Idea for a new quilt

Here is a EQ drawing of an idea I have for a quilt with 6" squares. I have fabric from  "Quilt for a Cure" line. It would be small about 36x42. The colors in the rendering aren't from that fabric collection. I haven't been motivated to learn to import fabrics to the program. Yet.

Here is a wall hanging that I worked on today. I added borders to a panel. Should I add fancy buttons to the green squares in the corner or simple wool applique?

The Give Away Winner is......

Quiltsmiles!!! Chosen by my son who used the random number generator.  Thanks everyone for your kind words about the blog, my quilts and my commentary on life here in a Northern Town.

I have been working out quite regulary. I wish the scales were showing the hard work. I feel stronger and less tired. Eating more healthy, but boy it is easy to be boring and in a rut. Sigh, it will show if I am persistent.

Sunday Stash report

I decided not to repost pictures today, so I will link you to the previous post when referencing the project in my stash report. I have busted approximately 14 yards of fabric this week. 9 yards for borders and backing for my block exchange nearly queen sized quilt! Now to long arm it. I made 2 tote bags and my Kitchy Christmas table runners.

BUT, and there is always a but.... as I near my  stash being busted, I was given a portion of another sewers stash. She tragically died at a young age (in her 20's) in a car accident. She had a massive stash for her projects. She was not a quilter but she had some fabulous fabric that is 100% cotton. My friend who knew her was very kind because it really was too much for one person. Mom and I came home with a tote. So now I have 2 totes of fabrics for quilts, tote bags and whatever my imagination can think up. Much of my tote is small scraps, the new tote is full of larger and smaller pieces.

Now to wash that tote of fabric, well a little at a time. :)
And, we received our first customer quilt to long arm this week. Very exciting stuff. Pics will be posted for that on Finished Stitches blog soon.

Kitchy Christmas and more about the giveaway here

Here is is my kitchy Chirstmas table toppers I have been working on  this weekend. Now to quilt them. I think I like Kitchy/Cheesy stuff. They are fun to make!!

Today has been a day of shopping and cleaning. Ugh, grocery shopping, really dislike it. I also cleaned up and organized the mud room. Two closets to go and the front porch, that is my goal for spring cleaning!

Here is the photo of all the goodies that will be in the little tote bag. Patterns, fabrics, a pin and some other goodies. Please leave a comment here for your chance to win!

Now to decide what to quilt...

I am sure something will inspire me for the long arm stitches....I really like this quilt. The purple outer border didn't show up in the photo as well as I would have liked.

Ahhh, the work week is over. I did get a new desk, a real computer desk. It will make typing easier, I was using an old 70's era desk never meant for computer use. I had a bunch of unpacking and straightening up to do but I caught up by the end of today. Whew!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway, post a comment here! There is a little tote bag filled with some goodies- a pattern, a fat quarter or two, hmmm, what else can I add?

Little Bag Give Away

Leave a comment here , a previous blog post of mine, and you could win this bag filled with goodies. Drawing is Monday!
More to come on what will be inside....

Give Away Here!!

It is time for a Give Away! I have a few extra tote bags and other goodies to give to a reader. All you have to do is leave a comment here at this post and a lucky winner will be chosen on Monday, April 26th.

Thanks everyone!

Monday Design Wall and give away

I am sewing the last 2 outer borders for the block exchange quilt. I hope to have enough purple to bind it off. The back is the white with pink fabric shown as the inner border. I love it. Maybe I can enter it in the local quilt show this year if it is done in time. I believe that is in May.  IF it isn't ready this year, next year for sure!

Keep watching this blog, I am going to post details about a give away over the next day or two. A little something made by me.

Sunday Stash Report and a give away

I have used 2 yards of fabric this week making tote bags. Today I am going to use up several yards making borders and backing for my block exchange quilt. I am still sitting on one very full tote plus .25 overflow.

To remedy this problem, I signed up for a craft show in the fall. I am making tote bags, little quilts and a couple of larger ones like the unbound quilt pictured. I have been practicing on the long arm so there are several quilted items that were made that need homes. I also set up an etsy shop as posted on the side bar. I felt it was a productive week!

It has been a long time since I did a give away so watch this site over the next several days for your chance to win a little something made by me!!! Hmmm, I wonder what it could be...

I am really learning about bees. Maybe someday, I will try to have a hive in the back yard. They really are facinating creatures to study.

I have made another tote bag that I think is pretty. Tonight I worked on a little "pocket" that was originally made to be a mini purse but is really small, only 6 inches wide. It is just about the right size for a rotary cutter. I think I would redesign the dimensions if I were to make another one of these as a mini purse.

It was in the high 70's and I was hot today. Weird, isn't it!?!

Spring delivered some new little things around here

New wedding band for DH to replace the one lost 2 years ago:

Very cool and it looks great!

New fixture for our little teeny bathroom to replace the old broken

 and dated one:

New mulch and trimmed shrubs:

New growth on the perennials:

Spring, I love the fresh new things that always arrive! Veggies next!

Monday Design Wall

I cut out a tote bag last night. Yes, that is basting spray in the background, I want to try a new bag pattern that quilts the bag differently. I reserve judgment on the pattern so far, It was free so I shouldn't complain, right?!

I need to add the borders to my block exchage pictured last week. Tomorrow will be a post of all the little things around here that are new!

Sunday Stash Report

I have been sewing my block exchange top together. You can read about my difficulties here and see the top so far. I have used 2 yards of fabric in putting this top together. I have a total of 1.25 tote full. It will really start to move out the fabric when I put on the borders and prep the back for quilting.

I have plans to make more tote bags for instant gratification! I am going to open an etsy shop this afternoon to try to sell some of my things. I will put it on the side bar when ready.

We are going to start seeds today from some purchased locally. The big seed order went out yesterday and we looked at nursery's most of the morning. For lunch, we ate at a New Orleans syled resturant called "Pearls." I loved it, a must to go to again even though it is an hour away. I had a great time, now I am inspired to make a fairy garden like the nursery had. They had a castle and all. I would settle for some statuary mushrooms, gnomes and fairies. I need to look at the miniture plants they had in it and see what will grow here.

a little preview

I completed the rows of my block exchange quilt tonight. I don't really understand how everything measures up properly when I was prepping the top and then have a few rows that don't line up exactly.

I also ran into a little problem of chocoate from Easter candy that were dropped on the ironing board. Yes, they melted on some white areas of the quilt. NOT the darker areas, of course!! I was able to spot wipe most of them off. Now to add a little border ( not picked out yet) and the larger border will be the purple used in the setting stones.

Monday Design Wall

I have the blocks joined into rows and a couple of rows joined. I want to finish the top this week. This quilt is going on my bed when completed!!

Another design is a quilting stitch I have been working on here

Sunday Stash report

Lots of sewing and using up the border fabric I purchased last week. Here is progress of a row. I just need to join the rows and decide on my border. I want to use the purple that I used for cornerstones so for that wide outer border.  I need a little border after the white sashing. Hmm, need to rummage through the fabrics more!!

I used 2 yards of fabric and none in! I have about 1.25 totes full.

See what every is doing at http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Spring Cleanup

Most of the yard is raked. Today we removed several dead cedar trees on the property line. Our neighbors were kind enough to help move the trees and help pull them down.  Here is the lumber pile.

It went well, one tree did give a bit of trouble coming down and was tangled in the maple next to it. As you can see my DH he had a close call with the chainsaw cutting his brand new jeans, as he was running out of the way!! He didn't realize how close it was until after we were finished.

The stump shown is rotten down 3 feet below the top. The stumps will be dealt with later. Our neighbors were so happy no dead trees will fall on them now. They may even extent the privacy fence for a dog they may be getting in the future.

Ahh spring, it rained the afternoon and the green things are growing rapidly.