Happy New Year!

 Happy New Year to 2012!!

Now that Christmas is past, I can show 2 quilts that I finished in December last year but I just couldn't add them to this blog because they were Christmas gifts for 2 of my sisters.
I have 5 sisters so that is a lot of quilts to make... and that will probably be the extent of my quilt giveaways as quilts do tend to be quite expensive... but I love my sisters dearly and so I don't mind splurging on them.

Gift #1: Modern Patchwork Squared Quilt Along Quilt (P2QA)... done!

Don't you just LOVE the quilting my friend Dalene did on this quilt??? !!

Leaves were quilted along the borders.
The brown with polka-dots was the backing.

My sister Christina loved this quilt.

 Gift #2: The Summer Sampler Series Quilt Along (SSSQA).  This quilt required a lot of paper-piecing and it was a lot of fun.

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Dalene quilted this one, too.  I just LOVE the pink stippling done on this quilt. 

My sister Rochelle loved this quilt.
(Her daughter Maleah is hiding behind this quilt - haha)

Now onto other projects:

The Christmas Tree Pants that I made fit quite nicely under our tree.

I finished Block #12 for the Birdie Stiches Quilt Along 2011

All 12 blocks (Canadian edition) of Birdie Stitches Quilt Along 2011

Block #6, "Cathedral Star",  for Fat Quarters Stars Quilt Along

The first 6 blocks for the Fat Quarters Stars Quilt Along.

Block 7, "Twinkle of Hope", for FQSQA

I didn't like my final edition of last month's Freebie 15 Companion, so I purchased another block & pieced it together the way I preferred...  This one is called "Pebbles".

Block #3 for my local quilt shop Traditional Pastimes "Freebie 15" quilt along.
This block is called "Ripples in the Sand"

Freebie 15 Block 3 Companion - "Snails"
(The colours are a tad yellow on this pic b/c of the lighting.)

I am not planning any new projects at this time as I have a few items that need finishing:
- 3 quilt tops that need batting, backing, binding, quilting
- ABC quilt that needs to be started... then completed
- piece twelve 9.5"x 9.5" stars together into a quilt
- work in progress on FQSQA & the "Freebie 15" quilt blocks

Hopefully, this will be the year that I will finally complete some photo albums!!

What is on your to-do list for 2012??

Keeping Busy

I have 3 quilts for sale on Etsy: the Little Forest Quilt posted previously & the first 2 crib quilts pictured below.  

If you are interested in purchasing a quilt, please order through Etsy or contact me directly.

November block for Birdie Stitches Quilt Along

 I started another quilt along through my local quilt shop Traditional Pasttimes: 24 - 12.5 x 12.5 blocks to be done Oct 2011 to Sept 2012; there will be a lot of little blocks that will somehow be incorporated into the quilt when the blocks are done.

Sand & Sea block - October 2011

Sand & Sea block - October 2011

Sand & Sea small blocks

BLock #4 for Fat Quarters Stars Quilt Along

Flannel scarf.
My sister visited me 2 years ago and she had this style scarf on.  It was so easy to make, and I even had the flannel & velcro for the past 2 years, but I just didn't sew it together.
This scarf will be lovely when it gets really cold here in Calgary.

My first attempt at a zippered pouch.  Not perfect, but good enough.

I finally just finished up this table runner.
This was a quilt along that I started earlier this year and I just never got around to doing the 5th block.
I like how this Tea Runner turned out.
I think I'll add this one to Etsy, too.

Sew Fun

I am trying to keep NOT to busy with my quilting as there is still a mountain of sewing & quilting to be done.

My most recent quilt-along was a Christmas Tree Pants Sew-Along "because not all trees wear skirts".  We always get a real Christmas tree at Christmas time, and the little tree skirt I have just doesn't fit nicely under the tree - especially since the tree "holder" is a large heavy plastic dish-like container with special screws to hold the tree in place.  

Now... I am happy to have a home-made tree skirt pants for our tree this year.

Bring on Christmas!!

First I made a bunch of stars

Then I added some sashing & a border... and DONE!!
Quilt top measures 51" x 51"

Back of Christmas Tree Pants

Last day of October but I finally finished my edition of the October block for Birdie Stitches Quilt Along.

Block #3 for Fat Quarters Stars Quilt Along

All 3 stars so far.
Fabric: Indian Summer by Riley Blake - so lovely!!


I am now also on ETSY!!
I have added 3 quilt tops to Etsy & they are for sale.

It's Been a While...

It has been a whole month + 2 days since I last blogged here!  Wow!  

Here are a few things that I've been up to...

September block for Birdie Stitches Quilt Along

Receiving blanket: flannel monkeys, patterned blue cotton.

Little Forest Quilt Along... 6 of the trees... 3.5" x 5" each

Little Forest Quilt Along.
There are 99 trees on this quilt top.
Top measures 54: x 38"
This is the quilt pinned together & before I sewed it together which is why it looks messy.

I ordered labels from Gutentags on Etsy.
I Love the tags!!

Fandango Quilt

Coins Quilt

Disappearing 9 B&W&Red Quilt

I love the backing but I misaligned the backing so it's off.
Anyone want to buy this quilt??
It'll be one of the quilts I'll be selling... 

All 3 quilts (backs) ... billowing in the wind

Front of the 3 quilts

I'm not starting too many projects as I really need to get caught up on some projects that I have lying around the house.
This fat quarter bundle is called "Indian Summer" by Riley Blake.
It will be the colours of my Fat Quarters Stars Quilt Along

First block of Fat Quarter Stars Quilt Along.  

Sewing Machine Put Away

I have put my sewing machine away for a while.  There's so much to do while the weather is nice, and we are also having family visiting, so I really needed some excuses to clear the kitchen table of some sewing projects.  It actually feels good to be able to do some other things.  When my son sleeps, I usually do sewing, but now I am working on a digital photo album of a trip to India that I did in January 2005!  Hopefully, I can get that album done quickly... & then I'll have to make an album for my son.  Too much to do & too little time.

I counted all my sewing projects that are in various stages of work... and I have about 10 in all!  That is a lot of sewing!!

I was due to purchase the last (August) block for the "Two Toonies Thursday" (Star Search) quilt along, but the store has closed its doors... and since there are no notices, I have no idea how I could potentially get the last quilt block.  I think I'll have to improvise & make one myself.  It's so unfortunate to see a local quilt shop close its doors... especially when it carried such beautiful fabrics.  

This is block #4 (of 5) for the Rockin Robin Quilt Along.  I still have to do block #5.  The quilt along is actually for a quilt, but I will put a tablerunner together instead.

I finished off the 12 quilt blocks for the Summer Sampler Series Quilt Along.  It was a lot of paper-piecing, but it was fun & good practice.
Here are some of the last blocks & some of them required 12 templates before I could put them together!

All 12 blocks for the Summer Sampler Series Quilt Along

Here is the August block for the Birdie Stitches Quilt Along.

I made some fun, cute baby bibs.

This week I bought some flannel & cotton & made this cute little receiving blanket.