Charm Pack Extravaganza!

I'm not really sure if extravaganza (def: an elaborate and spectacular production) is the exact description for this post, but it has a "ring" to it!!

Recently I went shopping on eBay for some 5" charm packs for a leader/ender project, and found not only a couple for the project but one that was perfect to tuck into a friend's birthday gift. I was a bit disappointed when the seller contacted me and said that that particular charm pack was no longer available, and wanted to know if I wanted a refund or to choose another charm pack its place. Well...of course I DIDN'T want a refund, what sane quilter doesn't purchase more than she/he needs!! So I chose "Winter's Song" by Holly Taylor for Moda.

The photo actually does not depict how lovely these fabrics really are!! (BTW - this charm pack didn't get tucked into my friend's gift - I kept it for myself!!😜😜) I've been eyeing a table topper pattern that Marie shared on her blog (her link is at the end of the post) and of course it had stars!! But I didn't stop there! I stitched up six little quilt / table toppers / mug rugs with one charm pack! I did dig in my stash for some border treatments and setting squares, but I was delighted with the results! In my view - a real "extravaganza"!!!

These measure: 12" x 18", 13" x 13", 15" x15", and 10" x 10".

This little cutie is about 6" x 9" and those hst are about the size of a dime.

This mug rug is about 10" square.

A couple of years ago, I bought several yards of Christmas themed fabric from a shop going out of business. One piece was holly on a black background and I have wondered why I got it as I don't really like black, but it was perfect for the backing for the first five quilts. And get this: it is was called "Winter Song" by Deb Strain for Moda! My favorite Christmas quilting motif is holly clusters and I went all out!

Wishing each of you a blessed, joyful Christmas season! And remember:

Be filled with wonder

Be touched by peace

Believe the Miracle!

Blessings and hugs!

http://rie-quiltbee.blogspot.com/

Flying Geese and Arrows!

Daughter Mandie pieced this beauty and I finally got it quilted and bound for her right after Thanksgiving! It is going on GS Asa's bed and I think it is perfect!

Hope each of you had a blessed Thanksgiving and your days ahead are filled with the joy and wonder of the upcoming season!

Great big hugs from Texas!!

A Good Day For Stitchin'

It's cool and drizzly outside...

The wood burning stove is going...

A nice cup of tea in my new tea cup...

So I've stitched most of the day!! I needed a gift for a friend (she doesn't blog so I can safely share!!) and have been humming and hawing for a few days pondering what to do. I decided to make a quilt, but alas really don't know her tastes that well,  so wasn't sure. I asked her favorite color (that's a safe enough question don't you think! LOL) Turquoise! I knew just the thing - a quilt from blocks I won in a quilt guild drawing, some with a hint of turquoise! Rummaged through my scraps and stash and even dipped into my daughter's stash (she loves turquoise!!) and came up with this...

   

It measures about 67" x 85" which makes a nice size NAP quilt!

There was one block that was missed sized but had some cute, cute fabrics! Perfect for a doll quilt!

And there were even two blocks left over. I want to send them to whomever can use them! They are 12 inch blocks (finished) and I will include the pattern if the recipient desires to make more! Just email me (available on my profile) with your address and I will get them in the mail to you! (First come, first served).

Hope this finds each of you enjoying your day! Blessings and hugs!

Quilters Madder

Lori over at Humble Quilts hosted another fabulous SAL, and of course I couldn't resist. I really told myself that I have other things to sew, to do, to finish, etc. etc. etc. plus I really didn't think I had the "right" shirting fabrics. But... I needed a leader/ender project so went online and ordered a yard of cream with black shirting, loved it, used some for the blocks and then used it for the backing, too! I also found the pink and tan shirting and thought it would add a nice touch. Then scrounged through my stash and found some other fabrics that would do! Plus, when I was "shopping" online, I found a nice lot of  brown fabrics that I was needing for another project. Boy was I pleasantly surprised when one of those was the gorgeous striped madder that I used for the binding and the blocks! 

Thanks Lori for hosting another great SAL!

http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/

Blessings and hugs to each of you!

Tea Cup Exchange

                        

So, most of you know I love quilts and everything that goes with them, and you know that I live on a ranch in central Texas with my husband where we have horses, cattle, goats and sheep. You may even know that we use Border Collies and that I love training them and enjoy participating in Sheep Dog Trials. You also know that I'm Nene to 5 (almost 6) darling grandkids. But one more love I have is "pretty dishes". I was raised on a ranch on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The ranch was established by my great grandfather about 1900 and is still in the family. Ranch life is hard dirty work even for the women in my family, but my grandmother demanded that we all have clean faces, clean hands, combed hair and good manners when we sat at her table and it always had pretty dishes! Made me feel like a "fine lady" like those I read about in books.

So...when I found sweet Stephanie's blog, I just knew that I wanted to participate in her tea cup exchange. I not only love pretty dishes, but also collect tea cups and saucers! In this particular exchange, each person makes two new friends - one you send to, and another that you receive from!

My tea cup and lovely, lovely goodies came from Kim who lives in Australia.

There are not enough words to express how thrilled I was with the wonderful treasures!

Kim and I have corresponded, but another Great Big Thank You!

I sent a gift to a sweet, sweet lady in the UK, named Dawn. She mentioned that she like silver, so that was my main color. These were the goodies I sent to her.

Her Thank You  to me was so very, very sweet and homemade!

Isn't it delightful!!

Here's a link to Stephanie's Blog where you can view all the gifts that transversed the globe!

http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/

Blessings and hugs to each of you!

Star Studded Tribute

  

Two views of my latest flimsy finish. If you have followed me very long, you know my favorite blocks/quilts are stars!! I can say unequivocally that this one tops the list for me! It is my favorite of all the quilts I have ever made!!

"Star Studded" - very evident because of the stars - 121 to be exact!

"Tribute" - a tribute to my Blogger journey and the amazing people who have befriended me!

              - several blogger connections:

                    - Barbara Brackman 2015 BOW

                    - 10 stars made with Barbara Brackman fabrics

                    - 8 stars from a blogger block swap

                    - 25 stars made from fabrics gifted to me by blogger friends!

                    - 120 different fabrics ( yes there is one duplicate star, but the background is different!

Here a few of my favorites!

A great big THANK YOU to each and every one of my blogger friends: you inspire me, encourage me and motivate me to not only be a better quilter, but a better person!

Blessings & Hugs!!!

Quilt Happenings!

Just a quick update to say hello and happy, happy fall! My favorite season! It seems I spend more time outside and less time stitching, but wanted to show a tidbit of what I'm working on!

I haven't been stitching much on Myrtle, but she makes a great place to stack projects!!

On the left: a stack of small quilts basted and ready for FMQ.

In the middle: pieced border for a bed sized quilt that I'm assembling!

On the right: a sneak peak at the baby/toddler quilt for GB#6 due in February. 

Hope this finds each of you enjoying this pleasant season!

Blessings and hugs!

A Few Feathered Finishes

I decided on fern feather quilting for the background on the arrow quilt. I think it added a nice dimension of movement. Almost like the feathers were flapping in the wind! LOL! 

           

When I showed it to my daughter, she said that the back looked like "boot stitching"!

        

After I finished quilting the arrow quilt, I pulled out a UFO - a small table runner. The fabrics were gifted to me by a fellow blogger quite some time ago, and I hand pieced the small lemoyne stars. Then it just sat for a time. I found time to piece the little pinwheel blocks and piece the top. Then it just sat for a time. Then I sandwiched it and yes, it just sat for a time. I wanted to practice hooked feathers for another quilt so I quilted feather wreaths around the stars. A couple of them were a bit wonky as I hadn't quilted them for awhile, but  I was pleased with the overall affect. 

I also finished binding another table topper that I had quilted earlier in the year. I had won the basket blocks in our guild drawing. I had a fun time quilting different designs in each part. 

Hope this finds each of you enjoying this first day of Autumn! 

Blessings and hugs!!

Fullagar Family

I promised a family photo! 

Color of Friendship

A couple of years ago my oldest daughter gifted me this lovely notepad. She knows I LOVE pretty stationary and this one was right at the top! 

  

  

This notepad rests where I see it several times a day, and I often think to myself: "Self, a quilt made with these colors would be lovely!"  Well...

...a few weeks ago a friend emailed me and asked if my mailing address was the same, as she had a "Quilty" treat for me! We've exchanged a few goodies over the years so I was soooooo excited! But I was overwhelmed beyond words: it was a complete quilt kit and I finished assembling the flimsy a couple of days ago! I LOVE it and plan to get it quilted soon! And yep! Check out those colors.

    

The pattern was called Roman Holiday, but I'm going to call it "The Color of Friendship"! And will treasure it forever!

Blessings and hugs!

Assistance Please!

                            

I've got this quilt basted and ready to go, but alas I'm a bit stymied about how to quilt it. I know that I want to do in the ditch quilting on the feathers, but what to do for the filler?? It is twin size and is for a little girl's room. BTW my second daughter stitched this one up! Isn't it cute cute!!

Thanks for your suggestions!!

Hope each of you had a pleasant holiday weekend! We had a grand time! The whole family was here, much visiting, rocking grand babies, horseback rides, dove hunting, game playing and of course eating took place! We had family photos taken! Can't wait to see them! Ill share I promise! LOL!

Blessings and hugs!

Elyse's Quilt

                               

    

We had two new little granddaughters in June born just two weeks apart! Aren't they going to have fun growing up together!! So pleased that I finally finished the second baby quilt! This one was so sweet to stitch! I just loved the fabrics with leaves, raindrops and butterflies! My daughter had decorated the nursery with a woodland theme, so I added the embroidered blocks of baby forest animals. All hand quilted with simple cross hatching in the center and over lapping flower petals in the side triangle border blocks! I rounded the corners a bit to soften the look and I think it gives it an old fashioned appeal. I'm not a fan of cotton candy, but this one reminds me of those fluffy clouds of sugar. Something sweet for our sweet little granddaughter!

Blessings and hugs to all!

Charlea's Quilt