Some Favorite Things

I've been working with some of my favorite fabrics and have a couple more finishes to share. Yesterday I made a Sugar Pumpkin with Mill House Inn by Joanna Figueroa. I love this fabric more each time I work with it, and I love the pumpkin/pincushion--I used crushed walnut shells for the filling and will keep this pumpkin out year-round. So now that I have a pumpkin...it's officially fall (and the temperature is supposed to drop 20 degrees tomorrow...yay)!

Simple Abundance by Bonnie and Camille is another one of my favorite fabrics. A wonderful blogger (who shall remain anonymous) was able to get me a jelly roll of this at market last spring, and I had the 9-patch blocks put together within days of receiving it. Last week when the yardage became available I had my list ready of fabric needed to finish the quilt.

The pattern is called "Around the Block" from the book On a Roll Again by Heather Mulder Peterson. I can't wait to get this one quilted!

I get to make one more project for market this week--I'm excited to start on it. With each project I've done I think, "Oh this is the cutest quilt ever" and then the next project is just as cute if not cuter...and one of these days I'll be able to share all of these fun things!

Have a wonderful day!

September Sewing

Where did September go? Things have been busy around here! I've been doing a lot of sewing...a lot of it that I can't wait to share...hopefully soon! I've been trying to catch up on things this week but got side-tracked when my youngest broke his arm in his football game the other night. Thankfully, although he is discouraged, he is doing well and shouldn't require any surgery. I finished my September A Tisket a Tasket block and now have the first three rows completed. I love this quilt and appreciate Anne providing these wonderful patterns each month.

Only three more blocks...and since October, November and December are some of my favorite months...I can't wait to see what Anne places in those baskets!

I finished one of my September goals for the Charming Girls' Quilt Club! Three of these blocks were made from scraps about a year ago; I made the fourth block this summer and put them together last night! I had so much fun with the outer border since it was created from scraps already pieced together--left over from the backing of another Halloween quilt I made a couple of years ago. Each month when I finish a "work in progress" I'm grateful to Kelly for the motivation to get these things finished!

I received a wonderful surprise in the mail the other day (mail from Stephanie is always so fun to open)...so, I didn't even make it home from the post office before opening her package. She sent me two copies of her latest pattern--Lady Fingers and Sugar Baby. I really enjoyed making these bags for Stephanie. Not only did she send the patterns, but she sent along two fat quarters of Flea Market Fancy by Denise Schmidt. I was speechless; these fabrics are hard to come by...and I was thrilled to receive them!

This is my project for today...I finished prepping all twelve "Posies a la Mode" blocks and hope to applique' them to the background squares this afternoon. I also have a couple of other projects I'm hoping to get to today...and I completed my October Schnibbles last evening...can't wait to share it with you on October 1st!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Welcome Fall!

I'm so glad fall has finally arrived! Even though it was still in the upper 90's here today...I felt better just knowing that it was officially fall and that cooler temps are on the way!

I took out my fall quilts yesterday and started doing a little decorating...I'm not finished yet, but it felt great to be looking at my fall things!

I believe I've shared most of these (if not all) before...but somehow...just doing a fall post made me feel like fall might really be on the way.

Hope you have a wonderful day--and that you get to sew!

Sewing "A La Mode"

Two patterns arrived the other day..."Posies A La Mode" by Joanna of Fig Tree & Company--which is found in Fresh Vintage Number 13, and "a la mode" by Camille of Thimble Blossoms. I was smitten with both patterns...couldn't decide which one to start first (you know how that is)...so I started both!

I decided to make "Posies a la Mode" out of the featured fabric, Mill House Inn. The pattern uses a layer cake, a charm pack, and a little yardage. (Just wait until you see what I'm making with the honey bun...can't show yet...but it is a wonderful design)!

I had to make one of the posie flowers right away...so cute! I've actually made all 12 flowers with just the centers left to applique'. Everything is cut and ready to go, so this quilt will go together quickly once I finish the flower centers!

I had to start "a la mode" the same day! This is a layer cake pattern as well, but it is also fat quarter friendly...so out came some more fat quarters from my fat quarter bundle! What could be better than this block design...pinwheels and stars...two of my favorite things! But...I need the yardage to be available so I can get what I need to finish this quilt...hurry, hurry Moda!!!

Recently I had a great opportunity to sew two of Stephanie's latest designs, "Ladyfingers" and"Sugar Baby!" I loved using some of my Flower Sugar on these projects. The patterns are excellent, and the bags are terrific sizes.

The button on my "Sugar Baby" bag came from my great-grandmother's button collection...I was so happy to be able to use it on such a fun project! Thanks so much Stephanie for sending this pattern...it was a delight to sew!

Things might be a little quiet here for a few days...I have some fun "stunt" sewing to do for market that will keep me busy.

Have a wonderful day!

I Love the 2009 Designer Mystery BOM!

I've had so much fun this year (as I did last year) with the Designer Mystery Block of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop! The blocks are all gorgeous! This months block is designed by Sandy Gervais and is stunning!

I can't believe the first four blocks are finished...the year is going by quickly!

I love my Americana version as well...

I'm almost tempted to start another version--I really do love sampler quilts!

Oh, and Saturday really was a Sandy Gervais kind of day...I worked most of the day with her Gobble Gobble fabric--and will show you that project next time!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥A Year of Schnibbles Update: At least four club members have finished their quilts already, and they are spectacular! We are going to have one amazing parade on October 1st! Remember to comment on the September 1st post on my blog and Sinta's when you have posted your quilt...this will make it much easier for us to keep everything organized! Have a great day!♥

I've Been Sewing!

Just this morning I finished piecing my "Christmas Wish" quilt top which was a free block of the month design from Gail Pan (Thanks Gail)! I'm so glad I waited to put my blocks together until I saw Gail's version...I love the scrappy sashing! The only thing I did a bit differently was I cut my outer borders 3 1/2" wide (hers are 2").

I loved working on these stitcheries each month--and since there were only 9 blocks, I'll have plenty of time to get this quilted in time for Christmas. This was a free quilt for me--I only used fabrics from my stash!

Oh, and I spent some time this week cleaning and organizing my sewing space...what is it about a clean cutting surface that somehow brings to mind tons of new projects to start? Maybe it's a good thing my table doesn't always look this clean!

Be back soon with lots more to share!

Thanks to so many of you who have posted such wonderful remembrances of this date in history; we must remember and be grateful always for those who keep watch.

Mini Shop Hop & Charming Girls Quilt Projects

This week I took my daughter back up to school and took advantage of the trip to treat myself to a mini-shop hop! I visited American Quilting in Orem, Utah, Pine Needles in West Jordan, Utah, and Material Girls in South Jordan, Utah. All three shops were delightful with friendly staffs and wonderful fabrics and patterns.

Pine Needles Quilt Shop is located at Gardner Village, a quaint shopping destination housed in restored cabins, houses and buildings listed on the National Historic Register. Guess who met me there??? Lori of Bee in my Bonnet and Nanette of Freda's Hive! It was so much fun looking through the shop with Lori and Nanette. I was in awe at all of the amazing fabrics, samples, and patterns. After shopping for a bit we had a wonderful lunch at Archibald's, a great restaurant housed in the old flour mill at the village; then, we met again at Material Girls.

The top two and bottom left pictures are of displays at Pine Needles; the bottom right photo is Lori's amazing "Comforts of Home" quilt with Lori peeking out from the side! This quilt was amazing in person...no picture I could ever take could show the wonderful details of the quilt and the amazing handwork of Lori! We took this picture at Material Girls quilt shop which was another treat. I was a bad blogger and didn't take any pictures inside Material Girls other than the picture of Lori's quilt. I also met Nadine, the owner of Material Girls, and she was so nice and helpful. I thought over and over how wonderful it would be to just have hours and hours to spend in each of these shops (and hours and hours to visit with Lori and Nanette--thanks ladies)!

So...after all of that creative inspiration, I'm feeling like I can accomplish a lot in September! I'm going to give myself two challenges to finish for Kelly's Charming Girls' Quilt Club this month. First I'm going to finish my Patisserie blocks and have them set together and ready to quilt. I'm also going to finish my Halloween Cottages quilt and have it ready to hang up by the first of October!

I'm also working on a lot of other things and hope to have a fun tutorial for you in the next week or two!

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

First Project

Are you ready to begin the year of Schnibbles? Well here it is...one corner...can you guess the pattern?

Here is another angle...

And here is my finished quilt top! Yes...it's Winter White, one of my favorite Schnibbles patterns by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilting Company! I decided to use the fabrics on the pattern cover, although I used a green print for my outer border instead of the blue used in the original. I'm definitely going to bind it in red. This quilt was a lot of fun to make...and fast! I procrastinated until just a couple of days ago and was able to finish yesterday even just working a couple of hours a day. So I know you all can finish in a month! And don't worry about the flying geese blocks...you don't have to cut a single triangle!

Four quilt shops have joined in the Year of Schnibbles fun. They are: The Quilt Shoppe, Cottage Quilts, Bear Paw Quilts, and Quilt Taffy. These wonderful shops are going to offer patterns, kits...and provide prizes for our giveaways!

Remember, participate each month, or just the months you can. Post your completed Schnibbles quilt on your blog (or e-mail a photo if you don't have a blog). Leave a comment on this post after you've posted your quilt...you have until September 30th. Then, on October 1st Sinta and I will present the winner(s) and the parade of Schnibbles. Each month on the first of the month a new pattern will be announced. Also, remember that there will be a special prize drawing for those of you who are able to complete a Schnibbles each month. We are a big group--79, I believe, so this should be a lot of fun! Okay...go get those Schnibbles! And have fun!