A Sneak Peak...

(Note: To enter my current giveaway, go here!)

I've been busy quilting projects lately rather than piecing new ones.  It's slow going and so I don't have a lot to share right now.  However, I did take this picture of one of the projects I'm working on.  It's a wall hanging I'm custom quilting on my domestic machine.  This is actually the back of the quilt...

The back of a quilt 'in progress'

It's coming along slowly but surely.  I also have a quilt on the frame that I work on when I'm taking a break from this one, but I'm just doing a pantograph on it, so it's sort of mindless sewing.  I hope you're having a wonderful week!

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 

Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

K is for Kris Kringle...

(Note: To enter my current giveaway, go here.)

Whew!  This block took a while!  It's the latest for the Snowmen A to ZZZZ quilt by Crabapple Hill Studios.  As I've mentioned before, both my mom and I are working on a version of this quilt.  (She's much farther ahead than I am!)  There are so many lights on this block (41 to be exact), that it took a lot longer to stitch than the others.  I was pretty excited to put the last stitch in it!

K is for Kris Kringle, L is for Lights

I only work on these at night while watching TV and we haven't been watching that much lately.  However, we just started 'House of Cards' on Netflix and I think we're also going to try 'Downtown Abbey' (I've heard such good things about it), so I might have more time for handwork in the near future.  I'm almost to the halfway point on this quilt now!

Closeup of the block

Gabriel is finally starting to get some of her energy back.  She keeps bringing me her babies to play with and I'm finding them scattered all over the house!

Isn't she a cutie pie?

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 

Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

Giveaway #3...

So here we go again!  First, let me announce the winner of the last giveaway for 2 Charm Packs of Pure and the Schnibbles pattern Spot.  Congratulations Theresa Johnston!  I don't have your email address, so please send it to me so I can get your package out to you ASAP!  (My husband isn't home right now and I didn't even try to get my furbabies to participate this time.  I just used Random.org to pick the winner.)

For my next giveaway, I'm giving away this FQ Bundle of Joel Dewberry's Aviary 2.  Included are 8 fat quarters from this line.

FQ Bundle of Joel Dewberry's Aviary 2

Like my other giveaways, if my post office can figure out how to mail to you, then you're eligible to win!  To enter:

1. Follow my blog. (Hint: The 'Join this site' button is on the right hand side.)
2. Leave me a comment letting me know you're a new or old follower.  Also, to make it more interesting, why don't you tell me what you had for dinner last night or what you wish you'd had.  I'm kind of stuck in a rut and could use some ideas!
3. For an extra entry, feel free to blog about this give away on your own blog!

That's it!  I'm going to leave this giveaway open until Sunday, February 17th at 7 PM EST.  And after this one, I still have several more planned.  So good luck and have a fantastic week!

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 

James 1:19 (NLT)

More Bee Blocks...

(Note: To enter the current giveaway, go here.)

After a nice Sunday afternoon in my sewing room, I've finished a couple more blocks for my quilt bee.  These are part of the Quilt in a Box project we're doing throughout the year, where we trade boxes and make a block from each participant's fabric.  Today I made the same block for both Janet and Jan, but out of very different fabric choices...

Janet's Block

Jan's Block

After making a number of these blocks now, I've become much faster at it.  I start by creating a little cheat sheet that corresponds to the pattern...

I use Thangles paper to create the HST's and Monique Dillard's Fit to be Geese ruler to create the flying geese units (love this ruler!)  The center unit is a Square in a Square block that I just make the old fashioned way.

All the units for one block

Once I have all the pieces made, I lay them out next to my machine and start putting the block together.  Then it's just a matter of matching up points and pressing seams in the right direction.

A block ready to sew together

From the first block I've sewn to the most recent, I've probably cut my sewing time in half.  Although to be honest, it's still not a speedy block to piece, but I'm having a lot of fun with it!  I love working with so many different fabric combinations - including some I wouldn't normally choose.

By the way, does anyone know what the name of this block is?  It's one of the blocks in the Paris in the Fall Block of the Month pattern, but I don't see another name listed for it.  Just curious if anyone knows what it's called.

Sam joined me for a little bit, but I think she was just trying to tell me her bowl was empty.  She was rather cranky until I took a break and fed her.  (She's on a little bit of a diet and she's not very happy about it.)

A slightly cranky, hungry Sam

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. 

Psalm 9:10 (NLT)

Another giveaway (and a winner!)

First off, let's get to the winner of the Valentine's Day giveaway.  I tried to get some help from my furbabies to pick a winner, but I finally gave up and had my husband pick it.

See the slips of paper at her feet?  She just wouldn't pick one!

Congratulations 'Angel and Kirby'!  I've sent you an email.

Now for the next giveaway!  This one will run until next Friday (Feb. 8th) at noon EST.  This time, I'm giving away 2 Charm Packs of Pure by Sweetwater and the Schnibbles pattern Spot.  I've had so much fun making Schnibbles quilts and I want to pass some of the joy along.

2 Charm Packs of Pure by Sweetwater

Schnibbles Spot Pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.

Like the last giveaway, if my post office can figure out how to mail to you, you're eligible!  To enter:

1. Follow my blog.  (Hint:  To follow, hit the 'Join this site' button on the right hand side and choose to follow publicly.  FYI, this should automatically show up in Google Reader if that's how you normally keep up with blogs.)
2. Leave me a comment that you're a follower.  Just to make it more interesting, tell me something fun about yourself (not technically required though).
3. For an extra entry, blog about this giveaway and leave another comment letting me know you did.

That's it!  As I said, this giveaway will be open for 1 week and then it'll be on to the next one.  I hope this is as much fun for you as it is for me!

Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. 

Psalm 100:2 (NLT)

My favorite Schnibbles quilt...

(Note: To enter my giveaway, please go here.)

Sinta from Pink Pincushion and Sherri from A Quilting Life are hosting a parade on February 1st.  This time it's your favorite Schnibbles quilt.  I joined in Another Year of Schnibbles for the first half of last year, so I started thinking about which was my favorite.  At first I thought it might be La Maison.  I spent a great deal of time making this one and quilting it (especially those cobblestones).

La Maison - My version of the Full House Schnibbles Quilt

But the more I thought about it, the more I kept thinking about another quilt.  One that took very little time to make and that I quilted with just a simple pantograph.  The colors aren't really me either, but I just really like this quilt.  I think it's because of the secondary pattern that emerges and how striking I find it.   The Schnibbles pattern is Bibelot and I named my version Child's Play.

Child's Play - My Version of the Bibelot Schnibbles Quilt

I made a couple of very simple changes to the pattern.  I left off the sashing around the 'T' blocks and kept all of my rows vertical.  I used bright colors to make this quilt, because initially I was going to donate it.  However, my sister liked it so much, I ended up giving it to her.  Purple and green are really her colors!

I also used a soft flannel to add an extra outer border.  My quilt finishes at 48" square, while the pattern is 38" square.  I thought the larger size would be better for a child.  And as I mentioned, I used a very simple pantograph to quilt it.

It just goes to show you that you don't have to spend a ton of time and effort to make something you love!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

Proverbs 4:23 (GN)

Verna's quilt...

(Note: To enter my giveaway, go here.)

I've been down and out this past week with a bad cold, so not a lot of sewing going on.  However, I did find a few moments here and there to finish quilting a quilt for a friend.  This is another of the mystery quilts our bee did last year.  Once they're all done, we're going to donate them to soldiers.  Since my friend Verna is moving, I offered to quilt her top for her.

Another Hatch and Windows Mystery Quilt

Verna made hers in traditional red, white and blue and it turned out just beautiful!  I'm sure whoever ends up with it will be pleased with both the fabrics and the workmanship that went into it.

I used a new pantograph to quilt it from the book Quilting Dot to Dot by Cheryl Barnes.  The pattern doesn't have a name, but it's on page 87.  (I've actually gotten a lot of really good pantographs from this book!)

Quilt pantograph I used

This was a pretty easy (and quick) pantograph to stitch up.  I like it so much, I'm going to use it on my next quilt as well!  Here's a closeup of the quilting on the back of the quilt...

Back of Verna's Quilt

The stats for this quilt are:

• Size: 59.5" x 71"
• Fabrics: N/A - Verna made the quilt top.
• Batting: Warm & White
• Thread: Superior Threads So Fine 50/3 #451
• Pattern: Mystery 26 (Hatch and Windows) from the Yahoo Group Mystery Quilts 4 Military
• Quilting: p.87 Quilting Dot to Dot by Cheryl Barnes
• Completed: January 2013
• Recipient: QOV

Now hopefully this cold will let up and I can move on to funner things!

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 

Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)