Valentine Quilt....

Well, I finally finished the UFO "Heart Crazies" that I bought as a kit years ago.....This is the pattern.

I'm not into the folksy kind of quilts, so I wouldn't have bought the pattern based on the picture.  But it was already made up at Quiltique and turned out quilt nice, I thought, so I bought it.  The pattern is from Buggy Barn.

Here is my finished quilt top....

And an up close....

I had already purchased the backing, binding, and border fabrics so this quilt was essentially FREE!!  I'm going to have it quilted by the quilter who did the one in the LQS....Hopefully we can both recall how the first one was quilted since I want it done just the same!!!

I didn't get much sewing done because of Jamie and Claire (Outlander series....).  And we went on a Dam Tour Wednesday....I'm going to post some great pics of that tomorrow!!!  It was pretty Dam awesome!

After Christmas Sale at Quiltique...

10 fat quarters for $10.  Seriously.  End of bolt fat quarters (aka....clearance), but still....so I bought 30 that I thought screamed "modern" and some Kona solids to match at our new Hobby Lobby.

 And some aqua/lime fat quarters....

I usually don't show my purchases because I'm a closeted hoarder of fabric....but aren't they cute?  I'm off to finish my Valentine quilt top and then maybe move on to something "modern".....LOL!

Happy Holidays...

Hopefully I'll get in some sewing today, but this morning started with decaf tea and pizzelles...

Grandma came over and Ryan opened his presents.  Santa still comes to visit here so there were a lot of presents for him to open...Buddy got a new toy and I'll make him a small braided pull toy from some jelly roll strips later today.  He has such a small mouth that he needs a little, soft pull toy!  Plus he is old came from a hard life before our house....he doesn't have as many teeth as he should.  But he is happy to be here and he is loving all the attention he gets during Winter Break!

Happy Holidays to you and your families....Enjoy!

Buggy Barn "Heart Crazies"

Let me tell you....those ladies at Buggy Barn are just amazing!! If you haven't made a quilt using the Buggy Barn method, give it a try! It is kind of like stack, whack, shuffle and sew....but a whole new level. You usually layer about 10 (or more) layers of fabric and lay a freezer paper pattern on top with the design penciled in (by you....from the template they provide).

Then you cut, shuffle, shuffle again and start sewing.

You will get the wonky, modern look of something that is either free form or paper pieced...but without all the hassle. There is a little trimming involved after each bit of sewing, but very little fabric is wasted.

Then I trimmed to a consistent size...9" x 14"....Tada....

I bought this kit at Quiltique (years ago) and am just getting around to sewing it together. It need to hang in the dining room after Christmas so I'd better get on it! It will really be more like Feb/March before it gets quilted, I'd imagine. Sadly, I can't really remember if there was an inner border, then an outer border?  Anyhow, I'll post a pic once the top is completed...however that turns out!  Tonight I'm going to put all the blocks on my design floor and pin the top....;-D  More pics tomorrow....

Quilts of Christmas Past...

This Grinch quilt was made for my son when he was about 4 years old.  There is a matching one just like it for my daughter...maybe the border is a little different.  Since I'm lacking in anything really good to show you, this will have to do...

It was made from the Grinch line of fabric that Jo-Ann's sold in the early 2000-ish years.  I had acquired so much fabric (like 30-40 yards of it) intending to make a few more quilts, but I never got around to it.  I gave all the fabric away to someone on one of my quilting forums.  I hope she made something nice with it....Anyhow, we got a new camera (ours was dying and taking worse pictures every day).  Hopefully, you all will get to see the actual colors that my quilts are....not the darker colors that were coming up lately!  Anyhow, this was a test....

Caffeine is a gateway drug....

for me.  My morning coffee leads me to something sweet, like a doughnut, then some chocolate, then an afternoon Coke, some more chocolate, and eventually an evening cup of coffee (which doesn't keep me awake...it just keeps me alive).  If I can't get a caffeine fix, I usually go for some form of sugar to try to perk me up....Nonetheless, I'm overweight.   I need to lose some weight in the New Year, so I'm giving up caffeine--and hopefully all the other sugary items that go with my caffeine addiction.  It isn't pretty, but I'm getting it done.  I have 16 days of Winter Break to straighten up before I have to rise and shine at 5am for school.  ;-D  So that is my major project right now....

Yesterday I got a surprise in the mail from the UK.  Sue over at Quilt Times sent me a little mug rug for participating in the Christmas Quilt Along this fall.  Isn't it wonderful?

I will use it to set my decaf Earl Gray tea on this morning....with a little honey and milk, just like "across the pond"--isn't that what we should say???  Thank you Sue!  I've never gotten a quilty gift in the mail....how exciting!!!  And I'm definitely in for the Christmas Quilt along this coming year....all year long.  Do I use the same button?  I should go back and re-read that post on your blog ;-)

For anyone who is wondering....I got a lot of Christmas stuff done because of the quilt along.  I made and quilted the tree skirt, and did the big Christmas quilt.  I honestly never would have found the time if I didn't have the CQA to motivate me. 

I'm working on a Buggy Barn quilt right now....Here is a sneak peek, but I'll do a post on it tomorrow. 
Happy Quilting!!

Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild?? Yes!!!

Well look at what I found?  I've been kicking around the idea of trying to get a MQG started here in Vegas...and it turns out someone else had the same idea!!!  Yeah...The first meeting will be Jan 27th at Quiltique.  Hmmmm....I want to branch out in to to some more modern stuff.  This is the push I need!!!

I'm so happy right now.  Like Santa actually exists....and wants us to have a MQG in Vegas ;-D

This did involve the purchase of a bit of fabric.....but I'm sure you knew that already!!!

Lucky Stars quilts....

This pattern is called Lucky Stars, by Atkinson Designs.  I love how it turns out...and it pretty quick to boot!  I've made it in two colorways....one patriotic for my nephew in CA.  And then my Christmas quilt this year.  Both are made from vintage shirts--upcycled shirts???  LOL....

Though it doesn't look it from the pattern pic, it really is quite nice for a boy's quilt.  It is made with the stitch/flip method for the triangles so there is a little waste...but it is a good beginner's quilt.  Anyhow, we've been so busy around our house lately that I haven't done any sewing or blog posting!  I'll work to improve, I promise...hopefully!!  Happy sewing...