Black and Brights ...and a bonus

This weekend I played around with my black kona and some of Robert Kaufman's fusion fabric.  I am in a swap with the Cobble Court Quilters that is named "Black and Brights."  I had this idea in my head and wanted to try it out.  Turns out that the block is too large for the swap.  I love how it looks so I will make myself a quilt using this pattern.

I have chosen another quilt block for the swap because the one above turned out to be about 14 inches.  The swap blocks have to be 12.5 inches unfinished.

Bonus:  Here are a couple of pictures of the kitty cats.  They are growing fast.

They love to eat and are waiting to be fed every morning and evening.

Until next time............

Sandra

Celebrate Christmas - Block 1

The Christmas Quilt-Along that I mentioned in an earlier post has started.  For the next 12 weeks, 36 designers will create blocks for the the Celebrate Christmas Quilt-Along.  Three blocks a week will be featured on the Quilting Gallery site.  There will be great deals for quilters each time a block is introduced.  Click on the icon to the right on this blog and check out the fun. 

My first block, created by Pat Sloan, was made with batik snowflake print and a WOW fabric.  The batik is one of my most favorite and I felt "pain" when I cut into it, but the block did the fabric justice so I have recovered from the shock. ha!  Does anyone else have fabric that they love so much that they just do not want to cut on it or am I the only one that feels this way? 

Two other blocks have been published on the site.  They are:
Block 2 - "Santa's Mittens" - Jennifer Rodriquez
Block 3 - "This Little Light of Mine" - Melissa Stramel

I am thinking of making the mittens with the fabric shown below.

Until next time, happy quilting........................

Sandra

Crumb Along - First Blocks

The Crumb Along over at Jo's Country Junction got started in earnest today.  Jo showed us how to make the first of our blocks.  The tutorial was clear and very easy to follow.  Thanks Jo!  I am already looking forward to the next block.

All I can say is that it is not easy being "crumb-ly".  It was so hard for me to sew all of those different types of seams and not try to get the flying geese just perfect.  Here are the results of my first attempt.

Accomplishments and other tid bits.............

I tried out Bonnie Hunter's recipe for Gooey S'mores Pie and sent it to the Standstitchers Pot Luck Dinner last Thursday night.  Some said it was too sweet and others said it was great.  The left over were brought back to my work and it did not last long.  Click on the above link to find the recipe.

The kittens that took up residence outside my home are doing great.  One has become very friendly and lets me pet it.  The other two had not decided to trust me.  He is so cute!! I have fallen in love with him.

Here is a photo of his two siblings.  They are cute also, but not very trusting.

 The fabric shown below is what I have picked out for pillowcases for my grandkids.  I made them pillowcases last Halloween and they want new ones this year. 

I actually accomplished some guilty things this past weekend.  I completed a top for a baby quilt.  I have to make another one just like it but with different colors.  These will be for my nephew's twins - Owen and Paige.  I showed you pictures of them in an earlier post.  I just hope they are not in high school before I get both completed, quilted and mailed off to them.  The fabric is Lollipop  by Moda.  I know, it needs ironing.  I should had done that before I took the picture.

Back to School Party from Quiltmaker

I guess I think I do not have enough to do these days.  I love the quilt that Quiltmaker is providing for their "Back to School Party".  I plan to make the Very Fairy Christmas using fabric from Quilting Treasures.  If I cannot find it locally, then I will dive into my stash and look for reds, greens, black dots, and creams. 

Check out the Quiltmaker Magazine's blog for more details on this "Party".

Crumb Along with Jo

How about joining us for a crumb-a-long.  Visit Jo over at  Jo's Country Junction  and join the fun.  The event is just getting started so you can join now and not have to catch up.  While you are there grab the button and put it on your blog.

I have lots of scraps and crumbs and need to do something with them so I thought I would try this.  I already have  Tonya’s book, Word Play Quilts: Easy Techniques from the UnRuly Quilter (That Patchwork Place).  This will give me a chance to try out some words on the quilt.

Check back from time to time to see my progress and keep me on track.

Weekend Get-Away

This month marked a milestone birthday for me.  To celebrate I went on a long weekend get-away to New Mexico, Las Cruses to be exact.  I had a wonderful visit with family and friends of family. 

We visited the Salsa Festival, went shopping for jewelry, ate great Mexican food, spent time with friends, and visited Carlsbad Caverns.  I had always wanted to go there, so we went.  The following is some pictures of my great weekend.  And...oh yes, I visited a Quilt Shop.  More on that in another post. 

Below are some pictures showing some of the things we did.

 Great Mexican Food

 Geri, me, Sharon after the meal

 One of our side trips

 Entrance to Carlsbad Caverns

 A view from the seats used to see the bats come out in the evenings

This is one of the domes.  So beautiful.  I could go back again and again because it is that beautiful.