2012 Resolution - find a little time each day for quilting

I'm tempted by several quilt alongs in blog land for 2012.

There is Another Year of Schnibbles - from Pink Pincushion and A Quilting Life.  I've quite the stockpile of charm packs and two Schnibble's books so plenty of patterns on hand.  The quilt chosen each month is a surprise so the first will be revealed on Jan 1!

The Shabby is hosting a mystery BOM of cottages which look to combine some applique and embroidery.  This one looks quite interesting.  Patterns are a free download each month.  Fabric kits are also available.

New Years Day mystery quilt at Planet Patchwork - clue one!  I did their one day mystery last year and had a lot of fun.  I've go so much Christmas fabric scraps and am thinking that I give this one a try - it will be fun.

Build a Scrap House a Day would be a lot of fun!  I know going in that I would not be able to make one a day but there are only guidelines here to this quilt along - perhaps 1 a week would be something I could tackle.  

I've decided to take SewCalGirl's FMQ challenge and work each month to improve my skills.


Looks like SewHappyMe is doing a 4 week quilt-along which starts in January and finishes in time for Valentine's Day.

Finally, I'm still working away at my Jacob's Ladder quilt from Empress of the Universe.  I'll need to post some progress pictures soon.  This is my leader and enders quilt.  I just love the fabric I am using.


Any more you think I should know about?


My very best wishes for a Happy New Year filled with more time for quilting!   I think 2012 will be a busy one and quite a lot of fun!


Happy Stitching!

Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells came back from my LAQ before the holiday and I got the binding on before Christmas was over with 1 hour to spare!

I like to put on my own bindings - really, I do! - and I have my LAQ serge the edges for me.  This makes attaching the binding a much neater process and it allows for using the quilt before the binding is attached.

I wanted this quilt in some family photos on Christmas Eve and folded it carefully so the fact that it was missing a binding wasn't obvious.   (The quilt looked great and so did the family!).  I got the last of the binding done Christmas night while sitting on the couch watching the Dr Who Christmas special.  

The fabric used was Countdown to Christmas.   Inspiration for the quilt was found in the book titled The Quiltmakers and a design by Joanna Figueroa called Twinkling Stars.  The quilting pattern is an allover swirl to suggest blowing snow.

Hope you are having a good week.


Happy Stitching!

Dec 26th

My family and I enjoyed a wonderful Christmas holiday.  There were plenty of presents, food, cookies, food and laughs.  I had time in the days before the holiday to finish up a couple of gifts that didn't need to be mailed.

A journal for my DD - the label was part of this months Sweetwater label crew.

A bag for my DH - no pattern or planning here - just used fabric and colors that I knew he would like.  This is sized to help him carry a days worth of water and snacks.

A small (10 x 12) wall hanging for my DS.  This is the mascot for his college.

All my handmade gifts this year were wrapped using tissue paper and this baker's like string (Crate and Barrel).  I loved the look and have plenty of string for many years to come.  (The knitted Santa in the photo was something I made 20 years ago.  He is a little worse for wear but sits on the couch each Christmas.)

Hope your holiday was an enjoyable one and you find time to relax (and quilt!) in this last week of 2012.


Happy Stitching!

Merry Christmas!

My very best to you and your families for a very Merry Christmas!

I have made so many new friends through my and other quilting blogs for which I am very grateful.

All the best!

Happy Stitching!

We have some winners!

I'd like to thank everyone who left so many nice comments about my zip bag tutorial post at Sew We Quilt.  These bags are quite a lot of fun to make.  In fact, I made another bag yesterday slightly larger which can be used as a pencil bag.  This is for a young lady learning the violin.

Congratulations to Charlotte and Duff who were winners in my zip bag bonanza giveaway.

Charlotte

Duff

Charlotte won a $10 gift certificate to the  Etsy shop: ZipIt  .  Jennie has a wonderful selection and is wonderful to do business with.  
Duff won a package of 20 swivel clips from the Etsy shop: Charsbeads4U.   Char has a great selection of items and these swivel clips really make the bags unique!


My thanks to Jennie and Char for sponsoring these giveaways.  I look forward to shopping with them both real soon!   I made so many of these bags that I am out of swivel clips and zippers!

Happy Stitching!

The Poinsettia

(Don't forget to enter my giveaway for zipped bag making supplies - you need to follow this link and comment on this Zip Bag Bonanza post.)


At least three years ago, I pieced together a small wall hanging quilt using some FQ which I found in my local quilt shop.  I found the block somewhere - don't recall where.  

I didn't have my Janome machine and struggled with FMQ on my old machine.  I attempted it anyway but only created a mess.  I set it aside and decided this year to carefully pull out all the FMQ and start over.

It is now hanging in my hallway and it finished at 32 inches square.

Happy Stitching!

Which way is up?

(Don't forget to enter my giveaway for zipped bag making supplies - you need to follow this link and comment on this Zip Bag Bonanza post.)


About two weeks ago, I blogged about finishing my 12 Days of Christmas BOM quilt.

 As I doing a final pressing (and loose thread removal) before dropping off to my LAQ, I decided the wreath block in the bottom corner was upside down.


So I did some surgery.

And turned it around.

Which way is really up?  Frankly they both look right to me!

The quilt - which I will call the 12 Days of Christmas - is home and already been snuggled under.  

Happy Stitching!

My Tree Has a Skirt! (FNSI Results)

First, if you are interested in my giveaway for supplies associated with my zipped bag tutorial which posted on Sew We Quilt, please comment on this post  A Zipped Bag Bonanza! (and good luck in the giveaway!)

I had a productive FNSI and finished a tree skirt I had put together last December right after Christmas.   It sat in this state for an entire year:

Last night I cut a line to the center, added a circle in the middle and then machine attached the binding.  (I'm not very good at machine attaching binding but the only people looking that close will be my kids grabbing their gifts.  But even then, they won't be looking at my binding - they will be looking for their gifts!)  

My tree is happy!

Finally, thanks for all who visited my blog and entered my giveaway as part of Sew Mama Sew.  The winner has been notified by email - Congratulations Madj whose favorite movie is a Wonderful Life!  It is fun to ask a question on a giveaway - my unofficial comment count was that Elf was the most popular holiday movie.


Hope your preparations for the holidays are going well.  Have a great weekend.


Happy Stitching!

A Zip Bag Bonanza - plus a giveaway!

Got two giveaways going on (how fun!).  For the charm pack of Summer Breeze as part of the SMS Giveaway - comment on this post.


Read on for the giveaway associated with this post!


Today, I have the honor of guest posting at Sew We Quilt as part of a series of tutorials called Comfort and Joy!

I will be sharing a tutorial for my small zipped bag.  (For those of you visiting from SWQ - welcome!  Hope you'll come back and visit again.)

The bag measures at 6 by 3 1/2 and is the perfect size for carrying along just your phone and a credit card or two.   Please go read my tutorial here.


I making quite a number of these for holiday gifts this year for family and friends.  Here are just a few more:

I sourced my zippers and the swivel clips from two different Etsy stores.  When I told Char and Jennie about my upcoming blog mention of these zipped bags, both of these wonderful ladies were excited to sponsor a giveaway to their store.


First, the swivel clips.  Char from Etsy shop: Charsbeads4U  is offering a bag of 20 of these swivel clips.  Char was great to work with and shipped my order the same day.  I've had so much fun making these bags, I'm about to order more swivel clips from her!


Second, the zippers came from the Etsy shop: ZipIt  .  Jennie is offering a $10 gift certificate to her store.  I've order zippers several times from Jennie and packages arrive quickly.


In addition, Jennie has offered a discount code for 15% off their order for any of my readers!  Use discount code:  NCWEEKENDQUILTER


I will draw two winners.  


The rules:

• To enter, leave a comment on this blog post.   

• Go visit one or both of their Etsy shops and tell me about a product they have offered that you like.   Valid entries must contain a reference to an item in one or both of their shops.

• One comment per person.  You do not have to follow my blog (although I'd love it if you did so!)
• Winner will be notified through email so make sure you aren't a no reply blogger.
• The swivel clips can only be mailed to a US address so let me know if your are outside US and would therefore like to win gift certificate to Zipit.
• Giveaway closes on Thursday evening, Dec 22 at 9pm EST.                     

Happy Stitching!

Santa's Giving Away Some Fabric (SMS Giveaway!)

Ho Ho Ho!!

Happy to be participating in Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day 2011!


I've a charm pack of Summer Breeze for this giveway along with a few bonus 10 inch squares left over from a layer cake of Summer Breeze.

To enter, leave a comment on this post.  


You have two chances to enter.

1. Comment on this post and tell me your favorite holiday movie or book.
2. (Optional) Follow my blog and comment that you do so.

The small print:

• Giveaway closes Friday, December 16th at 8pm EST.
• Winner will be notified by email.  
• Comments are moderated so don't worry if your comment doesn't appear right away.
• Giveaway comments won't be responded to - although I will be reading them!

Two more things:

HAVE FUN with all the giveaways.

My favorite holiday movie:

Happy Stitching!

Bag assembly line (FNSI results)

Change in plans for my FNSI project.  (Thanks Heidi for organizing.) 

I decided to make a big dent in my 'score' of bags I am making as Christmas gifts.  I did all the quilting and got the bag sides all trimmed up. (fabric above is from Hometown)   I've got a regular assembly line going on.

Tomorrow I hope to finish the assembly on the assembly line (smile) and then reward myself with a fun decoration project.


Go visit other blogs who participated in FNSI and don't forget to sign up for next Friday, Dec 16.


I will be doing a guest blog tutorial on these bags - more on that next week!


Happy Stitching!

Santa Claus is coming to town... (FNSI)

FNSI tonight - got a fun project lined up.  I intend to piece a border and then do some FMQ.  (excuse blogger here - he seemed to have gotten this photo sideways).

This was a very fun project to stitch.  Looking forward to displaying it in my home.


Please join FNSI - sign up here.


Happy Stitching!

A Score of Bags

Have an assembly line in progress - making small zip bags as gifts for family and teachers.  I plan to use fabric from Circa 1934, from Hometown, from Sunkissed and then one or two novelty prints.


Zippers are in their little casings and ready to go.  (I find this a much cleaner way to attach to my quilted bags.)

Getting these 20 bags done will do a significant dent in my holiday crafting.  I am feeling quite pleased getting this part behind me!  The bag quilting is next part - I'm looking forward to that.


Happy Stitching!

Christmas Candy

Completed the binding on my Christmas Candy quilt.  (Colors aren't showing true in what turned out to be a very sunny photo shoot.)

I pieced this last year using charm packs of 12 Days of Christmas.  It is a Schnibble (although I'm not sure which one!)  I recently quilted and attached the binding.


I also finished a pencil bag for my nephew's birthday - only a few days late.

(Pictured is a Dalek from Dr. Who.)


Happy Stitching!