A Festival for Quilters

I couldn't resist joining the party over at Amy's Creative Side. It's time for Bloggers' Quilt Festival. What a treat to see so many wonderful quilts. 

Welcome to my world. If you are a first time visitor I'll clue you in...I'm a batikaholic. I want to share two of the first batik quilts I started years ago...and just finished this summer. 

"Spring" - 63 x 63

Maybe this quilt looks a little familiar. It was a Moda U pattern from 2006-2007.  I finished the top in 2007 but it has been patiently waiting for quilting...and thanks to the 2011 UFO Challenge hosted by Judy at Patchwork Times...it finally happened.  

Here's a peak at the backside for a better look at the quilting.

These batiks are from Holly Taylor of Moda and I had enough left to start a second Moda U quilt, Selvages, in 2008. Kind of like potato chips...one was not enough.

"Spring's Return" -  84 x 98

Time for me to get back to looking at all the quilts on display at the Bloggers' Quilt Festival ...glad you stopped by for a visit.

Working with Santa

I woke up to a white winter land so it seems appropriate to start thinking about Christmas.

Canyon Santa is complete.

The series of Southwestern Santas is done.

Another Week to Tackle

I am tackling the setting triangles for a BOM from Shannon at Pieceful Kwilter.

But first I finished the 10th Block.

A look at my first audition for setting triangles...

Pretty, but I think the green triangles don't have enough contrast.

This is much better.

I might try another green...still auditioning.

This week I am going to start a new project. It's been awhile since I've done that.

It's time for my Breakfast Club gathering on Thursday. I haven't been the best participant the last few months...the night before many of these dates have been unusually difficult nights. In July, Forrest went missing the night before that date. In September my husband felt very ill the night before...so instead of trying to join in on the official class pattern I have decided to take on a strip pattern I already have. This is from the Cozy Quilt Designs book, "Strip Clubbing." I wanted to use some of my Hoffman Bali pops that have been sitting around for years...from the first release of Bali pops.

This pattern looks Southwestern to me so I pulled colors with that look in mind.

The dark teal will be the small pinwheel color.

Working on the Weekend

I did get some work done on quilt projects...it's been awhile since that has happened. 

My Henrietta Whiskers quilt is coming right along. Time to stitch around the wool appliques on the top and bottom borders...then it will be ready to quilt! Though I didn't get it done in time to hang this fall, it sure will be pretty for next year. I would never have made this quilt if it hadn't been for the generous gift Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs gave to the blogging community. It's really been fun to participate and see how other quilters treated the design. It was my first time working with wool applique. I thought it was great...of course I  did...because hand-dyed wool is very expensive...that's just what I need...something else to collect.

I have an official finish. I just finished stitching the binding on this beauty. The design probably looks very familiar. It's from Kim Brackett's first book, "Scrap-Basket Surprises." The design is Snail Takes a Detour. All these batiks were in my stash...it's so important to have a well-stocked stash. I highly recommend this pattern...no points to match up! It went very quickly. The saw-tooth border was my addition...I just have to do something with all those scrap pieces trimmed from the stitch-and-flip method to make the angles...it's a natural half-square triangle begging to be made and used.

SSShhh...Sleeping in the Studio

It is such a dreary day...low clouds blocking all sunlight...a constant light drizzle. One of those days that is the same dull gray color all day. Good weather for making spooky movies. (I ate some Halloween candy to celebrate the spooky mood.) Not so good for people walking...but...the weather is always perfect for dog walking.

After the walk comes puppy nap time.

Tonka and Jenny laying behind my chair as I peck away on the computer. 

We got a call last night that Forrest had been spotted by some boys. We looked for hours but didn't find him. The rainy weather isn't helping the search. If it is Forrest, he is getting closer to home.

X-Stitch Santa Finish

Another cross stitch Santa ornament ready to go for Christmas...I hear it's less than 70 days away!

They looks so cute when they are trimmed. I have one more Santa ornament in the Southwest Santa Series.

Progress with Henrietta

I'm getting closer...

Next will be some black birds on the border.