Wow! It sure has been a while since I posted.  Have been really busy. We made our final move to New Mexico and finally have my new sewing room set up to the point I can do some free motion quilting on a quilt that I hope to have completed by Christmas.  I am really enjoying the new room.  I have indoor outdoor carpet and the room is all finished.  This is a big change from my concrete floor basement with stud walls that was my last sewing space.  The best change is that I have 2 sky lights and a window that looks over the mountains.  This is where I got the name for my blog.
This is a picture of what I have done so far on the free motion quilting.  Hope you are all enjoying your preparations for the holidays.

Finally making some progress

I know it has been a great while since I have posted.  This blog is about quilting and I just haven't done anything quilt related.  Oh I guess I did sell some quilt books and fabrics at my garage sale but that didn't seem very interesting, I have finally pinned a quilt and have it ready for quilting.  Hopefully will get to it soon.  I am making a back for the plus quilt but I thought I would quilt this one first for some practice before I start on the plus quilt.  I saw some beautiful quilting on a blog called Quilts of a Feather  She did some really cool paisley designs and I would so love to learn how to sew that design.  I have always been a fan of paisley.  Will have to see if I can learn that and use it on this quilt.  I have one picture of it on the design wall and another on the table all pinned and ready to quilt.  This pattern was from a tutorial by Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company  The contrast on my background square if very subtle.  It does look better in person than in the pictures.

Squirrels

We enjoy watching the squirrels in our back yard.  Yesterday morning I looked out and one squirrel was slumped over a branch and another was laying on a branch below it.  I thought the one over the branch was dead.  It didn't move for a long time.  I got out the camera, took the screen off and opened the window to take pictures and still no movement.  Maybe 20 minutes after I first noticed it they both finally woke up and ran off.  Strangest thing I have seen them do yet.  It was quite interesting.  

Here are the pics.

1 Hour Basket

Since I have been doing more starting than finishing of anything lately I thought I would jump on the band wagon and make the 1 Hour Basket that everyone is talking and blogging about.  Here is the link to the tutorial   1 Hour Basket


Here are a couple of pictures of the basket I made.

I am sure I will make more of these in the future.  So many ideas floating around in my head.  The would be great for managing fabric scraps.

Plus Quilt

I have been wanting to make a plus quilt for some time.  Every time I looked at the internet for ideas there were so many I had a hard time choosing.  I started one with the small plus in darker fabrics with the low volume background and I really like it.  Then I decided I wanted to do one with just the pluses and no background so I started one of those too.  Hopefully I will finish both of these as they are really cute.

Here are pictures of what I have finished on each of them.  The first one I just put the elephants in there just playing around but I kind of like them in there so they just might stay.

Making Progress at a turtles pace.

I have finished the frog and turtle blocks for the Elephants on Parade.  They are so stinkin' cute.  I know it is not a finished quilt but sometimes in life I feel even getting a block or two done in an accomplishment.

Elephants on Parade

Obviously I am a better starter than a finisher.  I have finally started on my version of Lorna's Elephants on Parade.  I think it is going to be just adorable.
Here are the first two larger elephants.

I will post more as I get them completed.

Spring!

This is the prettiest reminder of spring that I have come across this year.
It is just outside a window in our our home office and we are able to look right down onto the nest.  It will be fun to watch the progress.

It's been a while

Not a whole lot of sewing going on right now.  I have started a class on sock knitting and am really enjoying it.  I have come to the conclusion however that I can just about make a quilt in the time it takes me to make a sock.  and them when I have one made I have to make another one to make the first one worthwhile.  I am not sure I will be a sock knitter.  But at least when I am finished I will know that I could be if I wanted to be.  I have scratched that itch and can move forward.

This is a picture of the quilt I have been working on.  The pattern if from a tutorial by Jenny Doan from The Missouri Quilt Company.  She does such lovely tutorials and I just love their website.  A friend and I went to see the stores one day and it was really nice to see so much fabric in one place.  It is a really small town and they have like 5 stores.  I wish I had more contrast in the background squares in my quilt but have decided it is worth finishing anyway.  It does look better in person than in the pictures.  I an still trying to decide on the borders.

Pink and Grey Quilt

Guild Block of the Month

Well the guild block of the month was a huge turnout.  We had 17 women submit blocks.  I was really excited to see this many participants.  I really hope this keeps up all year.  This was probably a challenging block since it was paper pieced.  The February block it traditionally pieced so there may be more participants.  I have made three so far.  It's kind of hard to lose the blocks but it is also very exciting to see someone win such a nice set of blocks.  Should make a beautiful quilt.
This is the third block I made.

February block for Guild Challenge

I have finished two blocks for the February guild challenge.  This block was a lot quicker than the paper pieced one from last month.  I made two because they were easier.  Well, that was one reason I made two.  Actually I didn't follow the directions close enough on the first block so I made another one that was correct.  I am going to submit both.  The block directions asked for a white or off white background and a colored heart and I switched them around.  I think it is still a cute block so going to take it.  Would like to make another with light pinks before the meeting if I have time.

Comic Book Boards

In the past year or so I have been wrapping my fabrics on 8 1/2 x 11 inch comic book boards.  They are acid free and can be purchased at a comic book store for about $10.00 per 100 boards.  So far I have used over 400 boards and have wrapped many, many yards of fabric.

This stack is the latest bunch that I wrapped,  It really helps to keep things organized.  I love the way they look all nice and neat in a book shelf.  I will take a picture of the bookshelf and add it when I get time.  Now I just need more bookshelves or less fabric.

Slow start to the new year!

Not much finished this year so far.  Our local quilt guild is having a block of the month program that is a little different.  The person in charge chooses a pattern and a color scheme and anyone that wants to participate can make a block.  Everyone that brings a block to the meeting gets their name put into a drawing and if their name is drawn they will all the blocks that were made for that month.  The number of blocks will vary depending on how many people decide it it worth the time to make a block that they will most likely not get to bring back home.  Some will decide its just not worth the trouble but I hope enough people join in to make it fun.  This is the block I made.  It is a Pineapple Star.  The pattern came from the Quilters Cache website.  It is paper pieced and finishes at 12 inches.

2015!

Happy New Year!