December 31, 2013

2014-The Year of the UFO!

Too many UFOs?
Of Course!
This past year, I have been trying to whittle down that UFO pile. I have made myself a list and must complete 5 UFOs before starting something new. It has worked fairly well. 
But that pile is still way too large. I want to be able to start a new, exciting project whenever something strikes my fancy!
So for 2014 I want to work double time and get that pile down! 
In 2 of my online quilt groups, I have joined their UFO challenges. They do overlap, but hey, I'll get double credit for finishing a project. And that should give me double incentive too!
My first UFO is from the Downton Abbey fabric line. I am making the free pattern from Andover Fabrics called Violet's Quilt. It is for my daughter. Didn't this fabric line just come out, you ask? How could it already be a UFO? Well, I started it, and it has just sat on my cutting table with other stuff piled on. It is in huge danger of becoming a never finished quilt.
I did spend the last day or two working on cleaning up my craft room. While far from neat, it is much better. Most of the floor is cleared off. Lots of supplies put back where they should be. Just don't look in those couple of drawers that became catchalls! I think this cleaner room will really help in getting more finished.
One bonus of the 5 finishes before a new start has been that I have finished many of my small to dos. My mending especially has been finished instead of gathering dust. 
Hurray for 2104-The year of the FINISHED UFO!


December 21, 2013

Mug Rug Hostess Gifts

Today V and I are going to a `Drop-In Brunch'. A family from V's gymnastics team has invited us over for a little holiday get together. Mug Rugs are a fun quick-ish, depending on the pattern and quilting!, hostess gift. The colors of the Mug Rugs and the card match pretty well-just by chance! These are fairly large-8 x 16-almost place mat size. Lots of room for yummy goodies!

December 15, 2013

Mug Rugs!!

Monday night, at the Duvall quilt meeting, we are having a Mug Rug Exchange.
You make a mug rug, wrap it up, and we take turns picking a wrapped rug.
They can be any style, but since it is our Christmas Party,  I went with Christmas trees :)
Have you ever made something for exchange, really liked it and wished you had one to keep? I do it all the time! I like what I receive in the exchange, but I also like what I make! So the top Mug Rug is the one I made for myself. I used 1 1/2" strips to make these, so they dictated the size of the squares and the tree stripes. I can't wait to see what I receive tonight!

December 5, 2013

Finished! My 2008 Christmas Signature Quilt!

Finished! 
Yea!
This is my quilt made from Christmas Signature blocks from one of the yahoo Dear Jane lists I belong to. The center block is one my grandmother had made. I thought it made a nice center.

December 1, 2013

LUS BOW 9, Democratic Watchman

My block for this past week-the ninth BOW.
The blues are new fat 1/4s-and I thought I wouldn't be buying any blue!
The BOW is on a break until after the first of the year. That will give me time to work on other hand work projects. What shall I prep next? Maybe I will get back to my Michele Hill William Morris style sampler that has been put away for awhile....

November 16, 2013

LUS BOW 8

A quick one this week! 20 pieces and 2 hours. My hand sewing group met today, and I was able to finish this at the meeting. Woo hoo!
8 straight weeks of keeping up with this BOW. I also went and picked out 5 new blue fat 1/4s. Thanks Mary for the gift certificate :)


November 15, 2013

Loyal Union Sampler BOW 7 Peace and Plenty

Only 24 pieces this week. But it took me a bit longer to finish. 
Both kids have been sick and home from school all week. Both are on the mend, and ready to get out of the house!
Just in time for Ethan's Paint Ball Birthday Party tonight!

November 6, 2013

LUS BOW 6, Charlie Stokey's Star

Woo Hoo! Another BOW finished. And wow did this take me awhile.
Unfortunately I think my corner points will be cut off-so I have to decide whether or not I will redo them. 45 pieces.

October 29, 2013

Loyal Union Sampler BOW 5 Beacon Lights

Beacon Lights.
I love doing this Block of the Week, and staying caught up!
The light blue is from a fat quarter I just got in Kingston weekend before last. I know I thought I had plenty of blues, but I couldn't resist adding more. I may have to start looking for more whites too!

October 22, 2013

Loyal Union Sampler BOW #4

LUS Block of the Week #4.
D-9 Gerda's Puzzle.
I have a few pieces from a fabric line that is blue, white/cream, and a little gold.
I love these fabrics! 
I picked up a few fat 1/4s this weekend to add to the mix too! 
 

October 18, 2013

Loyal Union Sampler BOW #3

Still keeping up! Three weeks in a row!
Hand stitched. I think I am going to try keeping track of how long each block takes to complete. I spent 30 minutes last night putting it together and it got me wondering how much time I do spend on hand piecing. Most of my hand sewing is spent while watching the kids at various activities-but I am still curious :)

October 12, 2013

2nd LUS block

This is my second block from the Loyal Union Sampler. 
So far so good-2 BOWs finished in time!!

October 2, 2013

Loyal Union Sampler!



I made my first block from the Loyal Union Sampler by Jennifer Chiaverini.
I have decided to make it all blues and whites and creams. 
I have plenty in my stash to choose from.
This first block is hand pieced, and I will attempt to hand piece the entire top.
I hope to keep up with the Block of the Week with the LUS yahoo group!
Wish me luck :)

September 11, 2013

Almost finished....Henrietta....

Here she is- `Henrietta Whiskers'!
Just one little bit of the binding to finish and she'll be done!
All of the fabric is from my collection of William Morris Prints.
It may be a tad busy, but I love it! I love to see all of my favorite fabrics in one place.
Soon Henrieta will be hanging in my entry for fall.
The town next to mine has an annual quilt show in September.
The quilt guild I belong to is sponsoring a category for the town's centennial.
I am going to enter this quilt as it has been stitched at our monthly hand sewing meetings.
This pattern is from Bunny Hill Designs and was a block of the month.
I only made one, just right for a wall quilt!

Tristan's Stuffed Animal Signature Quilt



Ta-Da!!
Here is Tristan's Stuffed Animal Signature Quilt!
I will mail it to him, as it wasn't finished when we visited 2 weeks ago.
2 down, 5 more to go!!!

September 3, 2013

Kayden's Doll Signature Quilt

Yea!! 
My first Doll Siggie Quilt finished!
This one is for Kayden.
I swapped blocks last August. The blocks all have a Doll's name and the owner of the doll. Kayden's is for her and her doll McKenna. Pictured is V's doll Victoria.
6 more to finish!!

August 27, 2013

The Strawberry Thief in SHOES!!

I love William Morris designs and now I can get them in shoes!
The pattern is the Strawberry Thief and printed by Liberty Fabrics.
The shoes are by Vans-which I haven't worn since high school!
Should I make a matching skirt with my fabric already in my stash??? :)

August 20, 2013

UFOs and New Projects

So I have been trying to finish some of my UFOs. 
Like Always!!
And in getting some crossed off of my list, I am dreaming of new projects to start.....
My DJ secret pal sent me a gift certificate to Keepsake Quilting a couple of months ago. So I finally decided on what to purchase. I chose a McKenna Ryan small wall hanging pattern that has a Wren atop a birdhouse. I also chose a new-to me-product called Inn-Spire. It is a moldable, fusible interfacing that I am going to use to make fabric bowls. 
I also *think* I am going to start a Loyal Union Sampler quilt from the new book by Jennifer Chiaverini. I ordered it yesterday, and it should ship today! What is extra special about the book is that I made 2 blocks that are included in one of the quilts in the book! 
I am so excited to receive my copy!
Another quilt that I have seen lately is the Love Entwined 1790's coverlet.
Love Entwined
It is really gorgeous but wow, that would be a lot of work!!

Toddi's T-Shirt Quilt

Toddi and Andi came to visit us here in Woodinville!
I had Toddi's T-shirt quilt ready for him to take back to Hungary.
The sashing, binding and backing are made with a fabric line called Hungarian Blue.
The batik is from scraps leftover from when I made Todd, Andi, Toddi and Grandma matching shirts.
I like how it turned out!!

May 25, 2013

Spring Flowers

 Mother's Day Pansies


Peony





 Tomatillo blossoms







May 22, 2013

Dance Recital Time!!


V is in her Lyrical Costume and E is in his Hip Hop costume!
They did a fantastic job at Recital!!
Showing off some Hip Hop moves


May 21, 2013

My first finished Around the World swap block!


I finished one!!
There are 21 of us in an ATW swap in one of my Yahoo groups.
I send one fat quarter to everyone who signed up. And they all send one fat quarter to me (and everyone else).
Then each person makes a block for each person using their own fabric and sends it back. 
I have received almost (if not all) of my 20 blocks back. And they look gorgeous (pictures coming soon!).
The block I chose to make for everyone is called 4 Corner Flowers. Pat sent me the floral print, I added the green and white from my stash. And finished! My 4 Corner Flower is mailed back to Pat. And, of course, a handmade card tucked into the envelope too!


May Secret Pal Gift


For my Secret Pal's May gift, I found some cute sewing items.
In the front is a kit to make a pincushion/little bits keeper. The box is made from measuring sticks.
I found this in a quilt shop in Bellingham, while we were there for E's math competition.
The little tote bag I found in a paper store next to where we had lunch one day last week. It is made from measuring tapes. What better theme for a quilter?? :)

May 3, 2013

Black and White and Green Block Lotto


One of the quilting yahoo groups I belong to is holding a monthly Block Lotto.
If you'd like to join in, you make a block following the guidelines, post a picture, and cross your fingers :)
For April the colors were Black and White with Green as the accent color.
I didn't win this month, so off the block goes to Colorado.
I put together a quick Especially for You card with my newest favorite Stampin' Up stamp.



April 10, 2013

Mom's quilt from Todd's T-shirts

This is the quilt I made for my mom from my brother Todd's tshirts.
I also used the Hungarian Blue fabric for the setting fabric. The back is a darker blue print from the same line of fabric.

Dad's Quilt from Todd's T-shirts

Here is a picture of the quilt I made from my brother Todd's t-shirts.
The setting fabric is from a fabric line called Hungarian Blue.

April 8, 2013

Free Shipping at Stampin' Up!

                                    

Today is the last day for Free Shipping at Stampin' Up!
There are no minimums!!
So hop on over to thecoppersparrow.stampinup.net and click on ShopNow to order through my site.
Or email me your wish list, and I will place the order for you!!