Wow! I've been lax.

I've been very lax about posting. I have quite a few updates though. I finished the Thimbleberries Home and Garden quilt to give to my mother-in-law. I had completed the top some time ago (as in about 2-3 years ago) and decided I did not like it. The large floral prints just do not appeal to me so I put it away. She loved it though so that worked out wonderfully. I quilted it and gave it to her. This is a block from my LQS Saturday sampler. It's a lovely quilt when finished and I'm very excited about working these blocks. I picked up some crossstitch again over the Christmas holidays. I haven't done any cross stitching in so long but I enjoyed doing it again. This is Cranberry Pinafore by Shepherd's Bush. I now have it framed so I will have to get that picture up.
I'm hard at work on Winter Wonderland by Crabapple Hill. This is a UFO that I started a couple years ago and put down for one reason or another. I have decided this yearI will finish several UFOs and this is number one to finish.

And last but certainly not least something new. As you know I make quite a few t-shirt and memory quilts. This is the first time I've done a calendar quilt. This quit was made from calendars that a customer's mother had collected over the years. They began in 1978! It was challenging to develop the layout as they are so long and narrow and she did want them all on one quilt. I decided to do front and back.

Red Boots dollies

I've made several of these dolls from a lovely pattern by Toni of the Red Boots Quilt Company. Her patterns are just darling and so easy to follow. Here are just a couple of the dolls I've made from her Blogging Buddies pattern as Christmas presents. These are for my daughter and my niece. My daughter got hers early and named her Ginger because she has gingerbread boots on. :0) She has another couple coming but doesn't know it yet. Those are wrapped and under the tree. Thanks, Toni, these are the cutest (and most loved already) dolls ever!!

Quilts for Kids

Have you heard of this organization, Quilts for Kids? You can learn more by clicking on the name. It's a wonderful organization that gives quilts to children in hospitals. I want to start a chapter in my area in order to send the quilts to the local children's hospital. In the meantime, I am making quilts and sending them to HQ. They will send you the kit (or you can use your own materials). You just add batting and quilt it and return it. They do ask that you quilt it pretty heavily since it will be used and washed a lot and that you wash it before returning it. Here is my first finished quilt for them. It took no time at all. It was a very simple pattern. Won't you consider sharing your talents and making one as well?

Downy sponsors this organization and they'll send you a tag to include with your quilt.

A Boy's Story Finished

All finished and quilted. You can see how happy the recipient is.

And close ups of the finished quilt:

A Boy's Story Cont.

I have finished the top to the Boys Story Quilt (pattern by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched). I am getting ready to quilt it now. My son is very excited. I added borders to the quilt to make it bed size. It now finishes 66 x 80. Here are some of the squares. Hopefully I'll have the quilted finish for you soon.

T-Shirt finish

This quilt was done in rememberance of a young man who lost his life to testicular cancer 2 years ago. If you have a young man in your life. Please educate him and yourself about this.

Christmas Time

And this is one busy elf. I've finished a Rosalie Quinlan small quilt