Nothing to report....

This is all the action that is happening in the quilt room today. For the next couple of weeks for that matter. We are renting a house right now in Florida and in the process of buying a house in Iowa. I know, I have heard all of the jokes and puns all ready. And yes, we like corn.

Why move to Iowa? Why leave Florida? Well, the economy is part of it I suppose. But, mostly we feel more connected to the Midwest. It feels like home there. I grew up in Minnesota and have family there and my husband has family in Iowa. So, we are packing and sorting and I am afraid that the sewing machine has been packed and now I sadly sit here and wish I could unpack it for just a little while. I know I can, but I felt that I needed to be more focused on the move and homeschooling. I have piles of fabric that I have gone through. Some I really don't want but know that "someday" I may find a use for. Moving is such sweet sorrow.....

Progress Last Night...

I finally became motivated enough to put on the next round on this flower basket quilt. Putting the squares together went really fast. My 7 year old boy kept coming in and exclaiming how fast I can sew. I found this funny that all of a sudden it clicked with him just what I was doing all the time back in my craft room.

I tried all kinds of stitching on the flowers, leaves and stems. On the leaves and handle I did a satin stitch. On two of the flowers I did a zig-zag stitch. On four flowers I did a blanket stitch and on the stems I did a straight stitch that was in the applique section on my sewing machine. It was fun to play around and have fun. I am not in the least bit upset that it isn't perfect. I know that once it is all put together the quilting will make it.

Here I have all sides on and the second inner border. The final step is the outer border with corner stones.

Finished DQS4!

Yeah! I finished this doll quilt in record time! I had so much fun making it that I couldn't stop. I really hope that my doll quilt swap mate likes it as much as my family and I do.

I wasn't sure how to quilt the stars, so at first I thought I would stitch in the ditch. That didn't look so good so I tried a swirl pattern and it worked great. The rest of the quilting is a meandering kind of flower, heart, leaf pattern. Small projects like these are great for practicing my machine quilting on. In an earlier post I had asked what your favorite function on your machine is and the free-motion stitch seemed to be the most popular. I like that function a lot also and that would have to be my second favorite.

I mailed it out today and it should arrive next week! I love getting something done, can you tell?

I Consider Quilting to be an Obsession....

And so, I thought I would share another one of my obsessions. I thought I would take a picture of all the Jadeite that I have acquired and I don't think it is so bad. Except that I have more packed in boxes. More coming in the mail. More antique stores to explore.


I found these great bowls and the carafe at an antique store when we were in Tennessee. Aren't they pretty? Now it is time to get back to quilting.....

Doll Quilt Swap 4

It finally occurred to me that September 1st is coming awfully soon and I better get started.
So I decided on these colors, my swap mates colors.

Picked a pattern and got started right away.

I managed to place the pieced in order and today I will work very hard to get them together. I hope that she likes it!

Flower Basket Progress....

My husband took one look at this flower basket and said, "That flower basket is a feast for the eyes." I couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks honey!

What is your favorite function on your sewing machine?

This little button is my absolute favorite function on my sewing machine. It is a cutting tool, I push the button and it cuts the thread for me! Before I was given this machine almost 7 years ago, I had your basic Husqvarna sewing machine and it was great. But when I pull it out once in awhile to use or for my daughter to use, I admit to sudden sewing dyslexia. I am all thumbs without this handy tool. So, what is your favorite button or whatever part of your machine that you can't imagine being without?