Best Laid Plans

Really, I wasn't going to make this until next year...really. I have a plan of projects for the next couple of months that didn't include any new Christmas quilts for me.

But the fabrics all came from my stash, with most of them purchased last January at 75% off. So since it wasn't costing anything, I convinced myself to make one block, just to be sure that this was what I wanted to do with these fabrics. Next year, of course.

I soon realized this was what I wanted to do with these fabrics, and now that I'm half-way done, I might as well finish it, right?! (The fabrics are from several different makers...Moda, Michael Miller, Alexander Henry, Free Spirit and Benartex, and the pattern is "Cameos" by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Company).

This collection of wonderful fabrics arrived recently from Nanette! I'm helping Nanette with a little project, and she sent me this thank you gift before I've even finished. Thank you, Nanette!

I have a couple more thank you's to send out as well...I recently won a giveaway and received a Bunny Hill bag pattern and two Moda charm packs from Rene of "Rene Creates." Thank you so much, Rene!

And, have you seen this book...Scrap Basket Surprises by Kim Brackett? Kim sent me a (signed!) copy this week, and I've been busy trying to decide which quilt to make first. All of the quilts in the book are designed for 2 1/2" strips--which is perfect since I've been organizing a lot of my scraps into bins and have lots of this size strips to work with. I'm using a Beach House Jelly Roll and then adding strips from my stash for my first project. Kim also has a great blog, Magnolia Bay Quilts, and is working on another book! Thank you Kim!

Finally, just a few words about A Year of Schnibbles: Sinta and I are getting ready for the parades...be sure to leave a comment with a link to your quilt (or e-mail a picture) by October 31st. We'll have the parade and the reveal of the November Schnibble on November 1st. Also, Carrie has recently shown some great new upcoming Schnibbles patterns on this post...you'll love them! Again there will be giveaways...including a fun one from Fat Quarter Shop!

Have a wonderful day!

Sometimes You Know...

Sometimes you know that a project is going to turn out so cute that you might as well just make two to begin with...that's the way it was when I set out to make a couple of friendship bags from Simple Abundance using the tutorial by Rachel of PS I Quilt.

After making the bags I decided one would be perfect to go along with the gifts I was making to send to my Stitcher's Angel...across the ocean...(I hope she likes Simple Abundance)!

My gifts from my stitcher's Angel recently arrived. I received a wonderful tote bag, "Sweet" needle case, luggage tags (I really, really needed these) and lovely soaps from Marie. Everything is beautiful...thank you Marie!

I've just finished the tenth block in the Tisket a Tasket quilt designed by Anne...just in time for block eleven to be released next week...only two blocks to go!

Sinta and I are getting ready for the next Year of Schnibbles parade! I've seen some great finishes in the last few days...and can't wait to share the November Schnibbles pattern with you. I finished mine last week and absolutely love it! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Here is a new blog for you to visit...I've been waiting (not so patiently) for this blog debut since I love the Where Women Create book and magazine!

Market Sewing

This is just a corner of the Fig Tree & Company booth at International Quilt Market in Houston this weekend. For me...the booth photos I was most anxious to see were the ones from this booth since I was able to work on a few things for Joanna this summer and fall.

This is the first quilt-top I pieced. This is a jelly roll pattern and is by far my favorite jelly-roll pattern ever. The quilt above is called "Jelly & Jam" and is made using Mill House Inn. I get to make another one of these because my daughter wants one for Christmas!

Next I was able to make the same pattern, the "Christmas Jelly" version using yardage of just three fabrics and some cream background. This one was just as much fun to make--I love this pattern!

I was also able to sew the new "Bella" bag pattern from Joanna's new fabric line, Whimsy! The really terrific thing about the Whimsy line is that the fabrics coordinate with the previous Fig Tree Lines...just a few of the prints are decidedly children's prints...so it makes this fabric extremely versatile. I can't wait to use some of the florals from Whimsy in a scrappy quilt I'm making with earlier lines.

This is another quilt top I had a lot of fun with. This pattern is called "Cameos," and I was able to piece the Whimsy version. Again, this is another delightful pattern. I've already started one for myself using Mill House Inn. The angles were actually fun to do...and very simple. I really wanted to see the quilts quilted and had asked a couple of blogging friends that were going to market if they could take a couple pictures for me. Kelly of Charming Chatter was so gracious to take time out of her busy schedules to do this...I'm so appreciative. She even posted these on her blog before market was even over! Thanks also to Julie and Vickie for heading over to take pictures also!

This picture shows "Christmas Jelly " on the left and "Jelly and Jam" on the right. The Whimsy version is in the middle. Joanna wrote about these patterns here.

And here is the Whimsy "Cameos" quilt that was so much fun--did I mention I love this pattern? Joanna showed this pattern on her blog here.

And the "Bella" bag! If you look back at the first booth photo you'll see another wonderful version of this bag...the possibilities are endless. Another option with this bag is that of making bows out of several different fabric...then you can change out the bows to match your mood...or your outfit! These patterns are available now from Fig Tree & Company, and I've also seen them recently listed at FatQuarter Shop!

I really had fun following along with all the market posts and tweets this weekend! Of course the posts from Pam Kitty Morning and Elizabeth of Late Bloomer Quilts were fun as usual...and the tweets and posts from FatQuarterShop were so wonderful it was almost like being there...thanks so much to everyone who posted from market!

Have a wonderful day!

Pay it Forward

I couldn't resist signing up for Pay it Forward on Sarah's blog!!! I mean...I own both Material Obsession books that she authored!!! So...you know how it goes...the first three people to comment will receive a Pay it Forward from me sometime in the next year! You have to play along by posting your own "Pay it Forward!"

Have a great day!

How I Spent my Weekend...or in other words..."Cameos" and Half-Square Triangles

I finished my "Cameos" quilt top using Mill House Inn Friday evening! I love this pattern and had been wanting to make this for myself since sewing the Whimsy version for Joanna. This quilt pattern doesn't just call to me...it sings. I already have plans for another one using fabric in my stash.

There is just something so classic and timeless and yet also so very modern about this design...I can't imagine any fabric it wouldn't look wonderful in!

On Saturday I made a lot of half-square triangles..well...144 plus a few more. I used a ruler that made squaring them up a cinch. Kim mentioned the Quilt in a Day Triangle Square Up ruler on her recent Moda Bake Shop post...and as I went to order it I luckily realized I already had it. This ruler was so handy...and to think I've owned it for several years and haven't been using it! I'll be using it a lot from now on!

I also finished block five of the Designer Mystery Block of the Month from FatQuarterShop...this month's block was designed by Camille...once again another great block!

I couldn't get a very good picture of my second block using Americana fabrics from my stash--it's a bit more colorful than this picture shows and was a lot of fun to put together as well!

I learned something new about Blogger today...I didn't realize that if you worked on a post and saved it as a draft that it would publish in the order it was originally worked on...so my market sewing post that I just finished editing today is actually back here!

Well, now I'm off to read blogs...my reader is approaching triple digits as I haven't read in a couple of days!

Have a wonderful day!

Three Piles Down...

Three piles down...well, actually four...but the two piles on the left were for the same project. Anyway...I'm getting things done, and some of them are even for Christmas. Progress on the Christmas list in October is always a good thing!

First I finished my "Garden Path" quilt from the new Lori Smith book Fat Quarter Quilts. I love this quilt, and I love the book. I love the mix of Simple Abundance with a little bit of Shangri-La. This quilt, like each quilt in Lori's book, measures 16 by 20--the perfect size for a quick project. I'm debating on how to finish this one; I was going to hand quilt it, but there are so many seams that I might do a cross-hatch on my machine...I'm not sure...any ideas? After I quilt it I will probably frame it.

And I finished two Glace' baskets. I've made this pattern before and absolutely loved it. The pattern is from Fresh Vintage Number 10. One of these is going to look lovely this Christmas sitting on my Glace' table runner; the other one is a gift!

Ok...well, back to work on those piles! Have a great day!

Blogger's Quilt Festival...and More!

I had so much fun with the Blogger's Quilt Festival (hosted by Amy over at Park City Girl) last spring that it was a definite for this fall. Today I've decided to share my very first sampler quilt made in 2004. I'd been quilting for a few years before getting the courage to sign up for this block of the month at one of my favorite quilt shops, The Christmas Goose. I'd never done anything but simple quilts before starting this project and didn't have a 1/4 inch foot for my machine when I made it. So...it has a few cut-off corners, but I love it anyway!

The quilt is from the book At Piece with Time: A Woman's Journey Stitched in Cloth by Kristin C. Steiner & Diane C. Frankenberger. The book was delightful in and of itself...sometimes I still browse through it for inspiration. If you are familiar with this book and quilt you will recognize that there is a lot of applique' in the original pattern. I was definitely too afraid to try the applique' when I made this; every once in a while I think about making it again...with the applique'!

Just a few more things going on in my sewing room...yesterday Love arrived via the USPS! Yes, Amy Butler's new line...I'd ordered a few fat quarters and love them all. In fact, I couldn't wait to sew with them and made a posy flower block right away--now I just need to decide what to do with the block! I have a project in mind for the fat quarters that I'll get going on next week as well.

This is the time of year I start collecting "piles" in my sewing room...piles of projects for Christmas gifts. I've started several...think I need to finish a few before I start any more piles!

Another pile...Simple Abundance with some Shangri-La added in...they coordinate wonderfully! These triangles will make up the border blocks for this applique' block I just finished. This project is from the new Lori Smith book Fat Quarter Quilting...I love Lori's designs and am working on two right now.

Well...off to work on those piles...have a great weekend!

Mill House Inn

How many quilts is too many from one line of fabric? I don't typically make more than one quilt using a fabric line, but this fall I seem to be sewing with two lines in nearly every project I make. I have five projects going with Bonnie and Camille's Simple Abundance, and I've been sewing a lot with Mill House Inn by Joanna of Fig Tree & Company.

What started out as a layer cake and honey bun...has now become two quilts (well, one is done, the other is in progress).

I finished "Posies a la Mode" (pattern in Fresh Vintage issue 13 by Fig Tree & company) the other day and keep unfolding it to look at it. Such a simple design, and yet it is one of my favorite quilts...something about those posies! I'm going to make another posie and frame it for my sewing room...such a fun simple applique' project, and perfect for a beginner!

And the honey bun? It will soon be my Cameos quilt (see a sneak peek of the whole quilt here). I've already made one for market in Joanna's new fabric line, Whimsy. I loved making the pattern so much I couldn't wait to make one for myself...Just wasn't ready to be finished cutting those angles...and I used to have angle-phobia...with Joanna's method...I fear angles no more!

I've got ten blocks finished, and ten to go!

Winners and Weekend Sewing!

Wow...what a parade! Thank you to everyone who participated! We were so pleased with all of the participation and so many finishes...it was truly fun to see each quilt! If you visited the parades early yesterday, please stop by again as several quilts have been added to each parade! I believe I have every quilt in the post now except for one that came in today...and I'll be adding it soon. It was a lot of fun, and now I know we're all figuring out fabrics for October. Carrie announced the winners of her giveaway on her blog this morning...Pam Walker won the Alliance Layer Cake Roll and the Fit to be Geese Ruler (her quilt is on Sinta's parade). Trisha of TLC Stitches (her quilt was on my blog) won a Spring Fever Layer Cake Roll and a Fit to be Geese Ruler, and Sandy of The Textile House (also on this parade) won a couple of Fit to be Geese Rulers...ladies be sure and e-mail Carrie with your mailing information! Sinta and I used the trusty random.org and have the following winners: Bea wins the prize package from The Quilt Shoppe, Marianne wins the gifts from Quilt Taffy, Ann D. won from Havasu Quilts , and Carrie, yes, the Carrie wins the prize from Missouri Star! Sinta has posted pictures of the prizes and the winning quilts on her blog today!

So now...on to the weekend!

A couple of weeks ago (well, maybe a month ago) I got a whole stack of Gobble Gobble placemats ready to bind...


So far, I've only finished one...I'm going to finish the rest of the binding this weekend--along with several other binding projects!

And...I might have to make a couple of table toppers from this new book... On the Run by Heather Mulder Peterson.

I just received this in the mail today! I won it in a wonderful giveaway from Kristina over at Sew Domestic...she has a fun blog and an Etsy shop...thanks sooo much Kristina!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Schnibbles Parade!

First of all...I know you all know what today is...Schnibbles day! And...it just happens to be Carrie's birthday...perfect timing for our first parade! And...it's Sinta's birthday today as well! So happy birthday to both!

So...without any further waiting...here is the October Schnibbles pattern. I needed a Halloween table topper, so I chose to make mine out of Spooktacular by Moda!


This is a super simple pattern that just requires layout of the colors to have the secondary patterns show up. It calls for 3 charm packs; however, I just used two and a couple of extra pieces from my stash.
Up first is a giveaway from one of our shop sponsors...Quilt Taffy! A Spooktacular charm pack and the next pattern... "Cindy Lou Who" which is available from all of our sponsors: The Quilt Shoppe, Quilt Taffy, Missouri Quilt Co, Havasu Quilts, Fat Quarter Shop, and Bear Paw Quilts & More.

And Carrie is giving away a roll (10" squares) of Moda's Alliance and an Open Gate "Fit to be Geese ruler!!!" You might want to head over to Sinta's blog since she has the other half of today's quilt parade...and she might also be having a giveaway to celebrate her birthday! Well...here is my half of the parade...names with links to blogs are listed below each photo.

This is Julie's version.

And here is Mel's. She made hers for a gift!


And here is Sandy's...the only one I've seen in "Simple Abundance!"

This beautiful version was made with Gobble Gobble by Carol.


And this one was sent to us by Eileen...gorgeous!

Lani's

From the Happy Cottage Quilter.

This is John's quilt. He used Nest by Tula Pink for Moda.

And this version is from Terri (two pictures).

This is Kelly's first Schnibbles!

This is from Robyn.

Here is Sandy's of Loves to Quilt!

Anne D.

And this one is from Lisa.

This is from Trish.

And this is from Liz.

Marianne's.

This is Regena's.

Robin's.

And here is Rita's.

Love this Spooktacular version by Lisa D!

Di's quilt.

Edith

Trisha's

Julia's...

This one comes to us from Christy.

And this quilt comes from the blog Tataville!

And this quilt is Merumo's.

This is Julies quilt...

Wow...so many wonderful "Winter Whites!" With each quilt posted I had a lot of fun seeing the wonderful fabric choices and combinations. I was also impressed with how many chose to use their stash to make their quilt...what a great idea! Now...if your quilt isn't here...and it's not on Sinta's blog...please, please, please e-mail Sinta or I and we will get it posted today. It's been a bit more work than we anticipated keeping track of everything. Check back tomorrow for the giveaway winners (and if I missed any give-away prizes...shops, please let me know, and I'll add them to the post as well)!