Great quilting minds think alike

Two quilters whose blogs I follow posted about the same pattern on the same day:This Schnibble is from Quiet Quilter.

And this belongs to Carol of Carol's Crafty Creations. Do you ladies know each other?

The sew-in was berry fun

Last night, after feasting on some delicious vegetarian fajitas prepared by my clergyman spouse, I headed upstairs to the sewing room for some strawberries! I found the pattern a few weeks ago at Moda Bake Shop and knew I had to make some. I changed the recipe a little bit. I really don't care for sewing tiny, fussy little shapes, (and besides, I couldn't find my pinking sheers), so I used wool for the leaves. I'm going to put the berries on this little plate for a Valentine's Day decoration and then get them back out in a few months and put them in a green ceramic basket I have for just a summer display in the kitchen. I'm thinking of making a bunch for my sister for Valentine's Day. I have some red fabric with little swirly white hearts that I think will make some really nice berries.

I can't wait to travel around and see what everyone else did at the sew-in. Thanks to Heidi and Bobbi for gathering everyone together.

Friday Night Sew In

Ok - I've decided to participate in the Friday Night Sew In sponsored by Handmade by Heidi. I usually don't sew much at night - early morning is my best time. But after a visit to my fave LQS during lunch yesterday, I have the cutest project from the Moda Bake Shop all ready to go. My clergyman spouse is off today, so he can be in charge of dinner and we have a 100 percent chance of rain today (we've already had two inches overnight!) so it's going to be the perfect sew-listen-to-Frank-Sinatra-and-Doris-Day-and-sip-hot-tea evening.

Pics tomorrow.

Finished!

I really need a better place to take pictures of quilts. A better camera wouldn't hurt, either.

On my design wall (bed)

Here's what I'm working on today. Christmas is not over at my house, apparently, because these redwork Santas just won't go back to the North Pole! I finished stitching the last one about a week ago. I bought a stack of Sturbridge Village fat quarters at the same time I bought the fabric for the Santas, which was about a year ago. The Santas were a bom program, but I changed up the setting because I wanted a bigger quilt. I can't decide if I'm going to put another border on it or not. What do you think?

It's back to work on Monday. It's been a great two weeks to be off. One of the reasons I like working in education is the time off at the holidays. It's better than vacation because everyone else at work is off, too, so nothing is piling up on my desk while I'm gone.

Have to run to the post office to mail a book I sold on Amazon. I ordered Flat Belly Diet in paperback back in October. I got it last week, read through it once and realized it was waaaayy to restrictive for me to stick to long term, so I listed it for sale and it sold in one day. I hope the person who bought it will like it.

Southern Stars number nine

Here is Southern Stars number nine. My fave LQS is doing this as a $5 quilt, except they call it their "Weekend Sampler." I have managed to stay caught up this time - that's a first!

We're having a quiet New Year's Eve here. We'll have some wine and cheese about 10:30 p.m. here, then watch the ball drop in NYC at their midnight and head off to bed. No big plans for tomorrow, either. Maybe I'll get some quality sewing time in.

I've been thinking about resolutions. I could list a million things I'd like to do better in 2010 than I did in 2009. I do have some resolutions in mind. I'll share the quilty/needleworky ones:

• Enter a quilt show. I don't have a quilt ready at the moment, though. I have about a fourth of a top ready that is different sizes of sawtooth stars in pinks and greens (all from stash and scraps). I may focus on finishing that so I can get it in the hand-quilting frame and get it finished in time for the next area show - maybe the New Braunfels show.
• Always have some kind of handwork available to do when I'm watching TV.
• Join one of the local guilds. Maybe. How about if I just say, visit a couple of guild meetings.
• Finish one UFO per month.

Ok, getting way too ambitious here. Resolutions are supposed to be ambitious, though. I need something challenging to strive toward.

I wish for everyone a wonderful 2010.

Happy New Year's Eve