Doll quilt done

I finished my doll quilt for ??? (it is a secret who it is for.) I will be mailing it today. I used machine trapunto for the feathered star. I am happy with the front of it, not thrilled with the back and binding though. I had done string piecing for the back, but didn't get it exactly square, so I made the binding wide on the back to cover the uneven border fabric on the back. Not perfect, but at least it will be on a wall. Hope ???? likes it!

1st purse made

I went to a 3 day retreat, and there made my first purse. It is called an Ashley bag, but I can't remember the name of the designer. I think it turned out really cute, and will make more.

Doll quilt swap 2, top done

I finally finished my top for the Doll Quilt swap on about.com. It is a feathered star inside a feathered star, with snowballs around the edges. Now I just have to figure out how I will quilt it.

Doll Quilt 2 swap

I have decided on a design for my doll quilt for the 2nd round on about.com. Here are the fabrics I will be using.

Taupe quilt ideas

I have decided to have a taupe theme for my row robin swap rows. I love this article that was in QNM in July/August 2007. Here are a few examples and the color palettes. I think I only want a little bit of the blue, pink, and green taupes along with lots of the more brown and gray ones.

Veggie Jars

Here are my first 4 jars for the jar swap on about.com . I am trying to decide which ones are my favorites, I think I like the jar with the bottom that is not just straight across the best. I can't decide which lid I like best.

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.