New Cutting Table

Last night was the last social get-together before Christmas and now I just get to enjoy being  untethered. I made good use of my lack of responsibilities and bought some Christmas fabric on sale at Snappy Quilts. The store has the most amazing fabrics and I always want to buy so much more than my wallet can handle. Now, I have a few more options for next year at a discount.

I also bought some additional backing fabric for placemats. I was so sure I had enough and then I didn't. Luckily it was still available and I bought a little extra - just in case.

This here is my early Christmas gift: a bright red lacquered height-adjustable cutting table:

I love new and old furniture mixed together. While setting up the new table the room got a make-over as well and now the floor plan is much more open and most items have found a place in cabinets and drawers.

I just need to move my design wall over to the right a bit. 

Springtime Hues Quilt

I cannot believe it has been nearly 3 weeks since my last post. Where does the time go? I haven't even had time to make anything substantial with fabric. I did sew several mugrugs as gifts and managed to started quilting my Little Black Dress Quilt. I used stitch in the ditch to hold the blocks in place and now need to get my nerve up to free motion quilt the rest.
I did receive an early Christmas gift: a cutting table. It's height adjustable and has a beautiful shiny bright red surface. It will remind me of Christmas all year long. Instead of just replacing the old with the new table I found myself in an all out room reorganization. The things I found … I good reminder to start sewing all the kits I purchased time and time ago.

I do want to share one photo however. This quilt is called Springtime Hues by Elizabeth Dackson         (http://www.dontcallmebetsy.com) and was published in Fat Quarterly. I finished the quilt 2012 in the summer and was lucky enough to have Susan Santistevan quilt it for me. She did a wonderful job and I could not have been happier. I had given her free reign, I believe my only request was that it not be a flowery design.
My two dogs are dark haired and I just didn't want to get their hair on my beautiful quilt. However that meant not using the quilt and it's just too pretty not to. So, I finally got over myself and finished the binding and to make a long story short, here it is:

Just looking at it makes me happy.

Needle Felting Class and some Christmas Gifts

Meet Oscar:

… the product of a needle felting class at Fancy Tiger earlier today.
Isn't he a cute little gnome?


I have also been working on these little cuties as small Christmas gifts for some of my coworkers. I found the instructions on Ellison Lane as part of the Holiday Hostess series. The pattern is from Modern Handcraft:

They are quick and easy to make and are certainly looking pretty.

A Christmas Quote

It is Christmas in the heart that will put Christmas in the air … W.T. Elliott

This quote just about encompasses the Christmas spirit, doesn't it?

Christmas Decorations

Yesterday's moderate snowfall added its charm and makes me feel even more like Christmas. After last year's pre-Christmas debacle I promised myself that this year would be different. Better. Much better! The way Christmas season is meant to feel. 
I want to slow down a little. Be enchanted by lights and decorations. Enjoy a cup of eggnog, occasionally. Decorate my house. Feel warm and fuzzy and thankful.
Just like every year, I am not buying gifts. the run on stores is just not what Christmas is all about for me. I will however get some toys for the various toy drives in the area. The few gifts I am giving away will be hand made by yours truly. 

Inspired by a posting on Pinterest I did buy some decoration yesterday. I like the mix of letter styles even though it was more by necessity than choice, but it turned out nicely. I finally could make good use of that little wreath I had for several years. And this is what it looks like:

It certainly suits my love for anything French.


I have also been busy sewing up fabric Christmas calendars. They aren't very modern, but hey. It's all good in the spirit of things, right?! Here is a folk themed calendar. In Germany all the Christmas calendars end with "24" as that is the day the Christkindl brings the presents. The 25th is "just" the first day after Christmas. So, on this calendar I replaced the number 25 with a tag saying Merry Christmas.

This one fought my eye due to my love of snowmen. And this is the American version with 25 pockets. It also contains some orange to make it twice as nice.

And here is my Christmas wall hanging. Made from a Basic Grey (one of my favorite fabric designers) remnant it makes my happy each time I look at it. I found and bought the fabric just after Christmas in 2011 and had it on my wall for the time time last year.

Christmas Stocking

At today's FRMQG meeting and Christmas party we exchanged our swap gifts. A few months ago we chose fabrics and some instructions and placed them in a bag which was randomly picked by someone else. Today, we saw the results and I have to say I am proud to be a member of a quilt filled with such talented quilters.
I had asked for a Christmas stocking. Lyn made one for me and I just love it. Especially the fabric she added at the heel.

Now, I need to find a real stocking holder to do the honors.

Improv Piecing Class with Jacquie Gering

I was lucky enough to participate in a lecture and class held by Jacquie Gering. What a treat this was. After the lecture a bunch of us went to a local brewery and spent a few hours sitting around a fire pit in their yard talking and watching the moon.
Next day's class was about improv piecing as her Urban Garden Quilt. Wow, what an eye opener. Improv is not quite as easy as it looks. It's also not that difficult. It is liberating and exploring completely new avenues. I learned about angeles piecing and curved piecing. It was inspiring to see my class mates' work. …and I got my Quilting Modern book signed by Jacquie.

This is what I worked on. It's not the final arrangement, but a start. I am hoping to finish the quilt by January.

Today I love the
sound of owls in the morning
the taste of parsnip risotto
the sight of the moon
the feel of fleece
the smell of Chanel No 5

Jelly Roll Race Quilt

It seems that I finally am over the worst of my cold. I haven't left the house in a few days and desperately need to take my dogs for a long walk today. They just may be as stir crazy as I am.
I am also a little behind in posting projects. Here is my niece's birthday present.

The inspiration was a jelly roll sitting in one of my drawers and the jelly roll race video by Jennie Doan of the www.missouriquiltco.com . Their tutorial videos are amazing and have inspired many projects. Go check them out.

Here is a quickie project: a fabric tray made of a 9 1/2" block. Makes me want to make many more in all sorts of sizes.

And then there is my current project, made from Basic Grey's "Little Black Dress". I wanted to sew a quick quilt top and once I saw the tutorial for the "Double Slice Layer Cake" I knew I had found my pattern. Here it is, laid out waiting to be quilted:

Recent Fabric Purchases

It's been a grey and rainy day. I love days like this. They are especially precious to me, because they are so rare in Colorado. I have been enjoying a relaxing day, cuddling with my dogs and finishing one of my charity quilts.
In the morning we drove to Monument where I took advantage of a close-out sale at Crafty Laine. Unfortunately, the shop did not do well and has to close its doors. The sale seems to have been going on for awhile already, because there wasn't much left. But there was still some fabric and pretty fabric to boot. I found backing for my "Belle" quilt which is perfect timing since I just finished the quilt top.

I guess I will have to learn to sew skirts or blouses to make good use of the voile fabric.

Today I love the ...
smell of: fresh bread
sound of: rain
taste of: pasta
sight of: sunshine breaking through the fog
feel of: my fleece sweater

Bussi ... Andrea

26 September 2013

Fall is in the air. Cool mornings and there are already a few leaves on the ground.
I have been watching several classes on Craftsy and am stock piling ideas for future projects.

Today I love the ...
smell of: Indian food
sound of: my Featherweight
taste of: a cup of tea
sight of: the Rocky Mountains from my office window
feel of: another completed quilt top

Bussi ... Andrea

25 September 2013

I have been meaning to start my own blog for awhile now. Looking at all sorts of blogs from very talented people it seems an enormously ambitious project. I am not very patient with computers, so my learning curve will be steep. But then, no pain no gain.
I'll start very small and do this for my own amusement. A following and sponsorships may come later or not.
The very talented Jeni at "In Color Order" has the wonderful habit of sharing her day with the following method. It speaks right to my heart and I am simply going to copy her by saying:

Today I love the ...
smell of: cool morning
sound of: my dog snoring softly
taste of: homemade bread and cheese
sight of: "my" airplane, Boing 744 pulling into the gate
feel of: the wind in my hair

Bussi ... Andrea