Another one...

This is a quilt I finished last year. It is a Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. pattern called Elizabeth. I used the Moda, Three Sisters fat quarter bundle Wuthering Heights. The back is a piece of fabric from that line with words from the book in tone on tone pinks. I have this quilt folded and hung on the back of a chair in my bedroom. It is so pretty!

Here is a closeup of the quilting. It's a feather design. The quilting really compliments the design. Thanks Ty!

That's it for today! Hope you have a good one...try to work on something quilty!

2008 Large Quilts

Alright, here we go...

Sarah got a quilt from Nana.

Emily got one too! These quilts have their names appliqued on the front and hand embroidered sayings like 'pitter patter', 'giggles' and 'sweet baby'. I used a jelly roll of Sanctuary by Three Sisters, Moda.

I took these next three pictures with the quilt folded and hung over the wall by the stairs. So you are only seeing half a quilt.

Toulouse, a Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. pattern. Moda's Christmas Presence fat quarter bundle. Holly and Berries quilting.

Crazy Christmas Nine Patch, a quilt made from my stash. Quilted with a mitten and snowflake design.

Flies In The Barn, another Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. pattern. Moda Blackbird Designs fat quarter bundle. I can't remember the name of this line of fabric but it is one of my favorites. This is one of those quilts where my friends would say, "Those are your colors!".

I have two more quilts to show you but they are over at my daughter's house. I'll get pictures when I go over to babysit the Tooties!

I also took pictures of three quilts I haven't shown you. Those will be in the next few posts.

Kim's new jelly roll pattern...

http://peachquilting.com/

Check out this cute pattern using a jelly roll.

Sorry about the pictures for the big quilts of 2oo8. We've had rain and clouds for two days. Hopefully I'll get the pictures in the next few days when the sun comes back out.

Oh, I added up my fabric purchased in 2008. I bought 88 yards! That includes six backings and lots of charm squares for gifts to my quilting friends.

2008 Little Quilts

Okay, here we go...lots of pictures!

Center Medallion

A Lori Smith pattern, Blueberries, Cherries and Cream, BOM. Hand quilted.


Spin City
Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. Schnibbles pattern. Made from two charm packs and a little yardage. Big Stitch quilting.
Red and Black Bow Tie
A UFO from 2005. Each fabric is different. Big Stitch quilting with red thread.

Tea Time With Friends

This was a UFO from 1997. I belonged to an online quilt guild (RPLOTN) in the 90s. We chatted every morning over coffee and tea. Someone had a brilliant idea to exchange mugs/tea cups! Just like all block swaps it's not perfect but holds lots of memories for me. It's big stitched with prairie points in the border and hand embroidery.

Of course there were baby announcements for Emily and Sarah.

Flowers For My Love

A Lori Smith pattern series called Fit To Frame (set one). I did this series as a BOM. There were six patterns-five had four quilts each and the last was a larger applique quilt. I really enjoyed doing these and actually hand quilted this one.

Blue Charm Tumbler

Another 2005 UFO finished. Each tumbler is a different fabric. I did big stitch quilting and it went quick!

A Walk In The Garden

Another Lori Smith Fit To Frame quilt. this one from set 5. Hand appliqued and quilted.

Pinwheels In My Garden
A block of the month, Lori Smith pattern Chocolate and Cherries. The version I got was called Blueberries, Cherries and Cream. There are nine quilts in this series. Hand appliqued and hand quilted.

This only a top. Another Blueberries, Cherries and Cream. I noticed two mistakes in my piecing...have to fix that.

Sandy Spends Alot

Another top...Lorie Smith, Fit To Frame, set one.

Four Patch Fannie
Top, Lori Smith Fit To Frame, set five.

Friends Are Forever

A top from Blueberries, Cherries and Cream.

Mosaic

A top from Blueberries, Cherries and Cream. I think this one needs a border or two.

Tomorrow I'll be back with the big quilts from 2008!

Things I've learned in the last year...

I've learned being around 2 one year olds for very long can change your taste in music. This is now my favorite song...

I Hope My Mama Says YES! AudraRox

Something blue...

I've redecorated the Hoosier in the breakfast room. Before Christmas I had it filled with a set of Debbie Mumm Tea Time dishes made by Sakura in 1998. I had every piece designed for that line. It was all crammed in! For Christmas this year I displayed my Santa collection and I loved the look. Now, I have all sorts of blue and white pieces on the shelves. (Looks like I need to put the table leaves away. )

My Mom shined up the copper kettles. Very pretty! I found the lamp at Goodwill for a few dollars.

These are the Cottage Heritage dishes I've been collecting. I didn't know Pfaltzgraff had even designed these until one day while searching EBay for more pieces to add to my (plain white) Heritage collection I saw one piece with the little blue flower on it and bid right then! I've had the Heritage pattern for over 30 years. I think I have almost every piece and we use it everyday. So, these fit right in and even though they are hard to find I enjoy looking for them.

The light blue glass pieces are old Fire King pieces called Sapphire Blue Philbe Ovenware. It's another collection I search for. I've had them packed away for years. Thank goodness I remembered them before I filled the Hoosier with something else!

This is a little bit I found on EBay for practically nothing. Isn't it cute?

Thanks for visiting today. I hope you enjoyed seeing a glimpse of my cottage...Talk to you tomorrow!

Looking back and ahead!

Happy New Year! It's 2009! Time to think about plans for the New Year!

First, let me say, 2008 wasn't the best blogging year for me. I became discouraged after losing almost a year of posts! I've been thinking should I just discontinue blogging or make it a top priority in 2009. After carefully considering the issue I've decided to continue to blog and devote my energy to making my blog top priority.


I keep a daily hand written journal that I'm dedicated to (especially since becoming a grandmother!) and a quilt journal that I have been faithfully keeping since 2004. My blog has always been hit or miss since the beginning. I actually have two blogs, one for quilting and another about decorating. I'd like to combine these two and add some favorite recipes and of course keep posting about the Tootie Babies! So, that is one 'resolution'.

I'm not very good at sticking with these things. I stopped making them years ago...but, I do try to think about what I would like to accomplish in my quilting for the year. My resolutions are more like plans.


In 2008, I declared it would be the year of 'little quilts' and I did finish a few. I signed up for two block of the months by Lori Smith (Fit To Frame and Blueberries and Cream). I've received all the kits and I'll keep making them in 2009. I really enjoy making small quilts and I actually can hand quilt them because of their size.

The other block of the month from last year was Primitive Garden done in wool. I have found that I don't enjoy working with wool. I know...I'm probably the only person who doesn't like wool. I love the pattern though and plan to applique it with cotton sometime in the future. So, there is #2.

This year I have ordered a block of the month from Quakertown Quilts by Susan Garman. It's called The Night Before Christmas. I love her quilts, applique and pieced. While I had my hand on the button I ordered three of her patterns too. I'll show them when they get here.

I usually pick out two or three block of the month programs at the beginning of the year. I love BOMs because all the fabric decisions are made and I can just get to work. Of course if there is a fabric I don't like I'll replace it but usually I love all the fabrics that come in the kit. I can't wait for this one to get here so I can get started. Resolution #3 is going to be easy!

My long standing resolution is to work on completing UFOs. The UFOs are really WIPs. Long ago I gave away the quilts I had no interest in finishing. I have whittled down my list through the years. However, since I keep starting new quilts that list is never ending. Resolution #4.

Every year I like to completly finish 12 quilts. Big or little doesn't matter. This year I finished 18 quilts. Some were projects completed from beginning to end and some were UFO's. The past few years have been easier for me to finish quilts since my good friend Ty quilts most of them on her long arm! Once again, I'd like to finish 12 in 2009. Resolution #5 should be another easy one.

Well, that's it for now. I think it's plenty. Of course, you know all those things in the back of my head like losing weight, exercising, organizing my closets and making curtains will be there making me feel guilty but since I'm not resolving to get any of them done they don't matter anyway!

*Blogger isn't letting me add anymore pictures! What's up with that? I have a couple of Christmas pictures of the Tootie Babies and a collage of my finishes. Hopefully, later, I can add them to this post.