Mug Rug for Margo

Lifetime good friends are the best.  My friend Margo has stood by me through childbirth and through the loss of a child.  We don't live close to each other any more but I know she is always there for me.  She shares her birthday with Stephen, the son we lost too soon.  I'll be sending her a little gift this year. 

The pattern is a paper-piecing pattern called Southern Star created by Jennifer Mathis of Ellison Lane.

Winnings! and Progress

I was very faithful and I viewed and left comments for all the Ho Ho Ho Blog hops.  Yipee!  I won at Ravelly1. Thank you Rhonda for the wonderful Santa wall-hanging.  It will join the other Santas that I put out at Christmas.  I will also find use for that pretty red Christmas fat-quarter. 

For the progress, I gleefully post a picture of the Asian Scrappy Road which is well on its' way to actually becoming a top.  I have already made the decision that I will send it out for quilting.  It is intended as a gift for my dear niece Cheryl.....shhhhh don't tell. 

My Own Little Corner of the World

When we lived in Maryland, I had a loft all to myself.  It was lovely and good size and unfortunately on the fourth level of our townhouse.  There was a TV and an accessible design wall area.  Plenty of room for creative mess. 

Then we moved back to California and down-sized to a three-bedroom one-story much smaller home.  I'm not complaining.  I am not missing all those stairs.  But I am missing my space.  My current space is my office/quilting/creating place.  At one time I thought it would share space with a bed for guests.  That didn't quite happen.  Not enough room after I moved my stuff in.  Sorry guests.  It's the sofa or a hotel. 

Small ..... but it is all mine

Many, many, many of these

Need to make this bigger someday

Ironing board turned into Big Board by hubby

Some of my stash....lots more in baskets and drawers

My faithful Bernina 440QE......my retirement present to myself. 

On My Way to Finishes or More UFOs

I did give my self permission to work on the Asian Scrappy Roads quilt.  I now have all 12 main blocks done.  I put them out on the dining room table to have a look.  They need to be squared up and more sashing needs to be added to make the rows for the final top (before borders).  After I put them all back in the project box, I realized (from looking at the pattern) that the blocks will be turned so the rows will be staggered.  This means less fussing to match sashing lines.......yipee!  But the picture shows the blocks all turned the same way. 

And after putting away the Asian blocks, I got out some donated material for a community quilt.  I figure I can't go wrong with a Disappearing Nine Patch so that's what I have started cutting out.  I am trying to figure out if there is a complimentary block that could go with it. 

and speaking of Disappearing Nine Patch, I've also used up some donated fabrics to begin a Christmas themed quilt.  These fabrics must have come from the 80's or 90's.  I just added a bit of Hoffman green and a small bit of red.  There will be twelve blocks....each measuring about 14".

Finished Is Always A Good Feeling

Just needs a label for community quilts, and this one can be turned in.  I began it with "leaders and enders", added a few flying geese, and used it to practice some machine quilting.  I also gave a try to using left-over binding pieces and sewing the binding down by machine.  It all added up to give me some experience.  

Seems cuddly and comfy to me.

Great way to use up scraps on the back.

Now I give myself permission to go back to working on the Asian Scrappy Road.

More Travels Down The Asian Scrappy Road

I am on a toot to work on UFOs.  The Asian Scrappy Road is NOT a UFO.  It is a new project.  It keeps calling me so I got it out and worked on another 3 blocks.  There are now 4 of the 12 blocks done.  It actually works up pretty fast when all the fabrics are cut ahead of time.  I've been sewing in components and then putting everything together.  The last part is the match-up between the center sashing.  I've been basting that part together before I stitch it down to make sure I'm lining up the sashing.  So far.  So good. 

ooooo.....I'm liking this.

And while I am in that organize, analyze the stash mode, I made a fast sort through a shelf of fat quarters to try and make some sense of what colors I had. 

This organization probably won't last for long.

And finally a bit of actual work on an UFO.  I have managed to put together 3 baby quilt tops for community quilts and one them actually has a pieced back and batting ready to be basted. 

Definitely a scrappy backing.

One run of 2 1/2" strips became two baby quilts.

It's been a pretty productive week of sewing.  I'm thinking that the sewing machine might enjoy a little clean-out and oil.