Excitement in the air

Well Christmas has come and passed us by, I was very blessed to finally be well, paint a nutcracker for the babysitter, make a pillow case for one of my daughter's friends, and get my shopping done by the eleventh hour. My husband, who is wonderful gave me a new serger sewing machine, a new quilt book, and Santa even put some fat quarters and a pattern in my stocking :-)! The the book is Fancy to Frugal Authentic Quilt Patterns from the ’30s by Kay Connors, Karen Earlywine.
I loved their first book "Link to the 30's". I really love the cover quilt block on the "Fancy to Frugal" book, it got me re-inspired me to make the quilt "Rosettes" by Fig Tree and Co. I wanted to make this out of 30's prints and use a blue background (a big stretch for me) So i decided to start cutting out the quilt, wow my hand hurts after cutting 880 2"squares, but I am still excited to start sewing. I hope to have some pictures soon, maybe I can get luck and finish the top this week since I took the week off of work. Wish me luck and I promise to have pictures soon. By the way, Merry Belated Christmas, I hope it was good for you all.

Bad Month for Me

Sorry y'all I have really been away from blog land for too long. December has been a month of illness, unexpected surgeries, snow, and killer schedules at work. I have not been able to do much at all. Here we are at 3 days to Christmas and I am still trying to shop. I have my girls finished, but everyone else in my family may get IOUs. I really hope that the new year will bring health and a moment to breathe. I am sorry again to leave y'all empty. I hope you all have a blessed Merry Christmas and remember that even through the stress of life, we should rejoice for the savior has been born to save us all. That in itself is the best gift of Christmas!


Love, Angie

Charm Square Quilt A Long Update

So I finally got to start my Charm pack quilt a long by KarrieLyne on Freckled Whimsy.


So I started with an "Oh Cherry Oh" layer cake by Me and My Sister for Moda. I love this line, I made my chubby chicks quilt, and I have some of this in my stash that I am not sure I want to use....well, ever! LOL


So that layer cake turned into this...

And then all of those lovely blocks turned into 25 of these beauties!


And then there was time to play with the layout. (there are like a million different layouts)



This is the one layout, and I really am partial to this layout.

it still needs 2 borders and to be sewn together, but I love the pretty colors. What do you all think?

If you look near the left bottom corner of my layout pic, you will see my tuxedo cat Abby trying to sneak in the pic...LOL If it isn't a cat than it is a little person!

American Glory

American Glory
Originally uploaded by lovesewspecial

I finished this a few weeks ago, snapped a few photos and then realized that my SD card was not in my camera. Thanks to my hubby who got them on my card again for me. I found this pattern on Moda Bake Shop. It was fast and simple. I even finished it with some simple quilting as well. I would love to make another one for myself as this one went to a dear friend.




I think this would also be cute to make into a pastel version for a baby girl or boy. I hope you like!

Early Christmas Present

christmas early
Originally uploaded by lovesewspecial

I was sooo super excited to learn that I recently won a Charm Pack of 12 days of Christmas from none other than Ms. Kate Spain herself on her blog giveaway.
I have recently fallen in love with her fabric lines lately. I made a perfect 10 quilt in the 12 days of Christmas line, and I have a layer cake of Fandango waiting to make a pinwheel quilt out of on my cutting table now. I would love some Verna, but I missed that one. So it came Friday, all wrapped in pretty red paper with a fun note. I was so excited my husband was laughing at me for squealing.... now what to make with this beautiful charm pack???

Would Anyone like some Bliss??

See the stack of Fat Quarters on the Right..... little blue bell is giving away that entire stack to one lucky winner. I am secretly hoping that I win, but I wanted to give you all a chance as well....please share with me if you win..... checkout her blog at here. You can also checkout her other site, talk about fabric while you are there


Goodluck!
Angie

I haven't forgotten you...

I haven't forgot all my friends in blogland. This past month has been unusually busy. It is nearing an end, and I am thankful to say that I had a super long weekend, but some time to sew.....I worked on my "Plan C" schnibbles, "What did you Call me" by the wooden bear, and designing my fandango P.S.I Quilt Pinwheel sampler quilt.....Oh if I didn't have to return to work tomorrow the things I could get done.... I promise pics coming soon....

Sew Love,
Angie

Awesome Giveaway!

here is a wonderful giveaway from some of my favorite pattern makers......The quilted fish

http://thequiltedfish.typepad.com/the-quilted-fish/atom.xml

Go visit and Goodluck!

Perfect 10 Christmas Quilt

Perfect 10 Christmas Quilt
Originally uploaded by lovesewspecial

This is my "Perfect 10" 12 days of Christmas by Kate Spain for Moda Quilt. I just fell in love with this line and I really like how it came together in the end. I was a bit worried about it when I was looking at it on the design board.

The pattern is by swirlygirldesigns and I was able to cut, layout, piece, and iron this quilt in less than 6 hours. Gotta love that!
I also love the swirly girls. I know them both well and can not wait to show this to them this weekend hopefully!



Now, what to do about the quilting? I am trying to decide if I want to quilt it myself or send it to a long arm quilter. Hmm....

BTW: I showed it to my hubby in the middle of the process and he states..."It confuses me." and then a few minutes later, "You are going to finish a Christmas quilt before the middle of December? Are you okay?"

Gotta feel the love. I think it is beautiful, now keep it for my sofa, or do I give it as a Christmas gift???....hmmm...

Happy Labor Day everyone!
Love,
Angie

Another Chance to Win an Accuquilt GO!

Okay, Here is yet another chance to win an Accuquilt Go! Cutting System.


This time it is at Heather's blog.... a la mode fabric! If you have never been to her blog before, not only is giving away the hottest cutting machine in quilting, she also has some wonderful tutorials and beautiful inspiration. I love her sewn Cathedral window tutorial. I want to make me one of those....Good Luck...I want to win one too.....

Wanna Win an Accuquilt GO! ?

One of my favorite blogs, as you all know is KarrieLyn's blog Freckled Whimsy. Well, she has the most awesome giveaway right now.....an Accuquilt GO! cutting system, and 3 die sets. WHOA!!! Maybe I should keep this a secret, because I really want to win, Please, please, Please pick me lucky blog along fairy! Go to KarrieLyn's blog and read all the instructions, good luck...if you win can I share with you?

Secret Revealed

pillow front
Originally uploaded by lovesewspecial

The circle of flying geese block that I made last week, now has a new home. I turned it into a pillow and gave it to my intern today. Bailey's last day with us at work was today. :-( I was very sad by this as she has been a wonderful intern.Since she is a newlywed, has a new apartment, and new beginnings, I wanted to give her something to remember us by, but would also be extremely useful...I hoped she would like it, as she is secretly an Etsy junkie :-).

I was inspired to make this block when I saw it in KarrieLynn's pinwheel quilt at freckledwhimsy.com. I love it, and can not wait to make more of these beautiful blocks. The color inspiration came from Bailey herself, as her wedding colors were green, yellow and pink. She is in love with the color pink, and I can't say that i blame her.

She absolutely loved the pillow (my heart jumped for joy). I even made the meaning symbolic to her life at this moment. It was a joy to watch her grow, and I know she will make a wonderful therapist. We had a lot in common, and it was a thrill to get to know her. You all may hear more about her in the future as she has confessed that she wants to learn a hobby, and sewing is one of her interests! I love this!! My grandmother is above smiling as we speak.


As far as other sewing goes this week, I have not been about to get in the sewing mode much this week. My oldest daughter Megan turned 3, and that has preoccupied my time.

I was able to cut out my Christmas quilt. It is a pattern by Swirly Girl Designs called Perfect Ten, and I am using Kate Spain's 12 days of Christmas fabric. I just love her fabrics and can not wait to get my hands on Fandango.

Well, I believe I have rambled on too much.
Happy sewing and Many blessings

Angie

Secret

I finally got to do some sewing this evening. This is a secret gift that I will be revealing here in the next couple weeks. I do not want to spoil the surprise. I believe it is called the color wheel, and I think I will be making more of these blocks. Fast and Fun. I first saw this block in Karrielynn's pinwheel quilt on her blog freckled whimsy. I then found it at the Sometimes crafter, with a link to the pattern here. There is a wonderful tutorial of this block at the sometimes crafter's blog. It is paper pieced and I really enjoyed making it. What do you think?

I also wanted to update you with my latest picture of my crazymomquilts quilt along. This is a picture of what it looked like at the end of week 6. I am currently trying to finish week 7. I know I am behind, but this quilt got to be a challenge real fast. I will complete it though. I can't wait to see what it will look like!

For now though, I am heading to bed...Good Night Moon!

Can you Help A little boy?

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a huge heart for helping people, especially people with diseases and physical disorders. I especially have a real soft spot for people fighting cancer. Some of my Recreation Therapy career has been spent in Oncology/ Hematology.

So I was reading my blogs this morning, and Rostitchery's blog caught my eye and tugged on my heart. Please go the her blog, read Hunter's story and help in any way possible. If we all work together we can beat this awful cancer, even in someone as young as Hunter.

Rostitchery is selling lots of sewing and knitting books to help out Hunter. There are some wonderful books on her page. Maybe you will find one that you like.....prayers to you and your family Hunter! You can beat this!

Man is it Hot!

Well unfortunately my past two weeks have been a bit on the dry side for sewing and quilting. it has been too hot, and since my husband and I remodeled our garage to be the multipurpose room, I have not been able to get out there and sew as there is no air conditioning yet. I am hoping to get caught up on my Crazymomquilts quiltalong, and start my freckled whimsy quiltalong. Maybe tonight.... cross your fingers maybe pictures will be up tomorrow! By the way did I mention that 100+ is way too hot for me....

Okay so I am a slogger!

Happy Fourth of July Weekend everyone!

I know that I have been a slogger (slacking blogger) as my friends like to call them. I have been ill with a respiratory infection, and unfortunately unable to take meds since I am nursing my youngest daughter. Oh well, hopefully I can really kick it on this three day weekend.

Today was a wonderful day in that it was not 100 degrees and I was able to get some sewing done. I finished my quilt along with crazymomquilts for week #4.


So far I am loving all the colors and believe it or not my block ended up being 20 1/2 inches wide! YAY! I did it. I feel like I should get a ribbon or something :-)

I also got some more sashing done on my oldest daughter, Megan's Topsy Turvy Quilt by Kariepatch designs. I have two more sides of sashing left to sew before I can sew the rows together. There are 77 blocks in this quilt (70 for the quilt, and 7 for the matching valance). So far I have 90 different fabrics in this quilt, 89 of them are batiks. I hope it turns out as beautiful as I am imagining it. I will have more pictures to come when I have the sashing completely sewn on.

I also last weekend was able to start my Baby Jane, It is a rainbow Batik baby Jane and I am doing it as a BOM with Twiddletails. So far I have A1 and A2 complete.











A2 is a little rough around the edges, but I will keep it this way and call it a learning block!


Also this week I came across a strange inspiration...
These colorful onesies of Julia's and this eggplant quilt I found on flicker, what do you think a log cabin as shown or a spiderweb quilt? All my friends will tease me, because I do love me some purple. Hmmm thoughts to ponder....

I hope to get some more sewing done this weekend, but I better get the rest of the laundry done as well. Blessings to all of you who are traveling, and God Bless America! Enjoy the long weekend.

Love,
Angie

Yummy NEW UFO's

So are you asking yourself what a UFO is? Well it is an unfinished object. I don't know how many of you feel like this but I just love to put the fabric together for new projects. My start of this blog was to give me even more motivation to continuously work on and complete my UFO's. Well, I started two new ones this week. The first was because I had purchased this yummy brown fabric

by Michael Miller at my local quilt store Quilter's Corner. The fabric has been sitting out and talking to me for two weeks now....I happened to flip through my quilt pattern binder, and found a great pattern called French Garden by Swirly Girls Designs. Perfect! I started it this week. I can't wait to show you my progress.

I also this week decided to join my first blog quilt along with Crazy Mom Quilts. I cheated alittle and bought already cut 2 1/2" strips. Here is my color palate for Amanda's quilt. I cannot wait to get sewing on this one. This is my first time using hand dyed fabrics.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and some great time sewing this week.

Love,
Angie

My Quilts of 2009

I thought I would share my quilts of 2009...
Cherry Chubby Chicks,
Pattern "Chubby Chicks by Black Mountain Quilts


And an up close pic of the chicks...

My Charming Christmas Log Cabin...This was my mom's Christmas present.



It was my first quilt that I did a scalloped edge on...



My star quilt....which was my mother-in-law's Christmas present....



And a few UFO's
"Hearts, Hearts, Hearts!" by Karen Dumont of kariepatch designs

I know there are a few more, I just can't seem to find the pictures of them.
Hopefully, I will find them soon.


Love, Angie

Topsy Turvey Me

Well I am super excited to share pictures of Julia's Dedication gown.
We won't discuss that I started it somewhere around Midnight and finished at almost 6am. Julia got to wear it at 9:30am....but I was thankful for an easy pattern, and a calm confidence that must have come only from god.

I have also been working on Megan's "big sis quilt' Topsy Turvy Turtles by Kariepatch designs.
So far, I have the butterfly antenna's and the rest of the sashing borders to add to the blocks. I'm using batiks mainly from my fabric stash. so far I have counted 89 different batiks and then the white on white fabric for my background. This picture really doesn't do these blocks much justice. I can't wait to start sewing these into rows.


Blessings,
Angie

Welcome to my blog :-) ! I decided to start writing my own blog to share all my works in progress as well as to help hold myself accountable to finishing some of my UFO's (Unfinished Objects). My most exciting news is that my husband and I recently turned our two car garage into a multipurpose family room. I have my own sewing studio now and he has room to work on his radio control cars. We did this in preparation for the birth of our second daughter this past March. I have finally moved everything into my new space, and can gratefully say that it is how I like. But you know with all good things, it will need some tweaking as I go. I will post pictures soon, but it is wonderful to be able to leave my sewing machines up, instead of packing them away all the time. Well, I promise to get pictures up soon. I am currently working on a Topsy Turvy Turtle quilt by Kariepatch designs for my daughter Megan, and a christening dress for Julia's dedication on Mother's day. Pictures to come! Blessings and Enjoy your day!