Allie!

Allie.

What words can I use to describe her?
Fun. Loving. Energetic.

Attitude-y. Funny. Athletic.

Busy. Cool. Friendly.

And after yesterday, I can describe her as a

seamstress in training.

She went with me to the fabric store the other night.

We spent her money and bought her a child's Singer sewing machine.

It took D batteries and only made 2 stitches.

No bobbin.

And it was LOUD.

But she loved it.

We also bought some fabric for her to make a

few things for herself and her favorite

stuffed animal.

By the following morning, I hated that machine.

And all she had done was practice on it.

So I decided to teach her on my machine and we

would return the other one.

Yesterday she made several things:
A reversible blanket for a stuffed animal.

2 pillows for that animal.

A mattress.

And a purse/bag.

She had some help. Grandma is here and me.

But for the most part, she did it all herself.

I am so proud.

She spent the evening trying to decide what to do next.

She couldn't decide between curtains, pajama pants,

or a quilt.

She decided on all three.

I have most of the fabric for those things here at home.

But I needed some other quilt fabric and she needed some

to go with what she had picked out.

So, back to the fabric store today.

Got all that we needed and returned the small machine.

We're both happy.

Me-I'm thrilled she wants to do this with me!

DECEMBER!?!?!

December is pretty much gone.

Hard to believe that tomorrow is the 30th already!

I haven't been back here in awhile.

I got sick a few weeks ago and things have been

on fast forward since then.

But I did get all my christmas sewing done.

With the exception of the tag that needs to go on

my mom's quilt.

I'll finish that before she heads home on Sunday.

But, to count the gift list, not including what I made for myself:

2 table squares, one for my brother and one for my sister in law

a rag quilt for my mom

a table runner for my sister

6 placemats, also for my sister

pajama's, eye mask, and covered 4x6 photo album for my nephew

pajama's, eye mask, and covered 4x6 photo album for my niece

a small quilt for my new nephew to be, due in March

an apron for my mother in law

an apron for my father in law

All of it was made and shipped/delivered on time.

I'm proud of myself!

I'm also glad the holidays are over.

The new year is upon us and my project list is

getting started in my head.

I got a Bali Pop in Pink Lemonade for christmas.

I have a pattern picked out for it.

I need to buy the background fabric so that I'm ready

to start it when I can.

I got 2 small jelly rolls for my birthday, back in November.

I've picked out a Bargello pattern I want to try.

This one kind of scares me.

But I can do it.

I need to buy several more pieces of fabric before I can get started.

I went to the fabric store last night.

<smile> I had to. I haven't been in several weeks!

I got some fun valentine fabric.

I'll probably make a cute table runner for my dining room table.

And maybe a table square for my kitchen table.

I also got some backing for the quilt I'm making

for my new nephew.

I have that almost all the way pieced.

I bought the fabric before the holiday,

and cut and pieced it in 2 days.

All it needs is the side borders put on and its done.

Maybe tomorrow?

Then, there's the other list.

You know. The one that keeps getting longer

but nothing get's crossed off it!?!

The king size quilt for my bed.

The baby scrap book for my daughter who is now 15.

The many MANY pairs of pajama's that I

bought fabric for on the Black Friday sale.

22 yards, if memory serves correctly.

Pillows for the family room to go with the

furniture I bought over the summer.

The list goes on....

But that's it from me tonight.

I'm going to try to come up with a plan for next year.

I have a million projects.

A HUGE vacation in July.

A much needed weight loss.

An exercise regimen that will hopefully help the headaches.

etc etc etc

Good night friends :)

December Week 3 Goal

Ok, I'm putting my weekly goal down,

for all to see.

Not sure how I did last week, I know I didn't get done

all that I needed to.

Which means that I have even more to get done this week.

And from now til the end of the month, I'm making this my general goals for the week, not just my sewing goal. (which means the extra things that I need to get done, not my normal weekly chores)

So............here goes

• finish table square for my brother (I am in the process of quilting it. hope to finish it tonight)
• finish the baby quilt for my brother (this needs appliqued, it could be wishful thinking)
• wrap and mail packages to my friend, my sister in law and my sister
• organize my recipe cards so I make sure I have all the ingredients for the cookie baking that will start this weekend

I have lots of other things on my to do list, but these are the things that I feel MUST

get done. Wish me luck!

Friday Accounting

Projects Started:
Table Square for my brother and his wife
Table Square for my sister in law and her family

Projects Completed:
-pajama's for my niece
-2 christmas presents that I can't post about

Projects In Statis:

-quilt for my mom for christmas...needs a block appliqued

(haven't even started that part)

and then the last row attached and the edges sewn and then "ragged"

-receiving blanket size quilt for my new nephew

that is due to arrive in March

(the blocks are put together,

I need to applique a teddy bear into the middle block)

 and then finish piecing the top, quilt and bind

Projects on the To Do list:

-aprons for both my father and mother in law

......more and more and more...

I did get the fabric purchased and washed to
make the aprons for my in laws and the quilt
for my new to-be-born-in-March nephew.

This week's stats:
Currently in progress: 4
Completed projects: 3

New projects started: 2

December Week 2 Goal

Always a day late......sigh.....

Anyway.

My sewing goals for the week are:

• finish Emma's pajama's
• shop for fabric to make the aprons for my in laws
• wash the above mentioned fabric
• make a table runner for my sister in law

I'm giving myself  'til Monday to get my packages in the mail.

I didn't meet last week's goal, but I came pretty close.

I hope to do better this week!

Friday Accouting

A day late and a dollar short...isn't that always the way?

I thought about this post yesterday, but I was literally out of the house from 9.30 to 3.30, dropped off my packages, made dinner and back out the door from 6.15 to 9.45 and by that time I was TIRED!

Needless to say, no sewing got done!

Projects Started:

none

Projects Completed:-6 placemats for my sister

-table runner, also for my sister

-pajama's for my nephew

Projects In Statis:

-quilt for my mom for christmas...needs a block appliqued

(haven't even started that part)

and then the last row attached and the edges sewn and then "ragged"

-receiving blanket size quilt for my new nephew

that is due to arrive in March

(the blocks are put together,

I need to applique a teddy bear into the middle block)

 and then finish piecing the top, quilt and bind

Projects on the To Do list:

-pajama's for my neice

-tablerunner/square for my sister in law

-aprons for both my father and mother in law

 

......more and more and more...

This week's stats:
Currently in progress: 2
Completed projects: 3

New projects started: 0

December Week 1 Goal

I'm going to add this into my list of things to blog every week. I hope.

We'll see. But I'm gonna try! LOL

So, my goals for this week are:

• complete my sister's placemats (only 3 more left to quilt)
• start and finish a tablerunner, also for my sister
• make a pair of pajama's for my nephew
• make a pair of pajama's for my neice
• get all of the above things wrapped, boxed and mailed
• and....if I find time and fabric, make a tablerunner for my sister in law as well

Amy's Creative Side Challenge Complete!

Thanks Amy (@Amy's Creative Side) for such a great challenge! I got what I needed done,

plus quite a bit more! Yeah!

Here is my table square...measures 24"

So cheerful on the little table in my kitchen corner!

And my placemats:

There are 6 of these all together. My goal was to get them all pieced, which I did,

but I also got 3 of them quilted. 2 of them are done, binding and all, and the 3rd has the binding half on.

Goal met! Thanks Amy for doing this!



Friday Accounting

I like the idea of accountability, so I'm going

to give this a shot.

This week I have worked on several things, not all on my list of

things to do.

Projects Started:
-6 placemats for my sister for christmas

(all are pieced and waiting for quilting,

1 has the quilting started)

-table runner for my sister

(partially cut out)

-pajama's for my nephew

(cut out)

Projects Completed:
-2 eye masks for my niece and nephew

-2 fabric covered 4x6 photo albums

-24" quilted table square for my small kitchen table

Projects In Statis:

-quilt for my mom for christmas...needs a block appliqued

(haven't even started that part)

and then the last row attached and the edges sewn and then "ragged"

-receiving blanket size quilt for my new nephew

that is due to arrive in March

(the blocks are put together,

I need to applique a teddy bear into the middle block)

 and then finish piecing the top, quilt and bind

Projects on the To Do list:

too many to name without my list in front of me.

but I'm working on getting it all done!

This week's stats:
Currently in progress: 5
Completed projects: 5
New projects started: 3

I'm working on it!

I have gotten alot done today!

Yeah!

I've been working on the placemats for my sister.

 I got the dresden plates completely put together by lunchtime.

Then I sat down with a pen and paper and worked out what sizes I needed

to make the placemat. I had an ideal size in my head, but I hadn't

yet written down what size I needed the different

strips and blocks.

I got everything cut out except the binding.

I decided at the last minute to use wonder under underneath the

middle circles, so I got that cut and adhered onto the backside

of the circles. Then I centered the plate on the 10" square, got the circle on where

it belongs and ironed again.

Paused for a quick run to the library with my daughter.

Came home and appliqued the circles onto the middle of the plates.

They look good, I am really happy with them.

Next, I'll add the side borders (2) and then the top and bottom. Then, quilt and bind.

I'm hoping to get the rest of the piecing done tonight and maybe,

possibly, start the quilting tomorrow, in between the feast making.

Challenge Part 1

Amy's Creative Side posted a challenge this week that I mentioned in my last post.

My challenge to myself was 2 parts:
1. Quilt a 24" table square that I made for my small kitchen table.

Amy posted a week or 2 ago about using a Dresden ruler to make a plate. I'm a fairly new quilter, but I love new things and this was a great one for me.

I'm not 100% in love with the middle circle, but as it was my first time doing a circle, its not so bad.

I guess.

I'll post another pic this weekend after I get some kind of christmas decoration set in the middle of it.

But for now, the first part of my challenge is done.

My Challenge from Amy's Creative Side

These are all my dresden plate pieces that have already been sewn together

across the top. They are waiting for me to trim the corners and then turn them into a point.

This is 5 placemat's worth.

This is the one I put together last night. I used 3.5 inch pieces to make this plate

that fit's inside a 10" block.

The finished product will be a placemat that measure 12.5x17".

I'm not sure what the final design is going to look like.

For the challenge, I would like to get all 6 of these placemats pieced together as well as quilt a 24" table square that I pieced last night.

Quilted Christmas Table Runner

I did this table runner on Saturday

I picked out the fabric back in August or September, but I just now got around to putting it together.

This runner measures 13.75x35.5 inches

It fits in the middle of my table with enough room on all edges to also fit placemats.

I wanted it to be able to stay on the table and serve as a hot pad while I am serving dinner

Here's a close up.

I love how the colors go together.

Star Quilt

I can't remember the name of this quilt....I'll look it up and post it correctly later. For now, its enough that I get the pics up. This is the quilt I made for Cassidy.

These are not my color choices, (Cass picked these fabrics out years ago) but I think it turned out well. A little narrow for her preference, but only my third quilt and I'm learning as I go along.

Approx lap size. Made in Feb 2010.

www.quiltsforkids.org

This is the first (hopefully of many) quilts that I made for http://www.quiltsforkids.org/

All fabric was provided. I did the cutting, sewing and quilting. There was not enough fabric left over for the binding, so I did have to provide that and the batting. Karate is not my thing, but in the end, I love how this quilt turned out. I can't remember how big this was, smaller then lap size anyway. Made in Feb 2010.

Allie's Split Rail Quilt

My very first quilt...EVER!

I love Allie's quilt!!! Her favorite color is yellow, my fave is green...I thought this would be a perfect color combo for my first quilt. I added the pink border and backing to give it a splash of extra color. Approx lap size. Made in Jan 2010.

Fall Quilted Table Runner

I love decorating my house around the season and I am totally in love with quilting right now. So, I decided to make a fall table runner. Size is approx 14x35. It fits perfectly down the middle of my dining room table when the placemats are also out. Made August 2010.

CupCake Quilt

I made this cupcake quilt for my daughter Samantha. I bought the fabric and she fell in love, so this is what I came up with. The orange polka dot backing matches her room, as does the hot pink. Approx lap size. Made in April 2010.

Split Rail Quilt-Baby Boy

I made this quilt for my cousin who had a baby boy in June. I wanted him to be able to "grow into it" so I veered away from typical baby colors and went with something a little more "durable".  The combination of cream and blue, with stars, turned out incredible.  I bordered and backed it in blue flannel for added softness. Approx crib size. Made in May 2010.