A few distractions kept me from making much progress on my "Merry-Go-Round" quilt this weekend. Friday night I was checking some blogs when Nanette's tutorial posted. I literally ran for my sewing room and made two blocks. Nanette's "Doll House" potholders are amazing...you'll have to go look at
Projects
I've been making a few more bags...a girl can never have too many bags, right?! They were great around the holidays for gifts, so I thought I should build up a little supply so that I always have a "thank you" on hand. I love the top one...I used some older Amy Butler fabrics for it. The bottom one
Merry-Go-Round Progress
I untied the ribbon and started to cut the strips for "Merry-Go-Round." The pattern is actually designed for two jelly rolls...but I had done a little math and knew I could make it with my fat quarter bundle...I just needed to cut twice as many strips as were called for. I cut lots and lots of
New Neighbor!
Another cottage has joined my neighborhood. This one is from Mel. Isn't it lovely! It is perfect...it really brings my neighborhood together! Not only did Mel send a cottage...but she sent a beautifully wrapped package with lots of goodies inside! The little bird ornament is just precious...he is
Fabulous Fabric
Here it is...my first Moda fat-quarter bundle! I've seen them at shops and on blogs, and Friday I bought my very first one with my Christmas money (thanks, Mom)! It's so gorgeous I just want to look at it...but I want to start my Merry-Go-Round quilt--so I'm going to have to untie the ribbon soon!
A New Year–More Quilts Ahead!
I've been thinking about projects and goals for the new year, and "Merry Go Round" is at the top of my list! The pattern is by Sandy Klop of American Jane and is found in the October 2008 issue of McCall's Quilting. Actually, I have a few hexagon projects for 2009, and I thought this would be a
“A Ribbon at a time”
My post title today comes from Emily Dickinson (No. 318)--it's a line describing the sun rising; however, I've had the line going through my mind as I've been organizing for the new year. I started to feel overwhelmed just by the amount of projects on my lists, so I have to keep reminding myself to
Christmas Presents
We had an enjoyable Christmas at home with our children--it was great to be able to spend time together and just enjoy the season. We enjoyed the family and friends we were able to visit with and missed those loved ones who we weren't able to see this year. Here is a beautiful framed piece I
And Visions of Quilts Danced through Her Head
Things in the "gift shop" are winding down--once two more bindings are stitched down I'll be done with what I have to finish...although there are a couple of small things I might also do! Here are some things I got done last week...I'm pretty sure all of the recipients are non-blog readers...except
Snow Day!
Things have been crazy a little hectic around here. Yesterday my daughter and I decided to make sugar cookies; we make them every year, but we decided this year we should make a double batch. I have no idea what made us think we needed to make 12 dozen sugar cookies (but if I keep eating them the
This Weekend
This weekend I got to go on a little get-away with my husband. He had a meeting early Saturday morning in St. George, so we drove up Friday night and had a nice dinner with Cold Stone after! Saturday morning we had a little Christmas shopping to do... and of course I had to look for fabric on
A Perfect Zipper
First, this is my little drummer boy; I painted him about six years ago. I think he is one of my favorite little Christmas decorations because when I was young "The Little Drummer Boy" was my favorite Christmas song. Some years ago I did some tole painting and made quite a few holiday decorations.
It Was a Wonderful Mail Day!
It's always fun when there is a package slip in my mailbox...yesterday there were three! Of course, I couldn't even wait to get home to open them...had to open them right there in the car! The first one I opened was from Stephanie. Stephanie and I did a cottage exchange...and oh how I oohed and
Christmas Cheer
Some of the decorating is done...I've been doing just a little bit each day. This is one of our Nativity scenes. I love this one and have actually thought about leaving it out year-round! And...our stockings have been hung on the bookshelves with care! Yes, it's true that we don't have a
Merry Christmas from my Christmas Cottage!
It's beginning to look like Christmas here...the decorating is going well...I'll be sharing some pictures this week! Have you navigated through Moda's website lately? It's a great place to go! I love looking at the upcoming fabrics ready for release as well as browsing the free patterns section!
I Collect Fabric!
I must send a special thanks to Nanette who yesterday gave the inspiration for this post title. I have always collected books, spoons, china, family heirlooms, and even inspirational quotes. But not until yesterday did I realize that I collect fabric! Thanks, Nanette...it was just liberating!
“Just Because”
Do you ever buy fabric "just because?" I used to do that a lot, then I went through a stage where I didn't buy anything unless it was for a certain project. Now, I've reverted to the "just because" stage. I picked up these lovely Michael Miller fabrics over the weekend. I didn't have anything in
Thanksgiving Weekend
All of our children were home for Thanksgiving for the first time since 2003--the six of us had a wonderful day with my in-laws, a sister-in-law, and two nieces also in attendance! After the dishes were done and put away I decided to start on some Christmas gifts for my older daughter's roommates.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you all have a wonderful day! We will have eleven for our Thanksgiving dinner! Along with cooking and eating and cleaning, I'm going to try to find a few minutes to read some of my favorite quotes from William Bradford. I read a lot of his writings in college before I knew he was my direct
One Button
Yesterday I made my first fabric-covered button. I tried to show several members of the family; they were mildly impressed. I, on the other hand, was thrilled--I immediately wanted to keep covering more buttons with fun fabrics! Such a simple little process...but what great results! I'm definitely
Little Bits of Time
First things first...the giveaway results! For my last giveaway I had my daughter choose a random number; this time I decided to use the "random number generator!" So....congratulations to....Jacquie of Tallgrass Prairie Studio! Jacquie, please e-mail me your snail-mail address, and I'll send the
A Little Bit of This and That
First, I have to say "Thank You!" I have absolutely loved reading every comment and all of the lovely ideas you have shared with me for preserving my little vintage finds! I also need to send a giant "Thank You" along to Jodi at Simply This That and the Other for featuring me on her blog yesterday.
A Little Vintage
Yesterday Stephanie posted about some wonderful wooden spools she was able to buy from an antique mall. I went looking for wooden spools of my own since I have some of my great-grandmother's sewing things and also my husband's grandmother's sewing box. In my husband's grandmother's sewing box
Pomegranates!
Yesterday I had to interrupt my "regularly scheduled quilting"--but for a VERY good reason! A dear friend dropped by with nearly a gallon of pomegranate juice...just for me! Growing up in southern Nevada, I was no stranger to pomegranates (pomegranates, as defined by Websters, are "a thick-skinned
“My Heart Leaps Up”
One of my favorite poets is William Wordsworth. The first phrase in his poem "The Rainbow" describes my feeling each day as I enter my little sewing room--"my heart leaps up!" It is the perfect description of how I feel when I'm able to sew, even for a little bit. This weekend was busy, so I only
More Cabins and More Christmas
I had a lot of fun working on the log cabin quilt I shared in my last post; while making that quilt, I discovered that the log cabin really is one of my favorite blocks. Of course I love the intricate designs of some of the more difficult quilt blocks, but I find that I really do have a fondness for
Cabins, Cottages, and Christmas
Last week I showed you some strips ready to be sewn. This was a project that wasn't on my list, but when a great opportunity comes--you don't pass it up! A friend arranged for a fantastic teacher to come to our little town and teach a class on super fast log cabin piecing--of course I signed up.
Wonderful Blessings Come in Small Packages!
Friday I arrived at the post office just before closing--and just in time to receive a package. I knew my Stitcher's Angel package would be arriving soon, and so I had been checking the mail every day! A lovely parcel arrived from Maya in The Netherlands. Little did I know what was tucked inside!
Shop Hop!
Today I went with Dawn and Gail (no blog) to the annual Las Vegas Shop Hop (Gail was our driver for the day...Thanks Gail)! We had a great time. First stop was at Fiddlesticks in Boulder City, Nevada. Fiddlesticks is located in Old Town Boulder City where there are many quaint and wonderful
Just a Few More…
Here are a few more Christmas quilts and "quilty" things. I love the patchwork stocking--it's just the perfect size for decorating. My little "Joy" hanging always hangs from the knob of a curio cabinet. And here is a Christmas table runner from a couple of years ago. This log cabin Christmas table
Here They Come!
Wow, thank you for the positive response on Christmas quilts...I was really hoping it wasn't too early. And I have to confess that I have a slight problem with Christmas quilts...I can't resist making them. I think I'll be able to post 6-10 a week from now until Christmas! At least I'll be able
Tuesday Thoughts
This is what I wore to school on election day 1972! I brought it down from the attic this morning and carefully ironed it using my "Best Press" cherry blossom starch; what a lot of memories it brought back. I've never been able to give this away--I remember wearing a ruffly white blouse under this
One Relaxing Weekend
I finally put the border on my quilt, "A Quilter's Journey" designed by Leanne Beasley. I'm not sure why it took me so long--I actually finished this quilt at the end of May. I'm still trying to decide whether or not to hand quilt this one; it's not a really big quilt, so I just might tackle the
It Just Wasn’t My Day
Yesterday I headed into the sewing room with plans to make several table runners. I've been going over my lists, and while I think I'm making lots of progress on the Christmas gifts, I thought it wouldn't hurt to make a few more runners--just in case. I imagined easily being able to make three or
Playing With Fabric and Give-aways Won!
The other day I gathered some of my Christmas stash and started to play! I've been wanting to start on a Christmas wall-hanging called "A Christmas Story" by Anni Downs. You can see part of the "Christmas Story" quilt on the header of her blog. It's always fun to have a Christmas project to work
Unfinished Projects No More!
On Saturday I had a plan: DH was going to be at work, younger daughter was taking the ACT, younger son was on a twenty-five mile bike ride through the Valley of Fire...I was going to start some new projects and sew, sew, sew! One look at my sewing room, though, and I knew I had to clean first.
My Own Place
I finished the little bag I was working on the other day...and I absolutely love it! It is the perfect size--not too big, but big enough for all the essentials. Best of all, I made this bag with scraps from my stash...some of them were pretty small, too! I even had the cute buttons in my button box;
Happy Birthday!
Today was my older daughter's birthday! She was nearly 5 weeks pre-mature and had to stay in the neo-natal unit for ten days (I had to go home without her). Thankfully, she was able to completely recover from the pneumonia she had at birth...and now she is a talented, bright amazing young adult.
There’s Always More to Do!
Here is what I did with my Amy Butler "Daisy Chain" charm pack. I wanted to use a simple setting so as to be able to see every individual print... I love this fabric! It's retro and modern at the same time...the cool colors remind me of the ocean and sea glass...and I also love daisies. The white
Hello, My Name Is Sherri…
Hello, my name is Sherri. You already know that I make a lot of these baskets and these cottages. But today I realized that I truly have an addiction--I am addicted to making Heather Mulder Peterson's "Crossroads Table Runners" from the book Charmed and Dangerous. Above is one made from the line