{Project 365+1: Weeks 48-51 and what's up for 2013}

Where has the time gone? I've been neglecting this Blog but that will change for the new year. {The Sweetest Dreams} will continue to be the place to share quilting and other crafty posts. I am planning on getting back to my quilting as soon as the holiday dust settles. I've got a looooong list of projects for 2013. 

The end of my P365+1 for 2012 is closing in. I've been trying to figure out the photography plan for 2013. I'm leaning towards a P52 this time. A little less pressure is good. It will also let me concentrate on improving my photos and maybe learning to use all these textures I've been downloading. I still plan on posting on and visiting {Capture Your 365} but I was searching around the web for  a structured P52 host and I do believe I've found one. Kent Weakley, a photographer based in Ocala, Florida, is organizing another P52 project this year. I'm going to hop in. I'm moving all photo project related posts to my new blog {Just A Moment}. I've got three days left to get ready. On January 1st 2013, the first post goes live and it will be linked to {P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday}.

Here's my catch up pages...... see you on {Just A Moment} January 1st.

December 1 photo was chosen as Photo of the Week at CaptureYour365. 

{Project 365+1: Week 47}

{Project 365+1: Week 46}

{Project 365+1: Week 45}

November 5th photo chosen as picture of the week on Capture Your 365

{Project 365+1: Week 44}

{Project 365+1: Week 43}

{Blogger's Quilt Festival:Fall 2012 Edition}

It's {Quilt Market} time which also means it's time for the {Blogger's Quilt Festival} hosted by {Amy's Creative Side}. My entry for this quilt festival is the SWOON quilt I made as a 75th birthday quilt for a very special family member.

I fell in love with the SWOON quilt pattern and ordered it from Thimble Blosssoms. I wasn't sure who I would make be making it for but decided to use a fat quarter of Chrysalis by Sanae for Moda that I had purchased a few month earlier. 

I made my first block in October of 2011. I hadn't been quilting for very long at that point in time and this was the most difficult quilt block I had attempted. I gathered all my material, carefully cut out the pieces for the first block and started sewing.  I used a Singer machine that I bought for my daughter when she was in Junior High School. The only presser foot was the one attached to the machine and even though I thought I was sewing a 1/4" seam it seems I was a bit off. The finished block was supposed to be 24" and mine finished at 23". Oops. I figured as long as I was consistent in my inaccurate seaming, all the blocks would end up the same size and my finished quilt would be a little smaller than the pattern stated.

 I ended up sewing two more blocks between October and December 2011. All of them finishing up at 23". Great. 

Fast forward to January 2012......I purchased a new Singer machine specially designed for quilters. It came with a huge selection of presser feet, the most important being a 1/4" foot. Excellent. Now I'll be sewing accurate 1/4" seams. I had set aside the SWOON blocks and busied myself with making a few other quilts. Once I realized the SWOON blocks would make a great quilt for an upcoming birthday celebration, I pulled out all the fabric, cut another block out and started sewing with my new machine. This block ended up being my favorite.

And, yes, this block finished at 24". A whole inch bigger than the three other blocks. There was no way to make this work with the other three blocks so I had to pull out the old machine and make another block with my familiar inaccurate seaming. So, after a little agonizing and aggravation she was done. 

This quilt was quilted by Melissa at {Sew Shabby Quilting}. I picked out an allover pattern of loops and butterflies, which fit perfectly with the butterfly theme of the fabrics. Melissa had her done and back to me in little more than a week. I was so happy with how this turned out. She finished at 53x53 and was delivered to her new home in September of 2012. 

Thanks for peeking at my {Blogger's Quilt Festival} entry. I'm really enjoying this quilting journey. Click  over to see the beautiful entries from the quilting community.

                                                     CLICK HERE

{Flying Geese}

I know it's probably just me, but making an accurate {Flying Geese} unit is a pain in the arse. Just sayin'....

{Project 365+1: Week 42}

{A Thought for Today}

You aren't wealthy until you have something money can't buy. ~ Garth Brooks

{I L.O.V.E. My UPS Dude's Special Deliveries}

From where I sit at my desk I'm able to see when the brown UPS truck pulls up. Most days the delivery is for a neighbor or my husband. (He likes to buy drum related stuff or CD's from Amazon) Today...(claps hands excitedly) the delivery was for me. I knew it was coming but was excited anyway. The box was from {Fat Quarter Shop} and inside was the long-awaited {Flower Girl} quilt kit. 

I ordered the kit the day it was released. As soon as I saw the pattern, which I wrote about HERE back in July, I knew I wanted to make this quilt. What was even better was that a kit was being offered with Bonnie & Camille's newest fabric line {Marmalade}. I love their fabrics, each and every one of their collections. The orange.... I just love it. 


Photo by Camille Roskelley

Now, this quilt will be added to my ever growing list of quilt projects. The problem is deciding which to work on first.

{Project 365+1: Week 41}

{Mystery Block of the Month: Month 3}

August's block, aka block #3, is called {Weather Vane} and was designed by {Me & My Sister Designs}.

I really love the {Vintage Modern} fabric line by {Bonnie & Camille}.

Yes, I know it's October and I'm only just getting around to August's block. There's just not enough time in a day to do everything I'd like to. So, slowly I get myself caught up.

I cut the pieces out one evening while I was watching TV.  {Downton Abbey} is my viewing choice while sewing.  OMG, have you noticed the beautiful clothes all the women wear? Some of Mary's dresses are breathtaking. I can't wait for January 6 to come around. Season 3 begins in the US and I will be watching. Anyway, I sat down yesterday to sew the block. It wasn't difficult but I do seem to have a problem with flying geese units. They usually end up too small by a little bit. I'll have to try and sew more to the corner side of the drawn line on the next block and see how that works. 

{Project 365+1: Week 40}

{A Thought for Today}

Don't look back unless you are planning to go that way. ~ Henry David Thoreau

{SWOON is Complete}

Finished her up tonight. Bound, washed and quilt label attached. Tomorrow she goes to her new home.

{Chrysalis SWOON Quilt}

I'm so excited! Ann's SWOON quilt just came back from the quilter yesterday and I love it! The fabric used is {Chrysalis} by Sanae for Moda.

 The colors are so pretty and the fabric patterns are wonderful. The theme throughout is butterflies so I chose an all over "flutter byes" pattern for the quilting.

I sent this quilt out to a new quilter. Her name is Melissa from {Sew Shabby Quilting}. I read about her over at {Diary of a Quilter} blog and figured Amy Smart wouldn't steer me wrong. Melissa's shop is in Utah and she prides herself in a quick turnaround time. I package up the quilt and backing and mailed it off. One week later the quilt was on it's way back to me.


I'm always excited when a quilt comes back. I couldn't wait for a free moment to tear open the box and get a look. I'm so happy with the results! Melissa quilted the butterfly pattern and chose an ecru thread to match the quilt top. It was a perfect choice. She did a beautiful quilting job and I can't wait to see it finished. Tonight I'm making the binding and I hope to have it finished by the weeks end. More photos to follow........

{Project 365+1: Week 39}

{Project 365+1: Week 38}

{A Thought for Today}

Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music.~ Ronald Reagan

{A New Quilting Book}

Anytime someone mentions 'Rocky Mountains'  my ears perk up and my eyes open wide. There's a new quilt book available with patterns designed by ladies who live in the Rockies. I'm going to be adding it to my bookshelf.

Diary of a Quilter - a quilt blog: New quilt book: Springtime in the Rockies#c61238073664115391#c61238073664115391

{Project 365+1: Week 37}

September 13th's photo was chosen as "Photo of the Week" on CaptureYour365.

{A Thought for Today}

Lose yourself in nature and find peace. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

{Project 365+1: Week 36

{A Thought for Today}

The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why. ~ Mark Twain

They are my reason why.

[Project 365+1: Week 35}

{A Thought for Today}

The sky is the daily bread for the eyes. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

{One Week & Counting}

One week from today, we'll be hopping a plane at JFK to head out to Colorado. I'm really looking forward to some of this.........

And this........

And this........

See that mountain on the right? The one with the jagged peak. That's Flattop Mountain and that's on the list for this trip. I can't wait.

{Seaside Stars or The Projects Keep Piling Up}

Why do I keep reading quilt blogs?  More often than not I get myself into trouble. Either it's drooling over a new fabric line or oogling a new quilt pattern. This morning I was oogling. Amy Smart of {Diary of a Quilter} blogged about her new {Seaside Stars} pattern. I love star quilts and haven't been able to make one, yet. It took me all of 30 seconds to look at her photos and download it instantly. I love Amy's patterns. Her instructions are written clearly, which is a big plus for me. This is the third pattern I've ordered from her.



Photo by Amy Smart @ Diary of a Quilter

Amy gives instructions for a 72x72 quilt, as well as for twin, queen & king sized quilts. I'm thinking this would make a great quilt for use at the beach, for sunset watching not sunbathing.

Photo by Amy Smart @ Diary of a Quilter

So, I'm going to check my email and download this pattern. It will go in the pile of projects pending. The fun comes when deciding which fabrics to use. I've already got some ideas.

{Project 365+1: Week 34}