Tiny Tuesday - Week 1

This year I am back to doing my Tiny Tuesday posts. I am working this year with the Midget Appliqué blocks from SentimentalStitches.com with 52 blocks that will finish at 4.5 inches. Yes, that is TINY! I hope my appliqué skills will improve this year and maybe I'll try a few new techniques in the process. Some have asked about the appliqué process I am using. I am not an expert (self taught by books and Youtube video's) but I'll try and write how I make the blocks each week. Freezer paper is my friend!

The first block is called Wild Rose. I used my clover bias maker 1/4 inch  to create my flower stem (ok, it is a little bigger than it should be but it is my block!).

The leaves I traced the shapes onto freezer paper and pressed to the top of the fabric. Cut out with a seam allowance and then pulled off the paper and put it on the back and pressed the edges onto it to form the leaves to appliqué down. The flowers - I left the freezer paper on the top and used needle turn appliqué to turn and shape the flowers. The circle... I cut a shape onto card stock and basted the yellow fabric over it to create the perfect circle. Then I just used appliqué to attach it and cut through the back of the project up to the front to remove the card stock.

Wild Rose by VTQuilter

My companion today while I was stitching is Ms. Sophie. She is purring away and was not too pleased to be disturbed for a picture.

Slow Stitching Sunday......

I'm trying to put the house back together (putting xmas away and pulling out my snowmen) while trying not to reinjure my back. Somehow on Friday I did something to it and boy did it hurt all day yesterday. It was fine when I got up today but after doing dishes and putting away the dishwasher... I guess it was a little too much bending and lifting. I did manage to put away my snow globes but now it is time for a break with the heating pad and some prep work.
I'll be drawing the lines on my white squares to add a round to the Trip around the world block.

Trip around the World block - hand pieced 2.5 inch squares.

Edited - The white round is on.... time to select the next blue color for this. Quiche is in the oven - spinach, scallion and cheese - with a salad on the side and dinner is done.

After a rest - I plan to head into the sewing room and pull from my bin of sorted scraps and prep some Midget Appliqué blocks. Those will be my Tiny Tuesday posts this year and if things are all prepped in advance it is so easy to grab a bag as you head out the door and get a few stitches in while waiting on the kids or even at night in front of the tv relaxing. I printed out a bunch but will only prep 4 or so... unless I am really on a roll and do more =).

Later tonight - or as my back yells at me - I will be putting a few stitches in something - either the TATW or Hugs and Kisses (in the header picture) while I sit against the heating pad. I have a feeling there will be some movie watching time this afternoon with that heating pad on my back. Greg took the kids for a bike ride and made breakfast this morning. The kids have been playing doggie and are entertaining themselves good so far today. So nice to just run outside to play (84 degrees today!) instead of bundling up in winter coats, hats and mittens up in VT last week.

Emily came down with the fifths disease on Friday (rash that appears 4-21 days after a fever) that was going around school before Winter break. It is not bothering her at all - no itching and no fever or aches so I don't think she needs a doctor visit on Monday but can go to school as she is not contagious once the rash appears. I will call her pedi on Monday just to make sure. It is making me itch just looking at her though.

Head on over to Kathy's Quilts and see what other slow stitching is taking place today. I figured I'd show a picture of my rose bushes out front as of Friday. Just something bright and flowery for all those getting a freezing chill or winter storm today.

First RSC Saturday in 2015 is BLUE!

I made the first block posted for the 2015 RSC Sampler quilt on New Years Day. What fun fabrics to play with from Vicki Welsh.

I had started a blue trip around the world block in December with 2.5 inch squares. This is a hand pieced block and goes together really easily. I think I will do one in nine of the bright colors this year and make them into a quilt. The next row will be either a cream or white which will be in each block at this round... they should connect like a chain and hopefully it will look pretty neat.

While putting away my extra feet (walking foot and A foot) I found some blue blocks that are 8 inches finished.  I grabbed a few fabrics for leaders and enders and added a couple 8 inch blocks to the group.

While the kids were at Grandma's Friday.... I dumped one bucket of scraps and sorted. I knew this one had lots of blues and creams from my log cabin...... and since this month is blue I will play with this blue pile. Maybe I'll try and sort another bin next month. Now to put away the other colors so they are ready when their month comes up.

Head on over to SoScrappy on Saturday morning for the RSC 2105 link up. There will be lots of ideas and eye candy in blue this week as we start a new year of scrap busting.

Happy New Year - 2015

I remember the saying -'Whatever you do on January 1 you will do the rest of the year!'.... or something like that.

So far I made homemade cinnamon rolls (note to self - 1.5 hours in the bread maker and then more rise time and baking makes it a nearly 3 hour process! Do not start this at 7AM). They sure are yummy though. Almost as good as my ex-SIL Donna's. Boy were those yummy when someone else made them =)

Watched a little Myth Busters.....

Was a doctor and patched a hole in Pluto. He made it through surgery with flying colors.

Stitched some binding onto the RSC Sampler quilt. One side done - three to go.

Did dishes and cleaned the kitchen a bit while I prepped a bunch of appetizers - meatballs in sauce (10 ounces grape jelly and one jar of chili sauce melted together and put in a crock pot with meatballs and/or mini hot dogs - so yummy!); deviled eggs; veggie platter and shrimp cocktail. Grandma H is bringing a slew of things and she and my FIL should both arrive around noon for nibbling and enjoying the last Christmas exchange.

Then the kiddos will head out with Grandma (I am so lucky she is taking them overnight!) and I plan to put a little xmas stuff away and then start the first block of the RSC 2015 sampler quilt posted here.

An hour walk will be worked in this afternoon as well.

Hope you all have a wonderful day doing what you enjoy. I know I plan to.

2014 Recap

 Here is my year in review. The completed quilts.

Springtime 

Triangle Quilt Along this spring.

Kaleidoscope for Becky

Crossroads

Free Tutorial for the Crossroads pattern is here.

Flag little quilt.

Log Cabin scraps - double bed size. * Quilted this year.

Baby Stars

Starlight Starbright.

The pattern for this can be found here. Joanne does a great job writing her patterns and it was great to test it for her.

Maple Leaf Quilt. *Quilted this year

A BOM from many, many years ago through Yankee Pride Quilt Shop in Essex Jct, VT.

RSC Sampler 2014

The sampler Angela created with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for 2014.

Baby Quilt for Jordan

Little T Quilt

Thanksgiving Placemats.

Another pattern from Joanne which can be found here.

Finished Tops: Maybe these will be quilted in 2015?

Quilters Scrapbook

Another testing pattern from Joanne - this one has beautiful borders that would work great with any 10 inch block.

The Century Quilt. Joanna Fabrics BOM from 2000.

Scrappy Churn Dash I still have 72 blocks for another one of these =)

16 patch stars - might need a dark border?

Celtic Solstice - Bonnie Hunter mystery from 2013.

Orange Peels - Extra peels I found when cleaning!

Blocks in progress.

Civil War Diary Quilt blocks. Ready to be set and sewn. This was my tiny Tuesday block of the week in 2014.

Hand pieced Grandmothers Flower Garden blocks.  These will get a black frame this year.

Hand piecing hexagon flowers.

Current Hand quilting project with a top finished this year.

Hugs and Kisses..... top completed this year and hand quilting started on Thanksgiving day.

I am sure I am missing some things but that is a recap of my year! It is amazing when you look back over the year at how much can be accomplished in little bits of time here and there. Did I mention that I love having both kids in school full time this year =)

I hope 2015 is just as productive. Have a safe New Years Eve everyone.... and remember to sew something tomorrow to start the year off right. We are very happy to be home from our visit to Vermont with uneventful flights and no delays. It is so nice to sleep in your own bed again.... and see green grass and palm trees!

Slow stitching Sunday.... last one of 2014!

I plan to put a few stitches into my little TATW block today in between some Disc Golf and visiting up at my other brothers house. After this afternoon we have hit all four of my siblings houses for visits with the kids. Grammy and Grandpa are counting down the minutes until they get peace and quiet back again in their house I am sure..... although the kids have been behaving really well this time. I think we might throw in some sliding on a real hill this afternoon too... there is just enough snow left to get a good slide before the rain and warm temps melt it all away. The temps are going back to 'normal' they day we leave with highs in the 16 range =). I guess I am taking the warm home with me. The kids got their snowmobile ride yesterday with Uncle David. They loved it.

I'm linking up with the other turtle stitchers on this last Slow Sunday of 2014. Head on over and see what projects everyone is working on.

Last Saturday in 2014....

It is time to take stock and figure out what I'll be working on for RSC 2015. I've been keeping a list over on my project tab so I don't forget..... and it seems I will have a bunch of hand projects so all that  waiting on the kids in the car line won't be wasted!

I'll continue with the hand pieced hexagon flowers and add my black surround to them by color.

I have loved the twinkle stars over the last few years and this is the year I make some.

I have a bunch of bird in the air blocks from a couple of years ago that I think will be turned into a wedding quilt for September so I need some more blocks for this.

Dresden plate or fan blocks.... I am still undecided on which I'll do so we'll find out in January.

Scrap busting will be a long strip of 3.5 inch parts sewn onto some thin muslin. I'm thinking this will be 60 or 70 inches long.... I see a rainbow strip of each color with a thin cream in-between each color.

A hand pieced trip around the world block.... still deciding on how big each will be. I am playing with blue to try it out using 2.5 inch squares but I think I am going to have the last 'round' be either a cream or white in each block to tie them together as steps when I sew the blocks together. This round is done and the next medium round is almost done. I was too lazy to go snap a new picture.

Follow along with the 2015 RSC Quilt Angela is hosting.

I think I have way too many projects listed so if some fall off the wagon along the way.... I am good with that. Head on over and see the lovely finishes from 2014 and the plans for 2015 with the RSC Challenge.

I'm planning a post of my Quilting year in review on December 31. Hope you'll stop back in and take a peek at all I have accomplished in the sewing room this year. I love seeing the yearly recaps out on blog land..... don't you?

Time to go get dressed and then take the kids to see the Disc Golf course that my brother helped organize and make last year. He finally got the snowmobile out so after they finish skiing this morning he'll come and take Emily for a spin. That is the last snow related thing they want to do. We have checked everything else off the list - tasting them falling on their tongue, snow angels, making snow men and snow dogs, shoveling, making snowballs, sledding and now a ride on the snowmobile. We also got a nice walk up to my sisters cabin yesterday through the snow. I forget how flat Florida is when I am walking up here in Vermont!