Welcome 2013 and Happy New Year to All!

The question of the month seems to be what will I work on next year.  The more I'm asked that the more I feel certain thoughts and quilt ideas coming into my mind.  So while my neighbors drive me batty with their cheap, smokey, loud, fireworks I'll go first and you can add your comments by either telling me what you think or tell me about your own plans are for the New Year.

Firstly, of course there is my Mandala Quilt.  DH has been sick so I haven't had his help, it's suddenly very clear that I need it.  I thought I found a place where I could print out the circle changes I needed, but the accuracy wasn't good enough to meet my standards, so instead I wrote down the circle sizes I need this evening and started making my cutting charts.  Do you do that?  Mine look something like this

Black 3.5" squares @ 257; which translates to cut 257 - 3.5" squares.  I bet you don't envy me my quilting concepts now do you?

Secondly, My Children of the Sea Quilt has been stirring my attention lately and I find I do not like the back I had made for it.  Regardless of your kind comments, it doesn't do the front justice after all the hard work I put into it, and just looks well thrown together to me.  So this evening I did a little digging and found a technique called tube piecing which I would like to try out and see if it is something that would work.  Sure would be nice if the video told me what size the block squares to, so that I could plug it into EQ!  Oh well surely this is simply a project I must demo first.  Another thought is perhaps a nice mariners compass in the middle?  A single simple aka complicated block floating in the center of the quilt?

Third, takes a little explaining and likely will take (shakes head) a lot of planning!  I saw this delightful table topper.  I actually thought it was a tree skirt, but it isn't.  Each block points outward in it's own point as it hangs down around the underside of the table.  Each block has one or another facet of Christmas, a tree, a snowman, etc. and from the tip of each corner is a little bell.  I didn't buy the pattern because I really wanted it to be a tree skirt instead.  Can't you envision how pretty such a quilted tree skirt would be with the points radiating outward with their little bells?  This is a case where I would likely begin selecting my themes and then picking the blocks.  Once selected I can make the blocks until I like the size and shape they layout in and then add some extra background fabric.  Oh it will be wonderful I just know it.  I haven't heard a peep out of Sue if there will be a Christmas Quilt-a-long again next year, but she had a rough Christmas so perhaps in time...  Either way, this would be my dedicated CQAL project should she do that, and if not you'll just have to stop by and see what progress I'm making.

Fourth, of course is my Lone Star Quilt.  My sister gave me a tip about getting the last of the dratted ink out of the pens, so I'll try that, but I think I need to order more.  I regularly go back and forth between sending it out to have it quilted or keeping it close.  Not clear on that.

Fifth, is actually not a quilt at all but a sundress.  My neighbor Linda gave me a lovely blue and green lightweight fabric that screams Summer Sundress.  I've selected what I think is the pattern I want to use, so I'm waiting for a pattern sale at Joann's to pick it up, I'll also need something to line the dress with.

As for my year in review, I made 62 dog dresses, 15 small projects including one art quilt, I started and finished 4 quilts (1 baby quilt, 2 lap quilts, and an over sized twin), and finished 2 long term Hawaii Applique quilts that I'd started prior to 2012.  The only thing I did not complete from my NewFO plans for the year were the napkins I thought I'd make, but the fabric turned out much better used to make the tree for the back of my Christmas Mystery Quilt anyway.

Looking forward I believe I will not be participating in the NewFO Project for a second year, as believe it or not I do not like having lots of things unfinished and I do not like feeling that I need to stop what I'm working on to make something new, and to be honest I felt like it was more of a monthly recap for you.  I are not so action packed around here that you need that.  Instead I think I may make a single monthly post of the best of the dog dresses and of course there will be regular postings of my quilts coming to life.  I'm looking forward to a nice big project I can sink my teeth into and chew on for a while, so for the first part of the New Year I don't plan to have any little fussy projects.  They aren't really me anyway.  Now what do you think?  Sound good to everyone?

I'd love to hear what you're up to so pop me a comment, and until next time
Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!

Mandala Beginnings

Mandala Quilt Layout Plans

Have I told you about my Mandala Quilt yet?  I am really looking forward to starting this one after the New Year.  These aren't the true colors I will be using, but I have finally selected them.  All of my fabrics are sitting here waiting for me with little murmurs of "why aren't you working on us?   My first step will be to create the applique center.  Isn't that going to be something?  I'm planning on piecing the straights and then ironing under the curves and hand appliqueing each of the layers.  Does that sound like a good plan to you?

I am actually planning this one to be 100% mine.  So often I get wrapped up in working on these huge beautiful quilts and especially in the spring it's a real bummer to make my own bed, with something that doesn't begin to compare to what I've spent all day working on.

What are your plans?  Promise me you've taken a moment to just enjoy the season and breathe, without having to worry about anything.  Are you done with your holiday shopping?  I've been done since my last box arrived yesterday.  Thank goodness, now I can just cuddle with my daughter and pat my sick husband on the back and enjoy the season.  I wish you all the same, minus the sick spouse of course!

Christmas Teach-In Quilt

Great American Teach-In Quilt

Detail of DD's picture

My theme for this year's Great American Teach-In  was "What makes me Me".  I was very impressed with Spoonflower's new color profile as it captured the children's drawings just as they had drawn them.  With no shift and nice texture.  DD said it was like I took all the drawings and sewed them together.

I wrapped the quilt in a pretty pink bag and off it went to school today for the Teacher.  Next year I'm thinking perhaps I'd like do have the children make a small project, likely with fabric that they could take home.  The rush of making a quilt last minute, right before Christmas like this really doesn't suit how I'm making quilts these days.  

Our Tree With Packages

I mentioned my Christmas tree in my last post and you all were just the push I needed to have DD help me wrap up DH's presents, of course because I had everything out, so I just flowed from wrapping gifts for one person to another and another. 

Tiny is coming for Christmas.

Our School doesn't do a traditional Christmas program as I recall from years gone by, but she reads to a really great group called Tail Waggin' Tutors (they are an international program staffed with amazing owners, and fully trained therapy dogs), this was her second Christmas party with them and they did a wonderful job.  The below picture is DD singing and signing in Sign Language.

Sing and Sign

We are all ready for Christmas and just in time to, with the cold front sweeping the nation.  How are you on your Christmas Shopping and Wrapping?  Only 4 days left you know.

First Package of the Season

Tiny my Wrapping Elf

Merry Christmas!

How is the holiday season treating you?  We seem to be running in slow motion.  I wrapped our first presents last week for my friend that I make the dog dresses for.   What did I give her?  Dog Dresses of course.  The first one is a fleece one that I made two of (cut from the same fabric but turned out very different) with one going to a dog my mom knows and the other to my friend.  Then the purple dress, I actually made in November and it was just so pretty I couldn't part with it for the normal rate so my friend Vicki suggested it as a Christmas gift.  Both Dresses were wrapped in tissue paper and then into their own wrapping paper packages.  I had lots of help from Tiny!

Christmas Gifts of Dog Dresses

Do you have anything wrapped up under your tree yet?  Mom always maintains a tree with nothing under it looks naked, but personally with pets and DD asks silly questions about whose is whose, it's easier to leave off the wrapping for a little bit.  I actually wondered if I would hold off and let the elves bring the presents on the 24th...  But really all the wrapping needs done before DD is out of school for Christmas Break - right?

Quilts for Sale

Hello everyone.  I emptied out my Zibbet Shop for the moment in order to place most of my quilts that are finished and awaiting homes on ebay.  With our furnace out I'd like to buy one of those media electric fireplaces for DH for Christmas (or have enough for a replacement furance) and I don't have anywhere near enough without selling a couple of quilts.  Current listings end Monday evening and include Free Motion Strip Quilt, Lollipop Quilt, Peppermint Burst Quilt, Scatty Stars, Earth Turtles, Hawaiian Ocean Applique, and this year's CQAL Mystery Quilt-a-long Quilt.  So if you have ever wanted a Sand and Sunshine Quilt now is the time.

All quilts are listed with free shipping within the United States and as I have more than one or two followers from outside those boundaries if you one of those and are interested in making a purchase just let me know and we'll work it out.