Ready for the New Year

I love the week between Christmas and New Years.  It's such a quiet time after all the busyness of getting ready for Christmas.  Christmas has come and gone and left us with such a happy feeling of family and gift giving.

Everyone is playing with their new toys.  And I have time to get organized!  Something about that new year approaching that makes me want to clean up.

I haven't touched the Christmas tree and decorations yet.  No, I went straight to work in my sewing area. 

I've gone through every drawer, cupboard, and container and boy does it feel good to have everything where it should be and to throw things out.

I even got the little quilts that I have received from swaps out of the cupboards and hung on my wall where I can admire them. (other little quilts I have received are displayed elsewhere in my home)

I went the day after Christmas with a friend up to L.A.  Her best friend's Mom passed away and left an amazing sewing studio with an amazing amount of every type of sewing tool and supply.  Her daughter invited us to come and take whatever we wanted.  So I came away with tons of fabric and rulers and such.  So cleaning up my sewing area was also to make room for all the new goodies!

I am looking forward to bringing fabric and tools to our little local quilt group to share the wealth!  We have a lot of beginning quilters who could use some supplies.

And for Christmas my wonderful husband gave me a Cricut.  For those who don't know, it's an electronic paper cutter that cuts shapes (of all kinds...animals, flowers, letters, you name it!) out of paper from 1/4 inch to more than 12 inches tall! Miss K and I have been having a lot of fun with it already.  I've also heard you can cut vinyl (home decor) and fabric with it too (with a fusible we backing.

  Miss K's Design!

So I had to make a little room for the Cricut (seen in the first picture above) and clean out some drawers in my sewing cabinet for a paper cutting station next to my sewing machine.

Now I'm all ready to sew and craft in the New Year!

Happy Houses!

Life is a bit chaotic right now, no time for blogs, or facebook...but I wanted to drop in and show this very cute and adorable little quilt that I received from a quilt angel.

She made it for me because it was feared that the quilt that was intended for me in a swap was not going to make it. 

Doesn't she make the cutest little quilty houses?  I love mine...how lucky I was to receive it.  Thank you angel!

What a surprise!

I was about to head out to pick up my daughter from school yesterday when I heard the doorbell. I went to answer the door, and the postman was there delivering a package. I wanted to open it right there, but I had to get my place in the line of cars to pick up my daughter from school, so I brought it with me.

The first thing I noticed was that the package was from Bulgaria! In the car while I was waiting in line I opened the package. Luckily I had my cell phone and took some pictures...

I imagined that this must be my long awaited DQS6 quilt...the due date was May 1, and with the long way it had to travel...this must be it!

There were some pieces of fabric as well as some really sweet red buttons!

Also included was a postcard depicting a Cathedral from Varna, Bulgaria, with a personal note.

And as I peeled back the tissue paper I discovered this quilt and I was so surprised!

You see about a half an hour before this package arrived at my door I was reading blogs. I came across a post on domoshar.com. She was showing a little quilt that she had made all by hand, her first time. I commented on her post and then when I opened the package I received, it was the exact same quilt that I had just seen on my computer screen! As soon as I got home, I went back to her post and commented again, to let her know it arrived! What fun! I love it when things like that happen!

And here it is after I took it home and pressed it.

Thank you Ralitza!

Swap Sneak Peek

Here are a couple sneak peeks at a swap I'm working on right now. We sent each other the center fabric for a log cabin mini quilt - any style. The deadline is May 23...but it seems like most have already finished and received each other's quilts. Luckily my partner and I seem to be on the same schedule.

Here's the fabric I sent to her:

I have 2 little quilts coming my way, the one from this swap, and I have yet to receive my Doll Quilt Swap quilt from round 6. (I sent my quilt out mid-April). The deadline for mailing was May 1. So any day now...

DQS6 Finished!

I've got 2 little quilts going out in the mail this week.  The first one is for a private swap I did with Quilt Dad.  I can't wait to see what he did with my fabrics...more on that when my little quilt arrives in the mail, then I'll have the big reveal...

And here's the 2nd one...

It's a little quilt I made for Doll Quilt Swap 6.  This is the third round that I've participated in.  What a fun group of quilters...I really enjoy coming up with a quilt that my partner will like. 

Hopefully I've hit the mark and she'll love it.  I designed this quilt in EQ5.  How fun it is to go from a design on the computer to having the real thing in your hands!

Here's a little butterfly detail, and I love the fabric on the back...cute laundry on the line!

I've called it "Kaleidoscope Butterflies". 

Just need to get a label on it and then I'll set it free.

Spring Break

We just got back from a couple days at Grandma and Grandpa's. We're enjoying our Spring Break this week. I found Miss K's cousin quilt tucked away and got it out. She was excited to see it again and wanted to work on it. It was all pinned and ready to quilt, so she sat right down at the machine and got it quilted. I prepped and sewed the binding on. She is now working on hand sewing the binding down (a first for her). She only works on it a little at a time...so it may take a while. But she's getting there. I wonder how her cousin is doing on her little quilt...

I've been working on my DQS6 doll quilt. Here's a sneak peek:

Lots of other things I need to be working on too, but I'm trying to take a little time off this week and play with my family. (They're all sleeping right now...that's where I should be!)

Son #1 is in New York this week, and will be back Thursday night! He had the amazing opportunity to go with his high school Wind Ensemble and play at Carnegie Hall. They've also been able to see the sights, go on a dinner cruise, and to a play. Can't wait till he's home. Hopefully he'll tell us all about his adventure! I've gotten a few texts (in response to mine) and some quick pictures from his cell phone.

Tomorrow my wonderful husband is taking the day off from work, so we'll get to spend some fun family time. (I'd better get to bed or I'll be too wiped out!)

Doll Quilt Swap 6

I don't think I've mentioned here yet, I'm signed up for Doll Quilt Swap 6.  I participated in the 2 previous swaps: DQS4 and 5.  This is such a fun swap!  Lots of chatter going on over at the flickr group and lots of pictures of great quilts that are swapped there.  I'm glad to be a part of it. Here's a little snapshot of some of the favorites I have on my flickr: (click for the link)

The deadline is May 1st, but people have already started sewing.  I'm still just checking out my partner's flickr/blog and letting the ideas float around in my head.  I've done a little sketch, but not sure I'll stick with it.

The person I'm making the doll quilt for is not the one who is making something for me.  So it's a surprise when the quilt comes in the mail who it'll be from.  That's what is so fun about it.  All the secrecy and the fun of making something for someone else.  And seeing pictures of the progress the participants are making on their quilts.

It's fun to see what others are making and wonder, "who will get that wonderful quilt, I hope it's me!"

A little message to my Swap partner:  I put down "quilter's choice" on my preferences because I really would like you to make anything that you would like.  I have some favorites on my flickr if you want to see what I like, and you can browse through my blog, but I really am easy to please and want you to enjoy working on the little quilt.  So pick out something you would love and I'm sure I'll love it too!