Returning from Wordpress

It's been almost a year since I moved my blog to wordpress. It just didn't work for me, so I'm back on blogger!!! Wahooo!!! Blogger is user friendly.

I finished my NiCu Quilt...

Made 5 sets of Calico Cats and Gingham Dogs....

 I have a new love of Linen and Gauze with more to follow soon.

We're Moving!

I have recently moved my Studio and am moving my Blog too! Please come follow me at

 Cottage Quilt Studio's New Blog I look forward to seeing you on my new Blog.

Happy quilting!

Rice Bags

I have been making rice bags for my Etsy shop. Need a great gift for a friend, family or co-worker?
Come visit me at Cottage Quilt Studio

Christmas Quilt

I know it seems early however, Christmas will be here before we know it! I am currently working on a Christmas Quilt with embroidery! More pics to come soon!

 

There are 360 red squares cut and ready. Cutting 1.5" strips from 6 fabrics tomorrow as well as

embroidering more designs for this quilt! I have 10 embroideries done and 20 more to go.

 

The Lavender Crib Quilt with matching Pillow

  The lavender crib quilt will be listed on Etsy soon!  Pastel Lavenders and White on White Paisley!

NEW ITEMS IN MY ETSY SHOP! CLICK HERE!

Hurry! Coupon Expires on Sunday!

Enter Coupon Code: SNOWDISCOUNT2014 at my Etsy Shop to receive $2.00 off of any purchase over $20.00 Hurry! Coupon Expires on Febuary 16, 2014!!!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CottageQuiltStudio

A couple of things I finished today! Please click on the title's to see more pics in my Etsy Shop!

Sunflower Shopping Bag/Tote

 

 

 

Pretty Shopping/Tote Bag

 

Studio Update

The Studio is pretty much complete!

Although I try to stay "Sew Busy Quilting" I have named my studio, " Cottage Quilt Studio"

 I love working here!

 Here a few photo's I am sure there will be many more to follow!

 

 

More Embroidery!

                                                        

Here are a few things I have embroidered recently! More to come soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Etsy Listing!

Wristlet made with Rachel Ashwell Garden Rose by Timeless Treasures

My New Etsy Shop...A work in progress

My Etsy Shop

The Creation of a Studio!

Time to get busy! Creating a Studio in a cute little house for my quilting and sewing. The house needs lots of work but I think we can have it workable in no time. There are 5 rooms. There will be a room for my studio, a fabric cutting and storage room, a room for gatherings/classes, a room for my "daughter's" studio and there is a kitchen and bath. The rooms are small but it sure beats working out of the smallest bedroom in my house!
The possibilities are endless! We are hoping to hold classes, demo's and meetings! Plus work on our own projects! Sonia and I have tons of idea's and plans. She has named her part of the studio but I need HELP with my studio name! Any suggestions?
I will work on posting pictures of the progress!

My First Complete Quilt

At last, I have completed my first quilt! I have several quilt tops completed but this is the first one I have completed....right down to the tag!
This quilt is a charity quilt for the NICU of a local hospital.
Measures 36"x35". Quilt top is Flannel, with 100% cotton batting and a Flannel backing. The tag was embroidered on the embroidery attachment of my Bernina.

Time to Start Blogging Again!

I can't believe it has been over six months since I last blogged! It's been crazy around here. Time to get back on track.

Since my last post, the grandbaby that was due in January, did indeed arrive! He is 3 1/2 months old now and growing like a weed! And sadly, the fish quilt has not yet arrived.

Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, TN in March was awesome! Lots of laughter, friends and of course, gorgeous quilts! I will have to upload my pictures to my computer so I can share them with everyone.

I am currently working on a flannel quilt for our local NICU. The fabric and pattern has been chosen for my Quilt of Valor which will begin when the NICU quilt is finished.
Guess it's time to get busy, busy, busy!

A Fish Quilt Due in January

We are expecting our sixth grandchild in January. The nursery is to be decorated with fish, so I decided a Fish Quilt was in order. I found the main fabric by Hoffman, I want to use, but still haven't decided on a quilt pattern. I am considering a Tumbler pattern but I am just not sure. Later this week I will have to go into the quilt shop and find some wonderfully bright co-ordinating fabrics. Does anyone have pattern ideas that would be cute for a new baby boy's fish quilt?

My Thread Catcher

I have been using a brown paper lunch bag, taped to my tabletop, to catch all of those threads that get clipped and snipped. That was okay for a little while, but then I saw a cute little thread catcher at the quilt shop and I knew I had to have one! A friend found a pattern and made a copy for me and supplied me with clean sand.

Today was the day to make my thread catcher...no more brown paper bags for me!

It was quite simple. I got some practice quilting in a cross hatch pattern (practice is ALWAYS good).

I had bought the fabric in Pigeon Forge, Tn. in March at a Quilt Fest. It's the perfect fabric for my thread catcher!

It's weighted with sand....which I must confess....I didn't think sand would stay in the fabric. I used very small stitches and reinforced with a zigzag stitch to ensure I would not have sand all over my sewing machine! The added bonus I hear, is the weight can be used as a pin cushion and the sand will help keep your pins sharp!

Time to start looking for tomorrow's project!

Fairies

A quilter in our guild made a beautiful fairy quilt with lots of applique! I was so impressed with the applique and quilting, not to mention the fairies. Fay Seale was kind enough to let me share her fairy quilt with all of you.

Applique is a skill I have not yet learned, but can't wait till I do! The pictures of this adorable fairy quilt does not do it any justice!

Thank you, Fay, for letting me share your beautiful work!

Organization

I have been trying to organize my quilting space lately. Much easier said than done! Progress has been made, but there is still sooooo much more to be done.
It would help considerably if I wasn't trying to work out of my dining room. Have you ever noticed how dining rooms are not quilting friendly? I am in desperate need of my own space!! Yesterday, my husband and I went "studio" shopping again. I am beginning to think this isn't going to happen before the snow flies. Even if it does, the need for organization is imperative. Everything scattered across the dining room is just not conducive to creativity or productivity.
I now have a my fabric all in one place, an accurate account of my thread, patterns gathered together and various other notions and supplies at the very least condensed. Still a mess, but it's a bit more of an organized mess!

A Place to Quilt

In the past week, I have made 2 Monkey Business bags, practiced some Free Motion Quilting and sewed a curtain for a friend. My space is limited and very unorganized! My husband and I are planning on building or purchasing a shed to turn into my Quilting Cottage so I will have a space of my own that I can organize and create! I found a ready made shed with a front porch 12' x 20'....keeping in mind I will need to add on when I get a long arm quilter, hehehe someday! It would work comfortably....it has 3 windows and a door with a window, 2 lofts for plenty of stash storage and plenty of room for sewing table, cutting table and cubbies for supplies. The building will be wired,
insulated, finished walls and floor, heat/AC, dehumidifier and set up as my quilting / sewing space!

My stepdad has drawn a few plans to help us estimate the cost of building my quilt cottage from scratch. He has also suggested several place on our property as likely locations. I will have to admit, his suggestions and reasoning behind them were definitely better than where I had planned on putting the building.

Yesterday, my husband and I were at the hardware store and I found a book on building your own shed. It included lots of wonderful pictures for garden sheds, barns, tool sheds, garages and "STUDIO'S". Lot's of comparison shopping to do!

I hope this project is started soon! My husband is hoping to have it ready to go before the snow flies, that may be a little over zealous. Keep your fingers crossed!