Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!

And the winner is …. Debbie

"I once got a grandson on my birthday! 

I have every one of Jennifer's Elm Creek novels 

and this would be great to finish off the collection! 

happy holidays to you and yours"

Your books are on the way!

Happy Holidays!!

Jennifer Chiaverini and Clare O'Donohue Book Give away .. last day to enter!

With the busy holiday season upon us

just wanted to remind everyone

about the book Give Away 

complements of Plume Publishing!

Just leave a comment on your favorite 

holiday memory and

please make sure your contact info is available!

Drawing tonight Sunday Dec 15th 7pm EST

It all started with a few charm packs!

Starting with 2 charm packs of Kona Snow

and 2 charm packs of "Sew Stitchy" by Aneela Hoey

made Lots of half square triangles

turned them into this block

and put  nine blocks together to make this quilt!

This is the quilting idea I have in my head,

and let the marking begin

That's all for now…
The rest will have to wait until
after Christmas!

Christmas … my favorite time of year!!

Give away in time for Christmas!

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?

Do you have the perfect gift for everyone on your list?

This year I started early ~ so now it's time to 

put on the Christmas music make some hot cocoa 

and wrap, wrap, wrap!

For those of you who may need just one more

gift for someone on your list…

or yourself!

Here is a special give away!

Plume Publishing sent me two books to offer my readers!

Just in time for Christmas!!

The first is by my all time favorite author

Jennifer Chiaverini

"An Elm Creek Quilts Companion"

brings series fans on a guided tour of this cherished series.

Readers will discover a treasure trove of delights,

including the Bergstrom family tree,

character biographies, quilt blocks illustrations, 

along with full-color photographs of quilts featured in the novels.

A new original Elm Creek short story from Jennifer,

"A Stitch in Tine: Behind the Scenes at Elm Creek Quilt Camp" 

is inspired by questions from series readers.

This is a beautiful keepsake volume,

and an indispensable guide that every 

Elm Creek fan will want in their collection.

The second book in this special give away is from Clare O'Donohue.

~Wedding planning never goes according to plan; 

whether it's a demanding parent or challenging seating arrangement, 

there's always a snag. 

In Archers Rest, Nell Fitzgerald's plan for Grandma Eleanor 

and Oliver's wedding,  as well as her future with boyfriend Jesse, 

seem like smooth sailing. 

That is, until Jesse's old police partner 

turns up in town dead in Clare's latest Someday Quilts Mystery,

"The Double Wedding Ring"

TWO fabulous Books!!

Just leave me a comment on what was the most special gift

you have ether given or received and your name 

will be entered into the drawing!

Please make sure your contact information is available.

The Drawing will be Sunday night Dec 15th 7pm EST

That way the books can be mailed to you and arrive 

for Christmas!

If your out of the USA ~ you may enter 

and the books will make a very nice 

New Years Present!!

Holidays are upon us!

With all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays
traditions are important…
for my family it's our "Santa Face" cookies!

we make LOTS of them!
and give them to our family and friends.
Nothing like a box of Santa Cookies to make someone smile?

So how do you spread Holiday Cheer?

Jump on over to Kate Spain's Blog
to check out her Holiday Giveaways!!

Let's all share the Holiday Cheer any way we can!!

Inchie Quilt

Spent the week working on a cute little project

an "Inchie Quilt"

They are way too cute little quilt sandwiches

that can be made into all sorts of things!

Using the method featured in

"Inchie quilts" by Nadine Ruggles

and adding my own personal flare

I came up with this 16" Mini Quilt

  It features five "Inchie Quilts"

nestled into the center of folded flowers,

set into a nine patch

with Sashiko and beading,

and surrounded by a piped binding

The directions call for using 40 wt Rayon thread

of course I didn't have any
so went ahead and used 50 wt Aurifil,

which was okay but...
 the Rayon would have given a much
smoother edging on the Inchies.

Next time!!

It was a fun little project!

Bella is getting very comfy!

We have had Bella for a week now,

and she seems to be adjusting and 

making herself very comfy!

Yup ~ don't leave your seat on the couch....

because when you get back,

it's gone!!!!

She starts Obedience Training in a few weeks!!

Bella is such a love bug!

She had a check up at our local vet yesterday,

got a few extra shots and do so well!

They think not only is she a Brittany and Golden Retriever mix

but also a little bit of Great Pyrenees!

Which would account for her

curly tail, thicker coat and larger size!

Whatever she is ... she is ours

and we are so Happy!

New Addition to the family!

My thoughts have been every where the past few weeks

unable to focus on anything Quilty...

Why?

After weeks of emails and phone calls

I went up to Boston Common this morning to...

Meet Belle.....

Belle was surrendered to a shelter in Georgia and 

brought up to Massachusetts through the New England Brittany Rescue

after meeting her, talking to her foster mom and signing the papers

she was ours!

She is a bit bigger than we expected ... 

60 pounds worth of big!

I really wanted a medium size dog,

but once we meet ... 

it was love at first sight!

She was wonderful in the car...

sat nicely in the back seat.

First up a quick drive over to Victoria's college...

for a surprise happy meeting!

My Beauties!

A quick stop into PetCo to pick up a few doggie toys,

she behaved so well it was unbelievable!

Then home to meet Matthew!

So funny to see my 6'3" son on the floor with Belle!

after walking around the yard and a quick flea bath

Belle settled into her bed with a toy

and then a nap all tuckered out!

The next few days will be spent getting to know one another...

not sure I'll get any quilting done the next few days!

Having one of those quilty days!

Have you ever gotten into your quilty zone

and became oblivious of your surroundings?

Well that is what happened to me

while working on quilting a baby quilt.

I'm quilting away,

listening to music

and stitching

oblivious to the project in the background...

and then I turned over the baby quilt to find...

YUP!

I had quilted a few blocks to the back of the baby quilt!

Really quilted it to the back!!

Oh well, break out the seam ripper,

Frog Stitch here I come...

Rip It,

Rip It,

Rip It!!

Ladies of The Sea ... Bluenose

Finished with block #1 of 

Ladies of the Sea (LOTS)

"The Bluenose 1929"

The boat came out a bit off from the pattern...

oh well! I'm pleased with it!

The sail riggings were a challenge,

after trying many different ways

and consulting the on line group

I decided to do a stem stitch in a

 dark grey (#5004) 50 wt Aurifil thread.

I ran away and had a "Quilty Day"!!!

Yesterday was a "Quilty Day"!

My Quilty Gal Pal Joan and I ran away for the day!

and headed to Westerly R.I to the Ninigret Quilt Show

What a nice show!

The Best of Show

was "Chris and Jamie's Wedding Ring"

by Tina Craig

and she won just a FEW more ribbons with this beautiful baby!

Congratulations Tina!!

Beautifully quilted by Pat Harrison of

Ocean Wave Quilting Company

Got a chance to grab a quick picture with Tina!

Another favorite was

"Spiked Journey" by Pat Harrison

Loved the colors in 

Pam Burnham's "Touch of Spring"

Reminded me of the ocean!

Just Loved Tina Craig's

"Emerald Salvage Spiderweb"

I am now totally inspired to start saving

all of my salvages!

After the Quilt Show Joan and I

headed to The Malted Barley for lunch!

Thank you Tina for the suggestion!

Now I'm not a drinker but if I was ....

this would be the place to go!!

They offer all kinds of beers...

'll have to tell my son!

and the Turkey, havarti, tomato, sprouts, spicy mustard

pretzel sandwich was to die for!!

Highly Recommend it!!

After lunch we traveled over to Barrington RI

to a new quilt shop....

Knit One Quilt Too

OK ~  I have found a new favorite quilt shop!

My favorite shop closed :( so sad ...

but now with a new shop to go to and 

I'm happy!!

When you enter the shop you are warmly greeted by the owner Yvonne

and her way cute little white dog!

One side is for quilters...

and is filled with beautiful fresh fabrics

and more fabric, books, and supplies

and the other side is for knitters...

I'm not a knitter but let me tell ya...

I'm going to be!

The shop has a wonderful friendly atmosphere,

can see myself spending many relaxing hours here!

Sometimes it's great to run away and have a "Quilty Day"

Thanks for a great day Joan!

Looking forward to our next quilty adventure!!

Time for the next Big Project!

Now that my Aunt Millie's Garden is done (wha-hoo!)

it is time to move onto the next big project...

The ocean has always been my "Happy Place"

Love to walk along the ocean edge watching the waves, 

and collecting Sea Glass!

When at the canal with my hubby watching him fish,

I usually sit and stitch and...

(some days are a bit chilly and windy!)

watch the boats sail by,

my favorite have always been the beautiful schooners 

there is just something magical about them,

especially the double masted ships...

 

even the large sailboats are beautiful

 so with the love of boats and the ocean in mind,

I found Sue Garmen's Ladies of the Sea Quilt

it is an absolutely stunning quilt

and since I love boats and appliqué

I figure .... why not give it a try!

Here is the first pattern

Bluenose 1929

with my color selections.

The background in Kona - Sand

(Yes I pre-washed)

Decided to spice it up a bit and use BATIKS!

Hoping to do a block a month ...

and having it ready for the next SCQG show in 2015!             

       

Halloween decorating

Did just a bit of Halloween decorating this weekend

(no my favorite holiday)

so I keep it to a minimum!

A quilty scarecrow

cute pumpkin

pretty plant

and a table runner made by my

daughter when she was 11

(ten years ago!)

it's holding up well!!

Happy Fall!

More from the SCQG show

Wanted to share more of the fabulous quilts

that were displayed at the Silver City quilt Guild Show 

last weekend

My friend Diana's  (of "In Stitches")

quilt "Barbara"

was absolutely fabulous 

the quilting and the beading - just unbelievable

Dora of "Mad About Quilts"

and her "Mint Chocolate Chip" was just beautiful

Love the quilting in the border

The Official SCQG Quilt Police!

"Thru the Woods" by Sandy Hall

received a judged ribbon

for Best Rookie Quilt

"Memories of Mom" by Sylvia Wade

a lovely appliqued center

surrounded by crossed stitched blocks

just beautiful

"Elegance" by Mary Ann Zonenshine

was absolutely... elegant

so beautifully quilted

Penny Sawyer was tickled pink

with her ribbon for her Challenge quilt

Donna Berthelette's "Cat Academy"

was just so CUTE!

Pauline Lally was so surprised to WIN

te SCQG Raffle Quilt!

I think she shed a tear or two!!

"On the Bucket List" by Barbara LaFlamme

featured thirties fabrics, circles and yo-yo's!

and her button chair...

to die for!!

It was a fabulous show!

with so many wonderful quilts

such a talented group of quilty gals!