the rest of the blocks.

Happy Halloween.....

From Woody....

Buzzlightyear

and a very tired Kermit the Frog.

Kermit....

In preparation for Halloween and the grandkids costumes, my daughter mentioned that she was going to make Cole Kermit the Frog, but she needed to find a kelly green cap, so I offered to knit one.

I used the same pattern that I had used for the NICU caps, but used an inexpensive yarn from Joann's that was a little heavier and knitted it on the same sized needles.


My daughter had painted the two eyes on a Styrofoam ball and cut it in half and so as not to ruin the cap, I threaded the yarn through two large buttons that she could glue the eyes on to. Then she could thread the yarn through the cap and just tie a bow or knot.




She has made Kermit's collar out of felt , but for now she has just send me a trial run on the hat and I think this is going to be the cutest Kermit around, if not the happiest.

Shopping today.....

Did some home shopping via the internet and ordered the full kit for Just Ducky.

My dear daughter has a friend who is going to have her first baby on Valentine's Day and I love her like she is my own. When I saw this quilt, I just knew that this is the one that I had to make for her.

Also, checked out a new quilt shop in my area that has been open only three weeks. It's called Tomorrow's Treasures and my friend, Nancy, and I just loved it. There wasn't a whole lot in there yet, but what she had was great and her decor is very promising. We are really looking forward to her growing into a great quilt shop. It's always good to have another shop in the area, too.

I picked up a couple yards ....just because... and a FQ that will go along with my cafe au lait quilt.....like I need more fabric for that quilt!!!!

Oh well, what better things to do on a cold, rainy, Friday?!!!

Halloween giveaway!!!

If you want to participate with what looks like a great giveaway, go here. http://pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com/ These fabrics look absolutely wonderful and anyone that loves Halloween like I do, will really have a blast making something out of these great fabrics.