Cuddle Blanket

This is a cuddle blanket I made my daughter, Laurie for Christmas. She has been a blanket lover since birth and now she loves quilts too. This was made with a kit I bought in Montana this summer. It's all Minky fabric with a light batting. It's not a technically difficult quilt but working with this fabric and the spray adhesive is enough to send you into the kitchen for a drink! It's shown here draped across her bed. My other daughter is not a blanket lover and said I don't have to suffer through making another one for her!

These kits are adorable and come in baby blanket sizes too.

Another good "listen"

This book was titled Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews.  Seems I just couldn't get to it this summer so I checked it out again for a winter "listen".  It's a great story about a group of friends spending August together in a summer cottage on the beach.  They have lots of adventures, life changes and a little suspense too.  You could read it now or wait for summer.  It's a winner anytime.

My New York Beauty

A New York Beauty quilt is a classic design that was a must have in my repertoire of completed quilts.  I started this during our summer retreat in Brianhead, Utah.  It's a Sharon Stone pattern and was paper pieced.  It hangs by my petite desk and I just love to look at it while I pay bills, sort mail, etc.  It is a "crowning" achievement for me and will bring me many years of pleasure seeing it hung in my living room.  Here's a close look at part of the quilt.

I encourage anyone to take on this challenge.  Isn't she lovely?

Another good "listen"

My good friend, Rachel, gave this to me.  She just sent her youngest daughter to college in August and read the book then.  It was a fun book to read, easy plot and nice style of writing.  The book is about a mom taking her daughter to college and trying to finish her crazy quilt during the ride across the country -- can't we all relate to waiting until the last minute!  Or wait, it's the project just became so complicated.  Anyway, it's a fun book and will warm your heart.

Happy New Year 2012!

Happy New Year!

 I resolve to keep my neglected blog updated twice a week.  It seems we have been so busy this fall with many home projects which included new paint, cabinets, countertops, furniture, lighting, accessories, etc.  It's almost finished!  It's been lots of fun and the house is looking spectacular.  It really needed updating after 15 years.  I will devote some posts to the new look eventually.  Some finish work (like backsplash, ceiling patches, pictures) needs to get done before the rooms are really photo ready.

This is my first official finish of 2012.  It's Bloomin' Steps from the Scrap Therapy line of patterns.  I just love this quilt, especially the border.  My husband, Don, is already in love with this and can't wait to use it to keep him warm while watching TV in the family room.  We have a leather sectional so a quilt really helps during the winter == although it was 63 here today.

I have spent some time today on my resolutions and have a good plan in place for a new me in 2012.  I'll share throughout the year.

Fun little project

My friend, Rachel, started to collect selvages a year or so ago.  She saw a magazine article with some projects in it and then bought a book.  I guess this is a hot new trend in the quilting world.  She made a quilt earlier this summer with them and it was fabulous.

So, we had a sew day at her house recently and she shared her selvages!  I made this cute little bag using Amy Butler's Swing Bag pattern.

You really can't see the bow very well but it's very cute.  Then, Rachel said I needed to make a coin purse with the scraps.  Well, I wasn't up to tackling a zipper, the snap almost did me in!  So I made a little wallet.

I think its a very cute set and I can't wait to use them.  The best part was it didn't cost a penny.  I had the muslin in my fabric stash and Rachel gave me the black and white fabric for the bow from her extensive stash.
I've had the pattern for years and have used it many times. I just freehanded the wallet.

 

I just love to read!

Summer is my time to read.  I'm halfway through this gem.

I will admit I didn't know what to think about it at first.  It's a different style of writing alternating between two protagonists.  It's a little like a series of essays.  But they are beautiful and tell a beautiful story.  I was also attracted to the Hedgehog in the title.  My daughter's 4th grade teacher had a hedgehog in the classroom and it was her theme for the year.  That was a little different for elementary school.  And this book has helped me to appreciate this special animal even more.  The book was a New York Times Bestseller, deservedly so.