Monday, December 28, 2009

Peaceful Enchantment Wall hanging



In November, I went out with a Red Wing Baseball buddy, Ann, and we caught up with one another at Ivy Thimble to check out their sidewalk sale. We both ended up buying the Peaceful Enchantment wall hanging. I just absolutely fell in love with the squirrel and cardinals which are my favorite.
Ann invited me over to her house which is near the quilt store and we had coffee and she showed me her sewing area. We talked quilt stuff and fabric and came up with doing these together. So we set a date for the Monday before Thanksgiving to sew these up and to have all the pieces cut out, ironed on and all ready to go.
Monday came and I ventured over to the eastside of Rochester to Ann's house next door to Casa Larga, a vineyard here in Rochester, with all my pieces ready.  I am so glad I went for she showed me how to do the star easily. It is amazing what a few little tricks can do. And how to square things off with your 2 1/2" square and 6" square. I have them just never had to use them yet. Very handy.
I also outlined each piece with my machine, a first, and then played with the FM on the machine. Figuring out threads that the machine likes and then how to move about, made it a true learning experience.
So whallah....
When Mom came for Thanksgiving she loved it so much that I broke down and gave it to her for Christmas. I was starting to worry whether she would love it as much as she did or less and well, when she opened her present she said "oh Shell, you are giving this to me...."

=) Shellie

Warm Thoughts



I finished the DNP (disappearing nine patch) for Grandma as planned for Christmas. I even did a "first" on my machine; free motion quilting. I was so happy it went well until I turned it over...  a few bobbin gauge oppses and a few fabric puckers of the backing but not horribly awful.

I plan on tempting FMQ again and I do hope for fewer oppsies...
I love the fabric. The DNP are "Charlotte" by Moda and the backing just enhances the reds and pinks as well as blends the other colors beautifully. I am so happy with it and I do hope Grandma is as well. She should be getting it any day. I was mailed on the 22nd so to Florida it was a stretch for Christmas Day.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Beautiful Calendar Give away!!!


What a fun Give away!!!  2010 calendar of Barn Quilts in New York.
I love calendars, photography and quilting to boot. Wow.... stop in and sign up by Dec. 22nd.



Barn Quilts 2010