Cute, Cute Buttons

I've had some luck in the past two days in that I won a book from Martingale Press from the SewCalGal Pets on Quilts Show, and I won buttons from the ButtonMad .  Both have a whimsical look to them, and I think I need to add some whimsy to my life.. The book is Out of the Box With Easy Blocks by Mary Lou Weidman and Melanie Bautista McFarland.  When I receive it I'll share more about it. 

The buttons are little owls:

I took this picture off the ButtonMad site.  This is the company that sells buttons made by women in South Africa thereby creating employment for them.  The designs are charming and add a nice touch to something handmade.  This is their site:

http://incomparablebuttons.blogspot.com 

Hurricane Irene update:  went back out and joined the gas lines this morning, just in case.  It wasn't too bad, but was busy.  Got a book from the library, just in case.  Brought garden things into the cellar, just in case.  That's it.  Now we wait to see what happens.

God Bless.

A Cozy Teapot

Why do some teapots and coffeepots evoke a happy feeling by just looking at them?  I don't know, but they have that effect on me.  I also love stitch patterns of them and of teacups, and I love to drink tea.      The problem with teapots is that they don't keep the tea hot without a cover.  While I was working on my tumbler quilt yesterday I got the idea of using the tumbler pattern to make a tea cozy.  I think it came out pretty cute.

It's lined and has batting so it works well, and the fabric makes me smile.





Hurricane Irene has already had her effect on the east coast.  When I went grocery shopping today, the store was busier than usual, and the line at the gas pumps caused me to drive away without getting any.  Be prepared.  Even though my area isn't supposed to be hit badly, it still means bringing in anything that could be blown about, and then next week bringing it all back out.  Thanks alot, Irene.

God Bless.



38 Buttons to Stitch on the Quilt, 38 Buttons to Stitch, If One of Those Buttons ....

With 38 buttons to sew onto my Wreath Quilt, I decided to use my sewing machine for the task.  It worked great.  I followed the handbook directions, and all that's necessary is to drop the feeddogs and set the proper zigzag stitch to the correct width. Once that's done it literally takes seconds to sew on the button and the attachment is secure.  It's really worth trying every task your machine can do for you to see how you can apply it to a project.

Thank you to everyone who visited my blog and/or left a comment during the Pets on Quilts Show.  I enjoyed visiting the 109 blogs that entered, and fell in love with so many sweet pets. 

God Bless and have fun sewing.

Pets On Quilts Show Hosted by SewCalGal - My Entry

This is a cat quilt that I made using Christmas fabric and the cutest vintage cat fabric.   Moxie likes quilts.

She appears to be more particular about the design and structure than her housemate, who likes to create things on which even the cat can sleep or play.

I found the pattern for this cat block here http://www.sewvac1.com/Library/catquilt.htm

Visit SewCalGal to see all of the pet quilt entries.  You've got to love this kind of show.

http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

God Bless and Enjoy!

August Christimas QAL Post 2

Have you seen the beautiful versions of the Scatty Stars Quilt?  My goodness, each one is gorgeous.  Go to Shakerwood Quilts http://www.shakerwoodquilts.blogspot.com , click on the QAL tab and then check out the blogs who signed up for today.  I think you will like what you see.

Alas, although I have had my head down and my fingers busy all day, I did not get to work on my stars.  Hand sewing, doing some FMQ and then attaching the binding to my Wreath Quilt took up my time today.  My back hurts and I'm ready for glass of Merlot, but I have achieved much.

The stars I have are attached and the binding is sewn on but not finished to the backing.  I'll enjoy doing that later.  I do want to crochet a few more stars but they can be attached even if the quilt is finished.  I do love the look of lace on the fabric.  Yes, there are thread to sew in and the quilting isn't perfect, but this looks good to me. 

I'm going to see what I missed by my sewing diligence.  Thank you to Cathi for hosting today.  I always accomplish so much on these days.

God Bless. 

August Christmas QAL - Post 1

I'm ready for today's qal.  I have the binding and stars made for the Wreath Quilt and the Scatty Stars project is awaiting.   Hope it's a good day for all of us.



My Part 5 of America The Beautiful Quilt

Part 5 of the America The Beautiful quilt designed by Lynn Lister and published in McCall's Quilting required, for me, many hours of cutting and sewing.  And the picture of the results doesn't look like it did:

There are 78 of the border squares and 80 squares for the mosaic blocks.  All I can say is, if I can do all of that and still keep going, I must be a true-blue quilter.

I just had to see everything together:

I am one of those people who draws from her stash as she makes things, and so when it came to make the border squares I wondered if I had enough of two fabrics that would work.  After making my squares I really doubted my choices.  But now I think they will be okay.  There will be a border between the quilt top major and the hst border.  I can always change my mind if I don't like the outcome. 

When I see the prices of quilt kits I sometimes wince, but considering what goes into choosing fabric and the time it takes, they may be a good deal.

I won two charm packs of Ruby by Bonnie and Camille for Moda as part of the Simple Things quilt along.  Thank you, Kelly and Carol.  I love charm packs and this fabric design is so pretty.  Kelly is at http://cottoncharmquilts.typepad.com/charmingchatter/  and Carol is at http://brownquilts4me.blogspot.com/

Tomorrow is Christmas QAL Saturday.  I am going to work on my Wreath Quilt and the Scatty Stars Quilt, and hope I accomplish lots.

God Bless.



Just Playing

I tested my idea of doily applique to my quilt top and think it looks pretty nice.

I blocked most of the stars and a few are still drying, then I'll sew them on.  I don't know how far I should go with this.  If I want to bring the lacy look to the cream border, I'll have to make more stars.  Did I say this would be finished by end of August?  Good luck to me:)

This is what I've been sewing today, so far.  My mother worked in mills and brought home buttons and ribbons and lace, and so her great-granddaughters will have doll clothes trimmed with some of that lace.  Remember,  we don't throw anything away here:)

This little bud makes me happy because it means that autumn is on its way.

God Bless.  Hope all is well.

Now is the Perfect Time to be a Wantobe Quilter

Yes, now is the perfect time to be someone who has never quilted before but who is eager to learn.  And the reason is that an event is taking place where Wantobe Quilters can win the tools they need to begin the craft.  Madame Samm at Stash Manicure http://www.stashmanicure.blogspot.com is hosting this event.  It began last week and will continue for many more.  You need to be a follower of Stash Manicure and a follower of a blogger who will enter your name to register.  The list of bloggers who can do that are on the Stash Manicure site, and my blog is one of them.  So, if you are interested, let me know with your name, email and phone number (I will only share it with Madame Samm.)  Wantobe Quilters can comment on the Stash Manicure posts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week.  Experienced quilters can comment on Tuesday and Thursday of each week.  You cannot be a "no-reply" emailer.

The prizes are everything from rulers to fabric to sewing machines! 

I don't even want to think how much I've spent on my tools, so this is a wonderful way to help someone get started.

Visit http://www.stashmanicure.blogspot.com and read the rules and how-to's. 

Thank you, Madame Samm, and all of the sponsors.

God Bless.

My Crochet Stars and Info About a Giveaway

First, I want to let you know about a giveaway hosted by Lynn of  Happiness is Cross Stitching http://happinessiscrossstitching.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-third-anniversary-giveaway-ooooo-la.html .  She has been blogging for three years and is celebrating with this giveaway:

Isn't that a sweet collection?  Best of luck to you if you enter, but I hope I'm the lucky one:)

On the subject of giveaways, I want to thank Donna of So Sew Crafty http://sosewcrafty.blogspot.com/ because I won her first ever giveaway recently.  It's a gift certificate so I will enjoy shopping and then making something pretty.  Thanks so much, Donna, and hugs to ChaCha.

I've been working on the crochet stars and such for my Wreath Quilt.  It takes me a few hours to make one of the big stars, although I 'm getting faster now that the pattern is familiar.  I love crocheting, but I wish I could do it walking around.  I've been listening to books on tape and sitting on the sofa all week.  When I'm sewing I do a good deal of standing, walking to the machine and shaking out of fabric, so it feels more active. 

A few wonky points, but that should straighten out when I block them.

God Bless.

Wreath Quilt and Tumbler Project

I thought for sure that by the end of last week  I would have finished the Wreath Quilt from Erik's Homemade Mystery QAL.  http://erikhomemade.typepad.com

In this photo I wonder if you can see the holes from the stitching that took 1 and 1/2 days to rip out? 

I've decided to applique crocheted stars and such to the cream/white area within the wreath.  I found this star pattern in one of my old issues of Hooked On Crochet, June 2007, designed by Kathleen Munyan. 

I'm also sewing red buttons to the inner and outer wreath angles. 

So, now I am aiming for the end of August to have this quilt done. 

I've been wanting to use my new tumbler die for my AccuQuilt GO!.  I've had it since early June, so I would say I've showed remarkable self control in waiting this long to play with it.  I was so certain I knew what fabric I would use, mainly a mix of  lights, mediums and darks, but then I saw a quilt that changed my mind.  It was a circle quilt made using mostly yellows in bright and light shades.  I let that quilt influence me and cut out 143 tumblers.

. 

I hope I like it when it's put together. 

I plan to cut some of the tumbers in half for the border area.  We'll see if that works, too.

God Bless.