Ringing Out the Old

Here we are again, the last day of the year. The time when we look back on the last 365 days and remember what came before this moment in time. The time where we resolve to make the next 365 days better in some way than the last. I love turning a new calendar page and starting fresh. To me, it is hope for improvement, 12 times each year. And yes, they go by faster as you age. I have made several "resolutions" for myself. Some will succeed and some may fail, but the point is to try. I am not going to go in to them here. What I am going to do is to show you my last finish for the year 2014.

 Remember this? Made over a year ago, this light weight "blank-o-let" as we call it, is voile with only a flannel backing and no batting. It makes a lovely light covering in spring, summer and fall. It also is nice if you experience hot flashes in the night. This one has been so loved and  used A LOT! I wanted to make another one, just a wee bit bigger. I also wanted to bind it, as this one is only zigzag stitched turned in edges.

 Here is the beautiful binding, made from the Anna Maria Horner Little Folks voile I have been saving for this project, along with a wee bit of the Connecting Threads Masuri left over from the first one.

 So soft and slick and smooth. Sews like a dream, but I used my walking foot so as not to cause it to bunch up. Lots of pins too.

 Here it is laid out on our queen size bed.  When I did this, I thought "Wow, it is bigger!"

 The machine binding looks great, I think and a much better option for the edge than the last one (lazy me).

 Then I laid the old one over it to compare size. I was a bit surprised that it wasn't that much smaller.

 And the back? LOVE LOVE LOVE! Anna Maria Horner for the win! Echenacia flannel. I tried to capture the color. It is hard. This stuff fairly vibrates with its vividness.

 So soft, so pretty. I will be enjoying this a lot when I have my recovery time after my surgery in late January. I figure if I have to lie around and just look at the scenery, I want pretty scenery.

And now, one more thing...This is post number 399. Yes, that means that the next post, the first of 2015, will be number 400. A great way to start a new year. I have a very special giveaway planned, so stay tuned. Have a very happy new year and I will see you all soon.

Sunday Stash #33

So with all the holiday sales going on, I picked up a couple of things for my stash that I have really been wanting.

 This first is not for my stash. This is Tinseltown cars in red from Dear Stella. This is going to be the back of my Fair Isle quilt that I just made with Lee, from Freshly Pieced. She wrote this great pattern and if you start now, you can have one for next Christmas.

 This is a print from Kate Spain's Solstice. I am thinking of making another Christmas quilt and have been collecting favorite fabrics for it.

 These two prints are from April Showers by Bonnie and Camille. I couldn't not get a little something from this line. I love the raindrops and the umbrellas have such a vintage look.

And lastly, a couple of Carolyn Friedlander's Architexture line. I knew I would regret it if I never got some of these.  How about you? Hit any sales? Linking up with Sunday Stash.

Merry Christmas

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I am going to take a break for a few days and I will be back. For anyone keeping track, this is post number 397. When we hit 400 there will be celebrating.
And now, a few Christmas pretties:

See you soon.

Baby Quilts I Have Made

In a continuing effort to keep this blog moving forward towards my 400th post, in spite of the holiday craziness, I am focusing on baby quilts I have made. There are a lot of them. For that reason, this will be (mostly) a picture post. Ready?

 Okay, so he isn't a baby, but I made two of these for the first two grandsons for their first big boy beds.

 Can't quite see the tumbling blocks quilt here, all in bright colors for this little guy, the first grandson.

 Made two of these for a sweet pair of sisters. They weren't babies anymore either, but so what?

 I loved this pattern so much I had to make another. The above is a bag you can fold the quilt up and carry it in.

 A whole cloth quilt for a sweet baby boy. I love this one, even though it is so simple.

 This one above and the one below it were donated to help raise money for cancer.

 These, you may remember, were made this summer for a set of twins living in Ohio.

 And these for a set of twins living in Texas. Two sets of twins this year, a first for my quilting.

I am sure I forgot a few, but I love making baby quilts. They are quick and you can try out lots of patterns on them. Happy Monday everyone.

Sunday Stash #32

Almost Christmas and the end of the year is near too. Here is what I got this week:

 First, I got this lovely Anna Maria Horner Pretty Potent Echinacea flannel. It is so soft and the colors are so vibrant it fairly glows. I bought 2 yards to use a a backing of a small, light weight blanket for myself. Can't wait to see this one done.

 This pretty pink beauty is Kumari Garden Marala Pink. So pretty and soft. I did tell you pink was my color this year, right?

 And a regular quilting cotton of the Anna Maria Horner Pretty Potent Echinacea print. I love this one in all the colorways. I just need to figure out how to use it.

 And look at this! I was delighted to get this. I got an extra 4-5 inches of fabric! I bought this lot from Fabric.com. I took this as being my reward for having to wait a week and a half for my fabric. It usually doesn't take quite that long.

And, apparently, I forgot that I just ordered some of this, so now I have 2 half yard cuts of this Amy Butler. You ever do that? Linking up to Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash.