Snowball Tablerunner

Not much going on except for this little table runner I'm working on for a store sample at Quilted Bear. It's one charm pack with a little extra fabric for the applique shapes at each end. I'm using hand dyed wool for the applique, it's quicker and gives it a more interesting look....and I love the look of the wool AND I don't have to turn under the edges...that's a good enough reason for me. Today I'll stitch down the wool and get it ready for quilting.

I'm using the Little Charmers pattern by Anka's Treasures and the fabric is Moda Charisma charm pack. The binding is going to be a multi-coloured strip from the Charisma line.

Not too much excitement from me. I did one test heart block in pinks but I haven't decided if I'm doing more or not...we'll see if I get in the mood for making more hearts.

Thanks for stopping by.

To Open or Not

I know...I know....I shouldn't have opened it so soon. How could a girl not open a big box that arrives in the mail. This box would have been sitting in the corner, staring at me, taunting me for 2 weeks...open me...open me. Early birthday gifts are just as much fun as late ones. I had no idea when I saw this little quilt in progress on Mary's blog that it would be coming to live with me, it certainly is a treat to see it show up at my door. Mary knew how much I loved her "chicken wire" basket and sent one for me to display my collection of little quilts. Can you see those perfect squares, I think they are 1/2" finished (the gold is not that bright, it's more mutted than the picture shows) Mary's quilting puts mine to shame, she does wonderful impeccable quilting....Thanks so much Mary I love this sweet little quilt and basket.

She also tucked this sewing pouch in the box, isn't it so cute, that zipper doesn't look to difficult, I could whip up a few of those....LOL. I can use this to take my stitching along to meetings.

My red and green quilt is all wonderfully quilted by my dear friend Lauren and ready for me to hand sew the binding. Next will be washing to get that warm cozy crinkled look that I just love to see when a quilt is all completed....ohhh I can't wait to get it in the washing machine and show you again.

Happy Stitching.

Stitching

Very little has been going on with me, mostly feeling tired and not much sewing. I've stitched a little with redwork and Gail's new BOM, which is turning out to be a sweet stitchery, I can't wait until the next months block comes out. The redwork cats is something that's been on my list for a long time....finally got them stitched.

We haven't had any new snow for a couple of weeks but the ground is still covered in the white stuff even with having a bit of rain. We've had the strangest weather, the last week has been the thickest fog all day long, a person could only see about a half block away and it stayed that way all day long....I hope the sun will be out today or I might start feeling that sadness one gets without the sun or maybe that's why I've been feeling so tired, whatever it is I sure hope it passes soon.

I hope you've had time for needle and thread, thanks for stopping by.

New BOM

I've seen a few free block of the months popping up in blogland. I've taken a liking to Bunnyhill's new BOM called "A Tisket A Tasket" twevle months of baskets. Darlene has already done her basket, and Anne has done her's in wool, both are very cute. Another BOM I found but haven't started yet is Gail Pan's "A Christmas Wish" stitchery, I love stitchery and I think this is something I could finish each month. Both have links on my side bar.

I had a fun weekend hanging out with my youngest daughter, she is a ferry ride away and it's such a treat to get over to visit her. We did some sewing together, she wanted me to show her how to make a bag. We didn't have enough time to finish it, so next time we get together will finish the bag.

First Quilt for 2009

My first post for 2009 and you're probably getting bored with hearing about snow, I promise I won't talk about it again....LOL. We've had 3 weeks of snow fall and here is 3 weeks of shoveling the driveway. We've only been able to get down the back lane and into the garage for the past few days but every day DH was out there shoveling in hopes we could park in the garage. Behind that huge pile of snow is our second car....I don't think it will be moving until spring.

Over the holidays I received a surprise package from Carole. I had seen this table topper on her blog a few weeks ago, not knowing she had plans to send to me. Carole made one of her awesome embroidered labels for the back, if you want to see it go here. Sorry I didn't take a picture.

Carole had my little package all wrapped in the cutest snowman paper. She also sent me 2 of the Crabapple Hill patterns, the stitchery witches hat and a stitchery pillow with "Happy Halloween". I'm excited about starting these projects. Thank you so much Carole for the fantastic surprise gifts, you are a sweet friend.

A New Year and a New Quilt. When I pulled out all the decorations before Christmas I realized that all year I didn't make a red/green quilt (which BTW I had planned to do in 2008) If I don't do something right away....I forget quickly, so I started a few days before Christmas making the stars (better late than ever). In between working a few 9 hours days and all the holiday events I got this top finished (being snowed-in was a big helped to get this top finished). I didn't use a pattern, if anyone is interested in the measurements I used (just yell), I'd be happy to send them along.

Happy New Year and I look forward to your continued friendship as well as some new friendships in 2009.