Left Overs

While digging in the drawer, I found two bags of left over fabrics from previously made quilts!  Had a great couple of days sorting, arranging and preparing a couple of small quilting projects.   

One bag contained half square triangles of a variety of color.  Love scrappy half square triangles!
Second bag contained the left over fabric from the Mama's Kitchen fabric line.  The fabric has to be one of my all time favorites.  Reminds me of my mom and the kitchen in the house on Mill Drive where I grew up.

The half square triangle long table runner is complete.

Not my best machine quilting but learning new skills on a new machine is an adventure.  Just need more practice.  The half squares were done using Ruler Work.  It's a big learning curve:  attach the ruler foot to the machine, hold the ruler in postion with one hand, move the quilt with the other hand, all the while watch were you are going. Whew!  At present, I have a straight and a curved ruler.  Goodness, not as easy as it looks on Youtube. 

Mama's Kitchen Project
Just beginning this project.  The photos here are the beginnings!  Stay tuned for more! Will be thinking of my mom today as I work on this project.

Challenge 2018

This UFO (Unfinished Object) of my 2018 UFO Challenge is completed!

Just in time to for Valentine's Day is this table topper!  I am so pleased with the way it turned out.

The topper measures 25" X 25" and was a pattern I downloaded from Temecula Quilt Company.  I did change the original pattern.  Here is the original pattern, called Valentine Nine Patch.

I added four embroidered center blocks using a cute valentine motif.  I used Turkey Red thread to embroider the hearts with cabbage roses.

Looks great on my dining room table!💖

Happy Birthday Fiona

A special activity quilted mat, HOP  JUMP, for Fiona for her fourth birthday! Two bean bags, one black and one white are included with the quilted mat.  Which would you choose HOP or JUMP?      Toss the black bean bag to choose the activity (HOP or JUMP), then toss the white bean bag to choose the number of times. 

Ready, Set, Toss

This was a Moda Bake Shop pattern.  Such a clever activity for preschoolers.  This is a fun interactive activity to teach numbers and numerical representation. Other activities such as addition/subtraction, greater than/lesser than, may be added. 

Happy Birthday Fiona! Love You to Pieces!

Christmas Tea Cart Topper

I always enjoy decorating my tea cart with seasonal toppers. Tea and Pfeffernusse cookies remind me of my Grandma Steinert.   This topper was begun in August of 2016...yep I said 2016.  But I finished it in time for Christmas 2017!  Yeah!

The large white square needed a special machine quilting design.  I like the way it turned out.

I've had the Christmas Tea Cup fabric for a while but just couldn't bring myself to cut the fabric, tough with only a fat eighth of fabric. I fussy cut the fabric and could only get three motifs that would center.  Polk A Dots are my new thing for Christmas.  This is a joy for me to finish.

Take Along Knitting Bag

When I found this fabric, sheep knitting, I just knew it had to be a gift project for my knitting group.  These ladies are so special and they deserved something special made with this fabric.  

Every time I go to an appointment or other activities like the car wash I take a small project to knit.  If I don't have anything to keep my hands busy I fidget and fidget and it seems to take forever.
This pattern was a lunch bag.  I thought this was the perfect Take Along Knit Bag!

I chose the fabric for the band because I thought it looked like a knitting stitch. There is a draw string inside the bag that will keep all items enclosed. I made a total of six bags, five for knitting friends and one for myself.  It was an assembly line project.  Can't wait for my next appointment.

Christmas Bauble Banner

Just in time for Christmas!  I finished the Christmas Baubles Banner and it's only Dec 3rd!  This is a Moda Bake Shop Recipe, love their patterns. Being free always makes me smile.

The best part of this project is that all, ALL the fabric were already in the fabric closet in my sewing room!  No purchase!  So pleased with myself that I used up stash fabrics. Oh no worries, there is still plenty more where that came from!  This banner is the perfect size for the dinning room wall next to the fire place.

Merry Christmas!

Annual Thanksgiving Tea

The Saturday before Thanksgiving is my Annual Thanksgiving Tea!  Spending the afternoon with my friends sets the tone for my favorite holiday.   It's a joy to plan this event which began in 2004!
Invitations are sent, recipes selected (some even tried before the event) but always tasting the best for my friends. 

The top tier are Pecan Pie Bites- Really Sweet!  The middle tier contained layers of pound cake separated with pumpkin butter (don't eat the candied leaf or you'll break your teeth) and the bottom tier are cranberry walnut tarts.

These soft pumpkin cookies would make great Whoopie Pies!
They were like having a piece cake.  The spices are so Thanksgiving.

These Salted Caramel thumb print cookies were light and delightful.

The Tea also included two sandwiches, Chicken Salad on marble rye bread and Pimento Cheddar 

Cheese on white bread. The chicken salad included green apple, walnuts, cranberries and leaves of baby spinach.   The Pimento Cheddar Cheese spread was my moms recipe.

Three types of Tea were served: Lady Grey, Pumpkin Spice and White Pomegranate.  Always served in my three fall tea pots.

Friends are the best part of the tea!  We laugh, sigh and catch up on events, hobbies, community, grand kids, and those beloved pets! 

Sorry ladies, still working on photography!  Perhaps a goal for 2018!

I always enjoy making a special party favors for my guests!  This year I made small fabric baskets packed with miniature English tea cookies inside.  Love the turkey ribbon I found at Hobby Lobby!  Score on that purchase.

This event is such a great way to celebrate with friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!