Cut to Pieces Fabric Diet Challenge 2011

Have you seen the Fabric Diet Challenge 2011 with Angela at Cut to Pieces? I am going to try it. It means no fabric purchase for 8 weeks. It may be difficult, but we'll see if I can make it. And for each successful week you have you get an entry to win fabric, what a great idea.

My Birthday Quilt Shop Hop

I turned 40 on December 16th. On Saturday the 18th, Scott and I went on a Shop Hop tour to celebrate my birthday. (He's a great guy to agree to come along to 3 quilt shops, he brought a book with him to read while I shopped) Our first stop was Quilter's Corner in Finleyville. I love this shop, they always have a lot to choose from.

Here's the collection that I found a Quilter's Corner. A variety of some fun fabrics.

Our second stop, after lunch at Panera Bread in Bethel Park, was Quilter's Depot. I found a fat quarter of Mary Engelbreit blue and white polka dot fabric. They had several Moda fabric lines, it was a nice shop.

Here's a picture of Scott and I at our third stop, The Quilt Company in Allison Park. This was a very nice shop, they also sell Bernina's here. It was big, lots of space for fabric and classes.

I found a few Nicey Jane fabrics and some other Dena Designs fabrics from Free Spirit.

And I also found this - Heather Ross Lightning Bugs, I bought the whole bolt. I was so excited. This fabric is so soft, I love it. I'm going to be listing some fat quarters and 1/2 yards on my Etsy site soon.

After the quilt shop tour we went to McCormick and Schmick's at the South Side Works in Pittsburgh. We had a nice meal and over all a really fun day.

A Polly Pockets Purse and Dr Seuss Pants

Here's the little Polly Pockets Purse I made for my niece Anna for Christmas. I used the pattern from Rachel at psiquilt to make this little bag. I love the bright fun colors. Anna is 4, she seemed to really like the bag.

And here are the Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat pants that I also made for Anna for Christmas.

New Baby, New Quilt

My cousin Danielle's new little boy Landen was born December 18th. I made this colorful quilt for him and gave it to them yesterday for Christmas. It's made from Aldo to Zippy fabrics, plus some other dots and solids.

I love the back with the Aldo to Zippy alphabet panel. Danielle decorated Landen's room with an Ocean theme, so this fabric fits in well. I quilted this one with diagonal zig zags, but forgot to take a close up of the stitching. I used solids for the binding which seemed to tie it together well.

Whimsy

Here is the Whimsy quilt that I finished for my Mom for Christmas. I used a Whimsy layer cake and 2 charm packs to make the quilt front using half square triangles. I took a long time to piece together because I laid out the design as I went, and each square is a mirror image on the diagonal.

The back has some simple diamonds and pinwheels.

I quilted it using flowers like Elizabeth at Oh Franson had shown. I really had fun making these flowers. Then I connected the flowers diagonally with loops and little leaves. (It's hard to see the leaf in this picture)

I also labeled the quilt for the 1st time. I'm going have to do this from now on.

Busy Working on Christmas Gifts

I can't believe I haven't posted in over a month. I've been so busy working on Christmas projects, I've had nothing I can show. Here is a pile of fabrics that I'm using for a Christmas gift, very colorful. I really have to get busy, so much planned and only 12 days till Christmas.