Pumpkin Tablerunner

I've outdone myself in taking bad pictures, but yesterday I saw Green Fairy Quilts Pumpkin Table Runner and decided I needed one for my table.  I decided I wanted it long, my table is 6 feet, and I got started.  Anyone who has read my blog knows that I prefer reversible table toppers and runners, so luckily I had enough Christmas fabric.  I worked on it several hours yesterday and then worked on it during the night from about 1am until about 3:15 am.  I got up at 5:30 am and finished it about 9:15 am.  It is now washed and on the table.  When it's time for the Christmas side, it will be on a Parson's table in my kitchen, but for now it's on the dining room table.  I flipped over the quilt that I made for a tablecloth and used the plain back, not my first choice in colors, but it is what it is, and it'll be there until the end of November.

Deck-ade the Halls Flimsy

Our company is out of town until the week-end, so I put together my Deck-ade the Hall quilt.  It's a flimsy now.  I hope to have it completed by the middle of November, and ready for display in my living room by the first of December.  It's really starting to feel like the holiday season. 

More Early Christmas, For The Boys

The boys are 1 year old (later this month), and 4 years old.  A pillowcase each.  The one on the left is for the 1 year old, and it matches his quilt, from Ikea, with hedgehogs. 

Also these Hot Wheel carriers, not perfect, but hopefully they'll like them.  I know they're too old for the one year old, but I figure his mom can put them aside for him.  I used the instructions on Homemade by Jill, and Just another Hang Up.

Early Christmas

Because part of the family is visiting from Germany and they won't be back for Thanksgiving or Christmas, my daughter decided to have a multi-holiday celebration this month.  Since I already gave my great-granddaughter her Halloween bag, doll and baby doll quilt, it left me a little empty handed.  So, today I made small bags complete with pockets and zipper tops for Mackenzie and my 10 year old granddaughter Kaylea.  I hope that they aren't too big for 4 year olds and 10 year olds, but will be still big enough for a few more years.  Sorry about the lop-sided photography,  Now, to figure out some small gifts for the other little ones. 

What's Going On

Small things amuse small minds.  First I had to get over my wonder that "What's Going On"  could be a question or a statement, the first clue being that there isn't a question mark.  Oh well, it's one of those days.  My grandson, his wife and their two children got in Tuesday evening and so we've been able to spend time with them Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and now they are in Memphis, Tn. visiting her side of the family and taking care of some business.  They'll be back in a week and then will spend a couple of weeks here.  The kids are adorable, we are getting reacquainted with our great-granddaughter, who will be 4 in December and meeting her brother for the first time, who will be 1 this month.

   We also had a beautiful new granddaughter Friday the 4th.  We've only gotten to see her once so far, but I'm sure we will see a lot more of her. 

Not much sewing going on between visiting, home health people for my husband, and doctor appointments, but yesterday I did go to Hobby Lobby and picked up some fabric to make new pillowcases for the small pillows on our bed.  Do you think maybe it's time.  As you can see by the first photo up at the top, mending isn't my best talent. 

This morning I got up and made these 8 pillowcases.  They aren't fancy, just simple little rectangles with French seams and a hemmed top, but I'm so glad to have them.  We use quilts on the bed, and they are all scrappy, so anything goes pretty much.   Yesterday, I must have been in a purple mood.

Christmas Bags

I stumbled across some videos on You Tube by Jean JellyRoll Queen about adding a zipper to the charm pack totes video by Missouri Quilt Company.  Here
and here .  I have been using velcro on my totes, and thought that zippers would be an improvement, so I made three more to test it out. 

I'm sure that you believe that all went perfectly, and that this one tote has pockets on the outside instead of on the inside on purpose.   All in all though, it was pretty simple to add the zipper, and if you are like me and like things contained, you should check out You Tube.

One More

And I think it turned out pretty cute.  I used what I had, (except for the Nutcrackers, I bought those) and if I were shopping I might have gotten different fabrics, but all in all, I'm happy with it. 

Even the inside is Christmasy.  I do the lining in my pockets upside down, because when I reach in, they are kind of right side up.   I'm already getting the urge to make some for my SIL's, I can't seem to help doing that to myself.   I didn't make that side of the family Halloween bags though.

And Yet Another

Another Afghan and another tote bag.  The Afghan is for my daughter. 

I gave away all my Halloween bags, and didn't have one for me.  Not enough fabric left for another bag, and so I decided to do a fall bag instead.  I didn't want to buy more fabric, so this may not be the best combination, but it is done, it was all from stash and scraps, and it is mine.  I can use it for 2 months too, instead of one.   I will have at least one more bag, when I cut this one out I also cut out a Christmas bag and it is about half finished now.  I've run out of steam though, my husband and I spent about 6 1/2 or 7 hours at the hospital today, he was having fluid removed from around his lung and the prep and waiting after it was over to make sure that everything was ok took awhile.  It's a puzzle why sitting around can make you so weary. 

RSC 9 Patch Doll Quilts Finished

The doll quilts are finished and ready to be mailed.  It's been a busy day.

Halloween Bags - Check

The last 7 of the 14 Halloween bags, done.  Now, I need to make a few Christmas bags, not 14 though.  I don't think so anyway.

Rainbow Doll Quilts

I've kept up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge until this month, but I did use some of my RSC nine patches to make doll quilts for three little sisters.  Since I wasn't doing all twelve months, I didn't want three blues, so I substituted a brown nine patch.  They are only tops now, but I hope to finish them soon.

I'm going to let their mama pick who gets which, I'm just hoping that no one will be disappointed because they wanted a different one. 

I know there is one pink lover, but I can't remember which.  I do know though, that if you want to see lots of pretty baby blues you can visit Soscrappy here. 
I hope to catch up, but between medical issues and company coming, it may not be for a month or two.

And if you're disappointed that there were no baby blues, here are some that most any quilting lady can admire.

Nabby's Dowry Two Done

This is what was left before Nabby's Dowry Two. 

Not pretty, but not too bad, and free.

This is all the binding scraps that I have left now.  I did have a large magazine basket smashed down with batting scraps and a large very full garbage bag sitting on top of it full.  I'm rather proud of myself, that's 14 bags, 2 small quilts, and I think I can get another bag or two. 

Not a good picture, but it's done and it's a little busy, but I think it's going to have a place on my wall.

Mackenzie's Dolly has a Quilt

And it's very very pink. 

Even the back.  Mackenzie's favorite color is pink, I hope her dolly's is, too.
31 inches by 31 inches.  Probably 30 x 30 after it's washed.

Nabby's Dowry Top No. 2

Still a bit wild and crazy, but I like it.

Meanwhile

Meanwhile, the Halloween bags are coming along.  9 of the original 13 are finished, and a couple have been given to the chosen recipients.  They both liked them so much that they decided to start using them now and not wait until October.  I decided to make one more from scraps, and it somehow grew to be larger than the others.  I decided to use 2 1/2" squares, so it had to be 1 inch bigger all around or 1 inch smaller all around than the others.  I opted for bigger.  Then, I decided that it needed a row of black on the top and purple on the bottom, so that added a bit more.  Oh well, I like big bags, I just wish that I had made the handles a little shorter. 

Nabby's Dowry Top No. One

Mackenzie's doll quilt is a top now.  I'm very happy with the pattern, it was fun to do and it turned out cute.  The colors aren't true here, it is cuter in person, and it's a good thing that Mackenzie's favorite color is pink.   I hit some snags with the side and corner triangles, as I had made a little smaller version (5 1/2 inch blocks instead of 6 1/2) and I had to redo them, but with the help of a couple or three or four websites, I figured it out.   I've only done two other quilts on point, and they were Bonnie Hunter mysteries, and I stuck to her sizes, so I just followed directions.  I'm a little wiser now, lol.   Hope Mackenzie and her dolly like it.
PS   I hope my wild and crazy version turns out as cute.

Nabby's Dowry Step Eleven of Twelve

Surprise, this step had 4 blocks, so there are thirteen now.  Anxious to see the reveal on Friday.

Kathy of Kathy's Quilts has an interesting guess of the reveal.  It's very pretty.   http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2013/09/design-wall-monday.html