Potholders

At one time I imagined I would be making potholders as presents for everyone on my Christmas/Hanukkah list this year...

...turns out I only had time to make a set for one...

Wall Quilt for Mom & Dad - Road to Dixie

This quilt is based on a pattern called "Road to Dixie" which was a larger quilt. I reduced the size to be a square wall quilt for my parents' new house. Of course, not so new now, as it has taken me two years to finish!

My mom picked out the border fabric and I took it from there, choosing the rest of the fabrics. The room it is going into is their great room, combination living/dining room, and it has lots of red and forest green in it, with beige walls and a light wood floor.

I machine pieced the top, and then it took me over a year to figure out the design for my machine quilting. I finally came up with a plan, and this past Christmas break got it quilted at their house.

My mom was so glad to finally have it almost done (and I think she didn't want to see it leave her house again, for fear it would be another year before it came back) she volunteered to finish the binding on it.

I'm hoping next time we visit I'll find it hanging on their wall!

2008's Christmas runner, finished in 2009...

This was going to be a gift, but then we found something we liked better. So I didn't rush to finish it. This pattern was a "quilt as you go" where you attach the pieces to the batting and each other at the same time. It was really easy and much quicker, since I didn't have to figure out how to quilt it!

Fall's Work: Purses

This fall I made several purses to give as gifts. Here is the first. My first time putting in a zipper, and a chance to practice free-motion quilting around the flowers.



Here is the inside, with a bonus glasses case.


The next pattern I chose to take advantage of a fabric my mom liked with flowers in horizonal rows. I liked this pattern a lot; the bag is quilted all over in a diamond pattern.





Here is another from the same pattern, different fabric.





Finally, these bags were made from a jelly-roll---that is a set of coordinated fabrics that come pre-cut into two inch strips. I made it and realized the bag was way too big, more like a shopping bag than purse. Luckily I had enough fabric for another, but I cut everything down my 25%. That turned out much more purse-like.

A Small Purse

This was made to give as a gift. It was fun and I learned to use elastic for the first time since I did sewing in 4-H back in Junior High. I love the fabric and have enough left to make something for myself sometime!

I practiced my free-motion quilting going around the floral patterns.

Here's the back, where there is a pocket, but it's hard to see.

There you have it.

I've been meaning to put up a gallery like this all summer, and now that the girls are back in school I've done it.

I still have several projects underway and in planning mode in my mind. I hope I get them finished and on display here soon!

Little Boy Sports Quilts

These were made for a friend's new baby and his slightly older brother.