December Daily 2010

It's that time of year again. I've started my December Daily album. For those who haven't heard about this project, you can read more on Ali Edwards' blog here.

I didn't actually start working on the album until a few days into December.  Usually I have the foundation pages ready to go before December 1, but it just didn't happen this year, and that's ok.  I have been keeping notes on what's been happening each day, and taking pictures, so that I can go back and complete those first few pages.

In past years I've created the foundation pages and attached a number for each day.  This year I just focused on getting the papers together and cut, and will add the numbers throughout the month.  I also decided to not over-think things and just picked papers out, cut them, punched holes, and called it good.  I'm happy with it, and it took a lot less time, being all done in just 2 short afternoon sessions.

Here's a look at the inside pages before anything's been added:

Friday Book Review: Amish-Inspired Quilts

For a long, long time now I've been adding sewing and quilting books to a wish list on Amazon, as reminders to myself of books I think look interesting and that I'd like to take a closer look at or purchase.  I like to look through craft books before I buy them so that I know it's actually money well spent (meaning I want to make several projects in the book), so there are lots of books on the list that aren't on my bookshelf because I haven't seen them in local shops or bookstores.  There are too many books that have tantalizing covers, but then nothing else inside that I'm interested in.

A couple of months ago I had a flash of brilliance.  Why not check out the books from the library as a method of previewing all those books sitting on my list?  So, that's what I did.  And after looking through all those books, I thought it might be fun to share my findings.  So begins a series of Friday Book Reviews.  First up:

Amish-Inspired Quilts by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins

I like a lot of the work by Piece O' Cake Designs; lots of bright colors and pretty applique designs, and this book didn't disappoint.

One of my favorite patterns in the book is the one featured on the cover, Lorna's Vine:

I especially like the multiple shades of green used for the leaves; it gives a lot more life to the quilt than if just one shade had been used.

Becky and Linda also took a few of the designs and made small 'fragment' quilts from them; they look quite modern made up in bright solids; two of my favorites include 

Vine #9

and this flying geese variation; this is a close-up of some of the individual "geese".  I'm not usually that excited by traditional flying geese blocks, but seeing multiple fabrics used to make up each unit really made me want to get out some fabric and play.

 

If you're looking for a modern take on Amish design, or are just looking for some inspiration on working with solids, I'd definitely recommend checking this book out.  Not every pattern was a favorite, but there were more than enough to keep my interest.  More images of quilts in the book can be seen on Piece O' Cake's website, here.

I'll leave you with one last favorite; this great feathered border:

Trick or Treating

This was Ada's first year trick-or-treating.  Last year I got her all dressed up and waited for the trick-or-treaters to arrive, but not one kid came to our door.  So this year we went out.

On Saturday we trick-or-treated at some of the shops in Maple Grove.  This was her first time getting fully dressed in her costume.

Our little Triceratops.

And then Sunday everyone gathered at my sister's house nearby and Ada went trick-or-treating with her cousins again, this time walking around the neighborhood.  After the initial confusion of trying to go into everyone else's house [we realized we don't typically knock on someone's door and then immediately leave :)], Ada got the hang of things and thoroughly enjoyed herself.  She never actually said "trick-or-treat", but she did say thank you at each stop. :)  And she held hands while walking, as long as it was Grandma's hand she was holding. :)

The absolute best part of this costume is the tail; I'm pretty sure I've never seen anything cuter than that little tail wagging as she walked down the street. :)

And of course it wouldn't be a Halloween post without the pumpkin:

Fall Frenzy

Thanks to my wonderful husband spending lots of time outdoors with the sweeper this year, I'm spending a lot less time on this:

And more on this:

Finishing up quilting a children's charity quilt.

Making Ada a winter blankie; this one happens to be a QT Cuddler.  Talk about EASY; I seriously think this may be the first project of my life that I purchased, started, and COMPLETED the same day.  There were a couple straight edges to the fabrics before I started, but honestly I didn't even finish squaring up the two fabrics together; they were slightly different sizes, but it mattered not.  I just pinned, sewed, turned right side out, closed the hole, topstitched and then wrapped it around Ada, gave her a snuggle and taught her to say "snowman".

We had a great Modern Quilt Guild meeting this month, focusing on applique.  I went over both machine and hand applique techniques, doing demos for both, and then we had a leaf applique challenge.  Pillows were started, quilt tops were completed, and there was a little cowboy costume making thrown into the mix as seen above. :)

I'm also finishing up Ada's Halloween costume; she's been putting on various pieces each day for the last few days and running around the house, so I have hope that she'll stay all dressed up for a while when we put the whole thing on on Halloween.  Here's a little preview of part of the head gear she was modeling tonight:

All that and progress on the craft room remodel as well.  This... 

and the rest of my fabric is now all neatly organized in the closet.  Can't wait to share some pics once I get the rest of the room put back together after all this sewing!

Yay Mom!

So proud of my mom, who finished her first quilt top last month:

Way to go Mom!