A Pair of Twins

I guess they would be more along the lines of "fraternal twins..."


It's amazing how different two quilts can look even when using the same pattern and related fabrics. As you can see the yellow & green one is not quite finished... I'll probably replace this picture when I get around to finishing it.

Quilts of Valor

A while back I mentioned that a quilting friend of mine and I were planning to make a quilt for the Quilts of Valor program. For those who don't recall, this organization is made of volunteers who make and donate quilts to be given to wounded American soldiers. Well, we finally got ours 100% finished (almost anyway... we still need to put a label on it...). Then we can get a final destination to send it to so it can be given to a soldier. This has been a wonderful experience, and I'd love to do more of them -- I only wish I had more time to devote to this worthy cause (I hardly get any sewing time at all with homeschooling and caring for my two rambunctious kiddos, and much of that time is spent making clothes). The best part was having someone else do the actual quilting... Anyway, please visit my quilting page to see our quilt and then maybe try making one yourself! (and while you're here, check out my darling daughter in her new dress over on the family page)

Our Quilt for Quilts of Valor

This quilt and its presentation/pillow case will be going soon to an American soldier wounded in the line of duty. You can't really see close enough to tell, but the border fabric has words like "Glory... Freedom... Honor... Justice... Brotherhood" printed in the gold-tone stripes. The quilt pattern, called "Stars and Strips," is available for free from Quilt Index.

Stashbuster Squares

This is a sampling of the kinds of squares I made for the block swap. Quite the mish-mash, but overall really kinda pretty.

"Bluebonnets Squared"

A large-scale double nine-patch wall hanging/table topper (finished size around 1 yard square). This was my Christmas gift to my mother-in-law. She's the "master quilter" who has really gotten me started on this quilting journey. Her kitchen is all done in Texas Bluebonnets, and I thought this would look nice on her kitchen table. It is a very simple pattern with even simpler quilting, but that way it shows off the fabrics above anything else.

"Cozy Cars"

This is a very simple little snuggle quilt I made for my nephew Riley for Christmas. The top is a single piece of fabric featuring characters from "Cars," which he loves right now and the back is a piece of flannel with kind of a racing/ checkered flag motif to it. I did some simple channel quilting on it--basically enough to hold it together. It's really small... just the right size for a little guy to cuddle with on the sofa or in front of the TV or whatever. Then I had a little piece of the Cars fabric, so I decided to make him a little matching pillow. Elijah has a little kid-sized pillow, and loves it... I really hope Riley enjoys them!

All Wrapped Up!

Woo Hoo! I just finished my last Christmas quilting/sewing project! This one was a flannel lap quilt for Jack's grandmother (I put a picture of it on my quilt page, since there's not much chance she'll be on my blog). That makes 3 quilts (all small ones), 4 potholders, 1 pillow, 3 fleece blankets, 4 fleece scarves... and a partridge in a pear tree...LOL Now I can get cracking on Elijah's pirate quilt (loads of detailed handwork to be done yet before final assembly & quilting) and then there's the 50 squares I have to make for my block swap.

You know only a couple of years ago, I'd have laughed 'til I cried if you had tried to tell me I'd like sewing one day. My poor mom, bless her, tried to teach me to sew... did not go well. I just didn't have the patience for it back then, and she tried to get me to sew clothing, which I still can't do by the way. Quilting, on the other hand, has given me the creative outlet that I have been searching for (without even really knowing it) and I don't care what anyone says, IT'S WAY EASIER THAN MAKING CLOTHES! I tend to be really high-strung when it comes to crafts--and yes, MOM I can see your head nodding--and quilting actually relaxes me like I thought nothing ever would. Who knew that I would so quickly grow to love something from which I had run screaming for most of my life??

"Floral Flannel Frenzy"

This is a flannel lap quilt that I actually pieced over the summer, but just now got around to finishing. It's tied, rather than being machine quilted, and that meant it had to spend a lot of time in my lap while being quilted... not much chance of THAT happening during summer in Texas (even today, it had me turning on the AC, since it's 80 outside!!). Anyway, I finally finished it so we can give it to Jack's grandmother for Christmas. Another UFO (un-finished object) taken care of...YIPPEE!

Care Package

Today we sent our first package to the soldier we signed up to "sponsor." He is in the Army and currently serving in Iraq. One of the items he requested was a blanket-- here's what I whipped up quickly (I'll probably make him a quilt later, but wanted to get this first package shipped off ASAP). It folds up into a pocket sewn on one end (shown in second picture). I thought the stars and navy blue field were handsome and appropriate (hope he likes it too)


Here's a shot of everything we sent in the package. It ended up being a pretty good-sized box of stuff!

Let me take this chance to encourage my readers to support our troops in any way you can, whether it be sending care packages or letters directly to them overseas, participating in programs such as Quilts of Valor, which provides quilts to wounded soldiers in hospitals stateside, or simply remembering our fighting men and women in your prayers. When it comes down to it, it just doesn't matter how you feel politically or whatever about the war itself--we should be willing to support our fellow citizens who are risking life & limb in the service of our country. **exiting soapbox now**

"A Little Christmas"

These are potholders I have made to donate as door prizes for our congregation's "Grandparents' Dinner," which will be happening this evening. I made 2 identical holders in each style to that people could get them as sets. I did not buy a single piece of fabric for this project (or even batting)--aren't fabric stashes wonderful! I have one little drawer in my fabric cabinet that is entirely dedicated to holiday/winter fabrics, so I had lots to pick from.


This is the same pattern as the table runner I made for fall. I like the way the novelty snowman fabric is highlighted by the very Christmas-y holly prints.


The tree is a single square from a wall hanging pattern I found in a book of holiday quilts. I added the red border (same fabric on the back) to make it feel more "Christmas-y."

"Birds of Autumn"

This is a table runner featuring birds that have been "fussy cut" from some autumn fabric that I fell in love with at our local quilt shop. The first fat quarter of it was a gift from a sweet friend, and I probably wouldn't have gone ahead with the project at all if she hadn't gently forced my hand by giving it to me...LOL
(She doesn't know it, but she's got a little surprise coming too...)

I hand quilted it with a leaf pattern-- my first real hand quilting project (I've definitely got some learning to do, but all in all, not a bad first effort I think). Here is a close-up of one of the blocks. You can't really see the quilting very well in the picture (I suppose that's just as well **smile**), but it really shows off the gorgeous fabrics.

"Soccer Star"

Hexagon Star pieced tote bag
A soccer bag as requested by my son who started playing this year. He picked out the soccer ball fabrics and I figured out the rest. The bottom, backing/lining and decoratively stitched handle are black denim for durability. 

"Bunny Blues"

Pieced and Applique crib quilt
A joint project with a friend... I made the pieced blocks & she did the applique work. Then I pieced the quilt top. She hand quilted it and then I put on the binding. A true team effort!

"Watermelon"

Rail fence crib quilt
This is my first "real" quilt. Didn't take me very long to make either--rail fence is EASY! It's a baby quilt for a friend of ours. Not bad for a newbie, if I do say so myself...

And here's a close up showing the really cute backing fabric, which of course I can't get anymore...

"Americana"

Log cabin pattern wall quilt
My first "flat" project. I had done several quilted sewing machine covers in various colors, including one for my mom-in-law using this combination. I liked it so much that I had to make a wall hanging using the same fabrics.