Giveaway

Rachel at p.s. I quilt is having a wonderful giveaway! Check it out by clicking the picture!

Christmas in Late July

I've been working on Christmas gifts lately. I made placemats and hot pads for a friend.

I also made an apron for my sister. This isn't actually the one she'll recieve, can't show you that because she'll see it.

And in the spirit of Christmas. . . baking!! I made this peach pie using peaches from our tree. Mmmmmm was it good. Wish you were here to share a piece.

More produce from the garden (just because I'm so proud of what we grew and how good it all tastes). We doubled our garden space this year and intend to double it again next year. We expand as we learn more. We grow everything organically so many things we learn as we go. There seem to be so few things we can use for bugs but like I said, we are learning. We still have corn, peppers, broccoli and carrots to come in. . . can't wait!

And I finished another t-shirt quilt.

Giveaway

Go check out Elaine's blog for a chance to win a Quilter's Stimulus package. While there check out some of her amazing work.

Custom Labels

At the urging of a friend I decided to make my own custom labels. She was very helpful with suggestions and choosing which one she preferred. So here they are:

There is a great tutorial on these labels here: http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.com/

My husband's grandmother gave me these blocks that her sister made some time ago. I have no idea how old the fabrics are but they are very coarse. I put them together and now I will quilt them for her. The colors are pretty and striking.

This top was finished ages ago and I'm finally getting around to quilting it. Another UFO down!

And this has been at the top of my to do list for some time. I just love Rosalie's whimsical designs. My little girl grabbed this as soon as it was done. She loves it. I am very proud of it myself.

My First Quilt

Following in the steps of Camille, et. al. I am baring my soul by showing you this monstrosity. This is my very first quilt. I was originall a crossstitcher and decided to make these little dragons into a quilt for my son. Basic squares is about all I dared master. It is horribly done. Perhaps it's good that the picture is so out of focus. (sigh)

Now! I am much more pleased to show you my most recent finish. The top was actually pieced last Christmas but I'm just getting around to quilting it now so I guess that counts as most recent.

What have I learned along the way? Besides NUMEROUS techniques I have learned to take chances; to trust myself when choosing colors or quilting designs and that as long as you enjoy the process nothing else matters!

Happy Independence Day!!

We spent the day cooking out with the inlaws. For fireworks we walked down to the park to watch the show. It was beautiful. Hope you all had a wonderful fun time.

Cleaning out the UFO pile and then some. . .

I finished another log cabin quilt. Made from the same set of scraps as the previous.

I made this quilt for my boss' daughter. She picked out the fabrics. Aren't they gorgeous. I tell you I love this quilt.

I finally got around to quilting this one which was made last year (or was it the year before). I quilted this one with wool batting and I really like the outcome. The wool was wonderful to work with.

And here are two quilts for Craft Hope (see link to the lower right). These will be going to an orphanage in India and because of the warmer climate there I used no batting. Instead I used a flannel backing.

Finally I made my own set of quilt labels. I have since revised these a bit but here is the first draft. I really like them.

And I put together a batch of blackberry jam (24 of these little suckers). My great-grandmother's recipe, mmmmmmm. . .