First Snow

A Christmas Quilt

I started this quilt back in September for a few reasons: 1. I hadn't started a new project in, say, oh, 3 or 4 days 2. I wanted to be part of something, and Pat Sloan's Quilt A Long came along 3. I had all the ingredients in my stash. (I'll do that with food, too. I'll make a recipe, not necessarily because I love it, but because I have everything I need to make it in the pantry. Black Bean and Sweet Potato Stew comes to mind) At first, I didn't looove it, but I liked it well enough. Despite my being applique challenged, it went together really quickly, with a minimum of cursing. The cursing came when I thought that quilting it with gold metallic thread (there's a bit of gold metallic in the fabrics) would be a brilliant idea. Don't ever quilt with metallic thread. Ever. You will hate it and be mean to your cat, (who happens to looove gold metallic thread - so much that I'm regifting it and putting it in her little kitty stocking.) Anyway, after changing needles, lowering tension, starting and stopping, it got quilted. And you know what? I love this quilt!

She Thrifts. She Scores!

I used to love thrifting. I used to live where there were a lot of good, independent thrift stores with great prices, all within 5 miles of me. Now, not so much. I have to rely on Good Will and Salvation Army for my thrifting. SA is a bit geographically undersireable, so I'm usually stuck with Good Will. I wouldn't even mind it so much, but it seems like their prices have really gone up lately. I mean, really $4.75 for a sweater? I can buy a new one at Ann Taylor with a good sale and a family and friends coupon. Today, though, I had a mission. I needed to find "costume" type clothing, specifically white button down shirts. No such luck. (All the waiters of the world must also shop at Good Will.) Anyway, since I'm there, I wander over to the sheets. In the past, I've picked up a couple of vintage sheets . Not great ones, but okay ones. Today, though, as I round the corner, I see this:

I literally heard angels singing. I dash over and find two huge- as in king, in really good shape Vera pillowcases.

Good Will, I take back all the bad things I said about you.

I love 20 minute projects

I went through a tote bag phase back in the spring, when I found this tutorial by Betz White. I made one for the beach, one for the library, one for just hanging around. Today, I made the fall version. I happen to have a husband who brings home canvas tote bags all*the*time, so had plenty of inventory. The fabric, $.75 thrift store find. Oh yeah! Love my new fall tote!

A new swap!

I recently joined the Trim the Tree Ornament Swap ~ we swap an ornament with three different partners. This will be my first time swapping internationally! I think I sound cool when I talk about my friends in, oh, wait, on the really really off chance they're reading this blog, I'll wait and reveal my partners later. I haven't done paper piecing in forever, and kinda forgot how to do it, but I drew out a rough pattern and these are the results. Definitely have that imperfect, hand made feel. Best part of all - it's only October. Me. Done.

Dream On Giveaway

Moda had come out with a new line, Dream On, which revives vintage sheet designs. Jennifer, at the Vintage Sheet Blog is having a giveaway, where you (or I!) could win this


or this

or this!!!

Head on over for you chance! (But don't get your heart set on the FQ bundle - it's mine! Mwha-ha-ha-ha-ha!)

Brown Bag Quilt Contest

Just came across this and had to join. After moving into my new quilting studio, (it sounds so fancy, so official, calling it a studio, like I might actuallly work there!), I've decided to haul out all my fabric from the cupboards and put it on shelving. Hasn't happened yet, but soon, soon. I'm sure I'll find quite a few what was I thinkings when I go through my stash. Perfect for this contest! And I really appreciate a good long lead time - nothing due 'til March, which makes for a perfect Jan/Feb project!