Rainbow Scrap Challenge...

I have been working on these applique orange peels all year for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. The pattern is from 'Remembering Adelia' by Kathleen Tracy.  I have had so much fun making them that I think I will continue on with a rainbow scrappy peel border for this little quilt during the month of December.  A few months ago I decided to start putting four of them together into X and O's.... for my Kisses and Hugs quilt. Now to make it a wee bit bigger I think I am going to surround each X and O with a colorful little border to give me a bigger block and a bigger quilt.

I have two more moss greens to finish for that last block. I have this picture so I remember that it needs to be an X!

This has been such a fun thing to work on this year that I am going to be sad to see it finish. I do have another hand work project lined up for next year's challenge (Hexie time) so hopefully the excitement of that one will help things along.

It has been a busy day at our house again. I was awakened by the kids searching for their Elf on the Shelf named Chilly around 6:45 this morning. He returned and was on the top of the cutout between the kitchen and the dining room overlooking the Christmas tree in the front room (reading room Mom). Since I was up I decided to make a baked french toast with the leftover french loaf from Thursday. Then it was running errands and I'm sorry to say I was one of those people talking on the phone while shopping in Bells this morning. I had to call Mom and check on a size for something =). Then to Public's to get a few things for our Thanksgiving tomorrow. Giblets have been cooked off, apple pie has been baked, Knor spinach dip has been made, laundry is ready for folding and after this post is done.... I get to sweep and then mop floors and then vacuum, clean bathrooms and pick up the rest of the mess from the Christmas decorating yesterday. Greg is in charge of dinner tonight - fried ravioli - lobster and cheese. Yummy! I am going to really miss when vacation is over - I forgot how good a cook he is. It has been so nice to have the kids tagging after him and being where ever Daddy is.

Head on over to SoScrappy and see what the other Rainbow Scrap Challenge participants have been working on. Lots of pretty blocks and inspiration so be prepared to be adding things to your 'must do' list for next year.

Friday Finish

I finished the binding on the 64 patch star quilt last night with two cats laying on the quilt as I was watching the Harry Potter movie on TV. They did not like when I had to tug the quilt to get to the parts I needed to finish but it all worked out with a completed quilt last night around 10PM.
This is Sophie this morning enjoying the snugly flannel backing while Greg is making waffles with the kids. Yes Mom, we do use our waffle iron occasionally!

Yesterday he made a pan of lasagna with a little help from the kids. I am really enjoying having him home the last couple of days all day long.

He is ready to go into work tomorrow..... but is not scheduled to go in until Monday!

We also had someone arrive this morning from the North Pole. Our  Elf on the Shelf arrived back to our house this morning. Emily was the first to find him hiding up in the popcorn cups above the cabinets in the kitchen. Since they were not very inventive with a name last year (Mr. Elf), they decided to rename him Chilly this morning. I think our Elf approved. Hopefully he will help us have some better behaved children over the next month as he fly's back to report to Santa each night. Now to remember to move the little guy around each night after kids are in bed. I remember a few times waking at 3AM and having to do some quick arrangement of things before the kids woke up and started the search for him in the morning last year.
As for me..... I plan to start on the first part of the Celtic Solstice mystery today in between continuing the Christmas decorating of the house. If I get a couple of hours... I did pin my coin quilt yesterday and hope to try some free hand circles while quilting that at some point this weekend.

                            

Happy Thanksgiving.

Wishing all those in the USA a very Happy Thanksgiving and those elsewhere a very Happy Thursday!

We will have a 'quiet' day at home (as quiet as you can get with two very chatty children who don't understand inside voices when they are excited) with a nice lasagna dinner prepared by my hubby. We will do our Thanksgiving feast on Sunday with my father in law and hopefully my mother in law and her hubby and brother will come over after for dessert.

As for me - I plan to make a couple loaves of french bread to go with the lasagna and then pin a quilt for quilting today. The kids are busy in the play room making construction paper garland for the Christmas tree.... which will get decorated today. We decided on a real tree this year and picked it up yesterday and it is in the living room. The first thing they both did this morning was check on the Christmas tree. We will also set up the artificial one in the front room. I fear it it going to be a long 4 weeks until Christmas with two very excited children.

As Kathy said today... one more sleep until the Quiltville Bonnie Hunter mystery starts. I can't wait...... Are you joining in?

Challenge completed!

I had issued a challenge to Kathy to get her quilt quilted and the binding on for a slow stitching binding post for this Sunday. I'm happy to say that I was able to get my quilt quilted on Friday afternoon. I worked today (Saturday) and then when I got home went out to eat for a date with hubby and then picked up one kid from Grandma's. We got home around 9PM and got Aidan to bed. Off to the sewing room for me. I didn't have a chance to hit Joann's for some fabric for binding after work since I knew we were going out to eat. I did a dive into the basket of fabrics where I knew I had tossed the trimmings from the last quilt backing. I had enough of this brown to make the binding, pressed it and then threw the walking foot on the machine and got it sewn down to the top of the quilt. Woo Hoo! I did it! 10PM finish.

For our cold snap tomorrow (highs in the low 60's - after being in the 80's today) I will have a nice quilt to snuggle under while I hand stitch the binding to the back. I'm sure a cat or two will be snuggling on this quilt with me. Sophie is already testing it out.

I did a free motion meander on the stars of the quilt. The outer border I did a loop and star as you can see here. 

I had only two issues with thread the whole time I quilted it. Not sure if it was the thread combo or the really soft flannel on the back but I am ready to pin another quilt and tackle it Sunday if I have time after getting some hedges trimmed and some carpets cleaned in the house.

Head on over to The Rainbow Scrap Challenge and see what other brown projects were worked on and then check out Slow Stitching Sunday for some great hand work in progress. 

Challenge issued and a finish!

I got two quilts pinned last week and then the flu bug hit and nothing got worked on. This week I was able to run some machine and hand stitches in this little Halloween quilt and am going to call this one done for now.

I may add that spiderweb next year when I pull it out still.... and maybe some stitches outlining the Boo. I really liked how the stitches look around the ghost.

As for the challenge..... I seem to have issued one to Kathy to get a quilt quilted so that binding would be the slow stitching Sunday post. I really should have thought of this better since I kept a girl home from school Thursday - which was my 2 hours planned to quilt. Oh well, maybe I can meet this challenge - I didn't say when on Sunday I had to do my post =).  Hehehe....
This is the 64 patch blocks I was making this year in the RSC challenge. I added some big flying geese to make them into star blocks and then added a green border to get it a little big bigger. It is around 58x74 right now.

The cats are going to be disappointed. I have had this quilt back side out on the floor in the quilting room. The soft flannel is a hit with the cats- they keep going in there and sleeping on it! This is one of the 2.99 a yard flannels I got from my shopping spree. There are leftovers so I can see a green and blue dot rag quilt in my future. Another type of quilt I have never made but am going to give it a try.

The plan - to get this star quilt quilted and a binding made and  attached to the top by the end of the weekend. Think I can do it? I have doctor appointments Friday morning (normal yearly things) and then I am working on Saturday. I feel like the little engine that could... I think I can, I think I can.....

Patch Pals Collection....

I was wandering through the web and ran into this cute doggie pattern. Turn's out there are tons of cute little animals that make up into very cute baby quilts or wall hangings. I found it on amazon and since I had to order new batteries for the house phones, it just popped into the cart. It got delivered yesterday and I love looking through it. I can see this used in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge next year by color. Could grey and black come sooner than later so that elephant and penguin can get made? Emily already wants the dog. Aidan has not seen it yet, but I'm sure he will request one.

The title is Patch Pals Collection - Best of Quiltmaker.
Here is the cover.

The back with all the projects in it.

Sow Along Blocks.......

Way back last year I had started a sow along over at Randy's blog. I made 15 of the blocks and then they stayed in their part of the drawer with the three fabrics I was using. I figured I needed something 'easy' to do and was not feeling the applique blocks that are intimidating me still on the century quilt.
Since brown is one of the colors for this block and brown is the rainbow scrap color this month I decided to make some progress on these over the next little bit. I think these will be my Tiny Tuesday posts through the end of the year - they do finish at 6 inches.

This is the scrappy star block I added to them today.

All of my blocks so far.

Off to the doctors today so I'll grab my little baggie of orange peels and head out. Next Wednesday - my goal is to have that applique block for the century quilt done. We'll see how I do with that goal.

Weekend Post....

Wow, second week in a row that I missed a RSC Saturday post.
I did a little sewing on the FNSI - got two more of the peels made into my X and O block for the brown RSC challenge.

I also needed two more blocks for the snails trail blocks I have been working on all year for the RSC challenge. I went with a bright pink and a yellow block.

Earlier in the day on Friday I did get one of my quilts pinned and a backing created for a little Boo wall hanging and that got pinned for quilting too. I guess I did get a bunch done on Friday until the stomach bug hit at about 11PM. Today I am feeling better but plan to take it easy (as easy as you can with a 5 and 4 year old running around the house wanting help with things). The most I will do today is maybe some slow stitching on my apple quilt. I am making some progress... who know's maybe I'll turn another corner today!

For more inspiration - head over to SoScrappy for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, Kathy's Quilts for Slow stitching Sunday and FNSI.

FNSI - are you joining in?

Tonight is the Friday night Sew in and the link up can be found here. I think I am going to join in tonight. I pinned a quilt for quilting this morning and just made a backing for a little wall hanging. Maybe I can start quilting one or the other tonight. Grab something to sew and join in.

A shopping spree....

I have been having some fun with birthday money. Last week I headed to Joann's Fabrics after work and picked up 5 yards of each of these - a flannel blue dot, a flannel green dot and a white on white cotton. I think the white will work great for some kids quilts with the fabrics I won from Ellen last month. The flannel's will become the backings for a couple of quilt tops waiting to be quilted.

I also had a box waiting for me when I got home last night from the dentist. I was good and waited until this morning to open it (after everyone else was gone so I could fondle my fabric!). I placed an order from Connecting Threads Thursday and it arrived yesterday! Quick service and their fabrics are so soft. I love their mirage line and got an indigo blue, iris, lilac, silver and antique cream. I also got their Fauna thread set - it was on sale for $19.53! Then I got the backing fabric in this hana toile to go on the back of my blue and cream log cabin quilt.

The blue and iris (dark purple) will go into the graduation quilt for this year along with some turquoise to make a Kaleidoscope quilt. I made this one last year for a graduation gift for Jillian. Becky liked it so much she asked for the same pattern.  The iris and lilac and antique fabrics will probably be made into a  
Tennessee Waltz quilt for my brother and sister in law at some point. The silver..... who knows. I was planning to put it in the Kaleidoscope quilt but she decided she really liked the turquoise so that will stay in the stash and play nicely with some blues at some point.

It was very chilly on my walk this morning - I had to pull out the winter hat, gloves and scarf! It will get even colder tonight and the single paned windows down here are not very well insulated. I think the huge Easy Street quilt will be on my bed tonight so I'll have some covers to keep me warm! Who knows maybe the flannel sheets will make an appearance too! Tonight will be chicken chili and corn bread. The kids had hot cocoa after the school pick up. They are out in their hats and gloves riding the jeep around the yard. I fear the peace and quiet will end soon so I better start dinner so it will be ready when they are.

Midget Blocks.....

With little sleep last night for 3 out of 4 in the house I figured it is a good day to pull out my Midget blocks and see how many of these I have. Emily is home again today with a 100 degree fever and a constant cough. We heard it all night long! It was really loud as she moved from her room to the living room right outside our bedroom! Saturday night, Sunday and Monday it was sneezing and runny nose and now the cough and fever. Since she has been coughing all over me I am sure I am getting it too. I've been popping Vitamin C and a multi vitamin to try and avoid it. At least she got a little snooze this morning as I ran the month end reports to the accountant this morning.

I started this journey back in Vermont on October 7, 2010! This was a really long term project and will be even longer as it will wait for hand quilting once it ever gets done to a top stage. I was hoping I had about 120 blocks for  a10x12 setting and guess what? 121! Woo hoo. I think that is enough blocks for this quilt top. Now the fun part starts. They each should finish at 4.5 inches. Well, some are bigger and some are smaller and it will be 'fun' to add the sashing to get these to a similar size in the quit top. First - there are lots of papers on the back of the majority of the paper pieced ones that need to be taken off. Maybe I can get a few taken care of before we head out to pick up the boy from school.

Weekend post....

I missed the RSC challenge for Saturday due to a cutting error on Friday. After 10 months of making snails trail blocks you would think I would have the cutting measurements down. Somehow I had 3 3/8 in my head instead of 3 7/8 for one of the squares. I decided to re cut the middle 2.5 inch squares and the correct 3 7/8 squares and start fresh this morning. I now have 2 brown and tan blocks to add to the pile for 22 colorful snails trail blocks.

I think I need two more and I'll have a nice size 48x72 snuggle quilt when it is done. Sorry for the blurry picture - I was in a hurry to snap it and pick up the blocks.

Head on over to SoScrappy and see all the wonderful projects being made with brown scraps this weekend.

I have also made progress on the hand quilting front this week. The apple quilt is coming along nicely and I love the swirls in the border.

 I will probably add some squiggly lines around there too to help fill in the space a little bit. For now - it is yard work time. The roses need to be cut back, weeds need to be pulled from the flower gardens and rock part of the driveway and maybe I'll attempt the power washer to start tackling the driveway. If I make a little progress out there, I'm rewarding myself with some quilting prep work and hope to get the coin quilt pinned for quilting. I can just see that swirl in those nice white open spaces! I hope the sewing machine will cooperate this week and allow them. I hit Joann's after work last night and picked up a some flannel for 2.99 a yard for the backing for this and the 64 patch star quilt - with the added 25 % off the total purchase it was a great deal. I also got 5 yards of a pretty white on white..... just because! Thanks so much to G for the birthday gift certificate - I still have another shopping spree there waiting to happen.
Head on over to Kathy's Quilts and see what other hand work is being showcased today. I can't wait to settle down in the recliner later tonight and put some imperfect stitches into my quilt.

Midget block #107 - Garden Maze

I'm a little late this week with my tiny Tuesday but after all the sewing on Monday - things around the house needed tending to - kids play dates happened and I finally got to sew a bit this morning while waiting for the HIPPY instructor to get here. I guess I did have time for a walk since she is 45 minutes late. Oh well, maybe I'll have Emmy go for a bike ride with me after lunch and before we go to pick up her brother.

Garden Maze was paper pieced in 12 tiny sections and then sewn together. I really need to lay out my blocks and see how many more I need before calling these blocks done. They have been so fun to make and I have learned and tried so many new things with them over the last 4 years. The majority of these are free over at sentimentalstitches.com if you'd like to challenge yourself and try some new things. I've learned how to paper piece, hand piece, hand applique and work on a more precise 1/4 inch seam allowance. All baby steps to being able to make the more complicated quilts I love to look at.

A day of sewing thanks to Grandma.

Grandma was so kind to pick up the kids from school and keep them for a bit running errands so I had a nice block of time to work on Easy Street. Since no one was home I got to use the living room floor to pin the monster of a quilt while listening to the first Harry Potter movie. I will never again do a quilt this large - it was 97x97 inches and huge.

I decided to just use the walking foot and go through the green squares - five rows on each side of the quilt. Then I did the diagonal off that point each way. I just outlined the border and then got to make the binding and attach it. I'm not happy with a little bunching on the back but I'm going to leave it. This is my quilt and will be on my bed so I'm going to live with it! (Another words no way would I pick it out and try and quilt this puppy again!)

Now I will have a nice big quilt to snuggle under at some point while I am attaching this binding. If it doesn't get done in the next couple of week's I'll take it with me for hand work around Thanksgiving.

Slow Stitching Sunday.....

Today I had grand plans to get Easy Street pinned for quilting. Well, it is ironed, on the boards and the batting has been pieced.... twice. I seem to have added that extra bit to the WRONG side.... so I got to zig zag it together twice. Then I attempted to pin it on my banquet table. Did I mention ES is 97x97 and does not fit on my table? The living room is big enough... but there are other people in the house besides me. So..... I think I will move things around in the 'play room' and hunker down in there around 8 and start the pinning process with a movie on the TV in there. I can leave it there when I get tired and pick it up in the morning after the kiddo's are dropped to school. Grandma will be picking them up and keeping them out of my hair entertained at the park for a bit so I can have some 'me' time on my birthday tomorrow. After a hair cut and maybe a pedicure I plan to get some quilting time in. Hopefully on my Easy Street quilt.

I did get a few things prepped so I am set for hand work this week. I cut a few more brown and moss green peels for working on in the car line up at school.

I also picked up this neat little border template and traced it onto my apple quilt this afternoon. I have the middle done and I am on the home stretch on this one - just the outer border to go!

I had planned a chuck roast in the crock pot for dinner but I guess it was not all thawed out and 1PM -5.30 on high was not enough time to get it so it can be cut with a fork. G and the kids are off to pick up Chinese food for dinner. I have the crock pot on for a few more hours and dinner for tomorrow will be all set to warm up whenever we get hungry. More sewing time for me!

I'm hooking up with Kathy's Quilts today and if I decide to wait to pin tomorrow morning... you can bet I will be hand stitching on my apple quilt this evening.

Saturday in brown! 16 patch stars....

I have to Thank Kathy over at Kathy's Quilts for the inspiration on this one. She has a beautiful quilt in her header that I just fell in love with the first time I saw it last year. I had this in mind when I started making my 16 patch blocks this year for the rainbow challenge. This week I made my brown 16 patch block.

Then I made a bunch of huge flying geese blocks....

Then some four patches for the corners.

Put them together and you get these really neat but huge blocks! These are 16+ inches big.

Edited to add yesterday's progress. All the blocks are made and have been sewn into rows.

Head on over to SoScrappy on Saturday morning and see what other brown fabrics are coming out to play this weekend.