~ organizing my sewing room...

...I persuaded Rick to help me start a bit early on one of my new year's resolutions.  He put together some shelving for me! :-)

~ happy valentine's day...

~ quilt along update...

...wip -- block two -- double windmill



This block is a bit more tedious than block one.  Sunday, I worked on this for 2 hours, and only finished the first set of 16 half square triangles.  I am pleased with how they turned out. :-)

~ another quilt along...

I've joined another quilt along.  I lost track of time and ended up not doing the one I posted about here: http://myhappybluebird.blogspot.com/2013/11/happy-sunday.html

This new quilt along is better!  It's for a worthwhile cause -- The Make-a-Wish foundation.  You can read about it here:http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/2013/12/introducing-wishes-quilt-along.html

Kimberly has created video tutorials and is distributing the patterns for each block free of charge.  If you do decide to join, kindly make a small donation to the Make-a-Wish foundation -- the links can be easily found on Kimberly's blog, and, the Fat Quarter Shop website.

So here's my first block!  I downloaded the free pattern, and, watched the video tutorial while I was making this.  I made some mistakes, but that's okay because I will continue to get better as I go along.  I am using the Downton Abbey fabric that I won from Fat Quarter Shop.

~ fabric preparation -- printed pattern -- youtube video on ipad...



~ finished block one -- flying kites...

~ happy sunday...

Today I have quite a few projects to choose from.  We have bright blue skies, cold temps, and wind...  Not really a good day for playing outdoors.  Luckily, there are a few choices for me as far as indoor projects.  I can continue working on my kitchen window curtains (almost done), or, do some holiday shopping (probably not a good choice on a weekend), or, stare at this fabric fat quarter bundle.



I won this from Fat Quarter Shop a few weeks ago!  They were having a give-away and I won the awesome prize which included this and a bunch of other wonderful fabric goodies.  I was sew happy :-)

So while I am staring, I will also be drafting my first Burgoyne Surrounded quilt block.  There is an online quiltalong that I want to participate in -- but it doesn't begin until December.

Stay tuned...

~ halloween quilt top...

Four days until halloween!  I have to remove the basting pins and correct a mistake on the pieced back.



I am not going to meet the dead line.  Eeeeek!

~ the transformation continues...

Every fall I purchase a few of these cute little $1 scarecrows.  They are only displayed for a short time, and then put away -- and usually end up in the trash because they get moldy.  This year, I decided to get a little more use from them.  I had 4 of them, so I cut a yard of white lightweight cotton fabric into 4 squares, draped a piece over the head of each scarecrow and tied at the neck with a bit of twine.  The most difficult part of the whole project was running down to the basement and back upstairs again while fetching art supplies from Sofia's stash.  Sofia is very particular about lending her paintbrushes and paint, so.. it was necessary for me to paint the eyes and then quickly clean up and put everything away before she came home from school. ;-)



Yes, as soon as she saw these, she knew...  You'll be happy to know that my punishment wasn't too bad -- I only got "the look" :-)

~ burlap pillow cover...

...for halloween :-)

~*~

~*~

I cannot finish my "halloween" quilt until some fabric (for the binding) arrives in the mail.  In the meantime, I needed a halloween theme pillow cover for the antique chair in my stairwell.  Since burlap is so popular right now, I decided to use that.  The center applique is a fussy cut piece from "the ghastlies" fabric collection.