What's on the Design Wall Monday

Enter my giveaway here.

Yes! I have a new project on the design wall -- but first, I forgot one of the birthday prezzies sent to me from Nurse Jessi!

While I was taking photos of my  UgLy Bag from itsnursejessi, I forgot about the coffee mug coaster she also sent me. Because it was on my desk, under my coffee mug, where I use it every day!

Can you see that it's a bumble bee? and yes, that's one of the Australian Starbucks mugs sent by My Little Sailor while he was in Brisbane this summer. Jessi, every time I put down my coffee mug, I think of you!

Now, onto the design wall.  I have all the blocks made for the March Jelly Roll Party at Ruth's Stitchery. The pattern is "Main Street," by Sassafras Lane Designs. The jelly roll is Xanadu Batiks by Moda. I must confess, the piecing on this one is not as precise as I normally like to do. I was in a hurry, so some (OK, many) of my flying geese have a bit of their "wings" nipped off. I'm hoping when it is quilted and washed, the cotton batting will crinkle up enough to hide that!

I should be able to sew the rows together and add the borders today. Then it will go off to Wolf Creek Quilting for quilting.

Edited to add linking up to Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River.

And also Show and Tell Tuesday at i have to say.


Have you commented on yesterday's post to win some Tula Pink "Saltwater" fat quarters and her book? 

From the desk of your

Sunday Stash Giveaway

I realized this morning I haven't shared my birthday prezzies from last month. Quite a haul, I assure you!

First, a lovely surprise from one of my blog followers, Nurse Jessi. I was so surprised and thrilled when I opened a package from an unknown address.  Look what was inside:

An original "i make UgLy Bags" by itsnursejessi. Notice the wine bottle on this side? Does she know me, or what?

I immediately loaded it up with my current Hats for Sailors project, and it's been by my side ever since!

Inside was this charming collection of shot cottons.  I have been having so much fun stacking and re-stacking them, I may never use them!  Jessi, you are the best!

Two of my Colorado buddies gave me an etsy gift card. I taped it above my computer and within two weeks I had purchased:

and

Then Craftsy had a big sale and I couldn't resist this:

Those green fabrics on the left-hand side are from Tula Pink's "Saltwater" collection. Since this is my 400th post, as well as my birthday, I think I should give those away.

There are nine fat quarters:

And also a copy of Tula's book, Quilts from the House of Tula Pink.

 

Comment on this post, and tell me your favorite birthday gift you ever received. Next Saturday, I'll let the random number generator choose a winner to receive the fat quarters and the book.  

• Giveaway ends at midnight MDT on Friday, November 29.
• International entries welcome!
• If you're a no-reply commenter, please be sure to include contact information.

Linking up to "Sunday Stash" at Finding Fifth.

Thank you to all 52 Quilts followers!

From the desk of your

TGIFF Times Three

Not one, not two, but three finishes today!

First up, a quilt that was pieced ages ago. I made the first quilt of Japanese Taupe fabrics for the high school graduation gift for the last of the 4-H'ers from my boys' club. I had enough fabric left over to make a second quilt just like the first. It sat in the "to-be-quilted" shelf for almost three years. Then I decided the son of my friend, Lori, should have a quilt, even though I didn't know him when he graduated high school.

I took the quilt to my long-armer, Connie of Ponderosa Patchworks late this Spring. When the Black Forest fire burned her house, Connie rescued this quilt along with all her other customer quilts. Mine was the first customer quilt she quilted when she opened her new studio. Since Lori's house was also threatened by the Waldo Canyon fire two years ago, I think it's appropriate that Connie quilted this one.

 

Stuart will be home from college for Thanksgiving next week. I hope he likes the quilt!

I've decided my quilt #48 for 2013, "Full Moon" shall remain borderless. I do like the just-five "moons" rather than one in each block.  Here is a link to my post with details of this quilt.

I also calculated the sashing strips for my "Morning Joe" and finished it.   Here's the image from the pattern cover:

(Image from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.)

And here is my finished "Morning Joe."

My blocks are 16" square, the table runner will finish at 64" X 24" -- and I know just the niece who will receive this as a hostess gift on my next trip to Idaho!

Linking up to Thank Goodness it's Finished Friday, hosted this week by Australian Lynne at Never too hot to stitch.

And also to Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation.

The first "real snowfall" of the season happened yesterday. I can't wait until the clouds blow away so we can see Pikes Peak in all its glory!

From the desk of your

WIP Wednesday Quilt #49

I might make it to 52 quilts this year after all!  The last two have been table runners, but I count them if I quilt them myself!

Here is my November "Schnibbles" quilt, "Morning Joe."

I used a single charm pack of "Java" by Deb Strain for Moda. I didn't cut down the 5" squares, just made them into half-square triangles. Because my seams on the diagonal weren't quite 1/2" apart, I could square up the HSTs to 4.5" -- so my HSTs are larger than those called for in the pattern. I don't want to go back and cut them down to the smaller size, so I'll have to calculate my own sashing strip sizes.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

I just got word from My Little Sailor that he is back on the ship after going ashore in the Philippines to document the relief efforts. He's "a little sunburnt" but safe!


From the desk of your

What's on the Wall Monday

On my design wall today is the November UFO. It's from Brenda Henning's "Strip Therapy 7" and is called "Full Moon."

The pattern has a "moon" on every square, but  I think it looks better with just a few, scattered across the quilt top. The pattern also calls for a border, but again, I think it looks better sans border. What do you think?

I did finish a project this weekend, but can't show you the whole thing because it's a pattern test for Sara of Sew Sweetness.

Here's the inside, though!

Sara is hosting a Bag Contest along with Sew Mama Sew. If you've made a bag using one of Sara's patterns, go here for the details.

My personal favorite of Sara's bags is Petrillo. It's the perfect size and has all the little details that make it a great bag!  Here is the one I made:

Go here for more pics of my bag.

No photos on Facebook yet by My Little Sailor, ashore in the Philippines for Operation Damayan. But my candle is still lit, and your thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

From the desk of your

TGIF: Urban Home Goods Swap

I think I'm safe to post this, because the recipient is busy filming a segment for Craftsy! 

Front Range Modern Quilt Guild is hosting a holiday swap, "Urban Home Goods." Since both Amy and I missed the meeting where swap partners were assigned, we decided to partner with each other. Amy, of Stitchery Dickory Dock fame, is filming a class for Craftsy this week.  So I very much doubt that she remembered this swap. But I know she loves Denyse Schmidt fabrics, so I made her this "dresser scarf" from DS Quilts Flea Market Fancy.

Duncan approves.

 The pattern is from the August/September issue of "Quilt" magazine. It's called "Dresden Stars" and was designed by Tanya Finken.

In case you missed it, Amy made a quilt last month from Denyse Schmidt's Shelburne Falls fabrics. That's what inspired me to make her a "dresser scarf." Or dresser quilt. 

Lizzie doesn't like it when the camera flash goes off.

Linking to TGIFF, hosted this week by Hot Pink Quilts.

If you pray, pray for the Sailors of the USS George Washington who are helping to provide relief to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Including, of course, My Little Sailor!

From the desk of your

WIP Wednesday

Somehow I had the bright idea that the March Jelly Roll Party sample, designed by Kristy and Shayla Wolfe of "Sassafras Lane Designs" should be machine-quilted by Kristy.

Which would be fine, except in order for Kristy to quilt it and get it back to me, she needs the quilt  by Friday. This Friday!

I fell in love with this image of the quilt on their blog:

And decided I would make a batik version also.

There are 216 Flying Geese in this quilt, in case you're interested. 

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

And hurrying back to the sewing machine! Four blocks down, 31 to go!

From the desk of your