Another Quilt Finished!

Good Morning!

Presenting my "Bow-Tie" lap quilt. It's red, white and blue with stippling. I love it. I feel my stippling is improving with each project I quilt. I'm in a church quilt group and I'll be quilting all the quilts we make because no one else is comfortable quilting. I love it and it will give me more practice time and hopefully my skills will improve.

This lap quilt was made for me! I felt it was time to make something for myself and there's nothing nicer than cuddlying up to read with a lap quilt! I have it on my wicker rocker and now I realize I'm going to need to make a new cushion to go with the quilt! LOL! Guess I'll have to go buy some more fabric. Rats!

I've joined the Christmas Ornament Swap (see sidebar). Check it out, you have until November 1st to sign up.

We've made reservations to visit our grandson the week before Christmas. We haven't seen him since he was born, six months ago! He's changed so much!

Have a great weekend!

Read more...

It's Finished!

Introducing the Dresden Plate Table Runner!

I just love this pattern. It was fun to make and has a real "wow" factor. You can get the pattern from www.modabakeshop.com.

I had it on the breakfast table this morning. Do you think the hubby noticed? No. I'm a bit frustrated with his lack of encouragement in the hobby department. I go out of my way to ask about his golf, bridge and poker and encourage him to be active in those things. I wish he would support me. Anyone out there have this problem or ideas for solutions?

Have a great day.

Read more...

Sewing Like Crazy...And Nothing to Show for It!

I've delayed posting, waiting to complete a project--but I realize it may be a few more days and I wanted to say hi.

I'm working on a gorgeous Dresden Plate table runner and chargers (Moda Bakeshop) that I've very pleased with. it's all pieced and sandwiched. Just need to quilt and bind it.

I'm also almost done with the first lap quilt I've made for myself. It's a lovely bow-tie pattern in blues, creams and a dash of red. All reproduction fabric and shirtings. All I have to do now is hand-stitch the binding to the back of the quilt. It looks great, if I say so myself! :D

I want to give you all a few "heads-ups" on neat things. If you go to Leah Day's website she has a Fabulous on-line video collection/e-book for sale ($18.95) called "Stitch It Up A Notch" about "How to Piece Perfect Quilts". I purchased it and learned so much I can already see a change in my work. It's worth the money and you can access the videos online anytime. She's the gal that has the 365 days of free motion quilting clips for free. She's a great teacher, very articulate and nice. Check it out.

Also, "Don't Look Now" has a Quilt-Along using the "Orange Peel" pattern with hand applique. She will have instructions and pattern downloads. The plan is to make about a block and a half a week to complete a twin size quilt. This is another extremely talented young lady that we can all learn from. If you mozy around her site you will see she is amazing. She will be teaching a different way to applique-not needle turn. Why don't you join us?

Hope each of you is doing well.

Melanie

Read more...

It's Beginning to Look a lot like...

Meet Alex, the apple of our eye. He's our six month old grandchild. My job, as grammy, is to thoroughly spoil this little guy. I'm trying hard.

When I was a new little baby my mom made a beautiful Christmas Tree skirt for my first Christmas. It was made of felt and had beads and sequins. It is a family treasure, a link to my mother who has passed away. She stayed up late for several weeks before Christmas finishing it. Now it's my turn. I've made Alex a quilted Christmas Tree skirt of cottons and buttons and applique and stockings.


It is my hope that it becomes a family treasure for him to pass down.

I hope each of you is having a good day.

Read more...

Travel with Me! Venice Italy

I was blessed to go on a wonderful Mediterranean vacation this month. We saw wonderful, amazing things. And I just can't resist sharing. So, mixed in with other posts I'll be adding photos and stories from our adventures.

Perhaps my favorite city in the Mediterranean was Venice Italy. What an enchanting city. It was basically built on a bog by folks trying to hide from conquering rulers. They stuffed timbers into the soil below the water and then built on the timbers. Because the timbers were so tightly packed together, they didn't rot. Amazing. Venice has no streets. Really! Their streets are canals, which have sidewalks on each side small foot bridges crossing the canals every so often. The sidewalks are in front of the homes and businesses. To get around this small city (you can walk it's width in about 20 minutes) you take water taxis (boats) or gondolas. The sidewalks are like a maze and the best thing to do is to just get lost and enjoy.

There is a tower in the main square that gives wonderful views of the island. It was at the top of the original tower (which collapsed twice) that Galileo showed his new invention of the telescope!

Have a nice evening!

Read more...

Quilt Festival-Fall 2009

Howdy! This post is celebrating the online Quilt Festival that Park City Girl is hosting. Go check it out and share your quilt.

Here's my quilt and story...


This is Pinwheel Baby Quilt (tutorial from Moda Bake Shop by Pleasant Home's Jody Nelson)

This was my first prairie point and my first pinwheel quilt. I just loved making it. The points make a wonderful dimensional quilt that babies love to finger. But, I must be honest, I can't bear to give it away! And I'm a grammy! (please don't tell my daughter!) This is my favorite quilt of all time.

So, go take a look at the Moda Bake Shop tutorial and Jody's site.

Have a great day!

PS Please click home at the top of the page to check out my other quilts and posts!

Read more...

Welcome!

Do you like sewing? Quilting? Is your time limited or do you have a limited attention span (like me!). Then this is the blog for you!

I hope to keep you interested with ideas, projects and tutorials for wee little projects to make for yourself or a loved one.

Let's start on one I'm making for myself. Above is a doll quilt that I've machine pieced and now I'm hand quilting. What do you think?

I also love, love wool applique. I love making blanket stitch and trying to maintain a consistent, small stitch. Here is the one I'm working on for this autumn. (Hope I finish it before Christmas!)

Have a nice evening!

Read more...