2011Christmas Quilt Show

I thought I would enter a quilt in SewCalGal's 2011 Christmas Quilt Show. You still have time to enter your quilt too. I have been visiting some of the links and there are some really fabulous entries.

My entry is a wall hanging that I made for my mom in 2009. It was a free embroidery BOM from Gail Pan. It was a fun project to work on. My mom keeps it hanging all year in her sewing room.

I pulled out some Christmas decorations this morning but have not really started putting them in their places. I also did get to do some sewing today. I will be prepping some more leaves for my Hop To It block while I watch TV tonight. Tomorrow I plan to do some Christmas shopping. Got lists from the kids. Maybe I can find some deals!

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Country Girl

Yes, there is no place like home but it is fun to visit other places. This country girl went to the big city. My oldest son and his wife live in the DC area. They both work in retail so they did not get much of a holiday vacation. They invited my husband and me to come visit them this Thanksgiving. This first photo is the highway as we got into the area. On the left hand side there were three accidents. Our side of the road was good but people slowed down to see what was going on over on the other side of median which slowed traffic way down.
We went straight to where my son works and got the key to his apartment. Before we went to the apartment we went into a Barnes and Noble bookstore. This is the view from the second story.
This is a window of the store that my DIL decorated which is next door to the bookstore.

My son had Friday off so he took us down to the waterfront of Old Town. It was very crowded with shoppers. Some of the storefronts had some really pretty decorations outside of their shops. The sidewalks were all made of bricks.
On Saturday my husband and I went to Annapolis, Maryland. I can now say that I have visited that state. We walked the Main Street which was also packed with shoppers. It was a warm sunny day.
I did find a quilt shop in Annapolis called Cottonseed Glory. As you can see they had a ton of fabric.
I didn't buy much fabric. I did but these fat quarters from a line called New London by Faye Burgos for Marcus Brothers. I took some handwork with me to work on. I got a little bit more appliqued on my Hop To It block.
Today was spent washing clothes, getting some groceries, and running other errands. I also went to check out my veggies. They are looking good. I will be picking all the kale in the left hand picture for dinner tomorrow. I am so excited to see how everything is growing. We are going to get some cold weather this week so those veggies are going to be nice and cozy in their little hoop houses.
This country girl is glad to be "home sweet home" from the city. I have nothing scheduled on my calendar this week so I am planning to get some sewing done. I will share later.

Now it is time to start the Christmas planning. I might pull out some decorations tomorrow too.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!...Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Psalm 107:1-2

Giving Thanks
For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

author unknown

Wherever you may this Thanksgiving I pray you enjoy everything about the day. We have a lot to be thankful for. I will be enjoying time spent with my family.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Teaching Classes

Look what I have to show you all. Some works from the students in my classes. This first photo was a 6 month BOM that I did with three students. This student finished her top and brought it to the shop when I was teaching on Saturday to show it to me. Check out the rainbow rick rack she is going to add to the top after she quilts it. The pattern is from the New Applique Sampler by Piece O' Cake Designs.
The same student got the four blocks done from a Celtic applique class I taught last month. She has some really great fabrics for her borders too.

This pattern is Celtic Sampler by Rosemary Kurtz. It is so exciting to see this student's finished tops. Well done! Debra!

One day this week I taught two classes back to back. One was the Celtic applique. The above photo is from three students. Interesting choices of fabric for their knots. Below is a photo from a student taking my pinwheel table runner class. The darker green and red are some of her blocks.

These photos are from five students that took my beginning applique class. We met a few weeks ago and they had homework to do. The homework was stems and circles. This past Saturday they made the sunflower, hearts, and baskets. It is always so much fun to see what fabrics each person will use. This pattern is Spring Valentine by Susan Brubaker Knapp. You can see my version up in my header.
Well done ladies! I am so proud of you all. Keep up the good work.

I hope these projects will now inspire you to go do some quilting for a while.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

ps I almost forgot to tell you about this awesome BOM that is from Dorothy Baker's pattern. If you haven't read about it yet you can go here to see the first block on Dorothy's blog that was made by Denise.

In Stages

One finished! Three more to go. You all are probably going to be bored with my blog posts because these blocks are pretty much all I am working on. I am teaching three days this week so that is keeping me busy too.
I need to prep a few more leaves for this one before I start the sewing process.
This block is ready for the flowers to be added. I have only cut out the freezer paper for the third block. I just really enjoy the whole process of applique.
I wanted to show you these mini charm squares I won from SillyMama.

Thanks Brooke. I love the California Girl fabrics because I am one. Now I want to get more of that fabric to make a quilt.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Slow and Steady

Yep! that is how I have been working on four Hop To It blocks. I have some of the other pieces prepped and ready to applique.
I am almost finished with this block.
These next three photos are just for fun. Check out these acorns I found when I went for a walk with my husband. They look like they have little straw hats on top. I had not ever seen these before. So I sent a picture to KaHolly who I consider an expert when it comes to anything that has to do with nature. And she knew exactly what Oak tree they came from.
Look, my first handful of spinach from my little seedlings I planted in early September.
What a sunset!

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Big Reveal!

I have been busting at the seams to be able to show you this quilt. I actually made this quilt during the summer using a line of fabric called Dragonfly Summer. This is a brand new pattern made by the very creative Stephanie of Loft Creations. It is called Sparkle Plenty.
I had the privilege of testing this pattern for Stephanie. She calls her pattern testers Supremes. Well I can say that Stephanie does an supreme job of writing patterns. Carol also made a quilt testing this pattern too. Check out how they all look different. It is a fun pattern! This pattern and many other patterns are available now.

Congratulations Stephanie on another beautiful creation.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Triad Modern Quilt Guild

You might have noticed a new button on my side bar. I have joined the Triad Modern Quilt Guild that has just formed a couple months ago in my area. You can read more about the Modern Quilt Guild and look on the side bar to see if there is one in your area.
At the second meeting which I missed due to accidents on two major highways I travel, the ladies decided to have a potholder exchange. As you can see I decided to give my new Edge ruler a try to make my potholder. I like it. As you roll the cutter along the side you can hear it sharpening the rotary blade. I used it several times and could notice a difference in how the blade cut the fabric. Pretty neat.
Before I started cutting I looked through this new book I had bought this summer to find a block to use in my potholder. I wanted a modern looking block and chose one called a Wide and Narrow Spiral. The block is in the center and then I added the solid fabric to make the potholder bigger. So this is the one that I gave to Annette.
And here is the potholder I received from Annette. I told the moderator that I had brown and green in my kitchen so that she could let my partner know what I like. Look at this great cupcake potholder Annette made for me. It is perfect for my kitchen too. Thanks Annette! She has started a blog and if you would like the pattern for the cupcake potholder I am sure she could tell you what it is called. Go by and welcome her to the blogging world.

There were a lot of potholders exchanged but I was sitting in the back of the room so I didn't get the greatest pictures. Here are a few others that were made and exchanged by the group.

Next month we are exchanging Christmas ornaments and each of us is making a block for Quilts of Valor. It was a great time.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

This past Saturday and Sunday afternoon

I spent my time cutting and sewing these sashings to add to some of
my finished Hop To It blocks. I am busy appliqueing one block and picking fabrics out for three other blocks. I am on a mission to catch up.
I just had to show you these beautiful, very fragrant roses that have bloomed despite of some freezing temperatures we have had here in North Carolina.
With Passion,

Carrie P.

Applique Group Show and Tell

Before I show you the photos from the applique group that met last Wednesday, I would like to say thank you for all your very kind comments about my Linnea Book Cover. I appreciate your sweet comments. It was a fun project to work on. Now on to others.

I would also like to share a giveaway with you that KaHolly is having. If you like birds like I do you will want to check her blog. She is giving away a pattern created by Kim of Harbour Quilt Company and some batting. Good Luck!
Now for some show and tell. Here are the newest Hop To It blocks. As you can see mine are not on the design wall. I am back to working on them. Maybe next month you will see mine up there with the rest.

These two blocks are by Lois Jean. I thought you might like to see how she is sashing her blocks.
Carolyn made these next three projects.


Kathleen and
Mary Ann made these Christmas wreaths using the Lil' Twister ruler.
You can see a tutorial here if you have one of the rulers and want to give it a try. Here is another tutorial.

Have a great weekend.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Linnea's Almanac

My completed book cover. Isn't Linnea cute? Many of you guessed the correct book which is Linnea's Almanac. Sandi wins the thread, fat quarter and punch needle. Cottonreel wins the towel. Congratulations Ladies. I have sent an email to you. Thanks everyone for playing along.

I am going to frame my embroidery and give it to my daughter for Christmas.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Give Thanks!

Get this sweet design from Jenny!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway in yesterdays post.

With Passion,

Carrie P.