March Madness

It feels like time is running out to get some projects completed before we head north to get our hobby farm cleaned up and ready to sell. 

I have managed to complete, finally, my Kokapelli wall hanging.  For some reason, this project hung around for almost a year, waiting to be stitched and quilted.

My flannel yellow brick road quilt was a kit from a shop that has since closed up.  I messed up when doing the cutting - crazy, since I have made loads of quilts using this pattern?  However, with some creative piecing and adding in a few pieces of other flannels, the quilt is done.  It isn't large, just perfect for a lap quilt on a cooler evening?

Some of my other projects that are ongoing are on my design wall.  I have a couple of St. Patrick's day wall hangings and table toppers as well as a funky chili pepper quilt.  My Sharon Schamber class project is there waiting for me to figure out what I want to do with it and get it finished as well as my first house block for a swap with my Quilt Divas.

I completed a Quilt of Valour quilt top.  It is packed and ready to take home with me for quilting and binding.
The fabric in this is a floral print with Canadian flags in the flowers. 

Good grief, more than a month has passed?

Wow... time flies when you are busy, having fun and playing lots of tennis?  Our active life style seems to leave me little time for computer and quilting. 
I have managed to do a few projects in my limited spare time. 

This is a pillowcase for Quilts of Valour, Canada.  I have a few more cut and ready to sew when time permits.

Two quilts that I did NOT make.  I added the binding and stitched it down.  These are donation quilts made by the Sunland Stitchers here in Mesa.

Every month the Sunland Stitchers host a 9 patch swap.  This is the results of the first swap and my contributions for February are at the bottom of the picture.

 A flannel quilt for Mesa!!  I bought this kit last year at Hamel's Quilting in Chilliwack and it is now finished and is snuggly to sleep under.  Cooler than a comforter but comfy and the perfect warmth for me! 

Another quilt for Sunland Stitchers that I bound.

I quilted two of these scrap quilts for Quilters Point of View at Viewpoint.  Again, they are donation quilts and are made from the scraps that have been donated to the quilting room.  Binding is done and, I used the lint roller to get all the fluff from the batting off the black sashings. 

So, that is what I did in the last month.  A lot of tennis, a little sewing on the machine but mostly handstitching of bindings.  I have completed a Yellow Brick Road flannel quilt top and it is layered and ready for quilting.  There are pillowcases for QoV waiting for me.  And my Kokapelli is close to being ready for binding.  So, hopefully, I will have a few more pictures to post in the next week.  Rain is predicted for Mesa so that will mean sewing time!!! 

January 13

I have been busy stitching down bindings on donation quilts that I pick up when I go to the Sunland Stitchers meetings. 
These are quilts that others donated fabric for, others have pieced and quilted and needed binding. 

New home, new sewing space

We are in our new home and today was sewing room organization.  I had to create a mess to tidy up?  But, I kept at it and finally, have a tidy and happy place to be sewing.  While in the midst of the chaos, I realized I should make a list of all the projects that I have on hand here.  And, I sorted most of the fabrics here into themes such as Christmas, Valentine's and St. Patricks as well as colours.  PHEW!  But done!!

Total Chaos in the closet

More chaos being created in the guest bedroom



Cutting table set up, desk and sewing machine in place under the window.

A place for everything and everything in its place! I have a walk in closet, perfect for all my stuff.

Another view from inside the closet, looking out.

New design wall, all ready for my first sewing project of 2011. 

Happy New Year!

The Saturday before Christmas

Hmmm... the countdown is on for getting baking done, gifts purchased and wrapped, last minute 'stuff' completed.


I took a quick class on making snap happy bags - they use a piece of metal measuring tape to allow them to snap closed.  Fun, quick and simple. 

The other project I completed is a cute little snowman wallhanging.  Looks a bit strange to have something snowy on the wall in Arizona but the bright colours look good!  I bought the kit last week at a local quilt shop and was determined to not have it become a UFO!

Christmas is coming

The days fly by so quickly.  We are lucky enough in Arizona to have had record breaking high temperatures.  When we watch the news of weather everywhere else, I almost feel bad for everyone having to endure either floods, snow or below freezing temperatures. 


I have been trying to sew a little each day and have a few finished projects.

These are two Christmas placemats that I  made for a gift exchange.  Our "street" had a party and we played the game where you take a gift or steal from someone else - lots of fun and my placemats got 'stolen' once because a lady really wanted them! A quick and easy project but meant a visit to the quilt shop to get some suitable fabrics! 

Tulip Bells Table Runner - UFO finished!

This project was a ufo from approximately 8 years ago.  It was in various stages as it was a class sample at the Otter Co-op when they still carried fabrics and allowed us to teach classes there.  I think it will look great on my dining room table in our new house. 

I have our mobile home (park model) all decorated for Christmas.  The Patchabilities that I have made over the years fit perfectly on the small wall spaces that I have available for wall hangings. Through the window, you can see the great Christmas tree we got for free!  And across the street is an orange tree.  I tried one yesterday and they are NOT sweet yet!  My mouth did a major pucker!!

My Arizona Totebag

I made a trip to a local quilt shop with a friend to get some black batting for a wall hanging I am working on and found these charm squares.  Perfect size bag for taking show and tell to the quilt meetings! I thought the colours looked perfect for the hot, winter weather we are having. 

Off to write myself a list of the projects I want to work on and try to complete in the next couple of weeks.  Am hoping it cools off a little here so that I will be motivated to do some Christmas baking!



A lot has happened in a month!

We left 'home' on Nov 6th and headed south to the sunshine.  We don't enjoy the 3 day drive from BC to AZ but, I brought lots of ufo's with me to work on, here in my 'other' home.  We did spend the first week shopping for house and found one so, in 30 days we will be moving and, I will have a walk-in closet for my quilting stuff.  YIPPEEEE!!!  And, I will have space. 

Since arriving, house shopping and finding places to put all the household stuff I brought with me, knowing we would be house hunting... we also joined softball, tennis and of course, quilting. 

Everyone in the park is decorating for Christmas and we have done our outside lights but am waiting until at least Dec 1st to decorate inside.  I had found a panel at home, brought it with me and worked on it this week, for a tree skirt.  Our tree has to be small and it is pre-lit, sits on a small table and last year I wrapped a piece of Christmas fabric around the base.  But this year.... I now have both a tree skirt and a finished UFO! 

Last Sunday, I did make some Christmas cakes and have them hidden away to age for a bit, and hopefully develop a nice flavour. 

Am working on a table runner, called Tulip Bells which is a bit of a challenge as I left the pattern at home.  However, the pieces were cut and some parts of the blocks made as it was a class sample many years ago.  Hopefully, I will post a picture of the finished project later this week.  Am having to turn under the edges and stitch by hand and forgot my thimble - I probably own about 10 of them... all back home and none here.  Maybe a trip to a local quilt shop is needed?