WIP: Pretty In Pink

This lovely quilt started out as practice blocks for one of my BOM's,  It's set in a simple 9-block with sashing in between.  I am thinking of top stitching it in a meandering flower design.  I better get to work on it!

*\o/* Cheers

Shanna

My Goodness..It's A Finish!

So I haven't been as prolific in my crafting as I have in other years, motherhood will do that to a person.  I do have for you today a finished project!  I know, I know, it simply hard to believe isn't it?

*\o/* Cheers

Shanna

Miss Crankypants and the Case of the Finished Items

Ever since Sew We Quilt hosted that Nancy Drew blog hop I have been finding myself taking every day titles and photo captions and making into possible titles for a ND book.  Well, obviously not a real book title.  We've had a lot of crankiness here lately and not just on Miss Z's part.  I know I am not alone in saying that lately I feel like I am losing my motivation.  Not only do I not want to get my LONG, LONG list completed, but I haven't snuck off to start new projects, well except that one.  I just don't really want to work on anything really, except maybe take a nap.  I have been reading this lately all over the blogworld from other quilters, so I know that I am not alone.

So Thursday night I made myself do something while I was watching that new show "the moment" on tv.  I also finished up the last little bit today on these projects and so I have 2 more done! *\o/* *\o/*

Table-top checkers mat measuring 21" X 21" 

The Spring Checkers project was made from the left-overs from the following 4-patch & Squares Baby Quilt.  I still had eve more 4-patch boxes that I am making into a couple bibs, which hopeful with be completed soon.  I started this following Quilt I think early 2012, but it might have been Fall of 2011...needless to say it has lingered!

Baby Quilt measuring 40" X 40"

The backing

Hey I also forgot to share with you my Birthday day bib finish from last month, so instead of re-writing another post I am showing you one of the sites I share my finished projects on, you can find my post HERE!

Thanks for stopping by, I certainly hope things will settled down here and I can bring more finishes to share!

*Shanna 


Linking up to:

TGIFF Hosted by Lynette @What A Hoot!

WHOOP, WHOOP Fridays @Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Link A Finish Friday @ Richard & Tanya Quilt

Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts

Don't forget to check out Kristy's blog for the traveling stash box #3 giveaway, she should be posting soon.  You can check out her blog HERE, Kristy looks very talented.

There are going to be some changes to the traveling stash giveaway upkeep.  It looks like Katie will be taking over the upkeep of the traveling stash master list.  Katie has such a fun blog to visit you can check her out HERE.  She will tell you when and where to find out the the locations and giveaways of all the traveling stash boxes!

Orphan Train Baby Quilt #1

I did not manage to post anything on Friday for the 3rd week of TGIFF's October Quest, but I hoping to make up for that this week!

The Front of this 40" X 40" quilt made with leftover blocks from other projects

The back

I am extremely please with how this quilt turned out, especially when I consider that it was assembled from leftover blocks or parts of blocks from former projects.  I made up a star stitching pattern, copied it onto other pieces of thin paper that my FIL gave me last year.  It's the paper they put between the plates they use for printing a newspaper (He's the news paper's pressman), I don't know what it is exactly but it's better than freezer paper or tissue paper!  I pinned those to the blank cream blocks to keep the lines straight.  The thread is a tealish color that I had left over and I am trying to completely get rid of thread from old projects.  I want to eventually switch over almost completely to Connecting Thread's thread which has been a dream to stitch with.

A close-up of the star stitch and meandering stitch used in between.

If you are a blogger, check out the Traveling Stash Box I am giving away on this post HERE!

Once Upon a Pinwheel Quilt...(LMH D7)

Once upon a time, The Double-Pinwheel Quilt was completed, and the quilter decided to take some pictures to share with her crafting friends.  Suddenly, someone crawled in to lay claim to the quilt!  The quilter tried to lure the squatter off the quilt by putting books off the quilt.  The Crawler hustled over to the books and dragged them backwards onto the quilt and settled in to look at them...

I don't quite know what attracts Ziona to this quilt, but her eyes light up at it and she gets this little smile on her face.  I finally gave in and let her read on the quilt; I still have to wash it to give it that crinklely look.  I then plan to post it on our Etsy shop.  I am very glad this quilt is done!  I will have more pictures on Friday for the finishes (Go OctoberQuest!).  Thank you for visiting!

Visit these blogs for more leafy goodness...

Day Seven

Till We Quilt Again

Sheilas quilt world

ferristhoughts

Home Designs by Amanda

Quilt n Queen

Polka dot classic

Moonbeams in a Jar

Stitch, stitch, stitch

Sew Me Something Good

quiltingbydawn

My collection of Things
Jessisca

The Music Man and his Little Lady (LMH D3)

Now I don't know if I have mentioned it before, but my husband is a musician.  He has played the violin since he was a small child; he then picked the guitar up in High school and a little piano in College.  He has been pretty busy between Full-time work, two seminaries (6 credit hours at each!), study groups, choir (He sings too), and serving at our church.  Needless to say, he doesn't have a lot time to sit down & relax by playing music.  

Last night he was playing though and our little girl stared as if transfixed on her daddy.  She speedily crawled across the living room carpet to investigate.  At one point Ziona ended up in the guitar case petting the lining and playing with the metal fastenings, but her favorite part was strumming the strings on her Daddy's Guitar!  She didn't do too bad, certainly better than me!  She usually loves the Cello  from watching videos of the Piano Guys on Youtube, but she may branch out in her love for music.  Have you heard their music or seen their fantastic videos? You can find their Youtube Channel HERE.  I will share one, and you will see just how beautiful their music is!

Check out more leafy offerings:

Day 3

Plum and June

The Recipe Bunny

VroomansQuilts

It's Sew Kiki

PigTales and Quilts

Quilting fiesta

GrammieQ's

Nancy

Just Let Me Quilt

Selina Quilts

The Learning Curve~Quilts and Such

Finishes 29: "In This Moment..."

Welcome to my finish of the week!  I am certainly not working nearly as fast as I did last year, but the process is still very enjoyable.

This is my Asterisk quilt using Free Spirit's Summersault fabric line.  The quilt top currently measures about 43"X 43" and I think it is ready to be put in my pile of finished quilt tops, but I am tempted to make it a bit bigger transforming it from baby quilt to lap quilt size.  If I do that, what color should I add on the outside edge/sashing?  What do you think is a good color choice for binding for either direction (adding sashing or keeping it the same)?  [this block is taught in the FREE Craftsy Block of the Month Class]

This is where I am at with my summer games Quilt.  I am so excited that I was able to get these squares completed this week!  I am just struggling on what to do to tie them together.  What do you think of the dark blue with dots material?  Does it work in between the blocks?  Should I move the block on their sides like diamonds?  More to do today, thanks for stopping by!

I am linking up with:

SR/WIP-2012-W17: "Just Keep Swimming..."

"Just keep swimming, swimming..." are the words uttered by my animated counterpart in Finding Nemo.  We are becoming obsessed in our household with all things fish-like as we are long-term planning for a salt-water fish tank.  It takes some serious research to make sure our future little Nemo & Nemoettes will survive our fish parenting!  In Texas it already hotter than well, (pick a metaphor) anything.  Baby Girl was not too thrilled with my idea of introducing her to the freezing cold swimming pool a little over a week ago, but she did enjoy a little shade-bathing with a friend.  I am debating if her quilt should have fishes on it...I can't seem to decide what her quilt will look like or what colors will be chosen!

 Poppy Mini-quilt-
In my timely fashion I am now finally figuring out how I want to make this mini-quilt for my friend's baby girl (who was born last June!), perhaps for her 1st birthday?  Its a really cute pattern from Erin R called Dimensional Poppy she shared last year on her blog.

Left overs-
I am being tempted to do something with these left over bits from a quilt I made 2 years ago.  I am thinking of making a table runner, perhaps add some appliqued flowers, what do you think I should do?

Colorful Chain Quilt-
I started this Quilt last year to make a signature quilt for a friend and her husband who was battling cancer and going through the gambit of tests, radiation, and surviving.  Almost 6 months after he is in remission and here the blocks still sit.  This is one of those projects that I really feel bad about, because I messed up.

 Fruits of The Spirit Quilt-
These blocks were going to be placemats once upon a time, but the more I play around with these not-so-quick random 4-patches, the more I realize that they might make a better quilt.  I am now in planning stage, trying to figure out where to place the words and if I should add something spiffy for the border!

Mystery Blocks
I was given a bag with these blocks in them along with a paper bag full of fabric...What should I make?

Black/Blue Churn Dash Quilt
These are the only blocks I got assembled last year when I signed up to do a Churn Dash swap at a quilt store about an hour from my current living place.  I think there are enough here to make a baby Quilt.  I have the pieces cut to make 15 blocks of 6 other colors, but I am not going to count those in my WIP's until I can figure out what I want to do with them.

Double Pinwheel Quilt-
It was my goal to get this top completed by the end of the weekend, but that's a fail.  I was happy to get this far, but I do have to replace one of the blocks because somehow I goofed on the seams making it almost 3/4" smaller both ways.  I did dig up the fabric I had squirreled away for the sash and the backing fabric, but I am back to debating if I should add a border fabric as well. I will see what you think once I get the sashing added, hopefully this week.

Jacob's Ladder Quilt #1-
If you cannot tell by now, this has to be one of my favorite blocks!  I love all the things one can do by rearranging the blocks, switching up colors and making a plethora of different quilts from one block!  While I procrastinating about evening up my double-pinwheel blocks, I threw this one together so fast I barely binked.  I have a baby shower to attend on Saturday and I couldn't remember where I packed the quilt that I made last year for it.  I did find it today so I am going to add the baby's name to that one and continue to debate what color fabric I should use for the borders and back on this one!  Let me know if you have any ideas since I cannot make up my mind.  I may just share pictures of my fabric choices and put it to a vote later in the week (I would add in some close-ups for that, don't you worry).

Blocks and Patches Quilts-
These blocks started out from a project bag I got cut up this past fall while I was on bedrest to make a Jacob's Ladder Quilt.  Obviously I changed things up a bit.  I am having a blast playing with different color combinations and I think I have enough blocks to make two 40"X 40" baby quilts once I add borders, perhaps bigger if I add sashing between the blocks.  It's a very simple design, but I am hoping once I am done it will look more modern than my usual baby quilt.  I am facinated by how one can completely change a quilt just by replacing one fabric or using it in differing amounts such as my two Jacob's Ladder quilts from last year (I told you its my favorite block).

Cowboy Table Topper-
I am not ready to talk about this disaster, but soon I will share...

Advent Calender-
In the same condition as the past couple months unfortunately...I have to mark the top for stitching and there is currently no room to set up my large cutting table to make sure the lines are straight.  This project has no chance for completion until after we move.

Conclusion-
Added to all this I am packing up everything I can live without for the next 4-6 weeks.  Some people say that one should pack their kitchen up last, but most likely it will be my project piles that get the last bit of tape.  Or I may just carry them over in a bag and make sure they are out when we move.  I think I can live without real plates a little longer than I can last without sewing!  Afterall, I would only have to wash them then <laughter> and that might take away from quilting!  I put baby girl in her swing right next to me so she can see me sewing in the morning.  The sound of my humming machine lulls her to sleep for morning nap as well.  Well, hopefully I will be able to get one of these tops done by Friday in time for TGIFF or whatever other finishing group I get linked up with  Check back Wednesday for my Participation in the Table Topper Blog Hop from Sew We Quilt!


Linking up this week to:

TGIFF/TW: "The 12 Days Of Christmas..."

It's Sew Good To Be Back!
[I snuck back on a day early :-D] To say that I missed you all would be putting it mildly; blogging has organized my life and enticed me to finished more projects than you can imagine!  By Thursday last week I could not figure out even what day of the week it was and I was itching to get back into my craft room.  Feeling quite a bit more rested, I begun spending small pockets of time trying to work on some of the little things still plaguing me and of course I started a couple little projects...<laughter>  I have also been working on some pre-apology sweets for the nurses/hospital staff for when I go into labor; one bucket of goodness for each shift!  So far I have made cake balls, chocolate cream cheese truffles, and I am thinking of maybe cookies as well; any ideas??

How was your Christmas, Hanukkah, or other holiday celebrations?  As Anglicans our family is learning more about the 12 Day of Christmas; it amazes me how many celebrations happen all around the world this time year!  Before next Advent season, I am hoping to make a liturgical Advent calendar, but first I am so excited that I finished my first regular [wonky] Advent Calendar top (backing fabric is in the mail, I am eagerly waiting for delivery)!  So on to the complete finishes for the past two weeks!

1 Mug Rug 5.75" X 8.5" (14 cm X 21.5 cm) in sage green/mustard yellow/coral

Flared girl's top in black/brights with Lime Green accents (Size 2 child)

QAYG baby quilt in Pastels with Bright Yellow print backing (40"X 40")

And along came some WIP/UFO's...Yes, once again I have unearthed more random unfinished projects hidden in storage boxes!  Even if I do not get them all completed, at least I will have them all together before our next move (I think/hope).  I am waiting to make decisions on claiming some of the projects I found, but for now, here are 4 more to add to my list<sigh>

I can't remember what these are for, but I am thinking of making them into place-mats...

The fate of these 3 Projects:  currently waiting for me to claim them

I was also able to sandwich & quilt the Modern Pinwheel Twist Quilt; the binding has been attached as well.  I just need to hand-sew the binding to the front and I can deliver it to the winners of our Baby Name guessing Contest.  I will be wrapping up 2011 in my post tomorrow and announcing my own small giveaway on Sunday (I need to clear out more fabric to make way for Ziona)!

Linking up this week to:
TGIFF hosted this week by Jess @Life Under Quilts,
& This Week hosted by Sunni @Love Affair With My Brother!
Also check out Laura's (of Quokka Quilts) Fabric Giveaway!!

TGIFF4: "Santa Claus is Coming To Town..."

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF); I hope you will stay for some cocoa and a little bit of merry making!  As promised here is my recipe for making one's own Cocoa mix.  I love to change the recipe up a little bit and give out as part of a gift, perhaps with a mug or this year I am giving it with the "mug rugs"  I made last week.

Rich Cocoa Mix

1 cup milk powder 

1 cup powdered coffee creamer 

1 cup sugar 

½ cup cocoa powder 

Mix well and store in a labeled container. 

(For international equivalencies it is a 2:2:2:1 ratio) 

NOTE: A hot cocoa mix is not the same as a "drinking chocolate mix" and therefore cannot be augmented to make it into one.  I have had several questions concerning that from my overseas visitors!  I did a little research and tried to augment but it doesn't work out...sorry. 12/02/2011

Variations: 

Peppermint: add 8 finely crushed peppermint lollies to a batch of mix 

Vanilla: add 5 tsp. vanilla powder to a batch of mix 

Cinnamon: add 4 tsp. cinnamon to a batch of mix

Special flavors:  You can used flavored coffee creamers to give it your personal touche. 

I have been tackling some Christmas themed WIP's week in the hopes of clearing up my list!  These two simple runners are finished off with stars and meandering stitches on the outside sashing. 
I am so happy how both tumbler quilts turned out!  I thought the quilts looked kind of plain when I was finished with making the top; I thought about adding some appliqued flowers or something.  So I decided to try FMQ a sort of flower design on the girl one and Meandering stitch for the boy quilt.  I had several firsts for these quilts: 1) first time using such a contrasting color for binding, 2) first time using a different color bobbin thread than top thread to attach binding, and 3) First time machine stitching binding onto a baby quilt. And most importantly last time I will ever FMQ with Sulky thread (If I can get away with it)!

 So finishes for this week:
1.  Christmas Table Runner 1
2.  Christmas Table Runner 2
3.  Fall into Fall mini quilt 1
4.  Fall into Fall mini quilt 2
5.  Pink/peach/green Tumbler baby quilt
6.  Yellow/green/Blues Tumbler Baby quilt


New projects (since last Friday)- 1

In process - 22 (took projects off list I haven't started)

Finishes (Since last Friday)- 6

Be sure to link up your finished projects and visit the other blog links, leaving merry little comments along the way!  Please include a link and/or button for TGIFF! (It's just over there on the right hand side) so your visitors can see other fantastic finishes.  Be sure to check back at TGIFF Central for the link party host/hostess next week!  

WIP: Baby girl Tumbler Quilt

Well my thoughts about blogging three times a week has dwindled to 1.5 times a week!  It is going to take a week or so to get my fabric ironed, measured, organized, and put away in the right location, so I am going to delay posting a stash report for a couple of weeks, and then I plan to post weekly about sewing through my fabric collection!

This week I have focused on a quilt for my brother, Nick's, new daughter.  I am hoping to figure out a way to incorporate her name or initials at least into the design.  I will write up the directions for this quilt on Monday; you can use a little scrap material up or to make it quicker you can use a pre-cut charm pack.  I am hoping to have this project completed by Sunday, but it takes the time it will take!

On another note:  Nugget is starting to move around at a particular time!  Right now its between 8PM-9PM and he/she is very active.  I am debating on fabric choices for a quilt for Nugget as much as we are discussing names.  We still do not know the gender and we are not sure that we will share that until they are born; after all, I was supposed to be a boy all the way up until I was born!  For those of you that have asked about tummy pictures, I may post one this next week.  See you all next week!

Sun, Quilting, and a New Job!

My goodness it feels like it has been a long time since I last posted!  In the area where we live we have been experiencing over 100F degree weather every day for almost 3 months.  I pretty much slept for the month of July, but I also made it outside a couple times to go swimming.  So, for the first time in 9 years I actual have a tan with my very own tan lines!  That may not seem all that great, but when sugar has a deeper tan than me, one has to get excited about these sorts of things.  I have great Native American bloodlines that only show up in the sunshine. 

On other topics I was finally able to tear myself away form a nap long enough to work on a Quilting project.  I was really bummed out after my in ability to finish my 84 Churn dash blocks for Block swap I signed up for a couple of months ago, I felt like I had to get something accomplished! I have shown you glimpses of my newest finished project in the past when showing off my formerly organized craft room.  I call it a "Paper Clip Quilt".  This quilt was made using "Oh My" Charm Squares, Strips of a black print fabric, a solid forest green for the backing, a neat orange print from the same "Oh My" line of fabrics for the binding, and orange cotton thread for the meandering quilting.  I have been experimenting with Bright colors against the color Black, so this is the first of several projects that I have in the works.  Let me know what you think and what suggestions you might have for me.

And finally I alluded to an upcoming new job!  As I may have mentioned in the past I contracted Meningitis this past April and I have been off work for the past 4 months recovering.  I am doing much better these days although a much more subdued person than I once was.  I used to describe my marriage as that of a balloon man with myself in the role of the Balloons and my husband as the man who keeps me anchored and grounded.  I now feel like its better described a man with a cat that sits in the sun shone window all day resting; occasionally he drags me outside for a walk. We are happy to announce that I will have a new job starting in February of 2012.  I will be a stay at home mother!  We are very excited about the possibility of a child in our lives.  We will add pictures to the "Nugget" page as we get them.  Please put your comments below instead of posting on facebook so we can keep the surprise going!