Let The New Year Begin!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

December finish

Here's another little purse I finished this month. The pattern is called The Potato Chip Bag and you can find the pattern here. The bag has two outside pockets and two inside pockets. The spool fabric was bought at Yoder's in Shipshewana last month.

Passacaglia Giveaway

If you click on the top button on my sidebar, you'll be taken to the Inklingo Projects Blog where Linda and Tilde have a giveaway in honor of Tilde's new table runner. You can download the free pattern here.
Check out all of the wonderful projects and read about Inklingo.

The neighbors down the road put on a wonderful musical light show each Christmas season. This is one of the displays they have.



And here are our two furry presents under our tree.

STASH REPORT - WEEK 52

STASH REPORT - WEEK 52

Fabric added during this week: 0 yards
Fabric added year to date: 215.50 yards

Fabric used during this week: 0 yard
Fabric used year to date: 162.25 yards

Net fabric busted 2009: (+53.25 yards)

This is last stash report for 2009. Although the numbers are going in the wrong direction, keeping track of my fabric purchases and usage each week was a good exercise. Next year I will try to improve on the final numbers and may even end up in the negative. No snickering out there....

STASH REPORT - WEEKS 50 & 51

STASH REPORT - WEEKS 50 & 51

Fabric added during these weeks: 21 yards
Fabric added year to date: 215.50 yards

Fabric used during this week: .0 yard
Fabric used year to date: 162.25 yards

Net fabric busted 2009: (+53.25 yards)

As bad as it looks, I am not totally disappointed. With one week left and no more sales until after the last Sunday, I may still break even. Backs and donations......



We celebrated Christmas with our extended families last Sunday at Connie and Nick's house. Mom and Dad were very surprised to receive a bed quilt as their gift. They will celebrate 60 years of marriage in February.

Giveaway

Judi over at Green Fairy Quilts is giving away a layer cake, jellyroll and pattern. Click on over to check it out.

STASH REPORT - WEEK 49

STASH REPORT - WEEK 49

Fabric added during this week: 1 yard
Fabric added year to date: 194.50 yards

Fabric used during this week: .5 yard
Fabric used year to date: 162.25 yards

Net fabric busted 2009: (+31.75 yards) (Time to piece some quilt backs?)


Fun mail received this week from Inch Worm Fabrics. I don't have to add it to my totals until next week. Isn't it gorgeous? It just makes me smile when I look at it. The fabric is "Swanky" from Chez Moi.

Sister's Choice Quilt

The LAQ did wonderful work quilting our Sisters' Choice top for Mom and Dad's Christmas quilt. Just needs the binding and label now.

One more November finish & Another giveaway

The pattern for this Sweet Treat Bag from the Moda Bake Shop has been on my 'to do' list ever since I saw it. There are so many great patterns on that site alone to keep me busy for months. Sorry the picture is so dark.

Go visit Vickie over at Spun Sugar Quilts. She's celebrating over 400 posts by giving away FIVE different fabric prizes. Deadline is December 5th..

A Year Of Round Robin Quilts

During the past year, I've worked on six different round robin quilts of varied styles, colors and fabrics in addition to sending my center square off. It was a challenge to keep them secret for so long, but I did. Last week was the Dear Jane Fall Retreat in Shipshewana where the quilts were returned to their owners. Here are the finished tops from our group of seven that included three MI, one WI and three IN quilters.



This is the first quilt I received. When I saw all of those colors, I had to put on my sun glasses. These are not my usual fabrics to work with, so doing the RR gave me the opportunity to stretch my comfort zone and try new things. I added the pieced hearts for my round.



My second box revealed another bright beginning with some beautiful applique. I chose to applique flowers, stems and leaves and piece four baskets in the corners.



My third challenge was made from all solid colors that were pulled from her inspiration fabric. The third round of colored arrows is my work.



This is my sister, Connie's RR. I had fun paper piecing the four corner snowmen and adding the colored squares for my addition. This one was really tough to keep secret.



Strips and nine patches were added here. I love the colors in this quilt.



The last quilt had me stumped for some time. Finally I decided to add the stripped border from all of the colors used in the squares. This was a lot of fun, and I'm glad I did it. But next year will bring new challenges, so no RR for me.



My quilt top! I sent an appliqued apple pie block and love what I got back. The last round is embroidered with my great Aunt Emma's pie crust recipe and an apple pie recipe. I bought a backing while at the retreat; hopefully, this will be in the done pile soon.

STASH REPORT - WEEK 47 & 48

Fabric added during these weeks: 22.75 yards (DJ Retreat in Shipshewana)
Fabric added year to date: 193.50 yards

Fabric used during these weeks 1 yard
Fabric used year to date: 162.25 yards

Net fabric busted 2009: (+31.25 yards) Serious setback with only a month left.

Giveaways

A quick post to let you know about these great giveaways.

Follow the instructions here and the fantastic cross stitch done by Judith could be on its way to your house.


Helen has a wonderful quilt pattern done with reds and stitcheries. Click here to comment.


Click here to see beautiful paper German Stars being given away to celebrate one year of blogging.

Stash Report Week 46 & Giveaway

STASH REPORT - WEEK 46

Fabric added during this week: 5.5 yards
Fabric added year to date: 170.75 yards

Fabric used during this weeks 9.5 yard
Fabric used year to date: 161.25 yards

Net fabric busted 2009: (+9.50 yards)Getting close to breaking even

Click on over to Inch Worm Fabrics for a great giveaway!

Retreating Again

I am so spoiled to have so many opportunities for retreats. The latest was a four day "Sleep At Home" Retreat put on by The Quilted Cottage. They bend over backwards to make our time there enjoyable and productive.

Here are pictures of a few of the projects worked on during the retreat.

STASH REPORT - WEEK 45

STASH REPORT - WEEK 45

Fabric added during this week: 1.5 yards
Fabric added year to date: 165.25 yards

Fabric used during this weeks 5.5 yard
Fabric used year to date: 151.75 yards

Net fabric busted 2009: (+13.50 yards)


I made this pair of potholders from a Michael Miller fabric that had cute animals in black, red and white. The handwork for the stack of gingerbread potholders is almost done, too.

STASH REPORT - WEEK 44

STASH REPORT - WEEK 44

Fabric added during this week: 0 yards
Fabric added year to date: 163.75 yards

Fabric used during this weeks .5 yard
Fabric used year to date: 146.25 yards

Net fabric busted 2009: (+17.50 yards)

Tote for Simone

I finished a screen tote bag for my daughter-in-law, Simone. She loves the Laurel Burch cat fabrics which form three lined pockets on the outside. For this tote I attached a little zipper bag inside and made a fabric covered bottom insert to help it keep its shape. I think she'll like it.

Report on Retreating

Lucky me! I was fortunate to attend another quilting retreat at The Springs in Gladwin. This time we had a new record attendance of 75 ladies who sewed, shopped, ate and laughed a week-end away. On Sunday, we took a hayride around the property and some brave souls rode the zip line over the river. (not me)
The Quilted Cottage always sets up a little shop in one corner of the downstairs sewing room. They aren't usually dressed this way, but are always cute. They are Jackie and Stacy (owners) and Julie (store manager). I was pretty controlled this time in what I bought. On the left is pillowcase fabric from the breast cancer awareness line. Remember the Snap Happy Bags? Now there are Snap Happy Totes! The other pattern is a cute table topper that can be made for any occasion.


Connie and I worked on more gingerbread potholders which will become shower and Christmas gifts. Connie got a great start on her little stars wallhanging and I turned my nine patches into Sister's Choice blocks.



The last picture shows one of the dorm rooms. The Quilted Cottage adopted the room and seven groups of ladies made seven quilts for the beds. The bed at the top left has the quilt made by Connie, Helen and me.

STASH REPORT - WEEK 43

STASH REPORT - WEEK 43

Fabric added during this week: 2 yards
Fabric added year to date: 163.75 yards

Fabric used during this weeks 2.5 yard
Fabric used year to date: 145.75 yards

Net fabric busted 2009: (+18.00 yards)

Pumpkin Patch Primitive Quilt Shoppe Giveaway

Brenda over at Pumpkin Patch Primitive Quilt Shoppe is having a fabulous giveaway of fabric. Click on over to get the details. You don't want to miss out on this giveaway. The more comments she receives, the more fabric she'll give away. Tell her you saw it here!

STASH REPORT - WEEK 42 Plus

STASH REPORT - WEEK 42

Fabric added during thls week: 0 yards
Fabric added year to date: 161.75 yards

Fabric used during this weeks 9.25 yard
Fabric used year to date: 143.25 yards

Net fabric busted 2009: (+18.50 yards)

Still need to break even, but I'm getting closer!

I sewed a few nine patches today for a Christmas quilt group gift. We're using the directions from Bonnie on Quiltville for the Sister's Choice quilt. I love making nine patches (my favorite block) so this is fun sewing for me.


Connie and I took a class a short time ago at The Quilted Cottage to make "The Wallie". Once in awhile, it's great to take a class where you come home with a finished project. The Wallie will hold my credit cards, driver's license, cell phone and change. The next one I make will have a little strap to clip on a belt loop or to go around my wrist.

Caught Up?

Well, at least with reading posts on my Bloglines. Phew! I didn't want to miss anything, but it sure took some time to read them all.

Here's the Disappearing Nine Patch top from my previous post. I want to have it quilted by next Wednesday for a challenge from my Comforts Quilts group.


Link for Logo


Most of the quilts I have made are miniatures or wall quilts and are no longer mine. This wall hanging is one of my favorites, though, made for a challenge in Shipshewana, Indiana at the Dear Jane Retreat in 2000. Jane blocks were made 50% of their original size and placed inside houses to make a 4 1/2" block. In the book "Dear Jane" by Brenda Papadakis, she gives each block a name, letter and number. At the last minute I decided to add those as the house numbers on each block. My quilt won the challenge! The name of my quilt is Every Home Should Have a Jane.

Added: I should have mentioned it was an ugly fat quarter challenge. We each chose a
paper bag that someone else had brought. My little blocks are all made with one UGLY piece of fabric.

Wednesday

Today I mailed my block to Laurie for Terry's quilt. (click on link on my sidebar) It was good to play in my fabric. Earlier this week, I pieced another DNP top. The prints are sports items with centers of bright orange. I also cut out squares for two more DNP quilts.

A few weeks ago, Jim was asked if he wanted to pick raspberries at a friend's house. YES! He came home with this and I made some jam and a pie.







The last photo shows what I woke up with this morning. I was wedged between the two cats and had to carefully extract myself. Wouldn't want to wake the cuties.