Design Wall Monday

I really haven't been feeling the sewing lately. I have all the pieces cut out and half sewn for a row on my row quilt, but it's just been cold, and dreary, and it seems like it's too much trouble to get going. Also my Gracie was in the middle of her peace sign pillow, and I didn't want to take out her thread. How's that for making excuses?

 But I have really been enjoying my handwork. I'm working on my Hocuspocusville quilt that I think will be so cute for Halloween around here. We have our hayride every Halloween season, so there are people in and out all fall. I think it will get use.

Almost finished with this one.

I think the Morgana may be getting pulled out and a grandchild's name inserted.  Grace thinks that's a great idea!

Next one!

I wish someone would give me some advice on tracing.  The instructions on the the pattern say to use a permanent pen.  That scares me.  I've been using pencil.  Sometimes it smears.  What do you use?

Here is Grace's peace sign pillow top.  I couldn't convince her to make an envelope.  She wants to stuff it.  Oh well! She is such a blessing to me! I gave her a machine for Christmas and she had watched the DVD on threading,etc. We were having some tension problems, and she was sure she could fix it. Love her!

Here is her choice for the back.

This is my first block from the BOM by Fat Quarter Shop.  I'm using Flying Colors by Laurel Burch that I bought years ago.  I was in a group and everyone loved butterflies, so I went for it.  I have the whole line, not just fat quarters, but half yard cuts.  I'm glad I finally decided to use it up!

Hope you all are having a productive winter sewing season.  Better than mine!  I'm having some pretty wicked medical tests coming up, so positive vibes are appreciated.

I'd love to hear from you.  Anyone?  Bueller?

2014 Projects

So I have been thinking this over and deciding what BOMs to jump into.  Decision made.  Well, so far.

I'm going to do the Fat Quarter Shop "Wishes" quilt.  It's right here!  There is a picture of the finished quilt along with January's block.  I'm going to use a bunch of butterfly fat quarters that I have had forever.  I also bought a white butterfly background that I don't think I have enough of, but I'm going for it anyway.  I think I'll just fill in with another white on white, or plain white, if I need to.

I've also decided to do one that I found this very morning on Cyber quilters.  It's at Country Threads Chicken Scratch..  I like this one because you make two blocks a month.  One is half the size of the other.  This year's will be a 10" block and a 20" block.  I looked up the sampler from last year, and I love the different sizes in the layout.

I'm also a little nervous about my Curly Top quilt.  I hate to sound so selfish when she is obviously struggling with cancer and other family problems.  I understand.  I will give her a while longer and then I'll just try to figure it all out on my own.  The Curly top I'm doing for Ruby.  Guess which one she is!!!  And I've decided to design my own straight blonde hair and do one for Georgia.  I have the background and I'm about ready to start it.  Love my girls!!!  (We always do a funny face picture after the "real" picture.  That's where this came from.)

I don't know how many of you read this, but I'd love, love, love to know what BOMs you are doing.  I love to be tempted!  Hope you are not too snowy and cold.  We are excited here in TN to get our tiny bit that stays on the grass!  Happy sewing!

Secrets Revealed!

So I was hand sewing binding at 10:00 pm on Christmas Eve, but I got everything finished.  All 4 of my kids and their families received a quilt and I even finished Grace's quilt.

This is Eva, Mom to two boys and 3 cats (and 3 dogs).  I started these cats for her about 10 years ago.  I had all the blocks done and just had to put it together.  In fact I had so many cats that I still have some left.  I could have made a bigger quilt, but was going to quilt it on my machine so I stopped.  Then I took it to the long-arm quilter.  Go figure.

 This is my son, Chad, and his wife, Sarah.  Sarah's mom is from Korea and I have learned a lot about their culture.  So I made this quillt for them out of Asian themed fabric.  They were very surprised.

 This is Bub and his wife, Ginger.  They are Grace's parents and also have sweet Georgia.  I gave them the Christmas quilt I pieced last January.

 This is Holly and her husband Dennis and a photo bomber, Joe.  Holly and I did this Merry Mayhem (I think) Superbowl mystery a couple of years ago.  She cut and pressed, and I sewed.  We got the fabric at her LQS in NC to go in her den.  It was more work than we could get done in a weekend and I brought it home, put it on the shelf, and forgot about it.  We had it the blocks done, but I had to put it together.  She was surprised.  She said she had forgotten all about it!

And here is Grace with our finished product!

Hers is the one I was finishing up on Christmas Eve.  I think she was happy to see it done.  I quilted it on my machine and did a cross hatch diagonal pattern which was harder than I thought it would be.  Grace and I both learned something.  I bought Grace her own machine for Christmas.  She is coming to spend the day today, and I hope she brings it so we can learn all about it.

So thinking about 2014.  Think I'll do the Fat Quarter Shop BOM for starters.  I have a bunch of butterfly fat quarters that need to be used.  And I need some handwork.

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.  Mine was fantastic and exhausting!