Mug Caddies for my Board Members

I made a dozen mug caddies for my Foothills Board Members and for several friends.  I made a handmade etui (needle case), and pin cushion to go in them, and several quilting items - and put some sweets in them too. Here's the one I made in a class and also a sample of the ones I made for the Board.

 

At the Christmas Party I was presented with some pretty "Baskets of Wishes" blocks in fall colors from members of the Foothills quilting group to thank me for my year as Chapter Chair.  I love them.  

BLOCK OF THE MONTH FOR 2017

In my Palo Verde Patchers Handwork Group this year we made a darling Redwork Basket quit.  I designed it, made a class sample, and sent a block out each month.  Here is the cute quilt.

This year we also covered the topic of coloring on fabric with crayons.  

Sleepy Bear Quilt

I just completed this quilt yesterday.  I call it Sleepy Bear.  I plan to hang it over my gr. grandson, Zahn's, crib.  I had originally thought I'd give it to charity but he was so interested in the stars, the moon, & especially the ties, that I decided I would give it to him instead.

Here's the back....... .  I used muslin, which I often do to save $$$, and then use some of the left over quilt fabric from the front to machine applique something onto the back.

 

The top was made in 2012 - the backing was even finished and ready to go back then.  Then it sat around waiting until I got re-interested in it again.  I'm glad to finally get this UFO (unfinished object) finished.  If I recall correctly, I found the pattern for this little bear in one of my quilt magazines.

Handmade Christmas Gifts for 2015

Seasons' Greetings.  I spent many happy hours making Christmas gifts for my quilting friends this year.  For some I made a crazy quilt style embroidery hoop picture and for some I made a little pin cushion using wool felt with fabric accents.  

 

What a wonderful time of year!  I feel so blessed to be able to spend time with friends and family.  Last week alone I attended 3 Christmas luncheons - good food, good friends, and a lot of good memories made. 

Throw Pillow for Gift Exchange

Here are pictures of the two-sided throw pillow I made for our applique group's Christmas gift exchange. 

10 Minute Table Runner

Have you heard of the "10 Minute Table Runner"?  The description alone captured my interest so I decide to make one and see if it was really that fast.  I discoverd that the sewing time actually is 10 minutes - amazing (if you have everything cut out and ready to go first).  I decide to make these for Christmas gifts this year.  Here are the ones where I remembered to snap a picture.

Home Sweet Home Wallhanging & Throw Pillow Gifts

In our applique group we drew names for Christmas this year.  I made this Home Sweet Home Wallhanging for my friend Joy in the colors of her house.  I found the free pattern for the blocks at   http://pacificpatchwork.typepad.com/ .  The patterns are only available until the end of the year, so hurry if you want to get them.

I got the nicest thank you note from Joy so it sounds like she liked her gift.

Our holiday party was so enjoyable.  Louise made a yummy homemade chicken pot pie for lunch and spoiled us with cream puffs topped with carmel sauce and pecans for dessert.  She'd homemade this too.  It was delicious. 

After lunch we had the exchange of our gifts.  I got the most wonderful throw pillow from my friend Patty.  The message on it is so precious to me.

Isn't it great!  I just love it!!!

Quilts for My Colorado Family

We're Back from our trip to Colorado to see my ailing Mother and our relatives who live there.  I gave her a comfort quilt, the "Heart of Gold Mini-Baltimore" from my last post.  Unfortunately, she's confused enough that she didn't realize that it was me who made it for her.  She misunderstood and thought it was made by my daughter-in-law.  I think that after some time, and telling her a few times that it was from me, she finally understood.  Regardless of who she thought gave it to her, she said she loved it and appreciated it.  That made me feel happy.  We hung it on the wall where she could see it and I hope it will make her feel loved when she looks at it.

I also made my Mom a wallhanging for her 90th Birthday which we celebrated while we were there.  I thought the sentiment was so meaningful.

While we were there we got to see my youngest son, Scott's, new home.  It's his first home with is new wife, Andrea.  They live in beautiful Fort Collins, CO.  I wanted to make them a housewarming gift for it so decided to make a wallhanging for their entry.

About 5 years ago, Scott's then girlfriend - now wife, Andrea, helped me pick out some fabric to make a quilt that matched one I had made for him.  A his and hers kind of thing.  I finally took it to her on this trip.  The first picture is the quilt I made for her and the second picture is the one I had previously made and given to my son.  The layout, sashing, and borders are different on each of them but they both have the same color log cabin blocks.  They selected the colors for the blocks, but Scott wanted his accent to be black & white, and Andrea wanted hers to be a jungle print. 

My niece has 4 little girls and they love quilts.  I had a quilt I had made previously from "ugly fat quarters" that I won at a quilt gathering at our mountain home last year.  I thought it looked like a quilt for little girls, so decided to go ahead and quilt it, and give it to them.  Coincidently, it was also one of the little girl's Birthdays while we were there so we had her open the "package".  It was funny to me that it was such a hit and yet it was made from what others think of as ugly fabric.

I usually bring a gift for my sister when I get to see her every year or so.  Her favorite colors are pink & blue so I thought I'd make this little Sunbonnet Girls wallhanging with blue floss and put a border of pink and blue fabric on it.  The label I put on it was, "My Sister, My Friend".

Can you see that the disappearing marking pen had not yet completely disappeared on the wallhangings when I snapped these pictures?  Oops.