First Finish of 2009!!!

Today, while watching the inauguration, I stitched the binding on this fall table topper. It is made from the first charm pack I ever bought, way back when they first came out. It's been quilted for years, just languishing in a stack, waiting for binding! Thanks to the UFO Challenge on Stashbusters, I finally got it done!

DOUBLE DELIGHT PROGRESS

I'm very happy with the colors in my DD blocks. It's all starting to come together!

Today I got this week's SBS BOW, Sawtooth Star, finished up early. Whew, now back to Double Delight and the row swap.

SYLVIA'S BRIDAL SAMPLER, BOW

I took time away from Double Delight this morning to do the SBS BOW. I really want to keep up with this this year!

Pat's Sweat Shop

Seriously, I've put many hours into my Double Delight today! These are all 120 Step 1 blocks, totally done. They are 3" square in a squares.

This is a small stack of completed Step 2s, and fabric for the rest, mostly all cut.

This is my stack of Step 3. First strips sets all sewn and cross cut.

And here's one Step 4 block that I just had to jump ahead and put together.

QUILTS MADE FROM SELVAGES

While in JoAnn's today, shopping for a notion, I came across this great new book. Talk about going green. These quilts are made with the cast off selvage! Wonder how many I've thrown away over the years. You can see more at: http://selvagequilts.com/

DOUBLE DELIGHT MYSTERY PROGRESS

While I like the ruler Bonnie suggested, I found that my Omnigrip 3 1/2" ruler made quick work of squaring up the step 1 and 2 blocks. Notice the small dots right in the corners of the inner square.

Here are my Step 1 blocks, all trimmed.

















And here are some Step 2 blocks, all trimmed.

DOUBLE DELIGHT PROGRESS

What a lot of little pieces. I think I have everything cut for the first few steps now. If you look closely, you can see that some of the sewing is done as well.

Here's one of my first 'strings'. It feels like I'm making tiny siggies for a DJ siggie swap:)

DOUBLE DELIGHT

Today I spent time cleaning my sewing room, sorting UFOs, etc. I also selected fabric from stash for Bonnie Hunter's New Year's Eve Mystery Quilt, Double Delight. This is the first Mystery Quilt I've done, and it has the added benefit of using stash rather than buying. Bonnie is using tradition double pinks and indigos in hers. Many of these are from Urban Indigo, a softer, more modern (but still traditional) line.

HEARTS FOR JENNIFER

My favorite author, Jennifer Chiaverini, recently lost her editor, due to lay-offs. Our small Sylvia's Bridal Sampler Quilt swap group decided to send her heart blocks in lilac, in time for her Feb. 14 birthday. This is my block for her.

ORNAMENTS

I've been making friends Cathedral Window Christmas Ornaments this year. They are fairly quick and make a nice hand-made gift.

CHRISTMAS WITH JANE

My Christmas Siggies are all trimmed, and now in their final arrangement. They are put away in order for now, awaiting their sashing and borders. This has been a very fun swap.

PATCHWORK DOG

This is my very first patchwork project. I made it while living with my Grandmother when I was a young teenager. It must be about 45 years old at least, and it is still holding up ok. Some of the stitching could use repair, but I think I'll leave it just as is. I remember some of the fabrics from my sewing projects, and some are from her scrapbag. She was always so encouraging of my sewing and other creative endeavors.

SECRET SANTA ORNAMENT SWAP ARRIVES!

This beautiful ornament arrived in my mail today. It is for a secret ornament swap, from my Sylvia's Bridal Sampler Friendship Swap Group. My on-line friend Karen from Canada made it for me. She used 120 2" squares, 370 tiny pins, a styrofoam ball, and ribbon. She didn't tell me how many hours went into it!

This if the first swap I've ever hostessed. She also sent me some fabric charms and a yummy chocolate mint candy, all wonderful!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.................

CHRISTMAS WITH JANE SIGGIES

I've had fun today playing with my Dear Jane Christmas siggies. We each made signature blocks with the outer fabric being any Christmas print.

I received 149 back, so I'll be making a Christmas with Jane block to go in the bottom right, to make it 10 x 15 siggies.

They aren't trimmed yet, and I noticed that a couple are upside down in the picture, but I was working on color placement more than the script.

I'll probably use a sashing around each block.

This was a very fun exchange and I thank everyone who participated!

IN COCOA, FLORIDA

Today I had the privelege of meeting my on-line quilting friend, Carolyn, from France. She was visiting Florida. We went on our own shop-hop to three stores, and then had a lovely lunch at an outdoor cafe. What fun! She is so sweet, and just the sort of person you'd want for a friend, both in person and cyber.

HEART TO HEART SWAP BLOCKS

These are my swap blocks for the DJ Alternate list H2H Swap, which I worked on at the DJ Retreat in Shipshe last week. I made them using Fairy Frost, which I thought would be so appropriate for a heart swap. We are each using any heart pattern, applique, pieced, whatever, embellished or Plain Janes, in 6" blocks. It should make into a wonderful quilt.

AMISH BUGGY

This horse & buggy is hitched up to the hitching post awaiting its passengers, who are doing errands in town. I took this picture for the contrast and blend of cultures. Notice the very modern electric wires in the background, the Wells Fargo stage coach on the sign, and the transportation for a traditional Amish family. This is a very common site in Shipshewana. I loved the clip-clop of the horses.

Now it's back home to reality. But, the Dear Jane retreat was wonderful.

VAL & I MEET IN SHIPSHE

I met Val, from my SBS swap group, today at the DJ Shipshe retreat. It was so fun to finally meet in person!

DEAR JANE RETREAT IN SHIPSHEWANA

The 10th DJ Retreat in Shipshewana, IN, has been in full-motion for over 24 hours now. I have met so many wonderful quilters, and am having so much fun (yes, and doing a little quilting too). It is super to be able to put faces with the names of these on-line quilting friends. What a treat!

SNOW!!!

SNOW hit southwest Michigan today! My little Maxwell Webster is very curious about it, since he mainly lives in Florida. Murphy May had the good sense to stay indoors as much as possible.

The snow storm is beautiful. We have about double the amount in the photos now, and it is expected to continue on into the night.

As long as I can get out for my Dear Jane Retreat in Shipshewana on Wednesday, I'm fine with it. So pretty, and so Dr. Zhiavago'ish.

THE GIRLS ON THEIR WAY OUT OF PARADISE

The Girls stopped to pose for one last photo in Paradise, before jumping into their cozy envelope and heading off to Susan's for the holidays.

THE GIRLS HANGING OUT IN THE SNOW

The Girls enjoyed their first real snowstorm in Paradise, MI.

THE GIRLS AT LAKE SUPERIOR

In the UP, The Girls saw Lake Superior, the largest fresh-water lake in the world, from Whitefish Point in Paradise. Notice the freighter in the background, and Canada is in the very back.

THE GIRLS AT THE MACKINAC BRIDGE

The Girls headed to the UP with us, but paused to take this photo at the Mackinac Bridge. Lake Michigan is to left of the bridge, and Lake Huron is to the right.