Christmas Frogs

I’m getting the last of my Christmas sewing finished!  (Yes, next year I will start earlier.)  But for now, I’m playing with my froggy friends before I give them away.  Every year the girls in the family make a fun craft/toy/trinket to give to each other at Christmas.  Last year I made elephants and this year I made frogs!

I think they are so cute.

I’m having a hard time keeping my kids from taking off with them.  (They have already put in their requests.)

This one is Lucy.  I decided to keep her.  She’ll be my new quilting buddy.

I used the pattern from “Frog Patch” by Me and My Sister Designs.  I shrunk it in half then added a 1/4 inch back on to make it a little bigger.  I also filled them with plastic crafting beads to give them a fun bean bag feel.  They are extra fun to toss around and play with.

Stormy

Broken 9 patch quilt

One quilt down and one to go!  I’m running out of time too.  Luckily, the next one is small. Anyway, I have named this quilt “Broken 9 Patch”.  Unoriginal I know, but I don’t have the time to be imaginative this close to Christmas.  I designed this pattern and at some point will post the instructions.  But for now, it’ll make a great Christmas present.  (I decided to give another one away.)  It is made from the line “Pure” by Sweetwater. (Also, a slightly older fabric line.)

The lighting outside wasn’t the greatest, but it was afternoon lighting or nothing.

The binding, backing, and sashing are Hobby Lobby fabrics (because that’s the only fabric store I have here).  I really like how it turned out.

Sigh.  Will it always be this hard to give away quilts?

But now, I must make labels, frogs and a mug rug.  I’ll show ya later.  Gotta run….

Stormy

Vintage Rose Quilt

Christmas is getting closer and I’m sewing constantly.  But, what better way to spend your time?  I’ve decided to make a quilt for a family member every year for Christmas.  This year, I decided to make one for my husband’s dad and step-mom.  I LOVE how it turned out!  It is made from the fabric line “Vintage Rose” by Nancy Odom that I bought years ago.  I used the pattern “Family Tradition” from the November/December 2012 McCall’s Quilting Magazine.  I thought it was appropriate!

It looks so pretty framed by the fall leaves.

At first, I was worried about putting on such a dark binding, but now I love the contrast.  It frames the quilt beautifully.

I also love how the green floral on the back contrasts with all the solid cream on the front.

Oh, and one more love…. checkerboard quilts. 

I may need to make another one of these for me…

Stormy

My Mug Rug

I had no idea what a mug rug was two weeks ago.  I must be out of the loop.  My sister called me to tell me how fun and easy it was to make one.  My thoughts?  I’d rather make a quilt.  Until…. this week the same sister introduced me to herbal teas.  Yum!  I didn’t know what I was missing.  Now, I’m afraid I’ve gone a bit tea crazy.  Of course I wanted a mug rug now! (Or, maybe I should call it a tea mat…. or tea quilt?)  What else would I use to go along with my collection of cute little tea cups?

It was so fun to make!  I designed it, pieced it, quilted it and sewed on the binding in just over two hours.

Stats: Riley Blake fabric – Felicity

Size: 10in x 12in

Fabric pieces:

Large floral  - 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches and 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches

Plaid  -  2 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches

Medallion – 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches and 2 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches

Polka Dot – 3 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches

Geometric – Border around large floral – (2) 1 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. strips and (2) 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. strips.  You will also need a  1 1/2 x 10 1/2 inch strip and for binding a 2 1/2 x 50 inch strip.

I used a light weight batting and for the backing, a slightly larger rectangle of the large floral.  About a 12 x 14 piece.

It was fun quilting it too!  Some of the lines are not as straight as I would have wanted, (the side strip on purpose) but considering I had a three year old in my lap, I think it turned out pretty good.

This won’t be the last mug rug you see here…..

Stormy

Mom’s Block of the Month Sampler

I’m finally posting a finished project!  Yeah!  My husband (one of my most avid followers) pointed out that many of my recent posts have been from the past.  There is a reason for that.  I have been in charge of a church Christmas dinner, and have made a wedding jacket for a friend.  I’ve done most of my Christmas shopping, and have cooked Thanksgiving dinner and made six pies!  I’ve bottled about 40 jars of blueberry and blackberry pie filling, and helped my husband bottle 40 lbs of chicken and chicken soup.  I’ve had kids home from school for a week and have been cutting out a new quilt.  On top of all of this I’ve been being a normal, busy mom of five kids.  I just haven’t had a lot of time!  But, now many of my time consuming activities are in the past and I have lots of more time to quilt and more time to post about it!  Wahoo!

I believe that if you have a long to do list, you should start with the hardest, most time consuming item first.  On my list, that item was my mom’s block of the month quilt.

My two sisters, my mom, and I all belonged to a Block of the Month group.  We signed up two years in a row and added all the blocks together.  My mom is the only one of us to finish.  Yeah mom! The quilt ended up being quite large, so she asked me to quilt it for her on my mid-arm quilting machine.

She was specific on how she wanted it quilted.  (I normally just quilt an all over pattern.)

I have never quilted this much on a quilt before.  I think it turned out great.

I’ve had it since July and I’m taking it back to her when we go home for Christmas. 

I hope you like it mom!

Stormy

My Wedding Quilt

Last night I was going through my closet pulling Christmas presents out that had been hidden there over the past few months.  There was one present I just couldn’t find, so this morning I tore apart my closet trying to find the missing gift.  I still haven’t found it, but I did come across my wedding quilt up on the highest shelf.  I’ve never used it, because I’ve always been worried that somehow it would get ruined.  My grandmother made it out of her scraps and my mom put on the border and hand quilted it.  Every year or so, I pull it out of the closet and ooohh and ahhh over it, then I think of the five sets of grubby little paws in my house and put my quilt back up on the top shelf.  One day I’ll feel comfortable enough to pull it out and display it.

I am using some of the same scraps in my star quilt found here.  My grandmother used these fabrics in projects and for clothing for me, my siblings and cousins when we were kids. 

I should really call it my reminiscing quilt.

Stormy

Decadent Victorian

I’m super busy working on all kinds of projects right now.  But, none of them are finished.  So, I thought I’d feature one of my old quilts today.  It was made from the Moda line “Decadent Victorian” and the pattern is Jellystone Park from Legacy Patterns.

All four of my daughters love purple, but it’s never been a favorite of mine.  I loved the prints on this fabric, but couldn’t bring myself to buy it because of all the purple!  But, in every fabric store I went into, my eye was drawn to it.  So, I decided to buy a jelly roll. 

I’m glad I did.  This was a fun pattern to make.  Surprisingly easy too.

Of course I had to add a striped binding…

Stormy

Finished Shawl

Well, it took a little longer than I expected. (October was busy!)  But, I finally finished my shawl.  It’s so warm and cozy.

I woke up this morning and the house was a little cool, so I wrapped it around my shoulders as I was getting the kids out the door.  I think everyone should have a soft cuddly shawl.

I followed this pattern from redheart.com.  But, I wanted mine longer, so I added 24 more rows. I had to add twelve rows on each end because when I went back to buy another skein of yarn it was slightly darker.  (Yes, that does mean that on one side the twelve rows are upside down.  But, it’s not noticeable unless you look hard and it now has a pretty scallop on both sides.) I love how it turned out though.  It looks like I planned it all along! 

Stats: 2 1/2 skeins of medium weight yarn (7 ounces per skein).  I used the brand “I Love This Yarn” from Hobby Lobby.  It’s a favorite of mine because the yarn is super soft.  Color: light gray.

Next, on to the fingerless gloves! 

Stormy

Happy Halloween!

I hope everybody had a fun and happy Halloween!  We sure did.

Stormy

Finishing the Star Sampler Quilt!!

Okay, I’m super excited.  This is the big reveal of my first quilt along.  The Star Sampler Quilt we have been working on for the last twelve weeks.  Are your blocks done?  If not, maybe the finished quilt pictures will inspire  you to get going and finish your last few blocks.

I love all the bright colors in this quilt.  I decided to keep the borders super simple so they wouldn’t distract from the blocks themselves, but it needed a little pop.  Hence, the bright blue polka dot border and striped binding. 

I loved the blue polka dot so much, I even chose it for the backing…

You can finish yours anyway you want, but just in case you wanted a few details on how I finished mine, here they are:

The sashing strips, inner cream border, and dotted border are all 2 1/2 inches.

The outer border is 4 1/2 inches.

The finished quilt size is 56 x 70.

If you want more specific instructions, please let me know.  And, send my your pictures!  I would love to see other versions of the Star Sampler Quilt.  Thanks so much for doing this with me!

Stormy

Star Sampler Quilt Along–Block 12

It’s the last block!  I’m super excited to show you this one.  As I was searching through my archives of star blocks, I just couldn’t find what I wanted.  So, I decided to design my own.  I know that somewhere out there, somebody has probably made this block (it’s not that complicated), but I sure couldn’t find it.  So, I’m introducing it as Stormy’s Star!  Let me know if you know it by another name.

CUTTING AND FABRIC

Fabric 1 – Background – (8) 2 7/8 in squares and (4) 2 1/2 in squares and (2) 1 1/2 x 8 1/2 in rectangles and (2) 1 1/2 x 6 1/2 in rectangles.

Fabric 2 – Yellow Floral – (8) 2 7/8 in squares

Fabric 3 – 11 – Center – (1) 2 1/2 in square of each fabric

STEP 1

Draw a diagonal line along the back of all the Fabric 2 – 2 7/8 in square blocks.

STEP 2

Stack the Fabric 2 squares RST with the background 2 7/8 in squares.  Sew 1/4 in seam along both sides of the drawn line.

STEP 3

Cut the squares along the drawn line.

STEP 4

Press open and trim squares to 2 1/2 inches.

STEP 5

Lay out quilt block as shown.

STEP 6

Sew together top and bottom row, then sew the side blocks together.  Sew the center 9 patch together and add the side 1 1/2 x 6 1/2 strips.  Then sew on the top and bottom 1 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch strip.

STEP 7

Sew the side half square triangle strips on.  Press, then sew the top and bottom strips on.  Your finished!  Yeah!  All the blocks are done.  Now for the finishing…..

Stormy

Star Sampler Quilt Along–Block 11

I know, I’m a few days late posting block 11.  We had family in town for four days and I think I have spent about five minutes in front of my computer.  So, here it is Squares and Stars (just a little late).

CUTTING AND FABRIC

Fabric 1 – Background – (4) 2 1/2 in. squares and (8) 2 7/8 in. squares

Fabric 2 – Floral on white – (1) 4 1/2 in. square and (4) 2 7/8 in. squares

Fabric 3 – Small Floral – (4) 2 1/2 in. squares and (4) 3 in. squares

Fabric 4 – Blue Dot – (8) 2 7/8 in squares

STEP 1

Draw a line on all the background squares and Fabric 2 (not shown)  2 7/8 in squares.

STEP 2

Now we are going to stack all of our 2 7/8 in. squares together to form all of the Half Square Triangles.  I hope I can make some sense of this….  Stack:

Four – Background and Fabric 3

Four – Background and Fabric 4

Four – Fabric 2 and Fabric 4

Then sew a 1/4 in seam along each side of your drawn lines.  Cut each square along the drawn line to form two half square triangles.  Are you still with me?

STEP 3

Now, you get to press and trim all the half square triangles you just made to 2 1/2 inches.

STEP 4

Lay out all your pieces to form your block.

STEP 5

Instead of sewing this block row by row (which I think would be much harder to match the corners).  I made four patches from the smaller 2 1/2 inch blocks, then sewed the four patches together by rows.

One more block to go!!

Stormy

Balloon Weekend

We don’t live very far away from Albuquerque, but for various reasons we never made it to the balloon festival…. until now.  I can tell you it was awesome, but I’d rather show you.

The kids LOVED these….

Can you spot Elvis?

This was my favorite….

They even had a quilt raffle featuring some of the favorite balloons of the past few years.  (I’m crossing my fingers!) I can’t believe I forgot to take a picture.  I borrowed the picture from the New Mexico Quilt Association web page. Isn’t it awesome?

If you ever get a chance to go, it is totally worth it.  We will definitely be going again.

Stormy