I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

I admit that I really enjoy the process of having a vision for a group a fabrics that I just love and have to have, and then when the quilt is finished feeling very rewarded by how the finished project honors my vision.
The quilt that I just finished was the project that I worked on at retreat, but  left the background piece for the center medallion behind.:( so had to stop and finish this week at home. The reward was worth staying with it because this quilt looks just as I envisioned it would.   Eurika!!
The inspiration was just a photo. I was required to sharpen up my math skills and fiqure out how to make it all fit together. It seemed that it would be easy because it was just strips and the center is a large dresden plate.  I designed the center on EQ, which I have a love/hate relatonship with. I am pleased that it all fit together and I was encouraged that I still had the skills needed to design from just a picture. And I like the way the fabrics make it all come together. Now I need to think about how to quilt it.
I'm sure I will come up with something worthy of my time and effort.
I guess it needs a name...not sure what that would be. I can never think of clever titles for my quilts.
Any suggestions?

Thanks for visiting and stay tuned I'm starting a stunning quilt using Kaffe Fassett fabrics to be auctioned to benefit my granddaughters' school. I will keep you posted on its progress.

Cheers.

Great friends, good food and time to sew..priceless!

Well, I have had the most splendid weekend with my small quilt group. We meet every month usually, but once a year we have a long weekend retreat. We all bring projects to work on, shop at local quilt shops, eat. sleep..a little and sew, sew and sew. This year we finished more projects than usual. Several baby quilts were completed..including quilted and bound..really finished!! I managed to get the project I brought very close to completed, but found I left one very important part behind and had to shift to another project. Fortunately I did pack more than one!We had so much fun, we laughed, played, teased, cheered and praised. I would not trade time with these ladies for anything. Time together always renews and I'm  better for having known them.

Now life returns to its usual pace and struggles and frustrations but I for one, know that I can handle it all just a little better, now.

And can you believe the orange beauty pictured above..what a stunner...it was inspired by another that was made to raffle for MS and we all LOVED it so much, we all now desire to make one!!! 

 I wish my picture taking was better, I would like to blame the camera but I'm sure it is me...just keep in mind that these quilts are better in "person".

Thanks to  the "Chicks" for a great time. Cluck Cluck..you know who you are :).

Till next time...find something to be thankful for and OH Yeah...

Happy Valentines Day!   Cheers

Sew Day

Jelly Rose by Fig Tree Quilts

Yesterday was a special day. My friend, Pam and I try to get together once a month or so and sew together. Yesterday she hosted the get together at her home and we had a great time but I discovered that the quilt I chose to work on had some issues. My fault completely,  I seem to have made some errors in the positioning of the stems and leaves on over half the blocks!!!!GRRRRR!! Now I must RIP! out the tiny invisible machine applique stitches. For some reason, I got confused and curved the stems the wrong way on half of the blocks. I think I should have just tried to complete a block at a time( takes 4 units to make a block) I would have caught the error much sooner. Oh, well. I have a good seam ripper and time. Maybe a good movie and a cup of tea would help too. I did manage to complete one of the nine blocks and have one more ready for sashing. I've posted a picture hoping this will make me more determined to finish it and post proof of it. Looking at it on my design wall, I know why I had to make it..I just love the fabrics.

I have a sticky-note pad that says "Today is a good day to start a quilt"....I would have to agree with that statement. I have many planned and waiting to be started and I am looking forward to many "good days" ahead.
I hope you get inspired to start something new. Enjoy!!!

Look what I did!

Happy New Year!

Look what I did today!! I have been posting the Bunny Hill Design 2009 block of the month blocks as I have finished them. My goal was to get the blocks put together with the sashings and borders by the first of 2010 and I did it!! I am very pleased with how my choice of fabrics for the sashings and borders look. Thank you to Anne Sutton for this fun design I really enjoyed getting a new block in my inbox every month.  Now what will I do??

I also joined a New Years Day Mystery Quilt event from Planet Patchwork. This is the first time I have committed to this fun event and I really enjoyed completing one step an hour until I had a completed top. It was a challenge to pick the fabrics without knowing what the end result will be, I think it went well I would have picked a different focus fabric (black print) if I had known that the print would have been sort of lost.  It was fun to get up early and sew in my PJ's all morning until the quilt top was finished.  I highly recommend it.

Well that's how my year started...pretty great I think. Hope you find many fun projects to inspire you this year.

Cheers to 2010!

HAPPY 2010

Christmas 2009 is now just a great memory. It seems like every year the time just flies away once we get to Christmas Eve and Day. I hope everyone got what they asked Santa for. I did, but mostly I recieved the greatest of gifts,  love and time with family and friends. Looking back on all the great conversations, laughter, chaos, food and lack of good sleep..ahh that is what I will remember. I hope you all had a Christmas experience that made you happy.
Now on to a new year!!!! Wow, 2010...I'm not sure I can get my mind around that number quite yet...I'm sure I will be still writing 2009 for a few months yet. It takes longer to sink in these days. I have nothing to show or tell about this time. No photos of completed projects, but I will be ringing in the new year cleaning my Studio. It becomes the dumping ground for everything that needs a temporary home..gifts needing wrapping, wrapping supplies etc. I also have bits and pieces remaining from last minute projects that I need to sort out. I think I will put in one of my favorite movies and start digging in. Maybe a pot of tea will help as well.
I must stay away from all the Christmas sweets that remain in my house,tho. They seem to call out to me and I must resist. Why can't I like celery and carrots instead???? It is a good thing that my Studio is far away from the kitchen...well not that far ... so I will just have to talk myself out of indulging. Wish me luck with THAT!!
I hope you all have a Happy and Safe New Years Celebration.
Welcome 2010 and all its possibilities. Cheers.

Brrrrr..The weather outside is frightful, but the Studio is delightful!

We are in a deep freeze here in Western Washington. It has been below freezing for a few days now. Great days to stay indoors and work on those Christmas projects. I have now finished all of the BunnyHill Designs
"A Tisket A Tasket" block of the month blocks. I am ready to sew them all together with sashings and borders. It will have to wait until I have a few more Christmas gifts made. I may save it for a New Years Day project.

I spent most of today sewing a very cute apron and pot holder for a good friends' gift. I really think it turned out adorable!!!! My opinion only, ofcourse. I hope the recipient will agree.  This pattern was easy and I think I will make more. I have some vintage kitchen curtain fabric that I have been waiting to make something fun with and I think this will be the pattern. I will post a picture, ofcourse!!

Last weekend my husband Steve and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary!!!! I can't believe that 40 years went by so fast. We had a nice day in the city and special dinner out.

Hope you are all enjoying the season!!! Cheers.

Giving Thanks!!

Well here it is 2 days until Turkey Day. I'm really getting into the spirit of the holidays now. Christmas music on the radio keeps me company as I gather the supplies to make those gifts that I need to get started. I've made my list, at least.
 I have finished the November Tisket Tasket block and want to share this one right away. It is a cute one!!! Well thats all for this week..I wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all.