I finished two bags for friends for Christmas prezzies.

Here’s the insides… one in beige and one in gray.

I also managed to finished the [...]]]> So last day of the year… just a small wrap up, as I’ve been busy as ever working on projects and trying to check things off the list.

I finished two bags for friends for Christmas prezzies.

Here’s the insides… one in beige and one in gray.

I also managed to finished the foundation paper piecing mat and get it done, quilted with some red metallic thread, and bound.

Up close of those tiny little pieces.

Finally… picked up some new wall art… indulging my quilting sense.

Also appears my Flickr plug-in has broken with this latest WordPress update… hope they get that fixed soon, but you can see higher quality photos always at my Flickr page here.  Hate having to scale back my photos.  There does seem to be a few changes in this latest edition of WP that I’m not too crazy about.  I’m hoping that smooths itself over soon.

2 lovely pairs of socks.  One with that new tomato heel.  The jury is still out on if I really like it or not, but it was fun for this pair. The purple pair is my friend Julie’s pattern Monet’s Twist with a few variations.  I’ve basically [...]]]> I do still knit and here’s some proof.

2 lovely pairs of socks.  One with that new tomato heel.  The jury is still out on if I really like it or not, but it was fun for this pair. The purple pair is my friend Julie’s pattern Monet’s Twist with a few variations.  I’ve basically turned it into a plain vanilla ribbed sock.  I’m a Plain Jane when it comes to my socks, which I guess works well with my penchant still for these fun multi-color yarns.

I ended up having to use a 100/16 titanium Topstitch needle when I did [...]]]> Finished my Smart Shopper pattern by Sweet Treasures.  Great pattern.  Not sure if I would add both extra muslin pieces.  It made it really thick.  It is nice how it stands up though and you can’t see the inside fabric.

I ended up having to use a 100/16 titanium Topstitch needle when I did the French seam.  A great learning experience with the French seam.  You have to do the bottom like you’re putting on binding.  You get to the bottom where you get to 1/4″ before the end, but don’t go over.  Then you start the other side.  Tricky the first time, but totally doable.  I made the French seam larger than probably normal, but it was easier to go wider with such thick seams.

A great pattern for 10 fat quarters and a bit more, but the really fun part was that I got to take a Long Arm quilting class.  After the class we booked rental time on the machine and I quilted this quilt.

I quilted it with a [...]]]> So I finished the 10 quilt.

A great pattern for 10 fat quarters and a bit more, but the really fun part was that I got to take a Long Arm quilting class.  After the class we booked rental time on the machine and I quilted this quilt.

I quilted it with a paisley pattern and had too much fun on that machine.  She kept having to turn the speed up.  I was fast.  We even put the binding on by long arm.

Not enough fun to take one home… yet, but I would be interested in trying it again.

I did all over quilting practicing my flower motif’s here and there.  I put a flower in the center blocks and on the one in the 4 plain blocks.  I’m seriously going to need more tables [...]]]> The quilted table runner was finished, bound, and washed and I *love* how it turned out.

I did all over quilting practicing my flower motif’s here and there.  I put a flower in the center blocks and on the one in the 4 plain blocks.  I’m seriously going to need more tables to display my runners.

It’s backed with Minkee and yes the sewing gals at the knitting group tried to warn me off it, but I [...]]]> A very dear friend of mine is going to be a first time grandma and when I saw this cowboy quilt I had to make it for her grand baby boy to be.

It’s backed with Minkee and yes the sewing gals at the knitting group tried to warn me off it, but I persisted.  The free motion quilting wasn’t bad – my Horizon is built for free motion and wonderful, but the binding was a pain.  I beat it into submission though and it all turned out fine and was a big hit at the shower on Saturday.

This quilt is Crazy 8′s by Bit’s ‘n Pieces made with just 8 fat quarters a smidge of fabric for backing and binding and was a just a bunch of fun.  I made it in less than a week.  It always amazes me how much faster quilting is over knitting.  Not that I don’t love both.  I will definitely be making this pattern again for another baby.  I was even thinking of making a generic baby one or one boy/one girl one to keep on hand for gifts, since I really enjoyed the pattern.

However, if [...]]]> I have a new little knitting notions bag.  This was one of the little kits that I picked out at the quilt show and it turned out great!  I’m so pleased with myself.  What took the longest was the zipper – I futzed it and futzed it until it was just right.

However, if you do this project I would highly recommend squaring things up one you get the interfacing fused to the bag pieces.

It’s a This & That pattern – #154 – Out & About.

In a finish or frog it decision I decided to felt this mitten and make it a cat toy.  It was too big and I was not [...]]]> I’ve been working really hard to finish up some really old projects.  They had been WIPs way too long and that had to come to an end.

In a finish or frog it decision I decided to felt this mitten and make it a cat toy.  It was too big and I was not going to knit the mate.

Finally got this tea cozy complete.  Again it turned out a bit too small and too long.  It was more like a coffee press cozy.  However, I made it work and was able to ditch the pom-pom on top.  Fits my 2-cup Brown Betty nicely.

These car socks sat in the car way too long.  Finally finished them up and another pair of useful socks for the drawer to replace the few blown out ones I had last winter.  See how I said last winter – we won’t count those nasty snowflakes that tried to fall on Saturday.

I managed to whip up this large knitting bag and the shawl even on [...]]]> So I have not forgotten to knit.  I’ve been working on the Northern Lights Shawl (a Rav freebie) with my newly purchased Sophie’s Toes Magic Ball in Preppy Girl.  This is my project page if your interested in my notes.

I managed to whip up this large knitting bag and the shawl even on the spinner fits in nicely.  Yeah!

I love it.  I have a few more to whip up for friends.