didn't get 'er done!

Well, I didn't get my fall table topper done - got side tracked while looking at fabrics.  Now isn't that a surprise!  I finished my DGD's Christmas quilt.  I did feather wreaths in the quilting and was pretty happy with the results.  I really want to get comfortable with those feathers.  I watch every video I come across.  I figure eventually I'll be able to take all the techniques I see and come up with something I'm proud of. 
While I was looking at fabrics for a table topper, I came across some 11" square preprinted panels that I forgot I had.  I think I'll add to them and make place mats instead of a topper. 
I have also gone through my fabrics and pulled flannel to use for the Christmas jammies.  I will spend a day sometime next week and just cut everything out.  Then I'll be able to sew the jammies up at my leisure.  If I get the jammies done early enough, I may actually do some Christmas deco sewing. 
So I have projects in the works, projects planned and hopefully I'll find the ambition to do them :-)

Katie

seasons change

Seasons change and so do our taste in fabrics.  Thinking about this as I'm considering a new fall table topper.  I love the colors of fall!  As I look through my stash of fabrics, I see so many fabrics that I know I bought for a reason and probably loved when I bought, but now they are just 'there'. Oh, I do still like them, I simply can't remember what I had in mind for them when I bought them.  I'm thinking it may be time to cut up some of this fabric and make simple 4 or 9 patch blocks just to have some on hand for a charity quilt on down the road.  My fabric stash is not huge compared to many I've seen and I'm really trying to use fabrics that I already have before buying more.  Fat Quarters - now there's a topic!  I have been in a few FQ swaps and have a few of them.  You know, I don't really care for FQ's.  I know alot of quilters will buy a FQ because they like the fabric but don't really know what they'll use it for.  I do like scrappy quilts and most of what I make are scrappy, but I almost always use the scraps from the scrap basket.  My scrap basket has pieces as small as 2" and as large as 10".  A lot of strips in that basket, anywhere from 1½" wide to 3" wide.  And, no, I don't organize scraps.  They are all literally thrown in this big wicker laundry style basket.  When I sew scrappy, I reach in and use what I pull out (if it's a big enough piece). 
Enough for now - I will spend my day cleaning up from my previous project and getting ready to make that fall table topper!

Katie

a few projects

Finished up and mailed off the quilt to Donna B.  I used blocks from a swap I did a while ago.  They just seemed to jump out at me and say "use me, use me"  so I did!  I know some people don't like to get involved in swaps, and that's really okay.  I like them.  Sometimes I get something I can't use or something I need to 'modify' a bit, but I always appreciate that someone took the time to be involved and share.  I also like that with swaps I've always got something that I can use to put together a quick quilt.  And that was the case with the quilts needed by Donna B.

I'm also working on a paper piecing block that I found in an older book.  I'm using some of my scraps.  It's a 6" block and has 21 pieces in it.

I like the use of all the white.  I have alot of white cotton muslin left over from quilt backings and also from trimming blocks after embroidery.
I finished the quilt top for my granddaughter's Christmas quilt and will get it quilted over the weekend.  Pictures to follow.

Katie

trying again

Ever start something then forget the important parts of it?  Well, that's what I did!  Started a quilting blog and then forgot what my password was!  So here I go again and this time I made certain to write all the pertinent information down.  I am on Facebook, and it's okay for simple, short statements, but when I really want to say something, I don't like the limitations.  So here I am and I will try to keep this blog up to date with pictures and activities.
My profile picture is of my brother and myself.  There are so few pictures of me (as I'm usually behind the camera) that I decided to just post a picture that simply makes me smile.  I will remember that day I went fishing with my brother until the day I die.  We had such fun.
Okay, so this blog is about quilts for the most part but it will also be simply about me and, of course, my family.  I wouldn't be who I am without my family - they are my heart and soul!
Quilting...........I love it!  I would say I'm an intermediate quilter.  I don't do alot of small pieces (unless it's paper pieced), I will only do machine applique and that may be simply because I don't think I have the patience for the hand applique.  I really like to incorporate machine embroidery into quilts that  I make.  I also have a Tin Lizzy machine quilting set up.  I am a member of Quilters for Comfort.  QFC, as we're more commonly refered to, is a wonderful group of people who create quilts for causes.  We try to find non nationally recognized organizations in need and donate quilts to bring comfort and let those recipients know someone care about them in a time of need.  You will notice (if you continue to follow my blog) that I will refer alot to QFC and post pictures of quilts that are done for QFC.
Until next time,

Katie