Mom's November Package...

or at least part of it.  When she came up for Thanksgiving, I gave her the bulk of her package for the month.  There's still one more item to it, but I haven't finished it yet.  When I finally do, I'll mail it to her.  Hopefully that will be before the end of the month when her next and final package is due!

It's hard to believe that almost a year has passed since I started sending her a monthly quilting package.  My goal was two fold - to show her how much I love and appreciate her and to get her more interested in quilting.  I think I'm batting 2 for 2 right now.  She's really gone to town on learning new techniques in quilting.

A couple of months ago, I started adding the traced blocks for the Winter Wonderland quilt by Crabapple Hill to her packages.  She's completed them so quickly that I sent her 4 more this month.  Her background is a Bone kona cotton and she's embroidering them using a blue perle cotton thread.  She's already finished the first 3.

Four more blocks for Winter Wonderland

This month also saw the last of the Camelot Snowman mini hangings.  I gave her each snowman a month in advance so she would have them on hand when the time came.  This was the snowman for December.  He might just be my favorite of all of them.  (And I really think the color blue is growing on me!)

December Camelot Snowman

I printed out the patterns for these blocks for her because she now wants to make a set for her siblings.  Of course, she has ten brothers and sisters so it might take her a while!  I also bought a cute snowman tin and included sets of buttons that she can use on her versions.  There aren't enough to do them all, but they'll get her started.

As usual, I sent her block #11 of the Imperial Splendor BOM from JoAnn's and another quilting magazine.  And finally, I included a pattern booklet called Calendar Quilts by Kim Schaeffer.  It's a really cute collection of patterns to make themed quilts for each month. And like I mentioned earlier, there's one more item to this package.  I'll share it once I've finished it and given it to her.

Until later...

"Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me."

Psalm 51:10

Mom's October Package...

Now that my dear mom has received her package for October, I can share it's contents here.  Although to be honest, I've already shown several pieces of it.

Mom's October Package

In the upper left is the pillow I embroidered for her.  The star and berries are small pieces of wool outlined with a blanket stitch.  And in the upper right is November's Camelot Snowman wall hanging.  When she got her package, she confessed she forgot to hang up the one for October.  So she went straight from September to November, but (God willing) October will come around again next year.

Between the pillow and the calendar block is the next Winter Wonderland block.  She's embroidering hers in a deep blue but this is the same one I did in black.

Winter Wonderland Block 3

It's a fairly large one, but goes quick when you do it while watching/listening to TV.  It'd be great if we both finish all of our blocks at about the same time.  Then I figure we can get together to assemble them.  Still a lot left to do on it though.

As usual, I also included the next block for the Imperial Splendor BOM she's doing.  It's block #10 and I actually sent her 2 of them - because I accidentally bought it twice.  Early senior moment I figure.  She can always make both of them and include one on the back as the label.  And finally, I included the new Love of Quilting magazine and a book detailing how to make memory quilts from t-shirts, photos, etc.  She's expressed an interest in doing this and the book should give her the information she needs.

So that does it for October.  Only 2 more packages to go and I think I know the quilts I'd like to include.  Assuming of course that I finish them in time.  Busy, busy, busy...

I managed to get this picture of David and Gabriel lying together at the back door.  I think they were both resting after a vigorous bout of squirrel watching.  It's unusual for them to lay so close together.

David and Gabriel

Until later...

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

A couple of small finishes...

I finished up a couple small projects yesterday.  These are the last 2 of the monthly Camelot Snowman wall hangings - November and December's.

I've been making these throughout the year for my mom.  I sent her a hanger with the first one and she puts a new one up each month.  (One day I'm going to make a set for myself too!)

November

These snowmen were a free pattern from the internet.  They're cute and quick to stitch.

December

Another bonus is I found the fabrics and buttons for all 12 of these wall hangings in my stash.  Except for the buttons in October - I didn't have orange buttons on hand.

Yeah!  So this completes the whole year.  Now on to other things.

Until later...

"To whom much is given, much is required." 

Luke 12:48

Mom's September package...

Note: All of my blog posts this week were written in advance.  I'm currently at a quilt retreat at the beach working on charity quilts.

Another month has passed and that means it's time to put together another package for my mom.  As I've said before, I'm making her a quilting related package every month this year for several reasons.  First, I love my mom and want her to feel special.  And who doesn't love getting a package in the mail?  As I've said many times before, I do!  Also, I want her to learn how to quilt and to love it.  She's not too far off from retiring and I see us getting together for our own little quilting retreats then.  And finally, too many friends lost their own mothers last year and I want to make sure I take the time and effort to really appreciate mine.

 Usually each month I make my mom a quilt, but this time Ive sent her a quilt kit instead.  The kit is from Connecting Threads and is called Twilight Stars.  (I don't know if you can purchase it from them anymore as I bought it at the beginning of the year always planning to give it to her.)

Twilight Stars Quilt Kit

I also finished the October Camelot Snowman mini wall hanging.  I thought this month's pattern was really cute and I didn't have to change a thing (unlike last months).  I was able to stitch it out in about an evening.

October Camelot Snowman Stitchery

I really like the cat and pumpkins on this one...

Closeup of the stitching

I already had a cute Halloween print in my stash to use for the border, tabs and backing.  It only takes a fat quarter to make them.

October wall hanging

This was the first month I've had to purchase buttons, but that's because I'm woefully low on orange buttons.  Except for Halloween, it's really not a color I use.  But I found some cute ones at JoAnns that are the perfect size to go with the black ones I already had.

Buttons and fly stitching

Can you also see the decorative stitching I used on the border?  It's one of the stitches on my machine.  I think it's called a fly stitch.

For the rest of her package, I included block 9 of the Imperial Splendor BOM, the second Winter Wonderland stitchery traced out, a pair of scissors and a decorative case to hold them, and a magazine.

The rest of her package

So that's it for another month.  I'm really going to try to find the time to make her a quilt for October.  I already have it all cut out and it will be perfect for fall.  But first I have to finish the Nature CQ, LeeAnn's quilt and the charity quilts for Interact.  But then, I should have plenty of time, right?

Until later...

Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. 

Mark 10:43 (MSG)

Package time...

It's package time again.  I love getting packages in the mail, but this one isn't for me.  It's for my mom.  Yes, it's that time again where I put together a bunch of quilt related items and share them with my lovely and talented mother.

Note:  It's actually part of my dastardly plan to get her as hooked on quilting as I am, so when she retires we can spend our days together quilting.

August Package

Have you noticed that each package is getting later and later?  This is her package for August and here it is already September.  At this rate, she's going to have to wait until next spring for her December package.

But I digress (as usual).  Included in this month's package are September's Camelot Snowman (which I already shared with you), "Pigs in a Blanket" (old news again), the new Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine, the Fabric Fusion coupon book from JoAnn's and block 8 of the Imperial Splendor Block of the Month also from JoAnns.

Another tangent - When I went into JoAnn's a couple of weeks ago to pick up another of these blocks, I was shocked to discover them all gone and a new block of the month in its place.  I'll admit I started to get a little panicky.  Here I am getting my mom hooked on making this quilt and she wasn't going to be able to finish it!  I asked several ladies if they moved them to some other secret area I hadn't found and no one seemed to have any idea.  Finally, one of them suggested checking out the clearance bins.  Lo and behold, they happened to have exactly the blocks (and setting kit) that I needed and all on clearance.  I did my happy dance right there in the aisle.  OK, not really.  That last part was an exaggeration.  I did my inner happy dance and let out a tiny barely audible squeal.

So back to her package, I've also included the first block traced out of the Crabapple Hill Winter Wonderland pattern for her to embroider along with the supplies she'll need to get started.  I figure she can decide whether she'd like to do it in red or blue.  My guess is blue looking at her house, but it's her choice.  It's a quick project she can easily pick up and put down whenever she has the time or inclination to work on it.

I threw in this picture of the September snowman because this post was getting way too wordy with not enough pictures.  When I look at blogs, I like to see lots of pictures.  Let me see if I can throw in some other random ones.  How about this?

Another picture of Gabriel's tongue with a now defunct Rocky in the background.  We now refer to him as Rocky top and Rocky bottom.  Can you guess why?

And what about David?  This cats knows how to nap.  Of course he's young and flexible so he can contort himself in all kinds of positions.  It's like when I see kids sitting indian style and I think, "I used to be able to do that.  Way, way back when."

OK, I've really digressed.  I think I must be getting loopy from lack of sleep.  I hope you're enjoying you're holiday weekend!

Until later...

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. 

Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

September's Snowman...

I'm feeling ahead of the game (in one respect) because I've already finished September's Camelot Snowman wall hanging.

September's Camelot Snowman

This will go in my mom's package for this month along with another wall hanging I'm working on for her.  It's also her birthday on Thursday and I'm almost done quilting her gift.  Hopefully I'll finish it tomorrow.

So for September's snowman, I had to make a few changes.  This was the original pattern...

Original September snowman

But my mom doesn't drink at all, so I didn't think it was appropriate.  I tried to modify it to represent the start of a new school year by changing the sign to 'Bus Stop' and adding some books...

Modified design

I think he looks cute, but could maybe have used some arms.  I liked the bee on the original drawing and so left him in place. 

He doesn't really have anything to do with the theme, but I think he's adorable.  The buttons came from my stash again.  They're a very pretty apple green color. 

Buttons from stash

And the surrounding apple fabric was also from my stash.  I didn't know I had it until I went digging through some piles.  Isn't it great when we find stuff we completely forgot about?

Apple fabric

Luckily these wall hanging don't take much fabric and I had enough to cut the print so that all my apples ended up in the same direction.

I've also packaged up most of my orphan blocks to send to a new home.  These are extra blocks or pieces of blocks left over from quilts I've made in the past.  It seemed a waste to throw them away, but I didn't have a use for them.  Shannon over at pieceful kwilter is making a 'Kitchen Sink' quilt using all those leftover blocks.  It'll be great to see them get a new life...

Orphan blocks

And I mentioned earlier that Sam had lost some weight.  Well, she's gained it all back plus some.  In the past 10 days she's gone from 17.9 lbs to 17.1 lbs to 18.3 lbs to 18.1 lbs.  Is my scale just not sensitive enough to accurately keep track?  (I'm using the Wii Fit board.)  Could she just be really constipated right now?  I have no idea.  If you have any weight loss suggestions for a cat, please send them my way.

Sam - on an unsuccessful diet

If she were healthy at her current weight, I'd leave well enough alone.  But she's has degenerative arthritis in her elbows and the weight makes it more painful for her to jump up and down.  Plus you can hear her coming from rooms away because the joints pop with every step she takes.  She really needs to lose weight to improve her quality of life.  By the way, she's turning 10 in a few weeks.

Until later...

"There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it."  

1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NRSV)

Some forward progress...

I finally managed to stay awake long enough to work on a couple of things.  Although I will admit to taking 2 naps today - for a total of about 6 hours.  I've just been so exhausted lately.

However, I did finish the most important item on my to-do list, the August Camelot Snowman mini wallhanging.  (In case you don't already know, I'm making these month by month for my mom.)

August Camelot Snowman

I used #355 DMC thread for the stitching and the background fabric is from "Rebel Roses" by Heather Mulder Peterson.  I started this block back before my trip to Quilt Odyssey and ran out of the floss.  I didn't have a chance to pick up more until I returned so this took me longer than expected.  (I only had a little bit left when I started, but somehow thought it would be enough.  I was wrong.)

Buttons from stash

I found the buttons for the tabs in my stash.  I've yet to actually go out and purchase any for these wallhangings.   I just go to my trusty button box and seem to find something that goes. 

I took the picture of the sun from much father away and cropped it on the computer.  That's when I noticed all the cat hair on it!  David has taken to sleeping on my ironing board and with the heat, he's shedding a little too much.  I'm constantly rolling the surface with those sticky sheets but you wouldn't know it looking at this.

When he's not helping me sew, David likes to split his time between the ironing board and on top of the armoire...

David on armoire

If I ever get around to using those fabrics he's sleeping on (I hand-dyed them), they're definitely going to have to go in the wash first.

Until later...

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

It's snowing...

Of course it's not really snowing.  In fact, we hit a record high of 95 yesterday.  And I have to say it stayed nice and cool in the sun room despite the high temperatures.  The window film I installed is paying for itself.  This week I'm hoping to finish putting it up in the living room.  (That makes it sound like I've already started in there doesn't it?  I haven't except for cleaning the windows...)

living room windows

But back to the snow reference.  I finished 2 more of the Camelot snowmen wall hangings for my mom - June and July.  I said I was going to try to be more proactive about getting these done and so far so good.

I really think July has turned out to be my favorite of all of them.  The dark blue thread really stands out and I know dark blue is one of my mom's favorites.

 
June turned out OK but I now wish I had done it in a darker green.  It shows up better than in the picture, but it doesn't contrast like July's.  I do like the layered buttons on it though and I quilted a feather motif on both sides of the snowman.

For July, I did some straight stitching in the borders and a free motion stipple on the white.  I've been fortunate that I've had coordinating buttons all in my stash so far.  I have a shoe box full sitting in my sewing room.

Last week I got this in the mail...

It's a fabric postcard from the president of our guild.  I've heard about them, but it's the first time I've gotten one.  Both sides are fabric with a stabilizer in the middle.  You write on the back in pen and put a regular stamp on it to mail.  What a neat idea!

I'm continuing to experiment with my new camera and I'm taking copious amounts of pictures.  I got a couple of good ones of Sam and Gabriel that I thought I'd share...

And I don't know what Gabriel got into before this one.  See the mystery material all over her head?

Until later...

"We please God by what we do and not only by what we believe"

James 2:24 CEV

Stash Report Week #18

April 30 - May 6, 2010

We're already into May!  Soon summer will be here.  I know I'm not the only one that thinks time has wings.

I've already posted here about the anniversary sale the Fat Quarter Shop is having right now and the great deal I got on some fabric last week.  I bought a total of 4 yards of L'Amour pink solids by Sandy Gervais.  I don't know what I'll use them for but I expect it will be something for my niece and I didn't really have much in my stash in the pink family.  I also bought a layer cake of Wiscasset which is equivalent to about 2.75 yards of fabric and another 2 yards of a coordinating print to use for a border.  So that's a grand total of 8.75 yards!  I got such a good deal on it though that I don't feel too bad about the addition.

As for what I've used this past week, most of it wasn't actually for quilts.  I'm teaching a demo on back-basting hand applique at my quilt guild Monday night and I used 4 yards in kits for the ladies.

These are the 2 samples they can choose to make.  (I still need to add antenna to the butterfly...)

I also used 2 yards of fabric to put together a dozen 9" x 12" quilt sandwiches to practice my machine quilting on - particularly feathers.  They're also good for testing out different threads and adjusting your tension.

And finally, I managed to finish embroidering the snowman blocks for June and July.

They only took about a quarter yard of fabric and I still need to make them into their own wall hangings.

So that's a total of 6.25 yards used this week.

Purchased-this-week: 8.75 yards
Used-this-week: 6.25 yards
Purchased-to-date: 95 yards
Used-to-date: 163.25 yards
Net used: 68.25 yards

Until later...

Remember, it's all about love - loving God and loving others.

Rick Warren

April package and some ladies of the sea...

Well, I mailed my mom's April package just in time.  Each month, her package's are getting later and later as things pile up.  I've already started on June's Camelot Snowman block so I'm hoping to be better about it.

This month's package was a more sparse than the others.  I'm working on a quilt for her, but didn't finish quilting it in time.  I just haven't had much time to spend on it lately.  Hopefully it'll be done in plenty of time for May's package. 

I included the next Camelot Snowman mini hanging, the 5th block for Imperial Splendor and a general quilting book by Fons & Porter.  I bought this book back when I started quilting and it has information on almost every subject pertaining to quilting.  I figure it will be a good how-to book for my mom.  She was asking me some questions on how to bind a quilt, so I also printed out a couple of tutorials and included them.  Isn't the web great for finding information?

Since I started putting together these packages for my mom, I'm always on the lookout for things I think she'll like.  I found this little box at Michael's and it made me think of her.

Inside I included several things geared towards quilting your quilt top.  These are few of my favorite notions as well...

We basically have the same sewing machine (hers is just a newer version of mine) so they take the same type of bobbins.  I'm always running out of them so I bought a mega pak online and split them with her.  Also, if you haven't tried the Machingers gloves, I highly recommend them.  They make such a difference in controlling your quilt when free motion quilting.  There's a water soluble blue marking pen which makes marking quilting designs on your quilt top so easy.  But if you've never used one, I'll warn you that ironing over them before erasing will set them permanently - so be careful!  And have you tried the new Sewline fabric pencils?  You can get the lead in different colors as well as an eraser to remove the lines.  I use mine mainly for marking applique projects, but they work well for marking your quilt top too.  And finally, I included a little stencil so she can see how she likes it. 

I forgot that I had picked up some fabric for her as well, but it will keep until I see her.  She's so busy right now, I know she wouldn't have time to play with it in any case.  In fact, she's walking for the March of Dimes today.  Way to go mom!!!

While sitting in front of the television at night, I work on some hand sewing projects.  Lately I've spent most of the time working on my Ladies of the Sea blocks.  I work on them 2 at a time because I find it easier to baste a bunch of pieces in place on both blocks and then applique them down before repeating.  After several months, I've finally finished the outer wreaths for both blocks.

Soon I'll start the ships that go in the centers.

The ships usually take much less time than the wreaths do to applique.

Until later...

"Wherever your treasure is, your heart will be also"

Matthew 6:21 NIV

May snowman and other stuff...

Well, April is almost over!  Does anyone else think this year is going by incredibly fast?  Anyone over 21 I mean?  When you're a kid, time seems to go by so slow.  You're looking forward to the next milestone and count your age by degrees - 5 and a half, 8 and 3/4, etc.  I've got a birthday coming up next month and I'm going to remain 35 until the very day it arrives!

I've been making the Camelot Snowman calendar blocks for my mom.  She hangs each one up as the month arrives.  Only I still haven't mailed her the one for May!  I'm running out of time, but fortunately found the time to finish it yesterday...

I quilted this one in a cross-hatch pattern around the embroidery...

And I found these pretty pink buttons to match...

The buttons are just decorative though.  The tabs open and close using velcro.  I wrote a tutorial for making them that you can find here if you're interested.

Mr. Quilting Bug is continuing to make good progress on the bathroom renovation.  The electrical is mostly done (except for the steam shower) and he has most of the drywall up.  I could show you pictures of his work, but thought these were more interesting...

The hole in the floor is where the old plumbing vent stack was located.  And beside it is an old vent that needs to be moved/closed up.  Gabriel thought they were fascinating...

She kept jumping back from them thinking there was something down there.  I hope she's wrong...

And I think I'll end with a few more pictures from the last few days.

Sam, Jack and David

David

Gabriel getting her belly rubbed

Until later...

"Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically."

Romans 12:11 NLT