Quilt top from Aunt Phyllis

I was very excited to receive Christmas packages from Aunt Phyllis and Aunt Jan today, however, the post office didn't take care of the package from Phyllis and a bottle of homemade salsa ended up on the quilt top she sent me. Jack was able to wash the salsa out and I should be able to get it finished. isn't it pretty? No one has ever made a quilt for me before (except the doll quilt swap I participated in)

Secret Santa Swap

I organized the Secret Santa Swap on about.com this year. I had 2 great Santa's. For Group 1 I got stuff from Julie in Australia. I got a beautiful nativity panel, some angel fabric, chocolate covered macadamia nuts, an angel ornament, a snowman ornament, some Australian pepper flakes, an aromatherapy candle, and some quilt block organizers. For group 2 I received stuff from Deb A. I got a cute Santa panel, 4 FQ's, a scissor fob, a bobbin organizer, and some 1/4 inch fusible tape. I am very pleased with it all!

30's framed four patch finally done!

I finally finished the 30's framed four patch quilt for Aunt Phyllis. I will be mailing both framed four patch quilts to New York tomorrow. I love how this turned out. I used rickrack in my binding at it turned out great!
And here is the label for the batik framed four patch.

Christmas lights after the snow

Here is my house after it snowed quite a bit, the lights in the tree are done now.

Liberty with glasses

My 5 year old, Liberty just got glasses. isn't she cute?

Christmas lights

We are almost done with our Christmas lights. As you can see from the photo, my brother Tom is busy putting lights in our tree still. You can't see it in the photos, but our mural of a snow covered country scene with deer can be seen from the road through our window.

Batik Framed four patch done

Finally done except for adding the label. This quilt was made from swap blocks from a swap on about.com. The quilting was done by Ami at www.enchantingquilts.com and this will be a gift for my husband's Aunt Jan and Uncle Jonny. I got the idea for the striped bias binding from Shelley on the about.com forums.

Faye's Birthday block

Here is the block I made for Faye on the about.com birthday block swap. It is the pattern Miss Molly's Garden from Quilter's Cache. She wanted 30's reproductions.

Doll Quilt for me

I got this beautiful doll quilt from Rebecca (jakenemma) on about.com. I love it, I will be hanging it on the wall behind my sewing table. Thanks so much Rebecca!

Framed 4 patch quilts

Here are two quilts that were made from blocks made during swaps on about.com. They both were beautifully quilted by Ami at http://www.enchantingquilts.com/ , the batik one was quilted with a spiral pantograph in a variegated thread and the 30's one was quilted with a baptist fan pantograph. These just need to be bound and then will be Christmas gifts for two of my husbands aunts.

Here are more details:

Cowboy quilt

Here is the cowboy quilt that was made during a row robin on about.com. There is another row that will be made into a body pillow case to go with the quilt, but the quilt was getting too long, so I let my 4 year old son Hunter pick the ones that he wanted on the quilt. The row that will be for the pillowcase has some great log cabin blocks and open space where I can embellish it with quilting. I will post photos of that as soon as I get it done. I just got the quilt back from Ami at www.enchantingquilts.com , who did a beautiful job with a cowboy pantograph.

This quilt just needs binding which I think will be done in the red bandanna fabric. I did the back in a wildlife flannel print by Robert Kaufman. Many thanks to the 6 talented ladies that were in my group: Nancy, Pat, Joy, Kristen, Kim, and Patty.

Nell's Birthday Block

In the birthday block swap on about.com, Nell asked for Nautical blocks with some teal in them. I made her this 9 inch Mariners Compass block. I used the fusible applique method for it so it worked up fast.

Finished Doll quilt

Here is my finished doll quilt that is now winging its way to its new home. And here is my less than perfect label.

Pink & brown stripes

This weekend I finished painting my daughters room. I am still waiting for the wallpaper border to arrive. It will go in between the light pink and dark brown on one of the walls. Now we just have to get all of her furniture back in the room.

Dragonflies

While looking at Christine Thresh's page (winnowings.blogspot.com) I noticed that she was wondering who designed a pattern she saw at a show. I have this pattern so thought I would post. the designer is Ruth Jensen of Thimble Art. she has a lot of really neat dimensional patterns. Here is her web-site http://www.thimble-art.com/ This is the quilt I made for my granddaughter from this pattern.

Quilters Tacker

I did a shop hop with my 12 year old daughter on Saturday, and at one of the shops there was a man selling the neatest tool.

It is called the Quilters tacker. It was designed to put tacks in a quilt frame, take them out, and straighten bent tacks. I got to try it before I bought it, and can't believe how easy it is. The tool that puts the tacks in is magnetic so you just push it down on the wood and your tack is set in the wood, then to remove the tack you use the other tool that easily lifts the tack out. These are not advertised at all, but I have the contact information of the maker.

Doll quilt swap

Here are a few of my first blocks for the doll quilt swap on about.com. They are the improved nine patch block.

The directions said to piece the curves, but I decided I want to applique them instead. That is why they are pinned on right now. Will start appliqueing them tonight.

Birthday Block from Faye

Yesterday in my mail I received this lovely block from Faye. I love the style of this block.

Birthday block for Christine

In the birthday block swap on about.com, in Group 2 it is Christine's month to recieve blocks. She wants oriental prints with a black background. I made this fan for her. I used an idea from Michelle (momof11). I don't think mine turned out as good as the ones she made in a past row robin, but I think it is pretty neat. Hope Christine likes it.

Doll Quilt ideas again

Here is another possible layout for the doll quilt. It keeps the scrappy, but defines the circles more. What do you think?

Doll quilt swap

Here are some photos showing the pattern I will be making for the doll swap on about.com. I have not decided which I will do as far as a one background fabric like the one with white or if I will do the scrappy one. It is called glorified nine patch, nine patch wedding ring, or improved nine patch depending on who you ask.

Last of the batik & cream stars

Here are the last two of my blocks for the batik & cream star swap on about.com The pattern is Blocks and Stars from Quilter's cache.

Becca's birthday block

Since I am sending my swap blocks to Becca I thought I better get her "birthday" block done. It is Starry Web from Quilters cache.

Batik & cream stars update

Here are my latest blocks for the batik & cream star swap on about.com. I need to make a few more 9 inch ones tomorrow night since the post office is closed tomorrow. The 6 nearly identical 12 inch stars are Carol's star from Quilter's cache.

Oriental Fat quarters

These are the FQ's I am sending in for the Oriental Fat Quarter Drawing on Quilter's Passion. I absolutely love them. The one with the cranes is my favorite. I bought extra of the one with the writing on it to use with the Oriental lanterns I got from a swap on about.com. I would love to win the drawing.

Birthday Swap Blocks

Here are the birthday blocks I have received so far from the Birthday swap on about.com. I have two from Becca, one from Kate, Christine, Amy, and Diane. There are more on their way. I asked for civil war repros and classic blocks.