Fresh and Fancy Table Runner!

I've been making Bonnie's Fresh and Fancy table runner patterns this year. I love them all, but really was drawn to the February pattern. I wanted to use the perfect fabric.

I also wanted to try to use fabric from my stash and finally decided on some of my Lecien that I'm hoarding saving! Both red fabrics are Flower Sugar, and the floral on white background is a Lecien which says "Antique Flower Collection in Pastel" on the selvedge...a find last fall while shopping with Lori and Nanette (actually Lori found it, and I went back and bought the last yard)! I also used a white on white dot by Lakehouse.

I think I might have to make a larger quilt using this block...just love it! Have a wonderful day!

Wonderful Wednesday

First I must say thank you to the folks over at We All Sew--I feel very honored to be on this week's list of sewing blogs. They have some great on-line resources over at their site...very inspiring!

I've had some fat quarters of Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet since before Christmas--and finally decided on a project. I knew I wanted to use some white along with these fabrics (finally chose Moda Bella bleached white), and also knew I wanted to make something fresh and fun.

I decided on "Modern Day Diamonds" which is found in the book Livin' Large by Heather Mulder Peterson.

This quilt was so much fun to make...and easy too...it took no effort to have every point and corner line up perfectly.

I really love the browns in this line...kind of wish I'd used a couple more brown blocks and also used a solid brown for the posts where the diamonds "connect" (Moda U Brown and Kona Coffee match perfectly). I'll definitely be using the large floral with brown background for backing along with a solid brown binding. It's pretty cloudy here today, so the pictures don't really show the true colors of the fabrics...but I had to share!

I've just caught up on my FatQuarterShop Designer Mystery Block of the Month too...block 8 on the left is by Barbara Jones of Quilt Soup, and block 9 on the right is by Bonnie of Cotton Way.

Both blocks were super simple and fun to make! I just can't believe we only have three blocks left!

If you've read my blog for a little while...you might know what I'm making with this assortment of Verna by Kate Spain...if not, I'll be back soon to share this project...have a wonderful Wednesday!

New Blog Look, Snow, and Quilts!!!

Back in January I won a free blog makeover from Designer Blogs...and Erin put the finishing touches on things this weekend...I'm so pleased with how everything turned out...thanks so much Erin!

This weekend we were able to get away for a few fun days in the snow! I loved every minute of the snow...it was so relaxing to sit and visit and enjoy the wonderful mountain views. We were up in northern Utah just a few minutes away from the Snow Basin ski resort area. I was happy for the chance to visit with family and also for the opportunity to take photos of a couple of my sister-in-law's quilts.

This is her Utah quilt. She and a friend took several patterns and mixed and matched designs from each to come up with this arrangement.

I love the paper-pieced log cabins!

The bee block is one of my favorites (love the wings)...and I love the beehive too (the beehive is the official state emblem of Utah). Of course I love the mountains row as well!

Now this is her Christmas quilt...(it's a Piece O' Cake design). Amazingly, this was my sister-in-law's first work with applique'!

She really had fun embellishing the quilt after the applique' was finished...so many cute buttons and trims on this one!

I think her use of fabric and color is just incredible. This quilt is definitely on my someday list!
It was fun to get away, but it's always fun to be home too...can't wait to get back to my projects! Have a wonderful day!

Polka Dots!

These new Michael Miller polka dots are wonderful (you can find them at FatQuarterShop)!

Surprisingly, the grey might be my favorite--I keep thinking it would make a wonderful background fabric!

Just a couple of weeks ago I won a "Dreaming of Summer" giveaway from Candace of Squash House Quilts...I've always wanted a ruler holder, and this one is wonderful; it's great to have all of my rulers right within reach. Candace also sent along some charm squares, quilt labels, and yummy chocolate--thanks Candace!

I just received this row quilt back from Judi of Green Fairy Quilts. Judi and Nedra have both been so kind to share some of these pictures on their blogs recently, but I wanted to share them as well. I love the wood-grain Judi quilted in the picket fence.

I also love the detailing on the cactus pots.

This quilt was a "turning point" for me in my quilting journey--I made it several years ago and learned a lot, improved many of my techniques, and did my first paper piecing.

I absolutely love the feathers Judi added in among the stars. I'd never seen this done before and think it's absolutely stunning!

Just need to finish the hand sewing on this one...lots of binding to do this week! Have a wonderful day, and I hope you get to sew!

I ♥ Fabric

I've been playing with some fun fabrics this past week. I've cut all the borders for my three Verna quilts and even started two new Verna projects. Also, I finally got my Meadowsweet quilt cut out...can't wait to start sewing it. These fun strips were left over...perfect for my string challenge quilt for Stephanie's!

Then I made this impulse purchase (one I definitely don't regret)--there was something about these blues and greens of Jessica Leavitt's Timber that just called to me. They coordinate wonderfully with Hope Valley, and I'll be using them all together in a project soon!

This is some more fabric I wasn't going to buy...but when I saw it in person...I had to get some Oz! No plans for this yet, but I really love this line! Maybe it was the gingham...my Mom loves gingham, and gingham always reminds me of my childhood and of the sewing my Mom and Grandmother did for me.

And this was what I did over President's Day Saturday and Monday...made my fourth "Jelly & Jam" quilt (pattern by Joanna)...using Blush by Moda. This quilt is a shop sample for Quilted Works in St. George, Utah.

I loved choosing the color combinations for this project!

Can't wait to see it quilted! I've also been busy binding, finished my March Schnibbles quilt already, and have the February Designer Mystery blocks from FatQuarterShop cut out. Oh, did I mention I ♥ fabric? I ♥ fabric! Have a great day!

Thursday Things...

I received one of my quilts in the mail this week and have just finished binding it! Here is the "All Dressed Up" quilt (pattern by Nanette). This quilt is so bright and cheery with its combination of new reproductions from my stash and vintage fabrics from Nanette. Now I get to have some fun adding buttons and other trims to the dresses!

Vivian did a terrific job with the long-arm quilting...

I absolutely love the swirls quilted in the background of the dress blocks. And I have another quilt that I'll be binding soon...Judi of Green Fairy Quilts just finished the quilting on my garden row quilt...you can see it here!

It was fun reading all of the giveaway comments--so many of you loved Tiffany's great bag patterns. I used Random.org to draw the winner, and Rae Ann's lucky number came up--congratulations Rae Ann!

Be back soon!

How About a Giveaway?!

Isn't this a great bag? I fell in love with it right away! It's a brand new pattern...not even released yet...and is called "The Tiny Clutch." Tiffany from Tiny Seamstress Designs has made this clutch, and one reader of my blog can receive it! Tiffany is heading to market for the first time this spring, and the pattern for this clutch will be one of her pre-market releases.

To enter...head on over to Tiffany's blog, then scroll down to look at her other great bag designs. Come back here and leave a comment letting us know which is your favorite. The giveaway will stay open until Wednesday night, and we'll announce the winner at the end of the week!

Also, speaking of giveaways...I just had my 200th post a few posts ago...so I'm trying to get my own giveaway prize made in the next couple of days...I'll let you know about it soon! Have a great day, and good luck!

February Plans

We're having a wonderful rain today--perfect weather for sorting through the sewing room and setting my February sewing goals. (Because of the clouds my pictures aren't as bright as I'd like--these fabrics are so much more gorgeous in person).

I've finished piecing the top for my Verna version of "Jelly & Jam"...so now she needs borders!

So, goals one and two are to get borders on my two large Verna quilts (the other one is "Piece of Cake" that I shared here). Just this week I was able to order Verna yardage from Kelly...her prices are great, and her shipping was super fast!

Goal number three...(and I'm still on cloud nine here) is to start some projects using this 12 Days of Christmas Layer Cake from Kate. These fabrics are the best! I have tons of ideas going through my mind...trying to decide how I can make the absolute most of these squares! I'm really excited to work with this fabric and promise you'll be seeing something soon! By the way...have you seen the 2010 Designer Mystery Block of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop? It is going to be wonderful and uses the 12 Days of Christmas line. There are some fun posts about it here and here and here!

February goal 4 involves this fun giveaway I won from Margot at the Pattern Basket. Have you seen her Moda Love Pincushion project over at the Moda Bake Shop? I was thrilled to win this wonderful pincushion, and Margot also sent along four of her recent patterns, "Something Sweet," "Sugar Twist," "Frosted Squares," and "Charm Drops." I had been oohing and aahing over every one of these patterns on her blog and have had fun reading them the last few days. I think I'm going to make "Sugar Twist" first...and might use Martinique which is just now hitting shops.

February goal 5 (a carryover from the last couple of months) is to finally start a quilt with my Meadowsweet stack. (I'll surprise you with the pattern--maybe my March Schnibble)! And although I don't have a picture yet for February goals 6 and 7...they are to make blocks one and two of Anne's new Block of the Month, Snowbound. Goals 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are to bind 5 quilts!

Hopefully I can get a good portion of these projects at least started and several finished...I really think setting quilting goals at the beginning of the month has been very beneficial. Even when I don't come close to meeting my goals, it helps to have a good idea of what I want to work on...then when I have even just a short amount of time to sew I can immediately go to a project without having to make too many decisions!

I have some fun things to share this month as well...including a giveaway...or two or three! Have a great rest of the weekend...hope all of you affected by the blizzard back East stay warm!

Wordless Wednesday

Another little quilt...and Winners!

I have to share one of my favorite little quilts made with the wonderful Fig Tree line, Patisserie. No, it's not a "Schnibble," but it is from a pattern by Carrie called"Opening Day." I had to make this miniature version last spring (actually this option is shown on the back cover of the pattern). I really want to make the full-sized quilt as well...I'm challenging myself to use only fabrics from my stash--but this was one of those patterns I just couldn't wait to start, and thus this little quilt. Oh...and a few "Schnibbly" winners to share today too...

Carrie has chosen two winners...one from Sinta's parade and one from mine...both will receive an Oz Layer Cake! Carrie will announce her winners on her blog today!

Quilt Taffy has donated this Sunday Best pattern which will go to Paulette (no blog) from Sinta's parade. I love the Quilt Taffy version shown on the blog...her daughter made it...so cute...you'll have to go read the post!

Cottage Quilts has donated a $25 gift certificate which will go to Darlene from my parade!

Quilter's Paradise has awarded a $25 gift certificate which goes to Kim from Sinta's parade.

Once again, Fat Quarter Shop has generously donated a $50 gift certificate which goes to Cindy from Sinta's parade.

And from Bear Paw Quilts An Encourager (also from Sinta's parade) wins the Sunday Best pattern and two Nature's Notebook charm packs!

Congratulations to all the winners...and a big thank you to all of those who donated prizes. Hmmm...I think I'm off to work on my March Schnibble! Have a great day!