2011 ~ I'm Ready! (tomorrow is 1/1/11!)

A Little Diversion

I'm still procrastinating on starting the Mariner's Compass quilt. I wish I knew how to use those Electric Quilt programs so that I could plan it all out there.

Meanwhile, I had an itch to make something quickly and ran across some batik squares of African Dancers
that I bought in the vendor faire at a quilt show many years ago.

I decided to pair that with some african fabrics from my stash and make a wall size quilt for my ETSY shop.

It was a simple little diversion. I framed the batik squares and some of the african prints.

I used full size blocks of the other prints.

I pieced a backing.

Today I will layer, pin baste, and quilt it.

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!

Layer Cake in The Mail!

I didn't think that this fabric would be available until March or April. It made it's debut at Quilt Market and someone there showed swatches on their blog (thank you anonymous blogger....I forgot to thank you). Last week on the Quilter Blog Roundup I saw the swatches again and someone was selling jelly rolls and layer cakes. Wa-hoo....I was on that like a cheap suit.

And, look what the mailman brought me today!

Sherbet Pips by Aneela Hoey for Moda. If you want to see more photos of the fabrics in the collection Sherbet Pips, you will find them on her blog, "comfortstitching".

I have not yet formulated a plan....but I shall. After all, I waited for months before cutting into Flea Market Fancy and have just used the last of that collection. I'm patient.

Meanwhile, I have some paper-pieced mariner's compass blocks and mariner's star blocks that need to be made for quilts in blue (2). And a quilt for my other granddaughter utilizing Seattle Mariner's colors (don't ask!).

Another One Ready to Go...

My young neighbor from across the way came by to show me his 4 new "hot wheels" and his new shirt. He also showed me his newest ninja moves. I love that!

I asked his mom to help me show off this finish before I send it off. This pattern "Georgia's Quilt" I bought from Red Pepper Quilt's Etsy shop. She had written about it on her blog and I thought I'd like to make it one day.

When my grandaughter Ashley said that her favorite color is pink, I immediately knew what quilt I'd make. I think there is about 35 different pinks and creams in this one.

I will ship it out tomorrow.

I wanted to do something different on the back so that she could show either side on her bed and get 2 looks from one quilt. I like it too.

Binding Finished Friday.....ready to go!

I finished stitching the binding on this quilt Friday, then I got sidetracked making a baby quilt.

I just need to wash this, dry it, admire the soft crinkliness of it and send it off.

This is a wedding gift.

I used the last of my Flea Market Fancy fabrics making it ~ I had been hording them waiting for a special project and this was it.

I hope they like it!

Just a little detour....

My hairdresser Tracey is having a baby, and I thought I had time, but when I saw her yesterday afternoon it was clear that she's further along than I thought.

She told me her last work day is the 29th of this month....so I set aside all that binding I was hand stitching and put together a baby girl rail fence quilt.

I got it pieced and got most of the quilting done before I went to bed, and when I got home from running errands today, I finished it.

Tomorrow it gets washed.

I have the binding finished on one of the quilts, so now I'm back to start on the other.

Binding, binding, binding.....

Sewing the binding on two quilts today.
Once it's on, I can pick up this handwork to do in the evening while the TV watches me.

I know a lot of quilters have learned how to stitch down the binding by machine, but I am not one of them. I can sew it on by machine, but must stitch it down by hand once it is folded over to the back side of the quilt.

There is something pleasing about doing this last little bit by hand. My grandmother, the first quilter I was aware of, used to piece by hand. She and the "Ladies Aid Society" used to meet and hand quilt their quilts at a large frame set up in the living room during the winter, and under the black walnut trees out in the side yard during the summer.

Although I was taught to hand piece, I abandoned it quickly and wouldn't be a quilter today if I hadn't learned to use a rotary cutter and my sewing machine.

So, when I hand stitch the binding on my quilt, it is an homage to my Grandmother and I am satisfied.

Loveliness in the Mail.....

I love getting packages in the mail.
Even if I am expecting them, they always take me by surprise.

I ordered these dishtowels from Pony and Poppy on ETSY.

The talented Amy Stone makes lots of different things from paper, cloth and ink....go take a look and be prepared to treat yourself.

I love these and my time in the kitchen will be cheerier (is that a word?) now that these will be there.

When I was making lots of quilts, I sold on ETSY under the name Tenderoni Quilts and one day I hope to get back to stocking the store with projects. I like patronizing ETSY as a buyer too. And as you can see, I always feel like I hit the jackpot when I receive my purchase!