Another finished project turned gift

This is another finished project and almost as soon as I finished it, I had wrapped it and taken it with me to Salado for the weekend! My friend Patty and her family were there and we had a wonderful time!

Patty had dropped a hint that she wanted napkins to match her twall dishes, so I was happy to accommodate her Christmas request! There are 12 napkins - she has a large family...and I loved making them....but it was even more fun to get to give them!

Tonight, I began finishing a way overdue project...my next Quilts for Kids quilt....and yes another baseball theme...but very bright and cheery! Hopefully tomorrow I will have the top finished and pinned - ready to quilt...then I have Christmas to work on again!

Christmas wrapping

Well, I am finally sitting here long enough to update some of the projects I have been working on to finish!
Let me start with this....

My first real attempt at mitered corners! I am good with it!

The front before quilting...

The stripe down the back before binding...and finally..

The front before quilting and after the binding...

But, I have had to let that one sit to the side for this week....

and start on this for a friend for Christmas!!!

Just a little set of napkins...inspired by this...by Ashley at Film In The Fridge...

Although, they are a bit different, she just has such good tutorials...I had to try...
The bottom and top folds are actually the fabric on the back of the napkins, which is the sheet music to - "We wish you a Merry Christmas" and the stripes are a Christmas Jellyroll I ordered from here.

There is a little pocket in the fold for the silverware...

I made six and there are three sets of stripes, red, green and gold each with a little holly pattern...

I have to say, I am a little jealous that these are actually a gift...  :)

So, in just about four hours (I know, I sew very slow...but I am also a perfectionist sometimes...) I had this lovely gift to give to my lovely friend. I can't wait to give it to her....

I will update another project tomorrow...

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It's a Monday....but I am back!

Wow! It's been awhile...It just seems that we have been so very busy, I haven't had time to sew, clean, rest or go to the ranch with my favorite rancher!
Seriously, I nearly broke my ankle a few weeks ago...I think If I had, maybe it would be better now....arrrrrggghhhhhh....but at least the swelling and bruising are finally gone.
But here's the real shocker!!!! NEXT WEEK IS THANKSGIVING! and then CHRISTMAS!!!! and what has been accomplished? NADA. nopey...nuttin...zippo zerooooo. You get the idea now... OH MAN! Good thing the rancher is leaving tomorrow for the ranch, so I can get some things done!!! Then I will post some new pictures and be here more often.  I am absolutely on CREATIVENESS OVERLOAD!!! only not the kind you get from working so hard...but the kind you get from all those great Magos out there and blogs!!!! (definition: Magos = magazines)
Ok, so off I go!!! Wish me luck!!! I have lots to do and finish...
Happy MONDAY EVERYONE!

from my talented daughter, photographer, rock climber...Texas Tech girl....love the picture Samantha....   :)

If I didn't have enough to work on anyway, I found some photos of something else that has been on the back burner for a while...not sure how this is all going to come together, maybe that is why it has been on hold now for about 3 months...
But, I did love the way this all started out with just strips of beautiful fabric...actually this was my first real test of putting strips together...so I am really happy with it...now I just don't know where to take it from here....Any ideas out there would be great!!! Send them to me!!!!

In the works....Holidays are coming....

Here is my third Quilts for Kids Kit that came in yesterday! It's all about Martians and Space...I can't wait to see this one finished...

I also have this Quilt Block of the Month to get started...

And this one is for a friend of mine...I loved all the calm colors and designs...hope she will love it too...

Then this is the beginning of a Christmas Gift...

Another Quilts for Kids quilt...Preview

Well, this one will be named Checkers and Baseball...here's a sneak peak...

Anniversaries...

Today is my husband and my 11th Anniversary...I just wanted to say how much I love him...that's all...

:)

My favorite sites...

I love finding great sewing/quilting crafting sites...so I thought I would share a few of them with you...

for the upcoming Halloween season:

These are way way too cute...and Jenny is amazing in what she does...i just love looking at all her photos...Enjoy...
http://www.allsorts.typepad.com/owlsorts/

Then, when Halloween is over...visit her at her other site...she does and makes all the things I love...and her house is adorable!
http://www.allsorts.typepad.com/

Of course...the site that started it all for me...
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/

My next favorite...so much so, I ordered one of her quilts just so I could say I have ONE!!!!
http://www.filminthefridge.com/
If this site doesn't inspire you...I don't know what will...She is as creative as talented and so fun to watch as she just gets better and better!!!


This one is just for when you have a few minutes and want to feel creative and let your mind take off!!! I can't believe how talented she is and how much fun she makes it for the reader!
http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/


Crazy Mom Quilts...enough said.
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/


For those of you looking to buy something original and really nice... visit:
http://houseonhillroad.typepad.com/
You will not be disappointed!

Ok, so those are my favs this week to showcase...enjoy them...but most of all...
1. CREATE SOMETHING YOURSELF!
2. BLOG ABOUT IT...and
3. ADD ME On your EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENT of your new site!!!!

Back to my day job...

The St2dio

, it's been a busy night...and after I get both of those closets cleaned out from all those previously at home girls...now college students or married...I have finally claimed a space of my own! You other mommys know what I'm sayin....
So as I finish it, I will update with photos..but this is it for tonight.... and Patty...I love my new name for OUR future shop/st2dio!!!! Fredricksburg here we come!!!!!

Love that quilt draped over my bench...it's from my favorite site - Film In The Fridge...See Ashley, I really really do love it!

Ok, no...these are MINE...everyone can use a support sometime! :)

Quilts for Kids

It all started one day at lunch...I was surfing looking for sewing sites...AND MAN DID I FIND THEM! That's when I found a program called Quilts for Kids...

It's a neat program that asks you use your talents to make small quilts for children that have cancer. It just gives these children something to cling to while they go through their treatments.
The program provides strict guidelines to making the quilts, (so they will last through all the machine washing that they will have to endure) that actually simplify the process for you the quilter! Quilts for Kids will provide you with a material kit to make the quilt, (you only have to purchase the batting) with the promise on your part to return it within four weeks made to the correct specifications... You can even send one of your own so two children can benefit!
How awesome is that?
So, I emailed Quilts for Kids and they sent out my fabric and instructions! My quilt was perfect for me! It was a baseball-themed-quilt for a little boy! (I am such a HOUSTON ASTROS fan -- my sewing room is painted in Astros colors!!!)
I couldn't wait to get started!...and here it is...all nice an finished...
I can't wait to send it off!...oh, and the other reason this is also so special for me...

This is my first finished quilt EVER! I couldn't think of a better cause to propel me into finishing one...and now I AM HOOKED! Look out fam....you are all getting quilts for Christmas! and, I will send a quilt or two every few months back to the Quilts for Kids project...
Check it out...you will love the feeling of your special quilt finished, all warm- fresh out of the dryer, and ready to be sent to a little boy or girl that will love the comfort of it....

http://www.quiltsforkids.org/

I made my own binding out of some baseball material I found...not bad... :)

my favorite little stitch...it looks like baseball stitching!

Can we just SAY WOW!!!!

I don't usually do this...but this has become my daily favorite site...It's called Film in the Fridge...
She does such great work on EVERYTHING...but her creativity is what is the NEAT part...
and of course...I HAD TO BUY THIS...
Couldn't help myself!

Thank you Ashley!!!!! I LOVE LOVE IT!!!

Visit her blog...it's awesome!!!!
http://www.filminthefridge.com/

Sewing for friends

Wow...this was a task for sure!...but I finished!

This is something I did for my friend Patty and her mom...(my mom #2)

I can't wait to give it to them tomorrow!

Not too bad for a first try!

YIPPEEEE!!!! I love my new sewing machine!

Something fun...

Just had some time last night and I found an old pattern box...this pattern was Butterwick and it was labelled for "Fat Quarters"....love those easy ones that get finished at the end of the night!

Love the material too....