Monday, December 19, 2011

Twas the weekend before Christmas...

...and all through the house,
the sewing machine was buzzing,
and my fingers were stitching.
I cannot show you many of the projects, 
since the recipients read my blog,
 but I can share a few things.
A Quaker Snowman

I started this fellow last year with the hopes of stitching ornaments for each of my children, but alas, he became a UFO stashed in the back of my closet.
Then I saw Carol's, of Stitching Dreams, post here and it inspired me to start stitching again.
A visit to The Attic Needleworks shop in Mesa, AZ left me rather light in the pocketbook, but full of ideas and materials to make enough ornaments to adorn my own garland next year.

And what do you do with left over jelly roll strips?
Why make an adorable photo album cover.
Wish I could take credit for this one, but again it was that creative DD of mine who came up with the idea and embellishments.

For those of you following the progress of the 1880 sampler, I invite you to check out the flickr group.  Carol has sashed and set her beautiful blocks and posted a picture for our pleasure.

I was not too successful with keeping up with the CW QAL hosted by Barbara Brackman this year, but that did not stop me from joining Jeanneke's Building Houses from Scraps 2012 project.  
You can find out more here.
Wish me luck!

Merry Christmas to everyone!
May your holidays be filled with joy and laughter and 
may the New Year be full of promise.
See you then,
Cheryl

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Tis the season!

And I am jolly
 for a couple of reasons!
Another collaborative affair to make an apron and matching coasters for my
 DD's grandparents in-law
...now that is a mouthful.

I have finished drafting and constructing the last block in my
 Barbara Buchner Synder 1880 Sampler quilt!
Hurrah!
I will take a break over the holidays and be back in the New Year with the border instructions.

Some leaders and enders while piecing the sampler block have lead to multiple pinwheels
that will be used in small quilts to be given as gifts!

Lastly, 
the first batch of Christmas cookies is done.

Only 5 more to go!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

How Does My Garden Grow?

Faster than I thought it would!
Yesterday I ordered a new group of fabrics from www.gloriouscolor.com that includes an assortment of dots to use as the centers of each flower.  I am finally comfortable with piecing the hexies and they are a tad more enjoyable.  What motivates me is that my DD is quite smitten with the design so far.

I finished quilting the baby quilt with time to spare.
I used a variegated 40 wt. thread and had fun with some continuous line FMQ.  
Very pleased with the result.  
Now to the binding...my daughter's job!

For me, I better start on those Christmas gifts!

Fell Off the Wagon

 It was bound to happen. I had stuck to my guns until I saw Laundry Basket Quilts' pattern, Alaska Magic. I told myself,  "It is te...