2010

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year!
I wish you all safety and health this year as well as plenty of time to quilt.

Challenge Progress

I was able to take some time today and work a little more on my Crayola Challenge Quilt. I did 4 D9P blocks and mixed them up a bit.
I added a couple french braid rows to make it more rectangular. I haven't trimmed it up yet, but here is the layout I am thinking of.

I'm not sure if I'm sold on all the red around the center, so I'll play with it a bit and see what I think. I'll fill in the open space with a blue tonal.

It may be a few days before I can work on it again. If there are any thoughts or suggestions out there, I'd love to hear them.

Summer's Project

My sister made some fleece throws for some of her friends for Christmas this year. One of her friends is an Eagles fan, but we couldn't find Eagles fleece anywhere. We did come across some cotton and she decided to tie him a quilt instead. We took everything to my house and got it all prepared, sandwiched, and pinned. I sent her home with a hoop so she didn't have to set up the big frame all by herself. Wouldn't you know it, she ran short on the Pearl5 she had picked to tie it with. So a couple days later she came over and we ran to the store to grab more. We went to the same store we bought everything from and as I was looking through some quilt books, Summer went for a quick walk around the store. When she made her way back to me, what was she holding? Yep, a bolt of Eagle fleece. It was about gone, so I assume it wasn't new to the floor...where were you two days earlier? Anyway, here is Summer finishing up the last couple of rows.
Here is Kaitly, my little helper as I pinned the binding on. I gave her some pins so she could help me on the other side of the quilt, otherwise, all my pinning ends up out of place and scattered across the floor behind me. I hope it isn't too dark to see.

Now that Christmas is over, I need to ask Summer how her friend liked his gift. Oh, I almost forgot, I got a new camera for Christmas. I have taken a couple pics, but they look a little fuzzy on the display. I haven't put them on the computer yet, I'm hoping the display on the camera just has a smaller pixel quality and the pics will be clearer/sharper on the computer. If not, I will have to take it back for a different one.

Missed My Class

Well, I missed my class this month for the BOM. I realised it the next morning and didn't make it in to get my December block until this evening. While I was there, I took a couple of pics. Here is the "Traditional" colorway.
And here is the 2nd colorway they were offering. I want to say they are calling it "Primrose."

I now have my block kit and should be able to get the block put together sometime after Christmas. Hopefully I'll get it posted here soon.

Holly Jolly Blog Bingo

The fun begins on Monday, December 14

The In Stitches blog by The Quilt Shoppe is hosting a Holly Jolly Blog Bingo. They have a list of words and you pick 25 of them for your list. They will post 7 words a day and you can call BINGO when all 25 of your words have been posted. You have to email them your entry by midnight (PST), Sunday, Dec 13.

They have a wonderful assortment of items that will be sent to the winner. They will also have daily drawings from the previous days comments. They will also be offering a discounted item every day for that day only. Head over and check it out.

Fabric Post Cards

I mailed off some fabric post cards yesterday. If you haven't tried these, they are pretty fun to create or play with. It is even more fun when you open your mailbox and find one waiting for you. When I started making these a few years ago, I used this tutorial by DebR at Red Shoe Ramblings. There a quite a few different tutorials out there now, just do a search for fabric post cards. On mine, I us a fusible on 1/2" strips to "bind" my post cards. Also, you can use Drapery Lining on the back of these. That way you can use a regular pen to write with. This time I just used some muslin and a fabric pen.
Here is the front and back of my Christmas PCs, I did them all the same this time, and the front of a 'just because' PC.

Here is a sneak peek at another project I have started. I signed up to make a quilt for the 2nd Annual Crayola Challenge on the HGTV boards. The quilts will be raffeld off in 2010 and the funds will be going to the Ronald McDonald House. There will be over 30 quilts, I will post a link to the album when they all get done and ticket sales start.
Here's how it works...Basically, a crayon is drawn from the box and that is your color. You can use variations of that color and add only one other color. The color that was picked for me was Midnight Blue. I was going back and forth if I wanted to use white, cream, or red as my second color. I decided to go with red and was able to play with it a little this morning. Here is what I have so far...

I have an idea of what I want to do with the border of my OBW. I'll try to get it worked on so I can show you another update soon.

Happy Thanksgiving

I have been computer-less the last week or so. The power cord to my laptop bit the dust and Brian has been working from home since his shoulder surgery, so I haven't been able to get online too much.

Just wanted to take a quick minute and get some updates posted. I made it to the LQS and picked up some border and backing fabric for my One Block Wonder. I also grabbed some binding fabric for my Disappearing 9-Patch. Also, while bringing in some Christmas boxes, I came across my original OBW. I will have to get it finished quickly, it has a Christmas feel to it so now would be perfect. Hopefully timing will let it happen. If not, I'll have it done by next Christmas for sure.

I had to run into the school and pick up a Christmas surprise book order from Becca's teacher last week. On my way into the classroom, I noticed all these Pilgrims the kids had made up on the wall. I took these pics...

...isn't that sweet? If you can't see it too well, here is what it says:

I am thankful for

my mom because

she makes quilts

for kids in the hospital.

What a good kid! She brought this home before Thanksgiving and gave it to me. She is my shy one and when I asked her to tell me what she wrote, she told me no. I was getting dinner ready, so I told her I couldn't read very well and I'd need her to help me. It worked, she read it to me and gave me a big squeeze.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!