Better late than never...

When I was putting together my yearly review of the things I quilted, I realized that I never shared pictures of my finished Baltimore Halloween top.  I'm surprised I let that slip by considering I've been appliqueing it for over 3 years!  I'm going to guess I was planning to immediately quilt it and thought I'd share pictures once it was completely finished.  But as often happens, plans change and the top is sitting off in a pile still waiting it's turn.

Baltimore Halloween Quilt Top

The pattern is Baltimore Halloween by P3 Designs.  (I also have her Baltimore Christmas pattern, but haven't started on it yet!)  I did this one using hand applique.

It was hard to get a good picture of this quilt because there are so many little pieces to each applique block.  If you're interested, I shared close up pictures of the individual blocks here and here.  And here's a picture of the bats in the outer border.  I probably spent close to 100 hours appliqueing all of them.

I really am hopeful that I'll have it quilted by Halloween this year.  Then again, I say that every year!

This is just a funny picture I took of Sam recently.  For some reason, she was really interested in the camera!

Until later...

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. 

Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)

J is for Jingle Bells...

Although this block has been done for a little while, I hadn't yet gotten around to sharing it.  This is the 9th block in the Snowmen A to ZZZZ quilt by Crabapple Hill Studios.

J is for Jingle Bells

The next block is a double one for K and L.  I'm finding my lap full of kitties at night, so I'm not making a lot of progress on it.  They're warm and snuggly though so I don't mind!

Closeup of J Block

Here's another one who wants to snuggle a lot now that the weather has turned colder...

Gabriel

Until later...

Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. 

Psalm 25:5 (NLT)

2012 - A Wrap Up...

Well, it's time for that annual tradition of looking back over the past year, taking stock of what I've accomplished and envisioning how much more I can do this year!  This is my 3rd yearly review in blog land and I can definitely see that I didn't get nearly as much done in 2012 as in previous years.  Not a big surprise.  I struggled most of the year with finding time to sew.  It's only been the last couple of months where I've found a solution.  I now get up a couple of hours earlier each morning and those are my dedicated sewing hours.  It was a little difficult at first, but now I've come to love that time of the morning in my sewing room.

I've been struggling to find time to blog as well.  I wrote less than a third of the posts I did in 2010 and 2011.  Considering this also functions as a journal of sorts (public though it is), I'd like to try to be better about that this new year too.  It's important for me to share pictures, which can take a bit of time to import and edit, but I suppose I could be a little less wordy!  (Ironically, this is a really long post...)

And here's a recap of the quilting things I accomplished this year (in no particular order):

I participated in AYOS for the first 6 months of the year and these are the quilts I made.  (Leap Year isn't quite done yet because I've decided to turn it from Schibbles size into king-size!)

Clockwise: Child's Play, Feathered Friends (top), Candy Shop (top), La Maison, Leap Year (top) and The Night's Sky (top)

Clockwise: Pathway to the Stars, Baltimore Halloween(top), Grandpa, Winter Wonderland(top), and Hatch and Windows

Clockwise: Modulus, Shangri La Quilt (top), Coupon Organizer, Hope Table Topper (top), and Thanksgiving Table Toppers

These next ones are quilts I quilted for others and a sewing hussif I made for a friend.

Clockwise: Robbie's Quilt, Gracie's Christmas Gift, Sewing Hussif, Gracie's Quilt

Finally, these are blocks that I'm working on for the Snowmen A to ZZZZ quilt (that I started with my mom in 2012) and a couple of Ladies of the Sea applique blocks I made.  (I've finished 12 of the 16 ships now.)

Snowmen A to ZZZZ Blocks

Ladies of the Sea Blocks

So that is basically a wrap-up of my quilty 2012.  I still haven't finished a king-size quilt.  I have to believe I'll finally get at least one of them quilted this year and on our bed!  As for other goals,  I'd really like to knock out some of my UFO's.  Early this year I'm also planning a big renovation of my sewing room and I know that will take a good chunk of time.  Other than that, I'd just like to continue to spend a little time each day doing something I find so much pleasure in!  I hope you get to do the same...

Until later...

“Jesus said, ‘No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.’” 

Luke 9:62 (MSG)

Gracie's Christmas Gift...

I wanted to be sure to share one last item before this year is over.  This is the quilt my 9-year old niece made for her mother for Christmas.

Gracie's Quilt

She got the quilt kit for her birthday this year and has worked on it with a little help from her Grandma and myself.  However, she did pretty much all of the sewing herself!

When she came to visit several weeks ago, she asked if I would quilt it for her so she could give it to her mom for Christmas.  Her and grandma had picked out a pretty lime green fleece for the backing (her mom's favorite color).  I did a simple large stipple on it and sewed on the binding.

The back of Gracie's Quilt

All of the fabrics on the front are flannels so the quilt is incredibly soft and warm.  It's only 42" x 51", but should be a nice size to cover a lap while watching TV.  My sister was very surprised and pleased when she opened it on Christmas Day.

I took this picture of Jack the other day and I'm amazed at how long her whiskers look.  It's not something I usually notice on her...

However you choose to celebrate tonight, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!  (I'll be in bed asleep long before the bell tolls...)

Hatch and Windows...

Like most years, I worked on a couple of projects for Christmas.  Although to be honest, my list was much shorter than usual.  The biggest one is a quilt for my parents called Hatch and Windows.  (The lump in the picture is actually my cat Jack hiding underneath.)

Hatch and Windows Quilt

I actually finished this top back in August and it was supposed to by a QOV donation quilt.  (The pattern was Mystery 26 from the Yahoo Group Mystery Quilts 4 Military.)   However, my mom fell in love with it and kept petitioning me to give it to them.  After all, my father is a veteran and was injured while serving.

So I decided to give this one to them for Christmas and make a replacement one for QOV to donate.  I quilted this version using the Square Spirals pantograph by Keryn Emmerson.

Square Spiral Pantograph

I also used a bunch of the extra 4-patches from the quilt to make a label for the back...

Label for the back of the quilt

I managed to finish the binding just two days before Christmas!  They were pretty surprised when they opened it and I know they'll enjoy it and get good use out of it.  It will actually be the quit my Dad uses while watching TV.

I've also made good progress on the replacement quilt and have all the components units made.  Hopefully I'll have the top completed in another day or two.  I'm doing this one in blues and browns...

Block Units for Replacement Quilt

So the stats for this quilt are:

• Size: 63" x 75"
• Fabrics: Batiks from my stash
• Batting: Warm & White
• Thread: Aurifil (piecing), Superior Thread So Fine (quilting)
• Pattern: Mystery 26 (Hatch and Windows) from the Yahoo Group Mystery Quilts 4 Military
• Quilting: Square Spiral pantograph by Keryn Emmerson (32 passes and 5 bobbins)
• Started: January 2012
• Completed: December 2012
• Recipient: Dad and Mom

Here's someone who thoroughly enjoyed Christmas -particularly the Christmas Tree!  She slept under it, played under it and ate a great deal of it.  As Mr. Quilting Bug put it, we had a very festive litter box in December.  Unfortunately, she also threw up a great deal of it.  She wasn't smart enough to figure out that eating it made her sick and she kept going back for more...

Sam under the Christmas Tree (aka dinner)

Until later...

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

Merry Christmas!

I pray that as Christmas Day quickly approaches, you're spending it with loved ones in warm and happy surroundings.

This year more than any other though, I'm reminded that this season can be a hard one for some people.  If that's you, I pray for God's peace to rest on you and help you through it.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

Gracie's Quilt...

Several weeks ago, I shared a picture of the quilt my mom made for my nephew (and that I helped quilt.)  This is the slightly smaller purple version she made for my niece.  (I know it looks kind of blue in the picture, but it's ALL purple.)

This one is only about 70" x 87", because she has a smaller bed.  My goal was to have it quilted by Thanksgiving when they came to visit.  Although I'm only now getting around to sharing pictures, I did have it finished in time!

I used a new pantograph on this one.  It was very labor intensive, but I love how it looks on this quilt.  Unfortunately, I don't know the name of it or where I got it from.  (It's been sitting in my drawer for a long time and there's no writing on it so I can't remember the details!)

Once my mom finishes sewing the binding to the back, my niece will have a new quilt for her bed - and in her favorite color!

Moses kept me company while I worked on Gracie's quilt.  (You can see it on the frame in the background.)  She's lying on a stack of quilts still waiting their turn to be quilted.  Every time I'd come down to that end of the quilt, she'd rub up against me, begging to be petted.  It made for some slow going!

Moses - My sewing buddy

Until later...

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. 

Colossians 3:23 (TEV)