Paper and thread

I've been working on my free-motion quilting as I'm getting some projects finished. Today I decided to make this card with my sewing machine. It all started last Christmas when I told my brother I'd like to hand-make all my Christmas gifts...well, I ran out of time and didn't make anything! He made my gift...and ever since when we discuss exchanging gifts, he jokingly asks if we are going to hand-make them or not! So...

I decided to hand-make his b-day card!

I must say the stitching was easier with regular thread. I used some decorative threads on the outside and inside...they have much less give...but, I love how this card came out. I think I'd like to play more with threads and thread painting...I'm sure it would be a lot of fun!!!

This project was quite easy...feed dogs down, free motion foot on! Only thing that would have made it better are my gloves...I forgot to put them on...still worked out ok though!

Zippy Strippy Pouch!

I love working on easy projects that I finish quickly!

This pattern is great if you are looking for an easy pouch. The pattern comes in 3 sizes. This is the largest. What I love most about it: sewing directly onto the fleece lining. The inside fabric is fused onto the fleece and the rest sewn on top!

Zippers!!! Ooh...I'm so glad this was much easier than I thought it might be. I've only sewn zippers 2-3 times before. I see many more projects using zippers...

And this Hello Betty fabric...just love it! :)

Borders just make things better!!!

About 1.5 years ago I took a class last minute that would teach me a few techniques like applique and new blocks I'd never done like the hourglass and pinwheel. Since it was a last minute class for me, I grabbed some fabric I had from a kit, took it to class, and had to find more fabric for my background areas. I didn't really love the selection I had picked after I'd sewn things together...so this quilt top has been sitting in a bag ever since. (I really disliked it...)

I pulled it out the other day, per request of my co-worker who got me into quilting. She suggested I add some borders and finish it and maybe I'd like it better after. Well...she was right. It's still not my favorite quilt ever but I like it much better now with the borders. Perhaps this will be a good one to practice my free-motion quilting!

Pattern: "Heart and Home Quilt of the Month" by Suzanne McNeill. Next time I will take more time on my fabric selection!!! :)

The flowerbox:

The heart:

The tree: (my favorite block!)

The house:

Casserole Cover Complete!

Last Christmas my sister-in-law asked me if I could make a casserole cover for her. I'd never made one and had a difficult time finding a pattern I really liked. Time has been ticking so I thought I'd better get started and actually finish it! (in a timely manner of course!)

I cut out my pattern and pieces the other day, then spent some time today putting it all together. I must say I was quite disappointed in the actual pattern (one from a package of assorted kitchen accessories). The directions were very confusing and did not make any sense to me. So, I just made up my own way of putting it together - seemed to work quite well.

And here it is...

sporting Robert Kaufman's "Chopsticks Please"...

(with brown interior and handles made of basicgrey's "blush")

Log cabin paper piecing

I joined my local quilt guild this past fall and I'm so glad I did. It's great to see what other quilters are doing and I especially love learning new things.

Every year the quilt guild members create a quilt that is raffled off to help cover cost. This year's quilt blocks are paper pieced log cabins with colors that represent our local area...wine and wheat...onions too!! I've never done paper piecing before but found this to be quite easy once I got the hang of it. Here are my three...

I can't wait to see what this quilt will look like all put together! I'm buying raffle tickets!! Let me know if you want any too!! :)

Big Bang Quilt...

I love when I see a quilt in a magazine (like this one)and then find the pattern...or someone else finds the pattern and tells me how to make it!! :) Currently I'm taking a class at my local quilt store with one of my favorite teachers, Eddie Walker. She's amazing! (whips out a quilt, start to finish, faster than anyone I know!).

I love this quilt and I'm loving this pattern. Learning a lot of new techniques too! Can't wait for this one to be done!!!

Here is just 1/8th of the quilt put together...