Home for the Holidays . . . .

Another quilt made its way home from the quilter, just in time . . .

I'm so happy my 2010 Fat Quarter Shop Kate Spain Mystery Block of the Month is all done and ready, just in time for Christmas!!

Someone sent me an email months ago asking about the width of my sashing around those blocks, but since the quilt was at the quilter's and I hadn't written it down anywhere, I wasn't much help. For the record, the green strips finish at 3/4" and the white strip at 1/2", creating a sashing that's 2 inches finished, which was called for in the finishing pattern. I'm guessing that's no help to the person who asked, but if the question comes up again, I have it documented, now all I have to remember is where I documented it!

But back to the quilting,

Dawn at the Sewing Basket went with a nice swirly design in the white background of each block and did a little custom quilting for the pieced section of the block. For this basket she did some nice cross hatching.

Here she did a cute little design in the mitten cuff and a nice design in and around the star.

I made this quilt for my daughter, here it is hanging in its new home in California.

(Have you ever noticed when you want a dog in a picture they just refuse to sit still, but when you're not looking, they sneak in!)

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 71, click here if you want to read more.

It's official, I'm finally done with my decorating. Some years I'm done when I get tired of decorating and just quit, but this year I kept decorating until I had everything out, I think it was worth the time and effort. I hope you're getting through the items on your Christmas To Do List too!!

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I'm Ready for Christmas . . . .

While I was out of town, the final block for the Fat Quarter Shop Kate Spain 2010 Designer Mystery Block of the Month project came. Hurray! I was so happy to be all caught up with blocks one through eleven and ready to wrap up this project. It seems like I've been working on it forever, even if it was only one block a month.

The block, The Final Touch, is designed by Sherri Falls of This and That Patterns.

I thought the pattern company sounded familiar, and when I went to check out her website I discovered that I own a few of her patterns, Wagon Wheels, Just Before Dawn, and Butter Churn. Another funny coincidence, a friend on Monday showed me a quilt she was planning to hand quilt for her Mom, and the pattern was Posie Patch, another Sherri Falls pattern that's a log cabin quilt with adorable applique posies in the setting triangles.

So here it is, Block Twelve - The Final Touch

A perfect name for the last block I think.

I changed the fabric for this block because it used the same fabric that I used on another block that I changed when it came. As a matter of fact, I changed, swapped or tweaked every block but one, the wreath block. And now that it's all done, I wish I would have thought to frame that block with the background fabric so it didn't meet the sashing. I like white space, I added some when I could but I think it could have stood some more.

So here's my final block placement, I think I had those blocks in every possible combination before deciding on this one, the perfect one!

The finishing kit used the red fabric that's also used in the hat, stocking, basket and mitten. I thought that was a little too much red too close to those blocks so I switched to the green.

Plus the green complimented the poinsettia fabric I was going to use for the outer border (not part of the finishing kit).

When I auditioned the green sashing and the poinsettia fabric on my design wall I thought "Eew". A little to wild for me, and even though this quilt is going to live in LA with my daughter, I thought that combination was a little too loud and distracting for her too.

Step One, I toned down the volume on that green by adding a 1/2" strip of the background fabric down the middle of those sashing strips. I stayed with the cornerstones from the finishing kit, which was designed by Brenda Riddle of the Acorn Quilt & Gift Company.

(Speaking of Brenda Riddle and the Acorn Quilt Co, I ordered the pattern Frosted Windowpanes from them, which was the inspiration for the wonderful quilt at the AQS show in Paducah called Fleur de Lis, that I blogged about here, anyway, the Acorn Quilt Co sent a booklet with about 5 or 6 patterns in it as a Thank You gift for buying ONE pattern! How's that for customer service!)

I pretty much went with the outer border designed by Brenda Riddle, except she used the blue snowflake fabric and I went with the red.

Also, the finishing kit finishes at 64" x 78", and the space where this quilt will be hanging is 59 inches wide, so I made my outer border a little narrower.

I thought the pattern in the finishing kit was perfect, a little personality but not so much as to compete with the blocks in the center.

I was so proud to have the quilt all done, put it on my design wall to take that last photo to share with you when I noticed, no . . . surely I didn't . . . I DID, I put that bottom sashing strip on upside down!! UGH!! It's supposed to have two stars in the lower left hand column, not three!!

So here's the conversation I had in my head, "Who cares, it's not like it even matters, it looks OK, it doesn't look unbalanced, really, just leave it, Favorite Daughter will not know the difference, the top fourth of the quilt will probably be on the other side of the rod, no one will even know, just leave it . . ."

You know me, I couldn't leave it. . . .

This if Lifetime Quilt Number 71.

It finished at 57" x 70",

is named, 2011 The Year of Ashley,

and has approximately 772 pieces.

This was my first official block of the month, I signed up for one from another shop once, but the fabric that came was so horrible I never made it, I just tossed the ugly fabric and saved the pattern. Now that it's all said and done, I think I've decided I'm not a mystery block of the month person. I enjoyed getting and making the blocks each month, Kimberly and the folks at the Fat Quarter Shop are very generous with the fabric and the instructions were marvelous, and I thought the patterns were just adorable, but this quilt would look very different if I were making all the blocks at once. You know me and changing up patterns (I think it's a middle child syndrome, wanting to be different) and it's hard to change up patterns when you don't know how it's all gong to come together until the end.

All in all, I think this is a very cute quilt that suits my daughter and her condo perfectly.

I'm hoping to see your finished 2010 DMBOM quilt, be sure to drop me a line when you finish yours!

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Block Eleven . .

I had a little time to squeeze in some sewing after finishing Crazy Eights and before heading to the Quilt Show in Paducah.

Here's Block Eleven of the Fat Quarter Shop Kate Spain Designer Mystery Block of the Month for 2010.

For once my changes were minor! I stuck with the fabrics provided but did shorten the handle and the basket just a smidge in order to add a narrow frame around the basket. The fabric used for the sashing in the finishing kit is the same fabric as the basket, I just thought a little separation might be a good thing.

I keep thinking surely all the cute blocks have been sent, then I get another kit and am totally thrilled with the pattern. Now I have high expectations for that final block!

It's not too late for you to make this adorable Christmas quilt, Kimberly at the Fat Quarter Shop still has the BOM listed on their website. (click here)

Today is Monique's big reveal day, don't miss out on seeing her latest take on Spades. She's using Maison de Garance by French General, so it must be wonderful.

My big reveal is tomorrow, talk to you then.

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Short and Sweet . . . .

For the first time in 5 months I'm all caught up on my Fat Quarter Shop 2010 Designer Mystery Block of the Month using Kate Spain for Moda or as it's called in my house, "Ashley's Christmas Quilt". All caught up, with only two more blocks to go.

As usual, I "Thelmified" my blocks,

I swapped out the fabric on the roof for the house block and I swapped out all the fabric for the present block, plus I made the box smaller to allow for a little plain border.

So here are all the blocks, the only block that I made exactly as called for in the pattern is the wreath, bottom left.

I've seen where some bloggers have already added the sashing to their completed blocks, and being the organized, stay ahead of the game, efficient person that I am, I think that's a very clever idea. But how can I come up with the perfect placement of every block until I have every block!! Believe me, if I had all those blocks connected, and got the last block, and thought it would look better in the middle of that quilt, I would take it all apart to put that block in the middle, so I'm forcing myself to wait until I have that last block done before I start sewing them all together.

Dog Name Update - I'm glad I'm not the one deciding that dog's name, you have made some great suggestions, thanks so much. As soon as my daughter has decided on a name, I'll be sure to let you know!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, thanks for stopping by,

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A Few Updates . . . . .

My Eventide is all done, I'll post the picture tomorrow, for Tuesday, Eventide update day!! I'm renaming mine, "Dancing with the Devil in the Pale Moonlight". We have at least two other finishes also, not only has Judith pieced her Eventide, it's quilted and Deb's is all pieced too.

Now that my sew along project is done, I'm playing catch up and finish up with some other projects .

Somehow I got 5 months behind on my Fat Quarter Shop 2010 Designer Mystery Block of the Month.

Initially, I wasn't using any of the blue fabric that was included with each block, but when my daughter was home, she thought this quilt would look cute hanging in her apartment, and she liked the blue, so it's back in. I'm so relieved, I was really stumped on what to do about the blue background in the tree block.

So far I have "tweaked" every block but one. The mitten block is exactly like the pattern, except I made mine a little shorter, to add a thin strip of background fabric to the top of the block. The sashing for the finishing kit is the same fabric as the mitten and I thought a little separation would be a good thing. I also changed up the fabric for the tree and the ornaments.

So now I'm only 2 months behind on the kits that have been mailed with only 2 more kits left for the whole project.

This cute quilt is still available at the Fat Quarter Shop, but I wouldn't wait much longer, I'm guessing it would be selling out pretty soon.

I finally learned how to make collages for my blog! Poor you, you'll have to put up with them all the time now.

Like this one, which I am naming "Ode to Reese's"

What's up with all the sizes of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups these days? I found 4 different sizes at one store, and that's not including my all time favorite, the Reese's Easter Egg. ( No Reese's Peanut Butter Cups were wasted in the making of this collage.)

And one last update, we have a new member of the family. . .

my daughter has spent the last several weeks searching shelters and dog adoption events for a dog, and this weekend she found her dog. He weighs around 10 pounds, is 6 months old, and my daughter was told he was a "chiweenie", that's a chihauhau dachshund mix. We don't see dogs like this where we live, but they seem to be pretty popular in California. This pup was rescued when he was just 3 months old from an over crowded shelter in Los Angeles County and has been living with its foster family, just waiting for my daughter to find him. He doesn't have a name yet, but he couldn't have a more loving home. Welcome little guy!

I can hardly wait to see him and Cooper together at Thanksgiving, I'm guessing what my daughter's dog lacks in size, he'll make up for in speed.

See ya tomorrow for the Eventide Sew Along Update!!

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Three Updates . . . .

I'm up to 451 half square triangle units for my Belle Meade project....woo hoo...I'll spare you the basket picture, but with 200 to go, I can already tell I won't be filling that basket. That basket is more like a 1200 hst basket, next time I'll go with a smaller basket, so it feels like I'm making progress, but the numbers don't lie, I am over 3/4th's the way to my goal.

I did my normal end of project sewing room clean-up this weekend and still had a little spare time to finish this.......

my Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Block of the Month block. I'm just one block behind now. But I was sort of glad I was behind on this project, it was nice to have a little something to work on and with so much going on right now, it's really nice to say I finished something.

Since I'm omitting the blue fabric from this project, I thought my blocks seemed a little heavy on the green. This pattern called for a green tree but I swapped it for the poinsettia print and think it's a good fit for what I've got going.

See what I mean about the green......

My next project is Root Beer Float, I'm hoping to actually make a block or two this week, instead of thinking about making a block or two.....

The pattern is by Hyacinth Quilt Designs.

I'm thinking of going with this size, 3 blocks by 3 blocks.

And I think I've even decided on my fabric combination....

Red stars for the blocks in the corners and center, using this combination of fabric.....

and green stars for the other 4 blocks......

and this fabric for the sashing, And for the cornerstones, definitely 4 patches in some red and green combination. The fabric is Olde World Style fabric by Monique Dillard for Maywood Studio.

So that's what I'm thinking, stay tuned for updates!

Thank you so much for your comments regarding my Mocha Trail flimsy, I like it better already. There's nothing like wrapping up a project, then hearing folks tell you how much they like it, to put it all in perspective! I think you're right, that quilt is a great size, and once it's quilted, it will look great on my red couch.

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Getting into the Spirit . . . .

I hope you had a great week, mine could not have been nicer.

Nothing beats spending time with family.

We cooked, ate, played, shopped and went to movies. The house seems so empty today, having my daughter home just brings this house to life. Cooper's been wandering around the house all day, wondering where those 4 extra hands went that petted him all weekend long.

We played a new game, Farkle.

It's fast paced and a nice combination of luck and strategy. The rules are easy with next to no learning curve. If you're looking for a new family game, give this one a try.

I had a list a mile long of things to do around the house today, but after not being in my sewing room for what seemed like forever, I decided I had earned a few hours and I took them.

I was wanting to feel like I accomplished something and am feeling the Christmas spirit, so I decided to work on a Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Block of the Month block. I had 3 to choose from.

Block Five - Peppermint Pinwheels, by Carrie Nelson called my name.

This block went together perfectly, the directions could not have been any simpler. Thanks Carrie! If you are waffling on joining this BOM, don't let your piecing skills be the reason you don't join. So far, all the blocks have been super easy to assemble, and I think cute as can be.

I'm trying to avoid putting any of the blue fabric from this project into my blocks.

Here are the fabrics that came with the kit, I like the fa la la fabric, but not the blue so much, so I made a few substitutions.

Ta da, 4 down, 2 blocks waiting their turn, and one probably in the mail as I type this blog. I hope to be all up to date on my blocks before the first of the year. What better month than December to work on a Christmas quilt.

We did a little shopping while my daughter was home,

and I picked up this pillow at Pottery Barn. I like to buy one new Christmas decoration each year. I usually try to get something after the holidays, on sale, but I saw this and thought it was a perfect match for my sofa.

I had seen this pillow in the Pottery Barn catalog, but it looks much better in person than in print. I didn't even notice the jingle bells on the pillow until I saw it in the store.

I'm not sure what type of needlework this is, but the detail is amazing.

It's nothing but decorating and sewing for me this week, I'm hoping for a happy drive down that Mocha Trail.

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Ho Ho Ho . . .

It's beginning to look a little like Christmas . . . .

Sometime earlier this summer, the Fat Quarter Shop started "jollily jabbering " about their 2010 Designer Mystery Block of the Month program using Kate Spain's Twelve Days of Christmas collection.

I was a little intrigued, looked the fabric collection over, and gave it some thought. Two things stopped me from signing right up.

First, I didn't like the "mystery" part of the BOM...I'm not one for surprises, I like a plan, and I like to stick to a plan. So signing up for a year of "surprises" did not appeal to my "I like order" personality. Even though their list of featured block designers was very very impressive, I still thought, "I don't think so"...

Second, the blue in the Kate Spain fabric collection did not appeal to me, at all. I'm funny with my blues, I generally like blue, but not light blues so much.

So June rolled around and bloggers started posting pictures of the June block. I thought it was cute, but it was no surprise, it was the block that the Fat Quarter Shop had on its site for the program. And it had a big chunk of that blue fabric right in the middle, I wasn't even tempted, even though the block was very cleverly designed.

So for July, another block and more posts by those Type A quilters who sign up for a block of the month, and then, actually make the block....that month!! It was an adorable Santa hat designed by Bonnie and Camille, another clever pattern, some blue, but not overly blue.

Then came August, I'm guessing you see where this is going, a Christmas wreath block, too adorable for words and NO blue....which got me to thinking....what if I made all the blocks, but omitted the blue, it's a Christmas quilt, it doesn't need blue, it needs red and green...

So I decided to live on the wild side and signed up. I figured even if the remaining 9 blocks were a bust, which I seriously doubted, the first three alone could make a really cute quilt.

So I got my first three blocks in the mail and here they are, sans the blue fabric...

Block One

designed by Gudrun Eria of GE Designs.

(I swapped out the blue fabric in the center present with the green, and changed the outer presents to cream and changed up the ribbon fabric some)

Block Three

designed by Sandy Gervais (no changes, I made this one exactly as called for in the pattern)

Block 2

designed by Bonnie and Camille

(I changed up the fabric for every piece of this pattern.)

So here are the first three blocks....all done and I think looking pretty good, even with no blue.

If you would like to know what the original blocks look like in comparison to mine, check out Sherri's blog, at A Quilting Life, she posted a picture of the first 4 blocks on her blog yesterday.

Some clever folks are adding the sashing from the finishing kit to their blocks as they go. I would do that, but the finishing kit has a blue border, and if I learned anything from A la Mode, it's that you don't put sashing on blocks until you know, with 100% certainty, what size your outer border will be, and my border will not be blue....

This family of fabric also has an adorable panel that I plan to incorporate into the backing for this quilt.

It's not too late to sign up for this BOM, you too could throw caution to the wind, accept that maybe surprises aren't all bad, and make any changes you want as you go!

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