Unearthing the Sewing Machine

As my studio is the place where everything goes when I'm tidying for guests, it's always the last room cleaned. (Read as Rarely Ever TIDY) And guess where the guys went on Christmas Eve to watch the game? You got it in one! My studio. At least the stocking stuffers were hidden (under the laundry) and no unmentionables were in sight!
As for my work...
Yes, yes, I know Christmas won't be for another 363, but maybe my Christmas quilt will be done by then. It's simple, a Stitched Scraps pattern, that I've been using as leaders and enders for several months. Also, I got out my Oriental Lanterns to get some progress on it. My daughter claimed this one long ago. I suppose she'd like to sleep under it some day!

Merry, Merry!

Merry Christmas, everyone! My DH did real good for his little wifey this year. There's a new store in Seaport Village called The Cabbage Tree that sells all New Zealand made stuff. He bought me the necklace and the wall piece I liked so much. We went to NZ in 2004 and I LOVED it, so these pieces bring back happy memories.
Look what Cathy With a C gave me! Tons of little scraps. Is it a Christmas gift to a dear friend or a revenge hit on a bitter enemy? No, Cathy never does mean stuff... although we do kid her about being a dictator at PQM when she's left in charge! Now that all the prep work of Christmas is over, sorting scraps sounds kinda fun.

Pretty Ornaments

Yes, I made all but the glass ornaments. No, I didn't make any of them this year. This is the way displayed ornaments that I made. That way they don't get lost on the Christmas tree. Now I've got to get back to Christmas Eve Clean-Up!

Super-Fast!

Mountain Girl (pictured below) went together in a hurry-flurry! I'd been wanting to experiment with this Disappearing Nine-Patch Pattern ever since I spotted the photo-tutorial on Life is a Stitch. I chose the fabric, cut, sewed, and finished this top all today at our prayer quilt meeting. It's going to Nolie, who is dealing with a scary mass on her liver--please lift her up in prayer. She likes the great outdoors, so this seemed remarkably appropriate.
Here's a detail of the mountaineering fabric.

Movie to recommend: An Inconvenient Truth

Another Tote Completed

Yay! Another tote completed. The yellow and blue theme is based on somebody else's preferences--I won't say whom as there is a remote chance she might see it. (really, really remote!) I'm so pleased that I was able to make this out of stash fabrics and not shop for more. (Stashbuster Alert!)Today I went to the drapery store and got estimates on drapes for four rooms in our house. If we go ahead with only one, that's still progress! For those who are interested, there's a 15% off labor sale at Calico Corners until the 28th. I sure hope that will help light a fire under my DH.

Geck-O!

This little lizard was one of the patterns I offered to my Girl Scouts for their cross-stitch class. Of course, they chose the more complicated patterns! But I made this guy up, figuring I could include him in a quilt sooner or later. He's a cutie pie, but needs a name. Any suggestions?

On the right you'll notice a couple mile-a-minute blocks. I have no idea what will happen to them, but they're such a great thing to work on when you're having an off day--no thought required!

Miss Mousie

This little cross-stitch piece was given me by Debbie when her cross-stitch store went out of business. I think it's Hunca Munca from Beatrix Potter's Two Bad Mice. I'm featuring it in a scrap quilt that I'm titling Miss Mousie.
The flying geese you see here were made by Cathy with a C. She didn't need them for her quilt, so graciously donated them to moi, the Scrap Queen. I found fabric that I liked with them and, voila! Stars! There will be a total of 11 star blocks plus Miss Mousie herself.

A friend sent me this link: it has got to be the funniest Christmas carol mix-up I think I've ever heard. I highly recommend clicking for a good laugh!

Christmas Projects

Yes, it's that time. Okay, past that time. But here is my Christmas Card Station. I've got a little view of, well, of the street, but it's pleasant enough. We get no snow here, but this is a nice spot to work without the temptation of the one-eyed zombie maker (TV). I've been uploading Christmas songs on my iPod and getting into the spirit. This will be the first year I'm sending pre-made photo cards. Sure is easier than making my own, I must say! With luck, I will be able to get to my next ragtime project--pretty colors, huh? It'll be all pinks, blues, and a few other pastels scattered in there. Oh, the flannels are so soft to work with. (I do wind up spitting lint, though!)

Fringe Binge!

Here's my very first ragtime flannel quilt. It's finished--even including the washing and washing and washing and drying--except for the label. I had the fringe cut at Quilter's Paradise in Escondido. The next one will have stuffing, but this will have to be flat. (title by my DD)

You May Need Sunglasses

I blew right through this scrappy top. It was so much fun to work on that I hated to stop! I adore working with super-brights. These are the scraps from a confetti quilt I titled Rio. Then I made a bunch of 4-patch units from the leftovers. I made a top with neon guitars running between the 4-patches and entitled it "Rock and Roll High School." (No pics available) I still had 30 4-patches left so I framed 'em ala Stitched Scraps for this little darling. Now presenting

Tilt-a-Whirl!No, I don't know who it's for yet, but God does.

And in shopping news.......
these are the fabulous fabrics I couldn't resist at The Quilter's Market in Tuscon. I would have bought more but I was exercising self-control. Ga-horgeous stuff, though. You can click on their link and see how beautifully bright things are! Huh, I didn't realize until I saw the pictures here that I bought all stuff with circles. Weird.

Scrap Swap

I was part of a Scrap Swap: I filled an envelope full of scrap fabric (no piece smaller than 2") and sent it off to Connecticut. In turn I received an envelope from Riverside containing these--I asked her to focus on bright and BOY! Did she ever! Fun stuff!

Also, my new favorite store: Quilter's Market in Tuscon. It's almost exclusively bright. It was like walking around inside my own stash! I'll admit to buying one yard of fabric just for stash building.

Now I'm making Ragtime Quilts: this is the first--I hope to finish it today--but I have at least 2 more cut out and ready to rock.