Quick n' Easy

For me, plaids can be a bit tricky. This was a challenge to myself to work only in plaids and simplify. No playing with 387 colors in this one. No sirreee. Of course, one 4-patch had to have a different blue. Why, well because I ran out of the other one.

Yes, the 4-patches are made with 2" squares and trimmed down to 3-1/4" blocks. The alternate brown plaid block cut at 3-1/4". Then the alternate B block cut to match accordingly. Again, that pesky rule, "make B block last." B block of course being the one with the least pieces.

I think it will make a lovely table topper when my furniture finally comes out of storage. Don't forget to share a picture if you make one.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

Think pink

The Domestic Divas blog site lists how you can win a Dyson vacuum.

http://thedomesticdiva.org/blog/2007/10/21/contest-dyson-pink-vaccuum/

Dyson donates $40.00 to breast cancer research for every vacuum sold.

(quilt pic borrowed from web link)

Quilt Recipe

Recipe For A Quick Christmas Gift

2 colors, 1 background; 1-3/4" strips.

Cut, sew, assemble. Add borders of your choosing. Quilt on the straight grid and bind as appropriate.

Wrap with cheer and warm hugs will be heartfelt all year long. On second thought, better make 2.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

Is it just me, or does anyone else own some really odd, ugly, or what looks like totally unusable fabric?

Instead of "why did I buy this fabric," my motto should be "nothing is too odd, ugly, or unusable." No, really, even that one. Yes, you remember. It's in the back of the closet hiding under that pile of newer, prettier, better, or brighter.
We simply cannot help ourselves. It looked great at the time. It was on sale even. And we knew that one day we'd find a use for it. Didn't we?

And you know what, it's my new favorite quilt. Really. I even bordered it in my favorite color.

And I managed to use up a few more odd and unusual pieces on the back. This was quilted in straight grid though so there were no bubbles. Thank goodness.

Even though it's my new favorite, it will be mailed off soon to someone who is very near and dear to my heart. Lucky them, they get a new quilt. Lucky me, for I don't know what I'd do without them.

Until them, keep stitchen' . . . .

Smartypants

Do you remember when you turned 5 and instigated some clever piece of mischief you believed you could actually get away with? Your mom called you a "smartypants," but your grandmom called you adorable and clever because you reminded her so much of "your" mother.

This quilt is my version. And you would certainly think that in the intervening years, I would have learned a thing or two.

Sometimes frugality has it's rewards and sometimes it teaches us a new lesson. Yes, using up the left over tote bag pieces was a good thing. Using up my leftover batting pieces and expecting my numb hands to quilt over 3 layers of them was not. Making the backing out of a lot of older xmas prints that needed to move on was a great idea, but deciding that I could stipple in many directions was not. Bubbles in the backing happen, especially when there are many seams. (Don't worry, I redid that section.)

Ending up with a very pretty, very heavy quilt is a good thing. Mailing it off to dear friends far away is even better. Every quilt story has a happy ending. They will love the quilt, it will keep them very warm, and I will find more joy in giving than keeping. Smartypants indeed!