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Monday, December 31, 2012

Berry making 101

I'm adding berries to my vine today.

Kind of nice!!!
right?

To make my berries....
I began with a little square.
Just UNDER 2".

I trimmed the corners.
I do not try making a PERFECT circle.
It works....believe me.
 
I begin with a square
because it's easier to get ALL the berries
the same size when I begin
with squares that are the same size.
 

to me....
It's easier than trying to
cut circles the same size.
I guess....you could draw cirlces on the fabric...
but THAT would take too long!!!
;)

I sew a big running stitch around the outside...

All the way around.

Pull that string and gather the edges together.

VIOLA!!!
 
A pretty little berry!

Applique them down.

Enjoy the red and green goodness!!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Spoons

I was inspired to decorate wooden spoons over here
at Alisa Burke's blog.
 
Just call me a copycat. ;)

The little wood burning tool
was purchased....
The spoons were found....

and...
I had something unique to add
to some of the Christmas bags!!!
 
It's not ALWAYS
fabric and sewing over here!!!
;)
 
linking up with
 

Friday, December 28, 2012

House update

Houses have been arriving at my house.
Neighborhood houses
that say WELCOME!!!

I love this blogland neighborhood!
A very friendly and encouraging
place to "live"!
 
Tuesday is the BIG day!
I'll spread ALL the houses out..
take a quick picture...
and then...
I'll divide them into little neighborhoods
and choose some winners!!!
The winners will recieve a set of houses
to make a quilt with!!!
 

You've also been sending little orphans
and...

The orphans are finding HOMES!!!
 
I love this BRIGHT quilt!
Thank you for coming to the party
and
for being so generous with your orphan blocks.
 
We're up to THREE charity quilts
and enough to make one or two more!
Woo hoo!!!
;)
 
 
 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Pretty Pillow

Taking unfinished sewing projects
and finishing them
has become one of my
Spesh-ee-a-li-TEEZ!!!
 
I enjoy seeing the undone....
DONE!!!

This one came unfinished.
Wish I would have taken a BEFORE shot
of the embroidery!!!

It's done now!
 
I added some fabric highlights.
Voila!
A pretty pillow!
 

I love the way it turned out
and hope that someone else will too!!!
 
I've listed it in my little shop.
;)
 

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Vines and Leaves

I'm adding some applique to this quilt!
I cut some leaves Free hand
and am adding them
ONE by ONE
on to that curvy vine!
 
The light border I'm putting them on is
a VERY generous 10" wide.
LOTS of room to play!!!

I pinned them on HERE and there.
I don't think this kind of applique
needs or WANTS a pattern.
 
Leaves are ALL so individual in REAL life!

See my use of THREE different white/lights??
First there was the muslin pieced with the triangles.
THEN
There was the muslin with sparkly freckles!
A gold sashing.
And then.....
a very light white/gold floral.
 
THAT, my friends, is what you do
when you have LOTS of fabric
but NOT lots of the SAME fabric!!
:)

I'm almost done with the purple leaves.
I'll switch thread color soon
and work on the greens.
Hey!
I might even get busy and make some BERRIES!!!
I think they'd be VERY happy in this quilt!
 

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas
From MY house to YOURS!
 
I finally got them ALL in ONE place
at ONE time!!! ;)
 
Our family will be blessed in the coming year with...
 

A son-in-law!
 
What a GREAT gift!
 

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Orphans no LONGER!

Here's another charity quilt
made with YOUR blocks!
 
The blocks have been all LINED up
on my living room floor for the last couple of days.
Today was the day I really NEEDED to get them together!

Having them there on the floor
Blocked the path from
Fireplace to Christmas TREE!!!
 
How would Santa get THROUGH???
 
I solved that.
A little sewing
and
the quilt top is complete!!!
 
Whew!
Santa can come on over!
We're ready.
;)

Thursday, December 20, 2012

One Happy QUILT!

Here's A VERY FUN charity quilt using
some orphan blocks
and
EXTRA house blocks you sent!
 
Isn't it CHEERY???
 
Thank you.
Thank you
for participating in making this quilt!
 
I have enough orphans
and houses to make a couple more!
Woo Hoo!
 

The quilt measures 55"x70"
I love ALL the color in this quilt!
There's movement in this quilt too...
Thanks to those stars and pinwheel!
 
I'm thinking...
a little girl is going to SMILE mighty BIG
when this is covering her up!!!
 
I'm smiling too!
Giving quilts DOES that!!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Quick Gift!

A last minute gift.
These were by SPECIAL request...
because she liked these so much!!!
Gotta LOVE that!
 
If you're still wondering if you have time
to give something HANDmade...
Here's proof...
YOU DO!!!!
 
These fun little coasters took
NO TIME at all.
 
Technically...they took time...
but NOT MUCH!
 
And....
They'd be so cute with Christmas fabric!!!
Wouldn't they??
OR...
Just red and white!!!
 
Hmmmm.....maybe i'll make some more!
 
Tutorial for this project is HERE.
 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Tuesday

Once in a while I pause between projects.
Not often enough, I'm afraid!!!
 
During this short pause...
I trim the scraps from what I JUST finished
into little squares.
;)
 
The scrap determines the size.
 
2", 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2".....
 
As I cut my little squares yesterday I wondered...
"Why don't I do this EVERY time??"
 
Then I realized!!!
 
IF I did it every time....
I wouldn't have any strips, triangles or ODD little pieces
to play with!!!
 
It's ALL GOOD!!!
 

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Log Cabin Holiday Style!

I was sent an ebook to review this week.
It inspired me to
pull out my Christmas fabric
for the FIRST time this year!!!
 
I can't believe I waited this long
to get the Christmas fabric out!!!
Maybe it's because the box of Christmas fabric
lives in my ATTIC!!!
Not the easiest Go to place, huh?
 
The little book is ALL about LOG CABIN quilts.
It includes some fun OLD quilts
that I like looking at
even MORE than the new ones!!!
 
Directions are very easy to follow
and
Pictures are well done.
I think it's a great BASIC book
that you can refer to again and again.
 
This FREE little Ebook is available
Let me know what YOU think.
 
My pillow above uses 1 1/2" strips
in a Half log cabin style.
It took FOUR half log cabins to make the center
and the border is 3" wide all around.
I had fun quilting loop-de-loops
in all the white areas!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, December 14, 2012

little something

This week...I made....
one little sewing bag....
For ME!

See?
I've already filled it with my JUNK!

Not to worry!
I can make more!
 
These decorator fabric samples
have been in my cupboard TOO LONG!

I'm using the samples ALL UP....
and it feels so good!

I should have a little bag ready
for ALL my friends...
IF...
I can gather up enough ZIPPERS!!!
;)
 
You'll find other fun Friday finishes
here and here!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Forgetful

When packing sewing projects
for an unexpected trip to help an ill relative....
I forgot ONE thing!
(The ingredients for one little block!)

An important thing when making a QUILT!!!
 
I was NOT going to let that little block stop me!
I sashed the blocks adding cornerstones
and EVEN added two small borders!!
 

I'm OFF to fill the HOLE!!!
and then...
I can get going on some more BORDERS!!!
This quilt needs to GROW!
;)

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Neighborhood update

The orphan blocks
and
the extra houses you're sending
have been getting along famously!!!
 
There have been no MAJOR squabbles
as they meet and mix with one another
over here at my house.
 
I'm letting them get acquainted
before I cement their friendships
with a SEAM!
 
Thank you for participating
in this year's neighborhood party
and
for sending your extra blocks and fabric along!
 
We're making some extra special
quilts for charity!
 
 
 

Monday, December 10, 2012

Windy Day!

When I began piecing these hand-me-down
half square triangles....
I didn't have my thinking cap on.
Surprised???
Me neither!!!
;)
 
Some pinwheels are going this way..
and some are going another!!!
 
I've made a decision!
It doesn't matter which way the wind blows!!!
 
I'm not fixing A THING!
 
I think with some sashing,
cornerstones,
and maybe some other kind of DISTRACTION...
No one will notice!
 
And...
YOU won't be telling...
Will you?

Friday, December 7, 2012

Fast....

I've mentioned before I like to go FAST!!!
 
Well....
I found out last night...
there are other ways to go fast!!!!

Yep.
That's me.

These little guys are FUN to drive!

I CRASHED the boys night out party!
 
HeeHee!!!

It was my son's 19th bday!
I pulled the "MOTHER card"...
and said I'd like to go as well.
 
What a FUN night!
 
Maybe I'll do it for MY BIRTHDAY too!!!!
:)
 
After a great night out...
I woke up to this...
My quilt is on the FRONT page!
 
Fun.FUN!!!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Little birdies

Today I made some cute little "somethings"...
out of some little "NOTHINGS" that I found around the house.
 
Scraps of fabric, old t-shirts,.....
embroidery floss, buttons and little sparkly circles.
(what are those sparkly circles called
that they attach to clothing to make it sparkle???
I can't imagine covering a whole dress
or skirt with them!)
 

This one, I think, is my favorite
and he doesn't have any sparkle at all!!!
 
Just those CUTE square button eyes!!
 
Yep.
I'm having some fun!