Just a little more progress

Three things to be happy about:
(1) a free football ticket
(2) the distant winter sun
(3) the feel of fleece

At the craft fair Saturday there was a sweet quilter from Bowie, Marilyn Mowatt, who had put fleece on the back of her baby quilts... just the top and the fleece back with no batting.  I had an "ah-hah!" moment - why not do the same with my super-duper Christmas quilt?  Since it will only be used in December anyway, the fleece wouldn't be too warm.  I called my LA but she's never done it and wanted to research it a bit, so I'll just do the usual with this quilt to save time.  But sometime soon I'll try that top/fleece combo on my own with a smaller quilt! 

Since my last post I've only made one more block... Remember me mentioning a basket block embellished with candy canes?  Well, this is it, sort of.  It's a paper-pieced block from EQ but I made it rectangular rather than square, then I decided I didn't like the handle so I eliminated it.  Looks sort of like a vase, doesn't it? 

After piecing the bottom part, I cut background fabric for the top and appliqued the candy canes, then joined the two pieces.  To make the candy canes I started by sewing alternating strips of red and white fabric together.  Then I drew the candy cane shapes on fusible web, placed them on the back of the fabric and cut.

This angel block was in a box in my sewing room; I think I made it back in the spring but never did anything with it.  I figured it'd go well with my Christmas quilt so I tossed it in. 

I was trying to make it tall enough to join with another block, so I put the little piece at the bottom... that's a nostalgic Christmassy street scene between the green pieces. 

Then I decided to join it to a different piece, and I wanted to make it wider by adding the red and white - yuck!  I think I could have made this combination work if I had placed the side on first (minus one diamond!), then put the bottom border all the way across. 

It looks a bit choppy as is, especially with the piece I meant to join it to, so I removed that diamond piece.  I think I can still use this angel, but with a different set of blocks!

Here's one combination that I want to show you, they're coming right along...

Santa, deer, churn dash blocks, and cute rocking horse!

I've reached the point now where I need to take careful measurements, add a piece here, shave a bit there.  I also need to decide which orientation my new blocks will be - vertical or horizontal.  I still don't have my house!!

That's all for now, enjoy your Tuesday - sew forth and sew on!

A pause just because...

Three things to be happy about:
(1) good friends
(2) good food
(3) good times!

Thanks everybody for your congrat on my blogiversary, it really sneaked up on me.  I've enjoyed having you visit my blog, and I've had fun with my list of three happy things - there are lots more to come!

Is there anything better than a craft fair?  I mean, besides a quilt show of course!

Yesterday Charlene and I went to the Mt. Ranier craft fair where Sondra ("Sandy," on the left), a fellow guild member, had a booth.

She had some great items for sale, including small quilts, fabric bowls, purses and wallets.  You can visit her blog at http://sondrahassan.wordpress.com/

Merinda Evans had crocheted items and some great dancing girl magnets, cleverly hand painted and "dressed" in African skirts, shawls or head wraps. 

I got that cute purple and yellow one, second from the right.   And hey, she has an etsy shop!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamamerinda

There was an artist there, Cynthia Paige Gossage, who had the most gorgeous wall hangings and journal covers - all hand finished, of course!  Most of the hangings and covers were cleverly beaded and embellished, I was drooling over them. 

She has items in the Textile Museum gift shop.


Aren't these knitted hats cute?  And don't you need a lantern made from large tomato cans?

One reason I like craft fairs is because of the great variety you see there - anything from tree ornaments to shawls to art prints to quilts to leather goods... and don't forget the beeswax lotions and hand creams!  Jewelry was a big item, and there was even a vendor selling chocolate truffles (I resisted them!)  We talked with a nice quilter from Bowie, Marilyn Mowatt, who had some really cute baby quilts.  Of course, there's no way I can show you everything there, but believe me, there was an interestng mix of stuff. 



Hangings by Cynthia Paige Gossage



fabric bowls by Sondra Hassan

 After the craft fair we had lunch at the Silver Diner in Greenbelt and popped into JoAnn's for some of the on-sale fleece.  On the concourse this little guy was doing a super job of caroling on his  keyboard...

He had a very strong, pleasant voice for such a little guy!

What could we do after that, but strut on home?  It was a pleasant afternoon and I'm glad we both paused... just because!

Have a great Sunday, sew forth and sew on til later!

Pulling it together!

Three things to be happy about:
(1) Dickens's characters
(2) one-pot dinners
(3) home exercise equipment

Way back in February I took my medical release forms to the senior center, so I could be checked out on their exercise equipment.  You're not allowed to use the equipment unless/until you get a medical release from your doctor, and get an assessment by the athletic director.  Well, yesterday I finally got around to going in for the assessment, so I'm good to go.  No more excuses now!

Can it be December already??  Yesterday was my blog-iversary, somehow it completely slipped my mind - Eat, Sleep, Quilt is now a very healthy 2 years old!


I embellished the gigantic 16" wreath that I made for my Christmas quilt, with poinsettias from a very ugly Christmas print.  It looks a bit better without all the white space it had before

Still some white space, but it looks better...  It's ready now to be joined with other blocks.



I enjoy seeing the ladies' progress in the quilting workshop at the senior center!   Ruth had a piece of fabric with hamburgers that another member gave her, and she didn't know what she'd do with it.  She was so proud of herself when she cut it up in 1" pieces for a quilt pattern she found!

the culprit!



the solution!



This seems to be an I-Spy quilt; she showed me the pattern but I didn't see the name of it.  I think this will be a pretty quilt when she's done!

Nancy made this lovely quilt from her scrap strips:

She started with center pieces and kept adding borders all around - great job!  She just has to make the backing and it'll be ready to quilt.

That's all for now - today I go to a craft show with Charlene and ogle other people's creativity.  Have a great Saturday - sew forth and sew on!