A Swap Finish!

So I am participating in the Quilting Gallery's Mug Rug Swap. 

 I did the Candle mat Swap in November.  Hopefully I have a better partner this time as something happened to the person who was assigned me.  However Michelle is AWESOME organizer and had Angels lined up to pick up the slack!  I received this beautiful candle mat a few weeks ago from my Angel , Jenn from ND.

So here are the two mug rugs I made for my secret partner.

It was a little hard narrowing down what I wanted to do as she has no blog, no flickr account, no preferences, and not even a pet listed!  She said she was up for anything so I hope she likes them

I used my leftovers from the BE Mine Blog Tour projects and mad this cute Valentine's mug rug.  I even used pin pearl cotton and added a heart.

The I went through my fav scraps and paper pieced this mug.  I quilted it with orange and green pearl cottons.

And here is the back and binding .

I said I would share some of the goodies I found at the Quilting and Needle Art Extravaganza in Statesville, NC.  First up is the Cottage Quilt Shop from Taylorsville, NC. 

and I will have to continue later as I cant find my pictures of the goodies :o( , plus I am tired from being sick the last two days.  At least the temp is gone and the yuckiness too.  See you later

keep dreaming...Colleen

I love these old tobacco barns, this one had a lovely view.

2011 UFO todo list

 I know I am a little late in posting this but it has been a busy month.  So I will start with my oldest UFOs and I will probably forget something.  I need to explain all of the 90's swaps I did were through Quiltnet online quilting guild based out of Cornell at the time.  It split into two groups it got so large.  One for just quilting info and discussion and the other for exchanges.  I do have some finished projects from that time including my favorite Quiltnet  World Quilt.  The border was made up of autographed 6" charm squares, pieced or appliqued blocks from as faraway as Australia and Norway.  The computer blocks were r also the guild pin.  The center is a 3D stuffed earth with beads marking locations of guild member who sent me blocks. The blue stars represented online guilds. 

1.  Twelve 12.5" 199something Hoffman fabric challenge blocks.  We had to use the purple butterfly fabric to make an Ohio Star. 

I also have these fabrics we had to send with the blocks.  Do you think I should sash these or sew them together without?

2.  Twelve 12.5" Amish blocks-I love these and think I will definitely sash them with a plain black border.

3. thirteen 12.5 Autumn Star blocks-I think I definitely need to set these with sashing or maybe on point.  What do you think?

I still have some great green w/some gold hand dyed look leaf print I had bought for a backing.

4.eight 12.5 black and white cat blocks-  I think probably sashed in a 2x4 grid. 

5. six 8" colorful cat blocks- I'm not sure what to do with these.  What do ya'll think?  Small wall quilt? Maybe the back of the BW cat blocks.

6.  sixty- six 6.5" Amish 9patches-These are from about four different swaps.  Did I tell you I learned to quilt/was addicted to making 9patches?  I am going to make a quilt sorting the colors together somehow and using black sashing and backing. 

7.  six 12.5 Hoffaman challenge fabric blocks-I think these might make an interesting table runner.  I don't think I will use my ugly block (lower rt)  it can always go on the back.  Opinions?

 I also have extra cuts of this fabric.

8.  Black and White Cat wall hanging-I love this wall hanging I made myself.  I think I moved before I could finish it.

9.  Then I have these crazy wonky blocks made from the bits and pieces of left overs.  Not sure where these will go if anywhere.

10.  Ok don't laugh to hard at these next blocks.  They are the first ones I EVER made.(circa 1991)  These were made pre ANY quilting knowledge, tools, or clue.  I followed I think a PBS Georgia Bonesteel show to make the small log cabin type blocks that when four were pieced together make different blocks.  They are very badly hand cut and sewn with our knowledge of seams on the sewing machine. LOL

Here is a closeup of one the better sewn blocks.  LOL.  Got to love those Piece Good prints-these were probably some of the first fabrics I ever bought.  I mostly used scraps from Grandma's House.

They might be interesting squared up and just sew together.

11.  Eighty or ninety (I forgot what I counted) Muslin 9 patches-  I would put these together just like I have them on the wall.  The stack are the ones I couldn't fit on the wall.  I love the way these fit together and they are all different.  They are mostly all signed and represent about 8 or 9 swaps.

12.  I have about 50 Christmas nine patches too but I forgot to photograph them.

13.  Border exchange-This is one of two I did that needs to be basted, quilted and bound.  I love the center block I made very wonky and free form using some hand dyed fabrics I made.

There were four borders put on this quilt by others in a round robin exchange.

I sent a label with it that every one signed and id which border they made.

14.  Border exchange #2-notice this one is in a lap hoop and has even been partially hand quilted.  It has ben a decoration as is for about 11 years.  LOL

15.  Sailboat Watercolor quilt-Does anyone do watercolor quilts anymore?  I haven't seen any on the blogs.  I have red fabric for the border and a great sailboat print for the backing.

16.  Twenty four Novelty print 9 patches-I forgot to take a picture of them

17. No muslin 9 Patch quilt-This quilt top and backing just need to be basted, quilted and bound. It represents another 4 or 5 swaps.  Told you I was addicted! It has my favorite pink repro fabric.  I love this and am hoping to get it long arm quilted soon so it can be my new bed quilt.

Well there you have it my 90's UFOs.  Anyone out there in blogland participate in any of these Quiltnet/Qxchg swaps?  Some will make lovely quilts I have been wanting forever!

 

Keep dreaming…Colleen

Jenn from ND was my angel in the candlemat swap when my assigned person dissappeared. 

 Thanks Jenn it is beautiful!  Just my colors and style!

Change of plans, have you ever....

 started a project without a goal in mind as to how it would look but with a goal in mind as to what you would do with it? 

I did with the blue(rainbow) scrap challenge (see link above). 

This was going to be a table runner/candle mat  for a family gift exchange this weekend.  Well now its not.  Now I'm thinking if I am going to be working with scraps each month maybe I  will add to the blue thing above. 

What do you think?

Borders? Sections? Individual blocks?

Wild and free?

Can you picture the random areas of color?

Let me know what you think.

I still needed a present for Saturday. 

So I went ahead, dived(dove?) into and pulled out 17 charm squares, a scrap of muslin, and whipped up a slightly smaller varied version of my Charming Candle mat pattern.

(I know I promised a tutorial but 'Ive been busy!).

P.S. Have you seen the gorgeous block Lana made for me in the Block Swap Adventure, that is even now winding its way across the country?  Check it out here.

PPS  Check out my friend Cheryl Lynch, she has a new book coming out January 11. 
Check out the details here.

Keep dreaming…Colleen

Why I love charm squares and eBay--a tree and a giveaway!

 If you are looking for my giveaway for Sew Mama Sew! giveaway day go here!

I love charm squares because they motivate me in so many ways.  A stack of turquoise squares inspired me to create this candle mat for my Secret Santa at school. 

It is a disappearing 9 patch.  I used 9 different fabric charm squares-3 of each.   I actually matched the colors to the candles I already had.  I then found some garland in one of my crafty stuff drawers and tada!

I attached one of my labels I had printed on fabric at Spoonflower.  If you have never been I reccomend it highly.  If you would like to design your own fabric this is the place to get started.  Hearther Ross fabric can be found here too.

Now for the why I love ebay.  There are so many great charm squares available.  I love to buy 4,5,6 or even 2 inch sets of 35 + by color.  They inspire me to create.  Here is my charm square stash.

I want to leave you with images of my wonderful Christmas tree I finally got.  Between rain and snow and high wind and bitter cold it has been a challenge. 

Each year I call my daddy to help me go to a local tree to pick out my tree. 

 The lot is owned by a friend with a tree farm in the mountains.  His frazer firs are always well shaped and have nice tops.

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Here is the neat trailer they stay in

Dad even put it in his new truck!  He must really love me.

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Here it is with the angel and the lights.

And Kalli approves as you can see.

Dont forget about the other giveaways at Sew Mama Sew!

Keep dreaming…Colleen