Christmas gifts

I decided to make most of my Christmas presents this year.  

I made these ornaments for all the ladies and gentlemen at work.  Super simple and they turned out great!

Sage and I made chocolate covered pretzels to share with some friends.

We found the recipe here.

I made a quilt for my mom out of fabric that was given to me by my friend Celeste.  I have been holding on to the fabric for over two years and thought it would be just perfect for my mom's house.

Looks like it turned out perfect!

This is a pillow I made for my siste in law.

It feels like I made a lot more but.... maybe not. 

This is a mug rug I made for one of my online swaps through Flickr.

Well that is all the crafty goodies for now.

I have been hard at work here at Santa's Sun Valley workshop.  I finished the Grinchmas Quilt and it turned out great!  Sage and I had a Christmas picnic on it.  And here he is playing hide and seek behind it!

January block

Quilting Under the Rainbow January Block









January is my month and I have been working away to get my fabric sent out.

I picked out some fabric for the corners of my block from Spoonflower Fabrics.  I am not wanting to be stingy with the fabric because I want to make sure everyone has enough to finish their block; however the fabric was outrageously expensive so I just might have to be so I do not have to buy more to complete the top!

I am using a tutorial from this summer's quilt series: Summer Sampler Series.  As I am putting together my test block I am finding that the fabric the tutorial calls for is really an overestimate.  So I am trying to figure out what I really do need to send out to my fellow bee members.  I am also making a few changes instead of using white for the middle circle I am using solid colors from the color wheel.  I hope it turns out.  Off to sew and test!

Step 1:  If you are one of the Quilting Under the Rainbow Bee members I will be sending out the templates.  If not please go to the tutorial.  You will need to have a total of 4 of each template.  Once you have your copies made, it is a good idea to label each template according to how you are going to lay out your fabric  I started with red at the top.  I want the quilt to have a scrappy look so I do not mind if you decide to put a different color at the top. 

Step 2:  Cut out the fabric.  You will need to cut the fabric up according to the directions below.  You will also need to pull 8 4X4 pieces from your stash that go with the solids I am sending out.  If you are using the tutorial, it gives different fabric requirements.   If you are in the Bee please use my directions so you will have enough fabric.  I found the 5X5 pieces to be too long in one direction and too short in the other.  

Fabric requirements:  

I will send:

4 - 5.5inch X 4inch pieces  This is the dot fabric I am sending out.  I sent it in a 5.5inch strip.  You will need to cut it into 4 inch sections.  

16 - 4X4 pieces of white These will be the triangles on the sides of each of the fabrics you will choose from your stash.

8 - 4X4 pieces These are the solid colors I sent.  I alraeady cut these for you!

From your stash:

8 4X4 pieces that go with the solids I send.   I love modern fabric.  I also want this to be scrappy so really I would love to see your personality in these pieces.  

Step 3: Follow steps 2 to the end of this tutorial.  Please press seams open when possible!

Thanks Kate for such a great tutorial!  Happy sewing!

My first test block did not come out to 12.5 inches.  I am not too worried about it but I am going to make a second to see if it goes better!  I will probably pick it and see if I can fix where it did not line up!

Christmas is coming fast and I am deep into making presents for everyone.  I am not posting many pictures because most of them are surprises.  However I made these cute little ornaments today and so I thought I would post a picture.  Thet are for an ornament exchange at my local fabric store.  Hope they are a hit.

My mom's present is the only one that is officially ready to send!  I have about ten others on the list to make.  Some are half way there.  But none are truly close.

Sage and I made this snowman the other day!

Thanksgiving was wonderful it was great to have friendsin town and to get back out on the snow.  Sage even hit the slopes on the first day.  Big boy even wanted to carry his own skis!

What is new?

Well with Christmas coming right around the  corner I am getting started on some projects.  I hope to get them a ll done in time!  Most of them are surprises so this is exciting!

WIP Wednesday

WIP Wednesday

New projects:

Last night I went on Stitched in Color Blog and final plunged into the deep end. I have been wanting to do the Bottled Rainbow project for some time... so I have been collecting scraps last night I bought the solid fabric necessary to really get started.  I do not know what lucky person is going to get the project when it is done, but I do knowI now have another project I am working on!

Finished Projects - 

My friend Kerstin will be having a baby soon and so I made her a purse quilt/diaper changing area.

I also finished two pot holders.


Finished a pillow case!


I also finished Dana and Danny's Wedding Pillow!

Swaps

I made a Day of the dead themed placemat and a few blocks this month as well as two mug rugs.


For some reason I did not take a picture of the mug rugs!
You can see the rest on my Flickr photo photostream.

Ongoing projects:
Geese in a ring
Placemat Swap
Orange you Glad Bee
Block Party Bee
Quilting Under the Rainbow
We Can Do IT Skill Builder
Scrap Basket Swap
Frames 
Photo book for Jessi
Frame for Meg


No progress:
Summer Sampler (Need to do something with the blocks I finished)

This week's stats:
Completed projects -5
New projects - 1
Currently in progress - 11

Please go check out the rest of the projects on freshly pieced
.

Latest Blocks and Projects

Latest Blocks and Projects, a set on Flickr.

These are pictures of my latest blocks and projects.

New Blog Button for Block Party grab it to the left.

New button for the ALFALC swap you can grab it to the left.

Copy the info in the little box under the icon in the side bar.  Go to your blog and add a gadget... html... paste the info and it should show up on your blog.  Let me know if you need help.

Ipad Case

Ipad Case, a set on Flickr.

This is the latest project I have made...

I found the tutorial on line and then changed it up to fit my needs. It is for my new Ipad that the school is loaning me to take notes on student... etc.