DQS8- Sent and received!

So, yesterday was the FINAL day to mail off our Doll Quilts for DQS8 over on Flickr! And, true to my usual fashion I was in line at the post office at 3 pm yesterday:-) However, I must say that I am very proud of this quilt. I pushed myself technically and design wise. J even asked if it was for us, as he thought it would look just perfect in OUR HOUSE!

But, it is traveling west, and should be there tomorrow!

I have titled it " Dresden Fruit Plate" even though there are veggies and even one nut in the bunch. I was so taken with how well it turned out that I have started a lap size version for my mom ( who say a picture and proclaimed me the most brilliant daughter around)!

And this lovely beauty is the Doll Quilt I RECEIVED from Erin! Erin and I have swapped before, and it was so nice to "know" who had made my quilt. A definite bonus to the whole swapping adventure!!! And, I just love it. The colors are perfect, and I am in love the fabric. It is going to be hung in the living room for all to admire.

Erin commented today that she was afraid that I would take offense to the naked mermaids...she clearly has not been reading my blog:-) So, no Erin, I am not offended, and frankly did not even notice. I was too taken by the quality of quilting, and the flow of the design. Thank you so much for the time and energy you put into this quilt!!!

I will have more fun things to share soon.

Peace be with you!

Winter Wonderland...

Some may say, but I myself am done with the snow! This is what we woke up to on Saturday morning. Beautiful, yes. Fun to drive in, NO! So, we played outside, took long naps, and did a little sewing!

This is my Doll Quilt for Series 8. A Dresden Fruit Plate. My partner asked that I make something that I wanted to make. Something that represented me and my style. Well, the fruit and veggie line is my all time favorite, and I've always wanted to make a Dresden Plate. So, here it is. I will be quilting it today, and will hopefully have it in the mail by Friday. I'm not adding a boarder, but rather will bind it in the same polka dot that adorns the center. What do you think? Will my partner like it?

The Loves of my life...

Enough said!

Note: Someone thought that my 3 year old son's bum was inappropriate for my blog, so it I have blurred it. Takes away from innocence of it, but seems that's the world we live in! Too bad, really!

Finally!

A quilt for US! I have started a couple of quilts in the last year with the intention of putting them on our bed, but none of them have really fit the bill. However, these scrappy stars are jut what the doctor ordered.

These amazing stars are the products of 2 virtual quilting bee groups...This one, and this one. I've used the extra white fabric that was not used by each person to fill in the gaps, and I am loving it. The stars range in size from 15.5 inches to 6.5 inches square. I am in love with the 6.5 inch squares. The are just so dang cute!!!

Even J loves it, and he is not always such a fan of such scrappiness!
There are about 6 blocks that I will be using on the back, and a few more than hopefully will make their way to me in the mail soon. I've picked out a Kona cotton for the back in Grass Green- read: BRIGHT! The only question now is do I try to quilt this on my small sewing machine, or do I rent some time on a long arm and take some of the stress out of it? We shall see!

Peace be with you!

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.