Looking backwards and forwards . . .

Remember this?

My broken and so very sad looking stove . . .

Now look at my new, fabulous, wonderful, soon-to-be delivered new stove!  I can’t wait!!!  I’m so excited – smooth top cooking surface, no knobby knobs to clean around, convection oven . . . plus stainless.  I’ll have to watch for flying casserole lids though!

Remember this fabric?  It became a Christmas gift for my nephew. Pattern for this one is on the Moda Bakeshop – really easy and fun to do.  I used twelve fat quarters and made it extra big.This is the pinkest quilt I’ve ever made!  I had the package of Robyn Pandolph’s charms from the Sumptuous Living collection plus some yardage from my stash that really needed to be used.  This was a mystery quilt that Myra and Cori over at Blue Meadow Designs  sponsored early last year.This quilt makes a nice sized lap quilt and I made it as a last minute Christmas present for my daughter.  I was a little concerned that it might be too pink but soon discovered that it was just pink enough!  The only thing I had to purchase was the backing fabric which turned out to be absolutely perfect even though it wasn’t from the same fabric collection.  If you’re looking for a quick and easy project for a charm pack and a bit of yardage this pattern is great.  I’ve made it twice now and will probably make it again in the future. Now about that Christmas day thing . . . I was really spoiled!  A little iPod Nano from my daughter and the dock/speaker system from my nephew are wonderful additions to my sewing room.  Although I am finding that I’m way behind on the news now because the radio is never on! My husband and son gave me this fabulous 19” flat screen TV and even mounted it on the wall in the sewing room so that it wouldn’t take up precious counter space.  Now I’ll be able to keep on sewing when my favorite shows are on.  I’m beginning to think that they really don’t want to see me upstairs anymore . . . all these goodies will keep me very occupied in my basement!

And my daughter didn’t forget that the best gift of all for a quilter is more fabric.  The cutest little mini honey bun package with Crazy 8 and Glace fabric collections and also the Fig Tree charm pack.  More fabric for my collection!  I’m beginning to feel a bit like I should be on the “Hoarders” show . . . probably next year!

Although I have a pretty good shot at being added to the scheduling in the next couple of months!

  

Oh, by the way . . . I started another new project!

No New Year’s resolutions for me – nope – I’ll continue as before.  Starting new projects as they pop into my head is so much fun!  The non-fun part is watching all the UFOs stacking up . . . but, what the heck, I’ll deal with those as I come back to them.

I hope you have a spectacular New Year planned for yourself and if you have any special resolutions that you’ve made that may help me also, please let me know!

Happy New Year!

‘til next time,

M.

Virtual Christmas Quilt Show

You need to head over to SewCalGal’s Virtual Christmas Quilt Show and check out all the beautiful quilts that have been completed for the Christmas season.

SewCalGal says:

There are so many talented people with beautiful Christmas Projects.  I'd love to be able to collect them in a way to allow easy viewing for everyone to enjoy, plus create some holiday fun.

There is no judging in this show.  This is truly a virtual Christmas Quilt Show, where SewCalGal hopes you'll share insights about your quilt and what you enjoy about the holiday season and/or traditions you enjoy.

  

This is a fun Christmas/Winter quilt that I made a couple of years ago and it hangs in our living room for most of the Winter season.

This is a quilt that I made for my Dad last year and it was made using scraps from a quilt that I had made the year before for my mother-in-law.  Sorry about the colors in the photo – I believe the picture was taken at our quilt group last year and the lighting in that basement leaves a lot to be desired!  The borders are made with even more scraps – lots of stars and circles.  This is really one of my favorites with the cozy flannel, cheerful snowmen and raggy trees.  There are not too many scraps left over now, but with the ones that are still in the scrap bin, I’ve been making these little tags -

These look great hiding in the tree branches and also make excellent gift tags when wrapping presents.

Enjoy your Christmas Eve and all the little preparations that still need to be done.  I’m off to darn in some ends on a quilt and get it in the washing machine.  Can’t wait to see how crinkly and soft it will be when it’s done!  I’ll be back with pictures in a day or two. 

Merry Christmas!

‘til next time,

M.

Christmas Tradition . . .

What would Christmas be without lots of sweet stuff?  

These peanut butter squares became a bit of a tradition and created many good memories for my brothers and myself. 

The rule was that I would make batches of this for each of them and fill special Christmas containers and give it to them each year.

 

If they brought the containers back to me (clean!) then I would make them a new batch the following year.

Unfortunately they are now living in different Provinces than me and it’s become difficult to maintain this tradition.

This year I have created a “Smilebox” slideshow showing these photos and teasing them with how good this really would be if they could only be home.

I hope that their families can all get together and make a batch of this easy sweet treat and create some new memories around this easy recipe.

I hope that the instructions are clear enough for anyone who wants to make a batch for their dessert tray – let me know if you need more details!

And, speaking of Christmas memories . . .

 

Cotton Charm Quilts is having a Christmas Memories Giveaway and I’ve added these lovely items to my Dear Santa wish list.  I know the Rural Jardin line is not available just yet, but I’d sure like my name attached to one of these new bundles as soon as it arrives.

Same goes for this lovely jelly roll by Fig Tree . . . it looks sooooooooooo pretty!

And next on my Christmas wish list is a BIG package of Schnibbles patterns.  I’ve been seeing some of these lovelies made up across blogland and I think they are very, very nice.  A large package of these would fit nicely under my tree this year.

Wishing is a wonderful past time – don’t you think?!?!?!

‘til next time,

M.

Colors to Dye For!

I won a giveaway!

Dye Candy had this wonderful giveaway and I got to choose from some fantastic items.  Actually there were so many gorgeous things to choose from that it was quite the challenge.  Of course I had to choose fabrics!

I chose these little sampler packs of beautiful hand dyed beauties.  If you are a hand dyed fabric fanatic this is certainly the place to go to . . . pop over and have a look at the selections – like the name says – it really is Dye Candy.

I’m still not sure what I’m going to come up with to use this pieces in, but I do know that they are going to have to be set aside until a couple of other projects get finalized.  I will have them set some place extra special so that I can be inspired by their colors every time I’m in the sewing room.Here is a Christmas gift all finished and ready to go for the gal I work with.   

And here is the one that I made for my Dad and Stepmom to put under their tree.

These turned out so great that I’ll have to keep the scraps handy so that I can make one for myself next year – I’m surprised at how many skinny, narrow wall spaces I have where this just fits perfectly! 

I have the rest of this week off and have two more BIG quilts that need finished, but I’m at the point where I’m not panicking . . . I’m far enough advanced that it shouldn’t be a problem to get these finished off.  Pictures coming in the next post!

Off to shop all day today – mostly groceries for the big supper – Christmas gifts are mostly decided on and purchased or made already.  Pretty laid back about the holidays in this house!  How are your Christmas preparations coming along?

‘til next time,

M. 

Quilt Gatherings & a Flying Lid

I know, I know . . . I’m really, really late with these posts!  Potluck meals (YUM!!), work Christmas parties, outings with friends . . . ‘tis the Season for running about and having a good time.

Not all was a good time though . . . three meetings this week and final salary negotiations – all done for a while now.  Thank goodness!  No more stress headaches . . . horrible time of year to be doing these things, but at least it is now done for three years and will not have to be revisited until then – I hope!

On to more interesting things . . .

Monday, December 7th – Peace by Piece Quilt Group in Brandon met to celebrate with a pot luck, gift exchange and wonderful show and tells.

I LOVE these little snowmen . . . all plaids and scattered little cheery faces – gotta remember this little pattern.

This group has started a BOM garden theme this year (and next), with a member taking a turn each month to design, make 2 blocks and bring the pattern for all the members that are participating.  One block remains with the person who brought it and the other extra block goes into a charity square pile that will become a quilt at the end of the whole program.  The table above is spread out with everyone’s blocks so far . . . see mine there?  They are the small blocks . . . I decided I didn’t/couldn’t use another quilt with 12” finished blocks, so have shrunk the patterns down to 8” blocks.  I think they are coming along great so far!

This is Sheila’s Bunny Hill quilt so far – the December block is still a work in progress but she needed to get the sashing and corner squares together also because this is supposed to be a Christmas present for someone.  She is also in the process of working on a second one of this BOM and has all of the appliqué pieces cut out for it – very ambitious!  - but so worthwhile.

This quilt is Lise’s and I think those colors are very striking!  Lise has drafted this pattern herself and I think she did a great job.  There is still one more red border to go on and then I think she said a black binding.  It’s a biggie!

Now moving on to last Saturday, December 12 – the Saturday Quilt Group (we need a name!) that I belong to met for a pot luck lunch and an all day sew.

Marg was working on a her Mystery Quilt that she had started at a retreat a while back.  They were told to bring three completed blocks and yardage – looks like that would have been a fun workshop!

This table runner is Sheryl’s and I love those colors and the star formations – gorgeous!  I need to try one of these . . .

Joan was working on little Christmas stockings for her daughter’s nursery school (kindergarten?) students – she was making a lot!  They are so cute and little . . . there are still some bells that will be added once they are all sewn together.  Such a great gift for a teacher to give to her class at Christmas – especially when Mom kicks in and helps out so much – way to go Joan!

A group of us got together to finally make our Hot Iron covers . . . took a bit of time, but I’m so happy to finally have one of these.

This is mine with the pink and black . . . I think it turned out great and I love the sewing themed prints that we chose.  Sheila had the black and I had the pink so we shared and came up with a brighter finished project than if we had just used our one color.

Look how cozy and organized my iron is now . . . can you tell I’m thrilled???  The pattern we used was from here.  Adjust and improvise as needed.

Now onto the flying lid . . .

This is the front of my stove as of last Saturday.  My wonderful, talented, dear husband had just taken the lid off a casserole dish and it slipped/flipped backwards out of his hands and smacked (lovely sound it made – really!) into the glass panel on the stove.  It’s not a new stove by any means, but how long can I really go with it all duct taped together now.  I should have taken an after-the-duct-tape-repair photo for you . . . but really who wants to see my stove now – I’m embarrassed just looking at it.  The stove is old enough that I really doubt that a new panel can be ordered and inserted – oh, well,  - that’s the way the cookie sometimes crumbles right?

I wonder if a new stove will fit under my Christmas tree?  I sure hope so!

‘til next time,

M.

I’m still here . . .

I’m just in the midst of a whole bunch of frantic sewing !

I did get a lot done yesterday . . .     machine quilting done on one quilt, binding made . . . Gift bags are made and ready to go (used the pattern from the Moda Bakeshop by Kim at Bitty Bits and Pieces) . . . I have the quilt top done for another Christmas gift – pink even!  Where did that come from????  I have all the Bunny Hill December BOM traced out and ready to cut . . .

and then I also started on two more Christmas wall hangings that need to be done REALLY quick!

Unfortunately this means that my purple quilt, my blue quilt and my design wall quilt are left watching from the side lines.

Oh well . . . must get back to my schedule – I’ll be back soon to show some more new fabric . . .

‘til next time,

M.