Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas to everyone in blogland.

This is the table runner that I made Liz in Scotland. I can show it now that she has received it. Pretty with a pointsetta on it.



Here is our small Christmas display at home. A simple little tree on a santa table runner.

All the kids/grand kids gifts underneath the table. My oldest son and family will be here shortly. We are going to have a good time.

Isn't this Santa display cute?

Frog Quilter

Liz's Table Runner

Now that Liz (in Scotland) has her Christmas box and seen the table runner I made for her I can show it... While visiting here in October I had her select a Christmas fabric. She picked the light colored one. Great choice. I took it from there. Measures 25 X 64 or there abouts.

Now she is wondering what is in the wrapped presents ... :-)

I stitched labels on quilts today, washed them. Wrapped presents and began decorating for Christmas. Hopefully tomorrow I can spend sometime in my sewing room. Maybe I will have something to show...

Frog Quilter

Princess Quilt, Special Secret Sister

Some of my finishes this weekend: A princess quilt from panels for my grand daughter. It's twin size. Quilted with free form feathers.

I have gotten to the point where I see beauty in my quilting. Instead of looking at parts of it, I look at the overall picture.

Next up is my secret sister gift I made. It was one of Mary's December gifts along with a crystal wine glass (her second glass) and a bottle of wine. She is in charge of Love Quilts and named herself "The Love Goddess". Appropriate and now she has a momento!

I have other finishes I can't show.... No peeking Liz (in Scotland). I guarantee it's pretty and festive.

I have started a Sylvia's Bridal Quilt and have about 10 blocks completed. Am enjoying the process.

Well I'm off to get some more sewing done, Christmas is coming "real soon".

Frog Quilter

Blocks, nickels and Blackie

I quilted this top today using freehand feathers. It's made up of all orphan blocks and will be going to a special little girl who wants a "big girl" quilt.

Last year our guild had an exchange of fabric squares (nickels - 5 inch). I went thru them and pulled all the patriotic ones. I am unsure of the outer border. Seems too large.. What do you think?

And finally a picture of Blackie with his coat looking real good. He's such a sweetie.

Frog Quilter

MAM's Become a Flimsy

The MAM's (Mile a Minute) blocks were begging to be put into a flimsy. I listened and put together a 6 X 8 setting. (The picture is a 8 X 6 setting) The blocks were trimmed to 8 inches square. I sewed them together in no set order just trying to have different type of fabrics next to each other. First I made twosi's, then foursi's adding two more while still in the machine. I have enough blocks remaining for another top this size.

I find the "no rules" very refreshing not to mention being able to sew mindless and have a beautiful top.

There are some other items I have been working on which I can not show. It would spoil the surprise.

Our Artful Bra's are now on ebay. The link is HERE. When you get to the ebay site type in Artful Bra. There are 50 bras up for bid (10 day time frame) I have two: Lily Padded and 'Love and Peace'. The web site is also accessable from the Quilters of SC web site listed below.

Also if you'd like to purchase a Bra Book they can be found at http://www.quiltersofsc.org/

Proceeds from the sale of the Bras and the books will benefit "the best chance network" which pays for mammograms and PAP smears for uninsured and under insured women. Together we can stop the spread of cancer.

Frog Quilter

Extra Blocks, Love Quilts

One of two last braid quilts. This one done with a dark blue fabric. Quilted with circular squigglies.

There is one braid row remaining which I'll work into another quilt somehow. (I found a bag with strips already cut for more braids... I think I'll work that into something else.)

Here is the other done with a dark green border and a winter scene for the centers. This one has a few technical difficulties I encountered while quilting. I am still going to finish as a child will still cherish it. Quilted with feathers.

This quilt below was a love top given to me to quilt. Its quilted with lots of feathers and I used a cranberry thread.

Here is the extra blocks quilt. These are blocks from at least 7 different projects. I put them together with a red border. I have a little girl in mind for this quilt. I like it myself.

I worked a special table runner today. Liz I have one more border to add and it will be ready for quilting. I need to finish it as overseas christmas boxes will need to be mailed soon.

I STILL HAVE MORE UFO's. But the pile is going down significantly.

Frog Quilter

UFO Braids, Love Quilts

The braid quilt on the left is one of two that I put together today. I quilted this one with swirls.

The UFO bin still has plenty in it. It doesn't look like I've even put a dent in it.....

Below is a love quilt, quilted with cranberry colored thread and feathers. I like the effect.

In other news my Bernina is in the shop. I probably overworked it. It was way overdue for servicing.

My Activa has been sewing beautifully and I'm thankful for a spare machine. I can't imagine being without a sewing machine.

Christmas is just around the corner so yesterday I sewed up some quick and easy presents.

Frog Quilter

96 Fat String Blocks and a love quilt

I sewed all my fat strings > 1.5 inches into MAM (mile a minute blocks) last weekend and ended up with 96. That's enough for 2-3 love quilts. There are no two alike.


Its mindless sewing and there are NO RULES, no measuring, no matching seams; just add it and stitch. When you have reached the magic size just trim. These blocks trim out at 8 inches square. It's fun seeing all the different fabrics together.

This is a love top I quilted with all over feathers. I'm pleased with how it came out. I've been trying not to be so critical of my quilting. I tend to look at every stitch but have come to realize it's the overall effect of the quilting as a whole that matters.

Is everyone as critical as me?

Frog Quilter

Strips, strips and more strips

My goal this weekend was to use up all the "fat" strips (1.5 inch or larger). I finished today but that will be another post. The quilt above used strips and was quilted using a new digitized baptist fan pattern. I'm pleased with how it came out. It will be donated as a Love Quilt. And now I have something to stitch in the evening as I attached the binding today.

Blogger is doing its thing tonight.

The picture below is a panel that I quilted using feathers and more feathers. Some child will be delighted with it. It's educational as well. Shows the US with all the capitals.

This is a pin cushion I bought at our guilds' fund raiser. Attach it to your wrist and you save time when you are pinning your quilt bottoms to the leader. It's made of a frog fabric. Dee does wonderful sewing. Thanks Dee.

Now that all the fat strips are made into blocks, I'll have to make more Love Quilts. They always make me feel good to finish them.

Frog Quilter

Cats check out quilt

A rare picture of Tigger and Blackie in the SAME bed just chiling out. You can see Tigger in the background eyeing Blackie saying "this is MY BED".

Blackie and Sebastian checking out the finished quilt. I believe they gave it a thumbs up.

I have finished quilting all the love tops, bound them and am in the process of putting the labels on the back. So with that I have been trying to reduce my strings (a never ending process).

I have become so used to having quilts to bind that it is strange when there aren't any waiting for me. So I'll just make more.

Come back tomorrow for my newest Love Top and other updates.

Frog Quilter

Fair Results, Finishes and Fish

The picture to the right is a double wedding ring table runner and got a blue ribbon. Below is the heart quilt, a red ribbon. The house picture not shown also has a second place ribbon.

My finishes for this weekend. Quilting the 4 patch swirl from the QSC retreat last year. The picture doesn't do it justice. Its really bright and cheerful. I'm going to surprise someone who has been encouraging me from the start.

And a Love Quilt suitable for a young boy. All home spuns and a flannel backing with buffalo on it.

Here is another picture from our fishing trip. The trout in front is the 19 incher. The fish were so heavy I had to wrap the stringer around a stick to carry back to the camp ground.

More pictures later.

Trying to rest up today. Back to work tomorrow.

Frog Quilter

Home from NC

We are back from NC after having a wonderful time dispite the rainy and cool weather.

Here is a dresden plate quilt I will be quilting soon. It is one that has been on hold in the closet and I want to get it finished.

We caught plenty of large fish this year. One was 19 inches long. Our friends from Scotland learned and caught plenty of fish. They enjoyed the experience and liked our big fish fry.

This is a few hours of fishing, a limit of 10. :-) One of the few days where I caught my limit.

Frog Quilter

Give me your heart

Last year at fall retreat we were challenged to make heart quilts to bring awareness to heart disease. I made two. One is totally "free" - mistakes became creative features. It has lots of beads, and different items representing things used to correct heart problems.

The second one is three hearts in one.

Our friends are here from Scotland so I will be a little busy for the next two weeks.

Happy Stitching,

Frog Quilter

Love Quilt and Blackie

Here is a smaller version of a Love Quilt I made a few weeks ago. This one uses white on white tone squares, 4.5 inches cut diagonally twice.

Quilted with a digitized flower panto and a lady bug flannel back. Looks like the lady bugs are crawling around in the flowers.

And last here is Blackie always after attention. He's so sweet but can be a pest. :-)

A lot of time this weekend has been spent on getting ready for our guests Bill & Liz from Scotland. Yikes they'll be here in less than 2 weeks. I'm almost ready. Are you ready Liz?

Frog Quilter

Love Quilts

As promised from the last post here is how I am going to set this little quilt. It is similar to another one I made only smaller scale but cute and colorful.


I found this top in the closet, minus the last border. Don't know why is was hidden away in a bin. So I added another border, found some cute cow backing and quilted it up using hearts motif, free motion.

I quilted this string quilt using a under the sea scene.

Here you can see fish, a sea horse and sea weed.

Whoever receives this quilt will just love the heavyness of it.

Besides working on love quilts I have been trying to get my fair entries and state quild heart ready....

Frog Quilter

Tigger and Scrap Progress

Here is our third cat Tigger. He's not very social and very moody. He's a "big" ole cat.

I have been working on alot of binding on the quilts I have quilted. I still need sewing therapy. Or should I say machine sewing therapy. My bucket of 2.5 wide pieces that are less than 2.5 inches (Left overs from processing fabric) are sewn together into strips.

A strip set will need to be long enough diagonally for the block you are using. I chose 4 inch blocks. I took a white on white fabric, cut into 3.5 squares and cut once on the diagonal. Sew triangles to both sides of strip set. Place square ruler on top of unit and trim.

This unit is now ready to place into your favorite pattern.

Next post I'll show multiple units together. Really makes a cute pattern.

Frog Quilter