Moxie's Tunnel

Do you know what this is:

It's a little cat waiting for me to walk by and notice her  waiting for me to dangle her feather wand at the end of the tunnel.  Once I do, she runs and slides through and grabs the feather.

Then at the other side, we do it again.

And then we do it again.

And this goes on until one of us walks away. 

Acturally, it makes me laugh.

Yes, I still do sew and quilt, crochet and whatever, but not yet today.  Today I  put up new curtain rods in an old house that fights back.  Two road trips out to Ace Hardware and Benny's before the job got done in one room.  So playing with Moxie was my big break.  I hope to get some quilting done tonight.

God Bless!

Happy Halloween - Family Photographs

Nephew all dressed up.



Birthday girl with funny uncle.




Birthday girl's big sister with funny uncle.
(do you think it's genetic?)



FYI:  My sister's older son and her younger son's two daughters.

Bloggers Quilt Festival Entry

Amy from Amy's Creative Side http://amyscreativeside.com/2010/10/29/bloggers-quilt-festival-fall-2010/  is again hosting a Quilt Festival for bloggers, and one of the nice things about it is there is no competition.  I've been thinking about which quilt to enter, and decided to go with this quilt because of the complete turnaround I did after most of it was finished.

I joined a scrap quilt along with the Erik Homemade Ezine website.  When I had completed the quilt top without the border, I wasn't happy with it at all.  I went ahead and finished the top, and after the borders were added, I loved it.  The outside borders framed the blocks perfectly and subdued the mix of colors so that it wasn't the jumble I thought it was at first, but really came together nicely.  What did I learn?  I think that in quilt making, every facet counts.  Each area of design compliments the others.   The fabric, pattern, measurements, number of blocks and borders and their sizes, quilt design, binding and sewing, and the quilter's choices in each area, all fit together.  It's a big puzzle that's fun to put together. 

Thanks to Amy for this Festival and to her sponsors.  It's great fun to view the quilts and read about them.  What's even more amazing to me is that a year ago I wasn't a blogger and was relatively new to making quilts, and here I am posting on her Quilt Festival.   How nice is that?

God Bless Everyone!  

Simplicity Has Much To Say For Itself

Inspired by other bloggers, I wanted to put a finish to some projects and not have UFO's building up.  Also inspired by other bloggers, I wanted to make the backing for my table runner a little bit jazier than just simple fabric.  And, like other bloggers I hope, I got carried away.  My intention was to do some nine patch blocks and add them to the back.  But once I started, it seemed I couldn't stop making blocks.  Now the backing looks like a totally new top.  I guess if I get tired of the good side, I can just flip it over, but I created more work for myself by trying to be creative.  And it still isn't finished.  I have been practising free motion machine quilting, so I'm going to let myself continue to stagger down the slope I'm on with this runner and quilt it by  FMMQ.  This should be interesting.  Stay tuned for the results. OY!

I'm trying to keep up with Christina's free motion lessons, but I find some of the designs are challenging. I still do the capital L's well, and the capital C's so that may be what I use to start with. The problem I have with meandering is that I don't seem to able to keep curving. There are spots where instead of curving I sew straighter and it's obvious.

 

This is a little bit better.

I'm going to get to it.  God Bless Everyone.

October Cross Stitch

This little owl is the pattern Sylvia gave us for the Heart to Heart Cross Stitch Along for October.  It's incredible to me that there are only two more blocks to fill.  I feel as if I just began this sal, but there it is.  Oh well, at least I'm up to date on it.

I did add a spider to one of the witchtowels:

It's a black yoyo with yarn for legs.  The next one I make will have 8 legs.  We'll see how that looks.

I won a giveaway from Shelley at http://www.redquilts.blogspot.com/  back in September.  I received an adorable pin cushion that Shelley made.  It is beautifully sewn and very pretty.  I haven't stuck a pin in it yet because it's so cute.

The big pillow behind the little pin cushion is the resized down pillow in a case I made to match my slipcovers.  That pillow is so soft and lovely;  it's nice to lay back on.

I've also kept up with the Christmas QAL I'm doing with Erik Homemade, and I put one border on the Fruitcake quilt I'm making from Sue's Christmas QAL.  Last week was a week when I didn't get any sewing done, and this week I really feel like sewing.  Does that happen to you?  You really want to do your crafts, and it is satisfying when you are working at them. 

Why didn't I get any sewing done last week?  My prayer intention for this week tells all. 

Tomorrow morning I'll be at my parish's school helping to make pierogi for the Chrismas sale.  When I get home I hope to tackle the tough stuff, which to me is to make the quilt sandwiches and quilt them.   The free motion machine quilt along is giving me confidence, and I hope to experiment, probably on the table runner.
 
God Bless Everyone and take care.

The Winner of My Fall-Into-Fall Giveaway

The Random Number Generator chose number 75.  Unfortunately, I didn't do a Save as soon as the number was chosen so I can't post the generator.  I think there's a secret to that thing that I haven't learned yet, but that's for another day.   Number 75  is Quiltaholic.  She left a very nice comment and I hope she enjoys my giveaway items.  I will email her as soon as this post is published.

I want to thank everyone who visited my blog during the hop, left such nice comments, and even in some cases became followers.  This has been fun for me, too. 

There are many more drawings taking place today, so good luck to the rest of us who have our names in the other hats.

God Bless Everyone.

Christmas Quilt Along

3.15 p.m.  I'm done for today, but I did finish the runner.  It is very simply sewn.  I'll do the backing and binding later. 

Whenever I participate in the Christmas QAL, I'm surprized by how much I get done.  I've completed two projects, and almost completed two quilt tops in the three Saturdays I've taken part.  I'm very happy about that.  Thanks, Sue.

12:50 p.m.  The first Satruday of the Christmas QAL I was working with preprinted squares, and didn't really get far with them.  Today I pulled them out again to make the runner.  I'm keeping it simple.

 I think I'm using the green for the outer border.  Hopefully, it'll all pull together nicely.
I'm listening to a Reginald Hill mystery, and that's what's keeping me going today.   I'm going blog visiting now.

9:31 a.m.  I have a progress report form the last Saturday's Christmas QAL.  I sewed the pieces together.  It only measures about 37 by 41.  I'm checking my stash to see if I have fabric for a border that will measure about 6 inches, and then I'm thinking of using my other charm pack to sew around as another border, than the ouside border.  That will make it a better size. 

Question to those good in math.  How do I determin how much fabric I will need for the border?  What I originally thought is wrong, so I need prompting.  Thanks a bunch.

I finished the polar bear and need to add a hanging pocket.  I think I was supposed to do that before finishing, but I didn't.  Anyway, that's done.

Today I hope to work on Makin' Friends or make a table runner from a star pattern. 

Halloween Witchtowels

I've been wanting to make the witchtowels that Bev from Flamingo Toes gave a tutorial on a few weeks back, but I couldn't find the right black dishtowels. I finally settled for microfiber towels from Home Goods Store that I bought yesterday, and I made three witchtowels.

Bev had a little more bling on her design, but I used lace instead of two rows of rick rack, so I think that's enough for a witch.  If you're of my generation or older, you know the expression "There's snow down south."  The fluffy white stuff being referred to is not the cold kind, but the silky kind.  It's a way of saying "Your slip is showing."  (Yep, I'm that old.)  I wanted my witchtowels to have their slips showing.  I might try putting a spider on one and see if I like it. 

The towels don't have a gathered top, although you could do that, and I think it would look nice.  I just liked the way they looked together for the picture.  I'm giving these towels as Treats to my sister and and her son and daughter-in-law.  The next one I make I'll give to my brother.  They are cute, and they make me smile.   Bev's blog is http://www.flamingotoes.com/.    She has very good tutorials and is very creative. No more sewing witchtowels for me today.   I'm witched out.

Thank you to all who have visited my blog for the Fall-into-Fall Blog Hop.  Ive been trying to enter the giveaways, too.  I've already discovered some new blogs that I will visit again.

The quilt top that I made for the Erik Homemade Coffee Break eZine Mystery Scrap Quilt Along is now posted on his website with a few of the quilts others made.  There isn't a voting going on, but there will be a drawing for a Gingher seam ripper in December.  That's pretty nice.   This is my top with all of the borders on.  I intend to quilt and finish it before the holidays.   I did not like this top when I first finished it and now I love it.

I am going to participate in his Christmas Mystery Quilt Along, and it begins next week.  If you are looking for a qal, you might consider this, because it's done at a comfortable pace, maybe even slow.  

Hope everyone is well and happy.  God Bless You.

Welcome Fall-Into-Fall Blog Hoppers

The Winner is Quiltaholic.  Congratulations, Bridgette!
This Giveaway is Closed!

You are in the right place if you came to see what I have for you as part of the Fall-Into-Fall Blog Hop.  Are you a speed hopper or a slow and easy browse hopper?  I've been both.
 Bloggers and crafters are so varied and individually creative that you are sure to be entertained and inspired.  Maybe not by me, but somewhere along the way:)
Although I do hope you will like it here and visit again.

Let me show you my giveaway. Full disclosure - I love the Peanuts Gang. I made a miniature pillow that can be a pincushion. I cross-stitched the autumn-leaved tree on the front, using a pattern by Frimouse (http://www.leschroniquesdefrimousse.com/), and used fabric with Lucy and Snoopy for the back.

 
Apples not included:)

 

I also have a set of sunflower fabric and nine sunflower buttons.  Total yardage is about 2.5 yards.  The smallest cut is the polka dot print, about 22 inches.  Full disclosure again.  When I bought this fabric intending to use it I washed and dried it.  So the selvages do not meet.  But that part is done for you:)

And there is a trick or treat bag.  With treats and Charlie Brown, no tricks. 

If you like this package, leave me a comment on this post.  I only need one comment from you, and I need your email address, so don't be a no-reply.  If you are, you will need to either email me or visit my blog on the day of the drawing, the 15th of October.  I have so many overseas friends, and you are most welcome to enter.  You do not need to have a blog to enter, but again, if you don't I need your contact information.   

The hop ends on October 15th and that is the drawing date.  I will email the winner (if possible) and post the winner on that day also.    

This is a fun event, and I want to thank Debi from Quilting with Debi for organizing it. (http://www.debiquilts.blogspot.com/)  I hope everyone has fun and discovers new blogs to read and new crafts and ideas to try.  You'll also meet wonderful people who are willing to share their talent.  That's the fun for me in blogland.   

God Bless you all.   



More is Less Syndrome

This is a peek at one of the items in my giveaway for the Fall into Fall blog hop that begins on October 1st.  This is my very first giveaway and very first blog hop participation, so I'm hoping to get it right.  It's going to be fun, so I hope we'll all visit all of the blogs on Debi's list and see what's up with them.  If you want to know more, click on the scarecrow button on the left.  Also, are you aware of the designers blog hop that began yesterday?  Click on the Fall-O-Ween button.  The designers involved are each featuring a how-to pattern on their blogs.  So far, I love both that were posted. 

My post title tells you a little something of where I am craftwise and brainwise right now.  The more I try to get things done, the less I accomplish, or so it seems.  I am determined to finish the Erik Homemade quilt top this week.  There are just two borders to added, and the top is done.  I also have the intention of finishing the quilt sampler from Amy's Creative Side.  The sandwich is sitting there waiting for me, but I just keep moving it around.  I began to finish my polar bear wall hanging, made a big mistake, unsewed it, and left it.  At least I have my giveaway gifts made and ready.

Saturday I walked in the St. Vincent dePaul Society's Walk for the Poor.  I meant to bring my camera and forgot.  But I had fun, although the autumn coolness I keep hoping will come and stay awhile isn't here yet.  Those pesky tropical storms keep interfering.   I spent Sunday doing my slow bounce back after all the exercise from Saturday.  Getting older is lovely, but I definitely need more down time after any exertion. Oy!

See Charlie Brown's look of wonder?  That's definitely me.  What the heck is going on? 

A belated Happy First Birthday to little JP.  You are a doll, and I love your blinky kisses.

God Bless Everyone!

Free Motion and A Pillow Resizing

This is my latest exercise from the free motion machine quilting how-to on A Few Scraps.

It may look as if I used the decorative stitches on my sewing machine, but I did this with a darning foot.  Although I did look at my decorative stitches to get ideas.  I have much more practising to do, but I think I do the "L"s pretty well.  

Have you ever done this?  I have a down pillow that was so soft that I never used it because it was like sleeping directly on my mattress.  Before getting rid of it, I decided to try to resize it.

This is the pillow when I began- normal size:

I held the pillow so that the down fell to the bottom.  The pillow is in a zippered cover, and I left that on so feathers wouldn't get everywhere.  The zipper is on the bottom.    Then I measured evenly from the free end to the point for stitching.

I just stitched on my marked line, then cut the excess case off allowing a 3/4 inch seam allowance.  That I folded in twice and sewed to create a closed edge. 

The pillow now measures almost 19 inches square.  I need to find the home decorating fabric I have left over from my slip covers, and then I'll make the cover. It's still a very soft pillow, but now it has more body.

I went to my sister's on Sunday, and she, Katrina, who is nine, and Brenna, who is five, and I did some shopping and then watched Monsters, Inc. and some of Peter Pan.  We had a lot of fun.  Is Monster, Inc. not the funniest movie?   One of the places we shopped in was Trader Joes.  There isn't one near me, so this was my first visit, but I do want to go back. (are your reading this, Ging?) 

On the way home I stopped in at Sears.  I needed a new vacuum, and knew that the Kenmore Progressive was highly rated by Consumer Reports, but the price was high for me.  So, I walked in the store directly to the vacs, and low and behold, what is on the end of the aisle on sale?  The Progressive.  It's a close out sale.  I bought it and am in vacuum cleaner bliss.

I am doing housework this week and got the grass cut today.  But, I do plan to sew.  I want to catch up on my Erik Homemade quilt top.  Next week is the last week.   They are having a Christmas mystery quilt along, and although I said I wouldn't, I am going to join.  I will work with fabric I like and will have a beautiful quilt for Christmas.

A big thank you and welcome to my new followers.  Hope all is well with everyone.  God Bless You.

    

Sewing with Nancy, Giveaway Info, Pumpkins and Apples

Today's Sewing With Nancy show on the Create channel was an Amish Quilt show.   Nancy's guest was Claudine Hanson, and I really enjoyed hearing about how the little girls are introduced to sewing and quilting when they make their first quilt.  I have hesitated using black in a quilt, but this show was very inspiring and interesting, and showed how the black is used in the designs. The quilts have a simple look, but the designs and color choices have a purpose, and it was interesting to hear what those are.  One thing I learned was to use spools, cups and bowls to draw circles or half circles for the quilt design.  I have to try that.

The second section of the show was about Mongolian women learning to become quilters, and that was fascinating.  The next episode continues both of these topics, and I don't want to miss it. 

 
There is a giveaway at It Seams to be Sew. You could win a honey bun of Beach House.   The drawing is Monday, September 27th.  Click on the title of this post to reach the site.

I quilted and finished two of my small quilts and have them on the coffee table where they look great and make me happy.

God Bless You.

Pumpkins, Free Motion Quilting, and Followers Request

This was the pumpkin wall hanging from Gooseberry Patch that I put aside to work on the Christmas QAL. I replaced their pumpkin pattern with my own pattern, and it looks better I think. It's not done. I'm doing a brown inner border and an orange or green outer border. I like it very much.

I want to thank Christina from A Few Scraps (http://www.afewscraps.blogspot.com) for the free motion machine quilting tutorial she is hosting on her site. I have progressed to the point that I can do wiggles, loops, and leaves. Here is the proof (click on the pictures to see the stitching better):





It's amazing that her encouragement and practise advice have such good results. If I don't get any farther along, I'll be very happy with what I've learned so far. But I don't doubt her ability to get us all further along.

I need followers. I would like to be listed on the AccuQuilt facebook page in their list of blogs, but I can't be considered until I hit 100 followers. As a business, they are looking at the numbers on the blogs that apply. Once on their list, I would be considered for receiving an AccuQuilt GO! which I would love to have. It's the much coveted device that makes cutting for quilts much more accurate, faster and easier. The traffic visiting my blog is very good which makes me very happy. If you are reading this and you are not my follower, please consider becoming one. I would be grateful and happy to have you join my followers list.

Christmas Quilt Along

5:39 p.m. I'm stopping. I need to find some fabric I can use to augment the charm squares, but that can wait. I'm happy with all I've done so far.

Thanks to Sue for this qal. I get so much done, it's amazing. It's fun. Thanks also to everyone who has stopped by and left comments. I enjoy visiting your blogs and seeing what you are up to.

Have a great weekend. God Bless You.



3:20 p.m. From American Patchwork and Quilting magazine, an old copy, I saw a quilt that highlighted the fabric of snowmen. So I am following that pattern to some extent for the Fruitcake charm packs. I cut the light solids into 1.25" strips and sewed them to the bottom of some squares and the tops of others. The pattern is to alternate vertically. This is a rough arrangement so far. I need to move things around but you get the idea. I need to break open the other charm pack to see how big I can make this.
Taking another break, then I'll sew some more.





1:25 p.m.My polar bear is finished for today. I have to think about the backing because I want it to be reversible so I can use it as a table cover. But I'm happy with getting the top done today.
Now I'm going to play with the fruitcake squares. I'm with you, Sue, in that I hold back cutting them. That's why I think I would like a simple patchwork cover. I like to see the design in the fabric when it's a collection. It's time for a little break and peak at the projects of the other bloggers.

11:20 a.m. This is where I am at right now. I don't have enough of the strips I want to make a nine patch border, so it's a six patch or narrow checkerboard. I need to find something for the corners.


9:30 a.m. The projects I am going to work on today are very easy. I have a polar bear panel and a honey bun of Winter Song that I'm hoping to put together in a nice way, and two charm packs of Fruitcake that I'm going to sew patchwork style into a Christmas quilt. Very easy goings.


I just want to take a minute to mention that in the U.S. today we remember the victims of 911. In my town the gun salute took place a little before 9 a.m. We're praying that it never happens again anywhere.

Now on to sewing, but I'm checking out Soggibottoms' video first, and visiting the other blogs.