Sunday, December 29, 2013

Country Threads UFO #12 for 2013

Hip Hip Hooray! 2013 is done and so are 12 (well actually 13) unfinished projects from my sewing room. I finished the last one last night. It is Peony Wreath from Primitive Gatherings and I did all the machine stitching on my new Singer Featherweight.


Country Threads has announced that they will be playing this game again next year and I'm in! My list is ready (I can't believe I have another 12 unfinished projects, but I do)! 

Monday, December 2, 2013

Country Threads UFO November

My 11th UFO is finished for the Country Threads UFO Challenge and it was number 11 on the list. It is "Turkey Lurkey" by Maggie Bononomi. Her original design was a pillow...I just made a little mat out of it. And bonus, I finished it just in time for Thanksgiving.

Only one more project to go...then I'm going to make my list of UFOs for next year! Anyone care to join me in the challenge?

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Mike! Me! and The Pioneer Woman!!!

What a fun night at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville. Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, was in town for a book signing so Mike and I and 598 other people went. Despite the fact that The Pioneer Woman was stuck in traffic and arrived 45 minutes late, it was wonderful. So fun to meet her, actually I was quite in awe. And Mike will tell you that she is just as sweet as she can be. I might also add beautiful (with a drop dead gorgeous complexion). We were pretty lucky as our signing numbers were 45 and 46!

I started out at the front of the table, but Ree told me to "come on back.


So here we are.



Then Mike joined us. We  are quite the captive audience aren't we?!






Then it was time for a family portrait. Ree's words, not ours.



So I guess we're officially "family" now. How fun is that. I wonder if we'll get an invite to the ranch for the holidays? 

We really enjoyed ourselves so we took a walk down the street, which is already lit up for the holidays.




And stopped at the local Mexican restaurant for dinner because Ree always has pico de gallo in her refrigerator so it just seemed like the right thing to do!


Monday, November 4, 2013

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Gift Quilts

This summer also included making two gift quilts.

One for baby Evelyn...






and one for the groom, (my girlfriend's son) Bud Bosley...



Both quilts were designed by by Bonnie and Camille.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Grande Old Flag

Well, I've finished most of my projects from Grande Old Flag.

Here is Campaign from Carol Hopkins Civil War Legacies designs.





and Sampler Baskets, also designed by Carol Hopkins.


 I also finished Star Sampler designed by Paula Barnes of Red Crinoline Quilts exclusively for Country Sampler's Grande Olde Flag event.




Here is the first cross stitch project that we worked on.This is a design from Linda Lautenschlager of Chessie & Me. We pre-stitched the designs, then painted and assembled the box at the event.




The cross stitch sampler is no further along. I love it though and will get back to it one of these days.  Here is a little sneak peek of it.





The count down is on for Star Party...11 days to go. I'll put some pictures up as soon as I can.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Country Threads UFO Challenge

So....I have been very busy this summer doing everything but updating my blog. I was going to show you everything I have been working on this summer, but I can't seem to get organized enough to do that so...I will start with my last three UFOs for the Country Threads challenge.

First up, a Christmas poinsettia wool appliqué mat.



Second, a Christmas holly wool on flannel applique mat.



The last, The 12 Days of Christmas. A cute sew along from Temecula Quilt Co. I did, however, do this my color way.


There does seem to be a theme going here. Lucky me! I am all ready for Christmas!

Next Tuesday I will find out which project I'll be working on in October. I'm still enjoying this challenge. Hope they do it next year too. I'm sure I would not have been so motivated to finish these projects on my own. I did mention to Mike last night that I didn't know if I could come up with 12 more unfinished projects. He assured me I would be able to. :)

If someone came up with a challenge for projects not yet started I'd be set for life.

Up next, wedding and baby gifts.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

July Country Threads UFO

It's done, my #2 UFO for Country threads.

The piecing (hard part) was done by Maggie, then I quilted it (pretty easy part) and here is the REALLY EASY PART, all I had to do was put the binding on it for my #2 UFO for the month of July. Done, done, done!


Monday, July 1, 2013

I guess I'm using Blog Lovin now too?!? Who knows!

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Country Threads UFO

This continues to be so much fun. I can hardly wait until the first of the month comes so I can find out which of my UFOs needs to be finished next. Thankfully, it's another easy one this month. I have a lot of other projects that HAVE to be finished during July...a wedding quilt, a baby quilt and perhaps a birthday present or two. For my UFO, I just have to put a binding on a beautiful little table mat that a friend actually made for me.

Here is my finished June UFO. A framed alphabet sampler from Primitive Gatherings. Notice, no blackbirds! I hate that those birds are on so many things!





Isn't the antique toy sewing machine too cute. It was a gift from my friend Leigh who recently came for a visit and to attend The Grande Old Flag event at Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI.


I was inspired at that retreat to finish a sampler by Linda Lautenschlager (Chessie and Me) that I started several years ago. Since I had all the framing supplies out, I finished it too.


Hopefully I will get everything done that needs to be done this month and have lots of pictures to show you next month.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Grande Old Flag




What a wonderful week we spent at the Grande Old Flag event sponsored by Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI. Once again, Jeanne and her staff gave us a wonderful retreat experience. The theme this year was the Civil War and quilt designers Paula Barnes of Red Crinoline Quilts, Carol Hopkins, and cross stitch designer Linda Lautenschlager of Chessi and Me did not disappoint us with the best projects ever. I was able to complete three of the projects during the week. I'm still working on Carol Hopkins' basket quilt and the Gettysburg Sampler by Linda.
They will have to wait to be finished until I can finish up a wedding quilt and baby quilt that need to be done by the middle of July.


Here they are, our teachers for the week; Paul Barnes, Carol Hopkins, Linda Lautenschlager and Jeanne Horton. What an incredible group of women...so smart, creative and fun!








Here are my three finished projects. When I am able to finish the last two, I will post pictures of those too.


The food was simply delicious. Selma must be a gourmet cook in her other life. Krista can handle her own in the kitchen too. Yum Yum!


S'mores with Root Beer Floats!







And cakes beyond compare!

Leigh and I shared our table with two wonderful ladies; Kathy from Wisconsin and Marie from Texas. And my oh my what beautiful quilters they were. They were an inspiration to us and we just kept sewing away. 

Here's the entire group. Everyone was so nice and fun...we had a truly lovely time!!!


Can't wait until next June to do it all over again.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Country Threads UFO Challenge - May #10







It was such a quick and easy project to do, however, that I challenged myself to finish a much larger quilt that I started in 2010. This quilt was not even on my original list of 12 unfinished projects. So, Ta Da, here it is:
Settlers Pride A Maggie Bononomi BOM I did at Pieceful Gatherings Quilt Shop.




Here is the list:

We'll find out this Saturday what project is up next!

Friday, April 19, 2013

The continuing saga of a clean sewing room


I found yet another storage solution at the Container Store....for all those pesky rulers.
It gets them up and off of my sewing surface.


I haven't had this much free space on my table since I first got it.
I can even have my sewing project right in front of me.


This is the center clock for Jo Morten's Prairie Flowers with one of my new favorite rulers...
The Bloc Loc flying geese ruler in the perfect size for this Jo Morten project.


Friday, March 29, 2013

Country Threads UFO Challenge




#9 March UFO Done, Done, Done!
Ahead of the game and ready for Christmas!





Monday, March 25, 2013

Self-declared Quilt Retreat Weekend


Ok, I declared it Quilt Retreat Weekend at my house last Friday. Then I got a bonus day off today (Monday) because the library was closed due to construction work. So.....I accomplished a lot. I could really use one more day though. Hopefully I will be able to finish a couple of these projects up by next weekend.



Monday, March 11, 2013

Daisy Chain Pocket

Finished my second Cathy Cardiff project...Daisy Chain Pocket. 
It is as cute as can be. Cutest little sewing kit ever!




Sunday, March 3, 2013

Antique Thimble

Antique Sterling silver, circa 1908-1920, Bow & Lily of the Valley thimble.




Friday, March 1, 2013

Country Threads Challenge - My project for March


Well, here it is; my project for the Country Threads Challenge for March. I'm really having fun with this program. The first of the month is always a little exciting waiting to see what I'll be working on for the month. This is a pretty easy one even though I started it two Christmases ago. I'm ahead of the game...it will be ready for Christmas 2013!!!


Saturday, February 23, 2013

Machine Binding Method


First cut two strips of different fabric.
Cut a strip 1.5" wide of the flange fabric.
Cut a strip 1.25" wide of the binding fabric.


Sew the two strips together using a scant 1/4" seam.
Fold in half and press.


One side of your binding will be all flange fabric.


The opposite side will be your binding fabric with a 1/8" flange.

Sew the SEAM SIDE DOWN to the BACK of your quilt with a 1/4" seam.

Fold the binding to the front of your quilt and stitch in the ditch between 
the flange and the binding fabric.

Voila! Your binding is done!



Monday, February 18, 2013

Country Threads UFO Challenge

I'm crossing them off my list. Woohoo! 
Here it is... my completed project #6 done in February.
Can't wait to see which project comes next! 
 


San Diego

 I had a wonderful time in San Diego...
one of my favorite places is the Crystal Pier.
 



 

Here I am taking a class from Cathy Cardiff (of Cottage at Cardiff Farms fame). What a wonderful time we had. Here we are working away on the cutest little mat.

Thanks for a wonderful trip, Leigh.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Quilt Room Challenge 2013 Version



The best way to have a clean quilt room is to:
 Remove the black cabinet and put it in Daniel's room (and fill it with yarn and knitting supplies).
Take the big chair out and put it in the den. 
Buy some Container Store Elfa Storage system drawer units AND FILL THEM UP!

Voila, very neat and clean sewing room. I might add that it is a pleasure to sew in here! With the new, big HD TV Mike gave me for Christmas and the wonderful state of this room,  I may never come out.