Christmas Presents

I got to have Christmas early with my family this year, which will make the next two weeks very stress free!  I didn't do too much this year handmade, but I did manage to make my mom a couple of things. 

First, this clutch from Stich magazine.  Can't remember which issue, I'll have to look that up.  My sewing machine did not like this one.  The arm is just not small enough.  But, this one looks good, I don't think I'll make another one though.

I also made this mini quilt.  I know I had read a tutorial on it, but I can't find the link.  I basically made this one up, using that one as inspiration.

Now I'm back to sewing just because I want to, with no deadlines.  I love it.
I hope everyone has a great, sewing filled Holiday!



Kona Challenge

Our guild, CLTMQG participated in the Kona Color Challenge, and had our big reveal last week.  Check out the flicker group for all the lovely quilts done by some very talented quilters! 

Here's my entry.  A standard pinwheel quilt, simply quilted with straight lines in the darker areas.  This was one of those that never seemed to go quite as I planned, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

Quilt Stats:
Kona Charm pack
Kona Medium Grey
Kona Charcoal

Can't wait to see everyone again in January!

Christmas Quilt & Pillows

I've had this quilt top done since October 2010.  I'm really good at putting the tops together, but then I just seem to lose steam.  Currently there are three more tops in the closet, waiting to become real quilts.  Anyway, I decided this one MUST be finished by this Christmas.  I used this quilt-along (though I didn't really finish at the same time!)  I used a jelly roll, that I've long since forgotten the name of, and more Kona Snow than I usually do.

 Close up of the center, (that I can't get to rotate properly, sorry!)

With the leftover strips and sqares, I made some new pillow covers for the living room.  I also could not resist the Olive the Ostrich pillow panel from Laurie Wisbrun.

Now my house is nice and festive!

Football Baby Quilt

I gave this one away this month.  It was made for a friend at work.  He's a Packers fan, and his wife's a Washington fan, so the baby must be both.  That was my theory at least.

Front of Quilt

Back of quilt

I used Crazy Mom's Zig Zag tutorial, just changed the overall size to reduce it a bit.  I've been wanted to make one for a while, and this seemed like the right project.

Originally it was going to be just one side, with the two teams alternating, but DH came up with the two-sided idea.  Seemed more interesting to me.  It was a bit of a challenge with the quilting, because of course the two sides didn't match up perfectly, so I went with straight lines across. 

Quilt Stats:

Fabrics: NFL branded Packers & Washington fabric, Kona Yellow and White.

Bound in Kona Yellow.

Friendship Star Quilt

I was reading Angela's talk about her FWQAL and the friendship star block, which reminded me I once made a quilt out of that block.

Of course it was before I went digital.  Sorry about the quality.  It's a scan of an printed picture.  Oh, that makes me sound really old.  I'm not that old, I swear.

My one and only picture of my friendship star quilt before it was given away as a wedding gift.  Cat of course had to help, as always.  What is it about this....?

Baby Quilt and Habitat Blocks

Finished my Habitat Challenge blocks for the CLTMQG.  I can't really pick a favorite.  I think the one in the lower left.  Without the bottom stripe, I think it would make an interesting quilt.

 Also wanted to show this finished quilt.  5" squares might just be my favorite type of quilt.  Just sent this one off to a friend for her baby girl.

Small Plates

I finished this a while ago, but just gave it as a gift, so I can share it now.

I used the "Small Plates" pattern from Oh Fransson!'s book, The Practical Guide to Patchwork.  I think I'm done using patterns out of that book for a while.  Seems to have been my go-to quilt patterns lately.

Front: Hope Valley and Kona Snow

Back: Hope Valley scraps 

Size: Straght from pattern

Binding: Hope Valley Scraps