Third Day of Creation

It's so nice to see this needlepoint picture completed, framed, and hanging on the wall. I've enjoyed working on "Creation: Day 3" for the past few years. Now I"m looking for a new project to keep my hands busy.

Quilting With Friends

On Saturday Carol, Sandy, and Paula came over to spend the day. After "show and tell" we ate lunch, then got to work on our projects. Paula is making Christmas table runners, Carol is working on a baby quilt, and Sandy sewed binding on a quilt and then did some knitting. My new project is a lap robe made from two charm packs (packs of 5-inch squares in coordinating fabrics). I found a pattern I liked online. Each square gets three white corners. Four of these are then sewn together. Next time I'll show you how it will all come together.

Quilted Window Treatment

There is satisfaction in seeing a project to completion. Here are two pictures of the new valance and side-curtains in the guest room. Bright and cheery room, don't you think?

Maching Quilting

One thing I like about working on a small project is that I can quilt it myself on my own sewing machine. The valence is all sewn together and yesterday I quilted it. You can see the right side and the back of the piece. I call the pattern Flowers and Loops. One more thing. . . I liked the sample table runner that I made first so much that I used it for the valence in my office. This red and cream one will be in the sewing/guest room.

Quilted Window Valance

I LOVE this fabric. That's why I'm using it for the valance in my office/library/sometimes guest room. It will be almost the same design as the table runner. There will be some changes. For instance, this time I'm using 16 different fabrics instead of 4. Maybe I'll put a shashing strip between the blocks and maybe I won't. I can decide that later. Now - back to the sewing machine!

Practice Runner

Before I make a quilted valance for my office window, I made a table runner in the same design using fabric I had on hand. What a good idea! I learned so much that will help make the valance just right. I also had a chance to practice free-motion quilting. This is my first attempt, using a loop-de-doop design.

All Done

This quilt will keep someone warm at night. Instead of having it quilted by machine, I tied it. Each square got four ties - one in each corner. Now it is soft and fluffy..

Snowy Sunday Afternoon

It was too cold and snowy to go outside, so I started to put the quilt together. First I put the quilt backing and top on the floor with the wrong sides on the outside. I pinned them all around the perimeter, then took the whole thing to the machine and sewed them with a quarter-inch seam. Next I put the batting down on the floor with the quilt on top. Now these three layers got basted together with a long running stitch within that seam. It is ready to be turned right-side-out, but that is for another day.

Working Away on the Nine Patch

Long strips were made for the sashing by sewing 2 1/2 inch squares of the printed fabric to 2 1/2 by 6 1/2 inch rectangles. Now these long strips must be matched and sewn onto the strips with the squares. I'm almost done!