Looking Back... aka I Need Help! Part I

I just finished the binding on this very old block of the month from

Fat Quarter Shop. 

I was reviewing my blog posts for the year and saw that there was a 

popular post that coincidentally  had a BOM theme to it...

you can see it here.

It knew it had been somewhat of a crazy year for me...

but I didn't realize how crazy and on how many levels it was

crazy until I took a look back through my blog.

I made... 25 quilts this year.

Obviously, there needs to be an intervention!

Although that does include small quilts and a table runner...

it also includes a few that were very challenging for me too.

And then it doesn't count the blocks I made for my quilting Bees Knees group.

Or the 55 little bottle aprons I made... a few pillows, etc.

These are a few of my favorite quilts...

Sail Away is a Fig Tree pattern and got bumped last year...

so it was a must to make this year!

This one was just plain fun to make and I used wool for batting.

I'm in love with how it feels!

I also made Suburbs above using Holiday fabric and switched the sky color for black...

so it was a Christmas in the Suburbs.

Another popular post was one during "Pink Week"... something I celebrate

each year. You can see the post of pink quilts here.

 And see an example of a Bubble Gum Pink Granny Square quilt here...

It's My Favorite Time of Year

Time to step away from the sewing machine and...

Make memories!

Wishing you all a very joyous holiday!

Pause

We are hours away from Christmas! 

I can't say that anything extremely productive is going on in my sewing room.

Yes, things are going on... but they are top secret and don't have much

of anything to do with my normal quilting.

So sad.

Okay not so top secret either...

... there is baby doll clothes, pillows.

 dish towels and pot holders and aprons...

I thought I would share some holiday decoration snapshots though.

I have a long ledge that lends itself perfectly for a display.

The blue stocking was my dog 

Hannah's who past the Christmas before last.

There's a child's writing desk perfect for writing letters to Santa.

Vintage snow globes and vintage advent.

It's great to put the decorations up high this year... it saves them

from the little people!

When Evie first saw all the decorations she stopped dead in her tracks

and her jaw dropped! A long pause...

That was a priceless moment!

And of course... the tree!

Are you ready yet?

Classic and Vintage Bear Paw Pattern

A classic block made modern!

(with a vintage flair)

I am taking part in the Classic and Vintage series from Fat Quarter Shop!

I was so excited to make the newest pattern in the series with them.

A few bloggers were asked to take the pattern and make it "our own"...

so I used my sweet new blogger's choice bundle to whip a little something up using

their wonderful free pattern...

and wha-la!

I am in love with this little  Bear Paw project!

It's the newest addition to the Classic and Vintage series of videos be Kimberly Jolly.

I hope you have a chance to see the other blogs showing their Bear Paw quilts using

the FQS pattern!

The pattern is available for free here. And the step by step 

You Tube video of the Bear Paw block from Fat Quarter Shop

can be found here.

This one is the third project in the series... the first one was the Sister's Choice block

and then the second video was A Tasket Basket.

There are so many fun projects using this block...

you can see more at these blogs...

Pam of Pam Kitty Morning

Lori of Humble Quilts

Kim of Persimon Dreams

Vickie of Spun Sugar Quilts

Connie of Free Motion by The River
Thearica of Stitch and Quilt
Michele of Quilting Gallery

(photo from FQS)

Fat Quarter Shop has a kit available if you would like to make one

just like the one in the photo!

They used the new line of Moda Fabric by Minick and Simpson...

Crazy for Red!

Hmmm... aren't we all?

Traditional Quilts... Fresh Fabrics!

Today I am doing a little Vintage Vibe quilt book review.

Have you been to your LQS and had a chance to look through 

the new book by Amber Johnson?

It's called Vintage Vibe!

There was a blog book tour recently... you might have seen her book

on one of your favorite blogs! 

It is jammed packed with 14 adorable, 

wonderful projects! 

The book also includes lots of diagrams... which I love in patterns.

I can't find one I don't absolutely love!

Have you been over to Amber's blog lately?

It's called Gigi's Thimble.

I love this little one!

Okay, I seriously love this one too!!!

Here is the cover of the book.

Dresdens... my all-time favorite block!

But wait there's more!

She has a little video over at Martingale Publishers blog that you might like.

Amber is showing tips on how to pick fabrics.

 Cute!

So, if you are mapping out what your next quilt is going to be...

start here with Amber's book. 

(photos by Brent Kane)

You can go here to see the list for the blog book tour...

but better yet... just go get a copy of your own at

Martingale or at Amazon!!!

Mid-Week Mosaic

Have you been enjoying any Holiday movies?

Found any new Christmas music??

And more importantly...

have you finished your decorating???

All of the photos came from my Pinterest board.

I hope you are enjoying  every bit of the season so far.

Just two weeks until Christmas Eve.

It's All In The Quilting

This past summer I finished piecing my Coastal Lily quilt.

It has been at the quilters waiting it's turn...

however, I did say it was a "no rush" order.

Saturday my LAQ delivered a "secret assignment" 

back to me so I could bind it and get it where it needs to go...

and she told me she was going to start on Coastal Lily.

Last night she sent me these pictures...

 I love how quilting make a quilt come to life.

I am thrilled with what she is doing!

She plans to add little seahorse's and shells into the designs.

I planned on entering this quilt into my guild's quilt show 

next summer... so I asked for something extra special in the quilting.

She is a fan of Green Fairy and has her book...

so she decided it was time to play!

Thelma aka Cupcake n Daisies made the same quilt and Judi at Green Fairy 

quilted hers... it is stunning to say the least...

so if mine turns out any where near as good I will be happy!

And so far so good.

A Tree to Trim... but Sneaking in Sewing Too

Last weekend I put up decorations but now it's time to trim the tree.

Unfortunately I took a look at my Pinterest board for 

Happy Holidays

... and I am wondering why I just didn't get started on this last January!

On the other hand...

I couldn't help myself here...

After much deliberation...

I picked out a new project to embark on!

I fell in love with this pattern when I saw it on Craftsy.

Then I discovered it was a "A Quilting Life" pattern!

I ended up going into my own stash to pull fabrics that I 

thought would give me a "Vintage" vibe. I think I might look for a little

more green... but I am anxious to at least get this cut out over the weekend.

Now that I am done with my

111 Christmas cards...

and I have my AYOS project done 

and Sail Away is completed...

I am ready for a new project!

Lotti is such a busy kitty! She has to inspect

everything during my photo shoot!

I am tempted to work on a little something Christmassy

over the weekend also...

What are your plans?

AYOS Stems Parade!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a great start to the

holiday season! 

I went on a little vacation trip down to Southern California... once again!

I celebrated an early Thanksgiving with my family down there.

But came back home just in time to get things ready for company and

lots and lots of cooking! 

I even slipped in a day of Christmas decorating before I had to get myself back on 

my work schedule!

I am sure you are all aware that Carrie is moving and you can read a little bit more on

her blog post today. She also has a sale going on in her online store that you might want

to check out. Since she is full of surprises...

I am anxious to here more from her and her new adventures in the coming weeks.  

For our next months project...

it's one that I actually asked Sherri if we could make it... it is one of her patterns that

I am dying to make!

It's her mini Shine quilt!

I am in love with her larger version...

And this is my Shine that I got to make for the FQS as a kit sample.

Here is my version of the mini Shine quilt...

Sherri has a special surprise for those of you who participated in this month's

AYOS and a Little Bit More... so hop on over to her blog and find

out more... and to see the other half of our Stems parade!

Here is a photo of my Stems mini.

I forgot to take a picture so I asked my hubby to

take a picture and send it to me... so here it is!

I used my October Skies fabric that I have been hoarding

since I was only using a little bit to make this sweet little pattern.

I enjoy making Fig Tree patterns... and this one was just as fun as I

thought it would be. 

Now I just need to make the larger version of this pattern!!!

So let's see what everyone else did!

Mary made a very fun version of Stems here.

Here flower stems are so pretty and her border fabric is perfect 

to pull it all together nicely!

Nancy went with shades of grey and is able to use it as part of her 

holiday decoration on this vintage radio!

Patty at A Stitch In Time made a super cute Stems here and did straight line 

quilting on it! 

Look what Polly from Aunt Polly's Porch made! She had this done and posted by November 7th! 

Polly made her fun Stems mini into a table runner... notice the stems direction?

Stitchin with Peg made a beautiful Stems mini here in 

Minick and Simpson red white and blue. I love the way 

she used the red to frame the quilt and used it again to bind with.

Sue at Just Sew Sue blog made a bright and happy Stems

quilt here! The pink works great to accent the stems doesn't it?

Susan made a beautiful version of Stems using soft fall colors.

I like the outside border choice on hers too.

Michelle made a beautiful Stems quilt here! 

She has a perfect spot for it on top of her treadle sewing machine!

Vickie created a gorgeous version of Stems mini quilt 

here... I love how she did this!

I hope you enjoyed the parade this month!

And I hope you join us again next month in making our next project!!!

Don't forget to comment... and go to Sherri's parade... and go

visit Carrie (free block pattern on her post) 

and... well, have a great evening!