Finished More Berner Pillows!

Four more pillows highlighting the Bernese Mountain Dog (the first four pillows are in this post):

A wonky log cabin:

I think the quilting is easier to see on the inside...so, another sneak peak inside just for you...

A block inspired by the Mondrain block by Jamie Moilanen:

The couple we are giving these two pillows to run a wonderful tapas restaurant and golf course (Tavern 27 in Laconia, NH....highly recommend!) with a Berner in their logo.

This block is Stepping Stones by Tacha Bruecher

A simple quilting approach seemed right for this one.

And finally, a wonky star:

with a little crazy quilting...

 

The above two pillows are going to a friend who has been so, so helpful and needs a little cheering up right now.  

How nice to actually get something done before December 1!!  And for those of you who are curious from my post, the holiday cheese ball for Thanksgiving was:

 Happy Friday to you all!  See you over at Amanda Jean's finish it up Friday!
Kathy

Holiday Cheeseballs

It started last Thanksgiving with this attempt at a turkey (googly eyes intentional):

This was so well received, a few weeks later...

And then for Easter...

What do you think?  What shape should the cheese ball take for Thanksgiving this week?

Linking up with Sew Many Ways' Sew Darn Crafty linky party.

                                                                    

The Hourglass Quilt

Last year, shortly after I discovered quilting, I took my first live quilting class.  The project was this hourglass quilt:

 It was a good beginners class with basics on cutting, sewing, and adding borders.

After the class, I tucked away the quilt top.  As part of my goal to eliminate the queue to be quilted, it is now quilted!  Yeah!  As this was a learning quilt, I thought I would practice a few FMQ styles.  The quilting includes swirls in each block, loops in the inside border and my own rookie interpretation of feathers in the border!  I used 50 wt Aurifil in the top and 60 wt. Bottomline thread in the bobbin.  What a difference this thread weight change made.  

The good news is that the quilting adds lovely texture to the quilt top.  But you know my quilting is far from perfect and the black backing was definitely not the best choice for hiding less than perfect quilting;  the thinner bobbin thread, on the other hand, was a good idea.



In the end, although I do not love the style of this quilt, I am pleased with the overall result...and I just happen to know someone who I think would love this!

Linking up with crazy mom's finish it up Friday!
Kathy

Building Courage to Start the T-Shirt Quilt

My Men each have an impressive collection of t-shirts.  I finally convinced one of my sons to sacrifice a few so I could make a quilt!  But now that I am staring at a pile of carefully selected special shirts, I am NERVOUS.

I know my first step involves ironing a piece of interfacing to the back of this BUT all I can envision is Super Mario melting onto my iron.  So, I pause.  More research required!

Happy Wednesday!

Kathy

A Few More Berner Pillows

It has been a busy week with lots of non-sewing activities.  My sewing table is piled up with projects.

But I did manage to baste and quilt a quilt top that has been in the quilting queue for over a year.

I will have more pictures of this quilt soon, but for now suffice it to say that using a black fabric as the backing is a sure fire way to have ALL of your quilting errors stand out.  Yup.  Clear as can be.  Oh well.

You might remember these pillows I made for the Men in My Life.  Well, it turns out I have friends with Bernese Mountain Dogs and some remaining fabric so I just have to make a few more pillows.  A flurry of scraps later, I have these four pillow tops:

Linking up with Amanda Jean's finish it up Friday.
Kathy

A Couple of Little Finishes

I am on a roll.  Another naked wall in my house is getting some attention.

 This one-color cross stitch project was just a perfect follow-up after my last project.  The pattern is Thistle by Leah - WooHoo Cross Stitch.  I found her pattern on Etsy by searching "modern cross stitch."  I think it works wonders for this bathroom wall badly in need of a little something (hey, it only took me about 5 years to hang something on these walls!).

Recycling the selvages from the bedroom quilt, we now have this lovely and soft large pillow for extra propping up with.  There are lots of tutorials available for this; I used the iron on the interfacing approach with a piece of white at each point.  This tutorial was particularly helpful.

I made the pillow form and intentionally understuffed it so that it is really soft and squishy.  I quilted the top with one big flower.  It was fun, but the quilting does not show up very much on the top.

Noone but you will see this, but you can see the quilting better on the backside of the front!

For the back I used this tutorial from Svetlana for a flap closing over the zipper...even almost matched the pattern.


Thanks everyone for your thoughts on my scrap management dilemma.   This is what I have decided to do (until I outgrow this space!):

I like this little cart on wheels that I can tuck under my sewing table when not in use.

In the United States, Monday is Veteran's Day.  This year Veteran's Day will be particularly poignant for me as I will be attending the memorial services for my Uncle Dick who just passed this week.  In addition to being a great guy, Uncle Dick was truly one of the Greatest Generation as a WWII veteran who gave much to his country.  Thank you to all of the veterans, active service people and all your families.

Linking up with Amanda Jean's Friday Party. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Kathy

My Latest Adventures

We just returned from my annual birthday trip to Chicago to visit our son.  Six years ago, he left New England and went to college in the Windy City.  I knew after his first semester that he was there to stay.  He loved Chicago.  We love Chicago.  Between birthday visits, parents weekends, graduation and just about any other excuse we could conjure up, this was our 12th or 13th trip to this fun city.  Yet each time we stay in a different hotel (why not?), enjoy new restaurants, find new places to visit and learn more and more about the CTA system!

Beyond spending three days with my wonderful son, highlights from this weekend included upscale BBQ at Chicago Q, visiting Historical Pullman, attending the Chicago International Children's Film Festival Awards Ceremony (adult and kid jurors...love it) and watching the Patriots game sitting at the bar of Pizzeria da Nella, an amazing Neopolitan restaurant we just happened across (but of course, this is Chicago!).

Pullman Greenstone Church

You may recall my first visit to The Needle Shop in Chicago last year.  Well, the shop has moved so I just had to check out the new digs.

Note my sons elbow as he is assisting me with my selections.

I love those shorts and the apron!

Exercising enormous restraint, I brought home these beauties.  From left to right...Timeless Treasures Menswear Eyeglasses, Ann Kelle Super Kids, Rashida Coleman-Hale Koi Scalloped Edges, Pat Bravo Carnaby Street Go-Go, Amy Butler Belle French Wallpaper and Anna Maria Horner Hand Drawn Garden Sketchbook.  Wow.

I wish I lived closer to take classes.  Don't tell my husband, but I can shop on-line at The Needle Shop without having to visit Chicago.  (yeah!)

Back home, my sewing/office/guest bedroom has something new on the walls.

I actually WON this print during the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway party.  Heather at quilt.cook.keep is the artist.  Doesn't it look perfect in my room?

Now, I really should be doing some sewing!  Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Kathy

PS  If you haven't already done so (and I know all you busy bloggers have already!), it is not too late to vote in the Bloggers Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side!