Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Betty Davis eyes......


Don't ask me why that song stuck in my head while I was sewing on these eyes.

Anyways, this is Betty the turkey.



I found this pattern on Sandy Gervais' blog  (Pieces of my Heart)   back in November 2009.  In fact, that is when I pieced this little quilt.  I did make one little change from hers though.....I added legs.
Apparently life got in the way since I started this little guy/gal.

Well, one wasn't enough, so now I have a flock.


My daughter had seen this and said she wanted one.  The two are made from one charm pack (Amazing) with just a couple more squares added from the stash. 
This is number 3 and 4 from my five little quilts. 

Number 5 is my half-square triangle quilt table topper.

These hst were left overs from another quilt that I made.

Here's a close up of the quilting.


....and here's a look at the backing (one of my favorite fabrics).


Wow....all my little quilts are now finished.  I am a happy camper. 

Now it is time to get the backing made for the Cherry Tree quilt and start getting projects prepped for my upcoming quilt retreat.

See you when I come up for air.





Saturday, May 26, 2012

Fairy dust....

Someday, I hope this little quilt puts some little baby to sleep with the fairy dust that the little fairies are dispensing.


This is the second of five little quilts I got back from the quilter. 


I had bought this fabric bundle a couple years ago with no pattern in mind other than to just make a baby quilt that I could put in the ready made stash of baby quilts that I want to have ahead of time, so that I am not rushing to get a quilt made for some mommy-to-be  at the last minute.  The problem with buying a bundle and not using it right away is  you may end up with a shortage of fabrics.  So  for this border I tried to make it interesting with what I had. 

I

I just have to show you the  backing that shows the quilting  my quilter, Karen, did.  It is an  adorable daisy and leaf panto and I think it is just perfect. 

Ok..onto the next little quilt. 




Sunday, May 20, 2012

Peas and Carrots


Maybe I will call this quilt "cooked" peas and carrots because it sure was hot putting on the binding tonight even for a little quilt. 

This is a Schnibbles quilt with lots of little pieces, but I love it and will probably drape it over a table so that I can enjoy it. 

Here's a close up. 


....and here is the backing. 

This is the first of five little quilts that I got back from the quilter.  So, one down and four more to go. 

Stay tuned. 


Saturday, May 19, 2012

Think sub zero......

In my last post, I was telling you that I was knitting a cowl for my daughter. 



 I started it after work on the 15th and finished it last night (the 18th). 

This was a project that I offered her since I felt the need to do some knitting....back in the wintertime.  She was to buy the yarn and I would knit her the Gap-tastic Cowl.  She didn't get the yarn until just the other day, so I decided to get it out of the way just in case I needed to buy more yarn or if there was a skein left over, them she could return it. 

I was hoping the weather would cooperate and not be 80 degrees when I finished it for her to try on.

Well, it was 86 degrees. 


It's a warm one and even I was having a hard time getting into really enjoying fussing with it, but she loves it and it was an easy one to make.  I may make another one, but not until winter this time around. 

Now....onto putting on some bindings on one of those little quilts that I got back from the quilter.  I'll be showing you something soon. 




Thursday, May 17, 2012

What's new?

I have been living a nightmare at work, so my friend, Sharon,  and I went to see Ami Simms for a little entertainment at our guild on Monday. 


If you have never heard her speak, you should put it on your bucket list.  It was just what I needed. She is a hoot.   You can find her here on her blog/website.
http://www.amisimms.net/

Then to top off my week my daughter brought me over some yarn to make her a cowl (I asked her to find something so that I could make this back when we had sub zero weather).   Anyways, since she bought it now in the middle of May, I thought I had better get to it so that if she needed to return yarn or get more, she could do it in a timely manner.  Here's a peek.


When I finish it, I will show you the whole project.  I just hope it isn't 80 degrees out when it has to be tried on.

On an even happier note, I picked up the five little quilts that I sent to the quilter a little while ago.

Here's a peek at them.


As I get the bindings on these, then I will show them  to you. 

I think I will have plenty to keep me busy and in a much happier mood than I am in while at work. 

Ahhh, yes....quilting and knitting.....what could put you in a happier mood?  Maybe chocolate, but the boss has supplied us with plenty of that for this week knowing all that we are going through.  It's helping just a little. 

Happy crafting.   


Sunday, May 6, 2012

Decisions, decisions....

Two Christmases ago (or at least I hope that it wasn't longer ago) a friend gave me a charm pack of Luna Notte by 3 Sisters (Moda) and a packet of 1" hexagon Paper Pieces.


I started making up some of the hexagons and really  liked what I saw, so back at the AQS Paducah show of  2011 in the back room of Hancocks I found more and bought myself another four or five charm packs.  Well, you all know, nothing got done around here for some time because of the Cherry Tree quilt, but my hands were idle last night so I pulled the project out.


I had a couple of "what I will call" my red blocks (love them!).

and I had a couple of what I will call the beginnings of my black blocks.


 I like them as they are (meaning no borders).

Well, I tried this.


I really like this, but don't know if it will work in the big scheme of things.  Seems to me that the blocks need to be the same size.

So.....


I added another "light" border that matches the red block..

Then because there are pink fabrics in the charm pack, I tried a pink border.


I am thinking I just need to make up more blocks and see how it all works out.  I figure if I don't like the pink border (because that wasn't in my original plan), I could always make pink coasters or if there are enough, I could incorporate them into a baby quilt. ...hmmmm, pays to start thinking out loud I guess.  .  So, I guess instead of fretting about it now, I am just going to keep making hexagons.  If I do it that way,  I will need to order more templates from  Paper Piecers.  Darn, they were in Paducah last week.  I should have been thinking ahead. 

I would appreciate any opinions!

Ok, back to stitching more hexagons. 

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Paducah box has arrived

Remember, I didn't want to carry the few things that I bought in Paducah on my carry-on luggage, so my dear friend, Sandy, said she would box it up and ship it to me.  It arrived today!


Here's a sneak peek. 


I know...you can't see anything, but there are some secret pal things in there AND some Christmas presents, too.

But I can show you my stuff.

.
I found a few more pieces for my Gathering Baskets.



Bought some more chalk for my mechanical pencil and a pattern that I had already been designing in my head to use for my mom's handkerchiefs. I may forgo the Spanish fans and give these ladies a bouquet of flower, but this pattern preserves the handkerchiefs so I don't have to cut them up.   

The perpetual knitting calendar was from Sandy as a roomie gift.  I am sure that is going to come in handy since after quilting, knitting is taking up a lot of my time. 

The rest of my fabric, I will be picking up in June when I go to my retreat. 

Ok....I am going to go fondle some fabric now. 

Have a great day. 






Michigan quilters, take note

  Come see us at our first Quilter's to Quilter's sale.   Don't know what that is?  Well, it will be 28 quilters/vendors selling...