I'll Take One of These...

and one of these...

and just go ahead and add one of these too...

and some yummy, French General...

oh and look at the Sweetwater fabric.

And have you seen this group, Twirly Bird?

It is so sweet with Jaybird/Julie's pattern!

Sometimes when I am out Christmas shopping... and I see

something really cute for somebody, I find that a second one of the

same item slips into my shopping cart for me!

Does that ever happen to you?

I might just be weak. But truth be told... I don't go out shopping very often.

Fortunately these fabric groups don't come out until after Christmas!

They all look so fresh and spring-ish.

Unfortunately, the Pam Kitty Morning fabric is out now...

and it's begging to be put into my shopping cart!

Okay, I'll take just one... they're small!

Getting In The Spirit

I've been very very busy this past week...

making Christmas cards for clients.

I have made 60 now, so I'm just about half way through.

I have to listen to holiday music while I am making my cards to help 

me be in the holiday spirit.

(and it helps me sit still while working on such a tedious task)

Well, it's a good excuse anyway, because I love to listen to Christmas music. 

I start off by listening to winter songs (in October)
 and get into more traditional music as it

gets closer to Christmas.

My first purchase of the holiday season is usually a new Christmas CD.

I use to find great ones at Pier 1.
But in recent years my best finds have been at Starbucks.

Last week I found this group and think they sound amazing... and Carol of the Bells 

is one of my most favorite songs, so I thought I would share the group with you.

(just in case you need a little help getting into the spirit).

Do you have a favorite Christmas CD?

Caving In To Temptation

I had a very nice Thanksgiving.

What could be better than to be surrounded by

the people I love!

But I couldn't help pushing on through to Christmas... getting the

decorations out and put up. And then I thought...

 it would be fun to make up a little. 

 Christmas quilt!  I caved into temptation decided to make up this little guy.

So I got out my scraps and made up this Thimble Blossoms pattern.

I had just purchased the stripe fabric to make into Dresden blades, but 

it became necessary to reassign the fabric to this project. 

I didn't quite have enough to do the inside border or the outside border, but

I think I can find some fabric for that easy enough. 

Seriously, this was the funnest little project and quick to make too.

I think it set the whole mood for the holiday for me.

But, the downfall is that I didn't finish my BOM Rehab project! 

How did you do?

Mid Week Mosaic

I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with

all the good things...

fun,

family, 

friends,

food...

you can't have too much of any of it!

(drive safe)

Staying on the Straight and Narrow

I had a great weekend.

If you read my last post...

I wanted to let you know that the "original sin" (of buying a baby quilt) was

committed, as we know, but the secondary sin (of claiming the work) 

was not a sin committed... no label went on the quilt at all. In fact no opportunity was even 

there to possibly tempt me to lie and say the quilt was made by me! 

(In reality, I avoid all things that can come back 

to haunt me. Like the time I 

said yes, when I should have said no... 

well, that's another story.

Anyway, the gift was given...

and the mom to be said "oh, cu-t-e! Thanks you!

and went on to the next gift. 

My job was done!

I do think it was a cute quilt... and I will make one of my own, next time!

But back in the sewing room...

nothing got accomplished for BOM Rehab.

Sorry to say.

The only thing that actually got done was the cutting for a 

project that my sewing bee will be working on. 

I still need to sort the pieces and

 bag up the blocks for each of us in the group... 

but at least it was a little bit of progress!

Were you in the BOM Rehab this week?

It Was Well Worth It

My nephew and his wife are expecting.

Last week I got an invitation to the baby shower.

The shower is tomorrow!

 And of course my sister wanted me to give them a quilt!

 I was thinking I had until February to get it done...

but she meant for the shower!

A week and a half!*&!@#*!

Are you kidding me?

But then I found this shop sample for sale at my LQS.

So, I bought it. And yes, I am going to claim that I made it.

So, do you think that this is this like a two part sin?

1. Purchasing a quilt.

2. Putting my name on it.

Did I mention that I get the out of town guests for the weekend ta' boot!

Which meant that I was up at 5:30 this morning mopping my floors before I went to work.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Turning 30, Wearing 40's

Last weekend there was a 30th birthday party for my DDIL. 

I got to make the cake/cupcakes for the party.

Which normally is a piece of cake...

ha ha ha.

But I was beyond challenged!
My recipe came from my  Miette cookbook.

I don't know what I did or didn't do but I was having a terrible time...

but roughly eight hours latter I managed to win and be on time for the party.

It was an 80's theme... which was really fun. 

But then, I realized that I didn't really know what 80's style was.

In my post a week or so ago, I shared that I lived in Yosemite during the 80's.

I never watched T.V. or possibly even read a newspaper. 

So, I took out my old clothes and opened up my hat boxes... because

what I remember wearing was vintage clothes and hats!

I have to tell you that I was transformed when I put them on!

I was waiting to see if any photos would surface on facebook...

but I don't seem to have any to show.

I just loved it (even though I didn't really quite fit the "theme"...

but I am a mother-in-law... so I really can do whatever I want, can't I?

I haven't had so much fun dressing up in a long time!

Oh, and the party was fun... and everyone loved the cake and cupcakes too.

And Jill had a happy birthday too!

Oh, and I couldn't bear to put away my hats, so I have been wearing them everyday this week!

(disclaimer: these photos of hats and dresses were not actual, but only similar to my collection)

BOM Rehab: Roll Call!

 Sometimes I just can't stay focused.I can get pretty scattered.

Some mornings I wake up and when I go into my sewing room, I don't feel like

working on what  "needs" to be worked on... and if I "feel" like starting something

new... I go ahead and start something new.

That's why I love Monday's and the BOM Rehab.

I know what I need to do and it's a step by step process.

I don't check-in with how I feel or what I need to do.

And by Sunday, I am really too tired to check-in with all of that anyway!

 Sometimes structure is a good thing.

I  continued working on my Mystery BOM from Quilt Soup.

I didn't quite get this small star finished but

I was able to make all six basket blocks and a large star.

The pieced blocks go together much faster than the applique blocks do.
Especially since I used rick rack for the basket handles... that made it
easie peasie!

A while back 

I found this Etsy Shop and blog with the sweetest little twill labels.

I thought I would share the link with you... just in case you might have 

a bit of handmade items that will be given as gifts during the holidays.

Because, it's getting to be that time again...

I think this is either Dasher, or maybe Prancer that passed

in front of my car yesterday as I was leaving my house.

So, how was your Rehab weekend?

BOM Rehab... and Getting Side Tracked

Here is all I have to show for my BOM Rehab work this weekend.

I was trying to put together a second block for this month's FQS BOM.

But I got side tracked with a couple of other things I needed to 

finish up.

I belong to the Bees Knees quilting bee. I had some catching up to do.

Before they kick me out of the group!!!

I only needed to make one.. a second block was optional...

but since I took so long to make "my one" I thought I would

go ahead and make the second block. 

 Another little project I needed to put the outside border on and

take a picture of was my BOUNCE!

After the parade... after the parade giveaway... but it's 

finally here! 

I used an older group of fabrics by Momo.

This was a fun quilt to make... and even though 

it seemed to take me forever... I really only started it two weeks ago.

The border is wonderful and not as hard as it might look.

Were you able to be in the Rehab this past week?

Do you have any block setting ideas to share?

Bounce & Hubble Parade Winners

I know you are excited to see the winners of the parade...
so here they are!

The two main prize winners are:

Meredith from my parade!

and

Izzy from Sherri's parade!

Nest is:

A charm pack of Enchanted Garden from Bear Paw Quilts and More...

and the winner is: Patty

From me... A charm pack of Blitzen...

and the winner is:

Carol at Brown Quilts

I am also adding to the giveaway 2 of Carrie's new Tumbler rulers.

Hot off the press!

Because I know you will want to play with one...

So, a Tumbler Ruler from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.

goes to:

Paulette

and one will also go to:

Carol of Carol's Crafty Creations

from Sherri's blog.

Sherri has a layer cake of Butterscotch and Roses by Fig Tree & Co to

giveaway...

and the winner is:

Beatrice

but wait, that's not all!

Sherri also is giving away 2 charm packs of Friendship..

and the winner is:

Tracey F

Thank  you for all of your hard effort in getting these big projects done this month!

It was really fun to see them all!

I'm Seeing Stars! Welcome to the AYOS Parade!

I know it was a hard choice...

and we even had one person who couldn't make a choice... so she made both!

Wish I would have thought of that!

But, if you were like me, you waited until at least October 1st to start this month's project...

even though you were given the heads up in September. 

I waited until mid-October, however... and then realized that I needed to

be making the November AYOS project!

Oy Vye! 

So here we are... embarking on the last part of 2012, heading into the 

holidays (only 55 days left until Christmas)...

so Sherri and I thought you might like a little reprieve and make a little project for  November.

I hope you are okay with that!

We picked another Little Bites.

It's called Drop. Drop ~ another word for little bites or little pieces.

Carrie is so clever!

I hope you like it! Sherri made hers using Kate Spain's Honey Honey fabric line.

I love the pattern and can't wait to get mine done!

I know so many of you had your challenges with the "big" project...

least of all, there was SANDY causing all sorts of trouble

over there on the East Coast.

I am glad that everyone not only survived the ordeal...

but managed to finish their projects... even with sketchy  

electricity and computer abilities!

You guys really are awesome!

So grab a cup of something hot, sit back and enjoy the parade:

Here is a wonderful version by Deb at Tis the Season!

How original and beautiful this is with the applique!

Can you see the embroidered verse at the top? Awesome!

We were having a hard time getting Kay's photo to show up.

I didn't want you to miss this one! Isn't it beautiful?

Michele from Island Life Quilts blog made a beautiful Hubble 

is bright large print fabric and with a gorgeous grey background.

She has some nice close-up pictures on her blog!

 Sue made a beautiful Hubble with a very striking contrast.

She teams up with Wendy each month...

and here is Wendy's version... in red and white.

They are both so different and gorgeous... do

you see the differences in the center of the stars also?

Sue made a beautiful Bounce quilt... I can't help but 

try to find the stars that are "bouncing"!

Mary from Gwendie's Quilts blog went rouge...

she really needed to get a quilt made for her daughter 

who is soon to have a baby... understandable!

The fabrics are so cute... you really need to take a look over at her blog.

 Meredith from Piecing in the Nook blog made a beautiful Bounce quilt here...

The fabrics are great! Love this one!

 Paulette made hers at my retreat a couple of weeks ago... she nearly finished it there
also, she just needed the borders by the end of the weekend.
We kept counting out how many stars we had made.
She by-passed me before long!!!

 Sandy Crazy Bout Quilts used It's a Hoot fabric from MoMo.
I know she is super happy with Bounce... it is adorable!

 Sandy made from Riley Blake Divinity fabrics... yummm!
So soft and scrumptious!

 Marti's Bounce is super fun... the colors in her fabrics really pop and
the border really stands out too.

 Patty from A Stitch in Time blog made a beautiful Hubble here

and I love the quilting on it too!

Sandy F (no blog) made a beautiful Bounce quilt here.
She uses a polka dot background and polka dot fabrics
from her polka dot stash! 37 of them!  Love it!!!

Here is a gorgeous Hubble made by Polly at Aunt Polly's Porch.
This just looks so sweet in the photo... beautiful job Polly!

Here is a spectacular version of Hubble made by Edith!
Beautiful vivid colors!!!

Both Sherri and I added Ediths, because somehow, she just seems to get missed...
and we did not want you to miss her Hubble...
so, we ended up missing two other people in the mean time! *gr*
my apologies!!! And it's their first time participating in AYOS!
I wouldn't want you to miss these quilt either!

This beautiful red and white Bounce was made by Tracey!

I just love it! You can see more photos at Block Party Guild blog

And here is her friends quilt... a very happy Bounce made with Kate Spain fabrics
out in the snow!
Christa made this version and you can see more over at her
blog... Second Story Quilting!
Thank you so much for sending these to us to put in the parade!!!