My Christmas Sewing.

Back in the Saddle Again!

Well, I am at it again. I was up on Thursday morning putting the Turkey in the oven.

After I put the bird in the oven, I decided that I needed something to go on the table. I went through all my table clothes and I didn't like them for dinner. So my bright idea was to make a table runner upon which to set all the food that afternoon. My abilities with the sewing machine are such an extraordinary accomplishment, that I knew it would be no problem. (LOL)

My co-worker/friend Lynada gave me some six inch squares in coordinating colors. When I looked at them closer, they looked like holiday prints. So here is what I did with them.





Laying out the pattern took longer than sewing them together. After they were together, I put a backing on it, no batting, it is a table runner, not a quilt. I left about an inch and a half on each side and folded it over twice to create my hem. Here is my finished table runner with backing on my coffee table with flowers.




Kindly disregard the pile of laundry that my teen daughter didn't put away!!! But then, when do they ever.

Just a note about the double wedding ring. I am still working on it. I am taking photos as I go to show you how i do it. Just a little pic to remind you of it.


So, Happy Quilting!

Double Wedding Ring

So, I went to work yesterday afternoon on a new quilt. I have always wanted a double wedding ring quilt. But they are so, so, so expensive. I decided to make me one.
I must admit that I have been intimidated by this quilt. As a quilter, I would rate myself a novice, a beginner. Even though my total number of quilts is now at 16, I think, I still consider myself a novice. I am getting better and I like to challenge myself at times to see if I can do it. I started blocks for about 3 different quilts, but they were a bit tough. I mean I had to use math to figure out the sizes and the dimensions of the pieces and it just about fried my brain. I need a program to do all that for me. Any suggestions?

So, the Double Wedding Ring. Such a traditional wedding gift (that I never got). And I WANT ONE!! We buried my sister with the one my gram'ma made. Someone is going to wonder about that some day, but we didn't want her to get cold. So we put a quilt on her. Besides, it was hers. And I want one of my own. Did I say that already? Well, I do.

Now the thing about this quilt is it has an arc. Or rather a curve. When you line up the fabirc, it don't match. How the crap do you sew it if the ends are down in the middle of the arch??? I worried and worried over this. I don't think I can do it. It just doesn't seem to work. But you know what? It worked. I simply made it work. I lined up one end and just wiggled it around until it worked. So this is what I have so far. A football with a spine. I am not joking it really does look like that, but not for long. I am going to make a Double wedding Ring Quilt!!! I am so excited about this one.

Basket Bingo Anyone?!

So, I was being stalked. She called my house. She e-mailed me. Finally we connected. And she wanted me to make her a quilt. REALLY! She did. And I as so flattered. When do you need it by?....FRIDAY! This was the Sunday before the Friday she needed it. HOLY COW.

But I did it. I made her a quilt top and tacked it to a piece of bleached muslin and hand stitched the hem. What do you think?

Yes, it is a baby quilt. And considering I only spent about 17 hours on the whole thing, including the hem, I think it is pretty good.

It is crib sized and done in a simple 9 patch or patchwork pattern. My son said it looked like a checkerboard. Well, it does. How observant you are, Son. Speaking of my son. This is him beside the new baby quilt. He is ten and is around 4 ft. tall. So I am thinking that this quilt will fit inside a baby crib quite nicely.


Have you started any new projects lately? What is favorite pattern? I think I have asked you this before, but I would love to hear you ideas and I would love to know what you are working on. I might want to try it. Until next time.......KEEP SEWING!

Discovered some other crazy folks today.......

I thought that I was crazy. My family certainly thinks so. I love to quilt.

(As a matter of fact, I just finished my second Rail Fence Quilt. I will have pictures sometime this week.) But I thought I was a rarity, an oddball. She likes to quilt. How strange!

This is pic of my first rail fence. My second is brown, orange and brick red. Just wait until you see it.

Anyway, I am looking through some old posts from my sisters site and found this site

http://thelastpiece.com/. You should really check it out. I am a little leery of her fabics and I guess I am more of a traditional quilter. As far as patterns and fabrics go. But she had alot of interesting things on there. I will definately go back and check her out.

I also discovered that I am not the only one. There are so many blogs on quilting that I knew nothing about. I thought I was doing something original and turns out, it's not. It was to me so I suppose that is all that matters.

So, readers, I hope there are readers, tell me what your favorite quilt pattern is. Which one do you dream of having? See, I happen to long for a double wedding ring, but I am not going to be the one to do it. I want someone to make it for me and give it to me. I am cheap that way. Till next time.

Keep sewing.

Tis so much better to give.....

So, I got her quilt finished. I absolutely love it. I almost didn't give it to her. And it is going to be so warm this winter. I used a duvet cover that a friend from work gave me and there was enough left over to use as the backing also. It is so pretty. But hey, that is my personal opinion. I might be just a tad prejudiced....I did make it. So tell me what you think of my quilt.

This pattern is called the Jacob's ladder. I used a very light mint green to accent the mint green and pink floral. Then keeping with the pink, I used a solid raspberry and found a contrasting yelling that had the same raspberry in it. I think it looks wonderful together and wait until you see it in person. (If Barb will let you in her bedroom!)

She told me that she was going to leave it hanging on her cube wall until time to go home so that everyone could see it.

I wonder.......Does that mean she likes it? I will take that to mean that she does. Also want to give a shout out to http://www.quilterscache.com/ where the pattern came from. The lady that does that website has to most wonderful ideas for layouts and patterns. I simply love her.

My Creation from Inspiration

Now, what did I tell you? What do you think? See, patience has lots of rewards! This quilt was called "Friendship Garden". In the magazine, it has signatures on the fence posts and rails.

My problems now is.....I don't want to give it away! But that is my problem. I will give it to the person that I made it for and hopefully they will keep it forever and think about "aunt" cheryl whenever they look at it. Maybe it will become an heirloom and they will pass it to their children's children. sigh!

Well, I can dream, can't I?!