Stars in my eye ...

Mid-December saw me quickly getting packed and onto a train to be with family while they attended to a family matter. So, whatever plans I had for getting some quilting done went with me on the train.

This top was put together very quickly .... as in 2 days ..... I was just getting ready to make the backing and sandwiching this top so that it would be ready for machine quilting when I got the phone call. Instead, this top was given as a Xmas present as is. :o) The idea for this top came from here. Mine looks different, but this lady sure spurred me on.

I'm back home now, suffering with a cold virus. Yuck ...

Since coming home, the girls have been my shadow and all they want to do is have their treats and play and then snooze. Lately, their favourite toy is just a simple string that is pulled underneath a piece of fabric . Both of them go nuts over this.

The only project that I had time to grab and take with me were my hexagon stars. I'm on a roll with them and have continued to keep sewing the stars together since coming home. This is my set-up for keeping the stars in order as they are sewn together. A section is removed from the design wall and pinned onto a piece of styrofoam board and then I continue to work in rows. Right now, I just don't feel like working on anything else and just need some mindless sewing. Next week will be better once this cold virus gets out of my system.

So, until then .... Happy New Year to one and all!

Season of Giving

Do you remember this quilt that I made and sent over to Italy for the 'Thousand Colours' earthquake project? Well, this holiday season the quilts are being handed out to the children living in the towns that were devastated during the earthquake. Go here to read all about the presentation ceremonies and scroll down to read more about the project. This is the season of giving and what a perfect time to give to these children.

Wishing all of you Happy Holidays. Stay safe! :o)

Challenge updates

I have to put aside these challenges and work on some stuff that needs to get done. Amongst all this, our main bathroom is being painted. Talk about putting extra pressure on myself! So, between scrubbing my hands of paint and sewing, I'm a busy girl.

This is my layout that will be done for the red/white snowball challenge. I have all the centre blocks done and just need to start sewing the white blocks on the outside. I changed the block size to 9" and by the time this is finished, it will be queen size. A number of quilters in the challenge are starting to layout their blocks and there are some different layouts being done. Sure am looking forward to seeing what everyone ends up doing.
For my Joseph's Coat, this is as far as it will get for now. I'm looking forward to the instructions for putting these blocks together. The pink you see is just the styrofoam board that is part of my design wall. I sure am loving the colours and the way they flow.

With all the leftover fabrics, I foresee a number of quilts with these colours.:o)

Have a great day and happy sewing!

Sky Jewels

.... and that is the name of this pattern. Usually, when I see a pattern that I like and want to make, the pattern gets changed during the making. But, not this one. The first time I saw it, it was love at first sight and the design is exactly as per the pattern. The only thing that was added are the beads on the stars as I was hand quilting. It is a slow process doing it that way, but it sure gives this quilt a lot of sparkle. A lot of beads were used here and my stash has been somewhat reduced.

This whole quilt has been hand pieced (that is where the pattern directions got changed), but if I was to do it all over again, English Paper Piecing is the way that I would go.

Enjoy and have a great day!

Pattern source: Quilt It for Christmas 2006 magazine (designer Gail Cole of Odessa, Texas)

We're determined .....

I'm determined to get this UFO done by New Year's Eve. This quilt has been pledged to be finished by then. It has been hanging around long enough. There is still some more machine quilting to do and lots of applique in the borders to be applied.

You have no idea the number of times that I have put down different layouts for applique. None of them appealed to me. I'm still not sure about this one, but it is growing on me the more I look at it.

The applique is being done after the quilting. This is not usual practise, but that is what I'm doing. Again, it is because I just could not decide on the layout. Did I mention that I am determined .....

.... and Hank is determined to sleep on my quilt while it is being machine quilted .... .... and while applique is being done ...
Yes, we are both determined! :o)

Have a great day!