Another Finish

Another 2011 finish...for me! I think I am hooked on tumblers...I know I'll be making more in 2012! I've really been wanting to make a red, aqua and grey table topper and found a little time right before Christmas to put this together.

I used fabrics from 3 collections by Bonnie & Camille...Bliss, Ruby, and Vintage Modern. Yes, Vintage Modern is an amazing line...I really really love it! I had some Vintage Modern charm squares that were too cute to just sit on the shelf...and this topper seemed the perfect match.

Happy New Year's...I'll be back tomorrow with Another Year of Schnibbles!

Playing Catch-Up

While starting to clean/organize/plan for the new year, I found some blocks that had been cut out but not sewn. I always like to have a block of the month project going, and one of the ways I keep up is to cut out the block the day it arrives and store the pieces on one of my design boards.  Somehow with all the hustle and bustle of fall and the holidays I had three blocks still not sewn.  First is Block 5 of FatQuarterShop's 2011 Designer Mystery Block of the Month, "Vintage Posey" designed by Brenda Riddle.

Next I finished up "Tulip Festival" by Margot Languedoc of the Pattern Basket. This one was super simple and fun!

Finally, I pieced "Dandelion" by Cyndi Walker of Stitch Studios. This one was another cute block.  I really can't believe block 8 will be arriving soon and this quilt will be 2/3 finished!

I also needed to play catch-up with my Blogger's Block of the Month blocks.  December's block was just posted the other day by Pat Sloan! I'm making two each month so I'll have enough for a throw quilt.

This is just the fourth month, so it's not too late to join in!

You can head HERE to get the directions for Pat's block...and to enter a fun little giveaway she has going on right now. 

Okay...that's all for now...back to some cleaning/organizing and planning (oh, and a little bit of sewing too...can't resist)!

Thanks for stopping by!

2010 Project Collages

It's always a lot of fun to review my projects for the year. Almost everything in these two collages has been quilted and finished. Two exceptions are my Farmer's Wife blocks in both colorways--but I've spent so much time with them that I had to include them with the other finished projects! My Farmer's Wife quilts will be big finishes for 2012!

Looking back always helps me to set project and quilting goals for the new year, too.  I'm hoping to do quite a bit of organizing and list-making this week (along with some much needed studio cleaning).  While going through my photos of projects I also realized there are quite a few things I made in 2010 that I won't be able to share until 2012 and later.  I am looking forward to being able to share some of them soon, though!

With the end of the year also comes realization of and gratitude for the year's experiences.  I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to record my quilting journey through my blog.  And I truly appreciate the wonderful comments, suggestions, ideas, and inspiration I receive through blogging and reading quilting and other creative blogs.  Thanks so much for a wonderful 2011!

Merry Christmas!

This is the last gift I finished up for Christmas 2011!  It was a lot of fun--the tumbler blocks go together quickly, and this project also gave me  the opportunity to practice my straight-line machine quilting.  I've been using the small tumbler die from Accuquilt which cuts out 3 tumblers at a time and really makes the cutting go quickly.  These tumblers finish at about 3'' tall. (The fabric is Flurry by Kate Spain for Moda).

I wish you and yours the most merriest of Christmases! I hope to enjoy a weekend of just spending time with my family and enjoying our traditional Christmas meals and treats.  Merry Christmas 2011!

Keeping Christmas Traditions

I realize things have been a little quiet here on the blog--I've been trying to finish up gifts...keeping my Christmas tradition of sewing up until the very last possible moment. 

This morning I got up a little early to do some machine quilting on this mini tumbler table topper.  I'm getting ready to put the binding on this afternoon!

I've also been making some compostition book covers. My Sweetwater Label Crew project arrived the other day, and I couldn't stop at making just one book cover from their cute pattern. The notebook cover on the left is from Hometown, and the one on the right is from Reunion, both fabric lines by Sweetwater for Moda.

The pattern is great...it fits the composition books perfectly. 

I wonder how many more of these I can make before Saturday?

Thanks so much for stopping by...hope you are getting things checked off your list, too!

Sew, Mama Sew Giveaway Winner

Just stopping to in to announce Leah is the winner of my little bag from the Sew, Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

The countdown to Christmas is definitely on, and I've got so many things I still want to finish! Although it might be nice to be finished early one year, it's sort of become my Christmas tradition to still be sewing for others at this time of the season!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

Yes, Christmas.  I'm finally getting to some things that have been on the list a very long time! I've had so much fun sewing with some of my older Christmas scraps this week!

I was able to make a stocking for a foreign exchange student staying with a friend's family this year.  I delivered it as soon as the last stitch was sewn, and I'm pretty sure it will be well-loved this year and for years to come!

While I was making the stocking I also cut fabric for a fun little Christmas banner, so yes, it's starting to feel and look like Christmas here. 

Thanks so much for the wonderful ideas in the comments of my Sew, Mama Sew giveaway post...there is still lots of time to enter.  And speaking of giveaways, the winner for the Canton Village Quilt Works giveaway is Talin's Corner.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day

Welcome! Participating in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day during the holidays has become a fun tradition for me! If you're new to my blog, I hope you'll browse through my posts and visit again.  I post regularly about my adventures in quilting and about all things fabric and sewing!

 If you'd like to win this little clutch made with some of my favorite Ruby fabrics, just leave a comment on this post letting me know your favorite homemade treat to give or receive.

Thanks so much, and good luck!

Edit: Congrats to Leah who won the giveaway!

Deck the Halls

You know it's time to get decorating when your teen-aged son asks when you are going to decorate. I'm not quite finished...we still need to get our tree up, but at least it's looking a little bit like Christmas here!

I finally managed to create a tiny version of Carrie's houses...and now I need to make more of these.  If you love her regular sized houses, the tiny one will be a favorite as well!

Having the chance to sit down, put my feet up, and look through a favorite magazine is a real gift in and of itself at this time of year.  I can't wait to have a moment to browse these two publications which arrived this week.  It's so fun that my friend Thelma's amazing Red & White tribute quilt has a feature inside the latest American Patchwork & Quilting, and my sweet friend Kim has the cover quilt!

I'm hoping to do just a little more decorating, a lot of sewing, and a little bit of relaxing this weekend.  How about you...how are your holiday plans coming along?!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Canton Village Quilt Works Giveaway

How about a giveaway?!!!  Jackie of Canton Village Quilt Works has 11 fat quarters of Kaffe Fassett's Aboriginal Dots fabric to give to one of my blog readers.  To find out all the details and to enter the giveaway

 Go Here!

Please note: comments on this post will not be entered in the giveaway.  Make sure to click the link above to enter your comments.

Thanks so much!  Have a great day!

Odds and Ends

I've been running a little behind, but hope to finish my Christmas decorating by tomorrow.  I have my 12 Days quilt draped over a chair right now, but just might have to hang it up so all the cute blocks show!

Just a few odds and ends to share today--I still haven't heard from Lori who won the Green Fairy Quilts giveaway...I'll wait until my next post, and if I haven't heard back I'll choose another winner.  Also, I realized I never did pick a winner for my giveaway copy of Modern Blocks! So...I picked a winner today...Kathie, please send me your mailing information, and I'll send it right out!

Just one more thing...I'll be participating in the Sew Mama, Sew giveaway day on Monday, December 12th! Be sure to stop by that day for a fun giveaway!

I'll be back soon to share my Christmas sewing!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

December? Already!

The days, weeks, and months have been speeding by--here in southern Nevada our gorgeous fall turned cold and blustery almost overnight! Along with the change in the weather came the first day of December.  I've always loved December 1st...seems I can really start preparing for Christmas then!

So...I've been sewing with Christmas fabrics, and making hexagons using every last scrap of my 12 Days of Christmas stash. I think this is my favorite Christmas line ever; it's one of those collections that just makes you happy as you sew with it! I'm hoping to get a lot of sewing in this weekend and check a few things off my list while I'm at it!

Thanks for stopping by...hope you're getting lots of holiday sewing in now, too!