Acorns and Woven Quilt

 Wow, it's been a while since I've posted anything here.

Things have been made in my Hidey Hole,

but I can't show them yet.

Yesterday I pulled out a bag from my cabinet of projects

and decided to make a baby quilt to donate.

Years ago (I can't find when in my photos)

I made a quilt using these parts and pieces.

There were a bunch left over, so I put them in a bag

with the pattern and there they have sat.

This baby quilt went together in no time since

everything was cut.

It was mindless sewing while I listened to a book.

The pattern is an old Moda Bake Shop pattern.

We had our two oldest littles here a few weeks ago

and while they were here, we picked up

some acorns at my church's playground.

I dried them and was able to easily take the caps off

of the acorns.

After looking on line, I combined a couple of ideas

and made these fabric acorns.

 

 

Another mindless project that was fun to work on in the evenings.

I need to get a few more acorns, as I made more bodies than I had caps.

 

 

Hopefully, it won't be as long in between posts next time.

 

Happy Quilting!

More Hemingway Pouches

 Making Hemingway Pouches is such a fun project,

especially when I use the vinyl or faux leather

from Zipper Valley.

(The zippers and pulls came from Zipper Valley, too.)

 

The one change I made to the pattern is to sew the binding

to the outside of the pouch, which eliminates the

need to turn the pouch inside out after the binding is sewn in place.

 

 

 

 

 These pouches were gifted to a few people

and all were very pleased.  :)

 

 

 

Since I stitch the binding to the outside,

this allows for me to use the top triangle

that is cut from the bigger bag to make a smaller bag.

These would be great for coins, chapstick, hair clips, etc.

 

 

This eye glass case was made with quilted fabric and

will protect my sunglasses nicely.

 

 

Happy Quilting! 

Red, White and Blue Veterans Quilt

 These past few weeks I've had the time to cut and sew

another Veterans quilt.

 

This one was made with some of my collection of

red, white and blue fabrics.

 

 

 

 

 

The block pattern is the Disappearing Nine Patch

and it went together so quickly.

(Notes for me... I used 4.75" squares for the nine patch to 

make the 48x60" quilt.)

 

 

 

 

I quilted it with the crosshatch using my walking foot.

 

 

 It is labeled, laundered and ready for delivery.

Happy Quilting!

Birdie Baby Quilts

 A few blog posts ago, I mentioned that I had received

parts of a stash of a quilter who died.

In her stash were some unfinished projects and blocks.

Two of these unfinished projects were these adorable quilt tops.

They are now finished and have been donated to a

local organization that needs baby blankets.

These fabrics are so fun and the design makes a great quilt

while showing off the various fabrics.

 

 

 

Here is the second quilt that is equally as cute.

I'm going to have to remember this design for future

baby quilts.

 

 

And who does not love these birds??

Happy Quilting!

Go Blue!!

 My youngest brother is a huge University of Michigan sports fan,

especially football.

A while ago I saw this bundle of Michigan fabrics and knew

I had to make him a quilt.

The quilt was made and this past weekend I delivered it to him.

 

 

 

I used "The Olivia Quilt" pattern by

Kitchen Table Quilting.

It was a great pattern to use with the larger print fabrics.

The quilt measures 60x73.5". 

 

 

 

Jennifer at Peaceful Hill Quilting quilted

little footballs all over the quilt.

Perfect!

 

This was a really fun quilt to make

and should keep him warm while he's watching

Michigan football this fall.

Happy Quilting!

Double Cross

 One of the most fun things I do, quilting-wise,

is to belong to the Gridster Bee... an on line quilting bee

made up of 12 quilters all around the country.

May was my month to be "Queen Bee" and I asked my

bee mates to make these Double Cross Blocks,

using black and neutrals with little pops of color.

 

 

 

I just love the blocks everyone sent and added more to make this

52x63" quilt.

The pattern is free and can be found

at Wombat Quilts.

 

 

 

The original quilt was made with bright fabrics

for all of the crosses, but I wanted a black and white

quilt with little pops of color.

 

 

 

 

Jennifer, at Peaceful Hill Quilting,

did a beautiful job quilting it with yellow thread.

I chose the swirling, circular design to soften the crosses a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

Each member of the bee sends a signature block along

with their block.

One of the bee mates sent an orange block,

made by mistake, so I included that along with an extra block I had made.

The pieced backing looks pretty cool, if I do say so myself.  :)

 

 

It sure is fun being Queen Bee!

Until next year!

Happy Quilting!

Christmas in July

 For the last number of months my evening hand work

has been working on these ornaments.

 

The patterns are by MMMCrafts and Larissa writes the best patterns.

They are so fun, whimsical and  make me smile.

These ornaments are part of her

"Twas the Night"Series.

 

I made Santa and Mrs. Claus several years ago.

 

 

I made two girl elves and one boy elf for my grandchildrens'

ornaments for this year.

 

One set is for me!

 

 

One of the tea cups is for my daughter and son-in-law and

the other is for me!

 

I'm hoping to get the "All Through the House" ornament done this

year, too, but we shall see.

I have wanted something new for the top of my

tree for several years and Larissa's Lodestar is the perfect topper!

Is it too early to put up my Christmas tree??

Happy Creating!

Patriotic Topper 2024

 Every year for I don't know how long, 

I've made my siblings a

Patriotic table runner or topper.

It began as an honor to our dad,

who was one of the most patriotic people I know.

 

This year I used a pattern my sister found and loved.

The pattern is free from Quilters Newsletter

and is called "Firework Flag".  

 

 

Image taken from pattern page

 

 

I loved the idea of this quilt,

but didn't like that the flag was square.

After extending the striped side of the quilt,

I quilted the pieces before trimming

and decided to leave the top and bottom edges wavy.

These took some time to make,

but I really love the finish.

My siblings liked them, too!

Happy Quilting!

Two Veterans Quilts

 A few weeks ago my sister called and asked if I'd like to

go with her to see the stash of the mom of a friend of her husbands.

This friends mom had been a huge quilter and had died recently.

She had suffered from dementia for several years,

so her things had been in storage for that time.

You know I said YES!!

There was so much fabric, mainly reproduction fabrics,

which I just don't use at this time.

There were also a lot of rulers, notions, cutting mats,

patterns... the list goes on.

One bin I found had a bunch of zip lock bags filled with

finished blocks.

I bought this bin, thinking I could make some quilts

with these "packages" of blocks,

and, boy, can I!

One set of blocks must have been part of a block

exchange she was involved in because I don't know

how many different baggies of 3-10 blocks there were in this bin.

I pulled them out, cut some plain blocks to alternate with the pieced blocks

and had this quilt top finished in not time.

 

 

 

 

The people who pieced these blocks were meticulous.

Each one was exactly 4" square and so well done.

It was fun looking at all of the fabric combinations that

made up the blocks.

 

 

The next set of blocks I pulled from the bin were huge 16" blocks.

At first I wasn't sure how I could use these to make a 48x60" quilt,

and then I placed them on point.

 

 

 

 

This quilt top went together very quickly, too,

and is so striking, I think.

 

I used the four extra blocks for the backing, but should have

made another quilt with them. 

I didn't think of that until it was finished.

Everything I used to make these two quilts came from this ladies stash...

the blocks, the plain blocks and backing fabrics, the batting and the thread.

It made me sad to see that she had done all of this work, but

hadn't completed the quilts.

I have no idea how many quilts she made over the years,

but she was a talented quilter.

It really has me thinking of how I will use my stash from now on.

Both of these quilts will be donated to my local Veterans hospital.

Happy Quilting!

Caroline's Christmas Stockings

 I love making Bucilla felt kits

and have made stocking kits for all of us

in my family.

Before Caroline, my newest granddaughter,

was born, I began making her stockings.

I made one for her house and one for mine.

This stocking is for my house.

With each stocking I've made a quilted

stocking to which I stitched the felt front.

This makes for a good and sturdy stocking,

ready for stuffing!

The Peppermint Santa stocking is for

Caroline's home.

He is adorable!

 

 

 

The fabric I used for the stocking is so cute!

 

These are ready to hang on the mantle,

but I'm not wishing for Christmas to arrive quickly.

Happy Quilting!

HST Veterans Quilt

 The Veterans quilt made from batiks given to me

by a friend who does not like batiks is finished

and ready for delivery.

This pattern was so fun and easy to make and looks so cool!

 

 

 

It's quilted with straight lines that follow the lightening bolts.

I've gotten so I really like the plain and simple quilting lines.

 

 

 

 

 

These batiks are darker than I usually like,

but they work well for this quilt.

 

The backing was purchased and I love this design.

Onto the next Veterans Quilt!

Happy Quilting!!

Spectacular Savannah

 I love Elizabeth Hartman's patterns.

This quilt makes the third one I've made

and I see more in my future.

Spectacular Savannah is for my newest granddaughter,

Caroline Sue.

 

 

 

 

The biggest challenge with this quilt was choosing the fabrics.

There were a couple that I didn't use once production began,

but I was very happy with my selections, overall.

 

 

 

 

 

It was quilted with African Samba (thank you Mary at Needledmom).

Jennifer at Peaceful Hill Quilting did a beautiful job quilting it. 

I chose an abstract plaid fabric for the binding,

have sewn the label into place

and am ready to deliver it to this new little bundle of joy.

Happy Quilting!

Birdling Baby Quilt

 One of my nieces just had her first baby...

a beautiful little girl.

Before she was born,

I saw this pattern and fell in love with the quilt.

Usually, I find a pattern and put my own spin

on it with different colors and fabrics.

This one I loved just as it was

and copied the fabrics and colors used.

Birdling was such a fun pattern to make

and I love the results.

 

 

 

 

I had never worked with Art Gallery Pure solids

and will use these again.

 

 

 

 

Jennifer at Peaceful Hill Quilting quilted

"Dandoline Floof" using pink thread

and I love this, too.

 

 

The label has been sewn on and it's ready to be mailed.

 

Welcome to the world, Eliana!

 

 

Happy Quilting!

Baby Quilts

 I've had two baby quilt tops finished for a while

and finally got around to finishing them this past week.

First up is another Disappearing Four Patch.

This has to be one of my favorite blocks to make

and I've made it a lot!

 

 

 

This colorful pack of charm squares had been in my stash

for quite a while, so I was glad to put it to use.

 

 

 

 

 

I think this one will be donated.

 

 

The other baby quilt I finished was made with 

The Erica Quilt pattern 

by Kitchen Table Quilting.

 

 

 

 

I altered the pattern by using 2 1/2" squares,

since I had a LOT of these cut.

 

There are some fun fussy cut pieces throughout the quilt,

along with many other prints.

This one will probably go to one of the babies born lately.

I just had two quilts from my longarmer returned,

so those will be bound and finished soon.

More baby quilts!

One of these is extra special....

it's for my newest granddaughter.

 

 

Happy Quilting!