Sunday, November 23, 2008

Feast or Famine

Someone remind me of this productive streak next time I am whining about not having time to quilt!

Yesterday's mail brought a little kit of plaid fabrics I won on Kathie's blog last week. She made a little quilt and had a giveway for a kit to make another one. I was one of the lucky winners. The fabrics were even already cut to the right size so all I had to do was sew - and sew I did! I think I will hand quilt it as I have been wanting to do a little quilt like this to hand quilt - it will probably have to wait until after the holidays though as I have a huge list of things to make for Christmas gifts. Thanks again Kathie!


I also managed to finish two bags I've been working on. The first is a pattern from Lila Tueller. The pattern showcases her new fabric line due in quilt stores in February (I think). I saw the bag on her blog this past summer when she had a giveaway for it (that one was made in different fabrics). Since her new fabric line isn't out yet I pulled some batiks from my stash. I had to mail order the handles and had a little trouble finding the right leather lacing and beads but yesterday I finally found what I was looking for (in Walmart - who've thunk it?) and was able to finish it up. This is by far my favorite bag that I've made. I can't wait to make some in other fabrics.


The second bag I finished I had also started a few weeks ago when I was home on vacation. It is the size of a small tote or a large purse. I am very happy with the way it turned out although I was VERY disappointed in the quality of the pattern! If I had not make bags before I would never have been able to finish it because the instructions were so poor. The yardage requirements were also off causing me to scramble and search my stash for similar fabrics to make do. I was not a happy camper after shelling out $10 for this pattern!
Everything else I've been working on (yes! there is more!) is for Christmas gifts - including my SSCS which I have to get in the mail tomorrow or Tuesday, so those pics will have to wait for another day.

I hope you've been able to get as much done as I have this weekend!

Have a pieceful day!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Where do I start?

Well, I haven't posted in a while but this time I can't say its because I haven't been doing any quilting. I've actually got lots done in the last month, thanks in part to attending my guild quilting retreat. More on that in a minute...

...before I forget, my friend's grandson won the cutest baby pic contest - thanks to all who voted for him!

Okay, back to some show and tell... before the retreat, I finished some little projects I had hanging around since last year... 2 table toppers and 2 pumpkin appliqued towels... I also made a little fleece and minkee machine embroidered baby blanket for a friend's new granddaughter.







At the quilting retreat weekend I finished 3 UFO quilts and a tote bag (need to take pics of those). I also finished my embroidered leaf rag quilt that I've been working on: the color in this picture is horrible but you get the idea. After the retreat I had a week off from work but got a virus right after returning from the retreat. I had a lot of couch time last week so I cross stitched a biscornu pincushion
Last but not least I made my SSCS gift - not quite ready to put it in the mail yet. The deadline is Nov. 25 and I have a few other little surprises I want to add to the package. I also got my oldest UFO back from the quilter - it looks fantastic. Once the weather clears up a bit and I am home during daylight I will post pics of the quilts - this post probably has enough pictures already!

Have a Pieceful Day!