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.


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.


I loved these green bowls at the 3rd store


Two retro serving dishes, and a little yellow bowl like my Mom had, round out my collection for the day.




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

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.

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.

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.



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



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.



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.

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.

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.



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.

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!



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.



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. :)

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?



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



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



Look how tiny she is in the basinette.

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.





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.



Here is the label on this quilt:

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.



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



I'm sure I will share more pics later.

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!!!!

Instead of Celebrating

I finished quilting this quilt. I started this on Thursday night after work. It really went together fast fast fast. It is the Happy Hour quilt by Atkinson Designs. I love how it turned out. (It is for me, btw)




Hopefully you can see the quilting. It is the echo flowers pattern by Dawn Ramirez, The Pajama Quilter. (love her dvd)


click to enlarge

18 MONTHS!

In life sometimes we have to congratulate ourselves as rarely others remember these personal anniversaries. Although at 12 months I did receive an e card from a friend. It was much appreciated as you (Ann) were the only person who remembered that anniversary. Thanks. Here's to me and 18 months of this.




I haven't decided yet how I will celebrate, dh is working tonight so I won't be celebrating with him. hmmmm. Maybe take myself out to dinner or a movie? Naaa I'll probably stay home and sew. LOL

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.