Down to the Wire . . .

March has sure passed at a "double-time" pace so far. I started out so well this month I though for sure I would be able to finish a large project for my 1 Xmas project a month, but that was not to be. I will continue to plug away at the larger project, perhaps next months finish? but I was determined to have a Xmas finish and I actually have three! I am so glad I remembered these, as I could take them to my daughters skating lessons and lacrosse practices. They all had been started previously, so it didn't take much to complete them, I would have had four completed, but I tested the scissor destined for the 4th fob and they were horrible, completely unusable. How annoying, but I am glad I test them - I would hate for my gift to not work! I have been inspired by Kris from Tag Along Teddies Blog, sewing room redo and organization, so I have started doing a little organization myself, but just guess what/who keeps slowing me down!! Happy Quilting!

"Fidget" Friday

Today was the day quilt guild meeting and I finished putting the bindings on two quilts for the small projects charity just last night! They are "Fidget" quilts, made specifically for Alzheimers patients. The quilts are made with many different fabrics and trims, which allow for interesting textures to be touched and fiddled with. Some Alzheimer patients have restless hands and the quilt is small enough to be placed on their lap, so if they feel fidgety they will have something interesting to touch! I had heard the discription and had already started mine before I actually saw one, so mine turned out different from anyone else's at the guild, but I think it will be fine. I guess I always think of squares when I think of quilts, so I planned mine like a typical quilt, it is very busy overall, but it will give the receipients alot to fidget with! My heart goes out to all of the victims of the earthquake and Tsunami, this year has been such a tragic weather related year! Just hoping it's not as bad as it seems . . .

Early Finish

For once I have a very early OPAM finish! It was also on my WISP/UFO list, so I am glad to have it done! I actually quilted it on March 2nd and put the binding on March 3rd, I just didn't get around to taking a picture of it until last night. My Gramma had bought fabric for a coins quilt a couple of years ago and then didn't want to put it together, so she gave me the fabric. I knew she really liked it, but she was just feeling overwhelmed, so I decided to make it for her birthday. I made the quilt, which had blue as the borders, and there was enough of the fabric leftover to make another one, except for the borders. I bought green for my borders and made this one. I quilted hers and gave it to her for her birthday (and she was SOOO thrilled) That was a year and half ago! Mine just sat, waiting to be quilted. That's the way it is, isn't it? If I have a deadline such as a birthday, wedding, shower, etc., AND it's for someone else, it has a much better chance of getting done, but when it's for me . . . . Well, I finally got it done. I am not a huge fan of asian fabric, in fact this is the only time I've used it, but it reminds me of my Gram, so it's all good! What to finish next? Happy Quilting!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Suess!

Nothing completed here, well nothing of mine. Today is such a sunny, warmish day I thought I would take pictures outside of the latest two quilts that I quilted for my Grandmother. A little breezy so the pictures aren't so straight - but you get the idea. They remind me of Spring! The coin quilt is one of her favorite quilts to make lately, the blue one is going to go to her newest Great-Great Grandson who is due late May. The other one will be on "standby" I guess. She likes to have extras on hand, don't we all? She sent me another huge quilt for me to add borders, piece the backing and quilt and bind for her. She also sent along fabric for me to cut into rectangles so she can start another quilt! I'm almost done cutting them and will mail them along with the two completed quilts to her tomorrow, she received more snow a couple of days ago, and it's been very cold there in Massachusetts so another project is just what she needs!

Don't forget to read to your favorite little person today in honor Dr. Suess! My children's favorite writer when they were little! My great-nephew likes Dr. Suess too! (That's my dd reading to him during Thanksgiving vacation)

Happy Quilting!

Long List, Short Month!

19 Finishes for the month of February! Sounds more impressive than it actually is with the 13 bibs at the head of the list! By the way, I did not use a pattern for the bibs, I used a smaller paper plate for the circle template, folded it in half and cut a semi circle for the scoop at the top. I used a die cut from scrapbooking for the snowflake, and hand drew the rest of the designs on the bibs. The star I've used on other projects, once I draw something, I'll usually transfer it to cardboard and reuse it for other projects. Why reinvent the wheel? I did very well with the fabric this month considering all of the potential temptations! During the QOV workshop, held at Nancy's Calico, I only bought 4 yards of fabric (on sale) that I hope to have as finished projects very soon. Of course! Ha! This past Saturday I finished my QOV for February, and although the panels used were donated, the backing and binding was from my stash - so that was 3 5/8 out, then I reviewed my notebook and noticed that I forgot to add the pillowcase for January's QOV (wasn't done until Feb 3rd) so I used 7 1/8 yds for February with a total of 12 1/4 for 2011! YAY! It could have been much, much worse. It SHOULD have been, the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival was on from Thursday to Sunday and I had every intention of going on Friday, but on Thursday night a chest cold I had been fighting for a week won, and I wasn't up to going outside all weekend. I'm feeling better today, and of course the weather is warmer again and the quilt show with all of their lovely vendors are gone : ( I guess at least my pocketbook is happy (as well as my husband!) Happy Quilting !

Purse with tissue holder XMAS Item a Month

Another Christmas present done! This should have been on my WISP list too! I have had this cut out for at least three years and now I'm so glad it is done! My SIL loves all things strawberry so when I found this fabric, oh about 6 years ago, (not to worry - I've made her lots of other things since then!) I thought it would make a cute little purse - and it did! I am also claiming two of the 13 bibs that I made as Christmas presents, one of the snowmen and the snowflake on red & white stripes! Nice to have those done and I think I will try to tackle something bigger next month. One thing about that WISP list . . . I start working on something laying out and I think, oh if I get this done I can highlight that as done on my list - then I look over the list and the project isn't even on it! ARRRGGGH! The list is getting longer as I continue to try to organize my Quilt room. Hmmmmn, Does that mean I should stop cleaning??? We'll see! Happy Quilting

Bountiful Baby Bibs!

Package was received and now I can show what I sent little Gus for Valentine's Day. Two little bibs to catch all that drool as he is teething up a storm! Of course they can be used at feeding time too! As I was sewing I thought of other ideas for bibs, (isn't that always the way it goes?) so once the package was sent I actually kept going! The blue with white snowflakey looking spots was a fat quarter, so I decided to use that all up, and I really liked the red & white stripe and kept going with that! I have long kept the left over inches from various bindings over the years, and all of the bib ties except for the white ones, came from my binding jar! I kept track of the fabric I used and now, for the first time in 2011 the fabric OUT is more than the fabric IN. YAY!! Of course I can't get too excited - I am going to our Quilt of Valor workshop today, 9:30 - 3:00, held at Nancy's Calico Quilt Store ! Yikes, I don't know how good I can be, THAT close to temptation for that LONG of a time. Sigh. Well . . . Happy Quilting! BTW, this was kind of cute - I had initally made three bibs, two of the blue with snowflake and the one heart one, I was just arriving home from Guild on Friday afternoon and my neighbor with her baby boy in his stroller was passing by. I hopped out of my truck and as we were visiting, her sweet little boy started bubbling up - I said oooooh, hold on a moment and dashed off and grabbed the extra snowflake bib and gave it to her! She was simply stunned! She couldn't believe how soft the back was (it's a plushy terri) and she couldn't believe I just "happened" to have one with me! That's kind of neat how that worked out! : D