Saturday, May 31, 2008

Fun Stuff to Share

I copy catted Kim this past week and hit the thrift stores for some cheap fun. I hit the jackpot! I purchased this cool ceramic house, and I am using it for a coffee canister at home. I found a smaller cottage one at a different thrift store on my lunch break, and I am using it for a sugar container at my office, along with a cute saucer/bowl/lid combo I found at the same store. It is now a powdered creamer holder for my office. Much cuter than the original containers they came in from the store.
thrifted coffee canister

From the second thrift store along with the house canister I found 3 pantos for $8. I tried the first one the other night, but haven't mastered lining the rows up as the quilt progresses, and so I am not happy with my work on that, but am trying to imagine how cool it will be once I get the hang of the pantos. I also found these two ceramic baskets at a 3rd thrift store.
Thrifted ceramic baskets

I loved these green bowls at the 3rd store
cool 50's bowls from thrifting expedition

Two retro serving dishes, and a little yellow bowl like my Mom had, round out my collection for the day.
Nifty 50 or 60's looking serving dishes from thrifting expedition

bowl like Mom's from thrifting trip

This morning I rearranged my little quilt collection and put it on a different wall

new little quilt wall
I took creative license and hung them crooked. I hope the makers don't mind.

Then I used the old quilt wall for this arrangement

second quilt wall

One for you, One for me. Four Seasons Summer Swap

I have finished my swap quilt, and an almost identical quilt for me. I love the dimension on the straps, and think the background looks like the beach. I'm hoping it does anyway. I won't be mailing this one off for a while per Margaret's instructions, but I hope the recipient likes it.

quilt1

quilt 2

Monday, May 26, 2008

Getting Started


I was able to get started on my Summer edition of the Four Season's Quilt Swap this weekend. I found the perfect pattern when I was in Boise for a job interview on Thursday. Here is a sneek peek at some of the fabrics I will be using in the quilts. I say quilts, as I am making one for me and one for my swap partner. So far I'm loving how it is turning out.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Some finishes

I've been taking advantage of the long weekend to try and finish up some projects.
The first one you have seen the blocks before, and I actually finished this a few weeks ago, but hadn't blogged it yet.
The spools quilt. Made this from noodles I had swapped, saved, and won in January playing strip poker (strips of fabric as opposed to stripping) at guild night.

Spool quilt

Here is a close up of the quilting. I had seen something similar at an lqs, and loved it, but I'm not sure I'm loving my version/attempt. It is what it is though, and its not horrible. LOL

quilting of spools

You may remember the Maverick Stars I had been working on from Bonnie's Qultville site a while back. I used a bunch of blue noodles I had been saving up to make sashing for the stars. I quilted it in red thread with stars and loops.

Maverick Stars lap quilt

A while back I put this top together with some orphan blocks from the Carolina Crossroads mystery on Quiltville.com I quilted it up this morning with red thread and my first attempt at all over feathers. They are far from perfect. It lasted on the table until dh decided to drink a cuppa and he always spills as soon as there is a clean tablecloth, so I took it off. LOL I'm not sure what I will use it for at this point.

quilted table topper from leftovers

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Mason's Quilt

I have been wanting to make a quilt for my soon to be grandson Mason that will be a stay at grandma's house quilt. I had purchased a panel with letters on it a few years ago on a clearance rack, and have been saving it for just the right moment. I made this Happy Hour pattern in the small block size using some novelties and a lot of funky monkey fabrics. Then I added the letters in the border and quilted it up using the Pajama Quilter's dwirling quilting pattern. I love how it turned out. I still have enough blocks for another quilt in the same size. I better tell the kids they can only name the next child something that doesn't use the letters m a s o n as those are all used up.

Mason's quilt finished and bound

Saturday, May 17, 2008

How close is this?

How close was the spring 4sqs quilt to my taste? This is how close..... Just last week I purchased this pattern by Quilt Soup It is called Corner Flower Shoppe. (scroll down the page to find it) The flowers are the same shape as the gorgeous poppy flowers in my spring four seasons swap quilt. Luisa really hit the nail on the head with this quilt. Thanks again.

Now Its Really Here! Spring is everywhere!

My beautiful spring quilt for the Four Seasons Quilt Swap has arrived! It came all the way from Portugal from Luisa. I love love love it! Here it is.

Four Seasons Quilt Swap Spring 2008 received

I love how she quilted the flowers. Really cute. You can see a better picture of it on her blog.

I put it on my wall of little quilts as soon as I got home last night.


My growing wall of little quilts

Friday, May 16, 2008

Spring is Here!

Well in some ways, just not in the four season's quilt swap sense. Although I'm told my spring quilt has been mailed, and I'm excitedly checking my po box each day. But spring is here in the actual sense. My little peach tree we planted 3 years ago finally has blooms! Yay!

close up of peach tree blooms 2008

Also it is spring in my bedroom, as I finally put the binding on my spring quilt for my bed. I love how this turned out, and it was easy easy. The pattern is called Happy Hour.

Happy Hour in pastels

I'll be checking my post office box in a few more hours to see if the little spring swap quilt has arrived. The suspence is killing me. :)

Sunday, May 11, 2008

New Mommy visit

Happy Mother's Day! Here is the newest Mommy I know with her 2 day old baby Naomi, aren't they the sweetest?

Mommy Rachel and Naomi

Here is my baby holding her baby. His will arrive in 4 months.

Cody and Naomi 2 days old (2)

And a close up of the cute little bundle of joy!

Naomi 2 days old

Look how tiny she is in the basinette.

Naomi in basinette 2 days old

Saturday, May 10, 2008

HMQS in SLC


I just got back today from the HMQS in SLC. I got to meet up with Kathi, and spend time with my Dad and his wife. I also got to spend time with my sister and 2 of her kids. While I was gone my Niece Rachel delivered a beautiful baby girl. (Naomi)

Here is Kathi with the two quilts she had entered into the quilt show.

Kathi and row robin 2

Kathi and her feathered star

Here is my favorite quilt from the show. It is an almost whole cloth quilt, and then the flowers are colored on with paint or something like that. It is gorgeous. There were a couple of quilts done this way, and I loved the look of them.

Whole cloth almost, and then the flowers are painted afterward

Here is the label on this quilt:
PICT2445

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Quilt Guild Show

Yesterday was the last day of my guild's bi-annual quilt show. It was fun to see all the beautiful quilts. I had entered into the block challenge, and guess what? I won first place. It was voted on by the show attendees. I think I win a little money. They then did a lotto for all the entered blocks, and Linda P. won them. So this little beauty goes to her house.

My Lone star Block

This quilt by ZZ Gilmore won a blue ribbon. I love it, and want to reproduce one for myself soon.

black white and red log cabin quilt by ZZ This won a ribbon

I'm sure I will share more pics later.

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Enough Already!

Enough enough enough already! I am so sick of winter. If you recall we received our first snow of the season in September. Now here it is May 1st and this is the mess I woke up to! Enough enough enough!!!!

May 1 2008