Five Shadows

Happy New Year all!  2010  A new decade!

I’m not doing a ‘resolution’ this year, not even claiming a word or phase to live by for the new year. Last year I decided to live ‘guilt free’ by not taking on projects that I really did not want to do – by not letting people ‘guilt’ me in to doing things, and I can say I’m pleased with how the year turned out!

Here are some of the things I did take on and am pleased with the results: participated in Swaps hosted by Creative Lenna,  took part in Lisa’s One World One Heart project, hosted a five day quilting retreat for 20 some ladies with two other friends, directed the planning and hosting of a formal dance (the kids call it a prom) for 179 teens, taught Sunday School for 5 year olds for two months (what a fun age!), organized a canvas bag swap with a group of 12 quilting friends (results should be up soon, this ended up being a true challenge just getting the bags swapped out!), went on a summer quilting retreat with 4 friends (that was a blast!), offered a generosity project, organized an on-going community service class for the teen group, moved one adult child out and one back home (the eldest ran out of money while in grad school – he is responsible and this is only temporary – that is   what I keep telling myself! LOL!), helped a friend organize her house, pack and prepare to move to SC. I signed up with the paper/cloth group with Belinda (but alas, have not enjoyed the process – ME, not the group! I love looking at what they have created!), took part in 3 Creative Studios BOM.  That’s the list I can come up with  for last year. I’m thinking it looks pretty good!

For the New Year, I’m continuing the 3 Creative Studio (3 CS) BOM, have signed up for the 3 CS Quilt Challenge (first word for the challenge was revealed today!), have promised to teach two months of 5 year old Sunday School, will join the One World One Heart Project, am planning another formal dance for the teen group, and have joined a collage group. Tis it for now!

But lurking in the background is a possible out of state move. My hubby’s job ends in mid-May. Who knows where we will end up!

I hope you will all have a prosperous, guilt-free, and happy New Year!

I’m late, I’m late for a very important date!

Actually, I’m not THAT late  …   yet! I offered a Generosity Project on my blog back in June and I stated that I would make a gift before the end of the year! I never thought I would procrastinate on this! But here it is, just days (2!) before the end of the year and I have my projects ready to mail!

Here is a sneak peek:

and here:

I wonder what they are?! I’ll reveal as soon as I hear they have reached there destinations!

Hi Lenna! and Melissa!

Here is my fourth Block of the Month (BOM) for the program sponsored by 3 Creative Studios. I like this block! But I fussy cut the center piece to show off the butterfly instead of cutting and piecing 4 pieces. I’m sticking with the same color-way and will have a nice set of block for a quilt top once this BOM is complete!

If you are not familar with 3 Creative Studios check out their website! They are offering word prompts, BOM, quilt challenges, free projects, classes, and more!

While cleaning out my sewing area – not hardly a studio! But one can dream!  – I found several forgotten unfinished projects. Some dating back at least 12 years! That was my big stitching phase. Big stitching is where you quilt using Chenille needles and floss or Perle Cotton. The stitches are big – 1/4″ or less in length. I’ve decided that I must finish up these quilts!

Yesterday I completed the big stitching on the quilt below, a Fons and Porter pattern. The picture is of the quilt as I found it, can you see the threads hanging in their uncompleted stage? I use a 22″ round frame on a stand. The quilt has to be shifted to complete the quilting as the flags are larger than the 22 inches. It is now stitched and binding is attached, waiting to be stitched down on the back. This quilt is lap size. The rest are wall hanging size – I think there are five more to complete. The plan is to complete these quilts in the beginning of 2010.  I feel a New Year’s Resolution coming on!

is having a giveaway this week! Go check out Judi’s blog for details. She does lovely longarm quilting, designs patterns, and has an online store. She has Hello Betty Retro line of fabric and one of her new patterns, Flower Patch, in her current giveaway!

Have you heard the news? Terry and Sue over at 2 Creative Studios have just expanded by adding Vicki to the team and they are now 3 Creative Studios! All the more goodness to prompt us on to be all the more creative!

I’m taking part in their Block of the Month (BOM) and here is my third block. Go to their website if you would like to join the BOM, or to check out their on-line classes, or their free projects, and the new quilt challenge they are hosting starting in January 2010!!

and not one picture to show!

The once-a-month quilting group I attend just finished up 12 baby quilts. We meet at a church free of charge. The only request is that we make a few baby quilts for charity for the church to donate as they see fit. This time we did whole cloth, panels, & pieced tops. Then we did the pillow top method with tying the quilts instead of binding them. We had a great time working together on these projects!

In traveling around in blog land, I’ve noticed that many ladies are digging out their unfinished works-in-progress WIP and making a last rush towards completing them before the New Year. I’ve been doing the same thing! But first, I have the yo-yo flowers finally all stitched in place on my Mom’s quilt.

This is a twin size quilt with the vine and flowers placed so they will be centered on the made bed. The vine circle looks small to me in the picture, but it does look nice on the bed. I just love the yo-yos! Can you see in the quilt where I left out the nine patch to leave a white back ground for the flower bunches? Once I completed the five planned yo-yo bunches, I decided to add the little bunches to the top and bottom of the vine circle.

And here is a picture of the “his” quilt for my Father, with out flowers. I used coordinating fabric for both quilts so they match, but aimed to make them ‘his’ and ‘hers’ quilts.

Two Creative Studios is hosting a Block of the Month and October is the second month.

Here is the block I made with this month’s pattern.

It’s not too late to join the fun!

Wow! I just got word that  the quilt several of us made last fall brought in almost $2000 for the local Autism Speaks raffle!!! I had no idea!!! I will be contacting Lisa (who donated fabric) and Melanie (who helped with the piecing) to see if they want to do another quilt!  ~ I know Lisa does! She is the one who told me about the $2000!! Lisa owns and operates a local business that features items to help families affected by autism.