2011 Christmas Quilt Show - Snowman Collector

SewCalGal is have a Christmas Quilt Show, stop by and see all the wonderful Christmas quilts in the show.  There are some wonderful things that are sure to inspire you!

My entry in the quilt show is the Snowman collector.  This quilt took many many years to just get started.  I saw this quilt and knew I had to make my own.  Ten years later, I finally did!  Yep, that's right it took me ten years, but hey I did it!!  I didn't quite get it done for the Holiday season last yet, but this year it's hanging on my wall an I smile every time I see it.  I am so glad I did finally make it.  And here it is!

I had so much fun with this one.  I really got into the FMQ as well.  There are snowflakes in each of the colored squares.  The first red border has holly leaves and berries.  The green border has mittens (oh doing that free hand on my DSM made me a little nervous - I just call them whimsical :)

And here's a couple of the blocks up close.  I did fusible applique with a blanket stitch around the raw edges.

Ahhh, Orca Bay all caught up and Design Wall Monday

Ahhhh, I'm all caught up with Orca Bay.  Work got me a little behind on the QSTs.  But nothing that a 4 day weekend won't take care of!  Went to Fort Wayne, IN over the holidays to visit daughter #1 and her three boys.  It was fun watching the Packer's Game with the youngest grand son, he's a Packer's fan so I'm no longer the only one! I took the QST's for trimming to her house and got them all done just before clue 2 came out and we got home.   The really are more purple in real life, but also on the dark side.  I just can't seem to get the camera to do purple very well at all.  But they are done and so cute.

But then came clue 2, and honestly you can't get any cuter than 3.5 in string blocks.  I've only done larger ones (8.5 inches) so these were a lot smaller.  Oh but they are just darling.  I wish I would have more of variety in the blues.  I think I have more blues than anything, but really not a lot of blues sprinkled with color.  Go figure.  I did dig through the scraps and pulled out some lighter ones and some with color.  There was one scrap that a whales tail, not the head only the tail.  There's a few of those in there, I used it all up!  I can't wait to use the greens.  I love green, it's my favorite color.

It's great to see all the other colors stop by and see at  the Mystery Monday Link Up  to see the others.

And I did get a couple of finishes in.  The tree skirt is done. This is a thank you gift for daughter #1 for helping with the baby shower for daughter #2.  She loves things that out of the ordinary and I think this one fits the bill.  She's approved the fabrics but hasn't seen the finished skirt.  I still have to finish the table runner and start one more to complete the thank you gifts, still have a little time so not that worried yet.

I also got a couple more bags completed.  I think I've had the camping fabric in my stash for over 10 years.  Yep that's right, over 10 years.  And I finally got to use it. Not all of it, there's still more but really what can you use a moose on???  My brother and sister in law have a  house up by the NP of MI and they have a cabin theme going on.  I thought this would be great for them.  The other one I think I'm gonna keep myself.  I love the green fabric and there isn't much better than green and blue together :)  We'll see, I still have a few more to finish for Christmas gifts.  I used interfacing with these as the scraps of batting are all used up.  I have to say, I really like the look and feel of the interfacing.  


Well that's it for this week.  Not a bad week after all!!  Linking up with  Mystery Monday Link Up,  Quilt Story  and Judy at Patchwork Times

Orca Bay started!!!

Orca Bay started.  I have one done.  Now only 223 to go!!  Getting closer. I do have 140 ready to make 70 of these little beauties.  Oh I love the plum color with the off white.

And what has stopped me from making further progress? Well, not making baby things, I've broken that habit (for now).  But making thank you gifts for the helpers of the shower.  Need to have these done by 12/10.  The tree skirt for my oldest daughter.  It's been about 6 years since she asked for a tree skirt.  She wants something outrageous.  It took me six years to find it but I think this fits the bill!!   I used some of the left overs for a table runner.  Say the pattern in a quilt magazine.  Not really sure I like that one, so that may be on the chopping block, we'll see how I feel as I get closer to 12/10 and a little more desperate. Then I have 2 more to make as well.  Just no idea what.  All I want to do is make some cute little QSTs (223 of them to be exact).

Linking up with  Mystery Monday Link Up,  Quilt Story  and Judy at Patchwork Times

Applique Thursday

I did it, I finished the table runner before  Thanksgiving!!  All the girls are coming home this weekend and I was able to stop sewing baby things by focusing on this table runner.  I think quitting smoking was easier than quitting baby sewing :)

Here's how it looks on the table  The pattern is from Acorn Hollow - Art to Heart.  I love their patterns.

Tomorrow the Bonnie Hunter mystery Orca Bay starts, so excited!  That will keep me from sewing more baby things I'm sure.   My colors that I chose are here .  I've made a few slight adjustments, I've taken out the darkest blues and the purples that were leaning a little to close to blue.  I'm certain there will be more adjustments as the mystery continues.

I'll be linking up with Applique Thursdays and  Sarah's Whooping linky  party on Friday.  

Ok enough baby stuff, it's a 2 finish week, yahoo!!

Oh I got in another finish.  Yep, it's a baby quilt, what else?!  But it's darn cute!!  I saw this on the Moda site  The one they had was for a little girl, but it was so easy to man it up a bit, flowers out, bugs in and done.  That is my second finish this week.  I can't remember the last time I dd.  I still have 5 on the waiting to be quilted list which is a lot more than I want, but we'll see how many I can get out of the way this year still.  If not, well there's always next year :)

And I almost, that's right almost, went down the baby sewing path again.  I had some left over brown and light green minky and was just going to do a quick cuddly quilt.  But when I put the first two rows together I kept craving chocolate mint.  The colors just weren't working for me.  I may come back at a later time and finish it for project linus, but I cut the cord and stopped the baby sewing.

Instead I worked on a fall table runner.  We're having Thanksgiving this weekend coming up and I wanted something nice for the table.  Hmm, not sure it's going to get done in time, but it's not baby sewing.    I think I have the sewing for baby out of my system for a short time anyway.  I still have the cradle bedding to do, but really no idea how to tackle that.  It's not easy and coming to me right way (i.e.  I have to work for that one, it's not fun)

And while not technically on the design wall, it is oh so close.  This will be the tree skirt for my oldest daughter.  She wanted something bright and outrageous, I think this ought to do it!!

Did I tell you I like sewing for babies :)   Linking up with Megan at Canoe Ridge Creations,  Quilt Story  and Judy at Patchwork Times

More baby stuff, I can't stop!!

Ok, at least I got a completion in, one item moves off the waiting to be quilted list and onto the completed in 2011 list.  One more to go for little baby Miles.  Here's his Owl baby quilt.

And I took some pictures of some of my favorite blocks, like scuba owl. Isn't he adorable. I love his goggles!  And there there is Space Owl.  He looks a little worried, but I think that's the way all owls look with big ol' eyes.  He really is very brave out there in space.  And my personal favorite is Pirate Owl, he's a nice pirate not one of the mean ones that we here about now and then.  Just way too much fun with these.  It's all my daughter and her husband. They found the pictures, she traced and cut out and I sewed.  I think we did pretty good work together!

But wait there's more!!  I saw the cutest onesies at New Nest Designs As soon as I saw these I knew I had to make some, and here's what I have.  Oh my those were so fun.  I got them all done in a work day so they really go quickly and they are just too cute.  The owls at the top are from the bumper and bed skirt material.  And little Miles has a formal even, one of his Aunt's will be getting married this Spring, so one of them has a tie. Yep, he's not here and he's all set to go for a party all ready :)

One more baby quilt and then I think I'll be done with the baby stuff. Oh man, it's just soooo much fun and makes ya feel good inside.

Linking up with Sarah to see what everyone is Whooping about this Friday.  Stop by and see.

Orca Bay Fabrics - all picked out!!

I got home early from work today and no one was here.  I took advantage of the time and picked out the fabrics for Orca Bay.  Now I just need to get all the baby Miles sewing done by the 18th.  How exciting, baby sewing and a new Bonnie Mystery. What do you think, is there enough different between the purples and the blue?  I tried to get darker purples and more medium blues.  

I think I'm ready for the baby shower now!

I think I'm finally ready for the baby shower.  This weekend, I made a diaper bag with the left over material from the baby bumpers and crib shirt, I have 4 crib sheets, and 6 burp clothes.  What no bibs?  how on earth did I let that happen???  Well I have a few more weeks before the shower (gee can you tell I'm excited????)

Here's some pics: diaper bag first.  The baby's name is Miles, but I like to call him Smiles - this is the same fabric as the bedding.  I embroidered on the front flap.  I think the letters came from Bunnyhill, they had  a retired set that was free.  The little smiley face (hard to see n the picture, but easier in real life, came off the machine standard stuff, but darn cute!  Front and back outside both have 2 pockets, same with the inside. So lots of pockets.  The sides have long skinny pockets, I haven't found anything to put in those yet, but I'm sure I will.  And it's 100% washable - I love washable with babies.  On the side is a cute little Owl rattle that I found.

The back shows the pockets a little more.   Yes I have the bag filled with all kinds of little goodies for the little guy.

And the inside.  Ok I think I'm done with my bag phase now.

Oh and then I had so much fun making the little burp clothes.  I used diaper fabric (who knew they had diaper fabric?  I found some and I got it).  Oh it is just sooooooo soft.  If I were Miles I would want to be burped all the time so I could lay my little face on that yummy soft goodness.  They say it becomes more absorbent as you wash it, I just hope it stays as soft.  So I made 6, 2 are duplicates.  I had just enough of the magician fabric to make 2 so I used it up.   Ya, the orange one isn't really all that manly, but hey, Mom deserves something a little cutsie when someone is spitting on her shoulder :)

And then there were sheets.  One was the owl fabric to match everything.  The other 3 were flannels, soft and cuddly.  Little pirates soft and cuddly?  You bet look at them !!

Did I tell you I like sewing for babies :)   Linking up with Megan at Canoe Ridge Creations and Judy at Patchwork Times