Winter Tabletop...

I saw pictures of this piece before I even had the magazine. I knew I was going to make it the minute I pulled the Winter 2012 issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects out of the mailbox..  When it came, I was immediately pulling fabrics from my fabric cabinet to put the quilt together.  Yes, I could have waited until I went to the Quilt shop and purchased similar fabrics from the magazine pictures, but no--- I was completely too impatient for that. I pulled and started cutting.

As usual, --life-- got in the way. Work, laundry, vacuuming--- all those things we'd like to pretend that don't have to be done.

In the mean time, Quilters started posting their finished projects--- the one.... that had gotten on the back burner due to 'life'.  Wow--- my fabrics were way off  from the Magazine photos, and just as far from  the internet quilters as well.  I started second guessing my choices.

They were cut out and wasted.  In my head, I thought it would all come together, but now I was having my doubts.

I decided to put it together anyway.  The more I sewed, the more stressed I got.  My quilting time is sacred and to be working on "a dud" was not O.K.

Then there was a turning point.  I took some snapshots and things didn't seem so bad.

Last night, I finished the project and I love it.  It doesn't look like everyone else's pieces and I'm kind of O.K. with that. Not everyone has a house in the Northwoods of Michigan.

I left off the moon and stars.  I didn't want to introduce another color into the piece. My appliques are wool scraps that I'm always talking about saving....and the binding is cut on the bias.

It looks like Winter without screaming, "Christmas", so I can used it a lot longer that 4 weeks a year.

Twelve Blocks-- Heart & Home

My BOM quilt has all twelve blocks completed.  I've got the winter ahead to put the border on and applique the vines. I love the Pup-- It was Ransom-- with his white paw. I should has purchased backing for it.  Next trip to Green Bay, right?

It's a wool applique piece from the Country Loft. It you have ever consider wool Applique-- try it... you'll love it.

Quilters' Angel....

I don't wear it every week, but most weeks you'll find it pinned on the left side of my sweater or jacket, close to my heart.... It's a pin, a Quilters' Angel pewter pin.  A 90-year old friend admired the pin and wanted to know about it.  It lead to a dear friendship.  Marion was a wood carver--- making pieces out of scraps of wood, just like I used scraps of fabric.

 She asked to borrow the pin as an example to carve for me.  Weeks went by.  I wasn't worried. I knew she was in good hands.  Marion told me a few weeks ago--she had failed, she didn't like how it turned out.  I told her I didn't care, I'd love to see it. So she gave her to me  last week.  So the piece will hang from my Christmas tree, complete with her thimble in her hand.   

My Quilters' Angel....

Chain Piecing

Quilt blocks are growing, and there's 2 inches of snow on the ground.  I've been pressing the seams open as it makes machine quilting easier for me. Definitely a patchwork piece, I'm pleased with how it is coming along.

A Couple of quilt shops were closed on Friday when I went to Green Bay. Quilters' Connection was open with 20% off storewide and 5.00 a yard Kansas Trouble and Thimbleberries fabric. I got black perle cotton thread, a backing  for two pieces.  The red and navy piece just spoke to me.  If you are a quilter you know exactly what I'm talking about....

Back to work tomorrow. I loved the four day weekend. 

Seeds---

I spent the day throwing out the gourds and pumpkins.  The fall leaves were returned to the woods from which I borrowed them from.

I did take my favorite gourds and pulled out the seeds and dried them for next spring. Don's response, " Will it work?" 

Well, I've see my Grandfather dry tomato seeds and my Mom did the same with flower seeds, so I have four different envelopes fill with different kinds of gourd seeds. Every time I shake them I think--- ' I have something to look forward to...'

Tomorrow I get to play in my sewing room....

Leftovers.....

Not the food kind..... but the pieces clipped from working on this project from the latest issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects....

Christmas Carols, Christmas Shopping, Christmas decorating.... It's that time of the year....

We had a dusting of snow  last night....just enough to give you that Christmas feeling.... 

Enjoy your day....

Thanksgiving Day 2012

"Give Thanks no matter what..."(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Dried milkweed from my garden--- long passed the days of green leaves, pink flowers, caterpillars and monarch butterflies.  Just goes to show there's beauty in everything if you look for it.

I will get better in posting updates.  I have been quilting.  I've worked on some Christmas decorations and Christmas gifts.  I always want to post photos. But I leave for work in the dark--- and come home in the evening to the same thing.  So that leaves lunchtime forfeiting food and heading to the woods with the camera. I had one day when not one but BOTH camera batteries were dead.. but if I have to correct my own mistakes, I don't makes them a second time.

So in the interest keeping secrets---

These babies will be half square triangles I made using a new triangle method.

I plan on enjoying family, friends, and food today. I'm hoping to put a needle and thread in my hands some time. The one thing I will count on is appreciating my blessings-- my family, my home, my pups, my job, and my faith.......

Happy Thanksgiving......

November.....

"Mom, you think you are overdosing in pumpkins?????".  That was Chelsey's comment last time she came home... Probably so, but I do love this time of year.  Once November hit the doorstep, I realized there may have been some truth to her statement.  So I have been rearranging dishes and quilts.

Two weeks ago, I was picking up the sewing room and looking at left over Hop to It border blocks.  They were 3 1/2" hourglass blocks.  I pulled out left over fabric and 2 fat quarters and made a Tabletop piece-- no pumpkins included.

The weather has been rainy and gloomy.... much too warm for this time of the year. I would much rather have the snow than the gloom.

Here is last month's Heart and Home Block.

The tabletop piece proved to me that I can still make Christmas gifts --- in time for Christmas.  I went to Marquette yesterday with Chelsey and picked up a couple of pieces that I need to get to cutting out.  I plan on throwing stash pieces with them.

I've got to buy my Turkey this week.  Look's like it's just going to be Don and I for Thanksgiving. Don said he didn't care-- We were still have turkey and dressing. *S*.... Two Points for Don....