FIU weekend

Pat Sloan is having a UFO party on Quilt Mashup Forum and that has inspired me to check out those projects I need to finish up. I am working on a Nancy Halvorsen Be Attitudes mini quilt. I started it in January 2009! I bought the book and the kit in April 2008 in Deer Lodge, Montana at Quilter's Corner.

This is the first one I have started in the book. I also bought kits for Feb, March, Oct and Dec.

I at least hope to get this mini quilt done and hung in January. This weekend I hope to identify more of my projects to finish and get them on my list for 2012. Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Merry Christmas

Best wishes for a happy holiday to all. Smiles and hugs....Caryl

12 days of Christmas tabletopper

Here is the finish....blogged in June about charm squares to 4-patches here... I also had an update in Nov.... I forgot to use the walking foot when I started this decorative stitch in the center... and also forgot to put the feed dogs back up...oops.... after I figured it out what I had done...it was much better....

I did the stem stitch for the words and a running stitch along some of the seams... I'm keeping this one for me....the other two I did this month were for gifts... Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Secret Santa Swap fun

Pat Sloan's QuiltMashUp group had a swap earlier this month...

I decided to join in the fun....

Here is a little Santa bucket on the tabletopper I made....

I personalized the tabletopper for my swap partner.... and I used Kate Spain 12 days of Christmas fabric....

this photo shows all the goodies I put in the package... I also had some almond roca in the snowflake box.... the little snowman changes colors... I put some photos on flickr of what I got from my swap partner.... this was a very fun swap... Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Christmas tabletopper tutorial

Here is a quick tutorial on how I made this very simple tabletopper.

I used 2 1/2" strips of all different reds and greens for the center. I sewed a red strip to a green strip and cut in 2 1/2" segments and then sewed them together for a 16 patch of all different fabrics.

Next for the first borders I used gold fabric with stars and swirls and cut 8 1/2" x 2 and 12" x 2 and sewed to the 16 patch. For the last borders I started with a red strip and sewed to the right side. I then sewed a strip of green to the bottom and next red and last green at the top. For the machine quilting I did a decorative stitch down the centers of the 16 patch center and then straight lines about 1/8" from the seam. I wrote words in each of the borders.

Here is where I did something new....I did the binding by machine! I used red fabric with stars and swirls. First I listened to some tutorials on how to do machine binding and then sewed the binding to the back instead of the front. Pat Sloan has a good video on how to do this.

Then I folded the binding over and sewed a buttonhole stitch with my machine to finish. It was fun and I will be doing this method again. Smiles and hugs....Caryl

SPBB #6

Here is another project I did before I started my blog. I had a photo of it last year with my decorations but not about Sweet Trimmings. This was part of the Cross Country Christmas blog hop in November 2009. The design is Gudrun's of GE Designs and the free pattern is on her blog Gudrun's World and here is where you can find her post about Sweet Trimmings.

This is a close up of the top of the wall hanging. It was a lot of fun to make. Smiles and hugs....Caryl

SPBB #5

My post today is about another project that I made before I started my blog. This project was on a blog hop in November 2009 by Rosebud's Cottage blog. Anyone following me on flickr has already seen this...and I just had the binding pinned to the back that Christmastime and finished it later!!

You can find the directions here. Lots of little pieces to sew....but fun and worth it!! Smiles and hugs....Caryl

giddy postage stamp quilt finished

I love this quilt..... it all started in January.... when I joined a quilt along.... I have talked about this before on this blog.... I put lots of words in the quilting....

Rachel has a fun way of doing a postage stamp quilt... 1200 squares in all.... using 2 jelly rolls.... it measures about 62 x 82..... I used a blue fabric for the back....

I am happy with the turquoise binding... and happy that I did not add a border.... and happy with the turquoise quilting thread................ Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 4

I was the lucky winner of a copy of the Quiltmaker's 100 block, Vol 4 by making a comment on Sarah's Sew Joy blog here during the blog hop!! I just received the magazine and it is filled with lots of inspiration. Go to her blog to see her Jolly Holly block! Thank you Sarah for choosing my name. Now I wish I had volumes 1, 2 and 3.....this is awesome!! Smiles and hugs....Caryl

persistence

oh no!! I did it again!! I misspelled a word in my quilt!! I didn't notice it until I looked at the photo.... I have done this before....and I used to be a really good speller!!!....I decided to just leave it..... sometimes it is funny to see if people notice mistakes....hee hee.......... the reason I took this photo was to show my binding progress on the giddy postage stamp quilt... and also to show the blue backing....

another project is the 12 days of Chrismtas tabletopper... with the hand stitching merry christmas started.....

the next photo shows the machine stitching and the hand stitching...

last evening I wanted to capture the dark pink color across the sky... with the moon coming up.... also captured some blue hour.... Smiles and hugs....Caryl

postage stamp quilt

This last week I finished quilting my giddy postage stamp quilt......... I did a lot of meandering quilting and added words............................................................ now I am "happy" to be putting on the binding............ I really like using my walking foot................................. I really...really like this quilt.................................. Smiles and hugs....Caryl

SPBB #4

I just had to add another Halloween project to my list of projects before blogging... this one I did in 2006 and it is also by Renee Mullins.... the name of it is A Midnight's Glow.... it is in the book Plum Purdy Season vol.2.... my husband cut out the wood and sanded it and put the pieces together... and I did the decorative painting....

I put a little pumpkin with a candle on the base.... I like to decorate for the seasons and holidays and really enjoy bringing out my projects I have made in previous years.... Smiles and hugs....Caryl

SPBB #3

I painted this plaque in 2003.....it is a design by Rene Mullins of Plum Purdy.... I think the name of it is fall gathering..................

Here is a close up of some details.....it reminds me of how much I really like decorative painting........ BUT.....then I reeeeaaaalllllyyyy like quilting! But when I am making cards and stamping....I reeeeaaalllllyyyy like that too!!.... Smiles and hugs....Caryl

SPBB #2

I made this cat wall hanging in October 1990........it was a class project in the quilting classes I took at the community college every Tuesday night...................... This was my first hand piecing and first machine quilting quilt.....that's what I put on the label on the back! .... I don't think I ever took a photo of it until today.... I like to hang it up somewhere in the house every October. Smiles and hugs....Caryl

SPBB #1

I decided to start something new on my blog...SPBB... Some Projects Before Blogging.... projects that were completed before I started my blog.... and that I haven't blogged about already!.......................... SPBB #1 I made in 2008 and was the first quilt along that I followed... SeW AloNG! - Crooked Cabins by Pat Sloan... The basic instructions were in her book Crooked Cabins Quilts.... she had 7 lessons on her blog to follow with tips for making the quilt... the sew along started in July 2008.... it was such a fun quilt to make ................................................ Smiles and hugs....Caryl

zendoodle fun

I started this project when I signed up for Sarah's FYB Makealong... I tried some new things.... zendoodles around the outside of the saying... I used the BSR on my Bernina....

I used black perle 8 to do the stem stitch around the zendoodle areas... I used red Sulky to start the saying letters... being creative qd (every day) is what I need to do.... it didn't happen much over the past month.... but now I hope to finish up some projects.. and even start some new ones!! Smiles and hugs....Caryl

pancreatitis is a nasty disease!!!

My husband is recuperating from a very serious illness... it all started with severe abdominal pain that got worse suddenly... 911 to ER...high level of lipase and raging pancreatitis was the diagnosis... he was hospitalized for two weeks.... he had complications and was in critical care unit 5 days... now he is slowly getting better..... when he is recovered he will have his gallbladder out... at least another month before that happens.... so I have been away from blogging, quilting and creative stufff... yesterday I put a photo on flickr of the quilt I finished in Sept... the friends and flowers log cabin quilt.... Smiles and hugs....Caryl

50th

September 17, 1961

We started our weekend celebration Friday night at Seaport Village Edgewater Grill....

50 $1 bills Debbie made into a necklace!!...

Our family treated us to a very special evening.....

On Saturday Dave and I rode 231 miles on a cycle ride to some of our favorite places including Idyllwild...who else goes for a motorcycle ride on their 50th anniversary!!! Then on Sunday we took a car road trip 195 miles to Oak Glen,,,another favorite place!!! Smiles and hugs....Caryl

baby quilt for Murray

Winnie the Pooh baby quilt is done.....

I used the walking foot diagonal across the 4 patches... and free motion stitching on the fussy cut squares....

I used a bright flannel for the back and binding... I free motion stitched Murray's full name across the bottom and date of birth... sure hope he likes it!!...... Smiles and hugs....Caryl

September

September 1961 was a very important month in my life!! I graduated from nurses training on the 1st and got married two weeks later!! It seems like those 50 years have passed so quickly!! I graduated from Iowa Methodist School of Nursing... This year the president of the alumni with the help of some of my classmates.... made a most wonderful Memory Book.... we sent in photos of us and our families... and told about what we all did these past 50 years.....this book is priceless!! So many of us in the class got married just before or just after graduation.... now we are all celebrating our 50th wedding anniversaries..... My husband and I are starting to get anniversary cards.... so the anniversary celebration has begun.... I will be posting our wedding photo in another post this month... Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Awards Banquet

Here is a photo of me and my hubby at the Awards Banquet.... I have worked at KMCH for 29 years... we ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory... then walked to the Horton Grand Theatre... a very entertaining musical by the Lambs Players... called "Mixtape"....songs from the 80's.... thanks to the Hebbels for a very enjoyable evening!! Smiles and hugs....Caryl

the blue hour

yesterday I was catching up reading blogs...
one of the posts was from last week by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch...
she was talking about the blue hour...
AND why haven't I heard of this before?...
I had to experiment...
first a photo of one of my favorite meals...

then a photo from our patio looking to the sky after sunset...
to find out more about this blue hour from Susan check here...
there is also reference to another post and photos....

I checked the website for the time for the blue hour in my area...
to find out the time in your area click here
I only got one photo with the blue and it is blurry....
but I was excited to actually get it!!

The blue hour is not visible to the naked eye....
You can't see it....but the camera can!!!
this is just so fascinating to me...
I can't wait to try for more blue hour photos!!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

unscheduled break

in July I started the FYB makealong...
with the saying above to be embroidered...
then coughing...hacking...and zero energy hit me...
and lots of days of rest....
now finally I am back being creative again...

got the baby quilt top done last weekend....

and now starting the fun quilting....

Smiles and hugs....Caryl