Bell Creek Quilts

WIP Wednesday

2012-01-25T19:19:00.000-06:00

I sewed the final border on the Everglade's Sidelight. I'm thinking about loading this on the longarm next. After the t*shirt quilts~I want to make sure it is quilting okay before I quilt a QOV for the guild. :)

DH requested two animal quilts as baby quilts for his expecting co-workers. I went to the 6.5 inch square stash and eh gads, it was almost empty! I only had about 30 total animal squares. So I went in search of the animal stash and began cutting...

...after two days~ta da! replenished 6.5 inch animal squares. I even cut into some fabric that I had been saving (?!) Better to use it as it is well over 5 years old...

Hilda at the night guild showed a quilt she had started in the 1970's...with scissors! I didn't take a picture of it but it is a double sashed block. I wanted to try it with the animal blocks and *see* how I liked it.

One block, of course,

often leads to many more blocks! So far, I am really groovin' to this set. I like that the animal novelty blocks are the main focus so far. We'll see if I'm still groovin' to it after the next round of sashing and final border are on....

Design Wall Monday

2012-01-23T16:28:00.000-06:00

I'm linking up today with JudyL as this design wall is inspired by her. This is my UFO #5. While I didn't publically declare that I was participating in JudyL's UFO Challenge 2012~I made a list and this month I have the time to work on it.

UFO #5 is the Sidlelights pattern.

Here is as far as I was able to sew today. One more border to go! and this Everglade print is a dinosaur of Bell Creek Quilts as it has been hanging around for 5 or 6 years! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELL CREEK QUILTS!

Four years ago today~I started my blog. My BIL, T help me to get started and many blogging friends have helped me along the way. Thanks to each and every one! You are my inspiration!

photo google imaged search from here.

Stash Update Week #4

2012-01-22T12:01:00.001-06:00

Yay! I had some finishes!

Boo! I brought fabric!

fabric added this week: +15 yards
fabric added this year: +18.5 yards

fabric used this week: -28 yards
fabric used this year: -28 yards

net fabric for the year: -9.5 yards~used!

What I accomplished this week:

made SV's photo album cover
finished DS's bag
finished Player Quilt and bag
finished Roscoe Quilt and bag

Goals for next week:

work on UFO #5

My Finishes!

2012-01-20T15:59:00.000-06:00

I finished sewing the hanging sleeves on both Donation Quilts today! I was so Happy! :)

The Milwaukee Admirals Player quilt.

pattern by LindaJ
panto pattern: inkblot

The Players' Signature square. I had sent a few Micron markers but when the signatures didn't *show up*~they switched to a sharpie (?!)

The bag to carry it in. :)

The Roscoe Quilt.

pattern adapted from LindaJ
panto pattern: inkblot

Roscoe's Signature square. Once again, the sharpie. :)

The bag to carry it in. :)

Adding to the Stash

2012-01-20T09:51:00.000-06:00

Adding to the stash...

...and sewing on hanging sleeves.

ps: +15 yards...shhh...in a whisper...

ps2: I watched this YouTube video for help. I simply searched on YouTube for *how to sew a hanging sleeve on a quilt*

Happy Belated Birthday, Son!

2012-01-19T17:58:00.001-06:00

About two weeks late as DS's Birthday was January 2nd! But he has been wanting a bag that he can sling over one shoulder. We compromised~he wanted silk~I didn't want to make it with silk...I used an old t*shirt of his...lol. January must be t*shirt month for me. :)

First~can you spot what is wrong in this picture?!

How about this close-up?

Right! The zippers are going opposite ways!

Here the pockets are sewn into the back of the bag.

Second~here is the finished bag!

Well...I think we are going to need to tweak the string a bit to get it to work! Right about now~I'm really glad I had sewn in loops on either side as I like the sling over the right shoulder and DS?

Well~he's a left shoulder guy. :)

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY SON!!!!!!

WIP Wednesday

2012-01-18T14:50:00.000-06:00

I have been quilting a few of the smaller pieces that need to be done.

But really? running a little short once!

but twice?! I moved into the sewing room where I have plenty of fabric! lol I've been trying to use up my batting bits.

(sorry, Pam~no Wisconsin air~for now)...

Here is the first project: it will become a bag for transporting the Roscoe Donation Quilt.

panto: Inkblot

This second project belongs to a friend of mine. She won it at the guild raffle in November 2011 and I said that I would quilt it for her. I used the continuous Baptist Fans panto as I need practice with it. After this little project~I can definitely use more practice....but the price is right for my friend~free~even if the tension is a little wonky on the back....

First Finish of 2012

2012-01-18T14:34:00.003-06:00

Scott Valentine's scrapbook cover. I went again with the home country theme...Scott's a native Canadian.

A Mixed Bag of Stuff

2012-01-17T14:42:00.001-06:00

Today is a mixed bag of stuff that I am working on. No design wall this week as I finish up the t*shirt quilts.

I made a label for the Roscoe Quilt.

I also made hanging sleeves for both the Roscoe Quilt and the Milwaukee Admirals Player Quilt. Now to hand sew both hanging sleeves and the label!

Today is my 26th Anniversary so I made DH a card. :) *I STILL stink he's sweet!*

Stash Update Week #3

2012-01-15T06:30:00.000-06:00

I added a little bit of fabric but no finished. Soon, very soon on the finishes! :)

fabric added this week: +2 yards
fabric added this year: +3.5 yards

fabric used this week: 0 yards
fabric used this year: 0 yards

net fabric for the year: +3.5 yards~added

Goals for next week:

finish Milwaukee Admirals Donation quilt
finish Roscoe Donation quilt
finish DS's bag
work on photo album cover
quilt a quilt for a friend

ummm...this oughta keep me busy! :)

Roscoe Flimsy

2012-01-14T13:14:00.001-06:00

My Roscoe t*shirt quilt is now a flimsy!

A Little Happiness

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

Happiness is...

when I empty long forgotten thread from a few bobbins. These bobbins are ready for a new sewing project!

yay!

Sadness is...

when I wind way too many bobbins for the current project... :( ...guess I will be piecing with light blue thread for a spell... :) ....

WIP Thursday!

2012-01-12T16:37:00.000-06:00

Wow! Missed the Wednesday post so here is the WIP Thursday edition...

I did another set of rough cut t*shirts. This time for a Roscoe quilt for the First Annual Casino Night presented by The Admirals Crew, Inc.

Design Wall Monday

2012-01-09T06:30:00.000-06:00

My design wall is the floor this week.

The Milwaukee Admirals donation quilt is now a flimsy.

pattern by LindaJ at life, quilts and a cat, too

Stash Update Week#2

2012-01-08T08:33:00.001-06:00

Another easy week. I added a little bit of fabric but had no finishes.

fabric added this week: +1.5 yards
fabric added this year: 1.5 yards

fabric used this week: 0 yards
fabric uses this year: 0 yards

net fabric for the year: +1.5 yards

Goals for next week:

finish DS bag
finish Milwaukee Admirals Donation quilt

What I've Got So Far...

2012-01-07T13:09:00.001-06:00

I've been working on The Milwaukee Admirals Quilt. The t-shirts were donated to me and when finished the quilt will be raffled off at the First Annual Casino Night sponsored by the Milwaukee Admirals Booster Club Crew (wow! that is a mouthful!) I have the frames and shadows added. Next is to figure out the horizontal sashings!

pattern by LindaJ at life, quilts and a cat, too.

WIP Wednesday

2012-01-04T12:05:00.002-06:00

More hockey lace bracelets!

Note to self:

lace cut at 6.5 inches
3/8" elastic cut at 2 inches

blue=14
black=18
white=9
yellow=16
pink=19
red=9

Design Wall Monday

2012-01-02T12:32:00.002-06:00

My design wall is actually the guest room bed.

This is the mock up for the Admirals' auction quilt from donated t*shirts. I am actually having a bit of a problem figuring out the signature block...hopefully I will get it resolved in few days!

Quilting Codes 2012 Edition

2012-01-01T13:00:00.000-06:00

In 2010, I wrote about my Quilting Code that I was going to adopt.

In 2011, I amended my Quilting Code.

As I am thinking about *where* I want my quilting journey to take me this year~I decided I was pretty happy with the 2011 Code. I actually feel like doing the old copy/past and just change out the year...

A. Promise Quilts and Things. ummm...keeper. Still can't say, 'NO' when relatives/ friends ask for homemade quilts and things. Although this category is dwindling as more of my creations are finding homes other than my own. :)

B. Gift Quilts. ummmm...keeper. This is why I began quilting. To gift to others that touch my life in some manner. Now to figure out *how* to get quilts to my favorite Milwaukee Admirals players without seeming like a crazed quilting stalker...thinking I just might give quilts to charities by proxy...if you know what I mean. I made a baby quilt for my favorite player who had his (well his wife did) first child this fall and I donated that quilt to Margaret's Hope Chest. ps: They named their son, Patrick! In my fantasy world...yep...the kiddo is named after me! I never said I was totally sane, now did I?!

C. Donation Quilts and Things. keeper, keeper, keeper. My day guild donates Cancer Recovery Totes to two local Breast Cancer Centers and the Centers are always in need of the totes. My night guild is trying out a few different activities for donations and I'm *all in* on that. I donated a few QOV's to Alycia and her No Soldier Forgotten Quilt Drive. I love the colors of red, blue and tan. :) I also discovered Carin's Margaret's Hope Chest. A perfect fit for me as I am using my dinosaur fabric and helping to cover the youth who have a parent (or parents) in prison.

D. Dinosaur Projects. keeper. Trying to move the older fabric and projects out of the sewing room and cover others in the process.

E. ME Projects. new category...yea! I'm thinking about making seasonal quilts for my bed. More seasonal quilts for the family room. Birthday gifts for the FAB's. Seasonal backpacks as I really like this option as a purse. These are just a few projects that are for me. :)

I still want to keep track of the fabric in/out. Not so much in the stash busting arena but just to *know*. I must say that come October/November, I really dislike reporting that I have added to the stash. :)

Thanks for sticking with me this long on this boring....zzzz....post but I like to put down my thoughts about my sewing year and think about the next! gosh...2012...already!

see~I did just copy and paste! and yes~

I did make a whole slew of quilts in the Admirals players' favorite colors. I donated a few to Alycia and a few to Margaret's Hope Chest and I even kept one!

and

I did make the FAB's birthday gifts this year! as a matter of fact~one FAB will be celebrating her 2011 birthday in 2012!

When I post again~here's to hoping it is a quilty project!

Stash Update Week #1

2012-01-01T09:46:00.002-06:00

I LOVE this report! It is my all time favorite of stash reports!

fabric added this week: 0 yards
fabric added this year:    0 yards

fabric used this week:    0 yards
fabric used this year:      0 yards

net fabric for the year:    0 yards

My goal is to use more fabric than I buy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR! MAY YOUR NEW YEAR BE HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS!

photo from google image search: happy new year fireworks 2012

Stash Report Week #52

2011-12-31T23:32:00.001-06:00

I delayed my final stash report until the final hours of 2011. I *knew* I would be adding to the stash here at the end of the year in preparation for the new year's projects.

Fabric added this week (and last week, too!): +20 yards
Fabric added this year: +263.5 yards

Fabric used this week (and last week!): -5.5 yards
Fabric used this year: -273.5 yards

Net fabric for the year: -10 yards! used!

Well~I used more that I purchased~barely! :)

What I accomplished last week (the week before):

the Christmas quilt

Goals for next week:

work on Winter 2012 projects~the Admirals quilt

Here is the sampling for the +20 yards! Look! It didn't even make it to the sewing room as it is piled on the longarm table... I am looking forward to tomorrow and the first stash report where I will be at zero across the board!

Winter 2012 To Sew List

2011-12-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

My Winter 2012 Sewing List...in no particular order:

Personal

DS birthday gift...January 2nd Birthday!
grocery bags
Cher's Sister's Panel Challenge
place mats: January, February and March
Admirals flag
Scott Valentine's photo album cover
Admirals Auction quilt and bag
DH's co-worker Baby quilt A
DH's co-worker Baby quilt B
Mr. Hezzie quilt
Fishi quilt

UFO's

Cub pals' wall hanging
red embroidery wall hanging
blue fq wicked easy quilt
Everglades panel quilt
Quilt Expo 2011 kit
class quilt~blue ridge beauty
class quilt~virginia bound

Mix in a few donation quilts here and there and I should stay busy until Spring 2012!

This time I am going to post a list in the sewing room...teehee....

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

May you have a joyous and peaceful Holiday Season!

Fall 2011 Re-Cap

2011-12-23T08:19:00.002-06:00

My Fall 2011 *To Sew* List

Personal

OQG Ugly Fabric challenge due October 2011:DONE!
LCQG Paint Chip challenge due December 2011:DONE!
LCQG Mystery quilt due January 2012:CONTINUING! new due date: March 2012
grocery bags
hockey lace bracelets :CONTINUING!
Cher's Sisters' Panel challenge due January 2012~tenative
place mats w/ table runner: Halloween:DONE!, Christmas:DONE! and January
assorted Holiday gifts:DONE!
FAB birthday gift due November 2011 :DONE!
Packers flag:DONE!
Admirals flag
Admirals photo album cover

*OQG=Oconomowoc Quilt Guild
*LCQG=Lake Country Quilt Guild

UFO's

Cub pals' wall hanging
red embroidery wall hanging
blue fq wicked easy quilt
Everglades panel quilt
Quilt Expo 2011 kit
Construction staggered bricks:DONE!
class quilt~blue ridge beauty
class quilt~virginia bound

I was wondering *why* I have not been very motivated in the sewing room this quarter...I discovered the *why* last night. I found my Fall 2011 *To Sew* List under a pile of magazines in the kitchen! No wonder! I usually tape it to the cupboard to help me keep track of my progress.

I'm a *LIST CROSS-ER OFF-ER*!

I actually made progress on my list and also completed a couple of QOV's for Alycia to replenish her cupboard. So all in all~not too bad. I'll be back next week with my Winter 2012 *To Sew* List...

2011-12-22T08:57:00.004-06:00

The Winter Solstice arrived last night here at Bell Creek Quilts. I'll be back later with a review of my Fall 2011 *To Sew* List and work up a Winter 2012 *To Sew* List.

graphic google imaged searched here.

Christmas Treasures Finished!

2011-12-22T07:22:00.003-06:00

Just in time!

The Christmas Treasures quilt is finished! This is the fourth in a series of Treasure Quilts I have been making to gift to my family. The Blue Treasures here. The Green Treasures here. The Purple Treasures here.

I quilted it with Curly Hearts from Lorien Quilting.

WIP Wednesday

2011-12-21T06:30:00.000-06:00

The Christmas Quilt is a flimsy! woohoo! Enjoying the familiar *rush* of having completed a flimsy. :)

These blocks are based loosely on this Chaos Crumb Block tutorial, found here. There are many different tutorials out in blogland to make this type of crumb block.

A Little More While I Was Away...

2011-12-20T09:39:00.001-06:00

...from blogging...I made 17 blue hockey skate lace bracelets. I also started this *cookie* thing. I make cookies for the girl,T that escorts the players to the autograph corner and for the players, too. Each one has the ooportunity to accept a bag of 6 cookies! Currently, *T* has enjoyed all 6 bags and 4 out of 8 players have taken the cookies. Robert Slaney was so funny! He started munching on the cookies right away! He looked very hungry after the game!!

I am merely keeping count on the blog as it is easier to reference written here than anywhere else. :)

note to self: 108 in lace yields 17~6.5 inch cut lace. elastic cut at 2 inches

just a little hockey biz... :)

Oconomowoc Quilt Guild Exchange

2011-12-20T09:26:00.000-06:00

Last year I got into trouble at the Oconomowoc Quilt guild because I gave *too nice* of a gift!

This year, I shifted through the sewing room and found 4 fq's of flannels that I will never use and this Santa suit coffee mug. Well, the Santa suit mug was in one of the Christmas boxes. Combined with some candy canes~I can only hope that this is *trashy enough* for the Oconomowoc Quilt Guild. Perhaps this is another example of *One quilter's trash is another quilter's treasure*?!

Hope whomever receives it~likes flannel.

tee-hee and Merry Christmas! :)

This is the *trash* I picked out! Trash or Joy?!

We were all asked to bring in a dozen cookies for the snack. Any leftovers are being donated to the staff at the church where we meet. Usually this is a very lightly attended meeting but LOADS of fun... I decided to make my Seven Layer Bars that I traditionally take to our families during the Holidays and and merely *snuck* 12 onto a donation plate. :) Now my *treats* are ready to travel! Check one more thing off the *To Do* List!

~SWEET~

Design Wall Monday

2011-12-19T09:12:00.001-06:00

The Christmas quilt is starting to come together! woohoo!

I have errands to run this morning but I really need to get back to the assembly today!

Stash Report Week #51

2011-12-19T08:04:00.000-06:00

Nothing in. Nothing out. Numbers stay the same.

Motivation stays low. I did manage to sew a few blocks on the Christmas quilt, though.

Goals for next week:

Finish Christmas quilt~needs to be gifted on Saturday!

Stash Report Week #50

2011-12-15T07:09:00.001-06:00

Well, the little one told me that I needed to update the blog. Our main computer is in for a cleaning and de-virusing so I am running with the tablet! Let's see how I do! My fingers seem a bit large for the keys....lol!

Fabric added this week: +10 yards. Ouch!
Fabric added this year: +243.5 yards

Fabric used this week: 0 yards
Fabric used this year: -268 yards

Net fabric for the year: -24.5 yards

What I accomplished this week:
Made Lake Country Quilt guild gift...water bottle cover
Made red coiled trivets
Started family Christmas quilt
Made flying geese for Lake Country mystery

Goals for this week:
Continue working on family Christmas quilt

Lake Country Guild Exchange

2011-12-07T16:57:00.001-06:00

I made a water bottle cover together with a Thermos stainless steel water bottle. :)

I received this cool stocking filled with all sorts of goodies. Chocolate caramels, tea, Hersey kisses and candy canes...yum!

This is the snack I shared as suggested by DD, the Dirt Pudding dessert...double yum!

WIP Wednesday

2011-12-07T16:47:00.001-06:00

Well, I made it back to the sewing room today.

I made the second coiled trivet for my table. The red pattern is the same fabric as in this cookies in the jar. Hardly looks the same, right?!

I also managed to push a few buttons and fabric arrived at my door step.
+10 yards hockey for backing of two donation quilts~neither of which I have started and both are *due* shortly after the new year!

This week I have been concentrating on making Christmas cards. I have all the components ready. Next is to address and sign...

Stash Report Week #48 and #49

2011-12-07T15:46:00.001-06:00

Very late and a little late so I thought I would combine the two stash reports. Thanksgiving weekend I was away and last week was a blur~the only thing I accomplished was to finish the binding on my Holiday place mats.

fabric added week #48/49: 0 yards
fabric added year to date: +233.5 yards

fabric used week #48/49: -7.5 yards
fabric used year to date: -268 yards

net fabric for the year: -34.5 yards

What I accomplished (two weeks):

finished and mailed Norma's Birthday Gift~shhhhh....it's a secret! :)
completed binding on the Holiday place mats

Goals for this week:

make Lake Country Guild Gift
sew another coil trivet
work on next clue for Lake Country mystery
start family Christmas quilt

Finally a Finish!

2011-12-04T09:34:00.001-06:00

Finished my Holiday place mats~just in the nick of time!

We almost have the inside of the house decorated for the Holidays~only my lighted garland is missing. And I would NOT BE surprised if I had tossed it. It was getting pretty thin after many years of display!

Tall bottle jar pattern found here.

Not Much Sewing Happening Here...

2011-11-29T15:21:00.001-06:00

...I did bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies. yum. The jar was full to the top but some *cookie* gremlins have been helping themselves! :)

...I did make 15 skate lace bracelets.

Note to self: I used black waxed laces, cut at 6.5 inches. 3/8 inch black elastic cut at 2.0 inches.

Not too thrilling...maybe some sewing tomorrow!

Happy US Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T06:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating!

Happy Birthday to my friend Norma! Hope you have a FABulous Day!

birthday banner from Google image search here.

WIP Wednesday

2011-11-23T08:03:00.001-06:00

I finished up a few *things* so far this week:

First: I finished my pal, Norma's birthday giftie! woohoo! Next step is to find a box for shipping!

Second: I made labels and sewed them onto the two QOV's that were here. Yes! were! FedEx was open until 9:00 pm last night so after supper, off we went to drop the QOV's. They are on their journey to their forever homes! I decided to try stamping on the fabric for a label. Something a little different~not real sure that I like it. Always fun to have lots of options for the labeling task. :)

Third: I machine sewed the bindings onto my Holiday Jars place mats. That leaves the hand work that can travel. woohoo!

Holiday Jar pattern found here.

Stash Update Week #47

2011-11-20T10:09:00.001-06:00

I had a finish! but I also added some backing fabric.

fabric added this week: +4 yards
fabric added this year: +233.5 yards

fabric used this week: -12.5 yards
fabric used this year: -260.5 yards

net fabric for the year: -27 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

quilted and bound Bricks quilt
pieced Holiday Jars
worked on FAB Norma's birthday gift

Goals for this week:

label QOV quilts and send to Alycia
bind Holiday Jars
continue with FAB Norma's birthday gift

Holiday Jar Progress

2011-11-19T06:30:00.000-06:00

I am making progress on my next set of placemats.

A set of Holiday Jars filled with wonderful Holiday *things*!

Tall jar block pattern found here.

A Finish

2011-11-18T16:05:00.001-06:00

Hot off the needle~well...this morning I took the final stitches in the binding. Next it needs a label then will make it's way to Alycia's QOV pantry.
The front of the bricks quilt.

The pieced back. Now I only have the scraps left.

woo-hoo!

WIP Wednesday

2011-11-16T12:48:00.001-06:00

The Back of the Quilt~I thought this would be so much more interesting! I dug all the strips back out and cut more 6 1/2 inch bricks. Starting piecing to build the back to width. Unfortunately, some same fabric landed next to each other. :(

The popcorn quilting on the back. This homespun was also in the Land O'Lakes bin so it is only fitting that it is the backing for this Land O'Lakes Bricks quilt.

I still need to hand sew back the binding and label...tomorrow, I hope.

This morning I was sewing on a FAB Birthday giftie. :)

A Fun Give Away

2011-11-14T07:16:00.001-06:00

Connecting Threads is giving away $50 gift certificates. Hop on over to this page to find out how to enter.

I had fun dropping items in my wish list~they have some yummy fabric but I like to shop for blenders in the clearance section. Here is my wish list. :)

Good Luck if you enter! and I have way more than 50 bucks on my wish list and only visited books and clearance fabric! :)

Stash Update Week #46

2011-11-14T06:38:00.001-06:00

I was dreading this report, put it off but here it is! I had one finish and I won a Kate Spain 12 Days of Christmas fat quarter tower. wowza!

fabric added this week: +12 yards
fabric added this year: +229.5 yards

fabric used this week: -8 yards
fabric used this year: -248 yards

net fabric for the year: -10.5 yards

What I accomplished this week:

quilt and bound Minnesota Hot Dish~QOV

Goals for next week

quilt and bind Bricks~QOV
work on *secret projects*
work on next step of the Lake Country Quilt Guild mystery

Never Say Never

2011-11-12T10:20:00.001-06:00

I was so excited when I found this bag!

I peeked inside and there was a piece of homespun on the top...I knew I had found the leftovers from this quilt I made with the Land O'Lakes Quilt Guild fabric. When I moved from Texas to Wisconsin about 5 years ago~I tried to return the fabric but alas, it moved with me. I thought it would be fun to try and make something with the homespuns that I could send it off to Alycia for her QOV pantry. Yes, crazy me, I made a rag quilt as a donation~hey it was 2005, I was still a newbie and I thought only rag quilts were made from homespuns!

I'm currently digging in the sewing room to find UFO's to finish and send to Alycia.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered the leftovers from this strippy quilt! pattern here. Teals, browns and leaves, oh my!

(DD is my quilt holder...circa 2005)

I removed the leaves, added a few of my *beauties* and made a Bricks quilt. Most of the strips were already cut at 3.5 inches so I just further chopped them to 6.5 inch bricks. I tried to alternate between a teal and brown/or navy. My mind must have wondered as the zig zags are not lining up...but I do kinda like it even though I would not have chosen this color pallet.

I said that I would NEVER make a Bricks Quilt. Well, my fiends, I learned NEVER SAY NEVER!

Let's save the story of the back for another post...my only hint is that I had to *dig out* the leaves, oh my! :)

Happy Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T10:05:00.001-06:00

11-11-11 Happy Veteran's Day!

THANKS to all who have served our country! You ROCK!

a special THANKS to all the current servicemen and women who are serving! You ROCK!

another THANKS for all who will join the military in the future! You ROCK!

My post recent finish~ a Quilt of Valor. This one will be sent to Alycia to help fill her QOV pantry. :) I'm still digging into my UFO's for projects to finish and send along to Alycia.

pattern: Minnesota Hot Dish by Atkinson Designs

panto: popcorn from Willow Leaf Studio

I Am Lucky!

2011-11-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

In October, I had linked up with Kate at Swim, Bike Quilt for her 100 Quilts for Kids campaign. I had sent 5 quilts to Margaret's Hope Chest this past fall.

I was one of the lucky winners! A FQ bundle from Kate Spain~12 Days of Christmas. Very Cool. It's like 100 yards of fabric into the stash this week, right?! lol. Seriously, thanks to Kate and her 100 Quilts for Kids campaign and thanks to Kate Spain for such a wonderful gift!

Actually, I feel the kids that receive a quilt are the winners! :)

WIP Wednesday~Late Edition

2011-11-09T20:00:00.001-06:00

Well~the snow arrived at Bell Creek Quilts this afternoon. No accumulation but enough to *know* winter will be here soon!

I started sewing back the binding on the next quilt. I'm about halfway done...then it was dinner and laundry time. :)

Design Wall Monday

2011-11-07T08:02:00.001-06:00

Well, after looking at my Minnesota Hot Dish on the design wall for two weeks~I decided it really wasn't working for a quilt for me. So I sewed up a few more blocks, added an inner and outer border and ta-da!

A Quilt of Valor ready to be quilted and bound! I am much happier with this top now. :)

Did you hear that Alycia's QOV cupboard is bare? Both JudyL and Vicky are offering prizes for completed quilts sent to Alycia between now and the end of the year! Judy's prizes here and Vicky's prizes here. It was just the incentive to turn this quilt I wasn't to crazy about for me into a QOV.

Visit JudyL's Patchwork Times for more inspiration from Design Wall Monday.

Minnesota Hot Dish pattern by Atkinson Designs.

Stash Report Week #45

2011-11-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

I did sew this week! fun! I also added to the stash and had a few small finishes.

fabric added this week: +1.5 yards
fabric added this year: +217.5 yards

fabric used this week: -1 yard
fabric used this year: -241 yards

net fabric for the year: -23.5 yards

What I accomplished this week:

*SS* binder cover
hockey binder cover
Holiday jar blocks

Goals for next week:

work on Minnesota Host Dish pattern by Atkinson Designs
work on *Super Secret Birthday* project

Hop over to JudyL's Patchwork Times to see other bloggers' stash reports.

The Holidays are Just Around the Corner!

2011-11-05T13:46:00.001-05:00

I wanted to make a few place mats for the upcoming Holiday season.

So I purchased +1.5 yards of Holiday fabric.

And it turned into Tall Jar quilt blocks. Each place mat will have two jars on it. I'm still thinking about an outer border/sashing fabric. The choice might be as simple as *what* is in the cupboard! I'm leaning towards beige, I think. :) It turned out that I actually had a little Holiday stash that I also used in my jars.

Tall Jar quilt block found here.

Hockey Photo Album

2011-11-03T10:24:00.001-05:00

I decided to separate out my quilt guilds from the Milwaukee Admirals in my binder. So~I purchased another binder...on clearance...and made a cover.

Here it is. No matter how many times I make these covers and *think* I have the construction down, well, something runs amok! This one is just a tad short~top to bottom. It's for me so I can live with it. I was very happy when the Social Studies binder cover fit better. :)

I used the string heart tutorial from Sophie Junction, found here. My heart is a little wonkier than Sophie's. The *I* was free pieced a la Toni Ricucci.

WIP Wednesday

2011-11-02T06:30:00.000-05:00

DD's friend asked if I would make her a cover for her Social Studies notebook. Her only requirement was that I use bright fabric!

The 'SS' looks a little like '55', if you ask me. When free piecing, I never *know* exactly *what* the letters will turn out exactly.

I used a few of the extra strips to piece the backside of the notebook. I used black poodles on teal background for the inside...

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T06:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween to all ghosts and goblins out in blogland! :)

Design Wall Monday

2011-10-31T06:00:00.001-05:00

No change to the design wall.

Minnesota Hot Dish by Atkinson Designs.

Stash Update Week #44

2011-10-30T09:38:00.003-05:00

No sewing this week! :( I did manage to shop a little.

fabric added this week: +6 yards
fabric added this year: +216 yards

fabric used this week: 0 yards
fabric used this year: -240 yards

net fabric for the year: -24 yards

What I accomplished this week:

no sewing :( (can you tell I am sad?!)

Goals for next week:

sew :)

My Week...

2011-10-29T13:26:00.001-05:00

...and no sewing. :(

Well! What's been happening?!

Pumpkin carving.

Pumpkin seed roasting. I'd share the link but these are going to hit the garbage. :(

The Christmas card mock ups.

DD's

Mine

Chocolate chip cookie making...

...and tasting. :) I just drank coffee as I was sampling as they came out of the oven.

In this school district the kids go to *camp* in the 7th grade~this year for DD. My son went in 5th grade when we lived in Michigan. The *camp* group is having a bake sale fundraiser on November 1 and 2 in conjunction with the 8th grade play and the 7th grade parents were asked to donate 4 dozen chocolate chip cookies. Since it has been like forever since I baked a batch~I thought I better have a dry run to *see* what tweaking to the recipe needs to be done! DD was very surprised that I owned a cookie jar~what does that tell you?! and it 'HAS COWS! MOM! C'MON!' Her words not mine...DH has worked in the dairy business for the last 24 or so years...we have lots of stuff with cows on it. :)

WIP...

2011-10-27T16:24:00.000-05:00

...I'm not sure what DAY it is! Does that ever happen to you?! Way too often, maybe?!

I made a few really cute Halloween cards~I'd show you a picture but I, er, mailed them without a glamour shot. :(

I made a few Thank You cards for the FAB's. Er, they got mailed without a glamour shot, too. :(

I made another Thank You for Great Grandma.

Here is it's glamour shot. :)

I did shop. More blues and w.o.w.'s.

+6 yards.

DD hurt her Achilles tendon about 10 days ago. It was still hurting so it was a trip to the orthopedic doctor today. She came away with a boot and a *no gym* note good until November 14th! Let's hope her soft tissue injury heals by then!

Daisy dog has been holding her left front paw off the ground and not putting any weight on it. Since it is her 6 month *old lady* check up time...off we went to the vet today, too. Diagnosis~soft tissue injury...just like DD! She came away with a *no gym* note good until November 7th and potty on a leash. We normally just let her wander around the yard to *find a spot* but since we have wild animals close~the doctor doesn't want her chasing the deer, rabbits or squirrels and re-injure her leg. No boot for Daisy Dog. :)

Hopefully some sewing will be happening in the new future. :)

That's my story and I am sticking to it! :)

My FAB-ulous Birthday PAR-ty

2011-10-25T16:04:00.001-05:00

This year, my online sewing group, The FAB's,gather for FAB-ulous Birthday PAR-ties and sewing! We meet close to each member's birthday online where the birthday FAB opens gifts we have given to her and sew a pattern of her choice. (or sometimes, one is *pardoned* from the group pattern as *she* might have something else *she* needs to sew!)

Last Saturday was MY DAY! :)

My gifts:

From Cher: this wonderful winter wall hanging! I'm going to add a sleeve and hang it in my family room in a new spot for quilts just this size. And it co-ordinates beautifully with the winter wall hanging for my kitchen. Come January~I'll show them both. Cher also sent a ton of other goodies in her box that I didn't take pictures of...a cool tote bag, a baggie full of candy bars to share, cathedral windows notecards, fabric and two shop samples for me to practice my quilting on! Thanks, Cher! It all is wonderful!

From Linda: this awesome wall hanging! with all the elements Linda LOVES and I appreciate! (ie: applique!) November 1st it will be hanging in my family room! Linda also sent my some yellow scraps as I mentioned the yellow was running low ?! She also sent a bin full of trail mix with M&M's, nuts and candy corn. yes! candy.corn! soon the trail mix will only have M&M's and the nuts! lol

From Norma: are you ready?! this tote bag! made out of FAB purples and the batiks Norma loves. My guild notebooks will be traveling in style now. to the right~a bag of coffee crisp nuggets. talk about yummy! sinful! I need to be careful or my weight will be off the charts at my Doctor's appointment next week! but watch out after...lol

From Pam: my glamour shot...not! Pam's gifts were cupcake theme. This adorable apron~check out the ric rac and a cupcake hot pad. Pam also sent some cupcake sprinkles and liners in her package.

The pattern we worked on is the Minnesota Hot Dish, shown here.

Thanks my FAB-ulous friends for a FAB-ulous Birthday PAR-ty! Miss Norma is next in November!

A Patriotic Give Away

2011-10-24T10:56:00.002-05:00

Joanne at Everyone Deserves a Quilt is hosting a Patriotic Give Away!

If you are interested in making a QOV to donate~this prize package would be a great jump off point!

Need more inspiration for QOV's? Check out Joanne's 15 Honor Flight quilts she donated. Totally Awesome!

Design Wall Monday

2011-10-24T06:30:00.000-05:00

Started a new quilt at the sew-in with my FAB friends on Saturday to celebrate my birthday!

Minnesota Hot Dish by Atkinson Designs. One source here, here or here. I didn't see it on the Atkinson Designs website.

Stash Update Week #43

2011-10-23T09:44:00.001-05:00

Fabric added this week: +4 yards
Fabric added this year: +210 yards

Fabric used this week: -9 yards
Fabric used this year: -240 yards

Net fabric for the year: -30 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

finished Halloween place mats and tablerunner
quilt and bound Kitty Staggered Bricks~a NICU quilt
quilt and bound Balloon Pinwheel w/ Ribbon border~a NICU quilt

Goals for next week:

continue piecing blocks for Minnesota Hot Dish

note: the +4 yards was background for the Minnesota Hot Dish but it didn't *play nicely* with the border fabric. :( but I will find another home (or maybe homes!) for the yardage...

A Couple of NICU Quilts

2011-10-20T15:16:00.001-05:00

I finished the two NICU quilts just in time to be donated tonight!

The first one, orginally blogged about here, used the *ugly* fabric of the green. Right?! I didn't think it was ugly at all. I did change the border out~trying for more of a contrast. The pattern is Staggered Bricks from my friend, LindaJ's blog.

The curly heart panto.

The next one...ummm...I was going to rip out the inner border and put *something with more contrast* but DS said that he liked it the way it is. He liked that the border flowed into the quit center. :)
My goal in this quilt was to use the balloon fabric~given to me at guild~ and try the ribbon border. Tutorial found here. I originally blogged about it way back in June, here.

One more time, practicing the curly heart panto. :)

My Halloween Finish

2011-10-18T20:49:00.001-05:00

and Halloween is 13 days away!

The place mats inspiration found here.

The table runner pattern: Frame Up from Pieced Tree Patterns.

Design Wall Monday

2011-10-17T17:57:00.003-05:00

Not exactly a design wall but this is what I am currently working on, My Halloween place mats. I finished the straight line quilting today and made/applied the binding. Now to do the hand sewing!

Pattern inspiration found here.

Stash Update Week #42

2011-10-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

whew! just had a finish late last night while I was listening to the Milwaukee Admirals hockey game! yeah~the Pesky Ads won in a shoot out! :) 3 wins and 0 losses in this young season!

fabric added this week: 0 yards
fabric added this year: +206 yards

fabric used this week: -6 yards
fabric used this year: -231 yards

net fabric for the year: -25 yards

What I accomplished this week:

completed Simba's Rainbow

Goals for next week:

continue working on Halloween place mats
quilt and bind NICU/Ugly fabric quilt

Hop on over to JudyL's Patchwork Times to check out other bloggers' Stash Updates.

A Quilt for Simba

2011-10-15T21:46:00.000-05:00

Just in time for this week's stash report. A quilt for Simba to, ahem, be on instead of the carpet when out of his cage.

I'm making a dent in the scrap bins...orange and purple are low while the reds are boring~more of the same fabrics~if you *know* what I mean! :) The yellows are more gold than yellow. Tons of blues and greens. Moderate amounts of black, grey, white, brown and beige.

The popcorn quilting.

The buck-a-yard backing. fungly in it's glory...the fabric is kinda growing on me... :)

Hockey Season!

2011-10-14T10:52:00.001-05:00

Tonight the puck drops for the Milwaukee Admirals! First home game of the season!

I was asked to make the hockey lace bracelets.

DD suggested the pink hockey lace bracelets for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. :)

and since I refer to my blog to refresh my memory...some facts about the hockey lace bracelets...

Supplies needed:

small cut at 6.0 inches
bigger cut at 6.5 inches
3/8 inch braided black elastic cut at 2.0 inches
thread to match hockey lace
fray check

blue=11
black=12
white=11
yellow=8
pink=12

WIP Wednesday~100 Quilts for Kids Link Up

2011-10-12T08:32:00.002-05:00

Today's post is the 5th quilt I have sent to Margaret's Hope Chest. Carol emailed me and said that their November 5th date is a *go* because they have enough quilts to share that day but they would love more for future prison dates. I think I can find some more *kid friendly* fabric in my stash for another quilt!

I'm linking up with Kate from Swim, Bike Quilt for her 2011 100 Quilts for Kids.

Oh NO!

2011-10-11T06:30:00.000-05:00

My retractable scissor lanyard broke this weekend!

Well, Lori, I used it sooo much that it gave up the ghost! :(

It was a gift from Lori when I first got my longarm.

Thanks Lori! It was wonderful!

Happy Thanksgiving Canada and a Give Away!

2011-10-10T10:12:00.000-05:00

Linda at Stray Stitches is having a give away~hop on over and check it out! can you say, 'Fat Quarter Shop Fat Quarter Bundle' three times, real fast?! Linda has some interesting facts about Thanksgiving, too. (and this totally cool graphic that I stole...:)...sorry, Linda~I couldn't resist. Hurry over to Linda's and check out her give away...

Happy Thanksgiving to all Canadians!

Design Wall Monday

2011-10-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

Halloween place mats and table runner are on my design wall to start the week.

Place mats inspiration found here.

Pattern for the table runner found here.

Hop on over to JudyL's Patchwork Times for more Design Wall Monday inspiration.

Stash Update Week #41

2011-10-09T10:32:00.003-05:00

I finished a few projects and I added a little bit.

fabric added this week: +3 yards
fabric added this year: +206 yards

fabric used this week: -5.5 yards
fabric used this year: -225 yards

net fabric for the year: -19 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

completed Construction Bricks (and it's at Margaret's Hope Chest!)
Packer flag

Goals for next week:

continue work on Simba's Rainbow
Halloween place mats and table runner
hockey lace bracelets
make a few birthday cards~someone I know has a birthday soon! :)

Hop on over to JudyL's Patchwork Times to see other Stash Updates

A Finish is a Finish!

2011-10-08T13:13:00.000-05:00

I sewed the binding back last night during the Brewers' game and added the tabs this morning. I suppose it should be a Milwaukee Brewers' flag as they have advanced to the next round of the playoffs~yea, Brew Crew! The Crew will be playing against LindaJ's favorite team, the St. Louis Cardinals. But, I didn't have a Brewers t*shirt that I wanted to turn into a flag~maybe next season! :)

This Packer t*shirt is a reject from this quilt here...with the rejected t*shirt and the final quilt.

WIP Wednesday

2011-10-05T13:13:00.000-05:00

Doing what I put off for way tooooo long...sewing on labels for a few of the Margaret's Hope Chest quilts. My quilts are added to the totals for the 100 Quilts for Kids campaign at Kate's Swim, Bike, Quilt blog. See my donations here and here.

Why 'Bell Creek Quilts'?

2011-10-04T10:34:00.001-05:00

Dawn at 'As Sweet as Cinnamon' is hosting a give away.

All you need to do is: post why you named your blog it's name then link up with her. That's easy!

I named my blog Bell Creek Quilts because:

I grew up close to the Bell Creek branch of the Rouge River in Michigan
Creeks usually are a place of peacefulness and calmness to me
Quilts...well, I started out making quilts to post about but my *real* life filters in every now and again as well as some of my other creative endeavors~like card making and scrapbooking.

I was Google searching for a cool picture of Bell Creek but I couldn't find one I liked. :(

Instead, a picture of the Bell Creek in my mind. :)

from Google Image Search

100 Quilts for Kids~Part 2

2011-10-04T07:52:00.002-05:00

I finished the Construction Staggered Bricks which I will link to the next 100 Quilts for Kids Linky Party in mid October over at Kate's Swim, Bike, Quilt blog. I just missed the deadline for the first Linky Party.

Thanks to my friend, LindaJ for helping with this pattern. It really is easy breezy and goes together fast! I love the staggered bricks look! :)

The Inkblot quilting.

I found this fun backing for it with all sorts of street signs in the stash.

Design Wall Monday

2011-10-03T14:07:00.000-05:00

The start of another rainbow crumb quilt, which, by the way, was not on *the list*!

This will be for Simba to use rather than a quilt my son received as a baby shower gift 21 years ago. :)

Stash Report Week #40

2011-10-02T15:30:00.002-05:00

I brought a little for future projects but had no finishes. :( I am getting close to a finish, though. :)

fabric added this week: +3 yards
fabric added this year: +203 yards

fabric used this week: 0 yards
fabric used this year: - 219.5 yards

net fabric for the year: - 16.5 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

pieced and quilted Construction Bricks

Goals for next week:

bind Construction Bricks

I did hang my last year's birthday gift from LindaJ~this wonderful Halloween Wall Hanging!

I LOVE IT TODAY as much as LAST YEAR!

Welcome to Our Family...

2011-09-30T11:42:00.000-05:00

...yet to be named male guinea pig, belonging to DD.

Personally, I like the names *Bob* and *Latte*. I think he kinda looks like a carmel latte!

DD likes the name *Ky*.

DH and DS have yet to weigh in on names...

WIP Wednesday~Link Up

2011-09-28T14:28:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day to link up with Katie from Swim, Bike, Quilt for the 100 Quilts for Kids quilt drive! Here are the four quilts that are ready to be mailed to Margaret's Hope Chest.

The Black and Grey 4 Patch Posie.

Animals in Boxes Twin A.

Animals in Boxes Twin B.

Racing Sailboats.

If you want to see quilts that other bloggers are donating, this link to Katie's Swim, Bike, Quilt will take you to the link up. :)

FALL 2011 TO SEW LIST

2011-09-27T16:47:00.000-05:00

Here it is! in no particular order...as insane as it is...it is what it is...

Personal

OQG Ugly Fabric challenge due October 2011
LCQG Paint Chip challenge due December 2011
LCQG Mystery quilt due January 2012
grocery bags
hockey lace bracelets
Cher's Sisters' Panel challenge due January 2012~tenative
place mats w/ table runner: Halloween, Christmas and January
assorted Holiday gifts
FAB birthday gift due November 2011
Packers flag
Admirals flag
Admirals photo album cover

*OQG=Oconomowoc Quilt Guild
*LCQG=Lake Country Quilt Guild

UFO's

Cub pals' wall hanging
red embroidery wall hanging
blue fq wicked easy quilt
Everglades panel quilt
Quilt Expo 2011 kit
Construction staggered bricks
class quilt~blue ridge beauty
class quilt~virginia bound

Guess I better nap then head to the fabric store cuz it looks like I am going to need MORE fabric! :)

Design Wall Tuesday???!

2011-09-27T11:37:00.003-05:00

The beginnings of a Staggered Bricks quilt top. First seen on my pal's LindaJ's blog. here.

The Construction Staggered bricks finished to a flimsy.

Stash Report Week #40

2011-09-25T09:15:00.003-05:00

An even week for me. :) no changes in my numbers.

fabric added this week: +2 yards (1 yard white, 1 yard black)
fabric added this year: +200 yards

fabric used this week: -2 yards
fabric used this year: -219.5 yards

net fabric for the year: -19.5 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

pieced orange/green hot pads
pieced 4 fall place mats and 1 table runner

Goals for next week:

continue piecing quilt for Margaret's Hope Chest
start on Halloween place mats/table runner

The Great Egg Experiment Part 2

2011-09-25T09:09:00.005-05:00

The egg balanced on end Saturday, too. :(

Wonder if it balances everyday?!

The Great Egg Experiment

2011-09-23T16:32:00.000-05:00

DD tried inside the house and the egg kept tipping over.

DD tried outside.

One egg.

More eggs.

Two neighbor's eggs.

Meet us here same time, same place tomorrow to see if the *Eggs Stand on End*. The Great Egg Experiment Continues...

Autumnal Solstice

2011-09-23T10:52:00.001-05:00

September 23, 2011 is the Autumnal Solstice.

image found here.

DD wants to try balancing a raw egg on it's pointed edge~good luck with that, sweetie!

Time for me to review my Summer 2011 *To Sew* List.

Looks like some of the more peskier projects are hanging around, still. Next week~it will be done! I finished most of the bigger items and a few items that never made it to the list. All in all...I happy with the progress made in the sewing room over the summer. Even though I still continue to buy fabric~I am noticing more room on the shelves. And THAT is a very good thing, indeed. :)

I'll be back next week with a list of sewing goals for Fall 2011. I need to put some more thought into it as we approach the Holiday season and it's sewing. Later, 'gators!

WIP Wednesday

2011-09-21T06:30:00.000-05:00

I finished sewing the miles of binding back for my place mats and table runner.

I was disappointed in the quilting of the table runner so I quilted some more on Baby Brother. I have some tucks and puckers~that are on the front! Then I remember that this is the purpose of this table runner. Ummm~can hardly notice those tucks and puckers with all the *stuff* on it! :)

place mat inspiration found here.

table runner: Frame Up for Pieced Tree Patterns

Note to self:

With my dishes the place mats need about 4 inches added to the width. Height seems okay.

Current size: 14 x 17

Help me...

2011-09-20T13:49:00.003-05:00

...I've been sewing in circles! :)

technique by: Susan Breier

Design Wall Monday

2011-09-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

On the design wall today, my fall place mats and table runner. I think next time, I will make my skinny strip even skinnier. I didn't have enough of either focus fabric for four place mats so I am going to be rocking *the mix and match* look for fall. :)

place mat inspiration found here.

table runner pattern: Frame Up by Pieced Tree Patterns.

Stash Update Week #39

2011-09-18T07:40:00.000-05:00

Another week has gone by and another report to add. :) I shopped a little and I had a few finishes.

Fabric added this week: +5 yards
Fabric added this year: +198 yards

Fabric used this week: -13.5 yards
Fabric used this year: -217.5 yards

Net fabric this year: -19.5 yards (used!)

What I accomplished this week:

made 8 Cancer Recover bags
pieced, quilt and bound *Racing Sail Boats*

Goals for next week:

make place mats!

DH commented that perhaps, it was time to use place mats again.
WooHoo! I'll be making seasonal place mats for awhile. :)

The stash addition: Some Halloween for place mats and muslin for backings.
+5 yards.

Racing Sail Boats

2011-09-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

In between my two guild meetings yesterday, I was able to finish sewing back the binding on *Racing Sail Boats*.

Thanks to LindaJ, who helped me with the pattern and Pam, who named the quilt. :)

Why I really finished *Racing Sail Boats* so quickly was because I was challenged to make *something * with the star and stripes backing fabric. I had won it in a draw in July at the Oconomowoc Quilt Guild. The stars/stripes fabric feels more like a homespun but it was a Moda on the selvage. Won't my friend, Sharon be surprised that I actually accomplished the challenge!

The Ebb and Flow pantograph from Lorien Quilting.

This one will be for *100 Quilts for Kids* as I will be sending it to Margaret's Hope Chest.

Both Guilds?! Really?!

2011-09-15T22:55:00.002-05:00

As Shrek would say, "Really, Really!"

Both the Lake Country Guild and the Oconomowoc Quilt Guild are hosting UFO Challenges this sewing year.

Why don't y'all just knock me on the side of the head with a two by four....really?!

Two UFO Challenges running concurrently! As least I get to 'double dip' if I should elect to participate. :) UFO image found here.

I feel this should be my new motto. That is, after I un-earth all my UFO's and decide which ones I will try to complete in the next sewing year. Sewing image found here.

REALLY?! Two UFO Challenges?! I'm speechless...

Key Leash

2011-09-15T15:19:00.001-05:00

As I was trolling the web last night and since my key leash is looking pretty sad, I decided to make a new one. Stephanie at Loft Creations posted this tutorial. I followed it~sorta. :) Next time I will need to find the fusible interfacing to stiffen up my key leash and maybe, follow her sewing instructions. :)

The blue snowflake is the old leash and the white on black polka dot is the new.

And yes, I am still rocking my Southlake Carroll Dragon's key chain~even though I have been gone from Southlake, Texas almost 5 years now! Doesn't seem that long ago, now does it?!

WIP Wednesday

2011-09-14T15:52:00.000-05:00

I quilted *Racing Sail Boats*~thanks Pam for the name!

I used the Ebb and Flow pantograph from Lorien Quilting.

I also made the binding. This is straight of grain because the stripes were printed on the diagonal. How cool is that? Will be interesting to *see* *how it goes*. :)

A Sewing Plan GONE Awry!

2011-09-13T15:45:00.001-05:00

My sewing plan went awry today! Has that ever happened to you?!

I planned one thing, did another, only to end up with something entirely different than expected! lol!

I was sewing up this staggered bricks that I first saw on LindaJ's blog. I had gotten fabric that I thought *went with* two different fabrics that would be the outer border. Then I decided it needed an inner border...black would do nicely, I thought. Well, I stuck this piece of black and white checkered fabric and wow! I really liked it. So~I thought~let's use the checkered fabric and I'll find some race cars in the cupboard. On went the checkered fabric...you guessed it! I must have used the race cars because I could NOT find any! ummm...the first two potential border fabric didn't look *right* with the checkered border so instead of rip...rip...rip...I found this other sailboat fabric. I had less than a yard so I needed to be creative with the cutting...then I cut it wrong! arggghhh.

Finished size for my Quilt Gone Awry: 46 x 64. Another *What WAS she thinking quilt* for me. :)

Design Wall Monday

2011-09-12T12:18:00.000-05:00

After our summer hiatus, my day guild meets this week. We supply cancer recovery totes to two local hospitals' Breast Cancer Treatment Centers. Sadly, I'm thinking the supply will be low.

So I made up a few bags. Well, I went a little overboard and made my personal donation quota for the whole year. :) Thanks to DD and DH being gone yesterday afternoon, I made up 5 bags and made three this morning.

Hop on over to JudyL's Patchwork Times to *see* other bloggers' Design Wall Monday.

Stash Update Week #38

2011-09-11T14:17:00.001-05:00

Some in, some out...a pretty balanced week.

fabric added this week: +5 yards
fabric added this year: +193 yards

fabric used this week: -13 yards
fabric used this year: -204 yards

net fabric for the year: -11 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

finished Animals in Boxes Twin A and Twin B!
sent 4 QOV's, 4 photojournals and 4 pillowcases to Alycia

Goals for next week:

continue sewing!!!!

My 9-11 Quilt

In Memory...

Of All Who Lost Their Lives in the Tragic Events of 9-11-2001

Of All Who Lost Loved Ones in the Tragic Events of 9-11-2001

Of All Who Lost Their Lives Fighting for Our Freedom

Of All Who Lost Loved Ones in the Fighting for Our Freedom

THANK YOU!