Sharing A Few Finishes...

 I just thought I'd share a few recent finishes. 

I did take photographs of the Grammies Jammies this year,

and found that I'd deleted them before I downloaded them into my 'puter.

(Of course, they were already on their way to Wisconsin when I realized that.)

This is one of the two sweatshirts I made for a couple of cute little boys in

our family. This is the first one I did. He's just a little guy, so I thought 

something "doggie" would be fun. His name is embroidered below the motif.

 His older brother loves trains, so of course that's what I chose for his sweatshirt.

His name also appears below the engine on his shirt, but their names don't

appear here to protect the innocents. I hope they like them!

 It occurred to me that you hadn't seen my December mini yet, either.

This is the original that was designed for our group. 

It has four large holly leaves around the candles, but we were also

given a pattern for smaller leaves if we preferred them. Most All

of the other quilters machine quilt their appliques', however, I

have now earned the official new title of "Overachiever".

 I really like hand stitching my applique' work, so that's what I did

on my block. When they gave me my new "title", the girls told me that my

machine applique' technique will never improve if I don't practice. Uh, huh.

I chose a Christmas line that I had to cut into before it became

 part of the "I-love-this-so-much-I'll-keep-it-forever" stash.

The collection is from Moda (of course) and it's BasicGrey's

Fruitcake line - and I still have enough left to make a whole quilt!

2012 BOM Downloads

All the months are finished now. It was a fun project, and we've already

decided what we're going to do for 2013. Shabby Fabrics' Country Cottages

quilt is what we've chosen. If you look on my left sidebar (the buttons in this
post are not active links), you can still click on the sidebar button to download
 the FREE Country Cottage patterns if you'd like to join us.

2013 BOM Downloads

 (Hurry though, because they've already started a new BOM and I don't

know how long the Country Cottages patterns will be available!)

This evening is another of Handsome's concerts (that I'll be recording), 

so I'm going to take it easy today. You know I'll be in the studio, 

so I'll be back again to show you what's next "by my hand".

A Fun Four-Patch...

 I worked on a sweet lap quilt yesterday. I began with a sewing-theme focus fabric, pulled

 the fabrics to use as coordinates and I was ready to go. I chose a Sashed Four-Patch

design, so I cut 5 1/2" squares of each fabric and set about my assembly line for the sets.

 By the end of my work play day, I had assembled all the four-patches and all of the

 sashing. Tomorrow I'll add the next border (or two) and then decide what I'm going
to do for the backing. It won't be finished until it's quilted and embellished.
(I've got a really cute idea in mind!)

Next time you see it, it will be finished and ready to ship out.

I'll even tell you who it's going to live with!

Well, it's Saturday morning so you know what that means...coffee with the girls.
Afterwards, I'm joining my friend, Tammy for lunch. There's nothing
quite like starting the day with good friends to stir up the creative juices.

When I get back home, I'm going to finish this project.

Sunday afternoon will be another treat. I get to listen to Handsome perform again.
I'll be recording the North Port Concert Band's Christmas concert.
(I've been their official videographer for the last two seasons.)
I went to the last rehearsal so I can tell you it will be a real holiday treat.
As soon as I finish editing the recording, I'll be sure to post a little holiday cheer for you.
 

What are your plans for today (and the weekend?)
I hope there's a little holiday spirit in your future!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work I Go...

All this celebrating has put me a little behind schedule. 

It's time to get busy again with my Christmas projects.

"Grammies Jammies" are waiting to be made, and

there are other special projects for special people.

Not the long lists I've had in the past, but

things that require my undivided attention

and my best efforts.

I have no new photographs to share today, but even if I did, you know

 the drill. I can only show you "peeks" so that I don't spoil surprises.

Nonetheless, peeks will be coming soon. I promise.

I'll be in the studio Santa's Workshop all day.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Celebrating The Season...

I'm baaaack - and as of yesterday evening, I was still celebrating my Birthday. (I'm waiting one more day to tell you about it, though.) I've got a few great stories to tell you about it, but today, I want to tell you about our Disconnected Piecers Christmas Party last night.

We always have a gift exchange, so this year I decided to make a pincushion instead of buying something. Of course, I had no way of knowing who would get it, but I posted it on my Facebook page on Monday, and I knew who wanted it as soon as she saw it.

I had a quilt block that I decided to use, and then I pulled out some of my canvas scraps and quilted them using cotton batting and muslin prior to sewing them together. I was going to be stuffing it with crushed walnut shells, so I needed extra layers to keep the shells from leaking through the cushion. I added a length of Moda twill tape that I always save from my jelly roll purchases and then sewed three vintage shell buttons to finish it.

Our Christmas party was held at the Port Charlotte Golf and Country Club and we all gathered at 6 pm for dinner and dessert.

I'd like to introduce you to my friends, Kathy and Nora. They're the owners of Sandy's Quilt Shop and I consider them dear friends. I love these two women!

Our guild vice-president, Pat was missing in this shot of our table, but I managed to pin her down at another table for her photograph. l-r: Barb and her husband, Holly, Pat's husband, Kathy and Nora. We had a great time together.

I'm the guild secretary and have come to know Barb better over our Board meetings, but I also owe her a huge debt of gratitude.

Barb was the first to finish a block for our guild quilt project...which inspired others to work toward completion of theirs (including me!). She does beautiful work, and has taken on a second block for our quilt in the past month. Thank you so much, Barb!

I walked my way around our entire dining room and took pictures of each table. I think I managed to capture everyone who attended. (That's our guild president, Peg on the left)

Table Three, smiling for the camera. If you turn your attention to the first woman on the right, that's Janet. We co-chaired the "At The Movies" guild challenge. When I was busy with the applique' quilt, Janet cheerfully took the reigns and made sure our challenge went smoothly. Thanks, Janet! You're the best and I hope to work with you again in the future.

Table Four. I think these ladies were having way too much fun. I interrupted them just long enough to take a picture and they were back to enjoying their evening.

Table Five. l-r: Jettie saw my pincushion on Facebook and wrote "I want it!". We giggled when she took it home at the end of the evening! Thanks for loving my work, Jet. Next to her is Paula. She earned a second place ribbon in our "At The Movies" challenge with her Steel Magnolias quilt. (It was stunning!). That's our v-p, Pat sitting next to her; and accomplished and prolific quilter, Pauline next to her. I'm sorry that I don't know the last lady's name at that table, but you can be sure I'll go find out!

Table Six. They were so deep in conversation that I didn't want to interrupt. That's Myrna on the left. I knew her from my days knitting for the Project Linus group before I came to the guild. This was taken just before the gift exchange.

I think this photo is a perfect example of the time we had together. So many sweet and talented women who are my inspiration to be a better quilter. I've already learned so much.

All these images were shot with my iPhone, and I think it works pretty well...unless I'm giggling right along with the subjects of my photos. Karen (in the center) won our guild challenge with her Charlotte's Web entry. She and Jettie were the first people to invite me to join the guild over a year ago. (They're regular Pied Pipers, they are, sharing their love of quilting and sponsoring many women into our guild.) Susan is waving at me. She did the incredible custom quilting job on my Martinique Scrappy Plates quilt. She's also the chairman of our 2014 Quilt Show. I'm sure you'll see more pictures of her in the future.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end of this post...especially if you're not one of our guild members. I was just so darn anxious to have you meet a major part of my Circle of Influence. These are one fine collection of talented, generous, beautiful and kind women and I'm honored to be counted in their number. It's seems a fitting start to celebrating this Christmas season.

Princeton Update...

I didn't want you to think I've just been sitting around resting on my laurels. I have to work toward a November 30th finish for this quilt top if I'm going to make the deadline to get it to the long-arm in time for Christmas.

It starts with twenty blocks with twenty plates. I've assembled nine plates with the other eleven patiently awaiting Prissy's (my Babylock Espire) touch. I decided to hand applique' those first nine plates to their base blocks and then finish assembling the last eleven.

I've already completed five of the plates, so I'll be back to joining more in no time. It takes me just over one hour to applique' one plate to its block. When the blocks are all completed, I'll add the sashing and borders to complete the quilt top.  I'm hoping to make the deadline, but just in case, my fallback position is his January birthday. I'll let you know how I do.

You know how I work...December 1st, this Santa's helper goes into full production mode. I'll share my list with you then - but everything is usually scheduled for a December 16th deadline so I can get it all in the mail to arrive with plenty of time to spare.

What are you working on this week? Are you making any of your Christmas gifts this year?

Ivy League Fabrics...

Shabby Fabrics just debuted a new fabric line from Northcott Fabrics. It's called "Princeton" and I have the perfect project in mind for it.

In the event that a certain person (essential to my every breath) would see this, I can't mention any names. It's going to be used to create their Christmas gift this year, but I'm sharing the secret with you, so "mum's the word". Promise?

Just look at these gorgeous prints and colors! I have what I need to make a queen size quilt, and I'll be working on it so I meet my deadline so it's quilted in time for Christmas Eve. 

I finished hand sewing all my pumpkins yesterday and will assemble them into my table runner today. I'll have it finished in plenty of  time for our Saturday morning coffee group, and I'll share a photo of it with you on Saturday, too. I always know when I've made a "hit" because Handsome tells me he likes it, too. He told me today that he thinks it's going to look great on our dining room table. It just doesn't get better than that!