My Christmas Project

I started this last week for someone special and I finished it this morning. It's not one of my best but it still didn't turn out bad. I just got back from delivering it and I think they liked it. Now on to the next one -I should have it in the frame by this evening (tomorrow).

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE,

Life during Christmas

Wondering where I was? We got off work Thursday and I started on this quilt. I had to find all the fabrics I needed first. The pattern called for 8 pieces and it took me forever to find the eighth. It seems like that is always the case, no matter that I have a roomful of fabrics I always need one more piece.
  So naturally I've been busy putting this quilt together and getting it in the frame. I had to take time out every time one of the kids came by, (to hand out presents), and cook and do the dishes. My husband went out of town - I took 3 days off work  and I'm hoping to have this one finished by this evening (wishful thinking).
   I also had to take time out yesterday and make a ruler - see it  - it's on the top of the quilt. It's not perfect  (neither am I) but it works.

Easy Button Instructions

I found these instructions on the net on how to make a button. I'm still working on mine. I think I need better graphics

1 Create a new document in your photo-editing or graphic design program by clicking the "File" menu and the "New" tab.
2 Type the desired size of your blog button (typically 150 by 150 pixels), ensuring that the button size is small enough to fit within the chosen space on your blog.
3 Create a text box within the button and type whatever text you desire, choosing whichever font(s) and colors coordinate with your blog design.
4 Use the program to insert an image into your button (optional, but it does help the button stand out and look more attractive).
5 Add a border or background color if you wish, then click "File" and "Save As" to save the file to your computer.

Button Button

I've been playing with buttons. It's still a work in progress. This is what I've come up with so far. I don't think it's going to be a keeper

Merry Christmas

I saw this in an email this morning and just had to share. It reminds me of my 4 year old grandson.

Hope everyone has a MERRY CHRISTMAS (there I said it) and a HAPPY NEW YEAR

Trip Aroung the World

My boss has been after me to make him a blue Trip Aroung the World. I kept telling him I didn't think I could get it done by Christmas but I managed to get the top together yesterday. He can give his wife that and I'll get it quilted after the hoidays. I finally found time yesterday to work on one I have had in the frame since August. I'm not really that slow - just to many things going at one time.

My camera (of course not the operator) didn't take a very good picture. Believe it or not the quilt top is actually blue tones.

Sunbonnet Sue

I was looking at Quilting is Murder and saw this link for an unusual Sunbonnet Sue and just had to share with all the Sunbonnet Sue fans.  This definately goes with my morbid sense of humor. Go check out the new blog Quilting is Murder and register to solve the mysteries. I love a good mystery and this sounds like it might be fun.

   My favorite Sunbonnet is "Tied to the Tracks" by Georgann Eglinski. 
What's yours? These women had good imaginations. It goes to show two(or many) heads are better than one.

Angry Birds

   I've spent part of the past few days checking out other blogs. There are some really talanted people making some really cute stuff.  Makes me realize I'm just another fish in the big pond.
   I have also managed to read a book in the last week. I know I should have been sewing but I picked this book up and couldn't put it down. Every time I could, I read a few pages. That's why I have been avoiding books lately - I'd never get any sewing done. I have at least 6 that have been quietly whispering my name and I finally had to shut them up and put they away. Now that I've read one, I want another.
   Anyway back to cute stuff. When I last saw my oldest daughter she showed me a game she had on her phone called Angry Birds. Said she loved it. When I was trolling thru the blogs I found

these Angry Birds (and pigs). Just tooo cute. I sent her an email with the blogsite. I found this along with the step by step directions on Obessively Stitching. She also had step by step instructions for  this Angry Bird as well.  I think these would make great stocking stuffers.  And the ornaments would look great on my baby tree (I broke down and bought a little potted pine)

Finally finished

Well I finally finished my quilt for the JoAnn contest - for what it's worth. I really would have liked to have done more quilting on it but just not enough time in the days. My mother and sister really like it but I haven't been able to form any attachment for it. This will probably be the last I show it cause it isn't going to be a winner - not pesamistic(?) just honest.

Wasted Day

I took the day off again (amazing I still have a job) and ran the roads this morning and played all afternoon. I finally decided to do something productive and made these 2 LSU stockings for a couple of guys I work with. I guess for all I did I probably should have gone to work.

Quillows

I finally finished my quillows. I needed two for a customer and decided to make 4. Last yeat I make 16 and got rid of them all.These are the fronts

These are the backs

These are the 2 for my customer.

This one is a little longer and the one with the light blue back is wider and longer. I folded it up before I realized I hadn't taken a picture. It took forever to fold and I worked up a good sweat doing it so I wasn't going to undo it for a picture

Now if I can catch up on alterations I'll be able to play.

My new Janome

My husband bought me a Janome 6600 a few years ago and I fell in love with it. Before that I thought my Singer was great - I just didn't know. I became spoiled real quick - the knee lift, thread cutter and needle threader had me at hello.
So when he bought me an embrodery machine off craigs list I had a hard time adjusting. Like driving a standard all your life then going to an automatic - you keep going for the clutch. I sold that one to my sister Beverly and he bought me this fabulous Janome 11000 (1.0) and had it upgraded to the SE (2.0). I've been playing with it and it is AWESOME. I have a class this afternoon to learn more (I hope).
I also saw the Horizon and it is a nice machine too. It has alot of the same features as well as a bigger sewing area. Mine are 9" and the Horizon is 11".
I still have the same ole complaint - I just wish I had more time to play.
I have finished my JoAnn quilt. I wasn't able to quilt it as much as I would have liked but this will have to do. I still have 2 sided of the binding left to sew down and I got my backings in yesterday for the rhinestones. That will probably take a couple of days. Thank goodness the weekend is almost here. I should have it finished by Monday and I will put a picture on here.

Marking Quilting Designs with PnS

I'm always looking for easier ways to mark my quilts and I have found that this is an inexpensive , quick way to mark quilts without all the hassle. I found a tutorial on Angie's Bits n Pieces that can explain it alot better than I can.
Of course I still use my rulers and marking pens. I'm probably the reason the marking pens are still in business. No matter how dry the pen gets I have a hard time throwing them away. I have a drawer full - there might be a drop left that I might need one day.

Around the world

I made this for a co-worker and now I have orders for 3 more.

I just finished quilting the JoAnn quilt. Now I need to finish binding it.

I still need to get the 2 quillows made and The alterations are really stacking up. Thank goodness I made it thru Thanksgiving week - all that work for 20 minutes of eating. I'm begining to re-think the process and pass it down to my girls. It would be nice to show up in time to eat and then go home.. What ever happened to the month of November.

SLICE FABRIQUE

My daughter told me about the Slice Fabric Cutter and when I saw it I immediately thought about my sister Barbara. This woud be perfect for anyone that likes to applique. I want one just to have it - more toys, I put a YourTube video under videos or just click on the name. I think I would have to start doing some appliques. This should be available in January

Bargello

As most of you have read you know how much I like stack-n-whacks. Here is another one I can't resist. I'm hooked on Bargellos too. I have the books and a bunch of patterns but have the same problem as with everything else - not enough time. I can't believe this month is almost over - where did it go. Oh, I know - working my fingers raw trying to get that JoAnn quilt finished. I can say I'm a little over half way.

And the Winner IS

I'd like to thank everyone for commenting on my GIVEAWAY for the Pineapple Stars book. This was my first giveaway and I really enjoyed it. Since I didn't have alot of hits I wrote everyones name on a piece of paper and let my 3 year old grandson make the pick. And the winner is NeedledMom. Please email me (marth@mail.com) your address and I will get that out to you this week. Thanks again everyone and stay tuned for the next one.

Log Cabin

I got energetic one day and decided I would do a log cabin. The pattern I was looking at didn't have the amount of strips I needed so I just stripped away and ended up with way more strips than I needed. So I had enough for 3 of the patterns in the book I was looking at. I gave one to my sister (Beverly) (the third one) and I started the last one shown. After I did that one I decided I really don't like putting together log cabins. I love the way they look. When I went to my daughters' in August I took the last one so I would have something to do. When I started putting it together it was going to be too big so I split it and came up with the first two. These are all made with the same fabric.

Microstitch Tool

I noticed on bejeweled quilts by Barb that she posted about pinmoors and I just thought I would let everyone know about the microstitch tool. This is like the old booteneer(spelled wrong) except it has smaller fasteners. I find this is so much easier than using pins. I don't have to keep track of where I take them out or where I put them. I have the same problem as Barbara (CRS). Anyway it is something to look into. It also has a 3.4mm fastener to use (on what else) to stack-n-whack. Love my toys

Show your STASH

This is a smaaall portion of my stash. Since I got my quilting machine I had to move all this to a spare bedroom. Now I have fabric in 3 rooms - 2 bedrooms and the sewing room. I have fabric stacked all over the place. Under the quilting machine, on the spare bed, around the spare bed, in the washroom, the floor in front of the stash and of course around the sewing table and under the sewing table. I keep telling my husband that we need a bigger house and he keeps trolling craigslist for more fabric and sewing stuff. He says if we got a bigger house it would be like when I cook and fill the big pot to the brim just because it is bigger. A bigger house would just mean I could get more fabric. I tell him I would just have more room for fabric - there's a difference. He's a good ole boy and doesn't deny me anything (except the bigger house)
As a matter of fact he saw an embrodery machine on craigslist last week and he went and bought it Thursday. Now I have a new toy and no time to play with it.

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THE POST FOR THE GIVEAWAY

4 SISTERS AND A MOM GIVEAWAY

As most of you know from reading bejeweled quilts by Barb our little family has decided to have a group GIVEAWAY. I have decided to give a lucky reader this book by Sharon Rexroad for Pineapple Stars. I used this for the main idea for my 1st show quilt. Since I liked it so much I ordered 2 by mistake (has nothing to do with old age).

So if anyone would like to win this book in my part of the GIVEAWAY all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog and I will announce the Winner next Wednesday November 17. (If you would like to become a follower that would be nice too.)

You can also visit Inchworm Fabrics, BEJEWELED QUILTS BY BARB and  Quilters Corner  to enter their part of the GIVEAWAY.  Have fun and GOOD LUCK

Product Description,

Dazzling pineapple stars that anyone can piece! Workbook style guides you from easy construction through designing your own project Tremendous flexibility - make any project in six sizes Sharon takes the mystery out of fabric selection, paper piecing, and construction Large areas perfect for show-off quilting!

About the Author

Sharon Rexroad's award-winning quilts have stolen the show at major events for a decade.

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Product Details Paperback: 96 pages Publisher: C&T Publishing; illustrated edition edition (March 2005) Language: English ISBN-10: 1571202684 ISBN-13: 978-1571202680 Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces

Earring Case

I know this has nothing to do with quilts but I thought I would show off my other obsession. My daughter says I'm queen of the cheap earrings and she is probably right. I have around 500 pairs. A while back I figured out how I could display them so I wouldn't have to rummage thru drawers and I came up with this idea. The big case is mine and I have another one a little smaller, as well as 2 like the one on top and they are all full (well there is still a little room in the big one). Earrings are like fabric for me - I just can't resist. I keep meaning to put them on Etsy but haven't made the time. One day
My husband did help - he did most of the routing and he's an expert supervisor (especially with the dishes)

Green Garden

Oh no another stack-n-whack. Believe it or not I do make other quilts but I just love doing these. I made the top and my mother quilted it. She found the fabric and we just knew it would make an awesome quilt. I have quite a few more pieces that are gathering dust just waiting to be made - wish I had more time. I just took off last week to work on my JoAnn quilt and I'm only half way thru. I decided to hand quilt it (boy are my fingers sore) and wishing I had machine quilted it instead. Don't know if I'll make the deadline. I've also gotten 4 requests for quilts and 2 quillows for Xmas. I know I won't make that deadline. Shame I have to work.

Pineapple Stars

This was the 1st show quilt I made. i did it for the $100,000 Quilting Challange and made it to the top 5 finalist. I did have some better pictures but lost them in a computer crash.

I really enjoy making show quilts. But I need to plan a little better so that I'm not under the gun so much.

Curve Master

I don't know if any of you have had a chance to use the Curve Master presser foot but it is awesome. I used it to put my JoAnn quilt together. No pins and I was able to put the pieces together in a fraction of the time it would have normally took me.  I actually had fun. I use to stay away from anything with curves because it took so much time. This is a must have for any quilter