Christmas String Tree

I was trying to decide what mischief to get up to in my sewing room today.  I've been toying with the idea of making a couple different sizes of paper-pieced string trees.  So I spent the morning drawing in EQ and thought I would make just one as a prototype to see how I liked it.

Then, realizing that I was going to be attending a Christmas party with girlfriends (quilters and non-quilters), and that I would need a gift, I decided to make the prototype into a "holiday" string tree by adding ribbon before sewing the background on, adding an upper section for a star, and then adding borders to make it a mini-quilt wallhanging (it will finish at about 11" x 15").

You could say I killed two birds with one stone.  I think the trees will be cute done in a forest of different sizes.  On my future to-do list...

Now to quilt my little wallhanging, bind it, and maybe even "decorate" the tree.  :o)

Still getting ready for the holidays,
Suzy

Making My List...

Morgan's quilt is on it's way to her, along with my sister and brother-in-law's Christmas gift.  Check.

I sent it priority mail (insured, of course), and the post office said it should arrive on Monday.  I'm relieved.  The quilt is a combination birthday (Dec. 23) and Christmas gift for Morgan, so I wanted to be sure she had it in time for her birthday.  I sure hope she likes it.  I made a matching pillowcase, too.  I mean, I had leftover blocks and fabric, so why not, right?  :o)

More "to do's" are now scratched off my list...

Ho, Ho, Ho!
Suzy

Mai Tais in Paradise - Top Completed

Yay!!! Tuesday, I finally finished the top for my Mai Tais in Paradise quilt which I started on my Caribbean Cruise with Bonnie in August/September 2011. It needs a good pressing, but it was folded up 'cause I took it with me to share with my friends this past Wednesday.

I'm not working on Bonnie's mystery quilt this year because I'm trying to whittle down my multitude of UFOs.  I am, however, saving the clues; because I know it will be a beauty and I'll want to make it in the future.  *grin*

Wish me luck,
Suzy

Another Finish...

Voila!  My Curvy Log Cabin is back from the quilter and it looks awesome!  After a few TV nights, I also have the binding on and sewn down.  I'm happy to have another finish to add to my "Completed" list.  :o)  

I also dropped off my niece, Morgan's, quilt and should get that back soon.  While awaiting it's arrival, I made a matching pillowcase for her quilt using some of the leftover blocks and backing.  I'll share the pillowcase and the quilt together when it's done.

More to come,
Suzy

A Quilt For My Niece

Morgan holding charity quilt top

While visiting my sister, brother-in-law, and niece this past Summer, I made a couple of charity quilts. My niece, Morgan, really liked one of them and I was going to give it to her and make another one to give to community service in it's place.

That kinda changed when my sister, niece and I went to a local quilt shop.  Morgan saw a collection of 1930's repro fabrics and oohed and aahed over them.  So I told her that instead of the charity quilt, to let me make her a larger quilt using 30's fabrics and the same pattern/design as the charity quilt, but make it big enough so that would fit her bed. (I have quite the stash at home, so didn't have to purchase any additional 30's fabrics.  LOL.) She agreed and I told her it would be a Christmas gift.

Well, Christmas is creeping up on me more quickly than anticipated . . . especially since I have to mail it.  So, for the past few days I've been cutting and sewing my little heart out. I also already have my name on the waiting list for my longarmer (did that a week ago when I dropped off my Curvy Log Cabin to be quilted), so that it will save time and I can pretty much drop it off to be quilted when I'm done piecing the top.

I love assembly-line sewing!

I used two different white tone-on-tone backgrounds because
I'm trying to use up my stash.  However my OCD forced me to group them
into separate piles - even though they read the same
 unless you are really, really close.  ;o/

I spent the day laying them all out into a pleasing arrangement, and am now ready to sew all 240 blocks into rows.  I'm hoping to finish it this weekend.  :o)

Fingers crossed,
Suzy

Curvy Log Cabin Top Now Completed

I recently finished my curvy log cabin quilt top. I'm very happy to call it complete. It took quite a bit of time to construct, more so than I anticipated. This top is from a class I took from Jean Ann Wright using her 6" Curvy Log Cabin Ruler. Because you use the ruler there is a lot of stopping and squaring up, hence the time factor. 

I have since drawn up a similar paper piecing pattern in my EQ program to use if I should ever make another.  I'll be selling my ruler off at our guild's yard sale next month. I just wasn't a fan, but for someone else it may be exactly what they are looking for.  :o)

I dropped the top, backing and batting off to my favorite longarmer yesterday and should receive it finished by November 12, if not sooner. I'll be happy to have another UFO to add to my list of completed quilts.  

Onward to another,
Suzy

Very Minor Damage

I took the dog for a walk around my block last night, and snapped photos of some of the minor damage in my neighborhood. We were very lucky. Luckier than many... Please continue to keep those impacted by Hurricane Matthew in your prayers.

Fallen Palm on My Street

Windshear Damage

A Tree Completely Snapped in Half

The Front Entrance to my Gated Development.
One Street Over From My Home.

A Lone Palm Frond

Wildlife Enjoying The Higher Than Usual Waterline

A Downed Lightpost by the Sidewalk Access to The Park Behind My Home

One Street Over -- Can Only Wonder Where The Top of the Tree Landed

One Street Over

The Park Behind My Home

The Park Behind My Home

The Park Behind My Home

Neighbor's Home Next Door

A big sigh of relief,
Suzy

*Sings* The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow...

Actually, make that today! It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, the sun is shining, and I can say we literally dodged a bullet from Hurricane Matthew. No flooding here, everything held up well, except for a few branches. No power or water loss, or damage to my home. I even have all the shingles still on my roof. Thank you, Lord!

Some of my friends and family didn't fare quite so well, but definitely nowhere near what could have occurred. And best of all, everyone is safe!

Feeling Blessed,
Suzy

The Wind Through My Hair...

Well, things are about to get real down around here.  My house is going to be pummeled by Hurricane Matthew.  Storm surges of 7-11 feet and wind speeds up to 145mph.  Currently a Category 4 storm, but forecasters have been throwing around the possibility that it could increase to a 5, as it is regenerating and getting stronger.  Only time will tell...

This is the "calm" before the storm.  These winds are nothing, as the monster storm isn't set to hit my neck of the woods until later tonight and tomorrow.

Please keep me, my family, all my friends, and everyone else in Matthew's path in your prayers.

Blowin' in the wind,
Suzy

Curvy Log Cabin Progress

Several months ago our quilt guild hosted Jean Ann Wright who taught her Curvy Log Cabin quilt using her specialty 6" ruler of the same name. Well, I have finally finished sewing all the blocks...

Now to sew them into rows and figure out what I want to use for a border.  *grin*

Curvalicious,
Suzy