This Year and Next

My 2009 progress report:

1) I'd like to make a total of twelve quilts in 2009. Success! I actually completed 15 this year!
2) Learn how to make an applique of an animal or a monogram on a quilt or quilt back. Success! I made a lots of things using applique - including some cute burp cloths, a small applique on a baby quilt, and a tree pillow and table runner that I l-o-v-e.
3) Learn how to do free motion stippling on a quilt. Success! Completed and thrilled about this one!
4) Practice appliqueing on a child's t-shirt. Success! I used applique to make a "big sister" tee for my daughter and announce our pregnancy family and friends.
5) Sew a dress or a skirt for my daughter. Nope... need to add this to 2010's list.
6) Find a better way to photograph my quilts. Pinning them to the wall just isn't cutting it. Success!
7) Make a Christmas quilt or a table runner before the 2009 Holidays. Success! I made a table runner in time for Thanksgiving and a Christmas quilt just in the nick of time for Santa.

2009 brought with it lots of new sewing and crafting experiences for me. It also brought me a new baby to sew for - and boy did I ever! I love tip toeing in to both of my children's bedrooms late at night and seeing them sleeping soundly under the quilts I have made.

For 2010, I have a few additional goals to set for myself. However, I have decided not to create a goal of a specific number of quilts like I did in 2009. I don't think I need that for motivation - I'd just like to see where the year takes me. Some of my other goals:

1) Donate another quilt to a worthy cause in 2010.
2) Experiment more with circles and curves in quilts.
3) Sew a child's dress (rolled over from 2009 goals).
4) Make a quilt with little houses.
5) Attempt a values quilt, maybe using this tutorial (or something similar).
6) Make something with buttons - maybe this or this.
7) Check out my local quilt guild.

Here's looking forward to a new year and decade and lots of crafting and creating to come!

Blue & Green Circles

Next up? A blue and green circle quilt, inspired by the tutorial at Make it... a Wonderful Life.

Instead of using a CD as a template, I invested in a Circle Rotary Cutter. It's sooooo wonderful. And since I was able to buy it using a 50% off coupon at Joann's, I am extra delighted.

Here's part of the stack of fabrics. They'll all be sewn on 6" white squares.

This one is going to be a throw blanket for our home.

Christmas Quilt

Finished just in the nick of time...

Quilted with free motion swirls for that crinkle that I love...


The binding is in green & red lines and the backing is a soft red pattern.



Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Trees

Our Christmas Tree and two of the ornaments we made this year (on the left side).

The top ornament is just a clear ball filled with inexpensive beads. The bottom is a plain ceramic ornament painted by my almost 4-year-old with gold paint - we do this every year.

We also found this bargain wooden tree at Michaels Crafts and painted it with green and red. I love how it turned out and plan to include it in our Christmas decorations for years to come. I also bought an extra so Matthew can paint one when he gets old enough.

Holiday Cards

I wanted to share my dear friend's talent. She does custom photo cards and has some great items in her new Etsy Shop. She also designed my blog header, our baby's birth announcement, and is a pleasure to work with! Check her out!

Table Runner

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today (and everyday), I am thankful for so many things - my healthy and happy children, my husband, our friends and family (and friends who have become just like family!). I am thankful for our safe and warm home that feels so very cozy.

I am thankful that I have found this wonderful quilting and crafting hobby that makes me so happy. I am thankful for people who organize wonderful projects that I can participate in that make my heart happy - like Margaret's Hope Chest, where together we have made 500 quilts for homeless children this winter! I am thankful for other crafters who share their projects and inspire me every. single. day.

I'm thankful for people like Alison who share their knowledge with free tutorials. I made this pillow a few weeks ago, using Alison's instructions and I loved how it turned out. I've been wanting a table runner for our dining room table (although it's more often a sewing table than a dining table...). Since I loved this tree so much, I decided to use that inspiration for a table runner. And finished it just in time for our Thanksgiving feast today!

Tree one...

Tree two...

I free-motion quilted all around the trees with off-white thread to match the fabric.

It's bound in red, which happens to match our cloth napkins just right.

I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving with loved ones!

Knit Baby Hat

Knitted a little hat for baby while watching The Ugly Truth today. I have a pretty wonderful model (10 weeks old).

My daughter has also requested a green scarf, so I'll be adding that to the list of crafts. I love that I can knit while watching TV or riding in the car and am excited to get back into it.

Simple Baby Blanket

I made a sweet, simple baby blanket this weekend for a little girl who is due to be born in the Spring. I love this fabric and have been holding on to it for a long time. This was the perfect way to use it and share it with a baby who is being born into one of the most loving families I have ever known.

Detail of the stippling quilting...

The back is a cute pink and green polka dot.

The binding is a nice pink & purple floral...