Friday finish - Handquilting the cowboy quilt

 I have been working on this for quite a while. Hand quilting for me is never a fast thing. Unless I'm too weeks away from Christmas and I was hoping to get this done as a gift.

back view of hand quilting

Then there is plenty of pressure to get it done. I made it by the skin of my teeth or should I say the

callus on my pointer finger.

 

The intended recipients were able to know that what they have seen me work on for so long was always intended for them. :) That brought a smile that made it all worth while. Unfortunately they didn't get to hold on to it yet. I still have to hand stitch down the binding. But in comparison to the quilting part that shouldn't take long at all.

On Christmas Eve

I'm all snuggled in with my family. My mystery blocks for this week are complete. There is a soft snow outside the window. Life couldn't get much better, unless you maybe add hot chocolate.


We want to wish you a very Merry Christmas! May you spend time with loved ones.

Straight to the point

Today I am going to be completely honest with you. I make a TON of mistakes. This week is no different. I got the directions for the pieces on Friday and then had a busy weekend. I didn't have the chance to get started on piecing until Monday. But that wasn't the only thing on my mind, so I did not focus completely. I read and re-read the instructions again quickly and started on the piecing. I was off to the races.

I am having trouble getting my photo's true to color. In real life this has more of a red look.

I was disappointed with how my points were turning out. What was I doing differently? Was it my cutting? Was it that I was racing to get to the next thing on my list? Was it my seam allowance?  I decided that it would be okay to have a point or two cut off. The colors of this quilt were picked especially for a friend, who is going to love the quilt regardless of a point. So I plugged on and they got better as I went.

So I finished all 128. BUT WAIT! I don't need that many. I only needed 64. So in the long run I have plenty of pieces that points are not cut off. But I also see seam ripping in my future, or more piecing. Have you ever made such a foolish mistake?

Mental note: Listen to Bonnie, "It's not a race! It's NOT a race!" Maybe if I say it enough it will stick.

As for this post, it is meant to show my own mistakes. It does not reflect on the mystery in anyway. The mystery I love! My mistake not so much!

Sometimes

Sometimes what I start on Friday takes me the rest of the week to complete. Sometimes it takes me longer. We will not discuss the unfinished quilts that may children will find one day. As for now I have been determined to keep up with the Easy Street Mystery. After all I could use a little excitement/mystery, and what I find in the laundry is just not cutting it.

Can I just say this mystery is so aptly named. Because this morning I sent the kids to school and got started. By lunch time I  had my 64 completed blocks. Hooray for a finish! Now on to the rest of my "To Do List"

Can I just tell my family there is more to do here and go back to quilting?

Enjoying the mystery

At this time of year there is so many things to stress over. The good news is that the mystery quilt along with Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville is NOT one of those things. In fact I look forward to it all week long.

When I got the second step on Friday, I started right away. I forewarned my husband that I would not be leaving my pj's for the day, but I could be found at my sewing machine. If you lived close enough you would hear the sound of Christmas songs playing, and my sewing machine humming. We will not discuss my singing capabilities or lack of. But I may have mistakenly missed the telephone ringing as I was fully engrossed in what I was doing.

 Flying geese have been a bit of a challenge for me. I always seem to cut off that top point. I have used the easy angle ruler before, but not the companion ruler. I watched Bonnie's video and just decided to go with it.

 So glad that I did. I have few that are not perfect. But neither am I. The picture doesn't truly showcase the color, the pieces are more purple in real life.

 I may not know the finial result of this quilt. As of right now I am completely okay with that. I am loving seeing my colors and each piece come together. Now if I can just stick to this platter of quilt pieces and not platters of cookies. I will be fantastic the whole season long.

P.S - If you haven't started yet, jump in at anytime, and do what you can. I have to say there is a huge group of quilters participating and each one is so different and unique. It's wonderful to see all the inspiration out there. Not to mention that everyone is so sweet and supportive with their comments. I could just (((((hug you all))))).

No more...

... horsing around, on my part. There is hand quilting to be done. A ton... a lot... of hand quilting. I ask myself what was I thinking. I added way more quilting than necessary.

 I want to have this finished for a fast approaching holiday. Wish me luck!

Beginning a mystery

There is nothing quite like a good mystery, in my opinion. Whether it be a  good book or the latest quilt mystery from Bonnie Hunter . They both keep you full of suspense and  anticipation, wondering, and trying to figure it out.

The first clue was her fabric choices. I knew I couldn't exactly match up her color choices. I needed to work from fabric that I already have. So I pulled all my pieces together. This is where I started second guessing myself.  What if the butler did it, or my fabric choices didn't turn out right? AHHH!

I pushed past the nerves and started the first part. I guess that's the whole point of a mystery. You just don't know how things will turn out. Maybe you just have to have faith it will turn out. After all it's just fabric!

At this  point, I am quite happy with my progress. I have all 194 patches done with out a tear drop.  Now I can't wait until Friday to see the next clue/step. 

Vintage Holiday

For Once I may be prepared for the holidays. Only because I started making these ornament blocks.

 

 

And once you get started you just don't want to stop.

 

Sorry about the bad picture quality. It is what it is.

You may find yourself considering making one for your best friend, neighbor, co-worker, or even your mother in law???

 

 

Gasp! They really are that enjoyable. Consider yourself forwarned.

 

It goes together faster than any other holiday preparing you may do.

 

 

But best of all is when your all done, you'll be all ready to curl up for a snooze.

Late to the Party

I'm joining the flicker Swoon group, fashionably late. You didn't really expect me to be on time did you. After all I only had this pattern sitting and waiting on me for almost a year. But I do have a good excuse.

 

This winter is nothing like winter. There has been very little snow, it really hasn't been that cold. So most people are enjoying the warmer winter. At my house, 3 out of 4 of my family members have been sick. We have visited our doctor more this month than I think we did most of last year. 

So what is a mom to do...I've been dreaming of being out in the wild yonder, without coughing, sneezing or inhalers. Personally, I think the swoon block works very well with a western theme.

Of course this is the only western thing in my house. And as of this point I'm not quite sure what direction I hope to go with it. At the time I was making it "it just felt right" Now I have more questions than answers, sashing or not? more cowboys or keep it sutle?  Unfortunately I ran out of the red. So that's not an option. One thing I am certain about is that I would like to get this close to a finished top soon. I think it would really lend itself to being hand quilted.  Do you have any suggestions or a cattle prod to keep me moving?

Beginning

It's a new year, and a new beginning for me. I suppose any that anything is possible on any given day. But right at this very moment, I feel free and relaxed and ready to start a new chapter in my life.

I'm just not quite sure what that is yet! For now I have put going to college on hold. I just don't feel ready to transfer.  Of course it could be the idea of large loans talking there, or still having other responsibilities.

Regardless I do still have plenty to fulfill my day and spirit. Currently I am enjoying one of my older hobbies, leather working. This isn't something that I have shared with you before, unless you are one of my real life friends.  So someday soon I'll have to explain the details.

Don't worry I haven't forgotten quilting. :0) I have brought along plenty of quilting goals and unfinished projects for the new year. Hopefully I didn't bring any of the stress along with it.

Here is to beginnings, we all have to start somewhere. This just happens to be where I am at.