XMas WIP

I'm frantically trying to finish up some XMas gifts to ship out. I have completed the quilting on my butterfly garden quilt. I just need to bind it and make a label and then wash and ship to my MIL in Illinois.

Each section has it's own quilting design, so it took a little while to finish this one up. Plus, I was originally making this for myself and decided to give it to my MIL a while ago, so I thought I had infinite time to finish.

I used two layers of cotton batting in this quilt and I love the trapunto effect that it gives, especially when the quilting is close together - it really stands out. I also tried to do some new fmq designs that I was not used to doing.

My new machine is great at fmq, but today I was having a problem with the bobbin thread. It would get caught and then I would have to stop and cut the threads. I looked and there wasn't anything caught in the bobbin case. I dunno. I guess I'll figure it out later, seeing as I finished quilting. I can't wait to bind it and actually finish this one, tomorrow.

I'm also working on becoming a blonde, again. It is a process, seeing as my hair is very dark brown. I'm at the yellow stage right now after bleaching twice. I might have to bleach again, I just hope not for a few days to give my hair a rest.

Linking up to Freshly Pieced.

Make some Christmas.

Green

Granny squares and broken tiaras

I finished my three, flirt granny squares for a table runner last night. I just need to sash them, sew them together and baste, quilt and bind and I will have a beautiful table runner or mini quilt to hang at my office - my new office is nice and big, but so gray. It really needs some color so I think project will help to liven it up a bit.

Penelope already broke the princess tiara/headband thingy that we got at Michael's yesterday afternoon. It is taped together and, while it still works as a princess tiara/headband thingy, she looks a little bit like the shabby, cheap princess from the wrong side of the tracks.

I will say goodbye to my hexie pillow and the fabulous fifty quilt today - it is nice to get to look at things a while after you've made them. This time I knew that I was not keeping these things, so I didn't get very attached to them. I really want to make another exploded star quilt because I like how it turned out, I just think I need to plan out the colors a little bit better so I have more control over where they land. That seems to be what I need to do next for my design process, really concentrate more over what colors to use and where to place them for the effect that I want to achieve. Usually, I choose the colors, but I don't pay much attention to them after they have been put together.

Things to think about...

a pretty, pretty princess...

No sleep - may as well quilt

My daughter did not sleep last night and, therefore, I didn't sleep last night. I had to stay home from work today because I just didn't think I would make it on two hours of sleep.
Oh bother. I guess I will just have to play with the girl and work on her broken dishes quilt when she goes down for her nap. I probably can watch a few episodes of Gilmore Girls while I'm sewing. What a lovely day.

February Finish It!!!

I'm going to be participating in "A Lovely Year of Finishes." I missed January, but I'll start now and can, at least, finish 11 projects this year.
Here's how it works:
Each month pick one project, anything you like (it can even be an entirely new project, so long as you can finish it in the current month) and tell yourself, "I will finish it." Then write a blog post about the project and link it up to our Goal Setting linky party. Spend the rest of the month working on your finish. We will have a mid-month check, and though you are not required to link up to that post, it would be fun to see your progress! Finally, after you have finished your project, write a second (or third) post showing us your Lovely Finish and link it up to our "Finishes Party."
Goal setting - required link up (link starts 1st of the month and is open for seven days)
Mid-Month check in - optional (link starts on the 15th and is open for seven days)
Finishes Party - required link-up (link is open seven days before the last day of the month)

This month I will be working on:

• Valentine's Day runners/wall hangings
• a felt crown for a friend
• Penelope's broken dishes quilt (sandwich and fmq)
• starting a new pieced top
• asterisk bee block for February Simply Solids Bee

I know I'll finish more than one of these things, but let's concentrate on the Valentine's Day thingys. I really need to get these started and finished in a timely manner so they are relevant. That means this weekend, I think.

Be kind!
Green