New "Listen"

This is my latest book on CD:

It sounds like a fun, easy listen.  There's a little mystery and romance thrown in, a great combination for me.  Easy to listen to and sew.

An Older Quilt

I decided to focus on a few of my older (but much loved) quilts.  They are now folded up and put on a shelf in our bedroom as my decor has changed.  But they are a few of my favorites.  The first of them is shown here.

This quilt is called "Pumpkin Seed".  I used the Quiltsmart printed interfacing to make each "seed".  Then the seeds were machine appliqued using a blind hem stitch and clear monofilament thread.  The fabrics are all the Aunt Grace prints and solids.  I just love those fabrics and have made too many quilts using them.  We used this quilt on our bed for a couple of years.  It was finished in 2003. 

Here's a close up of some seeds.  The blue floral is one of my favorite fabrics of all time.  I used this to make my daughter an adorable dress when she was four!  I've bought many more yards of it over the years.

In fact, here it is as a border in another of my quilts.

This is part of the scrappy backing.  Another of my favorite Aunt Grace prints.

October Book Club

This is our October selection:

It's a good story so far, kind of a cross between When Harry met Sally and Same Time, Next Year.  It's about a young couple that are great friends and seem like star crossed almost lovers at times -- don't know what happens yet as I'm about half way done.  I still have a week to finish and should get it done in time for our meeting. 

October Finished UFO

My pace is picking up to get these 19 UFO projects finished.  This quilt pattern was called Tic Tac Toe and I think it's cute.  I used scraps for the background and blocks, bought the sashing and border fabrics.  It's been hanging out for about a year waiting to be quilted.  I finished the binding last night, had to wash it to get the marking lines out.  It's a little puffy and it seems something went wrong.  This will definitely be a charity quilt.  It makes me happy to think it will keep someone warm at night -- someone that doesn't have a nice warm blanket.

This really was an easy quilt to sew together.  Might have to make another one -- I certainly have enough scraps!  Here's a better picture of a block:

Happy sewing to you.

Wedding Wishes

Some  friends just got married and requested no gifts at their reception.  Theirs was a "destination wedding" and they are having a cocktail reception with no gifts specified.  Well, we have to give them something so I found a scrappy quilt in my stash for them.  They are big campers so it will go in their RV just fine.  Here's a picture of the quilt:

It's a French Braid quilt -- I LOVE this pattern.  It's made with 2 1/2" strips with alternating light and dark rows and is totally random.  I sort my strips into light and dark piles and just grab the next one as I sew.  I've made several of these quilts over the years and will continue to make them.  They are the best scrap quilt I've ever done and I make lots of scrap quilts. 

I added another treat to their package:

This is a fun embroidery project, quick and easy as the look is primitive.  The pattern is by the same designer (Two Blonde Mice) as my baby prince and princess finishes and the Christmas family piece.  It fits in a document sized frame which limits your choices.  I try to buy gold or silver when I can find them. 

This is all wrapped up in a pretty package and my husband will give it to the new wife tomorrow.  We want to honor their no gifts request at the reception but just had to honor them and their new life.

Book Club -- September

Our book club selections are eclectic by design.  We're trying to find books the group hasn't read yet.  Sometimes this is hard because that's the best way to make a recommendation -- by reading it.  This was our September selection.

This is another great book.  My copy is paperback so it wasn't too expensive.  And your local library is always a good place to find a great book. 

September UFO

My quilt guild has a 12-4-12 program for finishing up those UFO's we all have stashed around the house.  This is my second year of participating.  You sign up, send a picture and description of your finished UFO during 12 of 12 months.  If you keep up, you get a $25 gift certificate to the quilt shop of your choice.  It has been a fabulous motivator for me.  Some months I'm just barely making it but I've kept on top of it and won my gift certificate.  It's a great treat and helps by another backing or binding fabric.

This month's finish was a French Roses quilt.  It's made entirely from scraps leftover from a kit for the Charming Log Cabin quilt.  I also made a French Rose Buds quilt from the same scraps. 

My plan was to donate the quilt to charity.  But my daughter saw it and fell in love with it.  So it will be added to her stash.  I'm building a stash of scrap quilts for both of my girls.

Here's a close up of one of the lovely roses.

I did the machine quilting myself.  I have to practice, practice, practice.  It is a challenge for me but I know I will only improve.

These patterns are both fabulous.  Heather French is the designer.  They've been very popular at quilt shops everywhere the past few years.