An Italian Holiday

Ciao! Blog Friends!

From the title of this post, by now you should have guessed that I have been on holiday in Italy for the past two weeks.  Denis and I joined a tour group of people of our same faith from all over the US.  We met new friends and shared great adventures.  Our journey began in Venice, then we moved on to Pisa, Florence, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, then to Pompeii and finally ending in Rome.  Here are some highlights of a wonderful two weeks:

Venezia: (Venice):

Pisa:

Firenze (Florence):

 Michaelangelo's David

Sorrento:

Amalfi Coast:

Pompeii:

Mt Vesuvius:

Roma (Rome):

The Alps from above:

I'll be back to crafting again this week.  More on that next time!

Arrivederci!

Chic Neutrals Stash Projects, Part 1

Greetings to all my Blog Friends!

I've switched gears back to sewing this past week and have dipped into the stash once again for fabrics.  I won a basket at a quilt shop several years ago.  It was filled with a variety of precuts, all from the Chic Neutrals collection by Amy Ellis for Moda.  The prints in this collection are geometric prints in grays, blacks, purple and yellow.  In all, I received:  1 Fat Eighths Bundle (9" x 22"), 1 Charm Pack (5" squares), 1 Mini Charm Pack (2 1/2" squares), and yardage (1 yard).  Quite and impressive assortment of fabrics.  

My plans for projects made from these precuts include:  one quilt, 2 (or 3) pillows, 2 table runners.  The prints in this collection are lovely, but just aren't in a colorway that appeals much to me personally.  As a result, all projects made from these fabrics will be giveaways.

The first two items for giveaway will be a pillow made from those 2 1/2" squares and a table runner with pieces cut from the fat eighths.  These items will be donated as a door prize drawing at a scrapbooking retreat coming up at the end of the month.  Pillow is 15" square, runner is 11" x 41". 

The rest of the projects are scheduled for April and May.  Here are the finished projects:

I'll be taking a break for a couple of weeks as prior engagements will keep me out of the craft room.  I'll give a full report when I'm back to crafting again.

See you in a few....

WOOLIES WONDER FLANNEL QUILT

Greetings Blog Friends,

A few months ago, we had some computer issues here at home.  A very nice young man named Nik (we know him from church) is an IT whiz (his job) offered to come over and help us straighten it out.  True to his word (he said he could fix anything!) he had us up and running in less than an hour.  We called him back again earlier this year to help us again.  Nik lives by himself in an apartment with electric heat.  So, until his lease runs out sometime this summer, he is keeping his heat turned down low to save on $$.  It has been a very cold winter so far, so he must be chilled to the bone.  Nik is also a veteran and served 2 years in Afghanistan.  

We thought about ways we could thank this young man and Denis suggested a quilt.  I went to my stash once again, found a layer cake (10") squares of Woolies Flannels by Maywood, and a quilt was born.  The dotted sashing strips are also from the Woolies line.  Some are layer cake squares and others pieces  from the jelly roll that I didn't use in the hearth rug (made earlier this year.)  Add to that, a fat quarter in a lighter flannel for the cornerstones.  I used black flannel for the binding.  I purchased the backing, but at a discounted price.    This quilt measures 60" x 72" and is quilted in a cross hatch straight line design. 

At first I didn't know if I'd like the dotted fabrics much, but in this quilt, they are great!  The quilt has a masculine, scrappy look that really works!  I plan to give Nik this gift tonight at church.  He is in the church choir and they are singing for Ash Wednesday service tonight.  Snuggle Up, Nik!

Another stash project done and added to the list!

Christmas 2018 Pages

Greetings Blog Friends!

As promised, here are the 2018 Christmas pages.  You can see the original post of the pages without pictures here.  In all, I made 20 (10 2-page layouts) and a half page of just photos for all our family shots.  These are my favorites:

All papers are from Close to My Heart "Tis the Season" paper packet.  Page designs by my daughter, Kristy Schoon, although I "tweaked" mine here and there.  

Switching gears back to sewing this coming week.  'Til next time....