Penelope Pages

Hello Blog Friends,

I've been doing some spring cleaning lately, and very little sewing.  I have had a chance, however, to do a little scrapbooking with my monthly scrapping group.  Last week we made some pages using the Close to My Heart Penelope paper packet and accessories.  Here are the three 2-page layouts we made:

Meanwhile, I am working slowly on the pillowcase project, and next post will be a show and tell of pillowcase progress.

Till then...

Sun Prairie Quilt Show

Hello Blog Friends,

Denis and I took a day off work and visited Sun Prairie, just east of Madison.  We attended the Sun Prairie Quilt Show on Monday, March 8.  Here are some favorites:

"My Colorwheel" by Donna Willadsen.  2nd Place Ribbon

"Celtic Circles" by Karen Capps.  1st Place Ribbon

"Maggie's Birth Quilt" by Joanie Zeier Poole.  2nd Place

After the quilt show, we had lunch in Sun Prairie and took a look at their downtown.  Here's the highlights:

 

Historical Marker.  Artist Georgia O'Keefe was born in Sun Prairie.

This water tower was built in 1899 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A totally fun day!

I (Heart) My Teddy Bear Quilt -- Finished!

Hello Blog Friends,

I have finished the baby quilt from last post.  Here were the fabrics:

I finished it  just in time for the little baby shower party we had at work today.  This quilt was made for Sophia Stelter, who is 2 weeks old.  What a sweet little peanut she is.  She's the daughter of Jake and Christina, and it is Jake who is our co-worker.  A group of us in the office decided to have a lunch party after she was born, so she could attend the party in person.  Although, she was all tuckered out when it was time for pictures out from the excitement of it all.

It is a simple row quilt, and I used the pink for both the binding and backing.  The quilting was done in a large all-over meander.  Finished size is 41" x 56".  This is a fun and easy quick quilt.

Another successful quilting gift in the record book (quilt diary)!   Now, on to those pillowcases.....

Pillowcases on Deck

Hello Blog Friends,

The next several months are going to be busy ones...half our weekends are booked through the beginning of June!  So, I've decided to do a little scrapping and try to get caught up on some of my ongoing projects.  I will also do a little sewing, some quicker projects for now.  I'll get back to the larger quilts sometime in the summer.

What do you think of this stack of fabrics?  I've been collecting these for a couple of years.  Now it's time to get to work.  These fabrics will all become pillowcases for donation.  My deadline to have these done is early October.  I'll keep you posted as to my progress.

First up, however, is a cute little row quilt I'm making for the new baby daughter of a co-worker.  We are having the baby shower on the 16th, so I have about 10 days to get it done.   Wish me luck!  Here are the fabrics for that:

I'll be checking in soon with a progress report!  Till then...

Pinewood Derby Project

Hello Blog Friends!

I wanted to share the project I completed at the scrapping retreat I attended last weekend.  This is a 9" x 9" accordion book.  The front and back covers are attached with two additional pages.  There are 10 pages total, counting the outside and inside covers.  You 'read' the book, turning the pages to the right.  Because the covers and pages are connected, it becomes a continuous process.

Front cover

First two pages (inside)

Next two pages (inside)

Back cover

Last two pages (inside)

I'm very happy with how the book turned out.  I'm sure he will be, too.  One Christmas present down, but how many to go???

Quick and easy sewing projects are on deck.  More on that in the next post.

Till next time...

Butterflies, Birds & Blooms

Hello Blog Friends,

Since my last post, I've been diligently working on the quilt I started two weeks ago.  And, yes, to answer the question, I've finished before the deadline.

I've named this quilt Butterflies, Birds & Blooms for obvious reasons.  

Construction details:  borders were added around each printed panel block, strip sets were used for the pieced blocks, a flange was added between the narrow inner border and floral outer border, and the borders feature mitered corners.  I featured some leftover pieces from the printed panel and the border stripe fabric in the pieced backing.  

You can see the quilting pattern more easily from the back.  A cross hatch was used through the small green squares on the pieced blocks.  A stipple was used in the printed floral and butterflies block, and a simple outline was used around the printed border on the panel blocks.  A very whimsical, loopy large meander was used on the outer border.  

Finished size is 56" x 56".  Tomorrow I pass it on to my friend Sally, who will give it to her Mom on her birthday on Wednesday.  Happy Birthday Mrs. Childs!  Enjoy.

Next weekend I'll be at a scrapbooking retreat.  I'll share some of my finished work in next week's post.  

Till then...

Sewing on a Snowy Day

Hello Blog Friends!

I'm sorry I've missed the last couple weeks...a very nasty bronchitis got hold of me, and alas, I've been sick for almost two weeks.  There has been progress, but I'm told the coughing and congestion can last for awhile yet.  I pray for an early spring and an end to the sickness.

 Snow day today!  

It is a snow day today!  Here I am, at home from work on a Tuesday afternoon, it is snowing outside, and I've started my newest project.  It is a lap quilt with a spring theme...birds, bees, and blooms.  I've had this kit for some time, and I had planned to make it for my mother.  I am, instead, making it for a friend's mother, who has had a stroke and is confined to a wheelchair.  She loves bird watching out her picture window, and this quilt (I hope) will be a welcome companion this spring when the birds return to the feeder just outside her window.  Here's a sneak peak at the fabrics and panel squares that will be used in the quilt.  The lady's birthday is Feb. 24 (my deadline).  Will I make it?  

Stayed tuned for a progress report this weekend.