saturday.

I have been hoarding my Christmas money like a miser (all $50.00 of it!).  I have a list of diy projects for the year 2013 and making a bulletin board (I wanted it to be cute!) was on the top of my list.  However, while taking a quick jaunt through Hobby Lobby this morning, I rounded a corner, to which I discovered a bulletin board already framed!!  Then glancing up to my left I see a 50% off sign!!  My cheap frugal little heart skipped a beat!  Originally $69.99, with tax it came to $34.00 something!  Squeal!!  This pretty girl came home with me!  Let me tell you, she is large measuring 28" x 35"!  Yay!  I love order!

I can't close with out sharing a little quilty goodness!  I recently received Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe (thanks Al!) and decided to use my Summer House charm packs with Bella Solids Bleached White.  Allison's pattern reminds me of confetti tossed up into the wind!  Too fun!  

I hope you are having a nice weekend.   

Thank you for visiting and for your kind comments.  

xoxo 

monday.

 

Last Christmas I received Lori's one yard apron pattern and the equivalence of her darling fabric needed to create it.  

Thank you so much Lori!  I adore my little apron and your pattern is fabulous!!!  I will be making more for sure!!

(patterns : July Star Blocks and Spin Cycle)

There are a few more finishes to show today.  First up are two quilt tops I made for Clara.  They are two of my favorite patterns sewn to date.  I really enjoyed the time spent on piecing them together!  Thank you so much Clara for the opportunity to create these dear quilt tops for you.  They are going out in the post today.

Next is shamefully over due.  November's bee block.  I am a tad intimidated by paper piecing, but am feeling a bit more at ease, now that I have a few under my belt. 

I am super excited that January is my month and these are the fabrics I mailed out for my block. 

I could no longer resist the scrappy trip around the world!  I just love how fun these blocks are.  I have four in the works (so far).

In the evenings, I have been crocheting with wool yarn that my daughter, Katie, gave to me Christmas before last.  There isn't a lot left, so it is becoming a snuggly scrappy infinity scarf.  The yarn is so pleasant to work with and the rhythm of this simple crochet is so relaxing.  It is a perfect project to do at the end of the day.

Thank you for dropping by today.  

I hope you have a fantastic week!!

xoxo

a bit of catching up.

There is a chill in the air around these parts (finally) and I am loving every bit of it!  I even think I smelled my neighbor's fireplace the other evening.  Heavenly.

One of my favorite trees on our property is changing color.  The perfect spot to take a few pics.  Pretty soon all the leaves will have fallen.  I am enjoying each one for as long as I can.

Here is a smidge of the back. 

 

Since the hopscotch quilt is bound, washed and photographed, it is now nestled between a couple of favorites.  Just waiting to be used.

Don't you just love snuggling under a warm, comfy quilt on cold nights?!  Nothing compares!

The backing to Valerie's Christmas quilt arrived a couple weeks ago, but forgot to show you.  It is called Crush (ivory) by Tina Givens for Free Spirit Fabrics.  It is absolutely gorgeous in person!  You have to check out Fashionable Fabric's sale fabrics!  Truly.  I was able to order 3 yards for $4.50 a yard!!  You can't beat that!

And now with the backing cut to size, the hand quilting will begin.  That is something I work on in the evenings.

I tried machine quilting it.  It all went south fairly quick, which has cost me a good bit of time.  I have two lists I am working on ... things to be completed before December 1st and things to be completed after ... this is a before.

Another evening project I am working on are a few wool and acrylic yarn pincushions.  They are Christmas presents.  But sshhh ... don't tell!  

Here is a snippet of the Spin Cycle quit progress.

It has been such a joy to create Clara's Spin Cycle quilt top.  I will be sad to see it go.  sniff.

I received the sweetest package in the mail from Heather.  I can not go another day with out posting her adorable creations. 

I have been secretly admiring her crocheted hangers for as long as they have been listed in her cute shop.  I am so touched that she made one for me.

It now holds up my favorite apron.  Heather's work is the finest quality and she adds the sweetest charm to everything she makes.

In addition to the precious hanger, there were a set of cute coasters.  Which could not be more perfect for my sewing table/desk.  I painted it earlier this year and want to avoid nicks for as long as possible.

Just look how they match my coffee mugs.  I love it!  Thank you so much Heather.  You are the sweetest!

On a side note ... am I the only one who has wanted to bring the Christmas tree down from the attic and decorate?!  The day after Thanksgiving can't seem to come fast enough this year.  

a few finishes.

 

My daughter, Katie's Christmas quilt came back from the quilter recently and I have been looking so forward to showing you.  I love Kathy's quilting!  She quilted such sweet swirls and flowers, I can not wait to have it finished and wrapped!! 

Here is a little sneak peek at another Christmas present.   My daughter Valerie decorates in blues and some browns, so I pulled a bunch of different blues from my stash and am slowly building it.  I really need to get the top done soon, since I will be hand quilting it.

  These are a couple of my favorite blocks, so far.

  I think I have Lecien in every quilt.

I love it so much! 

 In July I joined the Great Granny Along.

This is one of my favorite patterns to date.

  I would absolutely love a huge quilt made from it.

For the time being, I created a large table topper.

Since we are in the harvest season, my gga topper is tucked away, while I bring out more autumn tones.

 And here is my little table topper.

 Tapestry was such fun fabric to play with!

(thank you Amy!) 

Hand quilting with perle 8 thread lends such a cozy touch.  I just love the "nubby" feel don't you?!

 

 

And since my new little topper is in the kitchen, I put my other one in the center of our table.

Little by little my home has been handmade.  Thank you so much for letting me share my creations with you.

Have a fabulous weekend.

xoxo

oh how i have missed my sewing machine.

The hum of my sewing machine was quiet for over a week.  It has since been singing along so sweetly.  I have missed creating and sewing, so much.  You might as well tell me not to breathe on days like that.  Are you that way too?

Last spring after the Spring Market, my dear friend Amy surprised me with a couple of mini charm packs.  What a special treat!!  I could hardly wait to create something meaningful with them.  I found a wonderful pattern and it came together so quickly.  The hand quilting is done, and today I will finish the binding (at the dentist office).  My little creation is a table topper.  I am in love with Fig Tree fabrics for the fall.  

I have a larger table topper made from Breakfast at Tiffanys and I can hardly wait to bring it out each fall.

I am also finishing up row four from Lori's row along.  I am smitten with these adorable apples!  I have never made an apple block and can't wait to show them tomorrow!
I will have other finishes as well, that have not been shown.  I apologize for showing all my starts and yet am not so good at showing the finishes.  I will try harder in that department.