12 Days of Christmas Mystery....

 Are you participating?

Temecula Quilts is posting a new block each day for 12 days....

I broke out my Set A Marti Michell Templates for the triangle pieced blocks.

It felt like Christmas again when I realized that Set A will work for these 3" blocks.

I think sometimes when we buy a template set, ruler or other quilt gadget we sometimes disappointed if we only use it once....

Then somehow another project sneeks up on us and Voila...

We can use it again!

Here's my first 5 days {blocks}  :)

They are super simple so far.

fabric used:

Domestic Bliss by Liz Scott for Moda

Okay now I am off to sew and sew and sew....

yep that's how I am spending my New Year's Eve...

...okay maybe a little wine with the hubby late late....

Fave Pin Friday #6

Source: alegriashoeshop.com via Vickie on Pinterest

I am obsessed with Alegria shoes.

obsessed.

Thursday Three: 3 new to me blogs

Flossy Tea Cakes

Source: flossieteacakes.blogspot.com via Vickie on Pinterest

Flossy Tea Cakes has some great tutorials and patterns to check out.

Sew Many Ways

Source: sewmanyways.blogspot.com via Vickie on Pinterest

I'm smitten with Sew Many Ways.

I have been craving a good tutorial for frosted glass.

The Noble Wife

Source: thenoblewife.blogspot.com via Vickie on Pinterest

The Noble Wife is a designer blogger, Jacquelynne.

She designs fabric for Henry Glass and is published in several books and magazines.

A great blog to check out this week.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Fave Pin Friday #5 Random Craft Generator

Source: random-tutorial.com via eileensideways on Pinterest

This is completely addicting....

I clicked 20 times....and then

like 20 more...just curious what is out there that I am missing.

Thursday Three

Stitched in Color

Tutorials and more...

beaucoup inspiration

Clover and Violet

gorgeous stuff here....

Little Blue Feather

Who knew how close she lives to me??

Getting my own Christmas presents.

I found an etsy seller that had fat quarters of Woodland by Lecien and Cinderberry Stitches.

No plan for it per se...

I think it will mix well with Moda colors in Little Apples etc.

So yes, I bought one of my own Christmas presents...

I'm glad I did :)

Travel Bag Gifts

Nifty Travel Bag

 

A bag that I am making for my staff this Christmas.

It is a pattern from the Vignette #5 magazine.

So I have 2 done and 4 to go by the 23rd....

better get sewing.

I just have to say....this is from my Darla fabric stash and

it is going to be 'real' tough parting with it....

I ♥ this bag.

Someone shoot me...

because we are painting my daughters bedroom a week before Christmas...

it's a long story.

Now that we are 'actually' doing it....

it's not as good of an idea as we thought.

13" Lalaloopsy Size Dress Pattern

I finally made the pdf of the Lalaloopsy sized pattern.

There aren't any detailed directions yet.

I just wanted to give you a chance to have the pattern before Christmas

just in case you have time to whip one up.

13" Lalaloopsy sized dress pattern PDF here.

I haven't made a tutorial for this yet.

Basically cut 1 front of the pattern, 1 back, 1 back reversed from dress fabric.

1/4" seams throughout.

I used Riley Blake Hoos in the Forest print.

I sewed a 1/4" grosgrain ribbon across the dress front before I hemmed or sewed any seams.

I used velcro for the back closure.

If you make one or 2 please post a picture on my flickr group.

I'd love to see what you make.

disclaimer: I am in no way associated with Lalaloopsy maker MGA.

I receive no profit from this design.

Fave Pin Friday #4

Source: needlework.craftgossip.com via Vickie on Pinterest

This is sooo adorable....

xoxoxo

Announcing "Thursday Three"

I'm sure you know this and probably don't need me to tell you but

 there are some pretty awesome bloggers out there.

I follow a TON on my side bar and many more in google reader.

Lately, with the intrusion of Pinterest...I have stumbled upon many blogs I didn't know existed or I didn't 'follow'.

I have found so much inspiration that I thought I would share.

I'm going to try to share 3 new blogs each Thursday...

"The Thursday Three"

and write just a small blip about them....

maybe a picture or 2??

so without further a do....

here are my first Thursday three....

Design Seeds

self explanatory.

Molly Flanders

love Molly's quilts...etc...

her photography is fab too!

Ana White

there are no words for how awesome Ana White is.

no words.

{my husband may have made this for my dd for Christmas ;) }

Recap

Last weekend we traveled to Iowa to visit my family.

It was the "first" Christmas gathering of 2011.

We will have Christmas with just the kids on the 25th.

The trip to Iowa was really 2 fold, Christmas and my mom's 60th surprise birthday party.

It was a HUGE surprise for her.

All of my sisters participated and my brother as well.

It took a great deal of planning and organizing but somehow we pulled it off.

My mom was a tough cookie though as she refused to come into the party hall. 

She was told it was a party for my dad's friend...but it was really for her.

It worked like a charm.

Overall it was a great weekend.

Now I am trying to play catch up.

I don't really want to leave my recliner.

I did pick up the mail yesterday and there was my copy of Vignette Issue #5.

It's packed full of eye candy.

There is a bag pattern in this bag that I want to try.

Perhaps for gifts for my staff? not sure yet...

 but my time IS running out.

Part of our Christmas in Iowa is that all the adult kids buy a gift for one another.

My sister Marie got my name and she went on amazon and found 2 of my top rated books.

Quilting from the Little Things and Sew to Swap.

Awesome books.

I was able to leaf threw them on the 9 hour drive home.

This weekend I 'hope' to accomplish something but I'll tell you...I just want to rest.

Favorite Pin Friday: Christmas Ornament

Source: elsiemarley.com via Vickie on Pinterest

One of my favorite Christmas Ornaments this year.
Half eaten Gingerbread man is genius.
My friend Jane gave me one last year and I finally searched out the pattern online.
Probably not time to make any this year but I am 'tucking' it away for the future....I'd like to give one to each of my sisters and brother for Christmas next year.
Okay, I am back to my sewing machine for a couple of hours.
Nothing to show as this stuff isn't quite ready yet.

Giveaway winner... Learn to Make A Quilt...

I apologize for the delay in announcing the winner, work got in the way.

Tonight we did CPR renewal and the week has been a total whirlwind.

I didn't sew a thing :( but that's about to change tomorrow.

I have to wait in the morning for the plumbers to fix our waterline to our fridge....

you know THAT could take hours of waiting...

and sewing...(secret yippee here)

Anyhow.....

The winner of the book Learn to Quilt is #63 VickiT!

I have emailed you,Vicki....

For the beginner Quilters....a giveaway

*COMMENTS CLOSED*

I have recently reviewed a new basics quilting book for House of White Birches.

Learn to Make a Quilt from start to finish by Carolyn Vagts is packed with just the basics.

I have been quilting for 15 years and 'thought' I know just about everything there is to know about quilting techniques.

But I know there is still more for me to learn!

Learn to Make a Quilt from Start to Finish includes advice on everything from fabric and pattern selection to cutting techniques and tips on completing a quilt. It focuses on one pattern, with one block that can be turned in different directions to create a number of different designs.

The book is written to teach beginners how to make a first quilt, with step-by-step photos that walk the quilter through each stage of the quilt-making process. Added tips and insights on techniques are included to make sewing easier and more accurate.

It's definitely a great book for your quilting library.
If you'd like to win a copy, please leave a comment.
I will randomly chose a winner on Dec.6th!
thanks :)

oooo DS Daisy Mae....

This was my retail therapy the night before my surgery.

Oh no there is a story behind this fabric.
 I mean a LONG story.

I have never ever had fabric cutting take so long.

19 half yards took 40 minutes.

then the clerk didn't charge 2 of the prints so they took another 15 minutes to figure which ones they missed.

Wow it was a major kerfluffle...

I kept my cool...

mainly because my nearest JoAnn's didn't have the new line.

I was in one of the Columbus stores before my mom's flight arrived.

Thank goodness I really allowed myself extra time!

They are fantastic colors.

Creating desire fullfilled

I have been longing to make some doll clothes for my girls' dolls.
They have several dolls but it seems that the LaLaloopsy's are the favorite plus my Grace loves American Girl.
I just finished a messenger bag for her A.G. doll.

I have shown several of the A.G. outfits I have made over the last year....
but now I am creating Lalaloopsy sized clothes.

I drafted several patterns for the 13" Lalaloopsy from scratch to make an A-line skirt, jumper, pants, t-shirt and I hope to make a hat soon too.
 I just basically measured the doll arms, legs, waist, neck etc and kind of drew them based on how I have sewn other patterns.
I didn't copy patterns. They are basic but super fun.
I have loads of ideas for embellishing the clothes too.
Wish I could stand long enough to cut more out....
 Once I am feeling better then I may make pdf's of the clothes.
You'll be the first to know when they are done.

Fave Pin Friday #2 : Vintage Shapes

Source: puglypixel.com via Vickie on Pinterest

These Vintage Fabric shapes from Pugly Pixel are awesome clip art for your blog!

I so want to do the premium membership so I can get all the shapes.