Sue Spargo in Chico!!

 Last night was the Annie's Star Quilt Guild meeting in Chico with quilting super star Sue Spargo.  Here she is  pictured with our local star Kitty Pippin.

 Sue's talk was very interesting, and she showed us her wonderful quilts.  These pictures don't do them justice.  The quilts are amazing and the quilting is wonderful.

 Sue and Carmen

I have been busy

 Last summer I went to Alaska to my best friends son's wedding.  Then it took me what seemed like forever to decide what to make them for a gift.  I finally decided I would make pillow shams.  Hand quilted of course.

 The process took way longer than I thought it would, but as of last night they are completed!  Standard size pillows will fit.  the only machine quilting I did was around the inside where I have it pinned.  And of course the outer edge.

After I got out the blue and put them in the dryer they turned out awesome.  Just enough crinkle to make them look hand done.  If it wasn't so much work I would make some for me!  They look great.  Now to buy new pillows and get them in the mail to Denver. 

May day by Kathy Schmitz

 I finished the sewing of the May day small Sweet Stitches BOM from Kathy Schmitz.  I love these patterns so much.  I am hoping to finish the borders of the 3 I have finished over the coming weekend.

An embroidery finish of a Kathy Schmitz BOM

Kathy Schmitz is one of my very favorite pattern makers.  I love her work. 

Kathleen Tracy Monthly challenge .. done!

 Well, not completely done, still have to quilt it.  But the top is done.  I altered the pattern a small bit by adding a second side strip.  Those bias sides were starting to bother me so I put an end to them.  It measures about 21 inches square right now.  But I plan on slicing it down a bit when I am done hand quilting it, which won't be any time soon.  I have a wrist ache from to much hand quilting so I am going to do piecing until it heals. 

A few things I did this weekend

 I put the bindings on these two quilts

 Got two more Kathy Schmitz BOM patterns ready to embroider

Finished up my rabbit.  now to the borders...

Small finish

I made a small finish this week.  Pot holder size.  off center because I was going to make it a mug rug but changed my mind and cut off the left side.  oh well, the pots won't care. 

Grab bag from Homestead Hearth

 On Jan 15th Kathleen Tracy of Sentimental Quilter showed that she got a grab bag from Homestead Hearth and so I thought I had to have one too. 

 The bag came in yesterday's mail.  It is bits and pieces and some bigger pieces.  Aren't they lovely?

 I will wait until Feb. and Kathleen Tracy announces what her small quilt of the month will be and then I will pull some and use it.  Nice fabric selections!

Old cloth rice bag

 My father had this years ago and I got it after he died.  It is fabric and I love it.  At some point in the near future it will be hand quilted and hung on the wall.  Originally I had thought I would make a pillow case out of it but I like the wall idea better.

My little beginning

This book by Lynette Anderson is a wonderful book.  I love dogs and it has a great dog pattern that I have been meaning to make for quite some time. I love this quilt and would like to make it someday.  

Here is the 200% pattern

 But for now I am making one dog and it will become a pillow.  Here is my freezer paper applique.

And here is the freezer paper torn off.

Here is a close up of the completed applique.  Next for the embellishments and who knows how I will finish it. 

Kathy Schmitz Block of the month

 When I found out that Kathy Schmitz had a block of the month going on I had to find it!  It can be found at Colonial Crafts in MA.  I am a huge fan of her work and bought 3 of her patterns for the BOM.  I believe it starts in March and goes until Feb next year.  I have a few projects that need to get done before I start but I am looking forward to starting these .

A little bag

 In 1999 I was in New Orleans and bought a bag of rice.  Not for the rice but for the bag.  I had no idea what I wanted to do with it but I wanted it. Over the weekend I ran across it and decided I would make it into a mug rug.  I hand quilted it and then looking for something else I ran across a zipper that had been my grandmothers. (she died in 1987)  I decided I would see if I could put it on the rice bag successfully.  Since I am not a sewer of clothes.  It worked.  So I made this cute little bag.

 I love it.  I have no idea what I will use it for but I am sure in time I will find the perfect thing. 

While in the grocery store last night I searched the isles for cloth bags of any kind.  sadly I didn't find any. 

Little Quilt from Kathleen Tracy pattern

 This free pattern is on Kathleen Tracy's blog.  I adjusted it a bit but made it close to the pattern.  I am happy with the results.

 Here it is on the top of my bookshelf on my metal quilt stand. 

 an upside down close up...

A close up of the quilt on the stand.  The only color I am not happy with is the yellow.  I only choose it because I am trying to get out of my comfort zone.. yellow is not a favorite.  oh well.. done.