Sometimes serendipity steps in...

When you work long and hard on a challenge it becomes a part of you.   Right now, I'm feeling that whoosh factor...you know, that sigh of relief when your creativity actually becomes a thing.  

This quilt is special because Misty--our dog log, our weiner dog, our dachshund--is a part of our family.   But, the finished quilt doesn't qualify for my guild's challenge.   Yes, it has at least 10 diamonds.   Yes, it has a black background.   No, it's not between 35-40 inches per side....closer to 28-33 inches per side.  Oopsie!  So sad, too bad!  

Actually, it's not bad at all.   Now I can just put it in the regular part of the show and start working on other more interesting challenges. 

Five months and a blizzard to completion...

Have you ever had a quilt nagging you for months thinking it might become a UFO if you don't take some action?  I love putting letters on my quilts but hate satin stitching them.  I designed this one in October.  The blizzard made me finish it.

Here's the design from October:

The quilt will be donated to the high school on March 1st to auction off for their Grand Celebration fund raising event.  At my last guild meeting, our speaker asked the question:  What's the difference between an art quilt and a regular quilt?  Regular quilters know when their quilt is finished.  I should probably work on the Madonna some more to make her more realistic.  I'm just not advanced enough in my skills to figure that out.  Oh well...onto other March 1st deadlines.  Happy Quilting!

Snow and a birthday present for Brooke...

Lots of birthdays in February...My grand-niece, Brooke, turns 2 on February 9th.  My son, Mike, turns 17 on February 11th.  My sister, Arlene, turns 56 on February 13th.  The grand celebration party for all three is on Sunday February 14th.  So part of my time during the Maryland snow-in was spent making a gift for Brooke.

This gadget is for hair bows.  Just hang the 8x10 inch Brooke quilt on the wall and clip those little hair bows all down the ribbons.   All I have left to do is embellish with a few lady bug buttons and wrap it with some tubs of playdough.

We're dug out here in Laytonsville, Maryland.  The snow plows came yesterday afternoon.  Hubby and son attacked our decks and 300 foot driveway with the trusty snowblower.  Here's a picture of our deck rails just before the snow stopped:

and here's one of our back yard this morning:

It's pristine (no coyote, deer, or fox tracks). If you can see the red globe on the left side of the picture...that's sitting on a bird bath pedestal.  With 8 more inches of snow due tomorrow, perhaps that globe will be covered by Wednesday.  Until Spring, I'll just keep sewing.

Snowing time is sewing time...

Yup, I did too much.  I'm supposed to be working on my challenges....and I am....but those charity quilts are too easy to make.  It's been a little over two weeks since our last service project workshop and in that time I've made:

19 preemies, 4 quilt tops, 2 pillowcases and 3 Quilts As You Go (QUAYGOs) ...and...

quilted 5 cheater panels. I guess my priorities are a little skewed.  I'd love to start exploring some new artistic methods with cloth....so if you have some tips for me....I'm all ears.