Plugging Away...

Hello!  :)

I'm still here! I know it's been awhile since I posted. I've been very busy trying to get the quilts done before Christmas. I'm making lots of progress.  :)

The other day I finally got the Super Mario quilt basted.

It's actually already quilted too! I know amazing huh?! I ended up machine quilting it with diagonal straight lines. Of course I forgot to take pictures. Sorry!  :(  Right now it's quilted and the binding has been sewn on too. It's sitting waiting for me to hand stitch the binding down. The last step! I can't believe it! I never thought I'd be at this point. I now know that I will have this done in time for Christmas! Yea!  :)

My Official Mario Quilt Countdown

Blocks to make  12

Blocks completed  12

Blocks remaining  0

~

1-1/2" Squares

Started with  3888

Used  3888

Remaining  0

~

Sashing - DONE!  :)

Borders - DONE!  :)

Backing - DONE!  :)

Basting - DONE!  :)

Quilting - DONE!  :)

Binding - need to stitch down

I don't think I told you but I had another quilt I needed to make for Christmas. I know I am crazy!!! This one is for my hunky dude. He's been asking me all year when I was going to make a quilt for him. I decided to make him one for Christmas. Somehow although it hasn't been easy I've managed to keep it a secret. He loves batik fabrics so that's what he's getting. The other night I managed to finish the quilt top.

I'm using Amy Smart's Lattice Quilt pattern again like I did last year for my oldest son's Hawaiian Getaway quilt. It went together pretty quick. Here's another view of it.

Did you notice the dog? The back is pieced from leftover batik pieces and is definitely random.  ;)

Last night I machine quilted this quilt. I also got the binding (black) stitched on and it's ready to be hand stitched down. I'm hoping to get this finished in the next couple of days.

Batik Quilt Countdown

Quilt Top - DONE!  :)

Backing - DONE!  :)

Basting - DONE!  :)

Quilting - DONE!  :)

Binding - need to stitch down

It hasn't been easy working on these quilts since both quilts are surprises for my guys. I can only work on them when they're gone or sleeping. I'll definitely be back later to show you the pictures of the finished quilts. I really like how they're looking. I just hope my guys like them too!  ;)

Until next time . . .

Friday Night Sew-In Prep

Hello!  :)

I told you I'd be back!  ;)  I really need to get my butt in gear as I'm really behind in all my plans. I still have two quilts to make for Christmas gifts that I haven't started on yet. I do have the fabric and patterns so at least that's a start. I'm hoping to get started on one this weekend and the other next week. I don't really do well working on multiple projects at once but that's what I'm going to have to do with the two quilts I need to make. I'll explain and share more details with you later.

For now I'm starting another quilt. Yes I am crazy!!!  ;)  Months ago I fell in love with Moda's Dear Mr. Claus fabric line. It was love at first sight! Really! I love the vintage vibe and the colors! It's soooo me!!!  :)  I knew I just had to make a quilt with it. Then I saw Camille Roskelley's "Vintage Holiday" pattern. I instantly fell in love with it. The "Vintage Holiday" pattern with the Dear Mr. Claus fabric was a match made in heaven! I saved my money and finally got the fabric and pattern!  :)

Okay so the timing's not really great, but who cares. I have the pattern and fabric and Christmas will be here very soon so I'm getting started on it. Here's another view of all that vintage goodness!  :)

Yesterday I managed to sit down and get all the fabric cut for the quilt.

I'm so excited to get started on this and see how it comes out! I can hardly wait. This is what I'll be working on for tonight's Friday Night Sew-In.

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see how much I got done. I'm hoping I have a very productive night. What will you be working on tonight? I'd love to hear about it!  :)

Until next time . . .

The Rows are All Done!

Hello!  :)

I did it! I finished the last 2 rows for my "My Favorite Things" quilt! Yea! Here they are . . .

Sorry but the pictures aren't too great as it was late and dark.  :(  I took some other close-up pictures to show more of the details. Here's the top . . ..

the middles . . .

and the bottoms . . .

Next I'll be adding the strips between them. It's really coming together!  :)

Until next time . . .

Birdies Top is Done! . . . I think . . .

Hello!  :)

When I last left you I had gotten the sashings and cornerstones on my Birdies Quilt.

I also had decided that I wanted it bigger than originally planned. The original plan called for one border which was going to be this . . .

So I got out my Sophie stash . . . Yes I have a stash of Sophie for another project! I love it that much!!!  :)  I decided to do three borders. Hope it's not too much!

I came up with this as the first border . . .

What do you think? I love it!  :)

Then a second border, the same size as the sashing . . .

This one looked good when I just laid the fabric next to the quilt but I'm not so sure with it attached. My original idea was to bring some of the stitchery color out to the border to balance the colors out. What do you think?

I went ahead and added the last border. I wish I had a better picture. I took tons of pictures but this is the best of them. It's hard to take pictures of something so big by yourself.   :(

So what do you think? Please let me know. I need some opinions here. Sometimes I look at it and I love it. Other times I just don't know. Is it too much? I am happy with the size now.  :)

I will be using this for the binding . . .

And this for the backing . . .

Looking forward to your comments and opinions. Thanks so much!  :)

Until next time . . .

A Full February 1st for Me!

Hello!  :)

I didn't get any sewing done over the weekend like I had planned. The hunky dude, the boy and I did go bowling though. I hadn't been bowling in over 20 years. I was pretty darn rusty . . . skills and body . . . lol! I've been paying for it ever since. We did have fun though!  :)

I had joined a Valentine's apron swap over at Country Pleasures. I thought the due date was February 15th for some reason, which is pretty odd since Valentine's Day is the 14th. Anyway the mailing due date was actually February 1st. So I got busy picking out the pattern and getting the fabric. Then I managed to get the apron plus an extra one for me sewed up pretty quick. Of course I can't show them to you yet but I will soon. I mailed it out today so my partner, Gail of Faithfulness Farm, should receive it soon and then I'll share both of them with you!  :)

I had a pretty productive day today. I finally got the two Snowman Blocks I made for a January Block of the Month Swap mailed out to my two partners.

I also got the charm packs mailed out to the giveaway winners from Monday. So Jennifer and Gail they are on the way to you! Enjoy them!  :)

While I was at it, I got the I-SPY charms mailed out for the charm swap. I'm ahead on this one as they're not due until February 15th. I know I'm shocked too! I'm never early!  Lol!  ;)

That was the end of the mailings today. Whew! It was nice to get those items off on their way!  :) I did manage to make two mini blankets for Doobie today but forgot to take pictures of them. :(  I did take a picture of him earlier today all swaddled up in my blanket though (he was cold).  :)

He's so cute and sweet! Isn't he?!!! He looks like a puppy here but he's not. Do you see his new license? I finally went and got it so he's legal now!  :)

I was even able to make some more progress with the Birdies today!  :)  I managed to get all the sashings on. I decided to go ahead and add some cornerstones where the inner blocks meet using the border fabric. What do you think? How's it looking so far?

I'm loving how it's looking but it's a little too small for me. I know it's supposed to be a lap quilt but I think I want it a little bigger. So far there's only one border to add. Tomorrow I think I'll play around a little bit and maybe add two borders instead of just one. Next time you see it the top should be finished. I hope so! It's not that I'm trying to rush. It's just that I've been dying to see how this one turns out. It's for me! I'm so excited! :)

And if that isn't enough . . . Today the mailman brought some goodies to me!  :)

It's one of my Snowman Blocks for the swap! Isn't it cute?!!! My partner Toni also sent me 4 fat quarters of snowman fabric, some sewing machine needles and thread! I'm a lucky girl!  :)

Here's a close up of the block. She designed it herself! I love it!  :)  Thanks Toni! You did a great job!  :)

Until next time . . .

All Cut & Ready to Go!

Hello!  :)

I'm still avoiding cleaning . . . but I'm going to get moving anyway!  :)  I cut all the sashing, borders and binding for my Birdie Stitches Quilt. I also cut some cornerstones but I'm not sure if I'm going to use them or not.  I'll lay it all out and then decide. It looks so pretty! Can't wait to see it all put together!  :)

I received the fabric I ordered for the I Spy Charm Swap at Midnight Maker last night. So I got it all cut and ready to send out. I really love the umbrellas and the duckies aren't too bad either!  :)

Last but not least, I cut all the pieces I need for a surprise project that's been on my to-do list. It will be nice to get this one behind me. I'm way late on it. Can't wait to see how it turns out either as it's all in my head. I'll share it with you when I can.  :)

That's it for now. I better get my behind over to my sewing area and dig that sewing machine out so I can get sewing!

Until next time . . .

MIA

Hello!  :)

Yes that's me! MIA . . . missing in action . . . lol!  ;)  So sorry that I've been gone so long. I got consumed with the holidays and then my daughters and my birthday were after that. So much was going on and there was so much to do. I felt overwhelmed and was just trying to survive. I did make it through the holidays and the birthdays and am now trying to get back to a sense of normal (if it even exists).

When I last left you I had finished Jay's Hawaiian Getaway quilt and was about to give it to him for Christmas. Before I show you the finished quilt I need to show you the newest edition to my family.

Meet Doobie! He's a 3 year old Miniature Pinscher we rescued from our local shelter on December 30th. He's such a cutie!  :)

He's the mellowest dog I've ever seen! He loves to sleep. He was already house trained when we got him. He does like to run away when he gets loose though so we have to be careful when opening doors and keep him on a leash. We think he was abused by a man before as he's real cautious around men and a little timid. He's fitting in nicely though and we're all adjusting well. I love him to death! He loves to sleep on his back . . .

Isn't he a cutie?!!! Here's a funny picture I took when my daughter was here for the birthdays. He was wedged between her and the couch trying to sleep on his back. Kind of looks like he's smiling huh?

That's for letting me share my joy with you!  :)  On to the Hawaiian Getaway Quilt finish. Here it is . . .

I hand quilted it in navy on the squares and blue in the border. It's kind of hard to see.

Here's the full back . . .

and a better close-up of the quilting . . .

I really love how it turned out and he did too! I took some pictures of Jay with the quilt but my hunky dude hasn't given them to me yet (they're on his camera).

Jessica was bummed that her Peace and Love quilt wasn't finished before Christmas but understood. She asked if I could finish it by her birthday, January 6th and I said of course. With trying to get things back in order after Christmas I barely made the deadline, but I did make it. Her quilt had much more quilting on it than Jay's did. Here's a picture of her finished quilt (with Jay's cat testing it out).

I hand quilted it with green, pink, yellow, blue and purple on all the solid squares, around the flowers and in the borders.

Here's a picture of the back (sorry it's not a good pic).

I added one appliqued flower to the back of the quilt. Here's a close-up of it and the quilting.

I joined an I-Spy Charm Swap the other day. Lorelei from Midnight Maker is hosting it. She had lots of interest and opened a second group. Of course I'm doing both!  ;)  If you're interested in joining you can check it out by clicking here . . .

I ordered my two fabrics for the swap from Fabric.com. Here they are . . .

Can't wait to see all the fabrics!  :)

I'm hoping to clean up my neglected sewing space tomorrow and get some projects lined up to work on. I have a few that were started before Christmas and others that I want to get started on.

Hope your 2012 is going great for you! So far mine is!  :)

Until next time . . .