Quilt for Michelle

Here are pictures of the quilt I started today for my friend Michelle. I need to cut the fabric for the binding and sew it on and it will be done.

12/30 Completed the binding, washed and dried the quilt so this one is all done. Will put in the mail tomorrow.

Surprises for my girls...

As promised I kept these a surprise and THEY did like them....they are both such girly girls look how they both flipped the apron bottom so they could twirl.

For once I am keeping a secret....I made something for Jamie and Ginny for Christmas. They have been saying for so long that it's all about the grand babies when it comes to my quilting and sewing.

So after Christmas I will post pictures of them and their presents, I sure hope they like them.

New Year's Resolution

I know it's early to start thinking about what my new year's resolution will be BUT...No new fabric until I finish the projects I already have purchased fabric. (LOL) this time last year I had no fabric stash and was wondering why my friends on Marie Bostwick's (the author) site were talking about stash and un-finished projects. NOW I know.....but knowing what my resolution was to be I was given a copy of McCall's Quick Quilts as a gift by my friend Vickie, in the magazine they had a quilt I couldn't live without....and I could buy the whole kit at Fat Quarter Shop FatQuarterShop.com I received the email it shipped today.....YEAH!

Baby Shower

Emma Kate thought that it was such a great party and she got so many nice things, the following day she gave us all a scare - She wanted to come early but lucky that the doctors were able to stop the contractions (4 mins apart). Ginny has been on best rest this week and Thursday found out if she will REALLY take it easy she can go back to work part time.

Darlene hosted the baby shower for Ginny and it was such a great time. Thanks you are owed to many. Ginny and Josh received many nice things but my birthday/christmas gift to my mother was the best gift. I bought her plane ticket from Fort Lauderdale to Greenville. She arrive on Wednesday and had a few days with Jamie, Rob and Annabelle. She was a big help to Jamie on the drive down for the shower. Josh and Ginny we happy that Gigi made it to the shower.

Blessings Quilt Top 11-27-10

I started this quilt top this morning.....hopefully I will finish sewing it tonight.

Another quilt completed 11-26-10

This was started awhile ago and was put on the back burner. It was already sandwiched & pinned so all I had to do today was to machine quilt it and do the binding. I think I have gotten the hang of making nice corners. None the less it is done and can be crossed off my to do list and added to the completed list. I have a new quilt that purchased at People Place and Quilts for my grand baby "Emma Kate" due in Feb that I will be opening the package and getting started. No pressure the baby shower is in 8 days. LOL This quilt is also a pattern I have never done before! Oh My!

It's finished - FINALLY!

It's done and here is the proof....it is now in the washer for it's final wash and dry before it is given away.

Oct 2010 - Update

11-22-10 OK so I have REALLY been dragging my feet on this but finally got the binding sewn onto the back tonight and turned and have zig-zagged down 1/3 of the way on one side. Should finish it tomorrow night and get this off my to do list. This is the largest quilt I have ever done - it will cover a full sized bed. Measures 70" x 90".

Time is flying by.....and there is so much to do. I have been slowly working on the latest quilt. In my past post I stated that all that needed to be done was to sandwich it and start the quilting process. I have completed the stitching in the ditch around each block. Today I have started the actual quilting and it is coming along.

Sept 2010

Well, I have finished another quilt top! All that left to do is sandwich it with the batting and backing pin it and then start on the machine quilting. This is for a friend's daughter who is a freshman in college and they wanted to give her this quilt as a Christmas present when she comes home for winter break from Winthrop University.

My daughter in law also picked out this fabric as one of the quilts I am making for Emma Kate's arrival Feb 2011.

Essentials of life

You know there are just a few essentials in life like food, water, sewing & quilting.

Coming soon.....

Grandbaby #2 - Our son Josh and his wife Ginny ( our most wonderful daughter in law) are having grand baby two in Feb 2011. They are very excited and so are we! Please keep them in your prayers as they have had challenges getting pregnant. According to the doctors this time it appears all is well with this pregnancy.

Sew Dang Cute!

Jamie found and purchased the Botany jelly roll and coordinating fabric and had it sent to me so that I can start working on these cute dresses for their summer holiday. She better get those measurements to me quick so I can get started sewing. In the meantime I will start cutting the 3.5 inch strip out of the fabric while I wait for her. See how to make the dresses at this link Moda Bake Shop: Sew Dang Cute Once I get them made I will add my own pictures and when I get one of Jamie and Annabelle together, maybe her Daddy will be in the picture too!

My blog's not forgotten!

I know it's been a few days since I blogged. BUT...in my defense changes have been abounding in my life. I did indeed finish the quilt for my Jamie love and haven't started another yet - gasp I know, how can that be true! A week ago last Wednesday I interviewed for yet another job....on Thursday I got the call that the company would love to welcome me to their family..so I had to do a drug test...(well if you know me you know that's non-issue) on Thursday and by golly I had to start working on Monday. It's a temp to perm job through the temp agency I have been working with since last November. Let me just say you can get some REALLY interesting assignments doing temp work. I had to give up my early retirement which I was so truly enjoying, but I really needed to go back to work it has been over a year since I was down sized. I have been adjusting to the getting up at 5:30 AM and working until 3 PM and then coming home to tend to me sore feet, aches and pains. Today was busy at work but still I have decided to pre-wash some fabric this evening so that I can press it when I get home tomorrow and start my next project......Christmas gift #1........YES my friends I did say Christmas. I normally have what shopping is required done by the end of July but this year the women in my family are getting hand made quilt projects from me so I have to start NOW! Merry Christmas.

Jamie's throw

5/16 It's finished.....

I am getting ready to layer and quilt Jamie's fabric today.....it's also her 30th birthday.

5/14 I have finished the quilt top.......

Day Trippin in NC

We needed to take our Twin Troller Boat back to Benson, NC for a motor replacement. So I figured after we dropped the boat off we could stop by some quilt shops in NC. I called both shop from I-95 for directions to their shops.

The first one we went to was The Gigglin' Pig. The Fabric Shop, Amish Gift Shop and The Soap Factory all rolled into one shop. The staff here was very friendly and if you ever get to Dunn, NC you should make the time to visit them. The have a web site www.thegigglinpig.com 110E Broad St Dunn, NC 28334 (910) 892-9235

The second shop was in Fayetteville. Loving Stitches Quilt Shop (800)524-8006 7076 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 They boast over 5000+ bolts of fine cottons (and they do), notions, books, patterns and gifts. My favorite were the pre-cuts and projects packs. Amanda was gracious and kind in her greeting and general information about the shop and gave the reminder to go downstairs to see sale items. They have tons of Moda fabrics. Their web site is www.lovingstitches.net

Being able to stop in at the quilt shops made the 4 hour drive each way worth-while.

Machine Quilting

Today is my class on machine quilting.....there was a lot of preparation for this class but I am so excited about finally getting to take the class. I will post about it when I get back.

Happenings

I went to see AGW this week, while I was on my trip I detoured into Columbia and went to the JoAnn's Fabric store, where I purchased some pink and blue fabric and lot's of thread on clearance for 50 cents. The next store on my stop was the Hobby Lobby in Anderson(went there twice) and to a Viking and Sew Quilt Shop in Greenville. I have momentarily misplaced my camera so when I find it I will upload pictures of my purchases. IT just has to be in one of the many shopping bags slipped in to the guest room so that the hubby doesn't know quite how much I got on this trip. LOL

Jamie did make it to the quilt shop in Greenville with me and she was a bad influence on me or was it the other way around? All I know is that she ended up buying more fabric than I did! Of course she sent it home with me to make her a lap quilt. Very pretty Moda Cherish Nature patterns and colors, blues, greens and browns. I cut all the fabric this morning and I have started sewing. It will be another new pattern I have never made before, surprise for Jamie. They are blocks 3x6" and 4x6". So until I find the camera I will sign off for now....Found the camera now the pics are here!

So Proud

When my hubby retired as a gift I bought him a Nikon D40 camera. It is a SLR (Single Lens Reflective) Digital blah blah it gets way technical but he needed a hobby for retirement. He loves his camera and has added several lens upgrades etc and truly loves nature photography. We have gotten the SC State Park pass and he goes as often as possible. Recently we went to Huntington State Park for a special event and they had a Birds of Prey demonstration. He got some great pictures of a Kite, which is a majestic bird of prey. He entered the best one in the North Charleston Art Festival Photography Exhibition. I am so proud of him, it is the first time he has won a ribbon and he placed 3rd in the Amateur Color Division. The Arts Festival is April 30 - May 8 www.northcharleston.org see the Cultural Arts Department link.

Another project complete

I finished the Sew/Quilt as you go for J&G's someday baby on my to do list, can't show you the pic because it is a surprise. I need to edit my to do list because I have decided to make a picnic throw in red, white and blue. I think I am going to make it using the rag quilt style but have not completely decided on that yet. Oh and I need to make the curtain/valance sample to take for Jamie to see so she can decide if she likes it or not. Hmmm....how to choose what to work on next, SEW many projects to pick from......

Moda Pebbles Doll Quilt

Here is my version of the Pebbles Doll Quilt. I used the leftover fabric from the Cobblestone Road. Well that, & I found a new shop in Myrtle Beach, SC when I was there on Monday with hubby for a spring visit to Brookgreen gardens. Anyway, the new shop Accent Quilt Shop had 4 different bolts of the Moda - Swanky pattern, which I used as the inner border and the backing for this fabulous little quilt. I have decided that Cobblestone Road and matching Pebbles Doll quilt will be the ones to stay at Grandma's house.

Baby Quilt for Shannon

Here is the baby quilt I made for Shannon, my niece who is expecting her first baby.

Broken Mended Hearts

Woo-hoooo my blocks from the February block exchange are back and are they beautiful, creative and just as fantastic each of these ladies are........I am proud to call them my friends in quilting.

Holy Cow! I am finished with this Moda Cobblestone Road. This is by far the hardest pattern I have made. OK the Heart block exchange for Marie Bostwick's Feb exchange were harder but I only made blocks so far. The exhcange is done and now the blocks are on their way to me.

I digress....here are the finished shots of my Moda Cobblestone Road. I have cut the left overs and I will do the doll quilt to match after I do a quick sew/quilt as you go that I was supposed to be working on for my niece Shannon's baby shower. Pictures to follow.

More Moda

I have been busy this past week with life, family, friends and Easter! I have been working away on the Moda Cobblestone Road quilt I posted about at the end of March. Here are some pictures of what's done. The strips are sewn, the blocks are made and sewn into strips as well. Now I need to sew all these strips together...trim and then the quilt top will be done.

Moda Matching Quilt and Doll Quilt

This is my newest project undertaking. I am using Honeybuns from Moda but not the same pattern as the example, they used Hunky Dory and I am using Swanky. I am having a lot of fun with this one....I ordered my honeybuns from Jojo's Quilt and Gift Shoppe online. See their ad in this post - I was impressed by the customer service I received. My order was here in 3 business days Oh, don't forget to sign up for their newsletter on the site and get a coupon to use on your first order.

My friends the Bardsley's recently lost his mother after a long illness. While clearing out her home they found this unfinished quilt top. It is so amazing and all done by hand. We took it yesterday to the local quilt shop, People Places and Quilts. Diane, the owner identified the fabrics to be from the 30's. She helped us pick out a muslin that Sherri and I will be adding to the scalloped edging to give a squared edge and to increase the size to fit Sherri's bed. She also had a 1930's reproduction fabric that so similarly matched the the darker blue square that it was simply amazing. Today we are going to press the quilt top so that we can baste the quilt top to the muslin. Sherri has never quilted before and it has been a Long time since I have done hand quilting but I will help get her started and she wants to complete it all by hand so that quilt does not lose the integrity of the original work that was done. While we were there Sherri was also able to identify the pattern as Grandma's Mosaic - Venetian which dates back to the 1890's from one of the quilt history books the shop has on hand. It is a variation of the wedding ring.

Clusters and Crosses - Bernat Free Pattern

Hi - a few folks have been looking for this pattern and I couldn't get it to post on the AC Moore web/forum. So I made a link to my blog and am posting it here.