Getting ready for Christmas...or thinking about it

When I was in Ireland for the International Quilt Festival, I saw this cute ornament at the Christmas display in one of the local churches.

Cutest thing ever, right? Well, i thought i would give it a try today and this is what i came up with

Easy to do, just make a half circle and fold as above. I just need to get the little jingle bells to put on the ornaments. I made a stop at The Cotton Patch today in Lafayette and picked up a nice selection of christmas fabrics to use for this little project. I certainly have a jump on the season this year!!

Birthday banner finish

I was able to finish the birthday banner i plan to take to work. I hand sewed the binding around each letter. It took a bit of time, but it really makes it look nice. Now that i have the walking foot on my sewing machine, maybe i can get some bindings on some of my other finished quilts. I have a few waiting in line.

Sisters week 2012

I arrived wednesday around 4 . The drive seemed inordinately long this time for some reason. It was, as always, so good to arrive at Rosemary's at Black Butte Ranch. The place just exudes peacefulness. The Medford ladies arrived just a little before me, so there were lots of hugs. It is just like coming home!

Thursday i took a class called "billboard quilts" from Elizabeth Hartman, Author of Modern Patchwork. Elizabeth blogs at ohfransson.com. We were really lucky to have a small class which meant lots of individual attention. My project is to use the lettering technique to create some banners for church. I got a good start and Elizabeth drafted out the pattern I came up with complete with fabric requirements and measurements. It was such a great class! Elizabeth had lots of tips and tricks, and a great eye for color and design. I got the f and a done for the faith banner.

I still have to figure out what fabric the letters will be on. Elizabeth suggested a linen cotton blend, or a cream colored solid cotton or maybe a silk blend. Lots of options. I think I'll look for fabric at Stone Moumtain and Daughter in Berkeley unless something just pops up at me when I'm in Bend today.

The ladies went off for another class todsy, so I had a chance to sleep in and have a slower start to the day, which is nice after sll the busyness of the last few weeks. I brought the fabric up that I purchased in Ireland so I cut it into five inch squares to use in a disappearing nine patch.

...so much fun color huh?

Katie is on her way over from Portland. She and I will do some running sround in Bend, then head back to Sisters to stake out our spot in the line to get into the Picnic in the Park. Tomorrow is Quilt Show Day - ALREADY!

More tomorrow.

More sewing

I bought this great elephant fabric to make something for Meg, who loves elephants (altho, she may be getting tired of the things I've sent her way). Anyway, after I finished the placemats there was fabric leftover, so i made a bag. Since she's an urban dweller with no car, bags for carrying groceries are always helpful.

Birthday banner

I've been wanting to do some kind of birthday banner to use at work for a long time. I finally found a pattern I like when I was at the International Quild Festival in Ireland. I've sewn the binding down on two by hand, but now I 'm wondering if fusible wouldnt work just as well. 15 letters could take a lot of time for something people won't see when it's hung up. I will ponder

It is going to be really cute, I think.

Knitting finish

This cowl has been on my knitting needles for far to long. It is finally DONE! I love the yarn. It was purchased when i was in DC to visit Meg in March. This one I get to keep.

Next yarn up for knitting is the green tweed I bought in Ireland.