Christmas Cardinals

I had so much fun putting this Christmas Cardinals wall hanging together. After going through my Christmas/winter panels this is the one I chose to work on first. Isn't it pretty!

I thought I had taken an in progress shot but can't find it. But I started by auditioning several different fabrics hanging them and the panel on my little design wall. Sometimes I go through several different ones until the right combination comes forward.  In going through my panels I discovered a part of one left from a whole different line of fabric, even a different fabric company. That would be all of those little blocks in the borders. They fit in perfectly with the cardinals. I added the red and white stripe that I just picked up at Hobby Lobby last week. It gave it a little spark I thought. 

 I played with the border design a bit before this one.  Adding the red and green to make it a stripe of sorts was the perfect addition to the little blocks. I am very satisfied with how it came out.  Photos happened and it got listed yesterday. 

And one more for fun;) The finished size is 30"x50".

That's not all I got done this week... I needed another tree runner. This one has the red and white diagonal stripe where the other had a red/green stripe.

And I needed another turkey.

Well why not add in three more runners that worked their way into the queue. These are the start of Easter Bunny table runners and their backing fabric.  Next is the quilting and then the applique. I'll squeeze them in when I can.

Next in line to work on will be another maple leaf runner and a Christmas one. Whew I am tired! Hope you all have had a great productive week as well.

Linking with these Friday parties:

TGIFF

Finished or Not

FreeMotion Mavericks

Beauties Pageant

Off The Wall

 

A quilt related purchase

 While surfing Etsy one day I found these two cute Tshirts!  

I purchased them from Julie at KrazeeDesignsForYou. Easy to purchase, great communication too. 

She has lots of designs and styles of shirts also.

I will enjoy wearing these when quilting, at retreat or a quilt show.  

It's been a busy few days with turkey table runner sales so I quilted up two more on Saturday. One of them got totally finished and relisted. The other needs binding.  Cha-Ching my phone sounds when I make a sale...now this turkey sold too as I was writing this! I will be finishing up the binding on this one today.

With the weather turning cooler, highs in the 40's all week for us, I was in the mood to start a pair of socks.  I am knitting these two colors together. 

Here is how it is looking. I am down to the decreases in the gusset. 

Sunday we made apple butter for the freezer. Yummy!!

There is still a couple days left of this sale...

10/24/23 thru 10/31/23  Accuquilt sale---SPOOKTACULAR SALE! -- Buy Two, Get the Third Free on GO! Project Dies, Applique Dies, and June Tailor Kits (use code: SPOOKY)  

Linking with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell Monday and Design Wall Monday.

Spin The Wheel

 Looking through the UFO-To-Be-Quilted, now if it is in the to be quilted pile is it a UFO or a quilt in waiting:0.  I think this one might fall in the UFO as it has been a couple of years since I pieced it and then stalled, not sure why exactly.  

The pattern is by Connie at Freemotion By The River. 

Easy stippling in the background, then I used a curved template to quilt the diamonds. 

The backing is a batik that I bought from Marshall Dry Goods. 

Our visitors on Saturday, OMG they were so fun to watch. The three of them side by side strutted their stuff and the ladies were not paying them any attention!  This was only 20 feet from the house in the backyard.  And the next thing we new there were at least three more males and several females on the other end of the backyard more scattered out.  Hubby wanted to see if they would run if he opened the back door so he did it slowly. Upon the first little opening these three moved and gobbled in unison, so funny!  

Linking with these inspirational linky parties: Monday Musings, Design Wall Monday, Sew and Tell Monday and This and That  Be sure to go check them out!

Weekly goals

 On this second To Do Tuesday of November I report another good week of meeting goals.

Goals set and met for the week were:

1. Poinsettia runner ✅✅ I was planning on only one of these but finished two! These are for the big local order.  That order consists of these two poinsettia runners, 8 of Holly red and white toppers, and 2 Gnome wall hangings.  

2. Bind another Valentine runner✅ I posted about that on Friday

3. Piece 2 more of those red and white 24" toppers (I have an order of 8 total) ✅ I did piece two of them and only finished one completely which now makes 4 of them ready for the order!  I am halfway done with that order, need it finished by Dec. 1st. 

4. Turkey runner ✅ 

5. Anything else I have time for. ✅  These two were finished yesterday and relisted in the shop.  They are from my pattern Tilted Trees.

This week's goals:

1. Snowman runner

2. Hexie snowman topper

3. Two Gnome wall hangings

4. Anything else I have time for

Linking up at the To Do Tuesday party at Texas Quilt Gal and Wednesday Wait Loss

Amazing things can happen

Back in July, while we were on vacation, something amazing happened.  You know I have two Etsy shops, one for my finished quilted items and another for my patterns (which are only .pdf's).  Links to both shops are on the right side bar.   I wasn't checking my pattern shop daily, I mean we were on vacay;)  But one afternoon I checked and there were a few messages from customers who were having difficulty downloading their purchased pattern.  Upon further investigation on my part, one pattern was selling tons!  This one, The Snow Dudes.  I am so glad I checked that day so I didn't keep anyone waiting to download their pattern.  It was only a few hours into the rush of buyers.

This has never happened before, after helping those people who were having problems I asked a few of them how they happened to find my shop.  A couple responded that on some FB group someone posted their finished runner and linked to my shop as they were all so excited about it!!  But it seemed they didn't know which group, so I never discovered how it all happened.  I would love to have heard all the chatter!!!! So within a few days over 80 patterns sold of The Snow Dudes!  There were more that trickled in but I stopped counting at 80.  I am still flabbergasted:0

Flash forward into early August and I got an email from a gal who works for a quilt shop in Texas called Fabric Fanatics.  They wanted to know if they could purchase my patterns and make kits up.  What, another amazing thing.  But to be honest I have never done anything like that before and wasn't sure how to approach it.  But I talked to another gal who has worked with them in this manner and after that I felt good about it.  So they bought 30 patterns consisting of several different ones.  

Now September is off to a great start!  An Etsy customer purchased 3 runners on Friday and then asks me if I would consider taking an order for 14 runners!!  She has two nieces getting married later this year and wants to give them each 7 runners with various Holiday themes.  Holy cow!  Why yes indeed I accepted the order!  I have two of them done already. 

Thank you for letting me share my amazing news with you!  Happy Labor Day my quilty friends.  I will be doing a little sewing and a little baking today.  I have two table runners on my design wall for today.  And soon I will be working on my idea for Hello Fall blog hop which starts September 21st.  And then I am participating in From The Heart blog hop in October also. 

Linking with Design Wall Monday, and Monday Making.

More...

Last week was just not a very productive work week.  However, I kicked it into gear over the weekend, several projects got their final stage-binding.  You have seen these before so I won't go into much detail.

The two sunflower table runners are for an order from two local gals. I still need to make 2 identical little wall hangings for them also.  They tend to like a lot of the same things.  The Turkey will be for the shows or Etsy. I also found the start of a few more turkeys lurking in my closet so I will be good with those for this year. 

These guys also got their finishing touches and are ready for the craft shows. I also have a few more snowmen to quilt up.  It's getting closer and closer to this season:(  Just heard on the weather channel that snow is heading to South and North Dakota and hopping the border for Minnesota this week!!!!!!!  No, no, no we don't want it yet, it's way to early.  

Today starts the Witchy Stitchy blog hop which is hosted by Carol at Just Let Me Quilt.  It's gonna be spooky fun, I hope you'll join us.  My day is Wednesday.  Here is a list of participants.

October 7 - Today

Creatin' in the Sticks

Songbird Designs

For The Love Of Geese

Quilted Delights

Kathleen McMusing

Quilts By Joanne

Whims And Fancies

Janie G. – Hosted at Just Let Me Quilt

October 8

Selina Quilts

Words & Stitches

Vroomans Quilts

Days Filled With Joy

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Life in the Scrapatch

Just Because Quilts

Brenda's Quilt Blog

October 9

Home Sewn By Us

Kathleen - Hosted at Just Let Me Quilt

Quilts Fabric and Thread Tales

Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting (Me)

Websterquilt

Seams To Be Sew

Sew Many Yarns

October 10 

Beaquilter

Homespun Hannah's Blog

MooseStashQuilting

Cynthia's Creating Ark

It’s A T-Sweet Day!

Count it *all* JOY!

Bethni L. – Hosted at Just Let Me Quilt

October 11

Just Let Me Quilt

Quilt Fabrication

Melva Loves Scraps
Patchouli Moon Studio

Ms P Designs USA

Karrin’s Crazy World

Patchwork Breeze

Linking with Monday Making

Happy mail-winnings-working and give away

Remember the Starstruck runner tutorial I entered into the tips and tutorial festival at Meadow Mist Designs and Quilting Jetgirl a few weeks ago?  Well I was floored when Cheryl emailed me and told me I was one of the winners!!!!!! 

This was one of the prizes that arrived last week.  Perhaps you recognize the box?  My first ever Quilt Planner!  I had not seen one in person before so I was happy to explore its contents.  I already have a couple days blocked off for a project next year;)   OMG look how cute it is and even matches the flannel I covered my big ironing board with!

Here is a list of all the wonderful goodies I won-I am still shocked!! Thank you Cheryl and Yvonne and all the sponsors. 

And the thanks go to all of you that voted for me. I appreciate all of you that read my blog and leave comments!  I am going to have a give away to show that appreciation so hang in to the end of the post for info on that.  

So you want to know what the working part of this email subject is.  Well as followers you know that I do several craft shows each fall.  Last weekend was the last of them for the year. It's been fun, but I am glad they are over.  The local shows were all down some this year, however having some winter/Christmas items left wasn't all bad.  I am busy listing some of them on Etsy.  It's working as I have sold some already. I ave a few more to list this weekend.   I am still amazed that my Etsy shop is keeping me hopping and I love it.  At this time I am thinking I will drop one of my local shows next year.

As to what I have been making more of, are my snowman runners-I can't keep these in stock very long.  Pinch me!!

And Tree runners

And finishing up 5 turkey runners for an Etsy order.  Now you know why the blog has been rather quiet lately, just repeat ones you have already seen a gazillion times!

And the thanks go to all of you that voted for me. I appreciate all of you that read my blog and leave comments!  I am going to have a give away to show that appreciation so hang in to the end of the post for info on that.

Now what you have been waiting for-the giveaway!   I will be giving away one of my patterns(your choice) on Craftsy to THREE lucky people!  Just leave me a comment telling me your Christmas plans.  You don't have to be a follower but I would sure love it if you were.  Here is the important part, make sure I have your email address.  If I don't I won't be able to contact you if you are a winner.  I am not going to be able to take time to go hunting for it so please be sure to leave it if you think you might be a no reply blogger.  I have had several of you lately and I feel bad I can't respond to your comment. This giveaway will close Monday morning Dec 17th at 8 a.m.

Linking with Monday Making

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Spooky time

Recently I was asked when my first sale is-not far away at all.  It starts Oct 5th and goes for one week.  I am excited for it but also nervous thinking about all I want/need to get done yet.

Little by little I am trying to get some panels ready for the fall craft sales.  The panel is the center plus the orange border with the circles.  All the borders from there out is what I added from my stash of fabrics.  

Last weekend, as we were taking a little drive, we ran across a pumpkin wagon so we stopped and bought these three.  My hubby thought I was crazy wanting that big with gourd looking one.  I think it adds character to my display.  No, the scarecrow is not going to keep holding the wall hanging.  I just thought it was cute for the photo shoot;)

 You can see some of the quilting here.  I like using e's and l's in one inch checkerboard borders.  First I quilted everything and then decided the orange border with the circles needed something.  TaDa-just quilt around the circles while ditching, it worked perfectly!


















The panel center received swirls.

Now you get to see more of the cute scarecrow my friend made for me.  I love decorating for fall.





















Sunday I cut out parts for five purses and sewed part of them together and they were ready for quilting this morning... I was almost done when a storm rolled through and I needed to shut down my longarm fast!





















These three Gobble it Up! runners are ready for quilting-perhaps tomorrow.





Linking with Freemotion by the River, WIP Linky Party and Midweek Makers

Knitting projects

As I was doing inventory for my second craft show of the season, I realized I haven't shown you some of my machine knit fleece sweaters this year. I knit the sleeves and bands on my knitting machine and then sew them into the fleece bodies on the sewing machine.  These are all machine washable and dryable and oh so warm for our Minnesota winters.












Last week I started making the machine knit dishcloths for the third show of the season. I now have 80 made as of last night.













In case some of you don't know what a knitting machine looks like here is one of mine.













Among all the machine knitting, I decided I wanted to start hand knitting a pair of socks. Yes I still can hand knit, but why when I have a machine that can produce it way more faster?  Well I just wanted a project to work on in the evenings while watching TV.  And because Ramona drove me to do it with all her pretty socks she has posted!!!  It's all your fault Ramona--thank you so very much!  It was kinda scary for me as I kept thinking what if I don't make the right size the first time-it takes a whole lot of time to hand knit.  I got the ribbing cast on and did several rows and thought wow that looks too big for me. I emailed Ramona(thanks for all your help) to see what size foot and sock she makes. I ripped mine out and went down 2 sizes and it is PERFECT. I just love how the sock fits!!!  But for the record it took me a month to get one done-I am slow and only pick it up for a few rows each night.  The pattern is Echo Beach Sock a free Ravelry download. Now to find time to get the next one started.

And to keep things quilty, since that is what my blog is normally about, I made another Gobble it up runner. I sold the first 2 right away!

If you are interested I have the pattern for sale in my Craftsy Shop or click on the Craftsy link on the top right side bar.







Linking with Linky Tuesday and Let's Bee Social

Gobble it Up!!

Wow it's fall, where did our summer go?? September presents a table runner challenge for us Island Batik Ambassadors.



Table runners are my thing, I love to make them.  I had a ton of ideas racing around in my head of what to make. With the decision made I chose fabrics from Island Batik's Sand Dune line released at Market in May, plus the Island Batik background fabric I picked up at my local shop for half price-SCORE!  The perfect colors for a fall table runner.

I designed this pattern using dresden plate blades for the turkey's feathers. Yes there will be a pattern forth coming in my Craftsy shop!!  After completing the half circle of blades for each turkey, I then machine appliqued them with invisible thread. The body, beak and wattle are made from felt. Little black buttons for his eyes finish him off.  What a fun, festive, playful runner to put on your Thanksgiving table!

And if you have followed my blog you know how much I love to custom quilt. Leaves are quilted in the background and I stitched around each feather about 1/8" in.

And feathers in the border-quite fitting to quilt feathers on a turkey table runner, right?

I just loved working with these rich fall colors and especially since they are Island Batik fabrics!! 

If you would love to see what the other Ambassadors are making this month you can find links to their blogs here

Linking with Whoop Whoop, Finished or not, Chezzetcook and Finish it up Friday