End of 2013

 Here is one of my favorite pictures of the year.  It was just before Nora was born, so it is already one child short.  Aren't they darling? 
Now on to what I have been working on.  I wanted to really see what fabric I have to use, and work on using it up.  So....I decided to touch each piece, sort out any I didn't want anymore, and figure out what projects to do next.  This is the "before" picture of a couple of the shelves:

 AND............the "after".  TA-DA!  I still have a couple of shelves to go. 

 This flag is the last thing I quilted for 2013.  It was pieced by Jamie, and I will donate it to the library in Shelley.  They need a new one!

Can't forget to include a picture of the wedding.  We had a great (but cold) day in November. 
I also am not forgetting Nora's happy birth, but I will post a picture of her another day. 

50 quilts done

 This is a Disappearing 9-patch that I pieced last year for my demonstration at the quilt show.  I got it out and quilted it as a gift for some friends. 

 I made myself a cuddle Christmas quilt.  Panel in the middle, and then pieced the presents and appliqued the trees.  Minkee on the back.  Come and read a story and snuggle at my house.

 Made this as a surprise for Laura and Curtis' wedding gift, after I stumbled across a large package of fat quarters and I couldn't resist.  It is "happy colors", and very big.  Wool batting.

 There were enough scraps from that last quilt that I couldn't resist making a string baby quilt, selvedges included.  Kallie chose it for her new baby girl, coming soon! 

 I make plenty of charity quilts to practice my quilting on, and this one turned out nicely. 

Dawn came over one day, and we pieced these fun Halloween toppers.  Cute?  yes.............

And I just quilted my 50th quilt on the long-arm.   About half of those have been for other people, so I don't post pictures of those.  And, I just post pictures of some of them.  Enjoy!

Another done

This one is 74 x 97, and took all day to quilt.  I like it!

Still Quilting

 I love this little polka-dot runner.  It was fun and fast to do. 

There is an over-all pattern on this 30's reproduction fabric large baby quilt. 
I also did 2 customer quilts, and sold two finished baby quilts this week.  Does this mean I am now a certified professional?  Or just certifiable? 

Biggest one yet on my Long-arm!

 Here is the Underground Railroad quilt, finished yesterday.  It is 90x100.  I wasn't liking this quilt at all, but now that it is quilted, I think I like it much better.  It was a fun challenge to think of how to quilt each block differently.  The worst part was binding this huge thing!

 This is a large lap quilt, and turned out nicely.  I think Marcia pieced this one. 

 And, a cute panel, flannel top, baby-size.

I made this many years ago, and since my friend, Karen, likes it, I will post it here for her.  I also like it a lot!

I Am Now A Long-Arm Quilter!!

 In late March, we drove for two days there, and two days back to pick up an APQS Millennium which my husband found and purchased for me.  We had it set up and ready to go by the middle of April.  I began practicing on some of the many quilt tops that I had stacked in bins and cupboards.  I am getting better all the time!  I try to do about 2 quilts a week, or one large quilt.  Here are a few of the ones I have finished so far.  A pink and brown D9P.

 The hand-print memory quilt from Thanksgiving 2008.

 A 30's reproduction quilt, with minkee on the back.  I have given this one away now. 

 I found this OLD multi-fabric top in a tub, maybe from Greg's Grandma, so it was a great one to practice on. 

 A simple pink and brown baby. 

And, my bull's eye quilt, finally quilted!

I am now on quilt #12, and it is a big one.  I will post a picture when I get it done. 

Early Spring Finishes

 My goal is to finish some UFO's, with only a couple of new things!  The Valentine Bouquet was embroidered years ago, and pieced, and even partially hand-quilted.  So during the cold winter months, I finished quilting it, in time for February display. 

 This little table mat was inspired by Donna, and I just had to try it.  It is quilt-as-you-go, with no binding!  So a quick and fun project, which I gave to my mom for her birthday.

I also decided to quilt this on my little Janome, since it is a miniature with lots of seams.  It is a disappearing 4-patch, in Batiks, and I pieced it for a model at last years library quilt show class.  It turned out fairly well, even though I had to take out some stitching I didn't like!  It measures 12 x 15.

Color Wheel Exchange block results

 Last year, we organized a group to exchange quilt blocks, inspired by Sharyn Craig's book, Setting Solutions.  Twelve blocks, same pattern, assigned color.  The challenge was choosing the 4 graduated colors with black in the middle, and piecing all those little parts.  Here are the results of those who have finished at least the top.
The first one is Donna's bed runner, quilted and bound.

 Next is Julie's masterpiece, which won a blue ribbon at the state fair. 

 Here is Sandy's creativity, but not yet quilted. 

 A detail of Julie's quilt.

 Now Stephanie's quilt with a piano key border. 

 This is the one I did, not yet quilted, to be bound in black. 

 Vivian's simple but elegant handywork.

I used these fun red blocks to make a tablerunner, quilted on my domestic machine.

Glimpse of Christmas

 This is something we got for Christmas.  Thanks to Jeanine for the beautiful Amaryllis. 

UFOs to a Cause

Disappearing 4 patch

 I have been wanting to clean out some of my UFOs (Unfinished Objects in quilting), and Isaac came up with the idea of an Eagle Scout project to donate quilts to the Children's hospital.  So, a perfect match:  tops donated!  And then Dawn will have to quilt them, and Isaac gets lots of work to organize them all, and get binders, etc.  So here are some of the tops that are out of my house now!  Yeah!!

A Bonnie Hunter pattern

Heartstrings

Leftovers from the Bonnie Hunter quilt

Nine patches from an exchange, with corner Maverick stars

Patriotic Heartstrings

Extra Bug jar blocks, now used.

It is wonderful to clean out some things, and fun to put these together.  Thanks, Isaac!

Polar Express and Cupcake Flurry

I was asked to chair a committee to plan and execute the church Christmas party.  I must say, I asked some excellent people to be on the committees, and they came through royally!  The poster to advertise, the tickets to invite (and bring to be punched),

 and the decorating!  It was well done, with an engine in the front,

 and a caboose in the back from which we served the hot chocolate and marshmallows. 

 We served 300 people hash browns, french toast with many topping choices, and then dessert was a Cupcake Flurry! 

Aren't they pretty?  It was fabulous and everyone seemed to enjoy the meal, program, and all.  Yeah for plans that go well.

More Finishes!

From our blue block exchange years ago, finally done. Thank you Marcia, Vickie and Dawn for the exchange, and Dawn for the quilting. 

 STOP!  IF YOU ARE THE MOTHER OF A SOON TO BE THREE YEAR OLD BOY, AND YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED BY THE QUILT HE WILL GET, DO NOT GO PAST THIS POINT.  OK,  I warned you!!!!!!

Thanks to all the same people, here is the row quilt we started many years ago, DONE. 

 Three-year-old grandchildren get a twin quilt for their birthday to put on their big kid bed.  The next quilt they get will be when they get married, or reach 28, whichever comes first. 

For Oliver, Dec.

Joshua, January

Truman, January

And yes, I have been busy, mostly binding.  Thanks to Dawn for quilting these.