Saturday, December 31, 2011

Winding Down...and preparing

The hustle and bustle of Christmas is now past, and 2011 is winding down.  I was given some inspiration over the holidays.  Here it is.

But it's also time to prepare for what 2012 will bring.  Looking into the wooden case in the hallway, I see some UFOs that need attention.

There is also the sketchbook I purchased back in October waiting to meet with pencils and crayons.  My friend Vicki has inspired me to use my sketchbook more frequently.

Then of course there is the quilt to finish for a member in my Guild.  You saw what I was working on here

2011 had some ups, some challenges, and some downs, but led us into 2012.  I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to what 2012 will have to offer.  So....let's get ready for some new adventures.

Thank you to all my followers for stopping in to visit.  I hope you visit often and wish you a a creative 2012.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

And the winner is...

BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

Well it's time to draw the winner of the giveaway that I offered back here.  Hope everyone had fun visiting the over 200 blogs that participated.  Remember that I suggested that you leave a comment on each day's posts till the draw for a chance to win.  Posts were made December 9, 11 and 14.  There were a total of 144 comments, so without further fanfare, the winner is  (drum roll please) 

comment 71 - Peggy at Sew Rip Sew.  Congratulations Peggy! 

The package is on it's way.  Thank you to all of you that stopped in and left a comment.  Please do check in once in a while to see what I am up to and if I am finishing as much as I am starting.

In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday season with family and friends, and enjoy this video.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Wordly visits

are easy when viewing the blogs of other quilters.  How is everyone enjoying the Blog Hop?
Some of the stops I've made include


http://appliqueaddict.blogspot.com located in Idaho, USA
http://beaquilter.blogspot.com located in North Carolina USA
http://goldiesrambles.blogspot.com/ located in Nova Scotia Canada
http://coolcatsandquilts.blogspot.com in New Brunswick, Canada
http://quilary1.blogspot.com  in Australia


There are just a few days left before the giveaway is drawn.  Just leave a comment mentioning one other blog you have visited and your name will be entered.  I will be using a random number generator to make the draw and will complete the draw on December 17, 2011 at 12:00 noon PST.  Remember to ensure I can contact you. 

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Help for a friend

Thanks for stopping by on the Blog Hop.  In case you missed it, here is my giveaway.  Just leave a comment on here and I will randomly select a name.  Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you in case you win.

The postcards I showed you yesterday  have been sent.  So hopefully they will arrive on time.  Here's something else I have been working on.
I'm trying to help finish this for one of the ladies in our local Guild.  She has been undergoing treatment for cancer and has been unable to finish up some of her UFOs. The quilt is a memorial to her brother who was an avid supporter of fishing's "Catch and Release" program. She had used trapunto to give the fish more dimension and definition.  She also added trapunto to the log sticking out of the water. I know that it is a bit hard to see that...maybe this close up illustrates it a bit better.
She also used a loose raw edge applique technique to represent the water grasses. 
Now I'm attempting to do some additional FMQ to accent a few of the highlights like the sprays of water, the shimmering reflections on the water and the sunny clouds in the background.  I ran into a bit of FMQ difficulty and ended up with a bunch of "thread nests" on the back of the piece.  Hmmm....checked the bobbin thread...checked the top thread tension...still can't figure out where I'm going wrong.  Any tips?  Leave one in the form of a comment and you have a chance at winning the Blog Hop giveaway that I mentioned in yesterday's post.

In the meantime, visit some of the other blogs that are at the party!  Just click the link at the side bar to take you to a listing of attendees.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Blog Hopping along

 
Thanks for visiting.  Are you enjoying the party thus far?

When you check out some of my other posts, you will see that I have a variety of quilting styles that interest me. Right now I'm playing with fabric postcards, getting them ready to send off to some special people. I've been meaning to try my hand at these and what better time than during the holiday season.  They still need a bit more work.
I have to get these out of here soon or I will miss the international deadline. One of them is off to my friend Helen McNaught in AUS. We swapped mug rugs way back through Michelle's Quilting Gallery and it's about time I got in touch with her again. The other is for Evelina in Italy who I also met through the Quilting Gallery. But there are several cards in the picture. Yes that's true, but I don't want to say who they are for, just in case the recipients pop in. I want it to be a surprise!

Oh yes before I forget, here is a giveaway.  A pattern that includes a printed panel and 6 FQs.  Just leave a comment on each day's post from now till December 17.  I'll randomly select from those of you that leave a comment. 

Once again thanks for stopping by and don't forget to make sure that you leave a way for me to contact you in case you are the winner.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

It's a birthday party!

Michelle over at Quilting Gallery is celebrating a 4th birthday, and in honour of that she's having a



So I've decided to join in the celebration.  I've never been part of a Blog Hop before, but I couldn't turn Michelle down.  Stop by often to see what I'm up to and to get in on the give away that I'll be offering tomorrow.  I see that my friend Upstate Lisa has joined the fun too!  Woo Hoo!  Why don't you come along and bring your holiday cheer with you.  It's gonna be a wild ride!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

I'm still here...

but I've been busy with several things.  First I had to finish a hand quilting project that has been sitting around since 2007.  Yes, yes I know, but don't we all have projects that have been around for a while.  This one was started while at a retreat.  The theme was "heritage quilts".  I thought I knew what fabrics were considered reproduction, but I soon discovered that I had a lot to learn. 

The style of this quilt however is heritage.  It is what was often called a "strip quilt".  Each of the blocks were signed by attendees at the retreat.

I also had to put the binding on a quilt that I started in a Seminole workshop.  I call it "A Seminole Christmas"  The fabric is from the Robyn Pandolf Christmas Collection from a couple of years ago.  This will add a festive feel to my bedroom.
and here are some close ups of some of the rows.


Now I just have to finish off the African Collage that I started piecing the last time.  I should be finished before Christmas and will post the end result next time.  I'm also adding to a Round Robin. but that is for another post.