New Modern Quilt

Oh, I am so excited to start my new modern quilt.  Last night I pulled my fabrics that I have available to use but whether or not I use all of them is still debatable.  Here is what I got, what do you think.

I am going to use blocks from Sew Mama Sew BOM that you can find herehttp://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2011/12/modern-block-of-the-month-bom-december-sew-along/I just love these patterns and when you scroll down you can see how 1 block will look as an entire quilt.

I have a couple projects to finish up first, of course!  I need to quilt my string quilt so I can take it to the Cancer office.  I need to finish and mail my Doll Quilt for the swap on the Quilting Board.  Bonnie`s mystery quilt Orca can wait a bit long.  It needs lots of work yet and I need to get back in that mood so I can stick with it until it is done.

Making Things Safe

Today I downloaded my new free anti virus program AVG2012.  I am very happy with how well it all went.  I am not super computer savvy but I manage to get through things.  I ran a couple scans and no items were detected so that always makes me feel good.  I hope you all take a bit of time to do this each year.  It is important to keep your system safe and to ensure your visitors are safe as well.

Other than that, I sewed some strips while scans were running and systems download, etc. so I will have my 20 String  blocks done pretty quickly here.  I am always anxious to see what the layout will look like and I have never had one disappoint me yet.

The Desperate Housewife posted 27 weeks of modern block tutorials and had 27 guests post tutorials.  I have been going through them and picking out some I really like.  I am going to make my very first modern quilt and it is really exciting. 

I also will have some exciting news to announce soon as my first anniversary of blogging is coming up.  I am definitely going to have a give away to celebrate so I am planning what the give away will be.  No pictures this time but hope you are all having some time to work on your quilting projects.

I went to 3 Christmas Craft Sales and they were hohum but lots of fun and an opportunity to meet new craft people.  Everyone feels the sales are much lower and maybe the economy is making people a bit cautious.  My sales were quite alright and many people were very interest in my quilts.  I didn't sell any but will get them listed back into Etsy soon so local people can shop there as well.

The tan and black quilt I posted last about did not make to any of the markets.  There was just too much work left to do and my neck starts aching if I do too much quilting.  It will be finished as my first project in 2012.

Oh, how I look forward to January every year.  It is my month to vegetate, be lazy, do whatever I want.  The house is still pretty tidy from Christmas, there's lots of food so what is left other than do indulge in your favorite hobbies.  Have I been stocking up on some great fabric sales just for new projects in the new year.  I am going to create my very own first modern quilt.  I have some beautiful Birch fabrics in teals, lime greens, greys, kona snow white.  There are several modern quilt alongs going on throughout blog land and I am going to take blocks from those as my inspirations.  I know this quilt is going to be a row quilt.

Some of the places I have been Online Shopping are Hawthorn Threads, NYC, USA; Honeyfork Fabrics, USA; and Denney's (closing out Cdn. Online Shop).  I love the service Hawthorns provides to Canada and they carry the best designer fabrics at the best prices with a giveaway every week and sales all the time.  Go check these out, I know you will find a few things you will want to treat yourself with.

No pictures today, sorry!  Hope everyone is getting into the festive mood and ready to celebrate with family and friends over the holiday season.  I have this ready for Santa!

Sewing, sewing like a mad woman.  I am so excited about this coming Saturday, it is the Home Trade and Craft Show.  It is only one day but with 30 booths, there will surely be some good sales.  Here is what I want desperately in the show...my sofa/bed topper.  I love how it turned out and now I need to focus on the quilting, so far so good.

This is all I am going to show you until it is finished.

Of course, the kids are ready and excited to go.  Here is one keeping check on me!

Cross you fingers for me.  I have been to Saturady shows the last two weeks and they were terrible.  The weather was bad and -20 windchills so no one was in the mood to shop.  I have lots to show you after the Saturday show.

Happy Thankgiving to all my American friend

Hi all, it is Christmas Market time and I have been sooo busy getting ready.  The sales are starting out very slow.  I think that if people can't buy it on a credit card, they can't buy....they don't have money!  I really hope I am wrong.  I have an upcoming Home Trade and Craft Show on the 26th of this month and I am looking forward to that one.  You get a whole different type of shopper at these shows and the people that come are interested in handmade items and are there to do some shopping.

I have one new quilt finished.  I couldn't take more pictures because I need to charge my batteries, that sounds kinda funny, yes and that includes my own batteries!!!  Here is my newest quilt.

Here is the back and a close up.

So many people like the softness of a fleece backing that I thought I would try one for sale.  I had lots of nice comments on it.  I always worry about my pricing which is very good if you look at similar items on Etsy but I had no remarks so that made me feel good.  Regardless of what the public feel, I am not changing my prices.  I have been in Mall shows where you have the uninterested, bored husband waiting, etc. that make comments like "I would never pay that when you can get a good blanket at Walmart".  I have my next show next Saturday , a payday weekend so I am hoping people will be getting into the Christmas spirit.  I will take more pictures then.  Have a great week!

I had to take a month off on the Doll Quilt Swap that I love so much, just too much going on.  Here is the quilt I made for my partner in September.  I have never done a log cabin quilt, I know it on the beginner list, so I thought I would give it a try.  I still have trouble keeping my blocks square so I don't know if I am ready for a bigger size.

This is a short post as I am off to the doctors.  Chat with you later.

Hi all you wonderful readers, thanks for stopping by when I haven't even been around.  That pain in the butt has been really bad but I am getting a shot tomorrow.

October is Women's Cancer Awareness month and I hope all you ladies are getting your paps and breast screenings on a regular basis.  Our community is full of fundraising activities and I am helping with a coffee hour on Friday.  We hope to gather a few people to help with chemo hats, mastectomy pillows, quilts and anything else they might want to make.  Three of my quilts went to pallitive care this week, it is a sad feeling in my heart but I hope the quilts bring them some comfort for the time they have left.

We got the new Singer 404 cleaned up and the cabinet refinished.  The 404 sews so smoothly and the "tank" Fabric has a new home in the cabinet.  Here are a couple pictures.

The cabinet has no drawers so I was lost with what to do with all my junk I need to have around me.  My solution was this quilting caddy that turned out really great and was very easy to make.  If you want to make one , here is where you can find the directions http:// www.babylock.com/ftp projects. The link doesn't work so you'll have to type it in.  It is in a pdf file.

I love the window screening I used as you can see where your things are.  I altered the size a bit from the directions to fit over a large coffee tin.  The center can collection the garbage and thread.