More Christmas Gifts

More embroidered floursack dishtowels to go with the chocolate hotpads I had back in a previous post somewhere...

...and more crocheted dishcloths (dishrags?) to finish off the kitchen sets consisting of dishcloth, hotpad and dishtowel...

...more hotpads (potholders?) with a candy other than chocolate theme this time...

...and finally a special hotpad for my brother who is coming to visit from FL this Christmas. His alias is pepperchef so he gets peppers and chefs on his hotpad!

My DH and I come from large families...will I ever be finished making presents?

Strung Out

I finished my 72 3.5 string blocks for week two of the Quiltville mystery quilt- Orca Bay. I still have to take the paper backs off - yuck. And, I didn't make a dent in my blue strings so, as title suggests...I'm not really strung out!

Seeing Red - Crazy Basket Case

I embroider, quilt, sew, garden, read in order not to be a drug addict or alcoholic, to stay sane, to relieve stress. Without hobbies I think I would be a crazy basket case. Crazy basket case? Hmmm...

Speaking of baskets...I noticed I have lots of old embroidery transfers in my collection that contain baskets. I love the old transfers...they remind me of my first embroidery projects...when grandma patiently taught me to do lazy daisy, straight and cross stitches.

I wanted to use all the baskets in a lap quilt somehow. I was moved earlier this year by that quilt show that showed the red/white quilt collection some lady had. Then the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012 came along.  So, lo and behold...my CQJP 2012 project was born...a crazy lapquilt in mostly reds and whites that contains lots of baskets that I can embroider on all year so I don't become a

CRAZY BASKET CASE

I figured since I don't like piecing blocks all that much that I should start piecing some right away so I don't poop out on the project.

I need at least 20 blocks for a good sized lap quilt.

Each block should contain at least one basket but hopefully maybe 2.

The embellishments need to be washable and the seam treatments all need to be something a little different as far as new stitches or stitch combos.

I think I will be seeing red for a while. Actually, I think it is my new fav color. Wonder what that says about me!

Kudos for Comments

Look what came in the mail Wednesday - one of Gerry Kruegers gorgeous victorian pincushions!  I visit her blog olderrose frequently and comment whenever I have something to say. Since she appreciates comments,  on her 1000th post she awarded the 1000th commenter this pincushion. That commenter was me! How lucky can a girl be?

No Hourglass Figure Here...Just Lots of Hourglass Blocks

I'm making another Quiltiville mystery quilt this year. Orca Bay is the name of the game. The first step is to make 224 b/w 2.5 inch hourglass blocks. I ended up with 227 that measured correctly and about 20 wonkies. So far this fabric hoarder has not bought any fabric.

It's not too late to join in the fun! Visit the Quiltville blog so you don't miss out.  I made one last year for the first time and it was loads of fun.

Favorite Color Plus Red Challenge

The CQI (Crazy Quilt International) Yahoo Group has a challenge going on this quarter - make something out of your favorite color plus red that you can wear. Totes were counted as something you could wear. My fav color is blue so I cut up some old bluejeans, did a little red work, a little chicken scratch and turned it all into a tote.

I wish I would have embroidered something up in that upper left rectangle, but I didn't so I'll have to be happy with it.

Inside I used some flannel I had left over from some other project. And then there's a big pocket there on the side. I'm going to tote my crochet or embroidery projects in it so I have something to do at work on my lunch hours. Right now I tote things in a plastic grocery bags. This seems so more chic!

It's not my boho bag...but that will be next. I just have a little more embroidery to do on it...well, actually, I have the whole flap left to do. Won't be long now though!

Stuff...All Kinds of Stuff

I made this Victorian Heart Pincushion as a challenge project with the Yahoo Stitchmap Group (see link on sidebar). Since I don't know anyone that sews I get to keep it as my own Christmas present.

Potholders for my DD and SIL who are avid mushroom hunters.

These are kind of pasta or Italian themed. They will go to some of the many family members I try to give a hotpad every year. Inside is Insulbrite and terrycloth so they are thick.

Peace, baby! Groovy potholders for some of those 70s love children! (Where are my bellbottoms when I need them).

Yummm...chocolate.

The chocolate hotpads will go into kitchen sets for some lucky gift recipients. The chocolate embroidery transfers are enbroidered (by me) on flour sack dishcloths and I crocheted a dishcloth to complete the set.

A couple more crocheted dishcloths on a pile of hotpads waiting for embroidered dishrags (er, I mean dishcloths) to complete a set.

And, finally, I think this is the last of the pillowcases I think I need to make for gifts. These go with the "Fruit Basket Upset" quilt I made for my oldest son for Christmas.

The Case of the Floating Jar

I've finished my last Christmas gift quilt for this year. It's for my youngest son. It's a bookcase quilt full of jars of sand (he collects them from places he and others go on vacation), candy (his daily diet), aquariums, books, money and all sorts of other goodies. It wasn't until I took this picture that I noticed I left one jar floating above the shelf. How it does that is a mystery to me! And so I've labeled this one "The Case of the Floating Jar". Get it? (My husband didn't).

Bound for Turkey

Bound: I finished sewing on the binding on 3 baby quilts last night. They are made of scraps - novelty fabric fronts, batting scraps from other quilt projects, flannel scraps pieced together for the back. Nothing fancy but they should keep a few babies warm.

Bound: I mailed them this morning. They are now bound for Turkey- victims of the earthquake sleeping in tents in wintery conditions. I hope they have a safe and speedy trip and warm some children's hearts and hands.

Angels

My work on Peggy Sue's angel themed block. Remember the old string rag dolls? Several years ago I made some Christmas ornament angels like the old string dolls. I thought I would make one in miniature for the block. I used a large bead for the head. The rest is nothing too spectacular - mostly metallic threads for bling. And so the angels are amongst us.