Happy New Year 2012!

Happy New Year everyone!

Blogger's December BOM. This is the block that Pat Sloan has designed for us. For directions you can click on the Mariner's compass star on the right.

 This mug rug I made for my friend Jean W. She let me borrow her magazine with the pine tree paper piecing pattern. It is the December 2009 issue of American Quilt and Patchwork. The little quilt in this magazine is very pretty.
The mug rug is 6X9 inches, just right for a mug and a cookie. She doesn't know that I made this for her. I will be collecting fabrics to make the quilt soon.

Beyond the Cherry Tree Block 1

The Beyond the Cherry Tree BOM is almost done. If you have not seen this beautiful quilt, you are in for a treat. It is available at Sentimental Stitches. It has been over 2 years of monthly postings; and the last border and block 25 are not posted yet. I have been collecting the blocks; but did not start making the quilt yet.
It all changes now; I am ready to start with block 1. I have pinned all these pieces to the background fabric, took the picture to see it on the design all; and will start making changes. For example, the light green will have to go; the red berries will have bright yellow/orange centers. This will be a happy, not too serious quilt. The blocks will have various background; but all 4 borders will be this same fabric because I love these dots. No promises of finishing it anytime soon. Quilting is my avocation and I am resolving that I will not be stressed in 2012 by things that are supposed to be my fun activities.

Very little sewing

 I spent 2 hours this morning sewing. I have to say that I could have done a lot better if I didn't make so many mistakes. It must be the several weeks without sewing that made it harder for me to do the simplest of the jobs.
The photo above is the 11 Ohio Stars I have finished for Orca Bay Mystery step 6. I usually don't like to show my work in progress because I never like what I am doing. But I do like these stars.
Below is the Blogger's Block of the Month Star for November. It was published on November 25th; but I just made it this morning. I had a hard time deciding on what colors to make this one. I did not like anything I did. So, I did modify it to look like this :-(
I am not happy at all with it, so I will make another one later. I was not too inspired I guess. Maybe I will make it the way it was designed and change the fabrics around.
I had a great day after that at the movies; and eating left overs.

Ornament Exchange

My Wednesday Bunch group had the yearly get together for the holidays this week. We made 1 ornament and wrapped it well. Than we drew numbers for the little package would go home with us. The ornaments were all so beautiful!
The one on top is the one I made. I saw this before; but unfortunately, don't remember where I saw it.
The one below is the one that Joan made. It is gorgeous. She used paint sticks, stencil, and beading. The pipping is about 1/8 inch. Too cute. I am so glad it is mine now.

To make the bird ornament, you will need:
. 1 small bird (about 1/2 and I found this one at Michaels).
. 1 1-1/2 inch wide clay pot.
.  large red seed beads and thin wire to make clusters of berries. (I used 3 beads per cluster)
. 2 pieces of artificial greens. I cut a 5 inch piece and made a circle; and another piece about 4 inches and folded in half to make the nest. I glued them in place using E-6000 glue and let it dry overnight.
. about 12 inches of ribbon to glue around the pot so you can hang it on your tree. (I used Tacky glue). Tie a knot at the base around the pot and tie a know on top to make the hanger. Trim as needed. I also added some seed beads to the ribbon. You are done.
You could just buy a small sprig of greens and glue to the pot; but I had all the materials above, so I made it my way.
Easy and fast to make.
Happy Holidays and Happy Everyday in 2012.

Orca Bay sew along 2 and 3

 This half square triangle made using 2" strips that are cut with the Easy Angle ruler, are my version of the step 3 for the Orca Bay Mystery. Of the 350, I have about 200 made. The rest will not be sewn for a couple of weeks. I will keep collecting the "clues" and will be making them later.

 The blue 3 1/2" blocks above are a few of the 70 something we are suppose to make for step 2. I have about half made and that is all I can do for now. I am having a lot of fun with family and friends. I love to sew; but my philosophy is "people first and sewing second." When I have down time, I will continue to sew. I have the best of both worlds!

Christmas Block and Sylvia's album

This block is my new addition to Sylvia's Bridal quilt. It is the "trip around the world" block. I did finish it last week; but did not have a camera to take pictures. But now Dear Santa gave me a gorgeous hot pink Sony Cyber-shot and he is even letting me try it Ü

Well it is supposed to be packed until Christmas; but one needs to know if it works or not.

The Christmas block here is the one I made using the DOQ (my local guild) green challenge fabric. The block is 12 inches (12 1/2" unfinished). If you want to make a similar one. You will need:
From the background fabric:
2- 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" strips (for top and bottom)
2- 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" strips (both sides)
2- 21/2" x 4 1/2" strips (both sides of the bowl)
2 half square triangles. I use the same 2 1/2" strips and the Easy Angle ruler to cut them. But the square have to be 2 1/2" , so it can be also cut from a 2 7/8" square.

From the Green Fabric:
2- 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" strips.

From the red fabric:
1 strip 2 1/2" by 6 1/2"
2 half square triangles like the background above.
Sew the half square triangles to make the  squares that will be the bowl. Sew the other strips to complete the block as shown on the picture.
Very easy and quick.

Fall in my neck of the woods

Just a few photos of our walking trails. This is a gorgeous time of the year to be outside. It is also the reason I have sore arms and can barely quilt. All these leaves have to be racked sooner or later.
But the sewing machine will be busy soon.

Block Buffet and X-mas block

The AQS: American Quilt Society is having a mystery quilt  Called: "Block Buffet" by Linda Hahn. This mystery will finish on November 23, 2011. I have been making the blocks for the past 4 weeks. But have not shared them. I was not sure of the fabrics I have chosen. It is a bunch of fabrics that I have bought all over the planet.  This is the center of my quilt. I think it is about 20 inches. I am liking it more and more as I work on it. It is not a difficult quilt to make so far. You can check more photos of other people that are working on this quilt at My Quilt Place.com. I am not a member of this group. So I am not linking it.

There are a lot of little squares that will be sewn on the next step. I can't wait to see the finished quilt.

 Below is a 12" block I made for a block drawing at my guild. Every year we buy the fabric, make the block and hope for the chance to win all of them. This is an African fabric and I added my own red fabric.
We always have one more traditional fabric and one ethnic fabric. I have not made the other block yet. Don't know if I will have time to make it either.

Orca Bay Mystery quilt

Photo 1

The 2011 mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter has started. If you want to participate check it here: quiltville.blogspot.com on Fridays. The first "clue" is to cut strips 1 1/2" wide and make hourglass blocks. I am using the same colors as Bonnie, since I have a lot of these fabrics on my stash. But I make my blocks differently from her. I do use the Companion ruler to cut the triangles. I pair a light and a dark strips right sides together. Using the Companion ruler I cut the triangles. Than I cut the "dog ears" using an acrylic template. See photo 1. I do stack up to 4 strips to start with.

To sew the triangles together, I take one pair with the light triangle on top and one pair with the dark triangle on top; and sew them like the photo above. Make sure you are sewing on the short side of the triangle and that they are positioned this way. Abut the 2 pairs as close as you can. The other short side of the triangles should touch each other. This is really important. I did sew the triangles above already, and staged the photo above so you can see the sewing line. Do NOT separate them.

After you sew them; finger press the seams to the dark triangles. Use the thread that hold them together as your "pin." Align the 2 sides together and sew this new seam. The thread from the previous seam is holding them perfectly in place. See photo below.

Take your seam ripper and cut that top thread (photo on left). Using your fingers open that seam and you will have a center like the photo below.

Your block is ready with a perfect center, without stopping for pinning. Trim as needed. This one is done. Only a couple of hundreds more to go Ü.

Of course I do mine assembly line style.

This is great to sew 4 patches and 9 patches also.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Progress on BOMS

These are my new blocks.
The top one is the 6.5" for the Sylvia Bridal's quilt. I made 4 blocks this week. Yey!
This one is "Duck and Ducklings." It was fun to make and is the one I sent in. Every Monday we get a new block assignment from the website. It is great to keep me going.
The block with the black background is 8.5". It is block number 2 BOM for the cvquiltworks quilt along.
I have also started the "Block Buffet" from the AQS website. This is a mystery quilt. The clues come on Wednesdays. This week we got clue 3/6. I am using only fabrics from my stash. It will be a donation quilt. It's my way to force myself to make more quilts for others. Photo soon.
Thank you for the comments you leave here or by e-mail. It is so fun to read them Ü

Sharing on Fall 2011 Quilt Festival

Happy Halloween! Belated one.
I am sharing this quilt on this post to link it to amyscreativeside.com.
She has a "Fall 2011 Blogger's Quilt Festival," where you can see some amazing quilts in one place. No need to look around for them. They are all there for inspiration.
My quilt was a part of a block exchange. I love Halloween (not the scary part), and requested my blocks done in Halloween fabrics. My friends did not disappoint. This quilt has won several ribbons. I quilted it on my old sewing machine, something that does not come easily to me. Great learning opportunities there.
I love to know that people that I love have made part of this quilt. It is still hanging on my wall even though the calendar says November. Ü