Christmas Through The Year

I managed to finsih two different gifts this month, stitchery tea towels and cosmetic bags.  I have no idea who will receive the tea towels.  I am always in need of little extra gifts for people and like to have something on hand that is "handmade."  I had these towels left over from a project last year, the rick rack was from a project a couple of years ago, the only thing that was new was the stitchery pattern.  The pattern also has two other designs that I would like to make at some time.

My other finish is four cosmetic bags.  I made these using fat quarters that have been in my stash for years.  I even have a zipper stash, so I didn't even have to by those.  ( I know the photo is awful)  I actually made these for specific people.  My aunt, two different cousins, and my niece.  I plan on filling the bags with travel sizes of different toiletries.  

Stash Busting

Not too bad this week:

This week:

Stash in: 4 yards
Stash out:  2 yards

This year: 
Stash in:  35 yards
Stash out: yards

More Comfort and Joy

Slow and steady wins the race.  This really isn't a race; however I am being very slow with it.  This is another one of my New FO's for the year, Comfort and Joy by my quilting buddy Pat over at Silver Thimble.  (this is the best pattern)  I have half of the applique blocks done, plus the pieced blocks yet to go.  I would like to have it done by Christmas this year, but really don't think that will happen, maybe?

February Finish

Yeah, a finish!! I have had all of the blocks sewn together for awhile and have had it laid out with about half of the blocks sewn together.  It took having a long weekend to get it all put together.  This pattern, Long Road Home, is the last trade that Becky, Krisite, Marti, Julie, Karin, Cindy and serveral other thimbles did.  I love the way that it turned out.  Now I have to get a backing fabric for it, I don't want this one to "age" like some of my finished tops.  Marti had her finished one at Thimbles last week and it was georgeous.  It's a good thing I finished it, I think Krisite is ready to send out the info for our next trade.  So far I have finished all of our trades before starting the new one.  I think this is my favorite. 

Design Wall Monday

Finally something new on my design wall, Past Times.  This is one of my New FO's for this year, it is a Moda kit that I have had for about 4 maybe five years.  One of my goals this year is to make up some of the  kits that I have, and whenever possible I am using them for gifts.  This one will be a Christmas present for either my brother or my aunt.  When I started it I thought I would give it to my brother, but now I am thinking that my aunt would really like it.  I want to make everyone in the family a Christmas quilt, the fabric for this one is not "overly" Christmasy.  It a really easy pattern, with large pieces.  I like the way the setting triangles are two different fabrics.   This would be a great pattern to do with precuts, too!!

Stash Busting

No changes this week,

This year

Stash in  31
Stash out 2

Oops!!

I got so involved with my birthday and with Valentine's Day that completely forgot to announce the winner of my Bali Pop giveaway.  The lucky winner is Sandie at crazy'bout quilts.  I really enjoyed reading about the different ways that people celebrate their birthdays.  Sandie please send me your mailing address and I will get your Bali Pop in the mail.  Congratulations!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day!!!!

Stash busting Sunday on Monday

Got so involved  in birthday stuff I forgot to report in.

This week:
Stash in 14 yards
Stash out 0

This year
Stash in 31
Stash out  2

I am definitely going the wrong way with this, but DH actually bought me some fabric for my birthday.

What a great birthday



Friday was my birthday, and there is nothing better than coming home to a dozen beautiful red roses.  My DH is so good too me.  Not only did I have roses, but a bottle of champagne, a wonderful dinner out, a birthday cake  and great presents.  I got a pair of shoes that I had been admiring and a CD that I wanted.  It was a great day!  At our house it is your birthday as long as there is birthday cake, so I plan on celebrating a while longer.   

Cards from one of the special ed classes at school. 

New FO

This year I  decided to not only try to get some of my
UFO's finihsed, but to start some new ones!  There is  nothing like getting into a new pattern and a new stack of fabric to motivate you.  Last year I purchased a pattern from my friend Pat over at Silver Thimble Quilt Co. called Comfort and Joy.  The minute I saw this design I knew that I had to have it. I love Christmas quilts and this one was out of this world.  It took me some time to decide what fabrics I wanted to use, especially for the background.  I bought fabric for the background three times, before I was finally happy.  I hope to finish this one in time to get it quilted for this Christmas, however; I don't know if that will happen or not.  I just finished the gingerbread basket block last night.

I am doing all of the applique by hand, this keeps me busy at night while DH is watching TV.  I love am so happy that I decided on the polka dot  background.  I made on change in the gingerbread bock, instead of a flag on the left hand side I decided to add another candy cane.  I am not a huge flag person and thought that they candy cane looked ok there. 

Don't forget about the Bali Pop giveaway that I a having for my birthday.  If you leave a comment you could win a Mulberry Bali pop. 

Weird weather

I know the groundhog didn't see his shadow but this is ridiculous.  All of our daffodils and Lenten Roses are in full bloom.  What happened to winter this year? 

Happy Birthday to me!!!

My birthday is later this week, and I usually celebrate the entire month of February, this year I get an extra day to celebrate thanks to Leap Year.  The celebration began yesterday with an outing to a movie.  I saw, The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, this was one of my favorite book series of the last few years, however; I was somewhat disappointed in the movie.  If you had not read the book it would have been great, but since I had read the book first there were just too many things that were different.  I think that now I want to see the Swedish version.  After the movie it was out to dinner with my brother and Peggy, they took me to Uncle Julio's.  It was great!  On top of the  movie and dinner they gave me a book that I had been wanting to read, Lionheart by Sharon Kay Penman.  I really like her books. 

 To celebrate my birthday I am doing a giveaway, a Bali Pop,in Mulberry.   If interested leave me a comment telling how you celebrate your birthday. For an extra chance to win mention the giveaway on your blog. The winner will be announced next Monday, February 13th.  Good Luck.

Sunday Stash busting

This was a bad week!!

This week:
Stash in:  12 yards
Stash out:  .5 yards

This year:
Stash in:  17 yards
Stash out:  2 yards

Total busted  2.5  (I miscalculated last week).

At least all of the fabric that came in this week has a definite purpose.