Anyone Can Quilt

Quilty Christmas Gifts

Happy New Year!  How was your Christmas?  We had the most wonderful time with family and friends.  I made lots of quilted gifts, but in my rush to get everything finished and wrapped, I failed to get pictures of everything.  I always do that!  But, I did get a few pictures of my gifts to Sabine.  I made her a little quilted needle case.  Inspired by this tutorial by Sew She Sews.

I love that it closes with a little snap.  I have a thing for snaps.  It's not natural. 

Open it up and it has little felt pages for needles and pins.  There are also two pockets trimmed with ric rak.  I also have an unnatural love of ric rak.  It's borderline disturbing.

The pages I trimmed with my new wavy rotary cutter blade.  I've been wanting one of these blades for my rotary cutter forever.  Thankfully, Joanne's had a 50% off sale on all cutters and such so I got a good deal.  Although the blades only come in 45mm size, and I only had a 60mm cutter....so a new cutter and blade it was!  But at half off I was happy.  I really wanted the scalloped cutter, but they were out.  The wavy one is nice though. 

Sorry, that whole paragraph was totally boring. 

I bought these adorable pins at our quilt retreat a few months ago.  There are lots of gals selling wonderful things at the retreat.  These are so fun!  I think the cherry pie is my favorite.

Machine stitching the binding made this project pretty quick.  I tend to machine stitch the binding on quilty projects that aren't actual quilts. 

Her other quilty gift was a little teapot quilt.

I thought she could have it on her table when she has friends over for tea. 

I also made a needle book for my mom out of dark Civil War fabrics...no picture.  There were also quilted pillows for my step-mom and grandma...no pic....wait.  I think I took a few 'in progress' pictures.  Let me look... A ha!  I have some. 

No finished pillow pictures, but you can imagine right?  I actually would like to make some pillows for my own couches.  I know, add it to the list... 

Ok, time to take down the tree.  Have a wonderful week! x

 

 

Crisp air, chimney smoke, cozy quilts...

Fall makes me so happy.  I feel like I wait all year for the leaves to start changing.  Happiness to me means cool crisp days, smoke coming out of chimneys, fog in the mountains, apple spice candles.... you get the picture.  I could go on forever.  I always have a quilt hanging behind the couch, one for each season.  I was so excited to put up my fall/Halloween quilt this year.  Which is actually a sight to see cause I'm barely tall enough to stand on my smooshy couch and clip the thing up there.  I have to use my mind powers to finish the task.  

The border fabric is my favorite.  It's an old Thimbleberries print.  My next 'fall' quilt is actually my vintage sheet quilt.  The backing is an old floral sheet with nice fall colors.  I just fold it up with the backing out.  It's an accidental fall quilt.

It's summer on the inside!

I also have an old fall quilt on the little couch.  I think this is the second quilt that I made with an actual pattern, many moons ago.  While making this quilt, I learned about the importance of squaring up  blocks.  It was a nightmare, and I'm surprised it's swirly quilting doesn't include bad words.  Really bad ones. 

Rosie is happy that fall has come around again too, because she knows the fire will be going.  And she deserves some spoiling.  The poor thing had surgery in her mouth to remove a cracked, absessed molar.  Half of her little face was all swollen...it was sad.  But she's all better now, and content by the fire. 

Can you see the hot dog princess lounging?  She'll be there all day. 

As will this little one.  Only he likes to lay on the arm of the couch.  He's been angry with me because I've been having to give him medicine.  Poor guy has had more urinary tract problems.  :(

If you enjoy the little things, as I do, then you'll know how happy I was to find this little plate at Goodwill years ago. 

I was also happy to pull out my little crow door hanger.  Made a few years ago from a pattern in American Patchwork and Quilting.  I've had to re-attatch the bells though.  Neighborhood cats played with them and pulled them off.  I wonder if they'll find them again this year.  The little stinkers.

Happy fall, I hope you're enjoying it as much as I am.  x

 

 

 

Quilting with friends.

I have so much to tell you all about!  I'm not sure where to start, it's been such a busy few months for us.  I'll have to share it all over a few posts, or this one would be waaay too long.  Every year as summer approaches, and as we are nearing the end of our home school year, I plan all of the sewing/home projects I want to get done.  Then reality sinks in and I realize how busy summer will be.  Then as fall approaches I am yearning for the routine of our school days, and hope to get some sewing in where I can.  My mom and I look forward to 4 uninterrupted days of sewing at our yearly quilt retreat each fall.  We went to our third one a few weeks ago, and had a blast. 

Picture it, 4 days of sewing with like minded people, all new friends.  Coffee and tea available all day and night.  Every meal provided.  Cozy lodging out in the country of the pacific northwest.  It is bliss.

Doesn't mama look happy?  She and I had the messiest tables in our little grouping of tables.  Ok maybe mine was the messiest.  Look at all of my stuff on the floor even.  Sheesh.  Down below is a quilt my mom was working on.  Isn't it awesome? 

I was working on my Victory Garden quilt, an awesome pattern designed by Michelle.  I've been wanting to make this forever. 

It just makes me happy.  Extra happy I'm sure because I'm using my Holiday Happy fabrics that Monica designed.  I literally smile all crazy (as I tend to do) as I make each block because I love these fabrics so much. 

It was so fun seeing old friends and making new ones of course! (Missed you Monica, Renee and Michelle!)

Here are Chara, Quynh, and Evelyn.  They were right behind mom and I, and are awesome.  Chara is a wedding/portrait photographer and she has a cat with diabetes.  Quynh is a food photographer, my new sister (mom adopted her), and throws elaborate birthday parties for herself.  Evelyn does something very smart and technical (good memory Sarah) has an adorable red haired daughter, and makes 400 quilts a day.  I love them all, but not so much that I wouldn't steal their fabric when they weren't looking.  Watch your backs ladies. 

Here are some photos of the ladies' quilts.  Maybe I should think of stealing the finished quilt tops instead of the fabrics.  That means less work on my part. 

Here is Karen, our gracious hostess.  She is posing with her birthday cake that some of her sweet friends surprised her with.  Isn't it amazing?

Now we met some more new friends.  They arrived the second day of the retreat and sat at our table grouping.  Meet Stacey and her daughter Dante. 

Stacey is a devoted mother and runs an alpaca farm.  Dante is a hair dresser and has a horrible rare milk allergy.  We had so much fun getting to know these girls.  Dante seriously cracks me up. 

One night just a few of us were still up sewing.  Dante had been string piecing her jelly roll strips all day.  We decided that we wouldn't head off to bed until her first official block was finished.  Here is her hallelujah pose.  By this time we were over the edge tired and couldn't stop laughing.

The block turned out great.  So then Dante, Mom, and I took the little walk to our lodging.  In the dark. 

We were on the lookout for bears and serial killers hiding in the woods. 

We made it back alive, and headed off to bed.  Of course we were hoping not to wake anyone because we were laughing so much.  I decided to take a picture of Dante as she headed down the hall to her room.  And she does this in the split second it took me to take her picture:

This sums up or delerious bout of late night sewing.  She cracks me up. 

The next morning, refreshed, I took a few pictures on my walk back to the building where we sew.

I love being here.  The retreat center is so peaceful and out of the way.

Cry Baby the cat escorted me the entire way.  When I stopped to take pictures she stopped to wait for me.  Cute.

Back inside, I continue to take photos.  This picture cracks me up because of the peeking. 

The lady on the right made these for her granddaughters.  I can't remember her name at the moment, but she was so nice.  I do remember her daughter in-law's name though, Roberta.  Of course that is not Roberta holding the other quilt. 

Hi Roberta's mother in law!.......peek.

Here's a kooky bunch.  Quynh, Melissa (who is pregnant and you can't tell!), me, Chara, and Evelyn.  This was the last day and mom took these of us before we packed up to go.  Of course everyone was sans makeup and not feeling purty.  But we sure had a blast.

Mom took a series of photos and ended up with this one:

Don't ask, cause I don't know.  Good times.

And lastly, my sweet mama and I. 

Warms the heart doesn't it?  I'll dissect the meaning for you, apparently, I'm reluctantly strangling her, and she's surprised, scared, and trying to scare someone else with her right hand. 

I'll leave you with that.  I'm hoping to get back on the computer soon to get some regular posting and blog visiting in.  I miss you all!! x

 

 

 

 

But I'm a computer nerd's wife.

If you've had your eyeballs open around blogland lately you will have noticed that everyone is joining in The Farmer's Wife Quilt Along.  She's quite alluring, that saucy farmer's wife.  And with all of the gorgeous blocks everyone has been making, I couldn't stop myself from joining.  Not that I really wanted to stop myself.  Sure, I have plenty of partially made quilts that really should be finished.  But.....who cares?  I sure don't, and I'm sure you don't either.  So join in would ya?  You know you want to! 

I just picked up my book at Borders yesterday.  It's $27.99, but I had a great coupon and got it for 1/2 price.  I've seen it on Amazon for around $18.00, and many have found it at Joanne's and used their 50 % off coupon. The book comes with a cd for downloading the templates.  While perusing flickr I found a wonderful link to download all of the templates by a fabulous gal named Liz.  She's combined them all onto 15 pages which makes it so convenient.  Thank you so much Liz!!  Of course even with Liz's templates you'll need the book for block construction.  The best thing about the book to me is the letters written by 1920's farmer's wives.  They wrote into the magazine answering the question, "Would you want your daughter to marry a farmer?"  The letters are so inspiring to read.  And pretty funny, apparently Jazz music was considered quite inappropriate among the farmer's wives.  Who knew Jazz was the gangsta' rap of 1922?  

Block #1!!  Woohoooo!

Well, I went through my stash and pulled some fat quarters.  My goal is to use what I have.  I really wanted a soft, cheerful, vintage cottage feel to my blocks.  It's fun to rediscover fabrics that I forgot I had!

Like you chickens!  I've only had you punks for about....6, 7, 8 years?  But I'm happy to see you again!  I've had some fabrics in bins under my bed so long it's a nice surprise when I open the bin; like someone sent me a gift.  Is it sad that I feel like I'm receiving a gift from an imaginary friend when I rediscover fabrics that I apparently purchased myself years ago?  Of course not. 

Once again, hello floral stripes.  I forgot you existed. 

I don't know how long it will be before this quilt is finished, it may be a loooong time.  My goal is to just finish a few blocks a week, along with the other quilts I'm working on.  No rushing, just thoroughly enjoying the process.  Let me know if you're making one too!  I'd love to see your blocks!  x

 

 

An oldie but a goodie, and look at that weird little dog.

Hello my friends!  I have been such an absentee blogger these past few months.  You're all so sweet to stick with my infrequent postings.  I seem to go through phases of frequent inspiration and blogging, and then bouts of....well the opposite of that.  The quilting inspiration is still there, but sometimes I can't make myself take pictures and get them onto the computer.  So today I said, enough is enough!  I need to get something on this here blog!  So I pulled one of my favorite old quilts off of the couch and asked my girls to hold it up on the front porch for me. 

Apparently, Rosie wanted to help hold the quilt up.  But she's just too short.  And she doesn't have opposable thumbs.

"A little higher on the right please!"  She's so helpful. 

"Yo de la hee hooooooo!!!!"  She also has a fabulous yodeling voice. 

"What's that?!"  Does someone dare walk down the sidewalk on this fine summer day?  She might have to give them a what's for if they recklessly decide to walk in front of our house. 

False alarm, wait, is that a bug?

Do I smell an earthworm perhaps?  I like to roll around on a nice earthworm. 

I'll go check it out. 

What's that!? 

Oh that silly little girl of ours.  She cracks us up.  As do all of our animals.  We have six now.  SIX!!  That's a lot for us.  Dog, cat, two guinea pigs, rabbit, and a bird.  Phew.  But we love them all.  Poor kitty had to go to the vet recently, turns out he has a urinary tract infection, and a yeast infection in his ears.  Horrors, poor thing.  I've been enjoying giving him his medications as you can imagine (to him, ear drops = pure hell, and to make it even more evil, the ear drops have to be refrigerated).  Good times, I just love cat wrestling.

Now I'm worried about all of the neighborhood cats who hang around my house, the little angels who poop in my flowers.  They're always outside, I think most of them are stray cats, so they have noone to take care of them.  Noone to notice if they aren't feeling well.  I worry about these things.  I wish I could round up all of the stray cats, put them on a kitty bus, and get them checkups. 

Anyhoo, sorry to bore you with all of that.  About the quilt, it's one of my favorite patterns.  Super easy, but looks interesting still.  It's made of 5" charm squares, with little 2 1/2" squares sewn diagonally onto two opposite corners, then flipped back to make little triangles.  I'm wanting to make another one of these for the summer, I have the perfect charm packs waiting, Rose Parade by Moda.  The fabrics are so summery and cheerful.  I'll do a quick tutorial when I start that quilt for any beginning quilters who'd like to see how it's put together.  It's really easy!

I hope you're having wonderful weather, and that all of your furry and feathered sweeties are healthy.  And thank you for all who told wonderful bird stories on my post about little Stewart, I loved reading them!! xo