Xmas Tree Hot Pads

Are these not super cute?!! I recently purchased some things from Kathy at Pink Chalk Fabrics and with my purchase I received a little post card that had a picture of these great hot pads. They are on the cover of Quilting Arts Gifts Holiday 2009-10 issue. I can't wait to get it in the mail....I ended up ordering some more fabric from Kathy along with this issue. They make such great Xmas gifts!

How do you guys do it???

As you can see I am busily quilting away - all I keep thinking is how do some of you pump these out so quickly?!! You are amazzzzing...because this really does take a while:) Back to the sewing machine I go....oh, and by the way, I am excited because I bought my first walking foot as I definitely intend on machine quilting the binding!

Quilt Festival - Fall 2009

After reading about Amy's Blogger Quilt Festival - Fall 2009 I knew I had to enter the quilt I'm currently finishing for my daughter...as you can see in my last posting. I basted it today and then realized I've run out of cotton thread. In Canada it it Thanksgiving today so the stores are closed.

I was inspired to make this quilt by Dana at Old Red Barn Co when she hosted a quilt-along back in May 2009. I thought I would make a quilt for my daughter's double bed. She's still in a crib as she's 18 months old but I know someday it will convert and she'll need an awesome, comfy quilt!!

I've always been drawn to oranges and pinks - I love the combination. The making of the quilt top was an easy process overall and Dana's sense of humour kept all of us laughing and on track with our creations. I ran into a problem when I went to go and finish the back - unfortunately the place where I ordered the Amy Butler Full Moon Dots in Tangerine couldn't fill the order afterall so it took a little while to find another place who still sold it. It's definitely one of my favourite prints but it's no longer in production. You know when you have something in your mind and nothing else is going to do or cut it..well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!! So, the quilt top sat in my sewing room until this past weekend when I suddenly got the urge to complete it.

I can't wait to get to the quilting...I'm going to pick up a new needle and some thread tomorrow and see where it takes me.

For those of you visiting for the first time...thank you for stopping by! I need your help though...thoughts on bindings? Please see my previous posts for a description of the various choices...any help would be appreciated!

Check out all of the HUNDREDS of entries for Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival...such amazing, creative people out there. Not to mention the incredible sponsors and prizes. I'm so excited!!

Dots, Dots & More Dots!

I am a lover of anything dots...especially Amy Butler's tangerine full moon ones:) This is the back of the quilt I started back in May with the Old Red Barn Co. Quilt-Along. I know, I know, it's now October but it is done now and I love it!

I still have to decide on the binding...and I would love your input. If you tend to be indecisive like me at times, Cheryl at Naptime Quilter has put together a group of people who are willing to give each other honest feedback about their quilting/sewing/artistic dilemmas!! She's called it Workshop in Progress...check out the button to the left of this post. It's the perfect group for me right now!!

The safe choice would be to continue with the dots and use them as the binding. I do like this because the dots make a great binding in general, but the backing would have no contrast with the back (which is always kind of nice)...it would simply blend in.

Another option which came to me tonight would be to see if I could pull together various prints in the top and do a pieced binding which might be nice too.

My last choice is to use Amy Butler's ripple stripe which pulls together the oranges, pinks and some greens for a more bold binding. I honestly am not sure...I am leaning toward the orange dots...any thoughts? Would love to hear from you!

Pumpkin Love!

My husband and I spent the perfect fall day with our daughter who is 18 months now. We went to a local farm which had a pumpkin patch. The Scarecrow Festival featured hay rides, face painting, corn mazes - it was just great. She got so excited seeing all of the pumpkins and her face lit up when she saw these two beautiful horses prancing toward her. What a great afternoon! Hope you had a great Saturday as well...and for all the other Canadians, Happy Thanksgiving!

Beginnings of a Xmas Quilt...

Beginnings of a Xmas Quilt...
Originally uploaded by BlueberryGabs

Well here is a taste of a Xmas quilt I'm starting to work on. I'm paper piecing again and following Kaffe Fassett's pattern, Jewel Squares. I've made about 6 squares but this one has been my favourite so far...I accidentally cut off the borders in this picture but it is framed in the green striped fabric.

String Quilt - Sandy's Block for PTQB

Wow, it's been a while since I last posted...I guess just busy with the little one, with work and dreaming up all of the things I want to make! It's always this time of the year that I either get immersed in knitting or sewing. Lately I've been doing some knitting - working on a few stocking caps for a few newborns (which I'll post a picture of later) and of course one for Little G. I love her in hats! Now that she doesn't always yank them off her head, I'm trying to do the whole little tiny ponytail thing with her but no go! She reaches up to the top of her head and manages to pull it out. So I guess we're going with the whole whispy look because her hair is still baby fine but is growing longer:)

During nap time I've managed to make up these four blocks for Sandy. She is making a string quilt using my favorite fabric, Fresh Cut by Heather Bailey. Love it...it's going to be a beaut! Sorry for the poor lighting but it's a dreary, rainy day here so that's the best I could do.

I'm thinking about making Little G a Christmas quilt but I'm still undecided about the design. I'm either thinking a circle quilt (but not sure if I'd use the appliqued method or Dale Fleming's six minute circle) or one inspired from Kaffe Fassett's Jewel quilt....hmmm decisions, decisions....and the of course I loved the stacked books quilt too....any ideas? I think I'm leaning toward the jewel quilt style...maybe I'll just wing it and see what I come up with!