Another Finish...

Yayyyy!!! I have another finish for March's OPAM. I finished a pincushion for our pincushion swap on Block Central yesterday, and mailed it out today. It's my first "fancy" pincushion and gave me fits several times, but I think it turned out great for only my second pincushion ever. It's supposed to be a hibiscus flower. I'm not sure how true-to-life it is, but it looks like the picture, so I'm hoping ------ likes it. This is the top view
and this is the side view. It looks a little tipsy in the picture, but I think I straightened it out.

I also finally finished my burgundy fall purse that has been cut out for months. I'm using it now and it matches perfectly a jacket my friend, Barb, gave me. I cheated and used pre-quilted fabric, but I love the colors, so had to have it. This is the outside, this is the lining, and this is it all done and stuffed full of my junk! But it has lots of pockets for my "stuff", plus an outside pocket for my phone.

Today was Quilt Club at Joan's and Jane had her version of Burning the Midnight Oil's Fall Fancy all done! She is so fast--and it is gorgeous! She also finished a coffee-themed table topper and mini wallhanging.
But she was busy chatting, so Donna had to show them off for her, lol. Bonnie worked on her crazy chicken block, and Donna showed us her latest two house blocks. That quilt is going to be fabulous when it's all done--she is so meticulous. Ann brought a quilt she long-armed for a lady-Carolina Lily-very pretty. So many pretty things to look at. And today we exchanged secret pal gifts for Easter. I received a pair of Easter Bunny socks (to add to my holiday sock collection) and a darling Debbie Mumm Easter chick towel. I hung the towel right up when I got home and will wear my new socks for Easter Sunday. Plus the Easter card I received had a kitty with bunny ears on that looked like Katie. Too cute! What a fun day it was.

Until next time...
Happy Quilting from Sharon and Katie

Another Little Quilt Swap 4

Just got an email from Kate, who is going to have another round of her ALQS. This is round 4 and open to traditional and art quilts. I participated in ALQS2 and received a lovely log cabin quilt from Lisa in Australia. I love it--it's so bright and cheery. Brightens up those gloomy Upstate New York winter days. I sent my quilt to Margaret in Australia-whose seasons are the opposite of ours. Of course, Katie had to help with the making of our little quilt-she's the official thread-checker, lol. I can't wait to join in this round. If you're interested, stop over at Kate's blog for all the particulars. And check out the pictures from the first 3 swaps--some gorgeous stuff there! Click on her logo in my side bar-it will take you directly there.

Until next time...
Happy Quilting from Sharon and Katie

It's Update Time!

Out with old and in with the new...I've deleted a lot of the older BOM's and links from my side bar and added lots of new ones for you to explore. There are so many talented designers out there that freely donate their wonderful work to us, that I can spend hours exploring the web looking at and saving their fabulous creations. If you visit one of their websites and decide to keep and use any of their freebies, please make sure you leave a comment thanking them for their generosity.

I was invited to join a great group of gals for their weekly quilting club last month. Boy, do they do spectacular work. I'm going to show you some of their work from now on and you can enjoy it and be inspired by them like I am. Several of them did our LQS's BOM last year and here are their quilts. This is Ann's

and Gail's

and Joan's



Aren't they beautiful? And all just a little different and unique.

Here's some of Donna's work

Jane, who does my longarm quilting, just finished a baby quilt and made a whole bunch of St Patrick's Day table runners and toppers.
They are all so talented and they sure know how to have a good time; we laugh all day long at quilt club.

Have you been "Inspire-d" lately? The latest issue is packed full of Easter projects, plus lots of decorating articles. The previous 2 year's editions are still available online to read and download, also.

Katie says it's time for bed, so until next time....

Happy quilting from Sharon and Katie

Have you seen the new DIY DISH network?

I watched their first video episode last week and saved the pattern for a darling cake pincushion. These 2 girls look just like Marie Osmond's twin sisters--but they swear they're not related, lol. Every week is a new video episode and they have a blog that has more info about each episode. I think they have a hit if they keep up the standard they set with their first offering. Stop over and check out their blog, their home website, and watch their videos. Episode 2 is now up to view.

Just picked up 3 quilts that Jane quilted for me. They turned out great! She has such different patterns for her new quilting machine. I'll post pictures after I get them bound. You might want to stop by her site-it's still under construction-but she does beautiful work!

Been going to Quilt Club every Wednesday at Joan's and been working on lots of blocks for swaps. These are for Block Central and a beginning to a new quilt for me. The next blocks are for a baby quilt on the Quilt and Needle Forum-part of the Quilty Aunties program. What fun it is being an "honorary auntie" for all the new babies of forum members.

Finished my St. Paddy's Day wallhanging finally but never got it on the door.
But I'll be really decorated for next year with wallhangings and tablerunners and candle mats thanks to Jane and her quilting machine. Just need to add the bindings and I'm all done.

Now I have to finish my pincushion for Block Central's swap and get my Easter Egg blocks done for the swap there, also. This has been a busy two weeks, so I haven't gotten much accomplished. Have to buckle down and get busy. Katie's been disgusted with my gallivanting, so she's taken to her bed with her "Baby".

Until next time...
Happy Quilting from Sharon and Katie

A new quilt along is in the works....

over at Konda's blog, Moose on the Porch Quilts. Konda has written several patterns and books using charm packs and other pre-cut fabric packs, including the two I own, Simply Charming Seasons and Simply Charming Two. Now she's sponsoring a Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along! From her blog:
From March 1 to August 2, every other Monday, instructions for a new 12" block will be posted. All of the blocks will be made from jelly roll strips and yardage.
Each block will be designed by a different person. Every two weeks there will be a guest blogger on my blog introducing herself and her block. At the end, you will have made a fun quilt 58" x 72."
All the info is on her blog, so go on over and check it out; you might even be able to win some nice prizes. Sounds like a lot of fun and a way to use up those jelly rolls I've been collecting.

I've been busy getting some swaps done. Mailed and already received back the pink and green kits from Kathleen's No Sew Block Swap. Now to get those blocks sewn!

I finished and mailed out the 24 blocks for Aunt Pitty Pat's Holly Jolly Christmas Block Swap. I did mittens for my 12 specialty blocks and we all did 12 9-patch blocks. Here are mine:
I forgot to take a picture before I mailed them, but luckily Aunt PP took one for me.

I finished my Christmas Star blocks for the Quilting Sister's block swap, but then we decided to keep our own because they were so hard and none of us were happy with the way they turned out. I was really disappointed with some of my points and seams, but glad I did the block. Now I know for sure that I don't want to make a whole quilt of these blocks, lol! I think I'll make a table topper for next Christmas with my four blocks.

Finished and mailed out my blocks to the winners for Block Central's February My Favorite Block Swap. I tried the Sawtooth Star pattern from Quilter's Cache. We had to use green and white, but I like this one-and think I'll make more using lots of scraps. And don't forget to stop in and get February's block for the Sentimental Journey BOM. It's going to be a gorgeous quilt!

I was invited to join a new quilt group, the QB2Family, and go to their annual retreat this summer. The gals each donate a block for a quilt top, representing their home state. Since there are a number of New Yorkers in the group, I decided to make my block from fabrics representing the area I live in--the Finger Lakes Wine Country. We all made the Buckeye Beauty block and one lucky lady at the retreat will win the pieced top. I chose grapes and added dark green and purple fabrics for my block. This was a fun block to piece and so many ways to set it--plus it's a great block for scraps.

Well, back to the sewing machine--I have a Valentines Day project I'm trying to get done and Katie's cracking the whip over my head again, lol.

Until next time,
Happy Quilting from Sharon and Katie

Happy Martin Luther King Day

I recently joined Paula Stoddard's Block Party and am anxiously awaiting my first set of patterns. I don't know why I did it, since I already have 300 bazillion patterns that I'll never get made--even if I live to be 250 years old, lol, but I did it. Her patterns are so cute, and all the extras you get for such a low price--I just couldn't resist! And besides, she's kind enough to give us the free Seasons Sew Along patterns and now she's added a wonderful redwork BOM called "Love Is", it's only fair that we give something back to her. (And that's how I'm justifying buying more patterns, so there!)
Block 1 of the new BOM is up and just waiting for you to stitch, so stop over and get it while you can.

I ALMOST have my first OPAM project finished--it's a baby quilt for a friend's first grandbaby. Top is all done, now just the quilting and then the binding, and I can post my first finish. I'm happy if I can get one complete project done a month, since I do a lot of block swaps that don't count for OPAM. I figure any push to make me actually complete something is worthwhile.

And now Katie is pushing me to get back to the sewing machine and finish up those blocks I'm running behind on. Boy, she can be so pushy sometimes! She makes me work--and look at her!

Until next time...
Happy Quilting from Sharon and Katie

Another new BOM....

from the very talented Sindy of Fat Cat Patterns, but ths one is a little different. She doing a row-by-row pattern for a gorgeous Christmas quilt. Isn't it wonderful? I have to do this one! She already has the first pattern up, but only til the end of the month. She'll add a new row the first of every month and leave it up just for the month, so hurry over and get it while you can.

I've spent the last week doing everything but sewing. I washed and ironed all week, but I have all my sets cut and packaged, ready to mail today, for Kathleen's No Sew Block Swap. Plus have everything ready to cut for Block Central's February Fav Block Swap and for Aunt Pitty Pat's Holly Jolly Swap. Now to get sewing.

But I am almost finished with Gail Pan's free Merry Christmas pattern. I'm doing mine in mixed colors instead of the redwork, but I like it. About 3 inches on the last border to stitch and then I can make it into a little wallhanging and post my first finish for the OPAM group.

What's the OPAM group? Well click on the picture and go to Kris's blog and read all about it! If you're a procrastinator like me and never seem to finish anything, this is the group for you. We've promised to finish One Project A Month, to clear out our stacks of UFO's. I love to plan projects, and even put up with the washing and ironing of fabric (not my fav chore, lol). And I even get the cutting done, and most of the sewing. In fact, I love the piecing part, but it's the putting together and finishing, that slows me down--sometimes even stops me in my tracks. Once the piecing is done, I get bored or find a new project I want to do. And before you know it, I've put that project aside and started another one. So this group will be good for me--give me a kick in the butt, (I mean gentle push, lol) to actually finish something. Sort of like Big Brother looking over your shoulder and gently keeping you on track, hehe. Sort of like Katie, when she gets after me.

Tomorrow is Give A Hug Club at O'Susannah's, so I'd better get to work today, 'cause I'll be gone tomorrow to work on our "feel-good" quilts. My friends Lynne and Linda D go with me, so we have sewing time and then a nice lunch after, so it's a great day. I'm trying to make pins for us to wear, like guild membership pins. What do you think of the design so far? I hope the gals will like them. I haven't quite figured out the finishing yet, but I'm coming along with it.

Until next time.....
Happy Quilting from Sharon and Katie

My First Swaps of 2010

My Quilted Table Yahoo Group is having it's first swap of the new year--a candle mat swap with a St. Patrick's Day theme! Can't wait to get my swap partner and get started on this one. Every swap I've done with them, I've received beautifully made gifts for my table, and some little extras, too. Plus, every month on the Group, a free pattern is posted and members are "Challenged" to make it up. By the end of the year, we should have 12 gifts already made for holiday giving. Great idea, eh?

Kathleen at Welcome to My World is hosting a fun swap. This is a new idea to me and I love it--The swap is called “The No Sew Block Swap”. You pick a 12-inch block from Quilter's Cache; cut it the out nine times-once for each member of your group, send them off to Kathleen, she swaps them out, and you receive 9 different blocks back. Then YOU do all the sewing. That way all your seam allowances will be the same and you can put the 9 blocks together any way you like. What a great idea! Stop in and check it out. She has 2 colorations going. I chose the Pink/Green/White Swap.

On another note, have you visited with Karen over at Sew Many Ways? She posts a tip every Tuesday on how we can use ordinary hardware store items in our quilting and crafting. Instead of buying some of the expensive tools that we crafters think we need, she shows us how to use realtively inexpensive items from hubby's toolkit (or our fav hardware store) to do the same thing for lots less! She has wonderful ideas, so it's worth your time to check out her archives.

I stopped over at Bunny Hill Designs today, and Anne has a new BOM for us this year called Snowbound. It looks like it will be as charming as last year's BOM, with more great snowmen to applique or embroider.

Bird Brain Designs has posted their last Freebie Tea Towel for the series of 12 for 2009....they started with a February Valentine's design. So far I've saved them all, but only have July done. Enjoy this cute little snowman to cheer up the long winter days! Plus they're having a huge sale on retired patterns--and they have some lovely ones that will tempt you, for sure.

Until next time....
Happy Quilting from Sharon and Katie