What I have been up to

When I sew, I always have a helper.  This time it happens to be Charlie.

I can lay out a quilt, and he thinks i need to shake it up a bit. He take a running start and slides into the quilt. This time I was lucky and had just strips out.  There have been times when there are blocks all over the floor.  Sure makes it harder to put back together.

Princess does this too, only she is a tad more dainty when she slides.

Another of her favorite things is to burrow under the finished top.

Kitties, so much fun to watch.

After he has finished mixing things up, he sits there and looks adorable.

Here is the finished top from my Bonnie Hunter workshop I took in May.
I used the pattern, but changed the use of fabric.  I had a mindset to make it all with scrapes, and not use a one color for all the sashing strips, they are all different greens. I did the same with the corner stones, they are all different yellows.  In the final border I used all different shades of green.  I hate to say this, but I did not put a very good dent into these strings.

One evening I decided to take a class. See the chicken on the left, the yellow and orange one?  That is mine.
It was a fun class, It was not so much as I needed to know how to do it, as it was to meet new ladies, and just enjoy their company.

I have said I was on a mission to get more projects done.  Here are more of the 1000 half square triangle for that exchange in 2009.  Moniuqe Dillard designed this pattern, called "Oliver".  I made it longer, so I could use up more of the triangles.
What do you think?  I think it turned out pretty good.

Well here it is, I finally got the first top done from 2014 Row by Row.  It is huge  There are 20 rows in this one.  It kind of ended up being my own design.  The license plates are by the row where I got it.  The blank spaces just means I did not get a plate.
My friend Wendy is picking them up on the 16th to take them back to Florida for quilting.
She moved down there a year ago.  When she is visiting here in her old neighborhood, she will either pickup tops, or drop off quilts that she has quilted.  This arrangement seems to be working well for a bunch of us.

More exciting things are going to be coming up.
A quilt retreat, the annual Buffalo family reunion, and a trip to Europe are in order.
This does not mean I will stop sewing.  I have a lot more projects that need finishing.
Right now working on the last of those half square triangle.  Time to get back to pressing.

Have a great day.

Mary

I really have been sewing

I am not sure if I had shown this cross stitching.
Since I made the Halloween envelope for a swap, I thought it would be fun to make up these as well.
It was a fun way to use these designs.

Here are the two fabric boxes I made at the Racine retreat. These are what prompted  the basket
explosion at the Iron River Retreat.

I made 21 signature blocks for a Christmas exchange.
They have been sent off, now just waiting for the ones I will receive.
We have a special arrangement for them.  Can't wait to receive them.

Nothing like Charlie to help.
I was sorting through some of the cross stitch magazine, and he thought the box looked like a
great place to curl up.

This is one of my older quilts.
I don't think I have ever taken a picture of it.
It was a block of the month from Pieceful Hearts in Lisle.
I did sign it!  Finished it in April of 2009.  It was a thangles, block of the month.
One that you bought the first block, and as long as you keep taking the finished, current block, you
received the next one for free.  If you didn't get it done, you could purchase the next one
for $5.00.  Great way for shops to get you to keep coming back.

One mug rug down, a lot more to go.
There is a thought to make these for the Nuns at the Siena Retreat for next year.

The box on the left is the one I made at Iron River.
These are so much fun to make.
I have several more ideas.  They are a great way to use squares of fabric and scraps of batting.

Another kit done!

Saw pictures of a quilt like this, and remembered I had some flags in my stash.
All I needed to do was figure the size I needed for half square triangles, and put them
together.  Done!   

More row by row blocks.  These are lasts years patterns.
I mad the trees while at Iron River.  It is all paper pieced.

Here are two of the rows from this years theme of "Water".
Made the top one at Iron River,
Love those fishes.

Then to top it all out.  I got these four bags done, recently.

All the patches are tumbler shaped that I cut with my Sizzix Go Cutter.
This die is for a 2 inch tumbler.  I can get 4 of these in one cut.
Can you tell I love making bags!

Hope you are having a great week of stitching.

Mary

I am keeping busy

Now that I know my friend Isabelle, in France, has received this tote bag  which I made for her birthday, I can now show it. I am pleased with how it turned out.

Charlie is my ever present helper.  He does have to inspect what I am working on, up close and personal.
How did I do this time, Charlie???

I am still working on rows, for the Row by Row Experience. 

Love the pumpkins.  The stars was a bit of challenge.  It was designed in EQ and had pieces that had 1/16 inch.  I made 5 of these stars to get four that were the same size.  I admit I can be challenged by those EQ patterns and getting everything cut the correct size, then sewing.  One problem, is when you start sewing the pattern writer does not tell what size you should be achieving, for the individual pieces of the block.  You only get the end result.  Do you notice that there is a space on each end of the row that does not match the row below it.  Looks like I will be adding filler pieces.

I have another row done, but no pictures yet.  I have picked up the two Bonnie Hunter quilts I had sent out.  Now they are ready to bind.  Two down, ?? many more to go!

Have a great week.

Christmas lights

Time to see our favorite Christmas houses.  Each year we have to see of this house has been lit. This family "encrusts" their home on all sides, including the windows.  This is the back of the house.

Here is the front and one of the sides. The only things not covered is the front and garage doors.

Charlie found a warm cozy spot to take a snooze.

At my one of my favorite walking and birding sites, I came upon this small herd of deer.  They were feeding by the edge of the woods and did not seem too concerned that I was watching them and taking pictures.

At one of the parks in our area, a Christmas light show to benefit area youth programs, was ready for viewing. You drive your car though through and can give a donation at the end.

It is so nice to see the display. It has become a yearly drive through. They are adding displays as they get get sponsors.

The view from our kitchen area.  I am keeping my bird feeders full.  The mourning doves depend on the smaller birds to flick the seeds to the ground, as they are ground feeders.  They had decided to take a time out and perched on this tree. It seems they were waiting for the next round of feed.

I have been working on all my projects from my last post.  On Thursday at sewing, I prepped them for quilting and embroidery.  Several are done, and more are being worked on.
It is fun to sit in the evening, work on the handwork, and watch some pretty good Christmas shows.
It is cold and snowy outside, what better way to spend your time.
Have a great week.
Mary