The Stolen Child

....by Keith Donohue.

I bought this book about a year or so ago and am now just getting around to read it. Wasn't really sure what the book was about...i'm sure i did when I bought. But I was going through my pile of un-read books....wanted to make a new pile (literally a pile next to my side of the bed) of books that I want to read this year...one book a month....so far so good! I read the first chapter, and after just reading the first page of the first chapter i was excited about reading this book. I started Monday night and I had a whole week to be reading it....about half way through.....I love the characters and the plot line.

Baby Quilt in the Works

.....actually two baby quilts in the works....two nephews on opposite sides of the family....one on hubby's side and the other my side.


Cheep Talk by Connection Threads

Siggy Blocks Finished

Blocks 1-25
Annabella by Tina Givens


Blocks 26-50
Annabella by Tina Givens


Blocks 51-101
Pop Garden by Heather Bailey, except two, top left corner & one beneath it, Santorini by Lila Tueller

V-Day Picture Frames

Thanks to Vickie at Spun Sugar Quilts, I got a little ready for Valentine's Day coming up soon.

A little Valentine card stock and $1 frames and Taaa-Daa!


Also, the boys went to Nanna's last night and they brought home a little V-Day treat....



They got to frost the cookies themselves and then add sprinkles!

Love Birds

Well, I'm not sure if these are love birds, but I have about 10 more to make for Easter.




First...cut out the pattern (for Mister Blue Pattern, please visit Spool Sewing's Blog - Free Patterns).




Second...follow the directions on the pattern to sew the pieces together.




Third....I found it easier to turn out by taking a pair of pinking shears and cutting the edges, but being very careful when cutting near the beak and end of tail.




Fourth...turn out your birdie.




Fifth....Stuff your birdie



Sixth...Sew up the tails.....which I still need to do, put I'm going to wait until I have all the birdies made and stuffed.


Click to see Spool Sewing's Bird Mobile

Ready for the Pinwheel Quilt Along

I have chosen my fabrics...took me a little longer than what I thought

Riviera from Connecting Threads

New Projects to a Great Start

I've joined the Modern Siggy Swap, and I thought I needed to go the local shop for white fabric, when i realized I already had some from a previous project, which I bought way to much to begin with....8 yards of white fabric.....4 yards were already claimed in my Braided Rag Rug (still not finished, 2010 goal)...so with 4 yards left I've put it to good use.

Not quite 1 yard for the siggy swap.




25 blocks done, 75 more to go!


The rest of the fabric has gone to the next to two projects:

Exotic Quilt Top


whipped this up over the weekend....andy doesn't like because of the animal prints....I'm still trying to decide how much I like it....might like it a little more once I get it completely done....this it just the right size for a lap quilt or baby quilt or for a really short person (not me, as I'm 5'10"...barely covers my legs).


And I've started on my 9-Patch quilt, with a bright colored batiks (found as a jelly roll at Joann's, which I got for a really great price, b/c of a 40% off coupons...yah me!)


my pile of 24 9-patch blocsk from 2.5" x 2.5" squares



24 neatly ironed blocks


adding white border to the blocks, which another border is on the way.....we'll have to see what I come up with, since I'm kinda making up the design as I go, which is kinda fun.

Full Bloom Diamond Quilt w/ Ruffle Edging

I am really happy with the way this quilt out.....considering this was a first time with the ruffles. It's taken me quite a while to figure out how to do the ruffle edging.....make the ruffles was the simple part, thanks to my ruffler foot....it was figuring out how to sandwich the quilt and making it look nice....not an easy task in my book, but I think with a little more practice it will get better.

Attach the ruffle to the quilt top, matching the raw edges...I used a 1/4" seam (I probably should of used a 1/8")




I set the top aside and spray basted the back to the batting, which is a polyester batting, not my favorite, but I thought I'd try it anyways.




With the quilt top on the floor, right side up, I pinned the bottom, with right sides facing each other, so that the batting is on the outside (for now).



After the back side of the quilt is pinned, I took to the sewing machine and stitch a 1/4" seam all around the quilt edge leaving about 5" - 6" open for turning the quilt right side out. I then ironed the edges smooth and top-stitched 1/8" around the edge of the quilt.




Final results:

Front




Back




It still needs to be quilt, but I'm going to tie it off instead, which requires a trip the local fabric store, which will be this weekend.

Modern Siggy Swap....

.....I get to participate in this swap....my first swap....YEAH!
{squealing with delight}

I have my material cut so far for all 101 blocks.

I want to use just plain white thread, which won't you know, I have none.
So I'll pick some up the next time I go out.

What I'm reading....

The Sisters Grimm: Tales from the Hood by Michael Buckley.....

Excerpt from Chapter 2:

"Listen, dogface. Almost everyone in this town wants you dead. Not that I can blame them. But if you were to die, I know the old lady would want to have a funeral, and if there's a funeral I know I'm going to have to take a bath. So I will superglue a hobgoblin to your leg if I have to," Puck declared.

Pop Garden Quilt Completed.....

......Finally, it's finished, and I can now use it to cover up with. I've been working on this quilt since June 2009, about 6 months, and after sewing through my finger, it's completed.

Why does the back look funny you ask? I tried something different and didn't really think it through and then once I started I went ahead and finished.....I tried I faux embroidery, but after I had basted & quilted it.

A close-up of the same square, but on the back on the quilt.

I think if I do this again, I will put a small piece of thin batting behind the section and then do the faux embroidery before I baste the quilt......

As my dad always said......LIVE AND LEARN......

I made the mistake and I have learned from it, which is what life it all about.

What Santa Brought Me.....

.....to help me get started on some new quilts!

{squealing with delight!}

and some other bundles that I put together myself from Fabric.com (but I only got the Black & White Bundle for Christmas)

Summer GardenQuilt


Asian Themed Quilt (design will be from a Christmas Card that was received at work from the Japan Lutheran Church, still need to scan it image to post, but I also need some more fabric...if you have any thoughts please share them.)


So these are going to go towards my goal of 12 quilt this year, with 4 tops done already, this will made 10 tops....only 2 more think about.

Hailey's Finished Quilt

I have to be honest I wanted to do a pink girly girly quilt for Hailey, but then I found out that her favorite color is blue and this is what I came up with.....(pattern from someone elses website, whenI come across it again I'll post the site link or if you find me, e-mail it to me



Again, no picture of the completely finished quilt, because I finished this quilt as well on Christmas Eve.

Aidan's Quilt

With Aidan's quilt I decided to do a Transformers theme with a Disappearing 9 Patch Design.



Sorry...no back picture for reason.....oh wait, I remember.....I finished this quilt on December 24, 2009.....I was trying to get it done before we went over to the in-laws to stay the night to celebrate Christmas the next day.

Pictures of D'Angelo's & Adriel's Quilt

First Up - D'Angelo's

Star Wars Themed

Not sure if you can notice, but I decided to try something a little different for the front and went a raggy feel, which will be more noticable once it's washed.


And Second, Adriel's

Space Robot Theme

Please do not ask which side is the front and which side is the back, because I thought I knew and when I asked Andy he said the opposite side....so in my opinion it is reversible.