Long time no post!

Finally I both find the time and take the time to post some pictures of finished projects and one WIP. This is a quick quilt that started a few months ago when I had a sew day and did a strip race. Any how I needed to make a quilt for my hubby because he will be a geographical bachelor for a few years. I sliced the stripped top into three equal parts and then added the borders to make it big enough to fit a twin bed. I was glad to get it done before he had to go.

I sat down last week and quickly made these mug rugs to catch up on my year of mug rug series. I'm guessing you can tell they are June, July, and August.

Last but not least this is a birthday wall hanging/ banner, because this month is my birthday. Hurray for me. Happy stitching!

Vacation works in progress.

First the fabric. I was so well behaved due to non-existence of space. I stayed with fat quarters, here we have the calicoes, I will always have roots in the traditional.

Here is a scrap grab bag jelly roll from Moda, I can't wait to have some fun with this.

I was on a search for this particular range of fabrics. Because......

when you take a few like these for example you get.....

This, I love this technique from the "Accidental Landscapes" book. I really enjoyed her technique extremely easy. I would say very much for a beginner. 

And last but not least I was able to get my two color quilt challenge almost done it just needs to top stitching and binding.(HURRAY !!) My colors are aqua and brown not to much difficulty with these colors. I forget at the moment the book that gave me the idea I will have to find it and get back to you on that.

I have returned!

I have been gone a while I know, but when in-laws need you they really need you. I have made a lot of progress on many projects. Today I am resting, so I will get pictures of the fabric and the work I've done and hopefully you will be pleased. I know I am. Happy stitching! 

Finished UFO's

I love to have small projects to take and work on just about every where I go. This is a cute little doll quilt that just needed top stitching and binding. Done!

This is a little wall quilt that I started about two years ago. I love houses and this made sense to finally make a home sweet home with a little house and some simple embroidery flowers. Any how at least they are done. Happy stitching!

school days

I can't believe that I haven't blogged in sooo long!!!!???? The end of the school year is upon me and with all the activities going on it's been just a little crazy. Both of my girls will be moving onto new schools in the fall, the youngest into middle school and the oldest will be a freshman in high school. Where does the time go?? I feel confident that in that time I have celebrated their lives helping to make memories for them to cherish in the future. I do have some things to share I just need to take pictures and download, when I get some time.
I have been to a great quilt show and didn't take any pictures I didn't take my camera what was I thinking???
I did have a great time, it was a guild trip so I had lots of company. Any way I will try to down load and make updates all this week. I will be gone for a few weeks and I don't know if I will be able to get internet service so I definitely want to make updates before I go.

Playing with Jacks

So any how, on Bonnie Hunter's website, quiltville.com scroll down on the right tool bar. She has a list of free patterns with awesome patterns, and instructions. For those who have gone you know about her anyone who hasn't check out her site. She did get a teacher of the year award, she is a great teacher, and wonderful encourager. This pattern is playing with jacks. I choose these colors they seem to be popular, and I love the combinations.

I cut them into 2 1/2 inch strips.

I again cut according to the instructions she gives. I put them into this layout.

Stitched them together in a 9 patch configuration.  This is so darling ! I cut out for 16 more blocks to be worked on at my leisure. Totally easy block could so make a quilt in a weekend. She loves to see what others come up with send her a picture she will add it to the rest. Happy stitching!

Finished!!

This is the fabric I chose, cute right? I will be making a disappearing nine patch.

I used 6 1/2 inch squares.

Stitched together then cut in half.

Then I rearranged the squares into a pleasing position. Then stitched into place. 

Then I put a simple border.

This is the quilt with some very bad quilting, the picture doesn't show how bad the stitching is. I realize I need to get a walking foot for doing this myself.

It has the backing with the binding all done. Now it will be given a label for the little girl that is getting this. Remember hubby and I went on a nice get away? Did I tell you I met a really sweet mom who during our chat told me about her little girl that was battling cancer. Well I just couldn't let a little girl not have her a quilt for being such a trooper. There is something about a quilt that makes one feel great. So any way I was waiting for pay day so this goes out tomorrow.

Happy Stitching!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !

This is better for the mug rug of the month. Some of my generous friends give me plenty of scraps, and I try to make something from the scraps. I especially try to make them something to give back to them. Right now I am almost done with a lap size quilt for a friend who has a birthday next month. As well as others who have given me scraps I have one more in the works. Any how a very Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there, I know for a fact personally we do so much for others please take time for yourselves we do deserve to give ourselves a peaceful moment, so enjoy something for yourself today what ever it is, a walk, bath, movie, sweet treat or a chat with a good friend. The day is yours make it so. Happy stitching!!!

Friday class and a rare picture.

This is the amazing Debby Kratovil and me (I don't like pictures of me because I don't want to show me just great quilters and their work) but I digress.

She gave a wonderful all day workshop from her new book "Supersize 'Em!" the princess feather. I really enjoyed her process and her relaxed and encouraging personality. I thank you Debby for being a great teacher.

Debby is an amazing quilter, does fabulous work and yet has techniques that even a beginner would be able to accomplish. FUN!!! I so needed a fun day I had a crazy week. This is how far I was able to get I am quite sure I will be able to get this done by next weekend. If tomorrow ( mother's day) I am allowed to do my favorite thing. QUILT!!! Happy stitching to all the Mom quilters out there!

May's Mug Rug Hurray!

I feel like I didn't try very hard with this one. The picture isn't very good either, when I get a chance I may actually try to make another one that I can be proud to show. I don't mind sharing my flops, they do exist I know I am not the only one. Once upon a time there was an ugly quilt contest. It's okay, learn from this and move onto the next. I will show more hopefully tomorrow I am working tomorrow and Friday I have a class to attend  hurray for me. You will never guess who I am taking a class with. She is a quilter, and loves to applique. I will try to remember to bring my camera and take pictures. Have a great day stitching!

Ideas, ideas, ideas!

As I have said before I do love to surf all the quilting blog sites out there, I so love to see all the wonderful and inspiring quilts that so many quilters create. Some of my favorite ideas are the theme days, months and sometimes years. For example the days there are the sew in Friday nights, the Thoughtful Thursdays, Fabric Fridays, Sewing Madness Mondays, you get the idea. Then there are the month themes long, make a block everyday this month and have 30 blocks at the end (cool). Then there are the year long ideas, the BOM, the sew alongs, the mystery quilts. I happen to be doing the year of mug rugs, which was very by accident. Which reminds me I need to come up with another idea for May's mug rug. I'm leaning in the, something for the all to important Mother's Day theme. I will need to take pictures of the sew day that I did get last week and was able to get a few things done, I did go shop hopping with guild friends and made of course some fabric purchases, and one book. I am almost done with several quilts and small projects and those need pictures to show. I really need to just have a picture day of Show and Tell. I hope others are having success in their attempts to progress along all the UFO's and/or WIP's they have.

HAPPY EASTER!

I hope all have had a blessed Easter Day !

GUILTY !

I am so guilty, I admit to my shameful behavior. I have started more quilts! My UFO's/WIP's have grown in the last several months. I think it is due to the fact that I love to surf the wonderful quilting blogs out there and I see so many wonderful quilts with amazing colors and styles both simple and fun as well as complicated and artistic. I have purchased fabric just for such quilts. I have started at least one block and cut for as many blocks that I think the finished quilt should need to be a good size quilt. Some I have made more blocks just to make a couple of quilts bigger, I so want to make bigger quilts. The benefit to making bigger quilts is that I will keep my stash from getting too big, it is considerable at the moment. However, I have made progress with several quilts from my list of UFO's that I want to either finish or almost finish. I also have been trying to contribute to the needs of those who have been devastated by natures fury. As much as I have started I have yet to get started on the two color challenge quilt that is due in September, I do have the fabric and I'm pretty set on a pattern I just need to really get going. In my surfing I do encounter a few fellow quilters out there who also have a growing list of UFO's so I know that I am not alone. I need a few sewing dates and late night sew sessions to give myself time to make progress. Part of me wants to take myself to a hotel for a weekend of non-stop sewing with no interruptions from family needing dinner or clean clothes etc. etc. Maybe when the summer starts and I won't have to get up early for school and stuff like that I will be able to plan a couple of days to do just that. In the meantime if I don't get called to substitute tomorrow I will make an easy dinner in the crock pot do two loads of morning laundry and then just sit and stitch the day away. Happy stitching to me!!! 

Mug Rug Done!

I wanted this mug rug to be whimsical and childish almost. I also needed not to be fussy with it due to time issues. So I went to the scraps as usual and found a square piece of fabric 8" in size. Then I went to the crumbs scrap pile and found green pieces, I only trimmed a little bit.

 Then I found little pieces of blue, I think any color would look just great. I also found a piece of yellow for the center but orange would have been just as welcoming. (I can so see this as a sunflower.) I also did a little trimming.

 Then I found some pink scraps for a border. Then I took the pieces and with a piece of stablizer on the back began stitching first the stems and the leaves, then the petals and the center and lastly the borders. I cut a scrap of batting and a backing.

The final touch was to do stitching around the flower and just inside the border. Add a cute binding and I have a cute mug rug for spring. This would make a darling quilt as well, can't you just see a mess of whimsical flowers in all the colors? This may be a little on the big side but just the same I like this months mug rug. I think I'm onto a whole year of these babies, I started in February, lets just see if I can make it through the year.

Busy !!!

I have been just as busy as a bee. My hubby took just the two of us on a spring break from the girls. My sister is here so she kept them for us, took them to the beach and fun parks, so their break wasn't totally boring. Anyway, hubby and I went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I wasn't able to go on any of the quilt block trails that are all over the area, but I did visit a cute quilt shop, and totally had fun with out the girls.
I have so much to catch up on, make a spring mug rug, and post pics of the fabric purchases, wow! Busy !
HAPPY SPRING !!!