NY2011

This is the last day of 2010 ~ I would like to wish everybody a Happy New Year for 2011~~~
And my furry friends want to join me, so here is our Gidget sitting in one of her favorites places~ The old coal bucket, what a laugh! She is the boss of the house hold!
And here is Ms. Paws and her sister Sneezie to wish you a Happy New Year too!
We have a feral cat we have been feeding her for four years now. Every morning she will be waiting under our maple tree, if I'm late she knows exactly where our bedroom is and has been seen at that end of the house watching for the drapes to open, then she knows its time for her food. I can only talk to her, she won't allow me to get closer then two feet, if I try she jumps behind the bird bath or up the hill she goes. She is so pretty and I feel so sad that she has to be outside in such cold weather but she must have a nice place to curl up being this is her forth year. I captured her once when she was about a year old and had her neutered and was given her shots but she just didn't want to be friends and is happy being free. At least we can feed her and help her a little. I sure do wish she would be friends!

The Day After Christmas

I hope everybody had a great Christmas and today is a day of rest or is it a day when we all have to catch our strength and get ready for the New Year?
We had a very nice Christmas Eve and enjoyed two of our three sons and two grand children. We had a nice dinner and exchanged gifts. On Christmas day it was just Jonny and I we did a lot of nothing and just ate left overs as my refrigerator is full, kind of a lot for just two people to eat.
I made Lynn's Raspberry Shortbread recipe. When she posted her steps in making her's last year, her's looked like something Martha Steward made, mine looked as if it were something Elanor Burns tossed over her shoulder. There aren't very many ingredients so I don't know how I could go wrong but it was as if there wasn't enough moisture? Just Butter, Flour, sugar and the jam? I do not know how Lynn kept her's so nice and neat? I had crumbs from one end of the pan to the other. But you know the old saying "Looks aren't every thing"? They were really good and didn't last that long, so that's a good thing~

And this is for Gerry.... click twice Gerry and you'll be able to see detail a little better~


Maybe you all have a Very Happy New Year~

Quiltlingly Yours,
Crissie

Maple Tree Almost Winter~

My pretty little Maple Tree shows it's almost winter!
I completed my friend's Bee's Knee's Quilt, and by now she has the binding on.

After completing Bee's Knee's I finished this quilt Gerry made for a friend, I just did a large meandering all over, I really liked the effect and it kept the quilt nice and soft. Of course this went real fast! I LIKE THAT! This is a gift from or group of ladies, we want to give to Patty for Christmas, Gerry did all the work, This is for our Bible Study Leader, I know she'll be really happy. I really like the blocks and the way this turned out, Gerry will add the binding.
I made the label and sewed it into the corners so she can catch it in the binding, I've stitched it on the two sides that are on the quilt. Patty wanted it patriotic, I was wishing for the sail boats that Gerry made to be added that Gerry made, but they got voted out! It was said they were to white? Wonder if I could applique them on the back..... Gerry did such a great job on the little sail boats! I can ask can't I?
Quilt Inspector are taking a brake....
These Quilts were made using the same line of fabric's (I think). Pattern Sweet Sugar Swirls....
A few of the girls took a class at Thimble Creek.


I hope everybody is getting ready for Christmas~ decorating and keeping warm. It's almost time to start cooking candy and cookies isn't it?

Quiltlingly Yours, Crissie

It has been so long sence I took time to post anything, I've been so busy. Lots of new baby's being born so baby quilts had to be made. I made this quilt for my nephew's little boy Wyatt, what do you think about the quilt inspector? She's pretty good about know exactly when any quilt goes down for a picture... I need all the help I can get.





This is my friend Dianne's Bee's Knee's... not so sure I got that right but it's a darling quilt and I had fun quilting it.

Hard to see the feathers but if you look close they are there~

Last night I completed the #5 block, Miss Susana from a 2009 BOM and I'm starting on #6

named Miss Lily. I get these ready and take to our quilting group, I think it easier then setting up my machine for just a few hours of sewing, and it's ready to grab and go. I'm so happy this is completed and excited to start the new one. This is from the book Delightful Quilts in Bloom. Lynn Wilder Kitted these BOM, she started in November 2008. I'm so behind and love her patterns, isn't it a quilters dream to do just about everything you fall in love with? I really love the little hummingbird in this block, by the way they measure 14"X14". So for me it's to the light box table and tracing for the Miss Lily.

Hopefuly I don't take so long to post next time?

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted~ Goes to show you how time flies~ ~

I joined a few of my friend and we took a class called Freddie Dots... it was four classes and we had a lot of fun. I made mine smaller then the instructors and haven't got the borders on yet. I had sent for some black with white dots and felt it was a good price. When it arrived, I was so disappointed ..... it was canvas! Yips! ! I was trying to think of something I could do with three yards of blank with white dots of canvas fabric? I had thought about covering my patio cushions and second thought that was not so pleasing! So I email the company back and they agreed to let me returning it for full credit. I thought that was great! I had planed on just returning it as what can a quilter do with canvas? Nice company~

I'll post a picture when I get my borders on.

I decided to make mine different from the instructor, I am making mine square rather then on point. (Picture below) This is how it was looking when it was on the design board, I've got it sewn together now but haven't found time to make my borders, now that I have the right cotton fabric. It will be a spiked borders and my quilt won't have as many spiked blocks as the instructors. Hers has 23 spiked blocks and mine only has eight large spiked blocks. This was a fun quilt to do and I'm anxious to get it done.

There are a few bocks that aren't completed at this point, I was working on the inside blocks and trying to balance the color placements.

Baby blanket is ready to quilt at this point~

I just completed this quilt for a baby gift. I put in on the floor trying to get a picture of it before one of my furry friends showed up, ..... To Late........

I almost made it too and here came Miss Paws, so I felt if she wants to be a model I'd let her.

This is her sister Sneezie.. She is such a good little girl and hardly ever makes trouble like her sister. When she talks you can hardly hear her little Meow... But when she wants to be tough! Look out!

I pin basted the quilt yesterday at our group, with the help of several ladies we got it done in no time. I wasn't to happy with the fusible web ~ The way it made the quilt so stiff. I know better too and was excited to get to stitching the animals down that I didn't think to cut out the center part of the web. Now that it's pinned I can start quilting it. Of course with the help of my kitty friends. I've got a humming bird feeder right out side my sewing room window and this year there is a new hummer that is friendlier then last years. It sits on the feeder and watches me for a long time and isn't even bothered by the cats sitting in the window . There are two of them and they are so territorial, so when another one shows up it's a battle over who rules! They are just now starting to use the feeder again as there must be enough flowers for them to get the nectar they don't need the humming bird feeder like they will in a few months. I love humming birds!

I hope everybody is having a great Summer~

Crissie

March 22, 2010

March is skipping by at a fast jaunt ...

Some of the work I did this month was a touch up on one ladies' quilt for her great grand baby, After the baby was born she embroidered the baby's name and wanted a little more FH quilting around the name, it was really elegant! I didn't take a picture. I did this Scottie quilt for a friend and it turned out really cute, she really isn't a quilter, I think she can clam that title now after doing three quilts that I know of, She is a clever and talented lady and she did a beautiful job and this was her first try at spray starch applique. Just a few instruction to her by phone and she was on her way. I really had fun quilting it and the best part was she was very excited with what I did. I made lots of circles which I really find fun. I stitched in the ditch around each dog and that made that back really pop and showed them off. It doesn't show in the picture but I really didn't know what to do in the corners, I ended up stitching a bone. Dogs and bones do go together ~

I made a few jewelry bags for my family and had forgot to give my sisters hers when we were all together last month, she just had a knee replacement on Friday (3/19), when I went to visit her, I gave her this little bag and she told me everybody really likes her bag. She is keeping her cell phone and I-pod in it right now.

We purchased a bird feeder for our back yard and I hung it on the patio and it's been attracting lots of pretty little finches, doves and yesterday there where lots of robins but they must not care for seed? I would guess bugs as there were all over the back yard picking up something, so I guessed bugs? I told my husband we have new neighbors and then had to convince him it was in the bird house not in a house on either side of us. ;c) I think they are called Titmouse birds, I love the little calls they sing and love watching them come and go from their new home. This bird house as you can see has been hanging for a long time and I think this is only the third Mr. & Mrs. Bird to set up house keeping?

The bird watchers, they hardly ever leave the patio door.

Our feral cat has been with us for around five years now, I sure wish she would trusted me more but she just listens to me talk to her from a fare, behind a bush and won't come near her food until I get back to the patio door. I guess she is lucky that I give her food. I put it in different places depending on the weather, some times I place it under the patio table so it won't get wet, when the weather permits I place it on the retainer wall. Its funny when she come and I move away she still stand and look in the different places that I've put it, as if to say where the heck did she place it today? Such a pretty cat!

This is really a rare moment: Gidget and Ms. Paws aren't really friends, this is Ms. Paws bed so I think shes not to pleased that Gidget was in her bed. Gidgets bed in behind them and guess what? The cutting table is mine but it's really hard to prove this to these furry friends. grrrrr~ But how can you shoo them off when they are so lovable ... of course on their terms......

This is the last of our oranges from my tree, I will really miss fresh oranges, now the tree will start to make the orange blossoms and the whole back yard will have a lovely aroma ... I can hardly wait for that!

I have to get in and start two baby quilts, my nephew Nick and his wife Brandy are expecting. I love making baby quilts, I'll be making some burp pads too. It's so much fun with all the great flannels they have on the market now.

Happy Quilting...

March

I was visiting my yard the other day and looking for signs of Spring. It really wasn't hard to find!

I made this little wall hanging for my nephew's little girl Myah's first birthday party.

No Time... To Sew

We had water damage from all the rain, but home owners insurance didn't help with repairs. Our sons helped repair the crack in the foundation and we had the carpet dried out, but it still needed to be replaced. With all the moving furniture and little things out, there has been no time to sew. As I was finishing cleaning up the kitten the other night I felt water on my feet looked down and the water was pouring out from under the sink! "Grrrr" Our son Jonny came by and helped repair that and then complained that the kitchen lighting was very dim, so he replaced the lights and now... I've got Sunshine in the kitchen.. I must have really been used to the yellow dim lighting Jonny Sr. had installed some time ago! Most of the house is back in order and looks nice, only one downer here ~ I think the carpet is to light? But it's lovely and not wet!

The week before Valentines Day I did get a table runner made and shipped down south to my cousin Nancy. It felt so good to be able to surprise somebody, she had no idea I was sending it and asked what the "Why"? ;0} I had to remind her it was Valentines Day the next day! She was happy and surprise, and said she loved it! Made my heart feel good!

I managed to get a little candle mate done for my entry hall done too. Sweet! This was my first time to work with wool, I didn't think I'd like it, but it was really fun, especially when I was stitched the leaves and flowers down they just kind of melted right into the back ground.

Yesterday I was able to complete quilting my friend Dianne's wall hanging she had embroidered. I think it turned out nice, hope she is happy with it. I had a hard time deciding what to do on the borders. Decisions ~ Decisions?? I ended up putting feathers that I think look nice and I quilted a flower in each corner. The fabric was so busy with lots of different colors, I couldn't decided what color thread to use, I picked clear, so that settled that problem, however the quilting doesn't show in the pictures. You win some and you lose some!

If there's a will there a way .

Remember the saying "If there's a will there is a way" Here's proof of that... My Furry friend Gidget loves sitting in baskets, I had left my sewing room, when I returned she was trying to get in one of my project baskets~

This is her coal bucket... she's sat in this from the time she was a kitten...

Give a way~

http://www.cadouri-din-inima.blogspot.com/

Check it out she is giving a pattern away... Looks like something really cute to

make and five for Valentines, if you'd like to invite somebody to be your Valentine~

Check her blog out she makes some lovely things.

New Idea~

At our family Christmas party my sister in law had this darling snowman topper on the back of her sofa. The thought of that kept pulling at me!
As if I don't have enough to do all ready the thoughts just keeps running through my mind. So I started digging in my stash and am auditioning fabrics! I'm looking for a black plaid for a hat for one of the snowmen, a solid black hat won't show up with the back ground I'm thinking about using. My back ground is dark, after all snow people do not care much for sun, Right? I don't have any problem with the snowladies, so much fun! I think I really enjoy pulling fabric and starting new projects and oh does it show, as I've go so many UFO waiting to be completed. I love variety and work on several on and off. These are so cute and will cheer up any room for the holidays. I would like to make another one (some day maybe) using a different pattern for my guest room too, maybe in blues, Could be stars or flowers? Such a nice idea for a quite change.

Bunny Hill

Have you ever visited Bunny Hill Blog? Wonderful Blog with a free pattern each month along with other great ideas and patterns... Check it out...

http://bunnyhill.blogspot.com/

My mother had a friend who's name was Bonny and her husband smoked a pipe.. I loved getting a Christmas card from her, she would draw a picture of a bunny and of a pipe with smoke curling from it.. Such sweet memories.