Almost Easter

It's been way too long since I last posted on my blog - but the truth is I haven't been in my sewing room for the past couple of months. Life changes got in the way and I just didn't feel like sewing. That does happen sometimes.

Now I'm feeling back on track though and have been busy in my sewing room today. I finished another large flying geese block and lots of flying geese strips are sewn together ready to be assembled into more blocks.

With Easter just around the corner, I've been out shopping for new rabbits to add to my collection and brought this very handsome rabbit home.

I also worked on this new look for my blog. I've been looking for a new background for a while and finally found one I loved on Scrappin' Blogs . There are some very pretty backgrounds on this site.

Although Ted won't readily admit it, I think he likes rabbits too ;) - curled up with that old bunny I made years ago.

Flying Geese - Finished Block

I completed one block today.... only 15 more to go!

Instead of using the paper piecing templates given in Fons & Porter's magazine to make the flying geese blocks, I used the "Quilt in a Day" small flying geese ruler. It's a super easy and fast way to make the flying geese, but then they finished slightly larger than those in the magazine pattern. My finished complete block measures 22.5", so my finished quilt will be larger too at 90" square.

Flying Geese

Progress on my first quilt of 2010.....

I've made lots of these flying geese blocks and I'm excited about the way I see this quilt coming together.

Of course, while I was laying out the flying geese to sew into sections, Ted decided I needed a little help. If he gives me some space I should have a couple of full quilt blocks done this weekend.


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A Lovely Christmas

It really was a lovely Christmas this year. We had family here on Christmas Eve and again for dinner on Christmas Day. Lots of good food and great company!

I think now though we're all feeling a little like this.... a few too many Christmas treats, right Ted?

Since this is a week off work for me, I'm going to spend as much time as possible in my sewing room (oh, that makes me so happy!). I've gathered a bunch of fabric from my stash and plan to start on this quilt from Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting Jan/Feb 2010 issue. Looks like fast, easy piecing....perfect for my first project of the new year.

My Christmas Trees

We set up two trees this year... one in the living room and one on the family room.

Ted thinks under the tree is a great place to hide.

A few of the other decorations around the house.

Starting to feel like Christmas

With December just one more day away, I'm really starting to feel like Christmas (which is a lot better than feeling like the flu for the past couple of weeks).

.... we've put up lighted trees and reindeer in front of the house and evergreen wreaths on the front door and backyard gate. Now we just need a little snow. Next weekend we'll be setting up the Christmas tree in the living room window.


.... Sarah's and David's quilts are ready to give to them in time for Christmas.

(Thanks to Mary Lyn for the lovely quilting and the
super fast turnaround on Sarah's Snowmen Quilt)

and .... our package of lebkuchen arrived from Germany! Lebkuchen are German cookies made with ingredients like hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, orange peel, honey, chocolate. Absolutely delicious! They are a family tradition for us - it wouldn't be Christmas without these treats.

A Quiet Weekend

These treasures arrived in the mail on Friday - some new fabric and two great books. Got them just in time too. My 24 year old son arrived here sick with the flu on Saturday afternoon so, while he sleeps, there is lots of quiet time in our house this weekend - perfect for reading.

Journal Covers

Inspiration to make these journal covers came from a post I saw a few weeks ago on Jill's blog at The Quilt Rat. Her lovely journal cover is here . (She has a great giveaway right now too.) The original inspiration for the journal covers comes from Wanda at Exhuberant Colour . See all her fabulous journal covers here. New ones posted today.

So, I gathered scraps, selvage, ribbon and orphan blocks and made two journal covers of my own. What easy, one-day projects to make and they look so pretty when done. I take my covered notebooks to work with me during the week so I have a place to write down any "quilty" ideas that come to mind.



Here is more detail showing the front/back of each cover and the inside flaps. They were so much fun to put together, I know I'll be making more.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

I am excited to be participating for the first time in the Fall 2009 Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy at Park City Girl.

This quilt, made a few years ago, is one of my favorites. I made it from reproduction prints purchased on my trip to the Houston Quilt Festival in 2005. I brought home a lot of reproduction prints from that trip - couldn't resist. I haven't been back to Festival since, but DH has promised to take me next year... in the meantime, this quilt is a great reminder of that visit to Houston.

I also pieced the back so I could include as much of my fabric as possible.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks to Amy for hosting this event.

(I've been looking through my magazines all morning to find the one with this pattern - finally found it: Quilt Sampler, Fall/Winter 2005, p. 88, "Flying Geese Baskets" designed by Kathy Blank)