Been busy....just not quilting

 

My first Christmas pocketbook was for me....It was from fabric (Santa pants print) I had gotten several years ago to make a retreat project ( that became an UFO)

I made a second one for my daughter from fabric from Hobby Lobby...the tie matches the print on some of the Santa hats

My 6 year old granddaughter said I should make her a bag too...so I used a pattern from this monthh's issue of Quick Quilts and made her one , too. 

Christmas Carousel in Raleigh NC

Angel Dogs for Vets collecting money to help the cause. The dogs could really work the crowd.

You gave the money to one of the dogs and they dropped it in the bucket.

The rest of the fellows (8 more) in a pile waiting their time

to work. All the dogs are "rescued" dogs.

Some of the artwork on display for sell

 

 

Love the wood items

Gingerbread houses....that would last forever!

Lots of wreaths

And of course....Santa

 

Every year , the Friday after Thanksgiving, I HAVE to go to the Christmas Carousel show in Raleigh. I love all the crafts and things to see & buy. Lots of jewelry, Christmas decor items, one of a kind gifts,etc.  I bought several items for MYSELF...a really cute Christmas shirt, for instance.

 

DONE!!!

Quilted and bound....yea!!! I think its my favorite yet, probably because its my favorite color.

antique quilts ( part 2)

I love this pattern...I don't know what it is. Nice curved quilting.

Love this Carolina Lily. I found the pale blue in the block corners unusual.

Love the pineapple on the left. I had to unfold the one of tiny diamonds to see it...hand stitched!!

I spread it on the floor...all it needs is the background fabric between the points.

Little log cabins....I like the unusual green striped fabric used in some of the blocks

I loved this thread cabinet...wish I had room for it.

Antique quilts ( part 1)

My husband loves going to antique shops, so I browse also. Today I had my camera and decided to snap pics of antique quilts. Some are very worn, all are or were beautiful at one time.

These guys were watching me...wonder what she's doing they thought. Wish I had a place for them to live.

I love Dresden plate quilts...this one had a yellow flower appliqued in the center of each block...hardly noticeable in the pic. The T quilt was nice, too.

A strings 8 pointed star...probably very pretty before it faded.

Part of a churn dash quilt that had been cut up to make wallhangings.  I like how the center block is made of fabric from the block above and beside it. The sashing was not all the same either. 

Colorful boys quilt...loved all the triangles and scalloped border

Little half square and quarter square blocks...very colorful.

4 patch sampler

Orginally it was going to have 12 blocks, but I wanted larger, so I added 8 more. I was using a block of the month pattern by Sundrop Designs, so I had to search and find the 8 more that fell in to the same category.  I always wanted to make a blue and white quilt and this was perfect for it. I obtained her permission to teach it in a beginners class locally. No matter what size you choose for the project, some will want smaller or larger. They can make a few blocks for a tablerunner, pillows, etc. or do the orginal 12 for a throw or make as shown. Also the white border could be smaller or  the outer checkerboard board could be left off.  Now to get  it quilted...TODAY hopefully!!

Thimble Pleasures

LOVE the batik selection!!!!

Returning to Goldsboro on Saturday, some friends and I had our first, but not last visit to
Thimble Pleasures Quilt Shop in Cary NC.  I loved all the quilt samples hanging on the wall...I had to buy a pattern as well as some batiks. What a great selection of notions, patterns and other must haves. A class was going on...they were making the cutest dragonfly wallhanging using a folding technique. 

sunflowers

I think of sunflowers in the fall, but these are looking beautiful along US 795 near Mt Olive NC. So cheery.

Finished!!!

Finally finished my Meandering Stars....first quilt I've made using paper piecing. It's made of batiks that I had in my stash. I did buy the background at the Hampton MidAtlantic Quilt show in February. I really wanted a dark background but could not find a navy or black batik. It does have a piecing mistake in it but I'm happy with it. My husband couldn't see it.  Next project will be Desert Sky...another paper piecing quilt. 

Sewing & Quilt Expo

This is the first year the Sewing and Quilt Expo has been in Raleigh ( June 21-23). A friend and I had registered for a class on longarm quilting ( Bread and Butter).It was free motion quilting. Our instructor, Dusty Farrell, was terrific. Very knowlegeable and entertaining. We started with meandering but added loops, curls, etc. It was like a WOW moment...like why didn't I think of this. It was 3 hours of practice of techniques I know I will use.....I'll show you my practice pieces as I improve!!!

Loved all her patterns!!!

Had to buy the snowman pattern at Ye Olds Forest Quilt Shop (Greensboro & Burlington NC)

Bought plenty from Sew Batiks, too!!

Quilt Tricks had patterns that I barely could resist!!

One of my favorite quilts displayed!!

I had to buy the Halloween wallhanging from Dusty Farrell's booth, plus a book,some rulers,snippers.

Some of my other favorite places to go had booth also...Loving Stitches ( Fayetteville NC), Bernina World of Sewing (Raleigh), Sewing in the Carolinas, Wish Upon A Quilt (Raleigh).

I hope the Expo will be in Raleigh again next year.

thinking...

Trying to come up with a name for our guild's retreat in the fall....I've come up with Quilting Frenzy, but think it could be snazzier than that! Help!!

new accessory

My sister came over yesterday to quilt this quilt that she had made as a graduation gift. The picture does not do it justice. She is interested in purchasing a long arm...so for the present she practices on mine.

She gave this to me...it is a Stick It ( The ultimate updo acessory) . It came from a beauty supply shop, I think. It's perfect for me...I never can keep up with a pin cushion.

Signs

A Hobby Lobby opened about 50 miles from where I live this week...I had to go. Today was my second time!!! I loved all the signs they have. They last one is my favorite. I love the fabric department, too.

Friends

One of my friends is moving in two weeks to another state..her husband's job causes them to move often. They have been here a year...a long time for them to be in one place. Now they are going to Indiana. Today 4 of us went to a grand opening of a Hobby Lobby and then to Olive Garden. We did good... we shared dessert!!! It was the first time two of the girls had been to a Hobby Lobby but they will be going back!!!.

Memories

My daughter posted this yesterday on Facebook. It was 1975!!! Wish I was still that slim!!  I asked her how did you get this pic...I thought it was still in an album.   Good memories!!!

making lasanga....

Our quilt guild decided to take donated fabric that was not large enough to make a top or back, cut it into 2 1/2 inch strips and make Red Cross quilts. The are about 45 X 54 inches. Not a real thing of beauty, but practical. They were quick to make. It gave  me an opportunity to practice new pantographs (Baptist fans and a paisley)

practicing....

Today I had a few minutes to practice a pantograph of Baptist Fans...they look easy, BUT I find the straight part at each end the hardest part....I have a community quilt I made at the quarterly workshop to keep practicing on!! I love Baptist Fans.

Finished

 This is two thirds of the quilt...it's too big to get a full pic. (86" X 76") I liked that I could use a lot of small pieces of fabrics...2-2 1/2" X WOF would do a color (2 blocks)  and I had many small pieces of neutrals also...I was glad to use some up. It was fast piecing.....No borders.

quilt block

A quilt block ( actually 4) to go in quilt I have almost finished. There are 9 sections like this in the quilt top. It's a free pattern from Moda fabrics called Etchings (calls for using jelly rolls but I used 2 1/2 inch strips from my stash). I aim to finished by tomorrow and start quilting it.

New Quilt Along

I love the New York Beauty blocks....Sew Sweetness is hosting a New York Beauty Quilt Along starting today thru May 7. I am going to TRY it.... I will hope to  get a block made today!!!
Check it out!!

Finished!!!!

This is the wallhanging I learned to make in the Sunday morning class ( Creative Curves Ellipse Ruler) the Mid Atlantic Quilt Show. I finished the first block and had several more cut out. The first one I cut at home, WRONG...but I could see my mistake and then it was easy after that. Now I have to decide how to quilt it and then I want to make a scrappy bigger one.

Mid Atlantic Quilt Show quilts

I loved this one....it goes back to my farm roots!

My granddaughter's favorite stories.

Loved the colors....a lot of work

So cute!!

Stunning applique!!!

So real looking!!

Beautiful use of color....HAND quilted....and the back was hand appliqued with cords etc. to "hide" the hand stitches!!! Took 3 years to make!!

Beautiful applique

I want to do a bargello ( Ihave the book with this pattern in it.)