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!

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!

Please Vote!

I don't usually ask people to do this kind of thing.... but..... my friend Susan's daughter in law entered Susan's grandson in an online cutest baby picture contest. Her grandson is now in 2nd place and gaining fast. So I offered to post it to my blog to see if any of my readers would be so kind as to place a vote for Kevin.


In the picture he is wearing Lederhosen (sp?) that Susan's parents bought in Germany 35 years ago!

If you do want to vote here's how: click on the link below and vote for Kevin. You have to enter your email address and they will email you a link to either click on or cut and paste into your browser (depending on your email) once you follow the link they send you you will see a screen saying your vote is confirmed. The contest is open until Monday (I think?). You can vote 5 times from the same computer but each vote has to be from a different email address.


http://www.simplytoimpress.com/photo-contest/4243.html

Thanks and Have a Pieceful Day!

A Wonderful Surprise!

I arrived home from work today to a wonderful surprise in my mailbox! A few weeks ago I had admired a bag Karol-Ann had made and today in my mailbox was one made by her for me!

I ran outside immediately to try to get a good picture before the sun went down. This is still a little dark but hopefully you can see it okay. I just love this bag and it was so sweet of Karol-Ann to make it for me! She also included some African fabrics which I also just LOVE!

My oldest DD was home when I received the package and she was very surprised when she saw the bag. She was even more surprised when she asked who it was from and I told her "one of my quilty friends from England!"

I just love blogland - don't you?

Have a pieceful day!

Where do I start???

Okay, so I went from posting every day (or just about) to not having posted in almost a month! Since we added Dooley Dog (as we've come to refer to him) to our family, my evenings have been crazy. He is 2 years old but he is very puppy-ish. Having lived in a kennel for many many months he is learning manners and is very hyper and happy to have a family. All this means he needs CONSTANT supervision! Additionally, he and our existing dog, Max, are, how shall I say it? they are still in the early stages of their friendship. We have some jealousy issues we are working on. Here they are in one of their better moments (the best actually).

Add to that that work has gotten absolutely crazy and its no wonder I haven't gotten around to posting.

So, I think I posted a picture of the bag I sent to my swap partner in Linda's bag swap but I don't think I ever posted a pic of the one I received. Melinda sent me this GREAT bag and lots of other goodies too. Included in the package was a steno pad cover - which was perfect for me because I use steno pads ALL THE TIME! There was also a seam ripper (always comes in handy) and a pack of fat quarters.

The bag is made from sandcastle fabric and is a nice big size, perfect for all kinds of things, the least of which will be vendor purchases at quilt shows!

Well, I have lots more to post but I don't want to make this too long so I will continue in another post - lots to share - a few projects finished, a class on precision piecing with Sally Collins and more!

Till next time,

Have a pieceful day!

MIA again!

Sorry if I was missing in action for awhile - when I am not posting it is a sure sign that life has gotten chaotic again! In this case DH and I went to the Jersey shore - or "down the shore" as its known in Jersey - to Wildwood specifically - for the Fireman's Convention. We were gone for 6 days and had a great time and great weather!

On the way home we picked up a new member of the family. This is Dooley. We adopted him from a rescue shelter. He is 2 years old. This isn't the greatest picture but he doesn't hold still for long! It's been a busy week of trying to catch up a work during the day and dog supervising in the evening- our existing dog Max has had some issues adjusting to not being the only dog in the house. They still aren't the best of friends yet but they are getting along much better.

In the meantime, I have lots more to post about - PIF gifts, my bag swap - but I'll save those for tomorrow!

Have a pieceful day!

Productive Weekend!

Yesterday we were predicted to have rain from Tropical Storm Hanna and rain we got! It poured most of the day. We were lucky and did not lose power. I planned to quilt all day and with the exception of a nap I did just that. I finished my bag for Linda's bag swap. I also made another little surprise to go with the bag - and then proceeded to make 7 more for myself, a friend, my pay it forward gifts and a few others.... I won't post a picture until they are delivered so as not to spoil the surprise. I will post a picture of my bag though since my partner won't know its for her.








I also made some flip flop placemats for DS's girlfriend to go with the flip flop quilt I made her last year. Only problem is I found out that she doesn't have a kitchen or dining room table in her new apartment at college. Oh well, I guess she'll have to use them on the breakfast bar!

(Boy did this picture turn out bad!!! They really are nicer in person!) Unfortunately its back to work tomorrow so my quilting productivity is over for now.

Have a pieceful day!