Karen's Quilt

This quilt is Karen's quilt. I have left her last name off because the quilt is a gift and we do not want her son to find out. I have shown a close up again to show the free motion quilting I have done. I loved this project. I normally do not care for browns but this quilt has so much life and many different fabrics. This quilt pattern is a new one for me and I can't wait to use it on one of mine own quilts.
I have been so busy machine quilting for Christmas that I do not have much else to show you. After some of my gifts for Christmas have been given out I can show them.

Gone back to quilting.

Christmas cards and the Cricut

I got a new baby Cricut this past week at the big sales. I got many cartridges including the Joy of the Seasons. I am planning on making many Christmas cards and tags this year. I am amazed at all the stuff I can do with it now and how well it cuts. I have a slice and this is way better.
Here is a start on two cards. They are simple to start with but I still like them. When I get going I will plan to add more stuff like glitter. These cards are small, only about 4" by 5 1/2".

Margie's Library Project

I was asked June of last year to be apart of a Public Library Art Project. My friend and fellow quilter Margie Davidson headed up the project and is the artist. I was asked to do the machine quilting on the quilts. Margie has hand painted fabric and done some machine applique, as well the text, hand written. Oh yes then there are parts with block printing from hand carved blocks. The blocks all had meaning related to the text. Margie has used Sun printing for the leaves using Seta colour and leaves from her yard. I think I have all the different type of techniques listed now. The text is about the people who have immigrated to Edmonton and Alberta from other parts of the world. It was hard not to stop quilting and just read them all.
I have done many different quilting patterns on this project. I asked Margie if I could post some photos. We desided that I should only post close up till the whole project has been released to the public for viewing. So, here are some photos. I think I will get some others to post after all the unveiling has taken place. There are three different Public Library locations in Edmonton were they will hang for a few months and then in 2010 all three parts will be displayed together at the main Branch of the Edmonton Public Library - Stanley A. Milner, downtown.
I had to quilt the vein lines on all the leaves. I was a little worried how long these would take and if a could do it well enough. Margie and I were pleased with the results. These ones are the elm. Up top is the Silver Maple leaves, I liked them best. Closer to a sugar maple and I had a Silver Maple in a past yard. I really enjoy working on this project. Margie's style and colour chooses are so similar to mine. Thank you Margie for asking me to be apart of this great project.

Please look for the final photos of this project in the new year. Or came to Edmonton and see them in person next year. Then you can read the stories.

Christmas Fiber Charm Exchange

Here are my charms I have sent in for the Christmas Fiber Charm Exchange on the Two Peas in a Bucket swap board. I made carrot noses with orange clay and drilled holes at the base so that I could sew them on. I used seed beads for the eyes and mouth. The ribbon at the top is so that the charm can be attached or hung. I hope to get a very small table tree to hang these on.

Poppy Quilt

This is a quilt I quilted early this fall. It is a Remembrance Day quilt that has been given to the National Defense office in Yellowknife. A group of four quilter's in Yellowknife has made the quilt top and then sent it to me to custom quilt. The frame of my quilt machine got in the way of the photo.
Here are two photos that show the quilting a little more.

I have been behind in posting on my blog because all the machine quilting I have done lately. I got to sew for myself this last weekend. I will have to post later as all the projects are Christmas and I do not want to spoil it. I will plan to post more quilts now and then the Christmas projects later.

Twilight Charms

I am making this quick as I am having trouble with my internet this week.
The Twilight Charms have made it in to the correct hands. WOW. and other happy yells.
They have been forwarded to the correct person and I will be able to be a part of the swap. I was getting worried. I believe they will get swapped out in the next week and in the mail. This makes me so happy.

Snow White Charm Swap

I have completed my charms and sent them in the mail for Snow White Charm Exchange. The sign ups were a little slow at first so I took three spots. I will have more charms then I know what to do with. We were to make "mixed medium" so I tried to make my three sets from different materials. The witch is a photo transfer onto cotton and them sewn to red wool. The pick axe is from polymer clay. The bunnies are a photo glued onto a plastic crystal and then sealed with Diamond Glaze.
Here are my Twilight Charms. The host of this swap was changed after I mailed mine. The old hostess has not forwarded my charms and 7 other sets. I am worried they are lost for good. The hostess was changed because there had been so many troubles getting swaps back in a timely manner. I hope this does not happen again. I guess this is the risk of swaps.

Halloween Bracelet

Here is the bracelet that I have made after getting my charms back from swaps. I was in two charm swaps, The Halloween Fiber Charm Swap and the Vintage Halloween Charm Swap. I could not use all the charms. Some were a little larger than I wanted or to fragile. If you made one and do not see your, please know I have plans for it. I am hoping to make a mini book of Halloween and plan to use some in my book and book spin. Happy Halloween.

Quilting background for Applique

Here is a close up of the quilting I recently did. The quilt is my mom's Betty. I wanted to share this quilting with you. I love this pattern that I have done. I call it spirals and flames. I do this free hand, with out marking out any parts.

Recipe Card Swaps

I have signed up for the Betty 5 swap on Two Peas in a Bucket. We are doing Christmas Side Dishes. One part of this swap is to send the hostess 16 recipe cards that are 6"x6". It has my recipe which is Barley Salad. My Mom, Betty started making it this summer and it is good. It uses Quick Cooking Barley and chopped Veggies. We were to add some embellishments to the card, so I have ribbon, flower and some snowflakes. I will get one of each person's back. There is more to the Betty 5 swap. I have a partner that I send a great box of goods and she sends me stuff too. More about that closer to Christmas.

I have two more recipe card swaps on Two Peas. Above is the appetizer swap. There are 16 of us in that swap. I have sent in Salmon Spread that my grandma and mom and I make.

Then below is the ABC Dessert swap. I have sent my Ginger snaps for the letter G. There is one person for each alphabet, so 26 or us. I expect that each of these will be home by Christmas. I can then make mini recipe books with each set of recipe cards.