Blogger's Quilt Festival

I can never resist a chance to show something off!  This is my entry in the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy.  Click on her name to go to the Quilt Show.  It is Awesome!

The title is "View from the Phoenix" .  The Phoenix is a condo on Orange Beach in Alabama.  I finished this one last year.  It is one of my favorites.  It's was originally going to be the top part of a much larger quilt.  I decided to make it 2 quilts, the fabrics were too different.  This design actually represents an afternoon where, from the balcony I saw a rather large pod of dolphins swimming up and down the shore.  What was so amazing was how close they were to shore and swimmers.  You could tell the swimmers had no idea the dolphins were there.  The background was pieced.  Ripples were added into the sewing to make the fabric look more like water.  The sun was raw edge applique.  The dolphins were needle turn applique.  The whole piece was free motion quilted and beaded.  I love this quilt.  Especially now, after the oil spill.  It has a whole new meaning for me.

"View from the Phoenix"

Close up of the sun.

Close up of  a dolphin

Close up of another dolphin.

I hope you enjoy the Quilt Show.

Happy Quilting
Caren

Good Sewing Day

I went on a field trip today with daughter #2.  We went to the Pumpkin Patch.  She looked sooooo cute with the little pumpkin she choose.  (I can't post it, no kids on the web!!!)  But I can show you some of the unusual pumpkins they had.  I have never seen green and grey pumpkins before!  Unless they were rotten!

After the field trip I finished a Christmas project.  Gifts for the Guild.  1 Big pincushion, 1 wrist pincushion, and 1 notebook cover.  All in matching fabrics.  I can mark that off my list.  It never fails.  When I make something for someone, especially if they sew, it never turns out the way I plan.  Something always goes wrong.   Seams don't match, seams pucker, rickrack misbehaves..... you get the picture.

Last night I finished the last apron.  It's so cute.  I have a thing for chickens.  I received a chicken clock for a wedding present, that started it.  My husband hated that clock.  It hung in the kitchen until 2 years ago when it fell off the wall and broke.  Anyway, this chicken is not the chicken from the pattern.  This one came from a quilt class I took several years ago on needle turn applique.  I think I made a total of 2 blocks!  But this was a great chicken.  I Hope Mommy likes it!

Happy Quilting!
Caren

Giveaway

Jump over to Logo's Blog.  She's is having a giveaway.  You can win 4 fat quarters of Christmas fabric or a pair of hand knitted socks.  I've tried to knit a pair of socks...it did not work.  Therefore I would love the socks!  She will pick a winner on Nov.10.  Check out her jacket she made.   It is gorgeous!

Happy Quilting
Caren

Happy Dance

My sewing machine is finally home.  YIPPEE!!!!  I'm doing the happy dance, and I plan on sewing all night long.  Apparently all that was wrong was a ton of fuzz stuck in the bobbin case.  Now I cleaned that out before I took it!  The tech said to use a hard toothbrush to clean it out!  At least it was a cheap fix!  I have to get all of my Christmas sewing done soon.  I can't decorate for Christmas until all my sewing is finished.

The decorations are stored in my sewing dungeon and I can't get to them with all my sewing stuff out!

Friday Night sew in is November 19th, hosted by Heidi.

 Hey look I just learned a new trick!!  I'm so technically challenged.  Gotta run, my sewing machine is calling. Happy QuiltingCaren

Happy Mail Day

I received this nice little bit in the mail last week.  I am using my daughters camera.  It's a little blurry!

I love red and white.  So festive for the Christmas Season.  This was from Elizabeth.  It's part of the HO HO HO Swap.  It has such a nice feel to it.  I mailed mine off today!  Now I just have decide on an ornament to make.  HUMMM.

Happy Quilting

Caren

When it Rains it Pours...

It's been one of those weeks.  First my camera breaks, then Cowboy decided to "play" with a stray dog that regrettably entered our yard (he's OK), and now my sewing machine is messed up.  AGH!  I was trying to finish my mother's second apron and the tension is all messed up.  I tried everything, now its in the shop :(

It has given me time to write more for AC, play with all the stuff on Blogger (forgive me for any new changes!), and read some great blogs.

I have found a great art quilters web ring.  I love art quilts.  I have learned so much from surfing the blogs and seeing what everyone out there is making.  I really enjoy the Quilting Blogs from other countries.  I can't always read them, but I can look at the pictures.  There are some really talented quilters out there.

I hope at least you are Quilting Happy today!
Caren

Books I'm Reading

I don't Photos to show:(    I did go to my library and found 2 new books that I love.  At the moment I have only looked at the pictures!

One is 500 Art Quilts by Lark Books.  You can check out the cover here.  I love this book.  I have looked through it countless times already.  It's only pictures!  I guess you could say it's a picture book for quilters!  It's full of lovely inspiration.  I do wish they had a brief explanation of each quilt.  I found myself wanting to know more about some of them.  My daughter's enjoy looking at them as well.

The other quilt book is Quilted Symphony by Gloria Loughman.  You can see the cover here.  This one just makes giddy.  It's actually a how-to book.  It's full of curves and geometric shapes.  It looks like a lot of fun.  I'll have to put her technique on my to do list for after Christmas.

The last book is not a quilt book it is a collection of short story mysteries, Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop.  You can see the cover here.  Obviously its mysteries set at Christmas time in the Mysterious Bookshop.  This store is a real store in New York.  The stories are great.  Now I have a new list of mystery writers to try!

So....what's on you book stand?

Caren

Friday Night Sew-In Pictures

My sweetie pie went to his mother's and borrowed her camera.  So now I have pictures.  I used the time he was away to finish the cat apron.  It takes 2 days to make an apron.  These are nice they are fully lined so there are no raw edges.  My #1 daughter wants to keep the cat!

It is not the most flattering picture of me!  I look a bit larger than I really am!  Don't you just love cameras.

Happy Quilting
Caren

Friday Night Sew In Update

My  camera is not working so I have no Pictures:(  Hopefully I can fix the problem and post later.  I finished the mug rug, CD cover, and started the cat apron.  They look really cute too!

Happy Quilting
Caren

Friday Night Sew In

I was at work today when I realized tonight was the Friday Night Sew-In.....Yippee!
Check back tomorrow to see if I made any headway on my Christmas List!

Happy Quilting
Caren

Mug Rug

OK, there are 3 things in quilting I don't do.  1) is pieced curves 2) half square triangles (ie: flying geese)  3) ripping out. The reason.....because that is where my arch enemy Lord Bias lives.  I have been quilting for  14 years.  OMG !!! I did not realize it had been 14 years.  You would think I would be better by now!  Oh well.  I still have problems with bias.  I saw this pattern in McCall's Quilting .  I thought that would make a nice rug mug for my mother in law.  She's very traditional.  So I dig out my precut squares from another project.  I actually get a ruler and draw my sewing and cutting lines and I even pin the little angels when I sew.  See the pretty squares below all neatly laid out waiting to be sewn together:)

I take them to the dungeon to finish sewing them together.  I'm feeling so good that Lord Bias has stayed away, maybe he's on vacation.   I iron the block and admire how almost all of my points meet.  I take a picture....and AHHHHHHHHH!  I sewed the bottom row on upside down.  Instead of having diagonal matching corners I have vertical matching corners.  

Know I'm going for a walk to decide if I am going to rip that out and resew it. (smoke coming from ears)

Happy Quilting

Caren

Sew much to do, sew little time....

I woke up this morning from a rough night. #2 daughter had a nightmare and kept us up half the night. So I am sitting here with a cup of hot cocoa....trying to wake up enough to do some much needed work.  I did snap this nice little photo this morning.

Sorry it's a little blurry.
In case you are not from around here....this is a hurricane lily .  I don't know their proper name.  They are called Hurricane lilies because they bloom for one week during hurricane season.  Most people consider them weeds, these days.  They are kind of old fashioned.  I love them.  They are extremely hardy.   Meaning they will grow anywhere.  They have been known to grow and bloom when sitting on a little dirt on concrete.  Of course they will not grow in my yard.  My yard is some sort of a gardening black hole.  Things that should grow will not.  When my husband and I were first married I planted a hundred of these bulbs.  They came up that first year and never again :(

This is my newest mug rug.  I know you are tired of these:)  This one is drawn from an elephant ear in my yard.  They are quickly dying back for the season.  This variety actually has black ears.  The more shade they have the darker they are.  The fabric was painted and they fused and free motion quilted.  Again I just used what I had laying around.

Christmas Sewing List
1.  Finish the last (!) CD cover
2.  Make 2-3 ornaments
3.  Make 2 more notebook covers for my girls
4.  Make 2 aprons for mom
5.  Make Quilt Guild Christmas presents?
6.  Finish Winter Quilt
7.  Make mug rug (last one)!

I think that might be everything!  That's enough to keep me busy for a while!
Happy Quilting

Caren

It's Official

It's official Fall has arrived.  I made Sugar spice cookies today for tea.  I sprinkled crunchy sugar on top for sparkle.  They smell divine.  Cinnamon floated through my house as they cooked.  They go great with a cup of Irish Breakfast Tea.  Yes, I know it's not breakfast time, but it goes well with the sweet cookies.

I also finished my Memory Quilt for my dad.  I still need to clip threads, but it's finished.  Binding and all!!!

I also thought I would share a picture of my dog!  I'm not one of those people who treat their dog like a child.  It's just a dog.  His name is Cowboy.  He's always there when I hang my quilts outside to take a picture, so I thought I would take one of him.

Isn't he pretty.  Good thing, because he's not real bright!  He does make a great garbage disposal and early warning system though!  Gotta Go.

Happy Quilting

Caren

Christmas Quilt Along, update

I have one more thing made.  This is another CD cover.  It may be small, but it took over 2 hours to complete!  I had to fussy cut those cute little kids.  This one is going to my sister in law.  I think I am done sewing for the day.

Happy Quilting
Caren

Christmas Quilt A Long

This is my progress so far on the Christmas Quilt A long.  I made the label for the memory quilt.  I also made the hanging sleeve. Joy Joy...now it is time for the binding!

The Label is a pocket from one of my grandfathers shirt.   It big for a label, but i didn't want to lose the extra pocket.

Inside the pocket is a tag with the name of the quilt and who it's to and who it is about.  On the other side is my name and address.

Happy Quilting

Caren

Shrimp Festival

I spent this morning at the Shrimp Festival at Gulf Shores.  The weather was awesome.  Not a cloud in the sky.  No shade to be had....it was Hot, I'm not sure what happened to Fall!  The vendors were great.  My mom bought me a Mermaid painting for Christmas.  I love mermaids.  There was a lot of jewelry and woodworking.  Not much fiber art this year.  But then, I didn't go for the vendors.  I went for the food!  I indulged my love of crab claws (even though I'm allergic!)  and of course who can not try the alligator on a stick!  For those of you who have never had fried gator- it tastes like chicken with the texture of chewy pork chops.  This year I  saw you could actually have a shark bob!?  I didn't even know you could sell shark!  I didn't try that.  I'll leave you with a few pictures.

Gulf Shores...chilly water today!

Dad with what's left of his Gator!

Another Beautiful shot of the surf.

Me in front of the food.

I'm all ready for the Quilt along tomorrow.  How about you?
Happy Quilting
Caren

Went shopping

I just got back from fabric shopping.  It was soooo depressing.  Mobile needs a quilt store.  Anyway, my mom asked me to make her 2 aprons for Christmas.  One to use in the kitchen and one to use when she's feeding the hummingbirds.  Why the hummingbirds need their own apron is beyond me.  She asked and I said yes.  Hancock's had their patterns on sale for $.99.  I found this cute apron pattern.

I am making the "cat" apron in the bright floral print.  This one is for feeding the hummingbirds!  I know I'm twisted.  It just sounds so funny to me.  I think my mom will appreciate the humor.

The "chicken" apron will be made in the chicken fabric.  The colors are darker, she requested fabric that wouldn't show stains to bad.  She actually plans on cooking in her apron!

I have until Christmas to make them.  They are Christmas gifts.  So now both parents are done for Christmas.  I guess I need to start on my husbands side of the family!  I'm off to equilter to buy some fabric for the Ho Ho Holiday swap.

Happy Quilting!
Caren

New Mug Rug and Christmas Quilt Along

I spent a little time today making a mug rug.  This one looks really good.  I think I might put it on Etsy.  I traced the leaves from actual leaves in my yard.  Did a little thread sketching on them and then echo quilted the whole thing.  The background is actually a piece of leftover fabric from curtains I made about 10 years ago.  Scary to think I have fabric older than my children!!!  Good news is I didn't have to buy anything!  Maybe I can use up some of my scraps!  I bought the binding for my Memory quilt.  I plan on having it finished next week.

I saw this great idea on Quilt Times, it's a Christmas Quilt Along.  Here's a link.  Basically, you spend a day sewing for Christmas and post pictures.  I can do that....actually I already have.  The Memory quilt is a Christmas gift and the CD cover is a Christmas gift.  I'm pretty sure someone will be getting a mug rug, I just haven't decided who!  They are just so much fun to make.

Improve your butt challenge, update

Warning:  Not Quilt Related Post!
I have sewn a stitch in almost a week!  The Clue Party was a huge success!  Now I just have to get rid of all the left over birthday cake!  The dog finished up the Cheetos for us.  I should wait a day or two before I give him the leftover cake.

I woke up this morning and it was a brisk 52*.  I was so happy.  The wind is blowing, the air is crisp....Fall has actually arrived.  So in honor of fall I went to the grocery store and stocked up on all these wonderful fall fruits and veggies that are staring to come in.  I bought a butternut squash.  I have no idea how you prepare butternut squash!  Never eaten it, I don't think its an actual Southern veggie.  I plan on roasting it.  I found a recipe for roasted fall veggies.  Then tomorrow I'll use the leftovers for a creamed soup.  My husband will be so happy!!!

Today, I have walked 2 miles.  It's only 10:00!  Yippee!  I'm ahead of schedule.  I also ate an apple instead of birthday cake!  That in itself is a miracle.  Birthday cake is my favorite.  I made a red velvet cake and frosted it with homemade butter creme....we won't talk about how many pounds of powdered sugar, butter, and shortening went in to it.  I think I hear my arteries clogging as I speak!  You only turn 8 once.

Happy Quilting!
Caren