Handmade gifts are so much fun to give and to receive... I enjoy the time I spend making different things, thinking of the recipient with every stitch or paint stroke. If you are looking for ideas for handmade gifts, you may want to check out these tutorials I bookmarked a little while ago. The blogs where they are featured are awesome, so you may want to browse around. Make them your own by adding cool trim, handmade labels, changing the fabrics to suit a boy or a man... The Wrapped Up … [Read more...] about Tutorials you might like
Book suggestion
Just finished Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman over the weekend. My quilting friend Celeste had recommended it a few months ago but I totally forgot about it, until last week. I must have been on a crying mood as I had to put the book down at the beginning because the tears were not completely transparent... The story was well written, engaging, funny. I love reading about Southerners in the 60's. CeeCee is a girl living in a small Ohio town. Her life circumstances lead her to live with … [Read more...] about Book suggestion
Thanksgiving Wall Hanging
This wall hanging is for our house. I found this panel by Timeless Treasures at a quilt store in Reno, NV, en route to San Francisco with my mom last May. Its colors were beautiful so I could not resist it. When I got home, I promptly stored it with the other fabrics in my stash and forgot all about it. Yesterday I had time for a quick project. As I was trying to decide which fabric would qualify, I found the panel. Pieced blocks would have taken too long, so I opted to quilted it in squares. … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving Wall Hanging
First batch of Christmas gifts on its way
This is the second knitted hat I finished. I really like the yarn - no need to keep adding colors, they are all in the skein! (see yarn details on this post). Will work on similar hats with different color schemes for my boys, two nephews... The Christmas list keeps growing. Speaking of Christmas, just mailed a box with Christmas gifts to Brazil: Yeah! Now I will focus on finishing the ones I need to send to my son in California and in-laws in Maryland. I have a few wall hangings ready which … [Read more...] about First batch of Christmas gifts on its way
Free motion quilting – how I relax…
Panels are the answer to my prayers sometimes. I bought this one in January, knowing my sister would absolutely love it as she really likes the quote it features, attributed to Mark Twain ("Sunny Blossoms" by Debi Hron for SPX Fabrics). It has taken me all this time to work on it as I was not sure I should use the other blocks that came with it, or if I should add pieced blocks of my own. Last Saturday, my heart heavy with useless concern for the future, I was inspired (how else can I put … [Read more...] about Free motion quilting – how I relax…
Girl’s knitted hat
As promised, my first hat for a girl - this will be for a niece in Maryland... I found this yarn during one of my trips to JoAnn's (I have one less than 10 minutes from my house!): Everyday Soft Worsted, Deborah Norville Collection. It says 100% acrylic (Anti-Pilling Fiber), so I am hoping it is not going to be all fuzzy after the first wash. The colors are very cool and I like the way the hat turned out. The pattern is the same I used before, 2k 2p on the ribbing, then just knit till the end. … [Read more...] about Girl’s knitted hat