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!