Border issues - help!

I need some advice.  I've been sewing away making stars out of my Sunkissed layer cake.  You'll see them all nested together except for a few in the corner.   My thought is to carry a few more into the border so it looking like the stars are 'falling' into the quilt.

My problem is - what should the border look like?

Should I go with a piano key border?

Or with a solid?

Other ideas?

Happy Stitching!

Elm Street - Thimbleberries BOM finish

Binding is on and the quilt tag is done - my 2010 Thimbleberries block of the month quilt is complete!  I've blogged about quilt before - I just love it!

As I was making the quilt tag, I renamed the quilt to Elm Street.  This is the name of the street my mom grew up on and I've many a fond memory visiting my grandparents there.  The small little houses reminded me of that street.

Long arm quilting work was done by Cathy Kirk - pattern is Chantilly Lace.

I posted a link to this at AmyLouWho's blog Show and Tell.  Check it out for more nice stuff others are doing!

Happy Stitching!

You may want to shield your eyes.....

A new pair of sweat pants belonging to my daughter sneaked its way into a wash of primarily tee shirts.  It shed a bunch of lint in the washer - covering all the shirts.  When the whole load was put in the dryer, look (if you are brave enough!) at how much lint was collected!

The funny thing is the sweat pants themselves are still nice and soft!  I've never had this happen before.


Happy Stitching!

Introducing Whiskers - Friday Night Sew In

I only had about an hour last night to participate in FNSI so I wanted a quick project so I would feel that I accomplished something.   (The rest of the night was devoted to watching a high school musical Inside the Woods.  This was a fantastic show - the kids did an amazing job.  Such talent.  My son & daughter are on the backstage crew and had spent many an afternoon building the scenery.)


Introducing Whiskers - my table runner made for my sister (sister #5).   She has 3 kids, a couple of dogs, fish and rabbits so the new Max and Whiskers line was perfect for her.  This will be for her birthday in April so I've got plenty of time to FMQ.

I used a quick and easy disappearing 9 patch block.   Here is what I did:


From my charm pack, I choose 27 squares and layed them out into 3 different sets of 9 (3x3).  Take special care of the blocks you put in the corners - those will be the charm squares that stay whole after you cut things up.  For this, I made sure the cut animal blocks stayed whole.

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Here are the 27 squares sewn into 3 blocks:

Then, carefully cut each of the 3 blocks.   First cut in half giving yourself two rectangles 6 3/4 by 13 1/2.  Then cut those 2 rectangles in half giving yielding four blocks 6 3/4 by 6 3/4.  (Hopefully this picture helps.)

Then, the fun begins.  Lay them out of the ground mixing them up, twisting them all different ways until you get the look you want.  Assemble, FMQ and enjoy!


Plenty of creative Friday Night Sew In results to go visit - you can find the list of blogs here.


Looks to be a beautiful warm weekend here in NC.  I've got 8 miles to walk tomorrow in training for the 1/2 marathon so I plan to enjoy!


Have a great weekend.


Happy Stitching!

Lovely doll quilt

Both of my girls and each of my nieces collect American Girl dolls.  My plan this year is to make doll quilts as birthday gifts.


Here is the finish for my niece who turns 10 today.  Happy Birthday!  (The doll is my daughter's - Ashley.) I used a portion of my charm pack of Lovely by Sandy Gervais.  I really liked the fabric.  The doll quilt is backed with a fabric I believe is a flower print from Me and My Sister Designs left over in my stash.

Happy Stitching!

Happy Valentine's Day

My DH gave me beautiful roses today in honor of Valentine's Day.  Happy Valentine's Day!!


I broke open my layer cake of Sunkissed and had some fun this weekend.  I am thinking of writing up this quilt as a Moda bakeshop pattern - has anyone done this?  Here is a sneak peak of what I have been working on.

I also made a mug rug for my dad for Valentine's day.  The fabric is a scrap from a quilt I gave him for Christmas - see this  post.

I am quite tired tonight after having walked 7 miles as part of my training for the 1/2 marathon in April.  My DH came along and pushed my middle daughter in a stroller. It was wonderful to have the company and certainly a beautiful day.


Wanted to pass on some giveaway information to win some Sherbet Pips at Lily's Quilts.  Congratulate her on her first Moda Bake shop!


Happy Stitching!

Pure Star and Spring Bliss all done!

Sunny day gave me an opportunity to take some photos outdoors.

Spring Bliss will hang in our downstairs hallway.  This was made with a Bliss Charm pack and Moda Solid White.  I had fun making the FMQ flowers in the white squares.

Pure Star will hang in my office at work.  This was made from a jelly roll.

Happy Stitching!

Super Bowl ready

I really could care less about who wins the Super Bowl.  (Go Steelers, Go Packers).


I do however like watching the first half of the game.  The commercials are usually entertaining.  The party atmosphere on the tv is fun.  We usually make some fun tv watching food for dinner and settle down on the couch.


I can never just sit and watch t.v.   Always have to have some sewing or knitting or scrapbooking at the ready.


I spent yesterday morning sewing on bindings for my Spring Bliss quilt, my Village quilt, a doll quilt (gift for a niece) and five mug rugs (gifts as well).  They are all stacked and ready to hand attach the binding to the back.

I picked up my Village quilt from my long arm friend - Cathy Kirk.  It came out beautiful.  A couple of pictures here and then more photos once I get that binding on.

The pattern used was called Chantilly Lace.  I love it!


Happy Stitching!

Mug Rug Content

I entered my first ever Mug Rug into a contest at Sew I Quilt blog.  Madamm Samm offered prized for 1st and 2nd. There was also a prize for the ugliest- you voted #3.

Voting was yesterday (Friday) and results will be announced later today.  When I went to place my votes, I checked first to see how my entry was doing.  At the time, I had many wonderful comments from before the voting started.  I had a #2 and a #3.   My DH was sitting nearby.  Here is how the conversation went.

Me:  "I got a vote for most ugly."

DH:  "That's horrible."

Me: "I don't care - you win fabric."

DH: "Well you better not vote for the most ugly."

Me: "You don't understand.  Some of these were designed to win most ugly."

DH: "Doesn't matter.  Don't do it."

Me: "You win F-A-B-R-I-C."

I voted and can't wait to see who won each category.  There are some beautiful ones out there - and I do feel better that my #3 choice was a #3 choice for others.

I went out and checked my entry this morning.  I ended up with a #1, #2 and a #3 and a number of really nice comments.   Oh, and the last comment from LeAnne;

"I'm so sorry! Yours doesn't need improvement at all! I voted number 3 because I though we were ranking in order. Yours is great. Just beautiful! 

I thought that was very sweet to come back and post that.  Can't wait to tell my DH!

This is the link to my entry.

PS  The mug pictured in the photo is my favorite one and used often.  When I filled it with tea this morning, it seems to have acquired a hairline crack from top to bottom.  The tea leaked all over the counter.  I hate when that happens.  I can hopefully re-purpose it to hold pens or quilting supplies but it won't be the same.  I'm glad it (and my mug rug) enjoyed some time together.

Now I need to find a new favorite mug and will have to make a mug rug to match!

Happy Stitching!