{Post 1,105} 36 Blocks Strong

Here are the 36 blocks sewn together.  I also sewed together the 2 flying geese rows.  Enough for tonight.

{Post 1,104} Sewing Room Cleanup Benefits

Cleaned up my sewing room last night.  It has its rewards.  A clean slate with which to start my 2013 sewing.  I should have taken before and after pictures to encourage such clean-up in the future, but it was so scary.  Now my cutting and sewing tables are both clean, and in-work projects are corralled and organized.

First thing I did was zigzag the raw edges of my Winter Welcome quilt down.  Every year when I hang it, something pops off.  I didn't make it, but I love it.  The Wonder Under product is very stiff on mine.  I don't have a pic of mine, but this is one I made for my daughter, Emily, after procuring the pattern myself:

The zigzagging was the thing I wanted to do least, so I started with that.  It didn't take long. 

Then I cut out the "thread" for this quilt top, quilted it, and sewed the binding to the front (it's bias binding):

It is 17" across.  I worked on it on the way to the dentist office today.  Ben drove.  Hazardous to my health (his driving).  I got from "11 o'clock to 7 o'clock" sewn down.  This will go on my foyer table after the Christmas village is put away.  The threads are 2" square shirt fabrics cut on the bias.  Used up 9 more of those!  

Then I added the last log of this set of blocks, pressed them, and trimmed them to 7-1/2" square each:

This has been my leader/ender for a little while (not too long).  After a busy day, I wanted to just sit 'n sew for a while, so I finished these up and laid them out on the design wall.  Soon I'll be sewing them to each other and be ready to move on to the next step (for which all the flying geese are sewn) for a Bear Mountain Cabin quilt.  Here is the pattern:

It's fuzzy because I enlarged it.  You get the idea!  The flying geese were also a leader/ender as I sewed Christmas gifts.

After the dentist I went to Mary Jo's to get fabric for the background for the blocks for my grandson-to-be-born's baby quilt.  I also got backing and binding for my daughter's SIL's baby quilt (just a panel of Peter Rabbit that I'm quilting).  Much to work on in the upcoming days.

{Post 1,103} 2012 Recap

No pictures in this post, just a recap of 2012 projects for my own curiosity's sake.

This year I made 45 quilted items.  

28 were gifts.
1 has no home yet.
2 were made to sell.
14 were for my own family here at the Parker Ranchero.  

Of the 14 things I made for us, 3 of them were my "Count On It" twelve-inch square calendar blocks.  Three were sets of pillow shams.  One was my shower curtain.  Two were hand quilted (Grandmother's Flower Garden wallhanging and Hearts and Gizzards bed quilts).

I was surprised at all the gifts I made.  I've been a busy bee in that department at least!

It's been a while since I've had some good, long sewing time.  I look forward to that soon.  I need to do a deep clean of my cutting table and sewing table.  They both runneth over with scraps.

{Post 1,102} Take 2

Here's the second 3-1/2" square ornament.  I love their simplicity.  They are both on the tree for now, but they might end up being gifts for someone.  I quilted this in the ditch with metallic gold thread.

I think I like having a light "star" better.  It sort of resembles a snowflake.  This is a cream with Christmas words in metallic.

{Post 1,101} Quilt Ornament

Did a few everyday things this AM, then wanted to sew so badly (even if it was just for a few minutes!).  This is the result...all from scraps of fabric and batting on my cutting table.  It is 3-1/2" square.

Inspired by Ruth, who made some of these herself and showed them on her wonderful blog.

{Post 1,100} Christmas Runner

Gifts.  They are a thorn in my side.  I always feel like the gifts I give are inadequate.  But I'm doing my best and putting a lot of heart into them!  

I made two of these Little ZZ runners as gifts.  One for my girl, Elisabeth (that I never posted a picture of finished), and one for someone else.  The someone else hasn't seen hers yet.  It turned out so nicely that I decided to make one for a surprise for a woman at my church.  I admire her very much.  In fact, when I grow up, I want to be as selfless, kind, and loving as she.  I am going to surprise her with this tomorrow.  It is finished and measures 17-1/2" x 23-1/2".

Little ZZ #3:

Scrappy red binding, too.  Three different fabrics that I had bits of in my binding drawer.  I like it!!

{Post 1,098} Possible Do For Tonight

Is this too Princess Leia??  Potential do for the Christmas shindig tonight.

I am considering removing them recombining the two bottom ones.  Hmmm...