postage stamp giddy

the postage stamp quilt along is so fun...
it started with 2 jelly rolls...
giddy by Sandy Gervais and white...
purchased online at FatQuarterShop.com...

sorted fabrics and sewed strips following Rachel's instructions...

cut the strips into segments....

more photos on flickr in the postage stamp quilt along...
and there is a lot of activity in this group...

We were out of town and I am really behind...
working on making the blocks now...
I need 48 blocks for the quilt...
to speed things up I decided NOT to pin the seams...
just butt them up and hold and sew...
it should speed up the process...
I have ALWAYS pinned before....
so hoping the quilt police don't come after me!!

some of the group have the top complete...
quilt alongs are fun...
if you haven't tried one....be sure to look for one to join!!
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

guild quilt blocks

block exchange for this month at our guild....
the photo shows the directions and blocks made by others....
the requirements were to use blacks and whites and batiks....

my fabric choices and pieces cut out for block A....

my fabric choices and pieces cut out for block B...

block A finished....

block B finished....
these were turned in at our January meeting....

I've been working on the postage stamp quilt along....
will post about that later....photos on flickr...
also working on heart projects from the Be Mine Blog Tour...
lots of blog hops and blog tours going on all over the internet...
very inspiring!!!......
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

college basketball

Oh my gosh...I am such a fan of college basketball...
and this year the San Diego Aztecs are nationally ranked!!...
at the start of the season they were ranked 25th...
then gradually went higher and now they are ranked 6th...
my sister was a HUGE Duke fan...
and this time of year we would be cheering our teams...
and this week Duke lost after winning 25 in a row...
NOW the SD Aztecs have the longest winning streak at 18-0...
since my sister is gone...I had to send this into the universe...
today the Aztecs play in the "pit" at New Mexico...
and it will be a great game...hard to beat them there!!...
now I have to hurry and get more sewing done before the game!!
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

starting a valentine tree

I got the idea for a valentine tree...
from the Be Mine Blog Tour....
I left the snow people ornament on the tree too...

The fabric for these is Hearts aflutter....

stamp is Branch Heart Memory Box E1310...
Fabrico garnet craft ink...
stitched with red thread through center of branches around heart...

I used black perle thread 8 to stitch the front to the back....
I used batting with the front and back....
I plan on making more of these fun ornaments...
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

blog tour starting today

Be Mine blog tour starts today....
click on the button on the right side.....
check out the heart ornaments....
check out the giddy!!!....
and there is a flickr group to post photos...
it will be a fun week...

AND tomorrow the Hero Arts Blog Hop starts...
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

quilt along

I'm joining Rachel's postage stamp quilt along...
why am I doing this when I have a lot of UFO's to do??....
why not!!!...it sounds like fun...
I wonder which jelly roll I will use?...
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

1-1-11

Something to think about:
"Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed."
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

I have enjoyed doing this blog this year...
I thought it would be like a diary/journal to document some of my life...
I never dreamt it could be as much fun as it has been....
getting acquainted with other bloggers from all over has been a fun experience...
Reading others blogs and making comments and getting comments are sooo fun...
For those people who don't have a blog and are thinking of doing a blog....
Just do it....you learn one step at a time...reread the saying above!!!
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Japan star is finished

I started this in May of this year...
and then went on to other projects...

this is No. 15 Japan from the Carol Doak Mariner's Compass Stars book....

The book has a CD and it is easy to print the patterns onto paper...
I used Carol Doak's foundation paper this time...
I listened to Carol on TQS to review her tips....

trim---sew---press---and repeat...
paper piecing is fun once you get in the rhythm of it!!!...
I used clear thread to quilt and did stitch in the ditch...
I used Holly Holderman antique dots for the binding...
any questions? I would be glad to answer...
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

polka dot table topper

this is a table topper I made for a gift for a party at work....
I used ME Isn't Christmas Jolly jelly roll for top...

I used a length of white with red dots and sewed 1/2 of a red print...
and 1/2 of another red print to it...
then I did the same for the white with green dots...
length of white with green and 1/2 of two greens...

I cut the pairs 2 1/2" and placed as shown on the photos....
I used 2 strips of red with white dots for the borders...
the back is the same as one of the red prints....
I quilted with loops and added our work initials and year...
I brought the back fabric to the front for a self binding...
and used a decorative stitch (332 on Bernina)...

I found a red with white casserole dish at Home Goods...
and red placemats and Christmas spreaders...

it was a fun present to give and was popular at the party!!!
Merry Christmas to everyone....
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

tiny tree with tiny stamps

this tree is barely 11" tall and packed with ornaments and ribbons....
AND 15 tiny stamps!!!
an early present to me...

here is another photo of it sitting on the crumb catcher....
I made that cute little table mat from last year's blog hop...
it was a free pattern with lots of pieces...
I think I will keep this tree out year round...
it is too precious to put away and not enjoy...
I have a spot in front of a mirror in my craft area...
and that is where it will be....
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

stencil flower mug rug

my first mug rug....
Hero Arts stencil flower CG194...
fabric ink stamped on white dotted fabric...
Smooch grape soda....
Superior Rainbow #838 thread..purple, fuscia, teal, blue...
I used the thread outlining the flower, petals and center...
and stitching the self binding with #332 stitch on my Bernina...
I love these jewel colors....
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

peachy pink quilt for baby Georgia

I have blogged about this quilt before...

I started with deciding the size to fussy cut Beatrix Potter images...
I varied the type of blocks...

since the baby was born as I was making this...
I asked the mother to write down words that described her daughter...
I quilted these words into this quilt for Georgia...

some blocks have 3 1/2" fussy cut with borders...

some were 6 1/2" fussy cut...

I made blocks with strips...
and 4 patch blocks...
and log cabin blocks...

I added her name and birth date into the quilting...
a really fun quilt to make...
I sure hope she likes it..
Smiles and hugs....Caryl