Stithcer’s Angel and Heart Challenge

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This past week I received a very special parcel! A while back I had joined Helen’s Stitcher’s Angel swap. I made and sent my gift but for some reason never received one back. My Angel (according to her blog) had some personal issues that prevented her from following through. My name was put on a list on Helen’s blog and a very gracious lady became my new Angel! I do not think she has a blog but I know she reads them. Her name is Cristina and she lives in Milan Italy. She sent me the most awesome stitching portfolio (personalized- how cool is that!). Complete with matching button bag and pin cushion. Oh ya and, that’s right I said and, she included an Italian stitching magazine, some gorgeous buttons and rick rack and the cutest little zippers in wonderful spring colors!
Close-up of the portfolio
…and the inside-too cute!
I have already moved my applique and stitchery projects to the portfolio! Thanks so much Cristina! You truly are an angel and made my week with your wonderful gifts!
On Thursday, we had our Guild meeting and since it was the month of February tonight was the judging night for our guilds heart challenge. Unfortunately I had not been to a meeting in a while (life just got in the way) so I only found out about it last month and could not get a finish in time. I will however show it as one of my pattern line once it is finished!
Back to the guild meeting- below are the pics of some wonderfully beautiful show and tells and also some of the heart challenge entries. Our guild has some very truly talented ladies in it!!
This is Barbara’s paper pieced quilt- stunning!
Sue’s Beautiful hand appliqued Baltimore Album- WOW!
Then here some of the heart challenge entries…
…the picture may not reflect it, but this quilt had a lot of texture to it that made you want to touch it to see if it was real or just the fabric- cool!
oh and this quilt is smaller than it looks- about 15 inches probably- such tiny applique and hand quilted! Fabulous!
This quilt was hand quilted and I know for a fact that it was their first quilt! Wow!

…and last but certainly not least…the winner voted by our members

again not bigger than about 15 inches but very intricate hand work- those bullion’s were perfect! The hand quilting- just stunning!

Well I am going to go now but I wanted to leave you with the coolest link that I found while searching through some blog sites. Apparently this guild decided to create a unique exhibit for Breast Cancer Awareness and made a bunch of OOAK quilted bras! Yep, you read it correctly Quilted bras! It is so cool! Some of my faves: the political bra, the nurse bra and being a military wife I loved the support our troops bra. Go and check it out! http://www.quiltersofsc.org/artfullbras/artfullbras.htm%20make-make sure you are doing your self breast examinations!

Cara

Candle Mat

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Today I decided to finally make this cute little Valentines wool candle mat. This is one of the many projects that I picked up the pattern and the supplies for the last time I was in San Diego. It is a pattern by Bareroots and called “Hearts and Flowers”. Not sure if it counts towards the OPAM challenge but it is something that has been in the queue for a while now. I replaced my house mat that I made for my kitchen island until Valentines day has gone then I will try to find an Easter one! Just a small finish but still something! I have a few of these patterns and they are a lot of fun to make. I did put buttons on the hearts though instead of felt just to make it a little different! Now I have to replenish my red button supply.

I am also continuing to work on my MODA Piece and Plenty blocks- 2 more appliques to finish and then I can finish the last 2 filler blocks! I have, however,started to put together the different sections that I have all of the blocks finished for. Hoping to have it finished this weekend to show at least the top! Otherwise, i have decided to go through my nook and make a list of my WISP’s as well as other projects that are not necessarily started, but that I have the pattern and supplies for already. This way,I won’t be at a loss for the OPAM challenge this month. So,back to work!
Happy WISPing!
Cara

A finish of sorts…

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Oh my…January- where did it go? I can’t believe another month got away from me! This has to stop! LOL! Unfortunately I never did get a complete finish in time for January of the One Project a Month Challenge. I have several of my WISP’s being worked on but unfortunately chose the ones that will take the longest. I will be finishing in February though!
I did have finishes of a different kind though. A while back I had ordered from Robinson’s Woodcraft’s a quilt ladder and a wall shelf. Let me tell you- their workmanship is incredible! I will definitely be using them again! I have since painted them and put them in place with their perspective decor. The ladder is in our family room and houses the throw quilts used there. I decided to paint them black as we have several pieces in that color throughout the room and the kitchen. Here it is with some of it’s quilts.

Next we move to the foyer. I have wanted to warm this area up and so in the summer I started this quilt with the intention of hanging it in the foyer to welcome people. As you can see I painted the shelf the same black and it turned out better than I expected! Of course Home Sweet Home is not yet finished so it has not been hung. Instead I took one of the first quilts I made- and a fave, and hung it there instead. I also had been collecting some cute prim and quilty things to decorate the top with. Here is the final product!

I have some housekeeping to take care of now. First, I just wanted to let all of you that read my blog as well as those that leave comments know how much I appreciate you visiting me and I love to read what you think too! It is fun to see what others are doing. I have had a few comments as of late that I have not been able to respond to as they have a “no-reply” listed as their email. I have to apologize if you have not received a comment back from me but I cannot if this is the setting on your comment. If you are not sure what to do, go to ChookyBlue‘s blog, she has been kind enough to post on several different tips for Blogger! Anyways, thanks again for all of you who visit! I enjoy meeting you!
Second, I know I have said a couple of posts ago that I would blog about the Ornament exchange that Stefanie over at The Quilt Buddy and I did . I have found that my pics are very dark so I am referring you to her wonderful post here about our exchange. It was a fun thing to do and I believe we are doing it again next year! It is so cool to have such a good friend that you can do this with and it was interesting to see that we came up with fairly similar ideas! Check it out and let us know what you think!
And on the last note, when I went shopping for the Super Bowl munchies, I came across some awesome crackers! Check this out….
…a hexagon cracker flower! 🙂 What a hoot! They are Wheat Thins crackers and I thought they are the perfect snack for quilters!


Now all we need is hexie cheese!LOL! So, thanks for sticking through this longer post and hopefully I will make a dent in my WISP’s this month!
Happy snacking!
Cara

More Piece and Plenty.

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Today we awoke to snow! My little ones are ecstatic and sad at the same time! They both love the fact it is snowing but due to the fact it is supposed to get worse, the schools are closed today. Therefore I have a sad little ballerina who really wanted to go. I ,though, am relishing in the fact that a snow day means staying in and quilting! Yeah! I might still get a finish in for the challenge!

On the finishing note, I have managed to get 3 more blocks done for the MODA U Piece and Plenty over the weekend. Here they are:

Block # 13

Block # 14
This one is actually the filler block for # 14 but it is applique so I am including it in the blocks that I am finishing. The 2008 is to signify the year of the BOM not the finish.

Block # 15

So this puts me even closer to finishing at least the quilt top. Then I have to figure out how to quilt it.
Until the next set of blocks…
Cara

Oh and on a sad note, I read here that Mar of Pincushion Diaries passed away this weekend. It is very sad indeed. I never actually had the pleasure of meeting her in person but she was one of the first people I met when I started blogging. In fact I entered and won my first giveaway from her! She made this wonderful cherry pincushion and sent me some fabulous ME gifties. We have worked on similar projects and shared comments back and forth together. She was a very sweet, talented lady and I know I will miss her greatly. I hope her family realizes that she was loved in the blogosphere and that we are all keeping her loved ones in our prayers through this difficult time. Thank you Mar for showing me what wonderful people there are in the blogger world and may you Rest in peace.

Moda U – getting closer!

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Yippee! I am getting closer to the end of these blocks! Here is the latest of my MODA U Piece and Plenty blocks. Below I finished these 2 blocks while watching the Ravens game and the inaugural coverage from the past couple of days.

Block # 9
Block # 11

It has been nice to pick this back up and the fact that it should have been finished last year makes me want to finish it more. I have now prepped all the remaining applique blocks and once I finish them, I will be working on the rest of the pieced filler blocks. Well, back to work- it is still cold here and stitching by the fire and continuing to watch the parade has been nice! We actually even had snow yesterday- the kids were ecstatic!
Happy stitching!
Cara

WISP’s and a new group!

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Do you remember this from before? My pile of hexagons I was working on last summer…

Well, this is what the result was…..

I have since been re inspired by at Lissa at Moda Lissa to pull these out. You see she has a very interesting way of piecing these that might help progress. Don’t get me wrong, I love hand work but I find my time for doing some is fairly limited AND I have too many on the go…so I am going to attempt her tutorial and see if progress can be made toward a finish! Yeah! I will still hand piece them too as it is definitely an on-the-go project and they are fun! I also then found that Robyn from Daisy Quilts has started a Hexagon group to inspire, support and share our love of hexes! Here is the group:
I think I have several hexagon ideas now and am anxious to get some done!

On other notes, I have joined May Britt and Kris in their one-a-month WISP challenge. I have way too many of these and feel the need to finish some started projects! In the interest of this (oh and the fact that the new one has just arrived! 🙂 )I pulled out my 2008 Moda U project. To refresh, this was a 12 month, 15 block (plus filler blocks) applique/piecing mystery quilt! I have seen our shops sample finished (by the wonderful and talented Susan!) and it is gorgeous! So I am piecing the remaining blocks and prepping the applique to finish those blocks. Here is the most recent one I have finished:

Block # 7

and here is my progress along with that:

Blocks #1-6

I have some of the fillers done but no pics yet. I stopped working on them because I wanted to see the finished blocks, then do them, as I was inserting some of my own color choices to make the quilt less of a carbon copy of Susan’s. So I have blocks # 8, 10, 11 and 12 prepped and will be prepping the other 3 today. Once the applique is finished (hand work) then I will finish the fillers and put it together!
So I am off to continue on this project. Hop on over to see Robyn and the Great Hexagon Quilt- Along and join us! I will be back with more progress reports and of course a sneak peak of my new pattern set to come out in February. I also will be talking about the ornament swap Stefanie and I did and all the great BOM’s out there in blog land that I have added to my list of must-do’s!Until then….
Happy hexagon quilting!
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