CQAL November Evening

 A Day's Worth of Pot Holders

I wanted to make pot mitts and so I did.  I took the free Hoffman Pattern I have listed on my sidebar and tweaked it a bit.  Personally I found the mid-line pocked to be to small and knew I wouldn't like it.  So instead I went with the pocket you can see on the upper right pot holder.  The patter also called for two pieces of fabric folded in half for the part over your hand, that seemed skippy and you never know when the oven timer is going off and you might try to grab something out of the oven with the pot holder on upside down - can you hear the voice of experience?  So I stuck all the heat resistant batting in there that I could as well.

These are quilt thick with two layers of fabric plus two layers of batting in each side, so I shoved the tops through the serger before I added the binding.  Can you tell I ran out of the blue binding?  I think the red looks nice though.  I was planning on giving these as pairs which would mean one person would get a red and a blue.  What do you think about that?   Or should I share the love and give them as singles?   

Currently I'm trying to think of what to attach to the top so these can hang?  DH just got home and when I told him my concerns about the pretty little bows touching 350 degree metal, he said they would be ruined.  So what can I use that my little trees can hag up?  

I hope you had a good day sewing.  I spent some time shopping the preview ads for Black Friday.  I wont be venturing out, but I bet I can find a loyal husband who will do it for me...

CQAL: November Morning

Good Morning Everyone!  I have so many things that need doing, I wont begin to list them.  Though I will say I'm sorely tempted to just chuck everything out the door for the day and work on some Christmas Tree Pot Mitts.

I'm moving slower than normal because of an injury to my right hand, night before last and things like writing and holding a needle are painful.   I even found folding a load of laundry and tidying up the breakfast dishes a challenge this morning.  But no matter, it's Christmas Quilt-a-long Day and our Queen Bee Hostess Superb Sue at Quilt Times is in charge today.  How about we all send her cookies and milk and beg her use her influence with Mr. Fit It Santa to up our Santa Claus gifts this year.  After all we've been very good quilters haven't we?

CQAL: My Pincushion Winners!

Okay well we only have two entries for the orange pin cushion and two for the blue.  Really.  So my winner for the blue is Joanna, and my winner for the orange is Reenie.  Gals if you can pass along your mailing information I will get these in the mail to you.

A special thanks to everyone who joined us yesterday.  I had a good time, but only carved away at my to do list, by working on some alterations for a neighbor.  The good thing is I got them done so I can work on something else today!

Quilt Sue was a busy lady as always and headed out early to to teach a workshop (so fancy!) and then came home and sewed a slew of blocks together to make a Christmas quilt top.

Donna was busy terrorizing her cat, not sure what became of her Jacob's ladder quilt she was planning to work on, likely she ended up having her fabric stolen and it's under the bed now with the cat!

Reenie had a very productive day taking bags and bags of scraps ironing and cutting them into beautiful piles, that look like expensive bundles that you'd find at your LQS.

Joanna is a busy woman working on a deadline, she made amazingly beautiful sleeves for her newest Granddaughter's Christening Gown.

Mrs. Pickles had big plans for sewing with us. when her DH said he would be arriving home early, so she did all sorts of other things, and yet somehow found time to get all of her Mystery Christmas Quilt-a-long blocks sewn together and they look great.

Christmas Quilt-a-long October Lunch

Well ladies, how are your projects going?  I myself have only just finished wading through my morning emails and so forth, so I haven't had the joy of stopping by any blogs yet, let alone sat down in front of my sewing machine -how is that for a Halloween Horror?  I'm so glad you're here.  Why don't you join me for a spot of lunch, it's hot here in Sunny Florida though so take off all your Autumn gear, it's 80 degrees and the sky is bright blue with puffy white clouds, if it weren't for these decorations, you'd never know it was Autumn!

I believe everyone who had visited so far has entered in my little pin cushion giveaway, but if you haven't just dart over to my Mr. Linky post and leave a comment.

Christmas CQAL Mid-Morning Check In

Halloween is my daughter's favorite holiday.  For the life of me I don't understand it.  I was always a fan of Christmas myself, but she loves this time of year.  I imagine someday she will own one of those brightly decorated amazing houses filled with plenty of Halloween Fun.  So when Sue said, who wants to host and gave me the choice of October I knew I had to seize the opportunity.

How are your projects going today?  Did you remember to leave a comment on the Mr. Linky post so that you can win one of my pin cushions?

Well grab a snack, or whatever is left from being picked over from breakfast and I'll join you for a cup of bloody raspberry tea.   I'm just now getting up so I'd love to hear what you've done so far.

October's Christmas-Quilt-a-long

Welcome!  Come inm come in!  I am so glad you could join me this month for October's installment of our Christmas Quilt-a-long.

I know how some of you are over on the other side of the pond are early risers and so forth, so I have laid out breakfast for you.  Nothing like grabbing a bite of something and sitting down in front of the sewing machine is there?  Help yourself, but try to keep it down because some of us are still asleep - like me.

Now since you're here and nibbling so quietly, I want to tell you about the giveaway I have planned.  You see I made these delightful year round quilter's wonky pincushions, which you can see below.

The rules are simple.

1. State if you want the orange one or the blue one.  Any "I don't cares" will be awarded into the pincushion with the lowest entries to increase your chance to win.

2.  It doesn't matter where you live, anywhere on Earth is okay, but it you live someplace else you'll have to pay for your own shipping and provide detailed shipping directions.

3.  Who can enter?  Any of my blog regulars, these would be the ones who know who they are and so do I, as well as anyone who has done at least one month previously of the Christmas Quilt-a-long.  Everyone else is just out of luck and if I'm not sure if you qualify I will be checking with Sue our Supreme CQAL hostess, because this isn't about a giveaway; it's about having a little fun with the gals I spend so much PC time with!

So if you're here for the CQAL enter with the Mr. Linky below.   Those that qualify may enter in my pincushion drawing by leaving a comment.  I'll be selected the lucky winners Sunday.  Oh yes and it would be nice if the winners would give me a plug when their pin cushions arrive, but hey I'm a firm believer of you want do whatever you want with your gift so if you'd rather not I'm okay too.

What are you working on today?  Anything good?  Holiday orientated perhaps?  Hehe.

October's Christmas Quilt-a-long

Good afternoon everyone!  I am Miss October and my month has finally arrived!  Of course it arrived when I am covered up in projects but that will just make our day together that much more fun don't you think?!?

That said in honor of being the hostess for the CQAL this month I have made some goodies for you and unlike candy, these will be good all year.  I made wonky pincushions!  Who doesn't need another pin cushion, especially one painstakingly made by a non-crafter like your's truly?

Now the rules are going to be simple.

1. Say if you want the orange one or the blue one.  Any "I don't cares" will be awarded into the pincushion with the lowest entries to increase your chance to win.

2.  It doesn't matter where you live, anywhere on Earth is okay, but it you live someplace else you'll have to pay for your own shipping and provide detailed shipping directions.

3.  Who can enter?  Any of my blog regulars, these would be the ones who know who they are and so do I, as well as anyone who has done at least one month previously of the Christmas Quilt-a-long.  Everyone else is just out of luck and if I'm not sure if you qualify I will be checking with Sue our Supreme CQAL hostess, because this isn't about a giveaway it's about having a little fun with the gals I spend so much PC time with!

Do not enter now.  Pop back in tomorrow (regulars need not attend the party, simply stopping by is good enough) and enter then by leaving a comment on the post with the Mr. Linky (I will mention it in that post too).  Clearly at that time if you don't leave a comment I will not know you wanted to be in the draw so no comment = no count.  The giveaway will be open all day long and I'll be pulling out the winner on Sunday.

See you tomorrow!

Christmas Quilt-a-long Quilt Finish

Hello there!  Today is my DD's first day back to school.  Right after she boarded the bus I ironed the fabric I'd been planning to use for the binding of the Christmas Quilt A Long Mystery Quilt.  Clearly by now the cat is out of the bag.  But I have a little surprise.  I made mine reversible.   Then I quilted it so that the back was on top.  Now the binding is all attached and I am very happy to claim a finish.  This year has been speeding by so fast I really haven't had the number of finishes that I expect of myself, but we all have our limits so I will be happy with what I have. 

Christmas Quilt-a-long Mystery Quilt Front

It took me a while to sort out how to make this Christmas Tree.  In the end I opted for making it the width and height I needed and allowing the angles to resolve themselves.  This method did create more waste but I believe the results are lovely.  The packages underneath the tree where something I hadn't planned to add but the tree with it's star on top just cried out for gifts.

Christmas Quilt Back

The quilting is stars and loops around the yellow star.  I quilted it to look like a night sky where you have to look just a little to see the additional stars.  While I did stitch in the ditch around the star I did not quilt on the star itself, I wanted it to poof just a little bit. Around the tree on the brown background fabric, I quilted swirls to resemble the air movement and wind blowing around the tree.    The two darker brown strips each have a strip of stars quilted onto them.  The tree was fun to quilt with hanging loops shaped to resemble hanging ornaments.  Sometimes I added little wiggle of a quilting line to change things up, just like you would see on a tree in your home.  The presents, considering I was dreading making them I am very pleased with how easily they went together and were quilted.  For the most part the packages are quilted with metallic gold thread.  Into the packages I stitched my quilt label, so unless you are looking you simply don't see them.

The binding is a red that I had planned for one of the main colors in Sue's mystery side of the quilt, but I felt the red just wanted to conquer the teal.  A shopping trip found new colors that suited the entire quilt beautifully.    Sue suggested  I save the red for the binding.  As I was sewing on the binding thrilled to see how well the brown accepted the red.  It sure gives everything a little pop. 

Have you been up to anything good lately?  

A special Thanks to Tiny for being my model today.

Christmas Quilt-a-long July

Crud, I forgot today was our Christmas Quilt-a-long day.  I just happened to look over and see my top all neatly folded and it occurred to me "isn't CQAL day the weekend after the Lone Star QAL weekend?" I don't have a very good excuse either, other than I'm under orders to take it easy on a recently dislocated knee and sprained ankle, and I was so busy not doing much of anything that I just plain forgot.  Perhaps the huge mess in the sewing room was a contributing factor?  In case you're wondering the injury was stupid.  I turned to look for my glass of tea and that was what did it, this is the good knee that's gimpy so I'm scooting along.  Trust me it doesn't hurt nearly as bad now as when I did it on Thursday!

So since I was late on last months quilt a long, here is my top put together awaiting the beautiful border Sue planned.  Goodness gracious but I hope this doesn't happen in October when it's my month to be the hostess!  I know, I'm surely prepaid now.

Christmas Quilt-a-long June's Caught Up

CQAL Mystery Quilt Center Sewn

I just finished sewing the center of the Christmas Quilt-a-long Quilt.  Selecting a layout was tricky, I took pictures of about four different layouts (so if you're cruising the CQAL posts to find alternative layouts comment that you'd like to see my extras and I'll email them to you).

This was the one Sue showed as an option, and I just decided to go with it.  I'm sure the final quilt will be beautiful.  I believe next month we'll be working on the border.  Sounds like time to buy batting to me!

DD is our model today.  The cat's couldn't be bothered - Tiny said she did plenty of modeling when I had it spread out while the camera was put away.  The t-shirt she is wearing I added the rhinestones to last night.  She had two shirts that were plain and needed a little something.  But I guess you can't really see the butterfly in that picture, oh well at least you can see her pretty smile.

Christmas Quilt-a-long June Catch-up

Christmas Quilt-a-long
Mystery Quilt Layout Option

Would you believe I have so many things that I need/want to sew that I made a list?  I sure did.  I was tired of keeping track of priorities in my head.  As I'm about halfway through with the list I made on Saturday, that's pretty good.  Though I've thought of at least two more things to add to the list.  Oh well so we sew right?

Today's catch up is for the Christmas Quilt-a-long Mystery Quilt, the directions for this month show how to finish the block and then to sew all blocks together as desired.  Yep, got to love Sue for that.  It's getting late at least for me and I have been envisioning a design within a design for this quilt, so I thought I would try out my favorite layout of the ones Sue showed on Saturday.  Here it is in my blocks.  They clearly aren't sewn together.  I figure this way I can first see them through the lens of the camera and then tomorrow look at them all spread out on the sewing table and see how I like it.  As for me right now I'd like nothing more than to go curl up in bed with a book, which I'll be doing here in about 15 minutes.

Opps, I had a block turned wrong for this layout, can you spot it?

Christmas Quilt a long June 2012

Can't believe I forgot our CQAL day.  DH is on vacation this week, and a dear friend is in the hospital, as well as my neighbor's daughter, so I think I'm excused from my scatter brain.  Maybe?

Sorry I will certainly visit everyone and work on my blocks later this week.  Take care everyone.

Not the Christmas Mystery Block

I just want to preface this is not the Christmas Mystery Quilt Block, as Sue had us make way to many HST's and not enough 4 patches, but while playing her figure it out game, I stumbled upon this layout and thought, oh I like it!  So I was done playing after that.  Believe it or not I don't really like playing with quilt blocks while they are in pieces, as I worry about fraying so I lay them out pick the best order and call it done.  This likely has come from doing block swaps in the past when the fabric was well sometimes cheap.  So anyway, what do you think, isn't it pretty?  I'm certain Sues's way will be pretty too, whatever way it is.

Christmas Quilt-a-long Year 3 May Evening Check-In

Good Evening.  Who here wants a nightcap?  I personally finished a Mudslide with dinner, DH had a craving for Spanish food so I was able to try something new that was yummy, sorry no leftovers.  As for the Mudslide, it had been in the freezer for several months, so I handed it to DH and told him to "fix it" which of course he did and after he was done I went and "fixed it" some more.

We had a wonderful day out.  My horoscope said I'd been to busy lately, so I should relax and work on something I enjoy this afternoon.  How about that for a surprise?  Considering I hadn't checked my horoscope since the New Year I felt that one was nice to read.

This evening I have all of my HST's made and pressed open.  I will save squaring them to 3.5" for another day, I used Sharon's tip for cutting first instead of drawing the line and I think it did save time, though I'm surely more used to the other method. Now, I'm certain all of you have a large mountain of things that you made today and I know I'm going to have a blissful time in the next two or three days catching up on what I missed out on in blog world today.

Naughty Sue has been having my goat about this Mystery Quilt and my yearning desire to know what it looks like.  I can't help it I plan the quilting while I piece!  Without that to keep my mind busy, instead while I was working on our assignment for this month, I daydreamed about what our quilt might look like and this is the quilt that popped into my head.  This isn't our quilt though because the numbers of what we have don't work with the numbers this quilt takes.  Though maybe if I'm close Sue will tease me some more.  ;-)

Merry Christmas Quilt-a-long Year 3, May Morning Check-in

Ho-Ho-Ho, you've entered a comfortable 80 degrees when bumming into my blog this morning.  That's only because I have the air conditioning on so why come inside and settle yourself for a few minutes before continuing on your way.  Welcome, Welcome!  I'm so glad you're here!  What will you be working on today?  My daughter has some plans this morning.  It's a big deal when you're six to have plans of your own, so I will be away for that part of the day, and then I hope to come back and started Sue's installment for our Christmas Mystery Quilt. 

Does anyone have any ideas yet what this quilt is going to look like?  Oh I would love to know!!!  Now off with you, because I'm certain you have so much to do today. Don't forget to stop by our Hostess with the Mostest this Month, our very own Miss May, Sharon!  Stop by and see me this evening, I'm sure you'll have plenty to share.

Christmas Quilt-a-long April Afternoon Check-In

Okay I have all of this month's Mystery Quilt Assignment done!  Are any of you longing to know what this will look like?  Well I'm stumped.  Sue made a comment last month about seeing who would catch on first.  Well it's not going to be me.

I think I must have been on a roll when I was cutting these because I was supposed to end up with 20 of these triple sets, but I have 21, plus the little guy on the right.  Anyone want to tell me how you over cut fabric the same number of squares in both colors?  Perhaps I can make something happen on the back with those extras.
The Kindle cover will have to wait until another day because while the pattern doesn't call for the interfacing I know I'll be unhappy if I make it without it. Besides I think I hear the turtles calling me.  I wonder what that would sound like - turtles calling that is.  Blup, blup?  Bubble, Bubble?  Considering I had to rip out an hour's worth of quilting yesterday (it took two hours to rip it out mind you)  I think the Bubble, Bubble is surely right.  Yep, Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Turtle Trouble!

Christmas Quilt-a-long April Morning Check-In Year 3

Good Morning Everyone!

I'm here as bleary eyed as my computer seems to be.  But we'll fix that with the breakfast of champions Coffee and an Apple Cereal Bar and maybe a computer reboot...  I'm really looking forward to getting started on today's Mystery quilt assignment. I can hardly wait to see what's been cooked up for us to do today. 

I'm not sure what else I'll get up to today, I'm torn between starting a cover for my Kindle which I am almost certain I need interacing for, or if I will just continue quilting on the Hawaiian Ocean Turtle quilt that I worked on during last years Quilt-a-long.  Either way it's sure to be fun.

April's Hostess with the Mostest is Lesley at the Cuddle Quilter, I'll see you there!

Christmas Quilt-a-Long April

Guess what tomorrow is!  It's the Christmas Quilt-a-Long!  This month our hostess is none other than Lesley over at the Cuddle Quilter. It's 80 degrees here with 40% humidity, though the breezes are blowing in through my open window so it feels quite comfortable here.  Not precisely Christmas weather but if it gets to hot I'll just turn on the air conditioner.  Lesley is a real ball of energy so it's sure to be a fun day, not to mention she's in the UK so anyone that wants to be a really early bird will find her ready to go, I myself will sleep in just as long as I can.  Which is likely to be 8 am if I'm lucky.

What will I be working on?  Well I'm looking forward the the next installment of the Christmas Mystery Quilt, mine is actually even Christmas themed this year, unlike last years.  I don't know what else I'll be doing as the sewing room became the staging/holding area throughout our Spring Break last week, so it's a bit of a mess right now.  Hope to see you in the morning.

Christmas Quilt-a-long Year 3 March Dinner Check

Hi everyone!  I just finished up the 48 little four patch blocks for this month.  Sunny is surprised to model them for you.  I wish I could have had the camera in hand as I set them down, he looked at his feet as though he'd somehow grown those blocks from his very paws!  Even in this picture his surprise still shows.

At the risk of sounding like a party pooper I think I'm going to call it a day here in the sewing room.  Everyone is home today and I'd like to go rustle up a bit of family time.  (evil laugh - they so don't know what they're in for!!!)

Looking forward to seeing you next month!

Christmas Quilt-a-Long Year 3 March Checkin

I'm here I'm here!  I'm likely the last one to make checkin today, but we are have a Quilt Show in my neck of the woods this weekend, and I have been busy having breakfast out and gabbing about the wonders of the show that I saw yesterday on opening day.

These are my quilting finds from the show.  Are my little pink cat thread snips cute?  The fabric is the new Paula Nadelstern panel in her Patternista collection.  I bought 3 panels, so I have 18 of these beautiful kaleidoscope circles. **Updated 9/12/2012 ~ The basis for my Mandala Quilt

The thread though that was a real gem of a find.  Seems up the road "a-ways" is a dealer who actually sells Superior Thread locally.  She didn't have any So Fine in the blues I was looking for, so I went with the Omni in the Wintergreen just because.  Sure looks like it could match whatever I plan those panels for hu?

So let's get started!  It's Christmas Quilt-a-long Day and Joanna is our hostess.  If you join now you could even steal my title of latest quilter of the day!