Oops, I realized I forgot to post the doll quilt pics.  Sometimes my crazy camera doesn't play well with my equally crazy computer.  (Could it be the owner/operator... never :) I pieced the back with the leftover scraps, got the idea from the crazy mom quilts blog, did I mention I LOVE her blog.   Anyway, I'm also posting a pic of my new table topper I made using my 30's scraps.  I added prairie points, like the baby quilt from the Moda Bake Shop... worth checking out their blog by the way.  It's so beautiful today, going to have to take the dogs for a walk... All for now, Danielle

Here is the finished top, and doll quilt.  I'm working on the matching valance, actually I just cut some pieces really, but that's all I can focus on right now.  I also started a rug hooking project that I bought at the Claire Murray Outlet store last summer.  I don't have a frame, so I've using my lap as the frame.  The only bad part about that is... I am COVERED in little pieces of jute from the background!  I'll have to keep that in mind if I plan on leaving the house after working on it, LOL!  I think I might be allergic to the jute, too, since last night I was working on it, and my nose was so itchy!   And they say beauty is pain,  "they" must not be crafting!  The dog seems to like it though, she didn't want to get off of it!  I have a lot of wool yardage from another project, so my goal after I finish the center is to do a few rows of wool braiding around it after...  I think this will be another long term project, not very portable.  All for now, Danielle 

I spent the morning pin basting my batik "turtle" quilt together.   I haven't named it yet,  still mulling it over.  It has fussy cut batik turtles in the middle of some of the blocks, the kids really like this one.  You can see them peeking out from behind it.   I picked out a variegated purple and blue King Tut thread, looks like it will really compliment it well.  I also almost finished my daughter's quilt, I just have to put the borders on.  I decided to make a matching valance for her room,  and I have pieced the doll quilt too.  Off to get ready for my hand quilting class...  that's all for now.

Dog Days

Don't you just love a fresh rotary cutting blade?  I don't realize how bad the old one is until I have a new one in place.  Glides through with such ease!  All of the individual blocks for my daughter's quilt are sewn, and I have the center blocks and the corners done.  I just have to sew in the setting triangles, and sew the rows together...  Not bad for the kids having a half day of school, and a slight doggie emergency.  The puppy Murphy broke one of his claws below the quick, OUCH!  Not to mention he was bleeding all over himself and his dog sister Tessie.  Off to the vet we went, as you can see he is very embarrassed!  And you can also see she really wasn't bothered much. Oh, the life of a dog!!!

The back of the doll quilt is finished. I used the left over corners of the snowball blocks to make HST, and I pieced a row for the back of the doll quilt.  I'm using all of the leftovers from the quilt and some white cotton from my stash.  Hopefully I can squeak enough of the red for the binding of the doll quilt, too.  For the front, I think just a simple patchwork will do.  Easy on the math at 2" finished squares...22" x 24".   I found bamboo batting (on sale, bonus) at Joann's, so this will be my first time working with it.  Feels very soft, hopefully it will stay that way after they are quilted!  

On a side note, look at the chaos I subject myself to.  Why can't I ever work in a neat manner?  I should wonder why we never eat at the dining room table... LOL!

I just completed the second block from the Marti Mitchell BOM that I doing from my local quilt shop, Emma's Quilt Cupboard.  I'm really loving the pink and brown combo.  There are lots of scraps to make another reproduction quilt with when this one is done, bonus! I also just started a new quilt for my daughter.  It is from the Swanky line by Chez Moi from Moda.  I broke down and bought a layer cake, finally.  I bought several yards for the borders and the binding, etc.  I am also digging the fact that a lot of the pre-cutting is done already.  I love this new book, too.  It's The Sweet Life by Anka's Treasures, and it gives instructions for layer cakes or fat quarters, so it's easy to get right to the sewing.  I have a few snippets of the fabric on the page... my daughter's room is green and pink and girly.  She loves it already, just from looking a the fabrics and the design.  Showing her the plan is definitely motivation to get it done, and she will probably help me with some of the sewing.  She just turned seven, and always my little helper.   I certainly have to make a matching doll quilt with this one!  I have enough left over for one, and there are some great instructions on Crazy Mom Quilts blog.  I love her blog (highly recommended).  She is an inspiration, and she's a quilting machine!   I'd love to get a midarm machine like hers.  I've been eyeing the Juki,Viking  and the Pfaff, so we'll see..... Just slightly more attainable than a longarm. Hopefully soon!

Aunt Millie's Block #2

Yahoo, number two is through!  I love the orange and bright turquoise combination together, the blue is so vibrant!   I have most of the fabric picked out for my next block, they are light aqua blues.  These blocks have really been keeping me feeling bright and cheery, despite the long, long winter we are having this year.  I realized today that my blocks aren't numbered correctly...  I have them numbered in the order I'm doing them, not their actual number in the pattern, oops.  I also noticed that in the picture, my background looks orange, but it's a true Kona red.  I tried to take the picture with several different options and flash, but they are all reading orange in the photos, oh well.  Off to prep the next block.  I was thinking today, I really wish there was a way to be in "blogland", and still be able to quilt too!  Wishfull thinking..... :)

Well,  I've been trying to clean out one of the bins that I keep my fabric in, and I found 2 projects that I started quite a long time ago... The small green and pink wall hanging was the first quilting class I ever took.  A good friend of mine introduced me to a local shop about 5 years ago, and I've been quilting ever since!  I think I'll try to hand quilt it, since it is certainly small enough to be able to finish in a reasonable amount of time.  I think I'll hang it in my daughter's room, her walls are green and pink.  I think she would like to have something fresh to look at too.  We had a beautiful weekend, the temperature was in the 60's, then yesterday we got sleet/snow!   I noticed my tulips are just peeking up, now they are probably as confused as I am about when Spring will really come.  

The lone star is one that I started in a class.  It was taught just as a wall hanging, and I had visions of it becoming so much more... First I thought about making a broken star, but I don't have enough fabric for that many more arms.  Then I came across a book: Lone Star Quilts and Beyond by Jan Krentz.  The book is awesome, and I'm feeling inspired to try something new... thread embellishment or those heat set crystals.  Don't you just love things that sparkle?   I should have a picture of my next AMG posted in the next day or two.  The applique club meets this Saturday, and I would like to have the orange/blue one done before then.  Happy Stitching!

Well, I think I can officially say I am addicted to BOM's!!! I am attaching a new pic of yet another BOM I started...It is using the Marti Mitchell templates, and do like the finished product.  They are a little different than cutting with a ruler, so I think I just need to get acustomed to them.   I think I'll try it with my small rotary blade next time and see if it makes it easier... the colors are all cream, pink and brown reproductions, and so pretty together.  There is yet another that I'm going to start in April from the folks at Stichin' Heaven in Texas.  It is the Happy Hauntings applique, and it is too cute.  It is a Halloween theme, and has lots of cute blocks, and I have been anxiously waiting for them to reopen it as a BOM.  I think I know why I enjoy doing so many different blocks, though.  I guess I just get board easily, so this lets me jump back and forth among all the different fabrics, colors, and techniques!  I also think I don't always look forward to finishing the tops, since my actual quilting of the tops needs a lot of work.  My least favorite part is the pin basting, ugh.  My most favorite part is, well, I guess everything else!  The shopping, the cutting and pressing, making the corners meet, and the sewing on my Pfaff....  

I also just finished a new bag for Spring.  It is the "birdie sling" from Amy Butler.  I read somewhere that it was an easy beginner pattern, but I think I have to disagree with that.  I am a confident sewer, and although it was not too difficult, there were a lot of curved piecing, and some bulk after adding the interfacing.  I hope the nice weather is on its way so I can use the bag soon.   The 10+ inches of snow yesterday has me thinking, not just yet.  Oh well... that's the beauty of New England!!!!