My Husband's A Keeper

Here we are right between Christmas and New Years, and I am officially On Vacation! Our kids are home for a week-long visit, and so I'm not going to stitch a single stitch while they're here. I plan to thoroughly enjoy their company since I get to see them so rarely these days.

The view from our living room at the cabin

But I do have to share my exciting news with you. My dear, dear husband surprised me so much with my Christmas gift. He gave me a Gift Certificate good for transportation, meals, lodging and registration to all the classes I want at AQS Quiltweek in Phoenix!!!

I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Over the past few months I kept looking at the AQS Quiltweek emails as they arrived  in my Inbox, and mentioned it a time or two about what a great opportunity. Okay, maybe three or four times. At least. But the expense of having to fly down and get a motel kept it off my radar. I had long ago dismissed the idea.  So, much to my surprise, he had listened and then surprised me. What a guy!

I guess by now my family knows I'm a Quilty Nut.  I also received two quilt books and a new Olfa  rotary cutter. And a Go Baby! Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled rotten, I am! (Don't I love it?)

So yesterday I booked my trip for the first week in February. I'll definitely be ready to get out of the cold and soak up some warm Arizona sunshine just about that time.  If any of you are planning to attend this show, be sure to let me know - I'd love to meet you in person!

Right now, we're off to do some snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and enjoy all the whiteness that covers our Idaho mountains right now. But I'll be thinking of Arizona . . . .

The view off our second story deck. We need more snow!

Quilting with a smile,
Barb

What keeps you busy?

I know what has kept me busy the past couple of months - sewing, quilting, quilting, quilting, quilting.  It's been a whirlwind to get everything done in time for Christmas, but I've succeeded, and I'm SO happy now!

Here are just a few photos of the great quilts that I have had the privilege to quilt for people. Very fun!

Here is one with custom quilting throughout.  Each big star block is 24-inches square and has been paper pieced.

Up close and personal with one of the blocks.

I like this view with the quilt tilted sideways.  The customer will put on another border and bind it for the finishing touch!

This is another fun one that I had the pleasure of doing. It's a quilt sample for a kit being put together by my local quilt shop, The Sun Valley Fabric Granary.

It's a butterfly quilt made from Fig Tree & Co.  fabrics.

I quilted oval designs to enhance the wings and diagonal stitching across the bodies of the butterflies. There were 30 butterflies in this quilt, if anyone is counting . . .

This would make the perfect spring-time or summer quilt, a great way to pass away these dreary winter days that are surely ahead of us!

 Here's a real pretty quilt that my friend made from a jelly roll.  I quilted an edge-to-edge pattern on it with large leaves to mimic the leaves in the white background fabric.

And this was a fun one, although the quilting probably doesn't stand out too well. Love this fabric!

Last, but not least, I was able to find a bit of time to make something for myself to help decorate the house for Christmas.  It was a fast, simple little pillow, but the ribbon makes it pop!  It's made from Dear Mr. Claus by Cosmo Cricket for Moda.  If you are lucky enough to find this ribbon, you'll immediately fall in love with it! It comes in several different designs and is just luxurious!

After I made the pillow cover, a friend gave me some Christmas gift tags from a panel that goes with this line, so I'll be adding that to the right of the ribbon.

That's what I've been up to the past two weeks. What has kept you busy?

Here's wishing you the very best Christmas season, happy holidays, and a tremendous New Year!

Remember to quilt with a smile,
Barb