Getting Ready for Christmas

My grandson LOVES the American flag.  Every time he sees one flying at someone's house or at a business, he tells me:  Look, Maw-Maw!!  There's my flag!!!

On my Quilty To Do list, I've had 'make a quilt for B' near the top for a while....  and never did it.   Until now.

Maybe 3 years ago, I found a pattern for a quilt on Pinterest (I know, right??  Me? on Pinterest??)  So I threw it together.......  It was 24" x 44".  Long and skinny and I just didn't know what to do with it.  Table runner?  Wall hanging??  Just some sort of decoration???  I don't know...

Well,  it was laying on the table in my craft room, and B saw it and claimed it.   Sure you can have it buddy...  but I need to fix it..........  

And into the unfinished project box it went.......  Hopefully, he forgot about it.....  

This past summer, I saw in Pinterest (oooo  shocker!!) someone was putting together a collection of wonky stars to make quilts for veterans and soldiers (I think), and I decided those wonky stars would be PERFECT for the flag quilt......  and I made 14 of them.....  And added 7 to each side.

Well, I think that turned out pretty good, even if I do say so myself.  Mr. Inspiring (Paw-Paw Inspiring??) thinks that B is going to LOVE it.  I purchased some navy fabric with little stars sprinkled all over and hand quilted it, and then grabbed a few of the fabrics used in the quilt top for the binding.  I haven't taken a picture of it yet all quilted and washed and crinkly.... yet.  I'm not happy with my binding and may redo it.

I'm also making a quilted laptop bag for my daughter.  Hopefully I'll be able to post pictures of it next week.  I'm using Joel Dewberry's Aviary fabric line for that and it's looking pretty cute so far....

Have a great week!  What Christmas projects are you working on??

Hugs ~~ Suz

Things I'm Working On Today!

Ok -- I sooo meant to be doing better about posting more.....  and I really did  get a good start  - - almost 2 weeks ago....

And then..............


I got sick.

With a NASTY cold

And was in bed ALL weekend last weekend.  And I slept ALL weekend last weekend......  But I'm much better now............  Yay, me!!

Today is a cold, dreary, gray day.  So, I've started boiling my chicken with onions and celery to make some yummy home made chicken n dumplins.....  Oh Yeah!!  It's a perfect day for yummy, comfort food like that!!!

Quilt Status:

I've got my blocks done for my red and white quilt.  I need to square them up and sew 'em together!!

I'm thinking I'm going to really love this one and I'm so glad I'm making it for me!!! 

Recently I bought a Lil Twister so I can make a twisted block quilt.  I decided to use the fabrice I purchase about 4 years ago.  It's fabric from the ovarian cancer collection and I had planned on making a rag quilt with it.  Well, I never did that. 

So I cut 5" squares out of my fat quarters and I need to sew them together so I can twister them!!    And if it all turns out, I will probably donate it to the Relay for Life in April.....

Now I need to figure out how I want to arrange the fabric so I can twister with them!

But before I get to all this.....  I'm hanging out with my little man (grandson) and we're watching Cars!!

I love weekends!!  What are YOU doing this weekend??

Hugs ~~ Suz

I'm Partying here:

2 Quilts Finished Today!

I spent part of the day finishing up a couple of my quilts that I'm giving as Christmas presents.

The first one is one I made with Countdown To Christmas by Sweetwater.  I think the pattern is called the 1600 quilt..... 

I machine quilted it, just straight-ish lines down the middle of each strip with red thread.  The material that I used for the backing kept stretching on my and annoying the crap out of me.  When I was finished quilting it, it was puckering soo badly on the back, and then I noticed a spot on the front that was puckering pretty much, too.  UGH!!! 

At that point I decided to suck it up and just keep going.  I used the Polka Dot fabric from this line for the binding and it really was the perfect material from the line to use.  After I had the binding on it, I washed it (In cold water with a bunch of salt added to it to help keep the colors from running....) and then I dried it.  And when I took it out of the dryer, I fell in love with it!  It's perfect.  The material shrunk up just enough that the puckers I saw are now just part of the lovely quilty crinkliness.....  mmm...   Yep!  The quilt is perfect and I love it!!!

I hurried up and wrote on it just to make sure I DO give it to the intended recipient!! 

The second quilt I finished was the t-shirt quilt for #1 son.  It turned out wonderfully, too!  And I love it and I hope he's surprised and loves it as much as I do. 

It came out of the dryer with wonderful crinkliness, too.  I really didn't think it would, since it is made out of
t-shirts, but it did!! I used black flannel for the binding.  It's wonderful!!! 

So - - I don't think my Counting Christmas Candy is going to be done for Christmas.  The fabric I'm using between my blocks is the same kinda stretchy fabric I used on the back of the first quilt in this post.  And it's making my rows wonky........... so I'm going to be unstitching and restitching........  Oh, joy!!  I'm off work between Christmas and New Year's so.... maybe I'll get it done that week........

Have a wonderful Monday!  Thanks for stopping by!!

Hugs ~~ Suz

I'm linking here:

Counting Christmas Candy

I just wanted to post what I've been busy working on lately. 

I've got 3 quilts in the works, and have another one and a blanket in mind.....  It's official - - I just simply lose my mind this time of year.

First up ~~ Counting Christmas Candy



I was inspired by this quilt that Heidi made and is now available over at the Moda Bake Shop!



I am using the Sweetwater Countdown to Christmas fabric.  When I purchased the fabric, I got 2 jellyrolls - my first jellyrolls I ever purchased.  When I saw this pattern, I thought that I could do it....  I love sewing the strips together and then cutting out the shapes and sewing them back together! 

When I first laid it out, I laid the blocks out like she has them and I just wasnt' sure if I liked it.  Then I spun each triangle, and voile!  Counting Christmas Candy!  They remind me of peppermint candies...... Ok - so I don't know why, but they do....... 

I'm also working on a t-shirt quilt for #2. 

There are shirts on here from when he was just a little guy playing t-ball, some football, some soccer, all the way up to his men's baseball league shirt from last year.  Ms. C has a t-shirt quilt that a friend of her's had her grandma make, so I'm making this one just like it - no sashing and hand quilting.  I used Crayola washable markers to make my lines.  Hopefully it will come out!!

Ms. C's quilt has flannel on the back, so I had Mr. Inspiring take me to HL last weekend and got some black flannel for the backing.  Then, when I was hunting around in my craftroom, I opened a box that I hadn't opened for a while and found this:

This fabric has a 'copyright' date of 2000 and that sounds like the year I would have purchased it.  I was going to redo his room in all baseball and Cardinals.  I only made him pillowcases with this fabric.  I had almost enough  to do the back so I just made a strip of the black flannel and ran it down, off-centered.

When I found the fabric, I knew I HAD to use it.  He's always loved the Cards and now that they've won the world series....  well..... I just HAD to!!  The quilting is going rather quickly and I should have it finished up this week.  I think I'm going to use some of the flannel for the binding and call it done!

I've also got my first jellyroll quilt basted and it's ready to quilt.  I think I'll end up machine quilting it - stitch in the ditch.  I've been practicing stippling, but I'm not comfortable with it yet.

That's what I've been doing!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs ~~ Suz

Linking to these parties......

First Christmas Project of 2011

I started my first Christmas project of 2011!!  Yay me!!

I bought 2 jelly rolls of the  Countdown to Christmas fabric!!  It's so cute!!

This is what Idid with my first jelly roll....  I made this quilt top!!

This quilt top was a lot of fun to make!!  And it is VERY easy!! 

Simply stitch the ends of each strip in the jelly roll together.   To make sure you get a good stagger in your quilt top, cut about a third off of your first strip and stitch it somewhere into the send half of the long strip you're making.  You will end up with one very long strip that is 2 1/2" x 1600".   Then, making sure you have no twists in your strips, fold the long strip in half and, starting with the unfolded end, stitch one side.  When you're almost to the fold, cut the long strip in half.  Finish sewing the side, picking up where you stopped to cut the strip.   You should have a piece that is approximately 4 1/2 inches x 800".

Then........... fold the strip in half again, and starting at the end without the fold, start stitching on one side.  When you are almost at the fold, stop and cut the fold and then finish stitching to the end.

Now you have a 8 1/2 x 400" piece.

Fold in half again, and starting at the end with out the fold, stitch one side.  When you are almost at the fold, stop and cut the fold and then finish stitching to the end.  Now your piece should be approximately 16 1/2" x 200".

Do this process one more time, and your piece should be approximatly 32 1/2" x 100"

and Finally - - do this process one more time......... this is the last time...........  Your piece should be approximiately 64 1/2 x 50"


I'm planning on stipling this quilt with my sewing machine........  but I need the free motion quilting/darning foot..........    My birthday is in 22 days.........  And I've put it on my list..........  And Mr. Inspiring took notes!!!

I think I want the red snowflake fabric for my backing, and I'll have to think about what I want to do for the binding...


9/20/11 - UPDATE!! Yesterday, while surfing the web, I found a blog that actually did this quilt at a sewing retreat back in Feburary.  What a neat idea!!  Please take a look at Heirloom Creations Blog and check it out.  I just didn't to 45 degree angles when I stitched my strips together.  I like that so I think next time I'll do that, too. 

Here's a picture of my strip quilt, not all bunched up!!!

Thank you so much for looking.  I'll post more pictures when I have it sandwiched all together!!


Have a great week!!

Hugs ~~ Suz


9/27/11 - UPDATE:   Quilt Story FEATURED me!!!  See the post here:  Quilt Story 9.27.11

I'm linking up to these wonderful parties!!

My First Quilt - DONE!!

I know I've probably posted the progress of my quilt more often than most people. 

When I was 18 or 19, after visiting my ex-husband's (he was just my boyfriend then) grandma and seeing quilts in process of being quilted, I decided that I wanted to make a quilt and have her hand quilt it.  (She was one of those church ladies that you could 'hire' to hand quilt your quilt for you.)  She never made quilt tops, that I know of, but she quilted a bunch for other people.    Well......  THAT never happened....  I didn't have anyone to teach me how (I bought a pattern and fabric and - using scissors - cut out each individual piece, one at a time.....  what the heck was a rotary cutter???  I didn't know!!  I don't remember, but I'm pretty sure I didn't even get 1 block done......) and then after we got married, the kids started entering our lives, and with kids comes more things that take up spare time.......... 

Next month, I will turn *ahmm* 45......  (really???  THAT just CAN'T be possible!  Didn't I just tell you the other day that I'm only 24???  *wink* *wink*)....   Anyway - - I'll be 45, so I guess that it's been 26, 27 years or so that I've had the desire to make a quilt. 

Had I not started my blog and had I not started blog-stalking all of you wonderful quilters out there, I don't know if I EVER would have tried to make a quilt.   You guys gave me the courage to try.  And my MIL has been one of my cheerleaders!!  She told me that I could hand quilt it......  and she was right!!!  And all of the tutorials online for every step of the way also have helped me!!

And I am so impressed with myself that I started it and finished it, not only in the same YEAR, but in the same SEASON!!!  You crazy quilters out there that get MULTIPLE quilts finished in a year truly amaze me!!

OK OK - - here she is......

The front...... 

The back.....

Close up of the back (above) and then the front again (below)

A little better shot of the washed-up crinkly goodness...

My label........

I made my binding out of left over pieces of fabric from the blocks.  I think my favorite binding is the 'scrappy' binding.  This quilt turned out so well - - I'm so proud of myself.............  (And I want to thank you guys for:  A: urging me on and supporting me  and   B:  allowing me to tell you that I'm very proud of myself.   Seriously, if I were to go up and tell someone at work that I'm proud of myself, or tell one of my friends.......  wouldn't they think I was boastful, or at least weird??  but I can tell you guys and you relate!!!   I {heart} my blogging buddies!!)

When I finished it, I washed it.  It was AMAZING to pull it out of the dryer.......  So warm and cozy and soo crinkly - - just the way I wanted it to turn out.........  BEAUTIFUL!!!  yep - - I said the "B" word!!!  (I don't think I told any of you......   I don't like Pink......  so I purposely made the quilt Pink so I wouldn't get so attached to it.......  it didn't work......  I like Pink now.........  I'm such a goober!!)

I took it over to Sandy's house Sunday night after I washed it.  I REALLY wanted to sleep with it Sunday night but I figured that if I did that - - it wouldn't end up as the first item for the raffle.....  It wouldn't be in the raffle at all...........  It would be staying at my house...........

When I gave it to Sandy and she read the label, she got all teary-eyed.......  She lost a sister to Breast Cancer..............    Sandy's hubby is my boss.  Monday he started asking questions like "what's it take to make a quilt like that?"  "How much would you charge to make one?"  I told him that it would depend on the pattern, the size, and the cost of the fabric...........   Then he asked me if I thought I could make one for Sandy for her birthday........  Her birthday is Friday.  Yep -- like THIS Friday...   September 16!!!  I told him NO!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for accompanying me on the journey of my first quilt.  And please understand.....  I will be posting about this quilt at least one more time.  Probably on October 5....  I'll have to let you know how many raffle tickets were sold ($1 each or 6 for $5....  any takers???  :-)  )  and I'll have to post a picture of the winner with the quilt......   Every story has a happy ending, and I want to make sure you guys get the whole story!!  (I just hope that the person that wins the quilt appreciates what it was made for and understands that it was made with love and that they cherish it for many years.....  you know??)

10.12.11 update........

Ok, I need to apologize for not posting on the 5th as I anticipated.  Let me explain to you the details, and then maybe you'll understand...

When I first approached the committee and told them that I was doing this quilt, they drafted up the raffle tickets and asked me what I thought.  First prize went something like: 

1st Prize: Pink Breast Cancer Quilt - Hand Made and Donated With Love by (me).....

They asked me what I thought, and I asked Sandy to not have my name listed on the ticket.  We live in a small town and Mr. Inspiring is a police officer.  He and I are the only one's in town with our last name.  I didn't want the ticket sales to be affected because of that.  (people have strong opinions about police officers, good and bad, based on true or untrue events and/or comments either involving or not involving themselves personally........ and small towns are bad for gossip and people knowing what you're doing even if you've never done it ever.......)  Anyway, I didn't want my name on the tickets, and asked them to please remove my name from them. 

Fast forward to last week's dinner.  Door prizes were given away.  The silent auction winners were announced.  The live auction was announced.  Everything they gave out every prize and donation was announced along with the name of the person or group that donated it.  The very last item was 'the quilt'.

Announcer said:  Ok, now it's time to pull the ticket to see who the winner of the pink quilt is.

ticket pulled.......

Oh, and the winner is Ryan (last name)......   Ok, thanks for joining us and we hope to see you next year!!

They didn't announce who made and/or donated the quilt.  They didn't tell about all the different fabrics that were used that support breast cancer awareness.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zip.  Zilch..

And the GUY that won the quilt was the announcer's son.  He wasn't there.  He's not married.  I don't believe that he would even know the thought and blood (I stuck my fingers alot) and sweat (worked on this in August!!) and love and time that went into the quilt. 

I know in my heart that I gave the quilt for the right reasons.  It meant something to me.  It's not like I wanted them to sing my praises or tell me over and over how wonderful I am.  NO that's not what I wanted.

But..........  a public acknowledgement and thank you would have been, well, nice.  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT........  that's all.  I know that it meant something to Sandy.  I KNOW she appreciated it.   The only thing I can think of is that maybe, by me not wanting my name on the tickets, that maybe they thought I didn't want my name associated with it at all. 

Thank goodness I made a label for it.....

I cried.  The next day when a couple of people at work asked me about it, I cried......  I was.... disappointed......  Am I silly??

Thanks for listening..... 

Suz 

Have a happy day!!

Hugs ~~ Suz  

I'm linking up at these great parties: