Roosting Robin

I belong to a small quilting group that works on various group projects/challenges.  I just finished the top to one challenge we did -- a "Roosting" Round Robin.   In a normal Round Robin you make a center block and it gets passed around to each group member who adds a border.   In a Roosting Robin, the quilt stays with you but you follow different "rules" for each "round" as you design and piece your top.

We decided to start with any size center block and that each round could be added either as a complete border (all four sides) or assymmetrically or however you wanted to intrepret it.

I was basing my quilt on a set of three nautical themed fabrics that my husband gave me -- designing elements that held Christian symbolism to me.  I first appliqued an anchor (Jesus is the anchor of my life) and then decided I didn't want my center to be a square.  I've always done square centered round robins and thought the added challenge of a rectangular center would be fun.   Little did I know!  

Here is my center:

The rounds we were to add were as follows:

1.  Triangles

2.  Log Cabins

3.  Curves

4.  Stars

5.  Your choice

As you can see, I started fairly traditionally with my triangle round going around all 4 sides...which put the top on point.  Then I added half-log cabin blocks all the way around.   It was at this point that I knew the quilt would be gigantic if I kept doing that so came up with an over-all design for the top.  The Curves round became my border....stars were sprinkled throughout and my choice blocks were the sun, boat, lighthouse and fish.

The final quilt is 80 inches square and I absolutely love it!  

It goes out to my favorite machine quilter for some lovely custom work on Saturday.  Can't wait to see what she comes up with.

Crafts I can now show you!

Now that Christmas is over I can show you a couple of crafts that were made for some readers of my blog.  :)

We had Liam over for a night alone before Christmas.  While he was over we made some gifts for his parents and relatives on his Dad's side of the family.  I came across a cute idea for preschoolers on the net that would be fast and easy and usable.  Perfect, in other words!

Here he is proudly showing off a few of the candles:

So easy folks.  Spread glue over the inside of a votive holder, pour in glitter and shake it all around (that was the really messy part), let dry, then add some decorative jewels (Liams idea) and a tea light.

I made a couple of little wallets for my daughter and daughter-in-law.  Another fast and easy project.  The pattern is from Lazy Girl Designs and called Wonder Wallet.

There are 4 pockets inside.  It's only slightly bigger than a credit card or your drivers license.  Nice gift to quick make and tuck a gift card in.

I'll have to show you some cool things that were made for me in a future blog post.  Such talented and creative people out there.

Christmas Joys

Jennifer told me I had to write a new blog post so that the skull on the beer bottle wouldn't show up when she went here....it was freaking her out.   :)    So here's a few pics from Christmas to share.  It was a great day!

Our crew...including the dogs.

Hubby with the special picture frame Liam made with the extra cute Christmas picture Jenn took of the boys.

Jennifer with the felted purse I made.  I blogged about those purses a while ago.  She loved this one so I added some buttons and made a little wallet (which I'll write about later...they were super easy) for her too.

Faith and Daniel enjoying present time.   I made the quilt on Faith's lap for her.  

This is my favorite picture of the holiday.  Liam is playing his new guitar and David is his lead singer...belting out some tune.  I'm thinking it's a rock-n-roll song since David looks angry.     :)

Quilting has invaded everything!

Look closely at the name of this beer.   Do you see it?   Maybe you need a close-up pic!

Now do you see it?    :)

Don't you know that the maker of this brew has a quilter for a spouse or is a quilter....and there is some kind of story involved....boy would I like to hear it.  Too funny. 

And for those of you who drink beer (I do not).....hubby told me it was tasty!   

A Yaya Turns 50

"I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming that comes when you finish the life of the emotions and of personal relations; and suddenly find - at the age of fifty, say - that a whole new life has opened before you, filled with things you can think about, study, or read about...It is as if a fresh sap of ideas and thoughts was rising in you."

Agatha Christie

Happy Birthday, Miss MamaMama! We love you.

Yummy for the eyes and the tummy

I've been busy with a couple of gift making crafts but alas....one can not share pics in one's blog of gifts that one's readers may see and thus ruin one's surprise. :)

So instead I decided to share a picture of these lovely fat quarters I bought at our shop on Saturday. They were on sale for only $1.50.....how could I not? They aren't for any particular project....just me taking advantage of a great sale.

And today I made these nummy scones for a brunch. So easy. Just take a Fair Scone mix (Costco sells a big box of them...very cheap that way)....add some dried blueberries and white chocolate chips. Yummy.

If you buy the mix at the grocery store just get the blueberry one....makes it even easier.
That's it for todays yummy's!

Bump on the road of Traditions

When hubby and I got married 29 years ago we wanted to establish some traditions for ourselves and future family. So when Christmas was approaching we decided on December 7th as the day we would ALWAYS put up the tree. Nothing special about the 7th other than since it was Pearl Harbor day we figured we wouldn't forget. And we never did forget. Hubby always took the day off from work when the kiddo's were little so the whole day could be devoted to tree getting and decorating. A great tradition that has held fast...........until this year. :)

The 7th was gonna be Yaya day. Which meant I would be unavailable and hubby would have the task alone....not so kindred. So since our grandson was coming over for some alone time on the 4th, we decided to do the tree early. Breaking a 29 year tradition was hard....but trimming a tree with a 4 year is much more fun than doing so alone.

Here is Liam being distracted by my Christmas Beanie Babies. He loves to play with my collection of Beanies and these are with the Christmas decorations so he didn't remember ever seeing them.

This is lunch break on day two of decorating and making gifts.

And this is Mr. not-so-helpful Finnian. Whose holiday tradition is to take off all the red bows from the tree. He has a thing for red......which you can read about here and here.

Ok...so I realize there is no picture of the tree after we were done. Silly me never took one and I already had pics uploaded for this post before I knew and I'm too lazy to start over! It's marvelous! What Christmas tree isn't?

Kingston Christmas Decor

All the light posts in Kingston are decorated like this for Christmas. Simple and pretty.
I took this one outside of the quilt store after work today. Decided it was gonna be my "picture of the day" for the 365 project. It was photo number 332! I can't believe I am only 33 photos away from being done.