Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Gnomes....


I finished the cutest garden over the weekend.  A Fairy garden.... they can be found pinned all over Pinterest.  My sister, Gena, made one with her girls last year and although I never saw it, I heard how adorable it was.  So I decided to make one this year, but mine is a home for a gnome.  It was so much fun to make!

I planted Irish moss, Lime Thyme, Tarragon, and a Rosemary 'tree'... made a fence from some sticks from my gardening, added a mini chair and bird feeder.  With some craft wire from my beading bin, I made a couple of Shepperd's hooks to place in the garden too.  Cocoa bean mulch covers the ground and I used some pebbles for stepping stones.

After having fun in the garden, I paper pieced this block to go with my garden party blocks.  Isn't he cute!  The pattern can be found at BubbleStitch. I still need to sew some eyes on the little guy. 
Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!
 

Friday, May 25, 2012

A Milestone Birthday...

My parents and I
1966
Happy birthday to me, I think.... it's a biggie... so in celebration of my 32 anniversary of my 18th birthday I am having a sale on my Etsy store.  With the coupon code BIRTHDAY you will receive 50% off!  Now I'm off to find some chocolate cake... need chocolate cake.....

Have a wonderful weekend!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Plugging away....

I have been plugging away on my Takes Two quilt and have found I am hopelessly behind.  The hand applique blocks have been a challenge to say the least.  I've always considered myself to be a pretty good quilter but I am rethinking my position.  The hand applique blocks are nearly sending me to the funny farm.  I'm ready for the little white jacket with the extra long sleeves that buckle in the back.  When I printed up the directions for Block 34, I almost started crying!  But then took a deep breath and decided I could do it with a quick turn method using fusible interfacing.  This quilt has been challenging my skills, it's a good thing.... I think. 


This block (#27)  took me awhile to do, it is done using needle turn applique.  Don't look too close...
Block #23 'Grandma's Favorite Compass'
This block was sewn by hand....

Block #34
I am doing this block using the quick turn applique technique.  I still need to blind stitch the pieces in place.  They are temporarily ironed on in this picture.



 Quilting Gallery is hosting a 'Quilts for Mom' contest this week.  I've entered my Magic Vine Quilt.  It reminds me on the flowers I plant in mom's garden.  Stop on by and vote!  Of coarse I would love it if you voted for my Magic Vine Quilt, but there are many lovely quilts to vote for.  You can vote for up to four quilts.  Have fun!

'Magic Vine'
Happy Quilting and perfect stitches to you,

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Mud Hole

I took some liberty and skipped the next block in the book, 'Sad Fate' and worked on 'Mud Hole'.  I will get back to the other block.  'Mud Hole' seemed like a good block to work on today.  It's a rainy wet day here in Minnesota.  I work at the greenhouse this afternoon and I'm sure I will feel like I'm in a 'Mud Hole' today.  This block is such an easy block to do and would make a lovely quilt or table runner if used solely.  I've never done a pineapple style block so I particularly enjoyed making this one.  I've forgotten how much I love to do log cabin blocks.  The pineapple block is a variation of a log cabin. So here is how I completed 'Mud Hole' from Rosemary Youngs book, 'The Civil War Diary Quilt'.
Here are my fabric choices for the block.  I actually had the same green in my Civil War Stash that Rosemary uses for her block.

I cut my fabric into strips and write the colors on my foundation paper which I printed up using Rosemary's CD.  Makes working on these blocks so much easier!

Sewing on the line.....

Only a couple more rows to go... this block is constructed from the inside - out....

Mud Hole
July 3, 1864
Remember to post you Civil War Saturday blocks on the flickr group!  I love to see photos.  Rosemary has a new book out.  'The Civil War Anniversary Quilt'  There is also a companion CD available which I highly recommend if you buy the book.  Both items are on my list of things to get.  They looks wonderful and I would recommend the book even before I have a copy myself!  I have heard good things about it so far.  You can order her book through her website.

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you,

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Garden Party Winner!


  It's time to announce a winner to the Garden Party Blog Hop.  I want to thank Jennifer from Sewhooked for hosting such a lovely blog hop.  She did a fantastic job and I loved every minute of it.  Now it's time to get busy and work on the blocks.  What a fantastic collection from the designers.  Thank you for all of the great blocks!

Wilson, drum roll please................

The winner is..... 'Quilt Happy' (her favorite flower is tulips!)Congratulations!!!
You have won a set of Bali Handpaint fat quarters.  They would work beautifully with the Garden Party Blocks.  I hope that you enjoy them.

I'm a little sad to see the blog hop end, it has been so much fun hopping around and meeting all of the designers.  I now have a fantastic collection of patterns for a Garden Quilt which I have started.  I also want to thank everyone who stopped by the Doodle Blog.  I loved all of the comments and hearing about your favorite flowers!  Thank you , thank you for taking the time to read my blog and leave your comments.  Loved them all!

I can announce that I have signed up for a NEW hop coming up in July.  (Mark your calendars) The Red White and Blue blog hop.  I hope that you can join me!