Fun Mail, Special Gift, and Friendship Block Swap

Last night Paul gave me two packages from the pickup he had forgotten to bring in. I was so excited when I saw the first address. It was from Becky in VA. She had a drawing for a kit if someone wanted to take it off her hands. It's this Autumn Visitors and she cut wrong and just didn't want to deal with it, so I said I'd take it. I knew Paul would love it and he did. He thought I should start working on it last night!

While I was in my sewing studio for a bit last night. I took pictures of the blocks I've received for the Friendship block swap. Gaila made this block. I just love the little black/purple dots.

Jen made me this one.

Jacque made me this one.

They look awesome together and I can't wait to receive the rest. Since I know I won't have enough for a whole quilt, I'd like to have other friends make me blocks to go in my friendship quilt. I know I have a lot of readers/followers and I would love to have you all send me a block. Please comment or send me an email if you'd be willing to send me a block for my friendship quilt. The block is easy and I'm having it done in a black with 3 purple batiks.

The other package was from my college roommate Angie. She lives in MN and came out for mom's funeral with our other roommate Nichole. It's a beautiful framed cross stitch picture in memory of my mom. I just love it and can't believe how much it makes me think of mom. She would be so proud. Mom did a lot of cross stitch. It's been 6 months today since mom's been gone, but not a day goes by that I don't think of her and remember all the wonderful time we spent together. I miss her so much, but know that she is watching over me. This weekend Mikaela and I are going to the Quilts and Vines Outdoor Quilt Show near Sioux Falls with Nichole. It's a show mom and I went to several years and just loved attending. I can't wait to go and hopefully meet up with my blogging friend Sara. If you're gonna be there let me know and maybe we can get together too. Hopefully I'll take lots of pictures and be able to show you this truly remarkable show next week some time.

November Quilting Accomplishments

November was an extremely productive month for me. I put in 105 hours, which is the most I've had in the last 9 months! Actually it ties for the most hours per month this year. I did a lot of handwork on my EPP tablerunner, spent a whole weekend at a sewing retreat, and spent 2 nights sewing with the girls, which really pushed me to the top. I actually accomplished my goals and I got more done than I expected. I don't expect December to be as productive, but then it'll depend on when our Little Miss Jackrabbit decides to make her appearance.
My November goals included:
Pink Ribbon Bags - 2 I made one for mom and I think I'll be sending another to a former teacher who just found out she has BC. It always feels good to give to others, so I think she'll like it.

Groovy Girls Samples - 2  I made the monkey bag and the pocket coin purse. They were really well received at GG's and we had a great time. There's still time to join and get all the patterns.
 
Quilt Aunt Vi's Quilt - 1 Quilted - Still needs binding.
Sewing Bags - 4 I planned to make 4 sewing bags for the girls I was retreating with. I've had this sewing fabric for 2+ years and when I got to quilting it I had enough to make 6 bags. I ended up giving them to the girls, keeping a couple for myself, and giving one to Jenn for her birthday. I still have fabric leftover to make something.

Deer Wall Hanging  - I made this wall hanging for Paul's boss for Christmas. It actually turned out great and I'm looking forward to gifting it this week.

Other projects for the month included:
A selvage coin purse for Groovy Girls Sample.
 
Two project bags to take to retreat

A small project bag for retreat

Quilted a wall hanging for mom

Made a bag for Jenn's birthday to match her little bag and block roll-up

Block Roll-ups for Jenn and I

Sewing Themed quilt for me - Top Done

One Block Wonder - Top Done

Groovy Girls samples - Napkins

More Napkins

Medium sized tabletopper


I also finished 3 sets of Wonder Block blocks, but haven't taken any pictures of them. They are slowly being pieced at sewing nights with the girls because I don't have to think too hard on them and they aren't a huge priority to get done. I have the borders on the sewing quilt and hope to get it quilted in Dec. I also made a special gift for a friend this month, but I can't show it until it's given which should be soon. I finished the UFO SewDown with 32 projects finished! Only a couple UFO's though, so I need to keep plugging away at them.

December Goals
Baby Bag
Quilt Sewing Themed Quilt
BOM Setting Blocks
Quilt OBW Quilt

Deer Wall Hanging!

Last night I worked on finishing up the Deer Wall Hanging for my husband's boss for Christmas. I had the binding and hanging sleeve done, but needed to trim all the threads and fray check any places I thought needed it. It actually turned out better than I expected. I used a tan King Tut thread in the tan part and brown King Tut on the deer and borders. I used a brown Bottomline as the back is the same as the borders.
This is probably the closest to the real colors of the wall hanging, though I had a lot of light on it last night when I was trying to take pictures. Paul made a dowel hanger to put through the hanging sleeve, but it is still drying. He used a dark cherry stain and I think it's going to be gorgeous with this one. Usually he uses a golden oak or something along those lines.

I did small stippling on the tan and the deer. It was very intricate and I had to slow the machine down a lot ot be able to get my motions and stitch length correct.

From a ways away you can't even tell that it's quilted. I just love the pictures within a picture that Chris Bumps patterns create. I also love using batiks for them, but it's very hard to find the solid color batiks in the right colors. I had been to four different shops in town and not found what I wanted before Paul and I drove out to Mistletoe Ranch to find the right ones and even there we were limited to about 2 selections in the colors we wanted. Paul picked them out, so I'm glad he was a part of it. His Christmas party is Fri. night, so I'll get it wrapped up and ready to gift yet this week.

Here's a close up of quilting I did on the background and trees and deer. It's not nearly this yellow in person, but I suppose that's how the macro on my camera portrays it.

I was also able to work on binding another quilt, but I can't sit at my machine as long as I used to, so I finally gave up and went and relaxed in front of the TV with some hand work. This could be a long month if I can't sew for more than an hour at a time!

Finally Friday - Hunters Widow Weekend!

It's finally Friday and I've so been looking forward to this weekend for quite some time. It's Hunters Widow Weekend and normally mom and I go off on an adventure, usually related to quilting. This year however, we're going to a quilting retreat next weekend and we decided to forgo our trip shop hopping to ND until a later time. So we're going to my parents house to sew. I'm looking forward to it as it's so relaxing being there and not going anywhere, except to church. Paul will meet me there and go hunting with my dad, bro & SIL. He has 3 deer tags and 2 turkey tags to fill, so hopefully with some luck he'll get a few this weekend.

This week I worked on the wall hanging for his boss for Christmas. I finished cutting out the deer head on Wed. night, put the borders on it, and loaded it on the frame. I'm going to stipped the brown with a dark verigated brown and the yellow/tan with a verigated thread of the same. I'm doing the brown first, but because of the size of the wall hanging and the detail, I've slowed the machine down and am working slowly. Those who know me, know this is highly unusual. I love to go fast and get it done, but for this one, I really want to do some super small stippling on the deer, so it's pretty intriquate work.

I got the top border and about 6" on both side borders done Wed. night.

I'm loving how it is turning out. The color in these pictures is probably more true to the real colors than the first picture.

I did a small portion of the horns and I need to slow the machine down even more to get a better stitch length for how fast I can move and not get off the brown.

So far I'm really pleased with how it is turning out and I can't wait to finish it. I may even make another one if I can find background material I like.
This weekend I'll be working on the Crown Royal quilt for my little bro. I have a pattern and brought a bunch of the bags with me to work on, so I should be able to make some progress.

Paul's Deer Quilt

This weekend my goal was to get Paul's Deer quilt done. I had the blocks all sashed, so Friday night I cut all the big sashing pieces, and put the entire top together, except for the top and bottom borders. I got up early Sat. morning and put the final borders on, so I could show it to a couple ladies at the shop on Sat. I bought thread and backing and went home Sat. night after work to quilt it. I couldn't believe after I loaded it, that I forgot the thread at work. I had a spool of it, so I started. I got all but the last two inches or so quilted before running out of thread. I finally just decided to cut it off a bit and no one would be the wiser if I hadn't said anything. I'm a bit unhappy with the tension, but I think I finally got that problem figured out.

Tonight I finally got a chance to put the binding on it. As soon as it was done, Paul promptly put it on the bed and went to bed, so this is the finished quilt on the bed, already in use. He loves it. I increased the blocks to 8 1/2" squares from the pattern and adjusted accordingly. I have enough to make a second quilt, so someone in my family or friends might get one just like it.

Quilty Weekend

This weekend was very quilty! Friday night I worked on piecing Paul's deer quilt. I got all but the top and bottom borders on. Sat morning I got up early and put the last borders on. After a busy day at work, I spent the evening quilting it. I got it all done and just need to put the binding on it, which I'll probably end up doing tomorrow night. Paul went fishing this weekend and took the camera, so when he gets back, I'll have to take a picture. Tonight after work I cleaned up my sewing room, practiced my FMQ and packed for class tomorrow night. Then I made a cute purse from the Quilts and More magazine. It went together in less than 2 hours.
This is a busy week for me. I teach the second half of Beginning Machine Quilting on Mon. night and mom and I teach Bag Ladies Club Tues. night.