Snowmen top complete

I finished the Snowman Country top today and I am really happy with how it turned out.  Using the white as sashing really seemed to brighten it up and somehow makes it look a bit more modern.  Unfortunately I haven't got enough of any one fabric for a backing so I will have to put my thinking cap on for a pieced back. I'm really trying hard to use fabric in my stash these days and so far I haven't bought anything new for this one, but I have a pretty big stash so I shouldn't have any trouble coming up with something!

The snowmen are home

 Finally the snowmen and I are home and as I had hoped they are all ready to be put together.

These have been fun and quick. Just the thing for the past week.

And here they are all up on the design wall awaiting sashing.

The original pattern called for scrappy sashing with cornerstones in a different color and my original intent when I started was to have black sashing, made with many different fabrics and then red corner stones.  But seeing it up on the design wall I like this lighter look and have decided to go in a different direction.  Can't wait to get started cutting to see how it turns out.  Sometimes you just have to listen to the quilt!

Snowman Country continues

Here are a few more of the blocks from "Snowman Country" that I have been working on during my son's recovery.

 Thanks to everyone who sent good thoughts and kind words.  His surgery went well and he is progressing nicely.  This surgery involved bone grafting and moving more teeth. His jaw was crushed in a car accident 2 years ago and he has is still missing his 4 upper front teeth.  Doctors are working on improving his bite and preparing him for implants, hopefully in a few months. 

 Another holiday of soft foods and lots of cooking for me to keep his weight up.  It is very difficult for him to eat, nothing that needs to be bitten into and with a poor bite, lots of easy chew foods.  I've become a creative cook, using lots of ground meats, mashed potatoes and pasta, soups and stews and these trips keep me pretty busy.  But I've still had plenty of time for some hand sewing and I am happy with how this little snowman quilt is turning out.

Sorry that these  2 photos are sideways, not sure why or how to fix them but you get the idea.

Hope to be heading home tomorrow and to have this put together soon. I really enjoy working on Bunnyhill patterns, so easy and fun and a change from my more "serious" work and during this busy holiday season its good to have something relaxing at my fingertips.

Happy Stitching to all!

Snowmen for the road

 For Thanksgiving next week I am headed out of town to be with my youngest son while he undergoes another surgery, so I've been prepping some handwork to take.  Since I want it to be easy and happy work, I decided on this "Snowman Country" pattern by Bunny Hill Designs that I have had lying around for awhile.  I couldn't resist sewing this first block (still needs embroidery) and starting the second.

But at this rate I'd have them done before I leave so I'll just prep the rest for now.  Hopefully this will be a fun and festive little distraction between my cooking and nursing duties!

A quilt for charity

Since I am busy sewing Christmas gifts (which must remain secret for now)  here is a photo of the quilt that my Quilt Guild is sewing for charity.  It will be given to the charity (which I can't remember the name of) to auction off this spring and we all hope that it raises lots of money.  We had another sewing day this past Sunday and finished all the blocks, about 104 of them!  It is amazing what you can do with 15 - 20 people and 2 days of sewing.  My task for the day was sewing curved seams so I had the pleasure of finishing blocks and it was amazing seeing them come together.  Sorry for the quality of the photo, I barely left my chair all day as I was having so much fun sewing and chatting.

Back to Stitching

Well I'm back to stitching on the hexagon quilt.  As you can see the hexagons are complete and they are pinned to the medallion center ready to be appliqued down.

And the applique on my Pickled Lilies quilt is about half done too.  Later today I will be doing more foundation piecing on the charity quilt that my guild is making so that should get me all set to tackle piecing the border for this one.  The Christmas decorating is almost complete and while I'd like to be working on these projects I think its time to start thinking about gifts to make!

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas

So here is what I have been up to this week.  Not much sewing but the 12 ft. Christmas tree is assembled, lit and decorated.  Oh and the new Christmas quilt is hung over the fireplace.  I know, its crazy early but once again we will be helping our son recover after surgery at Thanksgiving and I want everything done before then.
I've mentioned before that we have had some difficult times over the last few years and today is the 2 year anniversary of our son's near fatal car accident.  So, in 2009 the holidays were  in hospital and last Christmas he had a difficult jaw surgery.  Unfortunately he needs a 6th oral/jaw surgery done this Thanksgiving but we are just so grateful that he is alive and has had a miraculous recovery otherwise, that we look forward to a real celebration this Christmas.  And part of that is making our home extra festive looking.  Let the decorating continue!
Oh and you may notice the unusual tree topper staring down. I'll be adding more woodland decorations to the tree and putting this fellow on the top of the tree just seemed right!

Eek, curved piecing

Oh my goodness putting this center together was certainly out of my comfort zone!  I've never really wanted to make a Double Wedding Ring quilt and didn't quite understand how they went together so putting these together was quite the challenge.  I worked in some frustration yesterday but things seemed a bit better today after looking at a few tutorials online.  But then it wasn't flat. I followed the instructions and measured the center for the border measurement but man there sure was a lot of easing to make those last borders fit. Well, things seem a bit flatter now.  If I didn't love how this looks in my kitchen I think I would give up but at least the next part is applique and that I know how to do!  Despite my complaining I am enjoying this one and learning lots of new skills.  Who knew that the foundation piecing would be the easy part!!!!

Foundation piecing phobia

A few years ago I made this New York Beauty after taking a class on foundation paper piecing.  I enjoyed the class and scurried home and made this quilt in the next few days while I still had the technique fresh in my mind.  Unfortunately I completely forgot what I did to make this thing and have had a foundation piecing phobia ever since. This past week I got together with several members of my guild to make a quilt for a charity to auction as a fundraiser.  I was horrified/delighted to discover we were foundation piecing a really complicated quilt! Actually it turned out to be a great refresher course and I had lots of fun. So once again I scurried home to practice.

 So, while I still know what I am doing, I started on this quilt that I have wanted to make for years.  It is a pattern by Chris Jurd that appeared in a 2008 copy of  "Down Under Quilts" .  I had all the fabric picked, the foundations copied to velum and was ready to go.

And voila, I have made some Pickle Dish arcs.  I am so proud of myself and love how it looks.  Lots more to do so maybe this time the "how to" will sink in.  

And last, but not least, here is a giveaway win from the Ghastlies blog hop.  This was a prize from Barb of Bejeweled by Barb.  I was so excited to receive the cute little bag and the piece of Ghastlie fabric.  None of my LQSs carry this fabric and I can't wait to use it in something fun.  Thanks Barb.