Tuesday, December 27, 2016


All quilted--wow, did that give me fits. I decided to put feathers in each of the background spaces, and that was good practice for me since I hadn't done freehand feathers before. However, my thread  broke MANY times, especially when I was stitching the spines. I decided it had to be the fabric since I had changed needles, worked on tension, etc., etc. This shot is taken from our loft.

I had better luck on the color spaces, but my original intention for quilting--echoing the parallelogram--just was too much trouble and I would never finish by Thursday, the day I need to give this to one of my daughters. So, I did the loops, hearts, and stars--quick and easy.
Here's a closer look, with the toe of my shoe included. In one yellow corner I wrote "Natalie & Todd" in the quilting and in another corner I wrote "2016" and my name. I also put a label on the back, just to be sure there was one. This is Missouri Star Quilt Company's Starburst design and was in Block magazine this year--issue 4, I think. It uses 10 inch squares--sew around the 4 outside edges and then cut apart on the 2 diagonals to get 4 half square triangle blocks. I made it bigger than the original, so I think I used 36 10" squares from the pack I bought, and then I cut my own 10" squares from my background fabric out of my stash. The binding is from a leftover jellyroll of yellow that I had.


Saturday, December 17, 2016

December


Our Christmas cactus is ancient and has sat in the southeast corner of our sunroom since we built our house 29 years ago. I never do anything special to it, but it blooms every year. This year, most of the pretty blooms are between the curtain and the window.

My starburst (Missouri Star Quilt Co pattern) is done, sandwiched, and ready for me to quilt. Now I have to figure out my quilting design!


I worked on this nativity scene this fall--all handwork in wool. I don't remember who designed the pattern.


Leah Day's Waterfall design. I didn't quilt it quite the same as she did, but close.


A shark blanket for my grandson. All the granddaughters are getting mermaid tail blankets.


Three year old Amelia is doing stickers with Grandpa.


Nineteen month old Camella reads with Mommy.


My nephew Andrew and niece Marie and my new great-niece Bridget with the quilt I made for her.


I think I only managed to get two "bags" made for the Bag It QAL, but I kept all the patterns! Patty does an amazing job designing all those bags! This is a sewing kit.


The other is a little card carrier.


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!!