Another LIttle Quilt Swap Draft One?

I had been thinking about doing a whole cloth quilt for my contribution to another little quilt swap. Here is the result. I'm not sure.... what do you think?

Finishing up a couple of items

This morning I finished up the last touches on a couple of items. First I finished the diaper bag I started earlier this week. This will be for my soon to be Grandson, Mason. I used the Open City Tote pattern by Quilts Illustrated. I made it a big bigger than the pattern though.
Here is the outside of the bag. Mom to be loves Care Bears, that was an easy choice then.



Here is the inside of the diaper bag. Lots of pockets.



I finished this little baby quilt up, by adding the binding this morning. I know you've seen this before, but I had better light available today, so You will see it again.



Quilting close up



Back of the quilt

I'm a Boy!

What great fun we had today at the baby ultrasound. At first they couldn't tell if the baby was a girl or a boy as the cord was in the way, but later on it became clear. Definately a boy. Already waving hello, and showing off those biceps. Check him out!

Tomorrow is the BIG Day!

Tomorrow is the day we find out if I will be getting a girl or a boy grandchild. I'm hoping for a girl, but feel like its a boy. Cross your fingers for me.


I'm actually on top of the cooking today. Here is what's for dinner tonight. yum!



And here's a bunch of catching up in no particular order.

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Idaho. I think it was close to 70 degrees. They are calling for 67 for the high today. Yesterday I worked a bit in the yard, I put out my windchimes.

I also with help from hubby got the grill out and ready to fire up.


Here is the view from the deck this morning. Still snow on the mountains, but the farmer's field across the road is looking pretty green indeed.

Keep reading I promise some quilty stuff if you stick with me here.
I finished this quilt a while ago, but don't think I blogged it. It is a gift for this Christmas. If you are my sister and you asked for a purple and yellow quilt, then the surprise is blown. (I don't think this particular sister reads my blog) Shhhh don't tell her its here.


This is the neighborhood kitty. She likes to wander past my window and torment my dog. I like her though. She is friendly and looks before she crosses the street. Nobody has "adopted" her, but my neighbor feeds her, and she's been around for years.


When my kids were younger we used to ride bikes together. I really enjoyed this. I have since gained a significant amount of weight and my bike is worn out. Hubby tried to fix it last year, but the brakes were just too scary for me. Yesterday I bought a new bike. I rode it a few blocks yesterday, and then again this morning. I am stiff stiff stiff, but it feels good. Here it is. On sale only $56, such a deal.


This weekend I have been making Maverick Stars from Bonnie's Quiltville site. I love using up all the little triangles that I just can't seem to throw away.

That is 26 blocks so far, and enough pieces going for another 13 blocks. I am almost out of triangles. The goal is to use them all up.


I made a bunch of puss in the corner blocks a few weeks ago. I made a twin size quilt top and also this baby quilt. I haven't quilted the twin yet, but here is the baby. I love the butterfly fabric on the back of this quilt. I tried a new little quilting pattern and used primary colors varigated thread.
Hopefully this will be for a GIRL baby. (Just sending the wish out into the universe)


I've also been working on a bunch of scrappy spool blocks. Here they are on the design wall, not yet sewn together.


I guess that is it for today. I am hoping to fertilize the lawn, and change the seat on my bike and raise the handlebars before hubby goes to work. Oh, I forgot to mention hubby got a job in a nearby town. This means I get to see him sleeping every morning before I go to work. Cool. (He is working the opposite shift as I, but at least he is in town. Yay!)

Another LIttle Quilt Swap

I've joined Kate and 41 bloggers in another little quilt swap. I received my partner info today, and I have to say I'm at a loss of what to make. My partner's tastes are opposite of mine. LOL. Of course I'm thinking Kate is making me stretch. Although, probably not on purpose. Here goes nothing. Good thing I have until July 1st to figure out this new style.

Tagged

I've been tagged by Jennifer the maker of my wonderful doll quilt from about.com
Here's how it works:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here goes nothing: hmmmmm
1. I have difficulties sharing personal information.
2. I have 6 siblings.
3. I enjoy quilting, suck at other crafty pursuits.
4. I want to retire, but can't yet.
5. I'm looking for a new job.
6. I live for the weekend.
7. I'm going to be a first time grandparent this year.

whew! Glad that's over with. I'll not tag anybody, but encourage you to tag yourself if you are so inclined.

Four Seasons Quilt Swap Spring 2008

I have finished the quilt for the spring swap. I love how it turned out. Hope _______ loves it also.

Four Season Spring Swap Progress and more....

I'm slowly working on my little quilt for the Four Seasons Spring Swap. I have two of the four blocks finished. I know I'm going to like how this finishes, as I've already made one just like it for myself. I had originally planned the first one for the swap, but liked it so much I decided to keep it and make a second quilt for the swap.



I have all but the binding finished on my Carolina Crossroads quilt. I like how it turned out. I quilted it with a pattern we call cinnamon rolls around here.

Here is a meme I've seen a lot lately, but most recently on Kate's blog.
you can only use one word to answer each question -
One Word
1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Your significant other? working
3. Your hair? annoying
4. Your mother? missing
5. Your father? incredible
6. Your favorite thing? offspring
7. Your dream last night? absent
8. Your favorite drink? fresca
9. Your dream/goal? retirement
10. The room you’re in? office
11. Your ex? supportive
12. Your fear? water
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? alive
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you’re not? work
16. Muffins? okay
17. One of your wish list items? list
18. Where you grew up? Utah
19. The last thing you did? dinner
20. What are you wearing? clothing
21. Your TV? neglected
22. Your pet? murphy
23. Your computer? laptop
24. Your life? content
25. Your mood? bored
26. Missing someone? always
27 Your car? jeep
28. Something you’re not wearing? noneya
29. Favorite Store? fabric
30. Your summer? hot
31. Like someone? yes
32. Your favorite color? depends
33. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
34. Last time you cried? unknown

Weekend Overview

I thought I would catch up on quilty stuff for the weekend. I made 3 more receiving blankets, and 31 more burp bibs for a total of 56. I know this seems like lots, but lots of people are pregnant. I finally got up the nerve to quilt the magic vine top I made last year. I've been staring at it forever and feeling chicken, and so yesterday I bit the bullet. I used stencils for the wreaths in the setting blocks, and free handed the feathers in the border. I just went around each of the flowers in the flower blocks. Of course I poked myself with a pin and bled on the white border, so it has been laundered already. I have the hardest time getting good pics of quilting, any suggestions?



Here is the finished top from Bonnie's quiltville mystery quilt, Carolina Byways.

Murphy Seizure

Last night I had a scary experience. My dog, Murphy, had a seizure. I've witnessed lots of humans having seizures, but I've never seen my dog have one. Last September my dh saw him have a seizure, and I called the vet. She didn't seem too concerned. She told me her Mom had a dog that had a seizure twice a year his whole life, and that he was really fine, but dogs just have seizures sometimes. She didn't think I needed to bring him in to see her unless he had them frequently. Then she would consider meds. So, this is actually his second one. It lasted about 4 minutes, and his postdictal time was about 15 minutes. He vomited afterwards, twice. I'm sure this is tmi, but I want to document it for my own use. He hung out right by me all night, not unusual, and he seems fine this morning. Any good vibes you would like to send his way would be great!

Four Season's Winter Quilt

It's Here! It's Here! Every day I stop at the post office on my way home from work to check for the little swap quilt. Not there, not there, not there... But today after an extra long and hard day at work, It was there! I hurried home and told myself I could open it as soon as I shoveled the snow drift out of the middle of the driveway. Then I put away the groceries, threw a frozen pizza in the oven and while it cooked I opened the package. LOL Just kidding, you all know I ripped it open right there in the post office. I was so excited to see it in my po box. Luckily I was the only person in the post office that time of night. LOL The quilt was made by Julie H. from Firefly Lane blog. It is too dark here to take a picture of it, so I've stolen a picture from Julie. Here is the back. It is hard to see, but the fabrics she used are gorgeous, and glittery just what I had requested. Also the blue edge is 3 dimensional that surrounds the patchwork center. I don't know what that is called, but it is really cool. I can't wait to add this to my growing collection of doll quilts on my wall. She also sent a really cool retro looking key chain. Its so strange too, because I had the same key chain for about 7 years, and just last month my daughter lost my keys when she had borrowed my jeep to go snowboarding, so I was in need of a cool new keychain. Thanks Julie, and also a big thanks to Margaret for hosting the swap.

Doll Quilt Swap II on About.com

Ginger is hosting a second doll quilt swap on the about.com quilting forum. I participated in the first one a received a great little quilt. I definately was in for the second swap as well. Each time I've participated in a doll quilt swap, I have a difficult time sending the cute little quilt off to someone else, and have wished I'd made a matching quilt for myself. This time I did! I'll start off with the little blocks. I used a block pattern from the book Prarie Children and Their Quilts. It finishes at 4 inches.



I put them together wish 1 1/2" sashings, and then a beautiful blue border. I mainly used batiks, with the exception of the background fabrics in the actual blocks. Here they are together, and all finished.



And here is my wall of doll quilts so far. I'm still waiting on my winter quilt from four seasons quilt swap, and then I will still receive one from this swap also. Yay! I love these little quilts.

Wonky Feather Quilting

I've been practicing this wonky feathers quilting that I learned on my pajama quilter DVD, and I think I'm finally getting it nicely. This is a quilt made by someone I know. She had embroidered all the blocks, and then I sewed them together, quilted and bound it. She hasn't seen it yet, but I think it turned out great!

Here's the front


And the back.....


I've also been making more baby quilts, they are quick and fun!

Dwirling

I received my pajama quilter dvd the other day, and I finally got a chance to try the dwirling technique on this baby panel I had in stash. I think I paid a dollar for the panel last year on a clearance sale. Anyway, it turned out really cute, and just in time as I found out yesterday I am going to be a grandma! (not Nellie) Quite the surprise. So here's the first picture.....


Here is the front


this is a fun technique, and I love how it turned out!

Since Christmas

I've been busy busy, and haven't blogged a thing. Let's play catch up here.
Here is Nellie opening her Advent Calendar on Christmas morning. I think she loved it.

And.... here is Al opening his Christmas Quilt later in the day....

These are blocks I've been making as leaders/enders for round three of Krista's framed four patch swap, soon to be posted on about.com quilting forum.

I finished hand piecing my second Dahlia, here it is....


I've been playing along with Bonnie's mystery quilt, Carolina Crossroads, and finished catching up on the steps friday night. I'm all set for the next step to be revealed this week.

I received a quilting instruction dvd yesterday in the mail by the pajama quilter, Dawn Ramierez, and tried her wonky feathers quilting on this quilt yesterday....




Horrible lighting, I hope the quilting shows up in this picture..


I quilted this yesterday also, it is a crib size quilt.




Here is the back of it


I also quilted this little lap sized quilt up this morning


Last week I quilted and bound the penny pincher 9 double four patch quilt, and mailed it to my neice Ashley, in Missouri. I hope she received it, I haven't heard from her.

I sent Emily the beautiful turning twenty quilt made with the Fuscia fabrics, mailed that this week also, hope she received it, I haven't heard from her either. hmmmmm quiet little neices I have eh?
I've been working on this today, it will be for Enid, (great neice) she needs a big girl bed quilt, all she has from me is a small crib size quilt.

I think that catches me up, except for the yummy chicken enchiladas I made this morning. One dish will go to my in laws tonight for dinner, one for us here for dinner, and two to freeze for later. Yummy!

Dahlia Quilting Finished

I love this wallhanging. I worked very hard to hand piece the Dahlia. Several people I know have indicated "Hand piecing deserves hand quilting". I have never hand quilted a thing in my life. I thought I would give it a try. The ladies on the about.com quilting forum gave me great directions on how to do this. I sandwiched, I basted with pins, I bought the right needles and thread. I tried, I really did, but It looked horrible! And..... I kept thinking to myself, hand piecing deserves pretty quilting, something I knew wouldn't happen if I quilted this by hand. My son saw me trying and said, "Why are you riding a bike when you own a cadillac?" LOL He was right. I took apart the basting with pins and the quilting I had attempted and put it on the handiquilter, and machine quilted it. I like how it turned out and that is what matters truly.




Here is the full picture



I finished the center Dahlia of a second Dahlia Thursday night. I had used the scraps from this one to make the second one, but they are in a different placement.
I haven't taken a picture of that one yet.

Advent Calendar Fun?

A while back (18 months or so) I received an Advent Calendar panel from a quilting pals swap. It is cute with cats all over and lots of gold glittery looking threads. My dd saw it and asked me to make it for her. Of course, I said sure! That was a while back (17 months or so) LOL. I have looked at it several times, and read the instructions, and then procrastinated making it. Until today! Each day I read Kate's blog and see her advent calendar item for the day, and think, I really should get to that Advent calendar for Nellie. Anyway, it is done! PITA but done! And..... I went to the dread Walmart and bought a gold curtain rod hanger thing, and some pretty gold wire cord to hang on the curtain rod, and lots of candy to put in each day, including a marshmallow Santa for the last day. Enough chatter, here it is, and I like it! Amazing!
(now for the rest of the bag of goodies.... teehee)