Threads of Memory BOM 2-Mercer County Star

This is my February ToM block. I enjoyed making this block, especially as it went together fairly quickly. It took just about an hour, and would have been much less if I hadn't switched 2 of the nine patches. I had been planning on using pinks and browns, but the purples called to be used. 

LUS BOW 16, Fort Sumter

This week's BOW is done! I do like the fabric choices this week. I also like how I cut out the lighter blue. I had to cut to avoid too much white, and I am glad I did.

LUS BOW 15 Constance's Pride

Block number 15! As I look at the finished block, I am happy with most of my fabric choices. But I do see that the corner stones would stand out more with a darker blue. Lesson learned, will apply to a later block :)

Barbara Brackman, Threads of Memory, Block of the Month

This is my first block from Barbara Brackman's free BOM for 2014.

It is called Portsmouth Star.

LUS BOW 14 Cornerstone

This week's BOW from the Loyal Union Sampler. It is called cornerstone. I love the fabric in the center. It has big motifs and is symmetrical. I originally bought it to use in a Kaleidoscope quilt (Paula Nadelstern style), and I hope to still make one someday. And I think it adds some large beauty to these blocks. I cut out the outer blue carefully so I could have the print go all in one direction. And then....I sewed one on the wrong side! But thankfully only one, and frogged it and now they are all the same direction. 

LUS BOW 13

Yea? or Boo? I was able to finish this Bow because my daughter had a 24 hour virus, or something like it. She is up and feeling great now, but I had plenty of time to sit and sew, crochet, read, nap. I have been working on BOW 12....unfortunately late, but I hope to have it finished soon.

LUS BOW 11-Cotton Boll

Phew! This week's BOW was fairly simple! I am glad, as I have tons of sewing to do for V's party.

I am very happy how the points matched up. Now, last week's block is not so pretty. I must remake it, then I will post a picture.

Birthday Goodie Totes

V's Birthday is coming up soon! This Saturday in fact!

She is having a Bowling Party followed by a sleepover. I am making these totes in the cute bowling fabric for the `Goodie Bags'. They will have a little candy, a notepad and a pencil inside.

Monkey and Puffle wanted to help with the picture.  :)

Around the World Swap 2014

The floral fabric is my choice to send out in this years ATW swap.

It is a really pretty bright fabric.

The pink on the left is really more of a magenta than the red it looks. I'll post a picture when I make my own block-Flowering Nine Patch.

Plastic Bags, Fabrics and Weeds

Time to change my yearly counts.

Sigh, it looks like I lost interest round about the end of summer.

Bags, I can bring in less!

Fabric! Use it up!

Weeds! Pull them out! But really! My total said over 27000. Can you believe I hand pulled that many weeds? I am going to aim for 30000 this year. A very attainable goal!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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....