The Day After

Yesterday was my birthday and it was a busy day. I wanted to try and get all my blocks for the Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt called, Good Fortune done but it didn't happen. Today clue number 4 was released and I am feeling the pressure! They look to be easier so I think I will be caught up soon.

In some ways this is a good way to work on any scrap quilt. Sewing  them into "bite size" pieces and giving yourself a deadline, makes it go pretty fast. You can go at your own pace but then it will become another UFO (I know myself!) . I have never done this type of mystery quilt before but so far it is fun! One of the things I enjoy is her instructions on how to cut and sew things, you can always learn something new!

I got some art supplies from my husband and am going to try some new things, stay tuned!

Kelly

Only 20 More Days!

Wow December is really cruising along! Over the years I have simplified my Christmas decorating. Most of it is in the kitchen as that is where we spend most of our time and it has plenty of space to stage little vignettes like this one.

For gifts I love getting and giving books. It can take you anywhere at any time of your choosing. I literally could not live without books, it's like breathing to me.

Quilting books are also a must have! Everyone needs inspiration and dreams to keep their creativity going. Even if you never make a quilt in the book you buy, there is something that you glean that will surprise you as you go along on your quilt journey.

I have always wanted to keep a diary but never got past the first 2 weeks. It felt overwhelming.

This one is perfect. It covers 5 years and just a few lines to hit the highlights of the day. I keep it on my counter so I see it every day. It's fun to look back on the past year.

Our tree is much smaller and not real! I don't love all the time it takes to do a big tree. This arrangement is evergreen branches cut from my yard, that I display the ornaments the grand kids have given me over the past couple of years. It makes them more special and highlights them.

I like to decorate my plants! It's so easy to add a bit of color here and there by poking in some pretty floral pieces.

Make some time for yourself during this busy time. I get cranky when I have days without sewing. Just a few minutes or a couple of hours here and there will make me all happy again and I get something done as well!

Buy yourself a good tool to make quilting fun, easy and accurate. There is nothing worse than sewing things that don't fit together. I feel like I am wasting time. I love this ruler that I have not used since I bought it some time ago!

You can make 10 half square triangles at a time once you have the strips cut out.

It took me about 4 minutes to cut out 60 of them! I don't think I can make them any other way again!

What are some of your favorite sewing items that you want for the holidays?

Kelly

Last Day of November

So remember those strips from my last post? I turned them into 4 patches for the newest mystery quilt from Bonnie Hunter, it's called Good Fortune. I really enjoyed making these.

There were a lot to make! I chose the aqua/blue colors. This was clue number 1.

Today was clue number 2 and the instructions were to make half square triangles. I chose red. I am not doing her color suggestions but going my own way and using up my scraps.

All these need to be cut into strips and this does not include the lights! I like the repetitiveness of the cutting, sewing and pressing. It's mindless.

I have only played with this ruler once and decided to give it a try. It was the exact size I needed. It's amazing how many things we collect that we don't use........

You can use it to cut up the strips and cut out the triangles.

Layer the light and dark right sides together and cut them out. The non-slip grip helps to keep it in place.

It's magic! You can get 10 out of a strip and they are very accurate. I was very happy with the results.

I am also working on another mystery quilt for my guild, I will tell you about this in the months to come.

It's going to be cute! I have about 20 members who want to make it. I can't wait to see what they all come up with.

Kelly

Let The Holidays Begin!

This was such a fun quilt to make and I love that I can keep it out over the entire winter season.

I always smile every time I take this out to hang for the next month. It was a fun quilt to fussy cut all those little scenes.

Thanksgiving 2018! Griffin 13, Fallon 15, Elliot 11 and Maddy 11!

Griffin and Elliot

Finn 3, Jaxon 3, Cameron 3 and Brynn almost 2!

Cam and Brynn. Brynn loved the green veggies the best! Don't you love her improvised chair? There was no way she was sitting in the high chair when the big kids were at a table.

Finn and Jax not eating.......!

Elliot and Maddy.

My temperature quilt is getting old. I am tired of this quilt and just need it to be done. As you can see I was a little behind and had a lot to make yesterday.
Only 35 more days to go!

Some lights for a new quilt that I am going to do.

Lots of strips to make and 4 patches in the works. I will tell you more about this later. I am using my stash!

Some inspiration that I just had to buy at the store today.

I did start to decorate and will do a little bit every day. I go heavy in the kitchen as I spend a lot of time in there.
What is your most favorite thing about the holidays?

Kelly

Snow Today!

We woke up to snow today which is early for my neck of the woods. They said it would stay on the grass, they lied! We have about 6" and traffic is a nightmare! They keep saying it will turn to rain...we'll see!

Yesterday at my guild we had Diane Knott as our speaker. I have followed Diane for a long time and even made a pillow out of her book, Scrap Quilt Secrets for a blog hop. Diane was as warm and friendly as she comes across on her blog, Butterfly Threads Quilting She also has a wonderful southern accent which is so charming! Everyone enjoyed her quilts and we look forward to her new book coming out soon, Strip Quilt Secrets.

Every year in November we have a bake sale. It is a tasty fund raiser and the members love it! I made apple dumplings.

The ladies at Undercover Quilters were very welcoming to me on Monday night. It was a long rainy ride home but worth all the nice people who welcomed me and seemed to enjoy my quilts. Now I need to put all these quilts away and clean up my room so I can work!

My friend, Stephanie gave me some good books to read. Right now I am reading the top one, Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell. So far so good, it's a page turner! The other two look good as well. I love the feeling of a stack of books waiting for me.

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is next week, it feels like the Halloween candy isn't even gone yet!
I know it is early this year but still...

I have some grandchildren who have reached the age of gift cards )-: I know that is what they want but it feels so impersonal. At least these will make them feel more festive.
This week I am planning my Thanksgiving and trying to get some projects planned so I can sew when I have a few minutes here and there during the busy holiday season.
Do you have any holiday projects you are trying to finish up?

Kelly

Pink and Yellow

Love that twirl!

Some easy Sunday sewing. I have been a little under the weather so this took some effort. But it was sunny and that lifted my mood.

I am working my way to the next block. All pieces are cut out and waiting for me.

This area also needs my attention.....it's amazing how quickly that happens!

I'm loving these Grunge fabrics (top) and wondering what took me so long? The bottom are basics by Zen Chic. You can find the at the Quilt Block in Exton PA.

If you are a local and want to see my quilts, I am having a trunk show tomorrow night for the Undercover Quilt Guild. You can go to their website here Undercover Quilters
The meeting starts at 7:00 PM the address is 

Christ United Methodist Church
600 East Duttons Mill Road
Brookhaven, PA 19015.

Kelly