graph paper solution

I want to share a link for all kinds of graph paper - http://incompetech.com
there is a ton of other stuff on this website, but I was looking for hexagon graph paper and this website has a graph paper generator that will produce a pdf file in any size grid you need for whatever you need any kind of graph paper for in metric or inches.  There's also circle, perspective, tiles, tumbling blocks, etc.  What a find!
There is a mesmerizing assortment of goodies on this site, so don't say I didn't warn you.

Quilter's Night Before Christmas

My friend Cheryl sent me this little ditty:
  
Twas the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree.
I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me.
Could it be fat quarters or a pattern or lace?
Or a quilt kit, I said, with a smile on my face.
And that's when I heard him,
"Hi Santa," I said
"You know....good little girls should be in their beds ".
"I know I should Santa, and now I've got caught.
But I was just so excited to see what you brought."
"Well, let's take a look in this room where you work."
He shook his head quickly, And left with a jerk.
I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear.
"You've got enough stuff, I'll see you next year!"

~Author Unknown

Christmas projects

I have a little quilt as you go wall hanging up, a dozen fabric candy canes, and a new flannel pillow done this past week - today I'll be baking cookies!  Yum - the best part of the holidays!

Here's a picture of my projects:

The directions for all of these projects were included in the recent Cross Country Designers Blog Hop sponsored by 12 quilt designers, including Gudrun (the quilt) Pat Sloan (the pillow) and the Candy Canes were offered by Miss Rosie's on day 10. All of the projects included in the Blog Hop were quick easy holiday patterns and one participant even managed to get all 12 projects done by the end of the Hop - impressive work from bro3ther! 

The designers even gave away prizes for those who commented on their blogs on 'their' days and there was a Grand Prize (which yours truly received, amazing!) which I just HAD to spread out and photograph for posterity:

An amazing and very generous assortment of goodies, patterns, books, tools, fabrics, and kits - I'm still stunned that I won all this just for making comments!  and the blog hop itself was so inspirational with all the holiday traditions, memories, old pics, etc., and even a blast from the past - it was so much fun, it was worth getting up extra early every morning just to read them all!

If you would like to see more Christmas quilts, check out my friend's blog:
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/

I'm off to the kitchen to bake cookies now - merry merry time!

best of plans

I made a trip around town yesterday - tried to combine as many errands as possible to conserve energy, fuel, etc.  The errands were accomplished, but included standing in line far more than anticipated, so I didn't get back in time to sew up the candy canes, pillow, etc. that I had hoped to get to yesterday.
So TODAY I will attempt those fabric candy canes again!  and if I get those done, I'll go on to the pillow triangles.
I also want to share a blog with you today - Geta does the most amazing trapunto - scroll down the page to see her blog link - it is very impressive - AND would you believe, she GIVES HER WORK AWAY!!!!  Sign up for this month's giveaway on her blog today - and good luck!

quilting small for the holidays

This is the first time I've tried making the 'INCHIE' quilts - which, if you haven't heard of them before, are exactly one inch square quilts - admittedly stiff, but quilts for sure - they are made with a satin stitch edge and then embellished with beads, ribbons, or what-have-you.
The first attempt took several tries, and I almost gave up as it was getting soooo time consuming, but then I just cut out a couple dozen pieces and kept trying until I found the stitch length/width x thread x needle combination x machine speed that worked, and suddenly it got a lot easier... now I'm thinking I might just do a lot more of these.  For info on INCHIES, see http://inchiequilts.com/2009/12/01/the-daily-inchie-20091201/ which shows you a different inchie idea every day.
Other small projects I have finished so far include a pair of donut ornaments, a small Christmas tree wall hanging (from the blog hop pattern by Gudrun of GE Designs)
http://gudrun.typepad.com/.a/6a00e008d7b1248834012875650316970c-popup
and I hope to work on the fabric candy canes and Pat Sloan's pillow today.
No major projects in the works until after the new year.  This is enough sewing fun for now, it's time to take inventory of my UFO's and see how many I can finish before New Year's Eve!
Hugs to all.

photo meme.

My friend, Pam posted this challenge/invitation on her blog, so I'm responding...

 

Tag. you're it! Let me know and I'll come check out your photos too!

here are the rules:
*open your first photo folder
*scroll down to the 10th picture
(if you don't have 10 in that one, then go to the next folder that does)
*post that photo and the story behind that photo on your blog
*tag 5 friends to do the same 

 

Last summer, we went to Jonesborough, TN to visit my SIL, and do a little antique shopping and then we all went on to the Knoxville quilt show.... but when we arrived in Jonesborough, there was an event that stopped us in our tracks - a long line of Model T's (and a few similar, but not technically T's) lined the main street of Jonesborough - they were having a rally - all of these cars were in good working order, mind you - and it took us the best part of the morning to inspect them all before they drove away!   Seriously - there were at least 100 or more.

We love to visit historic Jonesborough, (check their website at)

http://www.historicjonesborough.com 

and always try to take in a tall tale or two at the International Storytelling Center - seen just behind that handsome devil conducting the 'auto inspection' in this photo.

It was a beautiful morning, and a lovely memory!

Avoiding the Sorting Detour

They say sorting is easy - four boxes labeled KEEP HERE, TOSS, RECYCLE, KEEP ELSEWHERE - but if you are an easily distracted, creative person - then everything you touch becomes a detour.  That detour can often take the rest of the day to get back on track - so today, I'm trying to stay on track - conquer just one little mess with a short deadline, and then give myself a little 'quilting time' reward.
So, here I go - straight for the finish line - no distractions.  I have ONE HOUR to accomplish this.