MIA? Regifting?

Yes I know, I"ve been MIA! Things have just been busy, busy, busy! And mostly on the sewing front all I"ve done was work on those tipsy snowmen. I"m happy to say all 8 are completely DONE! Wooo Hoo!!!

I've also been so busy I've been lax in sharing some of the really cool gifts I"ve gotten this month. Top is a the most adorable and gorgeous wool scraps made into a wreath from Libby! I told her the wool was so pretty I thought about taking it apart and doing something with it!

I got this wonderful repro doll quilt from Heather yesterday! Isn't is AWESOME! Heather (no blog), Laura, Sossy and I drew names back in Sept for our annual small quilt exchange. This year we decided to do Christmas or Winter. Heather got a Tipsy Snowman, Crow and xmas tree quilt and a fabric basket from me (yes - I couldn't decide on xmas or winter so I just did both. It was easier than making a decision!). And she had my name! She decided to do christmas like colors in repro fabrics so I could use it all year! I LOVE it! It is a Carol Hopkins pattern/design.

Speaking of gifts to go - Jan got her surprise from me. I never thought about it this way, but I "regifted" her crumbs she gave me from her gorgeous Batik Jewels quilt. Don't they look happy in their new home?!

This weekend I had a little girl time with one of my best quilting buddies. We ate pizza, watched Christmas movies and did some hand sewing. I got this adorable star in a heart wall hanging from her.

Last week I got this really cool bag from a lady in Australia who I did a block exchange with last year. We all kind of ran behind on the last few blocks and final present and she got hers sent out. Isn't it cool.


Last night my sewing bee had a Christmas dinner. It was so nice to eat and chat, and we sewed just a little, but mostly just enjoyed each others company for Christmas. I got this lovely Carolina Snowflake made by a local artist and this salt cellar do-dad (what is the name you call these things - kotchi's or something like that) from Nann. Any way the glass part is a salt cellar and the top is made out of buttons! My favorite line in the snowflake care instructions are "If you snowflake gets hairy, clip the hairs with scissors!"

And last but not least is my new sewing caddy like the ones Sharon's husband made! Joan's (no blog) husband made this for her to give us for xmas. Aren't they fun! I guess they got tired of me talking about the awesome ones Sharon's husband made - huh?!

Wheh - I think that has everyone caught up on my life lately!

I can share another Ruby Doll now!

Thought I would share another Ruby Doll now. She has arrived at her new home so I can share her with you. I even made the little doll quilt to travel with her since she had to travel over the seas!

Fabric Baskets!

I"ve been wanting to try and make these for a long time, but never had time or would forget about them. I was trying to think of something fun to put some Christmas gifts in and remembered these baskets. I"m so glad I tried to make them! In 2 evenings I had these 6 done! Aren't they adorable!

You can get the pattern here: Fabric Baskets Tutorial

A forgotten finish

Things have been so busy for me I totally forgot to share a finish for me about a month ago. I made this top about a year ago, but I never got it quilted. I just couldn't figure out how I wanted it quilted. Finally at the end of October I just figured - quilt it. So I did a small stipple all over. I"ve seen this done on large quilts that the Country Sampler shop has at shows and it makes it look old and crinkly. I really liked the look even though normally I"m not big on stippling. I made this using Bonnie's Leader/Ender method. And had it done in time to show Bonnie when she visited our guild last month.


Yesterday I got my xmas quilt hung up that my friend in Australia made for me a few years ago - isn't it wonderful!

And I finally got sick and tired of my family throwing candy wrappers, sucker sticks and juice boxes in my thread catcher. So I made a sign to pin it it!!!! Desperate times make for desperate measures!

Happy Thanksgiving

So many things to be thankful for. But top of my list........

Quilting Gallery Fall Quilt Vote is Now

I was going to ask you to go visit Quilting Gallery and Vote for Me - but wow - there are some awesome quilts entered in their Falling Leaves Quilt Contest. Especially the Large Project category which has my quilt in it - Turkey Days (Almost to the bottom of the large project category).



So I guess instead I"ll need to just tell you to go over and pic one and vote!

2 more presents done

Check out these cute dolls I made from some crumbs! 2 more presents done for xmas! This is called a Ruby Doll and I found the pattern here at One Red Robin.

The Cat

Look at what I got finished! I was browsing through a Christmas Quilt Book a few months ago and saw this pattern for a stuffed cat. Now don't you think the Hugs and Kisses quilt from The Cat needs a cat?! So this is going with the quilt and pillowcases!

Another Christmas gift almost ready!

Here is my Hugs and Kisses quilt from "The Cat" for my friend for xmas! I just have the binding to sew down on the back! I"ve got pillowcases to match and another surprise coming yet to go with it!

Snowmen and Pigs

I'm still working on Christmas presents. I got 2 more snowmen done - 4 more to go!

And I made a stuffed pig for a friend from some 30's crumbs! I love how it turned out! I still have more to go. It is a busy, busy year for gifts!

Underground Railroad Rest Area

I know many of you have seen my post of the really awesome Underground Railroad Rest Stop in Iowa, but Erik Homemade just posted a lovely summary about it and his pictures from a stop he made in October of this year. So whether or not you "believe" in the Underground Railroad clues in quilts, go check out his visit: Erik Homade

Bonnie came to visit!

Oh my GOSH! Bonnie came to our guild meeting tonight. I don't know when I"ve enjoyed a program more. Her talk is so "real life" and her quilts are SO BEAUTIFUL in real life. (Well they are beautiful on the web - but even better in real life!) Above is a special message for our friend Lucy!

Oh it was a great evening!

Tops and Bottoms

Thought I would share a top and bottom today. Above is a quilt top my Aunt gave me this weekend! She was going to throw it away! I'm so glad she decided to show me before she threw it away! My uncle's grandmother made it. It is all pieced by hand and is in pristine condition. It smells wonderful and the white fabric is WHITE. I"m going to get it hand quilted for sure. Look at the awesome fabrics in it....

And then I thought I would share a bottom. A different kind of bottom - undies. My middle daughter always complains I never send her packages at college. Well I ususally don't because she thinks I"m a dork still and thinks most fun things are silly. So I got her good this time. She was complaining that over fall break she couldn't find any fun underwear. So while shopping with Emily the other weekend I found 3 pairs of really cute undies. But this one was my favorite.

Now look closely...... Here and there scattered on it is the phrase - Call your Mother!

I thought it was perfect!

Orange Crush Top Done!

I did it! I got my Orange Crush top done just in time for Bonnie's visit! Now if only I could it quilted and sleep under it! But that will have to wait until after Christmas - I had so many quilts to get done for xmas gifts I need to wait a bit.