Rainbow of Afghans

 I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas.  Ours was filled with family, laughs, good food, and a much needed break.  Since it is after Christmas, I will be able to share the rest of the gifts that I made for my family.

Beautiful Butterflies Winner!

Thanks to all of my followers old and new.  I always have a great time learning more about all of you!  So without further ado the winner of

This pretty little charm pack is comment #80.

W.I.P.'s are Whipping me!!!!

I have been working like a crazy mad elf in Santa's workshop.  I always seem to take on far too many before Christmas.  It is a weakness of mine.  I started way early this year, but my ideas are way more ambitious than that of my time.  I did finish all 6 afghans. (pictures yet to come)  Which lifts a huge weight off my shoulders, but I still have sooooo much to do.  I began to work on a quilt for the hubby.  It is flannel, so he should love to snuggle into it after work in his chair for his little cat naps.

Quilter's Blog Hop Giveaway - Closed

First off, Thanks to Michelle for putting together another blog hop for her 5th Anniversary.  Be sure to stop in and visit her blog and then check out all the other great giveaways. If you are new to my blog, welcome and I am so glad that you stopped by.  I am a newer quilter, who has a fabric addiction.  (Yes, I actually admitted it.)  The colors they have for fabric are so vibrant and beautiful.  I just can't help myself.  Here are a couple of projects that I have finished recently.

 1.  Snowman Table Runner Tutorial          2. Paper Pieced Nativity

In preparation for the next Giveaway, I had picked up a charm pack and thought it would be perfect.  So...
What can you win?

A bright beautiful pack of Moda Chrysalis

What do you have to win this bright little bundle of fabric....

1. Be a follower of this blog.
2. Comment on this post and tell me your favorite Holiday Project!
3. Be sure your comment is linked to an email address or include it in your comment
4. Giveaway ends next Sunday, December 16 at midnight.  The winner will be announced Monday, December 17.
5. Worldwide entries welcome!

Good Luck and Thank You to all My followers old and new!

Give Me The Stars

 While I was busy making my little Nativity wall hanging, I decided that I would go ahead and make some stars with the paper piecing pattern from Kristy at Quiet Play.

Paper Pieced Nativity

 In November, I found that Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts and Kristy at Quiet Play were having a 

I love the look of paper piecing.   It reminds me of stained glass. I have only tried it once before with much larger pieces.  I figured I would give myself a break from crocheting for a bit and spend a couple evenings at the sewing machine.  And this is what I decided to try out...

A distraction........Bavarian Crochet

I feel a lot like the dog off of the Disney movie UP. I get working on a project and someone yells "squirrel" (or in my case craft) and I totally lose track of what I was working on.  I started working on my Watermelon Pineapple Afghan and it was driving me crazy.  I don't know if it was doing the pattern for the third time or just my lack of interest.  Instead,  I have not one but two afghans, a infinity scarf, and a quilt lying in various stages of being finished.  Which, all have to be completed by the 25th.  I might be dreaming on getting them all complete.  Well, for my lasting disgust for the pineapples (which I usually love)  I picked up this book........

Pillow Case Wrapping Paper and Pineapples

This year, I opted to make all of my Christmas presents.  Which is turning into a huge undertaking, but I am determined that I will get them all finished.   I figured since I was making gifts, why not make the wrapping paper too.

Pumpkins and a Turkey

 I thought I would share a few free patterns that I have came across the last few weeks.  Like I have wrote before, I totally love the variety of free patterns from Lily Sugar n' Cream.  Plus, if you sign up for their newsletter, you receive updates on the new pattern on their site.

Wicked Blog Hop

Are you all ready for the scary things that go bump in the night....
Witches riding through the night sky....
Little ones dressed as their favorite little ghoul?????

Then you are ready for a Wickedly Good Blog Hop.

I decided months ago to join a little Wicked Blog Hop.  At first, I had grand plans of skeletons and scary vampires, but then I found this super cute material.  I fell in love with the little kids, all dressed in their Halloween attire.  I have always loved vintage looking cards and material.  It was perfect for a pattern I wanted to try for fussy cutting, which I had never tried before.  Here are the three 12.5 inch blocks that I finished all up....

Oh for the Love of Snowman Pattern

Well, we are closing in the winter season, hot chocolate, warm quilts to cover up with and freshly baked cookies.  It got me in the mood to make something special for the holidays.  I personally do not like the cold, and of course I live in a state that is cold several months of the year.  The only good that comes out of the cold is snow.  I love the fresh new blanket of white that covers the ground.  The kids think that the snow is great because you can make snowmen.  So, in honor of the cold and snow, that will soon be arriving, I created this little table runner.

 

 You can now purchase this pattern at Craftsy. 

Oh for the love of Snowmen!!!

 Well have you heard the news?

That we are less than 12 weeks away from Christmas!!!  EEKKK!!! Yes, it is scary.  I have so many projects to even get started and finished before then. 

So, with that being said, gather yourself together and I have a project to show you.

Lion Cookie Cake

My sister is always claiming that she has not an ounce of talent.  I have heard this for years.   Well, I no longer believe the untalented claim at all.  Look at this giant cookie she made for her kiddo's birthday.  

Isn't it adorable?

Urban Garden

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you all know I love Dresdens. Well, I thought that since I went crazy and quilted my QAL quilt in two days.  (Only because I never sleep.)  I had a whole 2 hours to spare and would enter it in the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild.  I had already entered my pillow, "sew" why not my favorite quilt.......

My Sew Intertwined Quilt

I spent many a night trying to get this quilt top perfect.  The paper piecing, I absolutely loved working on.  Except for the fact,  I messed up two more blocks!  Urgh!  It made me sick.  I wanted to get my quilt top all finished up before the September 6th deadline.  I had started the QAL late and then I just kept getting the colors in the wrong spot.  But now those mess-ups are going to make fabulous pillow shams for my queen sized quilt.  And here it is...

My Dresden Challenge Entry ~ Shattered

Months back, I heard of a Dresden Challenge that was being held by the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild.  The Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild is celebrating Darlene Zimmerman’s 20th Anniversary for her EZ Dresden ruler.  I am really new to quilting and I purchased the Dresden ruler even before I really started quilting.   I love Dresdens, they have such a classic feel to them, and I just can't seem to resist.  So, I figure why not enter one of my little Dresden creations.  And here is what I came up with.....

Blog Hop and And The Winner is .....

Thank you everyone who participated in the Giveaway.  A big Thank you to all my followers, old and new!  I tried to reply to every one's comments, but I know I missed a few of you.  I was dealing with a little blog mess this week.  I enjoyed reading all the variety of ways that all of you started sewing or quilting from being self taught to setting under their grandmother's quilting table. And now on to the winner of these pretty little fabrics.....

 Congratulations to Dona!!!  Check out her blog she does great work for her community!!

Dona, I will contact you via e-mail.

Thanks again to all!

My Blog Post was Hijacked!!

   

   

If you have a blog,  you spend time writing, taking the perfect picture and proofreading to get the exact words and image you want to express on you blog.  Recently, a post of mine was re posted verbatim from my blog.  In no way did I give the person permission, she did post where she stole the information from.  (As if she was doing me a favor)  She (other blogger)  also stole all my pictures from the post.  To say the least, I was a little upset.  I don't mind sharing my projects and ideas, but they are my projects and ideas,  asking first would have been the right thing to do.  So, I thought I would share a little of what I learned from my experience.

Seeing Double

No, you are not seeing double!  I took the plunge and paper pieced for the first time.  A bit scary and intimidating, but I finished 2 out of 12 of the block needed to do the quilt I am working on.  I really love how they turned out, but they are way more time consuming than I thought.  Maybe, now I know a little more of what I am doing, the next 10 will go a little easier.

Quilting Gallery Blog Hop & Giveaway - Closed

They are having a blog hop over at Quilting Gallery and since it is very close to my six month blog anniversary and decided to join in the fun.  It is only open to ship to the U.S. (Sorry, to all my International Followers, I love you all!)   Now on to the prizes. My giveaway is..

Pineapples and QAL

"Sew" crazy me decided to join another QAL.  My life is a tornado of activity, so once again I prove that I am a little lot crazy.  I just loved the Quilt-A-Long that Sew Happy Geek and Sew Bitter Sweet Designs was holding that I could not resist.  It had all the elements that I loved.  A little bit of classic and modern, all rolled into one.  The next step is paper piecing which I have yet to try out.  It is a little intimidating to try, but you have to start somewhere right?

Potholders and Pineapples

Look at the huge stack of Ring Around the Rosie potholders!  All finished up and ready for Christmas.  Yes, I know a little early, but life seems to get so busy once the school bell rings. 

Warning : Granny Quilt Overload

Please excuse the picture overload.  I am just really in love with these blocks.  It is a very old block design block with some modern fabric.  If I would have had enough material, I would have made this big enough to fit my bed.

A Few more Grannies

Well, it is week two of working on my Great Grannies and I am still totally loving them.  I actually finished all of the blocks this last week and here they all are.
 

Hoot Owl Cakes

Most of the time, I post about my sewing adventures.  But there are several hobbies I also enjoy besides setting in front of the sewing machine.  If you haven't already figured it out, it is making cakes for members of my family.  When the adults or kids turn a year older, I enjoy making a special little sweet treat.  If you have been a visitor to my blog before, you know that all of us love owls.  So for this birthday, of course you can guess what the theme was.

August Fresh Sewing

So the summer months are already half over and school time is quickly approaching!  We have less than 3 weeks to get back in the swing of school.  Anyway, these are my finishes for the month of July.  I finished up the Gypsy Dance quilt and I did a little tutorial on my Lego Shirts that I made for the kids.  Not on the sewing side, I completed 20 of the Ring Around the Rosie Potholders.  I still have 4 left.  Yippeee!!!  This month I really want to get my Great Granny quilt all finished up.  It is going to be difficult considering all the events in the next couple weeks.  Fingers crossed next month that it will be on a my September Fresh Sewing page.

The lovely places I link to....

Great Granny

 So, I began loving the Dresden and then I tested a pattern and now I have found a new love.  Great Grannies!!!  They are sooo easy to put together and I absolutely love the way that they turn out.  Another great beginner quilting project.  I joined the

Gypsy Dance Finished

My Gypsy Dance quilt is all finished up.  I quilted it with echoing boxes inside the lattice design of the quilt.  I wanted to keep it simple, but to amplify the pattern that Bree over at Distant Pickles designed.

Gypsy Dance

I finished my Gypsy Dance quilt top.  My sewing machine and I didn't get along so well at the beginning, but after some practice we were getting along a lot better.   I volunteered to do a pattern test for Bree over at Distant Pickles. (My first time to test a pattern.)

W.I.P. - Gypsies and Legos

Last week was sooo busy, the kids had stuff going on each day and we never seemed to stop going.  Thank goodness this week is a bit on the slower side where we can all sit back and enjoy the summer days.  I started another quilt this week.  I volunteered to do a pattern test for Bree over at Distant Pickles. (My first time to test a pattern.)

Lego Head Shirts

You can find many cute appliqued t-shirts on Pinterest.  I had found a couple of them that had Disney's  Mickey ears on them.  Jenna at Two oh Two seven, had a couple of great ones that I had found.  I thought you could do it with some other characters. 

W.I.P. Mountians of Potholders & Sweetwater

Well, my sewing machine is official done for.  It is only now to be used as a light duty machine.  Nothing I ever do is light duty.  It had just been in the shop in February and now back again in July.  They said no more of the same, I have ran it way too hard.  So, I bought myself a new sewing machine.   I think I have a bit of buyers remorse.  I haven't bought a sewing machine for over (at least) 15 years and this new one is sitting in the shrink wrap still.  I intend to unwrap it, I just usually don't spend that much on myself EVER!  I know it is an investment that everyone will benefit from.

Painted Clay Pots

Most of us have a clay pot sitting around the house.  Lately, I have been in love with adding a lot of color to our outdoor decor.  I thought I would add a splash of color to our pots.

Garden Woes!

I thought that due to the extreme temperatures that we had been experiencing, my plants were suffering from a little bit of heat stress.   Not only was it hot but the little leaf eating grasshoppers were thick.   I assumed between the heat and the grasshoppers, my plants were suffering.  That was NOT the case.  One of the kids got close to one of my hollyhock plants and there on the leaf was the smallest of little beetles. They were super tiny and I had never seen anything like them before.   I of course Googled it and they looked just like the below picture and they were killing my plants.

Picture Source

Ring Around The Rosie

I gave you a little peek at what I have been working on the last couple days.  Thank goodness it has cooled down here.  (If you call 95 degrees cooler) The 100's were brutal but I was able to get a lot of sewing completed (my first quilt) when it was too hot to be outside enjoying the day.  Since my sewing machine is still broken and we are enjoying the outside, I have been working on my crochet projects during the evenings.

A Great Birthday Gift!!

My birthday was recently and my sister who knows me really well bought me the neatest present. I had never heard of it before but now I have fallen in love with it. It is a Scentsy warmer. She bought me the Wrangler warmer since it fits well with my house decor.

W.I.P. Wednesday - Cupcakes and Animal Print

For all of you in the states, I hope that everyone had a Happy 4th of July.  We enjoyed family and  great food (My sis can make a mean potato salad).  Thanks to all the great men and women who came before us and fought for our freedoms, so that we can enjoy each other and all the things we love to do.

July Fresh Sewing Day!

Is it already July 1st?  I know everyone says that, but really the summer months go by soooo fast.  I guess it is the age old saying, "Time flies when your having fun."  I had a week of my hubby being on vacation and we were out and about, going to birthday parties, remodling laundry areas, and other assorted project.   Here is a mosaic of all my sewing and crocheting finishes for June.

 

I finished my very first quilt in June (Yes, I had to throw in another picture)

 and I had a tutorial for my bike pouch I designed for Sew Mama Sew!

Linking up to Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day!

Red, White, & Blue Zig Zag

A month ago Ashley at Mommy by day Crafter by night started a

I had never finished a quilt.  Let alone finish it in a month.  I thought the task to be impossible.  Between swim lessons and all the other fun activites to do during the summer, I decided to be my crazy self and take the challenge.  Well, to my amazement, (and a broken down sewing machine-that might just go to the sewing room in the sky), I finished it.  I honestly didn't know that I would.  So here is my very first quilt.