Oops

Today I decided it was time to start assembly on my little basket quilt only to discover that I had miscalculated the number of basket blocks. So I am either 8 baskets short or 8 over! Well I don't want to waste the extras so I made one more 9 patch and I have prepped 7 more baskets and 2 more setting triangles. Hopefully a happy accident and they will be ready soon.

Our stocking tradition

Today I spent some time remembering many years of a favorite family tradition - the Christmas stocking. When I was a baby a friend of my mother gave me my stocking. I was one of 5 children and this family friend gave each of us this handmade gift. Every year Santa filled them with trinkets, toys, candies and even toiletries and this tradition carried into adulthood. When I became engaged I made sure to make a matching one for my husband to be, a sorta welcome to our family thing. When my first child was born my sister gifted my son with one and I made one for my other 2 boys. In the 1980's when I was decorating my home in the Country style that was so popular, I was tempted to change these for something that would suit my decor but somehow tradition won out and now that mid century modern design is popular they are actually on trend again! I have made matching one's for my children's partners and even pets over the years but this year is extra special. Today I was thrilled to make this stocking for my grandson who came into our family 9 months ago. My original stocking of 55 years ago sits next to his new one - a new generation to enjoy our family tradition.

Bluebird block

Today DH headed back to our new house and I finally had a day of quiet stitching. Since my design wall is filled with DIL's project, I couldn't arrange my finished basket blocks so I decided to finish another block for the Civil War Bride quilt. I love this little bluebird but am now out of prepared appliqué. Eek, I guess that means it is time for some hand quilting!

Let the sewing continue

Well the traveling is done, for this month, the cooking is done and the company has gone home so let the sewing begin! We had a nice Thanksgiving with 2 of our 3 boys, our DIL and new grandson. So good to see the youngest and to hear the happy sounds of a full house but time to change gears and think about Christmas. It will be a small gathering this year so instead of making many gifts to give I am helping my DIL with hers. Here is the quilt we are working on for her mother. The outside border fabric came from my stash and was used as the inspiration. We picked out the star fabrics from the LQS and then went back to the stash for sashing, setting triangle and star background. Since I am moving it is great to be able to do some stash busting and save her some money at the same time. Today we put this on the design wall and she is pleased. Hope we get it done in time and that her Mom likes it!

A cardinal for the bride

Life has been crazy and stressful lately so I haven't had much time for seeing but while tiding my sewing table I realized I had not posted this block. I have been working on the Civil War Bride quilt off and on for over a year and I only have a few blocks left. One if these blocks has two birds that look like vultures to me and I decided to change them to cardinals. Much better I think.

Birdie Stitches finished

I finally got around to quilting and binding Birdie Stitches a 2011 BOM by Little Miss Shabby. I tried using a pretty random scribble type swirl that is seen in the border fabric. It was my first time quilting around embroidery and I decided to just use a background swirl design around the embroidery so that the designs would stand out. While it sure isn't perfect, it was fun to do and it is done!

Making do

A few months ago I bought a cute pattern to hold my tablet. As I recall the pattern was a little bag that you slid the tablet into that would protect it when traveling. I packaged the pattern, fabric and necessary notions and took it to Florida as a quick easy project I could work on while there. Alas when I decided to work on it I realized that I had no batting and as I have so many scraps here I refused to buy batting and worked on other things. Fast forward a few months and today I decided that since I am flying later this week, I really need something to
protect my tablet but can I find that pattern anywhere? No! I can't even remember if I brought it home or left it in Florida and since it was sized for an IPad , which is not what I have, I decided it was time to just figure something out. So here is the result and actually I like it better than the pattern. This way it is protected when closed and not in use but the tablet can be used when it is opened up. Plus it just looks like a cute clutch. I think I need to just make do with what I have more often.

Another TGWT update

I finished a few more hexagons for TGWT and laid them all out to see if I am happy with the direction I am heading. So far so good, I love the planned scrappy look and the fussy cutting is so fun. Lots more to go and hopefully the next installment will have some small diamond templates to make little stars.

More hexie love

Oh how I love "This Goes with That" the hexie BOM by Sandra Daley. Tuesday I was able to pick up the second month's templates and have made a few more little blocks. I am still working on my little baskets, only 18 more to go and 10 of the setting triangles but I think I will save them for next week when I will be flying to the inlaws and need a portable handwork project. This week I am helping my DIL with a quilt for her mom for Christmas as well as other gifts she wants to make. Wonderful to spend time with her and my sweet little grandson before the big move. I should be packing but the hexies are calling.

Fifty shades of green

Still working on this tiny baskets quilt and I think the end is in sight. I think it will be a square with a 9 x9 on point setting but I am still deciding. These are just thrown on the design wall in no particular order but so far I am happy with this one. Better get back to stitching while I have some free time!

Sneak peek

Since this a gift I can only give a little peek of what I have been working on.