Shop Hop & Pincushions

Sandy & I decided at the last minute to go on our first 'Shop Hop'. We had a blast and visited all the shops in one day. I was inspired to make pincushions......

This little bird was a giveaway pattern.

Sandy shared the star shaped pattern she bought and the 4-patch I made on my own.

Bags and Crocheted Baby Blankets with Hats

I bought a stash of baby yarn before I left the world of working at IBM. I love to crochet the baby blankets and hats pictured below while watching Laker games. As you can see, I've watched a few Laker games!!
I'm thinking of putting them up for sale on Etsy.com. The blankets are approximately 32" wide and 36" long. They are made with a 'V' stitch in a stripe pattern. The blankets are sooo soft, can be machine washed 'gentle', and put in the dryer at a low temperature.

Sandy and I bought patterns & fabric at the 2010 Long Beach Quilt Show to make the purses shown below. The pattern is "Carmel" designed by "A Quilter's Dream". It takes 6 fat quarters to make one.

Sandy finished her purse before me. Sandy is blessed with a talent for design. The bag displayed on the pattern was plain. Sandy added this big button on her bag and I loved it.......hence, big 'ol buttons on my bags!

Snowman Table Runner

I loved this little quilt as soon as I saw it at Piecemakers in Costa Mesa. The quilt they had on display was bordered with a wedding ring pattern. I decided to make it easy and add a simple border, especially since I love the snowman fabric I found at M & L Fabrics.

Oops.... I guess I got my toes in the picture below!

Two Quilts Completed in the Fall 2010

I completed the 2 quilts below in the fall of 2010.

I bought the redwork quilt pattern at the Sew Fun Club at Moore's Sewing Center. The machine embroidery went very fast. I dyed the white on white backing with red dye as Lynda Howell had done on her example at Sew Fun Club. The dye ran on mine and made the fabric a pinkish color with splashes of red. I need to work on that process to get it right because it looks good on a 2 color quilt. The characters are really cute which adds a whimsical tone to the quilt. I love it!

Holiday Redwork

Machine Embroidery Designs by Lynda Howell

The next quilt is a block of the month quilt provided by Bunnyhill Designs. This is the first one I made and loved doing it. A pattern is put on the Bunnyhill Designs website the 5th of every month. It's fun and I look forward seeing what the pattern will look like. The quilt, A Tisket, A Tasket, has a monthly theme for example July is based on the Fourth of July, October has a witch and a cat, and April has the Easter bunny with eggs in the basket. I used the applique fabric in the quilt to make borders around each block and around the whole quilt.

A Tisket, A Tasket

Bunnyhill Designs Block of the Month 2009

Happy New Year 2011

A belated "Happy New Year" to you!
It's been 6 months since I've posted to my blog. I've finished many projects since my last post about the Long Beach Quilt Show. I will share them with you in my next post.
This past Saturday, Sandy, John, & I went to the Road to California quilt show held at the Ontario Convention Center. We had a great time and bought alot of good stuff. I think all 3 of us were worn out by the time we got home. The show was wonderful and the quilts were beautiful. Of course, Sandy & I love to shop. I don't think we hit just about every vendor's booth!!

John, Brenda, & Sandy at Road to California - Jan 21, 2011

Long Beach Quilt Festival & Finished Projects

John, Sandy & I attended the Long Beach Quilt Festival yesterday. We had a good time and I bought some fun projects to do in the next few months. I bought a quilt kit at the 'Square in a Square' booth, a purse pattern, and fabric to make 3 purses.

John, Brenda, & Sandy at the Long Beach Quilt Festival yesterday.

Sandy made this stunning quilt.
I quilted it for her using a Herky, Jerky design.

I have been working on this quilt for my friend Toni. She loves the beach. When she saw the pattern, she said she had to have one. It has taken me awhile to get it done for her but it is finally finished.

Gifts from the Sea

Pattern by Verna Mosquera

The next quilt I started with my friend Anna. She had picked out this pattern a few years ago. I said I would like to make one so a few weeks ago we finally got together and started making our quilts. I wonder if Anna has finished her quilt.

Mexican Star

Pattern by Annette Ornelas

And finally, I made another 'Letty's Bag' in black & white since that's what I usually wear.

Letty's Bag
Pattern by Robin Gallagher

Mama Made a Brand New Bag!

I found a pattern I loved at the 'Quilt Cupboard' in Garden Grove. The pattern is called "Letty's Bag" by Robin Gallagher. It took me a day to make it. Once I started working on it I couldn't stop. It has so much room in it and I love all the pockets. Think I will take it to the Long Beach Quilt Festival this coming Friday. Can't wait!