Making Progress

Remember the little heart shapes I showed you I was prepping here? They were for this Hearts and Gizzards block. This is my first time ever making this block. I am doing this BOM from one of my local quilt shops. The instructions are for fusible but I did mine in hand applique.

 I also made some progress on some sewing kits I have been wanting to make for a while.

 I also got the mitered borders on my Soupcon block. Maybe I can get the diamonds put in place tomorrow so that I can start the applique part.

 And I got one and half sides of the quilt bound.

I had a new blogger come by my blog for a visit. Her name is Rebecca of Quilting Everyday. She live s in Alaska. If you have a second go by and say Welcome. You might want to go by to see the awesome mountains in her header and her gorgeous string quilt posted on April 9.

With Passion,
Carrie P.

Days Go By

Even though it has only been four days since my last post it seems like forever since I have done one. The days are just a blur. I can tell spring is here. I was able to  take some time to attend Modern Quilt Therapy. We did a basket exchange. I made these three little baskets. One I made for the exchange, one for the group facilitator, and one for Laura, my awesome machine quilter. Laura got the blue one.

I got the pattern for this basket at SewMamaSew. If you try to make one of these cute little baskets I will warn you that making the square bottom was a challenge. I received this very pretty basket in the exchange.

 My days have mostly been spent planting and repotting seedling to bigger pots.

 And cleaning up the garden. If you look close you can see some green stick like things coming up from the soil. It is asparagus.

 Here is the garden with most of the beds empty so far. I just went out today to cover a few of them with row covers. I have potatoes, lettuce, and carrots growing.We are going to get some cold weather again. Down in the 30's at night for the next three nights. I hope our blueberry flowers survive.

 This weekend was spent helping Mr. P. whittle this pile of wood down. It used to be taller than me. He would cut and I would stack. While he was cutting I was cleaning the garage. It was a big mess after all the home renovations. That took me two days to do. Next weekend Mr. P. hopes to get that pile completely done. That is wood that we cleared out to put the garden in a two years ago. Other things were more important to work on. Now Mr. P. wants to get a roof over the rain tank. In the summer it gets really hot. Now that we are done inside we will be working on the outside of our place.

 I really haven't felt like doing much sewing. I think I am just too tired by the end of the day. I am trying to get two quilts bound.

 I want to enter them in our quilt show which our guild is putting on in May.

 Since I haven't been doing any sewing to show you I will show you some quilts from the Modern Quilt Therapy group. This first quilt is the one that the each of us is making. I still have 24 blocks to make. Our facilitator got hers done. It is a pattern from a Quilty magazine.

 Here is the back of hers. I love that yellow fabric.

 One of the other members finished hers already. I just love her fabrics.

 And here are some more quilts from show and tell. Enjoy!

With Passion,

Carrie P.

Postcard Swap

I have admired all the postcards that Sheila has made and the ones she has received from exchanges. When she put out the call for a new Spring time swap I signed up real fast. Wild Violets was the first thing that came to my mind. In my area they are one of the first flowers to bloom besides daffodils. In this photo you can also see dandelions.

So I went online to find some clip art of some violets. Here is my rendition of the a wild violet. I had some issues with some puckering but I think it still turned out pretty cute for my first swap.

 My swap partner lives all the way in Italy. Deborah sent me this cute postcard. I love the leaves. It looks like the flowers are wearing bow ties. All dressed up for spring.Thank you Deborah!

With Passion,
Carrie P.

Applique Addicts Show and Tell

Thank you all for your very sweet comments about my new grandson. We went by to see him last night now that he is home. I changed my first diaper in years! Even though my kids weighed about the same as he does when they were born Damien seems so tiny. He is so sweet! I am going to try to get to all your comments today.

Let's get on to some applique. I am actually doing some. It really has been a long time since I have done any. Here is what I am working on. These two sided hearts are for a block I am working on for a BOM. I have never made this block in all the years I have been quilting. Stayed tuned to see which one it is.

I am also trying to catch up on my Bertie BOM. 

I am also prepping some diamonds for my Soupcon block. All the instructions have been given out. I am two borders behind but my goal is to get #5 border done this week. I am using the templar and starch method. I have some tutorials on my side bar if you are new to applique or to this technique.

Two weeks ago the applique addicts met to work and show off their creations. Bonnie is working on this lovely flower from the Country Inn book. I just love her background fabrics.

Beverly has been quite busy with her machine applique.

Her two projects came from this book.

Beverly is also working on a wool BOM.

Check out this bright wool springtime table runner Brenda is making.

Carolyn brought this project to work on. Love the fabrics she is using.

Jane is working on a springtime wool table topper too. Love it.

Joyce showed off this top she working on. It is from a group at one of our local quilt shops.

Patti is patiently working on her applique quilt. Wait until you see this one when it is done.

She is also part of the group that Joyce is in. The group is called Border on the Run. You can read more about this fun challenge on Mrs. Goodneedle's blog and see her quilt so far---here. Quite different from these two.

 With Passion,
Carrie P.

Sewing for Baby

Why am I sewing for a baby? Because my first grandchild was born yesterday, April 3. I gave birth to my #2 son on the same day. My son and his little son have the same birthday now. Both of them decided to arrive late into this world. My son was 10 days late. Grandson was 15 days late. Knowing our first grandson was coming I did some sewing for him. His parents decorated his room with a pirate/ocean theme.

I bought this embroidery pattern several years ago hoping to have a grandchild one day. I also have a little girl pirate pattern. These came from Sarah Jane Studios.com

 I also made some bibs. I found a tutorial for this pattern here.

I saw this hooded towel on Clover and Violet's blog. Here is the link if you ever want to make one. Isn't the rubber ducky fabric cute. It actually had the year on the selvage which was 2000. I am pretty sure I bought it way back then too. I know I have had it for years.

I did not make a quilt for my grandson because I had the quilt that my son used when he was a baby. Mr. P's grandma made it. The crocheted afghan was made by my grandma. I also kept my son's outfit from his first photo ever taken of him which I gave to them too.

Another reason I didn't make a quilt was because my mom told me she was going to make him two quilts. If you look close at the blue one you will see fish, coral,seashells, and octopus. This quilt will be perfect in his room.

 She also made an eye spy quilt for him.

But I decided to go ahead and start a quilt for him that will stay at grandma's house. It will be all his when he comes to visit. I am making an alphabet quilt. You might have seen the blocks during a Moda fabrics blog hop a while back.

So meet Damien. He is not even a full day old when I took this photo. He looks like his mama but I know he will change every day. Isn't he adorable? He weighs 7 lbs and 10 oz. I am blessed to live in the same town as my son so I will get to watch this little man grow! 

With Passion,

A proud grandma,

Carrie P.