Chilhowie and More

I made a few more mini tissue holders mostly in rainbow fabric.  May gift them at a post Christmas exchange with our local lgbtq group.

Not the best photo since it is in a darkish living room, but here is Chilhowie back from Lora who does beautiful work!  I plan to keep this one at least for the time being.  I gave my sister the one I had (On Ringo Lake) and gave my brother and his wife the first Packer Bliss quilt (Lora quilted).  

Here is my nephew Bear with his patchwork ghost.  He likes it so much he took it to school!  My brother and Bear called me the other night so he could read part of his story to me.  He is growing so fast!  Sure miss being near my nephews!

I am caught up on the modern Matchmaker mystery!  Next clue comes out tomorrow.  These blocks were not the easiest for me to make.  

I also noticed that other people did them in different colors.  I may wind up redoing one of each set of these.  We shall see.

I pulled my fabrics for Bonnie's new mystery Lupine and Laughter.  It starts tomorrow (a week early) this picture does not have my neutrals and that black with flowers is the inspiration fabric so may wind up in a border or binding or something.

 

Johnny 5 sews Christmas Gifts for 2016! (And Garden Party is a Flimsy!)

Last Thursday I went to Barb's for a sew day  I put the borders for Garden Party on finally! So happy to have this one done. I need to get a backing together so I can get it quilted before Bonnie's visit in January!  I love how it came out and it reminds me of the cruise and all the good memories there and new friends made there too!

 When I got to Barb's I told her that I woke up that morning thinking I needed a Bernina.  She has three and when I sew at her place I use one of her machines.  So while we were sewing I pulled up Craig's list and found one!  Barb and I took a sewing break and drove an hour or so to Peoria and picked her up from a pawn shop.  She is in great shape and came with a case, CD, book, embroidery foot and all the parts to run her.  She was missing her quilting foot and walking foot, or any others and only had one bobbin, but we will remedy all that soon.  Barb cleaned her out and showed me how and gave me the basics of what does what on her.  I am in love!  We decided to name her Johnny 5 after the Short Circuit smart robot thought that made me think of Wall-E and then Bern-E but Johnny 5 she is. 

 

 I grabbed the nearest thing to me when I got home so I could try her out.  It was my crumber (tumbler leader/ender from awhile back) that was in rows but never made it to a top.  It went together in a jiffy and the machine was fabulous!   This quilt is long and thin.  I was trying not to duplicate any reds so this is what  I had or begged, borrowed or stole.  I may use this as part of a backing on something--maybe Garden Party--not sure yet.

Yesterday we picked up the next BOM for 35th Ave. and then came home and sewed.  I made 28 Kleenex cases for Christmas presents.  I can make more...everyone loves these and they are super easy to make and use up random small bits of fabric 

 Kathy has been working very hard to complete her  Allietare!  She now has the top together and trimmed and is ready for her borders!  It really looks great and even she commented on how much her sewing has improved with each Quiltville mystery quilt!

 I was gifted a bunch of fabric awhile back from Tiffany and I think this little bag was in there--not sure where it is from but I did not make it or buy the fabric.  Anyways I added drawstrings and now it is a gift bag!

 I also made EIGHT aprons for kids for Christmas gifts.  The pattern is made by a gal who was in the modern quit guild when I was in it.  She gifted some of her patterns and I have always meant to make it. I have to say I love how they came out!

The pattern is easy, directions are so clear!  I will be making more.  The fabric came from Mexico and is heavier than cotton but lighter than canvas.  The bias tape went on with the zig zag on Johnny 5 (new Bernina) super well.  Finished them all up today after picking up more bias tape.  Pattern says you can make it, but I went quick and lazy since time is of the essence!

These are the child size aprons below...so cute!  Colton gets the red pocket one, Lilly gets the bottom one since she is the only girl getting one so far and it has rick rack on it. Koi (my Godson) gets the one with the shark on the pocket and Ollie will get black polka dots as will Leon in Norway.  Last year the boys got tool belts, this year aprons.  LOL good for boys to cook too.  Ollie's dad (and Ben's stepdad) is a chef so these boys like cooking!

  Two of the aprons are for older kids--my nephew Ben gets the flames and sort of nephew Christian (brother's gf's son) gets the dinosaurs.

I also started on pillowcases for my best friend Monica and her husband Bob.  I saw cool deer fabric and could not resist it for them.  He is a avid hunter and just was written about in a magazine back home since his whole family deer hunts by tradition.
I also spent some time tidying up the quilting studio and organizing things too. 
I updated my machines, WIPS and Quiltville Parade Page Posts too if you want to check them out!

Stitching Along :)

 I had a crazy idea that I would sew up the Countdown to Christmas mystery quilt.  The stars above are only two inches!  They aren't supposed to be wonky, but ummm two inch stars aren't my gig!  I am not sure I will be trying to make one each day, but I know I will love the end result on the the blog, lol!  I also made a few more tissue holders.

 Last night Kathy and I organize FLORIBUNDA!  This quilt has been waiting for me to get to it for about three years I think.  I participated in a swap online and some of my local friends also contributed!  Today at the PHXMQG Sew-In I worked on it across from BJ and next to Kelli while gabbing away.

 BJ is finishing up getting her Easy Street blocks together (from Bonnie's mystery last year) so she will be all set for this year's mystery!  She has been eating right and walking and is looking great these days too!

 By the time the sewing was done I had sixteen blocks made myself!

I came home and sewed lots more.  They aren't all into blocks, but the strips are together and the hsts are done.  Hoping I find time tomorrow to iron, subcut and sew some more.

Finally got in a little YELLOW!

 I made a few more tissue covers (one for my cousin, one for me and two for the Christmas gift box) and then I trimmed up and sewed the yellow pinwheels for the Jack in the Box border.

 Meanwhile, Kathy finished up her other yellow block--so we are both ready for July's color!

 Here are Kathy's Rainbow blocks so far.  We won't talk about the seam allowance difference in the blue block--oops!

Here are Kathy's other Rainbow BOM's so far!  Looking cool.  We can now link up with Angela!