Almost April

So a few things from here, as I prepare for the big move. This is my 493rd blog post. So close to 500! I think, even though it has been a long time since I have done a giveaway, I think I might need to have one for that 500th post. So as I finish moving, I will be thinking on what the prize should be.

Grey here this morning, but at least the weather has moderated into spring temps. That roller coaster the last few weeks was rough! No rain today, but plenty tomorrow. Which will be great to wash all that yucky yellow pollen out of the air. The only bad thing about spring in NC is the pine tree pollen.

Packing is almost all done. Address changes have almost all been filed. Just a few details remain and in less than one week, all my worldly goods will be headed west. Wow!

So, since this is a quilty blog, I feel the need for some quilty pictures. Back into the archives we go:

Some old, some newer, all loved and used. I sometimes feel amazed at the quilts I have made. Well, I will sign off for now. I am not sure if this is the last post from here. I still have my computer until Tuesday morning. It will be one of the last things packed. Have a great weekend.

A Finish!!

Finally I have another finish to show you.  I feel like I have been sewing and sewing but not any closer to getting anything finished.  Don't get me wrong, I do love the process, but when it comes to Christmas sewing, there is a sense of urgency.

 First, this is not Christmas related, but here is November's Birdie Stitches block.  I can't believe I have kept up for a whole year almost now!

 This is made from a charm pack of Countdown to Christmas.  I wanted something small to top this table in my living room.  It is not quilted so not bulky and since the charms are pinked around the edges, no hemming required.  Love it!  I might have to make some for other seasons.  Now the big finish...

 This quilt is for my brother's new niece.  She is just a few months old, but he wanted a quilt that she could grow into for years.  I love how it turned out.  There are lots of butterflies here.

 The fabric has butterflies and the quilting is, in part butterflies based on a quilt that Patricia of    Happy Days Quilting did for her daughter.

 Here is the back of the quilt, made from pieces of leftover fabric from the front.

 Down here at the bottom is my new label.  I will put a proper label with all the info on the quilt as well.

love the crinkly goodness

Essential dots for the binding, as well as the inner border

I'm sew happy with this!

 And one more almost finished...two pair of sleepover pajamas(Oliver + S) for Christmas for V and J.  All they need are buttons and elastic.  I am going to go shop for buttons soon.

Happy sewing and have a great week.

Balance in the Universe?

I think this qualifies for that.  Last Friday, after a rough day at the end of a rough week, I just asked the question out loud "Why can't something good happen?" I really needed it right then.  I went through my afternoon arrival at home routine.  I went to the front door and opened it to check the porch.  That's where our deliveries get put. (We never enter our home through the front.  In the south, we use the side door by where we park our car.)  And there was a box...

Two weeks ago I had entered a give away on Lily's Quilts blog.  The prizes were some lovely packages of Aurifil threads.  There were 2 of each prize, one for UK readers and one for international readers like me.  I entered with my comment, always hopeful, hoping for one of the small prize packs at least.  Imagine my shock and surprise and overwhelmedness at the e-mail from Lynne telling me that not only had I won, but I won the GRAND PRIZE!!!

I was reading this at 4:30 am which is when I get up and check e-mail while having coffee and then getting ready for work.  I was so overwhelmed I didn't tell anyone about it, lest I should break the spell.  So I waited.  And I waited.  And then...

here it is!

side one

side two

48...yes, 48 spools of the most beautiful, soft yummy looking thread ever.  I was in shock all over again.  This made my day, my week, my month, maybe even my year.  I won't have to buy thread for awhile and so I am thinking of some sewing to give back for my great good fortune.

Over the weekend I did a couple of blocks for Val at Pink Please for her Heroes Quilt.  That's just the start.  I will be doing lots more of these types of projects.  How can I not?

Kaffe Fassett fabrics block

random fabrics block

the card that went with my blocks

Val, if you read this the blocks are on their way to you.  I posted them this morning.

I know this is kind of long and wordy and gushy, but I really must thank Lynne at Lily's Quilts and Alex Veronelli from Aurifil for making this possible.  I hope they both understand how much this means to me.  A thousand thanks to you both.

Have a great week everyone.

PJs, Quilts and Towels

I have been sewing fast and furious here in my "spare" time.  Since last week I have managed to start assembling some of the things I cut out.  It seems like this assembly line kind of sewing will help me get the Christmas projects done.  So I guess I will spend a bunch of time cutting and then a bunch of time sewing, and finally a bunch of time quilting.
I took V with me to the LQS last Friday and we bought a bunch of batting-five and a half yards of 109 inch wide.  He was so cute and so funny.  The ladies there loved it.  He was very chatty that day.  He made a point to tell me he really liked all the Halloween fabric that was displayed up by the front door.
So now it's time to show and tell my progress.

 This is the quilt for the little girl in Vermont.  It is all basted and ready to quilt.  Just need to get some pink thread and cut out the quilting templates.

 These are some towels for my sister.  She reads my blog, so she will be super excited to see that I finished these for her.  I did dish rags for myself awhile back from this tutorial.  When my sister was here for the wedding she saw them and wanted some dish towels like them so we bought these at Target and I did them up in greens and the two extra with butterflies.  Her house is called the Garden House and I though these would go nicely.  I'll get them in the mail next week.  Gotta get a box.  If it fits, it ships Sis.

Here is the first pair of Christmas PJs from the Oliver+s pattern.  I am loving these.  I just need buttons and elastic.  Turns out I had the wrong size elastic so I have to go get more.  These jammies will be so great and the pattern I can't say enough nice things about it.  It's not too complicated but Liesl really thinks of all the details when she puts out a pattern.  So one more pair to make.  Also, I didn't take a picture yet because I'm not too far along on the Tic Tac Toe mats, but they are coming along nicely too.

I hope you have a great week.

Heirlooms

I am a bit of a family history buff.  I am fascinated by the past as it relates to my family.  I love old photos and I grew up listening to my granny telling stories of her childhood.  As an adult, I have been pursuing family history.  I have been on Ancestry.com and made a family tree and I share everything I learn with my siblings.  So when my daughter's wedding brought my sister to the east coast and my brother and his wife south, they took some time to stop and talk to a couple of cousins we have had little contact with in the past couple of decades.  Busy lives and all... and they not only talked for 2 solid hours, they saw lots of family heirlooms.  Furniture and the like and yes, quilts and crochet work.

all crocheted by my great grandmother

this is on a queen size bed

beautiful design

the edges look like this

There were 6 of these I am told, one for each of the 6 sisters for their hope chests.  All were hand crocheted by my great grandmother and my grandmother and her 5 sisters.  This one is in perfect shape and is almost 100 years old in my estimation.
I was so excited to see this and to have it given to me.  But the other item was a quilt.  And with all the hexies on line right now this grandmother's flower garden is amazing!

this is the whole thing

look at the fabrics

love this one

the pink one is damaged

the binding is quite damaged too

I want to look at this a lot and maybe I will start making hexies.  My daughter wants me to and to recreate this quilt.  It is totally hand quilted and I am trying to decide if it is hand pieced or not.  It is hard to tell.  I don't know if I should have it restored or not.  I am out of my element here, so I am seeking advice.  But for now I am content to look and think about it.

So now, I need to create a new heirloom... for my sister.  She wants me to make her a quilt for her bed.  So while she was here, we went to the local quilt shop and she shopped for fabric.  I coached and helped, but I think she was happy with what she picked.  It is really her.  I am thinking of a modern quilt with a touch of heirloom.  Becaus some day 100 years from now it will be one.

Not the best pictures, but trust me, the colors are great and they will mesh beautifully.  I will keep you all posted as it progresses.
Have a great week.

Countdown

Well, my daughter says the countdown has begun.  The wedding is in12 days.  The napkins are all done.  Check that item off my list. 

The outfit for the little man is done.  Check that item off my list.  He is ready to walk his mom down the aisle.

Went shopping today (which I hate to do) and now my outfit is ready.  Check that item off my list.
 So now that my stuff is done, I guess it's okay to work on all the other projects I have going on, right?

Like this:

for a special baby girl in Vermont

and these:

putting together my 36 patch

my hometown quilt

and this:

just bought the pattern

I have been dying to try the Swoon quilt and since I didn't have enough going on, I caved and bought the pattern this weekend.  I want to try and make it out of fabrics I already have so when I have time I will go hunting in my stash.  I also have a couple of other things to get going on for Christmas.  I know it will creep up quickly like it does every year.

So after the wedding I will be sewing like a maniac.  Oh, wait, I already am.

Have a great week.