Sharing a Few Finishes!

I'm definitely doing the Happy Dance around here!  

I've got FOUR finishes to share with you - whoohoo!!!!  Yes, I have been a busy little girl these past few weeks!  Thanks to my friend Joanne letting me use her longarm, I finished up two UFO's that have been burning a hole in my UFO closet ...

Christmas Geese

This is my FIRST Christmas quilt!  Yes, I have been quilting now for 7 years and this is my first full-size Christmas quilt ... *hangs head in shame*.....  It is a Miss Rosie pattern called Toulouse - apparently there is a type of goose in France called a toulouse..... who knew?????  You can read my post about this quilt's beginnings HERE if you are curious.

This was the first quilt I blogged about when I started the blog two years ago :*)  I fell in love with the pattern, bought it at a LQS, and then held on to it until I could decide on the fabrics I wanted to use.  When I found this lovely background oriental print on sale, I knew it would become a Christmas quilt.

On the longarm.....

Below is the design I chose to quilt it with, called Joyful Holly by Willow Leaf Studio.  

I love it!!!!

The quilt is trimmed and the binding - a joyful red and white candy-cane stripe - is all prepped and ready to apply....

I'll be sure to share a final photo when that's done, but for now I just have to get a few little projects out of the way first :)

Next finish ..... another long-time UFO - Fall Pumpkins Sampler!

This quilt started out as BOM blocks at a local LQS in 2008!  In January, they provided the pattern and fabrics to make either Fall or Christmas sampler blocks for just $3 a block.  Then if you brought the completed block(s) back on the first Sunday of each month, you got the next block free - what a deal, right? Of course, you could do both Fall and Christmas if you wanted - and I did :*)  At the end of the year, they also offered setting kits for each quilt.  I loved the addition of the pumpkins as an alternate block in this setting!  I chose to use my own stash fabrics, however, rather than buy a setting kit.

This quilting design is called Wave on Wave and I really enjoy the play of design on fabric....it was quick and fun to do too :)

I totally LOVE this binding fabric!!!

It was such a sunny day when I took these pictures, and the colors are a little washed out here....it's really a very vibrant quilt - lots of eye candy :)

A HUGE THANKS again to Joanne for helping me finish up some of these treasured UFO's!!!!

Of course, both of the Baby Quilts are now finished, as well, and ready to be gifted .... (read more about them in my previous post HERE)

Cooper's rag quilt Tranquility is all washed & dried....
SO cuddly & soft - perfect for our new Little One!!!

And I just finished quilting Genevieve's Banners on my Janome 6600P..... (you can click on the quilt name if you want to learn more about how I made this quilt)

I used the background fabric as my guide for the quilting design on this one - soft, happy daisies everywhere.... connected with lazy little loops..... gosh this was FUN to quilt!!!

I wanted to add a rose design in the heart - for our little Genevieve Rose of course!  I traced the design onto tissue paper, then pinned it to the quilt and quilted over it - worked perfectly I think!!!

Here it is ... all trimmed and bound and ready for Miss Genevieve :*)

Thanks for sharing these finishes with me!!!

It's always so much more fun to enjoy our quilts with friends, isn't it?

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Baby Quilts Everywhere!

I was delighted when my daughter-in-law picked out a rag quilt design for our newest grandchild's baby quilt!  These are fun to make and sooooo much easier than a traditional quilt!

All ready to toss into the washer and dryer to get that lovely rag quilt look & feel!!!

My son, of course, has some very particular ideas about what is appropriate for a boy-child of his!  Nothing "girlie" or even "babyish" is going to go in Mr. Cooper's room - No sir-ee!!!  He made some very specific requests for this quilt.....

1.     Only sage greens, creams and browns
2.     No animals or anything else "cutsie"
3.     Only stripes, dots and plaids allowed!

Wow!  That was a challenge, let me tell you!  My son is a hunter and loves the peace and tranquility he finds in the forest, and he wanted that feel for Cooper's nursery.  After working with these lush, calming colors, I decided to name this quilt, Tranquility.  I think that best describes the feeling my son tells me he gets when sitting in the woods in the crisp early morning hours, just him and God and the perfect sounds of nature all around them.

I know - some of you are saying, "How could he kill Bambi?!?!"  I said that too when he told me he had taken up the sport.  But it is not just a sport for him - he has the meat processed and they use the venison in many of their meals.  Then a few of my loved ones barely escaped with their lives after accidents with deer, and I learned about how even all the deer suffer from lack of food sources when their population gets out of hand.  Then my son shared the joy he gets from his time alone in the woods with God, so I shut up and began to thank God for giving him such a wonderful way to meet with Him so often.  The benefits have far outweighed my squeamish tender-hearted misgivings.  (And much to my son's dismay, the deer actually don't show up very often LOL!!!)

So.... back to Tranquility.....I was fortunate to have enough of the colors and designs in my cottons stash for the top.....some of them were even pulled from my scraps bin!

I loved adding that gorgeous plaid shirt on the right!!!
It's so hard to find plaids in yardage.

I only purchased one half-yard of this piece of Kaffe Fassett fabric to add some brightness to it.....

For the back, I had planned to use this pale, pale, pale sage green dots print to give it a nice light ruffle on the front between all the blocks.....

.....but after deciding on the size and number of blocks I wanted, I realized there wouldn't be quite enough of this fabric.  I had 2 yards and needed 2-1/2!  Of course, I only realized this after I had cut it into 8" strips!!!

It's an older fabric, so I didn't even try to find more.  I thought about doing some sort of a design on the back, like adding some darker blocks spelling a "C" for Cooper in the middle, but I just couldn't fall in love with that idea.  Then I remembered a flannel in my stash that I bought when Hobby Lobby sold off most of their fabrics.  I think I paid $2-3 a yard for this piece :)  Here it is, playing very nicely with the other fabrics..... don't you just LOVE those rich, chocolatey browns.... YUM!!!!

And I love that it now has a flannel backing!

This soft cream animal print works perfectly with the theme of the rest of the quilt :)

I chose to use a Thermore batting, which I have used in all my rag quilts.

This thin polyester batting washes well and doesn't add too much weight to the finished quilt.

Tranquility on the Design Wall, choosing placement......

All the blocks were quilted together individually.... gotta love quilt-as-you-go designs!!!

I finished up snipping the seams last night :*)

I'll be tossing this in the washer and dryer today - yippee!!!  Cooper is expected to join us around Christmas-time, so I'm delighted to have his quilt, done and ready for his arrival!!!

And since I started this project this month (even though I finished it too), it is my November NewFO Challenge project......

Click HERE to see more!

Next up, I'll be quilting Genevieve's Banners quilt this weekend.  You can read more about her quilt HERE.

It's all sandwiched and ready to go.  I'm planning a very light quilting design, so hopefully it won't take too terribly long to do.

Looks like I'll have TWO baby quilts to deliver at Thanksgiving....

something to be very thankful for, am I right?

Wishing everyone a delightful weekend!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Linking up:
Cat Patches - 2013 NewFO Challenge
SoScrappy - Rainbow Scrap Challenge
Patchwork Times - Design Wall  Monday
Freemotion by the River - Tuesday Linky Party

Paws in the Garden - Terri Stegmiller

I am so excited to share with you my test version of Terri Stegmiller's wonderful pattern, Paws in the Garden!!!

I have SO enjoyed working on this whimsical design - have you fallen in love with these cats yet?  I certainly have! There is so much purrsonality going on here, so many little details that make Terri's Paws in the Garden such a delight!   =^..^=

Paws in the Garden - wool applique

Below is Terri's original design for the pattern, featuring her signature stencil-painted background and some awesome sherbet colors....this girl is one talented artist!!!  She has this pattern for sale in her Etsy shop HERE if you'd like to make your own version of these sweet kitties.  Take my word for it, it's a fun pattern and very well designed :*D

Terri Stegmiller - Designer, Paws in the Garden

When I signed up to test the pattern for Terri, I thought it might work well as part of my Summertime wool wall quilt project.  However, because the original pattern is 24" x 37" I needed to reduce it down quite a bit to fit the 10" block size for this project.  When I tried to get all three kitties in the block, the features lost a lot of those wonderful little details, so as much as I hated to do it, I had to choose to use only two of the kitties.

Many of my wool fabrics in this block were taken from suit jackets and skirts - can you imagine my delight when I found this wonderful deep aqua wool skirt????

I wanted to preserve the smoothness of the muzzles and paws without a lot of stitching, so I took the suggestion of a few of my more experienced friends and simply did an invisible applique stitch slightly beneath these shapes with a thin cotton thread.  I love the play of the pale mint green muzzle and paws on this dignified aqua kitty.....

And of course, a purple muzzle and paws worked purrfectly on this flirtatious little pink kitty....

My favorite feature of this design is the way Terri gives so much purrsonality to these little felines' eyes!

I really wanted to do that justice, and sometimes details are difficult to do in wools.  I decided that the eyes would need to be reverse applique, which means I cut holes for the eyes and placed the bright green eye fabric behind the holes.....

They look a little spooky here, don't they?  Hahaha!!!!

Then I drew in the lines and pupils in the eyes with a black, fine-line Sharpie so I would have a pattern to use for the black stitching.  This is also where I sketched in the features of the nose & muzzle for stitching.....

See how the green eye fabric sits behind the aqua kitty fabric in this pic below?

This forced the stitching to go outside of the eye, giving the impression of eyelashes ......

If I had just cut ovals for the eyes and stitched them down, the eye sections would have been very pronounced, not allowing the natural appearance of the eyes being inside the head.  Plus all the stitchery around the eye would have appeared to be behind the eye instead of surrounding it, as it does here.  (Hope that's clearer than mud LOL!!!)

I added a tiny little hot pink tongue hanging out on each kitty =^..^=

Each kitty has a "design" on its back - the aqua kitty has black dots, while the pink kitty got tiger stripes which I created using the satin stitch - a stitch I really don't enjoy, but it was definitely called for here....

I also added in some french knot centers on the flowers and a few sprigs of grassy stitching with little tiny daisy-like flowers to add interest to the solid black background.....

Terri's design didn't need that because of all the fun stenciling she did on hers :*)

Here it is with the first block I completed for my Summertime wall quilt, and I'm thinking they go together very well indeed!  What do you think?

And I bet you are wondering what my own amazing feline, Gypsy, thinks of this new block, right?

Well, mostly she was quite miffed that it took up her space in my lap 

when we took to the recliner as is our usual custom in the evenings LOL!!!

She was not very pleased to be relegated to my feet!!!

I hope you've enjoyed my version of Paws in the Garden!  

I'm so happy that Terri allowed me this opportunity to play with her design!  

Thanks so much Terri!!!

If you would like to learn more about Terri Stegmiller and her designs, you can find her at any of these cool spots ....

     Web - http://terristegmiller.com/
     Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/TerriStegmillerArt
     Blog - http://stegart.blogspot.com/

I'm linking up with Kathy for her Slow Stitching Sunday linky party; Judy for her Design Wall Monday and Connie's Tuesday Linky Party!  Be sure to pop over to see how other stitchers are partying!  And may you and yours have a beautiful and blessed Sunday ♥♥♥

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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On the Needles - 11-8-13

Since I was so burned out on quilting after Moonglow, I kicked up my knitting projects a notch in the past few weeks!  I find it really relaxing to just sit with needles and yarn, and quietly, gently make something beautiful appear out of nowhere :*)

I just finished a wonderful new pair of plain jane socks.....

These are my Surf Serenity socks that I finished up in just 10 days!  You can see more pictures and read about them in my last blog post HERE.  Several have commented that the color bands match so well - that was totally unexpected!  I did take off some yarn at the beginning of one of the balls of yarn so the toes would be the same, but I never dreamed they would keep the same bands of color throughout most of both socks! :*)

In that post I also shared about a new-to-me method of stretchy binding off that worked like a charm!!!

I've worked a little on Wingspan - two "wings" are now finished and I've started on the third.

Joanne and I are going to Knaughty Knitter tomorrow and I hope to pick up a longer pair of #4 circulars because I'll be running out of room on these soon I'm afraid.  I'm also not really liking the way these Clover bamboo needles are "grabbing" the yarn, and the tips are too blunt for it as well.  I like the Knit Picks wooden circulars that I've been using for my socks - much smoother and with pointier tips.  The only metal needles I've found that I like are the Addi's.  They don't get "tacky" and they don't slip off the loops easily like other metal needles seem to do.  Although they are quite a bit more expensive, they may be worth it.  The right tools really DO make a difference!!!

As Denise at Justquiltin' promised, Wingspan is the perfect take-along project!  Very little thinking involved, so you don't have to follow a pattern every stitch.  And it is light and compact enough to carry in my purse.  I'm really enjoying the colors too, and this yarn is heavenly!!!!  This project will move slowly as its purpose is to have a "take along" project when I will be sitting somewhere and need to have my hands busy.

I have a couple of new projects in waiting.... all of them pretty involved and requiring some concentration and skills that I may not yet have :)  I need to decide on which one gets to be next, and get it started.

My husband gifted me with all the materials for my 100 Diamonds shawl for my birthday.  (Isn't he a pretty awesome guy?!?!  Yup, he certainly is :*D)  Ooo-la-la!!!!  I love this shawl!!!  So elegant and delicate.  And I'm very happy with the color yarn I chose...Raspberry - Yum!!!

I also decided to add the beads to this project.  It calls for one tiny little 3mm Swarovski crystal bead in the center of each diamond intersection.  Ya know I just love that bling, right???  I was too chicken to try them with my Cloud Illusions shawl LOL!!!  But I think I may be ready now, and I'm in love with the idea of how they will sparkle ever so gently on this delicate shawl.  Yes, I do believe I am waxing poetic!!!

I was shocked when they arrived - sooooooo tiny!!!!  And I had to order a special crochet hook for attaching them.  You can get an idea of the miniature sizes of the beads and hook by the toothpick added to this picture....

And by the way, I found a wonderful supplier for Addi needles and hooks - addi Needle Shop .  They have any Addi needle you might want and free shipping in the US!  I found the crochet hook I needed - the price was less than Amazon's, it included a protective cap, and there was no shipping!  They were very friendly, and they shipped quick.  I couldn't have asked for anything more!

But I think I will wait just a little longer until I have a little more experience under my belt before I make this special shawl.  I want it to be glorious!!!!  Well, I want it to look like Sachiko's flawless shawls, but that's not going to happen LOL!!!  This is a chart pattern which I've never done before, so I think I may find a simple chart pattern on Ravelry and practice that first.  Plus, I really want my knitting to be even and smooth on this shawl, because it will really show up if its not.  You can only get that from practice, practice, practice!!!!

So the project I think I'm going to start next has been waiting in the wings for a while now, almost since I started knitting again.  It is the Neck Down Swing Coat.....perfect with winter on the way!  Of course, it may be next winter before I finish it LOL!!!

I got the pattern and that wonderful hand-dyed worsted yarn at Knaughty Knitter - don't you just LOVE that yarn!!!!  I believe Meredith (shop owner) dyed that herself :)  I've put off starting this project because I am terribly nervous about successfully knitting a garment that will actually fit me!  I've never done anything but shawls and socks, so this is a new animal altogether :*)

To help in this learning process, I signed up for a Craftsy class - Knit Lab - Fit Your Knits....

I'll keep you posted on how the class goes and whether I am able to make any progress on this Swing Coat!

In the meantime, I will be putting yarn on the needles for another pair of socks to relax with in the evenings while watching my taped shows....

I've promised my daughter a pair of purple socks, and I just loved the colorplay in this yarn.  I wanted to try out the Kroy socks yarn to see how I like it.  There are a lot of colors that I like, but it is more expensive than some other sock yarns at Joann's, so I had been passing it up.  I was able to use coupons to get these relatively inexpensively.  I like that this yarn is mostly wool and it has a really nice soft feel to it.  I think my daughter will enjoy these! =^..^=

I'm linking up with Judy's On The Needles linky party at Patchwork Times - come see!!!

Have a wonderful & creative weekend my friends!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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