Mini projects and a Prize

This was a busy weekend. On Saturday, I took a workshop with Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings. Her shop is in Menasha, Wisconsin. Pride of the Prairie Quilt Guild hosted her as a speaker and teacher. We all worked on this cute Pumpkin Table Mat. If you can ever get to her shop, it is wonderful. Full of inspiration. Plus, she has an on-line business too. I have all my pumpkins stitched down and some of my leaves. Would like to have it done for my table on Thanksgiving Day. We'll see how that goes. Sunday I worked on a couple small projects. You know, those kits you purchase and finally get to them. These are 2 Holiday Cones. Ok so they are Halloween. But now that I know how cute and fast they work up, I can see using some Christmas fabrics, then there is Valentines, Easter, oh the possibilies.

I made 3 mug rugs. They seem to be all the rage. They have shown up on several bloggers sites. They are so cute. I just did a couple simple ones. Now there is a great way to use some precut l 1/2 inch strips from your stash. I just pulled some Christmas strips, and sewed them to batting, cut a piece for backing and bound. The tree one, I had some Christmas fabric that I cut into a tree shape, top stitched it down, on my backing fabric, and batting. Added a star to the top of the tree, cut backing, bound and I was done. I have seen so many cute ones, and now want to try some others. Quick and cute Christmas presents, or a birthday gift, or thank you to a hostess. Now I need to add these to my to do list!!!!

And last but definately no least, I won a prize! and a wonderful prize at that. Checked out the 100 Blocks Designers from Quiltmaker Magazine. Every day there were featured block designers. There were prizes offered, by both Quiltmaker Magazine, and designers. Well I won a first prize from "Miss Rosie's Quilt Company". Carrie Nelson made block # 187, Chunky Monkey on page 65. (She autographed her block for me, too.) How cool is that. I received a neat project bag. Two layer cakes by French General for Moda. The new book by Kim Diehl, Simple Graces, which I was hoping to get for Christmas. The Mini Fit to be Geese pattern and ruler by Open Gate, Monique Dillard and the Perfect Piecing Seam Guice, from Perkins Dry Goods. (Did someone tell Carrie that I have a hard time with those quarter inch seams?) All wonderful things to play with!!

I could not believe it. I always say I never win anything, but I sure can't say that anymore. This was just too fabulous. I am still smiling. I keep checking everything out. What fun. Thank you, thank you. I have also, gotten the two quilts bound and done that I wanted to., No pictures yet. It was a good weekend. Weather wasn't so great. Is it Spring yet??

It is finished!!! Farmer's Wife

It's done, it's done!!!Yesturday I was on a "Mini Retreat" with the Pride of the Prairie Quilt Guild. It was an all day event. (9 am to 9 pm) I finished my Farmers Wife quilt. I am so pleased with it. Now off to be quilted. What a feeling of satisfaction.

I arrived at the retreat about 10:00 and set to work on the finishing of this quilt. I had a lot of it set together already, There were still 25 blocks to add on. Then I just decided to put only a blue border on it. Nothing fancy. I like how it turned out.

The rest of the evening I bound two quilts. Now to do the hand stitching on the binding. Also, worked on some block pieces for another 30's scrap quilt. What a day, no phones, no interruptions, just sewing. It was great. Quilt bee is on Tuesday night and Pride of the Prairie Quild is on Thursday night. I have show and tell!!!!

Presents, I got presents

Look what I received in the mail! Beautiful pieces of French Provencal fabrics. My friend Isabelle from France sent them to me along with 7 Klosjes that she made for me, for my quilt. These are beautiful. They are going to be a wonderful addition to my quilt. I have over 350 blocks done. I did not make as many on the trip as I planned. But have been making up for it since I have been home.

And, I finished the 12 present blocks I made for the Christmas block exchange. They are done and in the mail. It is nice to have one project off my list. I just hope they will be ok. Me and the quarter inch sometimes have a hard time.

Next project is to make the last block of my Farmers Wife quilt, finish adding the remaining blocks to the top, and put the borders on. I'm going to work on it tomorrow at the Thursday sew day at the quilt shop.

Christmas blocks

Look what I am working on!! I am in a Christmas block exchange with Aunt Petty Pat and have 12 presents blocks to make. Today I got five of them done. I have the packages made, now to work on the bows for the rest of the presents. It feels good to be sewing again.Yesturday, I picked up two quilts I had quilted while I was gone. Just have to put the binding on now. One is the Carolina Christmas from Bonnie Hunters site, and the other is the sampler style from Moose on the Front Porch site. (The brown and turquoise Japanese fabric quilt.)

Also, made more signature blocks for Annelies, International Siggie Swap. I really love swapping the siggie blocks. It is interesting receiving them from quilters from around the world. We all have at least one thing in common, QUILTING!!