presents

 Here's a pic of Jamie's quilt. Mom and I made 10 quilts for presents this year. She made all the girls Jelly Roll quilts. Jamie's favorite color is orange.

 Brad likes green so his Star Wars quilt is set with green. This is the BQ2 pattern but modified Flicsha style. That means every one of these made with this pattern is different. I personally like the changes she made when setting them together and the boys don't care.

Baby words quilt

 I bought this quilt top at the quilt shop in Hastings Ne. It's sat a long time in my to quilt pile. I love the baby sayings on the top. This is just another finish it up project.

quilts

 This is my disappearing hourglass quilt. I made 7 blocks at quilt group a few months ago and decided to make a small quilt. I thought about two table runners, but a small quilt is more useful I guess. The cream background was left over backing from another quilt.

 This embroidery quilt top  was given to me quite a few years ago. I bordered it and finally got it quilted. I am going to color in the scene with crayons to give it a little dimension. I am going to keep this one for a future grandbaby.............so that means I will have it forever because none of my kids are interested in babies. I figure if  I make baby presents now while I'm still in good shape my grandkids and great grandkids will have handmade presents even if I'm not around.

I am ready to start getting some of my old projects finished up and this is just a start. Mom and I got 10 quilts done for Christmas so now we are going to play January finish up. I know lots of people think of the new year as a time to start new but we think it's time to finish up old.

Merry Christmas

I did get a new Christmas quilt this year. I made this a few years ago, long enough ago I really don't remember making it. I quilted it in between everyone else's quilts. So far I'm keeping it.

Spike

Spike says "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Birthday"!   (he's the best little brother I could ask for, even better than my other "little brother")

Tabletopper and Round Pie Hot Pads

 This tabletopper fits under a casserole dish.  The round ones under pie plates.

All these were made with scraps from other projects. I have two throw size quilts made with this fabric and the rest is from Mom's scrap basket.
  There is no time before Christmas with work and such, today is my only day off this week until the big day so I'm wrapping presents, cleaning, watching Christmas specials(what fun is it without the Winter Warlock?) and I have a quilt pinned in and waiting for me.

Pie Carriers

 Just a sneak peak of a present I've been working on for years, it's ready to quilt.

 Mom found a pie carrier pattern on the internet, we've made a few now.....

This one went for an  exchange gift for quilt group in November.

Border print runner

I had to steal this pic off my Mom's blog. I made this last month while my camera was MIA. I think I have a table runner obsession this season. I have more in various stages of completion too. It's funny because finding a table with a runner on it around my house is impossible. I think this one will be a gift.
  Work is taking a lot of my time lately with no end in sight. I put 60 hours in this week and until Christmas I'll be working 6 days a week. I am trying to do a lot of sewing this weekend but so far all I've done is fight a headache and run to the grocery and pharmacy. Well a little housework has to be done or the next week will be hard around here too. So if I don't post for awhile you all know what's going on...........

Shoe Box

I took Sara to her TEC weekend in Yankton on Thursday. While at Calvary Baptist Church where they hold the retreat I saw their display for the Operation Shoe Box program. They look like they fill a lot of boxes and I was really impressed with the whole thing. So on the way home I thought about what I could do to donate. I briefly thought about stopping at the dollar store but really don't have the extra cash...so I started thinking about what I have in my craft stash. I bought the bear beads when I worked at the zoo (long time ago) to make Emily the Bear bracelets for a fundraiser. Most of the rest I got at auctions or garage sales or someone gave to me. While hauling corn today (ok waiting for it to dump into the auger) I strung beads. Then I rode with Kevin to O'Neill and strung beads. Then I finished the last 5 sitting in my chair. Total bracelets.....42....!!!!!! I used up all the bear beads, the heart beads and the neon beads. I also used up all the elastic cord I had so I guess I'm done now. I will drop off the finished bracelets on Sunday when I pick Sara up. I love donating!!!!

Customer quilts

 Just a peak at what I've been working on for others. This was made by a young man last year in HS. He now has it at college.

A special quilt for a special baby...........

Christmas present?

The gift making has started! Just a sneak peak at what Mom and I are working on.

Jewelry

 I still work on my jewelry in my spare time. (usually sunday afternoon) I am still working on beads I bought last fall in Texas. This strand is for me, I like random stones in semi random order and love liquid silver beads. I am hoping to wear this set with a soft comfy sweater and my boots.

 I am also making a few things for a small consignment shop in Atkinson called Possibilities, home of Alabaster Box Soap.

These bracelets are just a few of the things I have taken there in the last few months. Jewelry, quilts, dishtowels, table runners, hotpads, scrubbies, baby things, hats, scarves...........etc....etc....etc.....
I am really having fun building jewelry but I can't wear it all so if I can sell a few things all the better.

Halloween table runner

I love Halloween! I like the colors, weather and spooky days this time of year. I like decorating for Halloween too so this little table runner fits in perfectly at my house. I did make a pattern and kits for the Shoppe so I don't know if I will bring it home in time for the 31st or not, depends on how fast the kits sell. The ghost shapes are cut with the Sizzix, I love that machine! I should use it more!!!
  Today is going to be a sewing day if I ever get out of the house. Sometimes its just so hard to put on clothes and walk 200 feet to my studio.........I like my jammies on sundays! 

just a few......

 Just a few things I made for the Shoppe for samples. I saw a table runner similar to this and loved it so I made my own version. I made this one extra long for big tables. That's a 6 foot table it's shown on.

This little raggy quilt I cut with my 5 inch raggy die by Sizzix. Oh my do these raggy's take a lot of fabric! This baby blankie is 30 x30 but I could add a row or two with the left overs if I wanted to take the time. I just did patterns, no kits for the Shoppe.
  I might have already blogged about these, I don't remember so if I did please forgive me. I am still playing catch up with my pic's. I have some on my phone(don't know how to download them yet) some on the camera at the Shoppe and some on Mom's camera. Oh and my camera with dead batteries.

Wow...can't believe it's been since last winter that I've posted anything on my blog! Lets just say two jobs got in the way of a lot of things. So I will try to do a little catch up and probably skip a whole bunch in my writings.
   Last springs Shop Hop was a great success at Quilters Candy Shoppe. Mom helped me whip up this quilt using Nebraska Fabric. We sold kits and patterns.  I took the quilt home shortly after shop hop because it was a sell out. I am going to donate it to the kids to raffle off for their high school trip to Washington DC next spring. So if you are in the Clearwater/Orchard  Nebraska area find a kid and get a ticket.
  I didn't do very well of taking pic's of my projects the last year or so but my new plan is to carry my camera more and document my true love of creating. I am down to one job (Fed Ex) so maybe life will slow down and I can share it on my blog more.

Tabletopper

 I am making patterns and kits for the Shoppe, I like little tabletoppers and I hope other people do too. This is the Radiant Star, I varied it a bit with the addition of  a fourth color and made it 18x18.

The Jewel Box is a personal favorite and I floated the block in small border the same as the background.
  We're getting ready for Shop Hop beginning April 3.  Nine days of fun! Oh and throw National Quilting Day in before....Wow! ( I think that's March 22???)

My dog

 Sammy was the only one in the house that would model for me this time.

 Looks thrilled...........it's a cowl, or short infinity scarf. I haven't worn it yet, should soon before the cold weather is over.

 Dos Gato got the job of modeling the dish scrubbies. Everyone I know should have the cleanest dishes with as many of these as I make.

 Quick pic of the craft booth Mom and I had over Christmas, sold a few things.

 This is the new tablerunner I made for Quilters Candy Shoppe. Kits are on sale now.

This baby Raggy Quilt will have kits soon, I will be writing up the pattern this week. I still have to wash and dry it to make it "raggy".

Finished ornaments

 Here's a pic of the finished stars, not sure if my family really cares if I make homemade things for their trees but they got them anyway.

This is the only pic of the T-shirt quilt I was commissioned to make, got it done before Christmas.