Wild Sunflower Quilted Note Card

I have a favorite spot to go for a walk.  There is a small reservoir near our house, Lake Kettner, that is just perfect for getting away from it all for a while.  One one of my walks, I took some photos of the wild sunflowers growing around the lake.  Here is the first card:

The side view:

And, the close up of the stitching:

I also added in some copper-colored seed beads for interest.

Argentine Pass Quilted Note Card

Last fall, the company that I was working for organized a four-wheel drive day to go up onto Argentine pass.  The day was absolutely gorgeous.  This is one of the photos that I took that day.  I'm sure that there will be more cards from that day.  Here is the first one:

Here is another view:

And, here is a close up of the stitching:

Fall Oak Leaves Quilted Note Card

The same fabric that had the maple leaves also had some lovely oak leaves and acorns.  I just had to make a card to match the maple leaves:

Like the maple leaves card, I used the black bobbin with the top gold thread:

Fall Maple Leaves Quilted Note Card

Happy Thanksgiving!

For today's note card, I thought a fall theme would be appropriate.  This card is made from two different fabrics with a fuzzy brown yarn for a frame.  The maple leaves were fussy cut from a fabric with a black background.  I put gold thread in the top, but left black thread in the bobbin.  I really like the effect that it created.

And, another view:

Here is a close up of the stitching with the gold and black thread:

Denver's Union Station Quilted Note Card

My husband was in the St. Patrick's Day parade, so naturally, I had to go down and take some photos of him in the parade.  Rather than deal with traffic, I took the train downtown, and then walked over to Union Station to get over to the parade route.  I love the architecture of the building, as well as the clock signage.  Naturally, that meant turning one of the photos into a card:

I'm not convinced that I like the lace edging, though.  Here's another view:

Here is a close up of the quilting around the lettering:

Colorado Backroads Quilted Note Card

A while ago, my husband had to go to Cripple Creek, and I decided to tag along.  We had some extra time on the way there, so we drove down some backroads.  Driving down one of those roads, we were met with this scene:

I fell in love with the scene, which of course meant that it had to find its way into a quilted note card:

Another view:

And, a close up of the quilting:

Bird Quilted Note Card

Last summer, my wonderful husband humored me and took me to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge on a gorgeous July day.  Naturally, I had my camera ready.  I captured this bird sitting on the edge of the water:

I was surprised when I zoomed in to see this:

The reflection, even from that distance, was so clear.  When I began making quilted note cards from my photos, I knew that I  had to make at least one of this cool bird:

And, another view:

Here is a close up of the stitching:

Tulip Quilted Note Card

Recently, I've become addicting to making quilted note cards.  For some of the cards, I fussy cut designs from one piece of fabric and applique the design onto another (or multiple) fabrics.  For some of the cards, I print one of the photos that I've taken onto fabric and then quilt it.  Here is tonight's card, which is a photo of one of our tulips:

Here is a close up of the quilting:

The Finished Patriotic Quilt Top

I finished the top of the patriotic pre-cut quilt kit this evening:

Finished Quilt Top

Next time I go to the fabric store, I'll get the supplies to finish it.

Patriotic Pre-cut Kit

With the pieces all pre-cut, this quilt is going together quickly:

I still have to watch the piecing, though.  A couple of the points aren't quite exact.

Oh the Possibilities!

As if I didn't have enough unfinished projects already, I was recently given a large tub of kits, partially started projects, books, and fabric:

Tub of Possibilities

Some of the projects have both fabric and patterns.  Some will require some investigative work in order to complete.  I'm excited, though, because all of these will be fantastic for creating some quilts and quilted wall hangings to raise money for charity!

Yesterday, I decided to dive in with one of the kits:

My First Pre-Cut Quilt Kit

I've never purchased a kit with pre-cut quilt pieces:

I could get used to this.  Yesterday, I sewed the center squares together:

Today, my helper and I started sewing squares together:

Pink, White, and Gray Part II

I finished the pink, white, and gray baby quilt about two weeks before the baby was born.  The parents were happy with it:

Finished Baby Quilt

While I was initially skeptical of the color choices, I wound up really like this one.

Pink, white, and gray

Tonight, I made more progress on the baby quilt.  I'm using a 2.5 inch dark gray square for the center, and then 1.5 inch strips around the center square.  For now, I'm working on four blocks at a time.

It is growing, but slowly:

Change in Direction

Before I started the 2016 charity quilt, I should have made sure that the fundraiser was going to be held at the national convention again.  I plan to finish the quilt, but for now it is on hold.

Instead, I'm using that fabric that I bought during the Hancock Fabric close out sale to make a baby quilt.  The theme that the parents-to-be are going for is "pink, white, and gray."  I think this quilt will turn out okay, but right now, it doesn't look much like a baby quilt:

An incomplete square in the quilt

Making progress on the 2016 charity quilt

There are times when I wish that I used patterns for quilts so that I would know ahead of time how the quilt will look when I'm finished.  This is one of those times.

I am definitely making progress, through.  I finished the four squares with the green centers.

An almost complete block with a green center

Unfortunately, as I was putting the last strip on this block, I ran out of bobbin.  After I finished winding the new bobbin, I oiled the machine.  Normally, I wait a few hours after oiling the machine.  This time, I started sewing immediately--and am paying for my impatience.  Oil transferred to the fabric from the bobbin thread.  While I'm trying to figure out how to fix this one, I've started the next set of squares.

The next set of four squares

Already back sliding

Part of the reason that I decided to pick up the threads of the blog was to hold myself more accountable to finishing more projects than I begin.  Today, I needed to pick up more dog food from our veterinarian in a town where we used to live.  The store closing signs for Hancock Fabrics at the edge of town were irresistible.  After picking up the dog food, I headed straight for the fabric store.  And, yes, I bought fabric for a new quilt, along with several other items that I just couldn't resist at 25-30% off prices.

Couldn't resist buying at close-out prices!

What does this mean?  It means I had better get working on the 2016 charity quilt.

The start of the 2016 charity quilt

Picking up the threads

Between getting busy at work and getting busy at home, it has been well over a year since my last post.  However, it is time to pick up the threads of where I left off and begin again.

I did get the butterfly quilt finished and shipped off to my college roommate:

Butterfly Quilt

I also made a 2015 charity quilt: the dragonfly quilt:

2015 Charity Quilt - the Dragonfly Quilt

Now, it is time to start the 2016 charity quilt.