Sampling Christmas Blocks

I think making my Mrs Claus aprons at Christmas really lit my fire for Christmas blocks.

I've been seeing blocks that I'm itching to replicate - that's part of the challenge, isn't it? Seeing an image and breaking it down to see if you can make it yourself?

And Steve is enabling me over this. We headed out to the Ann Arbor Sewing Center over the holidays for a nice pile of holiday fabrics to tie all the blocks together. I figure on this streak I should have a whimsical quilt for Christmas. 

The next block is on the design board. More to come!

Witch's Boots

I've been too busy quilting to post, but I have so much to share! This is my favorite project from the last 4 months - Quilt Art Design's Witch's Boots! I've been drooling over this pattern for two years, and, with the quilt room all sorted, I finally had the time to do it!

It looks a little wonky in the photo, but it turned out beautiful after quilting and binding. And speaking of quilting....

Testing out our new Amazon Fire Stick, I can access YouTube via my large screen TV. Querying Halloween and Quilting, I came across this great tutorial for quilting spiderwebs! So awesome!

I gave it a go, but I did a slight miscalculation.... freehand quilting white on white? Oi! I had to spotlight the sewing machine bed to see where I was sewing! But, all in all, I think it came out amazing!

It was a real confidence boost to get back into quilting full throttle. I moved onto Christmas next.

Feeling Empowered Now

Did you know Amazon sells 100-count needles? 

If they are any good then I bought them 66% cheaper than in the store!

Warming Up in Winter

Wow! I've been quilting like mad since Halloween and haven't posted anything! Since Steve helped reorganize my quilt studio (so many glorious shelves!) I'm piling up the completions.

Here was a little fun project from this weekend (because we're now working in the kitchen and cooking like mad). This was my first foray in soup bowl cozies (pictured with my adorable new crocks from Libby Glass Co - Toledo). My next attempt will be a slightly larger set for the bigger soup bowls.

Steve tested them out yesterday making his Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls - yum!

We All Grow Better with Love

Another finish for 2018!

Aw. I decided it was a good time to make a little something for me. This has been a lot of fun to work on while watching Pixar's UP and The Incredibles with Steve.  I'm embarrassed to admit that I can't find the original book to credit the designer, but that really cute hanger was found in the knitting department at Hobby Lobby for just a few dollars.

I Stitch Club: January

Woo Hoo! I love them!

I joined Gail Pan's I Stitch Club in January. Starting a few days late, I completed these three beauties right before the next ones are due to come out. 

Each month Gail releases three patterns plus a bonus project, and I've decided to do mine in a variegated gray and yellow floss.

What's with the border ink? These blocks are either supposed to be appliqued in the shape of a tag on a dark background or the border embroidered with added sashing. I'm holding off until we get further along the project.

Stay tuned! Next patters released tomorrow or Wednesday.

Embroidery Cat

Is it me?

Steve's daughter has moved into her own place, which she's renting with friends. She has decided to decorate her place with objects d' art that represent her loved ones. From her father, she has a collage of selfies, each trying to "out funny face" the other! They are a hoot and spend WAY too long at it!

From me she wanted a mini-quilt. If it's me, it would have to be embroidered. 

I thought a fat cat ready for adventure would be fitting

Do you see my gray fur?  I didn't design the pattern - it's from Anni Downs's Simply Pleasures book. And, typical of me, I had to over-complicate it - there are 8 unique stitches in this 4" square.

The toughest part was how to finish it. I didn't want to do a fake binding but binding it traditionally had its own challenges. To prevent slippage (since I'm not quilting it), I drew a line 1/8" smaller than it's final size and stitched all three layers together. 

Trimmed up, I can new sew the binding on - it's 1/4" seam will cover the stay stitching.

I'm using Sewn Into the Fabric's bias binding technique -- easily create a small strip of bias binding from a 10" square. This is the same technique I used with my Dad's stocking last year.

Quirky, joyous, and done! I hope Brenna likes it!