Applique Table Runner

My Sister made this table runner.  All hand applique.  Isn't it pretty?!

I filled in the background with pebbling and then did some custom designs in the patchwork areas. 

Center square.  I believe she said that she is going to do some more hand stitching around the flowers yet.  Can't wait to see it all finished and on your dining room table! 

And here is the back. 

Conversation Piece

Norene put this little quilt together using up random blocks and bits leftover from other quilts.  It's like a little collage of all the quilts she's made in the last year--quite a conversation piece!

She let me go a little haywire quilting random things in each section.  I was having lots of fun trying out new designs and practicing different patterns. 

This double heart design was pretty fun to do.  A lot of the designs I used were from the book Quilting Inside the Lines by Pam Clarke.  I also get inspiration from Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting Blog. 

Blog Catch Up

Well, despite my lack of blog posts lately, I have been busy quilting.  I will attempt to get the blog caught up this week.  Here are a couple quilts that I've worked on recently. 

This is Gina's flannel quilt.  You might think that quilting straight lines would be super easy, but this one was a doozie for me!  Notice the pointed edges.  I had to make sure that all those points were aligned just right.  Then I rotated the quilt and put it back on to do the vertical lines. 

Good luck binding this one Gina! 

Here's another tractor/farm quilt.  This one has all the farm critters on it!  Puppies, kitties, horses, chickens, cows...

A large swirl is what I quilted it with.

Here's a shot of the center panel.  I just love it!  That big white barn reminds me of the one at my Grandparent's house. 

And in other news, I have decided not to return to my job from maternity leave, so I am now officially a full-time stay-at-home Mom and Longarm quilter!!  I think I am going to love it!  Also, today is my Birthday.  Yes, on St. Patty's Day.  I am not too excited about it.  I'm now officially in my thirties.  UGH. 

 

Embroidered Tractors

Here is another quilting finish- Embroidered Tractors! I did some custom quilting in each block.

Each tractor was outlined along with a couple rounds in the wheels and a little bit inside the tractor body.  But the background for each block is different. 

I made the ground different from the sky and added a bit of exhaust on a few.

And some tractor tire treads for the borders make it complete!

Wonk.

I finally got this quilt of my sisters quilted.  I've only had it in my possession for a couple years.  (She was in no hurry)  :)

I kept the quilting fairly simple with swirls and a few loops.  And a star or two. 

I used gray Aurifil thread.  It blends in really well in the white spots and fades into the darker areas.  Thanks for being super patient with me on this one Sister!

Christmas Log Cabin

Here is my Mom's quilt--this Christmas log cabin quilt.  She made this quilt using mostly leftover scraps that were going to be tossed!  Love it!  I seem to have inherited my need to use every possible morsel of fabric from her :)

She requested holly leaves for the quilting.  The variegated holiday thread was the perfect choice.

Here is the back of the quilt.  Gotta love a solid back!

Alphabet Wallhanging

I finally completed one of my own projects!  This alphabet quilt has been months in the making.  I love how this wall hanging turned out!  However, I cannot take credit for this design- the inspiration was discovered here on Flicker.  This little quilt was a lot of work!  Usually you can get into a rhythm sewing identical blocks together--not with this project!  Each letter block took some time figuring out just how to sew together. 

Each letter is 4 inches tall.  This will hang in our little guy's room, once I find a nail or two!  Linking this up to Megan's Sew Modern Monday=== Check it out!

Another Embroidered Quilt

I am managing to get in some longarming time- a little each day during naptimes and Daddy-time.

Here's my latest quilting finish.  This quilt was pieced by Carol and hand embroidered by her husband!  The hand work helps with his arthritis- he does a really nice job!

Some custom work in each block.  I outlined the embroidery and added a few more flowers.

Last Quilt of 2011

Well, I have yet to turn on any type of sewing machine so far this year, and have barely set foot in the basement other than to fetch something from the freezer.  But I think I have a good excuse--I just had a baby! 

So this was my last big quilting finish of the year-meaning I quilted it about a month ago... It was pieced by Norene as a Christmas gift.  This quilt made my feet swell and my back ache something terrible--but I think it turned out great!

Hooked feather borders, Stitch in the ditch along the smaller border...

...and a free-motion filler in the middle.  See how I copied the red flower motif that is in the dark brown squares on the left?  I also threw in some feathers, double loop-D-loops, and lots of swirls.

Being my last quilt I quilted for the year- my total was 47!  I know I was a little short of my goal of a quilt a week, but I really lost steam the second half of my pregnancy and couldn't tolerate being on my feet for very long.  BUT that being said, I did actually have over 52 total quilts in my possession to be quilted, so I consider that a success!

  Hmmm...how many will 2012 bring??

Look Who's Here!!

Well, he arrived a couple weeks earlier than expected and in a more dramatic way than anticipated- but little Grahm Matthew is here!  We are just bursting with pride of our little man and are pretty sure that he is the cutest baby ever born! 

Grahm Matthew

born 1-3-12

6 lbs 15 oz.

19 inches long