Happy New Year

I'd like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. 

I would like to re-cap my 2015 quilting accomplishments, but I'm just not that organized today. So, feel free to scroll through my 2015 posts if you are so inclined (wink, wink).

May 2016 bring you many hours of happy quilting!

Boxing Day Adventures

We had a delightful hike on Boxing Day, trading winter for spring temperatures. An hour and a half of walking and enjoying the beautiful woods and streams on our way to the beach. The full moon tide had the water well above normal but we were still able to enjoy a walk in the sand.

Our Christmas was in both our opinions, “The Best Christmas Ever”. Our children agreed to a no gift Christmas, except for our 5 year old grandson. It was so relaxing and enjoyable on Christmas morning.

Ever since my children were old enough to go shopping, they would each pick out a gift (that they would have wanted) and drop it in the Toys for Tots box. This year our local family owned department store was doing something different and a bit confusing (it doesn’t take much) to me. So instead, I decided to payoff someone’s layaway (yes thankfully this is still quite popular in our wonderful local store) for Christmas. I asked a sales clerk that I know to decide how to distribute it since he is always so helpful and would know who might need it the most. There were times when my children were little when this would have been a huge help to us, so this felt like the right thing to do.

I hope your Christmas was as enjoyable! 

Weeeeeee!

I will be off the grid for a bit before Christmas so I wanted to take this time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas or whatever you celebrate at this time of year. 

I had to share these little foxes and hope that your holidays will be smooth sledding. I have been keeping up with my Quilty 365 circles every day and a few other projects, but no photos to post at this time. So enjoy the holiday and I will join you all next week.

Mountain Laural

My December block for the Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album quilt. I rarely make quilts from published patterns and I must admit I have struggled a bit with this one. It isn’t because it is complicated. I am just making it difficult by trying to be true to the pattern and trying to make my own minute changes at the same time. Let’s face it, I have already made the biggest change by choosing my “cheddar” background. I do hope Esther would is looking down on me with a wink on that choice. Somehow I think we might be kindred spirits. After all my favorite block is the whimsical “Liberty Tree” – need I say more?

I backbasted this one just to make sure I didn’t miss one of those tiny buds. I will also share a helpful hint in the applique of those tiny stems. Whenever I have a fabric change in such a tiny spot as in these little stems I machine piece (with extra tiny stitches) the two fabric together before cutting my appliques. It reduces lots of bulk when you come to that intersection.

I have also been quilting the last two pineapple blocks. I adore this yellow. I bought this fabric in 1993 in St. Bart's. I mentioned in an earlier post that my husband travels to the Caribbean (for work) in the late Fall for boat shows. I think it may be time for me to go down next year for a little fabric shopping!

I also made two tops for our Veteran’s Quilts project. I will take them to another volunteer for machine quilting. We have a few quilt angels in our group who longarm the tops which gives me more time to piece them.

And, Audrey has inspired another of my non blogging friends to join in the Quilty 365 sew-a-long. 

My friend Charlotte has started hers with some 1930’s reproductions and they are adorable. I am so enjoying this. I love waking up to a little circle applique each morning. It’s like my daily vitamin!

What goes around....

inspires us all! Even my non blogging friends are hopping on the Quilty 365 circle a day bandwagon. I just had to share my friend Tina's bright and perky circles. 

I am amazed at all the quilters who are joining in. Each quilter’s fabric choices are so diverse and I just can’t believe how many different ways there are to make them. Mine are simply needle turn appliqued down, but they are being done in so many methods. A few have even changed from circles to something that suits their taste (ie. Leaves or stars). They are all inspiring. Please check out Audrey’s link up (here) to see them all. It’s never too late to join in the fun. This could go on for years, decades… well you know…

No Surprise!

I love that all my friends (at least those who really know me) just assume that I am going to make this (SVBAQ)  quilt in the potholder method. Well, of course I am! This kind of quilt just screams “potholder” to me, so as not to disappoint anyone, here is my first quilted block.

Back

And special thanks to my friend Cyndi (Busy Thimble) for finding me extra yardage for the binding. I could have used another cheddar, but I don’t want this to look like a potholder quilt from the front, only from the back – which I promise will be interesting.

Many of my blogging friends have asked me to explain a little about my method and post some photos of the process, so here goes.

In making your potholder blocks it is extremely important that all of your blocks are the same size or they will NOT fit when you whip stitch them together. You must also have very crisp corners on your bindings or you will have little “see though” holes at your corners. I use single (not folded) straight (not bias) binding 1 ¼” wide. (I actually use single binding on all my quilts. I have always figured it is the first thing to have to be replaced so why make it more difficult and bulky?)

I miter all my corners and start and stop with a straight seam. I do sometimes get comments from judges about my “straight” binding, but I have learned to ignore them because I am not changing. I do however stitch down the little miter on the top and back. That is one concession I have made to the judges over the years. It doesn’t take very long and I like to please people when I can.

Now I have to get started on my December block – the Mountain Laurel. I don’t want to fall behind!

Please feel free to ask me any question about my potholder method. I try to get back to everyone who leaves a comment. Enjoy the day.

Quilty 365 - One month down - Eleven to go!

They say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. I am now on day 24 so I guess I have made it! I am absolutely loving my Quilty 365 circles and to tell the truth (because I always do) I really didn’t think I would last this long. I am so enjoying waking up every morning to a little circle in my hand. I began on November 8 and since then I have made one every single morning (except for Thanksgiving day as I was at my sister’s so I made two the day before – see I always tell the truth). Here are my November circles – 23 in all. (actually the little green one in the bottom right corner is my first December one – see I always tell the truth!).

I love feedsacks and I have tried to incorporate as many little novelties as I can.

Once again, thank you Audrey (Quilty Folk) for giving us all the nudge!