Christmas catching up as usual

Hello there! Thank goodness for IG because it kind of makes you feel like you haven't been SO far away from the bloggy world. When I logged into Bloglovin' today and had 1,017 posts to read I felt a little differently though.

I had a couple of finishes recently and then my bestie flew out to visit and we had a whirlwind tour of Germany and Paris. We actually saw so many sights in Paris between Monday afternoon and Wednesday evening, we were giggling as we checked into place after place on facebook. My feet were feeling it though, among other body parts.

Anyhow, one recent finish was the IG Mini I've been working on. It was fun practicing my paper piecing. I don't know what I was afraid of - thanks again Karen!!! It wasn't too complicated, but it was fun putting those solids together.

Call me crazy, but those triangles remind me of a cocktail, so I've called this one, "Let's Get Tropical" and the recipient can take it any way she likes! Not that I have cocktail pics made especially by me on my phone, but see what I mean? Sort of? Yes? Humor me.

It's Christmas Market time here in Germany, so my extra was a gift from the Weinachtmart. Santa is happily towing his gifts and "smoking away." So fun! 

I also believe that's another one crossed off my FAL list! 

FMT

WIP Weds ~ final bee blocks

Hello there! I am so happy to have finished up the last of my bee block commitments for awhile. A long while. A long, long, while.

First up, my hive in Stash Bee is completed this month. Our final queen bee asked for crazy quilt blocks in pastel/muted colors for her daughter's quilt. I raided my stash bin and (hopefully) found some fun fabrics for her. I also found a few novelty charms that fit the color scheme. Sara asked for an approximately 16" untrimmed block.

I can't wait to see her finished quilt! I was worried that my choices might be a little bright, so hopefully she can find something useful in this pile of accompanying scraps.

Finally, I'm participating in a Christmas block swap with a group from FB. We are using the You are Here Tute by Happy Zombie.

The finished block looks cool but it's pretty time consuming with the combination of HST, stitch & flip and flying geese blocks. Matching points are a challenge as is getting it to the correct size! I think the technical term for it is "fiddly" and there is lots of creative pressing going on around here. The other term for it is PITA, but I finished all 8 blocks.

I used Joy and Flurry charm packs  from Kate Spain. Seeing them laid out together makes me happy, but not motivated to ever make this particular block again, so I'll have to sash the heck out of the blocks I receive to get a throw sized quilt.

Now I'm working on my IGMini for the last swap of the year. The design is inspired by Lady Harvatine's log pyramid quilt. She hosted a quilt along last year and I really like her color choices!

The plan

The progress

linking up

WIP Weds

WOW ~ WIP Weds &

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts

FMT

Garden Party - finally finished!

Boy that pesky binding took FOREVER but I'm happy to say this sucker is finished and ready to go!
It is my first finish for Q4 of the Finish Along.

The back - hanging sort of upside down

The back

I somehow successfully centered the star on the back and the quilting grid lines actually match up on the back just like the front!

Stats:
Pattern - Hourglass Star from Moda Bake Shop
Size: 64" x 64"
Fabric: Garden Party by Dear Stella fat quarter bundle, Kona slate, coal and white

linking up to : Finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts

A little quilting in the Alps

A couple of weeks ago I had an opportunity to attend my 3rd Patchwork in the Peaks in Morzine, France. The theme this year was Scraps!

As always it was a relaxing time and we had amazing weather with bright sunshiny days. This time, my girlfriend attended with me and it was nice to have company as we discovered a freakin' FIVE hour delay to our flight!!

This did afford me the opportunity to get a glimpse into my girl's suitcase when she kindly offered me a banana. She had a smorgasbord of green beans and other foody loot. I started thinking I hadn't adequately described the fantastical feasts we would be in for all weekend, but I quickly snapped a friendly pic of her suitcase and posted it to Facebook. With friends like me.. yadda yadda.

L's gorgeous jacket lining

  Anyway, with all the delays, happy Richard was there to greet and escort us to the weekend already in session. We arrived just in time for dinner and show & tell!

Supernova friendship block show off

Wonky Pinwheel show off

hello hugs

I had time in the week before Peaks to work on installing zippers AND learn a little about how to use my serger and came up with these gifts for all the ladies. I used the Pencil Case Tutorial from Hamels Thread.

Filled with little goodies & my favorite Reese cups

I used canvas for most of them 

This shiny, crazy fabric was really wiggly to sew 

Preparing for lunch on the patio

 Our first class was a lesson in y-seams from Ms. E. We cussed and complained our way through making this block (and some of the smarter cookies figured out a way around the dumb &^% y seams), but in the end we all came up with something. (Some of the overachievers came up entire quilt tops lol.) Yes Paula, I'm talking about you!

everyone's blocks

The class I had been looking most forward to was Karen's paper piecing lesson. I have tried learning this on my own, but haven't had any luck. "Karen the Blogger" was a great instructor and super patient when asked for the 50th time - flip WHAT? She designed a pattern for us called Autumn Leaves and it was fun seeing everyone's creations.

Karen the Blogger 

a couple of cool finishes

my autumn leaves & spinning card trick

Quilt Fairy Gina's Stash Attack project was sewing machine mats. This was a fun chance to practice FMQ and was a quick finish. Here's mine on the left & Ms. L's on the right.

heated game of  fq dice swap

all my projects

Farewell lunch 

Till next time, friends!

Linking up to:
Let's Bee Social
Show & Tell Tuesday
Linky Tuesday

Around the World Blog Hop

Hello friends! A couple of weeks ago, I was tagged by Paula from Mud, Pies and Pins in the Around the world blog hop, so welcome to Dusseldorf and to my blog!

April 2014

HST Auction Mini 

Spring themed DQM quilt

I met Paula last April at Patchwork in the Peaks and was so impressed by her talent! She makes incredible paper pieced designs and is a very creative and accomplished quilter!

1. What quilting/sewing thing am I working on? 

I've been part of a few bees this year, including Stash Bee for the first time, 5 months in the do.Good.Stitches Charity bee, and 2 rounds of the 4 x 5 Modern Quilting Bee. I've also done a whole bunch of swaps including the recurring Doll Quilters Monthly Swap and the upcoming IGMini Swap.

I am currently working on a whole list of things! I've participated in all 4 quarters of the Finish Along with Katy this year and it's helped me at least to know what I'd like to do next.

I had my first finish for Quarter 4 this weekend and I'm just waiting on some good daylight to get a great picture. I believe it's been on my list all year so it'll be nice to mark this one off!

I have finally started my Noodlehead divided basket. It's all cut out and ready to sew! 

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? 

Dec 2011 Wonky 9 patch

I'm not sure my work "differs" from others. In these wonderful days of Pinterest, it is nice to take inspiration from everyone and then see where creativity leads!

"Scrapplique" baby quilt 2012

3. How does my writing/creating process work?
Besides constant blog reading and Pinterest surfing for inspiration, I have a boatload of quilting books to consult. I then bust out the graph paper, colored pencils and ruler and draw my design. Even when I'm following a pattern, I like to draw out the design to get a feel for what's involved, any changes I'd like to make and color placement. It's fun going back through my notebook for inspiration too!

Idea for IGMini Swap Quilt

Graduation gift quilt 2012

Thank you for visiting! I'll hope you'll stop by again soon.

I'm passing the baton to two lovely ladies met at Patchwork in the Peaks last October. Elita from Busy Needle Quilting is the sunshiney host of Peaks and in addition, this busy lady has an online quilting supply shop and is a long arm quilter. She's one active chick!

LynnePusscat from Confessions of a Quilting Junkie is an amazing quilter with a real eye for color and design. I always covet her fabric selections and she's so dang sweet! You'll enjoy her blog.

a little sneak of  an upcoming share

Linking up to Anything Goes Mondays @ Stitch by Stitch