Atypical, divergent, unrepresentative...

...just a few of the words used to describe my latest project.

It certainly isn't my standard, normal or usual modis operandi,
but was so thoroughly enjoyable!
It will be a surprise for my daughter.
It was made from the scraps of the hexie quilt I am still working on. I knew this one would get to her much faster than the other!
I am calling it 'Working Nine to Five.'

I finished up last month's and this month's PFH blocks.

I used one of the stitch variations on the middle maroon flower.  I like the way it came out using a variegated Valdani thread.

I changed this block slightly by substituting another twig of bittersweet.
The original had a large circle with a star in it.
We are getting down to the last two smaller blocks and
I am real anxious to start setting them.

I'll be working on hexies today...top of my WIP list.
Hope you find time today for sewing too.

Abundance...

quilted and bound!

Thank you again Lori  of Humble Quilts for such a fun quiltalong.

Looking forward to the linky party so I can see everyone's versions.

Go check out her latest post...her quilts were part of a recent exhibit and look absolutely stunning all displayed together.  And she looks pretty cute herself!

I learned a lot hand quilting this little treasure.

First, basting is an important step if you don't want puckers and creases on both the front and back of your little quilt. I could definitely benefit from a class or perhaps I should read one of those tutorials I have pinned on hand quilting! And although wool batt is like butter, it is puffy and hard to work with without a hoop. 

  About half way through the process, I discovered that if I steamed my little project, the wool batt acted almost like an adhesive, giving me a well basted, flat sandwich. And finally, definitely don't place a seam in your backing right under a line of quilting...LOL!With all that said and done, I am happy with how it turned out.  

Imperfect, but charming.

And the last line of quilting showed marked improvement!

A Finish!

Country Whig Rose
designed by Kim Diehl

Yeah, it is officially a finish!

Here are a few closeups of the quilting.

The class I am teaching starts Friday, so done in the nick of time.

I am hand quilting my Abundance quilt, and it isn't turning out as wonderful as I had hoped. My stitches are irregular and my lines are wavy. Inexperienced, but lots of lessons learned. I will share it when it is done.

However, Gathering Garden did perk up after the addition of the some berries.

Giving my fingers a little break, but I should have this one done by the end of the month.

Then I think I will take a break from applique and get back to some machine piecing!

Tackle completing one of my WIPS.

Simple Abundance

Here is my version of Lori's quiltalong,

Simple Abundance.

Thank you Lori...I love this little quilt!

If you want to make one of your own,

take a visit here for her instructions.

I think it has such a romantic-vintage feel to it.

And this is the backing I have chosen.

Could not be more perfect!

The fabric was a generous gift from Kimber over at 

Heirlooms by Ashton House. 

I will be basting it and hand quilting it.

My Country Whig Rose is done, so I will share it when I get it from the quilter on Monday.

Have a nice weekend!

Gathering Garden

I guess I wasn't done appliqueing!

I am making good progress on Kim Diehl's

'Gathering Garden'

from the book, Simple Charm.

It is the same book that contains the pattern for 'Short and Sweet,'

the quilt in my header photo.

I hope when I place the bright berries and add the colorful log cabin border,

it will perk it up a tad.  Or maybe I need to find a better blue for the center!

And here are my fabric selections for Lori's quiltalong

...over at her blog,

Humble Quilts.

She will share the instructions to reproduce this sweet little antique doll quilt.

Head on over to her blog and check it out.

I think instructions begin tomorrow.

Now back to stitching and cheering my 49er's to victory.

First flimsy of 2013

I have been possessed, but not to worry...no exorcism needed!

My head is not rotating around my neck, 

but my fingers are raw.

My version of Kim Diehl's Country Whig Rose.

Thank you to Lin and Dee at TOWQS for helping me select the perfect fabrics for the inner and outer borders!  I have an appointment with my favorite machine quilter this month, so I stitched morning, noon and night to get this one done in time.  

My blog friend, Mary, over at Quilt Hollow, has a darling little deer who visits her property frequently.

I know there are deer in our neighborhood,

but this is the creature who likes to visit me.

Three javelinas were in my courtyard, nibbling on my camellia early New Year's morning.  By the time I got my camera, they were already headed out.

Hoping your holidays were full of good cheer and that the new year brings you health and happiness.

Me, I am hoping it brings me organization!

In between decking the halls,

baking, and making the laborious trek to the post office,

 I have managed to start a new applique project.

Many months ago, Deb brought this project to my attention.

Country Whig Rose by Kim Diehl.

I have the first block prepped.

I have block #2 halfway prepped and all but the circles done on block #4.

I am trying to get all the fabrics chosen and the fabric requirements calculated so that TOWQS can kit it up for a class I have scheduled to teach in February.

Needless to say, after they are all prepped, I will be stitching, stitching, stitching!

This morning I will be finishing off this X-stitch stocking for my granddaughter.

I love how my DD copied her first stocking!

And finally,

this month's PFH block.
I love the stitch we learned for the stems...it is a keeper.

Hope everyone is enjoying the season!
It finally got cold here, so perhaps it will really feel like Christmas!
Would be nice to have some of the white stuff on the ground,
but only for a day or so.