That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles

Do you remember when I was creating my UFO list for this year, that I mentioned that there were a few on it that had made no progress in the last year.  These cookie crumb blocks were one of those projects.  

I think the last time I worked on it was back in 2011.  At least that is when I found this post with some of these blocks on it.  Well, I've finished up the blocks.  Thanks in part to a bee.  Now I'm making some made fabric to use as the setting points around the edge.  I think that is the direction I want to go with it.  I'll see after I get some made and see how they look.  What are your thoughts on it?  Any other suggestions?

A Little Progress

Over the weekend I was able to make a little progress on my Granny Square quilt.  All the blocks are complete.  I was doing them as leaders and enders but when I only had three more to do I couldn't wait to finish.  So I just sewed them up. I've added corner posts from the leftover squares.

Up next is the sashing.  Oooo, I must admit I'm getting excited for this one.  I think it's kinda cute.

Free For All Finish

Yesterday after skating on roads of ice in my Suburban to take Jr. High carpool to school.  A trip that usually only takes 10 minutes or less, took more than 30.  I decided staying home was my best bet.  

I had finished quilting my bright and black Free Four All quilt the day before.  I quilted spirals in the large squares to mimic the spiral of the black chain.  Then straight stitched through the smaller squares.

I found a fun stripe for the binding.  It was a little short but fortunately I found a piece of it in a scrap bin that made up the difference.

So happy to have this cheerful quilt finished.  Going to link up with Sarah and give a WHOOP WHOOP!  Then hope the weather improves.  I really need to get to the grocery store.  Oh, I almost forgot, the free pattern for this can be found on my tute page, just in case you're wanting to make one too.

Young Women of Excellence

A while back I had the privileged of working with some wonderful young women.  Their leader had asked me to come and teach them how to make my Sugar and Spice quilt.  It was an enjoyable evening, listening to these girls chat as I showed them how to embroider the faces, hands and feet on their little girls.

Once the evening was over I wondered how many would finish them.  I was delighted, when at their Young Women Night of Excellence, there were three beautiful quilts.  Ellie's above, Christina's below and then Nina's.

I love how they put one of the Young Women Values; faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability  good works, integrity, and virtue, below each little girl.  

I am thankful to have these young women in my life.  It has been amazing to see their growth as they have grown from little girls into beautiful young women.

I appreciate their example not only to my DD but to myself.

They truly are young women of excellence.

Baby Quilt

Last Summer, when my sister told me she was expecting, March seemed a long way away.  I knew then I would be making a baby quilt for her baby, but it could wait.  Well, after my recent finishes here, here and here; I was looking at my list of quilts to do.  I noticed I hadn't even started on the baby quilt and March is fast approaching.  So Friday I grabbed a layer cake I had on hand, that I thought would make a cute baby boy quilt.  Took some thought as to what I wanted to do with it and came up with this.

I cut into the layer cake.  Found some red I had on hand and started making stars.  I ran out of red for the stars about half way.  I didn't feel like going out as I was already in my pj's.  So off to bed I went and Saturday morning as soon as the fabric store opened I was off for some more red.  Then home again to make the rest of my stars.  Now I'm sewing rows together.  Soon I'll have a top and by the time the blessed baby comes I should have a quilt.

In My Garden Birds Are Singing

There are several feet of snow outside, and I still have my Christmas cards lined up on the self, but still I have birds singing in my garden.

I finished the binding Wednesday night.  Shared it with my quilt guild yesterday and hung it today.  I know it's the wrong season for flowers but doesn't it look nice and springy on my red wall?  Sure is chasing away the winter blahs.  I just might keep it up for a week and then put up a Valentine quilt.  I can't decide between this one, that great grandma made and my Crazy Love.  I just might have to let them take turns.  What do you think?

To share my garden I'll be linking up with Sarah.  If I can't raise the temperatures outside I can at least spread a little warm cheer.  If your in a part of the world where it is toasty you can check out this post about our recent storm.  Maybe it will cool you down.  Just trying to make everyone comfy.  :)

Granny Squares and More

I've been making these granny squares as a leader and ender project for the last couple of months.  Not really a good leader and ender project, but what I've been doing none the less.  I used this no waste method.

I'm getting a nice little collection and it won't be long before I have enough for a baby quilt.  I started out making the squares more scrappy but found I like them more uniform.  I will still use the scrappy ones.  I like the character it adds to the quilt.  

 Thanks to all the snow and now the single digit temperatures I'm getting lots of time to work on projects.  So not only are the number of granny squares growing I've finished my wonky garden top.  I'm now busy quilting leaves all around my little garden.  

Can't wait to share this finish with you :)  

Hope your staying toasty and finding lots of time to work on your projects.

Pharaoh's Pyramids

I don't know why some quilts take so long to finish while others just whip themselves up.  Poor Josh had to wait over a year for his quilt. While I was able to whip up Alex's quilt in about a month.  The idea for Alex's quilt came while he was working on his latest engineering project, a bridge built using nothing but 100 Popsicle sticks and wood glue.  They then got to see who's bridge would hold the most weight.  I was so proud of my Alex.  His bridge held almost 60 lbs. more than the next bridge.  

To celebrate I decided to make him a quilt.  And because triangles are the strongest shape structurally I decided to use them in my quilt.  And Pharaoh's Pyramids was born.  Along with Alex's success I had a little success of my own.  This quilt is featured on Moda Bake Shop.  So if you would like to make your own Pharaoh's Pyramid quilt, hop on over the the Bake Shop and check out the recipe.

Pizza and a Movie

 Yesterday in the mail I received my Pizza and a Movie quilt back from Market.  I never got to show this before.  It barely made it to market.  I completed it and had to overnight it.  I was sick when I got the fabric and felt happy just to get it out the door.  It is made featuring my brother in law, Eric's new fabric line Twenty Three. A very fun line with lovely pinks, oranges, yellows and grays.  The large prints of dots, cameras and tickets inspired this quick to make quilt.  Pattern available here.   And it arrived just in time.

 Mother nature has decided to bless us with a snow day.  No school for Neil and DD. We plan to make ourselves a pizza for lunch and watch a movie, while snuggling under the quilt.   And although we may have to go out and make a snowman we will not be venturing far from home.

Singing Birds

I knew I wanted to add a few more things to my wonky garden.  I was thinking butterflies, but as I looked through quilt books to get inspiration.  I saw some cute little birds and a memory from my childhood came to me.  I remembered the song, In the Leafy Treetops, that we used to sing in primary.  

As a child I got the first verse correct about the birds singing good morning.

But I totally messed up the second verse and thought is said that the flowers were naughty instead of nodding.  Didn't figure that one out until I was a primary leader.

Since my flowers are wonky they can nod or be naughty and fit right in with the singing birds.  Thanks to this fun memory I now have a few more ideas to implement in my garden.  Looking forward to seeing how they develop. 

Bon Apetit

My DD is taking French this year in school.  She recently received an assignment to prepare a French recipe.  She and her friends thought it would be fun to complete the assignment together.  The phone rang off the hook Friday as the planned.  At first they wanted to complete the full meal at one of their homes.  But on advice from one of the mothers, one who did not want all the mess at her house and felt it unfair to put that on to any of the other mothers, convinced them to each make part of the meal and them meet at her home to eat it.  

DD was assigned the appetizer and chose to make baked brie.  I was sent to the store with a list of ingredients.  We chose to substitute the apricot preserves with plum because we already had them on hand.  After bringing the ingredients home DD made a lovely baked brie.  She cut out the letter 'P' from the remaining puff pastry to represent Paris.  Her appetizer is below along with some of the other fixings.  

After our appetizer we enjoyed a delicious French meal of quiche Lorraine, green beans, spinach salad, French bread and sparkling cider to drink.  Followed by a yummy French dessert that DD's friend found in her Disney Ratatouille cookbook.  (Just love how these girls are growing up but still enjoy the things of childhood)  It was like a chocolate cupcake but not as sweet.  I'm sorry I can not remember the name, could not spell it if I did.  

The girls did a beautiful job not only preparing the meal but in decorating the table.  The parents all agreed, and not we are not bias, that it was as good as any we might have had in France.

Josh's Quilt is Finally Done

 Ta Da! Josh's quilt that was suppose to be for Christmas '11 was completed a few days before Christmas '12.  I've been slow to get pictures taken.  The weather has not cooperated.  I finally broke down and used the flash inside.  

Josh was pretty pleased to with his quilt and loves to snuggle up in it to watch TV.  We recently had a Lord of the Rings marathon.  Man those movies are long, especially when you get the extended version.  So the quilt was put to good use.

After two years I think this deserves a big Whoop Whoop so I'm linking up with Sarah.  Make sure you stop by and see what other finishes are being celebrated.

A Lovely Year of Finishes

Because it felt so good to see all my finishes of 2012 together, I want to ensure that I will have another lovely collage of quilts for 2013.  So I've decided to join in on the fun with 'A Lovely Year of Finishes.'  For January I've decided to finish up my Wonky Garden quilt.  I need to embellish, quilt and bind it.  

And thanks to the Lovely Year of Finishes I have a deadline.  If I make it I have a chance for some lovely prizes.  Yeah!  Even more incentive.  

                                                                

If you would like to join in the fun head on over to  Sew Bitter Sweet or Fiber of All Sorts and get the details.  Heres's to a great year of lovely finishes!