11 in '11

Presenting......

my 11 in 2011

It's an Animal World

Hearts Around the World

A Very Hungry Caterpillar

Cherry on Top

Midnight Dreams

Streak of Lightening

Waiting for Spring

Trick or Treat

ISpy

Easter Roses

12 Days of Christmas

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Its hard to believe that another year has flown by!

Did you make any resolutions? Goals?

How about for this year?

2011 was a good one for me.

I really can't believe that its over!

My goals were simple:
Personally, I wanted to lose 15-20 pounds and keep it off.

Well, I mostly did that. It took me until July, but before we left for Hawaii, I was down 20 pounds.

I've put 5 back on since then, but I am comfortable and happy with where I'm at, so that's good.

I really don't want to see the scale next week when the kids go back to school, but the holiday's only come once a year and I was not going to deprive myself! LOL

My quilting goal was also simple, although it took me much longer to acheive.

Make and finish 11 quilts.

I had 7 done by July,

but then it took me 5 months to do 4 more.

12 days of Christmas got finished on Dec 29th!
2 were sent out to be quilted, one was twin size and the other was king size.

All the rest were done by me, all in various sizes.

12 days is also twin size so that is my biggest quilt, to date,

that I have quilted myself.

I don't have a full pic of 12 days yet, so you'll have to settle for this one, taken this morning,

when the boy first got up. He told me last night that 12 days is now tied with Cherry on Top for his favorite quilt. The fleece backing makes it a dream to cuddle with!

My 2012 goal is also simple, but less goal oriented.

Finish what you start.

Finish some tops that need layered and quilted, even if they are small projects.

Put my family first.

I do that every day, but several personal sewing projects (aprons, pajama's, pillow cases) got put off as I worked to reach my quilt goal.

And last, make my sewing room into the room I need it to be!

I finally convinced hubby to move Allie's bed out of there and into her's and Nick's room.

She had been using Nick's spare bunk bed, but now he has those back and she is in her bed.

AND the sewing room is ready to be 100% converted. Before, I had tables and shelves, now I have the whole room!

Mom and I (Did I mention my mom is here visiting? She is and I love spending time with her) moved an unused desk in there yesterday, so now it just needs reorganzed. I'll tackle it later this week when the kids are back in school and Mom goes back home.

11 in '11

My goal was 11 quilts in 2011.

Tomorrow is Dec 29, 2011.

And #11 is under my sewing machine!

That gives me 3 days to finish this last one.

I think I can, I think I can!

The binding is on and done, yes out of order, I know.

The borders have been quilted.

And I have the inside quilting done about a third of the way.

It'll get done,

I just never imagined it would take me to the last days of 2011 to get it done!

I need to add all my christmas sewing to my tally list,

but early next year I hope to have an approximation for how many projects I completed in 2011.

I hope Santa was good to all of you, my blog friends!

He was definitely good to my house.

The kids got the usual number of electronics and toys.

But the mama? WOW, I impressed someone this year I guess.

• My new Kindle Fire? I LOVE IT!
• 2 jelly rolls....Blueberry Crumb Cake and Always & Forever are begging for an idea
• Matching charm packs will make excellent small things to go with
• Another charm pack...this one of Ruby, will make throw pillows to match my king size Swoon quilt that is at the top of my list for 2012
• 3 new quilt books

In case I don't make it back,

which I definitely will, to share my #11,

but just in case,

Have a happy, safe New Years Eve!



Picture Perfect

Easter Roses

Quilt #10 of 11 in '11

Close up of quilting

......the story here is that I took a class on free motion quilting. The quilt top was supposed to be a plain piece of fabric. I decided that if I was going to the trouble of doing this amazing quilting, I wanted it to be on a pieced top. Problem was, I didn't have much time, so I settled on this simple design. I thought I would give the quilt away to a cousin who is having a girl in March, but decided to keep it as the first quilt I've free motioned. Since the colors are so Easter-y, that is when I'll display it.......

Christmas card holder

Peppermint Candy Pillow

11 in '11 Update

Do you remember that Kim started a challenge/goal back in January of completing 11 quilts in 2011?

That seemed fairly do-able, although I knew I was going to miss 2 months due to our big Hawaii vacation.

I haven't posted picture's yet, mostly because, you guessed it, I haven't taken any, but I did complete quilt #10 back in October. I took a machine quilting class and picked out some baby girl colors for my quilt top. I had planned on giving it away as a baby gift, but teen daughter #2 convinced me to keep it as an easter quilt.  As it is my first free motion quilting project, it didn't take much to convince me.

I figured that after that, it was smooth sailing. I had plans for a christmas quilt, plus a quilt each for my niece and nephew for christmas. Fast forward to today....28 days 'til christmas.

My christmas quilt top is done, it just needs borders added. Maybe this week?
But, the other 2 quilts have been taken off the list, I simply don't have time.

Part of my goal for next year is going to be to complete as much of the holiday sewing AHEAD OF TIME that I can. Obviously, I may have to wait 'til the fabric comes into season, but I need to get ahead of the game!

So, for now, I will complete my 11 in '11. I will make my goal.

But I can't help wishing I had planned better and gotten those other 2 quilts done.

By the way...the christmas decorating has been started. No tree yet, but hopefully this week. I don't know.....with the drama play next Thurs, Fri and Sat, my week is going to be swamped. But it should be up by next Sunday, anyway. I need some more wall hangings/wreath-y type stuff.  I think I'll head back to Michael's tomorrow and see what I can find.



iSpy

Another check mark in the done column!

This quilt is for the baby shower I am going to tomorrow.

The baby's name will be Kennedy (I love that name) and she is due around halloween.

It was tempting to do a seasonal quilt for her, but I decided to go the traditional route and went with pink.

There are several i spy blocks in the quilt, as well as strings to hold toys in each of the corners.

I hope she likes it!

Trick or Treat!!

Trick or Treat is done!

I actually finished it a few days ago, but just got around to taking the pics.

The kids are in love

and think its the best quilt I've ever done.

See for yourself:

Backing by M'liss



Finished size is about 66x77

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

I've been busy quilting, not so busy blogging.

Here is my story:

halloween panel #1

halloween panel #2

dish soap apron side 1

dish soap apron side 2

WIP: baby shower quilt for this weekend (#9 of 11 in '11)

Swoon block #1 (not sure if I have shared this one or not)

Derailed!

Email can be such a deterent to real life.

But we all have it.

And, for me at least, its fairly necessary.

You know.

I get notices from my fave stores.

Reminders from the library.

Info from the kids school.

Bills due.

You know.  I'm sure you get the same stuff.

But yesterday, I got a baby shower invitation.

I have a quilt all planned out for this baby.

But she's not due 'til October.

The END of October.

I thought I had plenty of time.

Except the baby shower is in the middle of September.

Which I guess I should have expected, if I had thought about it.

Its a good thing I had the quilt planned and fabric purchased.

Well, it was planned in my mind. Not really on paper.

Or computer.

Ok. I got this.

Last night, I sat here and designed it on the computer.

Today, I started it.

It will probably go pretty quick, as it really is small, only about 47x47.

BUT! I had other things on my list to be done first!

My halloween quilt.

The secret quilt I can't blog about yet.

The halloween panels that need quilted.

So I've been derailed.

But its still quilting, right?

And I do love making baby quilts.

Once this one is done, it should be my #9 of 11 in '11.

Pics to come later!

Trick or Treat

While I was at the Quilt Expo (in June, in Washington, DC)

I picked up this fantastic Trick or Treat (by Deb Strain

for Moda ) jelly roll.

Halloween is my favorite holiday

and I have been dying to make a quilt for it.

Its going to be somewhere between lap size and twin size.

And I might have enough to get either a wall hanging or table runner out of it.

I also have a couple of matching panels that just need layered and quilted.

I ran out this morning and bought a black swirl and purple sparkle fabric to use as backgrounds and borders.

They are washed and ironed and the black is partially cut.

Tomorrow, the rest of the cutting and hopefully I'll start the piecing.

This should be #8 of my 11 in '11.

Its almost August and the time to think ahead to the holidays is here :)

Waiting for Spring

Spring was a long time coming, wasn't it?

It seemed like it to me.

In January, I joined QuiltDad's Block A Palooza Quilt Along.

It was my first and I didn't put much thought into it

beyond, oh, this sounds fun! LOL

After a few weeks, I really wasn't liking what I could see the final product turning out to be.

So I stopped and set it aside for awhile.

Eventually, I redesigned the quilt into something I did like

and got back to work on it.

I finished it and sent it off to the quilters,

with a bit of trepidation.

I let Allie pick out the thread color, as it was going on her bed,

and she picked pink.

Since the center design block is white, I was more then a little worried

about how the pink thread was going to look.

But, we picked it up from the quilter yesterday and I love it.

The pink was a perfect choice and the quilting itself is wonderful.

Imagine my surprise when I was checking it out and realized I had

messed up one of the rows! Eeeekkkkkkk!

The blocks were supposed to alternate.

But when I attached the top row, I accidently flipped the row and ended up

with matching blocks in the corners. Nothing I can do about it now.

 Ohhhh, but I am upset with myself.

Anyway,

Here you go.

Waiting for Spring.

Quilt #7 of 11 in '11.

Celtic Fling

I haven't posted all month!
Sorry!

And now, I literally have minutes before we walk out the door again.

I have wanted to post, but haven't

had pics to back anything up.

And I hate that!

I looked today and I still don't have pics

of most of my Hawaii sewing.

But I do have pics of something....

Hubby and I are big into Rennaissance Faires and stuff like that.

So, over the weekend we went to a Celtic festival in PA.

And I needed something new to wear.

Of course! LOL

I made this last week before we went camping.

Kilt and bodice.

Lots of pleats, but I love how it turned out.

One of the kilt vendors actually stopped me and asked if I had made it

and complimented me on such a good job!
Luckily, I had 2 pieces of blackwatch wool to make this,
as I couldn't find ANYTHING at the fabric stores.

In the meantime,

my first santa sack swap gift is ready to be mailed out.

My Hawaii sewing is almost done.

I have a quilt at the quilters ready to be picked up.

Oh!
I found another pic!
I made this a few weeks ago.

I love the ants! LOL Ok, I'll try to post more pics tomorrow!

Streak of Lightening!

Add another quilt to the done list!

After binding Midnight Dreams on Sunday,

I was really in the mood to quilt!

But I knew I couldn't start anything new.

(you know all about that darn Hawaii list!)

And the only thing I had going on quilting wise

was my son's quilt top.

Its been done since about March.

Soooo, I layered it and used my new basting spray/glue.

It worked really well, but it was messy.

Got on my pants and socks, ugh.

I'm hoping it'll come out in the wash.

But I really loved how easy it was to use.

Admittedly, this quilt doesn't have alot of quilting,

but I think its enough and I love how it turned out.

And Nick will be thrilled that its finally done!
This is a UFO from last year!

Close up:

Now, I'm a sad panda.

I have NOTHING started in the quilting arena.

And I really can't start anything until I get the other list done.

But I can dream and plan.

After seeing the new quilt on my bed, both teen's have

placed their order for one :)



Midnight Dreams

I am so excited and thrilled to present

my new quilt.

Its been a long time coming,

an even longer time being dreamed of.

Presenting.....

Midnight Dreams

Final dimensions ended up being

115"x105"

Here's a close up of the quilting

I picked it up from the quilter's yesterday

and put the binding on it this morning.

And, yes, it immediately went right to my bed :)

BTW-my hubby named it and I think its perfect :)

Waiting for Spring

Have you ever done a Quilt-a-long?
I joined the Block A Palooza quilt a long back in January.

I'd never done one before and it sounded fun.

Make 2 blocks a week for 8 weeks, add some finishing touches and voila,

a whole quilt top, done.

Except it was a sampler.

Which I guess if I had thought about, I should have known.

And that's not my style.

At all.

So, I did the first 6 blocks.

I liked them all.

Just not together.

But I had all this fabric.

That I wasn't sure I would love when I ordered it,

but I did.

Sunkissed is beautiful!

I needed to come up with another idea.

I decided to take the basic idea from the quilt a long and make it my own.

I designed 2 quilt blocks to make the border.

Then I copied the center panel.

As my dh says, totally  not my style,

but it turned out cute.

I finished the quilt top yesterday.

Now I have to do the backing.

I am thinking of incorporating those extra blocks that I made.

Not quite sure yet.

I'd like to get the backing done soon so I can get this dropped off at the quilters next week.

In the meantime,

wanna sneak peak?

And here's part of the center panel.

In terms of 11 in '11, I am almost half way done.

I have the king size (I really need to name that baby!) at the quilters now.

It is #5.

Waiting for Spring is just about ready to be dropped off.

Its #6.

Nick's quilt, Lightening Strikes, still needs to be quilted.

That is on the docket to be done as soon as I get all the Hawaii sewing done.

It'll be #7. (I bought some batting spray, at a fellow quilters suggestion, that I want to use on this, so I'm anxious to see how it works!)



Cherry on Top

My Cherry on Top is finished!

I got the final stitching done yesterday morning.

And promptly wrapped my son up in it

to check the "cozy" factor.

It passed with flying colors.

I spent several hours throughout the day

cutting the seams to make it "raggedy".

Then, of course, it had to be washed.

And dried.

Clean lint filter.

Dry some more.

Clean lint filter.

Dry some more.

Get the picture? It created a ton of lint!

Oh! Well, here's a picture

And here's a close up of the blocks.

And here's the back.

Remember?
Pink for the girls,

Blue for the boys.

So, this was my fourth of 11 in '11.

I am right on track.

Nick's quilt still needs layered and quilted.

My king size still needs dropped off at the quilter to be quilted.

And when I get home from my trip, I plan on starting my Sunkissed quilt.



Cherry on the top

Is it or isn't it?
A rag quilt.

Is it a real quilt?
Or just a fancy blanket?

I'm going to go with a real quilt.

I cut out all the pieces.

I will sew them all into strips.

I'll sew all the strips together.

And then my quilt top will be done.

Its just that it will already be quilted.

I made one for my mom for christmas and I loved how it turned out.

I forgot how much until I was at her house last month

and got to use it. So cozy and warm!

Bear with me for a second.

I know this seems off tangent.

I made a flannel quilt for my new nephew.

I wasn't in love with how it came together,

but it was cute.

Well, one day it was laying on the back of the couch.

I was cold, so I pulled it down on top of me.

I think it instantly became my favorite quilt!

Aiden was born last month and the quilt was dutifully given.

My kids thought for sure I was going to keep it for myself.

I didn't.

But, man, my mornings have been much cooler without that quilt.

You can see where this is going now, right?
I had to make another one.

I didn't like the way the flannel quilted together. The fabric

was much harder to quilt and it kept bunching up.

I wasn't thrilled with the idea of doing that again.

Soooooooo.........

I decided to make a flannel rag quilt.

Best of both worlds.

I can quilt the small squares together, then proceed

as with a "normal" quilt.

In reality, this quilt is my #6 for 11 in '11, but

it should be done before #4 and 5, so those two will

have to move down a slot.

I do appreciate how quickly rag quilts come together!

Disclaimer: That photo only tell's part of the tale.

The blue will be on bottom and not seen anywhere

near the cherries! Don't worry, the fabric's are awesome,

you just can't see them all!

I decided to do "girly" on top for the girls, hawaiin blue flowers on the bottom for the boys.

and



Missing Pics

I know, I know, I really

need to get some new pics up!

To be honest, I haven't picked up my camera

in awhile.
Maybe this weekend?

So, the big news of the day is.......

I finished my king size quilt top!
I'll take it to the quilters either tomorrow or Friday.

I can't believe how close I am to having it on my bed!

Hip Hip Hooray!

 

Fabric updates:
I bought some flannel and have cut out all the pieces

to make my new flannel rag quilt.

I'd really like to get this done by next Friday so it can be

my car blanket for our trip to Iowa.

I'm going to buy the batting this afternoon and hopefully get it started

tonight or tomorrow!

 

I have also figured out what to do with my Sunkissed/Bloggers Quilt A Long.

I really liked the design they created.

But I was not liking the look of the sampler blocks.

Which was really my fear when I realized that was what

the whole quilt was going to be.

So, I redesigned it.

I'm going to do 2 quilt block designs around the outside for the border

and keep the center applique.

You can check out the applique here

and the quilt design here.

I think I will be much happier with this idea :)

 

On hold:
I haven't touched my son's quilt top since I finished it last week.

Its on my to do list to layer and quilt, but those are

my least favorite parts of quilting.

I also haven't done anything about a spring/Easter table runner.

At this point, I'm not sure what is going to happen with that.

I may just jump right into something for May and skip Easter this year.

The St Pats day runner is still on my table.

Which, to be honest, didn't make it there til the end of March, so

we haven't been staring at it for that long!

 

Third of 11 in '11

It feels so good to finally get all

these quilt's up to be seen!
This one might be my very favorite of them all.

Presenting....

A Very Hungry Caterpillar

The perfect quilt for a little boy!
I enjoyed making this one so much and couldn't

wait to deliver it to my new nephew.

So, without further ado....

Aiden Thomas

Isn't he just precious?
I'm just a *tad* bit proud of him!

So, 3 months into 2011 and I have 3 quilts done :)

Yeah!!!

#4 is in blocks that are being sewn into rows, so

I hope to have a complete quilt top by tomorrow.

Second of 11 in '11

Some very dear friends of ours are

having a baby in June.

But they moved away last month :(

When I found out they were moving, I hurried

and made this baby quilt for them.

And then I got sick.

AGAIN!

It didn't get done in time to give to them

before they moved.

But I'm sure we'll see them again soon.

And, if not, then I'll mail it.

But I did show it to them, it just wasn't

finished.

But now it is.

Actually, one corner of that darn green border needs resewn.

Maybe I'll do that today.

I love this quilt.

The colors. The design. Even the border.

But I will never make that border again! What a nightmare!

Boy? Girl? No one knows, but

I'm sure this quilt will make either one happy :)