Year in Review 2012

The year of 2012 has been a good one overall.  I have felt happy and more or less healthy even with the flu running wild in the school I work at.  I started back going to college in Aug. and only took 3 classes knowing I still had two kids at home with their own activities, a husband who works a lot of hours as a teacher as well as helping his grandfather on the family farm.  I also work a full time job, so I figured 3 classes was a good number to start with.  Little did I know that one of my classes would cause me such heartache, headache, and nearly an emotional breakdown worrying about what I would do if I failed the class.  It was needed for me to continue on with the elem. education degree and if I didn't pass, all I kept thinking was, "What will I do?".  Luckily, I did pass.  Two A's on two of my classes and the class I was stressing, well, lets just say I passed enough to not take the class again.  I am not happy with my grade considering how much work and time I put into it but I am happy I no longer have to worry about it.   Anyways.....because of these classes, I didn't get very many quilts accomplished, but the ones I did do I'm pretty happy with.

These are not in order of when they were made.

Geese in a Circle - This was a project I introduced to my quilt guild, asking the ladies to participate if they wanted to.  Each lady who wanted to do it was asked to make 4 sections a month for four months.  When we got together each month, you traded two of your 4 sections with someone else who was participating.  When the four months were up, we combined the 8 sections we kept with the 8 sections that were given to us.  As you can see, I made my sections in like pairs so it was more uniform, however some of the ladies did not do that and it made a different look, you can see the unmatched pair I received in the lower right corner.  I still love this quilt...what a great way to combine our skills and love of quilting.

This 12 months of Chrismtmas wall hanging was from Temecula Quilt Co.
 We call it 12 weeks of summer however and were given the blocks to complete over the summer break.  I love the way it looks.

This paper piece table runner was made for my quilt guild secret sister.  She collects tea cups and loves to read.  She is also a horse lover.  She loved getting the table runner in her Christmas gift on the last day we exchanged things for the year.  She was a fun secret sister to buy for. Pattern from http://www.fandominstitches.com

This table runner was made for my 18year old cousin who loves lime green.  I had problems buying lime green online (no quilt shops here in my town) but I think this table runner looks cool, fresh, and will grow up with her I hope.  She has it laying on the foot of her bed actually and Loved it.  It made me happy that she appreciated it so much.

This owl baby quilt is for my new niece.  She is such a little doll and I loved making this half square triangle quilt for her.

This table topper was a gift for one of my best friends who is also a cousin.  She is into western things so the table topper was made with fabric that had a tooled leather look and some fabric with barbed wire and subtle western motifs.  I really like it and so did she.

This quilt is also for another best friend.  It's a friendship star lap quilt and she loves it.   

And  finally this table topper is made for the teacher I work with.  She loves purple and said the little table topper would be cherished by her and her family.  Glad she liked it.

Thanks for visiting me and hope you had a wonderful 2012 and 2013 is even better.  Happy New Years Eve.

  Kristi 

Quilt Guild Secret Pal

This weekend our quilt guild is having their Christmas party.  All year I have participated in the secret pal gift exchange and we are giving our final gift on Sunday and guessing who our secret pal is.  I have really enjoyed all the wonderful gifts I have received.  I have also very much enjoyed the things I have given to my secret pal.  For her Christmas gift I have gotten her several small Christmas related items as well as making her this table runner. 
The table runner is paper pieced using a few blocks from the Harry Potter bookcase paper piece quilt (believe it or not).  My secret pal loves horses and collects tea cups.  I really hope she likes it.  Here is a picture of the full table topper as well as a few close ups.

Well....happy quilting!!!

So busy

The urge to quilt has been getting to me lately but I have been so busy with work, kids, husband, house and college classwork that I haven't had anytime to.  I have been able to work on a few hexies while laying in bed and I did avoid homework and housework for about 30 min. yesterday to do some machine quilting on a christmas present....but I have a quilting itch that won't go away.  You can bet your buttons I will be spending lots of time in my sewing room over Christmas break.

I have been buying some fabric though......some lovely stuff that I can't wait to play with.  Here are a few pictures.

 From Pink Castle Fabrics....here is the stash builder bundle for the month of Oct.  Suppose to be lime green but a lot of these have a mustard yellow ting to them and I don't really care for the shade that well....  but the lime green ones sure are pretty.

 Here is the gothic line...a few of each.....love them.  Didn't get to work with them at halloween but maybe for next halloween I will have something done with them.

 Here is a variety of things I picked up.  The raven fabric (can't remember the line) The grey print and the black print are from Parson's line and then the fat quarter bundle which I can't remember the name of at the moment (all of which I got from Intrepid Thread)

I already had the print fabric, which I am dying to cut into even though I don't know what quilt pattern I want to use.  But  I picked up the solids on the top of the bundle to add with the prints.  Think whatever I do will turn into a super cute quilt for me to snuggle under!!!  Love the foxes on the prints!!


**oh, on a side note....I have made a new friend which is saying a lot since I am friendly to everyone but have very few close friends.  Think she and I will be good friends for sometime which makes me happy!

not much going on

I haven't done a whole lot of sewing lately......I did make two pillow covers for my new sofa throw pillows and I sewed the binding on a wall hanging, now I just need to find time to finish sewing it on.
I have gotten some new fabric recently....pictures will be posted below.

What has kept me so occupied that I haven't had time to sew.....well a few things.  I started back to work after having the summer off.  I am a teacher's assistant and summer school started.  So, I have been working mornings the past two weeks helping with summer school.  Then school starts on Wed. so I've been gearing up to head back to work full time.
Also, I have started back to school to finish up my elem. education degree.  I am taking virtual classes so I can continue to work and be home with my family in the evenings.  I am taking 3 classes (9 credit hours) and I have to admit, I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment.  It has kept me from blogging much lately as well as kept me from sewing much and it's kept me from the last three quilt guild meetings because I am just trying to swim and not sink at the moment.
I am excited about going back......but it's taking some adjustments for me.

Anyways....wanted to post a quick little blog letting you know what's up in my little world!!!  Hope this blog finds you all doing well!

                    *just love this drawing of this little fox relaxing on a comfy cute chair**smile*

Okay....first here is some machine on the wall hanging I just put the binding on

                                 Secondly....here is some of my new fabric

 **All this yummy goodness is organic from the website FabricWorm....it's mainly all Fox Hollow but there are a few other prints thrown in that looked good with the super cute foxes!!!!  Love me some foxes....would really love to collect a bunch of fox prints and do a strictly FOX QUILT....that's my ultimate dream....lol*

**All this beautiful blue lovely fabric is from the Fabric Stash Club through the website Pink Castle Fabrics*

Quilt Retreat

My quilt guild just completed our week long sewing retreat.  We only go during the day, from 9am-9pm....you don't have to go all day or even every day for that matter but you are able to leave your machine and your projects set up all week so that when you come, all you have to do is sit, get busy and visit with some great ladies!!!

Here are a few photos of the retreat.  Our theme this year was "Quilting for the Soul"

Have to say something about the ladies in this quilt guild.  Look at us all....it's hard to believe that we are all part of a small rural school district.  Either we work there, have worked there or have spouses that work there or have worked there.  This isn't a Town guild, even though a lot of these ladies belong to that guild as well.  This is just strictly ladies who have a love of our K-12 rural school and a love of quilting.

These ladies have the biggest hearts of anyone I know and it is a pleasure to be a part of these group.

 _________________________________________________________________________________

Here are two of the projects I worked on while I was at retreat....doesn't look like I got much done but I did spend two of the days ripping three borders off a project I wasn't happy with.....not fun, I know!!!!  Also, I have two kids and a husband who wouldn't have been happy if I had went to the retreat everyday and stayed all day, so I had to pick and choose the days I went. 

 Christmas table runner....just the top.  The guild had this project last summer at our Christmas in July get together....I'm just now getting it finished.  lol   (my adorable daughter holding things up for me)

 This is the beginnings of my daughters quilt.....I think she is pretty happy with it so far.  And my husband said it was his favorite one so far I've done....that's saying a lot because normally he doesn't say much about my quilts.   lol

Thanks for stopping in.  Happy Friday to you!!!

loving the goodies!

I ran across a super deal online and had to pick up some goodies of my own for a project I have in mind.  I only got 1/4 of a yard on most of the fabrics (not fat quarters) because I knew I would be using smaller pieces and I wanted to get a lot of different patterns.  Here's what I got myself (the light green stuff is actual yardage for my stash, not this project).

 The first pic is all the stuff just randomly laid out....the second pic is just the 1/4 of a yard stuff for the project it was purchased for....I love the colors!

I also received some goodies from my secret pal in the quilt guild I belong to....love all the forth of july stuff she got me!!

she got me some wonderful fat quarters and a great little pattern.  She always does a good job with whatever she gets me!!  Such Fun!!

Sophia

My sister Shilo had photos taken of her little girl Sophia while she was laying on the quilt I made her.  I think these look beautiful...so vintage!
And Sophia is just a little cutie!!!!

Vacation but not much sewing

Well....I did work on my hexies a bit while I was on vacation but in all actuality, I got nothing done but sitting on the beach!  lol

Here's just a few pictures of my family and I along with my dad and his family on our vacation to South Padre Island, TX.

 Just me soaking up the sun .....then the next two pictures happened on the first full day on the beach!!

Jelly fish sting up my arm....ouch

 and dislocated my ring finger on my right hand while body surfing....double ouch!!!

But I still enjoyed the week on the beach!!!!!  Lovely weather too the whole time!

 My husband and I took our kids to a Marine animal touch tank center.....they didn't want to hold the blowfish but I did!!  It was so cute!

 The kids....these are my two kids sure did enjoy their first time seeing the ocean and riding the waves!!

 Here is the whole bunch....left to right....me, my husband and our two kids are in front of us, then my half brother Shawn, his mom Sayuri, in front of her is my half sister Sasha, and then my dad Stoney.  My kids and my dad's kids are about the same age and they all four had a blast together!!!!

 My daughter and I holding some birds....they were so cute!

 lol....my goofy husband....love him though!

 Here's my husband and myself body surfing on the waves....too much fun.

 Last day on the beach....beautiful skies.....  One last picture of my family!

 And one last picture on the beach of my dad's family!!

Sorry I'm pushing my pictures on you....hope you enjoyed.  *smile*  

Have a great 4th of July!!!!