My New Sister!

I would like to introduce you to "Sister Maida Block".  She is my new sewing sister!

My in-laws gave me my new sister for Christmas. She was made by a friend of my SIL. My daughter, who is an avid curler, also has a new sister...

This is "Sister Bonnie Spiel".

We both love our new sisters!  You can find out more about the sisters here.

By the way, my MIL was thrilled with her new "Beekeeper" table topper and my SIL is looking forward to using her new quilt while watching TV or reading a book sometime soon.

Christmas Gifts Done!

This weekend, I finished hand sewing the binding on the three gifts I made on Wednesday.

The recipients of these gifts do not read my blog so it is safe to show their gifts here.

 This table topper is for my MIL. Her father was a bee-keeper so when I saw this fabric, I knew that I had to make something for her with it.

I hope she will like it.

Two of these gifts are wrapped and ready to be sent tomorrow morning.
How is your Christmas sewing coming along???

Sewing Day :-)

I took a day of vacation today and spent the day with Christine sewing!  I worked on 3 Christmas gifts--I can give you a sneak peek because the recipients do not look at my blog...

I used a quick and easy method, as shown in this Youtube video from the Missouri Star Quilt Company, to make these 2 table runners and table topper. As you can see, I just have to hand sew the binding and they will be done!

Christine also worked on some binding--she put the binding on her daughter's quilt so it is now ready for some hand sewing as well.

Both of us like to work on these hand sewing projects while watching TV or in the car (when we are the passengers!)

Christine also made some bias "vine" for a Christmas tree skirt which has been lurking in her closet as a UFO for a few years now...progress is being made--maybe it will be under her tree next year.

These pillowcases are for some family members in Christine's family. I love the sock monkey fabric!

You may have noticed that we did our ironing in my kitchen. My husband came home tonight and said that my quilting is taking over the entire house...

I will post pictures of the finished table topper and table runners when they are done.

Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll--Getting closer to being done!

Christine and I continue to get together most weeks to spend an evening sewing. This past week, I had 3 goals for our evening together. The first goal was to complete the center of my quilt--I just had one more row of blocks to put together and add to the rest of the quilt top. As you can see, I finished this goal!

My second goal was to complete the 12 triangle sections for the corners of the quilt borders... Ta Da! I got that one done too!

My 3rd goal for the evening was to finish sewing the binding on my "Creamsicles By the Sea" (aka "Carolina Christmas"--another mystery quilt designed by Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville) so that I could take it to the London Friendship Quilters' Guild Meeting the next evening for show and tell.  I finished that goal off too!

You can see some of the beautiful quilting by Karen Cole in these pictures.

I put this quilt on my bed!

Christine made great progress on her RRCB quilt too. She got the top trimmed up and the green borders added.

The borders really frame the centre of this quilt nicely. I can hardly wait to get the borders on my quilt and get it to Karen to have it quilted!

I spent another evening at Jacqui's last week when 5 of us got together to make another 27 pillowcases for our local Christmas Hamper program. I hope the children who receive these pillowcases have sweet dreams!

The pillowcases were delivered by one of the sewers to the Inn Out of the Cold and Christmas Care last week.

I am making slow but steady progress getting ready for Christmas. The tree is up and decorated and I made this planter for my front porch.

Still lots to do including more gifts to make. Less than two weeks until the big day. I need to get a move on!

I couldn't sleep this morning...

...so I got up and made some fabric postcards!

I dug into my Christmas fabrics and selvages to make these cards.  I wonder who I will send them to???

These three have addresses and stamps on them and are ready to mail.

This quilt is a Christmas gift for someone who does not read my blog. It is in the mail and on its way to its destination already. My quilt holder is my Dad.   Thanks, Dad!

This is the first spinning 4 patch quilt that I have ever made. It has flying squirrels and maggots on it. (The fabric is Australian and the flying squirrels are actually some sort of marsupial and the maggots are a delicacy that some people eat. I don't think I want any on my dinner plate any time soon!)

I worked on the borders for RRCB again this week and I am just about done...Pictures soon.