Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Progress...

Thought you might like to see the progress I've been making on the new/old Santa quilt I'm trying to get finished. I completed these two blocks today and am going to start putting the quilt together. It won't be as big as the first Santa quilt I showed you, since this one will only have 12 blocks, but it will still fit a double bed. DH and I have been busy trying to clear out the basement, hoping to get it renovated later this year. It's incredible how much "stuff" we have accumulated over the years. Hopefully, the kids will come and pick up some of their treasures, or at least let us know what we can get rid of. Hope you're all having a good week. Bye for now.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

A New Addition

I'd like to introduce you to my new granddog.  This is Pugsleigh, my son's new puppy.
He's a sweet little boy,but definitely has a mind of his own.

Daisy, my daughter's Chocolate Lab, who is 7 years old, is so good with him.  She lets him jump all over her, and is so very careful not to step on him.  When she's had enough she just tosses him aside with her snout.  The other day Pugsleigh landed in her water bowl.  It was so funny!!

Here's some photos of the two of them together.


Nothing to show you on the quilting front, but I've been getting the last 2 Santa blocks prepared for applique, and hope to have something to show you soon. Bye for now.

Friday, July 19, 2013

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things, but just can't get motivated to start anything new.
My sewing room was a disaster, so I thought I would get stuck in and start to tidy things up.
Mom's oxygen machine was kept in my sewing room, as it was too noisy to leave in her bedroom, but because it gave off so much heat it made my sewing room unusable.  I developed a bad habit of not putting things away properly, and as a result it looked like a bomb had gone off in there.

Sorting through the pile of UFOs in the closet,  I came across 10 applique blocks of Country Applique's Santa Series that I had started over 10 years ago.  I was teaching my Santa Sampler class at the time and thought I would make another quilt along with the class.  My thinking was since I had 2 children I would make one Santa quilt for each of them.  I made the mistake of challenging myself to work with a blue background,  not my favorite color, and as a result I lost interest and the blocks got shoved in the closet.
Well, I've dug them out and have started to put the quilt together.  I drafted out a different layout, and will be able to make a decent sized quilt and only have to make 2 more applique blocks to finish it.

Here are some photos.






I haven't decided what to do about the borders yet, but I have plenty of the background fabric left, so that won't be an issue.
I'll post photos later of my progress... as long as I don't get distracted! lol
After this, I came across 8 of the 12 " Twelve Days Of Christmas" from Brandywine Designs and will try to get them finished up.

Hope you are having an enjoyable summer, or winter, and the heat isn't too unbearable.
Bye for now.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Santa Quilt

I can't believe a month has gone by since Mom passed away.  At times I feel like she is just away on vacation, and then the reality hits, hard!
I'm sorry I haven't replied to everyone who sent me their condolences and some wonderful words of encouragement.  Please know how much your thoughtfulness and support meant to me.

Needless to say I haven't been accomplishing much on the quilting front, but I thought you might like to see a photo of my very first applique quilt.

I made this quilt sometime between 1996 and 1998, using many of Jan Kornfeind's (Country Appliques) patterns,and some of my own. When I started the blocks I had no idea how I was going to put it all together, but it went together like a dream.  I had so much fun with this one.
 I was working at a small quilt shop in town at the time, and even though this was my first applique quilt they asked me to teach a class based on this design.  This was my first introduction to teaching and I loved it.  I met some fabulous people and found it so inspiring .  I really missed it when I had to give it up while I was caring for Mom, but maybe I will be able to get back to it again.

Chat with you later.