Michele Made Me Do It!

Michele sent me a photo from Sears last week and this morning I gave in and went to look at it.  While it is sold out, they will have it in a week.

I plan to use it in my longarm studio to hold all the stuff that goes with the machine.  There are drawers for thread, rulers and all the other stuff!

Michele also has a question that I said I would share and see if anyone knows the answer.  She works on a lot of old quilts and this one came to her over the weekend.  Neither of us have ever seen this pattern.  Any ideas?

Let me know if you have any ideas – I will be working on the NYD quilt.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–December 30, 2013

Well it is the last design wall of the year.  I have a new project on my design wall and ironing table.  I signed up for the annual class on NYD from Cindy Roth on longarm quilting.  I skipped last year but have done at least 2 others.

Here is the pattern for the quilt we will be working on.

Here are my fabrics.

From top to bottom is the background, the next two are HST, the polka dot is for the diamonds in the border and lastly is the backing.  I also have the dark orange for the binding.

Here are my first few blocks.

I hope to get it pieced by tomorrow.  I have to work on NYD but she videos the lessons so I can work on it the next day.

For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times and check them out.

Melinda

Modern Christmas BOM

We have a new BOM at Tiny Stitches and it is tempting me.  I love the solid fabrics and the colors but I certainly don’t need another project.  But it is really cute.  So far I have not signed up but I am working this afternoon and may give in.

Melinda

Bill’s Christmas Present

Bill loves Minkie/Cuddle quilts and the heavier the better.  I bought a kit to make a quilt for him a year or so ago and my friend Sue pieced it.  It wasn’t bound yet but I managed to do it on Christmas day.

Here he is with his quilt.

On the back I managed to find monkeys – not sock monkeys but at least they are monkeys.  He did get a sock monkey water glass and a small sock monkey ornament to add to his collection.

He is enjoying the quilt almost too much – need to get him out of that chair!

Melinda

On the Needles–December 27, 2013

I have been working on socks.  I took a class earlier this month on making socks – toe up, two at a time, on Magic Loop and completed the first pair.  Not even close to perfect but I did learn a lot.  As soon as I finished the class, I cast on two more pair.  For the class we used size 4 needles (I knit very loose so used size 3) and somewhat thicker yarn.  I bought yarn to make two more pair of the same – just different colors.

At the same time, I had size 1 needles and regular sock yarn so I decided to cast on a pair.  I am getting ready to turn the heel on this pair. 

I am loving how they are turning out.  Nice bright colors and similar looks but not the same.  There are a lot more stitches on this pair than the first pair so the heels will take more time.  I am using the Fish Lips Kiss Heel and it is really quite easy, once you have done it at least one time.

The other pair are only a couple of inches long at this point but go much faster with the larger needles and thicker yarn.

Linking up to Patchwork Times for On The Needles.

Melinda

SSCS Gift

I received my SSCS gift and opened it yesterday.  Apparently there was a problem with my original gift but I had a package to open anyway.  It was wonderful.

Can you see the scissors.  They are kangaroo scissors!  The fabrics is from Australia also.  My gift was from Shari Jamieson and she says that another gift is still on the way.  I think this gift was enough.  Thank you again Shari.

Melinda

Gift from Claudia

At guild last week Claudia (the recipient of the wonderful bookcase quilt) gave each of the members of the Executive Committee and wonderful thank you gift.  She made fabric boxes for each of us.  Here is mine.

Look at the top!

Wonderful gift from a wonderful President.  Thank you Claudia.

Melinda

Secret Santa Soiree–Finally

I have been sick for the past few days and haven’t really done anything except sleep but am feeling better now.  I finished up my final two quilts due before Christmas and delivered one with the other one arranged for tomorrow.

I am late with this post but is is not that I am not enjoying and appreciative of the gifts I received.

This was the first received – sort of a pre-gift.

A wonderful scrap bag/pin cushion in lovely lime green.

More lime green goodies.

and a great mug, complete with tea bags.

I can’t wait to find out who sent all this wonderfulness to me.

Melinda

Hexie Coasters

Tuesday night was hexie club and we made coasters.  Some folks cut hexies but I wimped out and used precut Moda ones.  One package of them makes five coasters.

I like how they turned out.  I am linking to Sarah at Sarah Did It for Help for Hexie-aholics which she hosts every month.

Melinda

Getting Ready for Amicalola Retreat

Once again we are going to do a mystery quilt at the Tiny Stitches retreat in January.  This year the directions call for 8 dark fat quarters and 8 light fat quarters.  I picked mine out over the weekend.

Although I have a drawing of the finished quilt top, I have no idea how it is made.  It is always fun though.

Melinda

Full Photo of Claudia’s Bookcase Quilt

Ben sent me a photo of the entire quilt.  It really turned out great, especially considering it was made by about 50 people in all. 

Isn’t it wonderful?

Melinda

Holiday Party at ECQG

We had a great holiday party at ECQG.  Lots of friends, food and fun.  New officers were elected and the President’s quilt was presented to Claudia for her year of service to the guild.  Ben (our new President) designed the quilt and asked me to quilt it.  I had a lot of fun working on it.

Here are a few photos of the quilt.  I don’t have one of the whole quilt but I am hoping Ben took one and will send it to me.

What a wonderful keepsake for Claudia to remember the year of 2013 and the guild.

Melinda

Magical Slice and Dice Class

Yesterday was the second/last session of the Magical Slice and Dice quilt.  We starched, pressed, cut, sewed, pressed, cut and sewed again and the quilts were magically on point and the centers were finished.  Then we moved on to getting the first border on so we could control the bias edges – mission accomplished.  They still need to add the outer borders but the end is in sight.

Here is Margaret and her quilt center.

Here is Patrick and his quilt.

Just for reference, here are the starting fabrics.

What a lot of fun.  After class Patrick cut my hair so it was a very good day.

Melinda

Fiber Art Fusion

Last night was the holiday party for Fiber Art Fusion.  We had dinner at the Oak Street Café in Roswell, GA.  It is a great place and the food was delicious.  I had a lovely kale salad with grilled chicken – Yum!

We did a little gift exchange and of course, I forgot to take a photo of what I made.  The rules are simple – something you make that measures 5x7.  Here is what I received from Martha.

Today I am off to tea with the girls – will try to remember to take photos.

Melinda

New Car

I finally got a new car – a Kia Soul.

Here it is in the driveway.  A fun little car and a fun color.  Hopefully I will have this one for a long, long time.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–December 9, 2013

Yesterday was Bonnie Hunter club at Tiny Stitches and I was able to get some cutting done for the mystery.  Not much sewing but quite a bit of cutting.  For my design wall today, I really have design containers.

Not very exciting but progress is being made.

I did finish another 10 bowtie blocks.  These are 271-280.

For more exciting design walls, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

Bonnie Hunter Club at Tiny Stitches

Almost everyone is working on the mystery quilt. Fun, fun, fun!

Celtic Solstice

I am behind (as usual) but I do have a few blocks done.  Here are my first clue one blocks.

Here is the one block from clue two that I made this morning.

Melinda

Tiny Stitches Christmas Party

We had our annual Christmas Party on Monday night and it was lovely.  We always exchange names and this year I had Debbie and she had me, luck me.

Here is what I received.

and also this.

The back -

I made her a set of bags and a pincushion.  First there was a drawstring bag that held everything.  Inside were two circle drawstring bags – one for jewelry and one for sewing stuff.  Also a hexagon pincushion that will fit in the larger bag.  I also made a small hexie ornament to decorate the package and her tree.  Of course, I forgot to take photos before I wrapped it and gave it to her.

Melinda

Mug Rugs

Two parties in two days – actually three parties but the third one I am saving for tomorrow.

In both Piecemakers and Allatoona, we exchanged mug rugs for Christmas.  For Piecemakers, I made this one.

and I received this one from Karen.

For Allatoona I made this one.

and I received this one from Maddy.

I also brought home this cute little bag made by Nancy.  As president for her second year, she made these for each of the committee chairs.  Also included was a light for handwork – one that you attach to your head.  You might look a little weird but you will be able to see clearly.

Melinda