Busy February

This has been a busy month, but I feel like I have accomplished a lot. I don't have a lot of finishes yet, but I still have a few more days to finish up some binding on projects.  I spent Saturday of President's Day weekend at the Shrine Club quilt retreat. I layed out the blocks and put together this quilt top for a store challenge we are doing to show the use of color. The picture isn't good, but it's all shades of blue with a fairy frost blue background. It just needs borders and quilting. I hope to get the borders on this week, so I can get it quilted.

I also put together this baby quilt top made with scraps. I had intended to make it bigger, but I just wasn't caring for the scraps or the way it was looking, so I decided finished is better than sitting in the UFO box. The other 2.5" strips can go back into the scrap box for another quilt. It would be okay without the black, but that's what I started with.

Since it was also my birthday that week, Heather brought a birthday cake for the banquet Sat. night. I just love how it turned out! Her friend did an amazing job making it. I also gave a trunk show of 40+ of my favorite quilts. My dad and Ann came and watched and my dad proudly says "And that's just what she brought, she has a lot more". I only brought large quilts, but I could do a show of just bags I've made too.

I've also been hexie making up a storm. I took a little time to work on my Buggy Barn hexies this week. I also made these cute little Hexie needle books using Jen's pattern. I'm really impressed with how they turned out and may make a few more for my quilty friends.

I have finished binding on the Briar Rose quilt and the Let it Snow quilt as well. The pillowcase for Let it snow is done as well.
This weekend I quilted 3 quilts for a lady and made 2 small table runners that need to be quilted. Since I finished so much, I also started cutting on a scrappy Swoon quilt from a quilt along. Emilee and I didn't find out about it until recently so we won't finish by the end, but we'll have fun working on them.
I also got my ahhhh's in the mail, so I am looking forward to working on them. I got a few fat quarters to do them in, but need to get them cut and basted before this weekend. I've been recruited to go ice fishing again.
I'll try to get up Mathew's 3 month pictures soon. I can't believe he's so old already!

Winding Ways Schlep Bag ~ Quilt Retreat Info

The Winding Ways schlep bag is completed and I can't believe it took me so long to do, seeings as I had it cut out and just had to sew it! It's been lingering since oh, maybe before Christmas some time. I have just a bit of the Jennifer Chiaverini Winding Ways fabric left for a special project, but I wanted to get this made before I made the other project. This literally took me less then 3 hours start to finish, not including cutting time. I didn't use a pattern, just went from memory, so the handles are minus batting, but they still seem to hold up well. I used scraps of 80/20 and I really like the puffiness, without the bulk of this batting.


The inside of the bag coordinates with the winding ways fabric on the outside.

Next up on the project list is a wavy table runner for our last Groovy Girls session. I just love this fabric and can't wait to get it made. I'll be adding a some scallops using the new ruler that is like the prairie points one. Wish me luck, it could get interesting.  This is a group that has met for the last two years, so since the program is ending, we're doing our own thing. It will be a Club Sew format and include lots of tips and techniques around a project idea, starting in March.

I also quilted up a growth chart for Mikaela, but it went together so fast I forgot to take pictures of it. This week has been rather busy, since I taught the Happy Hour class last night. I had 7 great ladies in the class and we had a really good time.
I know my blogging has been sporadic at best, but there just seems to be a lot going on and just not enough time to be on the computer at home. I'm really trying to do WIP Wednesday posts every week so at least I have a chance to catch everyone up on all that is going on in my world. I'm also going to be cutting out the weekly dump of photos of Mikaela. I'll try to do a monthly post of her cutest pictures. She's moving a lot now, so it's hard to get pictures of her.  Thanks to the 80 followers I have and thanks for following along with my crazy life! I hope you enjoy and find inspiration in my various projects, however random they may be. Thanks for all your comments. They inspire me to continue reading blogs and commenting as well. I always enjoy connecting with my readers. I read all my blogs in Google Reader, so if I'm not "following" you, doesn't mean I don't read your blog, it just means I have it in Google reader.

The BIG news right now in my life is a QUILT RETREAT!!! I'm planning a quilting/crafting retreat the first weekend in March at a beautiful hunting lodge near my hometown. I'm super excited and think it will be a great event. I was a little leary at first, hoping friends and readers would want to attend, but so far I have enough to meet the minimum and I'm super stoked! It's going to be an awesome weekend full of fun prizes and lots of different activities, in addition to Sewing On Your Own projects. If anyone is interested in joining a fun bunch of ladies for this awesome quilt retreat, let me know. It's super cheap - the cost is just for the rooms for 2 nights, so I'm hoping the reasonable cost will attract a few more people. I'd love to fill both cabins as well as the lodge rooms. I have an email with all the 411 if you're interested in learning more, let me know.

Okay, that's 2 posts in 1 week... watch out, this could become a habit!
Have an AWESOME day!

Winding Ways Book Cover

Saturday when we were shop hopping I found the Winding Ways fabric line by Jennifer Chiaverini. Since I had seen it in OH, I had wanted it. I picked up a half yard not knowing what I was going to do with it. Tonight I opened my fabric cupboard to pull out a fun fabric to make a book cover for the current book I'm reading. I take it back and forth to work and it's a paperback, so I wanted to protect it. This fabric just seemed right, so I quickly made up a book cover and bookmarker while the manicotti I made for supper was cooking. I didn't have a pattern, just measured the book and kind of winged it. I started with a piece the was 1" taller than the book and 6" longer than the outside of the books. In this case it was 9"x17 1/2" x 2 pieces and each side had a layer of decor bond on it.

After supper I worked on the applique for a baby wall hanging I'm making. I got an email from the mom today about how much Mr. Mason loves the baby quilt, so I want to get the wall hanging done too. I got about half finished before calling it a night. I have some quilting to do tomorrow night, so maybe I can get it quilted too.

Quilty Birthday Presents

I had a very quilty birthday! My MIL and hubby got me the DVD's MammaMia, Nights and Rodanthe, and The Holiday. Lots of quilting will be done as I "watch" my new DVD's.
I received the new Jennifer Chiaverini book Quilters Kitchen from both my mom and Paul... -I asked everyone for it. I really wanted it! I can't wait to read it. I took one back and picked up two Debbie Macomber books, so I have a lot of reading to do.

She also got me the Pajama Quilter Reloaded Companion Workbook. I've had the DVD since before I even got my frame, but I really wanted the workbook and I'm so looking forward to being able to see the designs.

My parents also gave me the new Olfa Quick Change 60mm rotary cutter. I've had the 45 for a year or so now and really love it, but I really like the 60 better, so she got it along with 5 new blades for me. I'll be cutting up a storm now. My mom got me the quilting stuff that no one else buys for me.

My dad asked mom what they were giving me for my birthday and she told him. He just didn't get it, but he said well if that's what she wants. It is! I'm so excited with all my gifts.