Pretty Finishes

 My niece is an awesome cross stitcher. She had given me these pieces and I had yet to decide on a finish. I had thought to frame them but decided against that as my wall space is limited and full!

 Pillas seemed to fit the bill.  This fabric and buttons just seemed to be bought for this sampler she gave me for Valentines Day! Fabric is a fat qt from quilt show 2 yrs ago. Buttons were a Joann's impulse sale buy!

Some knob hangers as I call them. This is a lovely Easter egg. I quilted around it then stuffed it a bit to sit above the batting. 

 It is hanging under mantle to proclaim Easter!

Last one is this smaller hanger. Spring is hung on a knob of dining room hutch. Need to bring in some fresh hyacinths to match it in purple!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We will be having our corn beef and cabbage for early supper here. Wishing each one a lovely day no matter how 'not' Irish you may be!;-)

Quiltng Day!

Hope you have enjoyed the day in some sort of quilty way!  Did not get to my project as I had hoped. I am reading some quilt books, so hope that counts too!!

Some sewing...

...going on here last week. Not for me but was very 'Springish'!
A young gal in DH's office had stitched these place mats up for her Mom's BD later this month. Well she went all the way through to the back! She had ask if I would try to put on new backing.

 So took off the binding.

 Found some cute fabric in my stash to use so they would all match.  Had to find some that the threads would not show through. She had sent some fabric, already cut, but a couple pieces were a dress sateen type fabric!

 I tried my best to quilt and sew on the backs so it did not look too off.

Putting that factory binding back on was a bit of a bear but did mange to get them all done!

So with the cotton pieces of pink and purple I managed to make her a few extras! A runner to match the place mats.

A couple mug rugs for her and her Mom.

Some potholders too.
She was very happy with all her goodies! DH said she was showing it all off all over office. When she called to thank me she did seem to be very pleased! So I am happy!

That would be  nine finishes in March! Now on to some other things that should have been finished before now!


Me... I am trying to find all my Easter decor items I always put up! In my 'put away frenzy' and clean up last year  I seem to  have hid some!!!

We have had a couple nice days here! We were outside getting up limbs and sticks. Had several loads for  burn pile! All the winds and storms we have had made the mess. Wonder those maple trees have any limbs left!
Still need to work in the side beds. Loads of stuff to pull out. All the Spring flowers are going to be bloomed and over by end of month.
Well best get too it or day will be gone and naught to show for it!

Old Tops

 We went to an estate auction this past Saturday. We had been on the fence about going as weather was not all that great. Then just decided to go!
We were there all day! The folks that were running the auction really were not as organized as they should have been so was a slow one!
Was an old basket full of textile stuff so I bid and won. Had four pieced quilt tops mixed in with some other things.
These tops are quite the mix. The blocks are all mostly pieced by hand. The fabrics used all range in age. Seems like someone got into a box of very old scraps and mixed them up with newer ones. Saying 'new' but not as in today's fabrics! Not sure if I will work on them fixing up borders and quilting or leave as is.
They look pretty just hanging around or on a  chair folded.

 Here is first one. Love the colors. There are calicoes/feed sacks and shirtings with some blue indigo.

I also won a box of old wooden hangers so put this one on one at chimney side.

Here is a small pinwheel top. Lots of real 30's and feed sacks. Some muslin too.

Hung it up at end of oak cabinet on old wooden hanger also. Looks Springy!

This one is very vibrant but not as bright and  pic seems to make it! So may shirtings and other dress making leftovers.

Another pin wheel pattern. This is largest. Lots of  very old fabrics in this one but again a mix of age fabrics. The border fabric is an older thicker cotton fabric , maybe decor, put on by machine. If I do finish the quilt not sure if I will keep this fabric on there.

We have some other wonderfu treasures will share on another post! Wasa fun day. Was snowing some flurries when DH took some stuff out to truck one time! Was like OH NO! our stuff may get wet! hahaha! It stopped. We were really not that far from the farm.

I did some Christmas shopping too. So we are almost done! We do not buy many gifts anymore. All grands are out of town/state so easier to send gift cards.
Postage is so high on shipping! Bought my first book of stamps at $9.20!!

Well best get to a sewing project I agreed to for do for some one else.
Will share that later too!

Oh my just heard on radio there is sleet/snow up road! Came in early today!
We are getting yet another chance at snow this week, today through Thursday!
Poor Easter Bunny maybe hiding eggs in Winter weather come Easter!

E-book Review- Modern Quilt Patterns

I was approached about doing some reviews of quilting e-books and agreed.

This one is from McCall’s Quilting and Quick Quilts called Modern Quilt Patterns.

There are three lovely quilts that are all on a modern vibe, cheery and pretty straightforward.

The photos are bright and wonderful and the instructions are clear and precise.

The first one called, Baubles and Beads, I can see made up in Christmas fabrics!

 It would also work great with scraps or a single fabric line, maybe using one of those jelly rolls ya have rolling around..;-)

Just may use this one to make my very modern DIL a quilt for her gray and pale yellow bedroom redo!

Rainbow Rhythm is a lot of color and design bang with minimum effort!

This would make for a very striking wall quilt in a modern setting or table top.

I know a couple gals who will love it!

Last one up is called Lemon Squeezy .

It is done with wonderful clear and simple quilt as you go instructions.

I can see doing this one up as a quick baby shower gift or charity quilt!

As you know a pattern is just that..you add your own personality with your own choice of fabrics!

Never tried an e-book …well I think you will be hooked once you do!

This one can be yours for free!!

Here is a link for you to go get your own free copy of this e-book and get busy!

Enjoy!

Fall Quilts

 Here we have a couple Fall themed applique quilts I liked at the quilt show.
Sorry did not  get a pic of the  names of the pattern! I was trying so hard to do that this year! Frats. I have seen both of these patterns made up around Blogland.

Needle turn applique on this cute one. Machine quilted.

Love the batty border!;-)

Since owls are big again I took up close pics of 2 on this quilt.

He looks so sweet up in his tree!!

Did a bit o shop'n!

 I did spend a bit with the vendors at the Quilt Show. Not like I needed anything but hey the smell of 'new' just overwhelms me at times! The strawberry fabric is for a birthday gift I need done by August.

We came back by Bella's Quilt Shop in Eagle Harbor for the dessert social. Wish I had taken in the camera for  pic! Lisa had a spread! Wow was there some pretty cakes and yummy sweets!! Anyway $1.00 fats and 50% off sale bin took the rest of my cash! ;-)

Here is a cute Christmas applique sampler quilt.  I have seen this pattern online. For some reason did not get info on this one! I was doing so well with most of the quilts I took pics of doing that this year! Oh well.

Thread play big time...

 ..on this 1st Place winner in the Innovative Category.
Called Fiesta Mexico by Renae Haddadin and Karen Kay Buckley of Sandy , Utah.

Machine pieced, hand appliqued , long arm quilted and is an original design.

Looking at the back! Looked like it was a embroidered top!
Is amazing what creative folks can come up with in quilting these days!
So Jean what ya think??? ;-)

I really liked this star one as well but did not get info on it.

Here is an idea on the Twister! Use it as borders on a quilt!

More Quilt Show Quilts

Quilt above was simply stunning!
Mary Bell's Civil War Album Sampler by Karen Woten of Ottumuwa, IA.
Won 1st Place for hand workmanship!!

These are more my favorites kind of quilts. Have the 'old' feel to them! Simple but so very charming and  some even elegant looking such as the star one done is long strips.

 All five of these plus more were made by a group called Churn Dashers of Tidewater, Virginia.
A Civil War quilt study group.
The display was called..Honoring 19th Century Quilters.
Just so many wonderful quilts on display with repro fabrics.

This was a very charming wool piece. Was part of another themed grouping called Season's of the Heart. Made by Emma Crawford of Gloucester, Virginia of the River Country Quilters.
Those stitched snow flaked were just wonderful! Took a close up but did not come out very well.

So much inspiration to be found at a quilt show that has such a diverse selection of designs. Something for everyone!