Pumpkin Time!

Ok, this has nothing to do with quilting, but I wanted to post a picture of my pumpkin. This year, I did Max and a monster from "Where the Wild Things Are". One lucky student will go home with this pumpkin tomorrow. Happy Halloween!!!

Projects using Scraps

My scrap bag is getting full and I wanted to use my scraps for an additional gift for those I made quilts for. The first "scrap-busting" project I found was cutting up your scraps into little squares and filling glass ornaments. (See the picture below.) I love this idea so I started small baggies with scraps for each person I made a quilt for. I am also making a mini-ornament from each bag of scraps for myself so I can celebrate each and every quilt I make.

The 2nd project I found was a cute, fabric envelope - PERFECT for giving packets of hot cocoa. Here is the free pattern.


3rd project I found was an adorable purse - well actually a great set of 7 projects - but I love this purse! I started on one using the black & white scraps from the quilt I made for my sister. Check out these free patterns.


Patterns for other ideas:
Casserole Holder / Pot Holder
Scissor Satchel

Make every scrap count!

Free Patterns

Here are some great websites that offer free patterns:

P&B Textiles
Classic Cottons
Andover Fabrics
Robert Kaufman
FreeQuilt.com
Quilt Blocks Galore (one of my favorites)
United Notions

Jim Shore Angels Quilt

I found the Jim Shore angel panel at a Quilt Show in Hoffmann Estates, Illinois and knew I had to have it! I used some fat quarters to create some "sampler" blocks to accent the angel blocks. I just dropped this one off at the quilter yesterday and it will be quilted with sunflowers. I love this quilt! A Christmas gift for a family member...

Dragonfly Quilt - Pieced together!

I pieced my squares together and started on the top of my dragonfly quilt. I still have to add a border but am debating whether I should keep it simple or make it interesting...

Here are some pics of what I have done so far...

Dragonfly Quilt

Usually when I make a quilt, I follow some type of pattern or plan. I started this quilt with about 75 - 100 different types of dragonfly fabric cut into little squares. I absolutely loved dragonflies and had to buy the fabric squares when I saw them on eBay. But what to do with them? I decided to make small blocks using the different dragonfly fabrics. Obviously, the fabrics all do not match well but I tried to make blocks with colors that complimented each other. After I made some blocks, I started to try and figure out what I am going to do with these blocks. I picked up bright pink and bright teal batiks to use with my quilt. I was thinking about using these to border the blocks. Here are some pictures of what I have done.

My Quilts

Because I got behind in my posting, my quilts aren't in order of completion. Here is a list I made for myself because I need to make labels for all the quilts before I give them as Christmas presents. I want to include what # quilt it is on the label.


1. Moda Northern Solitude Quilt
2. Ducky & Bear Quilt
3. Red, White, & Blue Rail Fence Quilt
4. Snowman Quilt
5. Dolphin Quilt
6. Black & White Fat Quarter Quilt
7. Ice Capades Quilt
8. Jim Shore Angels Quilt (will post pics of this one soon)

Quilts on Deck:
Night Before Christmas
Gingerbread Men
Dragonfly
ABC's

Dolphin Quilt

Here is another quilt top I made - this one for one of my best friends who loves dolphins. We went swimming with dolphins back in college in Florida during spring break. I found this panel at Hancock fabrics as well as the other two prints. I am still debating on a back - can't decide if I should go with a dolphin fabric or something totally different. This was a straight-forward quilt - no pattern.

Winter Parade Quilt

I found this panel at a quilt show in October in Hoffmann Estates, Illinois and had to buy it! It is so colorful and fun! After some searching on the internet, I found this free pattern using the squares from this panel. I also found this website that showed the fabrics that went with it. Although they are gorgeous, they are very expensive! I found similar material at JoAnn Fabrics for a fraction of the cost.

It was easy to put together and I love the way it turned out. I found a flannel, creamy light tan background with colorful mittens for the backing. I used strips of the colorful material for a fun binding. I will post a pic when it is done being quilted!

Black & White Quilt

Here is the quilt I made for my sis for Christmas. I love the black and white together. I was going to add red in there randomly but decided not to. I have a beautiful red back for it and will have it quilted in red thread. When it is back from the quilter I will post a picture of my finished product.

I bought the pattern from Joann's - it is called "Fat Quarter Frolic". I needed to pick out 10 fat quarters so I found 5 dark ones and 5 light ones.

Lots of quilting...not a lot of posting...

I am behind on my postings! I finished a few more quilt tops and will bring them this week to the quilter. I REALLY want to learn how to quilt them myself so I started looking online for some tutorials and instructions. I might be brave and try one of my small ones out - we'll see!