Reflections 2011

Looking back over 2011, it was a productive year of quilting. 

Here are some of my favorite quilts and projects. 

edit: Lover's Knot, The Lakefront, Dresden Pillow, Eat, Play Sleep, Repeat, but first coffee,

Let it Snow, Simple Things, Capri Sun bag, Name pillow, Summer Bow Tie, Asymmetric Argyle,

Happy Camper Too, The Fence, Fusion, Block-A-Palooza, Grammie Squares, Vintage

I also made my first 2 tutorial posts this year, was a guest on 2 blogs, Sew We Quilt and Live a Colorful Life, participated in the Ghastlie Blog Hop and joined a swap. I am sew thankful for the opportunities to share my love of quilting. 

Tomorrow I will have the draw for my mittens giveaway. If you want a chance to win a pair of warm mittens, see my post here. 

I wish for all to have a Happy and Healthy New Year!

I'm linking to Lily's Fresh Sewing Day.  So hop on over to see what others have accomplished in 2011!

I'm a guest blogger and a giveaway!

Today I am a guest over at Sew We Quilt as part of Madame Samm's 

Comfort & Joy tutorials! 

My tutorial is for mittens made from repurposed felted sweaters.  For those of you coming over from Sew We Quilt, welcome! I hope you take a little time to enjoy my blog. 

If you want to read my tutorial for making a pair of these mittens, hop over here. 

The mittens 2nd from the right were made during the tutorial.

The mittens are fleece lined so they are very warm. I design these several years ago after my daughter came home from college with her friend's mittens and asked if I could make her some. I sketched out the shape and headed to the thrift store for some wool sweaters to felt. After a few minor adjustments, the rest is history. 

Sew today I am having a giveaway here for the mittens I made while making the tutorial (see 1st picture above.) They fit an adult female. This giveaway is open to all my followers! Please leave a comment on this post to be entered into the draw.  I would like it if you would share how you will be celebrating the New Year! I will pick a winner on New Year's Day by random.

You won't want to miss it...

Sew come back tomorrow as I am the guest blogger over at Sew We Quilt! I will be sharing a tutorial [you will need to check back to see what my tutorial is all about...sneaky aren't I?] as part of Madame Samm's Comfort & Joy December feature. I am thrilled to be among the very talented quilters that have already shared some fabulous tutorials.  And to sweeten the pot, I will be having a giveaway here for all my followers to show my appreciation.  Sew be sure to head over to Sew We Quilt for my tutorial and check back here tomorrow!

So now that all the gifts have been received...

...and opened, I can show you what I've been sewing and crafting. 


First, for Kade whose birthday is December 23rd. 

This play mat was inspired by several pictures that I found on Pinterest. I then took the best ideas from each and designed this play mat to be about the size of a standard placemat with pockets to hold 6 matchbox cars. 

For Ruth ~ 

This quilt pattern was originally drawn up by my husband. He wanted a quilt that reminded him of a Norwegian sweater pattern. It was a bit more complicated as it included many snowflakes. I simplified it to make a table topper quilt. It finished at about 32" square. I love the pretty snowflake fabric for the backing.

For my SIL, Mike ~

For Rio ~

Sorry for the dark picture but the dark green yarn was difficult to photograph.  The knitting pattern makes a nice 2-sided scarf.

For my DD1's puppy, Ole:

Isn't he adorable?

A tug-o-war toy made from t-shirt yarn. 

For the home and ornaments:

My DD3 had this decorating idea using vintage glass ornaments from my grandmother. She framed them in 2 of her vintage white framed. They hung above our fireplace. See them here.

I made this mimi book ornament for my DD2 and SIL for their first Christmas as a married couple. This book is about 1 1/2" x 2". 

Part of the table decorations at their wedding was book art. 

One of my family traditions is to make and exchange Christmas ornaments. These little drums are made from the tops of aerosol containers...like hairspray, etc.

Yarn wrapped glass ornaments...knitting needles made from wooden skewers and wooden beads.

3-D paper star - made from left over scrapbook paper cut into 1/4" strips - 4" long. Here is the tutorial for making this star.

Well that's about all for now...I also did lots of Christmas baking of cookies and my cranberry coffee cake...and I received some very nice packages in the mail...I'll share another time. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Although it seems that I have taken a break all December, I really was quite busy sewing, crafting, and baking. Most of which can't be shared until after the holidays. I promise I will share after all the gifts have been received. 

For now it is time to settle in and enjoy the quiet spirit of Christmas and the birth of baby Jesus.

"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I promise I'm still here....

But much of my sewing and crafting are gifts and I can't quite show them yet. I did finish my Birdie BOM for December which means I've completed all 12 block (actually 13 as I replaced the one for June). Now it is time to sew them together. That will wait until after Christmas.

I also participated in a Christmas Little Quilt Swap and here is what I made using  this tutorial. Can you see the little covered buttons? So cute!

I also want to mention that a few days after Christmas, December 28th,  I will be featured over at Sew We Quilt as a guest on Comfort and Joy! See the button on my side bar. I hope you all will hopped over there and see my tutorial.  I may be having a little giveaway here too so come back!  I hope to see you then.

Since I can't show too much of what I've been up to...I'll leave you with a few pictures from the cutest antique store...all decked out for Christmas!

A wall of woolen blankets!

baskets of shiny ornaments

more antique quilts

picnic baskets 

beautiful displays all around

There's not much time before Christmas now! I hope you all have time to relax and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas...the gift of baby Jesus!