Let's Share

   I'll admit, since finding Pinterest I have been slightly obsessed with pinning.   Following pins, blog hopping from one pin to another.  While on one such journey I was led to, well...myself.   I found this April 2010 post about a little quilt that caught my eye.  I hope you take a moment to follow the link and read about this Button Town quilt.

I'll also share with you this beautiful line that just came in "Antique Rose" Floral Collection by Lecien.

I had to get just a few pieces.  Enough to perhaps become a stitched pillow for Valentines Day.  That large print will make a great border.

  Lastly, its the end of the year, I would like to leave you with this...

Pie!  That's right something sweet, homey and delicious.  You deserve it, you have hung in there with me through thick and thin this year.  You became followers of this odd little blog and frankly it is because of you that I get up and plan out the day.  Thank you, and no matter what 2012 holds for us I'm glad we found each other and spent some time "sharing".  Laural

WWW

   Donna's sample for the shop is my task of the day.  Normally I get the idea and put the quilt on the machine and away I go.  But in this case I'm going to mark the quilt blocks using a plastic template method.

I found a continuous line design that I like, but it needs to be enlarged in order to fit the 8" blocks.

Then I trace the pattern onto template plastic with a sharpie pen.  Next I cut out the design so that it can be traced onto the quilt.

Really love this new book for quilting patterns. 

I don't know about you but I find books invaluable when looking for designs for quilts.  Well that's what I'ma workin on this Wednesday, and taking down Christmas decorations and fighting a cold and maybe some pinning on Pinterest.  Laural

Merry Christmas

   I know I'm new to this blogging world but certainly I'm not expected to post on Christmas morning?  I'm torn, since beginning this blog 6 months ago I have faithfully posted on Wed, Fri and Sundays.   Well its such a part of my routine, I'll wish you a Merry Christmas a Pinterest way.

May you find joy in the little things.

Embrace in the warm glow of love that surrounds you.

and have a very Merry Christmas.

They know me so well.

From my family to yours!

One more 2 Do

   One more project has just landed in my lap.  My son has a friend who occasionally helps him clean the shop.  He loves his grandma and saw a sample in the store that he thought she would just love.

He is a really good boy and his family has been under a tremendous stress after dad lost his job this spring. Well I was looking at that sample yesterday at work.

And some pretty nice green fabrics 

if I work like a fiend I might be able to get that done for him

 so he can give it to Grandma on Christmas morning.

He thinks $5.00 is a great price for this gift. 

 I would have to agree. 

Merry Christmas everyone.

WWW

   Let's be honest it is waaayyy too close to Christmas to be making any big sewing projects.  And like you I have last minute errands to run, gifts to wrap and menus to plan.  So this Wednesday that is what I'll be working on.  But I'll share with you one of my favorite Christmas quilts.

I took this as a class from Susan Priliou back in 2007.

It was a two parter and I missed lesson two because the kids and I got on a plane to Australia.

The missed class did nothing to deter me from completing this quilt.

 I mixed homespuns with Civil war and threw in a few Nancy Halvorsen fabrics.

The embroidery and rusty bell adornments make this stinking cute.

It's called "Christmas Friends" by Lynette Anderson.

 From the book Friends for Christmas

Remember to take a break for yourself,

 look through a magazine or book,

 and day dream 

about getting back to a long lost project. 

 Laural

Who's pinning who?

   About a month ago I spent an hour looking through photos posted on Cheri Payne's Pinterest account.  You know, you follow blogs, there's a picture you like or a post you read and the next thing you know its an hour later and you have been on this fascinating journey through the internet.  So now I pin, and you can follow them by clicking the link to the right of this post.  But my first encounter, the thing that got me so interested is this little red bird.

And not being happy with the other ornaments I made, I'm now making little wool birds from the free online pattern I got from that pin.

Now the template said blow it up 100% but I did 200% because I wanted a larger bird.  There were no directions and I loved the colors Cheri made hers in.

I decided to sew them on the machine, making sure to catch the twine hanger in the stitching.  Leave a bit of opening in the bottom to stuff some poly fil into.

 Then back on the machine to seal that up.

The hand sewing really makes these cute. 

 Add a wing to both sides of the body using a whip stitch in gold.

Then sew the eyes on making sure to sew through to the other side and catch that one.

Looks like a crawfish.  Then use a blanket stitch and go all around your little red bird ornament.

This is one of thousands of ideas on Pinterest.  I hope you find it as fascinating as I did and become a pin head yourself.  If you do, let me know I'd love to "follow" you.  Have a very peace filled week.  Laural

Girls Gather

   Oh my gosh, last night was the monthly meeting of sup n sew and the girls totally out did themselves.

 Seems some little elf arranged a birthday surprise for me and well, there seemed to be a bit of a cupcake theme to everything.  Perceptive little bunch my girls.

These are going to look great on the new kitchen tree.  I also got this adorable hand made pillow from Mary.  The blog she got the pattern from is this one  Too cute for words.

Once the eating was done and I squirreled away my great gifts we put Sheri in charge of the ornament exchange.

Beverly is making sure no one peaks in the packages.

What a great time opening, stealing and harassing each other over santas and angels not to mention the taxidermy blow fish (you had to be there).  It felt good to laugh and be with women I can honestly say I am so grateful to have in my life.  Once I got home I did some quiet reflection.

And I found this little guy tucked deep inside one of the bags.  Thank you Mary for my mouse in a cinnamon scented donut ornament.

WWW

    It's a Wednesday post and I should be putting up my hand made Christmas presents that I have cut out and ready for stitching or the last custom quilt job that will be tackled this week but no.  I need a bit of cheering up and that can only mean one thing...

Simply Put pattern #349 Cupcake pincushion $7.00

cupcakes...

pink...

glitter...

A new pink, glitter, cupcake tree for the kitchen!!  

Now that puts a smile on my face.  

Merry Christmas

Road Trip

   Urban Barn is worth the trip every time we go.

Their holiday boutique is an event we always look forward to.

Inspiration is in the air.

Vintage tinsel, garlands and greenery are everywhere.

The photos don't do it justice, these are more than old windows and buckets...

it's a walk down memory lane..

or is that candy cane lane?

Too bad glitter doesn't show up as lovely as it is in person, cause it was EVERYWHERE.

And doesn't everything look better with a bunch of glitter?

Pink glitter is even better.

All of this loveliness and the only thing I brought home was this...

Too cute to leave behind.