Elaine's Crafty Corner

Happy New Year!

2012-01-05T21:44:00.002-05:00

Well it's 2012 and I've had a lot happen since I've last posted back in June 2011. Way too much to even summarize. But I can say that quilting still brings me joy. Sewing drapes and altering clothes to fit me and my friends has been what I've most recently been up to in January.

I will be teaching my first quilting class this upcoming Monday, January 9th at Tipsy Star Quilts.

http://www.tipsystarquilts.com/

Tipsy Star Quilts is a wonderful mother and daughter owned quilt shop located here in the heart of downtown Asheville. They are on Facebook. Check them out! I've been selling my quilts in the store on consignment since this summer and I'm happy to share that I've actually sold a few! Very exciting. It's a different feeling to sell your handmade items in a shop rather than online. To be able to walk down the street of the town I live in and glance in a quilt shop window and see my MY quilts hanging on display on a wall is incredible.

Anyone in the Asheville area on Monday please feel free to stop in at Tipsy Star Quilts. The class is from 6:30 pm to 9:30pm. I'm very friendly and would love to meet other quilter / sewing enthusiasts!

Making a Mermaid quilt!

2011-06-19T21:11:00.000-04:00

I've finished this quilt top and made the backing from left over blocks and fabric. Now I just need to baste and quilt it. Loved finally digging into some of my oop Heather Ross fabric (this line is her Mendocino mermaid) I had lots of cute sea themed fabrics from other lines I was able to use along with Ross' (crabs, shells, etc). I t will lay flatter when I baste it...Not sure if I love the modern blocks but I ]know I adore the fabric!

Missing my Princess!

2011-06-19T20:58:00.000-04:00

My brother in PA has been generously taking care of my cats that I couldn't move with me to NC. I just saw a picture on another quilter's blog that really resembles my baby girl, Princess. I miss her but know she has bonded with my brother and probably barely misses me as much as I do her. Small world when I see kitties on the web that really look like mine. :)

Elaine's Crafty Corner: A Blogger Giveaway not to be missed!

2011-04-16T14:49:00.000-04:00

Just saw that Sew Fresh Fabric blog is having a great Tax Refund inspired giveaway! They are generously offering a HUGE amount of scraps, lovely designer scraps ...enough that can be made into a quilt or maybe two? Go check it out here! I already posted my entry, digits crossed. Good luck everyone :)

I won a Nalini Singh ARC - Kiss of Snow!!

2011-04-03T14:46:00.000-04:00

Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow - Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling world is mind blowing! I have been waiting for Hawke's story and love that he was paired with Sienna. Their chemistry is off-the-charts fabulous. I love how every story written by Nalini Singh utilizes all the previously introduced characters and yet each book is so distinctly different. I had a fear in the back of my mind that Hawke wouldn't live up to my expectations. Over the course of reading this series I had imagined all these versions in my mind of how his story would play out but Singh delivered and exceeded anything I could have dreamed for Hawke and the Psy-Changeling community.
The Psy-Changeling war has reached a point of no return and this book proceeds a new order of what is to come in Singh's world. We get to see new designations of Psy and new Changeling groups are introduced. I love how Hawke's dominant, sexy, alpha wolf played against Sienna's Stubborn, powerful psy personality. Sienna really came into her own in this book and her Uncle Walker also discovered his HEA within the Wolf pack's Healer, Lara. The cat pack Alpha's, Lucas and Sasha were also given a major role in this book. I don't want to give spoilers but the events in this book are so wonderful and world changing for this series!
I read the book in one sitting. I tried to make it last, but know I will be re-reading again and again since it is sitting on my keeper shelf. I am so hooked on this series and look forward to seeing where Singh takes us next within the Psy-Changeling population. I read this series, not just for the couples story, but because the world of characters and the events played out amongst them is just so increasingly beautiful and emotionally captivating. Kiss of Snow is a must have read! 5 Stars! It's a Breathtaking addition to the Psy-Changleing series!

View all my reviews

Illusion quilt gone wrong . . .

2011-03-29T10:00:00.003-04:00

Well I wanted to make a optical illusion quilt...but had no pattern. I looked over the web and found only a few that really appealed. And well, really only a few examples of completed optical illusion quilts. I found a boatload of bargello, really pretty ones with great use of color and layout, but that's not really what I wanted. I wanted a trippy quilt that when I pass it by, I stop and focus on it. (By the way that's my cat, Happy...I want to believe his enthusiasm for the blocks is good thing, at least he likes them!)

I attempted to make one based on the one I saw here by this extremely talented person named Linda.

I put together some center blocks that will be a circle after I cut some edges off and planned to add outside blocks to them but my blocks are too big, and I've lost my steam mid-way through the project because my take on the pattern isn't playing out too well in reality. I should have drawn it all out first but .... well, didn't. So here I am with blocks that may or may not work out in the long run. I keep thinking I'll just keep the ones I've made as is without further playing and just turn them into a log cabin quilt top. Am I being lazy by doing this? And really, will the ones I've made make a good quilt top? Ugh... I really need to start researching shapes before I attempt this again.

Loving Innocent Crush!

2011-03-29T00:44:00.000-04:00

It's not a great photo, but it shows the quilt top I will make the back for tomorrow and then get it basted and quilted.
I'm really enjoying Anna Maria Horner's line "Innocent Crush". I always adore anything that she designs but what I really like is that I think her line works with a whole range of solid colors. I have completed the quilt using almost her complete line minus a few prints that I wanted to use in another project.

I've also made more book covers, they are quick way to try out appliques and use a different medium than cotton fabric.

I have collected some great faux suede, leather, velvet and other soft fabrics that were marked "unknown" fabric that I couldn't pass up in the sale bins at fabric stores while on the hunt for quilt fabric. Just feeding my inner textile monster with new projects :)

Classic vs Steampunk Bustles

2011-03-13T12:00:00.001-04:00

I decided to delve into my current love of all things Steampunk and make a couple of tie-on bustles. The stripe one is more modern, steampunk version bustle and the other one is a more traditional burlesque / dance-hall bustle. I love how full, and flouncy the traditional lace one is, but the steampunk bustle is great because it's so light weight and easier to maneuver around in.

Which style is your favorite? Would you wear a bustle to an event/ costume party/ Re-enactment party?

Another birdy baby quilt

2011-03-12T14:41:00.000-05:00

Finished another baby quilt and listed it in my etsy shop: Elaine's Crafty Corner

I love how bright the "Chirp, Chirp" fabric is from Connecting Threads - I plan to use this fun, colorful fabric to make more items soon!

book covers

2011-03-12T14:37:00.000-05:00

I've been making book covers! I needed some for myself, and decided to list some in my etsy shop: Elaine's Crafty Corner ... I am currently thinking up and picking out more color/ pattern fabric and having a blast making these "mini-quilt" covers! I love books and this is just another way I can combine my love of crafting and reading ;)

Hiding 9-patch

2011-01-31T13:00:00.001-05:00

I've been seeing the disappearing 9-patch quilts for a while but wasn't really loving the jumbled mixture of prints that came out of the arrangement. Then I found an awesome picture of one made on point on the blog Quilty Things I feel in love with the on-point design lay out and had to try something like it! I used my own measurements that would allow me to use most of the 11 FQ I had allotted from Micheal Miller's Modern Meadow line in Lake and Sunny colors. I love the mix of Blue, teal, mustard yellows, light browns and green. I finished the top (50" x 56") on Friday... and started working on the back this weekend...

Vegan Pumpkin - Apple Streusel topped Muffins

2011-01-30T13:36:00.004-05:00

My one roomate is Vegan, so I've been branching out my love of baked goods to include many more Vegan recipes. I altered my original recipe for these Pumpkin muffins with chunks of apples in them and a streusel topping so they can be eaten by all of us in the house. I don't see them lasting long, they are super yummy!

MUFFIN Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup pumpkin puree (fresh or from a 15 oz can)
2 TBS Flaxseed meal (ground)
1/2 cup Water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 Granny Smith Apples (chopped into small chunks)

*Optional: You can use 1 TBS of Pumpkin Spice if you have it in place of all the individual spices

STREUSEL TOPPING:

4 TBS Flour

6 TBS Sugar (white or Brown)

1 TBS Veg Oil (start with 3 tsp, add more if needed)

PREPARE:

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin pan with spray on veggie oil.

Add flour, sugar, spices, salt and Baking Powder, and ground flax seed meal in a large bowl. Mix them together. In another medium size bowl add the canned pumkin, oil, and water; mix together. Then add the wet ingredients from the medium size bowl to the Large dry ingredients bowl. Mix well. Add the apple chunks, mix lightly, just enough to get them mixed in. Pour mix into greased muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full. Make the streusel topping mixture and generously sprinkle on top each. Place in pre-heated oven and bake 25-30 mins. Sticking a toothpick may work, but the apple chunks break down so it is one of those eyeball it type baking dishes. Take out of oven and let rest for 15 mins. Then eat away! Mine turned out super moist and heavy (due to apple chunks). Scrumptious!! Bon appetite ;)

Modern Medley Color Quilt - Anna M Horner fabrics

2011-01-24T13:00:00.001-05:00

I also finished machine quilting this bright and cherry modern baby quilt (38" x 46"). I decided to use simple diagonal lines in one direction spaced 2' apart to finish this little baby up. It was fast machine stitching it with a my Brother's guided walking foot. I hardly ever take pics while I'm in the process of sewing things together. I used blue painter tape to get the first line from edge to edge straight and then let the walking foot guide do it's thing from that point onward.

I used left over fabric from the front along Kona solid white in Snow to piece the back. I guess the back is artsy enough to make this a reversible quilt? I think it does anyways. I'm just glad to have another finish!

**Both baby quilts were listed in my etsy store. (Yes this is a self-promoting add-on at the end of my blog post. Please ignore my shop link if you already have enough quilts laying around your house, or just aren't interested or got hit up by one too many telemarketers recently. LOL... As I have.)

Hand stitched Sunbonnet Sue

2011-01-23T18:10:00.000-05:00

I guess you could say I was being over taken by UFO quilts around my sewing area. So I took the Sunbonnet Sue (baby quilt) downstairs and hand stitched in the ditch around the blocks and the hand appliqued Sues'. It took a few hours each night over 3 nights to finish it. I machine stitched the beige binding to the front and used a blind hem / quilting stitch to attach it to the back. The backing is a super soft double nap flannel in a peach color called Melon. I love this little quilt! After washing it shrunk down from 40 x 36 to 37" x 32". I used 100% cotton warm and Natural batting... I usually loose 3" - 4" when I use 100% cotton batting from the quilt size. So this really is a "crib" size baby quilt ;)

Finished - Nelson's 2010 Christmas quilt!

2010-12-26T16:50:00.000-05:00

We are currently snowed in and loving the winter wonderland scene from our windows. I was able to get the Storm at Sea quilt finished and mailed in time for Christmas to my friend, Nelson. Yeah! He called and said it was beautiful... for him that is epic, he is such a guy guy and never calls "things" beautiful or pretty. I quilted the feathers with my (not made for quilting) Brother sewing machine. All the designs are freehand quilted. I need a proper quilting machine with larger throat space but I made it work :) I used 100% cotton Warm & Natural quilt batting. After washing it finished at 80" x 82".

I'm very happy the gift-giving part of this crazy holiday is all done. Very stressful to be on a timeline. I love giving stuff to people, but I always feel relieved when Christmas is over and life can go back to normal. I shared a wonderful Christmas with a very good friend, we had a scrumptious turkey dinner and unwrapped gifts while listening to holiday music. Very simple, very fun. This is a little wristlet I made my friend Renee for Christmas: (I made one for my other friend, her sister, Alana too but forgot to take a pic of it!)

My lovely brother who ALWAYS picks out the perfect gifts, gave me a Kitchenaid mixer, in Red color. I love, love, love it!!! I always wanted a stand mixer but was too cheap to invest in something I can do by hand. Let me tell you I have no idea how I lived without this darling gadget! It rocks!

And in the evening we watched "Despicable Me" and had some good laughs.

Hope everyone had a Beautiful Holiday weekend! And will have a safe New Years celebration. My birthday is on Tuesday, the 28th and I am looking forward to pizza and drinks with friends :)

Other people's Generosity

2010-12-19T04:28:00.000-05:00

Isn't this fabric by Lecien just so pretty! Well Retro Mummy is hosting a giveaway and you could win some over here.

I will post pic sof the storm at sea quilt either tomorrow or Monday.

I still need to mail x-mas cards Monday ugh, I love hearing from family and friends...but writing individual cards was beyond me this year. So I copped out and wrote my 1st newsletter-like form letter to include. It felt weird since I'm unmarried and have no kids, so I really wasn't sure what to talk about. I figured no-one would be really interested in how my 3 cats coped with a 9 hour drive on moving day, or that I found a favorite bar to hang out at when I was in the mood to get a drink with friends. So I was pretty boring and un-original and talked about local NC scenery.
But really would a snarky x-mas card be so bad? I would love to get one! If only I was daring enough to send one ... oh well there's next year ;)

I won a SMS giveaway!

2010-12-19T01:45:00.000-05:00

In all my excitement of picking the winners to my SMS giveaway, I forgot to mention that I had been picked as a winner on The Crafty Nomad blog! I won an adorable Onsie...the size 0 on the left in the pic below.

I don't have children, but a friend of mine is expecting a baby girl in January and this will make an adorable gift to go along with the quilt I am making for her.

I have been working on the Storm at Sea quilt, it is slow going due to the fact that I machine quilt Queen & King size quilts on my Brother CS-6000i sewing machine. This is NOT made to work on quilts of that size. I roll, jam and wiggle the basted quilt to make it work...I dream of buying a quilter sewing machine with a wide throat, but haven't tested any yet. The main ones I look at are: Bernina 440 QE, Janome 6600 and also Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 870FS Long Arm. Those are my top choices so far. I've also been looking at the HQ Sweet Sixteen... but that is way expensive. Well they are all $$$ ....so I'll keep shifting and making do until I break my Brother LOL

Giveaway WINNERS!

2010-12-18T04:04:00.000-05:00

Oh wow 790 people entered total! I have to say you guys are wonderful...thank you for all your comments. I know you all just want to see who won, so here are the 3 different winners picked using Random Number Generator:

Winner #1 is Comment #128 made by : NinjaEema said...

: All the prizes are awesome, but I really love the colors in the second pack. Thanks.; December 13, 2010 11:17 AM

Winner #2 is Comment # 494 made by : saywhatsewwhat said...

: Those are absolutely beautiful fabrics! Thank you for hosting a giveaway.; December 14, 2010 9:09 AM

Winner #3 is Comment#62 made by: Karen P. said...

: Love the christmas charm packs!; December 13, 2010 9:02 AM

Winner #1 NinjaEema will receive the FQ pack of Freespirit fabrics

Winner #2 Saywhatsewwhat will receive the Pink & Grey Layercake fabrics

Winner #3 Karen P. will receive the Christmas charm packs

Thank you everyone for participating in my SMS giveaway! I have contacted the winners. If for any reason I don't hear from any of the winners by Monday, I will re-pick and notify the follow up winners. This was a wonderful experience for me and I really wish I had gifts for everyone! For everyone that decided to follow my blog, I plan to begin posting about my ongoing projects more regularly. ;)

Elaine's Crafty Corner Giveaway: Dec 13th, 2010

2010-12-13T00:04:00.003-05:00

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED: Winners listed in Saturday 12-18-10 post! Thanks for all the entries - you guys rock!

I will be offering three different items to win in this Giveaway, yes that means there are 3 chances to win something! *Giveaway is open to International bloggers too. Just make sure you leave a way for me to contact you ( ie Google, blogger, email etc)

Item #1 up for grabs today: Two adorable Christmas Charm packs.
Each pack from Connecting Threads contains 22 five inch charms, 44 charms in all.

Item #2: 10 Fat Quarter (18" x 22") pack

Featuring: Turquoise,Green, Orange, and Brown Westminster/Freespirit fabrics

Item #3: Custom Gray & Pink 24 piece Layer Cake
(featuring Studio e "Urban Angel"fabrics)

There are 2 of each fabrics cut into 10" squares, 24 pieces in all.

I will use a random number generator to pick all 3 winners. To be entered into my giveaway just leave a comment on this post. That's it. You can post which item you like best, your favorite color, or just say hi!. Whatever you'd like :) That way you have more time to hop around and enter more blog giveaways ;)
My blog giveaway ends Friday 12-17-10 11:59pm EST. I will announce the winners by Saturday 12-18-10. Good luck!

GIVEAWAY DAY is Dec 13th!

2010-12-10T03:41:00.007-05:00

It's that time of year again....time to share some goodies with some strangers, ahem, I mean fellow bloggers :) I love this time of year!

So I hope I get many people stopping by on Monday Dec 13th because I am participating in the winter Sew,Mama,Sew! Giveaway day on this blog! Open to everyone, so International folks please enter too. The giveaway post will begin 9am EST on Dec 13th....please make all entries on the Dec 13th post or it doesn't count.

I might post what I'll be offering in the Giveaway the night before... at the least I'll write a hint....so check back then ;)

Storm at Sea Queen size quilt

2010-12-09T19:59:00.004-05:00

I am almost finished with a bed quilt using the "Storm at Sea" pattern as the center of the quilt. I started making the quilt blocks in Jan 2010, for a male friend who's birthday was in Februray. His favorite color is green so I was stoked to get it made.... I think I made 4 blocks before I got frustrated with my hand-made templates and put it away for a another day. Fast forward to October 2010... I found the blocks and fabric to finish it while unpacking yet another moving box of undiscovered items. (oh the joys of moving in a rush)

And here is my current progress:

I am hoping to either make it a X-mas present or if things are too hectic a 2011 B-day gift (belated 2010, not that he'll know lol)

Quilts for bed & Christmas table quilt

2010-12-09T19:27:00.010-05:00

This is currently my finished bed quilt on my queen size bed. I made it for me and love it!

I've been making some Christmas tabletop centerpiece quilts. For sale in my etsy shop

The dark red is the backk view of the green bordered x-mas centerpiece... these are currently for sale in my etsy store: Elaine's Crafty Corner

Since I moved from Denver, PA to Asheville, NC the end of May 2010 I have been busy acclimating to my new town. I haven't found any favorite quilt fabric shops like Z&S store from Denver... but Hancocks has been serving my needs, along with my regular online fabric shops ;)

I heard a friend of mine from PA is expecting a baby girl in January. My friend loves Holly Hobbie and anything like that so I decided to make my first applique quilt for her new baby featuring sunbonnet sue type little girls for the baby quilt. I may end up selling this one on etsy and making her another one, since I just learned her favorite color is purple and the nursery may reflect that :)

I have made a few quilt tops... UFO at the moment... the mermaid blocks need to be sorted, I took a photo with them pinned to my window curtain LOL my own version of a quilt board.

And recently I've been working on small doll size quilts to donate to the Asheville Humane Society. They are all backed with either faux fur, minky or thick faux suede.

Here are some of the pics of a some I've made:

Opened my etsy shop!

2010-10-22T20:15:00.006-04:00

I mainly focused on Adult sized Little Red Riding hood capes for the past 2 weeks for my ebay Halloween listings. (Pictured above)

AND

I officially opened my etsy shop Elaine's Crafty Corner in the beginning of October (finally listed some items). But yesterday I SOLD an item!

A yard of Echino Japanese import fabric to a lady in Australia! I plan to get some of my actual handmade quilts on there over the next few weeks after Halloween has ended and I am finished making my handmade capes for ebay.

Fabric & Pattern Selection Process

2010-04-16T11:26:00.013-04:00

Choosing fabric for a project can be pretty intuitive or difficult for some. Sometimes I fall in love with a quilt pattern and then take my time hunting down the perfect fabric. Some patterns just scream modern to me and I want to get bright, bold colors. Take Anna Marie Horner's Good Folks line, perfect for a fresh modern pattern.

These are some cuts I ordered that just arrived on Monday from the wonderful Sew Fabulous Quilt Store .

(I have to say Jenny did a fabulous job getting them to me FAST, I placed my order on Saturday and they arrived Monday!)

I saw a quilt pattern consisting of diamonds featuring Tula Pink's original Flutterby collection and just had to get some cuts from that line because the bright pinks, yellows, green, blues and reds all blended beautifully:

I know that diamond pattern I saw will look great in any color scheme, but now I can't imagine using my Flutterby fabric for any other pattern :)

I love sampler quilts. I love how different block patterns and block sizes play off of each other. I like that you can decide to add a few blocks with embroidery or don't have any at all. Sampler quilts can be adapted to each persons desired look and ability. I have found many civil war samplers I admire and I want the one I make to employ neutral prints with subtle color tones. I chose William Morris Workshop because of it's range of Indigo blues, rusty reds, gray-greens and light blues.
I think designer Heather Ross is a happy medium of modern and vintage; her fabric lines usually feature bright colors with small, delicate prints that encapsulate a modern color with a vintage feel.

Some prints from Heather Ross "Far, Far Away" collection:

Many times I just fall in love with fabric lines, buy them and decide to use the line as I go . . . like the Henry Glass "Shade Garden" line by Michelle Engel Bencsko :
Here are a few of the cuts I ordered from his line...

But mainly I just like to mix lines together. No one says you have to use all fabrics of the same line in one project. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for Moda and other Designer's precut strips, FQ's and layer cakes. Sometimes I will use just one designer line in a quilt, tote or project.

For example, my Moda "Mill House Inn" Layer Cake duvet cover:

But the "scrappy" effect allows me to achieve the perfect medium of colors for most patterns.

I (like many other fabric obsessed sewers) have some bold, unique or out-of-print fabrics that so far I haven't been able to make myself cut into them. LOL they can sit in my fabric bins until I can bear it.

I think doing your own thing and loving your results is the best part of sewing and creating stuff. You can use the same pattern numerous times but get different results every time just by using different color schemes and using the same fabric's in different quilt patterns can result in truly unique quilts. Have fun!

Today is our local library BOOK sale!

2010-04-15T07:39:00.005-04:00

So excited, I think books and fabric are on an equal scale of obssessive love and needing to have for me.

And here is my cat Gabriel with a close-up of his heart shaped marking ...we've called him "heart-butt" since he was a kitten and we noticed his cute fur feature.

And here he is in profile, my senior boy (turns 13 this July).

Well I am off to score some "new" books to add to my already staggering book shelves LOL Wish me luck on the hunt ;)

What can happen in a month

2010-04-14T13:37:00.004-04:00

This pic was taken 2-10-10 the day after we got hit with about 3 feet of snow over a two day period of almost non-stop snow.

And this photo was taken 3-10-10 1 month later...featuring the first blooms of spring, our little purple crocus' in the front of the house.

Anna Marie Horner Good Folks baby blocks

2010-04-14T11:55:00.003-04:00

This is the quilt top (so far decided against border)

I love Anna Marie Horner's Good Folks line it is so bright and fun and plays off other contemporary fabric lines so well. I decided to make a baby quilt (40" x 50") The quilt top is just waiting on me to decide what to do for the back of the quilt ; )

What I'm working on now - Curves

2010-04-14T11:38:00.005-04:00

Here is a block progress pic... with my kitty Arie overseeing my layout :0) I started this on 4-9-10 weekend.

I adore Heather Bailey's Pop Garden so I decided to mix and match to create a bright, red, peach, aqua-blue, mustard, orange green and gray quilt top... and I'm attempting curved piecing for the first time and LOVING it!

The thought of stitching curved or circular pieces always scared me, now I can't believe how many cool projects I passed on because of them and they really are simple if you cut out your pieces to a uniform size. That is key. Also, give your wrist a rest from rotary cutting and use a fresh blade to decrease wrist fatigue and hand cramping while cutting around the curved templates.

Batik stars and 3D blocks

2010-04-14T11:20:00.010-04:00

I was going to make a 3D batik block (here is my sample block)... Started making these the first week in March.

Then I tried batik Stars and decided to go with a traditional star layout at this time... I will come back to the 3D layout on another quilt I'm sure :)

Below are some of the layouts I played around with... that is such a fun aspect of the quilting process. I recommend changing layouts, you never know you may discover a whole new look or find your next quilt top layout just by changing around block pieces. ;)

Spring quilts - Cheep Chirp!

2010-04-14T11:04:00.008-04:00

I've been loving bird fabrics so I finally finished that UFO modern block Spring lap quilt I cut and pieced back in November 2009. Finished size (unwashed) 52" x 58". I just love the way the orange, brown and turquoise colors pop out at you and the bird fabric is so subtle. Gonna be hard to part with this one!

Back of quilt... just used strips of leftover fabric from front and hand sewed the brown binding to the back. I always machine stitch the binding to the front but hand sew the back binding so it has a nice clean finished look. I think sewing the binding is my favorite part of the quilt process, so relaxing and the knowledge that it's the last step before completion rocks!

My other Bird quilt is a bright toddler/ baby quilt. I used the super soft fabric collection
"Cheep Talk" and LOVE the colors too!

The Quilt is basted with safety pins and ready to quilt so I will the completed quilt pics at a later date...isn't this fabric scrumptious!?

New record for me!

2010-04-14T10:24:00.002-04:00

Wow it's taken me 4 months to visit my OWN blogger account LOL.... even though I've had no problem visiting my fellow crafter pages and favorite blogger websites (daily!) UGh... well at least while on my hiatus from blogging I have been sewing and cutting quite a few projects and getting some of my UFO's finished. Yeah!!

I came down with a sever sinus infection right at the beginning of the new year and it took me about a month to fully recover after taking lots of antibiotics. I am back home in Lancaster, PA but will be heading heading back to NC in about 2 weeks.

I missed the Lancaster Quilt show :(
But hope to make the July quilt show if I am in the area still.

I'll post a few pics of just some of the stuff I've been doing.... haven't been taking pics as often as I should :)

WINNER of December 2nd Giveaway is . . .

2009-12-08T00:56:00.006-05:00

Congratulations to lucky #41, Blacksheep Bliss!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2009-12-08 05:54:33 UTC

Blacksheep Bliss Please email me privately so I can get your mailing info and get your two prizes out to you right away! I want to thank everyone for participating and for all the truly lovely comments. I wish I had more prizes to give!

Please check back for my January Etsy store grand opening contest that will happen soon (in December) :)

December 2nd Giveaway!

2009-12-02T00:47:00.009-05:00

Well today is giveaway day check out Sew, Mama, Sew! to see all the fantastic opportunities to win some beautiful creative items! I have two items ready for one lucky winner :-)

Item #1 is a chance to win a cute little Fat Quarter 5 pack featuring Heather Ross Mendocino for Free Spirit & Moda's Neptune Atlantis.

Since this will be my first time hosting a giveaway for my handmade items I decided to make a wristlet featuring a free hand embroidered tree on super soft faux leather for item #2. The wristlet is 5" by 8 1/2" with a strap. It's perfect for a day of shopping or clubbing when you don't want to lug around a heavy purse.

Tree wristlet

Inside view of tree wristlet . . . it has a pocket!

Just leave a comment to this post by Monday, December 7th 11:59 pm EST for a chance to win both items. I will post the winner's name on Tuesday December 8th. This contest is open to Everyone, yes that means I will be shipping Internationally too! I will be using a random number generator to choose the winner. Please one entry per person to keep it fair ;) Goodluck everyone!!!

During December I will be hosting a grand opening contest for my etsy store: Elaine's Crafty Corner, so please add my blog to your favorite's list and check back often for more items to win!

Comments are now CLOSED . Winner to be announced in a new post!

What I've been up to since Friday the 13th!

2009-11-19T20:38:00.006-05:00

This is my first little wristlet, no pockets with a free hand tree embroidery... I now know what I did wrong with it's construction, and will make a better constructed one on my next attempt!

Well I jumped from idea to idea and just made things I wanted to try based on online inspirations from contest blogs . . .LOL. I take complete credit for all my mistakes since I only had a pattern for the Coupon caddy from the wonderful blog of Blue Cricket Design...

The items below: small purse, scrappy stars were free hand and probably show it! The 24" block with primary color scheme I made based on a 12" block pattern from The Quilter's Cache, a truly wonderful site full of free block patterns for every level sewer!

I'm still undecided if I want the blue band completely around this purse or just for a top snap enclosure OR to for go it completely and just put a zipper in... which will be hard to do at this late stage since it is otherwise sewn. Ugh I should've decide this BEFORE I sewed it all up!!

Ahhh and my scrappy stars made from left over kaleidoscope quilt block pieces... I just love the pink and brown together. These are each about 30" in diameter so I can make them into mini doll quilts or a table piece for my round table... hmmmm???

Lark Books: Quilt It! Contest

2009-11-11T01:09:00.004-05:00

Now this one promises to be interesting and challenging, especially for a fairly new quilter like me. I am considering entering the Lark Books Quilt It! Contest if I can come with an idea that I think would be attractive enough to enter that I could actually achieve with all the requirements LOL

One Grand Prize winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to www.hancocks-paducah.com and 11 quilting books from the Lark collection. 4 Quilt Category winners will each receive 11 quilting books.

The contest will run from October 24th – January 5th and winners will be announced on February 1st. To enter, read the rules then email us at QuiltIt@larkbooks.com with the title of your piece, at least one photo of your quilt, and in which quilt category, as set forth below, your Quilt should be judged.

Required Elements

Entrants will create an original Quilt of any size that incorporates at least three of the following five required elements:

Bird/s
Mountains
Silver fabric, thread, item
Recycled/repurposed material
Beads

http://www.larkbooks.com/crafts/quilt-it-contest

Birds-eye view

2009-11-11T00:50:00.006-05:00

Started: 11-9-09; 9 blocks completed 11-10-09.

Here is a brief glimpse at my newest quilt blocks I'm working on and my 1st attempt at free-form modern quilt blocks. I love the colors and the look of the blocks and had a blast just cutting and sewing as I went along with no real plan, just added pieces where I wanted. There are 9 finished blocks... 2 that will be added to back or used another way... the lighter fabrics used in them disrupted the flow of the quilt.

I didn't want them too wonky, just off center and added to. . . more to come! (Having a blast with this one, no patterns yippee)

Another contest!

2009-11-11T00:38:00.004-05:00

Hawthorne threads is having a contest . . . check it out!

They have 3 prizes to win . . . featuring items from Patricia and Walter Bravo of Art Gallery Fabrics

Sweet Home Quilt Co Contest!

2009-11-10T02:44:00.003-05:00

Hey check out Sweet Home Quilt Co. which is hosting a contest for some delicious Cinnamon Stars fabric stash from Fig Tree Quilts for Moda!

Quiltmaker Blog contest November 9-13

2009-11-06T20:11:00.004-05:00

Quiltmaker Blog contest begins Nov 9th and ends Nov. 13th. Daily contests held by many linked sites ...

Yeah!!!! I was able to win a copy from Cheryl over at QuilterChic on the first day of the contest, someone must be loaning me some of their good karma! I can't wait to browse through this book and get some inspiration and see all these quilters' wonderful creations!

Just won True Up Contest - Doohickey Designs FQ!

2009-10-28T14:03:00.004-04:00

Wow twice in 1 week I have a won a fabric Contest... This has to be my Lucky week! I just was notified by Kim from True Up that I have won the Robert Blake contest! I won a beautiful Fat Quarter pack of Sublime by Doohickey Designs! Isn't it lovely!? And it's ALL MINE muhahaha . . . sorry but It's exciting to win pretty fabric ;)

The fat quarter pack of Sublime by Doohickey Designs for Riley Blake goes to #88: Farscape Girl of Elaine’s Crafty Corner, who wrote, “Wow first I’ve ever heard of Riley Blake – Thank you for giving me a new favorite fabric line!! I adored “Bloom & Grow” and Andrea Victoria as my top choices but they are all so Original and Fantastic!!!”

This-N-That contest = Check it out!

2009-10-26T19:22:00.006-04:00

Contest Over!

This-N-That Fabrics, one of the online fabric stores (located in my state = Pennsylvania) I frequent is having a great contest to win a cute Welcome Home pillow kit.

You could win this: Enter to win HERE. Or click on pic to get taken to the blog link about contest.

Made with fabrics from the Welcome Home collection from Clothworks. The finished pillow measures 14" x 14".

I just won a C&T Publishing CONTEST!!!

2009-10-26T15:25:00.006-04:00

I am so excited to say that I just checked my emails and found out I have won C&T Publishing's blog contest from Oct. 20th! I won their Applique Petal Party Giveaway! I can't wait to try Susan Knapp's applique techniques and make a quilt from this book!

Well the package containing this prize arrived 11-5-09 and I've looked through the book of patterns, all are very pretty and I will get started on them along with all my Christmas themed gifts after I get my modern quilt blocks completed. I am in the mood for modern & wonky and just have to go with the creative flow. But wanted to say the applique patterns and directions look easy to follow. I will start a new post once I start using the Applique Petal Party Quilt kit, now I just need to set aside the perfect fabric for it!!

Celebrate the Beauty of Flowers with Appliqué

• 16 wonderful 12 1/2" bouquet blocks and floral border make a 73" x 73" finished quilt
• Make the whole quilt or use one block as a pillow or wall hanging
• Package includes needle-turn appliqué basics and step-by-step instructions for the project quilt
• Full-size, easy-to-use appliqué patterns

Celebrate the beauty of flowers with this festive floral appliqué quilt. The package includes instructions and photos of a variety of other color and fabric options, including wool appliqué.

donation quilts Done and in mailbox!

2009-10-25T23:46:00.005-04:00

Too tired to post final quilting pics but will add them to this post later on. . .it feels good to share something I love doing with kids especially!
BUT . . . here are some pics I took of my fall front yard trees & flowers still in bloom during our Indian Summer weather the other day

My 2 Margaret's Hope Chest donation quilts are in a box in front of my mailbox waiting for tomorrows pick-up! YEAH!!!

I finished the binding on Fairy quilt today, added my personal labels on back, washed and packed both along with a bag of fabric and some quilting supplies. The site said they could use fabric and any supplies so that was a great way to pass along some gently used stuff I no longer need. And the fabrics while nice, are not in any color scheme I plan to use in the near future and should work for kids quilts done by volunteer quilt guilds. So GOOD all around!

New fabrics!

2009-10-23T15:59:00.008-04:00

Well I just scored some true loveys! I found some really great fabrics online and am so excited to start using them in projects! Here are some pics and a few close-ups.

I really adore the Shade Garden line by Michelle Engel Bencsko for Henry Glass Co

Anna Marie Horner Lollipop

Joel Dewberry Chestnut Hill line is bright and fun....

I love Fauna & Flora (and the Benartex Alsace blender lines too), I never have enough blenders!

Kaufman's Fusions Paisley Lace (Gold) Metallic line

I also have some FQ's of Heather Ross's Medocino Mermaids, and I found her adorable hard to find "Far Far Away" Princess / Unicorn themed line for Kokko of Japan on ebay. I scored a 15 FQ lot of them. I have so many unique retro fabrics and I want to make modern quilts with them...

** I also bought a FQ of The Morris Workshop from Moda... but haven't unwrapped them yet so mo pics. I want to make a tradition quilt (maybe a Jacob's Ladder variation or a sampler quilt of mixed blocks) for myself from the William Morris line, his indigo's , green, reds and other colors are so beautiful in person!

Wow now all I need to do is start measuring, cutting and sewing LOL

Update on Donation quilt #2 (Fairy panels)

2009-10-23T15:43:00.005-04:00

Well here are the completed pics of this Fairy quilt with my freehand quilting:

Fairy Quilt back =quilted

Fairy Blocks

Fairy Top - sewn, waiting to be quilted

Well I have the top of Children's Donation quilt #2 completed (approx 44" x 65") the one featuring 6 of Michael Miller's Perwinkle blue Fairy panels. I don;t love the colorful border as much as I'd like, but hope a child will like it. The backing will comprise of two big sections of fabric and some of the left over colorful blocks (I like to use everything up and no one really sees the back too often)

Donation children's Quilts

2009-10-16T22:02:00.007-04:00

Front view Back view

Well as soon as I read about Margaret's Hope Chest organization I knew I wanted to to do at least 2 quilts to donate. I have pieced the first one yesterday and have it all basted for quilting... it is a simple nine patch. The backing is bright and a bunch of patched fabric pieces I had from different projects. it is approx. 50" x 50".

Michael Miller's 2008 Blue Fairie panel

Tonight I started cutting and piecing a few of quilt #2's pieces... I am using Michael Miller's 2008 Blue Fairie panel as the main fabric and will have nine patch corners on the quilt. It should be about 42" x 60" maybe more or less, haven't decided on internal border piece spacing yet.

I am so excited to participate in this worthwhile cause! I love the idea that sometime in the near future a little kid somewhere will be using a quilt I made... I've only ever given my quilts as gifts to family. Well it is getting late and I've been up since early am so I'm off to chill before bed.

Happy sewing!

Up next. . .

2009-10-12T22:15:00.005-04:00

I plan to focus on my mini wall hanging quilts with celtic embroidery and bias strips too... will post when I take photos again. I also plan to make a kids quilt of nine patch squares or a trip around the world or both ;) for the Margaret's Hope Chest project due by November 15th!

Celtic quilt wall hangings

2009-10-12T21:01:00.006-04:00

Well here are two of my current favorite "small" wall quilts I've completed. I plan on making a few more intricate ones, but for beginning ones I picked one easy celtic knotwork to embroider to each quilt top fabric, added a border and then quilted the whole quilt and added binding. The purple/Gold completed 10-10-09 and Red/Green Christmas completed 10-11-09.

The purple and gold quilt (approx 16" x 16") features a Love knot

Red, Green and gold quilt (Approx. 23" x 23") has a simple interwoven circle knot

Margaret's Hope Chest

2009-10-11T01:14:00.001-04:00

Margaret's Hope Chest

Shared via AddThis

Contests on other blogs!

2009-09-28T12:09:00.004-04:00

The Flannel Queen and The Dizzy Daizy are two online fabric shops and they are each having wonderful grand opening give-aways! Go over to their blogs and check it out….

The Flannel Queen

The Dizzy Daizy

Finishing older projects...

2009-09-15T00:15:00.005-04:00

I have finished three older quilt tops in the past week and one new quilt top... I plan to baste one at a time and quilt each one when I get a few more quilt tops put together.

Before

After

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Before
After

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Before

After

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I figure I am in the mood to try new designs and plan to just go with the creative flow. In the meantime I will think about what quilting designs if any I want to use for each of the quilts... I may stich in a ditch, meander or try feathers? Or swirls? So many choices, I just don't want to start a difficult quilting design and mess it up! I sew and quilt on my Brother 6000i sewing machine. A long arm would be great but at few grand, that is just not an option unless I actually sell some quilts and make some money back from my crafty passion LOL

Until later . . .

Contest to win fabric!

2009-09-15T00:07:00.003-04:00

The Fabric Shopper blog is hosting a giveaway for some beautiful fabric! A fat quarter set of the entire collection of My Happy Garden by Michelle Engel Bencsko for Cloud9 Organic Fabrics. That's 8 fat quarters total!

Hurry up and stop by The Fabric Shopper the contest ends on September 20th!

I just won a contest!!

2009-09-07T14:33:00.004-04:00

I just won a bag of books and other goodies from the Book Binge website! I won Day #4 which is so exciting and cool, it is so much fun to be a winner of goodies that I really wanted!

Book Binge Day # 4 winner: Farscapegirl

This is what I won !

Book Bag Giveaway: Day 4 Winner Announced

The winner of our Day 4 book bag is:

Farscapegirl

Once again, included in the bag is:

Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks
Sexually Satisfied by Melissa Randall
The Spicy Bedtime Companion by Joan Elizabeth Lloyd
Socialite Evenings by Shobhaa De

Along with an assortment of bookmarks, magnets and other promotional items. You also get a nifty looking tote.

Ilona Andrews & Nalini Singh + others create fun site!

2009-09-01T19:06:00.006-04:00

Some of my Top, most favorite, bestest authors (Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brooks, Patrice Michelle & Jill Myles) of paranormal fantasy romance have gathered together and created a place to cut loose, share thoughts, advice and hopefully funny, maybe even embarrassing personal stories. Got to love the web! I can't wait to see what all these awesome women want to share with their fans!!! To visit go HERE

blog contest

2009-08-21T17:46:00.005-04:00

Not by me, I do plan to have one sometime in future maybe after I get 20 or more followers or visiters, but since I never really tell anyone I have a blog it would probably have very few entries LOL

Buta very generous blogger, Showing Bones is holding a contest for great vintage fat quarters! Contest ends 8-24-09! Go enter!!

Eva's 2nd birthday party!

2009-08-12T19:42:00.005-04:00

I made a Dora novelty quilt for my "niece" (my cousin's youngest little girl) for her 2nd birthday on August 8. I fussy cut Dora swatches and used them in the blocks and appliqued Dora to the fleece hearts.

Here is the birthday girl making sure her daddy doesn't put his hands on HER Dora quilt! LOL

This was my first time at applique. I added more appliqued fleece flowers and hearts to the dora quilt to even out the plush softness for Eva to enjoy the tactile feel of them. The back of the quilt was a super plush soft pink fleece. It was super easy to quilt. I had fun making it!

And here she is surrounded by all her new presents (what she could fit on the couch at least). She had a LOOONG day for a 2 year old and was very sleepy.

Brandy's finished quilt

2009-08-12T18:41:00.004-04:00

Here is Brandy's quilt, all quilted and with a light purple binding. Finished size was 102" x 90".

Brandy came up for a quick visit yesterday and I finally had a chance to give her the quilt I made for her birthday (August 3rd) . . . Yeah!

She was awesome and said she would treasure it always, it was the perfect reaction and more than I even expected. I love making quilts for family and friends, I get to see their reactions and happiness. It rocks!

Brandy's b-day quilt progress

2009-07-15T12:40:00.002-04:00

9-patch blocks on White background

I have all (36) 9-patch 9" blocks completed. I'm still undecided on what color to use for the back ground solid blocks...I may even make some strip blocks to go in between the tradition 9-patch blocks to spice up and modernize the quilt. I wanted to stick with a traditional feel, but will see how I feel about it.

Here are some pic's of my trial layouts....

New contests!

2009-07-11T13:43:00.001-04:00

Brandy's birthday quilt started!

2009-07-06T15:51:00.004-04:00

My SIL requested a bed quilt with Brown, Purple and Green as the main colors for her birthday on August 3rd. Here are some of the fabrics that came just in time for me to get started on it this weekend. These show salvage names... I picked an assortment, Benartex, Moda, Quilting Treasures etc...

I have made almost all the 9-patch squares (11 more to go!) this weekend.

Pic above is a few of the purple, plum, lilac and brown blocks just to see the colors together, I am making the primarily green & brown mixed ones tonight.

I plan to decide if I want all one color filler of solid Brown or light green or if I'll use scrappy fillers of all colors, OR if I have a wash of dark to light colors. I will try out variations and if I remember to take pics I will post them.

Dora Quilt for friend's 5 year old daughter

2009-07-06T15:42:00.004-04:00

Well I finished the Dora quilt over the weekend. It is larger than the normal lap/ kids quilt. It finished at about 48 x 56. It is backed in a bright fuchsia pink fleece, no batting since the fleece backing is so plush it would have been too bulky for a little 5-year-old girl to drag around.

I only did sparse quilting to outline the blocks, just enough stitch-in-a-ditch to keep it from bunching when washed.

I plan to make another Dora themed quilt for my "niece" (my cousin's daughter) for her 2nd birthday which is on August 8th. I also have my SIL's B-day on August 3rd!

Update on Pink Brown Kaleidoscope quilt

2009-07-01T21:02:00.006-04:00

Traditional Kaleidoscope layout

This second layout choice is just random blocks.

Well the blocks are done. They are 64" x 64" without border. I can either add 10 more blocks of green, blue or purple colors... or keep it just pink and brown and add a couple large borders to box it in and make it a Queen size quilt. OR I can just make it a kid / lap quilt and make a better one. The values don't really show up as much as I had hopes. I need to use more solid fabrics and less patterns. Oh well, trial and error.

Kaleidoscope quilt (Pink & Brown)

2009-06-30T16:33:00.004-04:00

I saw a Kaleidoscope quilt on one of my favorite blogs, Exuberant Color, Wanda creates the most beautiful quilts and I check out her blog daily because she always shares wonderful pictures of her garden and has such a positive outlook. She was teaching a class on Kaleidoscope quilts and I fell in love with the design. AS soon as I saw her post I knew I had to try it. I had seen this block layout before, but I was looking for some inspiration on what to do with my Moda Gypsy Rose FQ's.

Here are some of my Pink/Brown blocks:

Not sure if I have the correct values of dark to light with the fabric I used, but I love the color play of the scrappy strip combo's. Hopefully there is enough value difference between the strips to make the kaleidoscope effect when the quilt is finished.

I had to make my own Kaleidoscope ruler from cardboard and that was a pain getting the correct isosceles 45degree angles and strip measurements. My blocks are each approx. 16". I intend to make a Queen size quilt, and a child's too if I have enough left over fabric. (So far I've only used the pink and brown of Gypsy rose fq, there are also Greens and purples and from my Allspice Jelly roll there are reds and robin blues) . I have tons of other fabrics to add too if I need more contrast.

Amy Butler weekender bag finished

2009-06-30T16:25:00.003-04:00

Finally finished!

I finished my Amy Butler Weekender bag a week or more ago, but haven't had a chance to post pics until now (I kept leaving camera upstairs in sewing room LOL)

Inside bag view (I added additional pockets inside)

I didn't have enough pink fabric to make image perfectly aligned on main panel and pockets, but I think it turned out ok for a first attempt.

Christmas project Giveaway

2009-06-30T15:39:00.006-04:00

Twas the night before Christmas:

A very cool Christmas Block of the Month project and giveaway being held! Go visit Helen's blog and read all about it, enter and maybe you'll win! I couldn't resist this giveaway, the project is soooo adorable!!

sewing . . .

2009-06-11T17:44:00.005-04:00

A contest!

I spent Tuesday and Wed night coming up with a purse for my neighbor and friend, Josie. She was with me when I put Sabi to sleep. Her favorite color is blue. But I couldn't find the right fabric in Blue in my stash so I used a dark steel gray blue as my pop fabric that alsoappears throughout the rusty red/orange floral pattern that comprises the main body of the purse. I attempted to add pleats, but forgot to pleat the interfacing too so even though I pressed them in the fabric and pinned them in place, they sort of flattened out. Oh well live and learn. I had no pattern it was just trial and error. But I love my little hand sewn 1" button !! I think that gives purse a lot of character ;)

Measurements: top opening 10 1/2" acrosst; bottom widest width13 1/2" across. Height is 11 1/2". The straps are 10", perfect hobo length IMO. I

I hope Jo likes it!

Sebastian peace & love rest well my baby

2009-06-08T09:23:00.002-04:00

I am facing the hardest day today. I am bringing my fur-baby Sebastian in to be put to rest.

He had stopped eating late Wednesday night (June 3rd) and drinking water. I tried everything but his body is failing and his liver has been damaged by his dehydration and began to shut down over the weekend. I am heartbroken.

On Friday the vet sent me home with pain meds but I could tell she knew I would be bringing him in today. She saw how frail and broken down his body had become.
I hate this . . . I have no idea how to deal with this. I lost our dog in March to stomach cancer too. That is two animals in such a short period of the same thing. I know it is just coincidence and not connected. Sabi is a snowshoe (part Siamese) and that breed (I have now learned) is famous for contracting intestinal and stomach cancer. As I said earlier I Love my baby boy and thank god for every moment I had with him, he is the best cat ever! I will try to think of all the wonderful moments and memories I had with him and all my other cats... I know he will be missed by many people. He was everyone's favorite of all the cats.

New Moda fabric came in today's mail!

2009-06-04T16:46:00.006-04:00

I am so excited that the Moda "Gypsy Rose" FQ collection came in today's mail. I got a super deal on eBay, I can't wait to use them alongside my Moda "All spice" Jelly Roll I got 2 weeks ago from Sauders fabric shop. I will post pictures in a bit, it is a dreaery rainy day today so I may wait to post photos for a sunny day.

Still working on my Amy Butler Weekender bag... my mind is consumed with my cat Sebastian.

I thought about starting a pet blog about my ten year old Snowshoe cat Sebastion, but decided against it since I am enmeshed in my daily life with all his ups and downs. I decided to just write down snippets here or on my Livejournal page when my head gets too full and needs to unload.

Sebastian has stomach and intestinal cancer, that went undiagnosed for at least 1 year. he has always been the houses "Good Will Ambassader" He greets everyone who visits, he is loving, purring machine that likes to wrap around peoples legs and trip them for attention.

He was always an overweight kitty so when he began losing weight in summer/fall 2007 I was happy and believed the smaller portions were helping. Then he kept losing weight until he went from a fat healthy 19 lbs to 15 lbs in early 2008 and then 12 lbs in mid 2008, I took him for his annual check-up and got his shots but the doctor didn't seem concerned so I read it as my looking for issues that weren't there. But by Fall 2008 he weighed barely 10 lbs and was looking skinny, frail and his sides indented like a great danes... so I took him to his regular vet and we had blood tests, and FIV tests (he tested negative just like he had as a kitten). All blood tests came back as normal. His Kidneys and liver were ok. But he was looking even more emaciated with dull fur that was getting brittle. And his wonderful sweet spunky personality was getting more subdued. So we re-tested. I and his vet thought he had hypo-thyroid, because he kept losing weight even though he ate ALL the time. So I spent the last 5 months running every test (multiple times) getting an ultrasound. . . even tried hypothyroid drugs even though all bloodwork appeared in normal range. Finally my vet referred us to specialists and from there he saw a cardiologist, and was diagnosed with mild HOCM (Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy) and was put on a daily beta blocker for his heart, then he saw an internist and had an ultrasound and they finally found the tumors, ulcers and cancer at the VRC (Veterinary Referral Center & Emergency services). I chose not to have endoscopy imaging. I chose not to attempt chemo due to the fact that putting him in his frail state through all that for "maybe" the possibility of having an extra 6 months to a year extra didn't make sense. So I've taken to spending the evenings sewing as long as he wants to snuggle with me, I don't get too much done, but I want to spend every moment I can making him comfortable.

After being shaved for his April 2009 Ultrasound

He is currently on a stomach/ulcer coating meds, pepcid, beta blocker, and antibiotics. and anti-vomiting drugs, but those are only allowed to be given temporarily. When he was on steroids he gained some liquid weight but no true fat or muscle and since the steroids caused internal bleeding and bloody vomiting, he was taken off them, There was a brief hope that the steroids would reduce the tumors inflamation and shrink them if they were lymphoma cancer. But his system couldn't handle the high doses of steroids and his tumors were for the most part unaffected. So the options have decreased and the inevitable has truly sunk in.

His fur coat looks much better, his loving, spunky personality are there though some days not so much. When the bad days outnumber the good ones . . .

He gets meds 4-6 times a day. I crush his pills and use water and a monoject to get them in him. He does very well on this regimen. When he starts to suffer from the cancer I will do the right thing, I won't prolong his suffering so I can have more time. As long as I can keep him comfortable and he keeps responding in his endearing affectionate way I will continue to do my best. It's all a waiting game now. But I thank god for bringing him into my life back in January 1999.

Paula Prass had this on her site... A chance to Win a Janome 6600P sewing machine!

2009-06-01T18:38:00.009-04:00

I just discovered a cool contest hosted by Dana on her blog (go now!) Old Red Barn Co.

She is 3 weeks into a six week Quilt Along with weekly Give Aways on her blog. The Grand Prize is the Janome 6600 sewing machine. How cool is that!

New Project started: Amy Butler Weekender Bag

2009-06-01T16:26:00.008-04:00

Well I spent a few hours measuring and cutting out fabric to make a pattern I've had for a while, Amy Butler's Weekender Travel Bag. I had bought the fabric from Sauders Fabric shop a couple summers ago. Sauders is a wonderful quilting fabric shop that has a huge assortment of fabrics and a great sale table. The staff there are helpful and really nice. I plan to use this pattern as a basis for smaller purses in future, with a bit of re-shaping and different arranging it seems to be a great basic pattern for purses.

<- This will be the main fabric for the bag . . ..

I am still unsure if I want to use the mustard yellow for bias and handles or if I should go with the light green fabric (Heather Bailey fabric I believe)... I will make up my mind tonight.

May 23rd started new quilt project . . .

2009-05-31T13:15:00.000-04:00

I find certain dates very difficult, on May 23rd I spent making new bright, happy, colorful strip diamonds quilt blocks to distract me from dwelling on the fact that it was 9 year since my dad passed away. I like to spend my time outside in the garden or making something bright and pretty when certain holidays pass by. (Mother's day, Father's day, birthdays etc...) So this is what I am working on....my 1st attempt at a colorwash quilt... needs lots more blending. Or I might cut the blocks down and make a different pattern.

My brother's Birthday Quilt (May 22nd)

2009-05-31T13:02:00.000-04:00

Finished quilt!

I made my brother, Matt his own quilt for his birthday. This one I based on Fig Tree & Co quilt pattern "Jelly Stars"... I used a mixture of various fabrics from my stash to make each star unique. I used a lightweight spring/summer organic cotton batting and machine quilted the entire quilt (88" x 88") with swirls,stars, lady bugs, bees, fireflies and meandering stippling. I made it a little larger by adding a bigger border than called for in the original pattern. It was truly an easy pattern to cut-out and put together.

nine-patch jacob's ladder blocks_colorful rag

2009-05-31T12:55:00.000-04:00

These are unfinished quilt blocks that I started in March 2009 to make into a birthday quilt for my brother... I love jacob's ladder pattern in quilts and found a great block pattern on The Quilter's Cache.
After laying them out on my bed and viewing them from doorway I found them too busy, and plan to do something with them at a later date.... for now they are stored in sewing room.

my first quilt - for five-year-old nephew

2009-05-31T11:45:00.001-04:00

My hand-stitches, need work!

Finished quilt! Gifted Christmas 2008 to my 5 year old nephew. This is the quilt blocks for my nephew's Christmas quilt, made from colorful flannel. I used a heavy fleece for batting and a white 100% cotton backing... I hand quilted it (stitch in a ditch) completely ... it took a LONG time and much hand cramping but was well worth it!