Monday, December 16, 2013

The Land of Misfit WIPs

Welcome to the Land of Misfit WIPs 

A place where Works in Progress (WIPs) come to live until someone can finish them. (my failed attempt of having this relate to the Holiday season through Rudolph's Land of Misfit Toys)

Here are some of the current WIPs:

1. Kentucky Derby Quilt



2. Quick Nine Patch Quilt top



After creating the plus quilt using this fabric combination, I had some 3" strips left over and decided to create a quick and cute nine patch quilt for one of my nephews.  It off to the quilter and I'm excitedly anticipating its return to me.


3. and not-so-secret sewing... a created a cute boxed pouch using Pretty Modern's tutorial HERE.  Super cute and fairly easy to do; just don't be afraid of boxing corners!



And congratulations to Kami! You're the winner of the fabric bundle!  Thanks everyone for sharing your favorite holiday memories.  My favorite tradition is dress shopping with my dad every Christmas.  He would have us try on dozens of dresses and would then send us off to the food court while he picked out the ones he liked the best.  It was a fun surprise to see which he bought each year.  He has since passed away, but my sister and I keep up the tradition for our younger sister.  We love it!

Happy Holidays All!

Monday, December 9, 2013

Christmas Scrappy Dresden Pillow



Over Thanksgiving, I ended up with the flu and stayed home under the covers instead of joining my family out of town.  It was rough to be away, but I'm glad the sickness ended with our home (my poor husband had it after I did).

So by the end of the weekend, I was feeling home-sick for the holidays and needed some Christmas cheer.  Instead of "singing loud for all to hear" (the movie: "Elf") I broke out my red and green scraps and my handy dresden template.



I strip-pieced the reds together and added a strip of white.  I did the same with the greens and then cut them into dresden pieces.





Out comes my piece of linen I had been hoarding (found it at Joann Fabrics for a steal!) and followed instructions from my friend Kelsey over at Everday Fray.  She has some great tips on sewing with linen  and is definitely worth the read for both her experience and the gorgeous quilts she and her cousin Amanda create.

I appliqued the half dresden on the linen and turned it into a a slip cover for a pillow.












Quilting mirrors along the outside of the dresden, mirroring the shape, but I was not confident enough to use red thread.  The white thread I used simply disappears, although in person the texture is lovely.  I recommend red whole-heartedly for next time.







Thank you all for letting me share my Christmas Cheer with you.  

I'll be honest, I do not like the month of December.  I lost my Dad in a accident just days before Christmas (it's been five years now) and I still can't quite enjoy the holidays.  I'm thankful for friends and family who understand why I don't like the holiday season.  Little projects like this help me remember my cherished holiday memories.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Pay it Forward - Round Two: Fabric Giveaway

A few weeks ago, I won another giveaway!  Thanks, Hilary!  I got a copy of Love Patchwork and Quilting November issue.  One word: awesome.  

So in the spirit, I am #payingitforward (can't decide if I like hashtags or not, do you?) and hosting another giveaway.  Would anyone like some fabric?  I have the following up for grabs:



- Amy Butler Remnant: 9" x 42"
- Michael Miller Remnant:8" x 42"
- DS Quilts Remnant: 12" x 22"
- Robert Kaufman Flannel Type Print: 1/2 yard

So, how do you win this stash?  In the spirit of the holidays, leave me a comment telling me your favorite childhood/adult holiday memory (and your email address if you're a no-reply blogger).  That's it!

Giveaway ends Monday, December 9th, 2013 at Midnight PST.

And ok, I feel like a dork asking, but please be honest.  For the next #payitforward giveaway, would anyone be interested in passing it along? For example, the winner would then host a giveaway (does not need to be extravagant, just extra scraps, something hand-made, small notion, etc.) and we could see how long it could go?  What do you think?

Monday, December 2, 2013

Green with Envy Finished!

I cannot express how excited I am to have finished the Green with Envy quilt!  It's headed to a well-deserving home of a family member to one of the Granite Mountain Hotshots who lost their life in the wildfire near Prescott, Arizona earlier this year.



The quilt measures roughly 44" x 66" and features various green fabrics from my stash, including some vintage sheets, and Kona Bone as the solid.





I hand quilted along the diagonal and was once again reminded why I love taking the time to hand-quilt.  There's something very satisfying about it.

I came across Layers of Hope, Quilting 911 through one of my blogging networks and found there was a need for donated quilts.  At the time, I knew my plate was full, but I wanted to help out nonetheless and am so glad that I did! Layers of Hope is a group dedicated to First Responders in emergencies.  In doing so, they are able to focus on individuals and know where the quilts are going.

If you're interested in helping out or learning more about Layers of Hope, Quilting 911 you can visit their Facebook page here or blog here.

So many of you donate of your time, quilts and materials to great causes.   I am so grateful to be a part of a community that is so giving and generous.  Thank you all for your efforts.