The Little Red Hen

Twinkling Stars

I finished the binding on this quilt a few days ago. I was waiting for a good weather day for photos but it has been dreary and rainy everyday. I am tired of waiting and want to share this before the year is over. It is my last "finish" of 2011".

I started this quilt in September 2010.

As I said before while making it, I am thrilled with this quilt.

The finished quilt is 67 by 73 inches.
Here's a peek at the back and my photo helper.

I think it has found a new home. Or maybe it'll be a bed topper. Or maybe I'll just carry it from room to room with me!

You can see the rest of my 2011 finished projects here.

Hope you have a great New Year's Eve. We are having game night with some friends.

Warming Gifts

Here's the hat I knit for M for Christmas! He chose the pattern, Northern Lights, and blue and yellow (U of M colors) wool from my stash for the main colors. He told me to surprise him with the other colors. I ended up starting this about four times before getting it right. I cursed it for a while but I'm happy with the way it turned out. I'll also have to check what happened there where it looks like there is an orange stitch that should be green....  I didn't notice that until I was just looking at the picture on the screen.  I'll have to duplicate stitch over it in green. I must have been half asleep while knitting that part. Heck, I think I was half asleep while knitting the whole thing.

The rest of my holiday gift making was rather mundane like crew socks for the members of the family who wear sandals all winter.  Other gifts were knit and shared earlier in the year - potholders, mitts, and mittens. Oh, and I did photo calendars for the family again this year too.

Handmade Holiday - received

I like receiving handmade gifts as much as I like giving them.

This year, B's mom gave us some beautiful embroidered pillowcases. Just look at those pretty satin stitched leaves!

My grandmother used to keep me supplied with embroidered pillowcases but most of the ones she made for me are quite worn and tattered. It is nice to have some fresh cases made by B's mom.
She also knows that purple, green, and gold is my one of my favorite color combinations.

Aren't these pretty?

P got this cute beaded snowflake ornament from her cousin, F. She had mentioned when we decorated the tree that handmade ornaments were one of her favorite gifts to receive!

My sister made this soft striped scarf for D. I am sure it will help him stay warm this winter. He doesn't much like hats because they don't fit well over a pony tail so a scarf is good for him.

Little Pink Houses

We're enjoying our family time this week.

We've been basking in the glow of the tree,

and having lots to eat.

I'll pop in a little later and share a little bit of our handmade Christmas.

Flashback Friday

1969.  Hiking in southwest Virginia.

A Little BLing

D made us these tiny origami initial ornaments last year. I love them. He also made an "M" and a "P". I thought these two should be next to each other on the tree this year.

I'm enjoying a little quiet time and working on some secret knitting while the recipients are away. One of my projects is driving me a little nutty at the moment. Let's just say that I have started over FOUR times.

Quilt binding will come a little later when the secrets are wrapped.

The Feathered Vine

I don't know why I waited so long to quilt the border of this quilt.

It really wasn't hard. I got out Gwen's Quilting with Style book and refreshed my memory on the process. I first marked the vines and then the individual feathers. I use a silver colored pencil (berol verithin). The markings wear off as I work on the quilt and what ever is left will wash out.
When doing the actual quilting I started with the vine. I sewed the center vine line all the way around the quilt. Then I quilted one side of the feathers all the way around and next moved to the other side. I really tried to be relaxed and not in a hurry while quilting the feathers. I think that made all the difference. I was slow and careful and even managed to get some of the restitched areas (where you have to sew back over the original stitching to make the pattern continuous) stitched in the same holes as the original stitching. I'll have to remember this in the future. "It's not a race." "Take your time."

I wanted the feathers to stand out a bit so I put in some background stippling around the feathered vine.
I'm pretty pleased with it so far. I just need to bind, wash, and put it on the couch!

Hopefully we'll have a bright day for me to take finished pictures! It has been dreary and raining this week so my photos are not the best.

Winning Wednesday

Ho, ho, ho, we picked a winner for the fat quarter bundle from Pink Castle Fabrics.

Lisa Mather said...

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Doctor.
Doctor Who?

My kids like the show.

Lisa, I'll need your address so Brenda can send you a great bundle of fabric!

Monday

It was a slow and not very productive weekend here. We did get out for a bit of sunshine yesterday and found that the rest of the apples had fallen off the trees.

I ended the weekend by starting a new knit project.  It should be a quick knit.

There's still time to enter the fat quarter give away! You have until tomorrow night to think of a fun, clean joke and share it HERE.  We have really been enjoying all the jokes.

Star Crossed

As I have been making more tiny two inch star blocks I've been thinking about my "Twinkling Stars" quilt that I started LAST September. The stars in that quilt are three inch liberated stars.
Last February I quilted the main section of the quilt leaving a wide nine inch border unquilted. At the time I thought it needed a big feathered vine in it and was intimidated by the idea.

I have gotten the quilt out many times and thought about what I could quilt in there. I tried plain cross hatching, and seriously considered a closely stitched bishop's fan.

Still, I think it needs a big feathered vine.
So, I've told myself that this needs to be the next quilt I finish. You heard me so now the pressure is on. I need to mark it and get to quilting.
Really, what have I been waiting for? When I finish I can snuggle up under THIS!

Here's hoping I can get it done.

Also, I have really been enjoying the jokes! I knew I could count on you all for some fun new jokes to share with P. There's still time to enter the fat quarter give away.