Win a Free Quilt!

Dana at Old Red Barn Co is giving away not one ... but THREE quilts. I'd be thrilled to have any one of them. Check it out and leave a comment for your chance to win.

More Paper Piecing

My new daughter-in-law asked me to make a Christmas tree skirt for her for this holiday season. I looked around for patterns, but I didn't see anything that I thought was really "her" so I came up with my own idea. I'm not sure exactly where I'm going with it yet, but this is what I have so far.

I bought some Christmas fabrics ....

I found some patterns online for some paper pieced blocks. They're simple designs, and it was good practice ... not to mention kind of fun.

I made my share of mistakes ... I think I had to rip out at least one piece from each block I did ... sometimes more. But I'm getting better. I have four more blocks to do (two each of a candy cane and a wreath) and then I have to figure out where to go from there. I know what I want it to look like when I'm finished ... I just haven't quite worked out how to get there yet ... but I will.

I like to do projects that sort of evolve. Sometimes I end up with quite a mess ... but once in a while it ends up to be something spectacular. We'll see which way this one goes!!

What I've Been Working On ....

I didn't have anything to post for Finished by Friday this week, but it's not because I haven't been doing anything. This week I made these cute little 4 patch blocks. This is going to be a long term project. I want to do a 4 patch quilt, so I'll just make a few blocks here and there, and when I have enough, I'll sew them all together.

I learned how to paper piece. Does this look like a chili pepper to you??

I made another little fabric basket. This one is a bit bigger than the original pattern and I changed the handle placement. It worked out fine.

I practiced my free motion quilting on some little pieces, which bound and turned into hot pads for our kitchen. We never seem to have enough!!

I finished my mini-quilt for November's Swap Til You Drop, but I can't show that until my partner receives it. I think it turned out kind of cute.

Projects I'm still working on ...

Rail fence quilt for my sister.

Little boxes quilt from Pumpkins Gone Wild scraps .. needs backing, quilting and binding.

The December them for Swap Til You Drop was announced, and I had a flash of inspiration, so I started on that already. I was going to sit out December thinking it would be too busy ... but then I got this great idea!!

The Baby Girl quilt ... I'm still working on frogging all that meandering!!!

New projects I want to start

A Christmas tree skirt for the Big Guy and KT (by request)

Lounge pants for all the kids (five pair).

A Christmas table runner for myself.

Curtains for the Wonder Child's bedroom in his new apartment (by request).

A throw quilt for the Poet and fiancee for Christmas.

I guess all that will keep me busy for a while!!

Happy sewing!! Terri

Let's Talk About Stash

I've never been much of a stash person. I always bought fabric with a particular project in mind, used it for that, and my only stash was scraps and odd pieces which were left over. When I was quilting, I saved those scraps, just in case I might be able to use them in another quilt block sometime. The last couple of months, I've been trying to build up a stash, but I have to admit it's hard for me.

I've never been much of a shopper. Retail therapy is not a concept I understand. I go shopping when I need something. That goes for clothes, groceries, things for the house ... whatever. So it's been hard for me to shop for fabric when I don't have a specific use for it in mind. I've picked up some yardage the last few weeks, but unless I have a specific project in mind, I get so overwhelmed in the fabric shop that it's hard for me to buy anything. I bought the same fabric twice because I forgot I already had some. Once I buy it, I feel compelled to use it for something.

Except for fabric that I purchased for a particular use ... this is my entire stash.



Pretty pitiful, huh? Well, I'm working on it. I guess I'm still not used to the fact that the kids are all gone, and nobody is going to need a new pair of tennis shoes, or have outgrown all their jeans, or need a trip to the emergency room for xrays or stitches or something, and it's okay to spend some money on things just for fun!!

This 'N That

I've spent most of my sewing time this week working on a mini quilt for Swap Til You Drop, so I can't show that yet, so as not to spoil the surprise. In between, I've been putting finishing touches on a couple of other projects. This is another dishtowel I did. They have these plain white waffle weave dish towels at WalMart, a package of 2 for a couple of dollars, and then I fancy them up. They're fun, and quick to do, and I think they'll make nice little Christmas gifts.

I also took one of my old projects .. the Card Tricks block, put some binding on it and made a mini quilt out of it. I think I'm going to do that with my other odd blocks from years ago. I might as well display them instead of having them sitting in a drawer!! And I've been playing around with designing quilt labels. I've never labeled my quilts, although I did sign a couple of them that I gave as gifts years ago. I designed this one on my computer. I used a label template, inserted some graphics and typed in the information. Then, I ironed some freezer paper onto a piece of muslin, cut it to fit in my inkjet printer and printed it off. You have to be sure and heat set the ink with a hot iron so it doesn't wash out, but it worked pretty well. It's kind of a neat way to have a custom label. I'm still searching for the right graphic to use as my "signature" label. Until I come across just the right thing, I'll just enjoy some variety.
The weather continues to be unseasonably warm. I'm not sure it's going to last much longer, but it sure has been nice. The peak of fall color is past, but there is still a lot of color to be seen. I really enjoy it when fall hangs around for a bit longer than usual. I love everything about it. The brilliant colors, the sounds of flocks of migrating geese, the smell of burning leaves, the echoes of the marching band from the nearby high school on Friday night football games, the crisp morning air. It's my favorite time of year!!

Terri

Sneak Peek and a New Baby

We've had unseasonably warm weather the last couple of days and I've been thoroughly enjoying it. It's not often we get 70 degree sunny days in November, so I'm making the most of it. It's been absolutely beautiful!!

This is a sneak peek at a secret project I'm working on. It's for a swap, so I can't show too much. Don't want my partner's surprise to be ruined!!

And this is my newest great nephew. Meet Coby Jayse ... born on Halloween!! Baby Coby lives several states away, so I'm not likely to see him any time soon to pinch those fat baby cheeks. I'll just have to ask his Grandma and Grandpa to do a litte extra for me!! I must have had a premonition because we didn't know whether the baby would be a girl or a boy ahead of time, but something told me to finish the baby boy's quilt first and I did that last week ... just in time. I just need to add a label today and then it goes in the mail!!



Don't forget exercise your right to vote today, whoever you decide to vote for!!

Have a great day.

Terri

The Morning After

Honey took this picture the morning after Halloween a few years ago. Don't you love it?