Post by Brenda Hayes.

Tracey's Christmas Quilt

This is a quilt that I gave to my son's girlfriend for Christmas 2013. It was made as BOM from my local quilt shop Patchwork Plus in Woodriver, IL. It was called Menopause (I have no idea where the name originated) but it was a fun colorful stitch. Tracey seemed to really like the colors!

Hello Sun bom quilt a long

This baby rag quilt is from April Mae's blog. It was called Hello Sun for the year 2012.  http://aprilmaedesigns.com/hellomoon/April Mae is now featuring Hello Moon on her site. Hello Sun pattern is only available on her Esty Store.

12 days of Christmas quilt a long

I have been working on a quilting sal at the Temecula quilt co. blogspot. It is called the 12 dayes of Christmas, although I am using stash fabric scraps. It is a miniature quilt with 3 1/2" blocks. The first is just one piece, the second 2 pieces, third 3 pieces and so on until number twelve, it will be 12 pieces. I am finished up to 11, so 12 tomorrow. After that we will learn how she is putting it together. My first miniature quilt and so far I am pleased with it.  If I were one to make resolutions for the new year, it would be to use up stash and finish some of my UFO's (not buying new and storing it until doomsday)http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-12-29T11:18:00-08:00&max-results=7

See You Next Year!!

Well I think I am caught up on what I have finished this year. In January I am going to start on some stash projects that have be tabled for some time. I also have a BOM  from my local quilt shop done in Batiks that I want to share. Subject matter: Menopause. The blocks are lovely and quite colorful.

Merry Christmas to all and a healthy New Year.

Final quilt finish for 2011

This is a BOM quilt from the Quilt Company called Lovebird Lane. It was pretty labor intensive as the outside border is all pieced. This is for my daughter Jennifer and my objective for next year is to teach Jen how to sew and or quilt. Maybe then I will have just a tad more time to work on my stash and try to get it under control.

There was quite a bit of applique for this quilt and I think I am getting better at it, but still trying to discover which applique process works best for me.

Close up of the pieced border. I really like the ribbon corners and plan on using them in another project.

Quilt for Grandson ready to be wrapped. For the binding I sewed 6" x 2 1/2 inch pieces end to end until
I had the correct length. It was a bit more work, but a great way to use up the materials.

The black on white/white on black fabrics are from a noodle swap with the ladies on the HGTV quilting message board. My first time in a swap and I really enjoyed the experience. I still have some fabric leftover and think a matching pillow case for the quilt my be added to the package.

"Manly" Quilt finished

The end of 2011 is near. I have finished several of my quilt objectives. My Dh's 10 minute block quilt is finally finished and quilted. He quite likes it.

I did a pinwheel pieced border and it was not as hard as I envisioned it.

It is quilted all over with a pinecone motif. One of the fabrics had pinecones on it and it seemed

more "Manly" the swirls or squiggles!

Newest Birds

One more quilt done! I bought all the material and pattern for this one on the island of Maui.
It is to be a thank you to my daughter for upgrading our flights to Hawaii. Gotta say there really is more room for your legs in First Class.

This is the batik back. I LOVE batiks!!!

10 minute block video

10 Minute blocks

This is my latest quilt. I made it using a video & book by Susanne McNeill called 10 Minute Blocks.
The blocks went together easily, although it took me longer than 10 minutes.
I rolled the edges of my diamonds to the underside and blind stitched them in place.
I did remove the layers of cloth under the diamond to reduce the bulk for quilting.

Here is the turned under diamond.

The Great Purge of 2010

Today I am purging my clothing closets. So far I have weeded
out about 40 bent and twisted hangers.
Who knew they took up so much space??
I have clothing from.... 20 years ago (out of style)
.... size 16 and up (I wear a 24)
.... jeans that used to be comfy
.... shoes that somehow shrunk
.... a dust bunny of epic size
(world record I'm sure)
.... belts (why? I don't wear belts)
.... t-shirts with stains (never wear)
.... gift items I would never pick
.... sparkly dress's from DD & DS
weddings (where could one wear
these ever again?)
How do you decide who stays and who goes? Right now
I am trying to convince myself that fit is the only
way to go. Realistically I will probably never lose
weight until I am too old to get to the refrigerator
or put in a home. But still, I cling to the mini-me
wanting to keep those clothes.
I am taking a break, hardening my heart and heading
back in there to kick some closet a$$ !!!!!

Quilts Delivered!

Delivered both quilts to my daughter Jenny. I was so happy that she loved both of them.
My hard work paid off with the smile on her face. This is the Love Knot Quilt that I made
to replace a quilt that had worn out.

Finally the last stitches are in for my daughter's house-warming quilt.

I think she will like it, she has 5 birds as pets!
Jenny's Quilt

I love the free patterns for quilting/embroidery on this blog
Gifts of Grace

My daughter's quilt

I last made my daughter a quilt when she was about 14 or 15. It has finally been loved to
pieces! I haven't quilted in years and years, but she assures me that she sleeps much better
when wrapped in a quilt made by me. (I fell for it, sap that I am) I am now in the process of
paper piecing her a new quilt. What I lack in precise paper piecing, I hope I make up for in
effort involved. Some of these blocks have close to 100 pieces, some less, all SMALL.
Only 3 more to go and I can set it together and get to quilting.

Here is the album for the Bird Block (or will mama go blind first) quilt
Jenny's Quilt Squares

note: my swirled snow is made from an internet picture. I have been unable to
find the original source for the work to credit them.

Swirled snow pattern

Swirled Snow Pattern

My version of swirling snow, I haven't stitched my test piece yet

July 1, Summer is here. I always wait until now to say that. Once is has been said the heat and humidity become an issue here in the Mid-West.
I have been working on a quilt for my DD, it is slow going as it is paper pieced and each block
has multiple (insert:MANY) pieces. Here is a very bad picture of one block. It looks much better in person, my DD said it was her favorite so far. I have 4 blocks left to do (by Christmas)