A week worth of sewing

Last week was a very productive one for me and my sewing machine...and my knitting needles. The above projects ( minus the neighborly sweater) have been sitting in piles of blocks for months. MONTHS I tell you. From left to right: Red and Aqua swap hosted by Jane. This is one of the two toddler quilts I was able to put together out of the 100 disappearing 9-patch blocks I received. The rail fence has been sitting in strips since last May. This is the first quilt along from this group of lovely quilters. The scrappy log cabins were gathered from this group, and the pinwheels from this group. All of these quilts will be making their way to various organizations to wrap children with warmth and love. I hope to spend more time in 2010 using my crafting skills for good. Being a mother, with a son who sleeps under 4 quilts, I cannot imagine my child being cold during the winters months or without a special blanket of his very own. So, I hope to use up my stash for good this year!

If you are a knitter I highly recommend the Neighborly sweater pattern. I knit this cutie in less than 2 days. The one pictured above will be flying to a good friend of The Shmoo's just because I think it will be cute on her in cold New Hampshire. The one on my needles right now is destine for a classmate of The Shmoo who happens to also be our neighbor. I promise there will be many more of the puppies appearing over the next few months.

Well, I bid you all a great week, and check back here for this weeks projects. I've been very busy!!!

Peace be with you

Welcome 2010

It feels like 2010 snuck up on me. Really! The Shmoo and I were flying home from North Carolina on the 31st, so I had no bubbly in the house, no sparklers, no snacks...NOTHING. We arrived in a snow storm, and slowly made our way home. I felt like I needed just one more day to get myself together before the New Year arrived. Well, I didn't, so I did what I do best...started a new quilt. This one was for my Grandmother-in-law. We exchanged gifts with J's family on the 3rd, and so I had 2 1/2 days to get this baby made. And, I did it!

Here she is is all of her glory ( the quilt that is). J stood on the porch while I hiked out into the yard to get a nice snowy image.

I love it. You cannot see it in this picture, but I stippled it using a variegated King Tut thread in pinks and creams. And, if I do say so myself, and I do, it turned out beautifully. The fabric is from this line, and is about as far from my usual as you can get. However, after seeing this quilt, I was inspired to step out of my comfort zone for Gram. She loved it, and told me that she would think of me each time she used it! It totally melted my heart!!!

I used this pattern, which I purchased at the LQS in Chapel Hill. And, just so you know, this pattern will be used again shortly!!!

One down, and many, many more to come.

Peace be with you!

Santa came to GG's house

Oh yes he did! The Shmoo has been telling everyone for weeks that Santa was going to bring him 5 presents! There were no details about what these 5 presents were to be, so we went with it. Well, Santa came through with lots of cars, new markers and blank book, puzzles, and a memory game. We are now watching the movie UP! that GG gave him for Christmas, eating cinnamon buns, and playing with all of our new toys ( ipod touch for me:) ).

Sending warm holiday wishes to you and yours from rainy North Carolina!

I promise to me more present in the new year here on my blog! See you then.

Peace be with you now, and in the new year.

What have I been doing?

Well, I've been working on this beauty! Two of the circles are hiding right now, but this " baby" quilt was a commission from my cousin. She has a baby shower this weekend, and wanted something that would be the hit of the party. So, 8 hours of my sewing retreat, 24 different fabrics, and my new beautifully quilting sewing machine turned out this love. I have to admit that once I pulled it out of the dryer I almost couldn't stand to part with it. I used the tutorial/pattern from here, and copied the quilting recommended ( free motion circles within the circles, and stippled the backgrounds). It crinkled just perfectly, if I do say so myself, and I do :-)

It has arrived in its new home, and so it is on to my next big project...my very first craft fair in just over 2 weeks. Hmmmmm...maybe I should be sewing rather than blogging....

Wishing you all a most wonderful day. The Shmoo will be in his very first pre-school play today ( the 3 little pigs), so I am off to dress the part of the very proud mama.

Peace be with you.

Hellllooooooo.....

My son just got the Winnie the Pooh Movie, so that " hello" was in Pooh's voice :-)

I have been MIA from blog land for quite awhile, but for very good reason...I've been sewing..A LOT! I have lots to show, but they will have to wait until next week. Some of them are for people who have just now realized I have a blog, and have been stalking it! So, next week I shall reveal my newest sewing creations!

I can share that I spent last weekend at a Quilting Retreat on the coast of Maine. I even took time away from my machine to visit the beach, and it was totally worth it. We had unusually warm weather, so the experience was just lovely. I got 3 baby quilt tops done, and put a dint in a couple of quilts for myself ( it seems that I am creating a ton for others, and our bed is still naked)! One of these said baby quilts is a commission for my cousin. She requested a quilt that would be the hit of a baby shower she is attending next weekend. So, almost 30 fabrics later, and a new to me sewing of circles, I think we hit the jack pot. Well, all I have to say is if she doesn't love it The Shmoo will happily take it off her hands. He has already asked if it can sleep on his bed. I told him that seeing as he already had 3 of my quilts on his bed I thought this one could go live somewhere else. It was good enough for the moment!

On other sewing fronts I have been building up my collection of bags for 2 big events. The first is a craft fair the first weekend in December. This will be my very first craft fair, and I must admit that I am a bit nervous. The second is that a friend of mine is opening an Artisan shop in our small town on December 1st, and I will be putting both quilts and bags in there. So, I have been planning, organizing, and sewing up a storm to prepare for both of these events. Christmas presents will have to wait until December 6!

Wishing you all a most wonderful day.

Peace be with you.

Pay it forward...

I signed up for a Pay it Forward on Audrey's Blog a few weeks ago. So, that means that I need to pay it forward here on my blog. I will take the first 3 people who respond, and send them something handmade within 365 days. The catch? Well, you must then old a Pay it forward on your blog. See, it just keeps going spreading handmade goodness to the world. I will send anywhere in the world, so please ( please oh please so I don't feel like the kids with no friends) sign up!

Peace be with you.

Tying up loose ends!

This week I have been tying up some loose ends in my sewing room. You know, the projects in various stages that have been pileing up for ....YEARS. Yep, those are the ones I've been working on. I found these blocks hidden at the bottom of a box, and decided to sew them together. After putting them up on my design wall and moving the around for a little while I decided on this lay out. I had 10 blocks...not such a great number, but I realized if I saved one out I could use it on the back. The colors are much brighter in real like, and I am in love with it. I only wish I had made more blocks. It would be a great baby quilt. This little baby only measures 18X18. I am still contemplating boarders, but for now it is hanging from the roman binds in the living room. It gives a new meaning to " living with " a creation! And yes, those are my feet :-)

I have been sitting on a charm pack on Moda Sweet for about 8 months now, and finally decided to cut into them. I found this quilt while blog surfing, and decided to give it a go. This baby measures 32 1/2" square with each block a whopping 16 1/2" . I think I'm going to add white boarders and keep it simple! ( sorry for the less than stellar photo)

I am currently working on a placemat for Place Mat swap #2 over on Flickr. I am really excited about this one, and just hope my partner loves it as much as I do! I will post a photo as soon as I know it has arrived safely in Australia!

Happy Fall, Happy Weekend, and Peace be with you.