Needles and Pens

Due to my lack of time for blogging this year, there were a number of quilt projects I never got around to sharing, so I thought I'd show them off in one last post for 2010. These were some of my favorites, too, because each was a celebration of a special little one in my life: July 2010 -- A Disappearing Four-Patch in pink and brown polka dots Made for precious baby Shyla, the new granddaughter of a dear friend of mine. September 2010 -- Woodland Four-Patch (with more polka dots!) Made for adorable baby Reid, my newest great-nephew. October 2010 -- A 1930's Patch Quilt Made for beautiful baby Zoe, my newest great-niece. And last but not least, October 2010 -- A Picture Play I-Spy Quilt For my sweet, sweet grandson, Aaron, who turned two years old this year. May we all be so richly blessed in 2011. Happy New Year!!

Another New Year challenge! And since I already committed to finishing what's left of my UFO pile in the Patchwork Times challenge, I went in a different direction with this one. Guess how many fabric panel projects I have? ... ... I don't know either, but it's a big box full. A few I've purchased, but most have been gifted to me in one way or another, and without some incentive such as this challenge, they would all be destined to stay in that box forever. So for the record, I have chosen the following 12 panels to make into something useful this year: 1. Starlight Angels 2. Psalm 23 3. Papa Bear & Baby Bear 4. Christmas Bear 5. Snowman Draft Stopper 6. Quilter's Wallhanging 7. Northwoods Noel 8. Homespun Holidays 9. Pledge of Allegiance 10. Christmas ABCs 11. Oh, Santa! 12. Santa's Teddy Bear Let's get 'er done! ;o)

Quilting incentive for 2011: Judy Laquidara's UFO Challenge at Patchwork Times ! When I went to make a list of 12 projects to finish, I was honestly shocked to find that I don't have 12 unfinished quilts! I must be getting better about finishing what I start, as just a few years ago the count was over 20. Now it stands at seven, so I added a few unfinished (and largely un started ) sewing projects to round out my list of 12. Hope that's not bending the rules too far... At any rate, here's my list: 1. Easter Quilt , a 2009 mystery, partially quilted. Just needs the rest of the quilting and a binding. 2. Sampler Baby Quilt , put together on a whim earlier this year from "orphan blocks" in my closet. Needs quilting and binding. 3. "Where Are Your Shoes and Socks?" A Pat Sloan Block-of-the-Month from 2007 (I think), which I've been working on (and collecting shoe fabrics for) off-and-on ever since. I have five more blocks to applique and then to ...